Yeah, I have yeah, because of the patel uh you couldn't get through a meeting meeting.

I'll call the meeting to order of the East Providence City Council May nineteenth, two thousand and twenty-six.

Councilman Fogerty.

Councilman Lawson.

Council Vice President Riga?

Yeah.

Councilwoman Susa.

Here.

Council President Roderics.

Councilman Fogerty is on his way and we'll we'll be here.

Claims in litigation.

Yes, under Rhode Island General Laws forty two dash forty six dash five A two.

I move to go into executive session.

Second by Councilwoman Susan.

Good afternoon again.

Is there a motion to seal a minute to executive session and return to public session?

Motion by Councilman.

Seconded by Councilman Fogerty.

All in favor.

Aye.

Next item.

Item licenses.

There's a motion to bundle non-public hearing licenses.

So before we do that, can Andre, we've gotten some calls.

Um people upset they were blocked in their homes this past weekend.

Um apparently the road race went through the terrace.

Are we fully vetting these routes for public safety?

And if we're blocking off neighborhoods, like Leah lives on the gully, that was blocked off.

Uh, is anybody notifying these people in these neighborhoods that there's an event, even if it's like a half hour 45 minutes?

The gentleman that reached out, he was trying to get his kid to a medical appointment and couldn't get out of his driveway for 45 minutes.

So I only bring that up because there's what three or four road raises here.

So I just want to show we're vetting them properly.

Councilman, thank you for bringing this to our attention.

We did uh get complaints and calls to the city on the road races and the and the planning and review.

We're in the process of reviewing our safety protocols and uh have discussed this uh internally with the teams, so we're aware of it and um we're gonna make sure those issues don't come around.

We absolutely love all the things happening EP.

We just want to make sure that the folks on unduly uh I don't want to say harassed by it.

If you can't get out of your driveway, that's kind of a problem.

So thank you.

Obviously, just as councilman lawson was talking, uh I agree.

Bringing in the people to the city is a great thing.

Question, Andre.

Um, does the two chiefs of fire and police either themselves or do they have a representative there that sign off on this route?

Or will they in the future sign off?

So God forbid there's a real emergency situation, and from what we've been told, sometimes they just you know, you can't cross the street, they put Porter John's and everything else there.

How how are we gonna get the apparatus down there?

God forbid there's a fire.

Yeah, Vice President.

We we discussed uh the internal plans for these races.

Um, but I'm not prepared to speak to this matter right now, it's not on the agenda.

But um we are reviewing our protocols to make sure that incidents don't happen again.

Thank you.

And we want them here because they end up spending money, Andre.

Thank you.

Um, so can once the uh internal plans have been finalized, can that be shared with the council, please, so that we're aware of what that is.

I don't see why not.

We should be able to provide an update on that.

Thank you so much.

I appreciate that.

Thank you all.

Do you want to bundle and unless you need Leah to read off every one?

I'll make a motion to bundle.

Nope, I'm want to take the motion, I'll make a second.

Yeah, I don't see the the need to um read the basically on the public docket, it's been advertised and the basic every yearly some of these road races.

I think the suggestions uh duly noted about tightening up the planning.

I got the same email that you got, councilman, and I I know that the administration had sent out a notice to the parties to tighten things up and work on that.

And I agree with everything that was said.

So I yeah, motion by councilman Lawson is to bundle a license, sir.

And yes, that's the show cause hearing.

Okay.

And I just want to point out Joe's Clamshack down at Crescent Park is on this, getting their victory license.

So that was a motion by councilman Lawson to bundle all of the.

Second the motion to bundle C one through C12.

Seconded by Councilwoman Susa.

All in favor of the bundling.

Aye.

Any opposed, the ayes have it.

Is there a motion to approve C one through C12?

Councilwoman SUSE.

I'm sorry, you made the motion to approve.

Second.

Second, councilman Lawson and all in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed, the ayes have it.

Thank you, Councilwoman.

Everyone.

Next item.

Next item is a another business.

Uh council vice president Rego does have to recuse himself.

So it's it separately.

And that's going to be a new business for victualing and Sunday and holiday sales.

