Good evening, everyone.

Providence councilwoman, Joanne Ryan.

This is a public hearing, the committee on finance Tuesday, January 27.

It is 544 p.m.

Madame Clerk.

We're not gonna do a roll call, but I am gonna recognize my colleagues on vice chair of the finance Jim Taylor.

We are staffed by our favorite city solicitor, Kenny Cheverini, and of course, our wonderful clerks.

May I have the sheets?

Thank you.

Item one, an ordinance establishing a tax stabilization agreement for 20 America Street.

Thank you, Chief Mancini.

Could you step up, please?

Introduce the matter, and then we'll have the applicants join us.

I think we're gonna do one at a time.

Thank you.

Uh Lawrence Mancini, Chief Financial Officer for the City of Providence, Madam Chair, do you wish to have me sworn in?

Oh, I see what you're saying.

You want to just swear everybody in.

Um we ask everybody that is going to testify to stand up, come behind the rail.

We're gonna swear everyone in, and then we're gonna take these matters one at a time.

So anybody who's testifying, please come behind the rail.

What a cheerful group.

We're ready.

Please raise your right hands.

Do you swear under penalty of perjury that the testimony you're about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

I do.

And please state your names for the record.

Lawrence Mancini, Chief Financial Officer of the City of Providence.

Peter Petraco, item number five.

Eric Solena, item number two.

Miles Dale with 20 America Street.

Chris Pilati, uh, item number one.

Anthony Mercedes, item number two.

Okay, great.

We're gonna take this this one at a time.

So 20 America Street is first.

Take it away.

So, madam chair, members of the committee, good evening once again.

Uh, Madam Chair, as you recall, uh earlier um, actually at the in the meetings that were held in December, the finance committee entertained these items for the purposes of having them referred to the public hearing.

Testimony was given during that time, and summarizing the um the applicant's project as well as the benefits associated with the project, both to the applicant and to the city.

In the case of 20 America Street, this is a plat 28 lot 1046.

It's a category two project 10-year term with a two-year base.

The estimated cost of the project is 3,537,200, based on hard costs of 2,418,329 and soft cost of 193,466.

It is the new construction of a 23 unit residential building.

And the details where that currently it's a vacant lot used for parking.

And if I may, madam chair and members of the committee, while I'm giving the testimony of the present time, I'd like to give you the fiscal note that was prepared by the tax assessor's office.

And I will do that each of the items as they're presented to you.

So the fiscal note in this item, it's a 10-year stabilization agreement, and it'll be the first two years will be held at the base taxes that are currently at uh uh sorry, currently at uh three thousand five hundred and eighty-five dollars in base tax based on a value of 122,800.

The project will grow to a tax in 2035 of 3,882,000 dollars of value or a tax of 105,000 for the record and for the public's benefit, a tax stabilization is an agreement whereby the taxes are stabilized for a period of the first two years, and then they gradually increase over the remainder of the life of the stabilization.

In this case, there will be a savings to the applicant of 361,820 over the 10-year period of the stabilization, but when fully taxed, the taxes will go from again currently $3,586 to a phase in of 11,662 dollars.

In addition to the savings to the applicant, the tax stabilization will fall under section 3.11 of the ordinance, which allows for a pox and recreation fee payable to the city based upon the seven percent of the savings to the applicant.

Based on that calculation, Madam Chair, members of the committee, that would generate a 25,327 POX and recreation fee payable to the city incrementally over the 10-year period of the stabilization.

In addition, section 3.14 of the ordinance calls for a monitoring fee payable to the city.

That monitoring fee is based on.001 of the total project cost, in this case of $3,537,000.

It will result in an annual monitoring fee of $3,537.

The object of the mounting fee, Madam Chair, members of the committee is to deter and defer costs associated to the city with implementation and monitoring it through the tax assessor's office.

I should note for the record that in every case in all stabilizations, while the values have been projected currently, they are subject to those revals that occur in the next three and six-year period, and those values will be used to then determine the tax.

But in the meantime, we're using values that were available to us at this time.

Madam Chair, that completes the administration and finance's testimony on this project.

I am now uh asking that um the applicant and legal counsel provide you with additional details, and I believe they have storyboards or other information that you'd like to hear.

Please come forward.

Good evening.

Uh Zachary Bordoni appearing on behalf of 20 America LLC.

Dylan Connelly, attorney on behalf of the applicant.

Good evening.

Good evening.

So uh with regards to the uh development at 20 America, this is going to be a purely residential development.

It'll be approximately uh 23 units, 10 studio units, and 13 one bedroom units.

Uh this will be a uh multi-story dwelling.

It'll be approximately 2800 square feet on each lot.

This is currently a 5200 square foot lot, and as was previously stated, it is currently a uh paved parking lot.

So there will be a new development going up on this lot.

Um, and like I said, it'll be 100% residential.

Uh the and uh as you can see in the um the handouts I was given to you to kind of show uh a general rendering of what the building is going to look like.

Uh as you can see, it will be you know a four-story building housing the 23 units.

Um with this project, it will through the crew uh development and construction of the building, it will result in at least uh 14 jobs being created for dedicated to this uh to the construction of this.

Um, and as previously stated, this would be a category two uh project.

Um Madam Chair, the I think two points here that I think the council deserves credit for is first, this project would have been impossible if not for the R4 up zone, which recently occurred.

That uh facilitates the level of density here.

This is a tier two location.

This is not uh a premium location.

This isn't premium commercial uh corridor.

This is an interior parcel, uh, it's not a large parcel, but you're still seeing 23 units here because of this TSA program.

So the combination of the council's TSA program and the council's upzone is creating 23 homes where today there's a parking lot.

The reason why it's been a parking lot for such a long time is because neither of those things have been available to this parcel for a very long time.

So this is effectively the applicant following through on the council's policies.

So we're grateful for the opportunity to be here this evening.

And uh, we think that uh this is the exact sort of thing that Providence is hoping to see.

Anything further you'd like to add into testimony?

No.

No, ma'am.

Wonderful.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Okay, madam clerk.

Next item is what item two, item two.

We're doing two.

An ordinance established, please read it two and two.

Item two, an ordinance establishing a tax stabilization agreement for 386 At Wills Avenue.

Thank you.

Okay.

Chief Mancini.

Thank you again, Madam Chair, members of the committee.

