11/4/25 East Providence City Council Meeting

Good evening. I will call the meeting of November 4th, 2025 to order for these Providence City Council. Good evening everybody and welcome. Uh, madame clerk, would you please call a role of the council?

Councilman Fogerty.

Councilman Lawson, here.

Council Vice President Rio, here.

Councilwoman Souza, Council President Rodri, here. The record show there's a quorum.

There are three uh members present. I did hear from two of the members that had uh conflicts and could not get here tonight, but we do have a quorum. So, please rise for the pledge.

I forsy all.

Madame Clerk, could you please uh read the first item on the agenda? The city council of East Providence may meet in executive session pursuant to the Rhode Island general laws 42-46-5 A2 one discussion and possible vote of on tenative agreement with East Proidence Firefighters Local 850 AFF November 1st 2025 to October 31st 2030.

Number two, claims and litigation docket A. Annette tomorrow and B Frank Diaz.

Is there a motion to move into executive session according motion to move into the executive session under Rhode Island General Laws 42-46-582?

There a second.

Seconded by Councilman Lawson. The motion was by council vice president Rigo. All in favor?

I. Any opposed?

The eyes have it. We'll recess uh briefly into executive session and we return as soon as possible.

There's a motion to seal.

We'll reconvene. Is there a motion to seal?

Motion to seal.

Second.

Motion to seal a minutes of the executive session by Councilman Lawson.

Seconded by council vice president Rigo.

Thank you, Council President.

Welcome.

And I want to thank the council um and the uh East Providence Fire Department Union for uh the work uh in negotiations. It was a a cordial negotiation process that achieved a true zero in year one uh and was able to change some language that would give us extra rescue coverage. U so I'm very grateful to the uh men and women of the East Providence Fire Department and Union and also to the

city council for uh unanimously approving uh the contract. Uh today I I come here just to give you an update on uh some changes in administration. Uh, as all of you may be aware, our chief of staff, Patricia Vzendi, has recently accepted a position with the, uh, Rhode Island State Senate office working for Senate President Val Lawson as the director of policy. It's a significant

um, achievement and uh, upward movement for her. Uh, and I just wanted to come here and thank her publicly for the work that she's done for the city of East Providence. Uh she started with my administration when I first took office as a communications director and project manager. Uh through her work uh managing uh various projects, we were able to put in a new website. We were able to put in

a new budgeting uh software platform. Uh we put in um we made major changes to the way we uh conduct uh ourselves as a city, the way we hire, the way we uh purchase. was also uh was she was also very involved in many of the major projects that we are seeing happen uh here in the city including the community center and some of the other incredible improvements. I will say this um I will

absolutely miss her uh working uh by my side. Uh she's been an incredible uh member of this team and I look forward to working with her in her new new capacity with the uh with the Senate.

Um, with that being said, we are bringing on a a gentleman uh coming in uh soon as a director of policy and constituent services who will be the less on to the city council. Um, he'll be starting next Monday. His name is Andre Herrera. Uh, and he has some very big shoes to fill. Uh, not entirely the chief of staff position, but he'll be uh dealing with policy, constituent services, and also um as a leazison to

the council and other elected officials.

Uh, with that being said, I want to thank Patricia for uh her dedication to the city. Uh, she's not a typical employee. Uh, she would put in way over 40 hours a week. Uh, oftentimes working uh 10, 12, 13 hours depending on the particular project. Uh, very grateful for her uh leadership. I think that the Senate will be well served with her as a director of policy and I look forward to

continuing to work uh with you in that capacity. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I just would interject on on behalf of the council and uh at least speak for myself at this point. Uh but director uh Rosendi, we also will miss you. We want to thank you. Uh dealing with five council members is not always the easiest thing. uh we may butt heads, we agree, we we do all kinds of things,

but in the end, all of us with your help working for the betterment of East Providence. Uh I know you were in touch with um this council on uh late evenings and weekends and would get back to us uh with emails. I I did call Senator uh the president of the Rhode Island Senate, Lawson, as we all well know, an East Providence resident, and we told her there was a vote here to have her

deny your appointment. Um she said, "Sorry, I'm taking her." So, uh we we will we wish you the best and I'm sure we'll be asking you for some assistance.

And as an East Providence resident that you are, u please feel free to um keep in touch with us and anything we can do along the way.

Oh well, I don't know if we want to go that far, but thank you very much.

And and uh so she is her last day will be this Thursday. Uh so once again uh we'll be getting together for a little cake on uh on Wednesday if you guys happen to be around. Um we're very grateful for uh the work that you have done here for the city. Uh with that being said, you're still on the on the clock. I'm going to turn over the rest of the mayor communications to you. You

want to take care of that?

Good evening, Council President and members of the council. Um, in addition to the mayor's comments, we also have our in your packet the September finance and capital expenses reports. Um, we also have our national in terms of proclamations, we have our national small business Saturday proclamation as well as our Dwali Festival of Lights and as well as our 2025 Native American Heritage Month proclamations.

Oh goodness, the mayor who put it on this page. Thank you.

What a way to go out with an error, right?

Someone left this one up here. This one you had. Okay. Was I thought we only had two appointments on the list today? Uh I stand corrected. Corrected. Um we have two appointments and it's the appointment of um actually no, you're going to do that during your thing, right? You're going to do it during your process. We just have the two appointments that are up for council approval. So it's actually on for a vote.

Sure. I have no communications.

That's it. I started reading last week, so I went back in time.

Thank you once again.

Um, Madame Clerk, what we'll do at at this time is have the uh solicitor um explain out the executive session.

Thank you, M Mr. President. Um, as you know, the council met uh in executive session prior to the start of this meeting at 6:30. Uh, there are two claims on the docket uh which were approved uh claim amount of $1,394.95 uh for property damage as a result of a city tree uh and the claim of and that was excuse me that was a claim of Miss Annette Tamaro and then the claim of Mr.

