East Providence City Council Meeting - August 11, 2026
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East Providence City Council Meeting - August 11, 2026
The East Providence City Council met on August 11, 2026, at 22:25 UTC (post-meeting time). All five council members were present. The meeting included recognition of a youth softball team, executive session, consent calendar approvals, licensing, extensive public comment on police detail employment and flock cameras, resolutions on tree maintenance, library parking safety, school security funding, and carousel improvements, as well as zoning ordinance amendments.
Consent Calendar & Approvals
- Minutes approved: July 7 and July 28, 2026 meeting minutes.
- New property number: 02915, Map 311, Block 12, Parcel 013.10.
- Abatements: All abatements except one (Account R034650-00) were approved; Councilwoman Sousa recused herself from that item. The remaining abatement (Item B) was approved separately.
- Licenses (A1–A13): Bundled and approved, including 13 entertainment and alcohol licenses for various events, weddings, block parties, and food truck establishments. A question was raised about a private wedding requiring a liquor license; council agreed to approve and consider a refund if the fee was unnecessary.
Public Comments & Testimony
- Nancy Hale (889 Bullocks Point Ave): Reported progress on traffic safety in Riverside (more stops at twin stop signs, fewer speeding issues), urged residents to reduce litter and plastic waste, and provided an update on spotted lanternfly awareness. She recommended destroying egg masses in spring.
- Paul Rodriguez (166 Fourth St): A retired police officer stated he was medically cleared but unable to return to police detail work despite completing all requirements. He alleged lack of communication from the mayor and police chief. City Communications Director Matt Paddock responded, citing a past $150,000 settlement related to Rodriguez’s hiring at DPW, a 2022 incident at his home, and a recent June 17, 2026 body-camera incident where Rodriguez made inappropriate remarks during a police stop. Council directed the mayor to convene a meeting with all parties; Rodriguez expressed frustration with the process. Police Chief Raposa confirmed two other retired officers had successfully gone through the new application process since March 2026.
- Jen Tierney (Vice Chair, Tree Commission): Asked the council to support a resolution for ongoing tree maintenance funding, warning that without proper care, newly planted trees (over 500) will die.
- Candy Seal (South Rose St): Thanked the council for quickly addressing a zoning language error (hotel uses inadvertently included in the Medacomic district) and requested safety improvements at Weaver Library to rectify dangerous parking/egress conditions.
- Linda Vaughan Du Bois (6 Ruth Ave): Urged the council to cancel the flock camera contract, citing civil liberties concerns and potential ICE misuse. Council President Rodericks stated the contract will not be renewed without a public hearing. Police Chief clarified EPPD does not share data with ICE. Resident John Rinquinia (46 Tanglewood Dr, Riverside) further questioned the contract’s liability terms and the lack of Fourth Amendment discussion during the 2023 approval.
Discussion Items
- Flock Cameras: Council President Rodericks noted that additional state police cameras on highways are not within city limits. Chief defended the cameras for solving crimes and locating missing persons. No immediate termination was supported, but full public hearing required before any expansion.
- Tree Maintenance Resolution: Councilwoman Sousa introduced a resolution (passed) directing the administration to establish a line item for tree pruning, mulching, and watering, and to consider hiring local landscapers to address the maintenance backlog.
- Weaver Library Parking Safety: Councilwoman Sousa presented a plan for signage, striping, and designated parking spots at the library. Future capital project to improve the rear parking lot. Resolution passed unanimously.
- School Safety – St. Mary Academy Bayview: Police Chief announced a $235,000 federal grant for digital access controls and security upgrades. Resolution authorizing the mayor to enter a contract with Uplink IT was approved.
- Crescent Park Carousel: Appointments (Christopher Michael Bissett to the Carousel Commission) approved. Two ordinances appropriating capital funds: $150,000 for carousel repair and $500,700 for a non-temporary tent structure were both passed after public comment.
- Zoning Amendments:
- Amendment to remove hotel uses from the Medacomic district (to correct a scrivener’s error) – approved 5-0.
- Amendment to allow subdivision of lots into individual ownership for townhouse-style dwellings in residential and certain commercial (C-1, C-2) zones, in accordance with state law (2025 session) – approved after discussion.
- Parking Restrictions:
- Dover Avenue: Both sides from Warren Avenue to Baldwin Street to be no parking at all times (first passage).
