4/15/25 EP City Council

Tom, just just make sure that they're not locked, right? People can get in.

Yeah. Having the reception

Call the meeting of April 15th to order.

These Providence City Council apologize if we are a few minutes late. We just finished a public ceremony in the council chambers. Madame Clerk, would you please call the role of the council? Councilman Fogerty. Councilman Lawson. here.

Council Vice President Rio here.

Councilwoman Souza. Council President Rodri here. The record show that three members of the council are present. I did hear from the two who are absent and they were not available to meet tonight. Please rise for the pledge of allegiance.

Good evening. There is uh no executive session needed tonight. Uh no uh proclamations, Madame Clerk. Now, we did have the annual remarkable women's ceremony that just concluded in the council lobby. Very well. So, madame clerk, if you could uh continue with the agenda, consent calendar, regular meeting minutes, April 1st, 2025.

Motion to accept.

Second. Motion by Councilman Lawson to accept, seconded by Council Vice President Rigo. All in favor? I I Any opposed? The eyes have. Next item, licenses for discussion and possible vote. Non-public hearing.

I make a motion to bundle except for item 14.

I second that motion.

So, a motion made by Councilman Lawson, seconded by Council Vice President Regal to bundle with the exception of number 14.

All in favor? I I I. Any opposed? The eyes have that. Is there a motion? Motion to approve. Motion to approve the same order of items. Is there a second? Second.

All in favor? I I. Any opposed? The eyes have it. I I would just repeat my uh often u response of some of these. At some point we've got to look at the rules of the council that we we shouldn't have to every meeting go through an approval of a department heads event like a puppet show at the library. You know that I think the initial intent was so that everyone would know about every

activity. Well, that's fine. We can read the activities. We can post the activities. We can advertise the activities. But do we have to have 27 different votes on on some routine things that were never voted on before?

It's not a big thing. It's it's just kind of a housekeeping thing. We can preaching to the choir. Yep. We can talk about that at another time. Um so for item 14, my questions, um they want a one-day liquor license for an event running from 7:30 to 1:00 in the afternoon.

Do we know what this event is? What it's about?

The the business name is the Sons of Liberty Spirit. Do you have any more information on this? Yeah. Uh because I have concerns. 20 2011 Mercer Street is past Memorial Stadium, which obviously is city property, which brings us into a situation where there's alcohol being served on city property. So, I have a I have a bit of concern about that with the liability aspect of things. Well,

can we hold off on that and then later in the evening the clerk has it in the office? Well, the their events not till May 13th. So, we have another meeting before meeting. Yeah. I just got a question. I mean, yeah, I agree. I just wire a liquor license for a 7:30 for the next meeting. Let's just foras and stuff. And again, my issue was the address. That's Pierce Stadium. Right.

Right. Obviously, an event that someone's requesting at Pierce. There have been events at at Pierce. Usually don't involve liquor licenses, though.

So, for the next meeting, we'll we'll get a full description. Okay. Uh, next

item. Shall not listen anything.

Communications. Any person who submits a communication to the council and wishes to speak on it must indicate this in writing no later than 4 p.m. We have Julia Dempsey. termination of lease in a cityowned home by one person.

Okay, Mr. Dempsey, if you're here, you can come forward.

Yeah, take your time.

Did you guys have the public comment? You already did. Okay.

And just for the record, uh, when you get here, just list your name and address. Put that button on so the mic is on. Push the button there. There you go. Right. Hello. My name is Julia Dansy. I live at 37 Pay It Street, a home that I won in 2019 lottery put on by the city of East Providence. The home was funded by the community development block grant program from HUD low-income

affordable housing. It's not just a place to live, but a sanctuary that has played a crucial role in my recovery. I'm deeply grateful for the time you allowed me to speak in this matter. I understand you were unaware of the situation until I sent you a letter on April 8th.

I appreciate your willingness to listen to me and hopefully consider my case and moving forward. Anna Susa was the only one that reached out to me and guided me in the right direction to get on the docket to speak before you tonight.

Allow me to share a bit share a little bit about my journey. I currently live on $1,356 a month, which is SSDI. I am elderly according to the city of Rhode Island. I am not a veteran. However, my battlefield was between four walls. I didn't go fight for our freedom or go to a battlefield and fight for our rights.

My battlefield was between four walls. I suffered 67 charges of domestic violence resulting in a traumatic brain injury. I also suffer from chronic severe depression significant anxiety, PTSD and panic attacks daily.

This is not just a lease dispute but my battle for my well-being. I have never lived alone a day in my life until I was 50.

It took much work these past seven years to become the better me that I feel I am today. Living in this home has been part of my recovery. Don't let Mayor Bob Dilva and his power take it from me. He wants to displace me, a hometown towny, a constituent of his and one of his residents so that he can put a homeless veteran in my home that I have been in for five years.

displacing me and uprooting my life so that he can put a homeless veteran in my home would and uprooting my life to help someone else which feels deeply unjust.

Everyone deserves the support and and a place to call home. But my situation should not be overlooked in favor of a temporary solution to house a homeless veteran. The repercussions that I have suffered and had to deal with since I received a certified letter on May 7th, I mean March 7th to not renew my lease has been horrifying and has taken both a physical and mental toll on my well-being. The actions of the mayor

have set me back significantly with the work that and progress that I have made on myself to be a better me.

I am fighting for myself in the principle that must be considered the well-being of those who like me struggle for stability. I suffer from most of the same things that veterans who experience things and I don't take that lightly.

Our country servicemen and women what they have done for us and do for us. I appreciate what they have done and I thank them for their service. Okay. So, let's let's go on to why I'm before you today. But first I must tell you, of course it's a different tone, but of course I must tell you that my anxiety does get the best of me and I can get loud and I can get boisterous, but

that's the anxiety. It's not that I'm being aggressive to anybody if I do tend to go off in that direction. My least dispute with Mayor Bob Dilva and the city solicitor Michael Marcelo, as shown on TV12, I have never received I have never received a letter about inquiring about my 5-year lease.

However, I received a phone call from MJ Lima with whom I have had many calls from the same number in from David Backrack which was my house liaison and myself. I received a call from MJ Lima who called me in sometime in April or May of 2024. On this day, MJ Lima called me and asked if I could bring her a copy of my 5-year signed lease agreement because they couldn't find a copy of the

5-year lease. But really all they wanted was to see if Bob Dilva's signature was on it. The only lease I've ever received with Bob Dilva's signature on it was the first lease dated January 1st, 2020, ending on December 31st, 2021. After the initial lease, I received no additional documentation regarding my teny with Mayor Bob Dilva signature. All leases were sent to me via email by David Backrack and they

were blank. They had nobody's signature on it. I would sign them electronically and I would return them. And then I received a signed lease from Bob Dilv. Uh I never received another signed lease with Bob the Silver's signature on it when my first lease ended in 2022.

I received a certified letter from the city solicitor, Michael Marcelo, on March 8th, Saturday, March 8th, not renewing my lease. But there's a lot of backdating and signing of documents. And Patricia Rosendi's and David Brack signature, Patricia Rosendi said, quote unquote, David Brack's signature was never on that 5-year lease. He only recently signed it prior to him retiring. But let me back up the story

just a little bit. I'm going to go off script for a minute.

The day that they gave me the letter to terminate my lease was the day of David Backreck's retirement. So, there was an agenda. There was a contemplation. They knew what they wanted to do. I posted many things online. I had problems with the house. I went to the mayor's office seven times requesting a physical meeting with him to discuss the parking lot next door to my home, which is a gravel parking lot. And I have

experienced David Backrack is well aware of all of this because I trust everybody. I didn't care that I didn't get a signed lease. I felt secure in my home. I didn't feel like I was going to be put out. When I called him for a maintenance request, I didn't feel like I needed to put it in writing. I felt that it always got taken care of. So to the parking lot with the gravel, the

kids parked there. I have a kid. He's 28 years old. I have a granddaughter. I respect everybody's families, but disrespectful kids are not acceptable.

They do donuts in the gravel parking lot. The rocks have hit my home. Cracked the windshield of a rental vehicle that was in my driveway. They've driven through my yard. I have sevenin trucks in my yard. Everybody seen TV12's news.

That wasn't staged. That girl drove through the yard while the camera lady was there, not only 2 feet from her on the TV2 aired show that you saw on Thursday evening news at 5:30. I went to the his office requesting to speak to him. Never would anybody let me see him or talk to him. I called several times.

Never ever have he called me back. I've emailed him about all of this. Never ever emailed me back. And then this happens. I believe that they waited till the day David retired. They wanted it because I took my concerns when I didn't get an answer from the man that supposedly signs my lease. I didn't get an answer. I didn't get a phone call. I didn't get a meeting. I took it to Facebook. I didn't

bash him. I didn't call him names. I didn't put him down. Chrissy Rossy, a citizen of the community in Riverside, took my post after seeing them all my complaints, the broken fire pit, the the cracked windshield, the driving through my yard, through the all year long. And she gave it to Dr. I think it's Dr.

Farland from the superintendent of East Providence High School. Immediately, she gave her my phone number as well.

Immediately, Dr. Farland was on the phone. I want you to give me names. I mean, I want you to give me make models of cars, tag numbers. Uh, if you see them doing it, I want you to tell me what they look like. At 6:30 in the morning, they're there. It I mean, it might be 12 ft from the parking lot to my bedroom window blasting music. I like music. I listen to music driving around.

People would look at me like I'm crazy because my music's rattling my license plate. But at 6:30 in the morning, I opened the window and I asked him to please shut that off. And the student said to me, "If you don't like it, you should have bought a house somewhere else." Disrespectful. Disrespectful. I had another student come up to me because he thought that I accused him.

I've called the police. I've called the school. The only time I ever got any resolution to what was going on in the place that I'm supposed to have a quality of life was when Chrissy Rossi stepped up to the plate and sent my stuff to Dr. Farland, the superintendent of East Providence High School. So, in my opinion, as they stated in the news channel 12, I do feel that this is

retaliatory. I do feel that this is because I didn't say bad things, but I may have made him look bad for not addressing my concerns of the home the city owns. And the day David the day David retired, he said they were taking photos outside community development office, taking pictures of all of the crew from the community development department. And the mayor mayor said to him while they were taking photos, "I

just sent your girl a termination of her lease letter." David said, "I felt the blood leave my body. I felt sick to my stomach." David called me and told me what was going on. Next day, I got the certified letter. So, I do believe this is retaliatory. I qualified for the home. I passed a credit background check. It wasn't just for veterans. It was on the premise to rent it to a

veteran where they were allowed to pick from a pool of veterans first. The veteran declined the home at the time in 2019 because it's 30% of your income or $600, whichever was higher. 30% of a veteran's income was significantly more than the the amount of money for a one-bedroom house. He said, "I'd rather go rent a three-bedroom house for that amount of money in Rumford." He declined

and it was open to the public. HUD told them, I talked to them about it. uh HUD told them that you can't specifically rent to a veteran. You can't have the the lottery for a veteran. It has to be open to the public. You know, it's affordable homes. It has to be for everybody. So, people saying that, oh, a veteran should be in that house. Well, they had the opportunity to be in the

house and they declined. I have a right to be there. I have been a good tenant.

