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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Cranston City Council and Committee Meetings - September 14, 2026

City Council — Monday, September 14, 2026

BodyCranston, Rhode Island

SessionCity Council

DateMonday, September 14, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 3:00:17

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

27:40

Yes, I went, yes.

27:44

Yes.

27:46

Yes.

28:05

Yes.

28:07

Yes.

28:09

Yes.

28:12

Yes.

33:18

Could I please have a roll call vote?

33:25

Councilman Vazier.

33:27

Councilman Graziano.

33:32

Councilman Travicanti.

33:34

Council Vice President Horrian.

33:36

Present.

33:48

Public comments tonight are limited to only those matters appearing on the docket.

33:53

Is there anyone here tonight from the public that would like to speak to documented items only?

33:59

If so, please come up to the podium, state your name in your address.

34:03

If you're here with a business, you can come up when I call the business.

35:00

I don't know where they are.

35:01

If you want me to wait a minute, or I'm happy to proceed.

35:04

You can definitely proceed.

35:05

We can move on.

35:06

Thank you.

35:07

Um this uh this uh establishment is well known to the community and to the committee and the council.

35:12

Um Richard Sabrina Campanella have uh 2024 had sold their business uh as members of the committee may know.

35:23

Um the successor owner uh ended up in receivership.

35:28

Uh they have reacquired the assets of the uh the company and uh they are uh looking forward to reopening and being part of the community again as uh owners and uh principal operators.

35:40

Uh tonight on your agenda, you have both a application for a new class B liquor license.

35:46

Uh they obviously have uh 20 years of experience as a duly authorized holder of a liquor license and with without uh complications or problems.

35:56

We've complied with all the requirements for the uh liquor license, including with standing certificates and chip certification and insurance.

36:04

Uh you also have the um companion vitalling license.

36:08

Uh and again, we've done um everything required uh on the checklist, including uh the sign-off from the health department last week.

36:16

So on behalf of them, I want to thank uh the chairwoman and the committee for your consideration.

36:22

Uh I know that uh if this is approved tonight, uh later in the evening, uh there will be a special council meeting, which uh we would we are very grateful for and uh look forward to reopening and being part of the community again.

36:35

Thank you.

36:36

Thank you, Mr.

36:36

Mary.

36:37

Keeping me in the loop with this business.

36:39

I appreciate that.

36:44

Councilman, do you have something?

36:46

Council question.

36:48

Um, you have a 10 p.m.

36:49

closing, and that's a family restaurant, and it's very popular.

36:52

Do you anticipate that they might go over and you show you don't want to amend this and close later?

36:57

No, they they typically uh I I went to the outer band um, for example, it lists Sunday.

37:04

I'm not sure they're gonna be open Sunday.

37:06

Um typically they they close 9 30, and that's that's the plan.

37:11

I appreciate the suggestion, but um, if they were going to stay open later, um we'd come back to the committee.

37:17

But I don't think that's gonna be an issue.

37:18

Thank you.

37:19

That was my only concern.

37:20

I'm asking for a motion to approve the motion to approve.

37:24

Second.

37:25

Any discussion?

37:28

Clerk, could I please have a roll call vote?

37:31

Councilman Ritz?

37:33

Yes.

37:33

Councilman Trafficante?

37:35

Yes, Councilman Horrion.

37:37

Yes, Council President Wall.

37:39

Yes.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Procedural██████████████████████████26%

Licensing And Permits███████████████████19%

Government Operations████████████████16%

Fiscal Sustainability████████████12%

Budget Equity Analysis█████████9%

Public Safety██████6%

Public Engagement██████6%

Elections█████5%

Public Works█1%

Summary of Proceedings

Cranston City Council and Committee Meetings - September 14, 2026

On September 14, 2026, the Cranston City Council held three consecutive meetings: a Safety Services and Licensing Committee, a Finance Committee, and a Special City Council meeting. Major actions included approving multiple liquor licenses, denying an extended hours license for Zona Lounge due to police opposition, introducing an ordinance to increase council oversight of contracts over $100,000, and approving a new police union contract. Financial reports indicated a projected surplus for the fiscal year.

Safety Services and Licensing Committee

Consent Calendar

Approved a new Class B liquor license for Campanella's restaurant (DNC Inc.), noting the owners' 20 years of experience and no prior complications. Unanimous roll call vote (5-0).
Approved a Class A liquor license transfer for Edgewood Wine and Spirit (Civetti Corporation) after resolving outstanding bills. Unanimous roll call vote (5-0).
Approved new liquor licenses for Cava (Kava Mezigrel LLC), Campanella's (DNC Inc.), Dollar Tree, Heather's Gardens (Scandinavian communities), and Rhode Island Aviation Hall of Fame – all reported in order. Unanimous votes.
Approved a block of 58 viticulture licenses, entertainment license for Go Management, septic hauler license, and auto repair license for Glass America – all unanimous.

