You guys ready?

Good.

Good evening.

I'll call the meeting of the East Providence City Council to order November eighteenth, twenty twenty-five.

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

Councilman Fogerty.

Councilman Lawson.

Yeah.

Council Vice President Regal.

Yeah.

Councilwoman Tuza.

Yeah.

Council President Rodericks.

Here, the record show.

There's a quorum for members present.

I did hear just within the hour from Councilman Fogerty, who was planning on being here, but he did uh authorize me to say that he cannot make it.

They are having a difficult evening.

They're losing a family pet.

They don't think the pet will make the evening.

So the family is gathered around the little dog, and hopefully things work out for the Fogerty family, grandchildren, and their pet.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, if you would start the reading of the agenda.

Council journals approval of regular meeting minutes, September 30th, 2025, and November 4th, 2025.

Motion to approve.

Oh, sorry.

I actually would like to table November 4th as it's not included in here, so I would then um include it on the December 4th one if that's okay.

Okay.

Motion to approve the council journals for the 30th day of September 2025.

Second.

Without the uh number four um motion made by Council Vice President Rego, seconded by Councilman Lawson.

All in favor?

Aye aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Next item.

Tax abatements, cancellation and abatements.

Tax assessor's office, 25,982 and 76 cents.

Motion approve.

Second.

Motion by council vice president to approve.

Seconded by Councilman Lawson.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Tax assessment board of review.

$2,337.

Is there a motion?

Motion to approve.

Motion, Councilman Lawson to approve.

Second.

Second.

Council Vice President Rego.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Next item.

No.

I'll make a motion to bundle one through four.

Hang on.

Let's let the clerk read the uh I can't get my mouth open.

Licenses for this to earn her pay tonight.

So licenses for discussion impossible vote.

Motion to bundle non-public hearing licenses one C one through C4.

Make a motion to bundle C one through C4.

The motion is to bundle licenses on the agenda listed as C1 through C4.

Second.

Second.

Motion made and seconded.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Is there a motion?

Any opposed?

The ayes have that.

Four zero.

Make a motion to approve.

Councilman Lawson to approve.

Is there a second?

Second.

Second.

Council Vice President Rigo.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Next item.

Hearing public hearing.

Number one, annual alcoholic beverage licenses renewals.

Please refer to exhibit A for business listings.

Mr.

President.

Yes, sir.

In compliance with Rhode Island General Laws 3614-6-1.

I hereby recuse from participating in discussion or taking official action relating to said matters.

This does not prohibit participation as a member of the public in open meeting pursuant to commission regulations 7003.

Thank you.

Council Vice President Rigo is recused from this discussion.

Have we heard from the police any concerns on any of these licenses?

No, they all been approved.

Okay.

So everything obviously, if it got to this point, everything's in order.

The paperwork, police department have approved.

Any specific questions by anybody on the council?

It's not a public hearing.

It is a public hearing.

This one is.

No, this one's public.

Item D.

Item, yes, public hearing.

Which one?

We are what number is it?

The licenses.

And the licenses, mindset.

Yes, and I'm sorry, I didn't put those.

Okay, that's all right.

So while we're waiting to see if there is any council comment.

Anyone will open it up public hearing.

Anyone present wants to speak for or against this license.

Okay.

Once again, is anyone here present to speak for or against this license?

Seeing none or close the public hearing.

Is there a motion?

I make a motion to approve the licenses listed on the agenda for renewal.

Councilwoman Susa makes the motion to approve as listed.

There is second.

Second.

Councilwoman Lawson, second.

All in favor.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have that.

Three to zero.

Thank you.

Next item.

Number two, street abandonment summary.

The purpose of the public hearing is for the city council to consider the abandonment of uh 1,350 square foot portion of Breeze Avenue that is currently unimproved in a butt property at 82 Crescent View Avenue, owned by Paul Platt.

Okay, one of the councilman Riga would get settled, but um we do have a motion on the floor by council in Lawson to approve.

Is there a second and in the public hearing?

