The East Providence City Council a little after six thirty.

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

Council Councilman Fulgerty?

Yeah.

Councilman Lawson?

Yeah.

Council Vice President Regal.

Yeah.

Councilwoman Susa.

Yeah.

Council President Rodericks.

Claim and sewer charge abatements.

And Bitigation Bank of America versus Sarah Few.

And then when we come back, we'll finish the other part claims and sewage charge abatements right here at the at the dais with the solicitor Marcelo.

So is there a motion to move to executive session for the litigation portion?

Yes, according to Rhode Island General Laws 42 465.

Second by Councilman Fogerty.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Can you um slowly write down what I'm supposed to be reading out?

Motion to uh return to public session and seal the minutes of the executive session.

Is there a motion to that effect?

Motion motion, Council Vice President Regal, seconded by Councilman Fogerty.

All in favor, aye, any opposed.

Yeah, I have it.

Um, if you want to just report the results of the first part of the executive session, or can I do it, yes?

I'm sorry.

Um, so there was a settlement discussion regarding a tax uh appeal by a Bank of America.

Um, the settlement agreement was um approved by the uh council, I believe unanimously.

Uh, I did not take part in that uh settlement discussion or the um negotiation of that settlement because I have a legal conflict.

However, once the agreement is signed, it'll become a public record.

So everybody wants to they can get it at that point.

And then they'll report out all the claims that were listed on the agenda were approved upon the recommendation of the uh public works director of the amounts are listed on the agenda, and they were approved unanimously as well.

Back in open session, Madam Clerk, if you could continue with the the agenda.

I think we did early, but we can't because you did them so fast that you probably didn't notice it.

That's okay.

September 16, 2025.

Budget hearing meeting September 24, 2025.

Letters, new property numbers.

99 Walnut Street, East Providence, Rod Islands, 02914, Map 105, Block 08, Parcel 039.00.

51 Dunbar Street, Brumford Wood Island, 02916, Map 404, Block 22, Parcel 02210.

If there are no outstanding questions on the tax, I'll make a motion to accept the consent calendar.

Complete.

Complete.

Okay.

Motion by Councilman Lawson.

Second by Councilwoman Susan.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Continue, Madam Clerk.

Licenses, is it sorry?

Turn mic.

Licenses.

C non-public hearings, special events, one day entertainment license for bingo night.

Um date is 1213, 6 30 to 10 30 p.m.

Do you want me to read all of them?

Or do you want to uh no?

We could have a motion bundle.

Bundle motion by councilman Lawson to bundle the request seconded by councilman Fogerty.

All in favor of bundling aye.

Any opposed, the ayes have five zero.

I'll make a motion to approve um C1 through eight.

Second that motion by Councilman Lawson.

Seconded by Councilman Fogerty, C numbers one through eight.

All in favor?

I need opposed, yeah.

And I just want to say for record number two is an incredible house display for Halloween on OCAV.

They go all out every year.

It is amazing.

They are awesome.

And uh I encourage everybody take a ride down south and check it out.

That's October 24.

Looks like well, they have it up for a few years.

Regularly anyway.

Yeah.

Yeah, that's that'll be nice.

Yeah.

Okay.

Continue, madam clerk.

Public comment.

Nancy Hale.

Yes, is Nancy Hale present?

Okay.

Well, we we'll have to move on.

Is um there anyone else?

She comes back, we'll we'll let her.

Sure.

Yeah, she'll be able to ask her question.

Um continue.

Council members, discussion and possible vote on changes or amendments to the mayor's fiscal year 26 proposed budget.

So we you know, I did we've had a few hearings and workshops.

I did ask for uh any requests to have other department heads here tonight, and we were there were none.

Um there are obviously still a few questions that that members have, and we can open it up at this time to uh questions, comments by the council.

We got a couple of yes, councilman Lawson.

Um page 48 or the miscellaneous um, yeah.

I don't have the numbers here.

Uh purchase services, legal services.

There's two fifty.

Shouldn't that be under the legal department?

Why is it in miscellaneous?

You have the director of finance here, and also mayor's uh chief of staff, administration, mayor is present also, so anyone can answer that.

So the there are there are two line items for legal services.

This has always been in this uh we we split it up because there are some legal services that we use that are when I have a conflict like uh one a conflict to um uh when we hire a specialized council like we hired a council for the uh solar solar issues that we've had, uh bond councils uh sometimes comes out of this as well.

Um other specialized things like arbitration fees, we pay them out of that fee.

That's why it's so it's kind of a miscellaneous all under one legal.

I think at one time it was councilman to be honest with you, and then I think a prior council you know took it out.

So it's that's that's it's it's at a it's a really uh bookkeeping matter, but if we had it last year, how much was left over from that line item?

Well it says 250 and 58,000's been used so far, so that's 192,000 dollars is still left over.

I caught into this, so you might have used more since it's yeah, half year was 58%.

How much have we seen updated in that line item?

Yeah, so but at that point at this point it's 192,000.

Yeah, and also be very clear when we when I'm involved in later labor negotiations.

I I we I built to that account as well.

Okay, so uh year to date, we've used about 125,000 dollars of the 250 budgeted.

