4/1/25 EP City Council

Frank

If you have the kids, please.

Good evening. Call the meeting of April 1st, East Providence City Council to order. Uh, madame clerk, could you please call the role of the council?

Councilman Fogerty, here. Councilman Lawson, here. Council Vice President Rio, here. Councilwoman Souza, Council President Rodri here. The record show there are four members uh present, one absent. Would you please uh rise for the pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands nation for all.

Thank you all. Uh, first on the agenda tonight, we have some proclamations to award. As we continue to be known as Championship City, I would ask uh Councilman Fogerty to make the presentations tonight. Uh oh, that's a good technical foul. That's a good one. Technical foul.

40-year referee. I might I didn't give any of you players technical files.

Nice. Councilman, you tore it apart. No, no, that was already broke. You can hear me. Actually, I don't even need a mic.

Right, folks. Right. All right. Let's see who we have first. First of all, I'd like to congratulate the East Providence Boys and Girls Club travel team. Both of them, fifth grade, eighth grade, and the coaches, the staff. Uh they had an excellent season from what I watched. I didn't have the pleasure of repping them, but I've repped most of those kids sitting in that audience at one time in

my career in their career, especially Black Top. But um they're fortunate to play at a high level and travel and thanks to the people of East Providence for supporting them, especially the coaches. A lot of time they give their efforts and the kids and the parents that help them get there. With that said, I'm just going to I wanted to do a proclamation and then you can thank Mr.

Damian Ramos also because he as a leader of your group has make sure he expressed his uh proudness of you guys and girls and everyone that volunteers to do this.

It's not easy. Um getting up playing and I'm sure you guys all enjoy it, right?

That's why you're here. And there's most of you that play multiple sports because I've seen you on the softball field and or baseball field, soccer. With that said, let's see what group I have.

Players, as the councilman calls your name and you go up and get your proclamation, then walk along the front here and we just form a line, you know, face the audience and as you get your proclamation, just work your way down toward the end here. Thank you, Councilman. Proceed. So, what these say, I won't do them all, but what this says is the city of East Province, us, the council, and everybody in the city

actually is who we speak for. on behalf of the city council. This certificate is awarded to the name and it's based and we'll all sign it for you guys and you can hold it as a memorabilia. So this one is to uh Christian Gomes.

It's a good deal. It is basketball.

That's right. We have a relaxed environment here as you can see. Uh, this next proclamation is Miles

Jackson.

Congratulations. This next one is for Isaiah Anderson.

God bless you. Uh, this one is got thrown in the mix. Manager Lauren Santos is here. All right, we're going to put this right here, but I'll give it to the coach at the end.

Oh, I'm sorry. I didn't see you. You can get

We signed these in a hurry coming in the meeting, so apologies if the coaches got in the middle. Uh, this is for Daniel

Buragard. This one is for Christopher

Carlos. I like it. We'll see all these folks at Blacktop, too, which is the East Providence League at Pear Field.

All these kids play in that also, just so the public knows. Uh, this is goes to Owen Gaganta. Did I get it right?

This one is for Daniel Jordan.

Boy, I wonder why you want it.

I did see a couple of their games because I was refing at a different court, but they they are very good players thanks to the coaches. Cash

McGurn. This one is Lauren M. Is it Jaden Medeiros? Sorry. So, some of the scroll I can't read that. Is it Jaden Medeiros?

All right. Not here. I'll leave it right here.

All right. Let's go with Ryan

Miguel. I love it. I love that sport.

That's my favorite sport. I just got off the baseball field. My grandson who says he's not that good, but hi buddy, if you're watching. Uh, this one's for Cameron ODM.

He's not here cuz I coach I coached Cameron. I coached Cameron. Great kid.

Played for Sacred Heart for our first year instructional league and uh we we went 500. So he contributed very good.

Coach Sean

Jackson. Very good coach, very respectful. That means a lot coming from a referee. Coach Donald

McGernice, we got the fifth kids, fifth grade kids early, right? Because they got to go to bed earlier. I was told that, but you guys can stay up to at least nine. All right. Um, I'm gonna say this one is Is it Lance Santos? Is that the first name?

Oh, I can't really read. Jaci Jace,

it's J. Come on. Referees can read better than that. Look at that writing.

Exactly. be too fancy for me. I should have did a rehearsal. Ismile Kur Lopes.

I got that right.

Let's take a photo of these guys. I'll get up top with the council.

All right, to the eighth grade girls, congratulations. All right, girls. Let's see what he does with your names. Now, listen, it's not easy. I should have the coach come up and read them. No, no, we're enjoying this. This is fine.

All right. Thank you very much. Is it Tiana Ramos?

Did I get it right?

I got it right.

Good job. All right, I got this one. Jocelyn Taylor.

I don't like I wonder who won the scrimmage between the girls and the boys if they played. I I think the boys would give you a run for your money. Marissa Seo Bentoh.

I like getting it right.

I stopped being embarrassed after fifth grade. Jordan

Pmental. All right Olivia Gomes. Not here. Uh, this one's going to be challenging.

Miss

Fana. Uh, let's see.

I don't like this writing at all.

I know it. I know the last name. Avery.

Avery.

Dwart. Can I just point out Avery is my cousin's daughter. Continuing the tradition. Not Avery. See, he thought it was Avery. Avery. Thank you. So, you're not a fan of the writing either. Thank you very much. So, K public see not the only one. Ariela Carabalo

Avery is Mr. Lawson's cousin. Did you hear that everybody?

Continuing the tradition of Lino Women in athletics.

Very proud of you. Not here. Not. Did I get the name right?

Manager Brenda Fana.

Okay. Oh, she got recognized either way.

Coach Jason Taylor.

Oh, I know this guy. He told me I needed glasses. No, no, he didn't. Very respectful. Coach Vincent Fana.

Before leave, I would I would just say to you to you guys that um as you can see, we keep things usually light here and we try to have some fun. We do argue later when it's later in the evening, but I hope that you all continue to represent East Providence as you have done so, so far. And tonight, as we sit here, as we came into the chambers, our East Providence High School girls

softball team was winning. The East Providence High School boys baseball team playing away in Woick tonight, won the game, their first game. and we know that our uh special partners were playing a great game of basketball in the high school gym and there was lacrosse going on. So, keep that spirit with you guys in the years to come and congratulations from all of us, including uh the mayor has signed these

proclamations. We're all very proud of you and you do not have to stay here tonight till midnight. You're all free to go. Thank you. Congratulations. Thank you guys.

Great job.

Motion to

Everyone leave the kids gone. Thank you for that, Councilman Fogerty. So, let's uh resume the agenda for executive session. Uh we can stay here. I don't think there's any any litigation or need to go into executive session if solicitor wants to um run through these claims. So the first claim is uh recommended approval in the amount of $115.99 for a pothole claim.

Any comments on this claim? No, I'm good with it. Pretty standard. Um, I'll take a motion to accept motion to accept the uh recommendation by Councilman Fogerty.

Is there a second?

Second by uh Vice President Regal. All in favor? I I. Any opposed? The eyes have that of 4 Z. Next. Next. claim was a pothole claim in the amount of $1,300, excuse me, $1,346. As you know, under the statute, the maximum amount is $300. So, the recommendation is to approve the claim in the amount of $300.

Is there a motion to approve approve the recommendation by Councilman Lawson, seconded by Councilman Fogerty. All in favor? I. Any opposed? The eyes have. Next claim. Next claim is a claim for a sewer abatement in the amount of $984.60. The director of public works recommends approval of the claim.

Is there a motion on what was the reason for the claim? The sewer backup.

One of our sewer lines backed up into their property.

It was a blockage that was uh found to be in in our line. So, yes. And we fixed the problem. Well, yes.

Okay. Motion to approve. I second.

Motion to approve. Councilman Lawson, seconded by Councilman Fogerty. All in favor? I. Any opposed? The eyes have it.

the in the city. So uh this is we don't give gold watches but we'll let you come up earlier in the evening so you don't have to stay here. very much appreciate council president. With all seriousness, um I I know we all have appreciated what you have done for the community. Uh every time that I've had the the occasion to speak with you or your command staff or almost anyone in the

department, uh your professionalism was in in full sight at all times. And um being a law enforcement officer in America this day and age is very I I'm not telling you anything you don't know.

Very very difficult. And uh keep our fingers crossed. I mean East Providence has I'm sure there's a couple blemishes here and there. That's life. But for the most part, uh, we we've been great and you've been a a big part of keeping that community relationship going. I don't know if anyone else has any other comments before we move on to the I just hope we've had a lot of retirements and I hope the younger guys

are ready to step up. They got some big shoes to fill. Big shoes and I hope they're up for the task.

Yeah. My comment is quick. You're staying right.

Unfortunately not, sir. No, but congratulations and thanks for everything you've done for the city of East Pro. Wish you nothing but the best, buddy. Appreciate it. Thank you. I want to thank you since day one, having been in this seat. You've been nothing but an asset for myself and ward one. You've solved a lot of issues, traffic conditions up in Ward One.

uh who is taking your who will take your position does have big shoes to fill and I know there's capable people in this department that can fill your shoes and that's the nice thing about the city of East Providence Police Department. The only time that there was an outsider and you're on the force, it didn't work. It It's a unique bond.

having a son who's in law enforcement and they all talk and the East Providence guys have a special bond and I just hope that that bond continues.

You stay in the family. Thank you.

I appreciate the kind words and I would like to say that it's, you know, it's been a it's been a privilege to to work with each of you and the support you've shown for the police department um does not go unrecognized and um we do have a a a very very very good group of police officers here. Um, this community is very lucky to have those police officers who um, really pride themselves on um,

making East Providence a safe community.

They really do and they go um, above and beyond. Um, and we uh, consider ourselves a fullervice police department. We don't just solve crime, we do tons of other things. Um, and you know, I've I had that inherited to me and I hope I I left in in instilled that further in the men and women of the police department. So, thank you all very much. Very much appreciated. Thank you, Chief. Best of luck in health. I

think council VP, did you sponsor this or did you is there anything to add or we It's pretty It's read just the heading, not the whole thing. Yes. Yeah.

