East Providence City Council 8/11/26

Good evening. Call the meeting to order of the East Providence City Council, August 11th, 2026.

Summer is moving along.

Uh, Madame Clerk, would you please call the role of the council?

Councilman Fogerty here. Councilman Lawson here.

Council Vice President Rio here.

Councilwoman Souza here.

Council President Rogers here. The record show all five members are present.

Please rise for the pledge.

To the United States of Americ

I I would ask that we could please remain seated but I would ask for a a moment of of silence moment of silent reflection uh for the loss of our uh former assistant superintendent of schools and there are too many titles to list but a a gentleman who has been a mentor to so many uh families in East Providence uh who had just passed away recently. So if you could please observe uh just a brief

moment of silence for Dr. Isidor Ramos.

Thank you all. Appreciate that.

Madame clerk, uh before the executive session, uh we we have some proclamations. So, we'll we'll do that first so that we can have our young guests who are here today with their uh families. Uh, so we can do that uh right away and they don't have to sit here.

You're welcome to sit here with us all night long, but if I were you, I would get out of here as soon as um you get your awards. So, we we all know that in East Providence, uh, youth athletics is a a very prominent and a very important thing to our to our families.

And especially with the recent gains made by the young women in our city. Uh and it has been obvious at all levels from little league youth sports through resurgence in middle school softball with girls and of course our great uh high school program. So we are very fortunate to have as our banner says the 8 to 10year-old district champions for Rhode Island.

Now, there are four districts in Little League in Rhode Island. District two, which we are in, is the biggest, and it's no small feat that you young ladies came away with the championship of the entire district and just fell uh a little short going beyond that. So along with the city council and all five of us have been strong supporters of you have uh followed I was able to get to

portions of a couple of games and uh it was exciting and a lot of fun and you know lights are coming right hopefully uh very very soon.

So, what we are going to do, uh, Councilwoman Souza is going to assist me. We're going to go to the podium and as we call your name, we will give you, uh, this folder has two proclamations.

It has one and I'll I'll just read one so I don't have to read them all. I will just call your name. And in addition to us, um, Mayor Dilva has also included a a proclamation. So, you'll you'll be getting a couple.

Yes. As I organize this, uh, Council Vice President Regar, I I as well as Council President Rodri said, I saw you play a couple of times and you you definitely got a great potential as the years move up.

As you move up, there's great potential.

Having coached softball myself, you play very tenaciously and I'm a little biased, but you have a very great manager, coach. And John McGawan, the the only the only problem with John is he played baseball at Bishop Hendricken, but you play you you got you you girls play the way John plays the game and you play it right.

And please stick together and please stick with John because you will win that district every time every year moving up. That's what I wanted to tell you people. Congratulations.

Just let me organize this for a second.

one of so the proclamation uh from the city council will say and it'll have uh you know the nice city seal city of East Providence, Rhode Island.

On behalf of the city council, congratulations to the East Providence Central Little League 10U softball Allstars team winning the District 2 Championship. And we have your name here and all five of us have have signed it. Uh and similarly the mayor's proclamation uh we're we're we're a little concise.

He gets a little more wordy. So I'll just read this quickly. Uh certificate of recognition on behalf of the city of East Providence. It is with great pride that we present this certificate of recognition to and your name will be there. The East Providence Central Little League Allstar team.

Congratulations on an outstanding season. Your team went undefeated through the entire district tournament.

This something I forgot to mention. That was a big thing. Captured the championship with the victory over our rival neighbors Barington.

I They're still crying over the line in Barington over that one.

Your hard work, teamwork, and dedication represent the very best of East Providence youth sports. We are proud of you and your teammates. Uh, Mayor Dilva.

Okay. So, if you bear with us when we call your name, please come up to the podium and we'll councilwoman will hand you your certificate and then walk over here towards the front and face out [clears throat] your parents and folks.

And remember, smile because I think this will be televised also.

Okay.

Of course, the the first last name would be a little uh hard to pronounce and it's got this fancy script here.

Natalie Kova Rubius. Is that close?

Okay.

Isa Adams.

Isa. Sorry. Isa Isa. I should have known that because I watched you play.

Ab Smith.

Z Baldwin, Charlotte [snorts] Newberry, Nalia Lorero,

Maya Rivero, Celia McGawan, Hazel D. Rosa, Sophia Caniro, Victoria La Fountain, La Fontaine, Llaya Kelly, Cora Kelly, Olive Tutill.

You don't want my notes from the meeting. All right.

And how about Coach John McGawan?

Coach Mike Kelly.

Mike make it.

Not here. You want to get it for Mike?

Oh, come on out.

You're a better coach than Mike anyway.

Coach Alli Burks, come on up. Stay up here with him.

and coach Mitch Baldwin.

Rich, why don't you come up and any other league officials want to join the group? And I think we're going to try to organize a picture.

Coach, you want to take these uh for those who couldn't make it?

Go up top.

Yeah.

Oh yeah. Get the banner.

Thank you very

much.

We love you guys.

And once again is not considered rude.

Uh we don't mind if you all want to head out and go home.

But thank you for being here tonight. We appreciate it.

Thank you.

Madame clerk, if you want to resume, I guess we'll start with the executive session.

Executive session. The city council of East Province may meet in executive session pursuant to Rhode Island general laws 42-46-582.

Number one, city council to meet to approve or deny a sewer abatement for 77 Allen Avenue based on city ordinance section 17-183.

Well, we'll uh this will be one quick item. So we can go into executive session. We have to go into executive session. Is there a motion to Motion to go into executive session?

Motion by Councilwoman Souza.

Seconded by Councilman Fogerty. All in favor? I. The eyes have it. We will be right back. This should be quick.

to return into public session.

Second.

Seal the minutes.

Motion by Councilwoman Souza to return in public session. Seal the minutes of executive session. Seconded by Councilman Fogerty. All in favor?

I. Any opposed? The eyes have it. Next item. Madame clerk, consent calendar, council journals regular meeting minutes July 7th, 2026 and July 28th, 2026.

Cancellation and abatements $26,17264.

Letters notice of new property numbers 240 Becca Avenue, East Providence, Rhode Island 02915, map 513, block 32, parcel 001.10 10 26 Spring Street, East Providence, Rhode Island, 02915, Map 513, Block 49, Poshel 001 1 23 Paddle Ford Avenue, East Proidence, Rhode Island, 02915, map 311, block 12, parcel 013.10.

Motion, Mr. President.

Question. Yes.

And please.

Yes. Yes. Um, pursuant to state law and compliance with um, state Rhode Island general law 3614-61, I hereby recuse myself from participating in any discussion or taking any official action related to said matter regarding section B, cancellations abatement for tax exemption correction at account R034650-00.

um undertaken any discussion um in the public matter.

So let's thank you. So noted let's move approval then of the consent to count calendar counter A and C and the abatements other than the one that she just read and then we'll remove that baitment and then she can recuse herself and we're voting motion to accept A and B.

Oh A and C and C. I apologize.

A c I second motion. Councilman Lawson seconded by Councilman Fogerty to approve.

A and C and and the uh abatement that abatements everything other than the abatement that she just read.

Correct. That's your motion and second.

All in favor?

I. Any opposed?

The eyes have.

Okay. No. Thank you.

I'll make a motion to accept item B under abatements.

Hold on one second.

Hang on a second. Let the councilwoman vacate the deis.

Going to go by the letter of the law.

Motion.

Make a motion to accept item B.

Yep. Second.

Motion by Councilman Lawson, seconded by Councilman Fogerty. Item B under consent calendar. All in favor? I. Any opposed?

The eyes have you don't move that.

I want to slow you guys down.

Hang on a second. She returns.

She doing laps.

Continue. Madame clerk.

Licenses for discussion and possible vote. A. Non-public hearing special evented one-day entertainment license for Tara Mashado. Event address 79 near Avenue.

September 6, 5:30 p.m. to 10 pm, Labor Day party, live band. One day entertainment license, Michelle Cooper, prayer gathering with solo musician, 555 Waterfront Drive, East Providence, September 17th, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

One-day entertainment license, Keith Anderson, Near Ganset Terrace. Jetty acoustic guitar, 102 Riverside Drive, East Providence, August 29th, 2 PM to 5:00 pm. 1Day Entertainment License, PM Bird, Trinity Tabernacle, Inc. Community Festival, 251 Central Avenue, East Providence, September 13th, 11:00 a.m.

to 5:00 p.m. 1day entertainment license.