I have not had any complaints. I've not violated my lease. I've paid my rent. I have my neighbors here now. Nobody has had any complaints about me. I don't understand why my mayor wants to displace his citizen, his constituent, and make me homeless. I have today in my account four cents. No joke. I cannot possibly pay all of my bills, save money for security deposit, first month's rent, and pay somebody to

move me. I can't get out. I talked to the solicitor this evening asking him if Bob Dilva would be here. He said he had a cold. He wasn't coming. And uh he said, "Why do I want to take my fight publicly?" I said, "Nobody's going to do anything for me if I don't. And I'm not just going to sit back and take it. I have worked so hard to be where I am

today. And I've come a long way in seven years. And I'm proud of myself to be the person I am today. And that home helped me do that. Like I said, I never lived a day in my life alone until I was age 50.

And I don't feel that one person should be able to make the decision. And look at it. Can you not see the day David retires, I get the letter? Do you not see what's happening? The Facebook posts. Nope. He said he never seen them.

I don't believe that for a minute. There are trolls out there. I had Tony Vieiraa from the city of East the Department of Public Works chime in on one of those things and, you know, be nasty to me and say, "Well, if you have proof, prove it.

Prove it. prove it. He tells me that the things I'm saying, I'm lying. He said, "If you don't get out, you'll take your fight public." And I said, "I have nowhere to go. Where am I going?" He said, "We'll just evict you." That was 30 minutes ago on the phone with him.

And she um Patricia Rosendes called me on Thursday, the day that the TV2 news was going to air. They both called me on that day. And um uh no no actually she called me sometime this week and she was trying to speak to me. I wanted email communications with David and the mayor because the mayor said originally that he had no knowledge of the 5-year lease.

But TV12 Kate Wilkinson and I showed up at the solicitor's office and she requested copies of all of my leases and she said there's a big gap. Where's the 5-year lease? The city solicitor said there's no such lease. It was never executed. I have it on video on my phone and they were turned their backs to us at the window. They were scrambling, going through papers, and by mistake, they gave Kate Wilkinson that 5-year

lease. So then the mayor's story when he got cornered and interviewed said he had no understanding of it. My lease never changed any wording in any way, shape, or form. The only thing that changed was the 5-year lease. The reason we had a 5-year lease was because when I got the home uh knew the rec center was going to be built, they put the parking lot and I, you know, for privacy matters. I

mean, I sit there and, you know, my jeans and t-shirt and I I don't want to say this to be mad and I don't want to say things to be derogatory, but dirty old men from the senior center drive by and they're like this and you know, I mean, it's uncomfortable. It it So, I didn't ask for the fence originally. It was offered. So the first year went by, I didn't get a fence. The second lease

went by, I didn't get a fence. Asked him the third year if I can get a fence. He said yes. I said I will pay for it. I will give you $100 extra dollars a month for it, but I want a 5year lease so that I know that me paying for a $5,000 fence. I can get to enjoy it the whole time that I'm paying for it. So that was the reason for the 5-year lease. It

didn't say nothing about the fence. It just said different dates, different total amounts of what the rent would be payable through the five term fiveyear term of the lease. So David said, "Okay, David emailed me. I have that email as well."

He said, "We're short-handed. Could you help out in helping us getting the bids for the fence, meet the contractors?" David came by, marked out what we were going to do.

Originally, he said, the mayor said, "I can have 50 ft of fence." David came by to mark it out and we started brainstorming. 50 50 ft of fence would make too much fence with scrap left over. So we decided 30 foot three 8ft panels and a 6ft gate. That gives you 30 ft. We're not having much waste of the fence being thrown away by shortages. So David gave me all the information with the packet, emailed me

a list of telephone numbers to call, what fence companies to call. I met them, got the bids, got the contracts, gave them the gave the bid packages to David. David said to me, "This has to be put on hold for now." This was year three of me being there when we wrote the 5-year lease, and he said, "This has to be put on hold. The mayor has a project. We'll do this next year.

Besides, it's, you know, we're getting into the fall months. The ground's going to get cold. We need to make sure that it sets right." Okay. So then now fourth year, second year into the 5-year lease, um they're ready to do the fence. My daughter-in-law ended up having my granddaughter was hospitalized for 45 days, almost died. I was in Florida for 2 months, so I couldn't be there to have

the fence, so I put it on hold. This is not why I'm here. The fence thing, but this leads up to it. So then the third year comes along and now everybody wants to see my lease. Nobody cared about my lease from January 2020. Lim is calling me up and asking me for a copy of it because now I'm pushing to have the fence and Bob is aware of

it. He doesn't want to give me my fence.

I've posted stuff online about the broken windshield two years ago. I posted stuff online last year about driving through my snow. Not only do they drive through my yard, they go from the front yard to the sideyard to the backyard like at Secon Speedway. Hand to God, no joke.

All right. So, so Julia, let me interject because you've um you know, don't be nervous. You've done a you've done a good job giving your um your history of what's going on here. So, it leads to um a lot of things that that you said. Uhhuh. And so, if you have something else to add, you know, I'll certainly let you add it, but let let me say that regards to the mayor not being

here. Yeah. I wouldn't read anything into that. This morning at about 7 a.m.

he called me and we don't talk on the phone a lot, believe it or not, but he called me early this morning. We had a big program here. Every seat in this room was filled. TV cameras were here.

Facebook Live was here. You know, the mayor would have been here. Yes. If he could have and he was seriously not feeling well. And it was his program tonight. Okay. And he said, "I came."

Now, take it for what it is. I don't think he's not here because of you. Um I'm sure that he doesn't want to get into a discussion, but that's I just want to let you know what transpired today. The the lease and and I'm only because remember the council has not been involved in in this. It's not our role. There's no vote that we can take tonight. There's no decision we can make

tonight. But, you know, we uh we we have representatives that can listen and respond. I did ask um when I knew the mayor wouldn't be here that this the solicitor was prepared to, you know, answer anything. And because you've mentioned him, so he has a right to and I've asked him to be brief and just be clear, but do you at any point, and I'm this is just information, is there a

lease anywhere, whether it's 5 years or whatever, that has the mayor's signature on it? Uh, yes there is. Actually, when they learned I don't mean the one year.

I know there's a one-year lease that does. Yep. Um, when I was asked about the five-year lease and they they saw that his signature wasn't on it. I was given a lease dated June 1st, 2024 that ended in May 31st, 2025. And when I went into the office, I said, "This is not my lease. I didn't move in that day. I have a 5-year lease." They said, "It doesn't exist. It's not never been executed. If

you want to stay in your home, you sign this lease." I was strongarmed by him and he said, "Or we can just tell you that you can you can wait a minute. Wait a minute. You can or we can just let you live monthtomonth and we can tell you to be out in 30 days." I've heard that comment at least eight times in the past month from him. Okay. So, let me ask the

solicitor to give some general responses. So, thank you. Um there was initial lease um one year as she mentioned from January 2020 to Janu January 2021. After that apparently uh Mr.

Bakarak um did send um Miss Dempsey a proposed lease for 5 years unbeknownst to the administration or the city. The uh when that when that lease um expired the first year obviously when you live without a lease you go monthto month.

That's what the Rhode Island law is by operational law when a lease expires. A tenant goes 3030. So um for 30 days. So basically from 2021 until the new lease was executed which was as she just said May of June 1st of 2024. She was on a month-to-month lease. I know Miss Dempsey claims that she has a 5-year lease. In order for a lease to be uh valid, it needs to be signed by both

parties. Uh it would also have to be approved by the city council. uh and because it's a lease of land and that was never done ever approved by the city council particularly for a five-year lease approved by city council. So um we would uh I'm sorry. So uh there is no there is no five-year lease. It is only executed executed by one party. Uh it was not executed by the mayor or or

approved by the city council. The um and that wasn't withheld by anyone.

Miss Dempsey did come to our office and as anybody we gave her the lease. It wasn't given to her accidentally. We had nothing to hide. I gave her the lease.

It was unexecuted. She believes that that lease is a 5-year lease, but it's not because it was never executed. And any event, there was a one-year lease executed after the after that lease expires on May 31st, 2025 of this year.

Um, we did I did send Miss Dempsey a notice of non-renewal which was required under the lease in March, but well within the time frames. She did call when we got the letter and I she indicated that she would have difficulty meeting that timeline. I indicated that um we would be working with her that we would if she couldn't be out by May that her lease would be on a 30 her rent

would be on a 30-day period. Her lease would be on a 30-day period. She asked uh whether she could get her security deposit back early uh so that she could put a deposit on a on a new place and I said absolutely we would work with you on that. Um I don't want to get into the details. Um but you know in uh there were periods of time where Miss Dempsey was behind on her

rent payments. Uh um should have evicted then then he wanted me out. Let let let him speak cuz I didn't interrupt. It's okay. So again so to suggest that the city is somehow with you know a bad landlord. Again we there were times where the city was was carrying Miss Dempsey while she was behind on her rent. Um it is the city's right uh to not renew uh a lease. The mayor has

indicated publicly why he wants to turn turn this house into temporary housing for veterans. There has been a need expressed. I know councilman, you're a big supporter of the veterans. Uh yeah.

Yeah. But my concern is they're being used as an excuse here. Well, because we have a veterans advisory council. Not once was this house mentioned and we have been talking about the need for transitional housing for veterans for a long time. We wouldn't be able to give you that. But it was never mentioned that the lease is coming up and stuff. I never found out until I got her letter.

Obviously, we wouldn't be able to, you know, offer that as housing until the But not even to mention that this is our thought. You know, we're sitting there doing work trying to come up, which we even passed a resolution a month ago. So that's that's the status of where we are today. So what so what changed that all of a sudden he's had the house for what, five, six years and it was intended and

now all of a sudden he wants to make the switch. All I can say I I haven't talked to the mayor personally about the switch, but all I can comment what I've talked to Mr. Rosenis, there there was they were approached by different veterans organizations indicating that they wanted to have transitional housing for veterans, but not this house specific. This No. And that this this is

the only house that the city owns. So, how did they know it was available?

Because they knew the lease was coming up. How did they know that? Cuz they they have a copy of the one-year lease.