Resolution authorizing the mayor to purchase two police vehicles for the police department sponsored by council vice president Rigo. Motion to motion to pass. Second motion by council vice president Rigo, seconded by Councilman Lawson. And just for the public's clarification, the funding source uh chief, this is federal asset forfeite fund. Asset forfeite. Okay. And I want just wanted to point out that uh a

member of my command staff dug pretty deep and was able to find two brand new 2023 um models which saved us $10,000. So awesome. A very good uh find by him.

Good news. All in favor that I. Any opposed? The eyes have it for zero.

Thank you. Thank you, Chief. Godspeed, chief.

Thank you all. Um, madame clerk, go back to the regular order of the agenda.

Consent calendar for discussion and possible vote. A, council journers regular meeting minutes 318 2025.

Number two, special meeting minutes. Um, March 19th, 2025. Letters, new property address, 81 Pinerest Drive, Riverside. 83 Pinerest Drive, Riverside. 30 Peach Orchard Drive Riverside 24- 26 Peach Orchard Drive, Riverside.

Is there a motion on a consent calendar?

Motion to accept. Motion to accept.

Councilman Lawson. Is there a second?

Do you want me to add? Second by Councilman Fogerty. All in favor? I I.

Any opposed? The eyes have that.

Next item.

The tax abatements $38,533.64.

I know there are some uh questions some council have uh legitimate questions, but uh we also have our tax assessor uh present and I certainly would not want to prelude her from wanting to uh help us with some information. So I will allow her to um give an explanation of what what this request is about. Okay.

Good evening. So I believe there's two on there right or there might be three but two are for the same account and just for the record identify yourself and Sarah F tax assessor. Thank you. So the one um one is for a motor vehicle.

There should be two years for that. Um that was someone who their car was repossessed. They showed me proof um back in when we used to tax motor vehicles. That was one of the things that they could provide us to have their motor vehicle bill abated. So they showed me the proof that warranted the abatement. And then the other one is a non-utilization tax. So is that the one

that we want to discuss? Yes. I got a question on pro the we're voting to approve these abatements. Yes. One of them from 2021.

Yes. That's the repossessed car. Yes.

Okay. If we want to go one at a time, I'll make a motion to approve that one.

Motion to approve the one as described for the motor vehicle. Seconded by VP Rigo. All in favor? I. I. Any opposed?

The eyes have it. And the $56 2022, that's the same motor vehicle. Okay.

Same person. So, it's a different year.

We're just going to discuss now. Last year, somebody's getting $38,000. So, this was this is not the regular tax bill for this property. This is the non-utilization tax bill. So, per our city ordinance and also per state law, the cities and towns have a right to um impose a non-utilization tax that is for properties that are vacant and abandoned. So, how these get on the tax role, which is a separate tax role, it's

not the original tax role, is the building inspector goes out and he watches the property for a year. He deems it vacant and abandoned. He gives a list to the assessor's office and then we impose the tax in order to so when we're we do research these the best we can but every once in a while you know there's something that we don't notice. So they do have an opportunity after the tax is imposed to

come before us and explain if they were marketing the property, if it was leased, if they were renting a portion of it that maybe the building inspector wasn't aware of. Any of those reasons can get the property abaded. So this is one property. This is one property and this is um which property for 38 grand.

So this is 30 I believe it was 35 water street Milo property. I think that is the uh our waterfront restaurant. Yes.

The old warehouse across Yes. It's the warehouse which has been empty for a decade. So he he has a listing. He's trying to sell all those properties, but we did not realize that that property was also included with the listing that he has. They're separate, but he's trying to market the home. They're also separate, right? They are separate, but part of his listing is to So, if the property's for sale, he can get his

taxes abaded. It's not his original tax bill. It's his non-utilization tax.

non-utilization tax nonutilization utilization because he doesn't want to lease it out to people and now he's asking for a $38,000 tax break from the from the citizens. Andy's had buyers and purchase a sale. I know he's had people know this. He's had people wanting to wanting to rent it and and and people and you you're doing your job. People just got their revals in the mail and you want to take $38,000

off the levy because that's basically what we're doing. Well, this isn't on the levy. This is an addition. We're taking $38,000 out of the funds and all we hear from the administration is things are tight and you're taking $38,000 right now out of the treasury, right? Because we're not going to collect it. This wasn't part of the It's still $38,000 that the city isn't going to be able to collect. Correct. We either

collect it or we don't collect it.

Right. It's a It's a simple answer.

Either we collect or we don't collect.

Right. Right. $38,000. Right. But it wasn't money that was No, but it's let her answer. It's still Let me finish.

It's She's got to answer the question.

All right. I just want And then you can come back. Can you clear it up a little more? Okay. So when when we have our normal tax roll, the 2024 tax roll, that is the money that's approved in the budget. So this was not part of that tax money. This is in addition to that. This is not something that we do every year.

This this was a one-time thing to try to clean up some vacant and abandoned properties. Part of the ordinance states that if the property is being marketed for sale, then we weren't supposed to tax it.

That's that's part of the ordinance and it's also a state law. So I'm just following the state law by abating it.

They came in and they provided me the proof that I needed. You know, it's been for a while to have buyers that want it.

So yeah, I mean there's been buyers. So I make a motion to not approve. All right. I just solicitor wants to hold on. Motion. There's a motion. All right.

But before the motion, the solicitor had his hand up. So thank you. So I just want to explain what the thatation tax is. First of all, the rate is a $100 per thousand of value of the property.

That's why this prop that tax bill is so high. A defense to the non-utilization tax is that the property is up for sale.

The person is not required to sell it, but as long as they can prove that the property is listed, we cannot collect this tax. That's the law. I know you may not like it, but that is the law. So, this money will never be collected. So, that's that's why the that's why the tax assessor has come to us and asked for the abatement. And this is above and beyond. We're not talking about Sarah.

We're we're we're happy with Sarah's explanation and deal, but we're looking at somebody who's circumventing the responsibility, but I can have a piece of property on for sale. Now, you're telling me I can if I didn't sell property that I inherited, I could keep it on for sale for as long as I want.

Yeah. As long as it and and I have it for sale. And there's a lot of them up in my ward and for sale. And we know which one. And I'm not going to mention the name, but we know which property that is. So, it's for sale for sale. I don't have to pay taxes. It's got to be non-utilization is a definition of non-utilization. Number one, the property you're talking about is being

utilized. Number one, that one. But there's But there's other ones. And number two, non-utilization, right? So, I can have this decrepit building just sit there or, you know, and I got a for sale sign on it. I don't have to as long as it's active. This is what the statute says. actively and that and that that conforms to state law. That's what the law is. That's why we're not we'll never

collect this because they have shown to the satis satisfaction of the tax assessor that the property has been actively marketed. So this money will never be collected. It only by taking off the tax. She's just cleaning it up.

That's all it is. And it's it's wrong.

It it's it's wrong. We're never going to collect. So I made a motion to not give them an abatement. Yeah. I mean it's going to it's we're not going to collect. Yeah. So the motion was made.

Was there a second? second. So on discussion on the motion, so I I would ask us I think none of us here are happy with this property. We we all know it's that there have been potential buyers.

They've I can't even get into some of what what we all know about it. The sale could have happened and it it hasn't.

However, how do we square if the law is telling us we Well, it's it's academic.

We're not gonna we're not going to collect it. So I mean that's why you abad it. It's never going to be collected. That's why it needs to be abated so that Texas can clear her roles. This is an administrative action.

So all right. So I get that. So we're leaving it on the ro. If that's the case, we we could technically take it as, you know, it's abandoned. It's decrepit. We could take it at a eminent domain an issue and we can't. No. No. But not right. But we could in theory. Right.

I'm saying theory. the city only has the power to take property by no domain for for a park or conservation purpose.

Well, we could turn it into a park, I guess. I don't know. I guess I'm just I'm just trying to say I'm just saying this is all I'm saying is that there's there this is this is quote unquote an extra tax that that's being imposed.

It's not part of the regular role. It's the tax assessor has validly come before you. She checked it. The tax was imposed. the per the property owner G gave us evidence that it would did not meet the criteria for the imposition of this tax and therefore it's being request to be abaded. That's all this has nothing to do with this is in addition to his regular tax. I'm not suggesting to let you know that she is

following the law. Yeah, we're not this has nothing to do with Sarah. This is she does a great she's a great job.

We're lucky we have her department. But you know what? It's it's somebody circumventing the law when there's small business people in this city that go out and do the right thing day in and day out for their property and they're paying their taxes and somebody isn't. That's wrong.

But no, I'm just saying it's wrong. I mean, there's no there's it's wrong. End the subject. But our action won't Oh, I know. But it's just it's just wrong. And it's terrible that people take advantage situation and and then we don't honest hardworking people ask, you know, have issues with their water bill and they get denied and we had $38,000 going away. That's my that's my thing. It has

nothing to do with Sarah or it's a process. It just stinks. Okay. So, my last comment is this is not $38,000 going away, right? We don't have it. No, this money was this is not part of the regular tax. It's not part of the roles.

He does get a tax bill for his real estate at this location already. This is an addition to that, just so you understand. So he this is an addition to his regular tax bill. So legally, logistically, this isn't counted in our budget when we did the budget. So Mr.

Solicitor, if if this council uh does not approve the abatement, what is what happens? What's it remains on her books and eventually will they get past two notice? Yeah, they'll get they may get past due notices. But again, the defense is going to be that they they they're not el the tax is not eligible because they have proven that it's been actively listed. That is the exception in the

law. That is the exception in our ordinance. So, what the assessor is asking you to do is to abate a property that does not comply that does comply with all the ordinances that you have passed that this council has passed. By not taking that recommendation, are we putting the city at harm? No, but you're not really doing anything. It's just better for to to let her clean up her books. That's that's what it is. Okay.

So, if there's no other discussion, um Madame Clerk, could you call the role?

Be clear. We're voting to deny the abatement. That's the motion. Yeah.

That's your motion is to deny this abatement.

Councilman Fogerty. Nay.

Councilman Lawson. Hi.

Council Vice President Rio, Councilwoman Souza.

Council President Rodri, and I I vote nay. I think four of us are not happy with the the property and the situation, but I'm not going to go against letting our tax assessor clean up her books.