And the applicant is Vishall Patel and it's Pollo Comparo.

And they are on 50 Narrogance at Park Drive and East Providence.

Just for the record, obviously, I I can spell out Rhode Island General Law 36-14-6.

Uh they are not here for an alcohol, uh, you know, they're not here for an alcohol license, but uh Mr.

Patel and myself have a business relationship in the alcohol business.

So, with advice from uh fine city solicitor, he told me I needed to reuse myself at this time.

Thank you.

So noted.

As the council vice president recuses himself, is there a motion?

I'll make a motion to approve.

Second.

Motion by councilman Lawson, seconded by councilwoman Sousa for approval.

All in favor.

I vote.

Any opposed.

Yeah, I have it.

Ford zero.

There is an item down for, as you mentioned, Councilman Show cause.

Do we want to move that now?

And um that is on page uh seven of the agenda.

And Madam Clerk, if you could read under continued business.

Yes, sir.

That item.

There's a show cause hearing.

The following business is subject to a hearing for them for the alleged failure to obtain the appropriate license as indicated.

The business license is for subway at 1086 Willard Avenue in Riverside Rhode Island, and they were for a victualing license.

So just to be clear, Council President, we already had the show cause hearing.

This is really a status update, as you know, the council at the last meeting gave them uh uh opportunity to another additional two weeks to come in and get all their licenses and all that all their um requirements.

I'm told today that uh the owner has complied with everything that he needed to comply with, and the license has been issued.

So the text, I think there's three grand left.

Yes, yes.

Everything's go to clerk's office, everything's square.

Yes, we are square in there also with the case.

I'll make a motion to approve if everything is square.

Second motion, Councilman Lawson to approve, seconded by old councilman Fogney, council vice president we go.

No further discussion.

All in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The eyes have it.

Is number two related?

Uh yeah, it's a new they needed a new license.

Yeah, that's it was a changeover.

That's what we just granted, so yes.

Yeah.

But we don't does not require.

Is the owner present?

Um, yes.

Did you need to make any comment?

Everything's square on your side.

It appears that it's square on our side in the future.

Can you comply a little quicker?

Okay.

Thank you, and good luck.

You're all set.

Uh we'll revert back to the uh order of the agenda.

Yes, sir.

There's no public hearings, there are no communications.

We do have one signed up for public comment.

Candy Seal from 125 South Rose, and the docket item would be Metacomet.

You're gonna be long tonight.

You can bring the water.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Council Vice President Rigo.

I timed this out.

It should be three and a half minutes.

Thank you.

Welcome.

Thank you.

Council President and members of the council, a public meeting was held in these chambers last week to inform and engage with members of the community.

The subject of the meeting was the developer's soil remediation plan to remedy the hazardous materials unearthed on the Metacomet site over a year ago.

This public meeting was required by Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management's regulations that require a meeting to be held when certain conditions are met.

These conditions were met first thanks to KMG's outreach efforts to the public, and second, thanks to the leadership of Ward 2 Councilwoman Anna Sousa and reaching out to Ridem to schedule a meeting and placing the subject on the council's April 21st docket.

The meeting itself was informative with lively at times contentious give and take between Ridham and Sage Environmental Presenters and members of the public, including representatives of the Narragansett Indian Tribe Historic Preservation Office.

Councilwoman Sousa was present via Zoom, citing an unavoidable conflict in her schedule that did not permit her to attend in person.

Council President Rodrix was also unable to attend and reached out to KMG a week in advance to express his regret.

But surprisingly and sadly, the meeting was not video recorded.

Surprisingly, because the whole purpose of holding the meeting in council chambers to our understanding was not only to accommodate a large group of the public in person, but to make it available through live streaming and later viewing on YouTube.

Sadly, because other members of the public, including council members, have been denied the opportunity to watch the meeting at their convenience.

I represent myself as a resident and keep Medicomic Green.

I live on South Rose Street and East Providence.

Getting back to my comments.

The only recording of the meeting is the notes of the court reporter who diligently tried to capture the words of speakers who were sometimes speaking over one another or whose words were unintelligible due to a faulty microphone at the public's podium.

