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.

It is extremely important to me that we do everything possible to make these programs as inclusive and accessible as we can.

The joy and sense of belonging we experience every time we step on the field should be extended to all children, regardless of race, socioeconomic status, religion, intellectual, or physical ability.

Thank you again to the council for allowing me time to speak, and thank you to the city for your attention to this matter.

Thank you, Mike.

Any questions, comments from council, council vice president Rego?

Yes.

This is your really biggest first task for Ward One.

So I you have to be the point person here.

It's going to be one of my ongoing scenarios.

Mike, do you have a target date as far as like the first practice, first game?

You know, I I know it's it's gonna come up fast.

So because this we have to get these things done.

Yeah, absolutely.

Um, our practices begin uh April 1st, as they do every year.

That's the the first day of the year that the city allows us to uh use the fields.

Uh games will begin April 13th, and we'll have our opening day ceremony um May 2.

So uh Andre again, I'd like to have a meeting with Mike, and he can bring people with them, like to have the council president, you know, there uh and if you need to bring Dan involved in this, uh we will uh so we have the dates and everything and get everything done ready to go.

Sure.

So why why don't we exchange information tonight, get phone numbers and contact information?

Obviously, DPW would have to be involved, uh bit of work here and involved.

And um at your convenience and your convenience, Mike, uh set up a meeting and uh we'll get the ball rolling.

Thank you.

You're welcome.

Anyone else in the league that wanted to speak on this while you're here?

Um, you're all welcome to stay to midnight with us for the rest of the meeting if you'd like.

Yeah.

But other than that, thank you to the league, and thank you, Vice President, for bringing that forward.

Absolutely supporting youth sports.

It's I mean, all of us have either been players, coaches, or parents of players, and now we're in a position to take care of these youth sports.

So I fully support you, Frank.

Well, thank you.

Obviously, you know, I have a child who's autistic and uh being involved in in that program and everything, both the and being involved in the girls' program a long time ago.

Uh both issues are near and dear to my heart.

And uh the challenger program isn't just for people in Rumford.

It's gonna be as when Tim Connolly ran it down Riverside, it's for everybody.

Yeah, it isn't just that you have to live in the boundaries of Rumford Little League.

Uh and then the girls' program is something that should never have happened.

And we're not you can't go back and fix a wrong, but you can now we can fix moving forward and everything.

And the girls' program was once the uh pride and joy of you know, winning New England state championships, Eastern championships.

So and that that the championships don't mean anything, but it's just the it's just a community affair.

I saw I saw a couple of games that they happened to play down at a men's softball field last year, and there's a lot of enthusiasm, and the coaches are you know involved in it, and they've got the girls, so there's a good base for the girls' program as well.

So I thank the council for supporting this.

Thank you.

Well, and my final thought, especially with with softball, it's that saying it takes a village because it helps the athletes in school, you know, lose athletes at Martin and Riverside, uh high school, if they go on to Bayview, wherever.

Um, but it it all comes full circle.

All right, sure, councilman Fogedy.

Before you lose your thought.

Go ahead.

This is very easy.

Um a lot of people don't follow Facebook, but there was an unfortunate we know you do.

Uh well.

No, people call me.

I and I I got a wife that keeps me informed.

Then I look at it.

But yeah, anyways, the unfortunate situation.

I mean, the unfortunate thing that happened was somebody deleted the Rumford Little League uh page on uh on Facebook.

Uh it was an unf it was an unfortunate situation that somebody did, and uh again, you can't fix the past, but we can uh move forward with it.

Thank you.

Uh yeah, I wanted to add so I wanted to thank you for coming out.

And Mike, I just talked to a little bit, but being over I also am a 40-year umpire, too.

And we won the districts.

My daughter pitched right through the high school.

I'm a special Olympics volunteer.

I do a lot of basketball and softball for free.

But the point is that I'm happy that you brought this together.

It's gonna be some work.

I talked to Mr.

Borges.

I guess that used to be a softball field turned into a baseball field and a little bit of work uh cut out for us.

But obviously, you guys care a lot to do this, and it's a lot of work from your end, and I'm supporting Frank and uh in the field as best we can.

I hope the city moves fast for you because I know how fast that schedule comes up.

Uh so thank you.

Thanks for doing it.

Thank you all.

Uh Madam Clerk, could we revert back to the agenda?

Proclamations and presentations.

Number one, East Providence bicycle and pedestrian master plan director of planning, Keith Brian's Keith.

I think um you want to come forward.

I believe we're gonna just table this and get more of an advertised meeting scheduled.

Well, thank you, Council President.

Um yeah, per the council's request.

Um, you know, we can have the presentation at the next meeting, which I believe is January 20th.

Um basically the bike, the East Providence bike and pedestrian plan.

It was done as a result of a grant from uh statewide planning for 160,000 to pay for the planning and engineering firm to come up with this plan, which would be a guidance document for possible future improvements to the bike and pedestrian network in the city.

Thank you.

There's also a feeling here you don't have to wait for the council.

You could have a hearing at any time, any night, advertised, it can be televised.

Um, so you don't have to hold to that January 20th meeting.

Yeah, and there's been lots of public input where we've had different things.

We're getting uh input from the public.

This presentation to the council was really just to inform the council about where the stands, what some of the concepts might be.

There's no vote required on behalf of the council.

