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Record of Proceedings

Warwick City Council Committee and Full Council Meeting – October 19, 2026

City Council Meetings — Monday, October 19, 2026
BodyWarwick, Rhode Island
SessionCity Council Meetings
DateMonday, October 19, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:27:42

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it

Speaker numbers apply only to this recording. Names come from transcript evidence. “Possibly” marks uncertain attribution.

Unassigned speaker

1:13

It

Speaker 1

1:13

is five o'clock, and the Warwick City Council Finance Committee is come to order.

1:22

Thank you very

Unassigned speaker

1:23

much.

Speaker 1

1:26

The first order of business is acceptance of minutes from committee meeting held on October 5th.

1:32

Do we have a motion?

Speaker 2

1:36

Motion to accept the minutes.

Speaker 3

1:38

Second.

Speaker 1

1:39

All in favor?

1:40

Aye.

1:41

Thank you.

1:41

PCR 114-26 resolution relative to bids.

1:46

First order of a business acceptance of minutes from committee meeting held on October 5th.

1:51

Do we have a motion?

Speaker 2

1:52

Motion to accept the minutes.

Speaker 3

1:54

Second.

Speaker 1

1:55

All in favor?

1:56

I all right.

1:58

A unique circumstance.

2:00

There is no bid over the threshold of $50,000.

2:05

So the first thing we will do is ask the committee members.

2:08

Are there any that they wish to have pulled?

2:11

We'll start with the senior member.

2:14

That would be me, but I'll skip.

2:16

Mr.

2:16

Mudo, you first.

2:18

Councilman Muda.

Speaker 2

2:21

Uh like to uh do several uh 2027-218 fire hose service testing 2027 209 snowplow blades 2027 216, the full face scuba mask, 2026 236, emergency lighting, 2026-270B overhead door repair and 2027-241 repairs to 938 M front end loader.

Unassigned speaker

3:02

Um

Speaker 1

3:04

you have any others.

Unassigned speaker

3:06

No,

Speaker 3

3:07

I was gonna pull three and seven, but Councilman Mutal pulled those already.

Speaker 1

3:11

Well then we will go in order.

3:13

Uh the first 2027 218 fire hose service testing.

Speaker 4

3:24

Yeah.

Unassigned speaker

3:27

Good

Speaker 5

3:27

evening, Assistant Chief Umman Hauer from the fire department.

Speaker 6

3:33

Hey, Chief.

Speaker 2

3:35

This is brutal.

3:37

Uh so just give give a quick overview of uh what this is for, and how did you determine between the two bidders with one variable cost and one variable with a um with a daily charge?

Speaker 5

3:53

Yeah, so uh fire service host testing is required annually by NFPA.

3:57

Uh basically what they do is they take each of uh pieces of hose, they bring it up to the rated pressure uh from the manufacturer, hold it, and then inspect the hose for any damage or anything that's done to the hose.

4:09

So it ensures us on an annual basis that the hose won't uh fail during the fire.

4:14

Uh so it's required annually.

4:16

Uh we have about 53,000 feet of hose.

4:19

Uh the two bidders, uh one was cheaper, like you were mentioning that but had a mobilization fee.

Unassigned speaker

4:27

Uh

Speaker 5

4:27

the other one was a little more expensive with no mobilization fee.

4:30

But if you just multiply the 53,000, it's about five days of testing that they typically do.

4:36

Uh I went for six just in case it was an extra day.

4:39

If you multiply that out uh by the 53,000 feet, uh the J uh J L N associates top rung inspection winds up being the cheaper uh at about for six days with 53,000 feet of host, it comes to about 19,358 dollars per year

Speaker 6

4:56

annually.

Unassigned speaker

4:58

And that leads us to net the next question.

Speaker 2

5:00

This is for two years.

5:02

Two-year bid, yes.

5:03

So we're looking for 40 over two years.

5:05

Yeah.

5:05

Uh I want to say that was an excellent answer.

5:08

Thank you.

5:09

That was uh exactly where I was going for, is uh with the uh the length of the the hose that we have.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural█████████████████████████████████████████████56%
Procurement████████10%
Transportation Safety██████7%
Land Use Planning████5%
Historic Preservation████5%
Public Safety██3%
Personnel Matters██3%
Water And Wastewater Management██3%
Noise Ordinance Enforcement██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Warwick City Council Committee and Full Council Meeting – October 19, 2026

The Warwick City Council held committee sessions beginning at 5:00 PM on October 19, 2026, followed by a full council meeting at 6:30 PM and an executive session on potential litigation. No written agenda or minutes were supplied with the transcript; this summary is compiled from the transcription.