They knew it was up on one year lease in effect. Guess what? Who came to the city saying we want to use this house? Hold on. Hold on. Uh, veterans. Councilman has Hold on. Uh, Mike Councilman has the floor. Please wait and go through the chair for any That's okay. Go go go through. Normally I let people have free-for-alls, but let's let's get some Robert's rules going here. And my name is Robert.

So, but that's my concern is this is coming out of left field. And we have been talking on the veterans committee about the need. But to do it this way, I want to hear from the mayor what changed if this house could have been available years ago for this. Why all of a sudden and she's mentioning Dave retiring and stuff? It's well and I know it makes a

good uh a good timeline and I I I sh certainly correlation does not mean causation. I get I understand that. So um I I can't speak for the mayor. I would suggest that you talk to him directly. I know the chief of staff is here uh and there have been public statements about different veterans organizations that have approached the city and the administration about the need for transitional housing.

Absolutely. And that's where the status of it is. Can I ask Mr. Solicitor um what is is HUD involved any further or was their initial involvement the only one? Are they would they be involved in subsequent leases? I believe that they uh they have subsidized the rent at that place for a period of time. Um, and it's so we have been contacted by HUD and um, we haven't been able to set up a meeting

because they they did have some questions for us, but I believe it was HUD regulations that required it be open to everyone that's and that's what I'm wondering is that still in place. So we'll have to find I don't want to comment because I haven't had to talk to them. And who would administer this because from what I'm hear that has I I can't answer that. I can just that was the that was the goal and

the intention you know that would be up to the administration. and I don't get involved with the day-to-day administration. Again, we haven't heard anything and I'm I'm just want to make sure veterans not being used as the excuse for this. Understood. So, let's go back to Julie for one question and then um I just want to ask Julie then we'll go to Councilman Rigo. Um initially uh your was your understanding

like when your opening comment said that you want a house, but it was temporary emergency housing, right? Was that your understanding? No, it was not advertised as temporary housing. What the what what it was was it was rented on the premise of giving it to a veteran. So, right. And we know the first two backed out. But what I'm getting at is was it your impression that you were to live there forever? No.

And not not forever, but there was no need to terminate my lease and make me homeless. I'm his constituent. I'm his resident. I'm the town. You're going to displace me and make me homeless. I've been there for 5 years. It's easier to find a homeless person a home who has a backpack, not pack up 5 years of my life and just move the finances to do it.

Okay, council vice president.

So, my thought is when this house first came on, I think the it's been answered. And I remember I wasn't I never thought I'd be back in politics. And so, I remember the the gentleman winning, you know, television cameras and air. This is great. It wasn't talked about as being transition being a transitional build uh house.

that gentleman won it. Um, again, didn't go into detail about leases or anything, but that was his house. It didn't say that he would be there until he could find something. So, again, my biggest question is why all of a sudden the transitional aspect of things when somebody has a permanent home? Sorry.

Um, so that that's my first question. My second question, I got a real concern is that we have city a former city employee who is acting as an agent of the city. Do we have other city officials acting as as agents of the city for things that this council needs final approval of? I am concerned this is like the second I mean this is like the second time we've had issues here. We had issues before with

somebody saying it wasn't their signature, it's their signature.

Uh, I'm I'm a little concerned about the liability of the city now. We got contracts and we have some we you know I'm afraid we got a lot of loan we got a lot of loan rangers out there working for the city that are doing things and the five of us and the mayor have respon and I have a responsibility for ward one in the city of East Providence for fiduciary

responsibility. You as a lawyer as you know lawyers love these things. They I mean and I'm not you know no you know just like you know I worked for a company that sold items at the station fire. We had nothing to do with it that night other than supply some things. We weren't the main sponsor and we had litigation that we had to go through it.

We live in a taught society litigation.

I am I'm very concerned as a council person that we have contracts that are being signed by people that again he he doesn't know you don't know chief of staff all of us don't know that could put this city in line in a in a quagmire I didn't say we didn't know I said that we were unaware that in a 5-year lease was offered that that is true yeah it's

still but that but that be that lease was never executed no but I'm just saying it's still somebody acting on behalf in the city that shouldn't be.

That's my concern as a council person.

That's what I'm reading. So, she's under a legal lease now till May 31st. And was that approved by us? You said leases have to be approved by the council. I don't know. I I I don't believe it was, but I again, it was a year it would be up. So, so she's been in this house all this time and nobody pays attention to these. I wouldn't say nobody. It was

executed through the HUD. I mean, it was it was it was executed. So, we knew there was a lease there. Obviously, we but we've been sitting here since January 3rd of 2023 and not once have I the only contracts that we've ever author I mean approved were union contracts. That's not true.

Council you No, no, no. I Wait, let me finish. Sorry. Yeah. We didn't call We didn't have this lease. We had That's what I'm saying. We We never had this.

As you know, it's my role saying we had other contracts. as you know that it's my role to make sure that all this is done properly and I bring every lease, every kind of contract above $50,000.

I was going to say we've had other things but we never had I do want to clarify one thing. The notion that um there's this was done at the retirement of Mr. Bakarak. We Mr. Bakarak gave us notice to retire before before the holidays. So we knew we knew I knew that we we knew we knew that he was retiring.

We were trans he left you excuse me but we we were we were transitioning him out. So to say that we just did this on the eve of his retiring because he left again if we were if we were really that we would have done it in December January where frankly there would have been more cause to to evict her before.

So I got to say I know he's not here tonight but I just quickly mentioned that um Mr. Bakarak never came in as far as you know or the mayor's office knows with a lease in his hand for five years and said I'm passing this up now to go through the channels the mayor then the council cuz all I can say is that in the files there is there is a 5-year lease

signed by Miss Dempsey witnessed by Mr.

Barrack witnessed by Mr. Barrack after he left. I I don't know if that's true either. That's an allegation. I don't believe that's true. Yeah. Who wrote it?

The lease. Yeah, I believe Mr. Brack did it. It was a form basically a form lease that comes from HUD. I'll get to you.

Hang on. But um it was not it was not counter signed by the administration by the mayor. That's all I'm saying. Yes, M.

There was a letter sent to East Providence Housing Authority in October um I want to say 2023 referencing the fact the five-year lease went from $600 a month to $900 a month. in that 5-year lease. A letter was sent to the East Providence Housing Authority notifying them that the rent increase has jumped $300. And if you need a copy of the 5-year lease, you you can get that from Julia. So, if David's back signature

after 18 years of service to the city of East Providence City Hall is not worthy of anything, then it shouldn't be worthy to East Providence Housing Authority, which is a fedally funded. Again, I I believe that Yes. Go ahead. Again, I believe that Mr. Berak indicated that the rent was increasing and then a part of that rent was being paid through the a program through the um East Providence

Housing Authority and and they pay the extra rent. That is that is evidence that she was on a month a month. It doesn't mean you have that's evidence that there was a 5-year lease because the letter states it to the housing authority. These arguments should be made in a a courtroom. Not really here.

Again, I just want to make it clear and I will provide any document that the council so so wants. You do not have a lease for 5 years. That is counter signed. It actually is counterintuitive is if we had a 5-year lease, why would we sign a lease for the last year from 2024 to 2025? Because the 5-year lease would have expired on May of 2026. Oh, to order to correct that issue, a lease

was executed between 2024 and 2025.

Councilman, I I have a question for the sol I have a question for the solicitor.

And th this has to semi do with this uh issue but not um how many different contracts would Mr. Bakarak be responsible for in the city? I mean that's a fair question. I I you know I know that he ran the uh community development block grant program. Um I I know that there would have may might have been some leases I mean contracts regarding from like repairs, home repairs, but I I don't really know the

specifics of that. That's so But again, if they were all under a certain amount, they wouldn't come before the council.

Well, that's my concern right now that I want to Can you I mean, if we have to do it for the next council meeting, probably we have to have a vote. But I I would like you to we need to look if we need an investigation. And I don't want maybe the word investigation is too strong but I I am not comfortable here.

God only knows what we can find. I could I will tell you this there was a change in the rules and regulations when the council changed the the form of government changed from a a chief executive manager to a mayor form and I believe and I did have this conversation with um Mr. tobacco act because of that change of form of government HUD regulations or CDBG regulations said that all contracts had to be executed or

or or by by the chief executive of the office. They didn't they didn't need council approval because it wasn't it was federal money. It's it wasn't it wasn't taxpayers money and I and I do remember having that conversation with All right. So I want I want to allay you for that. Even if they were over 50,000 have to come here. No, that was my concern. I'm trying to protect the That's a very good question. I'm sorry.

But yes, that I do remember having that conversation because it was triggered by the change of the former government that we had. Julie did take place when the change of the former government in when when the city charter was changed by the public vote. Was it during the time I lived in the home? No, after No, this is so I think what's what has what's determined here is number one, there is no vote tonight.

I know and you know that we've talked about that before the meeting. um that doesn't mean you you can't say whatever you want to say. What's also clear is that no contract has come before this council and evidently some need to um 5year one year does not appear that we've seen any anything. Um and Mr. Bakarak who's no longer here might be able to shed some light on this. So I think and and you're not

going to be put out, you know, this week. So I think what the next step is is to have a a get together with you and any representative you might have. Um some word from HUD if they're still involved because if they're still involved then it's not strictly for veterans emergency housing. It's not right. But we need to hear that from HUD because they they provided the money in the beginning. They may be out of the

picture. We don't know. We need to get uh an opinion from the mayor on what what's his reasoning is through this whole thing. And then we have our lawyer who will tell us what's what's legal. So I I think there's another step here.

Okay. We can we can all go through. We we could right now someone there could be a motion and a second and and a majority vote to say you can stay there but it it's not gerine. It it can't happen even if we wanted to. May I finish what I was saying pri prior to now? You may. Thank you. Um I think I kind of find it here. I'm adding more to

it that David retired and then this happened. Um, the mayor can speak to homeless veterans that call him in in need of a home, but yet he hasn't called me. I live in his house. I'm his constituent. I am a towny. I am his resident. No phone calls or communication with me ever. The only time I've ever been in that man's presence or heard his voice speak was

the day I got the keys to the house on December 23rd, 2019. Never ever has he communicated with me. She has, he has.

They said they were going to help me.

They were going to give me my security deposit back early. They really just want me out. And I don't understand why I do. It's cuz I posted stuff online that made them look bad. And so they want to Why would you displace somebody who's disabled who has nowhere to go, who doesn't have the means to go somewhere else to put somebody else in a home?

It's easier to find them a home than Yeah. Let let and my commentary is there's no good look to this story, right, from any angle. Let us move forward. I'm very insecure in my home. I I like I said it I never lived a day in my alone life alone until I was 50. The security of knowing that I have a lease.