We're not giving anybody any money.

We're not taking money out of the city coffers. we're not putting money in this person's pocket. Uh that's another issue. I'm all for a a I don't know if it was a resolution, but a a motion that some of us made a couple of years ago to create an agency in the city to go after prop go after properties like this. And that's where we fixed this kind of a problem. The council at the time thought

there were other motivations behind it and there really wasn't. This came from a couple of us on the council and a former uh acting uh former assistant solicitor that would have fixed problems like this. This is not the solution we're looking for. So with that, it's motion fails two to two. Thank you Sarah.

Thank you and I appreciate your opinions everybody here. Thank you. Okay, next item.

Make a motion to bundle the licensing.

Next motion by Councilman Lawson, seconded by Councilman Fogerty to bundle the licenses. How many do we have?

13 total. 13 is it? Yep.

B1 through 13.

All in favor? I I any opposed? Motion to approve.

I do have one amended actually the May 17th. It was a one day event.

Is that That's not part of the No, it was on here.

Was that the sacred heart? July 5th, 2025. What was the amen? What was the amendment? The date or the time? It was supposed to be 2026, not 2025.

Was it? Oh, it's the first one. It's the first one. Oh, the first one. 517. Yeah.

Yes. 517. The road race. Sorry. Yes. It was supposed to be 2026 that they were putting. They already had did 2025 and so now they're doing it for 2026.

Uh, it's standard. So, yeah. with the amendment. I vote that we approve just change into approve right with that with that one date that one date change. Is there a second to that? Second. Second by Councilman Fogerty. All in favor? I. Any opposed? The eyes have that. Thank you. Next item.

Public hearing. None. Communication. William Lewis Suify.

Good evening, gentlemen. Good evening.

Evening.

Just name and address for the record.

William Lewis uh 112 Prescott a uh Riverside. How' we make out? Did we do anything on my sewer fee?

We were going to take it under adisement two years ago before that four years ago.

I I have no information. I know you had requested some information. No, I I had requested but someone someone was here that and that you weren't able to make that meeting the next time. I haven't heard anything since then. I don't know if administration has any information.

Oh, I what I requested is that if we can put a deduct meter on an inside portion, right? And I think that's what I had asked. Superintendent of the water division I think said that no, we could not. No, he didn't. He said you, the city council, would have to change it because right now it's only allowed for outside.

That's what was said. He didn't say that. Yeah. He communicated that to us.

So if Mr. Marble wants to come here and make that cause, we I'd have no problem.

I agree with you. I mean, again, I'm pro business. Did they send the legal department an ordinance or request the right way and you do things the right way? So I mean, and I have and Again, I have a relationship with you. I'm going to state it for the record so somebody doesn't say that I treat somebody different than you. Oh, they'll say it anyway. Oh, they're going to say it

anyways, but I'm going to be upfront and transparent that we're friends and I run events at your place. And but Jim's never said that to us. So, if that's the case and he said that to you, then Mr.

President, I want Jim to be at this at the next meeting. So, that's what was said that night. you guys would take it under advisement if we could put a deduct meter for the inside use because right now with the city council I mean with the prior councils they had only allowed it for outside use so that has to be done by you and that's what he had said. Can you my recollection was that

there was as after the last time he was here I think it was Mr. Borges or Mr.

Marvel came came by and indicated to you why that was not possible. Um and I don't remember the specifics but I think there was a follow I I remember there was some discussion about that that wouldn't answer your concerns and wasn't part of the discussion that the water usage was still going into the sewer system. So there that's no I have proved that it's not I can prove that. But

where does it go when you pour it down the sink? That was a question I remember I asked that night your mouth and out my door. That's where it goes. But we talked about when water is left behind on tables and there's water usage, right? That that not isn't always being drunk. Drink. Drink. What's the word?

28% of it is. Referee, right? But I I'm not the water department, so I can tell you what they told us that night and I I haven't heard any more from them. Do you have anything to add, director? I mean, chief.

Correct. I I have been in in touch with um Superintendent Marvel and he's informed me that that what the solicitor said is correct that he wasn't making any suggestion um to add an outdoor deduct.

So if I recall, we said a flat sewer rate would help alleviate this issue.

Correct.

I it I mean it would, but I think in turn the city would end up losing money.

In what way? Uh because a flat sewer rate I believe not it wouldn't work across the board because right now I've had a lot of people approach me in the industry and not every restaurant gives as much water as others. So I believe a fat sewer rate would probably hurt the city. I think I think the testimony before Mr. Borges was that the flat sewer rate would cost the residents

more. So it would protect those who were paying less than their fair share.

Correct. Yeah.

Um unfortunately we have to go with the recommendations of the professionals and they're telling us we just heard they do not recommend indoor deduct meters.

Okay. So I have to take this to the state level. Is that what where we're going? I will say you are the only person that's come before us asking for new. Yes. And that's it was presented to our professionals who run the water department and their recommendation to us was to not put them in. Okay. That's and based on that recommendation is why you haven't heard any activity from us.

Okay. I appreciate you guys. We can ask to revisit and give us report in writing. So, we're, you know, refresh our memories. But that's that was the last word that I recall. I didn't hear him say that. I mean, I we all agreed that it was illegal to do. That's what we all came across and we agreed on that. Yep.

So, can uh Bill, can you ask the hospitality association? Well, that's where I've no I've stopped. I've I was Can you ask He wanted to come down here and I said I'll take care of it. Can you ask the hospitality association what happens in other cities? Yeah, other cities don't charge the sewer fees that each province charges. Can we uh get something on Can we get something from the hospitality break showing each city

in town? Yes. All right, we can do that.

And our fees are higher because we borrowed 50 million to Yeah, I know that had you guys had nothing to do with that one. Yeah, I know the history of it. But I'm here to work for the for people like you. You who invest back in the community and uh All right. And not trying to circumvent the No, I don't want to see the city not get the money.

Exactly. So I if you can help us, we'll try to help you best we can. That's exactly what I'll do then. Thank you.

You got it. Thank you.

Yes, you have an update.

I do. Um, which you may be happier with this answer. So, no, you were you were incorrect, sir, by saying that the council has to approve you going to get an outdoor um deduct. No, no, indoor.

Indoor. So, um that's not the case from what I understand from Superintendent Marble. Uh, Marvel, you can apply um through the water department. You would have to pay for a plumber and you would have to do like handle the process. So, if you contact the water department, contact Mr. Marvel. Um, I'm told that you can apply through all of those applications and actions are approved by

the water department and not coming before the council. I think you did you ask Mr. Marvel about an outdoor deduct meter? Both. I just pulled aside and gave him a call about it. Outdoor and indoor. So I don't think you can do the indoor. Exactly. And he had say to that, but outdoor. Yeah. It's the indoor is the issue, right? Yeah. So the procedure that you're giving us is for outdoor.

The his question is about an indoor.

I'll get a a more definitive answer.

Yeah. But so but I think the procedure is outdoor. people do get outdoor deduct and and because it's been a couple of years, uh, Bill, you you talk to whoever you have to also, but I will we will get an upto-date answer even if he just has to revisit it and we'll get that in writing and get it get it to you. You won't have to come back here. you can

come back here anytime you want but uh we'll we'll deliver the uh answer in writing to you and then we'll go from there and I will further tell you that we'll do this can we do this within a month here ASAP all right he'll he will talk to them tomorrow and we'll we'll get this expedited okay thank you is there anyone else next item on the Public comment. None. Appointments. None.

Council members. Number one, role of the city council in regards to resolutions passed on March 19th, 25. Council Vice President Ria.

Thank you, Madame Clerk. Mr. President.

Um, I had some people approach me. I love going to Stop and Shop because that's where I get all my constituent services uh request and issues going on.

Um so on the 19th and the president here did the right thing.

the the resolution didn't come down to us in time to make the agenda on the 18th. And we followed the as soon as the as soon as the resolution was there authorizing the mayor to purchase the $800,000 or so contract for the steel for the new uh recreation center that the city is long overdue for like 25 years. We did the right thing. We posted the meeting for the next day. We even

went above and beyond. We had the technician here and everybody saw we could have done and people approached me you guys are doing a back backdoor deal backdoor deal. We approved on the 5th of December 2023 a recreation center. So there's going to be a lot of votes on this. We did we did everything transparent and to accuse the five of us and the mayor to being on the take is absurd. So I just want to

clarify and the president took president took some heat for this and we took it that he's in the pocket. We did what we were supposed to do. We went beyond. We could have had a meeting the next morning at 9:00 that other councils had had, not had it on tele, not had it on, you know, access on YouTube. We did everything right. We are as transparent and, you know, they're all my we'll have

disagreements from the time to time, which we do, but we're we're we're a close-knit family. are going to agree to disagree, but to accuse us of being on the take and I see it and people and people show me his stuff on I don't read social I don't read there's a couple of websites out there I don't read it but people send it to me to accuse us of being on a take for a building that's

long overdue in the city and we're trying to get out in front of the craziness that's going on in this country right now we did the right thing and I just wanted to come to your defense cuz you didn't need to take that. You didn't need to take the hit. I I I think you you said it all. This this is uh simple simple matter. Um any contract over $50,000 has to be approved by the city

council. These were votes that have already been approved to build this building. Um we the contractors came to us or the the architects the the people involved and said they're concerned about the federal tariff issue. They said we really need to get this going and if we don't get it going right away the whole project could be in jeopardy. So the meeting was advertised like it always is 48 hours

notice. Meeting was televised. We're in and out in 5 minutes. And the only mistake we we made is you went to Stop and Shop. See, I go to Shores and Shores is Red Island based. I think Stop and Shop is Massbased. So, I get fewer complaints. I think sometime we have to go to um Mcshortigese. But seriously, uh this was all a lot to do about nothing. And there'll be plenty more votes like this.

And if and and I'll take responsibility.

I I was supposed to tell the clerk put it on the agenda. Didn't get on the agenda. So, we put it 48 hours later and it it got done. So, as far as I'm concerned, case I haven't heard from one person complaining. I don't know where you guys are getting these. If it's social media, get rid of it. I I I I didn't hear. Get rid of the miserable people that just want to complain.

Thank you for clarifying that, Mr. VP.

Next item.

Ward four initiative updates. Councilman Lawson. Okay. I have the answer to some and some I don't. We got a lot of good things happening in Riverside and I am going to stay focused making sure they get done timely. So, Willlet Pond Gazebo, it's been a few years. Um, Willlet Pond should be paved by early summer. We provided DEM with additional info. They've been not good with us.

It's been years waiting for DEM. So, we're waiting for them for permission on the gazebo.

Patricia, I know we're doing the the pvious parking lot so the storm water doesn't run in and the gazebo. We've been talking about this and we've been waiting for DEM. The only information that I have is was what I provided councilman which is um that the parking lot would be repaved by early summer that we waiting on dem based on the additional information that they requested. So I believe director Borg

just will follow up with him to see if there's anything else that they need or if information provided was uh was enough. Okay. Thank you. Um feel behind RMS. Um still not done. Needs minor low spot filling which the contractor will do. the city's going to fertilize and the maintenance. So now we're not getting the field till the fall. Am I reading this correctly? And the city's doing work

that the where did we pay this contractor for the work the city's going to be doing? No, this the city wouldn't be wouldn't be doing the work that we paid a contractor to do, Councilman. So we're waiting for the grass to grow and this is a normal process. Um four years process I I I I know I sound like a jerk on this, but this is what I hear from constituents. It takes four years to

build a grass field. Well, I just represent woods there and we had to do a lot to the land that we had to put up posts. There was issues with the soil that we weren't predicting. So, with any project, you don't know what you're going to get into until you start. Okay.

So, the contract is still on site and you guys are anticipating the fall, correct? Okay, thank you. Um, I'm going to skip to kayak launch. Um, the question I received, Patricia, is why wasn't it pulled for the winter? And I I know it needs to be fixed. Structural wells. Do we have a rough time frame? Um cuz the warm weather, we're about a month out from, you know, people wanting to be out on the

water. Again, Councilman, we just answered the um the question based on what we received, which again our answer is that the Kayak launch was removed.

The the question was why was it removed?

So, it was removed for repairs. Again, there was a few structural wells that were broken and that need to be repaired by the city welder. We're also reinforcing the structure further in order to uh avoid damage. As far as the timeline, I can get further information on that and report back. And the reason we left it in for the winter was I don't have that answer. I can find out. But

that's an additional question I can find out. Okay. Thank you. Uh let's see.

Splash pad. It you guys ordered the equipment is due to be installed this year. Installed in time for the summer or so this year would probably be this season this summer. But again, I can double check. Okay. Thank you. Uh let's see. Vitarv. Um the question I received from that is are they putting any equipment other than cuz it looks like just like toddler stuff. Is there like more stuff that's more geared towards

like the pre-teen teens or is the equipment in place what we're getting?

Just today I we were there and we saw families already even though area was cordoned off they were already utilizing it. We saw teenagers playing ball there.

So, they're utilizing it as far as additional adult or teenage equipment. I don't know. I'll go back and look at plans. Okay. And saving point, when do you plan on starting that? I didn't have that as I think that was on our list. I don't believe that that was on our list.

So, what was the question about Saving Point? The questions I provided was playground updates at Ventner and Saving Point. Let's see. We have the information about the kayak. Okay. But I don't have anything on Okay.

uh concession building. I go by the big al complex every day. I do see that's coming along. So, the city's building that foundation and the structure again, councilman, I I only provided the answers to the questions that were provided. If you have follow-up questions, I'm happy to get all those answers and report that back. So, you don't know who's building it? I will double check. Okay. Our DPW director is

on vacation this week, so I can't ask him and follow up with an answer here during the council meeting. Okay. So, my last three things all have to do with Crescent Park. Uh we'll start with last meeting I requested uh see if we can move forward with the vent tent with the pad and the tent.

So, um we did meet as you know the bids as you reported out during the last council meeting the the bids did come in much higher than expected. We were talking with the lowest bidder in regards to valued engineering. Um but we at this point need to go back to the drawing board. We did meet um and but at this time what we've been told by our own engineers is that you don't want to

divide this project and split it in order to um to get the work done. Why is that? I don't know. I'm not an engineer, but I'm happy to have Eric come and explain it or the I I'll keep this on the docket until we move forward. That's fine. Um, and then the train. Have we uh looked at storage solution and to purchase the train now so the kids can enjoy this summer? I don't have an

answer on the train. I'm a little confused because the requests that I received via email didn't have anything about the train. So, so this is what I put on docket.

Purchase train and store. This is what you put on the docket, Councilman. But what you provided to me in an email request with a list of questions that you wanted updates on, all of those you have received. I don't believe the Crescent Park was on that or the train, right? But on the agenda, too. I have the train. This is under your discussion, sir. This is your council discussion.

Yeah. Requesting. Okay. Fine. So, I'll put this on the docket for next time.

I'll be more clear that I'm looking for more specific. Yeah. And I'll I'll make sure I forward it also to uh the director. I I do receive it, council president. And I appreciate Andy sends it in the council councilman. I just want to add these on the docket. I just receive a slew of them and and I do my best to get your answers. when when you uh manner when you meet with uh the

mayor and other department heads and I I I think on the council there is a and we know we're not doing the day-to-day job there but just an opinion we have that because we came in at and I've mentioned this to the mayor so it's not a a secret but because the bids came in so high we will be very satisfied with a a smaller project for that concession stand you

know we're we're looking to keep basic and simple. Um, hamburgers, hot dogs, chowder, and I believe that's the the case, uh, council president, is we've been meeting with the construction with we met with the the lowest bidder and we met with our engineer. We've met with, um, the carousel coordinator. Things are expensive. They're expensive and they're going to get worse and we're we're we're

really thinking outside of the box on how we can handle some of this work in-house. I mean, we're I sit in on these meetings. I I see the brainstorming and how can we make this happen? We don't want to lo leave that money on the table either, right? And I know um as the mayor has said, we've already spent some money in planning and draws drawings, etc. Comes a time when

we cut cut the level of losses and say, "Okay, let's take those plans and let's just get it." And we're doing it exactly that. And I know you're doing that because I've sat in on some of those meetings, but there is an appetite here, no pun intended, to go smaller and basic than than what what we originally wanted. Right. And I believe that we're there are certain things with uh the I'm

going to say historical commission, but I don't have the exact word. I don't know if it's preservation of the the commission, but we do have to do things like there are certain things we cannot do or that we have to do, excuse me, based on um the facade and stuff.

So, I've asked for what role the historical folks have in dictating to us what we can do to our property. I haven't received that answer yet from so there are there are two things that I um and I can go back and and follow up with a qu um with an email with you um to you councilman and the rest of the council but there are very specific things that um have to remain according

to who I want to say it was the historic I don't know if it's the preservation of the commission but it was one of those and I just want to know what authority they have to be telling us this that I can't answer because it's it's not within my realm of being legal. No, that's but that's the reason why I asked because there's a structure there right now. So if we continue on to that

structure which is concrete cinder blocks.

No, I'm just saying I'm just saying so it it's already there. So from a historical from a historical s standpoint if you go back in theory it's already been cinder blocks weren't around when the well they were but cinder the Romans have invented so you should know that council I know that that's why I stopped myself real quick but that building thousands of years that building was already that building

was added that building was added already so so there you know we've already we've 've already changed the footprint of that historic. I will get the councilman's answer about that. That that's I completely take the blame for that. That was my fault. I just I I just remember going back to March of 2023 and the former chief of staff said that Memorial Day of 2024 we'd be eating clam cakes and chowder and it's going to

be Memorial Day 2025. Well, we can get clam cakes and I was going to say I had some this past summer. I had a great but out of a new building. So I I you know point point about All right, we're going to move on and solicitor will get that information. Thank you everybody. Thank you Petition. You have another No, I'm sorry. You you wanted to say something?

Uh I just want to thank the vacation boy uh his department well the the fencing company is doing a great job up at Kimberly Rock with the new back stops.

It looks like a whole new complex. So I just I I know the participants in Rumford literally are going to be very happy with basically four new fields or four new back stops I should say.

Riverside are you are you listening to this? Let me be clear. The reason I'm pushing for the tent at a minimum is I was at the carousel commission meeting last week and they're talking having to spend a lot of money to put a tent up for the food and wine event and stuff.

They raise money to preserve the carousel. And when you're trying to raise funds, you don't want to spend funds. So, we have the money to build this event tent. We have the plan. We We can I'll wait to hear from Eric, respectfully, but at a minimum, I think we can get this part of the project going so that way those folks can utilize it for fundraising events. we can rent it out

to raise funds to help restore the carousel. As we know, it's a 100y old plus structure. It takes money to renovate and stuff. So, the more we can let the carousel commission do their job without having to expend their funds, the better it is for Crescent Park. I understand. So, that that's my motive. I I just think from the meetings that I've said and and again I'm not a construction engineer but from what I

understand uh dividing the project and doing that doesn't make sense from a construction point of view because of the work that needs to be done um on the land on the property below the drainage.

there's a lot of structural kind of issues um or compression issues that need to be addressed and they that was something that and I always say we got a robot robot on Mars we can figure out little problems like this. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you Councilman. And next city council veterans committee updates Councilman Lawson. All right. I got a few updates.

Um we are going to have a benefits event with uh DAV, the uh the Rhode Island Veterans um affairs. Uh they're going to come senior center Thursday, April 24th from 9 to 2:00 p.m. And uh they're going to be on hand with their computers to assist veterans um getting into the system, filing benefit claims. Um, if you ever dealt with any government agency, it's it's kind of tough. So, they're going to be

on hand. I will be there myself. It's not like an event per se where there's like a a speaking engagement, whatever.

It's a drop in type event. You all are more than welcome if you want to come by. I don't know how well attended it will be, but we are going to be doing that. And um I may at our next meeting nest if we can um buy like a box of gel with um some funds. Um I got we're getting a digital flyer that should be done soon. So I'll be posting that and that is April

24th. Um May 31st the Elks are holding their expo at the um Pier Stadium again.

um that will be multiple different uh organizations that set up a booth.