Frank Das uh which was a sewer backup was approved in the amount of 607 $6744.

In addition, um the council was briefed on the negotiations and the tenative agreements and final contract with the firefighters 850. Um I'm pleased to report uh I guess the mayor just did report that the council did approve that contract by a vote of 3 to zero. I do want to echo the um statements of the mayor. Negotiations were long. There's no question about that. Um but they were

always very cordial. Of course, there's always a little bit of friction when you're negotiating labor contracts. But I do want to say as a lead negotiator for the city at the time that I did appreciate the cooperation of the firefighters union and the hard work that they do and um they were really instrumental because of the budget pressures we were having. Um they are um unheard of but they have um taken a a 0%

uh increase in the f this first fiscal year. So that was a big help to the city and to this council um in helping them balance this year's budget. So, with that, um that contract was approved three to zero and um we'll be back hopefully in a couple weeks with the police contract. And just to uh affirm that for the public record, I'd ask uh just to have a motion to um approve as

we did in executive session.

Motion to approve the contract.

Contact the tenative agreements.

Tenative agreements.

Yes. And but to do it here in public, I approve. So I think the motion was made by council vice president Rigo, seconded by councilman Lawson. All in favor in the public session I. Any opposed? The eyes have that three to zero. Just for the record for people watching the public record. Um do you want to continue with the claims? Uh that was part of that. Okay. I did

neglect to do one thing that um I'm very sorry about um at the beginning of the meeting, but I think most of his providence knows that we lost one of our finest um men in blue if you will uh within the last week here. um no stranger to anyone's uh Sergeant John Andrews uh who was well known in many circles throughout uh not only East Providence but all all of Rhode Island. Um

certainly he was the the officer that uh kept Forb Street under control cuz you never knew where he was going to be with that that gun and also soap Broadway and some other massasoid was it safe to say he was more effective than any speed camera we could ever put in the city. And um he would do it with uh with a certain sense of diplomacy, if you will, and and people would uh

appreciate that. And of course uh such a wonderful uh family man and helping with youth recreation and we will sorely miss him. He had a very short retirement and due to illness um passed away at such an untimely um time. So at this point I would ask if we could stand for a moment of silence for Sergeant Andrews.

Thank you.

And with that, uh, madame clerk, if you want to, uh, resume the agenda.

Council journals, regular meeting minutes 10:2125 B. letters. New notice of new property numbers 400 through 410 Morin Avenue, East Province, Rwood Island, 02914.

Map 207 block 02 008.0 24 Peach Orchard Drive, Riverside, Rhode Island 02915.

Map 513 block 02 parcel 00450 26 Peach Orchard Drive Riverside Rhode Island 0915 map 513 block 02 004.0 Thank you. What is your pleasure?

Motion to accept.

Motion to accept council vice president Rigo seconded by Councilman Lawson. All in favor? I. Any opposed? The eyes have it. Three to zero. Thank you. Next item.

Licenses for discussion and possible vote.

Yes, Councilman.

Check, check, check. It was on.

Um, number one is excluding liquor licenses, Frank.

So I don't think you got a recuse for this.

Only on public he has to recuse.

Okay. So I make a motion to bundle one through four.

Motion to bundle the licenses numbers one through four. Is there a second?

Second.

Second. Council vice president Rigo. All in favor? I.

Any oppose? The eyes have it. Is there a motion? Motion to approve one through four.

Same motion and same second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? The eyes have that.

Next item.

So the next one, should we postpone this till we have a full council because Frank has with council vice president having to excuse himself because of uh business.

Um yes, we can't vote, but we can vote to continue. But because it was advertised for a public hearing, to the extent there's anyone in the audience who showed up tonight to testify on any of those licenses, I would ask that you ask that now and then we'll continue it to the next date in November.

Sure. Okay. Uh having um said that, is there anyone here that is appeared tonight to speak on any of these licenses?

Seeing none, um, is there a motion to, uh continue?

Do you want to call it continue or table?

No, we want to continue to a date certain because we don't want to have to revertise it. Continue the hearing to November 18th.

Make a motion to continue the public hearing for liquor license to November 18th.

Motion by Councilman Lawson.

Second.

I would have let Bob second.

I I will second that motion. And all in favor? motion.

I That's a good song. I Any opposed to the motion? So the motion does it pass two to zero? Three to three to zero.

3. Okay.

To continue. Yes.

To continue to to the 18th.

There was no substantive M vote.

Thank you. Next item. Okay. Public comment. Ken Gusher.

Ken, welcome. Just name and address for the record.

I know I was here two weeks ago, city council members, and thank you. I came informed by the mayor that you're all going forward with this, but I don't think it's soon enough. Can I read this statement that Sure.

I got this letter from the DOT or my email.

It says um to follow up on our phone conversation and request for a left turn signal at Waterman and uh Pucket Avenue. Uh they're still following through. I can't really read it with so small print. All I'm getting at is Would you like us to have the clerk read it for you? Read it for every or the So, good afternoon, Ken. Uh, to follow up on our phone conversation, a request

for a new left turn signal would first need to be submitted to the state traffic commission. The state traffic commission uh reviews requests for traffic control devices such as stop signs, traffic signals, and roundabouts.

The commission also reviews other traffic and safety initiatives such as crosswalk speed limit changes, parking designations, and striping changes. All requests for the STC must be submitted from either the local municipality or an elected official, senator, representative. The STC meets the first Wednesday of every month at the state house. Best regards, Heather Gaitley, the senior information and public

relations specialist. Um, Rhode Island DOT.

My point of view on this is I was hoping the city council and the police department and the mayor would all get together and push for this. I just heard it might be done in February of 26 or in fall of 26. I think that it's too late for these seniors to make that left turn. I was informed that they have to widen the highway. I don't see why they have to widen the highway if they

already have a left turn going to the police station and that there's no widen of the highway there. He's thinking of a third lane. I don't think we need a third lane. We just need left turn onto traffic light to get to the senior center. You all know it's impossible.

