Warwick City Council Committee Meetings and Full Council Session - October 5, 2026

On October 5, 2026, the Warwick City Council's Finance, Ordinance, Public Safety, and Intergovernmental committees convened beginning at 5:00 p.m.; the full council convened at 6:30 p.m. The committees ran until about 5:54 p.m., and the full council's docketing session was underway by 6:51 p.m. No agenda or minutes were provided with the raw transcript. The committees recommended actions on bids, appointments, traffic requests, and ordinance holds, and the full council voted on those items.

Consent Calendar

• Each committee accepted its September 14, 2026 minutes. The full council later accepted the August 26, 2026 and September 14, 2026 council meeting minutes without objection.
• The Finance Committee processed PCR 106-26 (resolution relative to bids) and PCR 107-26 (resolution relative to abatements). One abatement, number 173630, was moved to PCR 109-26 in the amount of $415.20, leaving PCR 107-26 at $13,978.40.
• The full council approved the consent calendar containing PCR 106-26 and PCR 107-26 by an 8-0 vote. The removed abatement and removed bid were handled separately.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Most items drew no comment from members of the public.
• George Schuster, chair of the Historic District Commission, spoke in support of Paul Sadis's appointment, saying he was thrilled and that the commission now had enough members after previously struggling for a quorum.

Discussion Items

Finance Committee

• OEM parts for police vehicles (bid 2027-164): Ryan Somberger of the police department recommended awarding a two-year bid (November 18, 2026 through November 17, 2028) for $220,000 to Tasca Automotive Group of Cranston, R.I., over Jack Madden Ford of Norwood, Mass. Tasca submitted a 35% discount on applicable list items, versus 30% from Madden Ford; on batteries, Tasca offered 25% versus 20%, and the city orders about 100 batteries per year. Tasca's four-mile proximity was cited for quicker parts pickup.
• Microsoft Office 365 licensing and support (bid 2027-224): IT Director Brenda Hammerschmidt requested approval of the annual license purchase through the state MPA 227. The request was not to exceed $150,000, with two line items (Exchange and Core CAL) still under state negotiation and prices subject to change. She said some office staff were temporarily on F3 frontline licenses and needed G3 licenses restored.
• Rescue service billing administrator (bid 2025-015): Chief of Staff Dolphic, presenting for the Finance Director, said that because the council raised rescue service fees for non-residents, the administrator's percentage-based compensation should rise. The administrator receives about 2.75% of fees, not 10%.
• Dumpsters (bid 2027-222): Clarifying questions were asked about budget code 401043 and the reason for expedited bidding. A city director responded that steel prices had increased by $600-700 per unit since the original quote, so speed was needed to maximize the related grant.
• Computer hardware and related equipment (bid 2027-124 / PCR 110-26): IT Director Hammerschmidt requested an amended award amount of $25,849.82, an increase of $10,849.82 over the prior $15,000 amount, for forensic computer equipment and a printer/plotter/scanner for the Water Department. The equipment would help digitize over a ton of drawings in the basement; the current plotter is over 15 years old and does not connect to the cloud. The committee approved the amendment and then approved PCR 110-26 as amended.
• Traffic street and pole maintenance (PCR 101-26 / bid 2027-159): After being held for clarification, the Arden Engineering fee was confirmed at $1,500 per day. No amendment was needed, and favorable action was recommended.
• Outboard motors (PCR 103-26 / bid 2027-134): Assistant Chief Omanhau of the fire department presented a bid not to exceed $31,871.50. The transcript refers to the item as "150 horsepower" on the docket and in the full council, but the assistant chief said "250 horsepower." Existing engines had 600-700 hours; they are replaced early because emergency marine use is much harder than recreational use. Crews fresh-water flush the engines after every docking and run the boats about once a week when weather allows.

Ordinance Committee

• Accepted minutes.
• PCO 8-26, an ordinance establishing a real estate non-utilization tax, was held to October 19, 2026, because the solicitor's amendments were nearly complete.

