Members of the council, I will uh change the order a little bit as we normally do for courtesy.

At this point, we would go to uh some of our resolutions.

We go to page six in the agenda items uh number one and two.

And I would ask uh if the councilwoman wants to uh introduce the resolution uh number one when you get organized there and you get it.

This is a resolution to honor our sister city Villa Franca du Camp, recognizing Grove Avenue as Ville Franco du Camp Avenue.

Um as many may remember or recall last year, um the council um approved us being uniting with Villa Franco du Camp in the island of St.

Michael Azores as a sister city.

That's our second sister city um in the Azores.

Um the first being uh um with many of our residents with many of our residents um in the city being descendants and immigrants from uh Villa Franco du Camp, um, building on our relationship with that um town and city is really important not only to our residents but also to our economic growth in our city, state, and in our nation.

Um we had the opportunity uh um myself and the mayor of going out with the president of the Villa Franco du Camp, um Villa Franco du Camp of Um East Providence, going to the Azores.

I just happen to be there on vacation as I do annually to see my family and was joined joined the mayor to um have a placard uh dedicated to the city of East Providence.

So in their main rotary, there is a beautiful uh placor that uh honors the city of East Providence made with homemade tiles by that village.

So I'm just gonna read um the proclamation.

I mean, I'm sorry, the um the resolution into the record.

Whereas the Portuguese American community within the city of East Providence has maintained a close relationship with the country of Portugal, and whereas many Portuguese immigrants within the city of East Providence originated from the village of Vila Franco do Campu, located in the San Miguel Islands of the Azores off the coast of Portugal, and whereas a significant amount of the East Providence residents from Vila Franca, those immigrants come to the city from every um everything in East Providence and has to offer and have brought with them their traditions, cultures, and many of their worth ethics.

And whereas Vila Franco offers its thousands of tourists that visit each year Great Beaches, its inlets, Senora de Page, and famous custard Quejades de Villa Dufranc, um, which are imported from the villa to Canada, Bermuda, and the United States.

Local pay bakeries in the city also have them, so please check them out.

They're delicious.

Um we therefore um have become sister cities with East Providence on October 2024 to strengthen those relationships uh between the city of East Providence and the village of Vila Franco du Camp.

Um so where it is the City of East Providence and the village of Villa Franco du Camp are committed to developing tourism, exchanging business practices, and creating opportunities for people to learn and experience the culture in a long-term relationship.

Um we do hereby um in conjunction with the office of the mayor, proclaim Grove Avenue as Villa Franco du Camp Avenue in recognition of this partnership with our sister city.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

That's a motion by Councilwoman Susan.

Second, seconded by Councilman Lawson.

Any council discussion?

All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Yeah, I have it.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

Thank you.

And there will be a later date as to when we will have that ceremony putting the street sign up.

Thank you.

And for clarification, whenever these uh street designations are made, uh the legal street name remains, you know, Grove Avenue, and then this is a uh conjunctionary thing with with it, and it's an honorary designation.

So no one has to worry about changing mailing addresses or anything.

Uh Madam Clerk, could you read uh the heading for number two?

Number two, resolution to honor Avelino Chappie Rose by recognizing Calton Avenue as Evelino Chappie Rose Way, introduced by Council President Roderics.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

So Miss Mr.

Rose, uh known affectionately by uh much of the community as as Chappie, was uh quite an individual.

Um is quite an individual, reaching um 102, is it?

No.

101 years of age.

And along with uh Mayor DeSilver, uh, I visited with um Chappie Rose and a lot of his family and friends, many who are here tonight, and he was uh quite quite alert and quite aware of what was going on, and he is a member of the community who is known by many as uh sort of the the mayor of that community, uh, going way, way back as much as chasing the kids around who he thought weren't behaving well, and he'd go after them and straighten them out, uh, usually verbally, but they wouldn't challenge him.

Um, they still don't challenge him, and and he uh he is every bit as vibrant these these days.

Um he's um struggling a bit, you know.

You can imagine when you reach a hundred and one years of life, um you you slow down a bit.

And so he's he's still sharp, he's still slowed down, but the neighborhood uh and much of his providence that knew him rose up and said, This is a man we want to honor while he can understand it and and know what we're doing.

And he was um very, very happy at the presentation uh the mayor made, and I was able to join with him.

So I will read um much of this.

Um it it really illuminates the life of Avalino Chappie Rose, and if you don't know him, uh we hope that after this you'll you'll get to know of his impact on East Providence and beyond.

He was born on March 21st, 1924 in East Providence, whereas he was the eldest of four children, born to Jose de Rosa, the island of Fogo and Annie Brito Rose, the island of Brava, both part of Cap Verde Akipalaga.

How do you say that, Anna?

Oh, that's and whereas Mr.

Rose enlisted, and this is a very important part of his life, um, Cape Verdean, but American, and he um served this nation.

He enlisted in the U.S.

Army, the age of 18 to provide support um to his family, raising three siblings, Ida, Joseph, Mary.

Sounds like the Apostles right there.

Whereas Corporal Rose served the 1883 Company Aviation Battalion Engineers assigned to the 10th Air Force in the China Burma India unit.

And whereas the battalion cut the roads in the land taken from the Japanese by Merrill's Marauders, a U.S.

Army long-range penetration special operations jungle warfare unit.

Chappie did it all.

Whereas Mr.

Rose, a World War II veteran, married the love of his life, the late Alice Fonce Rose, and raised three sons and two daughters.

And whereas the couple first settled in Fox Point, and like most Fox Point people, eventually moved to East Providence, where they knew it would be uh uh a blessing.

He always intended to return to his roots in East Providence.

My my wife was a Fox Pointer, she also had moved moved here, got gut-wise.

Chapy eventually intended to return to his roots in EP.

The blessing of his mom, he built the home on Carlton Avenue, the very land where he was born and raised, originally owned by his maternal grandmother, Mary Santos.

Chappie and Alice moved into the house he built with his own hands, and together they raised five children at that home that is now still at 21 Carlton Avenue.

He enjoys spending time with his family, consisting of his son William and daughter-in-law Linda, and their daughters Gina and Maria, daughter Lois, and son-in-law John, son Jeffrey and his wife Patricia and their children, Jason and Alison, son Joseph, daughter Elizabeth, their children, Alexander, Jonathan, and Derek.

I think so many here.

If you're here, raise your hand and wave all of the family.

So nice that you could be here for Chappie.

His life was marked by a series of groundbreaking achievements, including becoming the first black Cape Verdean processing sheriff in Rhode Island, and the first black Cape Verdean waterfront superintendent for John J.

Orr and Sons Company.

He also served as commander of the China Burma India Veterans Association, advocating for the recognition and dignity of his fellow servicemen.

A devoted father gave everything to his children and instilled in them a deep commitment to education, hard work, and hard work.

So his legacy lies in his devotion to community.

A true Jack of all trades, he was a pillar of the Cape Verdean Progressive Center, where he volunteered countless hours as the building chairperson.

He did everything.

He had craftsmanship, his generosity shaped the physical and spiritual heart of the Cape Verdean Club, affectionately known by many of us as the C V Club.

Renovated the front bar to the construction of the Founders Hall.

It is widely acknowledged that no one has contributed more hands-on work to the C V Club than Chappie Rose.

He was definitely a man ahead of his time.

Proud of his heritage, rooted in neighborhood, committed to lifting others through hard work, humility, and love.

And if you get to meet Chappie, if you stop by there and see him, I had never met him until the other day.

I've heard the name for years.

And he was his shop as attacked and told the mayor that, you know, it's a few things I want to straighten you out on, but he said, not today.

He said, I don't, I want you to leave that street sign right here.

And we we left a couple signs there for him to have in his house.

So he is truly um first and foremost.

He's an honorable veteran who served this nation so well, but he never forgot his roots from the neighborhood to his Cape Verdean culture, which we all know is such a great culture within not only East Providence, but this nation in many in many spots.

And what more can a person do for family or community when much of that community still remembers him, still remembers him being out in the streets, telling them to clean up and pick up and do the right thing.

So therefore, be resolved that this city, his city of East Providence, and this city council, along with the office of Mayor DeSilva, to hereby proclaim Carlton Avenue shall be recognized as Avellino Chappy Rose Way to honor him for his outstanding achievements as a serviceman, builder, longshoreman, and volunteer in the city of East Providence.

May I have a motion to that effect?

So the motion is made by all sitting council members, seconded by all sitting council members.

All in favor.

Anyone dare oppose.

As you know, my grandfather was that same scenario.

One thing that you forgot to mention, and he was very humbled about it when I met him very young.

He was a purple hot winner.

Yeah.

I just want to say in these times, it's vital that we honor those who gave so much back.

So those who come after us know what the standard is.

And a veteran member of the greatest generation.

The best part about being on this council is being able to honor people like Chappie.

And that's great.

When we were leaving his house the other day, then I'll go back to you, Councilman.

Um he held one of the signs and he he said to the mayor and to me, he said, so this will be my street.

We said, Yeah.

He said, I can speed, do anything I want on this street.

And we said, Yeah, you got us there.

There'll be uh I I think the deputy chief is here, the police department or chief is here.

So, you know, Jappy Rose, he's got a free ticket just on that street, though.

So the motion carries officially congratulations.

Thank you all for coming.

You're welcome to stay here till one in the morning with the rest of us.

Uh no.

Yes, we're going to superintend it first.

Yeah.

There will be uh, by the way, there will be a formal ceremony um when we will have a program to um actually raise the sign, and we'll let the community know.

Thank you all.

Thank you.

Also switching up on the agenda a little bit.

We're going to on go to page two, is it number Roman numeral room numero under proclamations and presentations?

Um, Madam Clerk, could you read number one and your parent, East Providence Public School Department Superintendent?

Ride stage two submission.

Thank you.

Uh Superintendent is here if you want to proceed.

Good evening.

Thank you for having us.

I'm here with my project team, um, An DeSilva from Peregrine, and um sorry.

I know that Tracy Donnelly, sorry, it's been a long day.

Tracy Donnelly from Studio Jade.

Welcome.

Um, thank you.

Uh we're here to go over our stage two proposal um so that we are able to get reimbursement from Ride for these projects.

Um, and Ann is gonna lead us through.

Good evening.

Welcome.

Thank you, President Rodericks.

Um, so for context, we have um not the first time that the city council has been through this, but currently we are in for uh formal approval of the ride stage two submission.

Um we are this is really a funding exercise that we are currently going through.

The current reimbursement rate for EP as shown on the um housing aid bonus on the ride website actually shows it as a 47% housing aid reimbursement, just for some context.

Um just some background on this.

We submitted the LOI for RIDE at the end of last year.

We also submitted the stage one in February, which we got approval for back in April of this year.

Um, since we received that approval, we've actually had some coordination meetings with the district and the facilities team to really go through and prioritize um some of the needs at the current schools in uh East Providence.

Studio Jade, um Tracy Donnelly is here uh to represent them.

Actually went through facilities assessments as well uh after um school let out this year, the beginning of July.

We walked through again with facilities to just make sure that we are capturing all of the needs prioritizing um the elementary schools and uh a couple of um some riverside middle school items as well.

Um so after going through that, Studio Jade actually um went through and did their uh assessment.

Um, and we actually also have estimates too associated with um those priority items as well.

So um we've gone through and presented the draft um stage two to building and school committee, and that that's why this is now before you here.

And I'll turn it over to our partner here, Tracy Donnelly from Studio Jade.