No one listens anybody through. They all want to get on the highway to stop. So my answer, thank you for city council, but I wish we could all push this forward to the end of this year.

Well, we we we are trying. I I agree with you that I've been given that same answer for a few years now that they have to widen the road. Now, there is another left turn signal. If you come further south, if you go to Lewanog trail by the Cumberland Farms, now at that light, if you're heading into Riverside, heading south, and there's a left turn signal, the road is not widening wider.

It's um it's done there. It's done in a couple of other places. I I get what they're saying. They they want to make a wider turn so some traffic can keep going, but it has been done.

Excuse me, Mr. President. Yes, sir.

They're going south on Pucket Avenue.

They didn't widen the road to go That's right.

to the police station.

Same thing right now. What they're talking the way I hear it, they want to repave Pucket Avenue.

Maybe they're going to widen it, but that's going to be too late. Um I don't know how long I'm going to be a senior citizen. Don't get me wrong. I'm just worried about the ones that they're in walkers and they're trying to drive their car around all that traffic and if they can't make that left here and they get lost trying to get back to the senior center. So my advice is if we

could push this forward or should I get a petition from the senior center everybody sign it?

I think you got our support. So I don't think we need Yeah.

Yeah. I mean petition wouldn't wouldn't hurt. It may you know may not change things either way but we can send it send it along. uh to to them. And you know, it isn't just the senior center.

It's people going anywhere, even just trying to go down Waterman Avenue. Um the worst intersection in the city.

Yeah.

Easily.

I I try to go sometimes just coming maybe here or I I'll go by that and go by the high school and then take a left on Torton and go around. So, it isn't just the senior center, which is the biggest problem, but it's uh a lot of traffic throughout these province. And of course with the backups with the bridge, it doesn't help. So, we're we're trying to get the state to move quicker on this.

I was just hoping since I got the letter that if you all got together as a council and the mayor and the chief of police.

Yeah. We can revisit it as a group.

Sure. We can get a resolution for the next meeting. And I'll be honest with you, I'll try and get a petition and we can add it to the resolution. Sure. Okay.

Thank you, Ken.

Thank you. They got the apologies for nothing. No, no worries. Thank you for coming out.

Mr. Saucer, are you going to take care of that resolution for the 18th?

Okay. Thank you.

Because they do it on Fall River a taking a left on the Catamore. There's no wide dedicated lane, so it can be done.

Yep. Thank you.

Okay, next item.

Bobby and Debbie. Good.

Yes. Come forward, folks.

Mrs. Good is going to save us an hour by letting Mr. Goods remain seated. We'll see. You and Bobby have a wrestling match after this.

Yeah. Just your name and address for the record.

Hi, I'm Debbie Perry. Good. 10 Standish Avenue, East Providence.

Um our our request um we live on the corner of Standish and Merrill and as you know Merrill comes from North Broadway down to Massoy and in a lot of cases that's that's a speed a speedway.

We have a three-way stop sign four-way stop sign at that intersection. There's a dead end. So, um but we and again our house is there on the corner and we hear the traffic just fly right through the stop sign um all times of day and night.

there are a lot of children on the street, you know, and a lot of the houses do have, you know, child at play signs up and things like that just so people are aware and we keep putting signs up, but you know, people just still um blow through. Um, so we were requesting I had said speed bump, but I didn't know East Providence doesn't do speed bumps, so I would do them in a heartbeat if they

would.

I know I that's the only thing that's going to work. I'm I'm Bridgely from Providence and they're all over and they were I don't get why we can't do it.

Yeah. So So I guess we're requesting one of those speed monitors or one or two even on Merrill because again and then we also have um the trucks, tractor trailer trucks, tow trucks for that auto shop that's over on Persing sort of like that something.

I know where you're at. And um the tractor the tow trucks, tractor trailer trucks all come off of Masoy on Merrill, take the right on Standish to go over to that auto auto body place and a factory that's over there. And we've had the trucks come up on our lawn because they're not making the corner. We've had them knock the stop sign down, you know.

And can we look to see if tractor trailers are allowed on that road?

No. We thought they supposed to stay on Massoy.

Usually tractor trailers are restricted to certain roadways. Yes.

And go around to North Broadway.

Is there a sign signage saying no? Uh because we can tage a tonnage tonnage. Yeah.

Yeah.

Okay. So, it's an enforcement issue, right? And um what else? Oh, and this particularly during the summer because again I'm only one block down from Massasoya. They drag race on Massasoy, you know, up to the Rotary and I think they're continuing down to that access road that goes along the water.

And I think that's, you know, and we can hear them like at 12 1:00 in at night that we can just hear them, you know, drag racing down the street. So, you know again if you know, if something could be monitored.

Okay.

I've had the police on the corner every once in a while, but of course, nobody does it when this he's sitting there, you know. So, so I think that's it.

Okay.

Thank you. We will certainly uh we'll have um the solicitor and and any of us that you know we can contact administration, the mayor's office, police department and try to get on this thing as soon as possible.

A lot of it's enforcement.

Yes, sir.

That was number three on my on council members. I have the drag racing along Massasaw Avenue at night and requesting, you know, police presence there. You know, it's a catch 22 because when you pave a road, everybody wants to drive.

Absolutely.

When you're not worried about a pothole, you just gota Okay.

Speeding and parking in the suburbs is the toughest thing. It is. Okay.

Any other questions for Mr. Mrs. Good or Thank you for coming out.

I'll follow up with the chief of police.

He was here so we can we can we can talk tomorrow about that.

Okay. Thank you for coming out and everything else you do in the community.

Appreciate it.

So yeah, that takes care of one takes care of that.

One and three on my uh council members request.

Thank you. Okay, next item. Appoint appointments city council crescent c carousel commission Ingred Sylvia make a motion to approve.

Motion to approve by councilman Lawson seconded by council vice president Rigo.

All in favor I. Any opposed? The eyes have it. 300. Next.

Council crescent carousel commission Jackson Ponty. Councilman Lawson.

Make a motion to approve. Motion approved. Same second. Council VP Rigo.

Any questions? All in favor? I I. Any opposed? The ice hat.

Shouldn't there be two more for the conservation commission?

They're under mayor appointments.

Oh, okay. Okie dokie.

All right.

Next item, council members. Number two, veterans appreciation dinner.

So on November 12th, uh this will be our third year, the Veterans Advisory Commission uh committee. Um we're going to host a uh veterans appreciation dinner. It's going to take place at St. Marth's Church. Um for those who don't know, the address is 2595 Pucket A. Um we're going to start at 5:30. It's uh catered. Uh Roses is going to cater all seasons. We'll handle the desserts. Um the funding will come

out of the veterans fund that we have.

Um everybody's invited. I've been sending invites to various people, posting social media. Um this is just a it's a fellowship thing. It's just getting veterans together and getting them talking to each other. And I have uh people from the state level VA coming in and um they can have a casual conversation with veterans, talk about various benefits and um I want to thank Councilman Fogerty for grabbing the um

um St. Mouthis Church once again and um all the members of the Veterans Advisory Council and my fellow council members and uh you know East Province is home to many many veterans and stuff like this is just the veterans enjoy getting together. Um also want to say in that vein that this is uh National Military Family Month here in America too. So, I'll probably do a proclamation for next

um meeting honoring that. And um we will be pulling out a um hometown heroes banner initiative. Um still got a couple things to tweak, but basically we're going to mirror what they do in Secon Barington where folks can buy a banner in the name of a service member and their family and um just nice added touch, add to the aesthetics of the city. So, Wednesday, November 12th, 5:30 at St. Martha's Church, 2595 Pucket A.

Veterans, active duty, and military families are all welcome. You are our guest of honor. And uh I look forward to seeing folks there. Thank you. Thank you. And and please pass along. Well, we'll be there anyway the dinner. Uh but thank the committee for all their hard work and in particular you and Councilman Fogerty for uh taking the lead on this and we look forward to it.

Thank you.

Number four, request for the administration to invest.

I'm going to table this to the new chief of staff comes in so we can work. Uh we got some very nervous people there that they sell services so bad that trying to call 911 stuff. So, um, I'll table this.

I I could I could tell you, Councilman, that we have been meeting with, um, the placement of the tower people. We ran into some issues at Grassy Plains because of a conservation easement. Um, we just had a meeting last week looking for maybe alternative sites or maybe swapping land. So, it is we we are under working on it. It's just that because when I brought it up, the PUC, oh my god, that website I've emailed,

called nons and it's no the the uh provider is willing. They want to put up a tower. It's just we ran into a little uh deed restriction on the plan that was originally approved by this council at Grassy Plains.

So, that location's gone now.

It may not be gone. It may have to be we might have to try swap somewhere else, but we're working on it. But we have we had a meeting last week and we're doing a little bit more research through DEM as to what if there really truly is a restriction because we can't find anything on the deeds even though DEM is saying there is. So, but we are working on it.

Will that affect them um paying to repave the parking lot?

We don't know that yet. Okay.

They would they would like to It was part of the original package that this council approved. So, they're still willing to do it. We just got to find a location for the tower.

Thank you. Keep me notified, please.

Thank you, Joel. Joel, a lot of the assistant solicitors mostly been doing that work.

Okay, perfect. And I'll let the constituents reaching out know.

Do you want still want to table it or you want to wait?

Uh, we can just bring No, we just discussed it so it's complete.

That was my request and Okay.

Yeah, we'll follow up. We're good. No need to table.

Number five, request to donate $750 to the East Providence Historical Society annual event for their horsedrawn carriage rise to help offset the cost of the event. Council Vice President Rio, uh, thank you. Uh, this will be the second year we brought back the drawing horse carriage last year. It was quite the success. families riding around uh the facility up at Hunts Mills. Uh it's

really a nice event. It'll be sometime in December, the first or second Sunday in December. Um I make a motion to allocate $750 towards the event.

750. we getting the good horse for that much or we getting the nags that uh wherever I fully fully fully support this. All community celebrations like this are awesome. Um just so folks know the 750s out of our celebration.

Okay.

Out of the council celebration thousand% and behind you. Motion by council vice president Rio seconded by Councilman Lawson. All in favor? I. Any oppose? The eyes have that. Thank you.

Public hearings. Ordinance for second and final passage for discussion and possible vote. Number one, an ordinance authorizing the director of finance to borrow funds in anticipation of taxes for fiscal year 2026.

And then public uh comment. I will make a motion to approve just to get the process started. Second that to public comment.

Shutting my phone off here. Keeps dinging.

Is there anyone here? The public hearing is is open. Uh anyone here that would like to speak on this?

This is just routine. This will complete the budget process. This authorizes the finance director uh to go out for tax anticipation notes if needed. We pass this every year. Um because you because we're not in sync.

True. because you well it's one of the reasons because you passed the budget so early this year we usually do it all at once but we're just putting it it's really a preuncter thing yep uh seeing no public comments we'll close the public hearing other comments from the council or a motion motion we have a motion we did that okay all in favor I I any opposed the eyes have it 30 thank you in

Go ahead. No, we on this. We voted it on it last week. This is uh Go ahead.

Ordinance in amendment of chapter 11 of the revised ordinance of the city of East Providence, Rhode Island, 1998 as amended entitled personnel, pensions, and retirement. The council of the city of East Province amends section 11-2521 death of retired participant related to eligibility requirements for a surviving spouse of a deceased member introduced by Councilman Fogerty.