Deborah Se wedding community generated music 56 Uklid Avenue East Providence September 12th 400 pm to 12:00 a.m.

Special evented one-day entertainment license Lucy Fontaine family funday for children 60 Berkeley Street East Providence August 22nd 12:00 p.m. to 400 p.m. Day entertainment license, Lisa Cabraw. Ocean Grove End of Summer Family Gathering 99 Howard Avenue, East Providence, August 29th, 3 PM to 8:00 PM. Block party food truck event Natalie Kibb cow truck 151 North Burl Street East Providence September 6 3 p.m. to

7:00 p.m. Special event alcohol license Deborah Sears for the Sears wedding 56 Uclid Avenue East Providence September 12th 400 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. New Mobilebile Food Establishment, Arthur Evans, South County Barbecue. Owner's location 615 Condid Hill Road, Sound Saunderstown, Rhode Island. Reading only new Mobile Food Establishment, Gerorado or Rihanna A and E FS LLC.

Owner's location 83 Pawnell Street, Providence. New Mobilebile Food Establishment Reading Only, Christine Holden, Dukes Chicken and Waffles. 615 Condict Hill Road, Saunderstown, Rhode Island. New Mobilebile Food Establishment, reading only Matika Fana Casava LLC, 282 Webster Avenue, Providence, Rhode Island. Council President, I make a motion to bundle all non-public hearing licenses, A1 to A13.

Can I ask one question? The Sears wedding 55 55 UK. Is that a private residence?

Why do they need a alcoholic license? I can understand the entertainment because it's a party, but why they need a liquor license?

I don't know if they're something they applied thinking they had to. I mean, I'm going to approve, but I just Was it something Andy Wei told them they had to do or was it just It was approved through the um the licensings um collect I mean maybe they applied for it not but if it's a private resident I'm not understanding why they need uh permission to have alcohol at their own wedding

payment license. Yes, the alcohol license. I mean, that's coming to your house and serving beer, wine, spirits.

They don't need to apply for that. So, if Debbie applied and she got charged for a liquor on one day liquor permit, we need to reimburse her for that because that's not right being on a private residence.

It doesn't indicate whether or not if she hired an individual bartender or not. But even if you hired a bartender, you're not charging under this type of organization sole proprietorship.

So we got a meeting before September 12th.

So we we can just approve this and if there's a rebate and Yeah. All right. Yeah.

As long as no one's against it.

Let's just approve it, move it along, and then if there's a rebate allowed, then we'll we'll make sure they they get re rebaited for the permit fee. So the motion is to bundle all of the One more question.

Items. Yes sir.

Three food trucks readin. They were operating before we come before the council.

Believe that was part of the uh food truck festival that was that we had un trucks at at Bull at was it at Bullpoint?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Two of them are actually for this week and there's no other there was no other time to put them in. So we actually requested it from council president the day that they needed.

There's no other meeting. Hold on. And I can tell you exactly.

There's a meeting tonight.

This one was actually for August 11th.

It was originally was supposed to be in the meeting for August 4th and it it was placed but it was approved to be on July 9th. That was why this was a readin.

Okay.

So it was approved on 79 by council president.

Okay.

That's fair because we moved the meet.

We moved the meeting. I understand the meeting.

We were supposed to be here August 4th and because national night we had to move. Okay.

And the other one was also the same thing. It was approved on August 5th because of the meeting was removed.

Yep. Okay.

And yes, that's and we we had moved the meeting because of the police night out.

Just want of clarification.

Is there a second to the motion?

Second that.

Second by Councilman Lawson, Councilman Fogerty. This is for the bundle of all of the items. All in favor?

I. Any opposed? The eyes have it.

Motion to approve non-public hearings A1 to A13. Motion Councilwoman Souza A1 through A13 seconded by Councilman Lawson and Councilman Fogerty. All in favor?

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

Communications. Any person who submits a communication to the council and wishes to speak on it must indicate this in writing no later than 400 p.m. the Thursday prior to the next regularly scheduled council meeting. Person who lists more than one topic on this communication will be allowed to speak on the first one listed. Nancy Hail discussion on NY's volunteer report progress in Riverside.

[snorts] Nancy, welcome.

Thank you.

I'm going to go really quick because um just a name and address for the record.

Nancy Hail, 889 Bulocks Point Avenue, Riverside, Rhode Island 02915.

Um, I began coming to city council meetings with concern for public safety.

Um, it's been about four years.

I I would like to report great progress on some of its traffic and speeding issues uh in between the carousel and Crescent Park area with more people stopping at the twin stop signs that were put there.

Um I'm going to go really quick just to say there's been great progress. neighbors, individual neighbors have done more to clear away uh hedges and things that decrease um line of sight. The police department has done a lot of things to uh ensure that there's not what used to be the kamicazi cars driving into homes.

Okay. So, um there also has been progress uh with um I said more people stopping. There's one area that still is a problem with people coming out uh northbound on Bulocks Point Avenue too fast and maybe some work with crosswalks, but basically um you know all good and a lot of progress and it's kind of good to do it in sections to see what you know how much you really do need to do and how much

people will can do for themselves.

Um, I've I've helped out in that way by even talking to uh pizza delivery places, letting them know that pizza is extremely important and people are very hungry, but it's not worth uh, you know, any kind of accident. You don't really need to go 30 miles an hour.

So, um, that has helped. And every time I order the takeout food, which is a lot lately because I'm not driving, but, uh, you know, I tell the delivery people to have their all of their drivers, you know, go slow and abide by all traffic laws.

Another thing that came up while I was um out in my yard doing yard work, actually some of the things that were happening maybe three or four years ago, the 18wheelers are not happening anymore. So that's I don't know how that got uh handled, but you know, I'm not seeing them like try to back up Bulocks Point Avenue headed for the carousel going in reverse. And you know I I'm glad I'm not driving that

thing. So um also the next you know thing that I have been working on is the awareness of litter trash mostly plastic. We have Urri has studied uh the naransson bay in areas. There's a lining of plastic which is of course not good for kahogs, lobsters, periwinkles, any of those little things that live on the bottom. They can't live in plastic. They can't eat plastic. We have plastic in our bodies.

So, um, you know, I started buying glass straws, and I don't recommend the glass straws.

They break, but there's some sort of reusable straws that are um I don't even know what they're made of, but they're really good because they're a little bit flexible. I didn't have time to get one in my bag now, while I've been out using. And so I do think that we as people who live in the city of East Providence need to do much much more about getting plastic and litter and dog

dew and all that kind of stuff. We need to take care of that ourselves so the Department of Public Works can do big projects that will help us move forward through climate change e more easily.

Um, we've had Nancy, I want to thank you. When you came in years ago, when you came in front of us four years ago, one of the first items that you talked about was the bus stops down on Bulocks Point Avenue and that area. And you took it upon yourself to Oh, I I if I'm using it upon yourself to, you know, clean it and I appreciate that and what you just said about doing

community service and that's what you're doing. I want to commend you for that.

Right. But I'm not the only one who can do it is what I'm saying. And we need I agree with you. We need we need to get more people like you to do that.

We need people out, you know, uh respecting the bay and cleaning up the litter and taking care of our land. And therefore, the Department of Public Works doesn't need to be like putting trash cans all over the place and um trying to deal with litter. Um, I believe the Department of Public Works needs to be out there taking care of parks, land, trees, uh, and really needs to be prepared for more disasters. I

think we had like at least two weather events last year. The we had something like a tornado in front of my house on July 3rd, 2025, and it took a year for these uh, limbs and and trees to be completely um, cleaned up out of the south end of Crescent Park. And I have never ever seen a Department of Public Works employee sit on a bench, smoke a cigarette, have a cup of coffee, hang

out, and take a break. These people work very hard. Um, so that's for the Department of Public Works. And we also have an award-winning snow plowing uh uh whatever it is. I think the same people I don't know how they do it but they do a great job and they did a great job with the blizzard of 26.