Veterans come and um director Yan usually sets up there all the various organizations. So that's going to be May 31st. We're going to be assisting the Elks as much as we can.

Um and I think that is my last update.

We are looking to um I'm just trying to finalize the date. Um Old Orchard Manor, they have some veterans that if they don't have staff, they can't get out.

So, we want to bring an event to them.

So, we're talking about like a Saturday coffee that we'll go there, we'll bring the coffee, we'll have some games, we'll interact. I'm just waiting to hear back from Old Orchard if we can invite veterans that are not residents. Um, and they're just double-checking that. So, as soon as we clear that, I'll have a date. I'll let you all know and that will be uh just a social event, you

know, um, mainly for the veterans we have at Old Orchard. And if we want to segue into my resolution, which is veteran related, we can knock that off with uh with your permission if everybody don't mind. Sure. Without objection, we can do that. All right.

So, this resolution is just to say we have Where are you? I don't know. 72.

72. Okay, we got it. Let um let the clerk read the heading and then you Oh, I apologize. No, it's all right. Just go ahead, Madam Clerk. resolution requesting the general assembly allocate funding to cities and towns for placement of veterans into an extended stay facility and to provide more funding for the Rhode Island veterans home in Bristol sponsored by Councilman Lawson. Councilman. All right. So, this

resolution is um to bring to the general assembly while they're doing their budget. um veterans that are on the street. We have crossroads, which is a veteran with PTSD. It's usually not the best environment. You know, loud noises, stuff like that.

Um the Elks, they do a great job when we identify a veteran on the streets. They get them off the streets and they've been utilizing like the extended stay down in um uh Warren. Um, but that costs money. It costs money. So, what this resolution is asking is the state allocate some funds that municipalities can use. So, I did some basic math. Sorry about that. Um, extended stays $95 a night. If you

multiply that by 365, it's like a little less than 36,000. And that's just for one room.

And you may not need the room every night, but if we can get the general assembly to maybe allocate some funds that municipalities can use to get a veteran off the street and maybe into these extended stays until we can get them into the services they need. Um, if you took the 36,000 and multiplied it by 38 communities, it's like 1.3 million.

We don't need that much.

So to me, a budget's a set of priorities. In Rhode Island, we have a $14 billion budget. Um I think this request, we're not asking for a ton of money. And again, it's like a new thing that we're presenting. So, um I'm bringing it to the council to see if there's consensus that, you know, we agree that this may be worthy. And if it passes, we'll bring it up to the general assembly and then

maybe other communities as well. And I also added funded for the veterans home um just to ensure right now they're not fully staffed because I mean they're not fully uh filled the residents because staffing levels they are doing a lot of work to try to get staff. So I just added that in the resolution to ensure that there's enough money in the budget to be able to do that. So that's my

request of my fellow council members and I'll open it to discussion. Do you want to make a motion? I'll make a motion to approve. Second. Second by vice president Rigo. If there's no discussion, any all in favor? I I. Any opposed? The eyes have it. Thank you.

That's a good idea. Andy, I'll reach out to you about um sending it to other communities and um I'll probably write up an email for our elected officials.

Thank you guys so much. We'll we'll finish the council members and then uh we will move the uh tax presentation.

Tax assessor was here for their presentation to us which I probably should have done a little bit earlier in the night but um madame clerk if you want to read the last item under council members request to fix fix broken curbing. Oh, there's two items. I'm sorry. The landfill. Councilman Lawson.

Yeah, this is um you know if we're going to ask people to do their job and send minimum house and we got to do ours and if you go by Forbes the landfill from the transformer to the first house um by the entrance there's some really busted up curbon and um Patricia did respond that they will look into it um but it it's it's pretty noticeable when you're coming down that it's all busted up.

All right, we'll follow up on that and then I'll just take the last item and then we'll move on. Um that this Thursday, a April 3rd, u weather permitting, but it doesn't look too bad. I think there might be some showers earlier, but uh there'll be dedication uh at East Providence High School. this this council uh with with council support um we had requested when we heard that McCoy Stadium Pucket was going to be

demolished and I think four of us were at a baseball game in at the high school and we said you know what a good idea if we could purchase some of those seats and put them behind the high school. So, I did send a letter to the mayor of Pucket and to some other officials in Pucket, some of our state reps who cover Pucket, Anniey's Providence, and we were hoping for a donation, but we I thought

I'd be cordial and we we asked um to purchase. So, long story short, uh the city of Pucket gave our high school gave us a donation of two or three rows of original McCoy Stadium seats. So, for a historical value as well as some seating for the fans at the games, it's it would be a nice thing. Uh we worked with a lot of people. The mayor Dilva said, "If you

can get those seats from Pucket, I'll make sure they get installed." And they did. We've had um the various uh is it parks department and other other workers and they've already got a row in. There are a couple more rows coming, but uh we're we're going to have this is the opening day of the high school baseball team, and we'll have the players there to cut a ribbon and make it a nice

thing. It's a very historical um nicity to have behind the high school. So, if anyone can make it this Thursday, uh 4:00 shop, the game starts at 4:30.

And as referees will tell you, Councilman Fogerty, too. The game has to go on. So, you're umpire chairman. Yeah.

I would like to add something to that.

Yes, sir. Just a quick second. You know, we don't we don't notice enough the workmanship of our in-house people. The brackets were fabricated inhouse by the people of our city and they are fantastically built, secure. I just want to compliment the public works. Y that's that's absolutely the truth. Council Vice President, first I'd like to thank your efforts and the efforts of Mayor

Grebian Pucket and then obviously Mayor Dilva here by having the DPW getting getting involved and doing that. Uh it's a very nostalgic area and there's a lot of ties between East Providence and McCoy Stadium. There's a lot of us who played there and won games there and East Providence High School football team won a won couple of state championships on that field. So to bring them there and it it it's it's a good

it's a good tiein. It isn't just McCoy Stadium. There's a lot of history from this city tied into that great ballpark.

And there's a lot of us who live in East Providence now that played for that other school up in on Walcott Street in Pucket. And it's great and I thank you for that because it brings back good memories for me and and we're lucky that we'll have the dedication Wednesday. You look at the weather forecasts and the upper pen Thursday, excuse me, the upper peninsula of Michigan is getting

bombarded with snowstorms. So, we're lucky right here. But I want to thank you for adding the nostalgia. People like Jeff Hopkins and who played football who was here, you know, in front of us and everything. And it's it's a great tiein. It should be fun.

And the team's off to a start. They won their first game tonight out in Wick.

So, hope to see a lot of people there.

Two cents. I'm sorry. Yes, sir. Thank you for your vision and leadership. I Let's be honest. We were having trouble getting up off of that steep hill.

There's some reasons, but your idea, I was there with you when and then you pushed it forward. Um, I want to also add that the compost toilets are coming.

Yep. Um, so I was just at the high school for some sport sporting events.

It it's a beautiful complex and your idea to add those seats is just such an added value to an already amazing field and uh it's going to be great. Uh hopefully the weather holds out Thursday and uh it'll be a great thing. So thank you.

Thank thank you all and u we can do that at the end.

Yeah. Thank you. So now we we do have on the agenda presentation as you know the tax assessments and valuations have been um completed at least one phase and the tax assessor and staff are here. So, if you want to address the council. Thank you. Good evening again. Sarah Fu, tax assessor.

Um, so as everyone's aware by now, the notices are out. Everyone's receiving their new assessments. You haven't heard. So, um, I have a representative with me tonight, Rich Nagel. He's part of Catalyst Northeast Revaluation. and he's going to give a demo of his findings for the um process that just went on. But I thought I would come up first and just give you a little bit of why we do these. Sometimes I feel like a

broken record because I know we've been here before, but this is a state law.

So, we have to do this by state law.

There is a schedule set out there for each city and town to conduct reevaluations. So, this was our full reevaluation. So you have to do a statistical update every 3 years and then on the ninth year you do a full reval which is what we just conducted.

Both processes are also set by state law where you have to assess the properties at their full and fair cash value which is also market value. So that's what we do over the course of the year as we're working on the project. We're collecting data, we're analyzing data, we're looking at sales, and then we build models, and there's a lot that goes into it to set um what we feel are fair

values across the board. So, with that said, and another thing that's always important to keep in mind when we have these processes is don't use the current tax rate. We're going to adjust the tax rate. If values go up, the tax rate comes down. If values, there have been markets where the value goes down. We're just going to raise the tax rate. So we, you know. Okay. So before um maybe

Rich could answer this this was Rich the first name. Yes. Um maybe you could answer this before you start. Um and if you want to identify yourself and company name for the record, right, Rich Nagel from Catalyst Tax and Camo. And my my question is and I I haven't heard a lot from from people. We see comments social media. No one likes to see this when they open the mail and they say

what? But the one complaint or concern that I've heard from a few people and I wondered myself, I thought that it was almost mandatory that the company would request to come in the homes for for this this one. And a lot of people, including on my street, I didn't see anyone. Um, and a few people that called me and said, "Why didn't they come into my house? I want them to see that it's

whatever." Um, so is there a requirement? Obviously, there isn't because you weren't and and maybe physically that's hard to do, but uh what's your answer to that?

Okay. So the answer is that there are two conditions that that govern uh our data inspection of the properties. Uh the first one is what is actually in the RFP created by the city. Uh the state of Rhode Island actually in statute 44-5.11 um suggests that you do an interior inspection every nine years. So, in the RFP, our requirement was to knock on every door and we sent inspectors out

there to let them know that we were there. We left a little sticky note. Um, and we asked them to call us back and u if if they wanted an interior inspection, they could call us back and we would schedule that. Um, believe it or not, there's only about a 5% return on those calls.

So every reval we hear about well I didn't see anybody or nobody knocked on my door but many times we can find that we've got the date and time we were on the street for instance and so forth and it just you know they just weren't home or whatever. But I want to just follow that up with the sense that there are times where um it when a person or property owner is concerned about that

they can talk to the tax assessor and our firm will always go out and inspect that property. So is are we beyond that point now? A senior citizen whom I know to be um fairly um you know reliable person and talked to me said you know she's always home didn't see anyone and and that can happen. I get it. But she said she called okay company and requested it and they told her no we you

know we're not coming out or we can't come out or we're done. The process is done. So is it too late? Can can I get back to her and tell her to Yeah, it's definitely not too late. Um, right. I think that there may have been a better explanation there about um waiting for the hearing process if we've already gone and completed that neighborhood.