Okay.

Um we get a digital copy.

Did you email us?

Uh yes, through uh it was emailed in the 16th document.

Okay.

And the um with the agenda, yeah.

Well, I back in 22, I uh brought this up during uh a debate that I had with my opponent at the time.

So I want to take the opportunity to thank you for coming forward with this.

Uh this uh is a two-fold plan.

Uh, we need to make sure that families when moms are out there, because this is a community, and uh as we go to the next step when we hopefully start building some single family affordable single family houses and affordable townhouses that moms can push their children, their newborns or their young kids in carriages.

You see you see families out there, people are walking, young kids are learning to ride the bike.

So it's a very important thing in my ward and through the city, and even in my ward, even more, besides a bike path is the security.

I have a lot of senior uh towers in my ward, and I get nervous when I see people in motorized wheelchairs on Pawtucket Avenue and on Greenwood Avenue.

So it's important for that not just the bike, but it's for that segment of population as well.

So we need to come up with a very good plan that takes an obvious effect because we're a community uh and that has a lot of small businesses, and it's happened in other cities where businesses have gotten impacted by too many lanes, but we have to have a happy medium here where it's important for the people in wheelchairs, bicycles, you know, motorized vehicles, as well as uh looking out for the business owners of of the city.

And I again my challenge for this city is that we need to start building affordable single family homes, and this is a great concept, another way to bring people into our community.

Thank you.

We'll add to that, Frank.

I've mentioned this before, intercity shuttles.

And to get people so they're not walking on the streets.

You know, we get the shuttle vans from Senior Center.

I'd love to talk about these provinces that big.

We could run a loop of a shuttle.

So if people with mobility issues need to get to the store and stuff, I'd be all in for investment and stuff like that.

So you have to have conversations.

That's the purpose of this study.

So we need to do that.

But it's pedestrian, also, right?

Not just bicycles.

Pedestrian also.

Right.

So okay.

We'll schedule something and have a full public discussion.

Thank you.

Thanks, Keith.

Next item.

Consent calendar for discussion and possible vote.

Council journals regular meeting 122 2025.

Your pleasure.

Make a motion to accept my calendar total.

Yeah.

Yeah, I apologize.

Yep.

To accept the consent can motion by councilman Lawson to accept the consent calendar and total seconded by Councilman Fogerty.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed, the ayes have it.

Next item.

Licenses for discussion and possible vote.

I'll make a motion to bundle C one through C3.

Second.

Motion by Councilman Lawson to bundle license numbers C1 to C three, seconded by Councilman Fogerty.

All in favor, the bundle.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have that.

Is there a motion?

Make a motion to approve uh licenses C one through C3.

Motion made by Councilman Lawson to approve.

Is there a second?

Second.

Second by Councilman Fogerty.

These licenses have all been vetted.

And Councilman Fogarty.

Sorry.

Sorry, Frank.

Oh, you accepted Mr.

Rodney.

Oh, licenses have all been vetted and received their approvals.

All in favor.

Hi.

Hi.

Any opposed.

Yeah, I have it.

Thank you.

Next item.

Communications, Sam Acha.

Is this public comment or communications?

Oh, yes.

Sorry.

Yeah.

Oh, that's okay.

Welcome.

Just uh name and address for the record.

Yeah.

Uh I'm Sam Archer.

I live at uh 184 Walnut Street.

Um yeah, and and I wanted to comment on um the request to remove the road diets on Will It Ave.

Um and I uh just because also I thought that that was an interesting juxtaposition juxtaposition um with the item of the bicycle and pedestrian master plan.

Um I just wanted to encourage uh the council to think of those road diets as part of that plan.

Um you know, a safety measure in town that can be used as mobility lanes, not only for uh bicycles, but also uh you know, for uh all different types of people trying to get around.

Um right now in their isolation, they may not seem so effective.

Uh, but when they're part of a network and they connect to other places, um, then they will make sense.

Um, so I would encourage you uh to look at the um some of the maps in the the presentation.

They're very interesting.

I think they show uh the outline for a very potentially useful network, and we should imagine this alongside of cars, public transportation, walking, uh, other options.

Um and uh see them as a positive thing.

Great.

No, good points.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Appreciate your time coming out.

John Harris Welcome, John, just name and address for the record.

Um uh my name is John Harris, and I live at 25 uh Park Drive, Riverside, and which is right next to the basically will have um bike lanes, which I will admit when they came in, like a lot of us were a little confused, you know.

But having talked to uh, you know, several of my neighbors, of course, you know, I'm known as the bike guy in my neighborhood.

Um uh they even admit that you know they kind of dig it.

Like one guy can actually back into his driveway who lives on Will It Av.

Um my wife and I were walking to Shaw's and we were remarking about how much safer the sidewalks felt.

So, you know, there's bonuses to a lot of uh, you know, uh removing some of the you know car-based um, you know, uh defaults that we often fall into.

So I find that the area is a lot more walkable.

And uh also my wife and I, you know, we bought our house intentionally in Riverside um because of how great the bike infrastructure in these provenance is.

So I'm a huge fan of pedestrian infrastructure.

Um, you know, we were one car at the time, and you know, our proximity to the bike path was exactly why you know we could both, you know, get to work, and uh whoever had the longest commute on the uh rainy days got the uh got the car.

So uh, you know, I just want to say it's great.