Thank you.

Welcome.

Thank you, counsel, for uh having us here tonight.

Thank you, Council, for uh having us here tonight.

I just wanted to give an update and a summary of the stage two application.

I know many of you have probably been through this before.

Maybe some of you have not.

It is a requirement for RIDE in order to ensure that you get reimbursement on any projects that you do.

It was mentioned what your current reimbursement rate is.

There's also some opportunity for some bonus incentive points that would get you over 50% reimbursement on some of these projects that you do.

So if we can just go to the next slide.

So primarily these projects entail what we call health and safety projects.

So you can see the allotments that are slated for each school.

Ride does approve the application by school.

It is possible if you need to to do an adjustment and move funds from one school to another, should you decide to do that.

That is usually done towards the end of your application.

So this is a five-year plan.

And probably if you get towards the fourth year or so, and you realize that you may want to shift something, you always have that opportunity to do that.

But these are the maximum amounts that Ride would reimburse per school.

So starting with Oldham School, which is about 30,000 square feet.

It would be select envelope repairs, roof and skylight replacement, intercom PA replacement, and a secure entrance vestibule at a total of about 2.9 million.

May I interrupt with just for one second?

But clarifications for those in the community who maybe forget the Oldham School is the actually the old metal crest building on Bot Drive.

It is not referring to the old school near the Crescent Park Carousel.

This is the school that was formerly called Meadow Crest.

And when schools were changed years ago, um the name and the students and the faculty all followed.

So that's why it's called Oldem.

Thank you.

I'm sorry.

No, thank you for the clarification.

Hennessey Elementary School, 250,000 for intercom and PA replacement.

Kent Heights Elementary School 250,000 for intercom and PA replacement.

And of course, those are so critical in this day and age of communications and so many of our schools were in need of these improvements.

And I I think Dr.

Faran, we're pretty much all buildings are about as well as we can expect right now.

So this is going a long way to help that.

Thank you.

Okay.

Francis Elementary School, 400,000 site improvements, which would be paving play areas and fencing.

Addressing any trip fall hazards.

And Silver Spring Elementary School roofing replacement 1.7 million.

So we we are about 47% reimbursement.

How do we get to the 50?

There are bonus reimbursements for things like safety and security.

So your secure festibule would be eligible, your PA system projects would be eligible.

Those are not guaranteed till the end of the project when we submit the reimbursement forms to Ride.

We will help you.

We'll fill those out for you.

Make sure you get your reimbursement in on time and apply for any additional bonuses that you are eligible for.

Thank you.

I have one question in regards to France's elementary school right here.

Maybe this is a question for the superintendent, but since it's not there, the security and PA system and everything is up to standards that we need to be.

Thank you.

And um Silver Spring Elementary School Roofing Replacement, 1.7 million.

Waddington Elementary School, 550,000 for site improvements, uh, similar to the other school, that would be paving play areas and fencing.

Whitnack Elementary School, 600,000 for site improvements, select window and door replacement, and Orlow Av Elementary School 2 million for site improvements and roofing replacement.

So I'll all have again uh all avenues the same scenario as far as security and the PA system being this summer we completed replacement of four intercom systems using um the safety and security money that we had applied for.

So uh the ones up there are the remaining schools that need the intercom replaced.

Thank you.

And this is just a chart that um shows you which schools would be um in which categories for projects, whether it was um exterior improvements, roofing, site improvements, um, secure vestibules, and how those uh projects are allocated across the district.

Can can you or or superintendent for Rand uh for those who may be seeing some of these numbers for the first time?

We're talking $9 million total project submission.

Could you in a nutshell explain the source of this money?

I I will let the superintendent speak to that, but I just want to reiterate the nine million dollars is um just projects that are eligible for reimbursement.

You are not tied into committing to that amount.

Um Ride anticipates about 50% um for their expectations.

Okay, thank you.

Do you want to add to that, Dr.

Frian?

Yes, so most of this money would be coming from the capital account that the committee established, the council established for the committee.

Thank you.

Do you need to continue with anything?

Uh I believe this is the last slide, so thank you.

Thank you.

Questions from the council.

Are they slated to be on time?

Improvements once.

Yeah, I mean, they haven't even uh started yet or been designed.

You have five years to complete these projects.

Right.

So and to get the to the 50%.

So all we need is those that you listed to get to that obligation.

So any of the ones that are on the list in the stage two application are eligible for your base reimbursement, which was the uh high 40s, and then um any ones that are eligible right now, there's safety and security bonuses.

Um, so obviously your secure vestibules, your PA systems, those would be eligible for the bonus reimbursement.

So yes, councilwoman.

I'm sorry, go ahead.

Would those be anticipated to get established and going first?

So we need your permission to move forward with stage two, and then we would submit stage three.

And do you have a time schedule as far as each build each building when you uh foresee those get in underway?

Is there a priority as far as which schools are going first?

Yeah, so that's that will still be developed further.

Um, so stage two is really the funding exercise.

Once we're approved, and ride will actually say which of these schools and which items they're actually going to approve and move forward for reimbursement.

We actually have a stage three process where we need to submit schematic design, design development, construction documents um at 60%.

So there's another process that we need to go through for approval with RIDE before we can actually put boots on the ground to start the construction work.

So the really the five-year time frame starts as soon as we receive the RIDE MOA memorandum of agreement, where they can say, okay, these are the items that are actually approved, these are the schools, and your clock is ticking now.

Um, but that includes the design um time frame in within that five years as well.

So question the super question for superintendent, and again, uh from a priority standpoint.

If I'm looking at this real quick, the secure entrance and anticom systems uh probably gonna be the first ones that you would want to do, correct?

And I mean, then we don't want leaky roofs because that's no fun to be in a leaky roofs and play outside uh outside playgrounds, uh paving and would probably be at the end of the priority.

Yeah, if we if we're looking at it to get the money from Ride, you know, if we had to go one to ten.

Yeah, so we'll prioritize based on health and safety needs.

Um this is the same process that we had to go through for the high school, and then we went through it for the Martin Pre-K Waddington process.

So this is our third time we're submitting to RIDE for these improvements um to resulted in new schools, but this is district wide projects.

I also want to note that with um we had applied for emergency safety and security uh money that you can apply for at Ride um once a year.

So this year, um this past year we just completed the four intercom systems using that, and then we're doing PEVI projects.

Um Hennessy actually started today.

We have four schools that we're working on peeving projects right now, too, and that's safety and security money.

So this will be um separate from those, but we are continuing to do improvements and prioritizing needs based on um health and safety.

And what what I would urge um my fellow counselors to do, and I'm sure everyone is on the same page.

Um, from my experience in dealing with uh high school building committee, now the Martin Building Committee and others uh time uh is of the essence on our part.

We need to give the staff the the uh legal permission to move forward.

This is not the case statewide.

I I know from speaking to several people involved that there are other communities that are struggling.

Some did not get the money, some that are building high schools have slowed down and are now in some kind of difficulty.

We've been moving right along and need to continue to to do that.

Um they'll prioritize things, I'm sure, with our you know, involvement, of course.

Um so any other questions.

The chair.

Yes, councilwoman.

Thank you.

Dr.

Faran, so just to be clear, the priority projects they encompass 4.5 million dollars out of the entire project, correct?

So the entire project we'll submit is for nine million, hoping that at some point maybe we do start to find additional funding.

We have to complete half of that nine million by ride standards.

But we're better off over um applying that way.

We have the option to not go back to ride.

And as we you know get the money to do these additional projects, we could just move forward without doing another um request.

Um the um and then with the with the request being the safety first, right?

Those priority ones, we're also in a position to get that higher reimbursement sooner.

Correct, because that's the upwards of 50 percent once those are completed.

So and those are already set as our priorities to start with those projects.

Yeah, but reimbursement comes all at once, right?

At the completion.

Yeah, it depends on the size of the project.

Um and how ride allocates it.

Most of your projects would be eligible probably for one-time reimbursement, which would be you get your um paperwork in by July 15th, and then their next payout schedule you would receive full reimbursement on that.

Okay.

And the five-year capital improvement plan does have flexibility.

Um, so you may see a schedule where a roof is allocated to be completed um in year five and it starts leaking in year two or whatever, you have that flexibility to move things around.

This is similar to like the Martin Middle School where the construction's going on already, and we're gonna be paying the debt service already on it, and then ride will give us the money at the completion of the project.

So it's similar.

Yes, that's correct.

Yeah, just uh one difference is that this isn't bonded.

Yep.

Mr.

Solicitor, councilman has a question.

Oh, I got a statement, so go ahead if you got so I just want to make it clear.

So the um uh based upon the ordinance that this council passed, those reimbursements would be put back into that school capital fund, which would then go to fund future projects.

Um the regulations do require that the city and town by approving this uh at least you have to hit at least the 50% mark.

So that's a commitment that you you the council is making that you will be spending that 4.5 million dollars over the next five years.

Um and I just want to make this also very clear because I've represented this a town that did get to a little bit of trouble.

It the reimbursement is not necessarily guaranteed to come in the year that the project is completed.

So sometimes you know there's a lag at either federal money or state money, so they kind of stretch it out a little bit.

So, but the good news is that reimbursement is coming back to us, but we just may not get it all at once.

Councilman Lawson.

This is why I've been fighting for some of that camera money to go into that fund.

These are safety concerns.

These are roofs, so kids don't have a leaky ceiling over their head.

We have to make sure that the money is there.

And maintenance is the first thing that gets deferred in the budget.

That's why I've been fighting so hard that we have a dedicated source feeding this interest bearing account.

And I mean, we're at 2.8.

And yes, the money is in the account.

The school committee, it was ridiculous.

Watching them go on for 30 minutes the other night, it was frustrating.

The next day I woke up with the tons of emails and stuff.

The money is ready for you guys.

Whenever you want it, it's sitting in the bank.

Um it's we gotta take care of these schools.

We gotta take care of these school buildings.

We can't just keep letting them slide because the resources are not there.

There's 2.8 now.

There's already the intercoms alone.

You know, you're looking at what almost a million and stuff.

So hopefully this budget we're gonna see tonight has some money going into that account as part of this budget because we can't just sit back and say, well, there's only already 2.8, we don't need to keep feeding that fund.

That to me is backwards thinking.

So thank you for putting this together.

We appreciate it.

You know my full support, and I'm gonna keep pushing to see if some of that camera money can be a steady source of revenue for that account.

Is there a motion to proceed with I'll make a motion?

Second, and it's the ride stage two submission.

Motion is made by councilman Lawson, seconded by council woman Susa.

Yes.

So the motion is to approve uh and accept the submission as submitted by the school department with the council approval.

That's the motion.

Okay, you have that wording, madam clerk.

Anyone I'll make a motion to accept as stated.

You have it.

Yep.

All in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Yeah, Ms.

Thank you for the presentation.

Good luck.

I just make one comment.

Um the ordinance that you the council passed, um, requires that when the school department wants to take money from that fund to pass an ordinance that the council passed an ordinance to appropriate money.

So I just want to make it clear.

I don't think you meant to mislead people, and I think it's just that I don't want people to get the wrong idea.

You said the money's there for the count, the school committee to use that the appropriation comes from this from this body.

But the process is the school department identifies the needs.

Correct.

They let us know we have you write up the ordinance, correct?

And then we pass it.

It was specifically set up that this council controls where that money goes after submission.

Based on what the school department wants, not what we want.

Well, well, that's well, yes.