Yeah, that's the right year. Okay, thanks Nancy. Could you wrap it up a little bit?

Um then yeah, but um this is the third and there's more but I will put it in writing. It doesn't really need to be Well, you can finish on just what I'm trying to say is it isn't just me. We all need to do these things.

every single one of us. And then we won't need to pay more taxes for more uh people to tell us not to speed, to give us tickets, speed cameras, and Department of Public Works, you know, cleaning up after us. It's it's really uh really unnecessary.

Um the latest thing that's going on everywhere, I don't you know, all over the place in Rhode Island is the lantern flies. Um, I met with Andre Herrera on Friday um to discuss three things, but we were able to discuss the the lantern flies.

And of course, um, everyone well, people may know the lantern flies by the the the beautiful pictures of the patent leather spider looking thing with black and white uh, spots. They jump, they bite, they eat wood, they will live in hydrangeas.

Um, they eventually get putty colored wings and they fly all over the place and their biggest economic and agricultural impact will be on orchards, apple orchards or sakana vineyards. Um, grapes, they go for fruit. They suck the sap out of uh woody woody kind of plants like hydrangeas and um maple trees which I have in my yard now.

You can try and catch them which I have and I freeze them like I did with fruit flies in college. They go to sleep and they won't move. They won't bite you.

They are hard to catch at that stage.

The there's two stages. I think they're called nymph, you know, young and old is sort of like a 10-year-old and a teenager. The the the first stage are the tiny teeny tiny they are black with white spots.

I I just want to ask you to wrap up.

Yes.

This is a communication, so it's not a threeminut limit. And I'm going as fast as I can go. I'm going as fast as I can go without sounding like Yeah. No, I'm giving you a lot more than three minutes.

This is not public comment. This is communication. So, you have a chance.

I get it. I just want you to Well, I I can't go quicker than I can go. All right. I I can't I can't speak any faster.

So, um what I'm going to get to the end of it right now. Okay. What we really need to be aware of and a public education and Andre said he's going to put out a public service announcement.

Since they're hard to catch and they'll ruin your yard and they'll take out trees, the best way to get rid of them is when they are eggs in an egg mass. So to know what that egg mass looks like and to be get rid of it next springtime will help. Um the egg mass looks like a putty colored um maybe like a shoe um size putty thing. I I saw one. I didn't

know what it was. because I thought it was some weird mushroom fungal thing. It was on wood chips.

The they they will put um these egg masses on the side of trees uh or in wood chips because the little babies when they hatch, they eat wood. So, what would you do if you were a mother? You would put your eggs right near the food that the babies need to eat. So if we get rid of the egg masses, that's the easiest way and that would avoid using whatever chemicals and home remedies

people are trying to do to get rid of these things. So um ordinarily I wouldn't recommend killing anything, but we have been told by the department of environmental management that's what we are supposed to do with these things. So I guess that could be the end of it for tonight.

Thank you, Nancy.

Thank you, Nancy.

If anyone wants to see the bugs frozen, I have them.

Paul Rodriguez, Paul, police detail employment.

What happened to be?

What? What happened to be?

I'm sorry. I I spoke to him and um I talked with Chief Carrie and I relate to him uh information. So, he's not going to be here tonight. I already dealt with the issue.

Good evening. Paul Rodriguez, 166 Fort Street.

Welcome.

Thank you. I am not going to talk about lantern flies. Um good evening. Thank you for allowing me to speak, council persons and fellow townies.

Um, I'm going to be as brief as I can.

Um, as you know, or if you don't know, I've been trying to work details and I've been, I guess you could say, blocked. I sent an email to all council persons and everyone of you has responded to me, whether it be uh by phone or email or text message. So, I thank you for that. But, if I may, I'd like to read said email that I sent to all of you to my fellow townies.

Please.

Dear council members, I hope you are doing well. I am writing to ask your assistance because after months of trying to resolve this matter through the appropriate channels, I have been unable to obtain a clear answer or even a response regarding my ability to return to police detail work.

I underwent my second total knee replacement in December of 25 and was medically cleared by my orthopedic surgeons to return to work in April of 2026.

Since then, I have completed every requirement asked of me. I submitted all newly required applications and was advised by the human resources department that I was quote unquote all set and was also informed by the East Providence Police Department patrol commander that I was all set. Yet nearly four months later, I remain unable to work details and not have been given a single explanation as to why. Over the

past several months, I have made every reasonable effort to resolve this matter. I visited the mayor's office on three separate occasions and spoke with a member of his staff who assured me that the mayor would contact me. That never happened. I sent two emails copying the chief of police and received no response. I even sent the mayor a text message because the mayor and I went to the police academy together and

we graduated in 1992.

That message went unanswered. I requested nothing more than 5 minutes of the mayor's time to receive an explanation. An appointment was scheduled by me for on a Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. only to be cancelled the afternoon before, less than 24 hours, due to a scheduling conflict. I was then offered another appointment nearly 3 weeks later, which conflicted with a previously scheduled vacation. To date,

no meaningful effort has been made to address this issue.

What I find most troubling is not simply the delay, but the complete lack of communication. If there is a legitimate reason why I cannot return to work details, then I deserve to be told what that reason is. If there is an issue that requires my attention, I should be informed so that I can address it.

Instead, I have been met with silence despite repeated repeated attempts to obtain an answer. I proudly served the city of East Providence for many years and retired after a distinguished career. I'm not asking for special treatment, favoritism, or exceptions. I am asking to be treated with the same fairness, professionalism, and respect off afforded to every other retired East Providence police officer who is

eligible to work details. It is difficult to understand why civilians and officers from officers from other communities continue to work details throughout our city. while I, medically cleared a retired East Province police officer who has completed every required step remain unable to do so without an explanation. At this point, I respectfully request your assistance in helping bring this matter to a

resolution. I believe it is reasonable to expect an explanation, timely communication, and fair treatment. If there is a decision preventing me from returning to work, I would appreciate knowing who made that decision, the basis for it, and what process exist to appeal or resolve it. Thank you for your time and consideration. I look forward to your response and sincerely hope this matter can finally be resolved.

Respectfully, Paul Rodriguez, retired East Providence Police Department. And I should have said that was July 10th at 2:49 p.m. I put myself on the council docket. I believe I will tell you right now because let's see that was I put myself in the council dock at July 29th at 10:04 p.m.

time stamp from the clerk's office and on August 5th I received an email. I don't know if you do you do you have the email I got from HR? Do you all have it?

No. Well, what do you know? I have copies. Let me if I may.

We can share.

That's fine.

So, if I if I may read the uh the email which I subsequently also got by uh in the mail as well uh dated August 5th, 2026 to my address. Dear Mr. Rodriguez, this letter acknowledges your request for employment as a retired officer in the traffic detail division of the department. As noted in the application that was submitted by you, final approval of employment is made by the mayor in coordination with the chief of

police. Upon review of your work history, incidents, and interactions with the police department and its officers, and input from the chief of police, the city has decided not to continue with your application process or offer you opportunity for an employment. Thank you for your interest.

Diego Jones, director of human resources. So, if I may, as I look at this, a couple things jumped out at me.

My history, my work history. Okay. I was hired here in 1994.

Born, raised, schooled, still live here.

Obviously, I was a transfer from the North Providence Police Department because I wanted to come home because I'm a towny like many of us are. Okay.

So, uh my history, let's see. I don't know. Um what else is there? How? Well, let me just put this up. My history.

Let's see. 2006 presented to school resource officer Paul Rodriguez on this the 9th day of May 2007 in recognition of his dedication to the East Province police and school departments.

You and I worked hand in hand, did we not? On several occasions, Mr. Rodri, we certainly did.

Yes, we did. Thank you for that. This is the last badge that I had. Award board.

Most of these I I honestly don't know. I know one's the chief's award. Uh the number two is for offduty life saving cuz uh on two separate occasions I administer administered CPR and I was I had I was two wins on that. The number three I think is a unit citation these two accommodations. I don't know. So um that's my history incidents.

The last incident I had was when someone broke into my house while I was home in 2022.

And um needless to say, the response from the patrol officers was outstanding.