I can go to sleep at night. He keeps telling me repeatedly, we could just give you 30-day notice and you'll be out. I mean, so June 4th and that may be the law, you know, but let's find But I need some security and I I have nowhere to go. So, let us move on. I know other people have signed up to speak, so I don't want to belver this. I think I got

I got one question. Councilman, you thought your lease was up in 2026? Yes.

January 31st. Did you ask the mayor about extending until then? It it doesn't exist. It was never executed. It The lease you're on now. The lease I'm on now ends May 31st, right? But did you ask saying I thought I was till 26? I I did I did I did speak. Like I said, the mayor won't speak to me. Michael Marcelo speaks to me. And Patricia, what's the plan for this house on June 1st when

she's out?

I just again just just um we we I want to be very clear. We told Miss Dempsey that if she needed extra time after May 31st, we would certainly give her extra time. In fact, I wrote her a I wrote her a letter indicating she asked if she could get her security deposit back early so she could put a down payment on another apartment and or a place when

she found it and I said we would do that as well. And we offered assistance to find a replacement home. So, I just want to make it clear a leaseold ends. It doesn't go on forever. As you know, if you ever rented a place, I'm sure we've all rented at some point in our lives.

At at some point, the lease ends and the landlord has a right to either change the use of the property or whatever. And again, Patricia can speak to what the intentions of the mayor and that's what we want to know. Why why is this happening now? What's the plan? And well, that's what we're going to hear.

Um, good evening, council uh members.

Um, so I obviously I'm not here to have a conversation in regards to a tenant landlord issue because that's ultimately what it is. I can answer some basic questions which Mr. Marcelo basically answered all the questions I would have told you which is in regards to the execution of the lease and what we have.

Um, and I have had conversations with Miss Dempsey as have uh other members of our staff. to answer your question um Councilman for years and and I think I've said this to you in our one of our first um veterans committee meetings and we had discussion at the library about this um during two meetings actually not in particular about this house but over the years I can tell you personally I have received we have

received our administration has received calls from organizations from veterans organizations about displaced veterans there was a fire issue where and they needed emergency housing and they contacted us, hey, what can you do? We have them in a hotel until this point, this point, this point. Other than that, they're out. So, we've received these kind of we've received these calls.

We've had these kind of conversations over the years with more than one veterans organization. Um, and I've mentioned that now as far as this particular I know it you said um something about correlation does not equal the cause, right? That's exactly the case. So although Miss Dempsey is trying to connect those two, they're completely apart and we can speak off on other issues um to address that.

However, the plan for that home was always for veterans use and yes, we I had a conversation with Mr. backrack about HUD and what is allowable and yes that home um we did preference for veterans at that time and um but it was Miss Dempsey was part of that lottery.

That being said, the city owns the home at this point um her accusations are in fact accusations and they're nefarious because there is no truth to them. the re the the letter fact that we're being retaliatory. In fact, and I and I don't want to go back and forth with this um but uh Miss Dempsey was before this this body at one point saying that you would all retaliate and the mayor would

retaliate against her for speaking out against the community center two years ago. That's not the case. So, she was claiming it's actually on video. There's retell retaliatory comments even years prior to any of this happening. So to answer your question, Councilman, yes, the the plan is to bring this home back to its intent, its first intent, and that was for our veterans. Um Dave's

departure and his retirement was not the day after or anything like that. That's that's incorrect information. And I'd be happy to provide on March. I got the letter on March 8th. And I'd be happy to provide um all the documentation that shows that. So there is no correlation to this to be honest with you. It's it's more coincidental. Um I will say our administration our uh both on the city

website and I used to u man the city website and the social page for years.

outline of what's going on against Hang on. We have an outline against her. Okay, let's at this point and you you can come back after and close this, but let's move without objection to the uh other public comments that that we have. And I would remind people that I've been No, hang on. I think you've you've said your piece and we'll let you come back and we we already have the

list of that was submitted before. So, um I've been very lenient in, you know, letting you go on. There is a a council rule limit of 3 minutes a piece. I don't hold to that strictly, but I will hold to it if anybody meanders and repeats themselves. So, try to come up with your your opinions, your comments, maybe something that hasn't been said yet, but um we're not going to sit here till

midnight on this. We we're going to sit down and roll our sleeves up at a subsequent meeting and get some real answers. And Council President, if I could just u echo one more thing if I may. I know you have a long list so I will give the mic over. Uh just to echo what what uh solicit Marcelo said we have been working with Dempsey um Miss Dempsey on um both extending providing

her um the security deposit extending monthtomonth uh pro putting her in touch with um our with Andrea Vargas to work with her on housing. She has been doing that. Um she's been working with uh the housing authority to in having conversation to so we're working we're working to help Miss Dempsey on this.

Okay. Okay, you'll get the last word later. Hang on. Do you want to hold your comments after you're on the list here?

I have the list here.

Oh, okay. I'm sorry. There's another communication. I think they left. Um, read that name, please. Lucia Rodriguez.

Yeah, I talked to them. They had an appointment to go to. It's about a parking issue. I'm going to talk to uh the DPW director after and get an answer for them. So, a day left, right? Not here.

Okay. Is there anyone else? Okay. So, now if you start this Yes.

Chrissy Rossy,

of course, you're familiar with this hall, but would you just give us your name and address? I am Chrissy Rossi, U 87 Shore Road, Riverside. Thanks.

Welcome. Thank you. Um, I just wanted to take a quick moment to advocate. I don't know what your role is in this lease.

Um, but to advocate for not putting somebody out on the street. I'm sorry.

She doesn't make money. I'm You're basically giving her a death sentence at this point. Like, she's going to live in her car or something. So, if there's anything that you guys can do to help bring this to a solid resolution, I mean, letting her stay where she is.

Obviously, she's comfortable there. If that's an option, that would be fantastic. But if it's not, like I said, I don't know what your regulatory statutory stuff is for this. But to put somebody out in the street, it it just and and Rick, you and Matt, you guys always advocate for veterans. And if you've not heard about this, then I'm a little um I'm questioning, that's all. But it

don't put her on the street, man. That's just wrong. Thank you. Thank you, Chrissy. Next person, Kimberly. I'm sorry, I can't read the writing.

Hi, just name and address for the record.

Kimberly Einio, 2936 Pucket Avenue.

Welcome. Go ahead.

I don't understand the logic of if we have veterans that need housing, and I'm all for that. Putting a veteran in a one family isn't going to solve the issue. We need something more. And if you have someone who's homeless, they have nothing to show for payment history. They have no credit history.

And I assume that's a requirement to get this house to begin with.

So, it really doesn't logically make sense. Yes, we need like group homes or something for transitional housing to help these people. They deserve it. My son's a veteran. Absolutely. But to put someone who is disabled out, to put a veteran there and only help one veteran isn't logical. This whole thing makes no sense. There's more to the story. to suddenly decide she needs to go. And where is she supposed to go?

Where I live, it's a 10-year waiting list to get in to to say she needs to find alternative housing. There's not enough section 8 housing in this city.

And everything they keep putting up isn't for people who need that type of housing.

Even the veterans can't get housing in the apartments that keep getting put up.

Kettle Point, I was a person that hoped, seeing it's Veterans Memorial Hall, the Parkway, that a veteran would be able to afford one of those condos that they put up, but then they were allowed to pay a fine so they didn't have to have that 10% affordable housing. My son bought his house because he got his home loan due to being a veteran.

Personally, I think our veterans deserve to have been able to get one of those condos in Kettle Point. That fine never should have been allowed. That was very disappointing. But if we you're saying you're going to help her, how it takes years. The waiting lists are exorbitant.

If if nothing else, what what this issue is showing to the consternation of some people, there is a housing crisis.

Absolutely. And it's right here. It's in Rhode Island. It's in the country. And at times when housing developments developments are talked about, there are as many people as are here tonight that will come here and say, "Not in my neighborhood, not in my city." And you're right. uh the kettle point thing which predated all of us.

Yes, it did. But there was a switch and there is housing on Toronto Avenue that would have gone there. I don't know how they worked it out but there is council president and one second that money from kettle points what built Ivy Place across the street. I'm just going to say that across the street Ivy Place which is it's not section 8 and people don't want you say section 8 and people say

I'll never vote for you if you do that.

Right. And I don't vote I don't vote that way. Okay, I go with what I think is right. But that place across the street and one neighborhood housing in Riverside Square, the old bowling academy is going to be for there are specific guidelines on rents and costs and so we're trying and we do need more housing that this is aside from this issue, but it's illuminating the the bigger problem. Absolutely. and

veterans. Now, you mentioned it's home.

This this one-bedroom home isn't big enough. The transitional wasn't for veterans families, as I understand it.

It's for probably a single vet who's suffering and temporarily needs a place for a few months or a year or a few weeks. That's the goal. Now, that may not have worked out with this this home, but that was the original plan. So, I I understand what you're saying and we're we're going to do what we can do to solve this problem. We just can't do it, you know, tonight. Thank you. Okay.

Thank you. Next, please.

Sandra C. I can't read her right neither.

That's why I gave you that list because I couldn't read them.

Sandra, is there a Sandra here? Somebody begin with an S?

No. All right. Next.

She's here.

Nice. Great. Uh, Priscilla, just name and address for the record. Priscilla Cavalo, 31 Payet Street. Thank you. I am her neighbor and she's a very good person, reliable. Oh, she don't bother nobody. She's a good tenant and she deserves to stay there and she got a dog and a cat. Who's going to give her apartment?

Thank you.

Next item. What kind of dog and cat?

Cats. I don't care about what kind of dog.

Oh Chihuahua.

All right. Next. Renee.

Renee is here.

Renee, just your name and address. Renee Ignatio, 15 Maline Drive. I'm going to speak on something that she kind of missed a little bit. I'm going to speak on the high school kids that tear up her lawn and yeah, kind of like destroyed some of her property. So, if you guys going to have a disabled vet that has PTSD or other issues and stuff like that, how are you going to control that if the

kids are just driving through her lawn?

Because I've actually seen it while I'm sitting in the traffic of Pucket Avenue um taking my high school kids home. I can see the kids just driving all over the lawn, going through the parking lots. Um, I know the bus goes through the street that it's not supposed to, stuff like that. I don't see how a veteran is going to even deal with that kind of stuff if that gets there and she

has to. Throwing her out of her home is just totally not the right thing. So, Renee, I want to ask you something because I I'm was surprised to hear this about I'm not aware and it doesn't mean it isn't there. Maybe Chrissy knows or maybe uh the solicitor. I didn't know that the we built and we have a parking lot for high school students across the street. Now I know some park there when

they're not supposed to. Right next and actually um I see that our um school committee vice chair is here. Thank you Tony. You and the chair have been working with us and coming to meetings.