I'm a huge fan, I love it.

Um and you know, again, like you know, isolated, these things don't always make sense, and it's easy for us to kind of fall into a you know a little bit of a you know anger pattern, but um together when you look at the whole picture.

Um they can you know kind of come together and be useful.

So thank you.

I have a question for you.

Thank you.

So you uh you are a daily rider.

Absolutely to work.

Yep.

Do you see any safety issues since they've been put in?

Um none.

None.

No, I mean it's like you know, we we you know head down the Shaws all the time.

There's been no uh no issues in terms of you know cars that we've uh you know noticed.

Um it seems like traffic is flowing, you know, just fine.

With your travel from your house to work.

What how do you go?

Well, I go, I take the East Bay.

Okay.

Um but uh potentially I would be heading, like I might be moving my work, so I might be actually going very close to that area.

Okay, thank you.

Yeah, thank you.

Mr.

Scribble who begins with a B.

It looks like I have no idea who that is.

It's all it is is scribble.

It looks like there's a B.

Second person who signed their name.

Is it Bill?

Is there anyone that begins with a B?

Is there anyone who signed up?

The second person who signed up on the list.

I don't see nobody jumping, so we can't nobody wants to be Mr.

Scribble.

581, you could be you.

Oh, okay, you're the winner.

You flunked penmanship in grade school, evidently.

Oh, yeah, that's me.

Yeah.

Sure, just name in address for the record.

Well, boys this way, your license feel good.

That's right.

Oh, you're approved.

You're all set, buddy.

Okay, that's congratulations.

It's 2026, I don't know if it's happy camp.

Good luck.

Thank you.

Is there anyone else?

Nope.

Okay, next item.

You had to sign up.

Did you sign up?

Right, 6 30.

Well, go on if they uh well, if you can keep it brief, come on up.

But they they were there to assign in, that's the the law, but no problem.

I'm Sina Tompkins of 59 Mountain Avenue.

Okay.

Sorry, new to this.

Um Welcome.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um, I ride a bike.

Uh I don't drive a car.

I think the Willet Avenue thing is really good.

I've been there.

It's not my usual route, but I it's really feels good.

And what might primarily I would like to say, like, cars need to share the road if there's no place to go.

And I if you feel insecure, sometimes I do feel insecure, Patucket Avenue being the primary place that I feel very vulnerable.

And I bump up on the sidewalk.

And then when I see pedestrians, I get off my bike or I go very slow, I walk it and apologize.

I don't belong up there.

But there's also new lines in on Patackett Avenue.

There's no shoulder.

Um, I have so many other points, but that's the primary one.

You know, keep it going, build it more like the moment the man on Park Ave like connect them and make it safe for everybody.

In Riverside, I notice I also bus rider.

There's blind people taking the bus, elderly on walkers, people on canes, they need more safety and more support.

Thank you.

Hi, yes, I'm Libby Merrill.

I live at 57 Fairview Ave.

And I also wanted to speak tonight in favor of more bike infrastructure.

I'm disappointed that the council asked to push the presentation on the bike and pedestrian plan.

Um that's very exciting.

And I will say too that um the future of any thriving city is multimodal transportation, so not just a city that is locked into car transportation.

Um I know the state unfortunately has um not funded Ripta to the level it needs to be funded.

So we need better bus service.

I like the idea of a shuttle, uh, an intercity shuttle.

That sounds awesome.

Um, and that includes uh active transport, like biking and walking.

And so anything we can do to encourage the safety of bikers and walkers and get more people um taking short trips in active transportation modes rather than driving short trips.

I would there's no place to bike at all in Pawtucket Ave.

I actually am pretty impressed that you're biking at all in Pawtucket Ave.

Um, because it's actually illegal in East Providence to bike on the sidewalk, and there are no bike lanes in a lot of places.

And so, where would you bike?

There isn't a place.

Uh, so I'm excited about Will It Ave having a bike lane.

I'm hoping it can be connected in a logical way to um Crescent Park Ave or whatever, because you could go from the Barrington line to the carousel or to the bike path, um, if those two could be connected.

And I was over at Navigant Credit Union about three times last week, sitting in one of those offices looking out at the Willet Ave bike lane, and it was there was nobody, no confusion, no traffic, either car traffic or bike traffic.

So thank you.

I'm glad you agree with what I said earlier.

But to help us, if you I think you're a smart person, you understand that Pawtucket Avenue is a state road.

So you need what you need to do for a bike for for that aspect to happen for anybody biking and been brought, and again brought it up four years ago already.

You need to contact the state senators and state reps because this body right here, we cannot do anything on Pawtucket Avenue.

That's control.

We can ask for it.

And we can, but we can we're just like you.

We're no different than you.

That's the way they treat us.

But they but the but the more people they hear, they listen.

Well, fortunately, the um master plan that's been created um is includes Pawtucket F as part of that plan, and also veterans, which is also a state road.

Um, and we have a beautiful bike path, and there's no way to get to it from the neighborhood from as a resident of East Providence.

It's very dangerous to try to get to the East Bay bike path.

Um, and the state plan includes that.

So hopefully we get to all be in a meeting together where we see the state plan, the master plan.

Thank you.

And that's um why we you said something about council push this off.

We we did not um push it off.

This is a pretty big document that's pretty impressive, and we just got it.