After a bit of back and forth with KMT, the developer committed to having the transcript available to the public in three weeks from the date of the meeting on May 12th, namely June 2nd.

Unfortunately, the deadline for public comments after the meeting is 14 days May 26th.

This is this is certainly inadequate time for the public who did not attend the meeting in person to respond knowledgeably.

I am here to ask all of you and Councilman Suza in particular to request of item that the deadline for public comments after the meeting be extended to 14 days after the transcript is made available to the public.

KMG is making this request as well.

But a request coming from the council will be more effective.

On another note, the revised code of ordinances under zoning still indicates that a hotel is a permitted use in the Medicomet subject or district of the waterfront district.

It is not.

An argument could be made that a hotel is a prohibited use under the conditions set by the council in 2021 for rezoning the site from open space to a subdistrict of the waterfront district.

A counter argument could be made that the conditions were specific to the developer's plan, and that a hypothetical new owner could look to the code of ordinances and rightly say that a hotel is permitted.

It has been five years.

And in conclusion, I will email a copy of remarks, my remarks to the clerk for the record.

Thank you.

Thank you.

You actually were a minute under three and a half minutes.

So you can stay there.

But seriously, I do appreciate that you reached out in uh regarding the language of the hotel.

And you had reached out before, and we had um changed some of the paperwork hadn't been done and it did get changed, but evidently it um we got a vendor that controls part of the website didn't make the change, the paperwork change.

Um, and Andre may be able to or the solicitor may add to that.

But the bottom line remains that you are correct, and we all agree that the language does not allow a hotel and will not um uh allow a hotel, but uh the appearance of it in writing certainly could be confusing to people.

So I understand it's in the process, if not that one last piece, the other language was fixed already.

This one piece is either remaining or has been fixed.

I don't know if the solicitor can add to that.

So I just want to very very clear.

The hotel was removed from the use table, um, but it wasn't removed from the um description of the waterfront district or the metacomet district as it's called as a potential use.

That is obviously a typographical or scrivetous error.

They removed it for one, the use table is the table that uh uh controls what's in in that zone.

Um, and it is is is basically we we missed it.

There's no question about it, we missed it.

In fact, um I will tell you today that my staff was instructed um to uh draft an ordinance that would show that it'd be stricken in order to save time.

I've asked we'll we'll draft it.

We're gonna give it to the planning board so it comes to them for from them to us.

Uh and that will if it came to us first, we'd have to refer it to the planning board.

So this was just a way of expediting it.

It is a simple strikeout.

We intend to strike out, we intend to make the change.

There's been no development of the site, no talk about a hotel.

It is an error, no question.

We take full responsibility for it, but there's no attempt to circumvent the wish of the previous council who struck the hotel from the um that use table.

And again, use table when there's a discrepancy from the use table and a description, the use table as a matter of law is what governs.

So there should be no fear that a hotel can be put there.

Okay, thank you.

Do you want to add to that um seal before I just wanted to say thank you, Mr.

Solicitor?

And if if you don't need me any longer, I will go sit down.

Please, thank you.

Yes, Council Vice President.

I agree with uh Mrs.

Seal, I'd like to have the period extended from the time that the uh DEM releases the transcript.

I'd like that to be the clock to start the 14 days as soon as that becomes public.

In regards to the meeting, again, uh that was up to you know, that's up to DEM.

I mean as far as providing all the, you know, what you needed as far as being live streamed.

I was at an event representing the council president and the council that I couldn't get here.

And uh I was hoping to go home and see it, and I couldn't see it.

So, and then having done research, the solicitor said it's you know, you know, it was up to DEM to provide that live stream.

So uh I'm I'm I guess I'm kicking the can, but I just want to it I want to be in defense of my fellow council people on that.

But I moved the 14 days.

Thank you, council vice president.

And would that be another meeting?

Like the one that was had?

No, it was just I was gonna say, if there was, we could have requested it be recorded.

So okay, so just to um because I was um virtual, um the virtual virtually there was the capacity to record, and that was requested by our uh city clerk, and she was under the impression that it was being recorded on her device.

Um, unfortunately, the next morning when she went to retrieve it, she couldn't locate it.