So there's 130 left over, and we want to add 250 to that.

125.

No, no, budget.

No, budgeted too.

Right, but last year guys, one at a time uh how much is left over from what we budgeted last year.

Oh left over from what we budgeted last year was 115,000.

There's a hundred and fifteen thousand left from last year, and then we want to add two hundred and fifty on top.

So we still have a hundred and fifteen thousand from last year.

Okay, okay.

So there's a hundred and fifteen thousand out there somewhere.

Through the council president, if I may, um I just I just want to make note just for the viewers at home to understand or the residents that please um it it's important to look at this as a whole picture and look at previous years.

So fiscal year 2024, there was 320,3239.

Uh fiscal year 23, 329,641.

So I just wanted to make you aware of those comments.

I'm aware, but last year there's 115,000 that was unspent from last year's budget.

Okay.

Um so fiscal year 24, you're telling me because fiscal year 25 is not over yet.

So I'm I'm trying to get a feel for where this is going and everything like that.

So Glenda, you're telling me that the end of fiscal year 24 out of the 328, there was 115 left over.

No, no.

Well, why five?

This we're still in fiscal 25.

Correct.

So so there's it.

We haven't closed it out yet.

So that you're telling there's a hundred and fifteen left in this fiscal year 25.

That's when you when you're telling me last year from an accountant standpoint.

I'm thinking 24.

25 hasn't closed yet.

So it's 115 as of today we have in this budget from now until the end of this month.

Yes.

Correct.

So and do we anticipate using that?

There are, I mean, I can just tell you from the labor negotiations.

There are uh outstanding labor bills that will be paid from this because we're still in negotiations and how much is left on your budget on the on my other side of the budget?

Yeah, um, I that I can tell you that.

I know that I have not gone over budget.

I know that.

I think that's the same amount that we budgeted last year.

I think um based upon the mayor's recommendations, the the total legal budget has been cut by 100,000 from last year.

I'm just on the legal department.

And that's what I mean when I say you have budget.

Yeah, I get it.

Legal department.

Is that that answer your question pretty much, councilman?

Councilman Lawson, you're good.

Um the legal.

Yeah, no, I'm just asking if you're you're good.

No, I didn't how much is left over?

I didn't get the answer.

Oh, the total left.

Yeah.

Okay.

So in the legal departments uh remaining as of today is 23,000.

Okay.

So between both those lines, about 150.

Yes.

Okay.

And the other question, when I dug down 53403, purchase professional services.

I didn't see exactly what that was for.

Could you clarify what department?

It's under miscellaney.

Line item 53403.

It's still uh uh number 900 under miscellaneous, yeah.

Right under legal services.

100,000, but I didn't see when I dug down an open gov what exactly that was allocated for other professional services.

Yep, is it itemized?

Can you go to the right?

Mike, I believe that's also for legal expenses.

Some of it is some of our expert fees that we pay when we need doctors, um, arbitration fees, those kind of things, I believe.

Um, I think that actually is where the uh arbitrators fees come from when we go to arbitration.

So 350 are technically legal.

Yes.

Not all of that money goes to legal.

I mean, when this when we have to hire an expert or outside of legal, if there's a specialized you hire them due to law.

No, no, but there might be other departments that use that line item as well.

I'm not aware of that, but I believe they are.

Maybe the American so I got questions on the city council's budget.

We got 60 uh line item 5300, 5300, 68.3k for purchase professional services.

Do we know?

I thought the audit was on this uh administration side, though we moved that.

No, that's the we're sign our side.

We need you miss that's we had this question.

Uh the audit stays with us because we're technically responsible for the audit.

Yes, the audit was we don't do anything with council.

And we don't get the audit.

Is that by charter?

Yes.

Okay.

Um 35k legal services.

Again, why isn't this under one line item under legal?

I at one point the city council, I think it was the prior city council, maybe Bob cancel this question, but they moved some legal services to that to your account so that they had the ability to hire outside legal council when they felt there was a conflict unnecessary.

So there was there were discussions from council about hiring.

We did we did that last year.

Right.

And I think we still have we we never did hire.

All these legal things to me should be in one line item.

It's just it's all over the place.

But that was for council appointment.

We council members.

Well, we could still utilize I think when it goes into uh Mike's uh department, we don't have that access like we do if it's in our budget.

You know what I mean?

Like we can't go into his budget and utilize any funds that he has set aside under professional um services.

We can only use it in our budget.

So if we hire a lawyer over 35K, we can't utilize the legal no, I think you can.

I'm not to not to disagree with the councilwoman.

I it was just really uh they didn't want to have to go through my office, basically.

So, but they could they could have, but if they wanted to just okay, they can.

And so that's why it was moved out for training and conferences that for 2025.

That was for the um IIMC, the International Institute of Municipal Clerks.

They do the annual conference training.

Shouldn't that be in your budget though?

Not the city councils.

Nope, it's under the city councils.

It I went I already went already once this year.

Right, and you're going again.

You're going this year.

Well, next year it's not until November next year.

2026.

Line item 5731.

What's that?

So this is for is this for every live stream and school department and everything?

