OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Warwick City Council Finance Committee and Regular Meeting - August 17, 2026

City Council Meetings — Monday, August 17, 2026
BodyWarwick, Rhode Island
SessionCity Council Meetings
DateMonday, August 17, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 5:42:26

Transcript — Verbatim
1:57

Good evening, everyone.

2:00

Good evening.

2:02

The Wart City Council Finance Committee has come to order.

2:06

If you have any discussions, please take them out into the lobby.

2:13

First order of business is an approval on the minutes from June fifteenth.

2:21

We have one recusal.

2:27

Second.

2:29

Any discussion?

2:31

All in favor?

2:32

Aye.

2:32

Aye.

2:33

Recuse.

2:34

And we have, thank you, one um recusal.

2:40

If there is no objection from the committee, I would like to move the rest of the minutes in order to save time and in one vote.

2:52

May have a motion.

2:54

So you have a motion, we have a second.

2:57

I'll second it.

2:58

All in favor?

3:00

Aye.

3:00

Thank you.

3:02

That takes care of all the minutes.

3:40

I'll second it.

3:41

Any further discussion?

3:43

All in favor?

3:44

Aye.

3:44

Aye.

3:45

Recuse.

3:45

And we have one recruit.

3:48

Thank you.

4:03

So moved.

4:04

I have a motion.

4:05

I will second any discussion.

4:08

All in favor?

4:10

Aye.

4:10

Thank you.

4:57

Good afternoon, Lynn Proger, City Finance Director.

5:00

Um this evening I'm asking that we go into contract with NRG in order to purchase our natural gas.

5:09

This contract is negotiated with a company called Power Options, which I utilized for our electricity as well.

5:17

They have a partnership with the Rhode Island Interlocal Trust.

5:21

Um that is the biggest change from the last time we awarded this.

5:25

We're using them as an intermediary because they have more uh clout in order to get us a better rate.

5:33

The other uh big change about this bid is that we would be we have worded this contract so that we would actually be going into this amount with the school department as well.

5:46

Typically we've done it separately, but we figured out that if we do this together, we will have a more advantageous rate for both sides of the house.

5:59

Um I wrote this letter, there was a typo in it.

6:03

It's actually 75 cents per therm, not seven and a half.

6:07

I wish it was seven and a half.

6:09

The rate I got last week was 7.4.

6:14

Um, I'm using power options to assess where exactly to hit the rate.

6:21

It's hard to figure out because it is a commodity, but using power options has really been very helpful.

6:28

My estimate on here is 1.9 million dollars.

6:31

It is probably an overestimate.

6:33

Councilman Latticer, I did answer some of your questions today, and in the rush to answer them, I realized sitting right there.

6:42

We forgot to put library in the answers for you.

6:45

I'm sorry, you forgot what I didn't library.

6:48

Okay.

6:51

That was in the totals, right?

6:54

It's actually not in the totals.

6:56

Um I asked somebody to do the it should be, yeah.

6:59

They will absolutely be part of this as well.

7:06

So what was the total for the library?

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural████████████████16%
Public Safety████████████12%
Procurement Process██████████10%
Procurement██████████10%
Public Engagement███████7%
Technology and Innovation███████7%
Engineering And Infrastructure███████7%
Public Works Contracts██████6%
Pending Litigation█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Warwick City Council Finance Committee and Regular Meeting - August 17, 2026

This evening's meeting included the Finance Committee, the full City Council, and several committees. Major actions included approval of a natural gas contract (amended to $1.6 million), controversy over a $43,000 change order for the State Street water pump station (ultimately held to September 14), approval of fire apparatus purchases (pumper and ambulance both held to September), an audit contract renewal, a salt purchase, IT renewals, a police drone program expansion, and several zoning and ordinance items. The meeting also featured public comments on a First Amendment lawsuit and Buttonwoods Beach access.

Consent Calendar

  • Approval of minutes from June 15, 2026, and other routine minutes (several accepted unanimously, with one abstention on June 15 minutes).
  • PCR 80-26: Bid package (including bulk road salt, IT Central Square renewal, computer hardware, police drones, and other items not pulled) approved favorably on consent.
  • PCR 81-26: Abatement package (amended) reduced to $59,377.21, approved.
  • PCR 88-26: Two specific abatements (Bixby and Smith) for $830.40, approved separately.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Rob Cody (Ward 7): Detailed his ongoing lawsuit against the city regarding First Amendment rights violation by former councilwoman; criticized council's inaction and hypocrisy.
  • Richard Langseth: Raised concerns about collusion between Warwick Police, Buttonwood Beach Association, and Buttonwoods Fire District regarding trespassing enforcement and public right-of-way issues; referenced historical cases and statutes.

Discussion Items

Natural Gas Contract (PCR 83-26)

  • Finance Director Lynn Proger requested a $1.95 million spending authority to contract with NRG for natural gas at $0.75 per therm (corrected from $7.50 typo). The contract would include the school department and library for better rates. After discussion, the committee amended the amount to $1.6 million (covering supply only, not delivery) and approved unanimously. Full council concurred.

Fire Apparatus – 1500 GPM Pumper (Bid 2027-085, PCR 84-26)

  • Fire Chief Peter McMichael recommended awarding to Greenwood Emergency Vehicles ($929,818) for an E1 Typhoon Pumper with 36-month delivery. Concerns were raised about missing specifications from other bidders (Bulldog took total exception, did not provide checklist). Councilman Latticer moved to hold until September 14 to obtain full specs; motion passed 3-1 (Foley nay). Full council held.