Yes.

Well, I think it's what the community wants.

Exactly.

Exactly.

Every building is our building.

So exactly.

One city, like our president says.

Yeah, there'll be a I'm sure we'll have a discussion and do it what based on the school department's request.

And I agree with we've talked about this before about buildings, and it's besides the school, it's city buildings.

And you got President Rodericks, you got on this uh council in 18.

It was the councils before that.

19.

And then goes back.

He got yeah, 19 January.

All right, eight, he got elected in 18.

All right, I'll be so corrected.

So we we can never let what happened with those past councils to happen again and let these buildings, no matter if it's school or city, go away that they went.

I mean, just Council Vice President, just for your correction, the council prior to this uh present current president's council got on, put 10 million dollars for streets and sidewalks.

He's talking schools.

Okay, yeah.

Okay.

You said money towards infrastructure in the city.

Right.

Yeah, I and I and I think the the point that we're all making is is well taken.

We for a while now we are concerned with our schools.

They pretty much are getting they get every budget they've asked for.

And as the council vice president's referring to, that was not the case.

They um the schools suffered.

So we are making a statement here that you know we support education in East Providence.

Thank you.

Let's go back to the uh yes.

Uh I think because it coincides with what we just heard.

I would ask the councilman Lawson to give the school liaison report.

All right.

So um Martin Middle School and Dr.

Faran, Bob, let me know if I'm off.

Um it's on target.

Um we're looking at opening the middle school portion this after Thanksgiving break, still on track, which is exciting.

That's a big milestone.

Um the building's phenomenal, robotic labs, all kinds of state of the art.

Um, the kids are gonna so much benefit from it.

After this part, the second phase, just so everybody's aware, is the preschool build.

Currently, the preschool is housed at what is called Oldham, the former Meadowcrest.

Wardington is bursting at the seams, but I ask people to be a little patient because once the preschool is done and they're projecting spring of 27.

Is that correct?

Spring of 27, that will free up the current Oldham building.

So some of the kids from Wardington and the school department will make that decision of K through two or whatever.

And I believe they're gonna work with the community, see what works best.

So it it sucks how tight it is now, but there is an end coming.

So it's on budget.

And by this, the end of this year, all the middle school kids will be in the new wing.

We kept the auditorium.

There was a slight change to the ceiling, but everything's still under budget.

Um, so it's exciting.

We are moving forward.

We've invested over 300 million dollars as a community in our school buildings so far.

We also did Wardington.

Um there was a lot of things that needed to be adjusted in the interior of the building.

That's been taken care of.

Um, but that just is a reason why we need to ensure that we get the money.

300 million is a lot, and we're gonna do a budget where our debt service is what's adding to our budget.

So we're gonna make sure we're taking care of maintaining of what we're investing in.

Um the school department also passed their budget.

Um it did increase from last year.

A lot of it is salary obligations.

Um, I've been following along, and I challenge anyone.

There's no fat in the budget.

If anything, they've had to cut positions that in my case I need, in my view, I need it.

Um, we need people in the classroom.

We need more adult to children ratios to help with learning.

But unfortunately, we can only do so much with what we have.

So I commend the school committee and Dr.

Ferrand and her team.

Um, it's not easy.

It's tough.

You know, you're talking, do we cut late buses?

Well, late buses are important for kids playing sports.

And those are the types of decisions that I don't think the public really fully is cognizant of that the school department has to make.

And everybody has their what about me?

What about me?

Well, they got to look at the big picture.

We got IEPs that just keep going up every year, the number of them.

You need support staff to make sure an IEP is met.

So I commend them.

I do support what they put forward.

I don't think it's a bad budget at all.

And us funding that school building fund outside of their budget allows them to have more funding for teachers, for teachers' aids.

Um that's a little concerning to me, and I do want to mention is our substitute budget.

We're paying a lot for substitutes, and we're at the as you know, our fiscal year is not um that didn't mean you specifically, but our fiscal year is not in sync.

So most schools, they know on July 1 how much they got.

We uh basically riding on fumes towards the end, so October, you know, and whatever the reason for the need for substitutes, I'll let the school department deal with that.

I mean, we we impress upon kids that absenteeism is not good.

So I hope we're ensuring that you know everybody is showing up.

Um, so I just want to take that moment, commend the school department, uh, Dr.

Faran and all of her staff.

Um, it's not easy.

It is not easy, and public education is vital in this country.

So uh that's it.

If I missed anything, if you guys want to add anything, um more than welcome.

But again, thank you guys for doing.

And please tell Tony and Jess.

I could have told them the money's in the bank.

You guys didn't have to rail for 30 minutes saying the city lost 2.8 million dollars.

That was never the case.

So that's it for me.

Thank you.

And uh the only thing I would add is that when the Martin Middle School project is complete, uh East Providence will have three secondary schools that are second to none in in Rhode Island, uh the East Providence High School, Riverside has had so many improvements, and that was a tremendous building to begin with.

That's how you should build schools, the plan that Riverside Middle School has.

And and now with with Martin, um there should be no complaints in the community, and it's part of the reason why enrollments are going up a little.

Yeah, and uh I want to make one more point, and not a question to be answered now, but if old ham, if we're assessing if there could be an addition put on to that building, because despite everybody trying to say, oh, people ain't having kids no more.

Our enrollment's going up.

The high school is at what 1700?

You know, uh Wardington has more students than the middle schools, not combined, but individually.

We're five change, Riverside and Martin, uh five, less than what we are stuffing in that building.

So to say that, oh well, no, the people ain't putting kids in school anymore.

It's just not true in East Providence, maybe outside of our borders, but East Providence, it's not true.

Well, and anecdotally, and no one has to uh comment right now, but with uh things happening at Oldham at Crescent Park down the line.

I think the old school on Bot Drive needs to revert back to being called Metal Crest.

It's a metal crest neighborhood.

It's uh known by a lot of people, it's just uh minor pet peeve of mine.

Uh at some point, uh, you know, do we want to keep having two old um school buildings?

Uh let's we grass three votes here, maybe four.

Uh and and I think didn't you have to keep the name old ham because of the funding of some no, no, we just moved the whole school at that time, and it made sense.

It made sense at that time to whoa it's just it's just better now to not have anyway.

Thank you guys.

You guys did a great job.

Yes, let's move on here.

We have a long agenda.

Thank you, old councilman and and everyone.

Uh let's just go back and revert back to the big beginning and we'll move through this.

Thank you all.

Consent calorie for discussion and possible vote.

Council journals, regular meeting minutes, September 2nd, 2025.

Letters new address 300 Bourne Avenue, East Providence, Rhode Island.

Sable 2916, map 303, block 17, parcel 001.00, 16 Raleigh Street, East Providence, Rhode Island, 02914, map 407, block 13, hostle 00.10, 186 through 188 Juniper Street, East Providence, Rhode Island, 02914, map 106, block 34, parcel 010.00.

Um, tax abates and cancellation and abatements.

39,046 and 20 cents.

Um, I have a question on the the consent calendar on as it reserves to the abatements.

Mike, would that be something that you'd be able to answer?

Okay.

Michael.

I circled it.

So the the abatement, the tax abatement on there is for a Barrington address.

I think it is what address is that?

Because there is a part of Barrington.

They have Barrington addresses, but it's East Providence.

I brought that, remember I brought that up in the past.

There's a section, the apartment buildings that are off the trail.

Uh because people complain there.

So it's a waterfront area.

Now I had point Barrington Rowland.

Well, Nyat Point is well in to Barron.

Well, it could be that's where the um the line is that's address.

The building address.

Yeah, yeah.

But the property that it's referencing.

What's the name?

That's the name of the tax payer.

Okay, so what's the where's what's the property?

It's R61, 124-24.

I don't know.

I can't you'd have to look it up on the um right.

So can we pull that one just for more information?

I just want some clarification.

So we'll just adjust the total, but uh all the abatements except for uh the 55 C Nyad point um address.

So do we approve the calendar and then the abatement sec separate from the whole calendar?

It's just taking that one item off.

Okay.

So I'll make a motion to accept with the removal of that one item.

Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Yeah, so thank you.

Okay, thank you.

Continue, madam clerk.

Yeah.

Is it licenses?

I think we're there's no licenses today.

Um communications, Bethany White, discriminating chicken ordinance.

If Miss White is present, come forward.

Thank you.

Yeah, I think just name and address for the record.

Is that mic on?

There's push the button there.

Need the red light on.

There you go.

My name is Bethany White.

I live at two South Clark.

Thank you.

Just so you know, because the meetings are recorded, you need to speak into the microphone.

Thank you.

Well, right.

I already had three.

Okay, I'll have an egg.

Sure, I will.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We don't have a lot of time, so you need to make uh comments.

Thank you.

Uh no.

Yeah, no, they're they're the same.

They're just added to just for more information.

Continue.

Um, I was gonna test up here, but I'll just I'll just read off here.

Um so I'm here.

Uh I am an EP resident.

I've been a resident of Rumford for about 18 years, and I'm here to talk about the chicken ordinance that we have.

Um I'd like to add a little perspective on um why we have it, the history of these kinds of ordinances, and particular I think there are particular instances to our community that will uh resonate with the council.

So um I was I wanted to broadcast my deck, but I'll you can yeah, we don't allow the broadcast other than department heads of the city and because you never know what could appear.

Right.

Yeah.

Uh inappropriate in my deck.

Yeah, especially this day and age if you follow the news.

We don't know what could happen.

All right, well you have email this to us, so we will there are additional slides in here because much bigger with more information.

What I sent you was my open and my close.

Sure.

So you have it in uh know what to expect.

Um so you won't be actually able to see the pictures of the stuff that I've gathered or the data, but um I'll just talk you through it.

Can you just let you a little bit?

Yeah, okay.

And so and to let you know, you're obviously welcome to say what whatever you need to say, but there is no vote scheduled on this.

So I know I've heard from some people that are asking us, you know, there it there have already been prior votes, prior council, this council.

So um this is just communication.

There is no legally advertised vote on this agenda.

No, I'm aware of that.

Okay, where there's no vote.

I I've uh I think um I and other people have asked for another vote to happen.

I'm hoping that this information that I'm gonna share with you today will inspire you to change that and and schedule the vote.

Um so let's get through let's look at the question that I brought for you today.

Okay, so um the one person that I wanted to mention who I ran in today earlier at Omega Pond is Roger Williams.

I'm glad we showed up the state.

He obviously was um a keeper of chickens, they were their earliest recommend remembrance in our town is 1621 when Governor Winslow sent chickens to Soams where Massasoit was sick, and they Governor Winslow sent him the chickens and said make a broth.

And Massasoit said, actually, I think I'll keep them and raise them and use the egg.

So 1621, Winslow and Massasoit is really the first time you hear about chickens at the new work.

So why do we care about chickens and EP?

There are a couple of reasons, but one in particular is that 24% of our population calls Portugal their uh home, their their heritage.

That's more than any other place outside of Portugal as a percent of population.

Other places have more people.

We have the biggest representation.

10% of the state is Portuguese.

So the reason why I bring that up is that the one of the national heritage images of Portugal is the rooster of Barcellos.

I didn't know this until I went to sign up to speak at City Hall.

I'm not Portuguese, I'm not from Rhode Island.

I've lived here for 18 years, and I've been absolutely fascinated with the history of the city, the two different kinds of the history the initial immigrants, and then our other waves that came through later.