We go to your meetings so we've been working together. If you don't have anything to add to this, then you don't have to get up. But I uh Is there a parking lot that you know of that is school sanctioned?

There is. Okay. If you if you go to the end of the um senior center back, there is actually a little street that goes right where her driveway is where it's a service road. Yeah. It's a dead end like Well, it goes it goes to Payet Street.

Okay. So, apparently one of our buses uses that, which is we're not supposed to. And then it's her house and then there's a parking lot, uh, gravel parking lot. Okay. The sign says student parking. So, if you look to her yard, you can see it in the student parking lot. I, you know, I'm in the high school and the parking lot's two or three times a day. I never realized we

had put that there. It's good. I didn't realize it either until Interesting.

Yeah. Yeah. And I see the kids, but um yeah, by all means, they should not be if they're using that, they should not be driving over anybody's the senior center lot, the the lot near that house. I And I believe it's happened. I've seen videos, so I know it's happening. I was just surprised to know that we had a student lot there. Yeah.

All right. Do you want to add anything else before we move on? I mean, like you said with the the housing crisis, you guys, well, not you guys, but like they're the old um nursing home on the trail. Yep. I'm listening. They're building that up for It's not even going to be affordable housing. And that was supposed to be affordable housing, too. So, the guy that's building it is now it's going to

be higher rents. That would have been perfect for that kind of thing. It's an old nursing home. with had everything, but I just wanted to bring the school part of it that by these students and I don't want that to happen to a vet either if they put somebody there and she Yeah, no one happened to no one. We have it up right.

Yeah, we have the video the picture current picture we're trying to locate.

Is it there?

Oh, no. All right. Okay. Next. No, we I believe it. It's there. If if the school committee said it's there and if the superintendent was involved and it's it's there. No, we take it. It's there.

So, next person. That's a fairly new video because it's the high school's right there. The new high school is there.

Yeah. But yeah, we're just still trying where because we're trying to figure out because there's a new high school. Are they coming in from here?

Yeah. Where? Okay. It's my little gray house. Yeah. Next door to it. They took that and they made it a gravel parking lot. So, yes, that is actually the gravel parking lot. That is actually the gravel park.

Yeah. No. Nope. They drive on my front lawn, my side lawn. They come around and they do donuts in that yard. The rocks hit my house. They crack the windshield to my rental vehicle, my backyard. My stuff has been it's okay. It's clarified.

Thank you, Councilman. Uh, next person, Nancy Hail.

No, no, you're you're next. Good time.

You You've been patient.

Just name and address, please. Nancy Hail, 889 Bulocks Point Avenue. Welcome.

And I'm going to speak on the right of way at the intersection of Terrace and Bulocks Point Avenue. Back in November, the council voted on an agreement between I think the mayor and the association to m some sort of maintenance agreement which hasn't really been clarified to me whether or not it's a contract or not.

Um I wouldn't say things have been going terribly well, but I do not want to get into details at this time.

Um there has been more attention from the city with a visit to the site which is good and um trying to streamline communication about issues in the area. But what I want to get to is solutions because this has been a three-year problem and the solutions are simple. So I see Dan Borges is in the room. So that's why I thought well I'll just throw my ideas out so everybody can hear them at once.

Um there's been issues with bulletin board things go flying off the bulletin board and that's because of wind. Um if we get strong wind from the north just the way the bulletin board is sit it could be situated any which way the wind changes. So I think the best solution to that is to have an enclosed glass board like they built uh for the library which is behind the bulletin board. That's to

me a no-brainer, but that has not been done even though I suggested it years ago. There's an electric box there which um a couple of years ago somebody planted some beach grass which was nice.

Well it was green and um small, but it grew and grew and grew. And it got to the point where last year when we were having a record-breaking record-breaking drought and fires throughout Rhode Island and Massachusetts that beach grass was so tall and it was blowing over to touch the very old also dehydrated fence, which attaches to a whole bunch of fences that go down the middle of the

neighborhood. And almost everyone has a shed. the closes are very very um very close to each other. So, you know, um so we discussed painting uh painting the box with the money from ARPA that Anna appropriated for um whatever painting utility boxes instead of trying to cover it up with with beach grass.

Um, so that's a question and um, Nancy, that bulletin board you talk about, unless something is there new, that wasn't that was put up by the residents.

It it was terrace associations. It's not a city thing. No, no, no. It um, it was talking about the white board says Naragans Terrace. Yeah, it says Naragansic Terrace. It was put off. It put up probably by the residents at least decades ago or or you know after World War II. Um don't make me do the math cuz I just can't do that. No, I was there when it was put up. It was

correct. It was it was it was I know that here is white but So the point is this current association and I don't know if they had an assoc private neighborhood association. Do you want to know what? The association doesn't necessarily own it. I'm not sure. The people right now, they did not put it up and they don't maintain it. So, ownership is up in the air as far as I'm

concerned. I'm not trying to own it, that's for sure. Um, I just don't want the papers and the trash and um it's not I mean that's just trash. You can see it and pick it up, but it's the thumbtacks that get embedded in into the dirt.

rusty. Kids can step on them. Dogs can step on them. There's also broken glass and other debris that has blown in over many decades from the park. There's toys. There's plastic stuff, but I I've been cleaning it up bit by bit. Anyway, paint the um that's a bulletin board issue. It's easy to fix with a glass enc casement. That's just simple. Or fix down there. It wouldn't be an issue.

What did you say? You have to approach the residents.

the terrace association is where you need well this is city property actually I have approached them I'm telling you and I've given them all these ideas all right continue I have approached them many times you can look into putting like plexiglass in front so it doesn't blow off or glass whatever is best I don't you I'm not the engineer but it's plexiglass could shatter they have glass on the

back but you're right I mean I'm like I said that I don't want to make the decisions but it's not a difficult problem to solve.

Um, the grass is growing fine. There was nobody trying to kill the grass in the neighborhood.

Nobody. There's been letters going around to the contrary and pictures of of a very bad rare moment.

So, um, the pilings are also loaded with nails and screws and rusty things and whatever sort of attachments people have tried to put on the pilings over decades. This is nobody's fault. It's not the fault of the NT or the city, but they do come out come out every now and then. And um, it's easy also to clean up. You pull the rusty stuff out. We could clean up the line there with some

baking soda, make it look a little whiter and, you know, paint or teak the um I would use teak on the pilings to protect them. You've got about 1 minute, please. Thanks. And that's how long it takes to fix these problems. Great. Not long at all. Um the electrical box could be painted. We have an artist in the neighborhood and I even you could put a little light at the top because there's

electric and it could be a lighthouse. I think we put in a portrait of Bob Rodri's on that one. Welcome to the jetty. Well, there's seven pilings. We could put the five council members and a mayor. We could make little um pictures.

But the point is the problems that have been happening are very easy to resolve and it shouldn't have taken three years and all sorts of letters to all sorts of people. No, we we we kid you. But we're we're serious about it. We understand what you're saying, but most of that remember I lived there at one point.

I've been kicked out of the terrace, so I'm no longer there. But congratulations. It's a terrace association and we'll talk with them.

No, but the terrace association does not own the land. It's they don't own the land, but they own the sign and all this. Why did they buy it? I just want to I the council did approve an agreement. There was an amazing agreement with the terrorist association that lays out everyone's responsibilities. I met with Miss Hail a couple weeks ago. She was very lovely and gracious and we spent about an hour

out there going over some of these concerns. I have relate some of these concerns to Mr. Borgis who we intend to talk with the terrorist the association.

Um but we haven't got there yet because it's a little bit busy doing other things. But I'm well aware Miss Hail has been very gracious to spend some time with me down there and we have spent time with it. She may not always like our answers and I understand that. No, that's not the that's not the case. the case is I have a concern about this agreement which if it's a contract or

not it's it it is it's not in cons it's not consistent with city ordinance. It's a maintenance agreement that the council entered into and we can go through that.

I'll be happy to give you a a copy and and I think you have a copy. I that's not the point. The point is if push comes to shove and there's an issue what will win probably city ordinance not an agreement which is not even a contract.

So that's the question. We we have a lawyer's office. If someone wants to challenge it, they they they can. Well, it's just a question. It doesn't need to be a super Well, he just answered your question. I haven't had an answer yet.

It's it's a it's an agreement. I believe the the I believe the agreement is valid. Next up, please.

Go ahead, council members. Oh, I'm sorry. There was no one else on uh Mr. Dempsey, if you can wrap it up in a minute or less, please, because we I think we know where we're going. We're going we're going to meet on this.

Um I guess that I should say that my treatment by um some of the DPW old folks, Ed Catelli, he was dead set on it being a veteran from day one.

When I had a maintenance issue, he came into my house, he embarrassed me in front of the electrical people there.

I'm just saying. All right. Well, for anyone who's not here to defend themselves, I'd rather you not mention.

All right. And and others, there are others. Sure. I won't. It's suffices to say, you're not happy with Andrea. They said that Andrea was helping me. Um Andrea at first, um when this first all happened, um I reached out to her. I called her again. No one ever ever ever called me back. The only person I've ever spoke to in this office until recently was David Backrack. Andrea sent me a list of East Providence Housing

Authorities link. She sent me a list with uh Rhode Island Weight List Housing Authority and food stamps. That's what I got the first time. I emailed her back repeatedly and today at 12:04 she sent me an email. I refuse to open it.

Um it's it's now because I brought it to TV news and before the council that anybody's reached out to me or has addressed any of my concerns. I talked to Patricia Rzendis the other day on the phone and because of my traumatic brain injury and all of the other disabilities that I have. I have a hard time remembering when somebody says something that I need to say. So, I kind of

interrupted her and I'm like, "But wait a minute. Can I say something?" She said, "No." I said, "But wait a minute.

I have a disability. I just need to say." She said, "Well, how do you know I don't have a disability? This is the mentality of how I'm being treated and why I think they're trying to get me out. I'm not done." Okay. So, Mr.

Solicitor, can you set up uh We'll set up We'll set up another meeting. I I just want to make it very clear. I don't want to meet with them. Well, see, this is an issue. Well, if you don't want to meet with them, then get nasty to me. He said to me tonight, then we'll just be when when they have the meeting, I will be there. Okay. Or I'll ask one of the

council members to be there and we'll make sure no one is attend both ways. You know, absolutely.

I have no way to let Let him finish.