Uh similarly, this is a uh tax stabilization for 386 At Wills Avenue, assessors plat 28, lot 1091.

Um, the base assessment currently is at 642,100.

This too is a category two TSA based on the ordinance, a 10-year term with a two-year base.

The estimated total cost of this project will be $5 million.

The hard cost of $4,800,000 with soft cost of $200,000.

This is new construction of a four-story mixed-use residential building.

It will include the following: one commercial unit on the first floor and 21 residential units above, 10% of the commercial space with 27 internal parking spaces, and preliminary construction has already begun.

10% of the commercial space with 27 internal parking spaces and preliminary construction has already begun.

Filing fees have been paid and they have met all the other criteria.

With respect to the tax and fiscal note prepared by the assessor's office, madam chair, members of the committee.

The current base tax based on today's current value of 642,100, yields a current tax today of $18,749.

That will be held in place for the first two years and then gradually increasing over the next eight years.

The taxes will rise from 165,624 with proposed values of 5.8 million to a tax when fully phased in of 175,000 per year on a value of 6.1 million based on the ordinance at section 3.11.

The POX and recreation fee would be based on 7% of the savings to the applicant.

That total savings to the applicant is 526,761 dollars over the tire the entire 10-year period.

That would yield a POX and recreation fee to the city of $36,873.

Payable installments over the 10-year life of the agreement.

Also under section 3.14 for monitoring fee, again, based upon um.

Again, paid to defer and deter costs associated with uh instituting the TSA and having it monitored.

Madam Chair, at this time, uh if you would, you can call the applicant and and their counsel.

Please, um Sergeant, could you also provide the sheets?

Can you just pull all the sheets for me?

Please identify yourself.

Good evening, Joel Rocha, attorney for the applicant.

Good evening, Madam Chair, members of the board.

Eric Zwenna, managing principal of ZDS Architection Interiors.

Okay.

Mr.

Mancini stole most of my thunder, but um we're here on uh TSA as he stated for a mixed-use project.

Um Eric, our uh architect will go through with you what the building is going to look like.

Um again, it's new construction.

There's a mix uh 19 one-bedrooms, um, three two-bedroom units, and uh the commercial unit on the first floor.

Thank you, Joel.

Uh, just a quick run through of the drawings and rendering, and then you I can answer any questions that you might have.

Uh, this is at uh 386 At Wells Avenue.

It's adjacent uh to the north of uh previous project that we built on uh which eight Hewitt Street.

Uh so the rendering is depicting both eight Hewitt Street and the new development that's on At Wells Avenue.

I'll just point to the line.

Okay.

It's a four-story building, uh gross square footage of just shy of 20,000 square feet, about 19,600 square feet.

It's a four-story building.

Uh uh first floor has uh one commercial space of eighteen hundred and eighty-six square feet uh with one apartment that runs on the um on the east side on Hewitt Street, and then there are uh seven units per floor on the second and third and fourth floors.

They're all one bedroom units.

I'm sorry, not all, but the all the one bedroom units range uh between square footage of 516 and 522 square feet, and then there are three two-bedroom units that are on the front corner here in that uh beige color.

Those are two bedroom units, and those are all 831 square feet.

Um the new structure is under construction, it leverages some vertical uh circulation of eight uh Hewitt Street, which makes this is a it's a relatively efficient uh construction.

And um I I could go into detail in the exterior finishes range from uh cement boards and panels with some resistor wood finish just to warm up the product to be uh more of a residential uh stock.

Uh the units are efficient uh and appropriate based on the demographic uh demographic studies that we've done in the area.

Uh ZDS has done uh seven or eight new builds in the west side for this client, uh all of which are being managed and operated extremely well.

Uh so we're happy to continue forward with this project, and I'm happy to answer any questions for you folks.

Right.

Is Anthony Roshi with you or Anthony Rositi is here?

Yes.

He is.

Does he wish to speak?

He doesn't need to unless there are questions.

Okay.

Um thank you.

Thank you.

Okay, Madam Clerk, let's uh call item three.

Item three, an ordinance establishing a tax stabilization agreement for 157 Gaino Street.

Madam Chair, members of the committee.

Um at 157 Gano Street is assessed as plat 14, lot 602 was purchased originally on January 26th of 2021.

It currently has a base tax assessment assessment of 475,700.

Once again, this is a category two tax stabilization agreement, which meets the criteria for a 10-year term with the first two years held at the current base taxes.

The estimated total cost of this project is 4,250,000, of which hard cost of 4 million.

Soft cost will be 250,000.

It is in fact for new construction of a 35-unit residential building.

The details will be 10 two unit, 10 two-bed units, 21 bed units, and five studios, and part of a four building investment project.

Filing fee has been paid.

All of the criteria upon submission has been met.

Madam Chair and members of the committee, the fiscal note as prepared by the tax assessor on a 10-year period.

The current value of the building of the property is 475,700, yielding a current tax of $13,890 that will be frozen for the first two years.

That tax will then rise gradually over the next eight years to a final taxation of 124,570, with taxes starting in year three at 117,000.

The total savings to the applicant is 371,262 under section 311 of the parks and recreation fund, based upon a 7% uh contribution of that savings.

It would yield a $25,988 parks and recreation fee payable in installments over the life of the agreement.

Similarly, section 3.14, the monitoring fee is based upon 0.001 of the entire project, based upon $4,250,000 project value, will result in a $4,250 annual monitoring fee to help deter and defer costs associated with implementation and monitoring.

That completes the testimony of the administration and the finance department, and I'm sure you can call upon counsel and the applicant.

Thank you.

Again, Madam Chair, Dylan Conley, on behalf of the applicant.

Zachary Bordoni on behalf of the applicant.

Normally when we do these sorts of projects, uh we bring renderings, but the great thing about this particular proposal is you can see exactly what it's gonna look like because the other building that's the first and the four is completed.

The second is partially completed.

Uh the first building received an approval of a TSA at that point in time.

Uh there had been about a two-year wait period, and we had submitted for all four buildings simultaneously.

Each of them was going to follow the other in a domino.

So this may appear familiar to this board.

This is effectively the uh fourth time this particular building is essentially in front of the board.

One as a package of four, then the first of the four was approved.

The second of the four was approved.

We're now here on the third uh of the four.

We have submitted for the fourth.

This approach of applying for each one individually uh was something that was effectively agreed upon and uh came out of our original hearing on the four simultaneously.