So the Rooster of Barcelos, he is I'm not sure if I'm saying that correctly, so correct me if I'm wrong, but he symbolizes just um justice freedom and good luck.

Furthermore, our state bird is a chicken, literally a chicken, and it's not just any chicken, y'all.

That's what's really great about this.

It's not just any chicken, it's the chicken.

The chicken.

So in 1864, a group of breeders and little Compton gave us the Rhode Island Red.

In 1960, we did a tourism campaign based on this called be a rooster booster.

And people were wearing pins for the rooster.

That was related specifically to the red.

So why was the red the best chicken?

What did it make such a big difference?

Well, it was the first dual purpose bird.

So it was good for meat and it was good for eggs.

It was good for our New England winners, it could survive the heat, it could be confined, it could free range.

So when that bird hit the scene in 1864, it became the genetic baseline for the American poultry industry.

That's why you see in 1848, the hundred-year anniversary of the American poultry industry, they issued a stamp to honor the chicken, our chicken.

So why was it good?

Good for meat, with the melee matched with the leg horn, which is good for eggs.

Those two gave us the red.

So this bird was docile, you could live through our winters, it could be confined, and it produced probably like twice the eggs that the typical backyard bird did at the time.

And it came from little Gompton.

So like I said, that is our state bird, and 24% of our population is Portuguese.

So in 1954, it became the state bird because we had an election.

It was elected the state bird.

There was a ballot.

I can't show you the picture, but I'm looking at it here.

The other birds were Bob White, Hummingbird, Osprey, Rhode Island Red, and the Tohe.

So the working class wanted the red.

There's a cute little picture here of a kid in a wagon being pulled by a chicken.

Um and there's an article that you can't see, but it's about it.

Um housewife in Jamestown who found an egg from her Rhode Island Red that had three yolks in it.

And her comment was could a hummingbird or an osprey do that?

So the local communities got into the state bird competition.

A different community got behind the osprey, and their message was that they wanted people to pick the osprey because it was graceful, majestic, and made its living through its own resources.

So this is when you start to see the chicken, you see evidence of a different in the way people think about the chickens, right?

Can I just interrupt you?

You know, you certainly can continue, but you you know, we've got a time limit, so which is at our discretion, there's no number limit.

We do have several other people.

So I just I I like the history of it, but could you get us up to date as to what you're looking for?

I'm still do.

I mean, the state we all know that we also have all the state.

Did you want to let me talk, or do you want to tell you?

Well, no, I want to I want to give have the discretion to run the meeting.

And I'm asking you to please.

When I made my when I made my request, I asked you for 20 to 30 minutes.

I made it clear that the I said it would be at my discretion.

We don't have 30 minutes for every person.

We would be here all night long.

Well, you knew I'm just asking you to get more to your point and not to speak out from the audience.

Yeah, well, I'm Bob Rodrix, Roger Williams.

But you know what?

Story.

Back to so it died.

You killed the whole people, Robert Island.

You know what?

Bring back to the Roman Island.

I'm sorry, go ahead.

Continue.

All right.

So what I want you to see here is that the Rhode Island won an elect it won an election.

Secondly, now we'll move on to the other cities.

There's a chart here of the other cities who already allow chickens.

Boston, New York City, Chicago, LA, Houston, Atlanta, Providence.

15 years ago.

15 years ago, Providence passed it.

Barrington, maybe 10 years ago, and this is the part I want you to hear about.

I went down to Barrington on Friday and met with the man who enforces their code.

He lives in EP.

And he, so I asked him, How many chicken keepers do you have in Barrington?

They don't even know.

They don't, it's not even important enough to them to keep a list.

I asked him on Friday, he said, Well, look into it on Monday.

They don't even like take it seriously enough to keep a serious list about their chicken keepers.

So I said, how many complaints do you have?

Thinking I'm opening up myself to something stressful.

They've had one in the last year, and it was about rats, and the person decided not to follow through with it because it's it wasn't actually about rats.

So the man who enforces code in Barrington lives in Riverside and wishes we could have chickens.

And I have his letter too, so I'll I'll send that over.

So we are behind all these other cities, and the reason why those cities can have chickens and we can't is because they use the historical precedent that immigrant and working class neighborhoods have always had chickens.

As far back as 1901, the NYC housing code allowed chickens.

They restrict pigs and horses and cattle.

But chickens have always been treated like pets.

They are not treated separately under the code, they're all handled by the noise ordinance or the nuisance ordinance.

I've included some pictures of other places in 2023.

Madison, Wisconsin changed their hen limit from four to eight to help battle egg price fluctuations.

So the next thing I want to tell you is that the work to have this ordinance returned overturned has been done.

We have gotten the signatures, we've been asking for it for nearly 30 years since the ordinance went into place in 1998.

There's been someone actively wanting the chickens to be handled legally.

Noise is not an issue.

I have um made a chart of the decibels.

Um we aren't asking for a rooster, we're asking for chickens, a max of 60, a max of six.

That's 60 to 70 decibels.

That's less than a vacuum cleaner, sports on TV, things that are inside your house.

Six chickens are quieter than that.

This is the part I really want you guys to think about.

I don't want you to be entirely focused on the fact that I want you to flip this over.

So we just went through because of avian flu, the people paid 14 billion more as a group for egg prices during that time the last five years.

The reason why that happens is that commercial egg farms that have tens, 20,000 of chickens.

When they get avian flu, it sweeps through the whole uh group, and they have to culve them.

That's how we get these supply gaps.

With avian flu goes through, we have lower record uh lower control over these systems, lower regulations, fewer regulations, more things like this will happen.

We will have more incidents of avian flu lasting through.

Then they have to kill the birds.

That creates a supply gap.

That's why the prices went up.

Places that have a network of backyard chicken farmers and they share eggs are able or better able to weather these changes.

They share eggs, they um uh and to they work with in some places the food banks.

We're able to better react to these conditions if we have access to chickens in our communities.

So and just to be clear, a trillion dollars was cut out of Medicaid.

186 billion is coming to SNAP.

That's 20%.

20% of cuts that will 20% that will affect working requirements, that's gonna affect age, how people in your house, um, all kinds of things.

We were already working, like Senator Lost said last year, piloted Snap well, eat well be well to incentivize people buying healthy fruits and vegetables with their snap money.

Every 50 bucks they spent, they could get 25 that they spent on fruits and vegetables.

So snap cuts are coming, big ones.

Why does that matter to the average working person?

90% of households buy eggs every week.

That's six to seven meals worth of protein.

Eggs are already the cheapest protein.

That's what people use to replace meat and fish.

It is considered to be a low elasticity staple.

It's like the last lowest rung on the ladder.

So when poor people can't afford eggs, they are in big trouble.

And so we have seen a three dollar increase on the cheapest eggs.

459 is is cheap.

So when we ban chickens, I just have to ask you to wrap it up.

A couple more minutes.

So this I am gonna wrap it up.

There's this last thing.

This is the really important thing.

I'll skip the history of what we've got here.

It's racism.

It's the same thing that got us fox point.

It's the same thing that got us I-95, 195, right through the middle of the city.

We have these bans in place to keep poor people from having chickens.

White people, wealthy people, that's fine.

They get away with it because they make it look okay.

It's acceptable.

I have lots of propaganda here from the eight from 1918 until 1945, showing you how we marketed chickens to suburban white people at the same time.

We were telling the people in the slums they couldn't have them.

So that's how we got here.

My recommendation, this is I'm gonna clean it up.

The recommendation is this that you schedule the vote, that you free us from this arbitrary and discriminatory ordinance.

No one else has an issue with chickens.

No one anywhere.

Most people don't even realize they're legal in New York City.

They are, they always have been.

It's not an issue.

The the complaints that people have come out of that classism and racism.

Chickens aren't loud, they are scary to see.

Um last thing I want to say, this is the fun part.

This is why I brought up the rooster.

This is why I'm bringing up Portuguese Portugal.

We have an opportunity to solve a problem that we all have using resources that our community has in its in its heritage, right?

So there are currently four Portuguese heritage chicken breeds that are critically endangered.

These are not red jungle fowl that you see everywhere.

These are specific heritage breeds that are also really good for families.

We have two sister cities in Portugal who are the masters at chicken.

We know that they could help us, help us learn these techniques that have been in our history forever and solve our problem and help them solve theirs.

So I'm suggesting that we step forward with chickens.

Understand that we can do them.

And it will help us in two ways.

Food security and community enhancement, just better connection between our people.

This will be a good choice.

That's it.

Thank you.

Thank you for your time.

Next uh speaker on the list, please.

Madam Clerk.

The next speaker would have been um Nancy Hale, but she's all six.

So we will move on to public comment.

Communicate public comment, yes.

Alison Turbitt.

I just give you a name and address for the record.

Hello, my name is Alison Turbot.

I am back representing the chicken ordinance that's being proposed.

I am really hoping that you vote for this because I will remind you I am a constituent and a United States citizen.

And it is an election year eventually.

So I'm hoping you vote for this and make sure it passes.

I'd really like to continue living in East Providence and have more access to agriculture.

I'm also aware a lot of people tend to keep more than three dogs in their houses, and nobody has been complaining about that compared to chickens.

So if we set these double standards up for small animals and continue to discriminate against chickens, goats, sheep, horses, and cows.

And I believe we should be have the right to grow our own food and be self-sufficient.

Thank you, ma'am.

Next person.

Renee Ig.

Renee Igna.

Just say Renee.

We know Renee.

I'm sorry.

Ignacio.

What?

Oh, is that a good thing?

You're gonna let them get away with that?

Mike puts his foot in his mouth a lot, and that's okay.

No.

You did that a lot tonight, too.

Continue, Renee.

So um that's just okay.

Um, I'm actually here.

I'm Renee Ignatio, 15 Madeline Drive.

Thank you.

City of East Providence.

I'm actually here for two reasons.

Um, and when I have to apologize to the clerk here because saying an ordinance is really difficult.

But I'm here because Councilman Lawson last week or last meeting, you had brought up an ordinance and amendment of chapter two for the revised ordinance of the city of Rhode Island of East Providence uh 1998 for the school bus violation system.

Um so basically, instead of taking the speed cameras and the red light camera money that was already in the budget, you wanted to take it for the new this new revenue from the um school budget projects.

So the full 25% of the revenue received for the school bus tickets, the passing on the reds would go into the school building fund, correct?

Um, as councilman Rego stated, in having to do with more research, we have to pay an officer to sit there and issue the ticket as going is going to cost us more money than it was before and more time with the police officers.

I mean, no matter what it is, the lawyers comments happen, we have to pay for this.

But before, what was the cost before?

We don't even know.

So all this time we've been told this wasn't going to cost the city or the taxpayers any money when we were had this whole discussion since November.

Well, when the mayor got involved, this was not gonna cost the city anything.

Um, this was gonna be to the free to the school department and the taxpayers, but now if we have to pay the police department, which we wouldn't have to be for, now it's gonna cost us money.

So I'm a little confused because I know I've done all the research.

I've probably done more than a lot.

Um, so councilman Rego said that uh they would put it towards the police department budget because they're gonna be the ones overseeing this.

I mean, good, whatever, as long as this gets done sooner or later.

Um, the wishy-washy thing back and forth is kind of getting to be unbelievable.

I work kind of hard on that to bring it to you guys because I don't know, it was more for the safety of the kids than anything.

Um, I do not put any of this on the city council.

Um, but when I'm just gonna call it as I see it.

It was all political BS crap at the time.