Yeah.

Second.

So we have uh second, council woman Susa.

Anyone else who'd like to speak on this?

Is open up for public hearing?

Is there anyone here that wants to speak for or against this?

Uh for I don't know if we need to describe this for any of the it's if you're not present view of heading towards Crescent Park on the right.

It's kind of like juts out and stuff like that.

So it's been that way forever.

Right now, so makes makes sense.

It is not yeah, to the advantage of nothing onerous.

We'll close the public hearing.

Don't hear anyone coming forward.

If there's no other discussion on the council, we've had a motion and second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed, the ayes have it.

Thank you.

Next item.

To be resolution abandonment of a portion of a certain portion of land consisting of the 1,350 square feet.

That is currently the right of way of Breeze Avenue and being bounded and noted in the attached exhibit A, subject to receiving a myth and bounds description introduced by the city council.

Motion to approve.

Second, pending the public hearing.

Motion to approve, pending the hearing by Councilman Lawson, seconded by council vice president Rico.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Next item.

Public comment.

Rick Lawson.

Uh I put this out.

I forgot to add it to the agenda.

I just want to follow up on the Veterans Day stuff.

Um, we had an awesome dinner, well attended.

Uh, thank you guys so much.

The support you guys give to veterans.

It's it's noticed, and we are grateful.

Um, we had a great night, everything was good.

Um next, uh next tomorrow, 11 to 1 at the senior center is uh Veterans Cafe put on by the Office of Veterans Affairs.

Um, so I know it's during the work day for most of us, but if anybody's available would like to make it, um, you're more than welcome.

Uh again, it's 11 to 1 at the senior center.

And again, I just want to thank you guys, everybody.

Uh Roses Tavern All Seasons Cafe, uh, the Blue Star Moms, the Elks.

Um, it was a great dinner, great time, and uh it's appreciated.

So I just wanted to extend that.

Thank you.

And and thank you to yourself who pretty much acted as the chair of this event along with Councilman Fogerty.

Uh Councilwoman Sousa did bring baked goods.

I didn't get to bring any home because Lawson took them all after the left.

They were gone, buddy.

So it was it was a very uh positive night.

Lanna took the rice cups.

That was hers.

Uh thank you.

Any other person signed up for yes?

Clay Graham.

Hi, just come to the podium and you just have to give your name address for the record.

Thanks.

Hi, uh my name's Clay Graham.

I live at 59 Grosvenor Avenue, right around the corner.

Um, I wanted to speak about the e-bike ordinance.

Um I just wanted to understand if there's any differentiation between like class one, class two, class three, and uh motorized dirt bikes.

I have a class one e-bike, it goes like less than twenty miles an hour.

Um, and I know the issue is like at the park with like the burnout, and I think that would be hard to do with some of the class one, class two, and class three.

So I'm just asking um, you know, please don't I guess penalize those that use it for like my wife commutes to Brown with with her bike and she puts like we have a shit suit that she puts on the back, so it's just you know it's a tool for us.

Um, and then the second thing I want to talk about is we have a lot of speeding on our street um with like the last few years at the bridge.

Um, like people regularly doing 50, 60 miles an hour.

It's an estimation, of course.

Um I've commented on like the GIS portal, but I haven't heard anything back, and I just wanted to I have like a kid on the way.

There's a lot of old people on older people on our street and young families, and um just looking out for the all of our safety.

So sure.

No, thank you for coming out as far as the e-bikes.

Uh, number one for anyone who is expecting any action tonight, it's not on the agenda.

There'll be no vote on this tonight.

It'll be the next meeting, which I think is December four.

Um, it couldn't be on tonight because there was a between the last meeting and this meeting was a legal holiday, which um delayed our legal advertising in the local paper, so it wouldn't be um advertised legally in time for tonight.

So there was nothing other than that involved.

Um, and as far as I I'm concerned, the others can speak uh we're not changing anything.

The e-bikes go by whatever the state laws are.

