East Providence City Council 7/7/26

6-5 A2 litigation number one sewer charge abatement and author risk $378.58 and there's nothing confidential so we'll just stay right here we won't need to go into executive session Mr.

solicitor.

Thank you, Mr. President. Um the uh sewer charge abatement was based on a water break uh and I think in a bathroom pipe. The Department of um public works recommends approval of the abatement in the amount of $370, excuse me, $378.58.

Motion to approve.

Motion to approve by Councilman Fogerty. Did you do that? And also Councilman Lawson. All in favor?

I I Any oppose? The eyes have it. Thank you. Next item.

Proclamations and presentations. World Cup recognition. Council President Rodri.

So, this is just a quick verbal um presentation tonight. Uh something that I had pledged to do and we'll explain my um strange attire tonight. usually here in shirt and tie, but I had promised at the beginning of this uh summer of soccer. Now, being a baseball guy as I am, and of course, you got to love softball right girls?

I follow soccer a little bit, especially with East Providence High School soccer and our middle schools. But I really got into it this summer, like I think all of us did. And what impressed me more than the games on the field were the the attitudes everyone showed. Everyone was so positive. We had visitors from around the world uh right here in East Providence. Uh I was fortunate uh one

one day at coffee in the morning. I think it was with a mayor's uh morning session in Riverside and the Tatan Army, several of them came in and we got talking and we said hello and talked about uh East Providence and Rhode Island and they were on their way to the Scotland's first game and they explained how they were going to make a donation that week to the Hasbro Children's

Hospital which is fairly close to all of us here and and they donated $10,000.

They also sent uh I think less than $100,000 to other places in the state.

Uh, I was visiting a friend at Rhode Island Hospital the next day and I could hear a noise and I looked down the window and I could hear and see the tartan army with the bag pipes and there had to be a hundred of them and they were given a check uh to the hospital which we've had many kids uh ill at Hasbro through the years. So I feel felt a connection there. They also came to

the good night lights which is run by a former towny or once a towny always a towny. So Steve Braznahan who does that as you know I'm sure every week shining lights up at at Hasbro and the Tatan Army was was there. So my allegiance of course is to the US team also u feel close to the Portugal team and the Cape Verde team. But I had to give a shout

out tonight to the uh Tatan Army and for all of the goodwill they brought to us.

Um thousands and thousands of them and no problems uh what whatsoever. They took over the area. They took over the city of Boston. Um they're a small small team. And I and I had a closeness because my son-in-law is from Scotland.

So I promised him a shout out tonight.

So I wore this kilt. if you haven't seen it yet. And the Scottish cap um in their in their honor.

Man of your word, brother.

It's a little breezy under here. I have to make sure the air condition gets lowered, but I I didn't mean to take up all that time, but I I just thought that uh we should be neighborly and thank all of these visitors who've come here from other countries. And too bad uh US didn't make it, but they got pretty far.

So, we we appreciate all of the the goodwill and thank you all for putting up with that. Madame Clerk, next item.

Consent calendar for discussion and possible vote. A council journals regular meeting minutes June 16, 2026.

Letters new addresses 156 Amiral Street, East Providence, Rhode Island, 02915.

Map 508, block 01, hostel 006.10, 9 Regent Drive, East Proidence, Rhode Island 02915 map 613, block 02, parcel 017.10.

Cancellations and abatements $6,64724.

Motion to approve as read.

Second.

Motion by Councilwoman Soua to approve.

Seconded by Councilman Fogerty. All in favor?

I. Any opposed? The eyes have it.

And without objection from the council, I'd like to move up a couple of items on the agenda. So, page six, um, no, uh, Roman numeral 11 for public hearing, second ordinances, and then followed by, um, section D number three, resolutions authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement.

Councilwoman Souzer moves. Is there a second?

Second.

Without objection. So, we we will do that. And the reason why you're you're all here, I I I had um our city sergeant was worried. He said, "Do I have to call in extra extra um police here tonight?

We got a big crowd. You we only get about two people at our meetings."

So I said, "Nah, I don't see any trouble out here." Um but seriously, uh this is for second passage. We've already uh approved once and this city council um has been working on all of our fields and recreation and you know we got a lot to do. We're not we're not done yet. Um and we want to be equal of course with girls and boys.

I mean I go back to probably the beginning of all of this. Uh Bob Ammerald Emerald Field was my first little league coach. Um, the other field next door was named after my dad when I, this was 1975. I was young, young young kid. Um, and those two together, mostly Bob Ammerald, put girls softball on the map. Little League baseball, believe it or not, did not allow girls to play at one point.

So, in the 70s or so, that changed and Bob Emerald and others said, "Well, they need a field." So little by little they built the field, but it's been sitting there for years. Both fields had no signs. So Mrs. Emerald paid for and had a sign install the city in installed it.

I paid for the sign for my dad's field and the city put that up. So bureaucracy, young people, you're going to learn takes a while. Um they were putting lights up and I didn't know that. I went by one day and I saw the polls and I said, "That's great. We got a couple of fields with lights. Of course, our great new high school has lights." Um, and we know how important

it is to you. So, we've put money aside and I'll let others here in the council um comment on that and then ask if you have some spokespersons who want to come up. I think you get the drift here. This is not going to be a problem. So, we don't need everybody to come up and speak, but this is America and you certainly have the right to come up.

We're flexible on on that. So, we're we're getting there. Um, we're going to appropriate the money first, then we have to go out and get it done, you know, go out. We have bids. There's a whole legal process and we're getting through that. Councilman Fogerty.

Yes. So, hello everyone. I love the signs, ladies. So, um, my daughter is going to be 40 this year and we won the districts for Central EP Central Districts back when she was a young lady playing softball and pitched and she pitched for the high school. So, I'm very proud to support the lights. I'm also an umpire over 40 years for girls softball, college, high school. All right, I'm adding that in because I'm a

good umpire. Very fair. Baseball, too.

who I did up the amateurs, oil cam boy and a couple of the Red Sox. So, I have a quite the career involved in sports.

Very dear to my heart. So, I'm proud of you for coming out. I'm happy you all came out and I'm happy we all could give you some lights to play ball.

Umpire Fogerty, I have some glasses here. You might want to use them the next time you're out there. I saw your strike zone.

We'll let the girls judge that. I was asked to do Rumford Little League tomorrow night's plate for the girls little league, but I haven't accepted yet. Council Vice President Rigo, we might shut we might shut Ferris Avenue down, but no. Um, it's really great that all that you're all here and it's really fantastic that softball in East Providence is back from Rumford down to Riverside because

there was a point in time when it first started, it was really it took off. a lot of state champions, New England champions, and then it dipped down and softball. I was president once at Rumford Little League and I coached my boys and uh president as I said. Uh but girls softball is near and dear to my heart because when I came out of college, I wanted to coach and the only

thing that was available was a girls softball team. And the president of the times, Jack Kelly, I said, "Girl softball." He goes, "You'll be good. You can teach them." Well, I my greatest memories besides playing sports is girls softball. I was fortunate to coach three Runford All-Star teams to go to the States and one of them won the state championship. We went up to Salem, New

Hampshire to represent in Rhode Island.

But I'm so happy because I remember like 10 years ago or 12 years ago, you could see girls softball was leaving. Aaou AA was taking it over. But it's great to see these numbers now and continue to grow and with the lights it will help and uh this is the investment we have in youth sports in the city and it's great that you're all playing.

Thank you, sir.

Councilman Lawson, I'm a product of Riverside Little League and now I'm in a position to make uh improvements to the field. So, you all have a great experience. Um my coach, Mr. Anthony, I'm choking up here. His daughter, granddaughter, grandkids are here. So, townies look out for each other. So, let's do this.

Oh.

and Councilwoman Souza you.

So, I just want to thank obviously everybody for coming out today, parents, coaches, um, and of course our athletes.

