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Good evening, you good evening.

I'll call the meeting to order March third, twenty twenty six of these Providence City Council.

Uh, Madam Clerk, could you please call the role of the council?

Councilman Fogerty.

Councilman Lawson?

Yeah.

Council Vice President Rego.

Yeah.

Councilwoman Sousa.

Council President Rodericks.

Here.

The record show that there is a quorum present.

I did hear from Councilman Fogerty, uh, who had some emergency dental surgery this morning, and he's quite uncomfortable at home.

Um, and I know Councilwoman Susa wasn't feeling well a week or so ago, so we do have a quorum at any rate.

This time I would uh defer it to uh Councilman Lawson.

Uh just like to call for a moment of silence for the six of uh American service members who have been killed in the Iran conflict.

Um, thank you.

One, Dune Brothers, six eighty four, Bullocks Point, East Providence, Rhode Island, vacuuming.

So the last meeting, uh, as you know, we had uh uh, I think in January we had short cause hearing.

They were this is one of the last stragglers.

Uh, we did send them notice that they were to appear today.

We have not heard from them.

I'm assuming obviously they're not open.

That's not open because of the season.

Um, I'm assuming they're probably up here before us, uh, and get all this stuff in order.

Well, when the spring comes, whatever that may be.

So I just asked that this be continued to the uh first meeting in April.

With notice to them.

I'll make a motion that we move this to do we gotta have a date.

I'm not sure the date and we'll April 7th.

So I'll make a motion that we move this to the April 7th meeting.

Second now motion by Councilman Lawson to move.

And is it these uh health building fire and taxes?

Is taxes I thought do they owe tangible?

They must have some of their own equipment there that we must be taxing them on, yes.

Right, but more than 50 thou?

Right.

Yeah, okay.

Could be back taxes too.

So right, and we've been emailing, calling, they just haven't okay.

Okay.

So it's uh the fact that they're not open until summertime.

We they've had a family and stuff.

Yeah, yeah.

But we'll hold the rules.

Sure.

We're gonna follow the rules.

The second but is by council vice president Rigo.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The uh motion carries three zero.

Next item.

Consent calendar for discussion and possible vote.

Council journals, regular meeting minutes, February 17th, 2026.

Make a motion to accept.

Second.

Motion by Councilman Rigo, seconded by Councilman Lawson to accept.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it three to zero.

I'd also note that there is no executive session needed tonight on the agenda.

Hold up.

The next item.

Licenses for discussion and possible vote.

A motion to bundle.

Is there a motion to bundle the licenses?

Yeah, do you need to read them first or just read?

I would just read the title of the without the madam clerk if you want to read it.

Number one, special event one day entertainment license.

Do you want the address?

Sure.

150 Emerald Street, East Providence.

Number two.

Apple applicant Amand Ahmad.

Viticuling 350 North Broadway, East Providence, Rhode Island.

Another viculing ice cream shop at 45 Newport Avenue, East Providence.

Make a motion to bundle.

Uh one through three.

Second.

Motion by Councilman Lawson to bundle those items that were read one to through three.

Seconded by Council Vice President Rigo.

All in favor?

I any opposed?

The ayes have.

Now is there a motion to accept?

Make a motion.

Well, we're just that was just a bundle.

Now we're gonna have the motion to accept.

Make a motion to approve uh one through three.

Second.

Motion again by councilman Lawson, seconded by council vice president Rigo to uh approve.

All in favor, aye.

Any opposed?

Yeah, I just had it.

Mike, can you uh make the announcement?

So I um the next one we're gonna have a little bit of an issue with because I know Councilman Rigo, the clock alcoholic class B vehicle license.

Um has to recuse himself uh based upon an ethics opinion that he received.

Um and so we're now we're out of quorum to approve this license, and I apologize to the applicants who may be here.

Is anyone here for that?

Uh that license.

Oh, sorry, sir.

Yes.

So um what I would suggest is we need uh do you have a date that you're planning to open?

I soon as possible.

So I I leave it up to the council how you want to handle it.

We might have to have us if you want to have a special meeting.

Um, or I don't know if you want to wait till what's our next meeting date?

7th.

March 17th.

So it uh could you come to the podium, please, Mr.

Maps?

I I don't think scheduling without their input.

No, go ahead.

I go.

Yeah.

We lose a quorum with when we recuse.

I just want to ask the applicant.

Um so I don't want to inconvenience you.

If you could just come to the podium and just uh identify yourself and the name of the business.

Uh just uh push that button on the microphone there.

There you go.

Uh Kevin Matos, um the owner of Cafe Alma.

Right.

And uh where we welcome you.

It's seems to be a good business off to a good start already at the cafe part of it.

Um so you're ready to go at any time.

We are completely ready to go.

Okay.

So what we'll do is I'll speak with council and solicitor, and if we can have some kind of a special meeting as soon as possible, we'll let you know.

If not, it might have to go to March 17th.

Okay.

Um public meetings have to be advertised.

So I think we should just continue it to uh the next meeting March 17th, however, with the notification that if it's earlier, we will um we'll post it as that.

Okay, is anyone is anyone here to speak on the for or against the license now?

So there's no one here on the public right now, so um and uh yeah, we could look at either the 17th or if we can find a day that we can accommodate them, come in.

So you're willing to meet on St.

Patrick's Day, it appears.

I'll bring the whiskey, buddy.

Yeah, because we hell yeah.

You had an event that we're gonna do previously, kind of the whole river cutting leading into a launch on the 14th.

So that would just be handling.

Okay, I'll see if I can if we can advertise in time and I can get a quorum together, even if we meet just for that reason.

We would need just a minimum three of us.

So if all five can, we'll get at least three.

I'll make myself available.

And it doesn't have to be at night, it could be a right.

It could be a morning meeting or but it does have to be advertised by law and 48 hours.

Um that meeting that needs to be posted by law.

We probably will not advertise for the continued hearing unless it's on the 317, because we're gonna continue it to 317.

So if we put a special meeting to accommodate them, does that have to be advertised 48 hours?

48, yeah.

Okay.

Okay, we'll try to expedite it for you.

Thank you for coming out.

Mike, is that the tell you we need the full A V and everything?

No, no.

No, okay.

Yeah, we could we can do something about take it.

And the councilman return, are there any other with the legal license?

Okay.

So do you need a fill.

I'll make a motion that we move this to the 17th unless we can accommodate them at an early date.

Because you don't even have a quorum to do that.

So we're just gonna move it.

Gotcha.

Thank you.

Just wait for the vice president to return and we'll continue the meeting.

Thank you, sir.

Madam Clerk, maybe continue.

Public comment.

Michelle Johnson.

Hi, it's Michelle here, Michelle Johnson.

You're here to comment.

You signed up to speak.

I'm sorry.

Are you guys here for a specific item on the agenda?

Which one?

Oh, you want to move that up?

Is there anyone else first on the communications?

I don't want to hold them up.

That's it.

Okay.

So sure, we can welcome it.

I'll make a motion.

I think it's councilman rigos item if you want to uh move it up and without without objection.

We don't need a motion.

Okay.

So you want to just okay, good idea.

We we do have an appointment.

The gentleman is here, so uh he can he's had a busy day, I'm sure.

So we can take care of that business.

You want to read that, madam clerk?

Yes, appointment of Matthew Shoem Shoe-Mate to the East Providence Waterfront District Commission four-year term effective March 3rd, 2026 to March 2nd, 2020.

Sorry, March 2nd to 2030.

Council President Rodericks.

Make a motion to approve.

Motion to approve by Councilman Lawson.

Seconded by Council Vice President.

Mr.

Schuma, would you come up for one second, please?

Just to introduce you.

I I received this application.

I won't read it all now.

Uh it's quite impressive.

And uh the East Providence resident who'll step forward.

I know some of the waterfront commission meetings don't have at times uh quorum, so we needed to fill this vacancy.

So uh welcome and thank you for uh stepping up, sir.

Thank you for having me.

I really appreciate your time.

Great.

If you want to say anything, otherwise, uh thank you.

Absolutely.

Well, it could keep it short, but uh this isn't a good opportunity growing up in the city my entire life, and uh although I I serve uh a city in my employee capacity or my professional capacity, being able to be in East Providence working on something in my personal capacity is something that I'm truly excited.

You say you work for the city, not East Province, you mean Providence, right?

Province.

Yes.

Um, living here my entire life.

Sure.

I only be able to serve this city is something that's super exciting.

So I appreciate this time and excellent.

Thank you.

You are set to go, but although you're welcome to stay here with us till midnight if you'd like.

Uh we're not gonna be that long tonight.

Thank you once again.

Thank you, gentlemen.

Uh okay, now council vice president.

If you want to uh move up your item, and madam clerk, if you want to read that item, and then you can describe it.

A discussion request for $2,500 for the McCoya Powell dated Sunday, July 12, 2026.

Is that the same one?

At Crescent Park, funds to be requested from the City Council Public Celebrations account.

Council Vice President Regal.

Yes, sir.

Thank you, Mr.

President.

Um, two weeks ago when being the appointee to the uh East Providence 250 Commission representing the council, I was there and started to talk about activities going on, and it came to light that this great organization, a long history, obviously, in the city of East Providence, they didn't have funds and they needed funds for a very important activity that they normally do.

So they asked for 2000, but when I started looking at you know, inflation and everything, I think it's appropriate that we give them 2500 for the outstanding work and the involvement in the community that the tribe does for everybody.

And uh I just said to them that I would get them get them this money for for the powwow, uh, which is part of our heritage and obviously going into the true 250th anniversary of this country, and they are obviously the natives of this land, so it would be a shame if we didn't recognize that.

So I moved passage for the 2500 dollars.

Second motion by the resolution.

Oh, now we gotta go to the resolution.

Okay, so we'll we'll keep the protocol in order.

So uh approved the resolution.

Motion to approve the resolution and second by councilman Lawson.

All in favor.

I any opposed the resolution is approved.

Now we need the uh motion for the amount speak on it and tell about the idea.

That's included in it.

Okay, so yes, there is a group here if uh anyone wants to add anything to it.

You go absolutely you can or you if you don't want to, but it's approved.

It's a very tell us about what's going on.

Yeah.

You can you can just turn the mic on, ma'am.

I just want to reiterate that not only are we just requesting from you, we're also doing our own thing also to raise funds for this.

Because it costs a good five to six thousand dollars to put this event on.

Um, so we appreciate your you know doing this for us.

But we are doing fundraising.

Matter of fact, we're having uh spaghetti and meatball fundraiser uh next Monday night at the Cape Verde and Club.

Sort of so come on down, 10 bucks a plate.

Great.

And thank you for what you do.

Well, I started the odds council.

We did the loof and finding funding for nonprofits and groups.

It's tough.

It's tough.

So commend you guys for working hard and any time we can support, we're more than happy.

So Monday the ninth.

Monday the ninth, eight ready in progressive 5:30 to 70.

Well, my wife would be happy.

She doesn't have to buy me dinner.

I mean, make me dinner that night.

Yep.

Why would she have to cook for you?

I want to want the house to burn down.

Oh my god.

Listen, I'm half Italian, so I'm gonna judge it.

Uh our city clerk is a member of the club.

Is she cooking?

Uh I want to George cooking.

George Stone cooking.

Yeah.

I want to uh thank Vice President uh Rigo for attending that meeting and representing the council and uh uh being a liaison for us.

We we appreciate it.

So that's approved.

Thank you all for being here.

You're welcome.

Next item, please.

Number one blizzard of 2026 recap.

Council President Rodericks.

So nothing too uh strenuous here other than to say I'd be remiss if the council didn't make a comment after we just experienced the storm of the century, it's being called.

Um I, as I think many of us in this room live through the 78 blizzard, and we were uh trapped in our homes and businesses and schools for a couple of weeks or more.

Uh talk about not seeing a plow.

I didn't see a plow for three and a half weeks.

And you know, this this time around, they tell us we had more snow.

We had um some advantages.

People were home.

We had warning.

We had the advantage of technology.

But nevertheless, um I I just want to, and I know the council will want to echo this, and I'm gonna ask the mayor also to join us.

We want to commend our our workers, uh DPW, the men and women, the police, the fire, um, all responders were were out there.

Uh we were moving through this city within two and a half days, within two days, uh, people were getting around.

Um, again, if you remember 78 with less snow.

I talked to uh a teacher the other day, and uh former teacher and became superintendent, Mr.

Vinitero, he and Mr.

Burke had three classes of students at the Providence uh Marriott Hotel.

They started out at the State House for a program, Project Insight.

The storm hit, they were stranded, they had all these kids that had to walk across the street and stay at the Marriott from that Monday till Saturday.

They could not get out of the city, couldn't get home.

So we we did pretty well.

So there might be more to say later on.

I don't know if gentlemen want to add anything, but uh, I just would like to commend the operation within East Providence.

I want to the every person who got behind the wheel of a plow truck, you have my undying gratitude.

Uh you started in white out conditions.

We've had equipment that three feet of snow is tough, and they were awesome.

They were all they were out there, and you know, I understand perfectly people somewhere upset.

They didn't get to be quick enough.

I get that.

I get that.

But human nature, the amount of snow, and after a while, you can't push it anymore.

You gotta start removing it.

So when we saw Vermont and the others coming in, that was a good.

And beyond that, the local businesses that stepped up that were feeding DPW, you guys are amazing and awesome.

Every tow I saw out there that was shoveling neighbors that was clearing streets because they knew the plowers could do one pass, but we still had to get to other places.

I had somebody tell me, it was Mr.

Savory, that Rick, no matter what nonsense goes on in this city, townies will always come together and carry things through.

And we saw a major event, and you saw townies come together.

And we look out for each other, we take care of each other.

You know, we we complain, we complain, absolutely, but push comes to show, we're there for each other.

And that's what makes this city so amazing.

And you know, for the few complaints that were out there, I received many more positive statements than people were sticking up for our workers.

Uh one person who made a comment to me about, oh, I want curb to curb plowing.

Well, I like to quote the mayor of Warwick, who I saw in an interview who said curb to curb, said we we're not gonna see curbs until April.

Uh so saying that though, let's be proactive.

We're gonna see some rain and warm attempts.

So stuff's gonna melt.

We're gonna make sure our storm drains are clear.

We also be prepared, people.

There are going to be potholes.

Water gets into asphalt.

It freezes, expand.

It's already we've been telling you how to contact us.

If you see an issue, reach out to us personally.

The cities report a problem.

There are going to be potholes.

You know, we just want to be proactive to let you guys know we understand that, and we're gonna do the best we can to correct them right away.

Before I ask uh Mayor DeSilville to come forward, council vice president, you like to add anything?

Yes, uh to Rick's point, the plow drivers unbelievable job.

I also was fortunate to go out on at Thursday night with Manda Silva riding around ward water.

I saw you on television.

Well, you were on the day before you were on the day before, so let's not forget that.

I didn't I didn't get on camera, you were on camera.

Because I'm better looking.

So, anyways, no argument to the to that point, what the dedication of those men and women that work for DPW in all facets was amazing.

And in the see them Thursday night after probably mostly, you know, getting maybe four to six hours sleep and to make this city passable and to help the small businesses and thank you to the small businesses that help DPW.

And thank you to the small businesses that helped DPW.

Also, as a father of a first responder, I want to commend the first responders in this city, both the police and fire, because they got there, and it was not easy, as he as he told me, driving around the state.

And even though those cars are all wheel drive and very, you know, very heavy duty, it was it's not easy.

And the police and fire answered calls, and they didn't, and it was probably took a little couple of minutes longer than normal, but they were right there.

It wasn't like anybody had to wait a half hour or anything.

And I also want to commend the youth of the city.

It brought back the way that we used to be going out.

Some of them made money, but they also were not in my ward.

They were knocking in the neighborhood.

They were knocking on the elderly people who needed help to shovel them out.

It brought back that sense of towing and community that you we haven't seen in a long time.

Agreed.

Um I'd like to ask Mayor DeSilva to come forward, please.

And as you come forward, I I know I speak for many, and I want to uh thank you for your constant communications, uh keeping um keeping us informed because there's no other way to do it other than through the social media and the code red phone calls.

Maybe it was uh an extreme in some people's minds, but more information the better.

But thank you, Council President.

I'm gonna echo what the rest of the council has said.

This has been uh this was a remarkable response from all of the city employees across all divisions.

Uh, police, fire, DPW, uh, the volunteers who came and help helped to man the warming shelter that we opened up on Sunday.

Uh the city employees also participated in that.

Uh, the people who took the calls, the people in my office who answered a lot of the uh emails and phone calls that were coming straight through.

Uh even though City Hall was closed, we still had people answering these uh emails and calls the best we could.

This is a uh a preliminary report, and we'll have a more detailed one with that finalized a draft, but I wanted to share with you in the community so you know some of the logistics that were involved in this operation.

Uh this is a report by uh EMA director Mike Carey, who was also the fire chief.

Uh winter storm Hernando was the name of this storm.

Uh we're all gonna refer to it as the Blizzard of 2026 for you know, as long as we could remember, but it actually had an official name.

Uh operational period was from February 22nd at 1,800 hours until March 1st at 1,800 hours.

That means we were operating on this uh this project for all that time.

Um between uh February 22nd and February 23rd of 2026, the City of East Province experienced a historic blizzard during the uh snowstorm Hernando, resulting in 36 plus inches of snowfall, sustained winds of 60 miles per hour, white out conditions, widespread power outages, and significant impacts to transportation and infrastructure.

The city activated its emergency operations plan and implemented a unified command structure, integrating emergency management via police DPW and REMA.

Despite extreme conditions, coordinated municipal operations, protected life safety, maintained emergency response capabilities, and restored essential services within three days, as mentioned here.

The storm timeline, 72 hours before, we started monitoring the initial weather reports.

48 hours prior, uh we had a partial EOC activation.

And then 24 hours prior, we uh instituted the parking ban announcements and the public messaging intensified regarding the storm.

Um storm started, the real onset of the storm was about 5 p.m.

on the 22nd, and the peak was about 0800 hours or 8 a.m.

on the 23rd.

We had approximately 20 36 plus inches, 60 mile per hour winds, temperature range from 21 degrees to 37 degrees.

We had 311 people that lost power for approximately 24 hours, and a state of emergency was declared by the state of Rhode Island, Governor McKee.

We we did the best we could to communicate uh with our community utilizing social media, code red alerts.

We put out multiple code red alerts to inform the public on what was going on.

Um we opened up our shelter, and we sheltered eight residents throughout this uh event.

Um and that opened up on the 22nd at 7 p.m.

So to compensate for projected delays due to storm uh covered roads and impassable roads, extra personnel were deployed to the front lines of the fire department.

Critical duties, including fire suppression, emergency medical aid and rescues were immediately actual under the staffing model, eliminating the need to wait for units.

So what we ended up doing is we added an additional battalion chief.

This is just to educate the community because people were asking me, what did you guys do to prepare?

We uh added an extra battalion chief working so that there were two supervisors, one for the north, one for the south, uh, additional personnel and apparatus in district two and three, two additional rescues were put placed in full-time service during that uh storm.

And we also had a utility vehicle with a plow at each fire station.

And the purpose of that was to lead uh or to lead the fire uh apparatus to a call so they would clear the road.

We actually did have rescues, multiple rescues and fire engines that did get stuck in the snow despite our efforts to plow and open up the roads.

Uh during that time, during the event time, we received 99 calls, 59 EMS responses, one fire response, 10 fire alarm responses, 8 CO alarm responses, and some public assistance responses 16.

On the police department side, we also uh put on extra manpower.

The chiefs putting together the exact numbers, uh, but calls for service during the period of the uh operation.

There were 931 calls, motor vehicle accidents, there were 43 disabled vehicles, 109, uh vehicles removed through the parking ban where we made contact with the owner.

There were 100 vehicles that we made contact, and that's the efforts that the police department generally do.

They try to get people to move the vehicles before we issue a ticket or before we tow the vehicle.

So we were able to get 100 vehicles removed for the parking ban, 24 vehicles were towed, and 45 citations issued for a significant storm of this magnitude.

When I drove around and I drove around with some of the members here, during the parking ban, vehicles stayed off the road, and that really helped out.

So we thank the community for following through on the parking ban and adhering to it.

On the DPW side, uh, so the personnel deployed, highway department had 35 employees deployed uh with 2,252 hours uh combined put into this project.

The water department has 17 and they work 630 hours combined, and Central Garage had nine and they worked 630 hours.

Uh there's 160 miles of streets, uh municipal streets in the city of East Province.

We plowed 160 miles worth of streets.

Uh equipment utilized, we had plow truck 60, loaders two, back hose three, and dump trucks three.

That was city equipment, all city equipment.

We use approximately 534 tons of salt.

Uh during the uh plow operations, the focus initially is emergency corridors, hospital and critical facilities, uh routes to hospitals, arterial roads, and then residential streets.

So that was the order of attack.

We also established a uh storage site for snow towing, we uh snow uh moving.

We ended up getting uh assets from out of state that really helped out uh REMA assisted and deployed three front-end loaders, one industrial snowblower, and 14 dump trucks.

So those assets really helped to move material.

There were 807 loads of snow that were hauled out.

And uh it kind of it really reduced the recovery time from a five five-day recovery time to three-day recovery time.

Estimated costs, and this is not the final cost.

Uh, and fire overtime, there was approximately 27,715 in overtime, police overtime, approximately 11,500, and DPW overtime, 186,274 in overtime.

A total estimated impact was 260,000 one hundred and twenty four and twenty-six thousand dollars.

260,126.

So, what does that mean for us?

Uh, we're hoping uh that we get a an emergency declaration from the federal government.

REMA is working on that.

They're working to try to get that through FEMA.

If we do get that through FEMA, we'll get up to 75% reimbursement on all those expenses.

Uh, and this is a very preliminary report.

There'll be a much more detailed report uh because I know that during this, one of our plows was uh broadsided in an accident.

Uh we had equipment uh that was damaged.

Our uh highway, our vehicle maintenance crew was very busy.

What happens with these trucks?

They take a beating, and those guys being on duty during this event, constantly fixing trucks, repairing trucks, getting them back on the road.

So I know it was mentioned here by the members of the council.

I think uh I'm just gonna echo what you said.

I couldn't be more proud of all of the people who work on behalf of the city of East Providence.

I couldn't be more proud of the businesses that came out and supported, and I couldn't be more proud of the members of the community who helped each other out and adhered to uh the parking ban, and really were supportive of the whole process.

It was an incredible, uh incredible uh opportunity.

I also couldn't be more proud of the members of the city council who reached out, had questions, had suggestions, try to help us uh get put us together with some assets to help with the snow removal.

Uh, I really am uh grateful to all of you.

Uh with that being said, we do plan on recognizing all the employees in the City of East Providence and the volunteers who participated during the first two days of the storm, and and then uh the ones who continued in the cleanup.

Uh we're putting together uh a luncheon.

Uh, we want to invite the members of the council to be there.

Uh, we're gonna invite other elected leaders to come and celebrate uh the hard work that uh these people did on behalf of our residents.

So uh we'll let you know when that is, and uh we hope that you can join us.

Thank you.

You need meatballs?

Question from the lunches?

I have a question from the audience, yes.

Oh, great, great question.

So we did have to deal with the unfortunately recycling was the week of the blizzard.

Uh, you know, we we did shut down uh school for a week, we shut down City Hall for three days, um, and we had to cancel trash pickup that happened to fall on the recycling day.

Uh we do recycling every other week.

This week would have been no recycling, but people are full.

We understand that.

What we did is we opened up uh DPW.

If people want to empty out partial, not we're not expecting you to pick up your whole bin and carry it over, but if you want to take a few things off the top and drop it off at DPW, you can do that.

They're open uh Tuesday and Thursday till 7 p.m.

and the rest of the week till uh 3 30.

And I believe on Saturday we were open for four hours in the morning.

So if people want to offload some of the stuff from their uh their recycling business, they can do that.

Unfortunately, what happens is our contractor has contracts with multiple municipalities.

So this week was another municipalities.

They only have so many trucks, so they couldn't they couldn't do our pickups uh, unfortunately, this week.

I know it's a hardship for the residents, but I know that we will get through it.

Councilman Rigo, you want to add something?

I'd be a missed right now if I didn't recognize two people directly.

Uh Dan Borges, the head of DPW, and Andre Herrera, the mayor's uh liaison.

Uh they did an amazing job.

I had some in my ward, I had some situations dealing with the woman soon going into labor, and Dan got the street plowed.

And I think you got that phone call too, May.

Uh statewide 911 worker needed to get there, called that, and then you know, Dan was working a ton of hours, and Andre stepped up.

And every time we had an issue with the street and everything, got it, got it to him.

He got it to the proper DPW who was, you know, handling the situation.

And uh I think the the great working between your office with Andre and us, you know, helped us with our constituents.

So I just wanted to recognize both of them.

I think the I first of all, thank you so much.

Uh Dan did a great job uh leading the team.

Uh Chris Tacheco additionally did an incredible job uh on the ground.

Uh Andre and the rest of our office.

Uh, I want to also, since we're recognizing people individually, Matt Paddock did a great job uh communicating.

And what happens with these, not just them, but everybody during a crisis or emergency like this, everyone was available.

You know, it doesn't matter what time of the day it is.

We give them a call, they pick up the phone and they take care of business.

So I'm I'm very proud of everybody in an audience.

And my uh final comment will be because I I know on social media I saw some comments, and not necessarily about East Providence, they're about other areas.

Someone mentioned, well, you know, these people uh they get paid.

That's that's their job.

You know, nothing can be further from the truth when when there is a catastrophe, good people step up.

There are others that could do the minimum and be okay legally, but there when good people step up, it makes a difference.

And we also should mention that the school department maintenance crew stepped in and they do a little bit of plowing themselves for the school properties.

It was all one big family.

It was schools, President.

You are correct.

I forgot to mention that.

They will be recognized this day.

Sure.

When we bring everyone together, we're gonna invite the school department personnel.

We I reached out to the superintendent.

I was like, look, I know you I know you have plows on your vehicles.

Can they come out and help us clear snow from the streets?

And they did.

So the school personnel were actually out there plowing streets for the city of East Province.

So thank you for reminding me.

Oh, and that's a key thing because there's a was a time in a lot of communities, not just here, but it would be well, no, we work for the schools or we work for the city, and we can't cross over the unions won't like it.

Well, that's no longer the case.

And they all stepped forward.

Council President, one last thing.

The most memorable moment is in the the height of the storm.

Slow still coming down sideways.

There was an individual going down the street with a snowblower trying to clear his street.

