Sure.

Good evening.

Call the meeting of July twenty-eighth, twenty twenty-six uh to order.

Um the solicitor, could you just call a role of a council?

Uh Councilman Fogerty?

Yeah.

Council Vice President Rego.

Yeah.

Council President Roderick.

Here.

So the record we reflect that Councilman Lawson and Council Woman Susan are absent tonight.

And there is is a quorum, so we'll continue with the meeting.

So long time resident teacher, school administrator, school committee member, city council member, board of elections member, ambassador to Cape Verde, and a visit once to China.

I mean, you name it, he's done it, but more than any of that, he's been a friend to thousands in his provenance, former students.

If you read the tributes that are coming in on social media from former students, forget, take the politics out of it.

But if you listen to the former students that have talked about how if it wasn't for uh Dr.

Ramers, that they may not have stayed in school or they'd be in jail or be in trouble, or he he really meant a lot to a lot of people.

So we'll do a little more of a formal presentation on August 11th.

This was uh special meeting.

Um did any of you want to add anything to that?

Or great guy.

He's a legend.

I remember the first time I met him.

It was at your parents' house.

I was five years old.

Senator Pell was coming in to the open house for Senator Pell.

Uh vividly remembered him because he was the shot, he came in all shop dressed, he had the white suit on, and yeah, he was a big supporter of Senator Pell, as our families were back in the day.

He was a classic, and and so close that uh my two kids who are not kids anymore, they're what in their 40s, they're adults.

Uh they still call him Uncle Izzy.

So, Uncle Izzy, uh, we miss you.

For anyone watching this, uh, there will be uh awake service.

It'll be on Monday coming up.

Uh so if you are watching this, you'll have time to plan uh Monday from 4 p.m.

to 8 p.m.

at the Perry Mixed Day on Pa Tucket Avenue and with a Tuesday morning mass at 10 a.m.

at the St.

Francis Church.

But there'll be more about that later.

So today's this is just a special meeting.

Uh and as the community has been asking us to fast forward projects and let's get things done, like um Preston Park work, community center.

Um, so in speaking with uh staff and planners and Dominic Leonardo is here today.

If there are any questions, uh they are ready with some bids, and we want to get going.

So rather than wait another couple of weeks, or thank you, ma'am.

We started a little bit early.

We started on time.

You weren't informed.

Well, I'm just trying to be diplomatic, you know.

Give her a break.

I don't want any open meetings by listening.

No, the deputy clerk would it would never be late.

I know that for a fact.

My apologies.

I was not told it was a 60 year old.

That's what I thought.

Because originally it was 6:30, then it went back to six.

So no, all good.

So that's the reason for tonight.

Nothing uh crazy.

We we just have bids ready and we don't want to wait.

We want these projects to get going.

So we're trying not to do a lot in July, but I figured we could come in for a little bit.

And Madam Clerk, if you want to read the stop by reading the agenda.

I can.

Did you do a roll call?

Yes.

Okay, perfect.

We did the front of the flag.

I love it.

Licenses for discussion, impossible vote.

Non-public hearing.

We have a special event, one day license.

Janet Barrows for a birthday party.

She's gonna have a DJ at 109 Merrill Street in East Providence, August 1st, 2211.

Move passage motion by Council Vice President Regal, second by councilman Fogedy.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Next item.

Next item, communications are none.

Public comment, none.

Appointments, none.

We will skip to new business.

We don't have anything.

I'll speak on behalf of the mayor's office at the day.

Thank you.

So um uh, as you know, um as the agenda, we did get a letter of resignation of Michael Bopalant from the zoning board of review after more than 20 years of service.

I uh, as you know, I um in the beginning I covered many of the zoning board meetings.

I will say that Michael was uh a really uh good member of the zoning board who had a really good understanding of the zoning uh law and uh and the procedures that we that they follow, and um, I'm sure he will be missed.

Um, but 20 years is a long time to serve on a very important board within the city.

