East Providence City Council Meeting - July 7, 2026
East Providence City Council Meeting - July 7, 2026
This regular meeting of the East Providence City Council covered a range of topics including sewer abatements, proclamations, a public hearing and final passage of an ordinance appropriating $340,035 for softball field improvements, approvals of licenses, communications from the SBA, and various council member items regarding infrastructure, public safety, and community events. The meeting concluded with several resolutions and adjournment.
Consent Calendar
- Sewer Charge Abatement: Approved $378.58 abatement for a water break related to a bathroom pipe, recommended by the Department of Public Works. Motion by Councilman Bogarty, seconded by Councilman Lawson. Unanimous.
- Consent Calendar Items: Council journals (June 16, 2026), new addresses (156 Amarillo St, 9 Regent Drive), cancellations and abatements ($6,647.24). Motion by Councilwoman Sousa, seconded by Councilman Fogerty. Unanimous.
- Licenses: Bundled items 1-10 (entertainment, alcohol, new business licenses for East Providence Fuel, etc.) approved with a motion by Councilman Lawson and second by Councilwoman Sousa. Unanimous.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Softball Field Improvements (Public Hearing): Multiple speakers expressed support for lighting and improvements at Amaral Field.
- Richard Hogan (President of East Providence Central Little League) detailed the league's growth (200-250 players, 80 volunteers), the lack of lights causing scheduling difficulties, and the need for equity with baseball fields. He noted that the junior/senior division girls will represent Rhode Island in Pennsylvania.
- Christina O'Reilly (coach and parent) explained that without lights, older girls (13-15) cannot practice after school, limiting seasons. She cited a Women's Sports Foundation study that girls drop out at twice the rate of boys by age 14.
- Jonathan McGowan (Vice President of East Providence Central Little League) highlighted the growth from 76 players to nearly 100 in one year and urged support.
- A resident (parent of six, five girls) spoke in favor, showing the growth in divisions (coach pitch, minors, majors, juniors/seniors) and the team's success in all-stars.
- Additional Hours for Fuel Sales (Public Hearing): No public speakers for or against. The applicant (Nicholas Lambrose, attorney) explained the need for 24-hour fuel sales at the new East Providence Fuels (formerly Exxon). The council clarified that during 1 a.m. to 6 a.m., only fuel sales would occur, not repairs. Approved with that condition.
Discussion Items
- Council President Rodrigues - World Cup Recognition: Rodrigues thanked the Scottish "Tartan Army" for their positive impact, including a $10,000 donation to Hasbro Children's Hospital and general goodwill. He wore a kilt in tribute.
- Councilman Lawson - Budget Requests: Proposed adding a DPW rodent/pest control specialist (like Cranston and Warwick), improvements to Oldham (city-owned building), and reviewing school department head teaching loads. The administration acknowledged and will consider.
- Councilman Lawson - Parking for Crescent Park Events: With construction reducing parking, he suggested shuttles from off-site lots, local traffic restrictions, and using private lots. Councilwoman Sousa noted that a shuttle was used for the recent block party and should be replicated. The administration will coordinate.
- Councilman Lawson - Willet Avenue Traffic Redesign: He criticized the road diet and yield sign configuration, stating residents feel ignored. Administration explained the redesign was based on resident feedback and engineering standards to reduce speeding, with no major accidents reported. Lawson disagreed, calling the road diet unsafe.
- Councilwoman Sousa - Veterans Hero Banners: Out of 108 orders, 86 paid; banners have been ordered and will be installed by August on Roger Williams Ave, Bullocks Point Ave, and Pawtucket Ave (pending confirmation). A digital payment option will be implemented for future orders.
- Councilwoman Sousa - Pedestrian Crosswalks on Warren Avenue: Asked for timeline on crosswalk signals at Lions Ave and 7th St. Administration will check with DPW director Dan. Sousa stressed safety issues for children crossing to bus stops.
- Councilwoman Sousa - Speed Monitoring on Burgess Avenue: Requested traffic study and calming measures. Council Vice President Rigo recommended contacting police chief for a traffic study first. Administration will request study from chief.
- Councilwoman Sousa - Street Light Adjustment: Requested brighter lighting in dark neighborhoods, especially near parks. Administration noted balance between safety, energy cost, and bulb life, and will review specific locations.
- Councilwoman Sousa - Trash Receptacles at Parks and Bus Stops: Requested more trash cans at parks (e.g., Martello Park) and bus stops. Administration stated RIPTA is responsible for bus stops, but will coordinate; they noted a carry-in/carry-out policy and capacity limits for 44 parks.
- Council Vice President Rigo - ADU Tax Stabilization: Second passage of ordinance amending tax stabilization for qualified businesses to include accessory dwelling units (ADUs), for owner-occupied properties with homestead exemption only. Rigo explained it helps with housing crisis without building on new land. Passed 4-1.
- Resolutions:
- Window Replacement at City Hall: Contract with Red Oak Remodeling for $482,545 for exterior windows, previously discussed. Unanimous.
- Easement for Police Substation: Granting easement to Narragansett Electric for power to police substation at Pierce Field, previously discussed. Unanimous.
- Furniture for Community Center: Authorizing purchase of furniture, fixtures, and equipment from W.B. Mason for $172,539.75, using previously allocated funds (ARPA/CPF grant). Unanimous.
Key Outcomes
- Sewer Abatement Approved Unanimous.
- Consent Calendar and Licenses Approved Unanimous.
- Pierce Softball Field Improvements Ordinance Approved Unanimously (second passage, public hearing held). The $340,035 allocation covers lights, paved parking, walkways, guardrails, and will be contracted with New School Lighting.
- Additional Hours for Fuel Sales Approved (with condition of no repairs between 1 a.m. and 6 a.m.) Unanimous.
- ADU Tax Stabilization Ordinance Approved 4-1.
- Resolutions for City Hall Windows, Easement, and Community Center Furniture Approved Unanimously.
- Veterans Hero Banners: Expected installation by August.
- Willet Avenue Traffic Pattern: Administration stands by redesign; further complaints will be brought back.
- Various Council Requests: Administration will follow up on parking, speed monitoring, crosswalks, street lights, and trash receptacles.
Meeting Transcript
Six dash five A two litigation number one sewer charge abatement off the risk three hundred and seventy eight dollars and fifty eight cents. And there's nothing confidential, so we will just stay right here. We won't need to go into executive session. Uh Mr. Solicitor. Thank you, Mr. President. Um the uh supercharger payment was based on a water uh break uh and I think in a uh bathroom pipe, the Department of Um Public Works recommends approval of the abatement in the amount of three hundred and seventy dollars, excuse me, three hundred and seventy-eight dollars and fifty-eight cents. Motion to approve by Councilman Bogarty, did you do that? And also Councilman Lawson, all in favor. Aye. Aye. Any opposed? The ayes have it. Thank you. Next item. Proclamations and presentations, World Cup recognition, Council President Rodrigues. So this is just a quick verbal um presentation tonight, uh something that I had uh pledged to do and will explain my uh strange attire tonight, usually here in shirt and tie, but I had promised at the beginning of this uh summer of soccer. Now being a baseball guy as I am, and of course, uh you gotta love softball, right, girls. I follow soccer a little bit, especially with East Providence high school soccer and our middle schools, but I really got into it this summer, like I think all of us did. And what impressed me more than the games on the field were the attitudes everyone showed. Everyone was so positive. We had visitors from around the world. Uh right here in East Providence. Uh I was fortunate, uh one one day, uh coffee in the morning. I think it was with uh uh mayor's uh uh morning session in Riverside and the Tartan Army, several of them came in and we got talking and we said hello and talked about uh East Providence and Rhode Island and they were on their way to the Scotland's first game and they explained how they were gonna make a donation that week to the Hasbro Children's Hospital, which is fairly close to all of us here, and they donated ten thousand dollars. They also sent uh I think less than a hundred thousand dollars to other places in the state. Uh I was visiting a friend at Rhode Island Hospital the next day and I could hear a noise and I looked down the window and I could hear and see the Titan army with the bagpipes and there had to be a hundred of them, and they were given a check uh to the h hospital, which we've had many kids uh ill at Hasbro through the years, so I feel felt a connection there. They also came to the good night lights, which is run by a former townie, oh, once a tow, he always a towny. Oh, once a towny, always a townie. So Steve Brasnahan, who does that, as you know, I'm sure every week, shining lights up at at Hasbro, and the Tartan Army was was there. So my allegiance, of course, is to the U.S. team. Also feel close to the Portugal team and the Cape Verde team. But I had to give a shout out tonight to the uh Tartan Army and for all of the goodwill they brought to us. Um thousands and thousands of them and no problems uh what whatsoever. They took over the area, they took over the city of Boston. Um small, small team. And I and I had a closeness because my son-in-law is from Scotland. So I promised them a shout-out tonight. So I wore this kilt if you haven't seen it yet, and uh Scottish Cap. Um brother. It's a little breezy under here. I have to make sure the air condition gets lowered. But I I didn't mean to take up all that time, but I I just thought that uh we should be neighborly and thank all of these visitors who've come here from other countries. And too bad uh U.S. didn't make it, but they got pretty far. So we we appreciate all of the the goodwill. And thank you all for putting up with that. Madam Clerk, next item.
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