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Record of Proceedings

Special City Council Meeting – December 17, 2025: Swearing-In, Appointments, and Tribute to Victims

City Council — Wednesday, December 17, 2025
BodyProvidence, Rhode Island
SessionCity Council
DateWednesday, December 17, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 26:32

Original source
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5:54

Special city council meeting on this Wednesday, December 17th.

5:59

Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

6:01

Council President Miller.

6:02

Present.

6:03

Deputy Majority Whip Anderbois.

6:05

Present.

6:06

Councillor Elect Davidson.

6:09

Present.

6:10

Majority Leader Espinall.

6:12

Present.

6:13

Senior Deputy Majority Leader Gonzals.

6:16

Present.

6:16

Councilwoman Graves is absent.

6:19

Deputy Majority Leader Harris.

6:21

Present.

6:22

Councilwoman Peterson.

6:23

Present.

6:24

Council President Pro Tempore Picardo.

6:27

Present.

6:28

Councillor Royus is absent.

6:31

Councilwoman Ryan.

6:32

Present.

6:33

Majority Whip Sanchez.

6:35

Present.

6:35

Councilman Taylor is absent.

6:38

Councilwoman Anna Vargas is absent.

6:40

Councilman Oscar Vargas.

6:42

Present.

6:43

You have eleven present and four absent.

6:46

You have a quorum.

6:47

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

6:48

Um, I'd also like to recognize that we have several special, well, many special guests here tonight, um, including Councilman Anthony and Senator Zurier.

6:56

Thank you for joining us.

6:57

Um, and this evening, the invocation will be led by Reverend Helfer.

7:02

Um, Reverend, please join me.

7:04

I'm sorry, will everyone please rise?

7:10

Thank you for inviting me here to offer the invocation this evening.

7:14

My name is Reverend D.

7:15

L.

7:16

Helfer, and I'm here at Council President Rachel Miller's request to offer solace and inspiration in these troubling times.

7:24

I invite you into a spirit of prayer, whatever that means for you.

7:30

I begin with gratitude for each and every one of you for the selfless and tireless service you do on behalf of Providence residents.

7:39

I have been amazed, especially you, City Council, at the brave and thoughtful decisions you've made, the work you've done to keep everyone safe, fed and cared for.

7:51

You have set a national standard for the powerful work that a city council can and this one does do.

8:00

As a unitarian universalist minister, I don't necessarily look to God for the answers, but to the power of the people, organized by shared purpose, working every day to build a better world.

8:14

You do that, and we are grateful beyond measure.

8:18

And yet you all of you working so hard, you're human yourselves.

8:23

Without a doubt, you carry the same fears, the same worries, needs, hope, dreams, and wants as your constituents do.

8:32

And I've watched you all on the news this week repeatedly, offering solace and comfort.

8:38

And I wondered what kept you going.

8:41

Where is your fear being addressed?

8:45

This is what I know.

8:46

I know we need to lean into our own sources of strength as we continue to demonstrate love and care for the families and friends of Ella Cook, Makhamad S, Umurskov, the students in the hospital, first responders, everyone providing care, and honestly, everyone impacted, which in this small city means everyone, because we all know that if you're in Providence, we touch each other in some way.

9:23

But I know also as a social worker that helpers need support too.

9:28

I hope you take time if you haven't already to let us support you, to look to your friends and beloveds to bring some solace.

9:37

Thank you again for your inspired leadership.

9:40

May you too be cared for, held, supported, and inspired, as you do in these challenging and complex times.

9:47

And may the love that holds us all be present in and among us, moving us ever closer to the beloved community that we dream of.

9:56

Thank you.

10:01

Thank you, Reverend.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████64%
Public Safety█████████████18%
Public Health Initiatives█████████████18%
Summary of Proceedings

Special City Council Meeting – December 17, 2025

The Providence City Council convened a special meeting on December 17, 2025, with 11 members present and 4 absent, establishing a quorum. The meeting included the swearing-in of a new council member, approval of multiple mayoral appointments, a second-reading vote on an ordinance, and a solemn tribute to two victims of a recent tragedy.

Consent Calendar

  • Items 1–3: Received and approved unanimously without discussion.
  • Items 8–19: Approved en masse on a voice vote. Councilman Sanchez requested that the appointees present stand to be recognized; the council thanked them for their service.