Discussion Items

Extended hours license for Zona Lounge (195 Niantic Ave): Councilman Andohar proposed three fundraiser events with a 2 a.m. closing time. The Cranston Police Captain testified that the department was "100% against" staying open until 2 a.m., citing safety concerns at that location. Councilman Andohar recused himself due to a conflict of interest (he was an honorary board member of one beneficiary). A motion to deny the license passed unanimously (5-0, with Andohar recused). The council noted that the city's practice is to close at 1 a.m.

Key Outcomes

All votes on licenses and renewals were unanimous.
The solicitor requested cancellation of a scheduled emergency meeting; council agreed to postpone.

Finance Committee

Discussion Items

Ordinance 81702 (Board of Contract and Purchase oversight): Council President Wall introduced an ordinance requiring council approval for any contract, purchase order, or change order over $100,000 approved by the Board of Contract and Purchase (BOCAP). He argued that current BOCAP meetings lack detail, citing a 13-minute meeting approving a $3.5 million project. Solicitor Millet and Director Muretti warned that the ordinance would overstep the charter's separation of powers, interfere with administrative functions, and slow city operations. The council agreed to treat it as a second introduction and postpone a vote for proper advertisement. Handouts from attorneys Murray and Millet were entered into the record (vote: 6-0).
Monthly financial reports: Director Strom presented updated numbers showing a surplus as of early September: expenditures at 18.46% of budget ($64.5 million including encumbrances) and revenues at 24.81% ($86.7 million), resulting in a surplus of $22,187,264. The rainy day fund was projected at $5.6 million, possibly rising to $6–7 million if school deficits improve. The school department had not yet provided June or July data, showing a $2.1 million deficit that could narrow.

Public Comments & Testimony

Robert Murray (21 Garden City Drive), an attorney, spoke against the ordinance on legal grounds, arguing it cannot be done by ordinance and should go to a charter review commission. He also raised drafting concerns (threshold, timing, mechanism). He emphasized his comments were independent of the administration.
Marcia Fowler (35 Melton Avenue) thanked the council president for raising transparency issues and expressed concern about sidewalk funding and school bus scheduling.

Key Outcomes

Ordinance 81702 will be re-advertised and brought back for a future vote.
The director committed to providing a quarterly work plan comparing budgeted vs. actual expenditures.
The Finance Committee accepted into the record the August 4, 2026 BOCAP agenda and a report from Director Lima on the primary election (under budget, with $35,000 in grants).

Special City Council Meeting

Consent Calendar

Approved a new Class B liquor license for Campanella's after a public hearing (unanimous, 8-0).
Approved the collective bargaining agreement between the city and IBPO301 (police union) for FY2027–2029, covering July 1, 2026 to June 30, 2029. Several council members praised the police department. Vote: unanimous (8-0).

Key Outcomes

Both items passed unanimously.
The solicitor noted that the earlier emergency meeting had been withdrawn; no further business.

Meeting Transcript

Yes, I went, yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. Could I please have a roll call vote? Councilman Vazier. Councilman Graziano. Councilman Travicanti. Council Vice President Horrian. Present. Public comments tonight are limited to only those matters appearing on the docket. Is there anyone here tonight from the public that would like to speak to documented items only? If so, please come up to the podium, state your name in your address. If you're here with a business, you can come up when I call the business. I don't know where they are. If you want me to wait a minute, or I'm happy to proceed. You can definitely proceed. We can move on. Thank you. Um this uh this uh establishment is well known to the community and to the committee and the council. Um Richard Sabrina Campanella have uh 2024 had sold their business uh as members of the committee may know. Um the successor owner uh ended up in receivership. Uh they have reacquired the assets of the uh the company and uh they are uh looking forward to reopening and being part of the community again as uh owners and uh principal operators. Uh tonight on your agenda, you have both a application for a new class B liquor license. Uh they obviously have uh 20 years of experience as a duly authorized holder of a liquor license and with without uh complications or problems. We've complied with all the requirements for the uh liquor license, including with standing certificates and chip certification and insurance. Uh you also have the um companion vitalling license. Uh and again, we've done um everything required uh on the checklist, including uh the sign-off from the health department last week. So on behalf of them, I want to thank uh the chairwoman and the committee for your consideration. Uh I know that uh if this is approved tonight, uh later in the evening, uh there will be a special council meeting, which uh we would we are very grateful for and uh look forward to reopening and being part of the community again. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mary. Keeping me in the loop with this business. I appreciate that. Councilman, do you have something? Council question. Um, you have a 10 p.m. closing, and that's a family restaurant, and it's very popular. Do you anticipate that they might go over and you show you don't want to amend this and close later? No, they they typically uh I I went to the outer band um, for example, it lists Sunday. I'm not sure they're gonna be open Sunday. Um typically they they close 9 30, and that's that's the plan. I appreciate the suggestion, but um, if they were going to stay open later, um we'd come back to the committee. But I don't think that's gonna be an issue. Thank you. That was my only concern.

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