Good evening.

Call the meeting to order of Tuesday, August 19th, 2025.

Madam Clerk, would you please call the role of the council?

Councilman Fogerty.

Yeah.

Councilman Lawson.

Yeah.

Council Vice President Rigo.

Yeah.

Councilwoman Susa.

Council President Rodericks.

Here.

The record show four members are present.

Please rise for the pledge.

I mean, I think of America and Children Public for which we can justice room.

Okay.

Welcome everyone.

Uh Madam Clerk, if you would bear with me, we're going to uh move around the uh gender a little bit to make make things go uh smoothly soon as uh council vp was picking up some paperwork as soon as he comes.

We we're going to move to page eight on the docket, the resolutions.

I uh before that I also w I want to uh thank everyone for their office I've received of sympathy, especially uh my colleagues here.

VP for stepping in and taking care of ceremonial duties.

Thank you all.

You're welcome, Bob.

So sorry for your loss.

With that, uh Madam Clerk, we'll start with the resolution's letter D on page eight, if you could read the heading of that first one.

Number one resolution requesting to name the basketball court at Kent Heights Park, the Vincent Vinny Remouli Memorial Basketball Court introduced by Councilman Fogerty.

Councilman Fogerty, would you like to introduce your idea?

Yes, do you have the uh resolution to be ready?

If you want to read the resolution while we're getting that ready to to um read, uh just wanna say that this is something that this council um I'm sure um never say never.

We haven't voted yet, but I'm sure we'll embrace unanimously.

Uh I don't think there is a person here who has not worked with um Vinny Spermuli through through the years.

If if you were a uh youth involved in athletics, name the sport, basketball, baseball, football, soccer, whatever, or just being a mentor.

Uh Vinny was the guy many of us know.

Being a little older, I go back with Vinny when we would um meet and discuss world events on Friday evenings.

We were slightly out of high school playing cards and um chief, not for money.

We were just um playing for for fun.

And especially baseball, such a baseball guy.

He was in basketball, and he sent many a little kid on to high school and college and uh uh even beyond.

But uh councilman, do you want to read the resolution?

Then anyone else can make comments.

Yes, I would love to.

Thank you very much.

Whereas Vincent Vinish Bamuli was a 1964 graduate of East Providence High School and a 1968 graduate of Providence College, and whereas Mr.

Spamooli was a special education teacher for 35 years.

Whereas Mr.

Spermoli coached middle school and high school basketball and was a longtime coach and director of the East Providence Central Little League and St.

Martha's CYO basketball and was known as Coach Vin.

Two decades of student athletes.

And whereas for many years, Mr.

Spamooley was also the assistant director at Crack Camp Ruggles, a camp for children with emotional and behavioral disabilities.

Although his teams won many championships, his strength was in teaching young people to be competitive and to do their best while building their character at the same time.

And whereas Mr.

Smooley was a legendary youth coach, mentor, volunteer, and an extraordinary family member.

He and his wife Peggy were the proud parents of two children and three grandchildren.

His son Michael is the detective crupper with the East Province Police Department.

And his daughter Sandra Ferrand is the East Providence Superintendent of Schools.

I'll therefore be it resolved that the City Council of East Providence hereby names the basketball court at Kent Heights Park as uh Vincent Vinny Spermoolie Memorial Basketball Court.

Second that motion.

So we'll take that as a motion by Councilman Frogerty, seconded by Council Vice President Weigo.

Before we vote on that, I would add that even though there are some relatives in the school department, including the superintendent of schools, uh Vincent.

Uh those 32 years teaching were done at Ponne Gansett High School.

So there's no favoritism here.

We're not honoring an East Providence teacher.

Uh uh Vinny, uh, we lost Vinny to too young.

Um other council members want to comment before we vote.

And then I was I just wanted to announce that, you know, I want to add that I've known Vinny for and the family for over 40 years, well respected and always said it like it is.

You know, I miss him.

So we are having a small gathering on September 6th from 12 to 2 at Vinny Spermoli Vincent Basketball Courts, Ken Heights Park.

Uh rain date is September 7th, that's Sunday, 12 to 2.

Small reception at the courts.

Uh I know Vinny was loved and respected by lots of people, which is why uh Mr.

Russo, Mr.

Kenny, myself, we met for breakfast to discuss the first annual Vincent Spermoli basketball tournament, but the park was a little delayed.

The timing wasn't right, so we're gonna kick this in gear next year to be determined.

It's gonna happen next season.

So looking forward to that.

I'm sure we'll have a lot of sponsors and uh excitement.

And thank you.

Thank you all for sponsoring this with me.

And uh, we want to welcome and add that uh Vinny's wife Peggy is here, and as you mentioned, his daughter Sandy's son Mike, son-in-law, uh here with us tonight.

We appreciate you coming.

Uh, we have the motion in the second, madam clerk.

Well, the record would you please call the role of the council.

Councilman Fogerty.

Hi.

Councilman Lawson.

Absolutely.

Council Vice President Regal.

Hi.

Council President Rodericks.

Hi, it's official.

Um, Sandy or Mike, did you want to say anything?

Um, I will say, being a riverside kid, I I didn't interact with Vin that much, but I got to know him through the Jim Russo's campaign, and what an amazing guy, and what a legacy of commitment to the youth of this city through sports and yeah, uh it's I can't think of a better honor.

Uh, we got so many great people like him, and uh it's an honor to honor your dad.

Sandy Mike, you guys know how I feel about your dad and you and your families, and I'm very happy for you.

So uh I can't, you know, echo that even louder, louder.

So uh thank you to the public works department.

They worked very hard to create some signage that's gonna go up on the uh fencing at the new park, Ken Heights, so Vinny's basketball court, and uh Dan Borges and the staff went out of their way hurriedly, actually.

Made me sick made us six copies of this, a smaller version of what's gonna go on the fence.

So this is for the the six people in the family.

Oh, you three and the three grandkids, right?

So I know it's special.

We're gonna get a photo of us.

Podium's all yours.

You've had enough podium.

And uh thanks the mayor and everybody involved.

I really didn't have anything prepared, so uh I'll kind of keep it short and sweet.

I think it's uh tremendous tribute, and I'd like to thank the council uh from the bottom of my heart and on behalf of my family.

Um it means a lot, it means a lot.

And he touched a lot of people's lives.

Um from kids older than me to younger than me to 20 years after.

Um and I've had people come down here, friends of mine who live in New York and not a state, and when they would come down to visit, they would always say, We gotta go see Vin.

How's Vin doing?

Um, and it was just uh the memories of it, and it was not just basketball and baseball.

It was we used to come and eat lunch at the house because we lived in Kent Farm and our family didn't have any money.

Um so he would the house was always open to everybody.

So it was it was much more than just coaching kids.

It was it was mentoring them.

And another thing was that uh a lot of young coaches got their start with him, and people that are still coaching throughout the state were all under that little coaching tree that he started up there.

Um, and some of which are from East Providence.

So on behalf of my family um and everybody that he's touched, I I can't thank you enough for this tribute.

Um, and it really means a lot to all of us.

Thank you, Mike.

Dr.

Uh Ferrand uh this is not a promise of more budget money for the school department.

This is strictly personal.

Not business.

In a few weeks, you you can come back, but uh you're welcome.

If you want to comment anything, or Peggy, uh we're just very great.

Thank you so much, Frank.

You're welcome, of course.

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

You know, I chucked Vinny every day, of course.

I get no answer.

You will.

I get the answer, I will take that one, and then there's five more on the table for the family to sign.

We are truly grateful.

Oh, my pleasure.

Our pleasure.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Appreciate you coming out.

Madam Clerk, the next uh resolution after that.

Number two resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract extension with MTG disposal, LLC for refuse recycling collection.

Introduced by council vice president Riga.

Thank you, uh, Madam Clerk, Mr.