Uh so far the applicant's been able to follow through on all of the commitments to the city, the building plans, uh, all of our performance criteria underneath the TSAs on the building one and building two.

We look forward to doing the same in building three.

And um, I'll try to keep my presentation even quicker on building four.

We submitted for that one last week.

So um, you know, uh the last of the dominoes is on the horizon.

Great.

Anything further.

You good?

Okay.

Great.

Madam Clerk.

Please call the um item four, please.

Item four, an ordinance establishing a tax stabilization agreement for 70 to 72 Royal Little Drive.

Chief.

Madam Chair, members of the committee.

This is an application on behalf of Generation Realty LLC.

It's Plat 72, lot 564.

Again, the address 70 to 72 Royal Little Drive.

Property was originally purchased on April 11, 2023 at an investment of 6.5 million.

It currently has a base assessment of 3.4 million.

It is a five-year category one TSA.

It has a one-year base.

The estimated cost of renovation and improvements is 2,570,000.

The hard cost uh 2,470,000, soft cost 100,000.

It is the purpose is to convert an existing structure that I believe was the former Triple A warehousing into an auto body repair shop in state-of-the-art uh repair facility that will act as also a training center along with the manufacturing uh firms of automobiles will send their technicians to the training to the facility to train employees with um advanced skills in auto and auto body repair.

The applicant expects to create between 10 and 15 new jobs.

As a result of that, it is a long-established business in the city or province.

And I might add, Madam Chair, before you bring the applicant and their counsel up, that um they were asked to appear before a community meeting in ward four, where this is located, and they did attend, and I believe they were they gave uh satisfactory testimony to the local council person as well.

And I was there as well, Madam Chair.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We have uh attorney Nicholas Heeman and uh Peter Petrarca with us, please.

I got ahead of myself.

Uh the fiscal note from the assessor, sorry.

Stay right here, gentlemen.

The fiscal note, uh Madam Chair, that in this case um there was a um total savings to the applicant based on only a five-year uh presentation.

The base tax today is only uh 99,320 based on a value of 3.4 million.

At the end of the five-year period, that value will rise to $6,078.

The tax at that point will be $177,489.

The total savings to the applicant is $152,202 over the five-year period.

Once again, under section 3.11, the POX and recreation fee based on the value of uh savings for the applicant of $152,000, 7% POX and recreation fee would be a total of $10,654 payable and installments over the five-year period.

Likewise, under section 3.14, the monitoring fee at 0.001% of the total project value of $2,570 would result in an annual monitoring fee payable to the city of $2,570, again to offset the cost of implementation and monitoring the TSA over the five-year life.

Thank you, Madam Chair.

Thank you.

Madam Chair, members of the committee, Nicholas Heeman for Generation Realty, uh, which is the entity owned by the Petraca family that owns Providence Auto Body.

Uh there's no residential aspect to this whatsoever.

Um this is purely commercial, and it is a application for tax stabilizations that is designed to keep Providence Auto Body in Providence.

Uh over the years, uh Providence Auto Body, I mean, I think we all see the storefront office space, but really it's three buildings kind of dispersed throughout the fourth ward and intertwined between residential areas.

Um they've outgrown it.

They've outgrown it.

And it's hard to find space in the city uh to be able to do what they need to do, which is to modernize their operation.

So this is a state-of-the-art auto-body repair facility and auto-body training facility.

Mr.

Mancini indicated that it would create 10 to 15 permanent jobs.

They're not jobs, they're careers.

Their employees don't leave, they stay.

Their employees are being paid to work in in their current facility and in this facility between 30 and 50 dollars an hour.

They have auto-body uh employees that make over 150,000 a year.

And these aren't people that went to Ivy League schools, they're people who have blue-collar on-the-job training, and they have a problem in their industry that they can't find people to do these jobs.

Many of the schools push students that have an interest in automotive fields into uh, you know, your classic auto repair, but not into auto body.

Uh so what they've done with this facility is their plan is, and they've been in long discussions to partner with New England Tech, uh, to partner with career and technical high schools to give kids and students a pathway from wherever they are in their education into a career in the auto body industry, uh, such that they may go on to be the next John Petraca and have the auto body business change their life the same way it changed uh the Petraca family's life.

Um not only do they want to keep it in Providence, but they want to keep it in the fourth ward.

They're all from the fourth ward, they're all from the Charles Street neighborhood.

Um of the only times in my 14 years of doing tax stabilizations where I ever went to a neighborhood meeting and was well received because the Petraca family has stood by this neighborhood, stood by the city and the community for many many years.

Uh so this is a project that's very important to them.

Uh it is uh you know, purely internal construction, so we don't have fancy renderings to show you uh because it is a workplace.

Um thing that's not mentioned in the fiscal note is in addition to the construction aspect of this, uh, which is just under three million dollars, there's also over a million dollars in property that will be taxed on a tangible tax rate, and that is not subject to a tax stabilization.

That'll be taxed as full rate from day one once it's all together, and that should generate eighty thousand dollars uh in total tangible taxes.

Obviously, those are a little harder to predict because of depreciation over time, but there's no tax break there, and that equipment isn't stagnant, right?

Some of that needs to be replaced every five years with new equipment, the tax goes back up seven years, fifteen years, depending on what we're talking about.

So you put that together with what they'll be paying in the first year, and that'll get you the same, just about the same numbers if it was just a real estate play with no TSA.

So this is a real investment, it's an investment in uh the future of their business, it will keep them there.

Uh and Peter can talk a little bit more about um their vision for their training program and uh you know the types of uh people that uh they'll be able to help in doing that.

Wonderful, Chair members of the committee, Peter Patraca, co-worker of Providence Auto Body.

Uh Nick explained it all.

The only thing I would add is that when we were when we had the vision of designing this location, we partnered with several manufacturers who actually designed the blueprints for this location because right now in the industry it's very very difficult.

I shouldn't say that it's very expensive to send the tech tech to training.

Our Mercedes Benz Tech as an example needs to go every six months to Dallas at a cost of fifteen thousand dollars.

So it's thirty thousand dollars a year for that one tech.

What we have strive to do, and we're going to do with the manufacturers, we're going to keep that in-house.

So we don't have to spend that cost on the manufacturers.

We're going to spend that training more people.

So we'll be able to offer more jobs to more people from all walks of life.