Moving forward, uh the investigation was horrific. Um the detective division did absolutely nothing. Here we are now almost four years later. still waiting on a call back from the juvenile detective because they apprehended the young man who decided it was a good idea to kick my door in and break into my house. So, I don't know. Um, and as far as interaction, I retired in 2015.

That's a long time ago. If my math is correct, that's 11 years ago. I don't even know many if any of these police officers. So, I don't even know what interaction that means. But as a proud retired police officer, I am not happy.

Now, because I'm not good with the computer, in closing, and I had to do this on my phone, so I I apologize. I want to read this. In closing, I just want to thank you, the council members, and fellow townies for allowing me to address all of you this evening. I have always been one of those people who even into my 60s spoke to my dad and asked for advice. My dad also worked for the

city, worked at the DPW as a central central garage superintendent 30 years.

My dad was rather quiet, unlike myself, but always was great when it came to needed advice. When my dad learned of this detail situation, he told me, and I quote, "Paul, someone is blackballing you and discriminating against you. You don't tolerate this. Insist on answers."

Okay? Not thinking this was going to be a big issue, I kind of let it go away.

On Thursday, August 6th, my 91year-old dad fell and broke his hip. Surgery, hospital, etc. Concentrating on his health was my main objective.

He would occasionally ask about my situation. My answer was always, "Yeah, Dad, I'm working on I'm working on I'm working on it." I shouldn't even be here tonight to be totally honest with you because remembering my dad's words, don't tolerate this. Tonight, I remember him and his advice as we prepare to lay him to rest later this week. Dad, I will never forget.

There you have it, folks. Somebody explain this to me.

Well, let Thank you, officer. Hang hang on a sec. Um, why don't you hold questions till we've we finished? I want to get a rebuttal from unless I just want were you doing details after you retired?

I Well, yes. I retired in 2015. I worked at the DPW for a short time. Then I drove truck for a little bit and then I came back and I worked details up until 20 2020 2021 and then I took a job with a construction company and I was in the labors union for 5 years recently retiring uh last November. Yeah.

So you had been a traffic control officer retirement.

Absolutely.

And you have to reapply to do that?

I've never heard of that.

Oh, okay. I didn't either. That's why I'm asking. No, I don't think I of all the retirees I've talked to, I've never heard of such a thing.

Okay. So, thank you, uh, officer, and I do recall those times we worked together at our high school. And sorry to hear about your dad.

Thank you.

He was, uh, certainly a fine gentleman. I was glad to have have known. So, as as you know, and you and I have talked a little bit, um this is council does not hire traffic officers, police, doesn't mean that we don't want to be involved and get to the bottom of this cuz we do. So, I asked the mayor said you need to respond and I believe he is going to send his

his um someone from his administration here to respond. So, before any of us comment, I would ask him, is it Matt?

Are you going to respond if you could come forward and speak? Thank you.

And just identify yourself. No, why don't you stay up front here? You can sit in the front if you want to sit. Um, uh, my name is Matt Paddock. I'm the director of communications for the city of East Providence. I want to say good evening everyone and thank you to the council for giving me an opportunity to address Mr. Rodriguez's concerns. As a former journalist, I've always believed

that it's important to address any situation solely on factual information and context, keeping opinions and biases out of the equation. Blanketed statements and false narratives do nothing but divide a community and create confusion and disruption. It has always been this administration's belief that we do not share human resource and employment matters in the public spotlight. But following a recent video

that was shared in the public eye, we felt that it was important to address this issue. I provided the city council with a retired officer employment application where it clearly states that final approval of employment is made by the mayor in coordination with the chief of police. So, um Andy is going to pass that around right now. Now, I would like to take a moment to address the concerns

that both Mayor Dilva and Chief Reposa have with the employment of Mr.

Rodriguez in the detail division. Prior to the city of East Providence moving to a mayoral form of government, the city continued to find themselves embattled in negative light from past city leaders, including several large settlements on the dime of the East Providence taxpayer. Mayor Dilva's concern with hiring Mr. Rodriguez is because one of those settlements and the hiring practice involved with Mr.

Rodriguez to the Department of Public Works just days after his retirement from the police force. That settlement in regard to the Rhode Island Fair Employment Practices Act and the Rhode Island Civil Rights Act cost East Providence Taxpayers over $150,000 after it is alleged he was given the employment opportunity over two minority individuals that were next in line for the position. Additionally, Chief

Michael Reposa had concerns of his own, dating back to an incident at Mr.

Rodriguez's home where a group of underage children were fooling around and playing ding-dong ditch. Now, that game quickly took a turn for the worse when the door when the door to his home opened. Now, although Mr. Rodriguez was in a heightened emotional state because his door was quote kicked in, the concern of the police department comes from the comments that he made to officers on scene that night and his

judgment in the moments that followed.

It is important to note that this incident happened before our department had implemented body cameras and those concerns come from the officers still on the force today who responded that night. Now, lastly, the city of East Providence is home to an incredibly diverse community. East Providence is home to one of the largest Portuguese and Cape Varian populations in the United States. We have a proud Irish

culture and a growing Indian population along with so many other nationalities represented throughout this city. It is more important now than ever that all those who call East Providence home feel safe where they live and that they feel as though when they need them the most, our police department will be there to support them. And it is the administration's stance that all forms

of racism and bigotry simply will not be tolerated. Following a social media video that made the rounds on July 28th, East Providence police officers who were working a very serious federal investigation, which was not ICE related, recognized the individual as someone who had interjected themselves into an active police investigation, directing inappropriate comments towards the individuals involved in the traffic

stop. while officers were actively performing their duties. I would like to now turn to that body camera footage from June 17th of this year. This will play on the monitor for all of you.

I'll um I'll quote it for you. That video is all set. Now, just to be clear, it was identified by police on scene that Mr. Rodriguez is saying, quote, "Stay out of East Providence. We don't want you explicitive here." The individuals pulled over by police while matching the description of the individuals police were looking for in fact were not those who police were looking for and were let go in this

particular situation. I would like to show you a screenshot from one of the individuals pulled over and their response to this interaction. The photo is uh attached as well.

That's the one right there.

That's from the individual who you screamed the exploive at out the window.

I can get you a officer. You want a copy of this? You can.

Okay.

Now, um, it reads, quote, "Wrongfully detained by EP police in handcuffs. Some D head drove by and yelled, GTFO East Providence, we don't want you here. I was let go and apologized to, but I hand with the B executive that drove by and yelled that Sexecutive." In a memo from Chief Reposa to Mayor Dilva, Chief Reposa saying, quote, "The consistency of the observations made by both the

responding officers and the reviewing supervisor reinforces that Mr.

Rodriguez's conduct was perceived as inappropriate by multiple members of the department and was inconsistent with the level of professionalism expected during an active law enforcement investigation.

The East Providence Police Department holds all employees, both sworn officers and civilian personnel, to the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, judgment, and decorum. While I appreciate Mr. Rodriguez's years of dedicated service to the city of East Providence and recognize his contributions during his career, this most recent incident raises significant concerns regarding his judgment and

professionalism. His decision to stop his vehicle, insert himself into an active police encounter, and make inappropriate remarks remarks is inconsistent with the expectations we place upon individuals who represent this department in any capacity. For those reasons, I do not believe Mr.

Rodriguez's recent conduct aligns with the values, professionalism, and standards of behavior expected of an employee or a potential employee of the East Providence Police Department and believe this incident should be given significant consideration in evaluating his suitability for employment as a traffic control officer.

Okay, hold up. U Matt, I I appreciate you. I want to stop this at this point.

Uh I I think you've made your point, the mayor's point. Uh Paul has uh certainly made his point. Paul, I'll allow you if you want to quickly answer, but I I really think at this time we've gone pretty far in the public realm and I would like to direct and unless the council tells me I'm wrong. Um if you Matt, if you could please ask for a meeting with the mayor. Mayor has to be

there. Um police chief, I'm sure chief who's here today. Uh, and you know, your name has been mentioned, chief. If you want to add anything, I recommend that you not at this point. Um, I I think this has been out in the public now.