We're just asking some of us anyway, uh asking that they be prohibited from driving on basketball courts, tennis courts, grassy fields.

You can go to any park in the city that you want on an e-bike and just park in the parking lot or some appropriate space and enjoy the park.

You know, this is not to prevent people from uh having having use of any city property or parks or playgrounds.

Um, and I I agree, but maybe that damage we've seen might not have been an e-bike, it looked like it could have been a mini-bike or um, you know, there's a lot of abuses there as well, but at least this our police chief agreed that this gives him the uh legal tools to enforce it anyway.

If he sees any kind of vehicle that doesn't belong there, um he can do something.

But we're not gonna stop your wife from going to Brown or um going to any of our playgrounds.

And I'm sure that you folks are responsible and you'll pull up and yeah, park the bike and enjoy the park.

So that's the intent as I see it.

Yep, thank you.

Uh Mr.

President for the record our next meeting is Tuesday the second.

Oh, I'm sorry, I think I said the fourth.

Yeah, somebody said, Yeah, well, the sixth is Saturday.

PC URI, that's how I know.

I backed it up.

So to clarify, our next council meeting is Tuesday, December 2nd, right?

2025.

Thank you, councilman, council vice president.

Anyone else on the list to speak?

Alex and Kate.

All right.

Just sure, and this name and address for the record.

I'm Alex Bulbis, and I'm at 104 Waterview Avenue.

Welcome.

And how about the little guy?

What's little man's name?

This is Daniel.

Hi, hi, Daniel.

I think he's the youngest one to appear in front of us in three years.

We just wanted to come out and we saw that on the conversation document tonight.

Was thinking about uh investment opportunities, particularly in spooky bottom.

That has been an area that we are down by all the time, and or grant opportunities, and we're just so excited to see that you're continuing to think about how to invest in that space.

That is you already see an amazing amazing amount of foot traffic down there.

The troll was a spectacular ad, just the cultural vibe of the city.

You cleared it out and added some fencing.

The decisions this committee's made have really revitalized that space.

And the more that you can do to continue to draw people down there and make it a space that's usable for kids with a place at adults for a place to sit and even work out.

Calasthenics place is that there's space there, and I love to hear that you guys are thinking about it.

This is so exciting.

We're like, let's go to town council at bedtime.

So thanks.

Yeah, hopefully uh mayor's office and us will we'll get we'll get that grant and uh get get this get this done.

It's uh I agree with your sentiments.

Thank thanks for coming out.

Anyone else?

Yeah, and it's public comment.

Okay, thank you.

Next item appointment, appointment of Jeremy Lich Esquire for the Waterfront District Commission.

Motion to approve motion by councilman Lawson to approve.

Is there a second?

Second, second by councilwoman Sousa, also council vice president uh Rego.

All in favor, aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Thank you.

Thank you to uh Mr.

Leach for stepping in, stepping in up.

Next item.

New meal.

New business.

Mayor Communication, Director of Policy and Cons Constituent Services, Andre Herrera.

You confuse me.

You started out by saying new mayor.

I think you okay, I get it.

Members of the council, I just wanted to officially introduce to you Andre Herrera.

Andre comes with a wealth of experience in uh both federal and local government and private sector.

Uh really has been uh wonderful.

This is week two for Andre in the office, and I already see uh remarkable things coming from this young man.

Uh worked with Congress of Cicellini's office for four years, uh, worked with Congressman Gabe Ammel's office for a year, and was uh also working with the city council of Providence uh before that.

So he's got a lot of uh experience.

Uh he just came out of the private sector, and we're happy to have him uh working uh with our team.

He will be handling policy, constituent services, and also will be delays on uh to to the community and members of the council, uh members of the council always able to reach out to me directly but if you ever wanted to reach out to uh someone in the office, Andre uh is the person to reach out to.

Thank you so much.

Thank you, Mayor.

Andre, if you want to say a couple words.

Welcome, welcome to the city.

Good evening, Council President, members of the city council.

Thank you so much for having me, and thank you, Mayor, for the very kind words.