Cameras were supposed to be on August 25th.

Now we're nothing at the school committee uh meeting.

The chief had no answers, hard answers on what was going on because we didn't know the cost.

I understand that.

Now they're gonna be installed on the 27th.

So um I don't know what's going on with that.

So there are a few things I'm confused about.

When I brought this up to the city council when I came to you guys to discuss it, you all told me that it was a school committee issue, correct?

Right?

We're all on board at that time, yeah.

Right.

To handle um to handle the contracts and everything because you're separate, city and school.

I understand that.

So I'm just unconfused how the mayor can put out an RFQ without the school committee members knowing or seeing it.

Um, and it's all on on tape, all at their meetings and everything.

So my understanding is that all five members had to agree and vote on the RFP and RFQ, and that didn't happen with this.

That it was stated at the school committee meeting.

I would like to know how the mayor could enter the city into a contract with the police department and gatekeeper camera system without coming before the council and asking for the resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into said contract.

The mayor violated chapter 16-2-9 general powers of the school committee.

It's just something I wanted to ask.

Sure.

I think I can provide an answer if you want the answer.

So the uh first of all, the state statute that you refer to requires the school department with the chief of police to enter into the contract.

My understanding is that the request for production or request for qualification was sent out by the school committee, and the school committee did um award the contract pursuant to that statute.

So that was not sent out by the mayor, that was sent out by the school department.

In fact, um, I know that for a fact because there has been some lawyers that have gotten involved regarding that, and the school department lawyers handling that.

So the to the city did not have any role in putting together the RF uh queue that the school committee then got some bid submissions from, and they awarded the contract after consultation with the chief of police.

I thank you for the clarification because I was confused on because yeah, that's fine.

Going back and that contract is a public record.

If you make a request for it, we'll be happy to provide it to you.

Right.

That's all I just wanted to know how you know.

And that's why the excuse me, the the the sorry to interrupt.

And that's why the the city council didn't have had no role in having to approve that contract or whatever, because it's clearly within the school departments.

And that's why I came up here to ask for the clarification.

Understandable.

Yeah.

I just wanted to know because I think council in Lawson's right, it should go back into the schools for safety or whatever it needs.

You know, and do we know where the the money is for the schools?

Is it in that 3.3 or 2.5?

So the million this is what drives me does about this city.

Somebody says something that's not true, and they spent 30 something minutes at that meeting.

The money is in the bank.

It has been as soon as the bond closed out.

There was 2.8 million left, and it was put into a bank account.

There's nothing missing.

There's nothing.

So tell Tony, please stop.

Because he's not helping.

You know, when you're listening to the meeting, you're just kind of I I get it, but what they were saying was just not true.

Well, that's why I can't.

And that's the problem.

They could have reached out, and I'm not sure why the city didn't let them know it was set up, but the money was there.

There was zero need to get that ridiculous for over 30 minutes.

But instead of dragging it on, I came for clarification.

Right.

So we've we've cleared it.

They all have my number, they know how to reach me, they know how to reach anybody.

They could have asked, but they didn't do that.

They sat there grandstanding for over 30 minutes.

So thank you for you know absolutely.

Can we move on?

Thanks, because we have some of the Renee.

As always, thank you for your passion.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Next speaker.

Tony De Hassels.

The Jesus.

Yeah, oh for two so far.

Wow.

No.

It's uh correct name, whatever it is, and address for the record, please.

It's Tony De Jesus, seven Fisher Street in East Providence.

Thank you.

Proceed.

I'm coming to you uh as a citizen of East Providence for 45 years.

For 45 years, I worked for the Big Blue Bud Company in Providence, Rhode Island, and was in charge of the training of our technicians.

And I also was the person who trained the people from the Rhode Island Department of Health, the food inspectors to inspect our restaurants and things.

I trained them on mice, rats, roaches, and flies.

And I'm coming at you from a different perspective than the people who are saying some of the other things.

I'm coming to you from a from a health issue about the potential problems.

I'm not saying that because you have chickens, you're gonna get rats.

Not necessarily true, but it is a conducive condition, is what we refer to it as.

Every month, that's believe it or not, food for rats.

Rats will feed on that.

They feed on it because it's not 100% digested.

The other problem with rodents is their ability to reproduce.

And for the ladies here, this is a horrible thing, but a rat, female rat can get pregnant while she's still lactating the babies.

The gestation period is 21 to 23 days, and they reproduce about every five weeks.

Six to twelve per litter.

And it is estimated that if you took a female and a male rat and gave them ideal conditions with food, in a year's time you could have up to a thousand rats.

Now, the reason I'm bringing this up is that in a rat society, and I'm not saying that that's ideal conditions, but if it's not ideal, you get an average backyard with some chickens or animals there that get a rat population.

Once that population starts to grow, the alpha rats in that population start kicking out the other weaker rats and saying, this area is mine, find your own area.

And what area is that?

It's the neighbors, it's the people next door, people two houses away.

That's where your problems start.

And I know you folks get lots of phone calls with snow removal and signs and things like that.

When the rat calls start coming in, let me tell you, it's a whole new ball game.

They've already been coming in.

Yeah.

And I've been involved in rat control issues with the City of Providence at the bus turnaround, and also in their neighborhoods when they developed a neighborhood program, and we wouldn't do the company of uh choice that got the bid, it was thousands of dollars across the city of Providence.

Now Providence has two dedicated rodent people, at least doing rodent control work in the city, going out inspecting homes and things like that.

But Tuckett has a rodent control czar.

He's actually a guy that I trained.

Uh he worked for Big Blue Bug Solutions and left us and opened up his own business, and then now he's a rodent control person for Packet, City of Cranston has dedicated rodent people.

These are people they're paying money to, paying benefits to, paying salaries, paying insurance, because you are now putting poisons on people's property.

You need to be insured to do that.

You need to be licensed to do that.

So there's lots of expenses involved here.

And also, it's not only just rats, but it's flies.

The flies will be drawn to the fecal material and the food and the chickens in that area.

Now here you are, you're next door, having a cookout.

Fly comes in from the poop of the day next door and lands on your cheeseburger.

You know, I mean, the the possibilities of disease.

Flies, rats, rodents, they carry diseases.

Diseases like E.

coli, salmonella, and other diseases that can make people sick.

Rat bite fever is a very real thing.

You get a dead rat or a rat and a small child, you know, a small child, three or four years, I can think of my grandchildren.

Seeing an animal run across the yard, they're curious.

You know, and you get bit, or you get even scratched, even if they go to pick up a dead one or touch a dead one and get scratched, the potential is there for rat bite fever.

I mean, this is all stuff you can Google and look up.

But once we start, we're we're not a community like Rehobith, or we're not a community like you know, Foster Gloucester, Chapat, outload areas, you know, situate those areas.

We have small lots.

You know, I mean, in the literally, you can have a population of rats, and I've been involved in them on farms, but they're within an acre, you know, or that farm.

They're, you know, so you can that's only the only one that's bothering is the farmer.

But here, when they start to spread out and they start to go into the neighborhoods, that's where you end up with your problems.

And now we're trying to draw business to Rhode Island too.

How would you feel if you go out to eat and you go into a restaurant, you park your car and in the pocket lot, you see a rat right across the parking lot.

Now that rat may have come from the house because you think of all the restaurants along Warren Avenue, uh, Waterman Avenue, and places like these province, right behind them are residential neighborhoods.

And if the rats came there, what is that person?

That person doesn't mean I know my wife would be like, get back in the car.

Well not when I can eat here.

You know, there's no way possible.

You know, and I can say to her, well, rat's not in the restaurant, but she wouldn't want to hear it.

You know, and what's she what's she gonna do too when she talks to her friends that you know a couple of days later, hey, we were gonna go out beating.

You know, we saw a rat in such and such a restaurant.

You know, it's it's not what we need.

It's not conducive to business either.

So there are so many issues here to think about, not just, you know, and and I understand the people that want to buy eggs and things like that.

And there is a cost involved.

But let me tell you something.

The cost of a pest control service, if they ever have to have it because they have rats in their yards, they could have bought a lot of eggs for what they're gonna pay for a professional pest control service to come in and eliminate it.

So I'm I'm urging you when you when you consider this to consider the other issues, you know, and consider the neighborhoods, the people that are there, the people that don't have the chickens.

We have any questions you want.

No, thank you.

I I've been talking to a constituent today.

There's a street in Riverside, multiple families had to call Guardian pest control for rats.

They didn't call the big blue bug.

Oh, they call Guardian's a good company, local.

Guardians, local veteran family.

But good to say about it.

I'm just kidding.

This is a promo for them.

Yeah, no, seriously, it's a good company.

So um, you know, please consider that, you know, the the other ramification.

Those health reasons are why I oppose.

That's it.

You know, you got bird flu.

And I get more people reach out opposing than advocating for.

And I understand, you know, responsible chicken owners, they take care of it.

Yes, but it just takes that one.

And unfortunately, we got multiple that just ain't doing the right thing.

And then it gets into the neighborhood, and now it again, if the city has to pay for that, it's gonna cost the city a thousand.

And then the other thing is it doesn't go away overnight.

When it gets like when we did the city of France in the city of Providence, it took almost a year.

So now you're telling people, people are saying, well, we just paid X amount of dollars, and how come the problems not solved?

It takes a long time because that reproduction that I talked about, the rats reproducing so often, they're reproducing as quick as you're killing them.

Thank you.

Do you do you have uh uh experience or or thought on the cost?

I mean, I I just bought some eggs there at 298.

You know, prices are down there.

They're $4 somewhere, maybe, but right here in East Providence, in a nice, clean populous market on Tucket Avenue, um, 298 today.

How much would it cost to for me to build chicken coops and buy the feed for the chicken?

I'm gonna think that's not cheap.

Not to mention the labor.

I mean if you're not keeping up, like I tell you, how many droppings?

How much manure?

You've got to clean that on a daily basis.

And in a average homeowners, their lifetime, you know, they're busy, they're taking kids to Little League, to dance, to this and that, and doing things, and yeah, the chickens may be helping them out, but it can be.

I mean, I appreciate you coming forward.

Those are the reasons why I wouldn't support this.

Yeah, so it sounds like the ones that are doing it right is okay.

Yeah, I mean, you know, you know, if somebody's doing it right, you know, I mean, it could be a good thing.

Doing it right, it's okay.

Only takes that one person or two people.

If they're not doing it right, it's not okay.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Appreciate your your input and your patience.

Madam Clerk, continue.

Is there anyone else?

Uh no.

Okay, next item.

Appointments, appointment of councilman Lawson to the East Providence Conservation Commission.

Is there a motion?

I wasn't doing.

That's all right.

I mean, is there a motion?

I'll appoint them.

Roger Williams is not on the motion by councilman Fogarty, seconded by council vice president we go.

Any discussion from the council?

All in favor?

No, this came about.

I but this came about because I had uh constituent, not my constituent.

I was at the Myrtle, and she was asking about the conservation commission.

So when I looked it up, I noticed the city council had an appointment on it.

So that's why.

And uh those guys do awesome work.

Ernie, Wayne, unfortunately, Keith left.

Thank you for stepping up.

Absolutely.

So that motion passes unanimously.

Next item.

Council members, number one, 2025 projected revenue and actual revenue received year to date, Councilman Lawson.

Uh councilman.

Is anybody from city able to talk about these numbers?

So basically, I just want to see what had come in for fiscal year 25 if it matched the projections to where we are now.