It doesn't matter what you do, it doesn't matter your educational background, your status, if you're willing to work and willing to learn, you can have a career at Providence Auto Body and in the Auto Body Industries.

Thank you for your time and your attention.

Thank you very much.

Anyone else on this matter?

No.

Okay.

I just have uh some housekeeping uh that I want to uh reference before we conclude our public hearing, and that is um there is a schedule on that is missing from the Royal Little Little Matter, which is item four.

Um it uh just expresses um the um calculation of taxes on for the years uh applicable.

I need to add that, so I am going to add it and we'll vote to add it in committee immediately thereafter, um, hereafter.

Um, so that's gonna happen.

And then I also want to make mention that section seven of the um uh tax uh stabilization ordinances.

There's a section and three, um there's a uh language in the first three um that I want to change to match the language that is in the royal little.

It's a simple thing, it's uh it's just basically um changing the language for notice and cure on to read or designee of the city council um as uh royal little does the others state notice of cure uh shall be uh outside council hired by the city council.

So I think the language in uh in the Royal Little item four is the language we want to use throughout.

So we're gonna make that change.

Um if there is anyone in the uh um audience here that would like to speak on any of these matters that hasn't already signed up going once, going twice, going three times.

I am closing the public hearing on these four matters.

Okay, and we're gonna switch over.

We're staying in this room for um our next meeting for a meeting where we can vote on these items.

All right, madam clerk, are you gonna tell us when here's your sheets?

Does everybody have the partner?

Right?

Yeah, I think we're gonna be able to get the welcome to the committee on finance regular meeting to the state, January 2 on rise of the public hearing.

It is six seventeen, excuse me, six eighteen to all commit to order.

Madam Clerk, would you finally read the goal?

Chairwoman Ryan.

Vice Chairman Taylor, Councillor Antibois.

Councilwoman Graves, present, councillor Sanchez.

We have five present, we have a quorum.

I put my microphone on.

Um I am going to ask for a motion to wave the readings of item one through four and take all matters together.

So move.

Motion made by Vice Chair Taylor, seconded by Councilwoman and Devoir.

All in favor, aye, any opposed, ayes have it.

Motion carries.

So I'd like to ask um Chief Mancini if you can make a summary statement on these.

Um does he need to get to he does.

Well, different please raise your right hand.

Do you swear under penalty of perjury that the testimony you're about to give is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?

I do.

State your name for the record.

Lawrence J.

Mancini, Chief Financial Officer of the City of Providence.

So, Madam Chair, members of the committee, thank you once again for the opportunity.

You have heard tonight a public uh public testimony as well as previously in committee when the matters are referred here for public uh vetting.

The administration and the finance department are in full support of all four of these items having given valid testimony, and we ask for your consideration and give it our uh recommendation of approval.

Thank you very much.

Thank you.

Okay.

So noted.

Thank you.

Okay.

Um I on these four matters.

Um I would like to make the uh add for the exhibit A on item four on which reflects the schedule.

It was just uh missing in the drafting.

Um we all have it.

Do we have it?

Does the attorney for Royal Little have the schedule?

And are there any issues with it?

No.

It's been reviewed by the administration, prepared by the solicitor.

Um and I would like to make a motion to enter to remove the exhibit A that appears in the ordinance and replace it a substitute exhibit A that you have before you motion made by uh Vice Chair Taylor, uh seconded by Councilwoman Andebar.

All in favor, any opposed, eyes have it, motion carries.

Okay, so we have exhibit A on Royal Little.

Then the next item I would like to do is on one, two, and three.

I would like to change the paragraph in section seven, notice and cure.

Uh it's actually section seven point one on so that I don't know what line down one, two, three, four, five, six.

I've got uh starting on the end of line six.

Um the sentence reads if said event of default is not cured within the initial cure period, then the city solicitor in parens or designee of the city council close parents shall notify Yadayada, the property owner in writing.

Um so the changes to uh insert or designee of the city council versus hiring uh an attorney on motion.

May I have a motion?

Motion made by Vice Chair Taylor, seconded by councilwoman and ball, all in favor.

Any opposed, eyes have it, motion carries.

Okay, that just cleans things up and makes it easier.

Obviously, the council, if they want to hire an attorney, they can do that.

Um so it's the council or designee.

All right, that cleans those items up.

Um are there any questions?

Committee members on these matters.

Does anyone have any questions on any of the matters presented before us tonight that you would like further explanation on?

I don't have a question, I have a comment.

Please.

Um I just like to say that um for the royal um thing for the auto.

I think this is a fantastic program.

Um I think it's long overdue, and for them to keep it in-house and not have to go all over the country to get the training, it's fabulous.

Um I just can't wait for it to be built and for it to start functioning.

Great.

Anyone else?

Thank you.

I'd like to make a motion we approve one through four motion made by oh, excuse me, councilman Vargas would like please.

Councilman, please.

I did not uh councilman Vargas, thank you.

To answer your question, I've been involved for 12 years, almost 12 years in on in these in TSAs that we've worked on.

Uh Royal Little does stand out as being very unique.

Um, and it is um something that is welcome by the community.

Um we had the council person ask the finance committee if the applicant could come to the to his community and make a presentation.

They did so on and they were welcomed in the community.

Um it certainly is a wholesome uh project.

Um it does create skilled jobs.

Um it's sorely needed.

Um, and I applaud the applicant as well as the attorney for presenting.

Also, not to take away from the other TSAs that have been before us.

The I know a lot of work has gone into them.

I think they're well thought out on support our uh need for housing units.

Um so I think providence it's a win-win for all of the TSAs that are before us today.

So anyone else want to make any comment?

Hearing none.

I'd like to make a motion to approve one through four.

Motion made by Vice Chair Taylor, seconded by Councilman Andebar.

All in favor.

Would you like to second it as well?

Okay, so we have a second by councilwoman Andebar and Councilwoman Graves.

I'm sorry, she's right in front of my eye here.

All in favor, aye.

Any opposed?

Ayes have it.

Motion carries.

Items one through four are approved.

Thank you very much, guys.

That that's uh it's a lot of hard work that went into that.

I appreciate it.

Okay.

I would like to uh ask for a motion to take item out of order here.

Can we take item six?

Um please.

So moved.

Uh next on motion made by councilman Taylor, seconded by Councilman Sanchez.