No.

They do their own.

Okay.

Yeah, you know, that's fine.

For their own.

And 863 for phones.

863 dollars.

Yes, that's all the cell phones, the um cell phone payers and laptops.

We have cell phones and laptops in city council.

I don't.

Rob explained that the last time now.

Supposedly you we again, you know, I I don't pay attention to what goes into my account every two weeks because it's not that big, but supposedly every so often there's a bump where we get an extra six or seven, whatever the amount was.

That was explained in the meeting there.

That's your own use.

Yeah, for our own use of phone, that was explained.

I mean, again, I don't I don't explain.

I mean, I don't pay attention because you know it's you know, I doesn't change, it's the same every two weeks.

Well, it's I mean, that's what was said to us.

So I mean I don't think I've got yeah, there are no cell phones.

Every year this comes up, and there's a question about the do the council have have um have cell phones.

Well, we do not.

I have never had one on my rate stays about the same also, so I don't know what changes, but it's a stipend for private checks, and so far the paid out to the city council is two thousand one hundred and three dollars.

And we reach it through the paychecks through human reason, me and Bob.

So that's a stipend for us using our personal three.

Right.

So probably should change the wording to not say cell phone or something.

Uh we're not getting but that's the only other thing I got is the police.

We're budgeting for 101 positions.

We're at 82.

There's a good chance we're gonna lose four or five.

If it's not realistic that we're gonna hit 101, can we reallocate a couple of these positions to DPW?

We need craftsmen.

We need laborers.

And listen, if we were back to 10102 for the cops, I'd be right there.

But we're at 82.

Is it realistic?

We're gonna hire 18 cops this year.

Yeah, probably not.

I'm gonna ask the mayor and the solicitor.

I mean, through the year, isn't can't that be an administrative function if we don't hire.

Council President, uh, we are not budgeted for 101 officers.

That's for that includes civilian employees.

So you're probably looking at the FTEs, which include civilian employees.

I think we're around 95 or 96.

And just because it says FTE at the bottom 95, we actually budgeted many of those positions, understanding that we're not gonna be able to fill them for a full year.

Some are budgeted 50 percent, some are budgeted 25 percent, uh, because we understand that we're not gonna be able to fill all those spots.

But the possibility does exist that those spots could get filled.

I mean, we have uh an active recruiting process going on right now.

We have people in the academy, and we also take lateral transfers.

So at any moment, we could end up with more police officers coming in.

Uh the budget uh reflects that on the salaries that we we reduced some of those positions instead of full a full position, it's a half position.

So there is a clear need for more DPW.

I don't know where you're getting that from, councilman.

Does someone come to you and say that?

Rest budget workshop.

These guys and Dan all said yes, we need more DPW.

Well, well, if the money was there, and I just mentioned the way for the money to be there.

Let me just say this, councilman, and I respect that you're trying to get us more DPW people.

I will tell you this: that if the money was there, I could use 30 or 40 more DPW, 30 or 40 more people in the Let's cut down a couple of positions here that are not gonna get filled.

And move that budgetem over to DPW.

I don't think that's a that's uh prudent.

You know, if if uh if the money was there, I'd be looking at putting more rescue service.

We're in the process right now of negotiating with the fire department in the hopes that we can get more rescue coverage.

The reality is when you budget something, you have to live by the budget.

Do I think we could use more of everything?

Yes, in all aspects of government.

But the reality is we have to live within a very constrained budget.

I appreciate that you're trying to get more people for our community to do work.

We can move a couple of these positions over to DPW because it's not realistic that we're gonna fill 15 positions.

But but what would happen then is that you would create in the budget a shortfall.

So you would create these two new positions now that would have to be fully funded by by healthcare and everything else that comes along with it, FICA and everything else that has to pay for it.

Those two positions would not be budgeted going into next year, and if we ever reach the position where we could have a fully staffed police department, I would be short funding for two full-time police officers.

So you're in in effect, you would be defunding the police to help fund DPW.

And we don't use that in language.

Well, I'm telling you, I'm telling you the realism is we we haven't come, no one in my staff, my DPW director, uh, none of my uh superintendents came to me saying, hey, we want more DPW people.

Very first budget workshop, it was clearly stated and agreed upon by everybody.

Yeah, I I think probably what the director said was we could always use more wasn't a appetite from this council to move a couple positions to DPW.

Well, let's just save time.

Well, I don't know that we have that authority to make line item moves of personnel.

All right.

But well, that's why I started by asking the mayor and the solicitor along the way, as can budgets be adjusted.

Can the mayor come back to us and say, you know, we're not gonna hire these 15 police officers.

We might hire eight, and we can shift some money over as the councilman is saying, and maybe not tonight, but at some point can I can I offer uh some explanation on that too.

So we budget an overtime line, we budget a salary line.

What ends up happening is if you can't fill the positions, you have to backfill with overtime.

There may be a situation where the overtime is not enough to cover.

Yes, it's a struggle to find police officers now.

Yes, we are woefully understaffed on the police side.

That funding that's there is meant to bring on full-time police sources at some point, but if they're not there, it's gonna help supplement the overtime line is what's gonna happen.