So I'm aware of this and I'll just speak briefly before the public thing. This is just updating the current um status where if you retire, the person you're married to at that time, if you die, they're eligible for some benefits. If you retire and you're not married or you get divorced and you marry a new spouse, they do not get the benefit. So, this is just cleaning up a little bit of loophole language. And

Mike, feel free to clean it up, but Yeah. So, this is just cleaning up some language that um the spouse at the time of retirement is the spouse of record to receive benefits when they pass. However, if they do divorce after the retirement, they don't get the benefit.

If they divorce after retirement, that would be taken care of in the divorce settlement. So, correct. So, that would that wouldn't affect it. They would be uh that's a different issue, but Right. Okay. So, this is just cleaning up language. So, you can't retire and then marry and then that spouse, you know, maybe you marry a 20-year-old and they're getting your benefits.

Bellich check.

Bill Bellich, baby.

Call the Bellich check bill.

This did come from the pension board after many months of debate and discussion. So, this has been recommended by the pension board. That's why we drafted it. But it it is a clarified. It clarifies when a surviving spouse is eligible uh to participate in the pension. Um but as the councilman said, you must be married to the person at the time of your retirement uh to collect a spousal benefit, not after.

So pending public hear and I'll make a motion to approve.

Second. Motion is made by Councilman Lawson, seconded by Vice President Regal. The public hearing is open at this time. Is there anyone present that'd like to speak on this issue?

Is the chairman of the pension board who might want to speak on this?

Yeah, we we laid out what the change is for. So, sure. If you want to speak, just um name and address for the record.

It's good. You got to turn You got to turn the mic on. Sir, can you hear me now?

All right. Uh, Adam Christina, I'm chairman of the pension board, also the fire representative, 20 Wendy Drive, Bristol, Rhode Island.

Thank you. Welcome.

Thank you.

Um, should we open with questions if there are any?

Well, if there are questions from the public, we're good.

Yeah, doesn't appear to be any questions from the public. That's the point we're at now. Oh, yeah. It was really just clearing up uh the language didn't match the intent.

There had been an update in a review and it just didn't make it into print.

So, getting that done.

We're ready to vote on it.

Yep. Okay.

Well, thank you for your your input along the way with this and to get this language cleaned up. I appreciate it.

Um, anyone else like to speak? Um, we'll close the public hearing at this time.

We had the motion and second on the council. All in favor? I I. Any opposed? The eyes have three to zero. Thank you, sir.

All set, buddy.

Number three, ordinance of the council of What's up? Number three, ordinance of the council of the city of East Providence appropriating $134,795 from the East Proidence School Department Capital Improvement Revolving Fund introduced by Councilman Fogerty.

No, Councilman Fogerty obviously is is not here. This is the uh requirement of the policy that we have. Um I I have the items here.

Okay, please go.

on a the steel storage building at the high school, emergency repairs at a drainage pipe for Oro and Peragan Group who they do the submissions to ride.

They put together all the paperwork. So the total for those three things is 134795.

Breaks down the steel storage is 9 thou 90 90,860.

Uh emergency repairs 11,935 and the paragan group um 32,000 and um this is going to come from the school building fund.

As a reminder, this is monies from the surplus of the high school bond issue and we've set aside that for this this purpose. Is there a motion to approve?

Well, this second this second passage second passage, right? A motion.

I'll make a motion to approve and a second council vice president Rigo. There any comments from the public at this time?

Once again, any any comments from anyone here? Seeing none, we'll close that part of the hearing. All in favor? I I. Any oppose? The eyes have that. 300.

Next item.

Number four, ordinance of the council of the of the city of East Province ordering the assessment and collection of property tax on the raidable real estate and tangible personnel personal property. Introduced by Council President Rodri. Once again, a prefuncter followup measure required by our our budget and the the timeline and any uh comments from the council.

No, I'll make a motion to approve pending the public hearing.

Second.

So, we have the motion by Councilman Lawson, second by Vice President Rego.

I'll open up the public hearing at this time.

Any person wishing to speak? Seeing none, close the public hearing. All in favor? I I. Any opposed? The eyes have it. 300.

Thank you.

Thanks.

New business. Mayor Communications.

Last time, Chief of Staff Patricia Rosendi.

Well, we think we did that earlier. Do you have something to add? Uh, we could do the appointments. Appointments. You got to do the appointments.

Yeah.

Welcome again, President. And I I should say, if I may, um, thank you for your kind words as well, council president, and of course, it's been a pleasure. And as you mentioned, we're all here for the same reason, the residents of the city. So, I can't wait to come before this council as a resident just to say hello. Um, in terms of appointment, so we have Michael David, the appointment of Michael David Nelson

to the conservation commission as well as Chester Lavine, uh, to the conservation commission. Both of these would be new appointments, but they would have to be approved by the council. Um, the term for Mr. Lavine is January 2025 through January 2028. And the same is for Mr. David uh, Michael David Nelson, January 2025 through January 2028.

Make a motion to approve. Michael David Nelson to the Conservation Commission.

Do you want to add the other name too or just And we you want them individual votes or Okay. And Chester Lavine. So I make a motion to appoint Michael David Nelson and Chester Lavine to the conservation commission.

Motion by Councilman Lawson. Is there a second?

Second.

Second by Council Vice President Rio.

Any other comments or questions? All in favor?

I. Any opposed? The eyes have it.

Thank you. 30.

Good luck to them and thank them for stepping forward. A lot of work.

Next item.

Resolution for discussion and possible vote. Number one, resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract with CBIS CPAs for auditing services introduced by council president Rodri. So, you know, we're required to uh go out to bid and and get in responses for the auditing. U do you want to give a report on that or from the firm here? Okay. Thank you.

Just identify yourself and the firm for the record. Thanks.