We've heard we've heard a lot. I would give officer Rodriguez a chance to say some more. Um, but we're not going to solve this tonight, especially with a body that has no legal jurisdiction. I I I do want to remind the council this council has no role whatsoever in the hiring of anybody in the city other than setting ordinances and whatnot. So, and and the other issue is is that I just want to

make it very clear. Um we did institute a new policy I believe in March of 2026 after speaking with the chief that all officers retired or otherwise who want to be traffic control have to apply uh and they fill out the paperwork to do so. It does not mean they automatically get a job and there's a review period.

So that's the policy that has been implemented with the HR uh through the uh through the administration with the assistance of the chief.

Now he did apply, right?

He did apply.

Okay.

Officer, my question is this. Um yes, how many other retired officers, Mr.

Marcelo, have gone through the application process that I did?

I can't answer that question that I Hold on. Let me finish. I am aware after speaking with the chief that there are that there have been applicants that have applied who have not been selected to be on the traffic detail.

Okay, that's fine. So this this needs to be settled at a table with all the parties involved. Uh we have no jurisdiction. I will certainly attend if if you feel that uh council needs representation there. Chief, you were mentioned. I I don't want to shut you off. If you want to comment, you are welcome to. Otherwise, um are you amendable to a a meeting subsequent to tonight?

Absolutely.

I I I'm more than amendable to a to a meeting. I you saw my letter should be included with a packet that you received.

Yes. We just said that now. Yeah.

Some of it. So, okay. And and uh off officer, what was your rank when you retired? Officer corporal. So, I want to call you.

Corporal. Are you willing to try to sit down with the parties? I know you've already tried. I'm not asking. I'm asking is it too far gone? Do you want to Nothing is too far gone. Okay, this is absolutely ridiculous.

I went to the police academy with Bob Dilva.

I sent him multiple text messages.

I had a text message exchange with the chief who told me it's a new process. No one is no one is blocking you. That was false. I'm being blocked. This but it's actually now it's almost like not about the details. This is a character assassination as far as I'm concerned.

But that's okay. That's okay. And that's all I got to say. You all have a good night.

Thank you, sir.

And Chief, um, you want to wrap up?

Just make a quick comment. We have had other officers apply since March. Uh, two other officers have gone through the process successfully.

Okay. Well, I think we we were able to air this out as much as legally possible. I certainly don't want to turn it into anything more than it than it has been. It it's serious. And Matt, if you would please uh tell the mayor that the council wishes that he would um convene a meeting with the the parties involved. This could have all been avoided if he had the courage to meet

with Paul in the first place. This didn't need to go public and make EP look bad.

But uh let me say too, I support Chief Reposa's assessment a thousand% too. So I I think it's important that we move on.

Yep.

Okay, thank you all. Thank you in the audience for your patience. And uh madame clerk, could you please call the next item?

Public comment.

Jen Kenny Tree Commission.

Push the button. There you go. Hi, thanks for uh having me. Um you've seen me as a member of EP Urban Forest, but I'm also the vice chair of the East Providence Tree Commission. And um very quickly, as you know, the city has made a lot of investments over the years uh for tree planting. We got a really nice uh federal grant. Um you know, we've been doing a lot of tree maintenance.

There was a public uh volunteer to do a tree inventory. Uh at one point uh the city council allocated I think $25,000 uh for trees. I I'm not sure if that is was kept but um but the the tree commission has uh decided to uh we're supporting a resolution being put forth by Anoua uh to please support um we need uh more uh budget for tree maintenance because because at this point for instance in

east in Ken Heights you put it we planted over 200 trees I do believe in this study and without tree maintenance uh given the the extreme heat that we're having, the extreme cold, they'll die. I mean, that is a so it it's a lost investment um and and it would seem that DBW uh particularly in in the summer has a lot of uh grass to cut and and and can't

give um the same people can't be doing the exact same thing at the same time.

So, it would be a loss investment. So, I'm just we're just saying please support this resolution. Uh we're going to keep pushing for it. If there's any way that um any of you want to come to a tree commission or if we can be a resource, please let us know. But I think it's becoming more and more clear every year that we need shade and we need the oxygen and we've made the

investment. So, it it's like any other investment. You wouldn't create a a playground and then let it rest. And that's what you're doing with these trees. So, um, you know, it's just simple math. So, we're hoping that in any way, um, but if we can be of a resource in any way to help with the numbers or the reasons why, uh, I hope you all got your notable tree calendar.

And, um, and please, uh, please let us know. All right, Jen. I think we got what they call the water buffalo, the portable watering tanks.

They do, but it seems like they don't have the staff to go out there and do it, which is a common thing we hear about people.

Yeah. Not just with the trees, but okay.

It'd be such a shame.

But we got the equipment. It's just a matter of Yeah, because I've seen trees we planted dying and maintenance is huge, too.

Because we have a really old tree canopy and and I guess, you know, we don't have enough people to you need to trim the trees so they don't fall on people's houses.

We've invested millions in our public spaces. We got to maintain them as we saw what happened to the bridge not being maintained.

Thank you. Thank you.

With unanimous consent, if I could ask the council um to move up my uh discussion items and under D resolutions number one requesting uh the DPW to take action necessary um steps in PL park planning, oh I'm sorry, resolution number two concerning further support of the tree pruning and planting project.

Yes, without objection, let's do that at this time. So we will move that forward.

U Madame Clerk, if you want to read that that item. Is it page six?

Yes.

Okay.

That's page eight.

Page eight. Okay.

Discussion and possible vote. Number two, resolution concerning further support for the city's tree planting and pruning program. Councilwoman Souza.

Thank you. Thank you, Council members.

Um, general public. So, um I had gone to one of the tree commission meetings last month and um to just get up to date on what was going on. There's been, as mentioned by Jen, a lot of growth um with our tree program. We had a lot of uh grants that the city worked hard to get and were awarded so that we could plant roughly over 500 trees over the

last few years, which was um a really amazing because we have a lot of um a lot of canopies throughout the city that are um not sheltered with trees. So we have a lot of hot spots um which makes the temperature rise in certain neighborhoods difficult um during these humid days for people to be out walking uh animals to be out walking. So um and know especially around the schools. Now,

the tree commission has also spent a lot of time and um money with some of this grant to do this tree inventory where they went out and every single tree was tagged and identified and there was a level of um pruning or maintenance that was needed. So, we have you know trees that are 50 plus years old and what condition are they in similar to what we have done with our city streets. So,

they are categorized based on their need for um maintenance. Um, we ran through all of the money for tree planting and maintenance in the general city areas.

So, the grant only allowed for certain areas within the city to be planted. So, they're uh primarily um in like school districts um or underserved areas in the community. So certain places in Riverside and Rumfort weren't able to have any of those trees planting off or tree planting unless the city had provided its own through the general fund or a capital improvement project.

So having had this discussion and realizing that we have a a lot of old trees. We have the birch tree that um is at Weaver Library that is now turned into an art project which was very sad that that tree had died, but it was a direct reflection of our inability to maintain one of our oldest and most beautiful trees in the city. We had recently on Broadway a tree that uh fell

a branch a huge part of the tree had collapsed um on the sidewalk which was dealled with with our DPW and then the remainder of the tree within the same week fell um almost on the entire home of the the resident um again because it was a tree that needed attendance and wasn't pruned or um cut down so that it would avoid that kind of an incident.

Um, so we have a lot of trees in the community that need maintenance. And then we have our new treelings that you can see throughout the community that have these bags that are at the roots.

And that's where Councilman the Water Buffalo is going around filling those um bags and that sustains watering for over a week or two. Um, we also have volunteers um in the intern program that have been assigned to that water buffalo truck who are going out and providing additional um assistance to try to get more of the trees or uh flower beds um watered so that we can have a nice

healthy vibrant city. Um one of the so in the uh ordin the resolution um it is seeking that the city come up with and work with the tree commission to establish a continuing line item to maintain prune and um mulch these trees. So it has been made aware that we're in a backlog so over three years. Um, and this is not just the inventory tree, but also the request for trees. So, anybody

in the community who has either called, emailed, or through the request portal put in, I'd like my tree cut down in front of my property because it's dead or branches keep falling. Um, or I want a tree planted in front of my home.