I we've put together a well-crafted uh budget with input from all of our department heads.

I think the question was asked by one of the council people to the DPW director, you know, could you use more people?

And I recall him saying something along the lines that yes, we can always use more people, which is a true statement.

We could always use more people, but we have to live within a responsible budget.

That's all so councilman, if I can.

Yes, please, councilman.

So in the past, we have um in just an example, you know, it's one that I don't even bring up this budget because it doesn't matter, just like your point here with the uh dispatch, and we had allocated funding for that um that budget, and um unfortunately the council has the ability to add, right, and remove from the budget.

Um, but the power lies with the administration as to what they do with the budget once it's been approved for the council.

So with all good intentions, and I do agree with you that you know, we could probably shift things around um at the end of the day.

It's not our duty uh or our you know, purview to make those decisions once we've approved the the dollar amount um in the budget.

And the charter also gives the um mayor of the city the ability within 90 days to shift around funds within the budget um where they see fit.

So six months after the budget, if you know the mayor decides to create a position somewhere or hire somewhere or give a merit raise somewhere or whatever, it's as long as that money's in that budget, then they can do so without the council's in the total bottom line.

It can so there's a chance we can try to get something done here.

Uh other questions on anyone make a motion to approve the budget.

Hearing none, uh is there uh comment?

Go ahead.

Councilman, I don't know if Ms.

Hale had a comment, which I this is yes, this is just a review at this point.

This was set down as a uh council review for all these departments if if if necessary, and I think the council councilman has some really good questions there and got some stuff.

I don't know if there's any more questions of the council doesn't appear on this budget.

Doesn't appear to sign up and you also uh you had signed up, Ms.

Hale, and you are out of the room at the time, but we've said you can come forward ask no problem if you doesn't look like it.

Sorry, it's just a joke.

But please come forward and uh ask your questions.

Good to see you here tonight.

He didn't mean that, Nancy.

Nancy Hale, 889 Billcks Point Avenue.

Welcome.

I just want to say I've seen tons of DPW work down in Riverside, and it's looking great.

Driving around is wonderful.

The traffic is still, you know, good enough on that for tonight because my question about the budget is um appreciating what Rick Lawson has said that a budget is a reflection of priorities.

I just want to know what, and I haven't had a chance to review the budget.

Um what in the budget reflects East Providence's commitment to sustainability, respecting the bay, environmental challenges, or energy resilience, any of those things.

Well, from my point of view, uh we certainly with as you mentioned, the work that we're doing in the a lot of the parks and recreational sites, um, has to be done in conjunction with coastal resources with uh Rhode Island Department Management, the uh Rhode Island DEM, and a lot of those regulatory agencies.

We've been trying for a long time to get some work done at Willet Pond, and we have to wait for coastal resources, CRMC for approval.

So I I I think you know, we're we're doing what we we can as far as all the aesthetics go.

Do we have a line item that says X amount of dollars is going towards some of the things you're asking for?

You know, probably not, but within this budget, we're we're certainly covering the aesthetics of the city.

You mentioned what you liked about Riverside and throughout East Provence, you know, whether it's the Kent Field Project.

Correct, correct, correct.

Okay.

That's been recognized in prior meetings.

Sure.

Can you what specifically are you looking for in the budget?

I'm not I'm I am asking it as a brief question tonight.

Again, I'm not expecting that it be some random line item.

Um it's well, unfortunately, that's what budgets are.

They have to be specific line items.

You can't just have a generalization.

Well, this is let me continue then.

Okay.

We still have trees down and hanging branches left over from July 3rd storm.

So that's Department of Public Works.

I second Rick's idea to give the Department of Public Works more resources, whatever they need.

Okay.

I cleaned up the street from several gigantic or half-tree branches that night and into the morning.

Okay.

That was to clear the entrance of Terrace Avenue so that someone from our neighborhood went out with a backhoe and cleared a more gigantic tree that had fallen across the street.

We still have hangars that are left from that storm, and I don't know how many trees in the park.

I don't go around counting them.

Um the Department of Public Works is great.

It is extremely well managed.

Donna was woman of the year or employee of the year, whatever.

Uh I I like Rick's idea in the event that there's any extra money anywhere with environmental challenges.

We all know we experience in them.

Um, climate change is not something you believe in, like voodoo or religion.

It is a scientific fact, and it is the Department of Public Works that needs to go out and straighten everything out.

No doubt about it.

We we recognize that I recognize that.

It's not the only concept.

The other things I are not really necessarily budget items, but as far as a budget goes, if there's any unused or you know, flexible or whatever you want to call it, money that is you know, I think Dan should have a good crack at it.

Sure.

I think you know, administration has our intent that if there is a way to do that, we will that's has our support.

Thank you.

Anyone else here that has a question on the budget?

Mr.

Solicitor, the rest of the process for this.

I think we are um prepared to you're moving to the ordinances now.

Then it's part of that ordinance.

Yeah, that's the first step.

Yeah, it's for you have the option tonight to approve the budget as submitted by that ordinance if you if you so choose.

So under the ordinances uh that's also public hearings.