Um she asked for assistance from our IT director, and they couldn't locate it on her device either.

So something happened, you know, with the program that unfortunately it didn't capture um the event.

So uh there was that intent to correct to video it, but uh absolutely uh a gremlin got into the technical system somehow and it uh didn't get it, may still be there.

Maybe they might find it.

I don't I don't know, but I I agree we can um extend the period of public comment.

We can we can we can request it, yeah.

So if we could through legal um draft a request um to have that 14 days extended from the date the transcript is provided to all interested all parties.

Sure.

If if you want to draft a a letter like that, Mike, I'll I'll sign it as council president and we can send it off to them.

No guarantee that they'll agree, but we can I kind of think they would.

Um when you got people walking around with hazmat suits, it's gonna make people nervous.

So the more open and transparent we can be, I am fully in support of whatever we can do as a council.

Yeah.

Any other comments on on that?

Uh Cecile, any closing comments?

You okay going forward?

Uh nothing nothing to add.

Okay.

Um, all right.

Next item, please.

Next item, there are no appointments tonight.

We have council members.

First item, crosswalk to be added between 1160 Pa Tucket Avenue and 225 Newman Avenue.

Council Vice President Rigo.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Umre, I'm gonna need your help on this to go to the state uh DOT as both these roads cross uh state roads.

Uh it's with all the we we put stuff.

We put the new stop sign down there, and I thank my fellow council people on David Street, but people continue to use this, you know, the side road there on uh Ferris to cut up to to avoid the excuse me to avoid the light at St.

Margaret's and uh it's just a hazard with the professional buildings right there in the corner.

People are coming in and out.

That building now has been fully remodeled, uh, it's fully occupied.

Uh so there's all the tenants there, uh, you know, they doctors, you know, chiropractors, you know, all different business there, accountants and people are in and out, and I don't want to see uh situation of somebody getting uh hit by a motor vehicle.

So we definitely need some help with uh DOT on that matter.

Thank you.

Thank you, Council Vice President.

Next item.

Next item, request to name the island on Pawtucket Avenue in Center Avenue after James B.

Lappin, former superintendent of parks from 1960 through 1990.

Council Vice President Rego.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Uh some of you might remember, well, I call him Mr.

Lapping because I grew up with the family, but Jim Lappin was uh long time's uh park director when Cox was separated from DPW.

Every everybody had water, everything was separated, none under DPW.

Uh he I guess I want to use the word uh he definitely moved the city forward as far as you know getting the parks up to a standard, and they were they were at their best.

And if you look at it, then there was that decline.

And when did that decline happen?

Was after Jim Lappin, I think you would agree.

It's after Jim Lappin left, other than Pierce Field being done by you know being maintained by Joe Medeiros.

A lot of the fields was were then became aging, and it wasn't until the last city council and the city council and administration at the parks in the city is something to be proud of again.

So out of a little remembrance, this is the uh this is the little park where there's the Christmas tree on the corner, right across the street from Agawan Field, and you know, Harry Mutter, uh Harry Mutter Park that we would dedicate that island in memory of Jim Lappin for his 30 years of service to the city of East Providence.

Yeah, well, well said uh council vice president.

Uh yeah, resolution.

Well, we we gotta request the right.

We gotta go request it.

Yep.

Absolutely.

Yeah, Jim Jim Lappin.

Uh, I remember him warmly, um, did all of those things that you said, and uh it's one of the few uh icons of East Providence's past that um deserves some recognition.

So uh we can move forward.

Uh do we need a motion to request?

No, we're just you'll take care of that.

Okay, thank you.

We just might have to make Dan to make the sign or Andre to have a sign.

So I I'd like to have a little ceremony there, you know.

Sure.

I know his family is still in the area and we've been talking.

They would appreciate this.

Very good.

Well said.

Next item.

Next item discussion on Riverside Cell Tower issue.

Council President Rodricks.

So just want to keep this in the news.

Uh Councilman Lawson and myself have talked about this often.

Uh recently talked to the mayor this this week, uh, and the end of last week.

I spent some time at Riverside Middle School last week, and uh all of Riverside or a big portion of Riverside neighborhood is having cell phones issue.