President.

Um this is uh obviously an important aspect in the city, and uh with the work of director Dan Borges.

Uh we've been able to put together a good piece of uh contracts for the city for the next couple of years, as you know, all costs rise.

But Dan did a good job in negotiating this.

This takes effect uh on the first of September of this year, going through the year 2028.

Dan can add some of the specifics to it at this time.

Good evening.

Um, I am just gonna hand out a few uh memos that I kind of put together just to give the council a sense of uh the process that we went through to get uh the this renegotiated um so just to give a very short version of what was a long process with but um the city started renegotiating in uh end of January.

Excuse me.

The if you look at the last page of that memo, it sort of breaks down um the original uh proposed amount that Miga had originally brought to the city, which would have um provided us with a eight percent increase in the first year.

Um after several months in renegotiating, um we were able to get Miga down to a four and a half percent increase in the first year.

Uh the one benefit to that is that this will allow us to level fund the um rubbish and recycling contract.

So in a few weeks when we have budget meetings, um, you'll see that there was no increase to this year's budget, which um you know it is certainly important.

Um so over the three separate, you know, negotiating proposals that they provided.

Um the city was able to save uh roughly 29,000 uh 412 over three years from the original contract.

Um and that puts the city just to into perspective.

It puts um the household cost per resid per resident household at 145.77s.

Um I put a breakdown of several other municipalities in the state.

Um, and we are well in range, if not below uh several of the other major municipalities.

So um I think there's significant benefit to this contract.

Um Miga's also adding some additional on vehicle technology that will allow us to monitor um when contaminated materials are uh placed in recycling bins and put into the trucks.

Um so then we have the ability to understand whether we want to take that to the landfill rather than receiving a penalty at the um at the MERF, the recycling facility.

Um we've also been able to have Mega essentially take over all of the calls, missed calls handling.

So a lot of the calls will be rerouted to Miga, they will handle them directly, be able to dispatch drivers rather than DPW taking the phone call, reporting it to uh supervisor out in the field and then it being reported to a driver to go pick up.

So um we we feel that'll be extremely important to sort of streamlining the process of um missed calls.

Should go to mention though that our office is still there.

So if there are issues, residents still have the ability to call us.

Um, but we will we will put a process in place when they call the office to have those calls directly rerouted to Miga.

Uh other than that, I mean, I think it's pretty straightforward.

You can see years one, two, and three.

Um the breakdown in increases is four and a half percent in the first year, six in the second year, and uh roughly five percent in the third year.

So again, I commend you knowing the economic situations that we all face in businesses and uh the environment that we're living in these days.

Uh these not knowing what the cost of fuel could be, uh obviously Meagre is you know has to pay their employees uh equipment.

Um this was a well put out and well put together contract by you and everybody else involved.

And the nice thing about this is that this was done in for three years, so obviously it takes us to the endorde term, and who's ever fortunate to be sitting here at the next term doesn't have to deal with this for like two for two years.

So the budget process uh was also worked in and uh I commend again for getting this done at three uh in this environment to get any private sector company to negotiate a three-year term is very important.

So I move passage at this time.

Second.

Thanks, Dan.

Motion by VP Rego passage, second by councilman Fogarty.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Yeah, I have it forward to zero.

Thank you.

Next item.

Resolution number three resolution adopting flag protocols at East Providence City Hall introduced by Councilman Lawson.

Councilman.

This this is a response to some that bothers me and many other people told me.

We got three flag polls out front, and we don't put the American flag front and center above everything else.

And um, so this just kind of adopts a little bit from the United States flag code that um talks about the proper way of displaying flags.

So what this resolution would do would say that uh the three flag poles out front, the center one will be for the American flag.

And in this day and age of division in this country, we need that rallying symbol.

And I can't think of anything more rallying than the American flag.

So that will be front and center above anything else.

And then this also will say to the right of the flag will be the state of Rhode Island flag.

And then those poles on the left and the right should be lowered about 18 to 24 inches to ensure the American flag is on top.

To the right will be the state of Rhode Island flag, and then the third poll, we can fly the city of East Providence, but that could be our ceremonial poll as well.

Um we have great ceremonies celebrate and various cultural and um you know holiday type things.

That's gonna remain.

This in no way diminishes that this only puts that American flag front and center above everything else.

Thank you.

No, I I think your point is well taken that we we have flags from many different cultures at times that we we honor with ceremonies and and that's a good thing, and and that will continue.

Um director, did you want to comment?

Uh good evening, council president, members of the council.

Um, Councilman Lawson, I apologize.

I haven't I've been away and on vacation, haven't been able to um bring this to your attention.

So the only time that we wouldn't do that is um, because we've had to do research on this over the years is if there's a time when the American flag is also flying with a another country flag.

So as you can see, that we have the Ukrainian flag uh per the flag etiquette, and we we researched it with law as well.

What we always do is if the American flag is also flying and we are not in a time of war with another country flag, they are to be flying equally at that point.

So that's the only time you will see is if there are any country flags, like when we do uh the uh you know, our um Ireland Day, the Irish flag, the Brazilian flag.

Anytime it's another country flag, they are to fly equal to the American flag um during a time of peace.

So I just wanted to make you aware of that.

So if you drive by because people have brought it to our attention and we we go by like the actual why are we still flying the Ukrainian flag?

Because when uh when that started to when that happened and we all came here, uh we said that we would in support of all the Ukrainian residents who came forth.

We said we were we would fly it during this entire time until it was a time of peace with that country.

But I uh to support that, but the American flag should be front and center above all.

Well, it is to the it again going by the code.

If we're not in time of if we're at peace with that country, they are to flag uh fly at you know at the same level.

So that's why we do it.

I make motion uh to approve this.

Thank you.

Thank you, Director motion to approve second, second, second by councilman Rigo.

All in favor, aye, aye, any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Thank you.

Next item.

Number four, resolution authorizing the award of contracts for the East Providence Community Center by Bentley Companies LLC, consistent with the guaranteed maximum price introduced by President Rodericks, Council President Roger's make a motion to approve.

This is just the next step along the way of uh funding the new recenter.

Exciting.

So I make a motion to approve.

Second motion made to approve by councilman Lawson, seconded by councilman Fogarty and discussion.

And the the key here too is that guaranteed maximum price.

So this is good.

That is not going to increase.

Um all in favor?

Aye.

Aye, any opposed?

Yeah, I have it.

Thank you.

Thank you for being here, gentlemen.

Thank you.

Yep.

Next item, please.

30 bucks down.

Are we no?

Uh I'm sorry.

We will go to page seven number five.

And if you want to read that ordinance heading, um, Adam Clerk, at least in my agenda, it's page seven number five.

Ordinance of the council of the East of the City of East Providence appropriations 275,000 for unanticipated costs associated with the building renovations improvements to the police station.

Summary.

The purpose of this ordinance is to allocate 275,000 for unanticipated costs associated with building renovations improvements to the police station from Capital City Capital, introduced by Council President Rodericks.

So it is a public hearing, and Chief, if you want to give us the summary on this, it's a basically a transfer of some funding.

Yes, sir, that's correct.

It's uh just some overages that we encountered uh throughout the last year renovations over at the police station.

And it's going well to date.

That's going very well in uh public.

I do want to thank the men and women of the East Province Police Department for sticking through uh an extremely difficult work situation.

We know we're moving offices and moving down hallways.

People are uncomfortable for the last year, uh, even as of uh today, jackhammering uh block and uh hammering and you know all sorts of construction noise are are uh the men and women sworn and unsworn members have really you know uh been uh uh amazing during the whole process.

So we're we're we can see the light at the end of the tunnel.

We're probably about 90% done.

So I was just gonna use that term.

Is there a light at the end of the tunnel?

The lights dim right now.

We're we're we've we've been uh you know, we're hoping we were gonna be done by this time, but you know, things happen, and uh yeah, there's the delays in a lot of uh delivery of products and things like that.