I'm honored to be part of your administration and uh really look forward to serving the residents of East Providence.

After you receive a hundred emails from us tomorrow, we'll see if you still feel that way.

Give me 30 days.

I'll hold the down.

All right, 30 days, members.

All right, so just some items for announcement uh announcing the hiring of Andre Herrera as director of policy and constituent services, and I also have some proclamations here.

Council President, would you like me to read the titles of the proclamations or read them in full?

Uh, just the titles, please.

Right.

And I do request that the last two be read.

Certainly.

Certainly.

Okay.

So we have a proclamation celebrating Extra Mile Day.

Uh proclamation affirming a sister city relationship with Via Franca do Campo.

Actually, let's can we do the last three?

Because that's an important one too.

Right.

Yeah, if we could have those read in sister city relations, Via Franca do Campo, Portugal.

Whereas the Portuguese American community within the city of East Providence has always maintained a close relationship with the country of Portugal.

And whereas many Portuguese immigrants within the city of East Providence originate from the village of Via Franco do Campo on the island of Sao Miguel, Azores in Portugal.

Whereas a significant amount of East Providence residents from Via Franca, those immigrants came to this city for everything East Providence has to offer, and also brought with them their traditions, culture, and for many, their work ethic.

Whereas Via Franca offers its thousands of tourists that visit each year, great beaches, it's Islet Senora de Paz and its famous custards, Quijadas de Via Franca do Campo do Morgado, which are imported from Via Franca to Canada, Bermuda, and the United States.

Whereas the organization also has an ongoing relationship with the city through its cultural and educational events at Weaver Library, participation in city events, and fundraising for various scholarships.

And whereas both the city of East Providence and the village of Via Franca do Campo are committed to developing tourism, exchanging business practices, and creating opportunities for people to learn and experience other cultures through long-term relationships.

Whereas the City Council of the City of East Providence, through resolution 158 on October 1st, 2024, affirm a sister relationship with Via Franco do Campo.

Therefore, I, Mayor Robert El DeSilva, on behalf of the City of East Providence, hereby affirm its relationship with the village of Via Franco do Campo, Portugal as its sister city.

All right.

And the proclamation recognizing Staff Sergeant Peter Barilla.

I think before that was uh Chappie Rose.

Chappie Rose, sorry.

Either way.

Either both of them.

In fact, while you're pausing there for a second, I'd ask Councilwoman, I believe is you have a connection to the sister city.

Did you want to add anything?

Yeah, so we did the city council and administration collectively supporting our second sister city here in the city of East Providence did have an event a couple of weeks ago where the uh president of the Council of Villafranca, um, President Grassa Mello and her vice president uh Carlos Pimentel were here amongst a couple of other dignitaries here at City Hall, where we unveiled an amazing tile plaque that sits outside of City Hall on Grove Avenue across right at the uh the front door, all illuminated with lights.

Uh, the tiles emulate this same plaque that's also sits in the rotunda in the heart of Vilafranca, um, where the residents there and our immigrants who come back can um enjoy um matching um recognitions of our um ongoing commitment to each other to provide again cultural, economic um, and support for our our two communities and countries.

Great, thank you.

Thank you for your work.

Thank you, Mayor DeSilva for your work in bringing these dignitaries together.

Um you want to continue, please?

Thank you.

Proclamation recognizing Corporal Avellino Chappi Rose.

Whereas Corporal Avellino Chappie Rose was born on March 21st, 1924 in the city of East Providence, the eldest of four children born to Jose de Rosa of the island of Fogo and Annie Brito Rose of the island of Brava, and whereas Corporal Avellino Chappi Rose was a cornerstone of the East Providence Cape Verdean community, he was the heart of those living in the area of Carlton Avenue, and his impact on those lives he touched carries on to this day.

And whereas in 1942, at just 18 years old, Corporal Rose enlisted in the U.S.