Madam Clerk, probably your neighborhood where you are.

I don't know if you can add uh Yes.

Um Crescent View Avenue, when you uh near Crescent View Manor is very poor cell phone.

It's a dead zone kind of very difficult.

Actually, my neighborhood in general, it's very difficult with Verizon and Cox.

Um the the service is just very shoddy and and they do their best, but it's just it's difficult.

And as the principal of Riverside Middle School mentioned to me last week, he said we're we're in fear that potentially we may not even be able to make a 911 call.

Uh I when I'm there, certain calls that have to be made to parents, uh staff have to go outside and walk around and try to find a spot.

So this is not an issue that the city is at fault at.

I'm not complaining about anyone in the city.

The these uh towers run by private companies, whether it's Verizon or ATT or Sprint or they all kind of work together now.

And we know the history.

They've been trying to put one up in the Grassy Plains park area.

And due to some deeding issues with a little bit of a wetland, you know, it doesn't make sense to me that they won't allow a tower to go up there.

I've suggested the roof of Riverside Middle School, the landfill area, but the cell phone company say these are not optimum areas.

So there is a plan in place that I might add, but go ahead.

April 23rd, there was a walk with Joel.

I requested some info of how it went.

Haven't heard anything back.

Um so supposedly they went and they viewed a few sites in the area about the possibility um of adding.

But the fire department, their radios, they have issues over there.

Um people in Quest and Park Manor.

Can't call 911 if you're gonna sell service.

It is it's a high priority issue.

And I I get it's not the cities, but it's our job to advocate for it.

Right.

And we gotta keep pushing.

We we can't just let things like this sit because it could be a public safety issue.

Yeah, and then that's what we're doing.

We're pushing and behind the scenes, you know, the not behind the scenes, but uh administration has been working on this.

We don't always get you know the the full communication because it's not our job, you know.

They haven't heard anything from any of them.

But I don't know if the solicitor or if Andre wants to add to um So I'm I um Joel is really the person who handled this, so I'm copied on a couple of emails.

I know there was a site visit.

There is an issue about um where they can go because of uh conservation easement on that in the park area grassy plains, and we were hoping maybe to uh trade off another parcel for another parcel that's looking into, which would require, believe it or not, um approval by the Department of US Department of Interior, which is we don't expect that to happen anytime soon.

So we are looking into it.

They are aware of the issue.

Obviously, they want to satisfy when I say they the cell phone companies want to satisfy their customers.

We have been doing this.

We've been going on for about uh more than a year.

If you remember, we the council did approve the site um about a year ago, but after more work and due diligence by the uh self tower company, they found out that we couldn't put it in that area because of the conservation easement uh that was restricted when that park was purchased.

So we appeal that no because it's it's it's part of the deed.

That's when we bought the property again.

We wouldn't update a deed, huh?

We can't update it with their approval with the department of interior approval, but that's not gonna take that's not gonna happen overnight.

That's that was federal money that bought that park.

Government council vice president.

I have a question either.

You might can answer uh Andre can answer.

Are we just dealing with is it we just dealing with one cell phone carrot uh tower company because there's multiple out there?

I mean, because it's a quick solution if it can't be there, is what the is a real because this happens out, you know, having spent many uh hours out in wine country and it's a relay system.

I don't know if you I mean you're in the middle of Napa and Sonoma, you're in the middle of nowhere, and you get it like this relay system.

So I'm thinking that this is if one of these companies can come up with this relay system, you know, so where our clerk lives down there or you know, down there, you know, rivers like you said, the manor, that there is a way to get that happening that you have a smaller relay system because if they can do it out in Napa Valley, which is in the middle of nowhere, they can do it.

Probably don't have wetlands out there.

Oh no, but I'm just saying the relay.

Yeah, yeah.

I can't get into the ball.

I don't I'm not an engineer.

I don't know.

I know that they listen, I don't I don't I don't even know if it's a one I don't I don't know if it's a cell phone tower.

Um, people who build the cell phone tires and then rent space because that's usually what happens.

There's more it's not it's not it's not like ATT as far as I know.

Exactly.