These are all adding up, right? And the city just cannot get to all of these requests. We have one aberist and one tree warden. So, in a city this large with this many trees and the continuous trees being planted, we need the city needs to come up with a plan to have an outside company come in and kind of get through this list and work with getting a plan in place. Trees don't need to be

pruned, especially mature trees, every year. They're just like any other garden. you you you prune it a certain way and then a couple of years later you go back and do some more pruning if you prune it correctly. If you know if you're a gardener then you would know stuff this kind of information. So I'm talking too much about things that people don't understand. But if you're familiar with gardening if you prune

things in a certain way it will grow the way it's meant to grow and then it reduces the risk of broken branches or things or the the plant itself dying and it has a better chance of living longer life. um without causing any issues. So in this it's a great idea. I have issues up in ward one as you talked about that I have people that want trees and obviously uh 02916 and Riverside 02914 communication

five excuse me um doesn't fit into the population dynamics that they talk about that fixes it. I I agree with you. I think this is really when we come to budget time, we take some of that capital. I think, you know, we can go get x amount of trees. I when I had a couple of people reach out to me, I was even going to go go buy them trees at Home Depot and hire a landscaping

company that'll put them in. what you're saying has a you know we can now get a landscaper it for the city and we have a lot of young people in the business that looking for work afterwards and then and they're not going to uh be like a major landscaping company or a tree company and charges a lot of money. I know I have like five or six young people up in my ward that have started landscaping

business the last five or six years.

They would love to go plant the trees and they're all quality. I think it's a great idea and I support you and move uh passage right away. And come budget time in that capital budget, we look for an opportunity in capital to allocate if it's $20,000 worth of trees or whatever the number might be that's justified, we do it. Thank you.

Just to be clear, thank you so much for that support. So just to be clear, this resolution, so budgeting, this resolution is actually for the general fund. So trees in the city are considered infrastructure just like our school buildings, just like our sidewalks. These are infrastructural.

They're living infrastructure. So you cannot allocate capital funds to to the infrastructure, but new planting of trees. Absolutely. I think that the city and I I've spoken with the DPW director and I've invited him to the tree commission meeting coming up that we would have a collaborative discussion to find out what the number is that we're going to need on a year-to-year basis

and maybe even a bianual. So, one year might be a little bit higher, the next year might be a little bit lower. But the tree commission has amazing members who are licensed aubberists for decades who know what they're talking about and know how to move our um tree inventory and tree infrastructure in the right direction. So I would ask that on passage of this that during the budget

workshops within the administration that there be serious conversation on allocating and looking to have vendors come in and help assist with this in the initial one to twoyear plan and then have a plan in place for an annual maintenance pruning and watering schedule.

So So that's what you're basically asking to mandate a discussion during budget. We're not allocating funds tonight. No.

Right. Is that a motion?

It is a motion seconded by council vice president Rigo.

Discussion.

I really like your idea of hiring our local landscape.

Yeah, that's fill the gap because every year we say we need more DPW.

Every year the mayor it might be an at will thing because that's what I'm saying. You're not worried about salary and benefits, but we can allocate some funds that we got this specialist that can identify what needs to be done. So that and then that would help local businesses. Our local that would be a budget discussion.

Absolutely.

Like I said in capital allocate X amount for trees, you know, to go and raise.

You just can't put people on.

It would be a predium basic just like we hire contractors to build.

Sure. All right. So we'll have that discussion. Motion and second. All any other discussion? All in favor? I I any opposed? The eyes have it. Thank you, Councilwoman. Next item.

Councilwoman made the motion. Council Vice President Migo seconded.

Yeah, we're back to um public comment. Candy sale.

Thank you for your patience, Miss Certainly. Certainly, Council President.

Uh, thank you, uh, Madame Clerk. Thank you, Council President. I have two topics tonight. One and a half minutes each. Um, the clock is running.

Okay. The first has to do with the um hotel situation.

um the the permitted use or the non-permitted use of a hotel in the metaccommic subd district. As you know, it was um inadvertently added or not taken out of the metaccommic subdist description in the zoning ordinances, although it it is not a permitted use in the table of uses. So, um, by the way, my cand my name is Candy Seal and I live on South Rose Street and I'm speaking right now for keep it keep

metamic green. Um, I came to you several months ago with this issue. Um, then I came back couple of months ago and you jumped on it and I took action immediately. Uh, unanimous consent. You asked the solicitor, the city solicitor to contact the planning department. He did that. The planning department wrote up a memo went immediately to the planning board. The planning board unanimously approved it. They called it

a scrivenerous error. Uh we had called it here a housekeeping issue. Um they amen unanimously approved it. It came back here and I hope that it's a simple matter and it will be unanimously approved later on tonight. Uh I think this was an excellent example of the public and elected officials coming together to resolve an issue that may not be that is may be considered minor but is actually very important and I

thank you all for that. The second issue is and just to add to that uh you're taking my time.

Well the clock has stopped for a minute.

All right. Okay. We for anyone that might be saying, "Okay, everybody knew that this just had to be a language fix.

Why did it take so long?" You know, there's laws about advertising and public hearings so people would be able to come and speak. So, um, thanks to you and I think we work, as you said, that's the key. We worked together on it and we just had to do it the right way and and get it done. So, and just to be clear, the marshalss had not come forward saying they

right. No one's asked for it. This was just no mission, right? The clock is on and and we can't amend it to off food as well right?

What's that?

Said we can't amend it to take away.

This can't this was right has to be I'd be all for that.

I'm sorry. Continue.

Thank you. And my point was really that once you got on this issue, it was resolved very very quickly. And that's what we appreciate.

As an individual and an avid reader and a frequent visitor to the Weaver Library, um I reached out to you about a month ago, mid June. Um several of you responded uh with positive comments. Um, Councilwoman Soua actually um responded with meeting with me at the library to to look at the parking situation. And what it is, for anyone not not really familiar with the Weaver Library, there

are two entrances on Grove Avenue, kind of a rounded little parking lot with three or four parking spaces in it.

And um I normally just pull in and see if there's a place to park. And if there is, I park or or I just head out and go park on the street. Uh the point is that um on busy days, people on Grove Avenue just park where they can. And sometimes it's no more than two or three feet from the from the driveway of the library.

And with a small car such as mine, I found that um to get out of there, I would have to inch my way out until I was halfway into the street before I could see if there was any traffic coming by. And um you know, pray to God that nobody hit me while I was while I was doing that. Um so I thought maybe I was the only one who had that problem.

And while I was waiting one day for Councilwoman Souza to meet me to discuss the issue, the mailman was there with his big mail van. I said, "Hey, do you ever have any problem, you know, getting out of here without worrying about getting hit?" He said, "Every day, every day I have that problem. He's got a great big van. I've got a little tiny car, but he still has problems." So, I want to thank

specifically Councilwoman Soua for taking action on this. And I think there's a second example, and I hope again that you pass this as well. And I think this is a second example of public elected officials working together on a somewhat minor but a very important issue and I thank you for that.

I I agree with your assessment 100%. I mean we have veterans meetings. I utilize library and if there's a lot of cars when you're trying to pull out. So this is kind of a no-brainer that we just didn't think about.

So thank you again.

You're welcome. Thank you as always.

So with the unanimous You got time left over the next time.

Candy Bob took some of your time. So you you'll get you'll get more time.

So unanimous consent. I'd like to move up this resolution.

So without objection, we'll move this resolution up at this time. Uh objection.

Right. Do you want to make that a motion?

Without objection. Yes. So um as some of you had seen on the screen um the please the um diagram that showed the library and the weaver house next door also has uh public and employee driveway. So, as many people who go through that area are very familiar with the the parking situation, the safety or potential safe the the safety issues that we have, not only for vehicles, but also pedestrians

um using the sidewalk. It really was a no-brainer to um make this really obvious to people, right? So, some people it's obvious that you only go in one way and that you should only park in certain spots and not directly to a curb. um for others maybe not so obvious. So with the help of the DPW director and staff um we will now be adding signage that um will stripe out

where cars are not allowed to park so that there is 30 feet to each curb on the exit side so that you have plenty of space to be able to look without having to be halfway into the street to see if a car is coming in either direction.