There is no intention to put Miss uh Dempsey on the street on May 31st. From the very beginning in March, I told her we would give her additional time to find another replacement housing. We offered resources from the city to help her. So, we're hopefully in that process, but again, leases do end. They don't go on forever. That's right. I'm wrapping it up. It's my turn to speak. I spoke to East Providence Housing

Authority. I have a housing choice voucher and from the mouth of Rose, the director at the housing authority, anybody who holds a housing choice voucher cannot find an apartment in the city of East Providence because none of the houses accommodate those vouchers. I got a voucher for 1580, can't find an apartment for 1580. Yes, granted they pay 70% of my rent and I pay 30%. It doesn't matter how much I pay, but I

still live on 1356 a month. I still can't move. I don't have a security deposit. Um, and I don't understand why.

Okay, I have here the day that I got, um, my house and the keys handed to me, uh, Kaheen Todd, the director of veteran affairs for the state of Simarn is the one who handed me the keys. I have a phone call into him. Why is it that my mayor is displacing me, his constituent, his resident, when there is people like this man who can help this veteran? Why

does Bob Dilva have to be this? Okay, we we we get your Yeah. concern. So, at this point, uh you'll hear from the solicitor's office. Will the mayor be there? I would assume so. I'll ask him to be there, but you you you know, the courtesy has to go both ways. He's never talked to me in all five years that I've been at the house. Do you want him there

or not? I would like him to be there.

Okay. So, we will try. Excuse me. Yes.

Council, how much should you say your voucher was for a month that you got one? My my voucher for a one-bedroom apartment is $1,580 a month. So, anybody who holds a onebedroom voucher, there is not an apartment in the city of East Providence that is available to anybody who holds a voucher for that amount of money. And with I I say I came back here in 2018 for a funeral in June and 6 months later

I moved back here. And and I did that because I came to Riverside East Providence and I didn't feel alone after my mother passed away. And after I escaped my my lifestyle that I lived in and I felt like East Providence put their arms around me. My townies were there for me. If they don't see me on Facebook, they come by, they check on me. I can't not live in East Providence.

I looked in East Greenwich. I'd be lost and alone and I would spiral out of control. I'd be right back to wanting to jump off a bridge. Yeah. Well, we I 1500 plus what you can can contribute. No, 1580 is the allowable amount of rent.

So, if the apartment is 1580, I pay 30% of my income and housing authority will pay the other 70%. That's just the premise that you rented it on, too. So, even if President Trump takes away housing or reduces it, I can still afford to live in that home because it was rented as $900 a month or 30% of your income. I could still do that and I wouldn't be homeless. And I think it

would be easier to find a homeless debt and make it a transitional house when it's somebody's permanent house. It just seems mean, cruel, inhumane. It it it's it's not right. Right. This this will be continued. Thank you. And thank your neighbors. Can I just make one last?

Yes. No veteran organization, Julie, approached this city asking them to remove you. So, this is like I said, I just found out when you sent the letter.

So, we do have a need. There has been many conversations about the need for veteran housing to transitional part. I just want to be clear, nobody's saying put you out as a veteran cuz that's not how veterans. That's what Mayor Bobby Silva and he say. They may have said there's a need for housing, but in your situation so they could rent. Thank you.

We will continue this. That's a lot.

Thank you for coming out. Will I be on the next council meeting? No, we we you we will be having a personal meeting.

Okay. This won't be conducted in public.

The official votes will be in public, but we're going to sit down with all the parties involved. You and person of your designation if you feel you need representation. I don't know who I would do. Yeah. one of us, Councilman Lawson, is off it or I will be there and no one will everyone will be treated with courtesy, both sides of the table and we'll get final answers. And and and and

to add in closing, I know you you've given me more than enough time, the lifestyle that I had before I came back to East Providence, the security that I have in my home, knowing that tomorrow they're not going to say, "You got 30 days notice to get out." I need that stability in my life. It's just something that I think anybody would want. As I said earlier, there is no easy

no good look to this whole story. Thank you for coming out and thank your neighbors for coming out. Thank uh Mr.

Solicitor for giving us your information. And next item, please.

Council members, update on East Providence Restaurant Week, June 15 through the 21st, 2025. Council Vice President Rigo, thank you.

Okay. Six. Go ahead. Sorry. Thank you, Madame Clerk. Mr. President, um, just an update. As you can see up here, it's our second annual restaurant week coming up. We had a great meeting the other day. just Councilman Lawson and myself along with uh Jeff Pimemental who handled a lot of the back of the house getting mocking activities and I'd also like to thank our clerk for getting involved and wrapping our arms around

this as this, you know, this is her first time just getting hired in November. We've again trying to stay consistent having it like the same time frame as last year. Uh if you're if you're a restaurant and you were already uh involved last year, all you got to do is click it. I'm I'm speaking off the cuff. Just click that. You're going to be back on it. Uh, we've added some new

wrinkles to it where we're trying to get the restaurants to have more features. Last year again was a trial run and I know there were a lot of Monday morning quarterbacks out there as we all know saying do this, do that, but we brought, you know, everybody who participated in there was very happy from all the results we got in. So, we're just asking to take it further. Uh, if some restaurants did

have them, they had a set cost meal, you know, couple of, uh, menus for the week.

If not, offer specials. Uh, the gift gift certificate program was a hit. Uh, we're going to continue more with the lawn signs and increase those. Uh, so that's just a little outline of things.

Councilman Lawson, if you want to add to it. I just want to say we're at the point um where we are reaching out. The restaurants can now start signing up.

The link east providencefood.com is active. Um I talked with Laura Mcman McNamera Blackstone Valley Tourism is going to help us promote and um it's just uh let's get the word out. Um Andy, we talked with Jeff. I'd like to hand deliver invitations to the restaurants in uh Riverside. So, uh I think he said he's going to work on a flyer or he'll contact you about working on a flyer.

And um I just think it's a nice touch to personally hand them out. But if they want to go online now, they can absolutely do that. They're available.

Eastbrowsfood.com. and if they were registered last year that they're registered. So if they click the link to sign up, it will just say if you're registered already from last year to just email the city clerk to let her know that you're doing it again this year. So it's really simple and I I want to commend um you know both of you, Councilwoman Souza, Councilman Fogerty working on this issue. I have

talked with different restaurant owners who say this helps and that they're actually doing pretty good right now and this will help keeping it absolutely going further. People with the bridge they're either staying in the city and dining out more or getting takeout and we're get they are seeing East Bay people coming Barington War and Bristol who maybe don't want to go into Providence or places west. Um, so little

things like this, um, not that it's a little thing, but, uh, all helps and it's it's working. Um, not saying just because of this, but this is one of the pieces of the puzzle. A lot of the restaurants are doing doing pretty well.

Yep. And that's that's a good thing.

Absolutely. Thank you. Next item.

Request for update from the administration on dem sign off on the gazebo at Willlet Pond. Councilman Lawson. So, my my items are all just requests for updates of all the projects going on in Riverside and um and then I have a request in here as well.

Um so, I'll let the administration do the updates, but the formal request I'm asking for tonight and I'll follow it up with an email is the softball field at the Big Al complex. Um it was pointed out I noticed I drive by it every day. I could use some bleaches if I don't know if you know the simple metal ones. Um just a request for now. You don't have to. And um the other request is Crescent

Park to get some benches in front of the mural because you got a gorgeous sunset.

At first I said anorand chairs would be cool. Then people start saying Rick those are hard to get out man. I'm getting out. I'm getting older. it's hard for me to get out of them. So, um, if we could look into, and I know it's busy season now, but I just wanted to put it out there, you know, if we could look at adding some seating in front of the mural overlooking the river. And um,

if we can get some uh, bleacher type seats, doesn't have to be a lot for the girls softball field. And with that, I will let the awesome Mr. Borges take over. Evening. Good evening, everyone. I buddy lost my voice in the last day, so uh bear with me. But um as it relates to Willlet Pond, we did receive uh final comments from DEM. We should be submitting those to them by the end of

this week. Awesome. Hopefully have that parking lot paved within the next month.

Um bearing that they don't take too long to review the final comments, which were pretty minor. Um so that that should be happening. And is that include the gazebo? That project? The gazebo is part of that. Okay. permit. Awesome. Yep. So then u moving on to the next item. Um with regards to the bleachers at um the softball field, we certainly have a few sets at uh Riverside Riverside Wreck or

uh big big al complex that we could um move one of those over to the So you guys redid the fence the back stop fence and looks gorgeous. Uh just want to say that. Thank you. Yeah, they they did come out really really nice. Um, and then as it relates to the benches for Crescent Park, those are um on the plan, the benches that were ordered um several months back that that have been

assembled at DPW. Um, a few of those are slated to go at Crescent Park. Okay, those will go there. Thank you.

Um, and then as it relates to the kayak, well, I don't know if uh, yeah, let the clerk uh, sorry, request for update from administration on kayak launch being put back in timeline. Councilman Lawson, I'll just let you go with all these.

Yeah. So, we had a um, we obviously had the kayak launch and one of the welds broke off on the launch. Um, so we determined it'd be easier to pull the whole thing out, uh, make some repairs, and we're actually going to strengthen it, um, so that we can ultimately lift it up during winter months so it doesn't stay in the water. Awesome. We're targeting Memorial Day. Um, we're hoping

that we can get it done by then. We've had a few individuals um, give their give their notice with the city that we're working on this. Ah, okay. We're a little short-handed in the parks department, but hopefully have that.

Okay. soon.

Uh, Saving Point Playground.

Um, did we order that equipment yet? Is that Yep. So, the equip equipment's been ordered. Um, we do have a sewer line that needs to be relocated, right?

That's the Volkswagen settlement. Yep.

So, a portion of that money um portion of the Volkswagen money will go to replace that. Um, so we're currently working on getting um bids for that.

Okay. Rough timeline. I would hope by midsummer we'd have it completed. So, no playground until that's done first.

Yeah, the the line has to be relocated so that we can put down um the uh the rubber surface. Sounds good. Park. Okay.

Uh the next ones will be for the train.

Yeah. Number six, request for update from the administration on plan to store the train for this summer until the new concession storage building is complete.

Councilman Lawson, just a followup from the the last means we allocated capital funding to purchase a train for kids and families in the city. And I just want to hear the plan to get it done.

Um, good evening again, Councilman. So, at this point, um, just as I've I've recently said, but there's really no additional update other than the fact that, um, until it's purchased and have and we have like I'm sorry, I can't see you. until it's purchased and we have like a full plan to a place to store it.

There really there isn't an update because right now currently and Tracy can speak more to this on um where the funding is and where it stands now, but at this point there's really no update.

Uh any conversated for the train from the capital budget so we could purchase it right now. We just need to know where we're going to store it until Right. So the way the the administration didn't want to purchase the train until we have all of those plans in place logistically, where it's going to be, what its use is going to be, where it's going to be stored. So that's all in

process, right? But are you waiting for the concession building to be built? Is you looking at temporary storage? Is anybody meeting to discuss this? Yes, of course. We meet all the time on all of our capital projects. So all of our updates, all of our funding.

