OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Warwick City Council Finance Committee and Regular Council Meeting - November 3, 2025

City Council Meetings — Monday, November 3, 2025
BodyWarwick, Rhode Island
SessionCity Council Meetings
DateMonday, November 3, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 4:25:21

Transcript — Verbatim
5:54

Good evening everyone.

5:56

Good evening, everyone.

5:57

May I have your attention.

6:01

City Council Finance Committee is called to order at five o'clock.

6:08

First order of business.

6:09

I need a motion to accept the minutes of the finance committee agenda from October 20th.

6:15

So move.

6:16

We have a motion.

6:17

We have a second.

6:19

Any questions?

6:21

All in favor?

6:22

Aye.

6:22

Aye.

6:23

Thank you.

6:29

On the finance committee and need a motion for the acceptance of the minutes on the October 20th meeting.

6:36

So move.

6:37

Second.

6:38

We have a motion.

6:38

We have a second.

6:39

Any further discussion?

6:41

All in favor?

6:42

Aye.

6:42

Aye.

6:43

Thank you.

6:48

So we're gonna go right to PCR 127-25 bids.

6:52

The first item up is 2026-256 one.

7:00

That is the Button Woods Avenue Pipeline replacement.

7:08

Thank you.

7:26

Good evening.

7:27

Christy Morredi Public Works.

7:29

Um the water division is requesting um to engage in professional services with Stantec Consulting for the Buttonwoods Avenue Pipeline replacement in Brushnet Cove.

7:38

Um this is a pipeline that runs from I forget, but it goes to Ogam Beach anyway.

7:45

Um it goes through Brutt Brushnet Cove.

7:47

The pipeline is actually leaking and it's a mean that services um the Oakland Beach area.

7:53

And um it's uh if it's not repaired and water is um only rooted in one way, it will affect the pressure, water quality, volume, and fire protection for areas of Oakland Beach, obviously uh densely populated.

8:09

So with that, we are requesting to award to Stantec in the amount of 199,500.

8:19

Thank you, Christy.

8:21

Um why has it taken four years to deal with this issue after it exploded this is Buttonwoods.

8:34

Sorry.

8:35

This is this is um in brushnet cove.

8:37

This is not uh there was a uh there was a problem.

8:41

Um they had a water main break that was repaired, they were able to do that on the peninsula.

8:45

Um, but this is the pipeline that runs under Russia like through brushnett cove.

8:51

That didn't it didn't Lincoln Avenue exploded.

8:55

What please?

8:56

Lincoln Avenue did the Lincoln Avenue transmission main.

8:59

That's the one that we had a major problem with but it says here from background that the pipeline has been leaking for some time, and in 2021 it was determined that it was leaking at a rate of 30 gallons per minute, and from 2021 to 2025, it's because it wasn't addressed.

9:18

Um now it's leaking 7,000 gallons per minute.

9:21

And then of course it was taken offline.

9:24

That was my question.

9:25

Why did it take four years to react to it?

9:28

I I couldn't speak to that.

9:29

Um the the uh there was a different director in charge.

9:33

Um, I think for probably um a portion of uh the beginning of it in 2021, and then obviously um when Ty do Patroller was the director.

9:43

So I don't know um all the details of why this wasn't addressed previously, but we are requesting to address it now.

10:00

It says further on the scope of services um that the new pipeline will be installed via directional drilling to minimize environmental impacts.

10:05

What would those environmental impacts be?

10:09

So with directional drilling, um, there's a little less environmental red tape to work through.

10:14

Um, and that means that if they do the directional drilling, the water and the shoreline will not be affected.

10:20

Um, rather than if they tried to sleeve the pipe, that would be uh much more involved as far as environmental impact as well as um permitting and things like that.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Pensions And Benefits██████████████████████22%
Procedural███████████████15%
Land Use Planning██████████████14%
Public Safety█████████████13%
Procurement██████6%
Water And Wastewater Management█████5%
Budget Equity Analysis█████5%
Public Works Contracts███3%
Legal Affairs███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Warwick City Council Finance Committee and Regular Council Meeting - November 3, 2025

The Warwick City Council convened multiple committees (Finance, Public Properties/Land Use, Intergovernmental) followed by a full Council meeting on November 3, 2025. Major actions included approval of the 2025-2028 collective bargaining agreement with the Warwick Firefighters Local 2748, adoption of zoning amendments increasing minimum lot sizes for duplexes, and approval of several procurement contracts. The meeting began at 5:00 PM and concluded at 9:19 PM.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes: Approved minutes of the October 20, 2025 Finance Committee meeting.
  • Bids (PCR 127-25):
    • Buttonwoods Avenue Pipeline Replacement: Awarded to Stantec Consulting for $199,500 for design and construction oversight of a leaking water main under Brushneck Cove. Discussion included why the leak escalated from 30 gpm in 2021 to 7,000 gpm before being addressed.
    • Purchase of New Tires: Awarded to Sullivan Tire for $140,000 for a one-year period (January 1 – December 31, 2026). A percentage calculation error was corrected by the vendor.
    • Various Replacement Automotive Parts (Police): Contract split among five vendors (Action Auto, Elliott, East Coast, NAPA, O'Reilly's) for $110,000 over two years. Discussion noted O'Reilly's did not provide list prices, only a 41% discount.
    • State Street Pump Station Engineering Services: Awarded to Beta Group for $83,775, with work to be completed by December 31, 2026 (subject to material delays).
    • Mail Machine Lease: Five-year lease with Pitney Bowes for $59,563 under a cooperative contract, replacing an older machine.
    • Police Motorcycle Repairs: Approved as part of the consent calendar after discussion on whether to train in-house mechanics for Harley-Davidson repairs.
    • Windshield Replacement (Police): Additional $5,000 approved through March 31, 2026, after discussion about costs and insurance coverage.
    • Police Personnel Uniforms (Item 6): Held to November 17, 2025 meeting due to discrepancies in bid documents.
  • Abatements (PCR 128-25): Approved abatements totaling $19,247.93 after segregating four items ($1,546.59) due to a conflict of interest (Council President Sinapi recused). The four items were voted separately (PCR 130-25) and approved 8-0.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Michelle Comar (resident, Ward 1): Supported the zoning amendment to restore minimum lot sizes for duplexes, arguing that the current loophole allows overdevelopment (e.g., one house replaced by four units) without adequate infrastructure review.
  • Roberta Ridoni (resident, Pinehurst Avenue): Expressed concern about two duplexes (four families) being built on one lot in her neighborhood, disrupting the character.
  • Noah Craven (President, Warwick Firefighters Local 2748): Urged ratification of the fire contract, emphasizing parity with police, the importance of retaining personnel, and the union's cooperation on OPEB funding. He noted that 12 firefighters have left the department in 3.5 years due to pay disparities.
  • Timothy Howe (former councilman, Ward 3 resident): Supported the fire contract, highlighting the city's top safety ranking and the value of well-trained emergency services; argued against conflating national health care issues with local contracts.

Discussion Items

1. Firefighters' Collective Bargaining Agreement (PCR 126-25)

  • Contract Terms: Three-year agreement (July 1, 2025 – June 30, 2028) with wage increases of 4.25% annually (3% July 1 and 1.25% January 1 each year). Cost-of-living adjustments, step increases, and OPEB contributions (rising to 2% by end of contract) included. Net cost estimated at $2.8 million over three years, with a tax impact of $20/year for the median homeowner.
  • Key Provisions: Clothing/maintenance allowances increased by $50 each; a fifth rescue unit added (increasing minimum manning by 8); substitutions (shift trades) allowed for sick time; family sick leave deduction from sick balances; elimination of Boston schedule language; gear bag costs removed.
  • Legal Review: City Solicitor Walsh and his colleague confirmed that contract language regarding pension precedence over ordinances is prospective and not illegal.
  • Fiscal Concerns: Councilman Ricks argued the city lacks a sustainable plan for OPEB and pension liabilities, warning of nearly $1 billion in unfunded liabilities. Councilman Mudo questioned the fiscal note's completeness (e.g., step increases not itemized). Finance Director Lynn Proger defended the analysis, stating health care cost increases are independent of the contract.
  • Vote: Finance Committee deadlocked 4-4, sending the item to the full Council without recommendation. The full Council approved it 7-2 (Yes: Snappy, DeLouise, Foley, Gephott, Kirby, Mudo, Napa; No: Lattice, Ricks).

2. Zoning Ordinance Amendment (PCO 27-25)

  • Proposal: Reintroduce a table of minimum lot sizes for duplexes under special use permit (e.g., A7 zone: 10,500 sq. ft.; A10: 15,000; A15: 22,500; A40: 60,000). Also removed mandatory fence permits (except in historic districts) and adjusted drive-through canopy height.
  • Background: The table was inadvertently removed in a previous 2023 amendment that moved duplex review from the Council to the Planning Board. The administration reported that without the table, the Board had no standard to deny inappropriate proposals, leading to neighborhood complaints.
  • Amendment Attempt: Councilman Ricks motioned to make duplexes permitted by right (no special use permit), but the motion failed 1-8.
  • Vote on Original Proposal: Passed 6-3 (Yes: Snappy, Foley, Gephott, Kirby, Mudo, Napa; No: DeLouise, Lattice, Ricks). Two grammatical errors on page 1 were also corrected unanimously.

3. Native American Heritage Month (PCR 108-25)

  • Approved unanimously (9-0) recognizing November 2025 as Native American Heritage Month in Warwick.

4. Amendment to Council Rules (PCR 93-25)

  • Held to November 17, 2025 meeting.

Key Outcomes

  • Fire Contract Ratified (7-2): Approved with a total cost of about $2.8 million over three years, including salary increases and OPEB funding.
  • Zoning Amendment Adopted (6-3): Restored minimum lot size requirements for duplexes under special use permit.
  • Native American Heritage Month Proclamation passed unanimously.
  • Multiple Procurement Contracts Approved: Including pipeline engineering ($199,500), tires ($140,000), auto parts ($110,000), pump station engineering ($83,775), and mail machine lease ($59,563). Police uniforms were deferred.
  • Abatements Approved: $19,247.93 in property tax abatements granted; four items segregated for conflict of interest were passed separately (8-0).

Meeting Transcript

Good evening everyone. Good evening, everyone. May I have your attention. City Council Finance Committee is called to order at five o'clock. First order of business. I need a motion to accept the minutes of the finance committee agenda from October 20th. So move. We have a motion. We have a second. Any questions? All in favor? Aye. Aye. Thank you. On the finance committee and need a motion for the acceptance of the minutes on the October 20th meeting. So move. Second. We have a motion. We have a second. Any further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Aye. Thank you. So we're gonna go right to PCR 127-25 bids. The first item up is 2026-256 one. That is the Button Woods Avenue Pipeline replacement. Thank you. Good evening. Christy Morredi Public Works. Um the water division is requesting um to engage in professional services with Stantec Consulting for the Buttonwoods Avenue Pipeline replacement in Brushnet Cove. Um this is a pipeline that runs from I forget, but it goes to Ogam Beach anyway. Um it goes through Brutt Brushnet Cove. The pipeline is actually leaking and it's a mean that services um the Oakland Beach area. And um it's uh if it's not repaired and water is um only rooted in one way, it will affect the pressure, water quality, volume, and fire protection for areas of Oakland Beach, obviously uh densely populated. So with that, we are requesting to award to Stantec in the amount of 199,500. Thank you, Christy. Um why has it taken four years to deal with this issue after it exploded this is Buttonwoods. Sorry. This is this is um in brushnet cove. This is not uh there was a uh there was a problem. Um they had a water main break that was repaired, they were able to do that on the peninsula. Um, but this is the pipeline that runs under Russia like through brushnett cove. That didn't it didn't Lincoln Avenue exploded. What please? Lincoln Avenue did the Lincoln Avenue transmission main. That's the one that we had a major problem with but it says here from background that the pipeline has been leaking for some time, and in 2021 it was determined that it was leaking at a rate of 30 gallons per minute, and from 2021 to 2025, it's because it wasn't addressed. Um now it's leaking 7,000 gallons per minute. And then of course it was taken offline. That was my question.

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