Absolutely. My name is Kyle Connor. I'm the managing director for CIS. um out of based out of Providence and happy to answer any questions if you have them.

Any questions specifically? Uh we've gone through the process. Um any questions from administration or everything is prepared. Um, is there a summary you could give us on the the cost and the the term and just you know the general summary not all the yeah I haven't the resolution u the amount is after competitive bidding was 306 $36,000 council president and again um because that this is auditing and we're subject

to oversight by the general assembly uh that this uh would have to also be approved by the auditor general in accordance with 45104.

So um but the the auditor the uh state law requires us to change auditors every I think it's every 5 years and it it also requires us to um go out to bid after the end of expiration. So that's where we are in this.

So correct uh this is more of a housekeeping question for the finance director. Uh this this contract for uh CBI you know Z CPAs this will start in uh for fiscal year 26 that we just approved. They'll be they'll be audited. Will they be responsible for that audit? fiscal year 25.

So they're responsible for the audit for that we just concluded.

Correct.

That's the first. So that's that's when the clock starts ticking with that.

Correct.

Uh my question in regards to uh the previous company and being uh the keeper of overseeing the finances of the city.

when will we get the audits that the other corporation has not finished?

So, they're currently working on wrapping up uh last year's uh we're hoping to have that all done within the next four to six weeks. Um they have uh noticed that they can still start the current year audit.

Yeah.

Before that one is finalized. The single audit on that one is finalized. Yeah, I knew they could stop because obviously there, but I still waiting on uh uh the lag time and can I ask the gentleman a question? Uh we might be here next we might be here when the budget I mean when the audits come in because you know our seats are not permanent. But can you uh I guess you

can't assure ensure everything but can you poss do you have a game plan as to expedite when we as a council get the the audit because the lag time is uh getting a little with this past company was unsatisfactory.

I mean, we, as Glender pointed out, we still haven't received uh the audit for fiscal year 24 and we just concluded 25.

So, it's like reading the history book.

Yeah. Uh we have um we set up a portal online with both the school department and the city and uh within that portal, we set deadlines based on mutually agreed upon um when we feel like um items should be due in order to reach a full date of issuing report. So that portal tends to or seems to do a good job of keeping keeping things on time.

That's good to hear. So there's so there's deadline dates now where you know people h people the school department is respon is accountable and the city side is accountable based on this portal.

Yeah. Yeah. And it's great to um um from their perspective, if they've provided everything we're looking for, you know, it holds us accountable as well.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Questions? So, we had the motion and and second and I'll Oh, we need the motion. Okay. I'm sorry.

Motion to approve.

Second.

Motion was made by Councilman Lawson, seconded by Vice President Rigo. And of course this is subject right to the auditor general. So would there's some oversight of of our vote anyway. So uh all in favor I I any oppose? The eyes have Thank you for coming tonight. Appreciate it.

Thank you director.

Number two resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with John Billo. Go public relations for professional social media contact creation and media services for the police department introduced by council vice president Rico.

Motion to approve.

Thank you. Motion is made and second but let's hear from uh police chief uh f first and that's okay and thank you for your patience. I was going to call you up a little earlier, but Vice President Regal said, "Let let him sit a little bit and because we don't have a Sergeant-at-Arms here for a while, so we we need some protection. But in any event, thank you for being here and if

you could give us a summary."

Absolutely. And I I I do want to thank you for those kind words for Sergeant Andrews. I know uh deputy is also uh you know uh he was overtaken by the amount of support that was uh was provided by the by this the community.

Yeah. Please pass along to um Deputy Chief Benoy. I know our wishes. I I it was very impressive to be there the service and to see um support from throughout the region, not just uh East Providence, of course, and uh a great tribute.

Yeah, he was he was a a great man. Great man. Made an impression on uh several several people, thousands and thousands of people. So, but I appreciate that.

Thank you. So, so back to uh John Gilfoil, we when I first uh started interviewing for the uh position of deputy chief and chief, uh one of the the primary um tasks I wanted to get uh completed was was updating our social media platform and our our our uh our image um moving forward. Um we are one of the few departments that do not have a standalone uh website, a website for

people uh to go on to obtain information on how to access police reports um file online uh complaints um a lot of our stats our forward public facing uh stats um that we we produce on a monthly basis. So, we just want to kind of bring ourselves up to the, you know, we're kind of a few years behind, but we want we want to make it, you know, 2025 where

people can look up and and see, oh, who's the uh the community policing officer of my in my area? Who's where can I file a traffic complaint? Um John Gilfoil, we we put this out to bid and John Gilfoil was uh one of the top um uh very highly respected top agencies in the area. They do uh contract with many departments, police departments, fire departments, municipalities throughout New England. Uh we met with the IT

director, uh the mayor, his staff. Uh the company was top-notch, very professional. Um part of the process of this this whole endeavor was not only making a a a website for uh for the department and for the public to use, but also to produce um media content. uh media content in terms of uh videos for recruitment, which is super important at this point in our in uh in in in our

time and it's it's it's a step that we need to take to move forward to become uh a more current police department.

Could someone like the um Mr. and Mrs.

Good who were here tonight, could they go on this portal at some point and pass along information that they were concerned about like this beating on Massasoid Avenue? Is there a to do that kind of thing?

Yes, sir. Yeah. So, uh the the good thing about this is that we're starting this from from the from the foundation up. It's going to be customtailored to what we want as a as a as a community and as a department. It's, you know, what we want may be different than what Bington wants or what Providence wants.

So, they're willing to sit down with us and do whatever they uh whatever they can to make it what we want. One of those options would be online reporting.

uh whether it's uh an officer complaint, speeding complaint, anything. The there's really a gamut of of options that we have available to us.

Sounds very user friendly.

It will be and and it does it does meet a lot of other standards like ADA standards which uh that's super important now and we want to make sure that we're we're meeting those those needs of uh the community members.