And what I'm explaining here is that in fact later on in the presentation I will briefly get into the informal hearing process. Anybody at this point that has got their letter and uh thinks that you know what um I wish they had come in um give us a call go through the informal hearing process. Um sometimes um they don't have to actually uh show up or come to town hall because we have

many citizens that really just need to be able to do it by phone or something particularly in the case of an elderly person. So, okay. But they can request an interior inspection and uh there's still time to do that. No problem. Okay.

I'll I'll give her a call tomorrow. Let her know that. If I could just add some context before the presentation for the viewer some perspective. Yes. So, I got my house up here. 2021 I was eval,000. Today, I'm at 452.

However, I've only had my taxes increase $395 in that four year span, less than 100. So, I think it's important that people realize in 2023 our tax rate was like 21 change and then last year it dropped down to 14 change per thousand.

So, these high assessments doesn't mean you're getting slammed with taxes. You know, it is a process, state law. They have gone up very in my case 210,000 with no renovations or addition. But I I think we got to do a good job as a city communicating to residents that yes, it's an initial shock, but you got to compare your tax bill from last year to the one you're going to receive in June

to really understand how much more you're paying in taxes.

So, I just wanted to add that, you know, we need to do a better job um letting people know that. So, I just wanted to add that before your presentation, you know, cuz I think people are not hearing that part.

Sure. Okay. So, the presentation isn't too long. We're going to touch base in this presentation on where your values are today and we'll talk a little bit about some sales data as to how those values came about. Uh I do want to touch base a little bit on just briefly on the process and why it's important. Uh a lot of times there's lots of questions on why it's important and I'll also just

touch base again on the informal hearings. So by the way uh feel free to stop me and ask a question anywhere along the way. You don't have to wait till the end to ask a question. Thank you. Okay. So let's get into this. If we go to the first next slide, we're going to see I'm sorry, Quinton, if you back up a minute. I didn't touch base on that first slide.

Right. Big picture, overall, the residential uh the total residential value in town is up about 24 almost 25%. Now, that's not um the median value. We're going to get to that. that has to do with not only the new assessments but also building permits, new construction, etc. But your residential tax base, if you will, is now up. Same thing on the commercial. Um, and you'll see that 30%

increase, but keep in mind that uh on the next slide, I'm actually going to show you that the median increase for commercial properties is about 22%, which is actually dovetales quite nicely with the residential. It's about the same as the residential in this particular revo. By the way, if this seems familiar because we did this two years ago, but you won't have to do it next time for another three years. So,

we had that shortened schedule. So, we go to the single family. Thank you. So, here's your changes. Single family homes are up about 21.71%.

So now if you notice you'll see two families are up actually the median on two families is up about 41%. And we've seen that across the state. Our firm did eight projects in Rhode Island uh this year and uh the multifamilies um are up quite a bit and that really reflects that apartment the demand for apartments and demand for housing. So, a lot easier for first-time buyers in particular to be able to do a

two family, let's say, rather than a single family. So, that additional rent can really help. So, that is very consistent, by the way, with what's going on around this the state. And then the commercial, as you'll see on the far right on the bottom there, is up about 22%.

commercial has been historically a lot slower moving, but um the state has been flat for a number of years and it's last I' I've seen in the last two or three years we've started to creep up two or three% a year. So now all of a sudden it's kind of caught up. I want to mention that we're doing this is based on a two-year sales study by the way both for the residential and the commercial.

We're going to go to single family by style.

Um now this is interesting because it's what we're trying to show here is what's happened to these major building styles.

So for instance um councilman mentioned his particular home went up x amount. So you can see for instance we had um 109 sales of capes during that uh two-year period. So, we had a lot of data and so those capes, the median sale price of those capes are now $400,000. If you slide over to the far right hand column, I want to point out something called the CoodOood. The Cood is one of

those statistics that's used and looked at by the client to see whether or not um we're meeting the standards of the industry.

So in simple terms, the COOD measures how far we are off from the actual sale plus or minus. So as a group of these 109 properties, we're off close to 7% plus or minus. And that's a that's a good number in the sense that the real estate market, as a rule of thumb, varies about 10% on any individual property, typical property.

Now, if you're if you're wondering where those statistics or who monitors those statistics or where we get those standards from, both the city and our reevaluation firm works underneath a comp, not underneath, but we follow the standards of an organization called the International Association of Assessing Officers. And these are the folks that are national and international and write

our white papers, our our technical papers and create standards for differentiz communities. So in this particular community, the standard would be uh that number that COOD should be under 10% for uh uh any given population that's of a certain size. So in other words, what happens is if you get into a population of a dozen properties, then your COOD may not be under 10. But the the big picture here is just to let you

know that there are um policies and best practices that we're following set by another organization, not just not just our firm. All right, we can go to the resales. Um something we like to track which is kind of interesting. This slide shows you the resales within that two-year period. It's a small subset of the data, but it's a nice check to see how the resales are doing based on the

population of sales as a whole. So, in this particular case, we broke it down literally by month since you'll have one sale that that occurred six months apart or another sale that occurred 18 months apart.

When we average that out and then extrapolate over 24 months, those six properties increased about 28%. So that does dovetail with what's happened in the rest of the population of sales. So I have a question. When you have the different styles different styles of homes up there, you can back up. You want to see that? No, no. When you just the one that you just had right now suffice where you had colonials, capes

and everything. Yes. Are you taking the whole city or are you breaking it all?

Are you even drilling down and going by zip codes?

Not zip codes, but neighborhoods. Okay.

So, we stratify by neighborhoods. We stratify by building type. We stratify by things that you might not think of, grade, quality, a bunch of more minor things that we're looking at much more in depth. So, yes, we do.

So, for instance, uh I'll just take a cape. If if in you if if there's only like two capes sold in a particular neighborhood, that that's what you go that's what you go by or do you then tie it into the rest of the city? So, we're looking at it several ways. So, first off, if you think about a house, if you build an identical cape in neighborhood A and the

same cape in neighborhood B, the actual structure really is should be the same value basically, right? The only real difference is the land pricing. So, some neighborhoods are the land valuation is higher than others, right? So, we are looking citywide, but we're also then stratifying down into the neighborhood to see what happening with land there.

And you said it was two. So it was two year the past. So 24 and 23 would have was the data that you use, sir. That's correct. Okay.

So if talk to my constituents or anything, if you were to go to, you know, obviously there's websites Zulu and you know, all these home.coms whatever they are.

uh if your if your property's if you are value if you valued it lower than Zillow, you're you should be very happy if you're a taxpayer because you I mean if you know you can get that money off of Zillow right now. Is is that a way to look at it to if I was if somebody was calling me about their property and looking at Zillow and looking what you

did, is that a fair is that a fair comparison to you? Is Zillow something that these people can use?

So, here's how I would explain that. So, keep in mind that this is a two-year sales study. Okay? So, it's essentially an average over the two years. Y So, we have an increasing market right now that um although we haven't gone past 24, um I can tell you that we're still creeping up there. Uh but having said that, Zillow is running their algorithms literally thousands of times a day. So

the Zillow uh uh on April one, the Zil Zillow value on April one, assuming they have good data uh would be the value that they feel would be on April 1 versus our value might be spread out over that averaged over the two years.

Thank you.

Um anyway, so the resales are sort of an interesting check. It's it's a smaller sample, but see whether or not they're trending along with the the full population of sales. All right. So now we'll go to the medians. Okay. So this is interesting mostly in the sense is what is happening to these now that these sales have been analyzed. What is happening? Where are your homes? Right. So in East Providence

now a Cape Cod that we just talked about is essentially 396. So just about 400,000 for drive down the street a Cape now it's about 400,000 big change over about 10 years ago right? Amazing. I like that. But uh right.

So anyways, the um you can just this just gives you an idea of the basic styles and what's happened to them and u so you know each city is commercial also is is got a increase this year up to as we talked earlier about uh about 22% is the median increase in commercial values.

And this slide is just interesting to show you some very specific examples of what's happening out there in your city.

So, you know, these are fairly modest properties. Um, there's a fast food restaurant in there. It's up 29%. Got a goodiz warehouse in there.

It's up 29%. And then you've got a a nice modest office that's up about 37%. So, that is a warehouse. Uh if you if we showed you the other side of the warehouse, you'd see nothing but walls and small windows. Oh. So, but we have to it's the it was the better picture of Valley Street. It's Valley Street. Yeah.

Well, I didn't put the streets on there.

Oh, no. No. I just know he wanted you know right?

I drive around a lot.

Yeah. Okay. Now uh question our commercial prop I think you I think you said your company does like six or seven other communities in the city this year was was eight but eight okay how how's our commercial rate compared to the other cities and towns very similar very similar in fact I just finished West Warick and you're almost identical to West Well that's good so we're staying we're we're in the state

normal rate No. So where even with the brid do you take the bridge into consideration cuz I've read stuff. I've read stuff on that. Why you knew that question was coming. So you thought about valuing the bridge but I don't do negative numbers. Okay. So So okay.

So th those are fact I'm I'm happy to see that because those are factors reading about you know infrastructure issues it has an impact on you know rates and everything. So so it it it's actually a very interesting point because what happens is uh clearly the community is affected by this bridge right uh but we're focused on the past two years worth of data. So for instance, if we did the same study a

year from now, you know, the numbers may change, but as you're going to see later on in the presentation, this is a point in time that we're dealing with and um going forward things will change. So So when will the bridge be done?

I am not a betting man, so I would not be able to tell you.

We'll go to the next slide and we'll just talk brace. Uh this is my slide where I try to explain in a nutshell essentially what we're doing here. So the purpose of having those folks out in the field um is to take a fresh look at the building population and what's going on out there. That data that they come back with all gets entered into a a database. We happen to we nickname it's

called the came system um specifically for mass appraisal projects. In addition to these data collectors that are out there in the field after their work is done we send other inspectors out what we call a driveby as a as a check as quality control and so forth. So there's been two sets of eyes pretty much on every property and that's to build that database with the updated accurate information.