Got it um a couple days.

We got it Saturday morning.

Yeah, so you know, we we like to at least I'll speak for myself.

I like to make sure I see it and read it and understand it so I can answer questions of the public.

Um, so we're going through that now.

That's why we want to have a nice meeting or hearing where everyone can say whatever they want to say, but we want to know what it's about so we can look like we know what we're talking about.

That's all.

No one's against anything.

But next.

Hey there, y'all.

Good evening.

I'm San Chappelle.

I live at 24 Dartmouth Avenue Riverside.

Um, my comment is also about the road diet, which I think is a step in the right place and where we join these things together in the long term is super important.

Um I was uh I participated in the community outreach for the plan.

I um sent in some emails, I sent in some pictures, I went to one of their outreach things where they had people putting bulletins on them.

And I'm looking forward to seeing that also.

Um, what I will add about the Pa Tucket Avenue situation is that most people who ride bikes.

I grew up riding a bike.

I commuted for a bike.

I don't currently commute for my bike choice.

I use my bike for pleasure right now.

But I have a lot of friends who do use their bike for commuting.

Um that most people who want to ride their bikes don't want to ride on roads like Patucket Avenue.

They want to ride on secondary roads.

And these are the things that we need to look at is like how do we build the infrastructure that connects paths on secondary roads that gets people where they need to get to, including the markets and green spaces, because green spaces in your community and which that you can access quickly without jumping in your car is what makes a community a livable place, an enjoyable place to be.

Safety is important, calming measures are important.

Ways to make traffic go slower, a little bit slower with sight lines and safety is super important.

I'm not a speed bump hump person, but sometimes we can use other ways to squeeze traffic down with diet, with trees, with sight lines.

Um bike riders is that something that's lacking in our community is people who ride bikes need places to lock their bikes to safely and securely.

That's something that's super important.

Um I can save some of my comments for once the presentation comes out, but I think it was really great to see the due diligence that was done by the people collecting the data, and I'd like to see how that um plays out.

Um on another subject, I and I'm thinking like the idea that we spent the energy and time to collect this data, let's use it, evaluate it, move it forward in a sensible way, as a living document in the sense of things are gonna change.

Communities change, we need change.

Um speaking of change, um, I wanted to make one comment about something that we've talked about before, which is the auxiliary dwelling units that we've passed through some way of the requirement of state law.

And I was curious that there was this 5,000 square feet meter thing, whatever, which seemed absolutely arbitrary and random to me.

And I was wondering if there's any feedback about where that came from, how that came from, how it affects people in the community that would like to have an auxiliary dwelling unit, because if it's based on square feet area, that um the idea that a person that has a bigger lot, I'm gonna put that into a wealthier department than a person that has a smaller lot.

And what is the ratio of the average, not the average size, meaning large and small, made into an average, but what's the common size of lots that people own in our community that would be well suited with an auxiliary dwelling unit on it?

That's why we passed the 5,000.

The average lots in the city are that way.

The state wanted it at 10,000, and then it was a proposal.

We made it so that basically every lot in the city of East Providence can have an auxiliary unit.

If we if we kept it at 10,000, if we kept it at where the state was or anywhere else, you talk about going into uh you you use the word you know, financial or you know, people with more money, then we would have been isolating everybody else.

We as a as a council, we did what was right for the citizens of the city.

We brought it down to 5,000.

That's that that's where that's where you have to be.

And you don't always know we so you can it can be 5,000 and above 5,000 is the average in this in the city.

We help the people of the city.

Oh, city solicitor has uh comment.

I just want to correct the councilman.

It's like actually 20,000 schools.

Yeah, the state was 20.

We took it from 20 to 5.

I did follow that, but I yeah, so so we we we're being progressive, we're being leaders in the state.

We didn't keep it at 20, we brought it to five.

So almost every single, and there's very few of the small than 5,000.

And you look at war two, where we are right now.

So we did we did what the people what people have been asking for.

We gave everybody the opportunity.

We we could have gone to 20 if we if we went the other way, you have a great question, but we took it from 20 to 5.

That's like there aren't too many lots in the city that you can't build an auxiliary unit on.

So I'm I'm grateful you're following it.

I'm grateful for the action, but this council has been nothing but user-friendly for housing for secondary housing.

And again, I brought up about tiny houses back in 2022.

And we're and I know what we need to do, but 5,000 square feet.

We're not being we're not being snobs at all.

We we we helped everybody in the city.

All right, but you can you can always apply for a zoning variance too.

And and I have to just, you know, we're running with the time limit here, and this is not an agenda item.

So I know the solicitor is looking at me.

So I want you to make some closing comments.

No, that's fine.

I just was I understood.

I followed the thing.

I was wondering, it seemed very arbitrary to me for 5,000.

I'm thankful that it's less, but maybe I don't know the facts of the It wasn't arbitration.

It was based on like the average size lots throughout the city.

Right.

And at the result of a lot of public input and hearings and meetings, wasn't just done, you know.

We can certainly have the planning department um provide you with those numbers as well.

We went to the 5,000.

There was there, we do have a uh uh a census of what what the average lot size in East Province was, and that was one of the motivating factors.

Because if I remember, didn't the city say 7500 and we brought it back down to five?

The city wanted 75.

We brought it down to five.

All right, we're good.

Next item.