So, how how are we funding this?

I'm sorry. That's uh usually when I come up here and ask for for some uh some money, it's usually coming from asset forfeite funds. Um uh federal asset forfeite funds that it's that's where it's going to come from. DOJ equitable sharing funds.

Great.

So, not a cost to the uh the community.

Great. Any other comments, questions?

I think it's great. I mean I I look on other like Warrick and Cranston two of them that they recap on a monthly basis like how many you know how many incidents they you know they responded to or calls and it's a total breakdown where the citizens can go in and see how many how many you know how many traffic stops and everything like that accidents. So I I I think and then just

to bring the department into the 21st century as the chief talked about recruiting is very uh the key to it to have uh nice crisp recruiting. Uh can there be a section with the pictures of the city council? Uh no I'm just kidding. We don't just a joke that'll be on social media in the morning.

Exactly.

Okay. So, all in favor with this, I Any opposed? Yeah, I have it. Thank you, Chief.

Good luck. Appreciate it.

Number three, resolution authorizing the mayor to purchase two pickup trucks for the Department of Public Works Highway Division introduced by Council President Rodri and Council Vice President Rico.

Motion to approve.

Second.

All in favor? I. I. Any opposed? The eyes have.

Next item, introduction of ordinances for discussion and possible vote. Number one, an ordinance and amendment of chapter 18 of the revised ordinance of the city of East Providence, Rhode Island, 1998 as amended entitled vehicles and traffic subsection B of 18-269 entitled stop and yield intersections designated when stops required is amended by adding there to the following. Ferris Avenue northbound

traffic at David Street introduced by council vice president Rigo.

Council vice president motion to do you want to comment first or first passage? Yes. Um I received a phone call from a constituent.

Uh I should say I received an email. Excuse me. uh I read it and like I usually do uh I go and uh look at the area and it wasn't the it wasn't the fir and what happened after that is I went there saw it when I was there uh Brendan was home and for the 15 20 minutes that I was there it was like three cars just go slipping

by and And uh I had other people on that end of Ferris uh call me, email me about this issue of speeding. Um, so everybody, if you're familiar with it, it it's when Ferris cuts off of Pucket, what's happening is a situation in regards to uh people avoiding the traffic light or the the radar at St. Mara and using Ferris Bishop and all the neighboring streets there as cutthroughs and it's becoming an issue. Uh so this

is my proposal is that we put a stop sign there. Uh I don't think that the uh the signage as far as uh telling what you know how fast we're going it works but it it wasn't working on Bishop and Pavilion and Bonnie. So uh instead of tying up that machine there I make the proposal for a stop sign.

So the motion was by Councilman Lawson, seconded by P Rigo. Any comments from the public on this? Uh, yes sir, you can come forward.

Just uh name and address for the record.

Push that button there. Okay, you're good.

Of course. Yeah. Hi everybody. I'm uh Brendan Burke, 53 Ferris A.

Welcome.

Yeah. No, again uh Mr. Rigo did a great job. Sort of the city of public works.

Um, it's actually hilarious. I emailed them to talk about the stop sign and three hours later somebody showed up at my house to like look at it and he also agreed as well as Mr. Rigo that one of the stop blinking signs just wouldn't be effective.

Um, obviously with, you know, Rumford and East Providence being a very upand cominging younger person area, especially where we live, you're seeing a lot of children and my next door neighbor is just is pregnant and my fiance and I were obviously going to have children in a few years, so we obviously just want to keep that community safe. Mr. IO did a great job of getting the stop signs on Bishop to

prevent that uh being a speeding issue.

But again, this is just a community issue that everybody along the street would love to have. But again, I think it's just a cut through for the radar cameras, but again, I appreciate everybody's time. I know it's late in the night, so anything you guys can do is appreciated.

I appreciate you coming coming out. Uh thank you. Anyone else want to speak on this? Uh hearing none. Seeing none, we have the motion in second. All in favor?

This is first passage. I Yes.

This won't become effective until second passage.

Right. First passage and no opposition.

It passes 30 of first passage. Thank you. An ordinance and amendment of chapter 18 of the revised ordinance of the city of East Proidence, Rhode Island, 1998 as amended entitled vehicles and traffic section 18-307 entitled parking prohibited at all times of article 10 entitled stopping, standing, and parking is amended by adding there to the following. Fisher Street East Side from Seth Street South

for 200 feet introduced by Councilwoman Souza.

Motion table.

I'm going to make a motion to pass it because this is only first passage and then we have second with the public hearing. So, just to move it forward, right?

I make a motion that we approve it just for first passage and then we'll have the public hearing and discussion when the whole council's here next meeting.

Okay. Do you want to change that or you want me to second it?

I'll I'll second it from that standpoint. But with the sponsor not here even at the first, you know, first time should be when it's presented.

Bring out the facts.

I agree. I agree. But because it's only first and there's going to be another hearing.

Okay. All in favor?

I. Any opposed? Yeah. I have it. Next item. Number three, an ordinance and amendment of chapter 18 of the revised ordinance of the city of East Providence, Rhode Island, 1998 as amended entitled vehicles and traffic section 1 section 18-421 entitled definitions of article 14 entitled bicycles of chapter 18 is replaced and amended to include electric bicycles. Section 18-424 is amended to prohibit the riding of

electric bicycles on sidewalks or public footwalks and creating a new section 18-427, 18-428 and 18-429 related to the regulation and enforcement of electric bicycles in city parks and recreational areas introduced by council vice president Regal and Councilman Fogerty.

Thank you. Is this also first passage?

This is a Yes. Yes, it would be first passage. Yeah, I'm happy to explain it if you want to.

Sure, if you want to summarize.

