The East Providence City Council convened on January 6, 2026, with four of the five council members present, as Councilwoman Susan was absent due to illness. The meeting focused on youth sports infrastructure, transportation planning, major capital projects, and administrative reappointments. A significant portion of the evening was dedicated to the Rumford Little League's request for facility improvements for their Challenger Division and girls' softball program, alongside contentious discussions regarding road diets on Willimantic Avenue and the redevelopment of the Odum School. The council concluded with several unanimous votes on routine resolutions and an executive session to finalize a property tax settlement.
Good evening. Welcome to the meeting of the East Providence City Council, January 6th, 2026. Councilman Fogadi? Yeah. Councilman Lawson. Yeah. Council vice president Riga? Yeah. Councilwoman Susan. Council President. The Quarum or Consulwoman Susan is under the weather tonight. And indicated that she won't be able to make it. Madam Clerk, a couple of changes just in the very beginning, and then we won't bother you in the rest of the night with a lot of changes. Well, we will do the executive session at the close of our meeting. It'll still be public, but we'll meet in executive session at the close of the meeting. And right now, um, we do have uh some folks here on a agenda of at the request of Councilman Rego, and they also have a meeting of their organization later this evening. So as a courtesy, I'm going to ask with without um objection if we move them forward at this time. If you look at page four number three under council members, Madam Clerk, if you could uh just read that heading on page four under council members, I believe it's number three. Kimberly Ann Rockfield, Rumfit Little League, Council Vice President Regal. Council Vice President, you have the floor. Thank you, Mr. President. Um couple weeks ago, the president of Rumfort Little League, Mike Fisher called me, and there's really two great ideas that the this organization has proposed for us tonight, and they're gonna need the city's help. Uh I can't say enough for the leadership of Mike Fisher in this board since they took over a couple of years ago. They brought pride back into a league that a lot of us played, coached, and served on boards and were president and Mike and this board has brought Rumfield League back to the pride of the city as well as the state. So Mike's got two programs tonight that he wants to share. And uh it's two things that haven't happened in the city in a while. One before was led by Councilman Conley down in Wadfall with Riverside, and then there's another program, uh, a girls' program. So I'm not gonna steal the thunder because it belongs to Mike and all those great board members that are out there tonight. So I ask that Mike Fisher come to the podium and uh make the presentation on behalf of Rum for Little League. Michael, just push the button on that microphone there and just state your name and address for the record. All right, my name is Michael Fisher, 131 Roger Williams Avenue, Rumford, Rhode Island, 02916. Welcome. All right, thank you to all the members of the council for allowing me to speak tonight. My name is Michael Fisher, and I am president of Rumford Little League, serving my fourth year in this capacity. Rumford Little League has formally voted to approve the addition of a new challenger division, with approval also granted by Little League International. The Challenger Division is a little league program designed to provide children with intellectual and physical challenges, the opportunity to participate in baseball in a safe, supportive, and developmentally appropriate environment with a focus on inclusion, confidence, and joy. This division is very close to my heart and reflects the type of environment all you sports should strive to create. One rooted in inclusion, encouragement, and the opportunity for every child to be celebrated. With the introduction of this division, we will need the city's support to prepare to prepare our facilities to safely and properly host children with intellectual and physical challenges. These improvements include handicapped accessible walkways to all fields, upgraded handicap accessible restroom facilities, and batting cage improvements to allow us the opportunity to utilize those for all children. In addition to supporting our challenger division, Rumford Little League is also committed to ensuring equal access and opportunity for the young women in our community through our growing softball program. Now entering only its second year, the program is expected to expand significantly this season. Unfortunately, because none of our current fields are properly configured for softball, our girls were forced to play all of their games away from our home complex last year. This meant missing out on the same on-site amenities, sense of community, and home field pride that our baseball players experience. To address this inequity, we are requesting support to adapt Sweeney Field by removing the infield grass so the field can safely and appropriately accommodate softball play. This improvement would allow our softball athletes to finally play at home, surrounded by their families, friends, and community, just as the boys in our league do. While literally programs may, by rule, occasionally include participants from neighboring communities. While Little League programs may, by rule, occasionally include participants from neighboring communities, the focus and primary beneficiaries of these improvements are East Providence families and the investments being requested are in permanent public infrastructure that will serve the city for years to come. Every child in East Providence deserves the chance to play the game we all love.