So um I think he's retiring or um so we wish him well, and I'm sure the council does as well.

Mike's a good friend of mine, lives close by to me.

We've been friends for over 30 years.

Him and his wife Lois will be able to spend more time together as Mike doesn't have to put in as much time dealing with the zoning laws and zoning meetings that Mike took very serious, as we all do in our positions.

Thank you.

Thank you.

So um the other so as a result of his resignation, the mayor has made an appointment, which is subject to council approval of Craig A.

McManus uh for a term ending uh 6 2 2030.

I move mo I move passage of uh Craig McManus, another good friend of mine.

We've been uh friends since first grade him his his family.

Uh his father's the late icon uh fire marshal Captain Bob McManus and he comes from an outstanding family.

He has an outstanding family with uh Craig and his wife Liz.

I move passage of appointing Craig McManus to the zoning board.

Second motion made and seconded by Councilman Fogade, no further discussion.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Zero.

Next item.

Next resolutions for discussion impossible vote.

First resolution is a resolution authorizing the mayor by and through Bentley Companies LLC to accept and award the proposal to reclaim and pave the parking lot at the East Providence Community Center in the amount of 88,999.87 cents introduced by Council President Roger's.

So again, this is along the lines of uh moving this project along.

They're they're ready for this step.

Money is previously appropriated.

Uh something that we've talked about.

And in general, people are saying let's get these projects done.

So this is why we're when the bids are ready and we're ready to go.

We're we're not gonna delay and get these projects worked on.

Any other comments?

Uh no, I move passage, and again, this is part of the initial uh overall overall cost that we passed the only vote on the on the community center on the fifth day of December 2020 uh 2023, excuse me.

So again, the one and only vote on the community center.

Move past that's a motion.

Is there a second?

I take our second, yeah.

Make sure that we get it done.

Councilman Fogarty, seconds.

Any other discussion here?

All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed, the ayes have it.

Thank you.

Number two, resolution authorizing the mayor of the city of East Providence to purchase two unmarked police vehicles as well as two upfitted vehicles for the police department.

Total cost of four police vehicles for the police department in an amount not to exceed $37,423 and 60 cents introduced by Council President Rodericks.

So once again, keeping along with uh our uh vehicle fleet and both police and fire and keeping them top-notch.

Monies have been appropriated.

Uh something the police chief recommends and keeps our force where we want it to be.

And we want to support them, and the funds are there.

Motion.

I'm I move passage, obviously, keeping this fleet up and new.

And will these come with the radar systems in them like the other ones welcome, chief.

Evening.

Uh these are uh these two of them will come on come with uh the moving radar.

Thank you.

I move passage.

Second, second by councilman Fogadi.

Any other questions anywhere?

Uh all in favor?

Aye.

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Thank you, Chief.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman.

Okay, item number three.

Resolution authorizing the mayor of the city of East Providence to proceed with improvements to Pierce Memorial Stadium and enter into a contract with Rad Corp DBA Rad Sports in amount not to exceed 1,588,555 introduced by Council President Rodericks.

And not unlike the other items.

This is a continuation of the long plan project at Pierce Stadium, get that track going and other amenities and money is uh appropriated.

Any questions about this?

Passage on that.

Motion by Councilman Fogerty.

Is there a second?

I'll second the motion.

Seconded by Council Vice President Regal.

Other questions?

We we have some staff here if there are any questions, but I think we're we're ready to get this thing going and another phase.

All in favor?

Aye.

Any opposed?

The ayes have it.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Isn't it time to question the solicitor?

No, no more questions for the solicitor.

Motion.

So is that is that it, madam clerk?

Motion to adjourn.

Second.

Our next meeting is August 11th.

Yes, to be clear, because there was a little change.

So if you're watching and you're wondering about August, it's August 11th.

At 6 30.

2026, right here at 6:30 p.m.

Thank you.

All in favor of adjournment?

Aye.

Any opposed?

Thank you all.

Meeting is adjourned.