And I'm like, who is this guy in the middle of a short little guy out there with a snowblower who wasn't counseling vice president Rego was out there actually helping out his neighbors trying to snowblow a path down his uh well it is the campaign season, you know.

Now I mean, besides my neighbors, I also that first responder I talked to who was protecting the southern part of the state of Rhode Island as a Rhode Island state trooper needed to get to work to protect people.

So I was snowblowing to make sure that he got he got through.

Well, we appreciate that.

You were too cheap to hire a kid to do it.

Yeah, it was in the it was at the height of the storm.

It was at eight o'clock in the morning.

One one, I know I said my last comment, but one real last comment.

I would ask the the public in in general that if you are inclined to go out to dinner or go and have a beverage somewhere, some of our restaurants and taverns, they suffered uh Saturdays and Sundays at a big for them.

And when we had a parking ban, we have some restaurants and clubs that only have street parking.

They they had to close.

And there was nothing we could do about it, and they understood that.

So go out and get get a dinner, grab a hamburger, do something to help all of our neighborhood clubs and restaurants.

And I think we have some of the best in in East Providence.

We're getting people from throughout the East Bay, from Providence that uh prefer to come into East Providence.

We have some great pubs, diners, restaurants.

Let's go out in the next couple of weeks and uh buy a meal.

And then let me just finish.

You know, it's no secret.

Me and Bob Buttheads, you did a great job last week.

Credit due with credit's hang on, the flag's moving over here.

Motion to adjourn.

Now, listen when when things are going bad, you get the blame.

When things go good, you deserve the credit.

No, that's that's well.

Thank you for your leadership last week.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you all very much.

Appreciate that.

Uh, Madam Clerk.

Next item.

Well, all townies, right?

Number two, community choice electricity aggregation.

Council Vice President Rego.

Uh thank you.

Um, just to follow up.

And uh, I think Andre was gonna have some more information on it.

And it gets more important all the time as you keep on hearing about these rates going up and what we can do to help uh you know, fellow citizens would be outstanding.

Good evening, vice president.

Uh thank you for the kind words before, and I appreciate your patience on this uh matter.

Uh the latest I have is that we're uh setting up a meeting right now with Providence, the city of Providence to go over what vendor they used and and their plan uh and how they tackled CCA community choice aggregation.

And uh additionally, in tandem to that, we're also exploring uh the Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns and their strategy for tackling this.

They're gonna be giving a presentation uh within the next couple weeks at their convention.

Uh so we're gonna take these two possible pathways and analyze which one is the best uh plan to move forward that will save money for the residents.

You also through the leagues and cities and towns.

Could you reach out?

I when you when you get a minute, which I know you're very busy, but also reach out to Narragansett, which has been very successful, the town in Narragansett's program.

Uh and the town manager down there happens to be uh grew up as a townie, Jimmy Jimmy Tanney grew up in Rumford.

Uh and I think he would, you know, help you help you, excuse me, get through uh get us more of the information.

But they've been one of the beginning ones, and it seems to be from the people I've talked to down there, and Bob the pre excuse me, the president might have some, you know, people knowledge having relatives down in that area as well.

Yeah, they've they've done quite a bit, so we could always benefit from some advice.

So that's a great suggestion.

Uh Vice President, uh, our procurement specialist did reach out to uh every city and town that had one of these community choice aggregation programs.

So uh we'll follow up with her on this specifically in Araganset and uh let you know the outcome of that.

Thank you.

Next item.

Number four, uh discussion to request up to $3,000 to the fund to fund the city's East Providence 250 website.

Council Vice President Rego.

Again, this comes from the meeting uh a couple weeks ago that I attended on behalf of the council.

Uh Andre could probably hopefully fill us in a little bit more on the process or where we are with this for this website, obviously, for an important occasion in the history of the country.

Also, it's this 250 doesn't end on July 4th, 2026.

It's gonna be a full year, it will conclude in 2027.

Yeah, so uh vice president, as we had discussed in the 250th commission meeting, uh what we're looking for is uh just some additional funding to help support our program.

It's not just for a website.

Actually, somebody was kind enough to design one for us.

Um and we just need some funds before we start fundraising uh on our own uh with the uh partner organizations um to get us off and running.

So this funding would be for uh getting securing a domain name, which we need to pay for a domain to be able to post some information there.

Um and additionally, uh it would also go to uh other honorariums and other costs associated with hosting some of these events.

So um any funding that the council can provide towards this moment momentous celebration uh and the events that we have planned uh would go a long way.

So we appreciate that.

We we fully support.

Can you have Glenda email us the balance of the public celebration account and we're more than happy to help out?

I mean, public celebrations uh part of what makes East Proud and special.

Um we just want to ensure because we want to make sure the money's there that we can accommodate and help.

Um did you think about the restaurant week guy that does?

Well, he's I he they put they sent him out a uh oh okay.

I think they sent they reached out to Jeff, I think.

Because I don't think that was big money, right?

I think they reached out to I think they reached out to Jeff.

So, but as far as you know where we are as far as the allocation of the money.

Yeah, I I um check with Glenda Andy.

Do you do you have any uh idea on the figure?

1280 dollars is left in that account.

And we still got brass attack.

We still that's a separate that comes under the uh the recreation.

Okay, okay.

We may be able to use that at council.

Maybe we only have a work on that in the public celebration.

In the council's celebration.

So how are we gonna give them three?

We're not from that from that from now, not from there.

We'd have to get it from other uh you know, sources.

So for the March uh for the next meeting, uh we'll we'll see if we can locate another source.

Um uh we can have a discussion offline, but we'll get a resolution to appropriate up to find when we find the money.

Yeah, I think the clerk said there might be some other.

Yeah, and I have an account that I think we could use.

I was looking into the legal department spudge.

We'll we'll get we'll the lawyers who wrote that declaration, you know.

Yeah.

Thank you.

Next item.

Number five, update on Crescent Pot projects, bathrooms, building event tent, councilman Lawson.

Councilman.

So a lot of people are firing up their phones at me.

Rick, what's going on?

Where are we at?

What's going on?

So is there any update I can pass?

I know Nancy's waiting to hear the update.

Uh so councilman, uh, yeah, thank you for your patience on this item.

Um at this time, the project remains on track for early spring, um, late winter start, weather dependent.

Um, so there's a couple items here that you put um bathrooms building in the event tent.

So I'm just gonna break them down to make it easier to explain.

So the building and the event tent go together.

Uh the latest is that we've received revised structural drawings based on the revised footprint from the structural engineer working for the architect.

New England construction is currently working on the pricing of the revised structural plans to fall within the allocated funds that the city council allocated.

And uh so we're still waiting the mechanical drawings, but we anticipate them by the end of this week.

So once we have the mechanical drawings uh and those have been received, then we can finalize the pricing and the materials and everything should still be on track for the spring.