Fire Apparatus – Type I Ambulance (Bid 2027-086, PCR 85-26)

  • Also recommended to Greenwood ($419,884, 36-month delivery). Similar specification concerns; held to September 14.

Audit RFP (Bid 2027-057, PCR 86-26)

  • Director Proger recommended award to Clifton Larson Allen for three years at $306,000 (the low bidder was cheaper but had recent acquisitions). Councilman Ricks recused. Approved.

Purchase of Two Chevy Vehicles (via state MPA)

  • DPW Director Eric Earls requested piggyback on state bid; cost $162,700, under budget. Approved.

Bulk Road Salt (Bid 2027-078)

  • Awarded to Mid-American Salt LLC at $74.74 per ton for October 2026 – October 2027. The new salt barn has improved efficiency. Approved.

IT Central Square Renewal (Police Software)

  • Director Phil Carlucci requested $77,646.52 for renewal of IMC software (police department chose not to migrate to state CIS system). Approved.

Computer Hardware Refresh (Ordinance 566 exception)

  • Director Carlucci requested $60,000 for fiscal year 2027 refresh program, using a mini-bid system. Approved.

Irrigation System at City Hall Plaza (Bid 2027-072, PCR 83-26 separate? Actually item 9)

  • Chief of Staff Bill Facendee requested award to Yardworks Inc. for $48,000 (bid $38,000 plus contingency) using federal earmark grant. Councilman Latticer expressed frustration over continual costs. Approved.

State Street Water Pump Station Change Order (Bid 2026-033, PCR 87-26)

  • Water Division Chief Jerry Wallette requested $43,000 change order to revise bypass design after test pits revealed vertical bends and unrestrained leaded joints that could cause catastrophic failure if original design followed. Beta Group (designer) and Hart Engineering (contractor) provided testimony. Many council members criticized Beta for not recommending test pits earlier. Initial motion for unfavorable action failed (3-6). Motion to hold until September 14 passed (6-3) to allow further discussion and potential cost recovery from Beta.

Police Drones (Bid 2027-093, part of bid package)

  • Major Ryan Somerger requested three DJI Matrice 4T drones for patrol, traffic, and maritime use. Drones are manually operated, not integrated with Flock DFR, and will not be used for traffic enforcement. Approved as part of bid package.

Other Items

  • PCO 24-26: Zoning amendment for 2281-2279 West Shore Road – second passage approved (unanimous).
  • PCO 26-26: Overnight parking prohibition on River Street – approved.
  • PCR 52-26: Easement to Narragansett Electric for Hoxley Elementary School – approved.

Key Outcomes

  • Natural gas contract: Amended spending authority to $1.6 million; approved unanimously.
  • Fire apparatus pumper: Held to September 14, 2026.
  • Fire apparatus ambulance: Held to September 14, 2026.
  • Audit contract: Awarded to Clifton Larson Allen, $306,000; approved 8-0 (1 recusal).
  • Water pump change order: Motion for unfavorable action failed; then held to September 14, 2026.
  • Police drones: Approved as part of consent calendar (three DJI Matrice 4T drones).
  • Irrigation system: Approved $48,000.
  • Abatements: Total $60,207.61, with two items separated; approved.
  • Zoning amendment: Second passage approved unanimously.
  • Overnight parking ordinance: Approved.
  • Easement: Approved.
  • Holds: Financial oversight commission held to October 19, 2026; real estate non-utilization tax held to September 14, 2026.
  • Council docketed resolutions: Several resolutions for future meetings, including traffic studies, stop sign installation, and a resolution on legal action against engineering firms.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, everyone. Good evening. The Wart City Council Finance Committee has come to order. If you have any discussions, please take them out into the lobby. First order of business is an approval on the minutes from June fifteenth. We have one recusal. Second. Any discussion? All in favor? Aye. Aye. Recuse. And we have, thank you, one um recusal. If there is no objection from the committee, I would like to move the rest of the minutes in order to save time and in one vote. May have a motion. So you have a motion, we have a second. I'll second it. All in favor? Aye. Thank you. That takes care of all the minutes. I'll second it. Any further discussion? All in favor? Aye. Aye. Recuse. And we have one recruit. Thank you. So moved. I have a motion. I will second any discussion. All in favor? Aye. Thank you. Good afternoon, Lynn Proger, City Finance Director. Um this evening I'm asking that we go into contract with NRG in order to purchase our natural gas. This contract is negotiated with a company called Power Options, which I utilized for our electricity as well. They have a partnership with the Rhode Island Interlocal Trust. Um that is the biggest change from the last time we awarded this. We're using them as an intermediary because they have more uh clout in order to get us a better rate. The other uh big change about this bid is that we would be we have worded this contract so that we would actually be going into this amount with the school department as well. Typically we've done it separately, but we figured out that if we do this together, we will have a more advantageous rate for both sides of the house. Um I wrote this letter, there was a typo in it. It's actually 75 cents per therm, not seven and a half. I wish it was seven and a half. The rate I got last week was 7.4. Um, I'm using power options to assess where exactly to hit the rate. It's hard to figure out because it is a commodity, but using power options has really been very helpful. My estimate on here is 1.9 million dollars.

SUMMARIZED BY OPENPUBLICA AI
TRANSCRIPT VIA PUBLIC VIDEO
openpublica.com