There'll be a stop sign with a a line where you will be able to safely stop and not just come out. Wrongway signs so that nobody is coming in through the exit, which has happened because there was really no signage that said that this is the travel pattern that you should be taking into the library um driveway. Um and then making delineated parking spots so it is obvious where to

park across um Grove Avenue in front of from the Weaver um house parking um driveway all the way to um just past the libraryies curb. So there will be striped parking spots so that cars are aware of where to be parked. Um, additionally in coming before the council later on in a capital improvement project, um, will be additional uh, project for behind the Weaver Library. So, Weaver Library has a

very nice parking um, lot that is underutilized in my opinion because people come through the front primarily.

They're not um, usually going down Orchard Street to park their vehicles unless perhaps they might be staying there um, at an event and then they may utilize that parking spot. Um, after speaking with the director, I find that that parking lot is not probably used the best way. It only has parking along the edges, the outside perimeter of the parking lot, and the middle is completely empty, which I

think is unus un underutilized space.

Now, there's some discussion on how it should be done. I'm open to all suggestions. I do know that um during the summertime when we have the festivals at Philip Street Hall or St.

Francis and the community uses that parking lot uh for parking to visit those um events that over like 75 cars park in that parking lot and they do so in a manner that is safe and they're able to get out without causing any damage to another resident's vehicle.

So, I know the parking can be done in that parking lot. It's just a matter of the logistics. um and I'm sure some legal um to make it official. So, that's to come um in the next um month or two.

and obviously a campaign um to the public to suggest utilizing that parking lot, maybe signage at the front of the um entrance of Weaver Library reminding people that we have a very nice parking lot in the back if they're going to stay for longer than you know 15 to 10 minutes um to enjoy the library that they would use the back parking lot instead of the front of the library which should be used for, you know,

maybe 15 to a half an hour parking and not you know all afternoon studying.

um like some of us probably have done when we were in school. So um I thank the council, I thank Candy for um coming forward and you know as a community resident and addressing that also some as you said sometimes there are things that we see in day-to-day and we realize that it could be better um but action isn't taken and I'm glad that we were able to take this action and and improve

an area in the city that is so densely used. So thank you. With that, I move passage on this amendment that um asks the director to uh facilitate the parking and signage layout as shown on the teleprompter and attached to the docket. Um and I believe he said it would be done within the next few months.

Is there a second?

Second.

Second, Council Vice President Rigo.

Any other discussion? All in favor? I I Any oppose? The eyes have it. Thank you. Thank you, Councilwoman. Next item.

Public com comment. Linda Vaughn Deo.

Excuse me. Put the mic on. Please push the button there.

This name and address.

Von D.

Welcome. Ruth Avenue and that's in Rford District One.

I just recently got a hold of um Robert to speak to them cameras and asking the council to end our relationship.

I'm going to ask tell you why I am very concerned about ICE using our flock to track people.

Thank you.

And I'm very concerned about civil liberties being abused. I'm very concerned that a woman from Texas was hunted down when she went to a blue state to have an abortion and that Texas troopers followed her, arrested her, and is charging her for murder because she had an abortion.

I am very concerned that Ro versus Wade has been removed. I am very concerned for the rights of every woman in the United States and I am asking the council to support women here in Rhode Island by removing lock cameras from our city as of 6 pm tonight. North Kingston, Gloucester, Naragansit, South County, New Bedford have removed block cameras.

Cumberland is being asked by the American Civil Liberties to stop block cameras.

I am asking Eastens to step up and do the same.

And if you need people from my church to come and speak, if you need men who are supporting women to come and speak, if you need other East Proidence patrons to come and speak to you, I will arrange for that to happen. I think it is very important that we do this.

So, thank you. Uh, I did receive your email as you mentioned. So did uh council vice president. I don't know if others uh and uh I do have on the agenda under council discussion um a general issue of flock cameras. So without objection, I'll just talk about that now and we'll save the time later. But some of the things that you mentioned really are beyond, you know, the scope of uh

any cameras or other things. I I understand and sympathize with some of those issues, but and I put this on the agenda tonight to just bring us up to date. Uh there there as you mentioned there's this movement and through Rhode Island there's been recent discussion about extra flock cameras showing up everywhere. So in terms of East Providence the state police uh only put in two additional cameras and they are

not within East Providence proper. They are out on Route 95 or 195. They are not within our city. I know you may still be concerned about that, but there were people that thought we had a number of flock cameras added on city streets. Uh that's not the case. Um currently have a contract. As I think I mentioned to you in my reply, uh as of now, I'm not in favor of just ending the contract

immediately. I'm not sure we can even do that with with contracts the way they are. But I will and I have pledged that at any time that we are discussing a renewal or additional cameras or any other issue that there it will not happen without a full public hearing.

People like yourself, your church, others, anyone can come in and give us their opinion. I am and I've talked with both our chiefs about this and others.

I'm not aware of any abuses in East Providence yet that I've heard about. I have heard about several su success stories where some serious crimes have been solved.

You can't turn on the news at night and not see some kind of a camera related story. Ring cameras in houses. Uh a family has the child's bicycle stolen.

What do you see on social media? a hundred comments about check the cameras, check your neighbors camera, check the Ring cameras. Everybody's doing I don't have one in my house. I'm going to probably get one, but um seems like everybody's got a Ring camera. Um I just let the criminals know I don't have cameras, right? Um you got nothing worth stealing.

Nothing to steal.

Yeah, not right. I have a dog though to protect in the house. But seriously, um it will not be increased. I can tell you that without full public discussion. Um, but I would have to be honest and tell you that I am not in favor of today.

Uh, just ending a contract, which I'm not sure that we could do without a lot of legal work. Uh, I don't see the abuses. Um, the incidents that you mentioned, uh, I'm I sympathize with, but I don't think they're quite in the range of block camera abuses. But it's like that book of George Orwell 1984.

It's it's been here for quite a while.

But that's my opinion at this point.

I understand. And I I do believe that they were great at slowing down traffic in the high schools.

There's a difference.

Two two different things. Man, I wanted to let you know that.

Yeah. It's not speed.

I sent you I sent you my email. Hope you read it. And first of all, women's rights, everybody's rights. I'm 100% for them and everything, but I'm gonna take one offense to what you said. And I will tell you this, having a son who's a Rhode Island State Trooper and what they do, they are not Texas State Trooper.

The men and women are in the service of the state, you can I can guarantee you there's not one man or woman in that department that's going to be chasing anybody who didn't break the law. They wouldn't be ch if god forbid we were a red state which we're not. They would not do that. So I take offense to the the trooper. You're [clears throat] using it as analogy but the Rhode Island

state troopers would never use that to do something like that. So I want to correct you. I just want to tell you that I support what you're saying. It's wrong what they do down in Texas. They should be their own country as far as I'm concerned. But I but I want to tell you the flock cameras are not the speed cameras. I said to you right now the speed cameras aren't even activated

right now. They're shut off. They don't go back on till the school comes in. So there is the misconception between the speed cameras and the red light cameras and the flock cameras. And I agree with you. They and where you live in Rumford, the flock hammer saved about 10 policemen's lives twice at the Rumford Motel because real bad criminals was there. A wanted person from North

Carolina, armed robber, murderer was at the Rumford Motel. The flock camera helped that in that. So, I agree with you. There's abuse in everything.

There's bad lawyers. There's bad teachers. There's bad liquor salespeople. I just wanted to put that in there so you wouldn't think I was doing that. But I agree with you. But I just want you to know there's a difference between the speed camera and the flock camera.

I understand that.

And again, however, I just person let let it finish.

Can I please?

Yes.

What I have to say is I do not trust the federal government at this time to obey laws. They break them and then they prosecute. and that there are people paying the price. Our East Providence has a very large immigrant community. They work in our nursing homes. They work in our restaurants.

They work in our schools. They work everywhere.

People are being having their visas revoked at this time and they are being pulled out. People should not be chased by the federal government. I I believe in Rhode Island state law. I believe in the blue state. I believe what we do is correct. But I do not trust the federal government at all.

So, can I add?