Council members, number one request to remove road diets on Willow Avenue, Councilman Lawson.

So let me be very clear here.

I'm looking for the diets.

The bike lane's there, and we're not asking for the bike lane.

I have overwhelmingly been hearing from people of near misses because when you come around the corner and you're coming in, it's such a sharp merge that it's causing people to get nervous.

So this is not anti-bike lane, you know.

If you want to know the bike lane on Crescent View F, that was from me.

I'm not anti-bike, I'm pro-bike, but I'm also the representative of all of Riverside.

And overwhelmingly, people have been reaching out to me saying, Rick, I almost had another near miss the other day.

And I get things take time, but there's a bike lane, and there are two wide sidewalks as well.

So I'm not asking to take away from that.

I am all in favor of bike lanes.

I want to start talking about First Avenue, going from the Redmond Bridge to get to the bike path over near the 133 comedy connection.

That we definitely need to address.

We need to get from the center of the city, the Kent Heights area and stuff into the bike path, into the bike lane, fully support it.

But these diets are not needed in Riverside.

And overwhelmingly, I am getting calls and emails about them.

So this is not us being anti-bike lane, and I will meet with all you guys anytime you want to discuss your concerns, anything you want, because we're on the same page with just a little couple tweaks here and there.

So I had requested Andre a couple weeks ago that you look into that.

Have you reached out to RiDot yet?

So again, this is not about anti-bike because the bike lane, I'm not asking to remove it.

We could even put up those little poles that can create a little bit of a barrier if people are nervous, but we should go back to two lanes there.

There was never um a traffic problem.

There was never any incidents that necessitated the need for these diets.

So that's all we're doing here.

We are not saying we don't want any bike lanes throughout the city, just we want those two removed and put back into two lanes on will and have.

So a couple of weeks ago, I emailed Andre, and can I get an update of where we are with that?

Could I could I just interject and Andre um while you're still um you're you're becoming a veteran, but relatively new, I'm sure, to a lot of people who may be first time viewing a meeting.

So if you could just identify yourself and your title with the city.

Of course.

Um good evening, everyone.

My name is Andre Herrera, director of policy and constituent services for Mayor DeSilva.

Uh, thank you, Councilman Lawson, for bringing this to the floor.

And uh as per our email, um uh we had requested that Ry Dot take a look at Willet F.

Um, and the mayor and I have gone out there, we've talked to constituents, we uh gone there during peak hours and at all hours and have not seen some of the congestion that others are reporting.

Uh and the mayor is in favor of this change overall.

However, some neighbors have expressed uh concerns on the irregularities of the speed limits.

And we look, we took a closer look, and we have RyDot uh they have informed us that the Office of Safety and the Development Project Manager is uh looking into our request to have those speed limits be more uniform.

Uh they go from 30 to 35 to 30 to 25.

So it doesn't really make that much sense.

And um we also that's not the issue, Andre.

The road you're saying Bob DeSilva is refusing to request those road diets be removed.

So we've we've requested changes and a review from RyDot on the issue of speed limits.

And that that that's not the issue.

It's the merging of the diet.

So and also the yield uh some of the roundabouts, those need to be switched.

But the mayor is in favor of the road diets.

Okay I will let the folks in Riverside that have been overwhelmingly asking, and I'll tell him Bob DeSilva said no.

We're in favor of road diets.

Um and we want to we are addressing valid concerns from the public on the topic of speeding in the area and the right of way changes, so we have right out looking into those changes.

And but we do not want to dismantle the bike lanes.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman.

Next item.

Request for update on Odum project.

Old ham.

Okay, so this project's been what three years.

Is there an update where we're at with old ham?

You had mentioned in an email uh bidding.

What are you bidding for?

We've already said we're not going to sell the property.

Oh, we're not gonna sell the property.

And we're not gonna put apartment buildings on it.

So um I appreciate you bringing this agenda item uh for discussion.

So let's wind the clocks back.

2013, the uh old school shut down.

Uh Andre, all due respect.

We don't need the history.

So in 2022, the city acquired it.

We've invested ARPA funds, capital improvement funds to get the property uh repaired, and there was a leaky roof and some updates we've made.

Um and then last year we had a consultant come and do a feasibility study to look at the possibility of getting someone to invest in the property.

And that feasibility study has now concluded.

And so now what we're it wasn't to invest in the property.

Well, it was what is needed to get the building up to speed.

Right.

And it needs about 24 million dollars.

Bullshit.

Well, this is what the feasibility study says, and you can look at the case.

Because I had all kinds of extras built in.

Councilman, with all due respect, this all this information is public on our website.

Yeah.

And you can check it.

Um and so right now the next step is to go out for bid what it's called an RFQ request for qualifications.

And so we're gonna have anyone that's interested in investing in the the school to uh submit a proposal, we'll evaluate the proposals.

And our consultant has said that there is interest in investing.

Uh what do you mean by investing?

It's a city-owned building.

Yes, we we would lease it to them uh to any developer that meets our qualifications.

So we're gonna send out um an RFQ, and any developer that meets our qualifications, we'll have a discussion with them uh so that we can move forward with uh so the plan was community space up front, the recreation with the gym, everything.

And you guys are trying to push it into a housing project.

So the the gym is still gonna be for public use.

And the feasibility study basically concluded, and it's on online, is that uh developers when they're making a significant investment in a project like this, um, it needs to be economically viable.

And so that's why there's a high- for the investor.

Well, the investor has to put in money and it has to be economically.

But it's a city-owned building that we could use for community space.

We could have had opera money, get that building open.

Well, it requires millions, tens of millions of people.

We know we've been asking this for three years, but the mayor wants to sell it for housing.

No, we're not.

No, but you want to give it for the way for housing instead of what the intended use was.

We can create something so magical there.

We are combined that with the Providence Ave Playground, everything going on.

We could create such an amazing quality of life building for the yachts for everything else.

But the mayor wants to shove the housing down there against the will of the majority of the people down there that are freaking out.

You know, he presents a plan for eight apartment buildings right on top of the whole property.

So in the physical You understand why the people of Riverside are frustrated.

I understand.

I hear your point.

However, the feasibility study includes that component because that's what makes it economically viable.

That's because Bob DeSilva told them to add housing into it.

Echo study and it will determine the mayor said.

Thank you.

Again, I apologize.

Oh no, you're good.

Thank you.

I apologize to all city employees.

This is between the mayor and me.

We have such strong differences.

And let's wait and see.

I apologize.

We'll get we'll get a plan, and then when it comes to us for a vote, we'll vote like we did last time.

Thanks.

Thank you, Andre.

Thank you, Councilman.

Final revenue for fiscal year 2025.

Council Vice President Regal.

Uh yes, I was looking for an update to see where the revenue ended at the uh fiscal year that ended on October 31st of 2025.

I don't know if Andre has any information on that as far as where we are, what final numbers with the last fiscal year.

I'm sorry, councilman.

I'm not mean to report Andre, but we did have a staff meeting today about that.

So just so I understand, and we met with the Mr.

Finance Director.

So you're looking for what the what the fiscal year ended with as far as our surplus or deficit, correct?

Correct.

And um the finance director says she can't give us those numbers until uh the the uh we get through January because obviously some bills come in late and whatnot, so that's uh we should have we should have a better number by the end of January.

All right, you have to get at least one month in.

All right, so best thing is the first meeting in February, then I would think so.

Yeah, we'll get it on that.

All right, thank you.

They're available.

I mean, they're just there's some bills that lag, and you know they got to do the final economy.

Like not every bill bill hasn't come in yet.

My bill hasn't come in yet.

Actually, I think they're behind for November.

So I know that.

So all right.

Uh for February.

Okay.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman.

Target dates on purchasing tans, council vice president Rego.

Um same well, this is well, this is it's supposed to be for this fiscal year.

Um, as we know with our budget being off, that we have to borrow money with the state, and with interest rates dropping.

I'm just asking if if we have an idea like when the TANs are going to be purchased, you know, if we could hold off for maybe another Fed uh drop in interest rates, it benefits the city.

Yes.

Um well, yeah, thank you for bringing this to our attention, Vice President Rigo.

Um, I spoke to our finance director, Glenda Delgado, and she says that the issuance of TANS is determined by the city's cash flow requirements.

Historically, this has occurred during the first quarter of the calendar year.

We do not anticipate any deviation from that pattern.

However, it is uh not possible to establish a specific target date right now, as the timing depends on when the city needs to supplement its cash position.

So um that's the update we have right now.

So it's the 31st of March, then is you know, yeah.

Okay.

I think the Fed is meeting uh, I think in the February, I think again, yeah.

That's why I was hoping that we would hold off as I heard that you might be a nominee for the board of governors of the Fed.

I don't think that guy's nominating me for I don't know.

I don't know you got some poll there, Caleb.

I worry sometimes that with I gotta make sure my you know I have the right answer.

Just checking.

Venezuela's looking for some help too.

So next item.

Mayor Communications Director of Policy and Constituent Services, Andre Herrera.

You might as well stay right there, Andre.

Understood.

Uh good evening.

Members of the city council.

Just wanted to uh bring some uh reappointments to your attention.

We're gonna reappoint Maria Lucci Stoddard and Elaine Gonsalves to the East Providence Housing Authority for a five-year term.

The effective date is listed there uh when their terms had expired, and that's where the five-year term will be reinstated.

And so uh we have a couple announcements.

The uh we well, happy birthday, America, 250th commission.

Uh the mayor signed an exact executive order.

This was gonna be brought to you at the last council meeting, but it was canceled.

Uh, an executive order establishing the city of East Providence semi-quincentennial commission to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the declaration of independence.

I thought we already did that.

Then we uh create this is a uh commission though, I think that's planning.

I know some of us have been invited uh planning the activities.

All right, so we're doing two separate things.

Well, I think they're gonna dovetail into one city actually.

Meredith Bonds Hammond, the chair, Sandra Turgeon from the Historical Society, Vice Chair, Patrick Hanner, Planning Department, Secretary, Deborah Ormond, Historic District Commission, Nancy Moore, Historical Society, Jeff Ferrier, co-president of the Historical Society, Cheryl Ferrier, co-president of the Historical Society, Anna Moniz John, historian, an acting representative from the SOAUMS Heritage Area, Elmar Pinha, Cheryl Hack, the executive director of Preserve R.I., and uh also ex-officio members, uh, Council President Rodericks, Council Vice President Rigo, Eric Underhill, Historic District Commission, Tom Morzika, Historic District Commission, Laura McNamara from the Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, myself and Brian Turgeon from the Historical Society.