Army, serving as a corporal in the 1883, 1883 Aviation Engineer Battalion, an all-black unit attached to the 10th Air Force in the China Bermuda Burma, India theater during World War II, known as the Trailblazers, these soldiers carved roads through some of the most treacherous terrain of the war, an effort recognized by historians as one of the most complex and courageous undertakings of the Allied campaign.

And whereas for his service, he was awarded the Purple Heart, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with bronze battle star.

He later served as commander of the China Burma India Mini-State Basha, Rhode Island Veterans Association from 2003 to 2009.

And whereas after returning home from the war, Corporal Rose married Alice Fonce, first settling in Fox Point, Providence, but Chappie's intentions were always to return to his roots of East Providence.

And whereas Corporal Rose's devotion to the Cape Verdean community continues to be on full display today, where he was known as a jack of all trades, a pillar of the Cape Verdean Progressive Center, Chappie volunteered countless hours as building chair, shaping the physical and spiritual heart of the Cape Verdean C V Club through his hands-on work with renovations to the front bar and construction of the Founders Hall.

And whereas Corporal Rose also was the first black slash Cape Verdean processing sheriff in Rhode Island and the first black Cape Verdean waterfront superintendent for John J.

Orrin Sons.

And whereas Corporal Rose was a war hero, a trailblazer on the docks, and a visionary son of immigrant parents.

He was a man ahead of his time, fiercely proud of his heritage, deeply rooted in his neighborhood, and committed to lifting others through hard work, humility, and love.

Therefore, I, Mayor Robert L.

DeSilva, on behalf of the City of East Providence, recognize the late Avellino Chapi Rose for his years of dedication and contribution to our community and thank him for his dedicated service to the United States of America, this Veterans Day, in recognition whereof hereby set my hand in cause of seal of the city of East Providence to be here unto a fixed this 11th day of November, 2025.

Thank you.

Next proclamation.

Proclamation recognizing Staff Sergeant Peter Barrilla.

Whereas Staff Sergeant Peter Barrilla was born in Syracuse, New York on January 4th, 1934.

Barilla went to Assumption Catholic Academy and then Bryant University to pursue his education, whereas Staff Sergeant Peter Barilla moved to Rhode Island in 1959 after getting married to his wife and spent all but two years in the city of East Providence.

And whereas Staff Sergeant Barilla graduated from high school at the age of 18 on June 20th, 1952, and enlisted in the United States Air Force just a month later in July of the same year.

Whereas during his time in the armed services, Staff Sergeant Barilla would spend his basic training at the Sampson Air Force Base in Geneva, New York, three months at Keysler Air Force Base in Biloxi, Michigan, and a year at the England Air Force Base in Alexandra.

Beloxy's in Mississippi.

Biloxi, Mississippi, apologies.

And a year at England Air Force Base in Alexander, Alexandra, Louisiana.

No.

Yeah, Louisiana.

And whereas Barrilla was then deployed to Japan, where he spent 18 months, followed by an additional six months in the Philippines during the Korean War, and whereas Staff Sergeant Barilla's service, he received the State of New York Medal of Merit, good conduct medal, Korean service medal, United Nations Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal.

And whereas after returning to Rhode Island after his military service, Staff Sergeant Barilla and his wife would settle down, have three children who Barilla describes as his greatest accomplishments in life.

Peter Barilla Jr., Victoria Guthlian, and Catherine Anthony.

He now is a grandfather of three, Nicholas, Joshua and Patrick, as well as a great grandfather to his grandson Noah.

And whereas when Staff Sergeant Barilla returned to the workforce, he began at an accounting firm before joining the state of Rhode Island as a bank examiner, security examiner, and then moving to municipal work for the City of East Providence as a city's controller and finishing his professional career as an East Providence School District's number one school business administrator.

And whereas Staff Sergeant Barilla's advice for future generations is think of peace.

We need to come together as a nation and get away from the current turmoil.

It is not good.

I grew up poor, but we were always surrounded by our friends, our loved ones.

We had laughs, we had coffee, we had camaraderie.

And I think we need to get back to enjoying one another rather than focusing on our differences, Barilla added.