They're they all work together.

The one at Pierce Stadium, there are three or four companies.

Yeah, they rent they rent it out from the tower company.

But I think they've tried everything in the locations that we've suggested just aren't in in the best place.

Otherwise, you know, we can put it on the roof of the school.

We can put it in a landfill.

They need to be, you know, the relay system.

Yeah, that's what I mean.

Yeah.

And part of the deal was they were gonna redo the driveway and parking lot at grassy plains.

Right.

So hopefully the new location that part doesn't go away.

Yep.

Yeah.

Which um that area is looking so good right now.

But uh rest assured, um, we I say we the council, mayor's office, listed uh, you know, we've asked them to fast forward this and let's let's get this done.

Okay, no other questions on that.

Uh next item.

Next item, public hearings ordinance for second and or final passage for discussing a discussion and possible vote.

An ordinance and amendment of chapter 10 of the revised ordinances of the city of East Providence, Rhode Island 1998 as amended, entitled Nuisances, amending section 10-51, changing start time for construction or repair of buildings from 7 a.m.

to 6 30 a.m.

Councilman Fogarty.

Make a motion of approval.

Second pending public so it is still public hearing, so we'll we do have the motion to approve by councilman Fogerty was the second councilman Lawson.

It is something we discussed the last couple of meetings.

So other council comments before I open it up to any public comment.

Yes, solicited.

I think at the last uh first passage there was uh issues whether what does this apply to?

And there is we have different start times for different activities and the ordinance.

This would only apply to construction or repair of buildings.

So 630 to 63 would be the new start time from uh seven.

But we were talking about, remember someone asked about whether it was lawnmowers and stuff.

Yeah, controlling construction.

Yeah, good good clarification.

It's uh construction of buildings.

Who asked me to do it?

So we honored what they requested, and I'm fine with that.

So lawn mowers, landscapers, 7 a.m.

I don't want to quote the time, but they have different time.

The ordinance is written, has different time slots for different uh okay.

Yep.

Thank you.

I was cutting grass this morning at 8 01.

I didn't want to disturb uh the neighborhood.

Mr.

Fogarty's in my neighborhood.

What a great neighborhood.

Yeah.

So I'll open it up to any public discussions.

Anyone here that would like to speak on this?

Andre, you're the only person here.

Do you do you want to speak about that?

You want to cut my grass tomorrow morning early?

Sure, he's in favor.

I'll move on.

I'll close motion by Council Vice President Riga.

We will close the public hearing.

And all in favor of the motion.

Aye.

Any opposed, the ayes have it.

Next item, please.

Next item is under new business resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract with Beta Group Inc.

for planning and engineering services associated with the safe streets and roads for all supplemental action plan for the six corners area.

Previous previous council action from May 5th of 2026.

Councilman Fogerty.

So let me just add before you start, Councilman Fogarty.

We've we've had some, you know, further involvement with council members and some information.

And I I think like we we've always said, sometimes we relook at things or uh um add some new information or comments.

So uh this point I would give you the floor, Councilman Fogerty.

Oh, that's true.

And I'm I apologize for being late last meeting and I didn't have full knowledge, you know, and after coming in for a couple hours with planning in the mayor's office and speaking with councilwoman Susa, which I would defer to her.

My comment is just I approve the process going forward.

So that's my comment.

And I I'd like to hear from Councilmanwoman Susa, that's her area award two.

So thank you.

Councilwoman, you have the floor.

Thank you.

So um I'll start off by making the motion to reconsider the resolution.

Um that being said, this project or this general area has been a topic of conversation since 2017 at this diocese um and with the administration over the course of um his tenure.

So fixing or um reconfiguring that area is a high priority and it always has been um for better business um vitality because it is a one-way um in both directions, better travel for all vehicles and pedestrians, and now of course the cycling component that we have um that we're trying to promote in or make safer in the city.

Um lack of communication is always the breakdown of everything.

So having had a discussion about it and understanding and come combined the thoughts and working together, I do agree that this is something that we should and is in line with what has been working towards um since 2017.

So I'm very happy to uh bring this forward and reconsider.