Uh yes, correct, yes.

Which we've kind of had already, but it's up to you.

So are we on page seven of the agenda now?

And Madam Clerk, if you want to just uh read the ordinance, this is for first and final passage and second passage for discussion and possible vote.

Okay.

First, let me make a correction.

It should say second and final passage.

Um, in order number one, in ordinance and amendment of chapter 18 of the revised ordinance of the city of East Providence, Rhode Island 1998 as amended in title vehicles and traffic, section one, subsection B of Section 18-269 entitled stop and yield intersections designated when stops required is amended by adding here to the following.

Providence Avenue, Northbound Traffic at Sunset Avenue, Providence Avenue, Southbound Traffic at Sunset Avenue, sponsored by Council President Rodrix.

Now, Mr.

Solicitor, this is part of the the budget.

No, no, no.

I think we're just going down the uh we're just going on the list.

Right.

You know, approve second public hearing, by the way.

So we do have the motion to approve um councilman Lawson, Councilman Fogedy under public hearing.

Any comments, discussion?

Anyone here that would like to comment on this?

Once again, anyone present, like to comment on this hearing none, I'll close that part of the public hearing.

We have a motion and a second.

All in favor, aye.

Any opposed?

The eyes have it.

Next uh ordinance.

Number two, in ordinance and amendment of chapter 18 of the revised ordinance of the city of East Providence.

City of East Providence, Rhode Island 1998 is amended in title vehicles in traffic is amended by adding there to the following section 18-307.

No parking Lincoln Avenue, North Side from Crescent Avenue Westerly, 175 feet, sponsored by Council President Rodericks.

Motion to approve.

Motion by Councilman Lawson to approve.

Councilman Fogerty seconds.

Under uh discussion, the council members, any further discussion.

We have talked about this before.

Any members present here tonight that wish to speak on this.

Once again, anyone else here wishing to speak on this?

Uh hearing and seeing none will close the public hearing.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Thank you.

Next number three, ordinance of the council of the city of East Province appropriating 115, 824.50 cents for improvement at Vit motion to approve, and thank you, Patricia, for adjusting it to the wishes.

Introduced by Council President Roderick and Councilman Lawson.

Yes, thank you, Councilman Lawson.

Bring it approved.

Point uh seconded by Councilman Fogerty.

Under discussion, uh Director uh Borges, would you like to add to this, please?

Yeah, just a clarification.

I believe that the number in the original, uh, as stated on the um agenda is not yes.

We I I left it, I left this because this was tabled from a previous meeting, but you need to.

I thought you were going to add to this number.

We had a number of one.

Oh, one number do you want me to put the number?

Should be provided in the um I think the resolution, right?

Yeah.

Was it about the ordinance?

Excuse me.

The memo that was uh included.

That wasn't updated on the docket.

Well, that's because it was tabled.

All right, all right.

I I wouldn't update it because let me get the number.

Yeah, I don't have it in front of me.

It's in the packet, I'm sure.

150,000 32 and 40 cents.

Make a motion to amend it to 150,000 32.40.

32 and 40 cents.

And I make a motion to approve that dollar amount for the upgrades that have been rev.

Motion to amend the resolution as submitted.

So that's the first motion.

I make a motion to amend the resolution as a minute.

Oh, second.

Motion is amended at that amount as stated, seconded by councilman Fogerty.

All in favor of the amendment.

Aye, any opposed, the ayes have it.

The motion to be made to approve the amended ordinance.

Same thing.

Uh councilman uh Lawson moves approval.

Council Vice President Rego seconds.

All in favor, aye, any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Thank you.

Thank you for that.

Next number four, ordinance of the council of the city of East Providence, Providence appropriating 233 million six hundred and thirteen thousand nine hundred and ninety-one for the support of the city government for the fiscal year ending October 31st, 2026.

Introduced by council president Rodericks.

Well, this is our budget.

Uh this is the vote to approve the budget resolution.

The budget ordinance, which only needs one passage under our charter.

So through the chair, yes, councilwoman sousa, please.

Is um is this total amount?

I just didn't look um include the uh capital improvement.

This does include the not the specific projects, but the uh total amount, dollar amount.

So it's roughly 234 million.

Well, 233, 613, 991 dollars is the specific amount.

And Mr.

Solicitor, we'll do the capital at another time.

Is that correct?

It's up to you, but yeah, I mean you approve that the approve the total.

I know they made recommendations in the in the budget for capital improvements as well.

Did you not?

Yeah, yeah.

So okay.

Other questions and discussion on the budget.

Is there a motion?

I'll make a motion to approve.

Motion, Councilman Fogerty to approve as as listed.

Second, second by council vice president Rego.

Uh, because it is the annual budget.

Uh, Madam Clerk, would you call the role of the just a public hearing?

I'll still uh still public comment if you want.

I don't think there's anyone here, but yeah, no one present, but I'll ask um any comments.

Nancy approves.

She said uh any other comments from anyone, uh any other comments from the council members, administration, anyone?

Uh any other comments from anyone, uh any other comments from the council members, administration, anyone.

Yes, you know, I want to thank all the department heads and the mayor's staff for doing this budget because everyone thinks it's easy.