So sure we're other council members' comments.

I I agree that's in the send, yeah.

The women and men of the EPPD are great.

Um we're glad that we were able to appropriate this upper funding to get this done.

And um, you know, I guess we're in the contract negotiation, so we look forward to signing making sure you guys are compensated, decent pay raises every year, and make sure we're paying enough to keep the best and brightest here in EP.

So we're looking forward to signing that contract, making sure you guys are fully compensated that we need so thank you.

Councilman Fogarty.

Yeah, I was over there in Turin, and it's the work is coming along good.

I mean, it looks nice for what they're doing, and uh, I can see why you need more.

So forward.

Thank you.

No, and and I I invite everybody, uh, anybody from the council at any time if they want to come over and and take a look at the building and and then the progress that we have made.

Uh, I mean, it's still uh a little dusty in areas, but we can definitely show you uh some of the big steps that we've taken.

Well, it looked great at the policeman's memorial, which seemed like it was just yesterday, but it was back in May.

So how time has flown this year is incredible.

So uh look forward to uh knocking on the door and uh going over there in the next week or so and you know getting a tour and seeing the update.

And uh I just want to uh say uh thank you for uh obviously uh stepping up in your new leadership role as well as the uh deputy.

Uh I'm confused as to how I gotta address everybody as I join, yeah.

As you know, you know, as I address uh Andy as well.

You gentlemen have really stepped uh up and uh uh I see yeah, I see a lot of good enthusiasm, and I want to commend you and your uh whole command staff for what you did on August, you know, two weeks ago on August 5th.

That that the night out was an exceptional event.

Uh yeah, you should be very proud of yourself and your staff.

Uh the it grows each year in the community is uh uh appreciates it and uh as uh yeah, and hopefully uh we can keep on maintaining and gaining the police numbers that you need to keep this being one of the top police forces.

But thank you for everything you've done since you stepped into your into the role of number one.

Thank you.

Thank thank you.

This is uh public hearing.

Anyone have a question for the chief or the council ask one more time uh by procedure?

Anyone have any questions or comments about this?

Hearing none or close the public hearing.

Is there a motion?

Motion to approve.

Motion to approve by councilman Lawson, seconded by council vice president Rigo.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Four zero.

Thank you.

Thank you, Chief.

Thank you very much.

Chief Madam Clerk will revert back to the general order of business.

You need a second to get that organized.

Executive session, the city council of East Province may meet in executive session pursuant to RIGL 42-46-5A2.

Thank you.

For this matter, we will hold the session right here in public and uh solicitor Marcello if you want to.

Thank you.

As you know, the uh city of East Province uh uh prior to me arriving had previously joined the national litigation, the opioid litigation, uh, which is a uh multidistrict litigation pending in the federal courts.

Um from time to time there are settlements uh that the city is asked to approve.

Um, we just got notification of the uh Purdue direct settlement and um simply asking for the authority of the uh of the council to execute any and all documents necessary for that settlement.

I would ask if it's appropriate.

Um sometimes these settlements, as you know, with the backup that I gave you, have uh have quick deadlines that we have to take action on.

So um if it's up to the council, sometimes this this happened to be okay because we had a council meeting before the September 30th date.

Um, but to the extent that I we cannot get a council meeting to uh formally approve it, I would also ask for general authority to approve any and all settlement amounts that um that come through.

Um that that we we might not be able to make the council docket.

I think that's a good idea.

We're talking about monies and settlements that coming to us, anything that involves payment out, we would have to have council vote, but in these cases, we we don't.

So in terms of the item before us and going forward, is there a motion?

I just have one question, yes, solicitor.

Do you have any do you have any idea as to uh what we could be looking for for settlement-wise?

I mean, do you think it's firmed up?

So it depends upon it's it's by a formula.

Um, I can't tell you what this settlement will um produce to the city.

Um, I do have access to a portal from uh that has been set up by the national litigation to date from from all the settlements that we have um have entered into and for which we receive money uh the total amount that the city has received or is scheduled to receive is um I'm gonna round up, but it's 488,000.

There are strict limits on how that money can be used for the settlement agreement.

It only has to be for opioid issues, uh addiction issues, um, mental health issues.

They're very strict guidelines on where that money can be spent.

It can't be put into the general fund, for instance.

Um, but it has to be um targeted uh for different opioid and educational issues, those kind of issues.

But so uh the short answer to your question is I can't tell you how much we get for the this settlement, but the um, but the total so far has been up all just under a half a million dollars.

So with that said, it can only be used for that, so it can't be used for any personnel that might assist in the program, and it can only be used for the specific program.

It could it it it it there are there's a different tranche of money um out there that there's the state money that flows through us through the state, and then there is money that flows through us directly to this to the town, excuse me to the city.

Um depending upon what the person can do or does not do, it can be used for salaries to support the opioid program, whatever that program may be.

So can it go to the schools for youth prevention, drug awareness, stuff like that?

It may.

I don't want to say yes or no.

There are there are guidelines there there.

But I don't know that off the top of my head, but I can do those guidelines for this.

Each each each um, and I know the the the chief of staff is a member of the statewide uh coalition that monitors the state fund, so she might have a better answer.

But I will get you the guidelines for the this truncheon money.

Thank you.

Uh good evening again.

So I um uh solicitor Marcellus correct.

So I currently sit on the OSAC board, so we do meet, and our sole purpose um uh in our assignment is to discuss how the finance, how the funding will be used and where it's allocated.

And um it does run the gamut in terms of how municipalities are using it.

Uh there's prevention, there's education, there's outreach, but it's very specific and all very, very public.

Every meeting um is on Zoom, and the governor's task force also has their meetings.

All the documents are on the page.

So I'm happy to get the council any of those documents and give you the breakdown of exactly where those funds are being spent and um and what they're allocated for, including outreach.

It comes goes to everything, including um uh those who may be expecting and have um you know been drug users um at one point, um, and you know how that will impact the baby and transition and jobs.

So it really it runs the gamma in terms of programs.

But I can I'm happy to send that to all of you.

Thank you.

Is there a motion to uh allow Mike?

Yes, yes, make a motion that Mike's allowed to um negotiate on a accept the accept the accept.

Yep.

I apologize.

Motion seconded by council vice president Rigo.

All in favor, aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Yeah, thank you.

Next item consent caliph calendar for discussion and possible vote.

A council journals regular meetings minute 715 2025, tax abatements, cancellations and abatements, 26,847.

Let is two-six realms avenue, East Providence, Rhode Island, 02915, map 512, block 11, possible 0038.0.

Any question on the consent calendar?

Make a motion to approve uh accept.

Except motion by Councilman Lawson to accept.

Councilman Fogarty seconded.

All in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Guys have it.

Next item.

Licenses for discussion and possible vote.

Motion to bundle non-public hearing licenses.

Motion to bundle.

Second.

Motion to bundle Councilman Lawson.

Second it, Councilman Fogarty.

All in favor.

I need opposed.

Is there a motion to approve the non-public hearing licenses?

C uh one through 11.

Make a motion to approve C one through C11.

Second.

Motion, Councilman Lawson.

Second by Councilman Fogerty.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Next item on the public hearing.

There's also a non-public hearing that we separated.

It was C number one.

It was for special event one day alcohol license.

It wasn't in the um C through 11.

So this is the this uh Rhode Island Folk Festival.

So that's what this is in regards to.

Okay.

Is there a motion?

Um I'll second the emotion too.

Motion Councilman Fogarty, seconded by councilman Lawson.

All in favor?

I need opposed.

Yeah, I have it.

Thank you.

Next item.

Is it oh I can't we have the sheet here?

I went and got it.

That's what I want.

Oh, he didn't pass it down.

Well, it's blank anyway.

So no one on the communication, none public comment, none.