Um, so those are the people on the committee so far.

And if you want to join, feel free to reach out to us.

One thing I want to mention the um the commission that you guys had created for the 250.

There's no um no one's appointed on it.

I got a couple of names, but there's no there's nothing there.

There's nothing other than the resolution.

The former we had a meeting with the former clerk, we gave her we put some names up, so I guess that didn't happen.

It wasn't on your watch.

No I gave you the names that were listed, but that's all I have is a couple of names.

I don't have any information.

Yeah, so it's it'll you know the theme is one city, one so we'll work with that together.

I think there was one meeting I was working, could not make it.

The meeting, and I think I added, you know, we added leadership on your name.

I didn't get an in so we'll see that all the council gets invited.

Yes, we'll let you know the next meeting.

Go from there.

And now we have the from this is from the last meeting proclamation recognizing U.S.

Army veteran Louis M.

Falaguerra for his service in Japan from 1946 to 1948, and lifelong dedication to the city of East Providence on December 3rd, he got a towny veteran's plaque.

And uh, if you want me to read that proclamation, let me know.

And also we have a proclamation honoring director Diane Sullivan upon her retirement after 40 years of dedicated service.

Could you read it?

Of course.

All right, Louis M.

Falagüera, whereas Luis Falaguer was born on May 23rd, 1928, to Anna and Ralph Falaguerra, and has remained an East Providence resident his entire life, whereas Mr.

Falaguerra attended East Providence High School starting in September 1943, where he excelled in baseball, and whereas in 1946, at the age of 18, Mr.

Falaguerra enlisted in the United States Army, stationed in Sendi, Japan.

And whereas upon an honorable discharge, Mr.

Falaguerra returned to East Providence High School as he promised his mother to graduate in June 1948.

And whereas while in Japan, Mr.

Falaguerra served as an army paratrooper with the occupational forces, and whereas Mr.

Falaguerra married Dolores Johnson on October 17th, 1953, and celebrated over 68 years of love and happiness with his wife, and whereas Mr.

Falaguerra is the proud father of Luann Falaguerra, Susan Allianello, and Cheryl Silva, and whereas Mr.

Falaguerra is a proud poppy of Gary Silva, Lindsay Alinello, Brianna Alinello, Michael Alinello Jr.

and Derek Silva, and whereas Mr.

Falaguerra is a proud, great papy of Dallas de Costa, Charlotte de Costa, and Sonny Alinello, and whereas a proud Italian, Mr.

Falaguerra, has been a member of the Sons of Italy, Loggia Lucy Moderna, East Providence for 25 years, and whereas Mr.

Falaguerra has been a member of the Freemasons, St.

John's Lodge and St.

Adelfoy Lodge of East Providence for over 45 years.

And whereas Mr.

Falaguerra worked in the field of construction for over 40 years, ultimately becoming superintendent.

And whereas upon retirement, Mr.

Falaguerra has enjoyed vacationing in Florida for the winter, enjoying watching the Yankees and spending time with his family.

Therefore, Mayor Roberto El de Silva on behalf of the City of East Providence, do recognize and celebrate Luis M.

Falaguer's accomplishments, commitment to the city of East Providence and his unwavering dedication, sacrifice, and service to our great nation.

So that is Mr.

Falaguera.

And I believe, did you did you mention yet that um we had the change in the recreation department?

Yeah.

Yes.

You're gonna do that now.

Okay, before I comment on that, I'll let you announce that.

So we have a proclamation here honoring director Diane Sullivan upon her retirement.

Uh 40 years of dedicated service to the city of East Providence.

If you want me to read that, I can do that.

I don't think you have to read that whole thing.

I think we're the city is so familiar with uh uh Diane Sullivan and I'll I'll take this opportunity to again for newcomers to council proceedings.

Uh these are not appointments that the city council makes by city charter.

These are mayoral appointments, and in most cases do not require our confirmation.

There are a couple that do, but uh these do not.

So we're reading the information, getting getting the information from the administration.

In the case of Diane Sullivan, um, I'm sure she's only the second director of recreation that East Providence has had.

I mean, our first one was Sir Joseph Crook retired, and then well, Albert Curdy's okay.

I'm sorry, she'd be what third.

Um, but she's been there 40 years, and um we we remember the changeover in the city when we had a pot tying director, Mr.

Stringfellow, and he opted to stay within the school department and teach and coach and become a legend there, and then Joe Crook, Albert Curdy, Diane Sullivan, and following in Diane's footsteps.

I speak for myself, Rebecca Chase is a wonderful appointment.

I am over the moon that Becky's a record.

Yeah, she's fantastic.

And uh Diane is quietly quietly been uh probably the best recreation director in all of Rhode Island.

She has been a minimal to every activity the city has had, and has even listened to an honorary group of council members at times when we've had our five different ideas and she made it all work.

And she certainly, after 40 years, deserves her retirement, and she's a young person still, and um I'm sure that we'll be seeing and hearing hearing from her in the in the future.

Uh the concerts that we've had from Crescent Park through uh Freedom Green and Rumford.

I mean, Diane was involved with all of those and everything in between the lighting of the Christmas trees at the senior center.

Um and all of this without a recreation center physically.

She's worked out of the out of here city hall.