Has anybody discussed temporary storage of the train? Not not temporary storage at this time. No. Okay. Can I request that it be looked at in next meeting?

I'll bring it up again. Yes. You're you're you know, you're able to put Does Tracy have something to add to that or if not then you don't have to forward. Are you involved in the planning of this?

Just um insights I guess. All right.

Let's try that. Um, so first off, the tree, we thank you so very, very much.

Okay. However, it was allocated to recreation. So, it kind of changes the original plan and scope of how it was going to go. So, we need to meet with the administration as like I would assume Tracy Carousel, Division of Recreation, meet with the administration. We've got to discuss staffing.

um operations, insurance, everything like that. Mhm. And in those conversations, sure, we could um look into some temporary storage, but I'm just curious, are we looking for temporary storage? Um just so I know what to be discussing, a place to put it until it can be stored at the carousel.

Absolutely. Or are you looking for a place to put it so it can be used in that time frame? No, no, no, no, no.

That's two different things. We are looking for storage at the carousel so it can be utilized this summer for children and families.

And we know the building, that's my next update, the update. If the building's going to get built this year, which I'm not hearing that, that's one thing. But if it's not, can we find a temporary storage for the train so we could utilize it this summer?

Um, I'm I'm going to be cheeky and you have to forgive me because I'm under the weather. I think we'd be putting the cart before the horse if we go ahead and order it without a plan. Well, that's what I've been asking for a plan. No, I I totally understand that and I have no problem meeting and talking and discussing the plan. I think um due to it being an electric train, storage on the carousel grounds

on a regular basis will be difficult. Um both being able to charge it, the security, how we protect it from just disappearing. Um because really the only type of unit you could get unless somebody has another idea, but would be like one of those trailers like um like a storage pod. We have one at the senior center. Um, and you could maybe drive it in, but there would be no way to then

charge the train. But I really stress having a plan and an idea on how the staff works um before we go ahead and order. I can tell you it will take about 12 to 18 weeks to even um get a train in production unless we go for used, which I've been looking all over and getting updates on um different amusements that we could potentially purchase a train from. So, we're working

on it, but there's still a lot of leg work to be done before we just order a train. Okay. So, I'll put it on the next agenda so you guys can meet and we can keep updating you as things come up because it's midappril now. We want we want the summer to be nice for the kids.

Trust me, I I know we're um midstream of trying to get open. Um so things will be a little bit slow on the extras. Um but I have requested a meeting. So hopefully we can work out some detail. I I think that director Borges is a certified engineer. So he's about the only person that could drive this thing right now.

So we'll we'll have to talk. Oh qualify.

Um rides require um specialty training, right? Um and an hour um you have to commit to several hours worth of training. Does Councilman Rigo wants this in Rumford once in a while?

freedom green and those those are all the things we have to ride because as much as I love my job I don't really have very many more hours to give you um so we have to have a plan Yep and that's what we're asking for thank you Tracy do you have the update for the concession storage building or does Patricia or are you okay I'm fine with you and I know that your mine um it

absolutely is um the same because Since the last update was given, no information has come forward, but I would like to give you a little more detail just to show you that this project's not being ignored or back burnered. Um, I know sometimes we all ask for updates just to make sure that it's moving forward.

um through the paperwork that I have sent out, I'm sure that you're all aware that we have a $737,000 plus dollar shortfall for the lowest bid. So, the mayor has been very active with working with the lowest bidder to try to go through the project plan and determine what can be done inhouse by city people um to try to make this project more affordable.

I have not been sitting in on the building aspect because I don't know how to build a building. Um, but I have done some research and leg work myself.

Um, I know that, you know, my my nonprofit side of my involvement, yes, we desperately need the tent and the pad.

However, doing some research, the plants that have been presented have storm water runoff and drainage that actually goes below the tent pad. Mhm. As an overall project. So, could we potentially, cuz I know it was brought up, could we potentially pull out the tent pad, have city workers pour? That is a potential, but you would have to do all the site work first. So they can't show up next week and just pour the

concrete. I I I get that. But but we have money in this project to do that, right? There is, but you would then have to dig it up to do all of that storage um storm water stuff, and we don't want to do that. Um and the installation of the storm water drainage, that is something bigger than I think the city involvement would be.

um you would need to do all we could contrast this work. We can but right now you have to remember city policy right.

So whenever you do a project you have to go out to bid. We have done that process. So short of now scrapping those bids dividing this project up for each little piece and going out to bid again which is still an option. We are trying to work with the contractor that bid lowest. They do not have to work with us the way that they are. Um they put forth their proposal what they were willing to

do and for the dollar amounts. However, they're Riverside rooted. They love the carousel. They would like to be a part of the project. So they are willing to entertain what can be done inhouse and what can be done by them. um because some stuff needs to be handled by the contractor. So, I can tell you that they did have that meeting. We're just waiting for the contractor to get back to us. Hopefully, I can't make any

promises, but hopefully by the next meeting there might be more of an update for you. Um but just over $700,000 is an awful lot to be off on the project.

Well, it's like I said, it's midappril and I think the event tent could could be the first part. Listen, you know, we got the food and wine trying to raise money for the carousel. We're going to have to rent a tent for a couple thousand. Uh are we going to have Dune brothers back this summer with Cher?

We're just waiting uh to get the water turned on and Mother Nature's not playing nicely, but they're looking at um the first week of May to reopen. At least we can get that going.

Okay. Next, Councilman, I think you have some uh let's see that is the Crescent Park car parasel stuff request for update from the administration on the old ham feasibility study. Councilman Lawson.

Yeah. Just wondering if there's any update. The last meeting was what January and I was just wondering if there was any update from them.

on that meeting that I'm sorry councilman I was just I just want I haven't heard from the feasibility study in a while okay so I did get an update from uh planning so regarding old let's say the consultants for the feasibility study are working on the operating model phase of the study which is the next step uh so this includes the best combination of user groups bases for the site it also includes facil excuse me

facility design including the floor plans plans. Uh the site design uh as I had mentioned during our previous council meeting, we plan to have another spring meeting. I know you wanted it in the building, but they determined it would not be safe to do that, but we do have an um we will have an input stakeholder meeting, a second one in the spring/ early summer. Um and that will be a public meeting again. Uh the state

is also going to include a financial analysis evaluating the cost to build, operate, and obviously u to operate and finance the facility. So, a lot of that will be included in that. So, we're pushing away, plugging away. They give you a timeline of when they'll be done because it's coming up. Uh, next month's a year, right?

I'll have to go back and check. But, um, in terms of like when the study will be, they gave us a timeline and I think we're nearing the end that, right? And I and I can give you that next step. So, um, after the operating model, which is the this next process in the feasibility study, the next step is going to be the feasibility assessment. That's their next step. We're following all of their

steps through the consultant. Um and then that's where the final recommendations will be made. And how long is it going to take that? I can go back and and confirm with um consultant, but the next step is definitely that um end of spring early summer meeting that would involve it would be a public meeting as we did at uh at Fuller and we would make the council aware of that.

And what's that meeting for? This is the stakeholder meeting that will talk about uh floor plans, site design. Okay. Okay.

So, so there'll be a plan to show people and say this is okay.

Okay. All right. My last one. I've been getting calls and people the sewer plant in Riverside. I I know. Did we finish that project capping it and all that? Is Barington properly treating? Are we flushing that line so nothing s I I'm just asking questions that I'm hearing from people. Um, is that project officially closed out the capping and all that at the sewer plant? I'm going

to pull I'm going to have Dian speak to that, but um I don't know if I'm allowed to do this through Robert's rules. You had requested councilman. See, this is where it kind of changes. So, you had requested an update on the splash pad in this list in an email, I believe, and now but it's not here, so I can't speak to it, right? Okay. Sorry. I can give that to you separately.

Yeah. So, just to give you a little bit of an update on the treatment plant. So, there there were technically two projects going on. The the capping, which you're familiar with, as well as the uh concrete lining project that's currently still under um still under construction. The primary tanks have been covered. The odor control system is up and running. However, due to the um

the concrete coating project or concrete lining project, there are doors to the headworks facility which has the most odor um that have to remain open due to um the way that we're bypassing flow into the plant. Um so hopefully at the completion of that project, we should see a significant decrease in in the odor. Okay. Um so that contract should be completed ideally by late spring, early summer.

Okay. Are you the liaison with the city for Naraganset Bay Commission with the plant on Campbell Avenue? I do have contacts with um their operation staff.

Right. I don't know if you were here, but I know myself and the council president has received quite a few phone calls lately that the odor there is getting back to not a comfortable level if you live there. And that's even before summer when people start opening up windows. I think you were away at the meeting. I brought it up. Uh so if you can help us there to find out what's going on on

their plan, it would be appreciated here. I do believe that they are also undergoing some uh repairs at that treatment facility. Um but I can certainly reach out to my contacts and just notify them that we've been receiving complaints.

And before before you leave, uh there was another item earlier on the agenda from a couple. They had to leave. Um if you can get back to me in the next couple of days or I do have a the Anthony Street parking thing. Yeah. I'm not sure exactly what the um yeah, I'm not sure was. I um I did review that before this meeting. Um and I did notice that the portion of Anthony Street where

this resident lives um does have designated no parking on one side of the road. um if they are looking to according to them it was like a recent thing. It hadn't been there for years and then all of a sudden they're getting cars towed and tickets and No, my understanding it's always been that way if you I actually I'm just quoting them.

Yeah, I actually looked at the aerial map um of that area and the road does significantly narrow um which wouldn't accommodate cars parked on both sides of the street. you wouldn't be able to pass. Um so I I that could be I am not aware of any changes happening there at least as of recent. Um when we had the uh resident parking sticker issue but maybe because but this isn't on the end where the myrtle is.

This is the other side. This is the city hall end. This is the end closest to uh Ta Avenue. Sorry. Yeah. All right. Well, I just and they were reasonable. I said we'd get back to them and see what Yeah.

I mean, unfortunately, I think that the way that it currently is um set up now with one side of the road designated no parking needs to remain um because if you did park two vehicles there, it would leave you, I believe, six feet and typical car pickup is difficult. Uh so there there's really nothing that we can do in that portion of Anthony Street because because of the narrows so much.

Okay, very good. Thank you, sir.

And if I could um please take a moment to update some veteran stuff. Yes. I forgot to put it on the agenda.