Consent Calendar

  • Committee minute acceptances: Finance, Ordinance, Public Safety, Intergovernmental, and Public Properties committees accepted their October 5, 2026 minutes; Public Properties also accepted August 17 and September 14, 2026 minutes. The full council accepted the October 5 council minutes.
  • PCR 114-26, the resolution relative to bids, received a favorable recommendation from the Finance Committee and was approved by the full council by an 8-0 vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • The council agreed to give each of the seven signed-up speakers five minutes.
  • Gina Preziosi described ongoing problems at 175 Post Road, including a crane company, wide-load trucks, car trailers, 24/7 truck parking, noise, flood-zone concerns, and degrading PCB piping. She said the only zoning authorization was a 2023 terminal-yard certificate, an expert witness testified that classification did not fit the actual operations, and court proceedings have continued for years at substantial cost to residents and the city.
  • Jill Moran, a Village Green Condominiums resident and former board member, asked the council to view the situation from residents' perspective. She supported Councilman Foley's truck ban/rerouting proposal and requested a crosswalk, sound/noise meters, and speed-monitoring devices near the 151-unit complex.
  • John McNeil, a 131 Post Road resident, said his family is regularly awakened at night by engines, banging, and backup beepers from 175 Post Road. He asked city officials to state what they will do now and when, and noted the national historical significance of the Gaspee/Patuxet village area.
  • Danelle Dubai, an Arnold's Neck resident, described ongoing Midgley Avenue/marina access concerns, more than 200 signatures and 200 letters, and a May 2025 emergency in which commercial obstructions prevented Warwick Fire from reaching her home. She said a revised resolution with Councilman Jack Kirby asks the state Coastal Resources Management Council to investigate the corridor's status.
  • Richard Langseth urged stronger city attention to shoreline and coastal access, citing issues at Warwick Neck, Pottawamit, and parking signs on Sylvia Drive.
  • Bill King, a Village Green unit owner of 25 years, spoke in support of the 175 Post Road neighbors, called the unresolved situation untenable, and thanked Councilman Foley and the council for their attention.

Committee Proceedings

Finance Committee (5:00 PM)

  • Accepted committee minutes and reviewed PCR 114-26. Because no bid exceeded the $50,000 threshold, pulled items were discussed individually.
  • Fire hose service testing (2027-218): Assistant Chief Oppenhauer said NFPA requires annual testing of about 53,000 feet of hose. The two-year, two-bidder comparison made JLN Associates/Top Rung Inspections the lower-cost option at about $19,358 per year for six days; last year's cost was $16,500.
  • Snowplow blades (2027-209): Public Works' Christy Moretti said the request is for a $30,000 annual authorization based on usage, with no delivery fees or brand-name specification.
  • Full-face scuba masks (2027-216): Police Commander Robert Hart said current wireless communication is unreliable, so the department is moving to wired communications built into tether lines. The item is fully funded through a DOJ grant; the request was estimated at $19,090 and the bid came in at $15,149.
  • Emergency lighting (2026-236): A second-year renewal at $12,000 for replacement lights and vendor availability.
  • Overhead door repair/replacement (2026-270B): Fire officials requested a $10,000 increase to $40,000 due to spring and operator failures, not collisions. The contract expiration date is March 3, 2027; a letter's March 5 date was acknowledged as a typo.
  • Front-end loader repairs (2027-241): Public Works identified the 938M loader as a 2016 model, with repairs through sole-source Milton Cat and replacement currently planned around 2030; hours and past repair totals were to be provided.
  • The committee voted favorable action on PCR 114-26.

Ordinance Committee (5:24 PM)

  • Accepted minutes; amended the title of PCO 26-26 sub-A by unanimous consent to add 'north of Bellow Street between the hours of 10 p.m. and 6 a.m.' Councilman Foley said the original version extended too far across a paper street into a residential neighborhood, and the amendment corrects that.
  • PCO 3-26 (financial oversight commission) was held to November 23; PCO 8-26 (real estate non-utilization tax) was held to November 9.

Public Safety Committee (5:31 PM)

  • Accepted minutes; held PCR 68-26 (Bly Street/Elm Street stop signs) to November 9 because of unresolved traffic-study inconsistencies.
  • Approved payment of $300 on PCR 92-26 (Andrew Castro claim), the maximum amount allowed, after Councilman Ricks said estimates and documentation appeared legitimate.
  • Recommended favorable action on PCR 108-26 (Pocahontas Drive stop signs); Councilman Foley explained the existing signs had never been authorized by ordinance or resolution.