All in favor, aye, any opposed.

I just have it.

Motion carries.

We're gonna hear item six.

Madam Clerk, could you please read item six into the record?

Communication from his honor the mayor, dated January 16th, 2026, informing the honorable members of the city council that pursuant to sections 302 B and 701 of the Providence Home Rule Charter of 1980, as amended in public law, chapter 45 through 50, sections one through 31, passed in 1987.

He is this day appointing Andrew Bramson of 30 Sergeant Avenue Providence, Rhode Island, 02906 as a region one member of the Providence School Board for a term to expire on January 1st, 2029, and respectfully submits the same for your approval.

Mr.

Bramson replaces Miss Hughes, whose term has expired.

Mr.

Bramson, please step up.

Madam Clerk, could you kindly swear, Mr.

Branson in?

Please raise your right hand.

Do you swear under penalty of perjury that the testimony you're about to give is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth?

I do.

And please state your name for the record.

Andrew Bramson, 30 Sergeant Avenue.

Mr.

Bramson, congratulations.

Thank you.

Please tell us about yourself.

We have your resume in front of us on what we'd like to hear you speak about why you want to do this.

And uh how do you think your background can help in this board?

Thank you, madam chair, members of the committee.

Good evening.

Uh thank you for the opportunity to be here.

Um, as as the chairwoman mentioned, I am uh the the mayor's uh uh recommended appointee for region one to join the Providence Public School Board.

Uh you have the resume in front of you.

Uh I'll just give you some some highlights and talk a little bit about my skills, experiences, and and background.

Um I've been a Providence resident for nearly 25 years, and uh in those years, um have worked almost every day in the nonprofit sector in the education space and have worked uh with Providence Public Schools in one way, shape, or form, whether that's working in early care and education, uh third grade reading, uh, middle school social and emotional development, curriculum development, uh, college access and success.

Um my work, and I'll talk a little bit about my my work more, uh, has involved with Providence Public Schools.

So I have a really strong background from that perspective and know the the district, uh know the district well.

Um tomorrow, my son will be starting his uh second semester of his junior year at classical high school, and I have been a proud PPSD parent since 2009, which is hard to imagine, 17 years, and so uh really have that full range of experience, elementary, middle, and high school.

Uh, have a daughter that graduated uh from in 2022.

So bringing that that parent perspective is something also that I think is is helpful.

Um, in my day work, I uh I'm the CEO at Onward We Learn.

That's the state's largest college access and success program.

We help young people become the first in their families to attend and complete college.

We have over 1,000 PPSD students that currently participate in our program uh in every middle school and every high school uh in the city of Providence.

So we I work very closely at the building level and at the central office level with PPSD, understanding uh the challenges around academic enrichment, uh career education and post-secondary preparation.

Uh so I'll bring those uh experiences as well.

And then as you may also see, uh I'm currently the chair of the Central Falls School Board and have been on that role for almost nine years.

That's a state appointed position by the Board of Council on Elementary and Secondary Education.

So even though I'm a Providence resident, I have been serving on that board and am currently the chair.

And so what's wonderful about that is even though it's a much smaller district, it's only six schools, it's 1.2 square miles, it's 2600 students.

There's a lot of overlap of things where relative to superintendent evaluations, uh, school construction, uh students' test scores, uh, collective bargaining agreements, and I've handled all of those things.

And as a result, uh, if confirmed, I will be able to really say that I will be ready to start uh this job on day one uh with a lot of experience uh that I'll be able to bring.

Happy to answer your questions.

I I may not have all the answers.

Nobody has all the answers to the dilemmas that we're facing, but uh looking forward to be parting part of an exciting board and uh happy to answer any questions that you have.

Wonderful committee members, Councilwoman Anteblock.

Thank you, Chairwoman.

Um I first want to just thank Andrew for applying.

Um I'm really excited for you to serve on the province public school board, and I also just wanted to tell my colleagues, Andrew and I had a really lovely conversation where we sat down before he applied and talked through um his passion for the schools, all of his experience.

I just want to share how excited I am that he both did end up applying and then has now moved forward as the mayor's nominee.

Um I think he brings a wealth of experience and um will be a real um he brings some different qualities to the board that I don't think we currently have, so it'll be a nice balance, and especially as we're looking to take back the schools in the next year or period of time yet to be named.

Um I think Andrew's experience also in Central Falls, where they're going through a similar challenge will be especially helpful.

But I was really excited I just wanted to share as the region one uh person here on this committee tonight.

Um I'm really excited about his uh nomination and we'll be voting yes, and I hope that you will as well.

Wonderful.

Anyone else?

Councilman Taylor.

So quickly, I know you mentioned your son, but I also have to acknowledge your lovely wife because I've dealt with Kate in the past when she worked for the journal, and she's a very great person as well as you and the family.

So thank you for applying.

And thank you.

We'll be celebrating 20 years of marriage later this year.

So the sign of a great marriage is graduating.

The sign of a great marriage is when each person thinks they're the lucky one.

And I I feel like I'm the lucky one.

Congratulations.

Anyone else?

Councilman Sanchez.

Just a quick question.

Uh so do you plan on continuing to serve um on the uh Central Falls uh School Board as well as the Providence School Board?

Yes, just for a very short period of time.

I'm gonna be I'm hoping to serve out my term in Central Falls through the end of the school year.

So it's only maybe four more meetings.

As you may know, Central Falls will be opening at a new high school in March.

I've worked very hard on that over the past few years, so I want to be involved with that and to celebrate that.

And as as the chair referenced, uh Central Falls is also going through a similar process around local control, and and I think it's important that the current board have continuity and leadership at least for the next few months while those issues are discussed and debated.

So my expectation is is that I will be able to uh serve concurrently uh through June and then uh be stepping away from CF and uh and then focusing full time on Providence.

Awesome.

Um and I mean I could have a lot of questions, but it seems like we'll we'll get to them at some point.

It seems like uh you're ready to start working with your uh colleagues on the province school board ASAP to work on all the challenges and celebrate the the good stuff that's happening too, because I think there is a lot of good stuff that's happening, especially around building uh construction uh here in Providence.

Um but just a question uh that I ask most school board members.

Um what do you see uh your role as uh Providence public school board member uh when it comes to uh the growth of charter schools uh here in Providence?

So I can sort of draw on the experience that I have in Central Falls, where there's a obviously also a very large central uh charter uh uh community.

Um I'm a product of pro of public schools.

My children have attended Providence Public Schools, so you know my sense is that I want to grow and make Providence Public Schools so attractive that every family is going to want to, when faced with those choices, choose to send their their kids to Providence Public Schools.

Um that will always be the way that I approach these issues.

Um families do want choice.

There are choices that are available.

Um, and I think that uh as I look at um things like accountability scores, that we need to be holding uh charter schools from a performance perspective to the same or even higher standards than we do for our own public schools, and uh if those schools are performing great, and if they're not then the state should take necessary actions.

Awesome.

Thank you.

Okay, councilwoman Craig.

Another comment.

I like your last answer.

Okay.

Councilwoman Vargas.

I can anyone else?

Thank you.

Everybody good.

I'd like to make a motion.

We approve number six.

Before we do that, I would just like to say I'm very impressed with your background, your resume, your commitment to providence.

And I thank you for making application.

We look for, I think you have our um confidence that you're gonna do a great job, and we're thrilled that uh you're stepping forward with that.

I'd like to make a motion.

We approve number six.

Motion made to approve by uh Vice Chair Taylor, seconded by Councilman Antebois.

All in favor, aye, any opposed, eyes have it, motion carries.

Matter passes.

You will go before the full council for a vote on at the next council meeting, right?

Council, uh Madam Clerk.

Yes, okay, yes.

I'll look forward to seeing you there.

Thank you.

We can't wait.

Thank you.

Okay.

The um what do we have?

Uh item five, madam clerk.

Would you read that item into the record?

Yep.

Resolution requesting the abatement of Rhode Island Business Development Institute's property taxes for tax year 2025.

Who do we have to speak on this matter?

Would you like to fit here?

Yes, you have to be sworn in.

All right.

You don't get any special treatment.

Please raise your right hand.

Do you swear under penalty of perjury that the testimony you're about to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth?

I do.

And please state your name for the record.

Aaron Easter Gardner, Deputy Chief of Staff of the City Council.

Kind of feels very low.

So members of the committee, I am um here to discuss the resolution before you.

Um this evening is a very um straightforward you know issue.

Um it's a resolution that would abate the um current year's property taxes for the Rhode Island Business Development Institute, and it's located at um the property located at 220 Smith Street.

Um and specifically, as you see in the resolution, it's plat 67 um lot 100, and the total amount is for 10,976 and 28 cents.

Um also you should know that um Senate Bill 1132 introduced by Senator Basillion last session, um, passed the House and the Senate and it became effective um July of 2025.

Um but however the legislation was meant to be retroactive, and it was not.

Um it is just prospective.

So at this point, um, you know, the development institute can no longer legally be taxed by the city moving forward, but that bill remains.

And um the request was made to the city to you know introduce this resolution.

So I'll say that um documentation for the organization was submitted to the um committee, and I know that's something that may be added as an exhibit.

Um, but after discussing the issue and you know the tax year issues, um the administration requested that the council um pass this resolution um so that they can move forward and beat the taxes for year 2025, and that's all.

And if there's any questions, I'll happy to answer them.

Okay.

Um question.

Uh Councilwoman Andeboir, I'm sorry.

Thank you.

Just a super quick question.

So if it's fiscal year 2025, do they already pay the the 10,000 or 11,000?

We're reimbursing it, or they just haven't they haven't paid yet because they knew we might do that.

My understanding is that it has not been paid.

Okay.

Any other questions for Mr.

Easter Gardner?

No questions.

Okay.

Um councilwoman.

Did you want to no councilwoman Gray?

It's it's you submitted this.

Do you have anything to you'd like to say?

I just want to say we had put this out um on the table before because I had we had a meeting.

Myself, the mayor, um, members from the city um council, members from the uh legislation, um it was um stillion, and um oh god, I can't and rep I um it was decided that they had made a mistake, they thought that it was supposed to be paid.

Um I mean as of that day, it did not get down that way.

We talked it over.

It was said all we had to do was bring it down to the floor, and it will be fine.

But it was decided at that meeting with the mayor, myself, um, I believe.

Uh to Regir was there, and um the rep and the senator in Aaron, and it was decided that all we had to do was bring it there, lay it on the table.

When we got it here, for some reason, it was pulled back.

So we did not vote that night, and it was recommended to come back to the um finance committee meeting, and that's why we're here.

There were some other factors that were played into this that you are most of you, I think all of you are aware of um about um some other monies and some other mistakes.

So that was one of the reasons why it was like we really need to do something and do it right because they were slighted before, and I don't think it was maliciously.

I just think it was just something that felt through.

Who was slighted?

I'm sorry.

Um RIBA was was slighted um for something else.

And um, so we were not gonna penalize them twice.

So thank you.

Did you have any other thoughts that you wanted to share with us?

Okay.

Um Aaron, um so the ordinance that's came it is before us is in the name of Rhode Island Business Development Institute.

And I had a conversation with you wherein we pulled 990s and for the uh Rhode Island Business Development Institute, and they were at a different address on 232 Smith Street.

Um and Reba, RI uh Black Business Association, is it 220?

What is the relationship between uh Rhode Island Black Business Association and Rhode Island Business Development Institute?

I have two uh 990s filed by each organization on 2023.

I had asked uh for updated 990.

Um and I also asked for someone to help clarify the entity as well as the address uh issues the difference between what is in the ordinance and what is presented in the 990.

So my understanding is that um that so the organizations, their relationship is that there's the same principle.

I think um, I guess executive director or board of leadership, there's just the same leadership behind them, but they are separate entities.

Um I can't really speak for you know everything with the business.

I'm not directly affiliated, but what I can say is that previously they were at a different address, and I believe in 23 or 24, they had moved to the property at officially um the business development institute moving it to 220 um Smith Street, and then they received the tax bill, and then they moved forward to request the abatement.

That's the history that I understand.

Just if I may jump in quick, it was 2024 is when they had their ribbon cutting.

Um May of 2024.

So that probably explains why we wouldn't have the updated 990.

If it's a different address.

In the legislation that passed up on the hill, what what entity are they referring to?

The legislation that passed on the hill that I mentioned with the Senate bill from Senator Basilian, it is for the Rhode Island Business Development Institute, and it speaks to 220 Smith Street, and it also has the plot and lot number that I mentioned previously in my testimony.

Okay, okay.

Um Chief Mancini, could you uh join us on the taxing?

Uh is it Reba or is it the Rhode Island Business Development Institute?

I'm chair, members of the committee.

Um today I was advised by the assessor.

She had done a business search at the Rhode Island Secretary of State's office.

And what is a common business practice, which is so fictitious name, and it doesn't mean anything nefarious, it just means that a person or entity that would be operating on the more than one legal name, in this case a corporation for other business purposes has the right to file for a fictitious name.

So for the first time ever, I saw that there was two additional entities listed as fictitious name approval.

I believe one of them was the economic development institute of Rhode Island on uh there about something of that nature, and uh similar of the Rhode Island Business Development Institute.

So I don't know if that has any bearing on it, and I do know that there were 990s that were requested in two different names, REBA, RIBBA, Rhode Island uh uh Black Business Association.

So they are two they are two separate entities, and I believe they're filed from two separate addresses in Smith Street, one at 220, one at 230.

Um, but staff wasn't able to do a complete check on that.

And so if there was concern on the part of that by either administration or uh the council as to who the applicant is that's seeking this benefit, uh if you will, and what legislation in fact was filed at the state house for consistency, I'd have to check on that to be sure that I want to just say for the record, uh Madam Chair, to Councilwoman Graves' point.

I did attend the session with herself, uh, members of the council staff, members of the administration and uh representatives of the state, including state uh state senator salient and representative BM.

And to be clear, this is unique because it's rare that the council considers an abatement.

And I say that with goodwill, and there are reasons for that.

The tax rule is protected by a by certification.

Once the certification has been granted, the reliance upon that revenue is important.

In the case of in this one instance, I think by exception only, it was determined that the legislation, while well-meaning, said upon passage.

In the typical legislation world, when you hear the word upon passage, it means effective immediately, except for in the world of property taxes.

The reason is because it cannot be effective any sooner than the next tax date, which the measurement date is always December 31 of the end of the year to become effective the following July when the tax bills are issued.

So whether it was technicality or otherwise, and while there were there was belief that they could introduce legislation that is retroactive, the law department has opined that it's rare that you introduce legislation as a corrective measure to go retroactive, particularly in a different session.

So to introduce a bill this session to correct retroactively what was approved last session, probably would not be prudent.

So, with all that said, I believe that's the reason why the administration did say if this council of this body were to consider this and approve it, the administration would go along with signing off on it.

But I want to be clear that for purposes of setting precedent, it would be unique and rare that the administration would support that simply because it's very rare that this happens in other councils.

I've been party to a witness to where other councils were asked to consider abatements, and they knew the impact of that, and they decided against that.

I only say that for the record.

That's not meant to demean this application.

So with that said, given that there's some information that needs to be tidied up, along with the testimony I just provided.

I don't know if you would want to take that under advisement this evening or take it under advisement uh subsequently.

Okay.

Um questions, committee members.

Councilman Bargas, do you have a question?

Yes.

It works.

Uh finally.

I would like to know if these uh nonprofit has a 501c3, though.

Which one they use it like they use in the Reba one or they use in these one and under which name is this building in it.

Again, a good question, Councilman.

And I say this, and Madam Councilman, please understand.

I know that's a constituent of yours, so this is well-meaning testimony that I'm providing.

Absolutely.

But testimony that I only learned about today when we did a diligence check on that.

There are two, there was two cop two 990s that were filed for two separate entity names.

One is a 501c3, your typical nonprofit entity.

The other one was filed as a 501c6, which is a separate entity, and I believe a C6 is like a membership or uh activity associated with something to do with perhaps even the economic development portion of it.

But they're not identical.

They're not both 501c3s.

They are one is a 501c6, uh, which happens to be that's the code under the Internal Revenue Service that assigns what type of tax exempt entity you are, and it has a bearing on your donors.

The donors who make donations to a 501c3 entity can rely heavily on the fact that it is tax deductible, but a 501c6 may have limitations.

So it's a tax question.

I haven't had the opportunity, madam chair, to go into any in-depth that information was provided to me uh sometime earlier this afternoon in preparation for this speeding this evening on the other matters, and I apologize just before I arrived here today.

I was at a school building committee meeting, so I had a little time to spend with staff to review this.

I asked if there was any new updates they had not provided me yet, but it may be in the best interest of all parties to take another look at this so that we know that if this does have consideration for approval, that you are approving the correct entity at the correct address under the correct terms and conditions, which support of the correct documents.

That's where I'm going.

Any questions, committee members?

Any further questions on this?

Councilman Vargas, yes.

Because I feel we are like I'm asking if you want to ask questions to Aaron.

I don't he don't have anything to do with the institution, and I don't see nobody from the institution here, like it's a polygon.

We need to ask questions.

Like the question I did ask that would be for their account.

And then it's it's a great institution, but we we need more information.

Thank you.

It's a fabulous institution.

They do wonderful work.

It's this isn't have anything to do with the quality, caliber, or intent of their work.

This is about making sure that madam chair, if I may accurate, and that we're providing forgiveness to the appropriate organization in the appropriate amount.

If I may, madam chair, the comment that was just made by Councilman Vargas is valid because that probably is what the administration should do with the finance department or session should reach out to the executive director or the person that has authority that knows about the interlocutory directories of both of these organizations.

That's an important and key element.

One that was not previously aware of during the discussion that councilman graves mentions, and that I did attend.

So I only found the difference when I did some digging, and I was totally confused as to what entity was asking for what, and I was also confused at the different uh 501c3 versus six so forth.

Councilwoman and what this is just a super quick question, but if we know that they owe 10,976 and 28 cents, do we not know what entity owes that?

Like, isn't that affiliated with one of the organizations?

And that's who we're abating.

Yes, it would be, and the assessor would have that information.

Okay, but we don't have that ready for tonight.

I'm not sure if the name is listed on the docket this evening is the entity of record, so I would be I would rather be sure about that particular we don't have documentation.

Okay, councilman and gray.

The reason no one's here is because we waited to the last minute.

I didn't even know about this being on this docket.

They did not know.

We have in the middle of a stoke, that's why no one's here.

Number one, number two, it's supposed to have been um the 501c3.

And that is the one for education.

That's why there's and that's under the um river.

So there was there are things that are already known.

Um if there was any other problems, we went through this.