It's pretty amazing to see a turnout like this. Um, I think it's important that you young ladies recognize at a young age that your voice is important and it should be heard and you shouldn't sit back quietly, right? Make a difference. And it starts with coming up in front of those who are decision makers and being strong and confident in your um ask and doing it. And I see there's a ton of wonderful signs. I'd

love for you guys to all raise them up so we can take a good look at all the signs that you guys have made because you've put a lot of hard work into it.

So definitely want to see some of those.

Great. Don't be scared. Confident. Bring them up. Bring them up.

I want to thank the council um as we have been doing over the last several years and several councils allocating funds to support recreation throughout our city and public space and it's something that we all feel very passionate about and will continue to do. Um so thank you for being here in support of that. We will continue to do that to make East Providence a fun um experience for all our residents um that

are here in the city. Thank you.

And before um any any vote, this is a public hearing, so we'll open it up for some comments. And my my last comment would be uh to the young people, young women in the room, re remember when when you hear and you will hear this, there will be a couple people in the city that are going to say, "Why are they spending a lot of money on lights for a ball

field? I didn't have lights when I played." You you're going to hear that from a couple of people. And the answer is that's what makes us a strong community. The summer of soccer is an example. Businesses made a lot of money.

Uh people were happy. They were out. We had the mayor's block party had the entire street cordoned off with no trouble. The next morning I drove around because I thought I'd see trash and I know I'd be getting complaints and I wanted to check. You never knew there were few thousand people there. The night before it was all cleaned up. City workers, everybody pulled in together.

So sports makes a better society. We don't all have to be athletes. You don't all have to be very good at it, but we can support it. And that's the answer you can give people when they tell you why are we spending that money. And for the parents that uh that are here, um this isn't affecting the tax rate.

There's a capital funds account that gets put aside year in and year after for infrastructure repairs and other things like this. So don't let anyone tell you that you know it's going to cost Yeah. Everything costs money, but it's not a taxable item in in the budget.

Yes. Okay. So, our city clerk will uh read the title of this and then we'll open it up for public hearing. Thank you, madame clerk.

Public hearings ordinance for second and or final passage for discussion and possible vote. Number one, ordinance of the city council of the city of East Pro Providence appropriating $340,35 for PS softball field improvements.

Summary. This ordinance is to allocate monies from unallocated capital budget funds for improvements at Pierce softball field introduced by council president Rodri. I I might add to that this is not just lights. I know I see a couple people have talked to me about the the trouble with parking and next to the the bar that's there and the land and it's uneven and cars. There's going to be I

won't read it all. I'll go through a little bit of it. Uh construction of a paved parking area, pedestrian walkways, installation of a new wood guardrail along the newly installed pavement and roadway surrounding the softball field.

Uh enhancing field visibility. So, there's more than just putting up a couple of light poles. Uh there'll be a lot of work done there. And this council will get on the mayor to do it as quick as possible. and I might say he's been aboard from day one with with this project. Uh councils, mayors, others don't always see eye to eye on everything. On this we do, we all want

to get this done for you. So, with that, I'll open it up to a public hearing. And if um I know there was a sign up list, but don't worry about that. If there's someone here that would like to speak, you come up to this podium. And by law, you do have to give your name and address for the record.

kind of thought we'd see you.

So, push that button, make sure the light is on, and just name and address for the record.

Richard Hogan is on.

Yes.

105 Park Drive, Riverside.

Welcome. Thank you, sir.

Thank you.

Proceed.

Good afternoon, President and members of the East Providence Town Council. My name is Richard Hogan and I serve as the president of East Providence Central Little League. I want to begin by thanking you for this opportunity and for considering the installation of lights at Ammeral softball field. For the past 5 years, I have served on the league's board and witnessed firsthand the positive transformation of the Piers

complex. From the addition of batting cages, concession stand lighting to field improvements at Rodri, including field lighting, and the new compost bathrooms. The city's ongoing support has been invaluable. We are also grateful for the newly completed Kent Complex, which provides our youngest players with excellent playgrounds and amenities before and after games or practices.

Each season, our league serves 200 to 250 players and provides financial aid to approximately 20 to 30 families supported by nearly 80 dedicated volunteers. East Providence Central Little League exemplifies what youth sports should be, a vibrant community of local players helping children build friendships, develop responsibility, and enjoy athletic competition. Today, I respectfully ask for your continued

support by approving lighting for our softball players at Emerald Field. When we relaunched softball, the program was virtually non-existent in East Providence. Starting from scratch under Central, we successfully grown it to nearly match the size of our baseball program. The softball community has long drawn players and families from across Rumford, Riverside, and Central, fostering strong collaboration and

shared volunteer support from the very beginning.

This inclusive spirit reflects a broader and promising trend. The future of Little League in East Providence is one of growth in numbers, especially in the girls division, and continued connection across our neighborhoods. We have intentionally branded ourselves as representing all of East Providence, updating our jerseys and logo to emphasize the city over any single subdivision. This approach has enabled

us to host numerous tournaments that drawn families from new from Providence to Newport, bringing visitors and economic activity directly into our community, all while having East Providence being at the front. Despite these successes, the lack of field lighting, the lack of field lighting creates significant and unfair challenges that affect only our softball programs. Without lights, we must start

games earlier. And with the increasing risk of weather related cancellations, it cuts our season short year after year. This is amplified every fall as games can only safely play three to four innings, turning interest away from a great community sport.

Our junior and senior division, middle school girls from Martin Riverside, is comprised of players from all three areas. And we are only we are the only league currently hosting games for these girls. They must play double headers every Saturday because weekday games cannot be completed after dark. Rain outs and last minute cancellations often cannot be rescheduled, limiting total

games played. This season, despite these obstacles, that same group of girls advanced to the regional Little League Allstars and will represent not only East Providence, but all of Rhode Island in Pennsylvania. Many of these young athletes and their families

many of these young athletes and their families have shared how meaningful this achievement is. Yet, it was nearly derailed by limiting playing opportunities. Parents have had to rearrange family schedules, cancel personal plans, and travel to other cities just to become eligible, as Little League requires numerous games.

East Providence was recently selected to host the All-Star tournament for states.

Another honor that brings families from across Rhode Island to our complex and showcases our facilities to the entire state. Yet, due to insufficient lighting, the number of games we could host was cut in half and Pucket assumed the primary hosting role, directly impacting local visibility and economic benefits.

By approving this improve By approving this improvement, you would not only help retain current families and attract new ones to East Providence, but also invest in the long-term health, confidence, and success of our daughters right here in a top tier community facility. The Pierce Complex already sets a high standard for the district.

Adding lighting for the girls would would complete the vision and make it a true destination for families. Thank you for your time and consideration. I'm happy to leave my contact information for any questions you may have and greatly appreciate your support for the girls.

Thank you for those comments.

Welcome. This name and address.

Good evening. My name is Christina O'Reilly, 116 Ferris Aav in Rumford. Um, thank you, Council President Rodri, and members of the council for allowing us to go on record about the why. as you said, you know, having it memorialized why we make these improvements is important for the taxpayers to understand as well. Um, I'm a Rumford resident, a five-year East Providence softball parent, and this year the head

coach of the junior senior softball team. Um, I grew up playing Rumford Little League softball myself in the 80s and 90s when we had enough teams to sustain a full regular season entirely within the city. By 2016, when my daughter, who's now 14, was ready to play, that pathway had disappeared. So, my daughter Abby started off in baseball until the combined East Providence softball league emerged in the 2021-22

year. She's still happily playing with several of those original teammates in Little League along with having played three years for Martin and hoping to move on to play for the high school next year. Today, we've built back seven thriving teams in Central. We're successfully creating a team a a community where older girls are starting to mentor the younger ones. Abby has volunteered her time working with

younger girls in coach pitch and minors and she umpires at the newly established minors level in Rumpford. Keeping teenagers engaged in the junior senior level is vital to sustaining softball's growth. That's where that lack of lighting impacts us. As uh Rich Hogan mentioned, Amaral is home to all seven of our Central Little League teams, plus the Martin Middle School team. That's

eight teams competing for a single field with ours strictly capped by the early spring sunsets.

Because my 13 to 15year-old players compete against teams across the East Bay, travel and school team schedules make weekday evenings impossible without lights. By contrast, my 12-year-old son plays baseball for Rumford, where weekn night games easily start at 700 p.m.

after school ball is over under the lights. And I know Central does the same. Those evening baseball games become major community events, especially on a Friday night lights game. For softball, the lack of lights means rainy Saturdays force us into a scheduling crisis, leaving us scrambling to complete barebones seasons. It's frustrating for players, parents, and coaches alike. If we had lights on

Emerald, our older girls could easily practice or play from 7 to 9:00 p.m., leaving the earlier daylight hours for the youngest divisions. Ironically, Emerald is already surrounded by the very posts holding the lighting for the rest of the complex. Fact, not lost on many of us for years now. A 2022 study by the Women's Sports Foundation shows that age 14 is a pivotal time when many

girls drop out of their sports. They drop out at a rate two times that of boys. When teenage girls sign up, they want to play. They want to build skills and they want to stay active. We owe it to them to provide equity and access and ensure their facilities are on a par with that their baseball teams. Thank you for your time, your consideration, and your support.

Thank you.

Welcome.

Thank you. Uh Jonathan McGawan 120.

Uh I really want to thank everyone on this council for the history lesson uh prior to this part of the session. It's really important for us to kind of have that foundation to what this whole thing and where it started from. So, thank you for that. And girls, it's incredible to see everybody here in the softball community represented. Um, this is for you. This is for you. So, it's great to

see. Thank you. Um, good evening, honorable members of East Proidence City Council administration. My name is Jonathan McGowan and I proudly serve as Coach John and vice president of East Providence Central Little League. I'm here tonight in support of funding for infrastructure improvements at Ammeral Field. For the past three years, I've had the privilege of serving alongside incredible volunteers working to create

opportunities for the young people of East Providence through softball and baseball. Before I ask for your support this evening, I first want to sincerely thank this council, Mayor Dilva, and the city for the investments you have already made. Whether it's improvements to our parks and playgrounds, new splash pads, enhancements at Kent Fields, batting cages, a remarkable high school

complex, it projects have strengthened East Providence and demonstrated that the city believes investing in its people in its future. Tonight, I respectfully ask you to continue that commitment. While tonight's vote is about infrastructure, I truly believe it is about something much bigger. It's about the community we want to be. Just steps from Pierce Memorial Stadium sits Ammeral Field, a place where generations

of young girls have learned teamwork, resilience, confidence, and leadership.

Yet today, a facility no longer reflects the quality of athletes who proudly represent our city. Our parking lot floods and is difficult to navigate. Our dugouts are aging and lack the safety and comfort our players deserve. Unlike our baseball fields, we have no field lighting, limiting practices and games once school begins and daylight fades.

Facilities matter. Children notice when adults invest in them. Families notice when their community values them.

Visitors notice the pride a city takes in its youth. Quality facilities send a powerful message. Field letting would transform what we can offer. It would allow working families to attend practices, reduce scheduling challenges, and create more opportunities throughout the spring and fall. Improve parking, dugouts, and walkways. Make Emerald safer and more welcoming for every child parent grandparent volunteer

and visitor.

Softball is no longer just a spring sport. Through clinics, camps, winter training, and year-round practices, participation continues to grow. In just one year, our softball program grew from 76 players on five teams to nearly 100 players on seven teams while adding two coach pitch division teams servicing our youngest athletes. Together with Riverside and Runford Little Leagues, we

have built a strong softball community that now trains together and proudly represents East Providence in statewide competition.

These improvements will not only support today's players, it will position East Providence to expand programming and create opportunities for athletes at every ability level for generations to come.

Our volunteers will continue fundraising coaching organizing events, and mentoring young athletes. I promise you that. But projects of this size cannot be accomplished through raffles, sponsorships, or volunteer labor alone. This is where the partnership between dedicated volunteers and city leadership and create something truly lasting. Tonight, you have the opportunity to invest not only in a

softball field, but in the next generation of East Proidence. And I thank you for doing that.

I respectfully ask for your support.

Let's light up amal.

Thank you.

She can sit in the chair there. She will.

I don't blame you.

Uh my name is Allison Butler. Uh 69 Plymouth Road, East Providence. Um, thank you for um, letting us come here tonight. Um, girls, it's amazing that you guys all showed up. We have the best softball community, as you can see. So, give a round of applause, guys.

I serve as a player agent for East Providence Central Little League. The girls on the two teams I coach call me Coach Ally. I am a I am a proud lifelong towny as is my husband. We live right here in EP raising our six kids. Yeah, you heard that right. Six.

And we have five girls. Two of them are already playing and hopefully the next three will follow in their footsteps.

So, a few more children. You could have the Butler team, right?

I think I think six is a good number.

John will help out coaching.

Yeah, John. Yeah, we need to get John in coaching.

He's the He's the team doctor.

Yes.

Um but yeah, I'm obviously speaking tonight in favor of the lights. Um as we know, I think most people know here that Pierce Field is a staple in East Providence. I received my high school diploma there. I bring my kids to the splash pad there. I personally think it has one of the best fireworks shows around. The football field, basketball courts, and baseball fields all are in great shape and are equipped with

lights. They look fantastic, but our softball field has been left behind.

More than ever, this is the best time to bring the softball we've field up to par at Pierce Field. Softball is absolutely exploding in EP. As you can see, I've only been here for three years, and we've added we've we've added a bunch of different divisions. And we have our coach pitch division. Hey girls, you want to stand up? My coach pitch girls, stand up, pink socks.

We have three miners teams this year. Do my minors want to stand up?

Fundamentals, Matus, and Feast and Pedal.

We had a We had one major team this year. If I have any major girls here, you want to stand up?

Yes.

And of course, we have our juniors and seniors division this year. Any juniors, seniors?

Yes.

And we have so many great parents and volunteers. This wouldn't be possible without all of them.

So, not only do we have growing numbers, but our skill level is improving. We host winter clinics at the ATC, which you're very familiar with. Um and we try to keep it very reasonable for parents so that way everyone can afford this. Um and then our not only that we um offer a lot of summer opportunity. So as you know our miners tenu allar team is undefeated in their pool play. So if they could stand up

my miners allar stand up.

These girls have worked extremely hard in the hot weather. Coach John doesn't go easy on them and they're doing awesome and representing East Providence and we're very proud of them. And then we have our junior seniors team who struggled to get in games during the season because of lighting, some lighting, scheduling issues, but they ended up getting enough games to be able to compete in All

Stars. And now they are going to Pennsylvania to represent East Providence and our state in the national tournament. So girls, can you stand up?

And coach Christine Christina, can you stand up?

That's a that is an amazing opportunity for you guys and I'm so happy for you.

Sorry.

Um but as you can see um these girls are working really hard and we really appreciate this opportunity for lights for our field. So thank you for your time tonight and let's light up Amarol.

Thank you.

Very very well said. And you know, don't don't forget the positive feeling that we we have. We're here tonight talking about working together and getting our city in better shape. There are some other communities tonight having meetings on how they're going to cut sports, how they're going to shut down a municipal pool, how they're going to uh raise taxes a lot. So far so good. in East

Providence. We're not doing that and we're going to continue.

That that doesn't mean there can be some tough tough decisions. Once in a while we'll we'll face it. Is there anyone else who would like to speak? Is there any players players want to represent your group and come up and say anything?

Give you the opportunity to You guys are loud enough on the field.

There has to be somebody. But going once, going twice.

Well, at least let's do this. Would every little liga just stand and get

Thank you all. I I will close the public hearing. I know that uh Bob Ramroll is smiling somewhere down on what will happen to his field. And at this time, I'll turn to the council. Councilwoman, did you want to uh proceed with the motion?

Yep. I can make a motion to approve the ordinance as read.

Second. Motion is made by Councilwoman Souza, seconded unanimously by the rest of us. Um I want to see the person who votes against this, but uh all in favor.

I Any opposed? I

Now there is there is part two to this.

This is a civics lesson. So uh madame clerk if you would read the next uh part to to this equation. Resolution authorizes the mayor of East Province to proceed with this project for improvements to Pierce Pier softball field including entering into a contract with new school lighting and other vendors introduced by council president Rodri.

Yes. And introduced uh by me of course with consultation and support of each of us up here. So Councilman Souzer, is that a motion?

Motion to approve. Seconded by all of us. All in favor?

It's now a done deal.

I I want to really thank you all. Going out to public meetings is not fun. It's not something a lot of people like to do. The weather isn't great, but uh this is the best audience we've had in a long time. We're going to be here till about midnight. You're all welcome to stay.

Uh but Bob, can we get a picture? Get them all up.

Sure. If uh players, parent, everyone want to come up for a group picture.

Just stand in the front here and face the back.

Good.

Good to see you, brother.

All right, my man.

Uh, her dad was my little league.

So, as the little leaguers leave, we'll resume the meeting. Uh, madame clerk, if you would continue.

Licenses for discussion and possible vote. A non-public hearing one day entertainment license Monroe car show July 26 9:00 am to 11:00 a.m. One day entertainment license live band in a DJ Holy Ghost Brotherhood Marinance July 24th through the 26 700 p.m. to 12:00 a.m.

Monday license block party food truck event at University Orthopedics 9:26 26 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

One day special event alcohol license Rhode Island Day of Portugal at Bold Point Park August 1st 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. Monday special event alcoholic license roadie food truck bold point 87 through 9:5 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

1 day special event alcoholic license Holy Ghost Brotherhood Marinance July 24th through the 26th 700 p.m. to 12:00 a.m. New business victual naim Salem East Providence Fuel 69 Torton Avenue East Providence 1-day entertainment license for a socket event reading only was June 27th 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. One day entertainment license a live band in a barbecue readin only on July 24th 6:00 p p.m. to 2:30

p.m. and a one-day special event live music reading only. Birthday party 73 Brighton Avenue, June 20th, 2 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Have a motion 1 through 10.

Councilman Lawson moves to bundle items 1 to 10. Seconded by Councilwoman Souza.

All in favor?

I. Any opposed? The eyes have it.

Motion to approve. Motion Councilwoman Souza to approve the items 1 to 10.

Second.

Second.

Second by Councilman Fogerty. All in favor? I I the eyes have. Thank you. Next item.

Public hearing. Type of license.

Additional hours. 7 1:00 a.m. to 6:00 a.m. Naim Salem East Providence Fuel 69 Torton Avenue East Providence.

And this is to deliver fuel. So this is if somebody middle of the night goes out. Correct.

I'm not sure. Um, is that okay? The I was going to ask the applicants present. Please just name and address for the record. And Nicholas Lamrose.

Nicholas Lamrose. I'm the attorney for the applicant. 100 Midway Road, Sweet 16 Cranston, Rhode Island, 02920.

I have the owners of the business here.

They can elaborate and explain a little more about their experience and what they're planning to do. Okay, welcome.

This is Mr. Salem.

Okay. I didn't know Salem. Um I were you um uh I started uh in the gas station business. Uh my uncle gas station. I was u he owned five of them. So I was managing all five for him during summertime when I was in school.

And after u convenience store, pizza places uh in the car industry. I'm the general manager of the car dealership.

I went to school uh when Texico uh so I became Texico dealer as well. Uh so a lot of experience in that aspect of it. Um we're just uh because we're right off the highway and the gas station provides service to to the people as well. So we want to make sure during that time the gas station is open.

by the time I travel to Canada and you know there's nothing worse than being stuck with no gas at the at the end of the night.

You were Yes. So this is um just for the council.

This is No. So this um this gentleman is the new owners of the for the current Exxon Mobile Exxon gas station on Twav coming off the highway the offramp um in front of the um right here.

Yeah. Gilmore flower shop. So that was for sale and these are our new owners.

Congratulations on your purchase.

Congratulations.

So that the new business name will change to East Providence Fuels. Is that correct? Okay. And you it's going to be essentially a 24hour the way it's operating now. It's it holds its own.

Right.

Not changing anything.

Yeah.

But you have to come before the council.

Correct. Good. All right. Thank you.

Welcome to the city.

Thank you.

Yep. Thank you. Any questions from the council? Is there a motion? It's a public hearing. uh close this part of the hearing. Is there anyone here that wishes to speak for or against?

You're just going to be at at these hours, you're just going to be selling gas. The repair the repair pot is not going to Yeah. I just want to for the record so neighbors don't, you know.

Oh, absolutely.

Okay.

Reflect that. So during the 1 to a.m. to 6 p.m. will be for sale of fuel only. I think there's a little and there's a convenience store there too. Yeah. So, so no excluding repairs during those. Is there anyone here that would like to speak for or against this hearing? None.

Or close the public hearing. Is your pleasure.

Make a motion to approve.

Councilwoman Souza makes a motion to approve.

The exclusion, pardon me, with the exclusion of the repair portion being closed.

So, when are you going to buy Gabe out of uh SEC? Is that going to be your next step?

It's all one package.

It's all you're buying all three.

Finally, they decided to retire.

I can't give him a hard time anymore.

That was a second by Councilman Fogerty.

All in favor?

I. Any opposed? Good luck. Continue the luck.

Yeah. Good luck.

Thank you for waiting.

Good luck. Thank you very much.

You might want to sponsor a little league team. You see all the people that were here.

Yeah.

Thank you. Next item.

Communications.

Julie Garrett, US Small Business Administration, disaster loan programs for small businesses and nonprofits with economic losses from the February blizzard.

Hi, welcome. Just name and address or organization for the record.

My name is Monica Miles. My colleague Julie and had to return home.

Okay.

This evening wanted to tell you about the US Small Business Administration's low interest rate disaster loans that are available. Um they're actually available throughout the state of um Rhode Island. for uh businesses uh and most private nonprofit profit organizations that sustained an economic uh injury as a result of the snowstorm that happened back on February 22nd through the 24th.

uh any business owner or um uh private nonprofit organization believes that they are unable to sustain an economic injury such as in their income. Perhaps customers that weren't coming through because of the storm. Roads were closed, utilities might have been off, their supplies were not delivered, various things could happen. And they've noticed a decrease in their uh revenue and as a

direct result of that happening uh they're not able to pay all of their ordinary necessary bills. They can apply to the US Small Business Administration for low interest rate economic injuries doesn't need to be any kind of damage to their business or nonprofit property in order to apply for the loan.

The economic that is involved. Uh the um deadline to apply for u the loan is not until March 10th, 2027.

Um any applicant can apply online at the uh SBA's uh website. Uh the interest rate for a um for the loan for a business is 4% and for a qualified um nonprofit organization is 3.62.

No. Uh there's no application fee. No interest accrews during the first year of the loan. The first payment is not due on the loan for a year from the state when they um receive the first loan fund. Uh the interest uh the um loan can go up to as much as $2 million.

And of course, it's based upon what that particular business or nonprofit uh information shows that they need in order to be able to people who are interested in um getting more information, they can call the um SBA at 1 8006592955 and they can go on our website as well, which is um https lending.sba.gov and we also have an easier um website as well sba.com that's what I'm but um so uh and and if they have any

questions they can contact um the SBA that the type of information they'll need to apply is their um government issued ID and um the uh uh EIN number for their business as well. Most uh recent federal income tax return, they'll most likely be asked to produce um additional income tax their business has been open for more than a year.

Their contact information. A lot of people um might make some moves around and they might not have the accurate contact information. So, we just um encourage them to remember that. and then their financial information to see how much their revenue tends to be, how much their expenses are so that the SBA can estimate how much they can afford in terms of a loan. They don't have to uh

if they apply for the loan and decide that they don't want it after all or the SBA uh suggests a larger uh loan amount than what they want to take, they don't have to take it. they can reduce it or not take it at all. That's basically our program.

Great. Thank you for the information.

Any questions? Uh we appreciate it and we'll make sure that the phone number and websites here at city hall. Thank you for coming out.

Just one question. Thank you for uh providing great information for the businesses and non I mean nonprofits.

What is the term of the loan?

Oh, yes.

30 years. That's what the term is for.

If they want to pay it sooner than the 30 years, they can do that as well.

And the 4% is locked for the 30 years.

Yeah.

Not bad. A good rate at you know what compared to what the banks are offering today.

All right. Thank you very much.

Thanks again.

Next item.

Robert Yuski. Fire ordinance requiring 30 ft away from any structure.

Mr. Yuski present.

Couldn't couldn't make it. Maybe I'll reach out to him. He's a Riverside resident that he wants to have a backyard fire, but he's too close for the ordinance and the fire department shut him down.

Okay.

I'll reach out to him.

He was here earlier. be signed off.

Okay, maybe left. Thanks. Next item.

Council members, number one, fiscal year 27, East Proidence Council budget request. Councilman Lawson.

So, I just put this on for all of us as we're getting ready to start the budget season. Um, if there's anything that you all like to propose, I know in discussion with some of you all and stuff, I think it's highly appropriate we add to DPW somebody that specializes in rodent and pest control. Um, Cranston Warick, they have dedicated staff for that. With all the development we have going on, I

think it'd be very appropriate. I don't think it's fair to tell the citizens, sorry, you got to pay for the rat infestation because we just started digging up next door. Um, obviously old ham, it's a city-owned building. I went by today that you got fences rotten down, shutting down that we'd be sending minimal housing out if it was somebody else's property. Um, you know, every week we're doing unallocated capital. I

think it's appropriate we put some money towards that building. Um the school side, we got to look at some of these positions. Um I think some of these teachers need to be teaching more.

Having department heads only teach in one class, I don't think that's appropriate. Um but I wanted to get this conversation out. I don't know if you guys have been in touch with the administration on things that you think are appropriate for the budget. So I put this up there. Um, I know Frank's always hopping on infrastructure and stuff. So, um, I fig I just put this out there for

us if there's stuff that anybody thinks that they want the administration to consider for this year's budget.

Sure. Pretty soon we'll be starting that. I I have um set up, we don't have a date yet, but the new superintendent of schools and I will sit down and we'll we'll start talking about this stuff.

Yep. Thank you. Next. Number two, discussion with the administration on parking for Crescent Park events this year. Councilman Lawson.

So, Andre, with the construction, it's going to cut back on parking. We have at least three festivals. The LOF Rhode Island um Oak Festival, we got the Indie Fest. Um, people are gonna need a place to park and um, I think it's highly appropriate that the city work with um, Tracy and these event um, holders to work out a plan. Um, we have old in the past when I did the lof, we would have

the shuttle vans come so people can park down the street kind of like if you go to Situ Wickford, you don't park right up there. You park a little bit out and you get shuttled down. Um, I also think it's appropriate that Carousel Drive and Bulocks Point, we have a local traffic only, no event parking, and we put up a saworse. Um, like at the end of where the Crescent Parkland ends. Um, we don't

want to see these uh neighborhoods overrun. And we could also reach out to the property managers of shores up the road um to see if on the days of these major festivals they'd be willing to let us use the back parking lot and we could work um with the event organizers on the shuttles and stuff. So Andre, I just wanted to bring this to your attention.

Um I have Rich who's here with the Rhode Island um folk festival if you want to talk with him as well. Um, but this is a major concern of the people organizing these events. We used to park where the construction is now. So, we lost a lot of parking. So, I just want to be proactive. Um, I believe the LOF is August 1st week, 8th maybe. And then Folks Festival is right behind it. So,

um, I just wanted to bring this to uh, your attention, Andre. And, um, hopefully the city we can be proactive taking care of parking for these events.

Thank you, the chair.

Yes, Councilwoman.

Um, thank you. So, uh, Councilman Lawson, thank you for bringing this up at the meeting today. I think you make a lot of valid points. Um, not only do the residents of East Providence and Riverside attend these great events in the summer, it also draws in a lot of residents throughout the state that come and enjoy these events. So, it is a statewide uh event even though it's hosted in our city. My question would be

um Andre maybe you could have the answer to it. During our block party for the soccer game, the city offered shuttle from Pierce Field for parking um on a continuous basis for people to park. Um and I don't remember that coming before the council. So I think that was an administrative um task that was uh organized. So, um I would ask that if we could do it for a block party event, um for the city to

enjoy, we certainly can accommodate that type of a request for ongoing uh events that we've had at the um at the in Riverside because of the construction.

So, I don't think it's a a big ask to have that service provided since we've already done it once um for the community. So, not sure what the protocol would be since, you know, Yeah. I mean, we don't have the authority to order city staff to do anything. So, it absolutely has to come from the mayor's office, right? So, um but that's why I'm up here making this request in public.

Um because, you know, other communities do it. Wickfit situate. It it can be done and you know, I didn't even think of Pierce being in parking as well. But I'm just Well, it doesn't have to be obviously working closer um to Riverside. But if we did it, my point was if we did it for that event, that block party, there's no reason why we can't accommodate other um events throughout the city that may have

just as much, you know, activity that would require that type of um assistance. So, very true.

Thank you.

Thank you for bringing that up.

I think you have the next item, too.

explanation from administration on who pushed for the traffic redesign on Willlet Avenue and why the redesign was necessary. Councilman Lawson.

So, this is besides trying to build a building in the woods between the terrace and present is another one of the big things I hear about. Andre, can you tell us who decided we needed these road diets cuz that's what's causing the problem. the road diets are causing the shop merges and then the signage that you I guess they're finally tweaking things out. People are frustrated.

They're upset. Can you give them an explanation of who wanted this because we can't think of it and we're getting mixed things. Residents are saying they're reaching out to the administration that's saying it's DOT. I got an email from a state rep that she said I talked to DOT. They said it's EP that asked for it. So, why do we have these diets and who pushed for them?

All right. Hi, Councilman and members of the city council. Uh, thank you for bringing this uh item up. Um, I also wanted to touch base on the items you previously discussed. Um, we'll take that back to the team and um, we'll discuss. Uh so uh the administration pushed for the traffic redesign on Willidav after a resident identified a flaw in the original layout and several members of the community have come up to

us with uh complaints about the the uh yield sign layout. Uh but the new configuration meets all traffic engineering standards and is um much safer than what was there before. It encourages drivers coming off the straightaway on Willlet A and Crescent View A to pay closer attention and slow down. And we've received uh many complaints about the previous roundabout because it was confusing and caused a

neck strain for many drivers. So engineers uh from Ry dot reviewed the yield configuration and found that it was not adequate and um to date there have been no no major accidents at location since the change went in and um residents offered this suggestion uh but our but the engineers gave the final approval for it. Um and um I will be also speaking more about this on the mayor communication side because this

happened between the last council meeting and this council meeting um when it was implemented.

If if you're on the topic, you can just go right into it now if you'd like. If you if you prefer to wait, that's fine.

Yeah, might as well.

So as I noted earlier, I mean just now that uh the administration um supported uh the engineers to look at this uh traffic redesign on will it have um and the new configuration does meet all the traffic engineering standards uh and is much safer. It reduces confusion and encourages drivers to slow down and stay attentive on on the coming coming off the straightaway. And so, uh, we remain

in regular contact with Rya on this project and we'll continue to share any information as it comes in, as soon as it comes in. Uh, but so far the early results have been very positive. So, um, we do the road diets are what's causing the problem because you're coming up from Crescent View and then all of a sudden they want you to merge over quick while they're coming like this. The road

diets are not safe. And I don't know who these engineers are, but they're not living in Riverside. So, I will bring that back to the regents and they are very upset. Please let the mayor know they are not happy and they feel like they're being ignored by the administration that you guys won't even consider removing the road diets. We've been driving that way for decades, you know, and speed's an issue all

throughout the city, you know. So, I'm just passing along from the residents how frustrated they are.

Okay. The solution would be get rid of the diets. Go back to two lanes each side. That way you don't have the quick merges.

So, are you saying that the road diet is different from the yield stuff?

The road diets cause the bite, right? So, if they did away with going straight, you wouldn't need the yield sign. So, if you're coming up, there has to be some yielding when you have kind of a roundabout, right? where down pizza is.

Yeah.

You got cars coming this way. You used to go there and then it' be two lanes.

They cut this lane. So now two cars now have to cut in. And that's where everybody's getting frustrated. So the solution is get rid of the diets, you know. But these engineers, the ones that probably took care of the Washington Bridge, they know better, right? I have utmost confidence in the drivers in Rhode Island and Massachusetts that navigate our streets that they'll be able to understand the new yield signs

patterns unneeded and and the top three complaints that we get in the city speeding is one of the number one complaints we get. So, uh this has helped with that and that's why we asked to put speed bumps down too temporarily.

Yeah. Well, speed bumps also cause damage to vehicles and speedes as well.

So, and they also make a noise when you go over them. So, those are some of the considerations. Um, okay, I'll bring that back to the public.

All right, let's go to the next item.

Thank you, Councilman.

Number four, veterans hero banners update. Councilwoman Souza, thank you so much. Um so it has been um quite some time since um there was any communication um regarding these veteran hero banners.

I know that the uh initiation of this came from our veterans committee um and was brought to the city and the city uh administration has through their um Andrea who is uh the contact person or um coordinator coordinator for our veterans um in the city has been working I'm sure very hard at um this project and I know that there have been uh a great uh interest and hundreds of um or at least a hundred

persons have purchased banners. Um my ask is um since I'm not getting a response through any emails or phone calls, um could you provide an update as to when these banners will be erect and if we have a due date because my understanding was I thought they would have been ready and up for the fourth celebration, but it it clearly has not.

Councilman, thank you. I I have an update for you here. Uh the banners have been ordered and the printer is shipping them to DPW. We received 108 orders in total. Uh we're still waiting on payment for 22 of the banners. Um everyone who has not been paid has already been contacted and those banners will be held until the payment is received by the city. Now once the banners arrive or DPW

will hang them between Roger Williams A, Bulocks Point A and Pucket A and they'll stay up through Veterans Day and come down for the winter and go back up in the spring. So we do expect them to be installed before the end of August and um we're waiting on payment and confirmation from several people. We only ordered the banners that were confirmed and paid for in advance and adding the rest later. The reason for

the delay is that the bulk order uh pricing that we got was due to the bulk order. We needed to make a bulk order before we placed it. So that's why we had to wait on the payments. So that's uh part of the delay.

So can you just repeat the streets that they're going to be um installed on?

Roger Williams A, Bulks Point A, and Pucket A.

Can you um identify where Pucket A goes from Rumford to Riverside?

I can send that over to you after the meeting just because some of the options didn't include there were senator there was Warrenav and Tortonav that were um options for for people to put their flags up but I didn't hear that mentioned. So are we not doing it on those? Has that been taken off the table?

I will double check with the team and get back to you. Um if you call me tomorrow or email me, we can we can uh review that.

All right. So, if I email or call you tomorrow, we can have a more detailed discussion.

I could get more details. Yeah.

Um, and then you said that we have not received those banners or did we receive it this past week?

We've received 108 orders in total and we're still waiting on payment on 22.

Um, and they will be up by August.

So, the if I can interrupt you, so that means 86 have paid for them, right?

Yeah.

So, can those go up while we're waiting for the 22 that haven't paid? Those are being shipped out to DPW currently.

Okay. So, the whole group will come in together. Okay.

So, DPW has not received any of the banners.

I just want to I just want to make it very I mean I give my update. I we'll double double check with the more specific issues here. If I'm understanding and in running a business, we did the right thing. There was people had to pay for it and you got to x amount, whatever the quote is from the printing company, that's when they were generated. You're not going to do f, you know, five at a

time, five here, 10 here. So, I think I think I'm hearing that is one of the issues. Uh, but if you can update us, it would be good because I know I have people in my ward that did it.

I I can see the point as far as with printing companies that you know when you do your initial you're locked in so you might have had to wait for 50 or 60 to get the right price to get it going. So I think that yeah also cash and check is just very slow.

Uh since then since we started this process um we've actually been able to come up with a new way of payments moving forward that would be digital and online. So hopefully we don't have that kind of delay in the future.

Yeah. I'm just concerned that if these 20 odd decide not to or prolong it longer, it's not fair to those who have already purchased. You know, there must be a minimum that we had to purchase. Um because no one knew how many would be interested, right? In We did have a lot of interest. Yes.

Right. But nobody could predict the number that would be interested.

Exactly. Yeah.

You know, so we we've have to there must be a number that we can start in production. Okay. I'll uh I'll reach out tomorrow for better update. Thank you.

Okay, next item.

Number five, pedestrian crosswalk Warren Avenue. Councilwoman Souza.

Thank you. So again, just following up on the um two crosswalks in on Warren Avenue, one um that is adjacent to Lions Avenue and the other that is adjacent to 7th Street.

So DPW is working on this right now. um including the crosswalk signal. U I have to reach out to Dan and get more of a current timeline on that. Um the details that were in the docket. U if you just want to follow up with me tomorrow, we can I can reach out to Dan and get some more information on that.

So it's just the same questions I've been asking probably for six months.

When when what's the issue with getting those crosswalks up and walking up and working? Is it something that we've I know the one on uh Broadway across from the fire station probably took nine months to order one part that was missing that was needed to be replaced before that crosswalk that pedestrian light could work. So is it because there's a structural issue that they're not working? Do we need to replace the

whole thing? Is it because we need to work with you know the state? Is that is that apparatus belong to the state?

There's most likely a long technical issue that I don't have the ability to give you right now, but I will check with Dan and and we'll get that information over to you tomorrow.

I can reach out to him tomorrow. Yes, just because this is again a it's been since the school year. So, I appreciate you saying that you're going to get back to me and talk to Dan, but when are we going to have an answer? Like that's and the answer is not just for me, right?

It's it's for the public. We have children who had their parents had reached out because those that's a bus stop in that area. The kids are crossing that busy road and not having a functioning crosswalk during the school year. Now we're in the middle of the summer primarily. We have a pretty soon they'll be back to school again and we're going to still not have a functioning crosswalk that I've asked

numerous times, not to you specifically, so I'll give you grace on that, but to this administration um of not having it taken care of. I mean, these are safety issues and, you know, we we spend money on this safer walking and, you know, bikes and how are we supposed to move the city forward with pedestrian walkways and bike paths if we can't even get our current infrastructure working

for what we already have before we build new things.

We'll definitely address this. Um, I appreciate you bringing this to our attention, Councilwoman. Happy to talk about it later this week.

All right. We'll put this back on the docket if it's not answered. If you could just make a side note for that.

Thank you.

Next item.

Request speed monitoring on Burgess Avenue from Juniper to Parkway.

Councilwoman Souza.

Thank you. So as uh uh the been mentioned already, speeding um in the city is always a concern and an ongoing challenge uh for neighborhoods and uh major thoroughways throughout the city.

Um more recently a resident had reached out regarding Burgessav which is a very long um street in the center of the city. Um, and uh on that street there's only one stop sign throughout that whole street. Um, and there's it's definitely used as a cutthrough from uh that neighborhood to get to the parkway or from the parkway to get to Warren Avenue. Um, so I had reached out already

to the DPW director and asked, you know, if we could look at that street as a whole and maybe there are a couple of locations that would warrant a stop sign to, you know, force people to stop, slow down before moving on to the next section to get through because it does border obviously our elementary school.

Um, the response from our director was that stop signs aren't a calming measure for traffic or speeding. um that other measures may be used. Um, so I ask today if we can look into and report back what suggestive calming measures other than police patrolling um, we could use. U obviously the first thing that comes to mind and I certainly don't know what our inventory is like, but the flashing

speed sign um, is probably a good start to get on that road so that people can visibly see how fast they're going um, in that area. And then any other recommendations um that we can use would be greatly appreciated.

Councilwoman, I have a suggestion for you and you've served here the longest of all of us, but in my four years on this council, two police chiefs have been very cooperative. They have the mechanism to go out there and they almost look like a little like the garage door open. As they put them up, they monitor the traffic. It will tell you for a week's time. Uh, Chief Francis Con was great. Chief Repose has been

unbelievable. I I you I utilize this all the time in up in my ward. It's been very successful as far as what they have to what they have to do. That that should be where you that should be where you're starting. Then you have a basis to go to the DPW director. The report that this gives you will tell you that there's 700 cars went down this street in a week's time. It will tell you the

average speed going north, the average speed going south. Uh that's where you should reach out to first if there's a traffic issue with there. The traffic division's been unbelievable. On top of that, afterwards, I was, you know, driving in the neighborhood and I saw one of the police officers waiting on the side of the road after they had just done the study because they they knew it

was an issue. Our police department is valuable in and Chief Reposer uh is an advocate of, you know, controlling the speeds in the neighborhood. Uh, and also the new police cars that I asked, you know, and I'll say it again and we I asked for it and it got put into those cars where there's the radar and all of a sudden one of the uh social media butterflies comes out and says, "Rigo's

setting up speed traps. We can't win."

So, our police cars have the have the utilization to have the speeds both ways. But again, I got one of the, you know, one of the wannabe journalisms on uh one of the Facebook pages. Uh my wife shows it to me. He says, "Oh, watch out for speed traps in Rumford. People in my ward love that. Of course, this person doesn't live there, but that's where you should start off with is with the police

chief, and he'll definitely help you in a traffic division."

Thank you, council vice president, for your comments. So, as indicated on the um docket uh requesting speed monitoring for Burgess Aav from uh Warren Aav to Veterans Memorial Parkway, if you could pass that along please to the chief um because I can't directly uh ask him to do that personally. So, administration can do that. I greatly appreciate it.

To to the vice president's point, I I believe a a traffic study would probably be the best course here. Uh, so I will reach out to the chief and see request the traffic study be conducted.

Thank you.

Okay, next item.

Number seven, street light adjustment for better lighting in neighborhoods.

Councilwoman Soua, thank you. Um, so I I don't think this is specific just to my uh the the center of the city. Um, I think there might have been uh some suggestions throughout other parts of the of East Providence, but we do have very dark lighted areas um in communities and uh you know people are out sunset is a lot later since we have longer days towards the evening. So

the uh areas are dark um some areas darker than others. I know when uh the council allocated funds to repurch to purchase all new lighting throughout the city, there is the ability to dim in Brighton. Um, so if we could um I can get you get street names um to you and if you could pass that along to um DPW and see if we can uh brighten up some of the areas in which pedestrians are using

to walk or with like near parks, especially at night because people, you know, even though parks are closed, there are sidewalks, you know, along the parks that people use to get home or to walk their animals and they're very dark. Um, and so it does pause a safety issue um or concern, especially when there's been recent reportings of coyotes um throughout some neighborhoods. It's nice to be able to

see those things um ahead of time.

Thank you, Councilwoman. So, the the street lights are programmed to increase in brightness as the evening gets later.

Uh we set the levels to balance safety without avoiding light pollution. and we have to also manage energy costs. Um but yes, if you could give me some specific locations where there's some lighting concerns, um we can take a look at that for sure. And um we also need to consider the standards for bulb life. So we don't want to burn out bulbs either.

Um and the brighter the lights, the faster the burnout um and the higher the cost. So that's s sort of what goes into the formula when when balancing the uh light brightness.

Yeah. I think some of the um the reasons why there might be is obviously we're in full bloom of trees so the trees kind of cover the lighting which it would have been brighter or shown more lighting to the the sidewalks if the trees but we we love our trees so we don't want to get rid of our trees but I think it it does make sense to in some areas and I'll

provide you with those streets um in the community. So thank you.

Number eight, adequate trash reciprocals at public parks and bus stops.

Councilwoman Souza. Um, thank you. So, um, there was a a park, a couple of parks that I have reached out to regarding adding some trash cans. Um, I noticed that at the Martell uh park that they did add one to the dog park. it was missing um trash cans at that park and so there was a pile of dog bags there from people using the dog park. Um so I

thank DPW for dropping off um a trash bin there, but there could use another trash bin for the park area itself. Um again to avoid um excessive littering.

Um and then the um bus stops. I know at one point down um Twan Avenue and Warren Avenue, we did have uh trash cans in certain areas and then we did have them near bus stops. Um and those probably for eight years have been removed and I think it was said that it was a uh labor issue like they didn't have enough people working to do all the things that

needed to be done. So they kind of took that out because it was uh taking up too much um manpower. Um, but I think it's important, especially at the bus stops, if people are sitting there waiting to use the bus stop, that there's at least something there for them to throw trash instead of throwing it at the bus stop and then, you know, the bus stop belongs is the responsibility of um, Ripa and

I've never seen Ripa really come out and clean or pick up the trash at the bus stops. So, I don't want to put that on to the city of having the responsibility to have to clean our bus stops. Um, so yeah, if we could, you know, maybe Ripto wants or could put or work with the city to put um some type of trash bin at their bus stops to accommodate that. I

mean, we probably have a bigger problem with this the structures of the bus stops and them needing to be repaired more than having a trash bin there, but I think it's important to have enough trash bins at the parks throughout the city. Um, and I don't know how the pocks at the rest of the city are, if there's enough um, trash bins there, but um, I did reach out and they did at least do

one at that part. So, thank you, Councilwoman, for bringing this to our attention. Uh, RIPA is responsible for those bus stops. Um, we under their new CEO, they've been uh, very proactive. Uh so if you want to let me know which bus stops in particular are looking that have issues or any issues or trash please uh let me know.

Yeah.

And um we do first and foremost have a uh Aryan carry out policy aligned with the state policy in terms of dog waste or trash. Um and people uh it's their responsibility to carry and carry out.

Um and we have 44 parks. So we also need to balance um where we have the capacity to add more receptacles uh where in some unfortunately in some places where we've added trash recepticles uh people end up dropping all sorts of trash from their car and or even muffler pieces or alternators and do oil changes. So um we we need to balance uh personal responsibility as well as uh adding

additional trash recepticles in the hightra parks. Uh, and there are 44 of them. So, you just want to balance those.

Big belly ones at Kimbley and Rock work fantastic. I mean, and the field's utilized seven days a week and there's sometimes, you know, on Saturdays as games starting at 9 going all the way till 5 at night.

And thank God for the big bellies because before that they were uh it was an issue even with eight trash uh recycle bins and everything. But that's been a blessing. I mean, knock on wood, it didn't break this year like last year. So, uh, they definitely, uh, if we can get more, uh, grants to get more big bellies and along the pox, it would be great if, uh, Keith and the, uh,

planning department could come up and get us more grants on that. It would be an asset to everybody in the city.

Thank you all. Next item, public hearings ordinance for second and or final passes for discussion and possible vote.

Number two, an ordinance and amendment of chapter 16 taxation revises ordinance of the city of East Providence, Rhode Island, 1988 as amended entitled article 5 tax stabilization for qualified businesses is hereby amended by adding the following. Article five tax stabilization for qualified businesses in accessory dwelling units ADU summary new section 16-69 at SEC section the purp the purpose of

this amendment is to provide for limited tax stabilization for eligible accessory dwelling unit within the city and to encourage their construction introduced by council vice president Rico. So this is a public hearing. Uh we second passage. We did have a monthly discussion uh the first passage uh before we open it to the public. Council vice president, do you have anything new to add?

Uh thank you, Mr. President. So for those who might be watching the meeting and didn't watch the last meeting, this is for you have to be the owner of the property.

So you have have to be on record with the city. Uh you have to which means you have the homestead act. If the property is sold, the stabilization during that stabilization period that is that is lost.

And again, it it is only for residents who have the Homestead Act, not for businesses, not for private, again, not for uh a flipper who might have a couple of houses and looking to flip and add things on. it does not work that way. So again, uh I just wanted to address that issue that wasn't there. This is the way of helping with the housing crisis in the city, the state without having to

build on land that we don't we want to keep the pro, you know, the city as green as possible. It it it works two ways. This is for existing property. Uh again, I move passage. Thank you.

Okay. Before that, it is a public hearing. So, there's any other council comments or anyone here tonight wishes to speak for or against this?

Seeing no, no one, I'll close the public hearing. Any other council comments? Uh, there is a motion the floor by Council Vice President Rio.

I second the motion.

Seconded by Councilwoman Souza. All in favor? I I any oppose? Nay. And the motion passes uh 4 to one. Thank you all.

Thank you uh fellow council people for uh supporting this. This will definitely help the over 55 and also some younger families being able to uh afford houses as well as uh help keep their parents in close by to them instead of going to an assistant living place. It's it's a great thing. Thank you again for your support.

Thank you. Next item. New business.

Mayor Communications, Director of Policy and Constituent Services, Andre Herrera.

Good evening, members of the city council. Welcome again.

Thank you for having me. Uh we're going to start off with item one, appointment reappointment requiring council confirmation, the appointment of Jennifer Griffith to the juvenile hearing board for a three-year term effective July 7th, 2026 to July 6th, 2029.

This is a wonderful appointment. Is there a motion?

Motion to approve. Motion Councilwoman Souza, seconded by Council Vice President Rio and Councilman Fogerty.

All in favor? I. Any opposed? The eyes have it. Uh, four is zero. Councilman Lawson had to step away for a second.

And uh, next number two, we have appointment reappointment not requiring council confirmation. There are none.

and three items for announcement or discussion. Update on Willlet A traffic pattern and the latest information from Ry Dot. I provided that earlier. And an update on the highly successful soccer in the city block party held on Saturday, June 27th. Just wanted to say what a wonderful event that was. Uh the soccer in the city block party was a great success. the community really turned out uh in strong numbers for a

full day of soccer, family activities, and local celebration. It was exactly the kind of positive, wellorganized event we want to see more of in East Providence, and that's some of the feedback we heard from residents. And I want to thank everyone who helped organize that. Uh and the volunteers and all the families who came out. Uh we want to build on this momentum for future events. Um, and we'll let you

know if there's a good another reason to celebrate. Please let us know and we'll continue the party. Thank you.

Thank you. Yeah, it went very well.

Next, uh, we have a proclamation honoring human resources director Dr.

Robert Perry as he leaves city hall to become the new superintendent of the East Providence School Department. Uh Dr. Perry will be sorely missed here in the city. He actually stopped by earlier in this council meeting uh because he wanted to thank you all uh for your amazing work.

Yes, Dr. Perry was here earlier and we appreciated him stopping by and we'll be seeing him shortly and his new role.

Continue.

Thank you, Council President. Uh, next we have a proclamation recognizing July 5th as Cape Birdie Independence Day in the city of East Providence.

Next, uh, we have a proclamation recognizing July as Disability Pride Month in the city of East Providence.

Next, we have a proclamation recognizing July 25th as Puerto Rico Constitution Day in the city of East Providence. And lastly, we have a proclamation recognizing July 28th as proving independence day in the city of East Providence.

Thank you all counselors.

And just to add to the uh celebrations we've had, I think that the Fourth of July concert and fireworks were um excellent once once again. I I saw many many people there and to a person they they were they were happy with it. And I I think the one of the best comments was from a young person who had been away for a while and was visiting and she she

said, you know, there was just such a nice feeling. there wasn't any uh heavy um conversations, you know, in a political way or obviously there was the politics in a good sense, people walking around saying hello, shaking hands, doing doing things, but it was all done in a in a light positive manner and it uh there was no trouble that I recall. I I see in the news the next day some

other neighboring cities did have some difficulties. That always happens when you get big crowds, but we really didn't have that unless there's something that happened I didn't hear about yet. So, uh, congratulations to the recreation department. Becky Chase did a wonderful job. Um, the mayor's staff um council did what we could. We provided some funding for more of the fireworks and

traffic seemed to move out in the end and it it was a good good celebration.

So, thank you. Next item.

Um, can you put me down as a yes for Jen Griffin's confirmation? Sorry about that.

Yes. Let the record show that Councilman Lawson. So, that that vote would be unanimous. 5-0 for Jennifer Griffith.

D. Resolution for discussion and possible vote. Number one, resolution authorizing the mayor of East Providence to enter into a contract with Road Red Oak Remodeling in the amount of $482,545 for the installation of exterior placement windows throughout City Hall.

introduced by council president Rodri.

So again, second passage uh was discussed at length at the first passage and just some necessary um work continuing to keep our public buildings in in good shape.

Move for passage.

Second. Councilwoman Souza moves passage. Seconded by the entire council.

All in favor? I I. Any opposed? The eyes have it. Next item number two, resolution authorizing the granty of granting of an easement to the Naransson Electric Company land situated on the southerntherly side of Mercer Street designated at lot one, map 17, block 22 for the purpose to provide power to the East Providence Police substation at Pierce Field, introduced by Council President Rodri. again

discussed at at length um prior and this goes back to our original plan when we've increased the activities at Pier Stadium. I was there the other night watching um grandson playing in the city wreck department basketball. Every square inch of that stadium was being used. The football field, the basketball courts, the uh splash pad was in full gear. And the idea of a police substation was I think a good idea that

we've all kind of agreed um will help to keep the condition of that of that complex. So this in order to do that we have to get an easement here with a little bit of the electric utility that's in the area but we'll we've already appropriated a go-ahad for this.

So, this will help facilitate that. And I would And where on Mercer is this?

At Pierce Stadium. It's sort of in the parking lot area. You'll see a little area with trees.

Mercer.

Well, Mercer is the street that Oh, I always think of down by Bold Point.

No. Yeah. Right. This is like forget it. Okay. Yeah. No, I'm absolutely in favor of this.

You Riverside kids, you know, you got to get your Mercer Streets and we we got Crescent View. I mean Chris and View will it and bullets point that I get that's all we need to know but seriously thank you for that councilwoman Souza moves passage seconded by Councilman Fogley Councilman Lawson all in favor I any opposed the eyes have number four resolution authorizing the mayor to purchase furniture and

equipment for the East Providence Community Center from WBM Mason in the amount of 1725 $539.75 funds were previously allocated OPA funds Congressional Directed Spending in the Rhode Island American Rescue Plan at Corona Virus Capital Projects Fund CPF grant funds. Introduce Council Vice President Rig.

Yes, Council Vice President.

Thank you. Um again, this is money that we've already allocated uh when we authorized the recreation community center being built.

Uh so this is just asking for the as Andy wrote down everything that was uh from WB Mason, all the equipment. Uh it's to go a little bit more. It's to go into the fixtures and all the equipment, tables, chairs, uh, as well as the exercise equipment for that amount of $172,539.

I move passage.

Yes. Question, Councilwoman Souza.

But just so I can clarify in my own mind, so we already, this is part of the funds that already went and we're just saying we're taking a PO just for WB Mason. Okay.

And the equip Yeah. And all the equipment and everything. So this is just, you know, just it's appeal for that.

Absolutely. That money's allocated.

There should be no more that we move towards that pile.

No. Yeah. This is just taking that out of that pile to give it 16 million total from all the sources.

Yeah. Okay.

So just so be clear, this money was previously allocated, but this was not part of the maximum guaranteed price from the contractor. This is other monies and because the contract is above $50,000. When I say other monies, it was part of the entire maximum guaranteed price. But because the this furniture was not part of that, you allocated monies for a maximum guaranteed price of whatever that number was. This is an

it's still part part of the same money, but it's outside of that scope and that's why we're approving it.

But it's again it's part it's part of the community center.

Absolutely. But it's part the funding source is there, but it's not part of the maximum guaranteed price. This is just paper, right? And and um the reason why we're doing this now is because we obviously need to get that in and opening by October. So, we want to get the order in so we can get the furniture by October and all the equipment so it's operational substantially complete by October 30th.

Okay.

Madame clerk, did you get the motion and second on that?

I got the first motion from Rio. I didn't get second.

All right. Second by Councilwoman Souza.

All in favor? I. Any opposed? The eyes have it. Thank you. Next item.

Adjournment.

Adjournment.

To adjourn.

Motion to adjourn.