Council members.

Number one, breakdown by banking account, the amount balance in each account as of July 31st, 2025.

Council Vice President Regal Rigo.

Okay, thank you.

Thank you.

Uh I just received this from the chief of staff uh about an hour and a half ago.

Uh I will pass this along to all of you.

I think this is good information that we have, as you know, the clock will be starting pretty soon on those favorite words, budget time.

So I thought this was a piece of information that we need uh a lot of the pieces of the puzzle as we hear and we hear in the news.

We hear from the state, federal about budgets being tightened, tightening up, excuse me, as well as potentially the state of Rhode Island uh might not be receiving as much money from the federal government.

And I'm not gonna get into the minutiae of everything that's going on in Washington, but obviously everything you know goes downhill, and we're at the end, and we can't print money.

Uh, we're not supposed to print money, and uh I will uh pass this along.

I thank the chief of staff for the information.

I think it's very important in this fiscal year with no more opera funds, uh, and grants obviously being gonna be continued to be dried up from the federal government.

That all the information we have, the better decisions that we can make together with the administration.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman.

All said next update on inspections of all nursing facilities, assisted living, high rise living, boarding houses, hotels, and motels by both the fire and building departments.

Council Vice President Riga.

Again, I received this from the chief of staff, so I want to say thank you.

I know she's just coming back from vacation.

Uh the one thing, and I just uh I'm pulling it up right now, and uh maybe uh sometimes uh my laptop and the you know has so many firewalls in it that the only thing that I see, and I might be wrong, and I'm trying to do it right now, is uh the only thing that was provided to me to you, and you provided it to me from the fire chief was the two hotels or motels in uh in the city.

Uh I don't this came to my mind because of the tragedy that happened in Fall River and brings back bad memories of the station fire.

That the city is always questioned about inspections, both building and fire.

And God I never want to see a fire.

What happened in Fall River and the station fire happened in the jurisdiction of the city of East Providence.

Uh so to make sure that we're up to speed, I asked for it.

And again, if he could get us, you know, it's not just you know, extended stay in Rumpford Motor, and I'd really like to know about the assisted living and nursing homes.

I represent four of the five high risers in the city of East Providence.

And I want the people at Rumford Towers, Parks, you know, uh Parkway Towers, uh well, I said I represent four out of the five.

So uh I you know, I want them all, I want those residents to be secure, and then nursing home assisted living, as you know, we saw could become an issue.

So if they could get back and get that information to us as the council, because we obviously hold the fiduciary responsibilities for the city.

And I don't want this city to ever be into a situation where we could be facing a lawsuit for uh neglect, which I don't think will happen because of the fine men and women that work in the fire department as well in the building office.

Thank you.

Council Vice President.

Oh, Council President, I'm sorry, through the council president.

Uh, we that is just the partial response, as we mentioned, and thank you for your patience on allowing us to gather all this information.

Uh more information will be forthcoming, and we'll provide that to you in a timely manner.

Thank you.

Thank you, Chief.

Thank you, Council Vice President.

Certainly an important uh matter.

Next item.

Traffic patterns and issues on Anthony Street, Council President Rodericks.

So for the uh administration and and chief, uh if you could uh maybe start a process whereby we can either talk with uh the police department and and others, um traffic divisions.

Uh through the years, I think we all have had complaints about um some of the the narrow streets across from City Hall here, Anthony Vine, James, with people parking on at least one side, sometimes both sides.

Um people just can't get through.

Emergency vehicles have difficulty.

We recently heard from uh family on Anthony Street.

So the Anthony Street right now is the focus.

And I I think that when those large homes were built in the 40s, 50s, and you know, a little bit beyond, most people had one car.

I know I grew up in a family where one car.

Um today, families can have three or four.

And so there's a lot of vehicles on Anthony Street, and uh people um have problems sometimes even backing out of their driveways because you kind of have to drive in to the driveways there narrow.

So maybe not a formal traffic study, but some kind of a an observation um in the near future.

Uh I know a couple of us have talked about what some cities do when you have a lot of parallel streets like that, some uh one way, the other way coming back, one way going down.

Um might take some getting used to, and it may not even work, but it might be something to be considered for those streets across from City Hall here, Anthony Vine, James, Walnut.

Um so nothing we can do about it tonight, but if we could um maybe even if there was a neighborhood meeting at some point, see what people think.

But I do know trash trucks, fire trucks, and just plain motorists have difficulty negotiating at least Anthony Street.

So we'll we'll be in touch, I'm sure.

Thank you.

Next item.

Number four, request for items to be included in the Capitol budget, Councilman Lawson.

Well, I'm putting this out there now on behalf of the folks down in Riverside down south.

Um Venerev playground, there is overwhelming requests to add uh playground equipment for preteens.

Um the parker refresh, but they put in like toddler um things.

I brought the council president by to see what uh what I was talking about.

All the other playgrounds have the you can climb, slide, go across.

Um, so I'd like to put in a request that this capital budget have money to add that piece of equipment for the folks down at Vitnarev in the gully.

And the second is for um some compost toilets on the water side of Crescent Park.

It is probably the number one thing people say.

How do we have this beautiful park with no bathrooms?

So I'm getting ahead of it now, and I'd like to have it put in the budget.

Um, these bathrooms, I why they stayed locked.

I I got the answer.

People don't really accept that answer, but um I'd like to put in the request for some compost toilets on the water side, um, specifically down in the lower part, and then up by the parking lot area.

So those are my only two requests that they be, and I'm only saying it now.

I know we're gonna go through the process, but I'm sure with the capital budget when we go through that, you know, there is room to add and especially the compost bathrooms are very popular now statewide.

We have several in East Province.

We put one at the high school.

Um again, it's not 1960, it's 2025.

You need safe, clean public restrooms when we have thousands of people going to these facilities.

Uh the new Kent Park, Kent Heights Park, um, where they have have them there.

And even today, um I drove by there actually.

Uh my uh four-year-old grandson, he came by to tell me that he was he calls it my park, because he knows I grew up there.

And he said, I went by uh grandpa's playground today, and there were a lot of people.

And so I rode by, and sure enough, I maybe uh a hundred people or so enjoying that great new park and the bathrooms.

Uh so that they're doable.

We we we can address that, I'm sure, with the capital capital projects.

And if you haven't been to Kent Park yet, you need to go there.

As I said at the opening of the park, the ribbon cutting where the kids cut the ribbon.

I don't know of a park in Rhode Island that's as nice, as spacious, and and does what Kent Park does for the not only the neighborhood, but the whole city.

So, yeah, I will work on that, definitely.

Next item.

We already discussed the flag stuff.

Okay.

So I just got my statement on old ham.

Yes, number uh six.

Um so just um just the statement is I don't know why the city's putting this out as uh housing thing.

And less they got three votes on this council, we already said we're not gonna sell any of that property.

Um I'm against housing.

I said I'd have an open mind, then got blindsided.

That's in the past.

But going forward, I want to be very clear.

I will not be voting to sell a piece of that property to a developer to put housing up.

There are plenty of appropriate places in Riverside to add housing.

I'm not against the housing.

Um I drove around with council president and we I showed them different areas.

But when it comes to old ham, the plan was community center slash business incubator.

That's all I'm voting to move forward on.

We can do it.

We had the opera money to get the building rehabbed.

We dragged our feet.

So during this budget, I am going to see where we're at with that building as far as we put the roof on.

We still need some roofdoors, windows, and the interior uh renovation.

So I will be advocating that some money go towards it.

Is a public building that the city of East Providence owns, so it is appropriate that we maintain it.

Um, but as far as adding housing, no, no, no.

So I just want to put that out there to the public.

And this is based on the numerous people that reached out, people terrified, saying, why are they putting uh apartment buildings right on top of my property?

And it's just not an appropriate place for that.

There are plenty of places that we can look to build housing.