She's worked out of the uh senior center, sweet Briar building.

So now uh hopefully when the new uh when the new center is completed, um she can come back and you know we'll have a ceremony for her.

As you said, councilman Lawson, Becky Chase is the obvious choice.

Beck, if people recall, we had an old rec center down the old Riverside Junior High that Becky ran, and she was awesome.

She the program she put on, and I'm glad we got the new rec center being built, and she's gonna be in there.

It's kind of I'm very happy for her, very happy, and I'm excited for the program she's gonna bring to the new recenter.

And uh congratulate and Diane, Diane was awesome.

She was the quality of life she brought to the city from not only that, the summer camp program.

Right.

You and I remember each individual playground used to have a summer camp that you just walk in your neighborhood to, and then you know, as budget's got tighter, we had to merge everything in the past, and she put that together every year.

So uh we townies we're very blessed to have Diane leading our rec department and adding to the quality of life in the city.

I uh I want to say a little bit about Diane.

First of all, I just want to thank you, Council President, for saying that she's young since Diane and myself are college classmates.

So I looks young anyway.

I don't know about you.

Well, but Diane has Diane basically started you know as a as a counselor at one of the playgrounds and worked her way up and she ran Riverside.

And what people don't realize too is she was she was like the glue at Heritage Days Alba with the concert with the dealing with the bands and everything by Diane for three nights, had a watch over all the wrecked kids that were critical to the success of that program.

Alba with the concert with the dealing with the bands and everything by Diane for three nights had a watch over all the wrecked kids that were critical to the success of that program.

And Diane had that schedule down and everything worked like clockwork when this person had to go from point A to point B.

And then she just continued to rose, you know, rise up.

And it's that tradition that you know, Diane's a townie thrilling through.

And uh she'll be missed, but Becky's a great choice.

I'm glad the mayor picked Becky.

Councilman Fogedy.

Yeah, obviously she did a great job, and Becky will do a good job.

I wanted to thank her for her service and enjoy your retirement.

If you're watching, if you happen to look at this meeting, thank you for all your hard work.

So Andre, you can tell the mayor that Councilman Lawson agrees with him on that on that one.

Appreciate all your kind words, and uh we wish uh Becky Chase all the best as of the new recreation director.

Thank you.

We look forward to meeting with with her.

Uh thank you, sir.

Uh next item, Madam Clerk.

Resolutions for discussion and possible vote.

Resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into service contract with the oldest elevator company.

Upgrades to the elevator at Weaver Library.

Motion to approve.

Motion by Councilman Lawson to approve.

Seconded by Councilman Fogerty, Council Vice President Regal.

Any discussion?

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Next resolution.

Resolution authorizing the mayor to execute a police mutu mutual aid agreement between the City of East Providence, Rhode Island and the town of Seacamp, Massachusetts.

Introduced by Council President Rodericks.

Council Vice President Rigo.

Motion to approve.

Motion to approve by Councilman Lawson.

Seconded by again, Council Vice President Rigo.

Also Councilman Fogerty.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Thank you.

Next item.

Resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract with CB Utility Company for the Sabin Point Stormwater Quality Improvement Retrofit Project introduced by Council President Rodericks.

I'll make a motion to approve, but Andre, this is the second resolution you bypassed me regarding Riverside.

So I just want to make that known.

But I make a motion to approve.

Motion to approve by Councilman Lawson.

Is there a second?

Second.

Second by Council Vice President Rigo.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Oh, before we finish, what what's the ordinance that you're waiting for?

Councilman Lawson?

Oh, I'm saying this is the second resolution.

Do it resolution.

I I was never asked to sponsor that.

Oh, oh, oh, I'm sorry.

I I hear you.

I'm just saying.

Yep.

Understand.

Yep.

Number four.

Resolution authorizing the mayor to purchase two replacement heavy-duty trucks for the Department of Public Works.

Make a motion to approve.

Thank you.

Motion to approve by Councilman Lawson.

Is there a second?

Second.

Second by Councilman Fogerty.

And again, these are funds already appropriated.

So this isn't anything extra.

Uh thank you for the motion and the second.

Uh all in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Thank you.

Executive session.

Executive session.

The city council of East Province may meet in executive session pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws 42-46-5A2.

One discussion and possible vote on proposed settlement agreement.

In her capacity as tax assessor for the City of East Providence.

Rhode Island?

C number PC 2024-006490.

Rigo, all in favor.

I will be in recess, go into executive session, then we will come back out in public and report out.

We stand in recession.

I gotta go home.

It's icy out there.

Already, huh?

Is there any motion to reconvene and make a motion to reconvene?

And uh can you add to that seal the minutes of and seal the minutes of executive sessions?

Second.

Motion made by uh councilman Lawson, seconded by Councilman Bogley, Council Vice President Rigo.

All in favor.

I'm shooting to adjourn.

Hold on now.

Thank you, Council President, Council Vice President.

So just in executive session, the council met to discuss a proposed property tax agreement, which they did vote four to zero to approve.

However, the details of that agreement will not be made public until such time as the opposing party signs and executes the agreement.

At that time, it will become a public record for anybody who's interested.

Make a motion to adjourn.

Motion to adjourn by Councilman Lawson.

Seconded by Council Vice President Rigo.

All in favor.

Aye, any opposed.

Matter passes for zero.

Meeting.