Swearing-In and Nominations

  • Item 4 – Swearing-in of Councilor-elect Jill S. Davidson (Ward 2): Administered by Judge Martin Ellie. Davidson took the oath of office and became a member of the City Council. Immediately following, Chairman Mancini was sworn in as City Constable.
  • Item 5 – Judge of Probate Court: Majority Leader Espinal nominated John E. Martinelli. No other nominations were made. A single ballot was cast, and Martinelli was confirmed.
  • Item 6 – Clerk of Probate Court: Majority Leader Espinal nominated Paul V. Jabor. No other nominations. Single ballot cast, confirmed.
  • Item 7 – Providence External Review Authority (PERA): Six members nominated by Majority Leader Espinal – Shana Curlin, Denise Fahi, Ray Watson, Nancy Sion, Kenya Vasque, and Bernard George. Nominated and confirmed by single ballot.

Discussion Items

  • Item 20 – Second Reading Ordinance (Roll Call Vote): The council conducted a roll call vote for the second passage of an ordinance. The vote was 8 ayes, 3 nays, 4 absent. Councilwoman Peterson and Councilman Oscar Vargas voted nay. The motion carried.
  • Items 21–22: Passed on a voice vote with 11 ayes and 4 absent.
  • Tribute to Victims: Councilman Gonçalves delivered an emotional address honoring Ella Cook and Mohammed Aziz Morzikov, who died in a recent incident. He expressed the community’s anxiety and grief, praised first responders, and called for justice. Council President Miller echoed his remarks, emphasizing the importance of truth and supporting the investigation. The council observed a moment of silence and adjourned in memory of the two victims.

Key Outcomes

  • Sworn in: Councilor Jill S. Davidson (Ward 2) and City Constable Mancini.
  • Confirmed: John E. Martinelli as Judge of Probate Court, Paul V. Jabor as Clerk of Probate Court, and six members to the Providence External Review Authority.
  • Ordinance (Item 20) passed on second reading by roll call vote (8–3).
  • Items 21–22 approved by voice vote.
  • Meeting adjourned in memory of Ella Cook and Mohammed Aziz Morzikov.

Meeting Transcript

Special city council meeting on this Wednesday, December 17th. Madam Clerk, please call the roll. Council President Miller. Present. Deputy Majority Whip Anderbois. Present. Councillor Elect Davidson. Present. Majority Leader Espinall. Present. Senior Deputy Majority Leader Gonzals. Present. Councilwoman Graves is absent. Deputy Majority Leader Harris. Present. Councilwoman Peterson. Present. Council President Pro Tempore Picardo. Present. Councillor Royus is absent. Councilwoman Ryan. Present. Majority Whip Sanchez. Present. Councilman Taylor is absent. Councilwoman Anna Vargas is absent. Councilman Oscar Vargas. Present. You have eleven present and four absent. You have a quorum. Thank you, Madam Clerk. Um, I'd also like to recognize that we have several special, well, many special guests here tonight, um, including Councilman Anthony and Senator Zurier. Thank you for joining us. Um, and this evening, the invocation will be led by Reverend Helfer. Um, Reverend, please join me. I'm sorry, will everyone please rise? Thank you for inviting me here to offer the invocation this evening. My name is Reverend D. L. Helfer, and I'm here at Council President Rachel Miller's request to offer solace and inspiration in these troubling times. I invite you into a spirit of prayer, whatever that means for you. I begin with gratitude for each and every one of you for the selfless and tireless service you do on behalf of Providence residents. I have been amazed, especially you, City Council, at the brave and thoughtful decisions you've made, the work you've done to keep everyone safe, fed and cared for. You have set a national standard for the powerful work that a city council can and this one does do. As a unitarian universalist minister, I don't necessarily look to God for the answers, but to the power of the people, organized by shared purpose, working every day to build a better world. You do that, and we are grateful beyond measure. And yet you all of you working so hard, you're human yourselves. Without a doubt, you carry the same fears, the same worries, needs, hope, dreams, and wants as your constituents do. And I've watched you all on the news this week repeatedly, offering solace and comfort. And I wondered what kept you going.

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