It's not that we're against housing, but not on that piece of property.

And that's it.

I just wanted to get that out there to the public and before developers start coming in and saying that.

It's again, unless there's three votes that I'm not aware of, housing's not gonna happen there.

Thanks.

Appreciate it.

Thank you.

Next item.

Discuss of fiscal year 2025, 2026 budget hearing schedule.

Council President Rodericks.

I think that you know your office and the listener working on a budget schedule.

I think when when it comes up, we can this is where it should be.

This is where it should be discussed.

Okay.

Sorry.

So at the council council president's request.

We came up with a preliminary budget calendar, and we're asking you for some input and hopefully to adopt at least the general calendar tonight so we can discuss the clerk and scut start scheduling and posting the appropriate meetings.

Um under the charter, the mayor has until September 16th, 2025 to submit the budget.

Um I'm told this can all be adjusted if he submitted earlier.

Um, but the deadline, the absolute deadline is November 16th, 2025.

September 16.

September, what'd I say?

You said November.

Oh, sorry.

I'm dreaming, I'm dreaming.

Wish we're thinking.

I'm sorry.

September.

Um that happens to be a regular council meeting uh under the charter.

At that date, um, the council uh can and in my opinion should send a date for a public hearing on that budget.

Now the public hearing on that budget is to give the public an opportunity to comment on the mayor's proposal.

So assuming that it is well, again, assuming that it's submitted on September 16th, um, we will be able to advertise the public hearing um for September 24th.

I think it's seven or 10 days that it has to be advertised before the public hearing.

So that's on September 24th would be the date of that public hearing.

Now I submitted so on as of that date, you could have a public hearing.

The that's the first date that's available to comply with the charter to have a public hearing to allow the public to comment.

Nothing prevents the council before that date from beginning its workshops uh to have department heads come in and discuss their their appropriate budgets.

So we tentatively schedule and against to your approval, a hearing on September 18th, 2024, which is two days after its submission.

If the council wants to begin bringing in the department heads or whatever to review their budget requests, so that would be the first date.

Um November, excuse me, September 24th, 2025 is the public hearing on the budget.

Again, that's an opportunity for the public to comment on the mayor's budget after that date or on that date, once that's public hearing is concluded, you could again have additional workshops on the budget to have more department heads come in.

Uh and then any date between uh 924 and 9.30, we set another one.

Um the appropriate the the date that's important um of the of September 24th is because once that date occurs and the public hearing is over, the council has a right and legally can add to the budget uh or make changes to the budget after that public hearing date.

So again, we're setting the we're proposing November 24th as a public hearing, uh excuse me, November 30th as a public hearing for for a workshop, and then um on Tuesday, uh again another date on 107 25 for another regular meeting workshop, another workshop on 1014 2025, and that's the last day that the council can increase any budget items because if they do increase a budget item, we would have to then advertise it.

And so those advertisements has to be uh in by 1016 for a council required public hearing on their changes on 1021.

So uh, and then once that uh public hearing is held on the council changes to the budget, and it's only if they uh add to the budget, then we would have a final hearing on 1023-25.

Uh, and then the excuse me, 1023 25 for the final hearing, and then the last day that you can actually adopt to approve the budget would be 1025.

So we have built in five workshops.

You can have more if you want, you can have less if you want, but we have built in five workshops between 916 and 925.

So that's the kind of the outline.

If you want more, we can certainly add more.

Um, you can they can be added within 48 hours notice, but that's the general.

So we thought five was enough.

If you think more is required, that's up to you.

Obviously, the school department will be a big budget item when we don't have their budget yet, but you'll have to.

I think obviously that has to be submitted before 916, so that'll be part of the mayor's budget.

And then you can have the school department in any time that you want.

So that's that's the outline to meet all the advertisement requirements.

Um and the public hearing requirements.

That's a general outline that we have set up.

Thank you.

I I think this is uh is uh a healthy um outline with uh advertising deadlines that you know if we get dangerously close to missing can cause a problem.

Um, as you know, but just as a reminder, members would it's nice if we could all be at all of them, but it's not mandatory.

We need a quorum at these hearings.

Uh usually we're all there.

That's been the history, but don't be afraid that if there's one hearing when you're out way out of town or something happens or family matter.

Um, you know, the rest of us can carry forward your questions and wishes, and you can always go back.

But anyway, any comments on the schedule.

So my my only thing is, you know, last year we had department heads here, like the library and stuff.

Yeah.

So maybe instead of having like this day will be these departments, we read the budget, and then if we got questions, we say, can we request that these department heads come?

Because I I don't want to see folks have to come after hours for yeah, minor to sit here, and we're not gonna even have any questions for them.

Yeah, that's it.

That's a courtesy.

Yeah, we can give the solicitor's office and the mayor's office a list of our requests for which departments right and we canvas in and stuff like that.

They don't need to be sitting here, you know.

Right.

So unless we have questions for them, but so ahead of time we'll say can you ask them to be here?

And that's that's and it's that's fair.

And we would have to the extent that we know what department head we're gonna be calling in, we'd have to post that on the supplemental agendas for that so that we have to list on such and such a date, like you know, we're gonna have a school department in or the library or whatever.

So we need to know it.

So we could work through that with isn't it possible?

We may have done this last year to list everybody have, but then we just invite everybody certain ones, but at least we're covering the ad.

Whatever works, whatever you gotta do.

I just yeah, if they don't need to be had we have I'm sorry, go ahead.

Don't know the we'll notify them.

I think we even did that last year.

We we cut down on the amount, it was the first year.

We'll advertise every department, yeah, cover the advertising laws and procedures, but then we'll let you know with enough time to invite police, DPW, fire, whatever.

And is that legal if it's advertised?

If we just say we have no questions for that, move on to the next one.

Okay, it's better to advertise and not advertise.

So if there are no questions, I have one question, and uh this goes back to the ending process.

I know in the past uh yourself and former assistant solicitor conley.

There was some questions as far as the timeline for veto.

Uh do we have uh is that built in as well?

So that where uh if there's a case of a veto and there's a override uh meeting where we we've built this into the uh consideration as well.

Yes, this this uh builds in an override.

That's why the date is 1025.

This this is consistent with uh assistant assistance assistant solicitor carnally's prior um budget timeline.

I don't necessarily agree with it, but we're just gonna we had uh we had enough uh there's enough room in this the way we laid it out that we'll we meet those deadlines, yes.

Thank you.

So is there a motion to approve this uh budgets calendar schedule?

Make a motion to approve.

Is it a vote?

Yeah, well, we can um we can no I I second a second.

Okay, okay.

Motion council councilman regal, second councilman Lawson.

All in favor of the schedule, aye.

Any opposed?

Yeah, we'll be in touch with you.

So the first date for the hearing will be 918, right?

916 workshop workshop.

918.

916 is when they presented.

Okay, the regular meeting.

Okay.

Do you need this back?

Thank you.

Can you send that to everybody or make email?

Oh, it's it's in the packet.

Oh, yeah, it's already oh, I missed it.

Sorry.

Thank you.

Next item.

Public hearings ordinance for second and final passes for discussion and possible vote.

Number one, an ordinance and amendment of chapter 18 of the revised ordinances of the city of East Providence, Rhode Island 1998 as amended entitled vehicles and traffic.

Summary subsection C of section 18-268.

The purpose of this ordinance is to place a do not enter local traffic only sign on Amy Tink Avenue.

Sponsor Councilman Fogerty.

Yes, move passage.

Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Oh, public hearing.

And I'm sorry, the Councilman Fogerty made the motion, and Councilman Lawson seconded it.

And uh is there anyone here that wants to comment on this?

Anyone present would like to comment.

If not, we'll close the public hearing.

And now uh what is your pleasure?

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Thank you.

And before you read the next item, I want to acknowledge uh the presence in our meeting of the school committee vice chair, Mr.