Then what we're going to do is we take all that information and we we've got all this key information characteristics about uh the major parts of the house.

What what is the style? Do they have a deck? Do they have a garage? What's the condition of the house? Is it in good condition, average condition? Uh those kind of things. So we fill all that in.

And then what we're going to start to do is create a model. We're going to create a model. Let's talk about this cape that we we've talked about. We're going to take tables and schedules uh where we can recreate and build a model um to value that cape at or as close as possible to the actual sale price.

So, we're going to calibrate these tables over and over again so that we end up with a really good fit with the actual sale prices, which goes back to that COOD I talked about earlier where for those capes, I think we were about 7% off, if you will. Okay.

So then what we're going to do is now that we have the models working properly and they're they're a good fit if you will for all the sales out there, we essentially lock the we we we apply those uh tables and schedules to all the properties that did not sell. And so this is where the equality comes in where everybody's treated the same in terms of these schedules and tables.

Once they fit the sales, we we imply uh apply them to all the rest of the properties that did not.

So the last part of that that's not in here is that always taxpayers have an opportunity for this informal hearing where they can come back and say, you know, something I don't have this or I don't have that or the condition of my house is not as you maybe describe it in your database or in your letter.

So, we'll talk a little bit why it's important because uh I know a lot of people wonder about this. And um I'd like to point out that uh most of the country uses this assessment model in the sense that they're using the property taxes as their main, you know, fundraising for the budget. and they've decided that one of the fairest things to do is value properties at market value periodically. So in this state we do it

every three years. Um but the the longer you wait between revaluations the farther apart these assessments are going to get from the market. So if the fairness factor is bringing everybody to market at one given point in time, then after that it's going to start to change because the market will change and the assessments won't be updated again until that next time frame. Different parts of

the country have different time frames for that. Massachusetts does a five-year revaluation with a with an interim, if you will, every single year, which is a very modest just analyzing the sales and see whether or not there's been any major changes maybe in a style or a neighborhood or something like that. So, you get much more incremental changes in that model. Other states will go every

10 years. So um but the state actually did a study in 1998 that recommended a statistical every three years and a full every six years and the state ultimately decided they would go three three and nine. So anyways um the idea is that when assessments are brought back into line with market you have a fair distribution of the tax burden. All right. Now we go to the hearings.

Uh the letter I think uh is pretty clear. Give us a phone call. Uh we'll set up a time. They can come down to city hall here, sit with one of our representatives representatives and and explain why they feel like maybe there's a mistake or or maybe they just want to question the value. That's fine too.

They don't have to have a particular reason. Um and sometimes they certainly in many occasions they can bring in information that we don't have and we can update the record and the uh it's important to know that they can have an update their their value can go up or down in this in this hearing depending on what they bring to our attention. You have a question sir? Yeah I do. What's

the time frame for that? Sovailable call through April 10th. They can call through April 10th. Now, that doesn't mean they have to have their hearing by April 10th. The hearings are going to end roughly uh April 18th.

Yes. If if if there was an unusually high volume for instance, you know, we can always extend that. Uh the tax assessor will Sarah will keep a good eye on that. So, and the hours, what kind what what's the hours that they can come? Is it set up by phone or are you are you going to be here in person like two years ago? So, they're going to be here in person in the same location

right near our office on the second floor and the the hours are Monday through Wednesday 9 to 4. Thursdays we're doing 11 to 6 and then Friday 9 to 1, but we do recommend they have an appointment so we can have all their information ready. So, we recommend that they call first so we know they're coming. What number would they call, Sarah? Um, they would call 741 7370300. That's Northeast Reevaluation

Catalyst. Um, also, I mean, our office is always willing to help, too. But right now, they're the ones that are scheduling um all the appointment. I had several people come and to you last time through, which is fine. And then I you helped them out a lot. Yep. It was good.

You Sarah and that gentleman, Rich. And they'll have two hearing officers present those days and times. We have a board of assessment review, right? Yes.

When do they That process starts after this. So after they have their informal hearing process, then I'll get all the numbers back from them. I can start working on the final parts of the tax role. We send the tax bills out. then um they have 90 days to appeal from the first due date which is July 1st. So after the bills are out then they can they can appeal to me. So if then if

they're not satisfied with my decision that's when we go to the board of review. Thank you. You're welcome. Thank you for answering that. While you're up there, Sarah, first of all, thank you and your staff for the outstanding job you do. Um, will there be an issue getting the tax bills out in time with after the hearings and everything? Does do you have enough time or I Yeah, I don't foresee an issue. All right. No,

thank you. When do you foresee the the rate being announced? So, usually the beginning of May because they're going to go through their informal hearing process right now. Values could change.

At the same time, we have still a lot of steps in the process that we're working on in our office. We have the annual returns coming in. We're adjusting those values daily. The best way to give the most accurate tax rate is when our numbers are as close to being done as possible.

We don't want to misstate something and then, you know, we find that we have to change it and it's not not a good change. you know, back back to the process. Um, is is it valid for people to think that for instance 2025 um people assume that many homes now have updated to granite counters in the kitchen, bathrooms done over for that person, especially the elderly who says, "I haven't touched my house since 1955."

Is that something you take into consideration if you do the house visit?

We do. And we have You wouldn't know that if you don't go in, if you don't get in, right? So, in the case of the woman who called me, if she calls back and can get someone to come out, that's the type of thing she wants to, right?

We don't we we're not going to assume that. You know, we we have building permit data. We'll look at that. If we don't see someone has taken out building permits, we're not going to assume that they have a granite kitchen. Now, okay.

What we do catch sometimes is if a property has sold and it's listed on MLS and we can see pictures of the inside. Yep. We will update. That's what our job is. I mean, it's what our job is. Yeah.

So, yep. Are we good? You continue? Yes.

Just a couple more. Sure. Just a couple more things on this slide that I think are important. And um it's good to note one that there may be some folks that can't come in. I mentioned earlier they're welcome to call and we will set up a phone hearing for them. Okay. So the next thing on here that I wanted to point out, it's important is that uh pictures are great. So a lot of folks

want to come in and explain the condition of their property. So the best thing they can do is literally bring us a half a dozen pictures. you know, we don't need 50, but half a dozen pictures. And um you know, uh that will help guide us in terms of it's very possible the pictures can suffice and we don't need to do an inspection. So, how do you know those pictures weren't from 30 years ago?

Um is that something Frank would do?

this frame.

Well we we have a certain amount of experience in that and so we we look at those. It says Polaroid. You you know, don't. So, okay. Right. But seriously, I mean, there there's a way to verify what people say. If here's what happens, basically is if we're if we're not convinced by the information that's presented um and we may request an interior inspection as well. So, y that actually is is pretty much it. So,

um I'm certainly available for more questions. So, whatever you got. Any other comments? Um I got some things I want to present but um after you're done with your presentation it's mainly just some things about exemptions that he said he's done so if you want to Oh okay. So a lot a lot of folks they get that big number. We have a homestead exemption.

So take a number of 200,000 homestead exemption. You take 14% off that assessed value. Correct.

Correct. and that's what you get taxed on. There are other exemptions. So, if you're a veteran, if you're 100% blind, if you're a senior citizen, I hear all the time seniors getting taxed out at home, $41,325 off the assessed value, right?

It comes out to about $6 off the bill. $69 on top of the 14%.

So just because you're assessed out of value, take 14% off. If you're a senior, take another 41,000 off. If you a veteran or they got disabilities and stuff. So, you know, when I hear seniors are getting taxed out at home, I want to ensure that we're letting people know there are exemptions. When do they have to apply for the exemption by? Is it beginning of the year? We do have a

deadline of March 15th, but we'll take them until we certify the tax ro. We'd ra we don't want to see people miss out on an exemption. There there are certain rules that again a state law. So to own it by December 31st, occupy it by December 31st if it's for the um homestead and the senior. Yep. Ownership is always December 31st. Got um but those two are owner occupied. The homestead and the senior are owner

occupied. And if people aren't sure what they have, they can call and and ask.

Oh, yeah. They call. We Yep. They call all day with those questions. And to clarify, the homestead, you apply one time and it stays as long as you own the home. Correct. Same with being a senior.

Correct. Okay. Unless, you know, sometimes we find someone's renting a property, we try to reach out to them and, you know, clarify those things.

They're breaking the rules, right? Yeah.

Okay. So, and all this is on the website. People can find it and we keep it updated. Yep. And I want to make one comment about the tax rate. There's 39 communities in state of Rhode Island.

Our current tax rate $14.76. That's 14 other communities with a higher tax rate. So, we're about two or three over the middle. So when people say we pay high taxes in East Provenence, the data doesn't back that up. We're kind of in the middle. You know, our job is to show the return on the investment, make sure our parks, playground, fields, roads are paved, stuff like that. But I think East

Proidence, our taxes are right in the middle. We're not a highly taxed city.

Um the tax rate when the assessments went up last year, the rate came down from down the best we could like $67. It went down. So, these are just things that, you know, people get scared when they get this assessment, but I hope we can calm them down by letting them know there's exemptions that brings down the assessment. So, so a comment to that, we we try all day long when when people

call, we do try when they call our office, the girls and my myself when I get them, we do try to talk them through that, you know. Yeah. And we do we had it on the notice, do not multiply this by the current tax rate. But you always have people that it's an American thing.

I get it. You know, I get it. It's frustrating. People think everything's going up. So, we were founded on not getting paying taxes, right? Taxation without representation. So, it's in our mindset that taxes. Oh, taxes provide services, public education, public safety, you know, there's a reason we need taxes.

Public works. You need roads to drive on. So, it's a necessary thing. And I think you guys do an awesome job and it is what it is and we're here to talk to our constituents and you know let them know that it's not as bad as that initial assessment. It's thick as shock but when you start breaking it down it's like oh okay like I said my house value went up 210,000 in four years but I've

only paid an extra 395 from what I paid in 2021. Well I don't know what this year's bill will be. It's probably going to be a little bit more, but even so, less than 100 a year, you know, less than $10 a month, but it's an example that when the values go up, we try to reduce the tax rate the best we can to absolutely level it out. And you guys do awesome

with that. So, and that's it. I just wanted to add that because we know there's a lot of people nervous, but very good points. In terms of our budget, what what does this process cost the city? Like what are we paying Catalis? Um, so for the full reevaluation, um, it was 560,000. So the full reevaluations are more pricey because there's more manpower out on the streets inspecting the property. Do we get state aid

considering it's a state mandate? Not for the full revals, just the statistical updates. Those are the only ones that they they give us 60% of the cost back. Okay.