Therefore, I, Mayor Roberto L.

DeSilva, on behalf of the City of East Providence.

I recognize Staff Sergeant Peter Barilla for his years of dedication and contribution to our community and thank him for his dedicated service to the United States of America, this Veterans Day, in recognition whereof I hereby set my hand and cause the seal of the City of East Providence to be here unto a fixed this 11th day of November 2025.

Thank you.

Very good.

Thank you very much for the report.

Appreciate it.

Next item.

Can I throw one quick curve?

I know I didn't ask for the school committee, but next Tuesday, November 25th, they'll be cutting the ribbon.

My middle school, the junior high, well, it's middle school, not a portion will be open.

The kids coming off Thanksgiving break will be reporting to the new wing of the building that was built.

And um it's at Martin, 10 a.m.

next Tuesday.

And then they're gonna be moved in.

And once they're moved in, construction will start on the other side for the preschool kids.

So all right, December 1 is the first start date for the students.

So families, uh students, faculty, we will we wish you well, good good luck.

And then the remainder of the year, they'll be demoing the old classroom building.

And we we're going to have a fantastic middle school.

Um the bond issue as we sit here today, is under budget, moving along uh pretty well, just like the high school plan.

So we'll keep our eye on that and wish the students and faculty and all staff good luck as they make.

Thank you and the rest of the building committee.

This this is a big task from the high school to this, and the city's invested over 300 million dollars in our schools.

And part of this bond issue is covered improvements at Waddington elementary school.

There's some demo there of some old type uh configurations and drainage work that's been going on for decades, problems with drainage there.

Um, and Riverside Middle School has received a lot of improvements.

So a lot of bang for the buck here.

And so all the nays say is that they are working.

If there's an issue, they are going to address it and take care of it.

And um, it doesn't help all the constant bombardment of negativity.

Nobody is intentionally trying to undermine these buildings, and uh they have my full support.

It's looking good.

I agree, and old terminology perfection is only a word in the dictionary, and you can go into any building.

Having had a father, that was in many projects, God rest his soul, and from hospitals to uh the John Hancock building.

If you remember, I'm dating myself where glass plates would fall from uh the sky of Boston and on that job.

So you know what?

As you said, the naysayers they have to have something to say, so you know, say it, but great job on everybody on the building committee and uh the contractors, everybody involved in these two school projects, as well as the community center coming along.

Thank you.

Citing time for this the city.

Uh next item.

C resolution for discussion and possible vote.

Number one, resolution authorizing the submission of a grant application to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management, Recreation Department Development Grant Program introduced by Council President Rodericks.

Motion to approve motion to approve by councilman Lawson.

We we talked about this a little bit at the beginning of the meeting.

What we want to do with this.

There are second second by councilwoman sousa.

All in favor, aye.

Any opposed, the ayes have it.

Next item.

Number two, resolution requesting the Rhode Island State Traffic Commission to install a left-turn signal and a designated left-turn lane at the intersection of Patucket Avenue and Waterman Avenue introduced by city council.

Motion to approve.

Second.

Motion to approve, Councilman Lawson.

Second by Councilwoman Susa.

All in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have that.

Thank you.

D introduction of ordinance for discussion and possible vote.

Number one, in ordinance and amendment of chapter eight of the revised ordinances of the city of East Providence, Rhode Island, 1998 as amended to section 8-31B regarding the repealing holiday sales licenses introduced by Council Vice President Rigo.

Motion to move.

Accept.

Second.

Can you clarify what was the motion?

To motion to uh yeah, it sounded like you said remove.

Oh, I said motion to approve.

Okay.

And to second it out of like move, but reapproved.

Yeah.

Motion by Council Vice President Rigo to approve.

Seconded by Councilman Lawson.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

Yeah.

Thank you.

Motion to adjourn.

Next item.

Adjournment.

Mr.

Smalling.

Yeah.

Motion to adjourn.

Councilwoman Susa, seconded by Councilman Lawson.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Meeting is adjourned.

Thank you all.