Tony DeSiemus.

Thank you for your attendance and working with the council.

Next item.

Number two, in ordinance and amendment of chapter two of the revised ordinances of the city of East Providence, Rhode Island, 1998 as amended, entitled administration summary, adding section two-298 allocations, 50% of speed and red light camera revenues towards the East Providence School Department Capital Revolving Fund introduced by Councilman Law.

So uh I'd like to call an audible here.

Um Mike, how can I like to reword this?

I know we'll have to start from scratch.

Instead of 50% of the speed and red light, I'd like to put 100% of the stop arm camera money that has not been baked into the budget yet.

So I'd like to reword this ordinance that when that um project goes into effect, the revenue that the city receives from people running past the stoplight around the bus goes into the school building fund.

So my suggestion was because if you change it now, it's going back the first passage anyway.

So let me draft a new ordinance with that language and I'll go to the next one.

I'd like to pull this then.

You're gonna just table this correct.

I'd like to table this until set the next meeting.

Nope, indefinitely withdraw.

You're gonna withdraw this.

I'm gonna end up withdrawal because we're gonna change it from the red light camera money to the stop on table, definitely.

Okay.

So the item will be withdrawn.

It's under public hearing.

Do we need to ask for comments or just I mean I think it's self-explanatory items withdrawn?

We'll redo it and come back.

Yes, Councilman Fogerty.

So I I'll do the short version.

You don't want the seven-page long version.

I did have one.

Maybe it's eight.

I don't know that you know, I don't pay much, but I do pay attention.

As a parent, a grandparent, and former school maintenance worker, I care deeply about both our schools and our community.

Before speed cameras, our police officers were stationed around schools, writing tickets to speeders.

These funds went into the general fund for the public safety, supporting police fire, sidewalks, lighting, and safer roads and more.

That's why I believe these revenues should continue to be treated as public safety bill, not just a school safety bill.

That doesn't mean schools should be left out.

I'd support dedicating new revenues from on bus stop arm cameras or portable units near schools and parks to a school maintenance fund.

And we can get those portable units as long as they're a mile and a quarter away, and we can have parks and definitely near schools.

And I like them because all these people cutting through backdoors in St.

Margaret's and Kent Heights and all these speeders behind these schools, they need to be ticketed to and save us our kids.

I have a whole nother statement for that, but let's keep to this to a school maintenance fund where I left off.

That creates balance.

Schools benefit, but we don't weaken the resources that keep the entire city safe.

At the end of the day, safety is for everyone.

Families walk into school, seniors crossing our streets, and neighbors using our parks.

That's where these funds belong.

That's my comment.

Thank you, Councilman.

So a motion to table by Councilman Lawson.

Is there a second?

I'll second.

Second, Councilman Fogerty.

All in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Thank you.

Table indefinitely.

Next item.

Number three, an ordinance and amendment of chapter five of the revised ordinances of the city of East Providence, Rhode Island, 1998.

As amended entitled fire prevention summary.

Adding section five-fifty seven solicitation, solicitation at fire scenes prohibited conduct.

Introduced by Council Vice President Regal.

Council Vice President.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Uh this is second passage.

Uh this came about because of a fire on Thatcher Street.

Going back May, June of this year.

One was from Councilman Lawson, and one was from a cover of a constituents saying something is going on up on Thatcher Street, uh major fire.

So I happened to be fortunate that day to be up in the East Providence area on business.

And when I was coming, uh, and unfortunately, it was uh a good friend of mine who I grew up with.

His house was on fire, the family was devastated.

Uh obviously beyond words, making sure animals got out.

But the thing that really struck me was that the uh uh the fire restoration people were just like bloodhounds, you know, walking up to the to these family members handing out cards cards, uh in the way of the fire department as well as the police, you know, department doing their work.

And so this is second passage to ensure that God forbid uh uh any other residents of the city has to live live through that ordeal that they don't have to be dealing with these uh fire restoration people up there, it sets the boundary.

So I move uh passage of this second matter is a public hearing.

Any other comments from the council hearing none or anyone here tonight like to comment or have any questions?

No one out of the 450 people that are here want to comment.

No seeing none or close the public hearing.

All in favor?

I need opposed?

Yeah, I have it.

Thank you.

Next item number four, an ordinance adopting the 2025 2035 East Providence comprehensive plan.

Make a motion to approve, and I apologize, Keith.

We tried to get you guys up front, and I totally zoned on this, so I apologize.

I owe you a coffee.

Two coffees.

I make a motion to approve.

Second.

Well, he might have apologized, but councilman regal said let them stay.

That's a bottle of one.

Is there anyone here?

I mean, we've had a lot of discussion on this, and it can always be changed through the year.

Anyone here like to comment on this?

Any more comments or questions, hearing none, close the public hearing.

Uh we had the motion and second.

Did you get that?

Um, okay.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Thank you.

Thank you, Keith.

Seriously, for all your work.

So just so the council knows that it doesn't become actually final until it's approved by the state planning office, correct, Keith.

So we haven't we're waiting for that.

So what's that?

A couple of years.

I don't know.

So until such time as it's approved by the state, we have to use the old comprehensive plan.

Okay.

Good work, um, thank you.

It's um, it's usable to guide city decisions, but not state ones at this time.

Great.

Thank you, sir.

And thank you.

To the council, thank you very much.

It's you know, years in the making here.

So long process, people don't understand the detail of it, but we appreciate it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, bud.

Next item.

New business, mayor communications, chief of staff, Patricia Rosendi.

Thank you, Chief.

Again, good evening, Council.

Um, Councilman Lason.

Uh I and I'm going to, I'm not going to go through manifestations just yet.

I just wanted to give you an answer to something you asked earlier about the compost toilets, Council President.

Yes, sure.

So um we did receive a Rhode Island grant when we discussed the and had the event for the swimmable beaches, once that becomes available.

And through that grant, compost um toilets were already part of that.

So in that area.

So I just wanted to remind you because it's been a little while because we've been working with the state on that grant.

Uh well, we're instilling the process on making it a swimming beach, but that is all part of that process.

I can gather all that information and forward that to you.

I just wanted to make you aware.

That was part of the plan.

Right, but to make it swimmable, we need the bathrooms.

Yes, and we talked about lifeguard.

You make you need a lifeguard, too.

Support lifeguards.

They kind of go together.

You can't have a lifeguard, or can't have a swimming beach without the lifeguard.

No, the beach disappears, right?

Right, I do.

Why are we waiting for aware?

So I've just got to warn the council this is not on the agenda.

Yes, I just wanted to, I just wanted to bring that up.

I just it has to be a discussion.

It's it disappears.

Why are we wasting taxpayer dollars on lifeguards?

Just wanted to I I get the sentiment, but it doesn't match the reality.

So that's it.

Thank you, Solicitor Marcello.

And air communications, I only have one item on the agenda for this evening, and that is just to remind the council.

I did send you all these documents.

Uh the city currently has an RF EOI, uh, which is um seeking expressions of interest for vendors.

So basically with this, the CW's Providence and Keith Director Burns can tell you this as well.

We've been working with NVA, the consultant, um, who has finally completed the feasibility study, and I did make that um available to all of you.

And the purpose was to see whether or not there were out anyone out there willing to invest in what was been discussed during many community meetings, which is incubator space, satellite recenter, um, as well as housing.

So we don't have any proposals on the table as of right now, but that RF um the RFEOI is currently out, and all of that is in your inbox if you would like to review that.

And that is all from me this evening, unless you have any questions.

Thank you very much.

I do have a request on the finance reports.

Can I get a read-only copy of it?

I understand I requested it and you said that you can't share it because you don't want us manipulated.

Can I just get a read-only copy so I can aggregate data easily?

He's referring to I I don't need the master sheet where I can change numbers.

I just what you provide to us.

Can I just instead of a PDF?

I'm sorry, are you referring to the documents with the the RFQ or the R.

No, no, no, the financial reports that you guys get.

Oh, that the council.

You guys provide us a PDF copy.

I don't want access to what your sheet does.

Right.

Um, just so it makes it easier for us to aggregate the data and do what we need.

Yeah, that's fine.

That's our only request.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Don't go far, Glenda.

Are you all set?

It's good.

She oh, okay.

Yes, that was the only thing on mayor communications.

Thank you.

Thank you.

New business items for announcement and discussion.

June finance and capital reports, director of finance, Glenda Degato.

Well, again, we we just discussed that.

We did the request is that going forward, if we could get instead of a scan PDF, we can get an actual spreadsheet.

Thank you.

I appreciate that.

I appreciate that.

Well, we're gonna get the CSC.

Okay.

Next item.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Reports of other city officials request to approve residential handicap parking sign for 34 West Street, East Providence, Rhode Island, 02914.

Was this Annis?

Yeah.

Uh I'd make a motion to approve.

Second.

Motion to approve Councilman Lawson.

Seconded by Councilman Fogerty.

All in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

I just have it.

Next item.

Resolutions for this.

Nope.

Mary voted.

Let it let us see.

Actually, uh introduction of ordinances for discussion and possible vote.

Yes.

Um, Councilman Lawson, did you have anything for the school committee?

I do.

So if you're paying attention to the budget process, the schools are going through.

Um, they are going to be requesting an increase.

Uh the bulk of that increase is just the salary obligations year over year.

You get if we want the best and brightest, we gotta offer competitive salaries, and you gotta have a yearly pay increase, you know.

We talk about affordable housing, it's the wage stagnation that also hurts.

So you can't not give people raises.

So a bulk of their increase is that there's other things.

Um, there's no fat, whatever people think, they're doing a great job.

They're struggling because people I hope understand that our budget year is not in sync with the state.

So every other community on July 1 begins their fiscal yeah.

Our school department starts their budget on November 1.

So school ends in June.

There's still two months of that budget money they have to get through.

So if they had to spend on subs and stuff, now it's two months, and the money for supplies and stuff like that.

You know, hopefully there's enough to get through the first couple months.

So there's so many challenges.

Things are getting better, the craft program, that uh taking care of and stuff.

So I just want you guys to be aware.

I'm gonna fully support their number.

Um, I think we owe it to the students and teachers of the city of East Providence.

The capital stuff will come through the um capital building fund.

So it won't be built into that budget.

So basically their budget can go towards the needed um staff.

Um people also gonna understand too that if you do a budget in the middle of the year, things can change.

If one special needs kid comes in and their IEP says they need a nurse, we have to fund that.

And that could be a major hit to a budget.

So, you know, and I'm only saying this so people understand more of process because you hear a lot of criticism and stuff.

Well, there's a reason why we have to go through these budgets and why the numbers are the way they are.

I challenge anybody, there's no fat in these budgets.

There's no pork, there's no pet projects getting funded.

It's primarily salaries and benefits for the people that provide the services the city of East Providence needs public safety, public works, public education, uh fields and parks.

So I just say this so we're aware that the school will come in saying we need an increase from what we got last year.

And it's a valid.

I've been following along.

I they shared the budget with me.

I think they're doing a great job.

They still unfortunately have to do some cuts and you know, um, teaching assistance, speech, and occupational therapy for our special needs kids.

These things they cost money, and we are gonna take care of these kids.

So that's my uh preamble.

Um, I commend the school department, uh Sandy and the finance director.

Um, it's not easy.

It is not easy, uh, especially with schools.

Enrollments up.

So everybody that keeps saying, oh, no, the enrollment's down and stuff.

That is not true.

The high school's now at I think 1698 around there.

Um Wardington, as we know, is bursting at the seams pretty much.

Granted, once the preschool is built over at Martin, that will alleviate it.

But I just say this to really get the word out there so people understand.

And public education, it's important.

It's crucial.

Not everybody can afford a private school.

So we need to have a well-educated society.

So that's my spiel, just to give you guys that heads up that they will be asking for an increase.

I, from what I've seen, read and heard, I'm gonna fully support that number that they bring.

So and the community needs to uh support all of all of this as well.

With when you build a brand new high school, which by most indications is the state-of-the-art school in in Rhode Island, and then another bond issue passes you um overwhelmingly, which essentially rebuilds Martin Middle School, and monies are also helping at Waddington, Riverside Middle School, others.

Uh none of that's free.

So the public has to um back up those votes of confidence to pass bond issues.

Uh council, school committee, administrations in both departments.

Uh we're all at the same table.

And that's why I push for the school building fund and funding to go in it.

You asked the townies to borrow 300 million.

We better damn well make sure that we have the resources to maintain 11 schools and stuff.

Um that's that's the push.

That's why I do that, you know.

Well, yeah, we have our work cut out for us.

Thank you.

Absolutely.

Next item.

Introducing to order of ordinances for discussion and possible vote.

Number one, in ordinance increasing the annual salary of the city council pursuant to section two-three of Article 2 of the city charter.

Annual salary of each city council member shall increase to $9,000.

And the council president shall also be entitled to an additional payment of $1,000 above the salary as set forth in section one of this ordinance affected January 1st, 2027, introduced by councilman Fogarty.

You can have uh councilman.

President, you can have that.

Well, the next president anyway.

You want the six-page version or the no, the uh the cliff notes.

Second passage, I'll bring nothing but one comment.

Uh let's see.

As a councilman elected in 2022, I receive a little over what, 3500 a year for the time and work this role demands.

That amount is far too low.

Serving on council is not limited to two meetings a month.

It means constant calls, emails, meetings with constituents, follow-ups on projects, and representing our city every day, which I do, and I know everybody sitting here does.

On top of that, we cover our own costs, gas, wear into our vehicles, rising market prices, internet, phones, traffic.

We all face the same traveling throughout the city, only to add to those demands.

When you factor in the hours, this stipend does not amount to $3 an hour.

None of us do this for the money.

I know that.

But fairness matters.

If the pay remains too low, we risk discouraging good people from stepping up to serve.

That's why I proposed beginning in 2027.

Not a raise to me now with this council, everybody that's talking out of the step.

That's why I proposed this for 2027.

That counselors receive 9,000 annually, which I should have put, I actually wanted to put more because you guys deserve it, and Anna, with the council president at 10,000.

This adjustment better reflects the responsibilities, time, and real cost of serving East Providence.

So that's my short statement.

Thank you.

And one of them be people uh going to that a song.

Um you know, public service is tough.

You know, you get criticized left and right.

You you get people that don't even know you questioning your motives, questioning your character, your integrity and stuff.

Who the hell would want to do that?

So we haven't raised the salary or stipend, whatever the term is of an elected member.

God knows how long.

3500's been that way for a long time.

So in this day and age, I think it's important that you know, we encourage people that want to get into public service with the needs, you know.

Like councilman said, we put in a lot of, we're part-time.

We don't have an administrative assistant.

Yeah, we got the city clerk, which is great.

Well, like to aggregate data and stuff, what we're talking about to keep track of bills going through general assembly stuff like a lot of that we're doing on our own.

You know what I mean?

And so I'm fully in support of this, and again, it starts next term.

We're not voting ourselves a pay raise.

Whoever gets elected for these seats for the 2027 term, they will be the ones that will start receiving 9,000.

You know, it has to be raised at some point.

So I'm glad you had the courage to bring it forward, despite the criticism we're gonna get.

And I a thousand percent support this and uh second it if you already passage on it.

So motion and second, but still under discussion.

Um, council members.

I uh obviously a lot of the words that was said here, I'm not gonna repeat, but uh for a historian's standpoint, it was higher.

The budget commission came in and you know, came in here and did what they had to do, or and some of the things were obviously very good because it got the city back on its feet again.