A lot of time and dedication went into all of this.

There were workshops for the past couple of months.

So new finance directors, old ones going out, and new ones coming in, did a great job.

So thank you for that transition.

Um, Mr.

President.

Yes, council vice president.

Having looked through this budget, and when things come out, obviously people see the four percent, and lights go off in their heads, and that's what the levy and people have to understand the whole process.

And let me get closer.

If you break the if you look through the budget, which I did many times many times, there's no fat between we all know the rising health health care crisis we're in, and it could get even worse because thank thank you, Washington DC.

Our employees deserve fair pay, as everybody knows electric, and that's why I'm gonna keep on hopping on the uh community choice, which will benefit the city.

Everybody's expenses goes up, and obviously the city's expenses go up.

And if you look at where we are now with the levy, and we got till the end of the year, and hopefully more of these buildings that are being built, the houses come up that our bottom line increases what you know, our total revenue stream with the levy, but right now, based on what was advertised in that newspaper a couple of weeks ago where we post the uh in the newspaper, I should say, where we posted what the tax rate is now and what the tax rate would be.

If you were to go and figure that out on a house that's valued at 400,000, which is a fair number that a lot of houses in the city are valued at now, what that would do off the tax rate, and it's still I know it's still money, but it will come down to about again.

I have I left my notes at home on I thought it was here, but it's about 260 a year.

Breaking that down into 52 weeks a year, it's roughly like four dollars and forty cents a week that the taxes would be going up if you look at it.

So I think overall we've done a good job in the three, you know, three years here.

Uh yeah, I want what I like to see, you know, like to see more services.

Yeah, and but I don't think this budget is loaded with any fat and everything.

And if you break it down, uh nobody likes to see an increase.

But as I said in the first opening meetings, there's no life, we're not shutting the library down for a day or two.

We're not shutting fire stations, we're not rotating fire stations being shut down.

We see in the you know, the news around us doing that.

We obviously we want more police officers, but we're not cutting police, we're not cutting teachers.

We didn't cut the school budget.

And we'll never cut the school budget.

And what you gotta people understand this tax increase, they say it all the time.

But people love to approve bonds in the state of Rhode Island.

Well, bonds aren't free, so now we have a great looking high school.

We're gonna have a great new middle school.

Waddington deserves to be upgraded.

Somebody has to pay for it.

So at $4 a week, and we're educating our children, and we're not cutting the future.

This is a pretty damn good budget when you start looking around other cities and towns.

Thank you, Council Vice President.

Uh Councilman Lawson.

I'm gonna slightly disagree.

A budget set of priorities.

I'm gonna be voting no because Riverside, not one dime in capital.

We have Crescent Park, the concession building, not a dime there.

We've been asking for bathrooms at Crescent Park.

Nothing in there.

And when I asked about the compost toilets, it sounds like they're still trying to build lifeguard buildings.

Um, not a dime towards Oldham to move that closer to be habitable.

We've been talking about all the school project, not a dime towards the school building fund.

So I mentioned DPW workers and some ways we could possibly allocate some money to grab a couple workers.

So for those reasons, I will be voting no.

Budget's a set of priorities, and it doesn't look like the priorities that I have from the folks in Riverside are being met.

So thank you, Councilman.

Anyone else, Councilwoman?

Do you want to add anything specific?

Um before we call for the vote.

Um Mr.

Mayor, this is your your budget.

Um do you want to make a closing comment?

Yes, uh, council president.

First, I want to thank uh the members of the council for doing their due diligence on this budget.

I also want to thank all of our department heads.

Uh this budget process started months ago uh internally with our uh personnel, looking at every dime within their budget, trying to find uh ways to make uh this a palatable budget for our residents.

The driving force, of course, this you know, the question was asked what's the priorities?

The people of East Providence have told us what their priority is.

They want good school buildings for their students for the student population, they want their school departments properly funded, and we as a municipality have done that.

No other municipality has gone out for two major school bonds like East Province has 189 million, 149 million.

That's real investment.

Waddington uh elementary school has seen some significant improvements.

Uh we are working, matter of fact, we have a CRMC meeting coming up uh to finalize the permit for the second phase of the protection of the of these uh the seawall or or the the shoreline at Crescent Park.

Uh we just received information that the permit for DEM for the Willet Pond has been approved.

You'll start to see our team mobilizing this week.

We've invested money across this city from Rumford all the way down to Riverside to make this a better place for all people to live.

And I want to thank all of you because I know it's not an easy, it's not easy to sit up there and have to hear criticism, ridicule, but when it comes time to making tough decisions, logical decisions, uh that's where you guys get paid the big money.

Not that it's really big money, but but you you get charged with making some difficult decisions.

And yes, budgets are priorities, and we we've worked closely with our school partners.

We've worked with our finance director, we've worked with the council uh to find out what exactly uh the priorities should be.

So I want to thank you.

I want to thank the members of my team for putting together a responsible budget that continues the level of services that the people of these problems have come to expect.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Uh I just want to correct a little something I said.

I I opened by saying this is your budget.

It's our budget too.

Uh I I'm not trying to shirk anything.

Um I support the budget.

I I think we're going in the right direction.

No document is perfect.

Um, but I think it's this is a good one to move move forward.

We did have a motion by Councilman Fogarty, seconded by council vice president Rigo.

Um Madam Clerk, you call a role of the council.

Councilman Fogerty.

Aye.

Councilman Lawson.

Nay.

Council Vice President Regal.

Aye.

Councilwoman Susa.

Aye.

Council President Rodericks.

I uh motion uh passes forward one.

We've adopted the budget, and we'll continue to uh move on.

Madam Clerk, move on with the agenda.

I just comment.

So I'm yes, I'm sorry.

We have two other we can get to that when we get to it, but we've got to do the TANS and we've got to do uh the setting of the assessment and taxation.

So that takes two passages.

So tonight the budget is now finalized.

We still have other um administrative stuff to do, and then take two passages.

The TANS is tonight, and then it would be two weeks from the correct TANS needs two passages tonight and then the next meeting in October.

But it has nothing to do with it, and obviously it's related to the budget, but it's not an expenditure funds.

We can leave it on the agenda and get to it when we want.

No critical need to do it this second.

Right.

I just want to know that we're not done with the budget process.

The budget is now adopted, but we've still steps to do, yeah.

Okay, let's keep the order and continue, man.

No, that's fine.

New business, mayor communication, chief of staff, Patricia withendi.

Thank you, Chief Staff.

Uh, welcome.

Under appointments, looks like there are none requiring council confirmation.

So you could go to number two.

You want us to just accept?

Is there something?

The Holy Ghost Brotherhood.

You want to read that one?

Sorry, just wanted to have it in front of me.

Uh Council President, good evening and members of the council.

Um, at this time, the only thing that we had was the as you mentioned, Councilman, the proclamation celebrating the 125th anniversary of the Holy Ghost Brotherhood.

Um, as well as we this already went through, but you had the plan in your packet for Vittner, so we don't need to go through that.

Um, and just for the record, there are two appointments that none of the appointments needed council approval.

Um, but just for the record, um, the courtesy appointment that's listed here.

We are withdrawing the um appointment for Libby Merrill that was erroneously placed on by myself.

Okay, prematurely, I should say for the for the record for anyone watching the meeting.

Um, either you or madam clerk, if you just want to read the three names remaining of reappointments, they don't do not need council appointment, but so people will will know, or I'll just read them.

Uh we're re you are reappointing Jerome Spin Spinola, affirmative action committee, uh Tom Wazika, historic district commission, and Janelle Walker reappointment, affirmative action committee.

So that's the those are done.

And you mentioned uh proclamations.

Um questions, council or thank you.

Next item, madam clerk.

Thank you.

Thank you, Patricia.

Resolutions for discussion and possible vote.

Number one resolution amending resolution number one ninety-five adopted April 1st, 2025 to reflect a change in the total cost of the purchase of two police vehicles in the amount of 130,820, introduced by council vice president Riga.

Do you want to add to that, Council?

No, uh it's pretty much pretty standard what we're doing here.

Is that a motion?

A motion to move.

Second motion by council vice president Riga, seconded by councilman Lawson.

The amount is 130, 820 dollars.

Uh no further questions.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

To back up a second, no school committee liaison report tonight.

No, they were just here.

They were here last meeting, and okay.

So we're now madam clerk, number two, the resolution page nine.

Number two, resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into a cooperation agreement between the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management and the City of East Providence to operate in air monitoring station at 64 Avenue, introduced by Council President Rodriguez and Council Vice President Rico.

This is at no cost to the city.

I believe it's going to be at France's school, council vice president, and it's well this is gonna help this is a continuation.

It's 30 years, and if you go up to Myra and Jay, you can there's that little building that's right be between that and the playground.

So this is just uh renewal of that contract, and uh it comes in grade uh assets to everything coming over the bay and monitoring the year.

It's just a continuation of the contract.

Motion by council vice president Rigo.

Is there a second?

Second councilman Lawson.

All in favor?

Aye, eyes have it.

Any opposed?

Yeah, I have it.

Thank you.

Item three resolution authorizing approval for additional cost of utility bodies and plows for pickup trucks for the department of public works introduced by council president Rodrix.

There is a need to uh add add to this from what uh our original plan was.

Um I need the numbers explained.

Sure.

I think that uh the DPW director is gonna clarify this uh for us so we can have the numbers and not opposed, I just the number that's not listed uh right and are these in addition to the ones that are um in capital in capital that are that are being asked for these in addition.

So these were two vehicles that were purchased um for the department of public works.

What ended up happening is um we had gone before um to a few vendors to get pricing one particular vendor had two trucks available.

Um so we were able to purchase one for the uh parks department, one for the highway department.

Um unfortunately it was sort of a mix up with the cost when we received the cost.

capital that are that are being asked for these in addition so these these were two vehicles that were purchased um for the department of public works what ended up happening is um we had gone before um to a few vendors to get pricing one particular vendor had two trucks available um so we were able to purchase one for the uh parks department one for the highway department um unfortunately it was sort of a mix up with the cost when we received the cost we were under the impression that it included the utility body as part of the truck however the cost of the truck was just for the body without a um without a bed so we're coming to the council just so right but um reading it in the amount of 24265 that's for the plows for both yes and that's 48530 the the so how much is it per truck each truck i just don't see the total amount in this resolution yeah so i i don't have the number in front of me um the 20 the 24 000 is per is per truck so it'd be the utility body and the plow package per vehicle so each vehicle would be over 50 which requires uh but i don't see the total cost or where the money's coming from that that's the only thing i'm asking i mean the the cost should be coming from is it the opera these are in so is it 46 plus 24 each so it's like six sixty one each okay and where's the money coming from the original 46 from the the two trucks was purchased out of ARPA funds so in order in order to purchase the remainder of these two trucks we require council approval over 50 000 for each of the vehicles so and where's the 48530 coming from the 40 the 48 which I believe is the number for the trucks I'm not I don't have that in front of me so I'm I think that's the both the Palau the utility the plows combined so that that would be coming out of a combination I'm not sure exactly what was put on the ordinance but it's a combination of uh or resolution it's a combination of capital funds as well as um some general fund expense expense uh from okay from the city's uh highway I think we mentioned it but can these resolutions have the funding source going forward okay but yeah no I'll make a motion to approve second motion by councilman lawson to approve seconded by council vice president Rigo all in favor aye aye any opposed the ayes have it it's always good to buy the whole truck and not just half a truck we'll we'll get there and again this is coming out of fiscal year 25 budget we just approved yep yeah I just thank you uh Dan next item introduction of ordinances for discussion and possible vote and ordinance authorizing the director of finance to borrow funds in anticipation of taxes for FY 2026 so this is pretty perfunctory uh Mr.

Solicitor it goes in concert with the budget and we pass this every year and right motion to move first passage right what's the what's the amount of TANS now roughly yeah we don't we don't know until we actually so we don't know until and just for people to know because our fiscal year is not in sync we have to borrow money every year to cover a quarter and it cost us three four five hundred thousand so if we could find a way to sink our yeah that would be the best thing for this city that it would oh there's two ways of doing it there's the hard way which is to add millions to to add an extra like uh a quarter yep but then the following year would only be three quarters but then that's well that's the semi-easy way to highlight if you can get the taxpayers to agree of course and then they the other way is what was started before the change to form the government was putting money aside yep and then it was when we had 14 million and the high school fell apart yeah and we had to use that money and a prior council put it into street yes that was everyone wants also that's what the budget commission that was one of the things that they talked about so you're doing it there I mean it's it's either a bridge year which puts it you know puts you around five quarters and you might have to do that two years in a row you probably have to do that twice see yeah and I mean I mean that's the you know that's the way to do it it it ends up almost coming up the same way because there's 365 days in a year but when we're not there yet so for now you'd have to have the taxpayers yeah there um a motion for first passage for this TANS second I'll make a motion motion councilman lawson and also councilwoman sousa seconded by council vice president Rigo all in favor aye any opposed the ISA next uh item number two in ordinance in amendment of chapter 11 of the revised ordinance of the city of east providence wood island 1998 as amended entitled personnel pensions and retirement council of the city of east province amend section 11252 one death of a retired participant related to eligibility requirements for a surviving spouse of a deceased member introduced by council for councilman fulge yeah we're gonna have to thank you make a motion approval motion by councilman just quick explanation this closes a loophole so if I retire my spouse that I'm with at that time if I pass they're eligible if I retire

Council of the City of East Providence amends section 11252.

One death of a retired participant related to eligibility requirements for a surviving spouse of a deceased member.

Introduced by Council Fo Councilman Fogay.

Thank you.

Make a motion approval.

Motion by Councilman.

Quick explanation.

This closes a loophole.

So if I retire, my spouse that I'm with at that time, if I pass they're eligible.

If I retire and then marry somebody down the line, then not.

So this just closes that loophole.

So you're still single, I believe, right?

I'm single.

That's why I'm wealthy.

Seconded by Councilman Lawson.

The motion was Councilman Fogerty.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

First passage, by the way.

First passage, correct.

Uh the ayes have it.

Thank you, Councilman.

Thank you, Councilman.

Next item three, ordinance of the city of the Council of the City of East Providence, appropriating 134,795 from the East Providence School Department Capital Improvement Revolving Fund introduced by Councilman Fogerty.

Yes, Councilman.

So this is starting to uh use utilize that fund to help school department.

Uh motion by councilman Fogerty.

Second approval seconded by councilman Lawson.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Yes have it.

Next item.

Number four.

Ordinance of the Council of the City of East Providence ordering the assessment and collection of property tax on the retape.

Rateable rateable real estate and tangible personal property.

Introduced by council president Rodericks.

So another perfunctory um measure that we have to make in order to approve.

Motion by Councilman Lawson to approve.

Second by councilwoman Sousa.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Motion to adjourn.

13 minutes, buddy.

Motion to return by Council Vice President Rigo.

Seconded by the rest of the members.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Thank you all.

Appreciate it.

Thank you.

Rick, don't forget.