And I would just say um that keeping good lines of communication at all times is going to always be the success of the council and the administration with the council to move the city forward.

Thank you.

So that is a motion, a second by councilman Fogerty.

All in favor, aye.

Aye, any opposed.

The eyes have it.

So now I make a motion to approve the um resolution to enter into the contract with beta group as um posted on the docket.

Motion by councilwoman sousa, seconded by councilman Fogerty to approve the contract with the beta group.

All in favor?

Aye, aye, any opposed?

Nay.

So the vote.

And my reasoning is please we pay tax dollars, we got a department of transportation.

What the hell are we paying them for?

This is the kind of stuff that they should be doing.

So that's right.

I absolutely agree.

But the state of Rhode Island, that there's something's gonna change.

If we're constantly throwing money at these uh consultants and stuff, why do we have these people on staff as employees?

So that's my reasoning why.

Okay, no, and we support.

Yeah, but I I can't vote for any more con um consultants.

So that's a fair council president.

Thank you.

Yes, please.

And that's a fair, and that's how I felt um last week until I read the RFQ and spoke with you know the parties involved.

So they are using the information from um and the work that um Radar has been doing, and so it's really a bigger collaboration.

Unfortunately, Rod I can't do everything statewide um that it needs to do, and so it's just a team effort, and that's the only reason that I'm moving forward with it, also and feel confident with it.

But I do have the same sentiment for a lot of the projects that we've had in the past, and it'll be a case by case um moving forward with any other consultants that come in through the city.

So uh it does bear just a response um from me.

The only thing I can say is I understand this.

Most of these dollars are uh grant funded, if not all.

Um and it's not uh coming from a a direct budget item.

Now, sure, everything we do in this country is uh is from our pockets.

We know that.

But we have a budget, and this is not in our budget.

And when you have an area as complicated as the six corners, so for people who are new to East Providence, if you drive over to the six corners, I mean, it's the area where the younger crowd will remember back in the day.

It was Bovey's Tavern.

That's six corners.

And there were clothing stores and a couple other things, and it's a vital area in the state.

I think mangled it all up when they decided to reroute streets and all.

Our pox department and DPW, you know, does not have the expertise and time, I think, to do the engineering necessary to fix six corners.

I don't know that beta group will have anything overnight for us, but sometimes you have to go to the experts, and if it's grant funded, which this is mostly if not all, um it's for for me.

Our guys, this time of year, we're hounding them to get uh bathrooms and ballpox done.

We're hounding them to get playgrounds done, potholes, streets, uh redesigning six corners is going to take some engineering and hope and luckily this is being provided for by some some grant funding.

But all sides are well well taken.

I uh uh support us doing things locally when we can.

Anyway, that has passed.

Um next item.

Next item, mayor communications, director of policy and constituent services, Andre Herrera.

Welcome, sir.

Good evening, members of the city council.

The appointment and reappointment requiring council confirmation.

We have the reappointment of John Pachico to the Board of Assessment Review for a six-year term, effective December 3rd, 2025 through December 2nd, 2031.

And secondly, we have the reappointment and appointment not requiring council confirmation.

We have none.

And uh have some items for announcement.

The administration is pleased to announce that the signing of executive order 2026 001, establishing the mayor's bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee.

The committee will consist of seven East Providence residents who reflect the diversity in neighborhoods of our city and will advise the mayor on ways to improve bicycle and pedestrian safety and mobility.

Applications for membership will go live on the city website tomorrow for residents who wish to apply.

And next we have the proclamation honoring battalion chief Douglas Drainville upon his retirement after 27 years of dedicated service to the East Providence Fire Department.

I just want to comment on that.

Obviously, I grew up with Doug.

Doug came up through the ranks of this uh fire department.

Uh worked everything from ladder engine rescue, promoted to lieutenant after many years of uh in the past worlds getting overlooked where he should have gotten a stripe, but uh then he uh that was in the in the other form of government.

Uh and uh his work was done, he got promoted to captain uh in I think around 2020, somewhere around there, and then uh was in charge of training for a while, you know, training the last couple of academies, and got promoted to uh battalion chief, and good luck to Doug and his retirement.

Thank you.