I thank Councilman Rigo and Councilman For. Um, as you know, the city has experienced some uh vandalism uh at some of its newly uh refurbished parks in the city. And I guess it's been determined that some of the damage is being caused by electric bicycles. And uh our when our ordinance was written um there was no such thing as an electric bike. Um so uh the state law p last session the

round state general assembly passed the law regarding the regulation of um electric bicycles and adopting defi a definition of it. So this law, this ordinance has proposed would adopt the definition that's occurring in state law and it also amends the bicycle uh ordinance that we already have that prohibits bicycles from being on a a sidewalk or footwalk, but now it would also prevent an electric bicycle from

being on a a sidewalk or footwalk in the city. Um but most importantly it uh prohibits the uh a person from riding, propelling or moving or trundling any electric bike within a city-owned park or recreation uh areas. So you're not you cannot have a you can't obviously have a electric bike on a court or something like that. So you cannot use those bikes in in you can use your bike

to get to the parking lot of a park but you can't be in the park itself for damages. uh and it sets penalties and much like uh if you recall I don't know if it was this council or the previous council I think it was when we had the problems with the motorbikes stadium that that ruined some of the tennis courts basketball courts so this uh mirrors the for forfeite proceedings the this the government the

city would have the right uh to seize the bike and have a hearing uh and seize the actual bike as a part of a violation of it. So, so it does not prohibit people from lawful use of correct ebikes.

Correct.

On the streets or wherever it's allowed, correct? It only would takes them off the parks and playgrounds and and and police department was instrumental in bringing this to our attention and they did draft an ordinance uh that we had to revise a little bit because obviously the police are not lawyers. Um but they did a good job and they gave us a good um they gave us a good uh uh start and we then uh

looked at state law and try to harmonize it. So we do have few police sources our lawyer you know I mean you know chief propos could be a lawyer all every day. So you've been demoted by the solicitor.

I get a ticket on the way out of here tonight. But anyway um but that's that's it. That's the first passage. Hopefully um there'll be more public comment at the next meeting, but I just wanted to give uh a general overview. It really does update our ordinances to encompass electric bikes. We're not even around.

And I know we've had some discussion here, so I I don't want to belabor this, but I do want to ask the chief one question. Uh if you don't mind.

So chief, do you see this as a a helpful tool for the police? you you have something that you can quote and you can work with when if people were to ask you, well, why are you stopping me? Is isn't this helpful to uh enforcement?

Yes, it is. It it the the concern is or the issue is is that this these ebikes have literally exploded onto the market in the last couple years. um uh you put a lot of power under underneath somebody's feet and um you know they they may not necessarily know how to uh handle handle that especially a lot of the younger riders u we've seen a lot of accidents uh with these ebikes versus vehicles whereas there's other

pedestrians uh pretty serious injuries resulting from those accidents. So, this is going to help us uh hopefully try to educate the public and um you know, make sure that they're following the rules because bicyclists still do have to abide by motor vehicle laws. So, um just to make sure everybody's aware of that.

But we want to make sure that we're able to educate the public, make sure that they're operating these things properly, uh and most importantly keeping them out of the parks because they're really uh the amount of money that the city's put into these parks. Uh the damage that it's caused over the last uh several months has been really amazing. actually just uh a couple hours ago received on

the complaint from down grassy plane. So it's u hopefully this uh deters uh the use and vandalism.

Let's hope so. It's any other comments uh it's first passage so the public is invited to come for this next meeting or the second passage if you have other concerns or comments. Um is there motion motion to accept and move? Is there a second? I'll I'll second the uh motion. Um the re the reason I'm not supporting this I think is kind of ridiculous.

You somebody rides a knee bike to Crescent Park to watch the concert.

They're going to get busted for having a knee bike.

Well, they can go in the parking lot.

They just can't goes, right? I get that. But they get their bike there. And we need cameras in our public spaces if we want to deter vandalism. But this is just ridiculous.

So I do not support this. Um I think we need to be talking about if we want to stop vandalism, we need to put these cameras. I've been mentioning that for how long now? And this isn't going to deter somebody with bad intentions, but the camera will help the cops find out who did it. and we can go after him that way. That's where I think our energy needs to be, not this,

you know, oh, if you ride an ebike, we're taking it. We're going to destroy it or the property will be uh delivered and retained by the agency which seized it.

Well, or it's going to be sold at public auction. And so, I do not support this.

All right. But let me just re reply that only if you damage property is that going to happen. Not going to take anybody's ebike. You operate a bike in the park.

In the park, you're going to get in trouble.

So, you park in the parking lot. They all have like they have areas. What?

What?

And I just disagree with this. No, let's do the vote. We don't need to argue.

Do it. I mean, all right. No problem.

Basketball court. But, okay. So, all in favor?

I I oppose one. So, the motion passes first passage two to one.

Right. Okay. I I have one special announcement. I just got word that the East Providence uh high school's special Olympics cornhole team just won the uh state tournament. So, I just got that on the uh from Ben. So, congratulations to the team.

That's why my phone is dinging.

Yeah, thank you.

Yeah, he's the only one here.

I'm the only one that read it, he said.

No, no. So, congratulations to uh the cornholes. It's it's a good uh we'll digress for a quick second, Mr.

Solicitor. It's a good fall for East Providence uh athletics. Uh we have, as we sit here tonight, the high school girls volleyball team is in semifinals, hoping to go to a state championship on Saturday. The East Providence High School cheer team just won the state championship for division one. East Providence High School boys and girls soccer uh well into the playoffs and doing well and who did I forget there's uh

football team and the football team is playing a playoff game at home this Friday night.

So this has been a highly successful fall season for our high school student athletes. boy soccer team. Amazing.

Beating, you know, obviously beaten an East Providence legend in, you know, Mari knocked off Lal. They knocked off Henriken this year earlier. Uh it's it's been amazing. But anyway, um where are we here? Next motion to motion.

Second.

Motion to adjourn. Seconded. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Thank you everyone. Meeting is adjourned.

Dan, you got one second.