We talked about this for almost a year before I even had the meeting with the mayor and all these other things.

And it was already said, okay, we're gonna do this.

And then we came to the meeting.

No, we're not gonna do it.

We went to the meeting.

Yes, we are gonna do it.

My thing is I think we're playing a little word games.

I understand the confusion.

Um, but the one that is listed for that address is the one that applied for the tax thing, and it was all that information was given at that meeting, if I'm not mistaken, and I'm not sure I'm sure I'm not.

Councilwoman, what meeting are you referring to?

I'm referring to the meeting that I had with the mayor, and these two gentlemen, and the other um reps and stuff.

And I don't have the minutes before me.

I wish I did, and at that time, Lisa was there, everyone was there, questions were asked.

Okay, and and all that other stuff was already decided.

Okay.

So I feel like we're rehashing stuff.

If that's what was needed, then they should have somebody should have said something about the two different entities.

So I don't think she they should be penalized because they're not here in the middle of the story.

Well, that's the way it feels like council.

Okay, Francis, you have a question.

Um it seems like I can't hear you, councilman.

Um, so these issues kind of uh arise from time to time.

Um it seems like it's just a technical correction, maybe that might be needed on who exactly we are forgiving.

Um, so I would ask uh Aaron is is it possible to pass this and figure out that information before next Thursday?

Committee decided to pass yes or no between now and council meeting.

Because it it seems like it's just internal navigation, maybe a phone call with Reba to get this straightened out, right?

Uh we pass whatever we can take.

Right.

If I may, madam chair.

So how do you think that's a good thing?

And I want to be and I clearly want to facilitate the matter before the council.

With respect to abatements of any type, the abatement must be as exact as it appears on your docket, and the vote has to be accurate in order for the abatement to be effective in the legal sense of the assessor preparing an instrument later that would abate the taxes and remove it from the tax rule.

That's under state law that cannot be altered.

For the record.

I agree.

Can't councilman Antebore.

Thank you, Chairwoman.

I guess to um Councilwoman Sanchez's point though.

I'm I'm wondering if it's possible if if if we are in agreement that we'd like to abate this as a one-time exception, that is not a normal thing, with all the caveats we heard from Chief Mancini, which I appreciate.

But if the question is just is it the Rhode Island Business Development Institute or is it Reba?

Um if we approved it with that, if we approve this saying we need to clarify that, can we fix that on the floor next Thursday so that we don't hold this up an additional you know however many weeks?

Because I know it was on the agenda, I think like in November or something.

So if that's possible, I know some things can be amended on the floor, some things can't.

So maybe this is a question for Mr.

Shavrini, but if we could pass it with like both names, I don't know what the process is, but pass it like whoever the occupant of 232 Smith Street is.

Um guys, um I'm when I want to interrupt, I'm sorry.

This is a serious action that we're taking to abate taxes.

I think any resident of the city of Providence would love us to be here discussing uh abating their taxes.

It's a big deal.

The tax on uh um uh bills were certified on when we went into the year.

This is under that certification.

We have to do our due diligence.

It's not acceptable to have a conversation over the phone in somebody's office.

The point is we need to if we take action, we need to do it in a public meeting in a public place, and we need to get all of our ducks in order.

We need to have all the documentation before us so that we can make an informed decision and that we can prove to the general public that we are good stewards of um the finances of the city of Providence.

So with that, this has nothing to do, we're not casting any asphygence on uh this organization.

I do think that we this just can't be done under the cover of darkness.

Um and we owe the residents of the city of Providence who are going to bear the burden of an additional tax because we're forgiving, we're attempting to forgive tax on somebody that we've gone through the steps that we know what we're talking about, and that we have the reason that it comes to the council is so that you can it can be done in an open meeting, not be talked about around a conference table.

Um, so with that, I'd like to move to continue to give the um administration and Aaron the opportunity, as well as councilwoman Grace, the opportunity to cross all the T's, dot all the I's make sure we know what we're talking about, and then we'll come back the next finance council committee meeting, probably next Tuesday, on and present it.

I I don't want this to go on much longer on, but that being said, I want it to be done right.

So with that, I'd like to ask for a um motion.

Excuse me, excuse me.

Do you can I have a motion, please?

Well, I was actually gonna ask for the city solicitor to chime in to see what he thinks of it before I make a motion because I know I think councilwoman Andabar asked that and I didn't really hear anything.

So I'm not on the tax expectation of this uh process and open up the door liability can so abundance of caution to get it correct.

I think waiting here one week to have Mr.

Mingacini and Aaron find the exact and come back to the committee with that information.

They can examine testimony to the committee and make the correction.

I'm just concerned about what you're tax paying coming forward.

And if this was incorrect, it's like oh we'll just pass it to the road.

Okay.

Councilman Brades?

Okay.

No, I don't have a question.

I I have a statement.

Um I think that's fine.

If we're gonna do that, we need to do it next week.

And it needs, and then we can vote on it on Thursday.

If we vote on it uh next Tuesday, and then on Thursday, which is uh is it next Thursday that we have?

Yeah.

Next Thursday will be uh um I don't think that'll councilwoman excuse me, councilwoman.

I think um I can commit to you that I'll have it as long as the chief and Aaron will agree that they'll work to get this resolved so that we can call this to be heard next Tuesday in finance.

Um and then Madam Clerk, if we pass it out, whatever our decision, up or down, um will it is that enough time to get it on the next council meeting.

Okay, so it won't get on that meeting, but it'll get on the next one.

All right, so let's let's um I'd like to ask for motion to continue to give these two gentlemen an opportunity to work through all of the questions that have been surfaced and to make sure what we're hearing in an open public setting is uh is true and accurate and that we have all the information that we need to make an appropriate decision.

Well, from the advice of council, uh I think we should make the motion to uh continue it, but I also don't want to continue it for too long, and I think all parties should be here as well as Reber and everybody so they know about it so we can make an informed decision at the next finance chair meeting.

So I make a motion we continue.

Motion to commit and can continue made by Vice Chair Taylor, seconded by second by councilman Anderbaugh.

All in favor, aye.

Any opposed?

Any opposed?

Ayes have it.

Motion carries the matter is continued.

May I have a motion to uh adjourn?

Second made by Councilman Sanchez, seconded by Councilman Taylor, all in favor, aye.

Ayes have it, motion carries.

Thank you.