So did you have any other questions?

Remember the city council paid for that.

It came under our budget. You you should give me that. Anything you you need to add? Uh no, I think that's it. Process.

Just a question. So your office supervises their inspection revals.

Correct. Well, we work with them. Yes, we oversee the project. Okay. Thank you.

Only excuse me. Only the the certified list comes from the assessor's office.

So she's the ultimate decider is what the assessment will be. She has to certify under state law. It's her number. I have to be comfortable with the values. I I review everything. I bother them. I Right. This uh you got the answer. Thank you. Another house. Uh okay. Housekeeping question. How long is the contract with this present company?

So it goes out to bid every reval process.

Okay. So the next so in three years it will go out to bid. Well, and yeah, they took I hope I hope to be here if I decide to be here. I'm just saying right now that I'll I'll voice my uh opinion that we stay with this company forever.

I know there's state laws. I know there's state policies with, you know, well, they have to go it has to go to bed. Has to go to bed. No, but I'm happy with the professionalism of, you know, of the uh of the presentations that's made twice, you know, in front of this council. I am also uh I saw the people out not in my neighborhood cuz I wasn't home the day that they came by and they

did leave a yellow sticker. Uh, I can attest that. And but I just saw the professionalism of, you know, when I drive around the other communities and I happen to see somebody I and and talking to people who let them in the house, they were the staff was quite professional and asked a lot of questions. So, uh, they represent us out there and we got no complaints about any rudeness or anything like that. So, it's

hats off to you, gentlemen. Y thanks. So Frank uh is doing a refi, so the higher value is helping them. So that's what the kudos are. The the websites will will be up to date. They're up to date right now. We're up to date now. So Okay. All right. Okay. Hearing no other questions. Thank you for your time. I appreciate it very much. Sarah, if any are being nasty, let us know. Okay. And

no problem knocking on. I usually I know you can handle them. I know. All right.

All right. Yeah. Yeah. But no city employees. No, but I appreciate it though. I appreciate it. Thank you.

Thank you again. Appreciate it. Good night. Thank you. Thank you. We're waiting. Okay. Next item. Uh go back to the agenda. Public hearings ordinance for first and final passage and second passage for discussion and possible vote. An ordinance and amendment section 18 J-307 entitled parking prohibited at all times of article 10 entitled stopping standing and parking of chapter 18 of the revised

ordinance of the city of East Providence, Rhode Island 1998 as amended entitled vehicles and traffic is amended by adding there to the following.

Washington Avenue, east side, from a point 260 feet north of Bulocks Point Avenue, northerly 30 feet introduced by Councilman Fogerty.

Thank you. Nothing to add. Just thank you for advertising and uh I move passage. Second. All in favor? Public hearing. I'm sorry. This and we had discussed this before. So other comments from the council before we open it up to general public wants to talk to seeing how um 99 rows are empty. Uh the city sergeant is in the back. A member of the press is here post. Do you have any questions uh

you'd like to ask?

No seriously. Um, no seeing and hearing no questions. Um, and this is advertised, so I think people um, if they were read the the dockets ahead of time, they would know about it. So, close the public portion of the hearing. Close the public hearing. Second. All in favor? I there a motion. Councilman Lawson, uh, do you want to move approval?

I move passage. I'm sorry. I meant Councilman Fogerty and Councilman Lawson second is back and he seconds it all in favor. I I Any opposed? The eyes have it. Unanimous. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman. Next item.

Continued business. None. New business.

Mayor Communications Chief of Staff Patricia Vzendi.

Okay. Yes. Proceed. I will make this uh brief as possible. So um our February capital and finance reports you have in your packet.

Any questions? I can uh forward those over to Director Delgado. Um if you have any questions with in regards to that our remarkable woman awards, uh you've probably seen each day leading up to April 15th, we've been announcing our remarkable women um who if you take a look at have been doing amazing things in the community. Uh the date the t date is Tuesday, April 15th, which will be

right before your council meeting. Um we'll have the ceremony here and then we'll have the celebration um out in the uh lobby so that way we can continue with the council meeting. Um a time will be determined in terms of upgrades. So we were going to have um I just wanted to give you a few updates that we've received from Rhode Island Energy. One is the construction work that's

beginning today. Um and this is no joke.

This is this is all real. Been trying to get the info full something going on tonight. Not very many. Anyway, uh Grenage. So, this is all the work that's going to start today. Grenage, Kent Heights area. Um there's going to be services of 128 of the 146 services are complete. Uh Red Island Energy will continue working on Pucket Avenue and on Intervale Waterman A. 63 of the 168 services have been completed. They will

continue service transfers on the side of the streets and slowly work start working their way onto Waterman A. Uh Bradford A, Holland A, Boyd Street, Rhode Island Energy will be starting the main installation projects estimated to take about 35 days. So taking us through about uh the beginning of Maya and Bentley starting uh main installation.

The project's estimated to take a good 40 days. So I can forward this information to all of you as well. Um I think I may have but I can do it again.

Rhode Island construction, uh, Rhode Island energy construction also beginning starting next week, April 7th, Wampaog Trail. Uh, they'll begin work on Wanau Wanog Trail, digging ties, um, tie in holes in pressure testing the newly installed gas main. So, just in case residents see some work being done. This should take about 3 to four weeks. Uh, once that's complete, Rhode Island NG

will begin to work on connecting the old main with the newly installed main. Um, this will take about a week, this part of it. And then lastly, work beginning on April 29th. And I can remind the council uh on during our next meeting.

Um there's work that's scheduled to start in Goldmith A. This is a small project um that runs from about 62 Goldsmith to 150 Goldsmith um which will run service to 115 Goldsmith. So that's the construction update. In terms of uh trees, which is always a big issue, um taking them down and adding them. Just wanted to let everyone know that Rhode Island Energy's forestry team is going

to start their tree trimming and removal this week. Um they may have already started. This includes the tree removals along the electric transmission right away in the areas of Archello Vellic, Kent A, South Broadway, Fort Street, Lion A, and Fifth Street. This is going to take about a month to complete just FYI. So we're thinking April, end of April, early May. Rhode Island Energy is

also working with the city to add trees.

Just to make sure that everyone knows, we're developing a plan that will um provide the city with these replacement trees. So, not just taking them down for services, but also um replacing ones that will that have been removed. Um the reason for all of this is we're making upgrades to and um well, Rhode Island Energy is making upgrades to and replacing their electrical transmission

lines. Um and this is just to modernize the infrastructure.

Um, and that's it. We will have the exact, we don't have the exact locations or timeline for the replacement of trees, but they will be determined at a later date and we can provide that at a later time. And that is all for me.

That's all I have and no proclamations.

Thank you for those updates.

Next item. Number three, resolution requesting the general assembly to support H5687 and its Senate companion legislation related to funding for the underground alignment of a portion E183 kilovolt electric transmission lines in the cities of Providence and East Providence. Sponsored by Council President Rodri and Councilman Fogerty.

Thank you, Councilman. Unless you have something else to add. This is a longstanding uh request from the city of East Providence. Uh Representative Dawson is trying to move this forward and has asked for our help as well as other reps and senators. This is the area down by the Tquaten home, the waterfront where they um had previously agreed to put underground utility utilities and cables, but for

whatever reason it it hadn't been done yet. So now we're about ready to get this thing going and yeah, I'm looking forward to it. Any any other comments? I believe National Grig collected 17 million what is it 20 years ago now to bury these. So this is long overdue and I I I'm right behind them. Second motion by Councilman Fogerty, seconded by Councilman Lawson to approve this. All

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

Thank you. And um be is there other if there are no other businesses? We do have um oh the school committee and then you have the date to talk about. So let's hear from the school committee liaison right now.

Uh so the biggest thing uh my buddy Ben Nassamento wanted me to mention that I was at the unified game and it was a great game. Um the spring sports is about to start. Um nothing major yet with as far as the school to report, but um the fields are gorgeous. They they are gorgeous. The new seats and I hope everybody pride originated from our school department. And I hope everybody

if you get a chance, go watch these kids play. You know, whatever sport you're into. We offer everything from lacrosse to volleyball to football, basketball, baseball, and it it's fun going to the games and you're interacting with fellow townies and these kids play their heart out. The unified kids are so awesome and all the people that um the coaches and stuff. Today was military appreciation

night. They had the honor God and stuff and um so I that's my push for I think this week is the musical at the high school newsies. Is it this week? Yes.

Catch up. So if you get a chance um this between the arts and the sports and the academics, our school department's pretty great. You know, you're always going to have your naysayers. There's always going to be people that are going to try to find a narrative to make things bad.

We will have that debate with them all day, every day. I think our school department's doing a great job and then we're doing what we can making sure they got money to renovate these buildings, making sure we're passing teacher contracts and stuff. So, um, as those who've been around, there's always been that school side, city side divide, and I hope we're shattering it, and I think

our actions are showing that we are. So, um, that's the update. Great. Thank you very much. And we do need to change the date of um an upcoming council meeting.

Some of us have some conflicts. Vice President, do you have a date suggest for us? Yes. Well, it's the Tuesday, May 4th meeting. We're looking to move it to Wednesday, May 5th, just the next day. Cotayo. Oh, you forget about that. Oh my god. Can I bring tequila? I got no problem if we meet.

Okay. Can I get a note? Yeah, we'll do it. Yeah. So, we don't need a vote, right? We just announced. So, the we'll repost and the meeting will be uh May 5th, 6:30 p.m. here at Can we meet at a place where beverages? I can uh wear your hat. If you're nice, I know somebody who has.

Is there a motion to adjourn? Threaten me with a good time. Motion to adjurnn.

Motion by Councilman Lawson, second by council vice president Rigo. All in favor?