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.

Where is your fear being addressed?

This is what I know.

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.

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

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.

Thank you again for your inspired leadership.

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

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.

Thank you.

Thank you, Reverend.

This evening, the Pledge of Allegiance will be led by Councilman Gonkels.

I pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America into the Republic for which stands one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Thank you.

Madam Clerk, item one, please.

Madam President.

Majority leader.

What's it the way the reader of item one through three?

Second, Madam President.

We have a motion and a second.

Any discussion?

All in favor.

Aye.

Aye.

Um any opposed.

The motion passes.

Uh, Madam Clerk, please note one through three as received.

So noted.

Item four.

Item four is the swearing in of counselor elect Jill S.

Davidson of Providence Ward Two.

Will the judge please join us?

Thank you, Judge Martin Ellie.

And Councilwoman Elect, please join us in the in the middle.

Could you please raise your right hand?

Yep.

I'll speak loud.

Could you please raise your right hand and repeat after me?

I'm Jill Davidson.

You solemnly swear.

Do solemnly swear.

And affirm.

And affirm.

That I will faithfully discharge my duties.

That I will faithfully discharge my duties.

As a member.

As a member.

Of the Providence City Council.

Of the Providence City Council.

And will support the Constitution of the United States.

And we'll support the Constitution of the United States.

The Constitution and Laws of the State of Rhode Island.

The Constitution and Laws of the State of Rhode Island.

And the rules and regulations of the Providence City Charter and all ordinance connected there too.

And the rules and regulations of the Providence City Charter and the rules and regulations connected there too.

And you do this in the form and manner provided by law to the best of my ability.

I do this.

I do this in the form and manner provided to the best of my ability.

Congratulations.

Now a member of Province City Council.

And now uh Chairman Mancini, please join us.

Thank you.

Oh, could you repeat after me?

Raise your right hand.

Aye.

Do solemnly swear.

Do solemnly swear.

That I will support the Constitution of the United States.

And the state of Rhode Island.

In the state of Rhode Island.

In the Providence Home World Charter.

And the Providence Home Charter.

And that I will faithfully discharge.

And the duties of the Office of City Constable to the best of my ability.

The duties of the office of city council to the best of my ability.

To the best of my ability.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

Congratulations, Councilwoman.

We are deeply grateful, and I know the people of Board 2 are deeply grateful to have you seated tonight.

So congratulations.

All right, Madam Clerk.

Nominations of certain city officers.

Item five, judge of the probate court.

Madam President.

Majority Leader Espinall.

I nominate John E.

Martinelli to as judge of the Providence Probate Court.

Second, Madam President.

We have a nomination and a second.

Are there any further nominations?

Are there any further nominations?

Are there any further nominations?

Hearing none, Madam Clerk, please cast one ballot for uh Judge John E.

Martinelli.

So noted.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Item six, please.

Congratulations, Judge.

Thank you for your service to the city of Providence.

I will say all nominations made tonight.

If you could stay afterwards for swearing in signing your certificates, that would be wonderful.

Madam Clerk, item six.

Item six is clerk of the probate court.

Madam President.

Majority leader.

I nominate Paul V.

Jabor as clerk of the probate court.

Second, Madam President.

We have a nomination and a second.

Any further nominations?

Are there any further nominations?

Are there any further nominations?

Hearing none, Madam Clerk, please cast one ballot for Paul Jabor as clerk of the probate court.

So noted.

Congratulations, Mr.

Jabor.

Item seven.

Item seven is election of six members to the Providence External Review Authority Para.

Madam President.

Majority Leader Espinal.

I nominate Shana Curlin, Denise Fahi, Ray Watson, Nancy Sion, Kenya Vasque, and Bernard George.

Second, Madam President.

We have a nomination and a second.

Are there any further nominations?

Are there any further nominations?

Are there any further nominations?

Hearing none, Madam Clerk, please cast one ballot for the members of the Providence External Review Authority.

So noted.

Thank you and congratulations.

Madam Clerk, item eight, please.

Madam President.

Majority Leader.

What should the weigh the reader of item eight through 19 and substitute item 19?

Second, Madam President.

We have a motion and a second.

Any discussion on items eight through 19.

Hearing none, all in I'm sorry, Councilman uh Sanchez.

Thank you, Madam President.

I just would like to ask.

Um, I know there's a lot of uh folks uh that are included in this batch on items.

Uh what items are something through 19.

8 through 19.

8 through 19.

And I know a lot of folks are here.

Um, so if you are here, if you could just stand up so uh we could recognize you and uh you know show our gratitude for your service uh to the city of Providence.

Thank you so much, Councillor Uh Thank you so much, Counselor.