But this is one of the scenarios.

It it was funny.

Um, as a lot of you people know, I am uh Mayor Flaherty or Justice Flaherty is a good family friend of ours.

And he was he asked me one day, he goes, uh, what do you get up in East Providence now for being on the council?

I said, well, I said 3500.

And he goes to me, that's what I was making on the Warwick City Council in 1976 before I became mayor.

So uh again, as my fellow council people say, you know, say we uh uh we we take it, but that's part of the job.

It's uh it's like being the umpire and uh try to do the job where we don't go on it, but everybody's not gonna agree with every call.

And uh that's part of the process.

It's the integrity part when you call in or calling our families, you you know, and get and we get and the gaslighting is the thing that goes up me sideways.

But uh the thing when our families are thrown into the mix of things, and uh that uh that is just absurd.

I mean, to the point of uh, you know, when we had the situation with the murder last year, we had some know it all said to uh, you know, occupy city hall.

That was a great words, and you know, come protest in front of their houses.

Come and protest in front of my house, because you're gonna have a nice surprise when you show up to my house most of the time.

And I'll just leave it at that.

But I also want to uh add similar to what councilman Fogerty's gonna add for the for the uh whoever is the person who sits in the mayor's office next time.

Is that I just want to add to the five council people's uh budget uh on uh on that section three on an annual basis, the salary of the city council shall be adjusted January 1st by the total percentage increase of the consumer price index for all urban consumers published in the United States Department of Labor of Labor Statistics for the Northeast Region for the previous 12 months.

Oh, you don't need that.

Okay, no, I don't agree with that part.

Right, so we're gonna take it uh the mayor part too.

I don't agree with that.

All right, so whatever we're gonna take it out, all right.

We can amend that, right?

Okay, we can amend.

I thought we were gonna take it out of the mayor's part.

Don't add it to the council part.

Okay, and I'm amending the still, you know, discussion right now is just the council.

Right.

Okay.

I'm fine with it as is without that.

I'm good.

Oh, okay.

And um the only thing I'll add is that the key to remember is this is for subsequent city councils 2027.

Not this.

And the new council sworn in.

Council President, I just want to say that for the record.

So I I don't usually read Facebook, but I uh I have heard that some people have indicating that this is unethical conduct by the council because the fact that this will not take effect until a new council and election happens.

There's nothing that the ethics laws prevents you from doing this.

This is completely ethical.

In fact, the law requires you to do this.

Well, that's why it becoming effective on January 1st, 2027.

So there's nothing and anyone who has a problem ward for a council at least province right.

I will be more than happy to meet and have a civil conversation and explain to folks why we believe this is important.

This is similar to what happens on the federal level with the Congress and Senate as well as at the state level for setting the pays for the general offices.

Oh, no, I'm just saying, but this is the actually I'm talking about the process.

Congress can vote itself or raise it for the current purpose, but uh this is this is this completely complies with the Royal Ethics Code.

That's right.

Madam Clerk, did you get the motion and second on that?

Yes, okay.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it for zero.

Thank you, councilman.

Next item.

In orders in ordinance establishing the annual salary of the mayor.

The annual salary of the mayor shall be 120,000.

The mayor is entitled to all other ancillary benefits of employment enjoyed by department heads with annual cost of living adjustment.

Effective January 1st, 2027, introduced by councilman Fogerty.

Yes, councilman.

Thank you, Chairman Rod.

I'll do the one page instead of the three-page.

I promise.

Take your time.

You never heard me speak that much, right?

Right.

Take your time.

Time for it.

Throw a few things down about this proposal.

Over the past six and a half years, Mayor Bob DeSilva has demonstrated tireless commitment and effective leadership in guarding our city through challenging times.

His efforts have been visible across every neighborhood from Rutherford to Riverside and throughout the central city.

He has met daily with residents, businesses, department heads, and community organizations while overseeing investments in parks, infrastructure, schools, and public works, all while striving to avoid tax increases.

Mayor DeSilva has managed the demands of economic challenges, the Washington Bridge crisis, infrastructure disruptions, and rising cost of living, despite these pressures, he has remained accessible, engaged, and dedicated to improving East Providence.

His work has not gone unnoticed by our residents.

Given the scope of responsibility required of the office, the increasing demands of city management, and the sir and the severe rise in cost of living since the position's salary was last set.

It is fair and necessary to adjust the pay for this role.

This adjustment ensures that the city of East Providence continues to attract strong leadership and reflect the true value of the position.

For these reasons, I believe the mayor's salary should be set at 120,000 beginning in 2027.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman.

So again, this is for subsequent um mayor in 2027.

In fact, if it does not apply to anyone in office right now.

Well, that was an original 90,000 six and a half years ago.

Yeah, six years, right?

And I will say I was on the charter commission when we came to the 90 Dow.

What we did was we took the average of what we call the urban ring, Cranston, Warwick.

We providence is the outlier being the Capitol Moon Socket, Pa Tucket, and 90 was the average.

What skewed it was Alan Fung in Cranston was making like 60 or 70 very low, very low.

So that skewed it.

So I am totally in favor of in 2027 the next mayor um salary be 120,000 a yeah.

Also remember, we also provide the mayor with a car, insurance, gas.

So I think 120 is very, very favorable.

I cannot support section two, though, Frank.

Yeah.

Is there any uh appetite to remove that?

I'll amend that.

Okay.

Can we remove section two from this?

We can add like an annual evaluation.

I would like to do that any time, yeah.

Right, so we can do that.

Oh, you can't obviously can't increase the salary of the mayor now during now or during the mayor's term.

By the way, we're talking about the office of the mayor.

So when we talk about maybe possible charter things, one thing I'm gonna suggest is every budget season, the city council evaluate the mayor's salary and award a raise as necessary.

Um the reason I oppose this to be very clear, we may have tight financial years.

And you you can't have uh a built-in raise for the mayor, but then tell city workers sorry, we can't give you a raise.

So that's the reason why I believe we should strike section two.

Can you amend your uh second and the motion to reflect the striking that's the amendment will now be to strike section two in its entirety?

Yes.

And so if that's the second, we'll we'll vote on that amendment.

Yes.

I also have a technical amendment.

If you look at there's two section two's um, I just need that's a typo there, it should be section three, section two should be section three.

It's a type from the law department.

So um January 2027.

Make make that that should be section three, not section two.

So you're striking the middle section two.

Is that the motion?

Yeah, the part where you should have a lot of things.

That's that's and I second the motion to strike section two.

Now we're gonna vote on that amendment, Council President, if there's any more discussion.

So the vote is on that amendment.

Uh and what should be section three?

Should it say January one or should it say when do we get sworn in?

Like the f well I thought it would just January would cover it, my guy.

I believe that's I believe that's the decision.

Okay.

Well, just long as we're good with that.

So, yes, I second the motion to strike section two.

All in favor of that amendment.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Yeah, I have it.

So Mr.

President, we need now we need the motion.

Vote on this uh ordinance as amended.

So the is there a motion to approve the ordinance as amended.

I'll make a motion to councilman Fogerty moves it.

Councilman Lawson seconds.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Four zero.

First passage.

For first passage.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Next item.

I think that we already did the other part of the favorite time.

the motion on this uh uh ordinance as amended so the m is there a motion to approve the ordinance as amended i'll make a motion to councilman fogerty moves it councilman lawson seconds it all in favor aye aye any opposed the ayes have it four zero first passage for first passage thank you very much thank you next item that i think that we already did the other part of the favorite title yes it is is there a motion to adjourn uh make that motion councilman lawson seconded by council vice president regal all in favor aye any opposed um council president september sixth at east provenance high school the platters the platters i have my ticket i will uh yeah buddy i i was there a couple years ago the show is absolutely fantastic nice scrimmage there we go are we off i'm sorry i keep talking