Public Safety Committee

• Accepted minutes.
• PCR 68-26 (stop signs on Bly Street at Maple, Chestnut, and Elm): Councilman Ricks proposed an amendment to establish four-way stops at Maple, Chestnut, and Elm, saying those intersections are heavily used cut-throughs, Chestnut has a bus stop, and the existing four-way stops at Maple and Elm have been in place for decades. He said the traffic study was confusing because it described two-way stops where four-way stops already exist. Council President Sinapi requested a hold so the traffic study could be aligned with the proposal. The item was held to October 19, 2026.
• PCR 97-26 (stop signs on Cliff Road at Britton Avenue): Councilman Latticer was absent due to a family situation. Because the traffic study aligned with the resolution, the committee voted 3-0, with one absent, to recommend favorable action.

Intergovernmental Committee

• Accepted minutes.
• Paul Sadis was recommended for appointment to the Historic District Commission. He described himself as a retired architect who designed the Warwick Fire Department headquarters, lives in an 1875 historic house on Sedal Road, and currently does most of his remaining work in Massachusetts. He said he did not anticipate conflicts.
• Amy Cabaceras was recommended for appointment to the Wildlife and Conservation Commission. She has a University of Rhode Island degree in wildlife and conservation and recently moved back to Warwick.
• PCR 94-26, a resolution requesting a Rhode Island Department of Transportation and State Traffic Commission study of Tollgate Road at Commonwealth Avenue and Robert Shapiro Way, was approved. Council President Sinapi said traffic there is "problematic to put it mildly."

Full Council Session

• The full council recited the pledge; heard announcements and condolences; received executive communications; and announced Harbor Management Commission appointments of Alfred Nazareth (Ward 3) and Donna Fieldman (Ward 1). Councilman Nappa requested a moment of silence for retired Warwick Police officer Michael Clemens, who lost a battle with cancer, and Councilman DeLouise offered a prayer for Councilman Latticer's wife, who is unwell.
• Paul Sadis was confirmed to the Historic District Commission by an 8-0 vote.
• Amy Cabaceras was confirmed to the Wildlife and Conservation Commission by an 8-0 vote.
• The consent calendar was approved 8-0.
• The removed abatement PCR 109-26 (abatement number 173630, $415.20) was approved 7-0; Council President Sinapi recused.
• The removed bid PCR 110-26 was approved as amended 8-0, after the amendment to $25,849.82 was approved 8-0.
• PCR 101-26, PCR 103-26, PCR 94-26, PCR 95-26, and PCR 97-26 were each approved 8-0. PCR 95-26 is the Main Avenue at Imperial Drive and Freeman Street traffic study request.
• PCO 8-26 was held to October 19, 2026; PCO 33-26 (indexation of retiree benefits) was held to November 9, 2026; and PCR 68-26 was held to October 19, 2026.
• PCR 108-26 (stop signs on Pocahontas Drive at Algonquin Drive and Squantum Drive) was objected to by Councilman Muto under unanimous consent and deferred to October 19, 2026.
• PCO 26-26, the River Street overnight parking restriction, was reconsidered. Councilman Foley said the signs had been extended beyond what was requested. The council approved an amendment adding "north of Bellows Street" to the restricted area, then approved the ordinance as amended 8-0, placing it on the next agenda for second passage.
• In the docketing session, the council docketed a Ward 7 resolution to preserve the historic shoreline and access along the Middle Lee corridor at Arnold's Neck, and two mayoral resolutions: authorizing participation in the PVC pipe antitrust litigation in N.D. Illinois, and authorizing the Warwick Sewer Authority to borrow $300,000 from the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank.

Key Outcomes

• All committee minutes were accepted; the full council accepted prior council minutes.
• The Finance Committee recommended, and the full council approved, PCR 106-26, PCR 107-26, PCR 109-26, PCR 110-26 as amended, PCR 101-26, and PCR 103-26.
• The full council confirmed Paul Sadis and Amy Cabaceras to city commissions, both by 8-0 votes.
• Traffic study requests for Tollgate Road and Main Avenue were approved 8-0.
• On stop signs: Cliff Road/Britton Avenue was approved; Bly Street was held to October 19, 2026; and Pocahontas Drive was deferred to October 19, 2026.
• PCO 8-26 was held to October 19, 2026, and PCO 33-26 was held to November 9, 2026.
• The River Street overnight parking ordinance was amended to "north of Bellows Street" and approved 8-0 for second passage.
• Future agenda items were docketed involving Arnold's Neck shoreline preservation, PVC pipe antitrust litigation, and a $300,000 Warwick Sewer Authority borrowing from the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank.