6/24/25 EP City Council Meeting

Good evening and welcome to the June 24th, 2025 meeting of the East Providence City Council. Madame Clerk, could you please call the role of the council? Councilman Fogerty here.

Councilman Lawson here. Council Vice President Rio here. Council President Rodri here. Councilwoman Souza, let the record show that four members of the council are are present. Thank you.

Please rise for the pledge.

I aliance to the republic for it stands nationy and justice for all.

So, we will have to take a quick uh break for the executive session for matters of litigation. Madame clerk, if you want to read the general laws citation.

The city council of East Providence may meet in executive session pursuant to Rhode Island general laws 42-46-5 A2. Motion to move into executive session. Second. Motion by Vice President Rigo, seconded by Councilman Fogerty to move into executive session.

All in favor? I. Any opposed? The eyes have it. We anticipate this being very brief.

Hold

on. First we close. Can we first close reconvene the open session and then we will reconvene the meeting or entertain a motion.

A motion.

Second motion to seal the minutes.

Motion to seal the minutes. Second by Councilman Lawson. All in favor? I. I.

Any oppose? The eyes have it. Thank you.

We are going to move one item up on the agenda, page seven, the letter E, introduction of ordinances.

Number one. Madame clerk, could you read the heading?

an ordinance adopting the 2025 2035 East Proidence Comprehensive Plan. So, I'll make a motion to approve. And first of all, could we just have the solicitor after tonight? What would the process be? There'll be another This is This is first passage. Uh at your next meeting, which I believe is going to be July 8th, it'll be a official public hearing even though we've already had another public

hearing because this is an ordinance.

The law requires us to adopt a comprehensive plan by ordinance. So following our own procedures, there'll be a public hearing on the second passage. There is an amendment, however, that uh Keith has uh passed out, I think, um based upon the public hearing you did have about the concerns raised about Yeah, the KMG folks asked us then we added it and so it is in So the amend So the ordinance is as a as amended,

correct? It's in the current thing that's before them, correct? The plan Yeah, the current plan that's before you includes this amendment. So I just want to make that. Okay. All right. Motion to approve and I'll second. Motion by Councilman Lawson to approve, seconded by Councilman Fogerty. And without any further council comment for first passage, Frank, did you want me to speak? Oh, well, I just have Yes, sir.

two uh questions for the director.

Keith, just your name, title for the record. Uh Keith Bryan, director of planning and economic development.

Um my first question has to do with page 69 in regards to the education. Um, as we know, some of the work in this was a little bit behind and there's additional buildings going up. I would have liked to I just thought about this on the way over. I would have liked to have had the superintendent here to get their perspective on this. Um, are you saying that we will I'm looking at

this chart and you're seeing the enrollment continue to go down when there's population being built. I mean, the population of schools going down as we continue to build and we talked about at the last meeting with the consultants a lot of uh I would say you know houses to attract families. you know, we we said about, you know, different schematics. I would call them, you know, tiny houses, uh,

along that line. And we're we're all for that because I'm a big believer in true affordable housing, not some developer coming in here from Boston to build $10 million houses and he throws up one for 900,000 or 800,000. That's not affordable in my mind. So you are comfortable with these numbers saying that we will never need more school schools. Um what I've seen is that those projections

the trend is expected to continue. Um a lot of it is just because of the reduced um the the reduced average household size compared to decades ago. There's just a lot less people per each household. Um, and a lot of what's been built in the city caters more towards, you know, professionals, less less families, less single family houses just because the nature of the city and what's

left to build on. The city doesn't have much room for single family subdivisions compared to a lot of other more suburban communities. But you're also you're also finding that in my ward that is obviously heavy single family units and with the aging population I hate to see it I hate to say it but obviously we all know that we there's a certain time when we depart this world. So you're telling me that

those houses on my street neighborhood that are all with people 60 plus aren't going to turn around and be as the generations. I bought my house from an 80year-old gentleman and I had three kids. So, you're telling me that when I sell my house that a four bedroomedroom 2400 foot cape that I have, it's nobody's going to have kids coming to that house and nobody's going to have kids going to Catland Avenue and Drown

Parkway. Is that what you're telling me?

No. I mean, I can't say that on individual house level, but it's more the trend of decreasing school enrollment that we've seen. It may not continue forever, but that's that's what we've been seeing. across the state. And just just remember too when we have a public hearing coming up when more of this can come up for discussion, but um I just want to I just I really I mean we need to reach out to Superintendent Fen.

Yeah. And and get her here because and we're talking about building over 55 communities. We're all supporters of that and Yep. which wouldn't have kids.

No, but if I downsize, who's going to buy my 2400 foot house? It's going to be person who's going to buy a four bedroomedroom, two-b house with one person.

I mean, remember the other thing this is not law. I know it's not law, but I'm just saying it's projections. I know we can move four times, but I want to be proactive. I don't want to, you know, again, when we leave here, and I've been consistent. I call a strike from the first inning to the last inning. And I don't want to be the council that st I

want to be the council to say we got it right and that you don't have to keep on changing the comprehensive plan. We did something the last time we did it right with you know what we added to it. I'm just bringing out these questions because three years down the line some of us might not be here by our choice or by the voters's choices. At least we can

say that we tried to do the best. I mean this where where this is our footprint first and I'm just raising questions that I think need to be raised. No, I I I hear you. I'm saying there will be a public hearing for that. And as one who has worked with these projections for 30 years in the school department, I can tell you they're generally accurate. And that's from the school officials, from

the superintendent. Uh we we're a system of 6,200 students down from 10,500 and I you know we'll never get back. No, we'll never get back to that. But I I hear you and there there's a time. Yeah. I mean it all it's reciprocal. It's just like in my business something that wasn't happening 20 years ago now it's back in style again. It's going to you know it it runs in rotation. Are there going to

be families in Rumford that have seven and 10 kids and five five kids? But the projections are the projections, right?

He can't. No, I'm just I'm not I What I'm saying is I want to make you know with all the building that's going on, we can't say that everybody's buying these houses going to be one in one half people. I mean, we got to be realistic. And I'm just saying as a council, I want to try to get it as close to perfect. Even though that word's only in the dictionary, I just

want to make sure that we set set the foot down here so that a future council this LA this thing was overdue by, you know, 15 years. Don't want to see two councils from now or three councils saying, "What the heck did that council of 2022 do?" Okay, but just remember, we're not locking anything. I know we're not, but you know what? We set the parameters, right? I'd rather set it get

get it as close to perfect as possible.

Keep on going in. Remember, the clock's ticking on us. We're a year and a half left. So, that's my uh same thing with the police and same thing with the fire department. We haven't added a rescue since 1992. And you look at these numbers and it's stated in here. We're building all these things. It's we got to look. We got to have foresight. And th this is, as Rick says, this is our

northstar. And I want that northstar to be as good as possible. And again, you're the president of council. I'm the vice president. We're all there. I want people to look back on this council and said, you know what? We've done a good job so far. I want to continue to be the good job that we've done in here. We've corrected a lot of things prior prior.

So, I want to I want to be I want to be that council where they say, you know what, that 2022 council, you know, we're always going to have the Monday morning quarterbacks that we've messed up, but overall, we got a 90. Thank you. No. Well, well said. Any other council comments? Just one comment. Um, it is our northstar.

This is what guides us under natural resources.

What we heard, proactive municipal action to preserve and protect open spaces and natural areas is a high priority for residents. Many wanting an increase in green and open space. Uh concerned about the loss of natural areas, um open space, wildlife habitat.

Um they want the green space protected for public health reasons. So I point that out. So when the mayor brings them in to destroy Sakone Woods, I'm going to be using this has the reason why it shouldn't be destroyed. Okay? And I hope the planning board and the zoning board when they start hearing we want a zone change to develop those woods, they refer to this document which is our

Great work. And I'm glad that's in to protect our natural spaces.

Councilman. Yes. I just wanted to thank you for all your hard work.

The the language is there. They added what was deleted before. So, I think we're Yeah, I had that everything you guys wanted got put in the right track.

No, again, I want to thank him, too. But there's issues I have to point this stuff out because I I don't want five years from now saying that, oh, we got a we got a we got a, you know, boo boo here. It happens a lot. Uh we need to find more space for uh kids. We already know Myron Francis is Bulgian. Wington and Ward 4 is Bulgian. So I mean you got

two you got the book ends of the city that are Bulgian and and you know as I don't have to tell you any better than anybody. You start saying that word busting out of my district. You know what that's like Mr.

Chairman as a president as you you've been through that. And that's what I'm trying to avoid. I know I got an issues coming on in Ward one and he's got a major issue right now in Ward 4 with Wington and I'm just pointing these things out.

Agreed. Thank you. Any other comments?

Then all in favor of the motion we made the motion since we haven't voted yet. Nope. All in favor? I I Any opposed? The eyes have first passage. um four to zero. Thank you, Mr. Thank you very much. Okay, we'll look forward to the next step in this process, the public hearing.

Madame Clerk, we'll resume the regular agenda, proclamations and presentations, the acknowledgement of East Providence High School student athletes.

So, we I think some of us will will all comment here because the East Providence High School obviously the session is over for the summer. Um it's a little difficult to bring in students or faculty. Um, quite frankly, they're enjoying their summer start, but we did have a state championship team, the high school girls lacrosse, their second state championship in I think three years. Um, several of us were there at

Brown Stadium and it was an undefeated season and they will be having a banquet coming up in later in July. So, we will make presentations. is I will get the roster to the city clerk and we'll make uh presentations to the team and and the coach um for a great undefeated season.

We also had uh our East Proance High School softball coach named as the Rhode Island coach of the year for uh for uh district one or not not you know all of Rhode Island. trying to find the right the right word. D1, not district. D1, the D1 coach of the year. That's over all of the major high schools in in Rhode Island. Katie Celitro, uh, coach of the year and the softball team went

right up to the end of the playoffs and almost get in the final game. So, these are young residents, students, student athletes of East Proidence that we will honor. We have lacrosse team went undefeated. Yeah, that's I mentioned.

Yeah. Oh, I'm sorry. You listening? I just said that for about three minutes.

Zone for a second, buddy. Zoning out the heat. After all that, he said lacrosse was undefeated. Did you hear that?

Thank you. And council vice president.

Well, probably the most unbelievable thing that happened this se I mean this spring sports season was the running of I always get the brothers messed up but Jack Pollock I mean he won he's a sophomore he won the 20 100 uh finished second or third in a couple of races down in New England did well in the uh nationals last week. Uh this is a huge this is quite the huge feat to win those

events as only a sophomore and I just want to recognize Jack who you know family comes from uh my ward but uh that those feats are uh very you know are unbelievable especially uh not you know usually those races are dominated by juniors and seniors who are even more you know physically got a couple years on them and Jack's a young sophomore and there's only great things ahead for that

gentleman in the years to come at East Providence High School and definitely on to college. He might someday be the next Olympian coming from East Providence.

Yeah, he was the best best in the in the state. And we we talk about those lacrosse players. One of the players that crossed the 100 goal mark in her career was only a junior, Carolas.

She'll be back next year. Did anybody have to add any other proclamations at this time or we'll make sure that the citations get printed out and um I intend to go to that banquet and and deliver them and and why I went on the schools just um they had a great year successful year, great graduation, so much positive going on. Um just to those that think things are falling apart, I encourage you come have a conversation

with me. People take a walk through these schools and we got 12 buildings and a sports complex that these folks maintain. Things are good. There's things of course they're always going to have something that needs to be fixed, but the narrative some people are putting out there is just not true. So, I just wanted to publicly say thank you to the school department for all they do

for our students, the teachers. You guys are amazing. And um congrats on a great year and enjoy a couple months rest.

Oh, excuse me. To the chair. Yes, Councilman. Academics were awesome. I made a lot of sporting events for all the high school teams. Very proud of our city and our school department. Uh, that's what I have to add. Didn't make the lacrosse championship, but I made the other sport. So, very proud of our student athletes. Thank you.

Thank you all. Uh I will um without objection uh amend the agenda for one other item as a as a courtesy. Uh if you look at uh page six under the resolutions uh resolution um number three. Madame clerk, could you read that title? That would be on page seven number three.

Excuse me. Resolution authorizing the granting of an ement to install a handicap ramp at 888 Broadway. This is a um I'm sorry, this is something that came to us before the zoning board. The the uh the owner of 888 Broadway is a dental office. In order to make that uh office handicap accessible, they need to install a a ramp. Uh unfortunately the way the building is configured the only

way that they could uh do the ramp is uh to encroach upon city property which is about 11 in on the sidewalk basically in the public right away. Uh the zoning board granted the dimensional variance um which was really I think it was a setback variance contingent upon the city council granting an easement to allow them to install the ramp. So, this is really uh hopefully will be beneficial to the everyone who uses the

dental office and it will make it handicapped accessible, but unfortunately because of the way the building is built right on the line, um it it does encroach on it public right away. And so, um in speaking with their attorney, we thought the better way to do it is give them an easement on that public right away. So, it's a perpetual easement. Um and again, the zoning board uh granting of the dimensional variance

was contingent upon them getting this grant of an easement from the city. So I recommend I would recommend that it be motion to approve. I'll second. Motion to approve by Councilman Lawson, seconded by Councilman Fogerty. Any other discussion by the council? All in favor? I. Any opposed? The eyes have it.

All set. Thank you. You're welcome.

Thank you for coming.

And we'll revert back to the agenda.

Consent calendar for discussion and possible vote. Council journals regular meeting minutes June 3rd 2025 it's your pleasure motion to accept motion by councilman Lawson to accept there a second second second by council vice president we go all in favor I any opposed the eyes have that four to zero I'm an I forgot to say I but I'm an I you're an I four to zero Thanks. Next item. Letters new property address 190 Amaro

Street, Riverside, Rhode Island, map 505, block 01, parcel 003.0.

You you can hold off as listed. Yeah, you don't have to read them all. Um they're listed on the agenda. These are just new addresses, mailing addresses. Uh the council can see them all. There six addresses. So, any comments, questions on that? Is there a motion? Motion to uh accept the new letter addresses?

Motion to accept by council vice president Regal. Is there a second?

Second. Second. Councilman Lawson. All in favor? I. Any opposed? The eyes have it. Next item. Tax abatement, cancellation abatements and non-utilization.

18,47844.

Just just make make clear this uh this is not a non-utilization tax. This was the uh the Sbank settlement where we uh adjusted their assessment. This was not a non-utilization and all the other uh minor abatements were um just minor things that people had appealed and whatnot. So motion to uh I'll second that motion. Motion to approve by Councilman Lawson, seconded by Council Vice President Rigo. All in favor? I I

Any opposed? The eyes have zero. Thank you. Licenses for discussion and possible vote.

Is there a motion to bundle? These are non-public hearings to bundle.

Motion to bundle by Councilman Lawson.

Second. Seconded by Council Vice President Rigo. All in favor? I. Any opposed? The eyes have it. Motion to approve. Motion now to approve. Second.

Second by Councilman Lawson. uh by Councilman Fogerty. The motion was Councilman Lawson. All in favor? I I Any opposed? The eyes have it. Those licenses.

Thank you. Next item. Um there's a one on the the agenda for public hearing, but it's tabled until July 8th. So, we're going to pass that one. Okay.

That's make a motion to table item uh D.

Second. I mean uh you're right. D number one and that will be till July 8th, 2025.

The applicant is Timothy Cabraw.

All the motion is to table. Is there a second? Was there a second? Seconded by Councilman Fogerty. All in favor? I Iain.

Okay, one abstension. So the motion passes. Three approve, one abstension.

Councilman Rigo abstains.

Next item, communications. Nancy Hail, school zone speed camera and contract.

Welcome.

Thank you.

Just name and address.

889 Bulocks Point Avenue. Thank you. And I'm on communications for zone speed cameras. Mostly I have questions.

But before I get started, can I just spend a minute on good news? Sure. No geese. Seen no geese. I've been hunting twice. I figured Rick took just took care of it rather than trying to get the over rumpet.

Yeah, we sent them to Rumpit.

I thought they were going to Bristol for the Fourth of July parade to march.

Also, lots of good road work down in Riverside from the Department of Public Works, especially at the town pizza rotary, but a lot all over the place. Um, there's also a big stop sign. Uh, this one's gigantic to tell people that there's a stop sign, a head sign of twin stop signs, so they might stop and also go 25 miles an hour.

Thank Patricia for that. She's a resident of W four now and she's pointed that out.

Awesome.

So the thing is what I find it amazing is that people cannot just like drive sensibly. So that at this particular road we have a gigantic flashing sign.

We have twin uh d uh yellow diamonds that say stop sign ahead and twin stop signs all of which is basically expensive because people can't stop at a stop sign. It's incredible.

that is it's incredibly good what the city can do, but it's incredibly sad what the citizens can't do.

Also, just more good news. It's the 4th of July coming up and the Bristol 4th of July is um in progress with concerts.

And I just want to say that Rick Lawson, Kate, and the Mongrels opened.

They finally got on stage this year because they were rained out and whatever in prior years and um just the Bristol Fourth of July committee and volunteers do a great job of keeping that whole celebration going along safely and enjoyably. All volunteers, all money collected from donations.

And I just think we're lucky to have Patricia who has worked on some of those things in the past. He's got a lot of good experience.

Um, now to the school zone speed cameras. These are my questions. I've got three sections. One is what went into the decision to implement the school zone cameras in the first place.

The more importantly, what will go into the decision to hopefully not renew the contract? It's already been renewed. N renewed for when? About two three months ago. It was a 4 to1 vote to renew it for how many years? I think four. Three.

Three. So, what what went into the decisions? I voted no. Okay. But what what but all right, let's see. What I'm trying to get at is in the first place, were there a lot of accidents or injuries only at schools? Nope. You know, these questions you might have to direct to the police chief. Uh, no. No.

He I've tried that. I've tried that. I tried that. So, we're not going to relive the whole issue. You know, they No. No. This This was done a couple of councils ago. And that's why I'm asking the council to answer. Some of the council members weren't here at that time. So, who was here?

Uh we can look look the other person isn't here of that the 18 councils who put this into effect. Correct. But we're living with it and we can choose to not renew it. Well, we chose to renew it. Well, that I'm not talking about the past. So, this No, I'm talking about now. This council chose correcting this council what went into that decision?

What kind of facts and information went into the decision? It's not it's it's about people speeding in my opinion. You know, I'm not going to wait for an accident. It's it's about the tremendous amount of speeding. And as I said, we had public hearing. We talked about it.

I'm not going to relive it under communications here now. But I would just quickly tell you, you know, it's about, in my opinion, it's about speeding.

Is there someone else next?

Okay. Next item.

Council members statement on the old him project in opposition to the mayor's plan. Councilman Lawson. All right. So, I I'll be relatively brief now that my anger subsided.

We had talked about turning old ham into a community center incubator space.

Unbeknownst to us, the mayor behind the scenes was undermining this whole thing to turn it into a housing project. Um, I met two days before a public meeting.

Not once did he mention they already have a plan for a bunch of apartment buildings and 96 apartment units on that property.

So, I am loudly saying I completely oppose that. I will not support anything on that property other than the community center and the incubator space after being lied to. I talked to developer and the consultants that we paid 200 grand for and this whole thing was being driven as a housing project.

That is not what we signed up for. So, we've been misled by this administration on their intentions when we were supporting turning that property into a community center and a business incubator. So, I am just loudly saying I completely opposed the mayor's plan on that. So, I'll leave it there for tonight, but I'm very angry I was lied to. You were lied to. Every resident of the city was lied to. Yep. No, thank

you. And I I know there was a community meeting held recently at the Buller Library to go over that and it was pretty much the overwhelming feeling.

Community meeting town hall two weeks ago. Nobody wants it, right? Nobody.

Yeah, I think most of the plan did. I'm sorry. Yeah. Most of the plan is workable and some, but the housing is and I'm not falling for the line. We can't finance it without the housing.

That's And I am going to hold their feet to the fire to make sure this project is what it was intended to be.

Very good. Thank you. Next item. request to pay the invoice of $360 for the veterans expo. Councilman Lawson, so we had a expo um 66 veterans would be a were able to be served. The Elks are the ones who hosted it. Um because it was held at the school, they had to pay for the um janitor uh custodian on duty. So, I'm just asking if the council would be willing to utilize $360 from the

veterans fund of the city that, you know, people donate to on their tax bill um to cover the cost of that because it did benefit veterans, some of who were residents um one gentleman who is no longer in his house. We were able to ensure he's taken care of. So, I'm just asking for the council's approval to um pay the $360 bill.

Sure. I think I think that's more than appropriate. I I just don't think uh that's the solicitor. I mean, if we can vote on it, but do we even need to? We have a veterans affairs department. They have a budget.

They have some money. Can't they just I think if the bill is submitted, they can probably do it that way. They could probably do it. We can vote to affirm it. I just I just want your permission so I can call the procurement office tomorrow and ask them the invoice.

Hearing no objections, you have my permission. Everyone on the council on board. Sure. Just go ahead. Call them and the money's there. Thank you all.

Thank you all. Thank you for bringing that and thank you to the Elks for putting that on. It's the Simon director of Veterans Affair was on hand. Blueest Star Families Tori Jessup. So, um we were able to help some folks. Yeah, it's a great effort and it's building. Yep.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Yes.

Thank you. Number three is actually the same item for the $360. Okay. So, two and three are the same. Okay. Seven.

Yeah.

Number four, fiscal year 26 budget meeting dates and times. Council Vice President Rico, uh, it's that time getting close. So, I just wanted to, uh, get your advice and lay out the calendar. We have a new, you know, new clerk that took over at the end of the process, and I just wanted to go smoothly so that we don't have any bumps in the road. We have a uh it's on the

shelf for me to do. So, we have last year's calendar. It just needs to be updated. We'll get that to you. So, by the next July meeting. All right. I just wanted to plan plan ahead as you know, as you can tell, my anal northstar stuff and everything.

Get that to you. Thank you. Uh before you proceed, Madame Clerk, and thank you, Council Vice President Reg, I would acknowledge and thank the vice chair of these provident school committee, Mr. to Tony Deus for being in attendance as we continue this uh rapport between city council school committee one city right so thank you for being here uh next item madam clerk do we still want to talk about number

five that was for last week just let people know but last week we held restaurant week it was just a fun way for the council to just want to get some visibility to our local restaurants And um I'm interested in here to follow up um how things went and stuff. Um again, you know, we just have a lot of great eeries. We don't have a central downtown in East Brownings. We're we're kind of

spread out. So, we just wanted to let the folks in Rumpford know what we got going on in Riverside and vice versa and Kent Heights. You know, Pizza Mo is closed, so you guys need someplace new to go eat. So, we just want everybody to some movement.

also brings in some people from the region too. Yep. East and this was our second year. So, we're learning as we go and we'll keep going. And and just as a reminder uh before I go to the council VP, this was uh just a a simple effort. Not simple in that dictionary part of the word, but we we just want to acknowledge the entertainment in the city, the restaurants, the pubs, the places people

can go to. We weren't giving away fantastic prizes. We were just trying to get some people to come come in and utilize the the restaurants more and you know two years we'll do it a little differently a little more next year. So it was a success. We weren't giving away cars. We weren't giving away a you know a lot of the restaurants donated gift cards. Yeah. They had legums.

Councilman, you wanted to add? Yeah.

Yeah. Uh which you basically were the person and everybody. Thank I want to thank Rick a lot for stepping up with uh my business has been crazy over the last 120 days because of the word one word that says tariffs. So uh I spend more time playing accountant than uh being in sales and marketing. Well, what I wanted to what I wanted to and you people touched on it a

little bit diff a little bit each of you is we have some Monday morning quarterbacks out there and this isn't a traditional like restaurant week where we don't have 65 we don't have 65 white tablecloth restaurants or sit down in the city where they can go and start off you know have a set menu have this appetizer. You know, this is you're going to get here's four choices of entre, here's your

dessert. What what this started off as and it will continue. This started last year because of that word, the bridge and continues this way. So, we we have a unique things. Yeah. Do we have a couple of those type restaurants, but this isn't downtown Providence. It isn't down, you know, it isn't Main Street East. It's not Bristol that has a nice, you know, strip and as many of those type restaurants. It's not Newport.

So, call it restaurant week. We, you know, we could call it eatery week if we wanted to, but it's to recognize the hard work of these people and draw some people in. It's a good time. It's, you know, end of the summer that people have a lot of things going on with families.

You know, there's baseball playoffs, everything's going on, recital, graduations. It's the point. 0. So maybe some pizza place might have been offering buy one get one half price.

We don't, you know, we we, as I talk about and everything, we don't have to be a cookie cutter because they do it that way in Providence and Newport because it makes sense. But we're not that way. And I just want to put the Monday morning quarterback to rest.

We're here to recognize the hardworking people, no matter if it's a pizza place, a deli, I mean, or or a restaurant, uh, a sitdown restaurant. It's to show people and to come in in down in down in Ward 4, there's been three or four new restaurants from a year ago. And that's what it's about. It's to recognize their efforts and to say we're still fighting for them and recognize that it's still

difficult sometimes with the bridge things getting back to normal. But because it's because every restaurant didn't have a five course meal doesn't mean it's not successful.

and shame on anybody who wants to take hits at us for trying to help the small business people. Thank you.

Thank you. Next item.

Update on the net for the Met Golf Club course. Council Vice President Rio, I I know it's not my ward, but driving by there again for graduation, which is almost a month ago when we were going to Pass Memorial Stadium and a couple of times just driving by there for a business and everything. I just want to make sure that that golf course is living up to it. It doesn't take long to get nets. having

been involved in sports many aspects. I mean, did I hear they reangled the Did they reangle the hole? They have more progress going. Okay. Actually, um make sure. Yeah. No, we could hear from uh Patricia. She had sent something out on this if if you want to or just repeat it. But if they're still getting balls hit there, then we are going to force them. Just bring it. I I saw her email,

but I just bring it was already for the public.

Um, good evening, council president, members of the council. So, yes, I did speak with the company who said that they changed the orientation of that particular hole in another direction. In addition, the company also uh planted several trees which would also stop the balls from going in that direction. And I've also been told by the company that they have had conversations with the

neighbors and it looks as though both of those efforts has stopped the situation.

In regards to the net, the company is not opposed to putting up a net.

However, the company did say that Rhode Island Energy currently has an easement in that area, so they cannot put up a net. Um, but they did, the company is willing to once Rhode Island Energy has completed that work, reconsider the possibility of a net. But again, they wanted to reiterate that as of right now, uh, no additional balls have been hit in that area. And they've they've attacked this with like a two-prong

approach. both the the um direction of the orientation and then the uh the additional trees. Thank you. Oh, thank you. Because the night of graduation, why I get got put back here from me was that one of my constituents going to graduation said to me like all of a sudden they saw it missed them but flying over their car when they were going to graduation that there was a golf ball, you know, being hit on that

street. So, it's what brought it my attention again. No, I appreciate it, but I just wanted you to to make you aware that the uh for the communication you did send it to us and I also play that cost and they did change it and it's for the betterment of that neighborhood and I and they said they would continue to do so like Patricia said. So, thank you very much.

Thank you for the update.

Next item, utility lines to be buried between Bold Point Park in East Providence and India Point Park in Providence. Rate payer impact discussion only. Council President Bob Rogers. So, I think we've all seen the news accounts and we've received some of the emails of from the particulars that uh they're going to start putting the underground cabling along the waterfront in that area. And

the history is I I believe it was around 2004 when there was a a rateayer settlement.

So, money given back to to Providence and East Providence for rateayers to cover to cover whatever the cities wanted to cover. And both cities chose to use that money to bury the utility lines with the thought of the waterfront development that was planned. Well, it never really happened. And for whatever reason, I I don't wasn't that active with in that area at that time. So I I don't know why

it fell apart, but it it now is going to happen. But there isn't enough money from the initial settlement to cover it all. So, the rateayers, those of us who pay uh the utility bills in both cities, Providence and East Providence, will have to make up the difference. And it it shows that it's not a lot of money.

Providence is on the hook for more than East Providence. Pretty substantially more. East Providence. Um, it's maybe a few cents in the bill or a few dollars in the bill. Um, I don't know if you have that number, Patricia, but it's a it's a few dollars. But my point is I think that Rhode Island Energy should absorb this cost, not the rateayers.

This was born by a a settlement. It goes back to when it was National Grid. Yep. National Grid then was supposed to give the settlement back to the rateayers to us. They in turn sold the company. It then became Rhode Island Energy which technically was supposed to assume all of their their risks and their their bills and such. And in the the vote in the legislature, this was not a local

vote of an East Providence body, but in the state legislature, the vote was to let's get this underground that it's needed. We've got waterfront drive coming. We got work on the bridge. And some of the conversation on the House and Senate floor was that in a bad storm and with the work at the bridge, if there are some major power lines in that area and if they go down as one uh

senator wasn't an East Providence rep or senator, but one of the others who said, "Do you want East Providence to go dock?" So, I don't know if it's that impactful there, but I would think that Rhode Island Energy has a good profit margin that they could have absorbed this price. It's supposed to be temporary, so when there's enough money raised, then the the rates will go back. I don't

know if any of us have seen any of our utility rates go back. Once once they're up, they stay up. There's no panic here.

this. We're not talking a lot of money.

I I think I read somewhere maybe it was $30 a year to the average person. I I don't know. Could be more. Um but whatever it is, it's been voted on. It's going to happen. So when you see that in your bill, I I just think that Rhode Island Energy could have stepped up and said, "We will cover the overage, which was the original settlement back in about 2004." That's what happens when

government officials don't hold these people's feet to the fire. We gave them the money to bury them. 17 years ago, was it 2000, 2001, maybe even 20 years, they didn't do it. And nobody stepped up and said, "Why aren't you doing it?" So now we're stuck paying the overage. So lesson learned. It is a good program. We we we we need it done. Absolutely need it done. And if this was the way we have

to do it, we have to do it. What? It's disgusting that they got away with this.

They basically screwed every resident in the city.

Utilities are high enough as it is.

That's all. Thank you. Next item. New business. Mayor communication chief of staff Patricia Vzendi.

Uh good evening, Council President, members of the council. Again, uh just before I go into some of the line items listed here, I'd be remissed if I walked out of these chambers without uh first making a statement. Um and that that statement is that I strongly strongly disagree with Councilman Lawson's um characterization of our administration.

And I plan to address the council in a formal letter in regards to that because I've I've stood before this council now at least three or four times and having been called a liar personally and now in my supervisor the mayor of this city been called a liar not only once but twice and again this evening when I personally sat in a meeting with you Councilman Lawson and we discussed this.

So that's all I'm going to Did you mention those apartment buildings 96 at that meeting? We didn't mention 96, but we had discussions. You mentioned that in some housing. You didn't say you already had a plan of almost 100. I'm not I'm not at the podium, Councilman Lawson, to to uh debate with you. I'm here more than happy to have this debate with you and the mayor. I'm strongly um

I'm against any kind of accusation where you are openly saying that you were lied to or things were held from you when I sat personally in that meeting. But again, I will address this in a letter formally to the council.

That being said, uh just to move on to mayor communications. Um you have before you the finance and capital reports. Um it is also Peruvian independent. We have the Peruvian Independence Day proclamation. Council President, if you um honor me to read through it, I will.

Same with the Puerto Rico Constitution Day proclamation. Keep writing Independence Day. Or if you want me to accept them, you No, just the headings are good enough. Great. Thanks. Um, and then also just to mention that it's 2025 disability pride month as well. Uh, we have two events. We have our annual Independence Day celebration on July 3rd at Pierce Memorial. Gates open at 6:00

p.m. Um, in addition, we have the Cape Very um, Cape Independence Celebration and Flag Raising. This is an important year. It's the 50th year of their independence from Portugal. And this will be happening on July 2nd at noon right here in East Providence City Hall.

and we welcome uh our community to attend. And that is all for me. Thank you. Thank you. And I I would add that uh you know the Cape Verdian community is such a vibrant part of East Providence and they recently had an annual um celebration that they go through and is very popular. I could not make it that day. I want to thank Councilman Lawson for attending and representing the council. Um I

understand it was a a good event and it was be it was beautiful. It it was um it was so touching. It was about folks that were lost due to co so it was a memorial and it it was just a beautiful ceremony.

The CV community they're just amazing people and such a strong part of our community and it's part of what makes East Pins great.

It definitely we we have the mosaic here. culture matters. Um, thank you, Chief.

Next item, reports of the city council officials, Michael Marcelo, city solicitor. That would be me. The city council met as a claims committee before this at executive session. They approved uh the payment up of both claims as stated the agenda.

Thank you.

Next item.

Councilman Lawson, did you have anything for the school committee? Did you want to I mentioned it when we did the beginning.

I would ask Vice Chair de Seamus, did you have any comments schools and regarding the schools? Thank you, sir.

Go ahead. I'm sorry. Resolutions for discussion and possible vote. One resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with East Bay Community Action Program to lease office space at the Sweet Land House introduced by President Rodri.

So I guess this has been in the works has gone out to bid and we're ready. We as you know there were some uh concerns way back when about what was going on at the Swland House. They have finally made the renovations that they needed to do.

Um they're waiting for final approval of the Health and Human Services Services Administration. Um and that's and that's when the lease will begin either the later or excuse me the later of when they're notified that it's actually approved. But the lease is there. Um the terms are have been negotiated and it's a three-year lease with a three-year.

I I would recommend approval of this.

This they do a good job. Did they lease the parking lot we built down on um was it a Atlantis Avenue? Riverside. Yeah.

Do they lease that from us? I think part of that law is there's a shared Well, there's the playground for playground there, but do they lease their part?

I don't know if they pay if they lease I'm not I'm sure this is just for the sweet house. No, I get that. But across the street they lease that as well too, right? I'm just trying to determine how many properties they I don't know that answer to that question. Okay. All I know is that this is the lease for the city that I that Yeah. All right. I I I'll make a motion to approve. Thank

you. Motion by Councilman Lawson, second by Councilman Fogerty. All in favor? I I oppose. The eyes have Thank you. And we'll look into those other questions, too. Look, just tell me where they are.

Yeah, it's considered protective. Yeah, we we built the the parking lot. I just wonder if they're leasing it because they primarily use it because we're getting calls about parking concerns.

Neighbors parking. Yeah. Yeah. Next item. Number two, resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement with the James L. Mahair Center to lease office space at the senior center sponsored by Vice President Ria. Yes, sir. I move passage. This is a great great organization helping uh the disabled and the special special needs adult community in the state of Rhode Island. and it will definitely benefit

the residents of the city who are impacted by these issues that they face.

Motion by council vice president Rigo second.

So the uh superintendent reached out to us about a week week or maybe two weeks ago regarding um they I would not answer that. Don't open that. Do not open that door.

No, we didn't have to.

I'm sorry for Go ahead. They would like a uh and the lease terms are all stated.

They they would sorry the lease terms are all stated here. However, they'd like to uh enter into a two-year lease which the administration does issue with. So remain the same except that it would be a two-year lease. That's all. And and for a couple of minor changes that they requested, which we were okay with, and we'll we release with that. So yeah, that's good. You okay with that? So, y

So, with with the approval of the resolution, with the understanding that it's going to be a two-year lease uh and um uh and allow the city allow me to make any other. So, with with that uh description, all in favor? I I any opposed? The eyes have it. Thank you.

Thank you for clarifying. Thank you for waiting. Folks, thank you for waiting.

Next item.

Introduction of ordinances for discussion and possible vote. Number two, an ordinance to amend subsection B of section 18-269 entitled stop and yield intersections designated when stops required is amended by adding there to the following. Irving Avenue northbound and southbound traffic at Blanch Avenue and Irving Avenue north and southbound at what chair avenue introduced by council vice president Rigo.

It's your pleasure council.

I move passage. Second. Motion is made for first passage. Seconded by Councilman Fogerty and Councilman Lawson. All in favor? I. Any opposed?

the ISAP. Thank you. Next item. Number three, an ordinance in amendment of section 18-308 entitled parking time limitations 15 minutes of article X entitled stopping, standing, and parking of chapter 18 by adding there to the following. Bulocks Point Avenue, east side from 190 ft north of Fenna Avenue, Northerly for 40 ft. Introduced by Councilman Lawson.

Just so you guys know what this is, there's a um doggy daycare in the square and he reached out to me asking if he could have two spots reserved in front cuz people drop off pickup and it's just like a quick in and out. And this just ensures that the space right in front is uh available for the people to come drop their dog and go. Um the local businesses next door, they don't open

till like 4 in the afternoon. So it's not like it's taking and blogs point out has nothing but parking. So, makes sense. Is that a motion? Make a motion to approve. Second. Second by Councilman Fogerty. All in favor? I I. Any opposed?

Yeah. Have Next item.

Leave that adjournment. No, we skipped we we you skipped what public didn't we? Uh public comment.

There is none. No. Nobody signed up.

Okay. Oh, wait a minute.

That's what I'm saying. There's public comment. How do we skip that? Oh, sorry about that.

Do you have it?

We tried to get out of here earlier.

That saves you. He told me, "Hurry up.

Don't let her speak."

Thank you for your patience, Renee.

We do.

All right. So, you guys know why I'm here. I already gave you guys your packet. So, I'm going to do the best I can because I know Bob, you want to get out of here. So, no, don't rush. Go ahead. So, I came to you guys back in March with the concern about our school bus safety. I shared the information about bus patrol, the program that provides our safety cameras and

equipment for our school buses at no cost for our taxpayers. when I came when I returned in March, you told me it was a school department matter, but if and that each that each of you would help me in any way that you could, and I really appreciate that. Yet, here we are months later, about seven, and nothing has moved forward. It's now clear that the program is deliberately being held up by Mayor

Dilva. The mayor is stalling in until the general assembly passes House Bill 5421 and Senate Bill 5068.

He claims this delay in the bill delay in the bill is a better revenue for the city where the city would receive 30% from each ticket instead of 12.5%.

In other words, we're holding off on a life-saving program for the children because of the potential increase of steady revenue. Oh wow, that's just great. Let's put a price tag on our kids. Let's be clear. I've done the work. I've read the contracts from both Pus Patrol and Mo uh Vera Mobility. I've read every law. I've listened to all the excuses. I've shown all these excuses don't hold up. In

fact, the mayor has used me personally as a reason to delay at the legislation level. And I know this firsthand because it's been mentioned to me a few times by a few different people. And I don't want to be a called a liar again by anybody.

And so I wouldn't say it unless I know the truth. Tonight I handed out a costbenefit analysis that compares the current vendor funded program to be paid modeled to the city to be responsible if we wait. So you have the cost if we get it for free and then you have the cost the cost if we pay over the fiveear spans.

Meanwhile with the um company that I gave you guys the city gets the full equipped buses internal external cameras stop bomb enforcements and police partnership.

It will also include a panic button. Now the panic button if there's a problem it will the bus driver can push the button.

our boss can look internally into the bus at the same time so that they can see what's going on with the free program with them. What will happen is all our special needs vans will be covered.

I know you have a special needs child and I I would hope that you would expect a camera to be on their bus, their van to be protected. I work with them children every day. Unfortunately, we're in a position that it doesn't always happen. So, our special needs vans will get that if it's free. If it is not free, we get nothing. Our vans get covered with absolutely no cameras added, no panic buttons, no

side view cameras, nothing that will help us out as van drivers. The school committee intends to wait until the bill passes and the taxpayers have to pay for it. The buses will get just the stop arm cameras that will be mandated by law and the other internal equipment.

Sorry. Um that if they want they're going to be required to pay for anything. And the special needs fans again get nothing. It's simple. We can do the smart thing and the right thing.

Protect our students now using a program that costs nothing. Then we can work together to ensure the city shares the revenue and invest it in our schools.

That's what our community wants. That's what our kids deserve. Every year, the school department receives nearly $100 million. And nearly 49% of our city tax rate goes directly to the education. And yet year after year, the superintendent still has to come before the council to ask for more funding. A program like this with the responsible revenue sharing agreement could help ease the

burden and a win for the public safety and a win for our budget.

But instead, the program has been shuffled around, removed from agendas installed. It's become a political game and our kids are not a political tool.

There are some there are some even within the school committee who seem more interested in scoring points than saving lives.

This is my school vacation and I'm here saving I'm here for my kids.

It has gone beyond politics at this point. I've become a personal target. An email I sent to the as a citizen of East Providence was sent to the five school committee members.

One of those members sent that email to the superintendent who then somehow or some reason sent it to my boss and that made me get a personal phone call to calm my passion down for my kids and to put it away and to stop ruffling feathers.

One school committee member even approached my special needs van while I had special needs kids on board to address me about the personal issue with my email, which is very unacceptable, which should never have been done. But I'm still here. I keep showing up because this is about my kids. This is about your kids. This is about your grandchildren. This is about the future of our city. I've be gone before the

school committee more than a dozen times. Every single time I leave without response, no acknowledgement, no comments, no sign that I've been heard.

So, because I've been involved with this for so long, Mr. Desimus is kind of like, he helped me at the beginning and he's kind of left me out to dry. But, you know, that's okay. I still fight. I got the fire in me. I'll keep going.

Anthony Ferrara reached out to me after everything I've gone through to help me finish the fight. It was told to him by school committee chair Dave Lu that the mayor, Robert Dilva, stated he will be he will pay over 250k for the program that we can get for free because apparently he wants to use Google money.

Why use Google money when you can get it for free? The committee chair will not request any special meeting from happening to get bus patrol to sign by June 30th because if we sign after that, we got to pay. The deadline for the free program that Providence, Walwick, Cranon, and North Providence already signs. They're getting it for free. Um I believe Newport might be on the list and

there's like a couple other ones. I'm asking you guys tonight to please help me. Don't let this happen again. As someone that sees the danger on our roads firsthand every day and who has spoken with the countless residents to support this program, I'm telling you this is a serious hazard and the community is paying attention. So, I'll end this. Will you go to the record and tell us plainly, do you want to support

acting now to protect our children or do you believe we should continue to wait?

The families of East Providence deserve to know where each of you stand. Support our school committee. make the right choice for the safety of our kids. Not for the money. It's not about the money.

It's about that little boy that's going to cross in front of that school bus one day and get hit by a car. It's about that little boy or that little girl that's going to just step off that bus on the side of the road and get hit. We had it in Bristol. A little girl, the bus was on Metaccom Avenue. The little girl stepped out the door. The car went

right around on the left hand side and killed the on the right hand side and killed the little girl.

I can tell you stories. My mom has been a bus driver.

She can tell you stories.

So, thank you, Renee. And first of all, uh we I know I acknowledge your your passion. No one should criticize you for for your passion in in this area. And do do you see and I don't want to belabor this cuz one one thing is I I hesitate like if you mention other people who are not here I don't want to get into that unless they could answer for themselves and and this was just and

I know you know that I know that and I'm not because it but do you see this as I mean no one is against having these cameras right the issue is the funding right the issue is if the program is free why does Does the mayor have to? So, who's paying if it's free? Who pays for it? It right now if it's right now, if it's free, it gets the 75 because I gave you the bill.

But who's buying the equipment? The the vendor, right? Puts the equipment in for free, right? We will get extra all the extra stuff. So the issue becomes for some people if the vendor is paying then they'll get the bulk of the fines 75% we get the 12 but that's been changed a bit now from what I I read some of the legislation I looked it up and it said

the 12% is no longer it will be 30 once the bill gets signed. Once the bill gets signed so if we find Oh go ahead say I I'm not familiar with this bill but you did mention it so I appreciate that so I looked it up. So it is at the governor's desk the right for signature the bill did pass uh the new changes um it used to say 78% to the the the revenue

generated used to go 7 75% to the vendor uh 12.5% uh to the state general fund and 12 a.5% to the municipality where the violation occurred new the new uh percentages as in the legislation that passed and again it's at the governor's desk not law yet 30% to the municipality 30% to to the vendor. Uh, and I'm just trying to figure out 30% to the 30 to the state, 30 40 to the Oh,

yeah, it makes sense. 60 40 40 to them.

I guess I I can't see where it says that. Yeah, it's a little a little above it. I think you see I just want to clarify too this and I um this is really a school department issue because because it says all school departments of this state are hereby are authorized to install and operate the live digital.

So right just to to advise you the city council doesn't have any role other than maybe advocating for it but the role this is a school but it passed right that's what I was saying to you before the meeting this other than the governor's signature right once the governor signs it right then you then you will have to pay so the legislature has approved the amended version right and there's nothing we can do to change

that right but once it's signed right the governor when the percentage chang he can let it go right Mike without his signature. Yeah, it's got so many days.

The um Oh, go ahead. I'm sorry. Go ahead.

Council vice president solicitor can tell me if I'm a little off on this. I'm reading both versions, the House and the Senate. So I don't know if there was a combination that Renee provided us but on both of them number three it says the provision of this section shall not apply to contracts existing at the time of the enactment of this section and shall only apply to new contracts or

extensions of existing contracts entered into on or after the effective date of this section which obviously would be the 30th of when would be the 30th th of June. Well, the date of passage the date of passage whenever Yeah. If it if the governor decides to sign it or s you know it passes whatever his signature as long as there's not a veto on this thing. So So I guess go ahead. I'm

sorry. So my question you I have the law if you So my I am squinting. Go ahead. So my question to you is we have an existing contract.

So after this is passed, we negotiate.

We don't have a contract with bus patrol right now. We have a contract with a company. Correct. Not for cameras, but selective. Yeah, we have and we Well, I know we have c I know we have cameras and stuff in some of them. And we have and we have the red light, the arms and everything that when people drive by them, they get fines cuz I I had to get involved two years ago with the bus

going to Myron J. Frances. It was bus number three. I remember it quite well and I had to get a I got I didn't realize that the police department handled that and got it in got involved in that. So my point here is if the school committee after this is passed by the governor they negotiate with the new company then we we can go to we can go to option A which would be you know what

and the percentage have has have been changed correct if we if the school committee signs a new contract we would already pass yeah so we would get the change in the percentage and correct so it's really up to the school department to do the right thing and negotiate a new contract after as soon as the governor passes it. There's no action can be taken until the governor no passes this well I don't want to speak

for the school committee because I don't yeah I don't want to speak but so this law would effective upon passage I don't know when it was transmitted so after passage of this legislation becomes law those are the percentages for any new or new or extension of former contracts I don't know if we have a contract now I have no idea if we do I when I say we I don't know if the school department um

has a current contract with them. I I don't believe so. Patrol, they have it with Vera Mobility. Okay. And I don't know when that contract expires, but under this expires June 30th. Okay. So, as of June 30th, that contract expires.

Any new contract entered into with any new company would be subject to the would have to adhere to that. Would have to that. So, that's what I'm saying. So, the percentage is going to go up from the you know, from what they had from the 12 and a half. It would go up to the percentage that we have here. We But we just got to negotiate it with that one company. But now does every company if

if Mike Marcel Incorporated wants to get into red light business are they do they have to follow the same percentages under state law? So any contract has to All right. So so it's going to work again I mean whoever the school committee goes with right but right now this company can come in and give everything for free. So, I think if not familiar with this at all, right? No.

Please, please don't. I'm assuming what I'm what I'm what I'm trying to understand is I'm assuming that there's a vendor out there right now. I think it ends before that, but I don't have it with me. So, so apparently, and again, I could be wrong, but I'm just if correct me if I'm wrong because you know this better than this is the first time I'm hearing of any of this, please. So,

they're shopping the pre free. There's a vendor right now who is willing apparently to enter into a contract with the school department to provide the cameras uh in association with this act free free oh prior to June 30th uh and if they do that and the and the school committee would sign a contract that like that uh prior to June 30 prior to this act becoming effective then the

old percentages would well that's what I mean so why yeah I mean that's I mean I read the law yeah and again it's So Renee, the reality is you're not getting a contract by June 30th signed. Could is it because there'll be here. Yeah, but the school committee would have to vet it. They would have to do it. And but that's the thing. So the mayor is just willing to like just pay it. But that's

my thing. I just I was that that sounds like what happened. They said, "Well, this bill is coming, so we're going to I don't understand. I don't interrupt Renee, but I I when I when I keep on saying the mayor, this is a department issue. This is not we don't the mayor maybe the mayor maybe may maybe the mayor favored the bill didn't favor the bill. I don't know that first time

hearing that but the the fact of the matter is it is the school department's role and obligation to enter. We have no role in it. We can't we can't enter this into this. Yeah. No, I agree. She's just looking for us to support. Thank you.

Okay. That's what she's looking for.

Support. She knows it. Yeah. I'm sorry.

Can I ask you a question? Then you know he hasn't then it's a school department decision. It's a school committee decision.

So, you know something, the mayor going up to the to the legislation and badmouthing me is a really bad look and it's a really bad thing and now that's really so again. So, you know what I'm saying? So, now I I have a thing. But, you know something? This has been for months and it's it could be free. So, I was asked to come up speak say my speech and that's what I did. I've been called

everything from a liar to whatever. I've been approached to to in a van with special needs kids that I know I'm not supposed to speak when they're not here, but you terrify my kids. You put my job at risk. I've been threatened to be fired because of this. So, I'm here to say my speech, my this is me, and that's what I'm here for. Yep. So, if you guys want to say

anything, you say it to me. Don't throw me under the bus like that because you know what? You messed with my job. You messed with my kids.

And that's I'm done. I got three days left to to fight this and I will fight it to the end. And the city, the mayor, the police chief, and the school committee cannot look like fools because they're putting a price on the kids.

That's what I have to say. Because this could have been done months ago. Yeah.

Well, thank you for coming forward. You see our dilemma. You know, our hands.

Yeah. Your passion is noted and it's awesome. It's awesome.

Thank Councilman Austin. I have to say you are 100% right. Not one person at that meeting knew that there were apartments going to be there at Old I I Well said. Thank you.

Yep. Yep. There was no one else signed up. Uh, is there a motion to adjurnn?

Yes. Yes. A motion to adjurnn. Motion Councilman Lawson to adjurnn. Is there a second?

Councilman Lawson made the motion to adjurnn.

Councilman Fogerty seconded.

Second it