Intergovernmental Committee (5:39 PM)

  • Accepted minutes; heard the mayor's request to confirm Tara Booth as city clerk. The mayor cited her 20 years of city service, 14 years in the clerk's office, and improvements to customer service and record processing. Committee members spoke in support, and the committee voted favorable recommendation.
  • Held Eric Bradley's Sewer Board of Review appointment to November 9; recommended Arthur Yetzko's appointment after he noted he has lived in Warwick since age 3, has been a realtor since 1977, and is a Sewer Authority customer.
  • Sent PCR 112-26 (PVC pipe antitrust litigation retainer) to the full floor without a committee recommendation.

Public Properties Committee (5:52 PM)

  • Accepted minutes; recommended favorable action on PCO 27-26 (River Farm Place zoning amendment, 3033 Post Road) and PCO 28-26 sub-A (Willow Street abandonment), both on second passage after prior public hearings.

Full Council Session (6:30 PM)

  • The full council convened, accepted the October 5 minutes, took public comment, and then voted to enter executive session under R.I. General Laws 42-46-5(a)(2) to discuss potential litigation in Henry PVC pipe antitrust litigation, Case No. 1:24-CV-007639.
  • After returning at 7:13 PM, the council heard the solicitor's report and took up the remaining agenda.
  • Eric Bradley was held to November 9; Arthur Yetzko was appointed to the Sewer Board of Review, 7-0, with Council President Sinapi recused.
  • PCR 112-26 was approved 8-0. The solicitor described it as a class action against PVC pipe manufacturers for alleged Sherman Act violations during 2021-2025, with no upfront city cost and a 25% contingent fee only if the city recovers.
  • The consent calendar item PCR 114-26 was approved 8-0.
  • PCO 26-26 sub-A was approved 8-0 after the full title was amended on the floor.
  • PCO 27-26 and PCO 28-26 sub-A were each approved 8-0.
  • PCO 3-26 was held to November 23; PCO 8-26 and PCR 68-26 were held to November 9.
  • PCR 92-26 was approved 8-0, authorizing payment of $300 to Andrew Castro.
  • PCR 108-26 was approved 8-0, authorizing the Pocahontas Drive stop signs.
  • The council adjourned at 7:26 PM.

Key Outcomes

  • Approved 8-0: PCR 114-26, PCR 112-26, PCO 26-26 sub-A, PCO 27-26, PCO 28-26 sub-A, PCR 92-26 ($300), and PCR 108-26.
  • Approved 7-0: Arthur Yetzko appointment to the Sewer Board of Review (Council President Sinapi recused).
  • Held to November 9: PCO 8-26, PCR 68-26, and Eric Bradley's Sewer Board of Review appointment.
  • Held to November 23: PCO 3-26 (financial oversight commission).
  • Recommended favorable action: Tara Booth as city clerk, from the Intergovernmental Committee.

Meeting Transcript

It is five o'clock, and the Warwick City Council Finance Committee is come to order. Thank you very much. The first order of business is acceptance of minutes from committee meeting held on October 5th. Do we have a motion? Motion to accept the minutes. Second. All in favor? Aye. Thank you. PCR 114-26 resolution relative to bids. First order of a business acceptance of minutes from committee meeting held on October 5th. Do we have a motion? Motion to accept the minutes. Second. All in favor? I all right. A unique circumstance. There is no bid over the threshold of $50,000. So the first thing we will do is ask the committee members. Are there any that they wish to have pulled? We'll start with the senior member. That would be me, but I'll skip. Mr. Mudo, you first. Councilman Muda. Uh like to uh do several uh 2027-218 fire hose service testing 2027 209 snowplow blades 2027 216, the full face scuba mask, 2026 236, emergency lighting, 2026-270B overhead door repair and 2027-241 repairs to 938 M front end loader. Um you have any others. No, I was gonna pull three and seven, but Councilman Mutal pulled those already. Well then we will go in order. Uh the first 2027 218 fire hose service testing. Yeah. Good evening, Assistant Chief Umman Hauer from the fire department. Hey, Chief. This is brutal. Uh so just give give a quick overview of uh what this is for, and how did you determine between the two bidders with one variable cost and one variable with a um with a daily charge? Yeah, so uh fire service host testing is required annually by NFPA. Uh basically what they do is they take each of uh pieces of hose, they bring it up to the rated pressure uh from the manufacturer, hold it, and then inspect the hose for any damage or anything that's done to the hose. So it ensures us on an annual basis that the hose won't uh fail during the fire. Uh so it's required annually. Uh we have about 53,000 feet of hose. Uh the two bidders, uh one was cheaper, like you were mentioning that but had a mobilization fee. Uh the other one was a little more expensive with no mobilization fee. But if you just multiply the 53,000, it's about five days of testing that they typically do. Uh I went for six just in case it was an extra day.

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