And the reason I brought this up is the finance director.

I asked her about the speed camera money as I was researching these.

And it appeared we only brought in about 2 million, but we projected for 3.5.

So that kind of raised the red flag.

So that that's I just want to know if the projections from FY25 are we hitting them.

Um councilman um uh council members, I did send over the uh the Excel spreadsheet um this evening.

Uh well, actually, this afternoon when I once I received it from our instructor.

So if you have a moment to take a look at that, there are three um sheets to review, and it breaks it all down.

It was you wanted the actual uh the budget to actuals.

The one from 606 tonight, yeah, that's correct.

Uh let's see.

That should have some of your answers, but I haven't been able to review it line by line just yet in our finance structures here, as you know, we're finishing up uh well now that's table at Toshis here.

I wanted you to be able to as well and why are so many of these in the red on the right under parentheses red that usually means deficit, but the numbers look not sure how she call it coordinated.

I don't think all right, all right.

From what I can see why they're in red, is that if you look at it, councilman Lawson, and just following along on line uh it says taxes line 4006.

Yep, it looks like it was budgeted at 11 million 385, and so far the current what has been received is 103,000 million three hundred and forty-three.

I'm not gonna read the whole number.

So it it's saying that it's a neg right now.

We're we're a negative variance of 13 million to hit projection.

That would be where it is there.

If you go all if you go all over all the way over to the last number, we're at 88 percent of the projected income, 88.79.

So in an accountant running balance, we're still we're still showing a deficit.

If we were at a hundred, it should be totally in black.

So there's sometimes there's that there's that uh people use that as an accounting purpose.

I I would have preferred to see like a negative than because the red right away thinks that it's that way.

It's not consistent either.

I would I would prefer she would use like minus 13 million, so we know where to go.

But uh so that that's what I'm picking up there because it was if you look at the projections where we are and then what the variance is to get it, it would be the 13 million.

Uh and uh councilman, as you know, we're preparing to go into our budget season, and we'll be able to discuss any line item as um in terms of budget projections and where we where we are um with our revenue as well.

So that tax number obviously that was as of the 31st of July.

Um so that gap should be almost that that gap should be at that 13 million because the next tax period Q2 in the city's fiscal year was September one.

So I would hope that we uh pretty close to uh uh absorbing that 13 million based on what was collected from the city because that that would be the last time in the in this fiscal year that we're gonna receive a bulk of taxes because the next time the next tax period starts on the first uh is due the first of December, which would be in the next budget that we're doing.

Yeah, and I'm looking quick.

I'm not seeing the speed camera revenue on here.

All right, well, look like I said, we just got a 606.

So oh, here we go.

I'm lying.

Census guy.

So we're 1.3 million under what we projected for the camera revenue.

And there's what month and a half left, if that so all right.

We'll look into it.

Probably the construction and some of the streets.

That's that's why I suppose these case it's not a consistent source of revenue.

And we're making revenue projections in our budget based on numbers that you have to they're not consistent though.

3.5 million, and we're 1.5 underneath that.

How are we paying our bills?

You know?

Well, I understand you have to put a budget number in there.

We know how a budget works.

I'm just saying 3.5, and we're 1.5 underneath that projection.

So all right.

Thanks.

Yep, thank you.

We'll get into that with the budget.

Um, madam clerk, could you hold up, please?

Could you um go to page six on the agenda and read item number four?

And we will go to that item and then we'll go back.

Number four resolution authorizing the mayor to purchase a new canine and eight new police vehicles for the police department introduced by council president Rodericks.

This uh chief is present, and uh I won't read the resolution if you want to um summarize for us, Chief, and what the need is and the source of funding.

Absolutely.

Thank you for uh moving me up on the uh on the calendar here.

Uh so we are looking to purchase eight fully marked cruisers and one canine cruiser.

Uh a couple years ago, we were able to purchase a used canine cruiser.

Uh that's getting uh towards the end of its lifespan.

Uh that that is being used uh 24 hours a day.

The the the that canine specifically, Oakie stays in that uh that that cruiser for most of the shift uh for lots of travel time to and from the owner's home or the handler's home.

Um so it does have a lot of engine hours um and is due to be replaced shortly.

The that's gonna be a Chevrolet Tahoe.

Um the reason why is because the amount of um equipment that these officers now have to carry as far as the canine officers, they carry quite a bit more equipment uh and testing um uh sources for their their canine um more than a regular uh board explorer.

The Ford Explorers, the the eight there uh when uh when I first came back uh in June, we met with the mayor um um and his chief of staff about implementing fleet cars.

Uh right now, currently we are one of the only police departments that run all of our police cruisers 24 hours a day.

So we have uh a constant uh vehicle running the engine hours are uh through the roof, uh, which obviously turns into uh many issues with maintenance, uh the lack of maintenance because you know if they're due to have an oil change, for instance, uh that officer goes on a call for service.

We have a very small window when that officer can get that oil change down at uh city highway garage.

Uh and and we worked we try to work as uh closely as we can with with highway to make sure these these vehicles are maintained properly, but unfortunately we we just uh you know things do slip through the cracks, and what happens is you know, you've like the buildings you see you fail to maintain your your your vehicles, and you know they're not lasting as long, and we're having issues with vehicles that have 30 to 60,000 miles on them, which is very uh uh you know it's it's concerning.

So uh implementing this first uh fleet, uh uh excuse me, it'd be a second fleet of cars.

We would give at least an hour, excuse me, a shift off uh with cars being able to rest and also uh assigning them to to officers.

So officers would be able to uh be more uh prideful of the car, they can have a little more uh boost in morale as well because that's gonna be their vehicle uh uh to share with another officer.

Right now, you could have three three officers in one day working using one cruiser.

So three different drivers can cause other issues.

So um all the funding for for the the to pay for these cruises are coming from uh DOJ funds, so these this will not cost the taxpayers a penny.

Um we are fortunate enough to continue to use the uh Google funds uh through DOJ uh to purchase these eight vehicles.

And just my usual caveat Google money doesn't exonerate us from having to invest in the police department, so we still have to from time to time.

So it's awesome we can do these, but we can't rely on it thousand percent that so I'll make a motion to approve second motion to approve by councilman Lawson, seconded by councilwoman Susa.

The amount is seven hundred and sixty-six thousand two hundred and ninety-nine dollars and eighty-nine cents from the DOJ federal asset forfeiture funds.

All in favor?

Aye, aye.

Any opposed?

Yeah, I have it.

Thank you very much, Chief.

Thank you so much.

I appreciate it.

Thanks for your patience.

Thank you.

Now we can go back to uh let's see, we were in resolutions, was it?

Council.

I'm sorry.

Madam Clerk.

I know what you didn't have.

Number two, community choice electricity aggregations.

Council vice president will you?

Council Vice President.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Madam Clerk.

Um this was an issue that came up when I was running for office originally.

A lot of the cities and towns were getting involved with it.

And it has progressed to the point, obviously, where we know that National Grid has sold to now Rhode Island Energy.

Um so I'm looking this is a little information package here for the council to start looking.

Uh we are always looking to help the benefits of the citizens of the city to help them save money.

And I think this is a good step.

We can look at it.

This is for your perusing, we can go into everything.

But I use Narragansid.

Uh I took Narragansett for two reasons.

It is running very well.

And I'm a little biased too that the town manager in Aragansett is a native of Ward One and a good friend of mine.

Um and uh former decorated police officer.

Um and I think we we've we're moving the needle forward as far as ADUs and everything to help uh citizens.

And I think this is another way to help the residents of East Providence.

As you can see here, the supply program is designed to provide residents competitive rates and options and renewable energy.

The program was approved by the Narragansett town council and six other Rhode Island communities.

Um it tells you how to enroll if you don't want to enroll.

Uh it goes through everything here.

I also on the last page lists what the community choice, what the state of Rhode Island has set up.

So I don't want to bore anybody here, but I think this is something that in the next year of this council that we really take a look at it because I know this process the solicitor will probably uh can enlighten a little bit, but we have to apply to the PUC.

And this is gonna take uh this is gonna take work for the council as well as the administration to do this, and I have a copy of this for you, Patricia, as well.

Um people I've you know who I've spoken to in Narragansett like it who were on the program.

Um and again, uh it it's been in it's been in Massachusetts for a long time.

Brookline, if you do some research, Brookline Mass was one of the leaders in this, and they continue to prosper.

Uh and more and more people sign up.

What people what you gotta understand too is that if a line goes down or anything, Rhode Island Energy will still be the company that will repair and do everything that they normally do now.

But I think it's important that we look at this and then you know, after we get done with the budget, but I just wanted to plant the seed right now to help save the citizens of East Providence some money on their electricity and coincidentally.

The governor was talking about about electric cost and utility costs today.

So uh this is the information package, so we can start looking at this after the budget process.

Thank you, Vice President.

Good information.

Councilwoman, yes.

Is this something that you're looking for the city to look into after our net meeting net metering aggregate?

Look, is that that agreement is in place right now?

So the net metering is for the benefit of the town, right?

This is an agreement for the benefit of the uh individual homeowners.

Yeah, so it does have nothing to do with one has nothing to do with the other.

Okay, that's what I just wanted to make sure.

And so couldn't a resident on their own do this?

No, it has to be done by this, it has to be done by the city or town.

It is in uh either an opt-in or up.

Yeah.

So generally, I think Providence does it.

I know we had a presentation in Tiburon.

So if it's and it's it is a long process, but yeah, maybe uh what you need to do if the town most cities and towns would say is that everyone is in it unless they opt out.

Yeah.

And then there's a um there's not a cost to opt-out, but there's just you could opt out and and there is a little bit of savings or sub in some cases substantial savings, but it's it is a process, huh?

For the consumer, not for the city.

Right, not for the city, but the city would be overseeing.

No, not really.

It's just we just entered into the agreement.

It's it's I we'll get into that, I can get into more details, but it's but it's a there are there are many communities that have adopted it.

Providence is one of them, and they're they're an opt out.

So everyone, if you own a piece of property in Providence as a resident, you're into this program.

You got a notice in the mail if you want to opt out of it.

But most people opt in because there is a little bit of savings on their electricity.

It originally started like Narragan Narraganson and a couple of the southern uh communities uh where it was an opt-in.

Yeah, and I providence went the reverse and everything.

You can do it either way.

Yeah, more and more, as you said, tibet, and I don't know where they are in the project.

We did not go forward with it just because we had a bit other issues going on, but that's there's still something that something's being interested in.

Yeah, we did have a presentation, and once we get through the budget, I we can certainly start looking at that.

I think that would be helpful.

Okay, thank you.

Very interesting program.

I don't I don't understand all the ins and outs of it either.

So number three, fire and building inspections from the August 12th meeting, Council Vice President Regal.

I just received no, I mean I received notification from the chief of staff.

The fire department is still working on their uh report to this.

I I hope that uh I really hope that by the next meeting that they can get it done.

I mean, this is a priority.

This is I'm not trying to be a nitpicker, but it's for the protection of the citizens as well as the city, because you know, I'm trying to protect the city from God forbid what happened in Fall River never happens here, or station fire scenario never happens here.

But as uh as one of the keep as one of the five keepers of protecting the city's investments, I think it's something that we need to have happen.

And I would hope he's probably watching it right now, but I would hope Chief Carrie understands the importance of this that we get this project up and running.

And I thank you for your updated information on this.

Number four, national grid paving process, council vice president Regal.

Uh and it should be I'm so used to calling them National Grid, Rhode Island Energy, but it's frustrating.

I've talked to councilman Lawson about it and councilman Fogerty in the past about this.

They go in, they tear up the road, they're supposed to go from curb to curb, and they're not doing curb to curb.

They're still doing their traditional patchwork.

And you know, I and I I've talked to Dan about it, and you know, Dan calls them and they say, Well, we're not finished yet, and you know we're getting a runaround by them.

Complete runaround.

And Dan's getting it.

I mean, it's it's frustrating.

I mean, I had to get the I had to get this Senate president involved in a situation where they left them, you know, where they left a mess somewhere.

Yeah, you know, Dan was trying to call and call and finally President Lawson got it resolved where they came in and fixed the uh the they had a one of those orange and white cones over uh a property forever, and the property owner was getting frustrated.

And I mean it's a business owner.

Uh so I mean, we had the gentleman who a year ago who says he lives in East Providence, come in front of us, and they're not living up to their end of the bargain, and every month everybody opens up their electric bill or gas bill, and the the delivery fee keeps on going up and up.

So I am this is more for the people watching it, and the you know, citizens, I mean, who's not that we have a really concerned?

I don't know at some point, Mr.

President, if we want to draft a letter and you know, send it to Rhode Island Energy.

Uh it probably won't won't go anywhere, but I just want everybody to know.

I think the five of us share the same concern about the frustration that we're living with in our wards from Rhode Island Energy.

Well, and uh a little bit off the topic, but still with the same company, uh, Rhode Island Energy.

Now there's a lot in the news recently that rates there was some agreement.

I don't understand it totally, but rates are gonna come down a bit.

But the caveat was what they're gonna get it back.

The the agreement was they can get it back in three or four years.

So what's the point?

You know, the public utilities commission has to really take a stand in election, yeah.

Yeah, you know, if that's the case, then don't lower the rate, keep it the way it is.

Don't take a few cents off a kilowatt and then in four years' time get it all back in one lump sum.

That's that's doesn't make any sense.

Um public utilities commission has to come down a little bit on these energy companies, this whole delivery fee that you talk about council vice president.

You know, people can't understand it, you know, what the whole delivery.

But anyway, yeah, maybe we can have an audience again with this gentleman or go before the PUC itself and try to get some some answers.

Andy, can you email the C copy of the ordinance that states that they have to go curb to curb?

Just so we can refresh.

And this happened.

I know Bobby Brito was on the count.

Was it last council or the one before that?

Yeah.

Yeah.

And then that's always their answer that the patches are temporary, they'll come back and do the curve.

Six months later.

If that's not happening, yeah, if we can get a copy of that ordinance that states.

However, people are happy now, Willet Avenue coming north.

Um, the they finally state real.

That's what their job is.

Right.

But I mean, the it's Rhod Island Energy as well, is involved.

So they're getting they're getting to it.

I don't I don't know.

It's it's not fun.

Next item, please.

Number five, cold in place recycling street paving project update.

Councilwoman Caesar.

Thank you.

Um, thank you.

Um, Madam Chief of Staff for sending me an update this evening.

Um, so um, as shown on social media, there was a um a video that uh showed Summit Street being repaved in a cold in place recycling method, um, which is the first time the city has used that technique with the ashfall company um on the street.

Um it is not completely done.

The it was just the first process.

So basically, while they're milling the street in real time, they're adding binder and then re-ash vaulting the road so that um it can be used um quickly, and then come back and finish the work.

Um so follow-up questions that I have, um, Madam Chief of Staff is one, what is the cost difference from what was initially um being done, the initial process, so the milling and then coming back and laying the layers versus using the coal play.

So there should be in my mind some type of savings associated with that.

Um, and are there any other streets in the city that they're thinking about using this technique um and who's making that decision?

Is it the administration, like the engineering department, or is something that the vendor is saying, hey, this is something new that we want to try.

Um, we would like to pilot it on one of your streets and see how it works.

I'm just want you know, and thank you for providing me with a a video.

I'm gonna look at that after the meeting.

Um, I'm interested in in reach searching what the durability of that um method is versus the traditional um layers that are normally done.

Right.

Thank you.

Next item.

Number six, update on solo project at police station, councilwoman Susa.

Thank you.

Um again, thank you for responding this evening with um the update.

Um, so just to let the fellow council members um and public know, um the um company or uh partner that we had uh were working with to have the solar canopy done over the um coveringslash garage um at the police station.

Unfortunately, they had uh sold their um their uh project.

Um, and then of course, with um all of the unknowns with tariffs and um the language in the big beautiful bill, it's not something that they're going to be able to um continue doing.

So I don't know, Mike, if you know what that involves in terms of a breach of contract, or if there's something um I'm assuming, and I think I've mentioned this before that the city when having going into contracts and agreements have to have some language in place that protects the city for projects not being done on time as you know indicated in their um RFPs, or if they back out in of a project that we were anticipating, because now this, even though we do continue to have the three other entities, um, this is something that the city was looking for as a cost savings to the city, along with we were planning on having that canopy uh to protect um the um vehicles at the police station from the weather.

Um, and now that's been put on hold too.

And my understanding is that we're going back and looking for um someone to do that piece of the project that now has been delayed.

So the company was still in their due diligence phase during this, there was no official contract because they still had the ability um to not agree to do the contract, but but we had on as I told you before at last meeting, there was a bunch of title issues that they we had to do, environmental issues.

So there was no official contract, they were just exploring.

They had a the agreement was to allow them a certain days uh to do their due diligence.

We did extend that many many times because of the fact we ran into some issues, but and talking to Christian Capizio who handles all our solar stuff for the city, um, he suggested that we just pretty much it's not dead.

We can go out for to find another company.

This company just wasn't able to do it for the reasons they stated in that email.

So um uh that's that's where we are.

So there's really no breach of contract because they just pulled out in the time and the due diligence.

And it's unfortunate the big beautiful bill turned out to be not so uh big and beautiful for solar or alternate energy as you know.

So next item public hearings ordinance for second and final passage for discussion and possible vote.

Number one, an ordinance increasing the annual salary of the city council pursuant to section two-three of article two of the city charter, annual salary of each city council member shall increase to nine thousand dollars, 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, effective January 1st, 2027, introduced by Councilman Fogerty.

In for second passage, um discussion and or is there a motion?

Motion to approve to get it started.

Motion to approve.

Oh second.

Motion to approve by councilman Lawson, second right councilman Bogerty before we open it up to public discussion, council discussion this time.

No, this was advertised.

There's not one person here from the public.

Um I'm sorry.

Yeah.

So there are a couple, but this is like I said before, you get what you pay for.

And you this week alone, I've had an emails call me a racist asshole, and I put in time to aggregate data, and there's a lot that we do that if you want quality people to represent the city of East Providence, you gotta give them a little bit of an incentive.

Same that goes with the mayor, you know.

Um, if you want to attract quality people, you gotta make it an attractive job.

So I do support this, and again, members of the public, there's nobody here.

Well, it's a public hearing.

Uh there are a couple people out here.

Um anyone want to comment on this?

I'll ask couple times.

Is there any anyone here that would like to comment on this specifically uh hearing none?

I'll close the public hearing.

We have a motion in a second.

Uh Madam Clerk, would you call a role of the council?

Councilman Fogerty.

Aye.

Councilman Lawson.

I council vice president Riga.

I councilwoman Susa.

I before I take a vote, I just have to make a comment.

So while I agree with the council um that the work of the council does deserve more, and we are an underpaid um body across the city, across the state.

So a lot of other councils make even double of what is being proposed here today.

Um my concern, not concern, but my comment is that we're talking about budget and how we don't we don't know what the budget's gonna be like.

We're going ahead and having some difficulties in the years to come, paying bills, and we might look at this as being, well, it's only you know, six thousand more or five thousand more per council member, and then the mayor's jumping up, you know, 30,000.

underpaid um body across the city across the state so a lot of other councils make even double of what is being proposed here today um my only concern not concern but my comment is that we're talking about budget and how we don't we don't know what the budget's gonna be like we're going ahead and having some difficulties in the years to come paying bills and we might look at this as being well it's only you know six thousand more or five thousand more per council member and then the mayor's jumping up you know 30,000 um what about the positions that the council has funded in budgets for hiring staff in different departments that aren't being filled because it costs too much right that's what I've heard is that you know when you add people to the payroll now you have um Mars you have insurances you have you know all kinds of things that add to year on year finances but we need them so we need people in dispatch to take the 911 calls and the emergency calls because the number that's there is not enough um we have uh parks department and highway department who have a lot of work in general to do to take care and maintain the city the way that we all would like it and now we have more parks bigger parks we have parks that are under construction that a lot of work is being done by the men and women in our parks so how and they're not fully staffed to where I think they should be or if you speak to them maybe where they think they should be because of the amount of work that's involved in maintaining all of these city parks and buildings but we don't want to we're not hiring those positions we're not putting money into investing in that into the city but you know it's okay and again not saying that it's not deserved I just want to make a point that if we can add money to to elected bodies then we should be making sure as an administration and as a city that the people who are actually working to support the residents in the city and the parks in the city that those positions are being hired and not just right before we go into budget so it looks like we need those um FTEs for the next fiscal year but they haven't been filled the whole previous fiscal year because we're trying to save money um I I just think it's a a backwards way of um spending on salaries okay what is your vote add to that we don't receive benefits and the mayor's salary's already got the benefits built in we have a lot meta comments about to be developed so that's gonna increase the tax base we got the waterfront so there's a lot that's gonna start increasing the tax base.

Well that's what I hear but I this is not going to destroy the budget we don't get benefits so you're only bumping up what three six whatever the previous councils had been this council previous did they don't we don't have benefits because we choose not to have we shouldn't have we're elected officials we should not be receiving right and that's an opinion right of the body so the body chooses what they want to do just like they're choosing to add to increase the salary which I'm not saying is not justified my point is we have men and women in this city in departments that should be supported more not by increasing their salary which is obligational through contract we're already supporting them but we need more hands on deck in the city.

Yep preaching to the choir so when we're when we're not doing it just hold on just for two separate subjects yeah future reference because we're kind of out of order I I see the solicitor looking at me once I close and I mean I'll do this more succinctly in the future what once I close council discussion and public discussion we need to just vote the discussion comes up when I have a you know an open discussion um thank you I'll keep that in mind for future votes thank you so that's a nay so that's uh motion carries four to one did you vote yes okay yep four to one Roger Williams no no president yes I said aye so it's for an approval and councilwoman so is a nay so it's four to one next item number two in auditance establishing the annual salary of the mayor the annual salary of the mayor shall be 1200 the mayor is entitled to all other auxiliary member benefits of employment enjoyed by department heads effective January 1st 2027 introduced by councilman Fogerty is there a motion a motion to approve motion by councilman is seconded by councilman lawson council discussion on the motion councilwoman nope I'm sorry so you hit the mic fault.

Anyone from the public wishing to speak on the motion.

Hearing none, I close the public hearing.

We have the motion in second.

Madam Clerk, please call the role of the council.

Councilman Fogerty.

Aye.

Councilman Lawson.

Aye.

Council Vice President Riga.

Aye.

Councilwoman Susa.

Nay.

Council President Rodericks.

Aye.

Motion carries four to one.

Next item.

Number three, ordinance of the council, the city of East Providence appropriating 115,824 and 50 cents for improvements at Bitner.

I'm gonna make a motion to table this.

Um the equipment the administration showed.

The the folks they want the slides.

They want the stuff that people can climb, slide down.

They had showed me that it's like the ninja warrior whatever.

So uh I haven't heard back if they honored that request of the neighborhood to put uh like we have in the other playgrounds.

So I'd like to table that until we know exactly what piece of a motion table by councilman Lawson, seconded by councilwoman sousa and councilman Fogerty.

All in favor?

Aye aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Five uh zero.

And uh Chief of Staff, uh just ask the um appropriate department if it's um DPW or Parks to just give us a specific listing so we can vote on this for the next meeting of what the equipment is, the playground equipment.

And we have them in like Providence Ave has them.

It's the kind of kids can climb up, it's almost like a little four slides, and then they could slide down.

I can resend that uh council president, but it was sent um when it was inquired about but I can resend it.

Okay, next item.

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

Motion to approve uh there's uh what are we approving?

I didn't I didn't communication all of it accept motion to accept by councilwoman sousa second.

Um just right, yep.

Okay, do you want to read?

We got breast cancer awareness national veterans.

Yeah, I think they're really important that we on that people that's why I asked.

What do we want to read the well the city heading usually reads all of it before we do anything if we keep it consistent?

Because I know sometimes this council kind of runs and jumps and goes quickly during the well, no, we I I under my it's very inconsistent.

Well, I take home bridge with that.

I'm not being in consistent council president.

All right, I'll let you finish, then I'll speak.

No, we should read we the we always do.

I and I've asked the chief of staff to read the headings without going.

If we is the proclamation in my packet, I'll read it.

Let's just move forward with madam.

You go ahead.

Chief, please go forward.

So number three is all set because I think we've already addressed that correct.

Um you have the finance uh and capital reports in your packet.

Uh breast cancer.

Well, we we've been doing consistency.

Yeah, of course.

Read um just read my title.

All right, the chief has the floor, please.

And consistent.

I'm sorry, go ahead, Chief.

Okay.

Um we have the breast cancer 2025 breast cancer awareness month.

Um, according to I can read the titles, Council President.

Just the titles, please.

So we have the breast cancer awareness month.

We have the 2025 National Veterans Small Business Week.

Um, as many of you know, we have the 2025 dyslexia awareness month, and what we normally do is we do red ribbon week with uh one of our local residents, Tori Jessup.

And then we have one more.

Well red ribbon week.

That was red ribbon.

Well, it was part of Red Ribbon Week, which was dyslexia awareness.

Oh, I'm sorry, no, I was connecting the two, and then we have Red Ribbon Week, which is um for alcohol and drug abuse uh affecting how it affects individuals.

Thank you.

So the motion was made and I think seconded to just accept all in favor.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Five zero.

Next item.

Number four, submission of the mayor's proposed fiscal year 2025-2026 municipal budget.

Receipt an acknowledgement of administration's proposed fiscal year 26 budget and set date for public hearing in accordance with section five-11 for Wednesday, September 2024 at the city council chambers in East Providence City Hall.

So this is just to accept we're not going into the budget.

What do we got to well we're about to, I would assume.

Oh Chief of Staff.

Uh Council President members of the council, as you're aware per um our charter, we um the budget has to be submitted by uh September 16th, and that um is still uh the process.

So you will uh as we have done in previous years, you will use you will receive a uh an email correspondence from our office as well as the link to the digital budget uh with printed copies to follow in preparation for the budget workshops.

So today's the 16th, we're gonna get it by midnight tonight.

As you always do, sir.

And we couldn't get it beforehand.

I just walked off a plane about three hours ago.

You will have it.

Well, it could have been someone else that could have sent it.

That's correct.

Um, but as you know, I usually go through and I want to make sure that everything that comes to you is accurate and up to date, and you will have it per charter uh rules.

Thank you.

So the most important thing we're doing tonight is setting the public hearing.

Um, we need to set the date because it needs to be advertised.

It has to be just to make the council where we just recently received the school department budget.

There is other information that came to us late in the process.

So we just want to make sure what we have ready for you.

And it's ready.

I just we we're going through and doing our due diligence, so you have everything.

This we start this process in May and we work very hard, councilman.

So it's it's it's no other reason other than reviewing and going through line by line and making sure all the click-throughs work properly.

Thank you, Patricia.

You're welcome.

And you'll have the printed version, councilwoman.

I know that that's a request of you, so we've we've been printing those as well.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Can I just ask uh for inquiry purposes um on Wednesday, September 24th, what time is it gonna be the regular council meeting time?

Okay.

It's been advertised for 6:30 as we've done in the past.

We just follow the other what we've done in the past.

And what's the deadline for advertising to have it would be today?

So if we don't advertise, if we don't move forward.

This is so the and again, I'm not involved in the budget process, but this is really just a formality.

You're gonna get right in the budget.

It's just acknowledging you're gonna get it on this day.

I understand why you'd be upset not getting it at the meeting, but you'll get it by the end of the by 12 o'clock today, as indicated.

Um you really then once once that data set for purpose 1159.

That midnight it would be late.

True, it's true.

So and then um, and then the advert the advertisement uh needs to go in because of um uh deadlines, and then I'll no, I I I then just so just so you know, council members of the council from tonight until uh 924, you can have as many public hearings on the budget as you want.

Um, we gave you a uh a sample calendar that we're gonna limit it with 48 hours notice.

We can schedule any type of budget hearings on 924.

That's the public hearing on the mayor's budget.

So public can comment on the mayor's budget after that date.

Then you are officially allowed per the charter to make uh changes to that but budget, particularly additions to the budget or subtractions, but additions are specifically called out uh then after that date.

So that's what that's why the importance of the 924, but between now and 924 and then after 924, you can have as many hearings as you want as long as we give the clerk 48 hours notice uh and they're posted.

So I uh I'll agree with uh councilman laws in that.

I mean it's awkward to not have it now.

Uh and when it if it comes before midnight, I'm not reading it tonight.

Um but I the point also is we don't have to read it today.

This is just a perfunctor so the 24th will be our next meeting on this.

You could have meetings in between then if you want to.

Today is the 15th, and we're gonna need time to read through this.

So yeah, the 24th I'll be here the 24th.

Nine days, so right.

I'll be here the 20th.

Right.

So I think uh legally we just need to the 24th.

Say the 24th, and well, we have okay.

We've we've been over this, and I don't if this is your this is how you do it, but we've this budget calendar we submitted to you with the clerks.

We we approved it.

Well, we have dates.

So the next meeting that we have scheduled actually on a public public workshop is nine eighteen.

So you can bring in someone on this.

We'll have the budget tonight.

Two days you'll have the budget tonight.

Um you don't have to do it.

I'm just letting you the your options.

Okay, and that's what I just said the 24th.

But I want uh the clerk needs to know if you would plan on having a budget workshop on 918, because we have to post that meeting.

If you're going to wait till the 24th, then you just wasted or not wasted, but you didn't have the nine days between now and the 18th, then that you'll never get the time back.

So it gives us time to go through the budget.

I understand that, but you could, you know, you could decide on 918.

You want the school department to come in and give their budget, or you want the police department.

You can look at one area of the budget.

You don't have to look at the entire thing.

We got full-time jobs, Mike.

I understand.

You want us to come back in a day and a half, basically, and start this process.

It's just not realistic.

It's unfair to the taxpayers.

That's fine.

So any between again, between now and the 24th, you can have as many meetings as you need with 48 hours notice.

And then after 2024, you can have as many meetings you want between then um 1014, which is the last date that you can actually uh make changes to the budget because your changes have to be advertised as well.

So I'll have the clerk give you guys this.

Excuse me, give the council members this again.

Those are the dates.

So we just need to know when you want to schedule those hearings.

We gave you some sample dates, but you can meet as much as you want, or is less as you want.

It's up to you.

Um, Mr.

President.

Um so next Wednesday.

This question for the solicitor.

Can we stop bringing department heads on and on that date?

I know where it's been after the budget at the 24.

I mean, on the 24th, we can bring people in next Wednesday.

Yes, after the public hearing is concluded, yes.

That's what I mean.

Yes.

So I think I think we should line some people up for the 24th.

I mean, um I haven't read no, no, I'm talking.

No idea.

No, I'm saying the pond by that time.

Uh I'm not I'm saying in the 24th.

We so we're not rushing it at the end where we two yeah two years ago the administration level.

Yeah, that's what I mean.

Pick we'll pick a couple for next.

Yeah, uh relying upon the council president to contact the me and the clerk determine what departments you want.

Okay, but yeah, I think we're correct.

Because we weren't we had said we wouldn't bring in we don't need uh canvas every little department doesn't have to come before you, I don't think that's not not necessary.

No, I'm only kidding.

And council president, if I may, um so in the past, as you know, over the years, um you there the the council has decided to do different things during the workshops.

You've decided to you know uh come together with a list of certain departments to have them here.

Um, other years have all the departments ready.

We will be ready to have everyone here, and we appreciate the consideration of not you know wasting department heads time.

However, I just want to remind the council that in the past you've uh finished earlier with certain departments and then wanted to go down the list and they weren't here.

So we're happy to have department heads here present for each workshop, just in case you finish early or later or whatnot.

But we just want to I just wanted to remind you of that because then that's happened in the past.

Sure.

But well, the only thing that threw us a curveball tonight is we in the past, we we usually get the physical budget.

We don't look through it the same night, but it's accepted and it's it's ready.

I I just wanted I went through it no, I understand to tweak one thing before we handed it over.

So, Mr.

Solicitor, what are we voting for now?

The hearing date is the public hearing on 924.

Correct.

So that's basically the vote.

Set the hearing on 924.

Technically, I mean, um uh technically the mayor could have just submitted the the budget to the clerk as your clerk.

Exactly.

So motion by councilwoman sousa set the date by September 24th at 20 September 24th.

Is there a second?

Second, second, councilman lawson.

All in favor.

September 24th, and we'll work on no department heads to come in.

Next item.

Number three.

Number three.

I don't think we did number three on the resolutions.

So it's one thousand.

Yeah, we're gonna have it like I'm listening.

Sorry.

Page six number three resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract with J.R.

and Sons Construction Inc.

Basketball Court Improvements at Providence Avenue Park introduced by Council President Rodericks.

Motion to approve.

Motion by councilwoman Susa to approach.

Not sure why I wasn't asked to sponsor, but I'll second.

Seconded by Councilman Lawson.

All in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed.

Yeah, I just have that.

No executive session.

Yeah, there are no other than private mic, or oh yeah.

Uh we should do it.

Okay.

So this time is there a motion understood.

Make a motion.

Uh to I gotta read the numbers.

I want to go to the beginning of the agenda and pursuit to Rhode Island General Law 42-46-5.

I make a motion, we move into executive session.

Um just discussing the amendment to the settlement.

Motion to return to a public session of the executive section.

Solicitor, do you have to report out the vote?

So uh in uh executive session, the council took a vote to modify uh a settlement agreement that was entered into with Exxon Mobil uh previously on 1231 2020.

Uh the amendment uh was basically a readjustment of some of the uh payment schedule and the actual uh monies that were being sent.

And um so it was approved unanimously by the council authorizing uh the entrance of that settlement agreement, and we'll be put that on file.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Well, so noted is there a motion to adjourn.

Motion to adjourn again.

Motion Council Vice President Regal seconded by Councilman Lawson and Councilman Fogerty.

All in favor.

Aye, any opposed, the ayes have.

Thank you.