Um April 24th, we're having a benefit uh veterans benefit. DAV will be on hand to assist veterans with um applying for benefits. I'll be there to answer questions people may have. Um it's just a drop in event. There's no like formal program. There's no formal speaking um but you all are more than welcome pop in 9 to 2 p.m. at the East Proidence Senior Center at um August April 24th. Um and I

just want to shout out I'm wearing purple today. Sorry for the casualness.

It's all I own. Today is uh purple up for the military child. Um, as we know the families when they have their loved ones deployed, you know, there's a lot of anxiety, a lot of worry, especially with kids not seeing their parent. And this is just giving a shout out to those kids and their families. And they keep the home fires burning and, you know, they give the soldiers, airmen, and

sailors reason for doing what they do.

So, just wanted to give them a shout out publicly. Uh, thanks Tori Tori Jessup.

She's awesome. um with the blue star moms and she kind of pointed this out as well. So um April 24th and um May 31st will be the Elks as Expo.

And that's it for the veterans for now.

Thank you, sir. Keeping on top of that. Next item. Do business mayor communication.

Hey, do you have anything you want to read, Patricia, or do you want us to just accept it or totally up to you? I'm actually going to defer I'm going to do something strange. I'm going to defer to the council. Oh, the council uh vice president Rigo. Um there are a few on here. I didn't know if you wanted to read our national autism awareness month. I know that's Yeah, I was going

to suggest I see you behind the lily, but maybe just read the read the headings of the others and then the autism awareness. We should do a little more in depth if Councilman uh Patricia, why don't you read the headings? Sure. Of everything. So, there's a lot going on this month. We have National Walking Day. Uh we have National Library Week and Library Workers Day. We also have the 2025 Small

Business Week, which um is a nice segue with your East Providence uh restaurant week. And then we have our Arbor Day celebration. I um Mike, I think I can I'm not sure if under Arbor Day I can mention there our Arbor Day event that Okay. Okay. So, uh we have the Rhode Island Trees Arbor Day event is Friday, April 25th at 11:00 a.m. at uh PCD. Um there's that one. We also have uh an

event on May 5th at 6:30, which is in regards to the library, the Weaver Tree Library, excuse me, the Weaver Library.

Um, and this is, let's see, this is Oh, this is to honor our weaver beach tree. And then, um, the council will be invited as well. We have our Hennessy school Earth Day event on, uh, April 22nd at 9:30 a.m., but I'll be sending this, but I just wanted to make the c the council as well as the public aware of that. Um, and that's it for proclamations. If I could just the will the council president

council vice president if you would like to honor us with the description of autism awareness day or if you prefer the director to read it either way. I uh first want to say uh thank you to the administration for making everybody aware of this. I know the council has done it in the past and it's thankful to the administration this year for making it a citywide situation.

Um there's many of us who affected by this. Uh and I would say thank you.

Uh it's an ongoing it's a daily battle. you keep your fingers crossed every day that your loved one and in my case my daughter uh lives and it's

well one thing we know your daughter is fortunate to have parents like both of you who have not only supported her but the entire community, autism community, and and we on the council want to join with you in in that. And we will continue to offer these proclamations whenever possible and have somebody else read it. So for me, I believe it should be autism every day, year round.

I've spent a decade of my life working with the families and kids with developmental disabilities and such and I've I I can't tell you how many tears and hugs and you know it it was the most humbling rewarding experience of my life. All right. So, a proclamation from the si for the city of East Providence by Mayor Roberto Dilva 2025 National Autism Awareness Month. Where is the autis autism spectrum disorder is a

neurological disorder that affects how people interact with others, communicate, learn, and behave. Whereas ASD is commonly diagnosed in toddlers and children. However, ASD can be diagnosed at any age and whereas doctors continue to study the manifestation of ASD in the lives of adults who were not diagnosed as children and how that presents differently for them. Whereas a diagnosis of ASD now includes several

disorders that used to be diagnosed separately which include autistic disorder, pervasive dis developmental disorder not otherwise specified and asberers.

ASD affects one in 36 children in the United States, a staggering increase from 1980 when the disorder was found in only one to four out of every 10,000 individuals. ASD is reported to occur in all racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups. ASD is four times more diagnosed in men than women due to many signs and symptoms of ASD presenting differently in women compared to men. Uh diagnosis

usually occurs during childhood.

However, some people are not diagnosed until they are adolescence or adults, which means that people with ASD might not get the early help they need. Early intervention services, very important, help children learn important developmental skills using different therapies to help the child talk, walk, interact with others, communicate, and control behaviors including physical aggression and self-injurous behavior.

East Providence strives to promote autism awareness, acceptance, inclusion, self-determination for all and ensure that each person with ASD is provided an opportunity to achieve the highest possible quality of life. And whereas everybody in these provinces is encouraged to learn about the lives of those on the autism spectrum and continue to raise awareness and acceptance for children and adults who

are on the autism spectrum. Therefore, we uh Roberto Dilva declaims on behalf of the city uh 2020 April 2025 autism awareness month. Thank you. And I I might add that East Providence has a couple of good facilities to work with um autism. I I also was on the part-time staff at Bradley Hospital for about six years in the autistic unit and there are children to adults that are being serviced and I

just hope that the federal government continues to send funding for this research which is direly needed at places like Bradley and others and our school department education and the school department they do an amazing job with these kids and exactly that's why we fund them as much as we can. I just want to thank everybody again. Uh you talk about going out in the community. We got a video my daughter now is able to

volunteer at I know they just changed their name but the like the big food bank up on Roger Williams Avenue. She's there. It was nice to see we share.

Yeah. What? Yeah. That Yeah. They changed, but I think they I uh Yeah. And it was it was amazing this morning to see the video of her actually doing things. And the one thing that I asked for the city is we're in a transformation stage, you know, a year ago with a new fire chief and now we're going to be going through a change with the police department. and the former heads of those department

actively got involved with the Autism Society of Rhode Island who does training for the men and women first responders because when they when they get there it's a whole different world.

They're not just dealing with a person, you're dealing with a person who could be in shock and everything.

And there's situations where one of them could have just shoplifted and it's a it's a common issue with them and they're not doing they're not doing it maliciously. Uh so I ask that the administration which does a lot does good things is that they in not enforce but tell the new heads of these departments to call to call and to get the training and to have their officers men and women to

know what's going on because it's a different you know it's a different situation out there and they get a little bit of it at themies, but to get the training from the autism society, it's free of charge for the city. I just asked that they do that.

Thank you. Thank you. Anything else?

Yes, I'm sorry, Council President. We had skipped and gone through the proclamations. I just wanted to uh read into record and again alert the council.

I know we did this in the form of um of a letter, but uh to the appointment of East Providence Police Deputy uh Chief Michael Reposa as well as the appointment of East Providence Police acting deputy chief Andy Bonoy. Did you guys name a new chief yet? We have not.

Those are the two acting, right?

We have not. We would we would come the council would have received a letter if there was any kind of any kind of announcement of lot of good interior candidates. Hope to hear something soon. Thank you, Councilman. Thank you, director. Next, please. Report of school committee liaison.

If you hadn't seen Newsies, you missed out. Those kids kicked some bottom. Um, it it was it's amazing. That auditorium, it was just perfect, perfect, perfect.

and th those kids. I can't Marian Lassauer um the director. Um if you hadn't seen it, there was a guest appearance by Principal Black playing Teddy Roosevelt. And um I I just can't say enough about the teachers that put these together. The the kids, their enthusiasm. If you didn't know, the set design was built by the Voke kids, the kids in construction technology. It's just a beautiful

synergy of you got your vocational with the teachers working with the students on musical dance and coordination. Um, not every student plays sports, not every student, you know, every student has different things in life. and the fact that we have a high school that can entertain. If you want to be an athlete, we got beautiful sports facilities. If you want to get into the trades, we got

an amazing voke school, academics, um the arts, you know, I just can't say enough how much love and respect I got for all the good work the school department's doing in that. Um, we got to keep up our part of making sure they got funding for the buildings and upgrades and maintenance. But, um, I just again, congrats to the newsies that the cast and crew was amazing. I I concur and I would like the residents of

the city to know, especially the newer residents we have, that this has been a a strong point. I mean, athletic teams win and lose, come and go through the years, but the the arts in the school um have been topshelf since that school opened in the 50s. And I remember going here I go again, right, dating myself, but as a junior high student watching my my cousins and others in plays in the high

school. So, this is like 67 on. I don't think I've missed many. the original ones with the music man all the way now to newsies. I mean this it's fantastic.

People that go for the first time have said it was professionallike. They thought they were at peac and it's no surprise to a lot of us who who have been aware of this for years and here here more more to them. More power to them. Thank you for that. Next item please. Resolutions for discussion and possible vote. Number one, resolution requesting the general assembly in NAT 2025H5420 and 2025s

0636 to increase allowable pupil passenger limit from 8 to 10 introduced by Councilwoman Souza. So I I'm making the motion to approve. This is a a financial thing. If we can get the general assembly to approve this, it will help with transportation cost for the school. So that's the impetus behind supporting this. So I'll make a motion to approve. Motion by Councilman Lawson.

Second. Second by Council Vice President Rigo. All in favor? I I. Any opposed?

You have it. Next number two, resolution in support of Senate Bill S57 and House Bill H5393 regarding the maintenance of sidewalks along state highways introduced by Council Vice President Rigo, Councilwoman Soua, Councilman Lawson.

This is just um a followup of support um state roads um sidewalks. We just kind of want to get Ry dot's attention and you know they're doing will it have now which is great but there's still a lot that needs to be done for duck and stuff. So make a motion to approve and defer to council vice president. Uh yeah I mean right here we get we get phone calls all the time and ultimately it

comes down to it when they start talking about the street ends up being well that's state road. Very rarely do we get calls about city sidewalks or anything like that. So this is a great bill that needs to be passed so that Pucket Avenue, Newport Avenue, Warren Avenue, etc. are maintained properly by the state and that seems to be where our biggest sidewalk issues are. Motion by councilman Lawson, seconded by council

vice president Rigo. All in favor? I.

Any opposed? The eyes have. Thank you.

Number three, resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract with wooded in current for upgrades to the city's supervisory control and data acquisition scatter system. So I I went through this um there's nothing ownorous. Um the only question I had was it's like a the server is a physical server instead of cloud-based. But everything else good. I'll make a motion to approve. And just for clarification,

the the amount is uh $441,000 which is funded by the water infrastructure account. Yep. And this continues to go through some of the archaic systems that we have including here and there a couple of wood pipes. So this is all good good stuff. Motion by Councilman Lawson. Was it second?

Seconded by council vice president Regal. All in favor? I I. Any opposed?

Motion. Motion to adjourn by council vice president Regal. Seconded by Councilman Lawson. All in favor? I I.

Any opposed? Meeting is adjourned. Thank you all.