Yep, I'm sure we all add to that.

Councilwoman Susa.

Uh no, I just wanted to make the motion for the reappointment of John Chica.

Number one number one.

Okay, so that is a motion to approve.

Is there a second?

Second, councilman Lawson.

All in favor.

Uh aye, any opposed.

The eyes have it.

Good luck to Mr.

Pachico.

And next item.

Next item.

We do not have any reports from other city officials.

Oh, do you?

Oh, yes.

Uh from the executive session, uh, please.

Thank you.

Uh of Taylor Arruda was approved in the amount of 1400.

The claim of Carolyn Burgess was approved in the amount of 300.

The claim of Maria Fazzioli was approved in the amount of $2,350.

The claim of Daniel Golitz, sorry, was approved the amount of $729 and $700, excuse me.

$729.90.

The claim of Denise Lima was approved in the amount of $300.

The claim of Darren J.

session that was held uh at the start of this meeting the claim of miss uh of taylor arruda was approved in the amount of 1400 the claim of carolin burgess was approved in the amount of 300 the claim of maria fasioli was approved in the amount of 2350 dollars the claim of daniel goitz sorry was approved the amount of 729 and 7 excuse me 729 dollars and ninety cents the claim of denise lima was approved in the amount of 300 the claim of darren j lopes was approved in the amount of 300 the claim of kevin and machado was approved in the amount of 300 the claim of frederick mason the third was approved for 33457 the claim of matthew morrera was approved the amount of 253 dollars and forty four cents the claim of uh nicole patterson was approved the amount of 945 dollars and fifty six cents the claim of uh anna penta was approved in the amount of three hundred dollars and the claim of uh Kenneth Reynolds was approved the amount of 750 dollars that concludes my report thank you and and for those listening if it sounds like a voluminous report and generally those were going back to the big snowstorm is that correct damage that was related to the snowstorm and potholes and other property there were a couple other issues there thank you for that report and next item next item report of school committee liaison councilman lawson June 5th at 6 p.m Pierce field the high school graduation will be taking place uh new members of the East Bowls High School alumni family will be joining us um I want to say congratulations to them all uh are we meeting the second I'm sorry I didn't see the schedule we meet uh okay so I'm a little early but just ahead of time if folks want to come out and celebrate the new graduates um june 5th PS stadium 6 p.m thank you and uh as as we speak we we'll we'll know maybe in a week or two we'll have a new superintendent of schools in the city as Dr.

Faran has uh re retired and is moving on so we wish her well and we'll look forward to welcoming our new educational leader next item please next item resolutions first resolution is the resolution in support of House Bill H eight one five one relating to the Blue Wave Bond for Coastal Preparedness Act introduced by Council Vice President Rego Council Vice President and just for the note um I think we're reinforcing this because this is something we've previously supported um but we've been requested to keep it in the news so you have a uh get this thing uh redone thank you mr pres madam clerk and mr president uh this is the reaffirm and what we're gonna what we're gonna switch we're gonna reaffirm is the Senate portion the Senate bill which is the like the house version that we passed already it's Senate Bill S3181 the blue wave bond for coastal preparedness uh it's got the same language in there obviously uh we we're we're a bay community seacon river narragant bay savings point uh you know it it's it's that's from Phyllis Rumford wow chemokit Ken Heights Riverside we all represent all parts of the of the you know waterways of the city uh this is again got you know for some storm surges uh flooding public safety transportation and most importantly the infrastructure which we you know which this council has been uh an advocate for in our term here uh so again um it's this it's the identical bill uh and it's again it's senate uh bill s 3181 i uh move passage the um council president vice president as as submitted this is the house but so can we amend the resolution to include the senate bill that you just stated so it's gonna be h 8151 and amend it to include s 3181 as well correct that's a motion to amend the resolution motion to amend the resolution to reflect the Senate bill motion made in second to amend the resolution all in favor aye aye any opposed the ayes have it motion councilwoman sousa I make a motion to approve the resolution as amended second seconded by councilman lawson council vice president regal the motion was from councilwoman sousa all in favor aye any opposed the ayes have it is there a motion to adjourn so moved second motion but to adjourn