- Warren Avenue: Proposed 15-minute parking limit south side near Hull Street; tabled to September 1 for further information from DPW.
- ARPA Funds & Capital Improvements: Review deferred to September 1, 2026 meeting for a detailed presentation from the senior planner. Council expressed concerns about ARPA storefront grants and requested documentation.
- Other Items: Approved resolutions for T-Mobile lease amendment (generator pad at water tower), council rules of procedure (moving flag salute to after roll call), and contract for new LED lights at Pierce Memorial Stadium ($255,000).
Key Outcomes
- Consent Calendar: Approved abatements and licenses as summarized.
- Tree Resolution: Passed (directing budget discussion for tree maintenance).
- Weaver Library Safety Resolution: Approved signage and striping plan.
- St. Mary Academy Bayview Security: Resolution authorized the mayor to contract with Uplink IT for improvements.
- Carousel Ordinances: Two capital appropriations approved ($150,000 + $500,700).
- Zoning Amendments: Hotel language fix and lot subdivision amendment both passed.
- Parking Restrictions: Dover Avenue no-parking approved (first passage); Warren Avenue limit tabled.
- Police Detail Issue: Council directed mayor to convene a meeting with Rodriguez, police chief, and HR; no further action taken by council.
- Flock Cameras: Council committed to no expansion without a public hearing; no immediate action to terminate contract.
- ARPA/Capital Update: Postponed to September 1, 2026.
- Miscellaneous Resolutions: LED stadium lights contract, T-Mobile lease amendment, council rules change, and various proclamations all approved.
Meeting Transcript
Good evening. Call the meeting to order of the East Providence City Council August 11th, twenty twenty six. Summer is moving along. Madam Clerk, would you please call the role of a council? Councilman Fogerty? Yeah. Councilman Lawson? Yeah. Council Vice President Riga? Yeah. Councilwoman Souza? Yeah. Council President Roger's. Here for record show. All five members are present. Please rise for the pledge. One nation, hundred individual with liberty and justice for all. I I would ask that we could please remain seated, but I would ask for a moment of of silence, moment of silent reflection for the loss of our uh former assistant superintendent of schools, and there are too many titles to list, but a a gentleman who has been a mentor to so many uh families in East Providence, uh, who had just passed away recently. So if you could please observe uh just a brief moment of silence for Dr. Isidore Ramos. Uh, so we can do that uh right away, and they don't have to sit here. You're welcome to sit here with us all night long. But if I were you, I would get out of here as soon as um you get your awards. Uh and it has been obvious at all levels from literally youth sports through resurgence in middle school softball with girls, and of course, our great uh high school program. So we are very fortunate to have as our banner says, the uh eight to ten-year-old district champions for Rhode Island. Now there are four districts in Little League in Rhode Island. District two, which we are in is the biggest. And it's no small feat that you young ladies came away with the championship of the entire district and just fell uh a little short going beyond that. So along with the city council and all five of us have been strong supporters of you, have uh followed. I was able to get to portions of a couple of games, and uh it was exciting and a lot of fun. And you know, lights are coming, right? Hopefully, uh very soon. So what we are going to do, uh Councilwoman Suser is going to assist me. We're going to go to the podium, and as we call your name, we will give you uh this folder has two proclamations. It has one, and I'll I'll just read one so I don't have to read them all. I will just call your name. And in addition to us, uh Mayor DeSilva has also included a proclamation. So you'll you'll be getting a couple. Yes, as I organize this, uh, Council Vice President Rigo. I I, as well as Council President Roderick said I saw you play a couple of times, and you're you are definitely got a great potential as a years move up as you move up. It's great potential. Having coached softball myself, you play very tenaciously, and I'm a little biased, but you have a very great manager, coach, and John McGowan. The only problem with John is he played baseball at Bishop Hendrickon, but you play you put you got you you girls play the way John plays the game, and you play it right, and please stick together and please stick with John because you will win that district every time, every year moving up. That's what I wanted to tell you, people. Congratulations. Just let me organize this for a second. One of so the proclamation uh from the city council will say, and it will have uh, you know, the nice city seal, City of East Providence, Rhode Island, on behalf of the City Council. Congratulations to the East Providence Central Little League 10 U Softball All-Stars team winning the District 2 championship. And we have your name here, and all five of us have have signed it. Uh and similarly, the mayor's proclamation.
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