So still no signed contract, no start date, just okay once we get the mechanical drawings uh in a week, then they can get the pricing, and then we can go right away because the council already allocated the money.

That's what our confusion is.

Usually, when you come to us asking for money, the plan's already done, ready to go.

And then I happen to ask a question to Mike, hey, how are we doing that?

And that's how I found out the contract hasn't been signed yet.

So a little bit confusion of what's going on.

This is also a really good strategy so that we can move as quickly as possible.

So once they finalize the pricing, we have we can go instead of having to put it on the docket and then wait two weeks and then I get that, but usually the pricing's already set before you come to the council.

Yeah, that's where our confusion is.

Right.

Okay.

And that's um I'll ask again in a couple of weeks where we're at.

Thank you.

And the bathrooms.

I've had people calling me.

Why is CRMC reviewing it when we haven't seen anything yet?

So we're still we're still waiting on the final feedback of the bathroom facility from our architect.

And uh when we'll we'll provide feedback on that as soon as we hear back.

Who's our architect?

Architect.

I'll have to check with Dan on that.

I don't have his exact name in front of me, but I can't because I heard there's already plans designed ready to go, just waiting for the next step.

Yeah, I can check on the who the architect is and get back to you on that.

Okay.

I will tell you, there's a lot of anxious people down in Rivers, not just Riverside, I get it from all over.

Just want to know what's going on with the park.

So all right, thank you.

Thank you.

Number six, hometown heroes banners.

So we were hoping, what was it?

Last Saturday, February, was it 20th?

What the we were supposed to have a veterans meeting, and we were gonna have you know start promoting the hometown heroes being a that gut pushback, obviously.

So where we're at now, I'm just waiting for Andrea to give me the access to the farm and where I could see the things.

And there's a thing on the farm I got to clear up.

Uh, we want to put the locations.

So you're meeting with Dan, we could either put Riverside Brumford or Warren Avatar.

And so we want to put that on the form.

So that's why I was asking for access to that.

Um, once that's ready, we can start promoting.

This is gonna be uh um, we already got banners.

People are used to it.

This is a nice hometown hero banner, and um ready to go.

You know, we'll get some nice uh flyers going.

I'll be out there um telling people if they want to come physically sign up.

There'll be a form online, and um uh we're ready to start promoting it.

And um it's gonna look impressive.

Yeah, yeah.

It's you know, East Province home to many veterans.

Uh the support of veterans has always been amazing from the administration to the council and um our veterans advisory committee.

They they do a great job just advising, you know, saying, hey, this is what we do.

And we got the elks that sit at our table, they're the ones on the front line grabbing homeless vets, putting them up in transitional housing.

Um we are moving forward.

It's just a matter of finalizing that form, and then we got to put together some promotional um plan of you know, some digital flyers and social media, and then um, you know, just help as many people as possible sign up.

It's going to be let me double check, I believe a hundred dollars per banner.

Um, the form we just need names, data service, branch of service, and your preferred location.

Um, we didn't go with pictures because not everybody would have a high resolution picture.

So you want to keep them looking nice.

So you can't have a grainy photo next to a nice some towns.

I don't see a lot of pictures.

Yeah, no, no.

No, so it'll be like the name, the brand, the emblem of the branch of service, and then um the years served, and um, we'll have the city logo, and um it's gonna be nice.

It's gonna be great.

So it got delayed because of the storm, rightfully so.

Everything was so we're looking to get back on track.

So I just wanted to give that update, and um I'll work with Andre and Andrea to get the final piece done, and then um we'll start coordinating a campaign to advertise it and uh get it rolling.

So that's it.

Thank you all.

Thank you.

Public hearing next item.

Be careful, it's lazy out there.

Okay.

All right.

Public hearings ordinance for second and final passes for discussing and possible vote.

Number one ordinance of the council of the city of East Providence allocating an additional $94,000 to complete the planned paving and related site improvements at John Lewis Park, introduced by Council President Rodericks and Council Vice President Rico.

So this is second passage.

So this is has been discussed.

If anyone is here, I would open it up at this time for discussion.

Just to be clear, this is uh this is actually first and final passage because this was advertised as uh from unallocated unallocated capital fund.

So it is final passage.

Only one passage is needed, so that's how we're doing it.

Okay, I missed it.

It's the same for item two, correct?

Yes, yep.

So it's still it is a public hearing, council comment.

I'm gonna make a motion to approve pending public uh comment.

I'm gonna second it, and it's a nice little jewel.

If you don't obviously it's right next to the yacht club.

So if you it's one of those places where if you don't have a lot of time during the day and you just want to go and have a quick lunch if you're working around here or just or it's just a nice place to go and get away and do some uh self-examination meditation, it's a great location.

With with with it being paved, it would be even better because when it rains down there, it's you know, just dirt right now, but it's a nice, just a great location, easy in, easy out.

And it helps the the waterfront area for some additional parking.

And not only that, I I like to explain big picture stuff like this.

This is a small park, but we're about to have a concert venue.

We're going to have a marine terminal.

There's going to be further development.

There's going to be a mixed use once things start going.

When the bridge gets done, you'll see a lot more.

So this little pocket park is going to be a piece of a beautiful waterfront.

And our new waterfront commissioner there, he can uh get some good things going.

So um so that's a motion and seconded by council vice president Rego.

Anyone here that would like to comment for or against this project.

Ask one more time.

If there's anyone here to speak against or for this allocation, seeing none or close the public hearing.

We've had the motion in the second.

This is first and final passage.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it three zero.

Thank you all.

Next item.

Number two, ordinance of the council of the city of East Providence allocating an additional 486, 710 for the construction of a police substation and recreation storage facility at Pairs Memorial Stadium, introduced by Council President Rodericks and Council Vice President Riga.

So once again, this is a project that had some monies already allocated.

We have some other funds to get this project done.

And it's been discussed for maybe eight to ten years.

I know when I first got involved on the city council, and I walked with the mayor throughout all of Pierce Stadium, which had been getting run down pretty much.

And since then we have enacted, you've heard us talk about it many times.

There are even new things going on with the stadium.

So I won't belabor that point now, but there are also concerns about security.

And at that time, the then police chief and the council, the mayor, we all agreed might be a nice idea to have a police substation in that area, even if um intermittently uh police supervision is in and out of there.

Because there through the years, there have been some issues with some vandalism, and lately it's been pretty good, and we want to keep it that way.

On any given day, as I constantly remind us all, you go to Pierce Stadium, and it is crowded from end to end.

I've been there to see baseball games, softball games going on at the same time, basketball courts with little kids, hundreds of kids participating in the summer now.

The splash pad, the playground system.

Uh for those who say we're not using Pierce Stadium, they don't know where Pierce is.

So this will be a great enhancement.