Any further discussion items eight through nineteen all in favor?

Aye, aye, any opposed, any abstentions?

The motion passes.

Um Madam Clerk, please note eight and nine as received.

Refer 10 and 11 to the committee on finance and note 12 through 19 as amended as received.

So noted.

Um and I would just like to extend my thanks to everyone who joins us in serving the city on uh the very important boards and many appointments.

Um it is all of us together um working together for the city.

Madam Clerk, item 20, Madam President, majority leader.

Motion to weigh the reading of item 20 and pass for the second time on a roll code vote.

Second, madam president.

We have a motion and a second.

Any discussion on item 20.

Hearing none, madam clerk, please uh open the vote and call the roll.

The vote is now open, and the roll call will be council president Miller.

Aye, deputy majority whip Andrebois.

Aye, councillor Davidson, aye.

Majority leader Espinall.

Aye, senior deputy majority leader Gonçalves.

Aye.

Councilwoman Graves is absent.

Deputy Majority Leader Harris.

Aye.

Councilwoman Peterson.

Nay.

Council President Pro Tempor Pichardo.

Aye.

Councillor Royus is absent.

Councilwoman Ryan.

Aye.

Majority Whip Sanchez.

Councilman Taylor is absent.

Councilwoman Ana Vargas is absent.

Councilman Oscar Vargas.

Nay.

You have eight ayes, three nays, four absent.

The motion carries the matters passed for the second time on a roll call vote, and the vote is now closed.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Item 21.

Madam President.

Majority Leader.

Wash it away the reading of item 21 and 22 and pass on a voice vote.

Second, Madam President.

We have a motion and a second.

Any discussion on items 21 or 22?

Madam Clerk, please open the vote.

The vote is now open.

Madam President.

Majority Leader.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Uh, we'll wait until the vote is closed, and then yes.

Thank you.

Councilman Espinal, your vote, please.

I did um it is a yes.

The vote is now closed.

And you have 11 ayes and four absent.

Uh items 21 and 22 are passed on a voice vote.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Uh, Councilman Gunkelves.

Thank you, Madam President, and colleagues.

Um, tonight I want to acknowledge, of course, the fear and the anxiety many people are experiencing in the city of Providence.

I know parents are holding their children closer, and students and our community members are on edge.

Neighbors are certainly checking in with each other, and the anxiety that we're experiencing in the city is real and it deserves to be named.

I've cried more times than I can care to share, but we come together tonight with heavy hearts to honor the lives of Ella Cook and Mohammed Aziz Morzikov, and we pray for their families who are living with unimaginable loss.

We pray for their friends and their classmates and the entire Brown University and Providence community as they grieve and try to find their footing.

And we ask for healing for those who were injured in peace for all who were shaken.

And we asked for strength for the first responders and the investigators and law enforcement who are working tirelessly to bring answers and accountability.

Providence has faced hardship before.

And each time we've shown who we are.

We look out for each other.

And we don't turn away from pain.

And we don't allow fear to define us.

In moments like this, this is when unity matters.

And our compassion matters.

And I want everyone to know that we're here for you.

And we love you here in the city of Providence.

And may we meet this moment with calm resolve.

I know there's a lot of anxiety out there.

And may we please bring this person to justice.

And I'd like to take a quick moment of silence and adjourn in memory of the two beautiful souls with bright futures taken far too soon.

Ella Cook and Muhammad Aziz Morzikov.

May justice be pursued with resolve.

May love prevail over violence.

May Ella Cook and Muhammad Aziz Amorsikov never be forgotten.

Thank you, Madam President.

Thank you, Councillor.

I really appreciate that.

I will add my um echoing all of that, and also just my to my colleagues here tonight.

Um we have a profound obligation to our constituents to um pursue the truth in uh what's happening with the investigation.

And so as I've watched um what's happening online and misinformation get shed and joined uh Counselor Gonkalves in front of the uh at the press conferences on a daily basis.

Um I know our office is here to serve you to provide any information your constituents might need um in the pursuit of truth and uh in the support of the investigation.

So thank you.

Uh, we do have one more item on the agenda.

Uh, Madam Clerk, 23.

Madam President.

Majority leader.

Second, Madam President.

Any discussion on item twenty-three?

All in favor?

Aye.

Madam President.

Majority leader.

Motion.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Uh note twenty-three is received.

So noted.

Motion to adjourn.

Uh what a unanimous rising vote.

And tonight we adjourn in the name of Ella Cook and Mohammed as he will call.

Second, Madam President.

All in favor.

Aye.

Any opposed, any abstentions?

We are adjourned.

Thank you all.

If you're able to stay.

Um,