And having the substation's great because you got so many kids and people there, having the cops interacting.

It just strengthens the community.

We have a police department of a residential community, and the more they interact.

I knew the cops growing up when I was an arm and garrow, PDACle and stuff.

So this is great.

Um the more people interact with stuff, the better.

We can get rid of the stupid defund the police garbage and stuff, and people understand we need to have public safety and having them out with the folks there in the substation.

I think it's awesome.

It also give us some storage um in the facility.

Uh the playground system is headquartered there at Pierce.

And there's some recreational equipment and other things that need to be stored.

And rather than putting them in people's cars and driving them back and forth.

So Becky, our awesome new rec director.

She's getting storage at Pierce.

She's getting a brand new recenter.

Nice.

Yeah.

We get the top show.

But I mean, to Rick's point and with the substation, obviously, for one, it deters, as you said, any vandalism.

But our community, our police department has a very good community police and division already.

The men and women that are involved in that.

And it just like you said, get rid of the defund police mentality.

The men and women of this department and like every department in the state of Rhode Island, they're human bands, and they also they they're they're caring.

That it's not their job for the you know what the men and women in our department and probably for the whole state of Rhode Island.

They don't have the men, they don't have that mentality.

They're there as almost like social workers, and they're human and they want to get involved, and you'll see the police officers get involved you know, be in there, they enjoy watching those baseball games or basketball games or any events going on.

When I have seen a lot of these activities there, uh I've seen uh men and women, the police stop, get out and shoot some baskets or play catch and and do something.

Very similar to, and I should have said this earlier, and and this um is unrelated, but it is related back to the snow plowing.

I was on a street the other day, which and there was a big mound of snow in the corner of someone's yard, and there were little kids sliding down it, which is a lost art.

There was no more sledding to speak of anymore.

And happened to be, as you mentioned, uh the DPW director, Dan Borges, and I think um Mayor and Andrea were uh Andre were also um driving by and as they were leaving, Dan Borg just stop.

He got out and he got on one of the sleds with the kids and he was sliding down the the hill, and the the parents were were just uh beside themselves.

And the kids were like, give me my sled back, you know.

Um but this is the kind of kind of community that we have, and if we can have a police substation at Pierce Stadium, and through the years, maybe we'll have one in say Riverside somewhere, and we used to have one in the square, so um, anyway, it's the public hearing.

Is anyone here?

Uh Mr.

Solicitor, this is a final passage.

It is a public hearing.

Anyone here motion to approve yet?

You just did, and is there a second, second Vice President Rego?

And I would ask if there is anyone here that wants to speak for or against this.

Come to the podium if you have a question about this, about this item, yes.

Just uh name and address for the record.

My name is Carol Brown.

Um, live at 99 Goldsmith Avenue.

Yes, welcome.

In East Providence.

I just have a question about the substation.

Is that going to be there just for a few hours or is it going to be around the clock?

I I don't know the hours of it.

I I would assume it's available to the four hours.

Mayor, can you answer that?

Uh because there are some things that happen there in the middle of the night.

Um, and late at night.

Some kids go there and sure.

It'll be available to the police whenever they want it.

It's their building, but maybe the mayor has them schedule.

Oh, yes, so thank you.

Thank you.

No, uh, first I want to say thank you to the council for supporting this.

This is a great community initiative.

It will create a safer PS stadium complex.

The purpose of creating this uh facility is that it will give police the incentive and also a location for where they can go to put in reports, meet with people in the community, um, use the facility for lunch, use the bathroom facilities if they need to.

Uh when we have big events, we can staff the office with personnel so that people have an area where they can go to if they need to uh get get with police service.

So um at the end of the day, uh it's gonna be a very well used.

It'll be available to the police, like Councilman Lawson mentioned 24-7.

They can stop in.

Will it be manned 24-7?

No, that's not gonna be where they're gonna be posted, but it'll be a location that police will be coming to, stopping in throughout the course of their duty.

Um, if we have special events going there, it'll be a place where they can they can post up.

Uh so that's uh it's it's a really good thing.

But the other what we did was we did when we designed it, we thought about the needs of our recreation department, as we mentioned earlier.

Uh the recreation department runs uh the summer programs out of Pierce.

They don't have stores, they have to lug all the stuff over there.

So the there will be a full basement for storage, and there'll be an upst uh part of the upstairs will be also for storage.

And we're building this on a site that currently was housing a couple of transformers.

So it's on the current site, it's that dilapidated little area that you see when you first come in.

They already got a basement, right?

It's already got a basement.

So you're gonna beautify the area, you're gonna create this beacon of you know, welcome to East Province, East Province Police Department.

So it kind of makes people think twice before they commit a crime thinking, hey, here's a police substation, I'm not gonna do something.

So uh thank you all very much for that support.

And they may be able to leave a police vehicle there from time to time, even if there isn't a person there, a deterrent.

It's gonna be I I can see it getting used quite a bit.

If I'm the post officer who uh patrols that section or patrols down riverside instead of driving all the way to the headquarters, I can pop in there and meet somebody or use the facilities or stop in for lunch.

It'll be used regularly throughout the their ships.

And and Bob, you can speak to this better than me, but it's important to have multiple places.

Sometimes people can't go to a police station for some reasons.

So to have a couple, like a substation, I think.

Then we use Briar House or Suite.

That was IA was over there.

So having a couple places, because some people, for whatever reason, domestic violence, whatever can't want to be seen.

So this is a good positive thing for the city.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So I'll close the public hearing.

We've had the motion by Councilman Lawson, seconded by council vice president Rego.

All in favor.

Hi.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Three to zero.

Thank you all.

Next item.

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

Andre, welcome.

I'll stop calling you on Drea one of these days.

A little bit confusing with both of us having almost the same name in the office, so I forgive you.

Uh good evening, members of the city council.

Just sharing the mayor communications for tonight.

Uh, we have appointment and reappointment requiring council confirmation and the appointment of Errol Danaheed to the juvenile hearing board for a three-year term effective March 3rd, 2026 to March 2nd, 2029.

Motion to approve.

Motion to approve by Councilman Lawson.

Seconded by Council Vice President Rego.

All in favor.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The eyes have three to zero.

Thank you.

Thank you.

And we have an appointment, reappointment not requiring council confirmation.

There are none.

And then I have some items for announcement and discussion.

The mayor gave the update on the blizzard, and I have a proclamation honoring March as Irish American Heritage Month in the city of East Providence.

And uh, if you want me to read that, or we can go.

Yeah, and we want to thank Kathy for putting together the awesome event.

Um, I'm sorry, is that what you're gonna be talking about?

Or is this just a proclamation?

Oh, my bad, my bad.

I jumped a gun.

No, you've never done that before.

Sure, if it's not too lengthy, you want to summarize it.

Uh so yeah, and also um, councilman, you brought up a good point.

Uh, March 17th, 11:30, here in the council chambers, we'll be having our St.

Patrick's Day celebration.

So Irish American Heritage Month, whereas by 1776, approximately 300,000 Irish citizens immigrated to the United States, and whereas the earliest Irish immigrants streamed across the Atlantic Ocean from their troubled homeland to find refuge and a new start.

And whereas upon arriving to the United States, Irish immigrants struggled with discrimination and menial jobs as they work their way up.

And whereas the Irish brought with them the rich legacy of their nation and the determination to advance their lives.

And whereas each year we celebrate Ireland and the Irish people by honoring St.

Patrick, the patron saint and apostle of Ireland.

And whereas the first recorded celebration of Irish Americans dates back to 1762 with the first St.

Patrick's Day parade in New York City, which was comprised of a band of homesick Irish immigrants serving in the military who were stationed in New York.

And whereas in 1990, Congress passed public law 101-418, designated March as Irish American Heritage Month, which now serves as an annual tribute to all Irish Americans with parades and parties across the country.

And whereas we continue to celebrate Irish American Heritage Month in the city of East Providence as a way to celebrate the contributions Irish Americans have made in the city and all communities throughout the United States.

Thank you.

And I would urge all residents, um, especially our Irish American townies to uh stop by City Hall that day, 11 a.m.

Uh the Irish uh Americans in East Providence have had such a rich culture and history going way back, combining with all of the other cultures and ethnicities in this city, making East Providence the great community that it is.

So we look forward to that.

And as Councilman Lawson said, uh the we have a friend in the clerk's office.

Kathy from the clerk's office and we thank her.

Thank you for the invite, Kathy.

I am warming up, like I mentioned in the uh message you sent.

So um, thank you.

Thank you.

And maybe sometime we'll do a St.

Joseph's Day.

Us Italians could use a little love.

You know, Italians, we we have enough going on.

Hey.

I'm only half.

Yes, sir.

Continue.

All right.

So the next item we have is uh proclamation honoring International Women's Day and Women's History Month in the city of East Providence for March.

And I think if people will go on the city website, you can see where um there is information if you're looking for further uh information or nominations for um women of the of the month uh the program is fully listed on the website.

Yes, we're still accepting nominations uh to honor the women that made um tremendous contributions in East Providence.

So please feel free to reach out to the mayor's office if you have a nomination.

Thank you.

I'm gonna nominate Kathy.

And then next we have a proclamation honoring the 205th anniversary of Greek Independence Day in the city of East Providence.

That is what date exactly that is the celebration.

Uh we're gonna be sending out invitations.

No, I'm talking about the Greek the Greek day.

I know St.

Patrick's March 20th.

Are we doing it?

Are we doing anything or we'll have to check if if there's any community events um honoring that, but we always recognize uh oh yeah, I mean, because the again uh great heritage, you know, obviously legendary late great Jim Connellis and a lot, you know, to name a few as far as the city, but just want to recognize uh yeah, yeah, we'll follow through with that even on that day if we do something small here at the council.

Okay.

Next proclamation honoring March as social work month in the city of East Providence.

Thank you.

I think that goes along with it's a national thing also, social workers.

We're we're proud of the work, especially in this day and age with a lot of the depression and things that are going on in the world.

I spent a decade of my life as a therapist with developmentally disabled kids and social workers, what they have to deal with.

And they are the biggest hearted people in the world because that is a tough job.

Tough job.

Oh, God bless them, and thank God that we have them.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Andre.

Next item.

D resolutions for discussion and possible vote.

Number one resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract with Duban Masonry Construction LLC for the construction of a police stubstation and recreation stores facility at Pierce Memorial Stadium, Council President Rodericks and Council Vice President Regal.

Council President Rodericks and Council Vice President Riga.

So this is the resolution for what we have previously discussed.

Motion to accept.

Second.

Motion to accept Council Vice President Rigo.

Seconded by Councilman Lawson.

All in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Three to I'm sorry.

Yes, sir.

I didn't email about the school committee, but I just want to put it out.

There was a snow day, not a distance learning.

And I had a couple of people ask.

I believe there's a request because the state law says was it 180 days?

Right, looking for an acceptance.

Looking for a waiver.

We don't need to extend.

So parents just pay attention to the schools, they'll be announcing that, but it was a true snow day like when we were all five a whole week.

Yeah, so they're gonna have to get a special dispensation.

They may not get all five, but they they may have a couple of them waived.

Right, because I know families try to plan family vacations for the end of school.

So they are working on keeping the end of school date static as is.

So I'm sorry for that.

Oh, that's okay.

It's good information.

Uh next item.

Number two, resolution authorizing the granting of an easement to install an electric distribution system for the new East Providence Community Center.

This comes to us Vice President Regal.

This comes I'm sorry, this comes to Council President Roderick distracted.

Okay.

I know the solicitor and I talked about this as kind of a procedural thing.

So this is because this is an easement over city property.

The council needs to approve it.

This was uh he's been drafted up um through Narragans Electric Company in consult in consultation with our uh our contractors uh on this property.

So um again, it's it's a permanent easement, but because it's a permanent easement on city property.

Which part is it north side going into the shores parking lot or going towards Payette Street?

There's a map on the um oh, I'm sorry.

I'm not very good with directions.

Okay, no, that's fine.

That's fine.

But it's uh it's depicted in the uh the map that's attached to the resolution and to the easement.

Okay, I'll make a motion to approve.

Second motion by councilman Lawson to approve, seconded by council vice president Riga, all in favor.

Aye, any opposed, the eyes have it three zero.

Thank you.

Next item.

E introduction of ordinances for discussion and possible vote.

Number one, an ordinance in amendment of chapter 16 of the revised ordinance of the city of East Providence, Rhode Island, 1998 as amended entitled taxation section one subsection B one of section 16-16 entitled Authority of City Assessor of Article 2 entitled Property Exemption for Veterans and Persons 65 Years of Age and Older is amended to update the following property tax exemptions based on the most recent reevaluations as follows.

Um, I want to thank you guys for letting me.

Unfortunately, we had to cancel the advisory meeting, so we didn't get to do this, but thank you for the tax office for putting this together.

The administration um, you know, the reason we do stuff like this for veterans is like I mentioned that we lost six in the Iran conflict already.

So little things like this, it's you know, you don't get paid a lot when you're in the military, and you can be put in harm's way.

So little things like this is just the way society and Americans show some thanks.

And um, so I'm gonna make a motion that we pass this, and I I thank the tax office for putting this together too.

Second motion by councilman lawson to approve, seconded by council vice president Rigo.

All in favor.

Aye aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have that three to zero.

Motion to adjourn.

Second, motion to adjourn the meeting, council vice president Rigo, seconded by councilman Lawson.

All in favor.

Aye, no.