Yes. Councilman Lawson, you have the floor. Um, but I'm asking Hang on. Let Councilman Lawson, he has the floor now. I I want to say too, the protections of Ro v. Wade was codified into law in Rhode Island right after the Supreme Court shut it down. So that issue settled in Rhode Island. I strongly support the flock cameras. I strongly support the integrity of the men and women of the East Province

Police Department. And there are built-in protections. We can go and ask for an audit of who accessed the cameras, for what reason, at what time.

So there is accountability. I understand your concerns. Absolutely. What's going on from our president is hopefully, God willing, in November things change course. But I think you're throwing the baby out with the bathwater with the block camera argument because it has been proven to help law enforcement capture criminals that we do not want on the streets. and I will be more than willing to meet with you and

your group and have this [clears throat] conversation face to face because I think that's how representative government should work.

There are valid reasons for these cameras and the men and women of the East Province Police Department are professionals. But I share your concerns with us.

I I as well as you I as well as Councilman Lawson, I get calls. I'm phone calls. I answered your email. If you have a group doing that and I think if I'm if I remember right and it was under Pat it was under Chief Francisone they don't share that information with any other department they would they they do they do you share that information?

Well if there's a criminal investigation investigation can you answer exactly again it's been over Okay hold up hold up now let's not get astray here. Did you, ma'am, did you want to add anything new to what you're saying? I will ask the police chief though to comment.

Yeah, I I want to move the meeting along. So, I am asking the city council to stand with women, to stand with immigrants, to stand for civil liberties. I'm asking Well, that's a different issue than flock cameras.

It's the same issue we do. I'm I'm I'm first generation, so I stand with immigrants.

Good. Thank you. So again, I'm willing to meet with you as well as Councilman Lawson said. I know what it goes through. I know what it's like growing up in Rumford and being a kid with dark hair and being called Guido and my father working on construction sites and coming with dirty clothes and coming to my events and looked at differently. So I know what it's like to be treated

differently from people. And I stand and I've said that many of times in my four years here. And I stand with people like you who are defending the rights of people. Okay. So, let's move this on.

Uh, thank you. I will ask the police chief to come forward and this is under the heading of I brought up the block cameras on the on the agenda.

Chief, uh, thank you.

I I could probably just clear this up really quick. Sure. Just for your own understanding, we do not share any information with ICE. Okay. So, you just I'm continue. So uh we we do share we do share information with other agencies that uh have to complete anou with us and uh follow uh our pro our procedure in order to gain information. There's a lot of misinformation out there right

now. Um there's a lot there seems to be a really big movement right now in the last couple months. I've been inundated with uh questions and emails and phone calls as has the uh the mayor's office and I'm sure you folks have as well. um what what Flock has brought to the East Province Police Department and the city of East Province has brought a safer community. Um the amount of crimes that

have been prevented uh crimes that have been solved uh is is could not have been done without the help of uh ALPRs.

ALPR's flock have been around for dozens of years, probably 25 to 30 years. Uh it's just so much just recently that flock has kind of taken over that industry. Uh I think a bigger picture we have to look at too is the safety of our community. These flock cameras consistently consistently help us find people who are uh in need of medical assistance uh missing endangered uh suicidal people. Uh they have we have

folks that come into our community from other communities that are that are uh that are in need of assistance. And we've made countless um interactions with these folks. And also, you know, because of these cameras, we're able to locate people. Connecticut, New York, uh Virginia, Florida, we've been Arizona.

It's been all over the country where these have actually been successful uses. Um and understanding that there is there is some misuse. And I I would be naive to to not say so, but um in East Providence, we we we do a really good job of making sure that that the uh the systems used properly um with the audits that we do, the random audits. And I just I mean, I understand I'm probably

not going to convince everybody, but I hope that people have a little bit more um understanding of how how important that tool is to us. It does not going to replace policing, but it's definitely a big tool in uh in our tool to toolbox.

And and Chief, I I understand that the uh sad tragedy of the shootings at Brown University that uh flocked cameras in part were were key to apprehending the the person involved.

That's correct. and and so, you know, I stay a supporter until we're we're shown that there are abuses beyond the benefits. I don't see that. But, um, on the council or any other discussion on the fact that I'm in favor of 100%. I thank you officers for doing your job diligently. They've worked in my favor for my family from afar. So, I'll let you know that in public without detail,

but thank you. I supported them when a detective asked me to support them and gave me the whole rundown of what they do three and a half three years ago. Uh he worked for our force. He's retired and 100% agree with it and in certain things there is some casualties but uh I support it and uh thank you for your service.

Thank you. So it's not a public hearing at this time but if anybody had a burning desire to speak very briefly on it, I I would allow it. But I'm sure we'll have more discussion on this going forward. Uh Chief, I'd ask you to stay there.

If you can be brief cuz it legally it's not an agenda item for discussion, but please, you're welcome to come forward briefly.

I don't want our city solicitor to get me in trouble.

Just name and address for the record.

Name is John Renquin, 46 Tanglewood Drive Riverside.

Uh yeah.

Put a name with face now. John, thank you.

Last time I seen you, you were shaking my hand going across the stage. So, at the high school. So, yes, sir.

Um, any Thank you. I appreciate that.

So, basically, I uh listened to one of our residents speak about fly cameras, and I'll keep it brief, but I do believe in 2023, believe May 2nd of 2023 when uh the council voted on Flock unanimously, put them into uh the city. Um I believe that the council was maybe which a lot of good it does, and we have a an awesome police force. uh I believe at that time it was like 2500

cameras across the country.

Since then in the mass in three years they've amassed to almost 130,000.

So this is from Flock's website they run about and you can correct me if I'm wrong 20 billion license plates a month every 30 days. They have a 7% ratio of mistakes.

So those a lot of these figures weren't known at the time when you're approving this.

There is some liability factors. I also have a copy of the flock contract with the city of East Province which is a little concerning once you start reading to it and I have a lot of highlights through it which puts the city at a great liability and flock has no liability.

So that's a little concerning how we went through this contract and we signed off on it and as far as some of the data that is collected through the camera system that pertains still to flock and even if you cancel the contract, there's a survival line in there that says all the other paragraphs still move forward which basically the data that's collected can be used for training, can

be used for all sorts of purposes which unless I'm reading it wrong but um it is a very one-sided contract. Um, I don't know if you guys read into it or basically just went on the police chief's recommendation and and I do believe they do a lot of good, but you also have to protect like she was saying some civil liberties and the constitution once fourth amendment was never even brought up once during the uh

20 2023 hearing. Not one question was raised about the fourth amendment. Does it violate it? Does it not violate it?

There's been a lot of dialogue across the country. There's a lot of challenges being made right now and I believe that the courts haven't even caught up to this type of technology. And I also want to say one more thing. Think about this.

If we are here now, picture what it will be in 20 years from now. If this is what we're going to do, mass surveillance throughout our cities and towns and you there's a reason why these cities and towns are canceling these contracts and getting out of this. I mean, it's just a bit too much too quickly. It hasn't even been tested these waters. And I believe the abuses are coming now with the mass

surveillance now, the greater the abuses are coming. Yes, we're lucky it hasn't happened here, but can we guarantee that we still have an ethical police chief 10 years from now? Do we can we guarantee 10 years from now that we have an ethical council that will remain on top of things? Can we guarantee that we have an ethical, honorable mayor that's going to look out for the residents 10 years

from now? Or does this technology get in the wrong hands and we are all victims to it? It just puts the public in a very vulnerable situation. And yeah, I'm sure you did your due diligence at the time when you approved this, but please, I mean, ponies and unicorns and, you know, things that, you know, some people are saying this could never happen here.

Would they put their qualified immunity on it? Probably not.

Probably not. So we need to think seriously about what she said. Do we want to continue this practice? Do we want to keep going with surveillance? Do we do drones? Do we do chips on all these promised residents? What's next? What's the next level?

It's a dangerous slope we are heading into. Yes, it solves crime, but here's the other fact which I haven't heard.

It's been solving all these crimes. Our crime rate, I looked it up, before 2019 to 2023, I believe, you can correct me if I'm wrong, was 7 to 7.5 per thousand.

If you look from 2023 to 2026, crime rate is still 7 and a half per thousand in each province.

They don't prevent crime. They help the cops arrest the people that commit the crime.

Wait a minute. So when you're helping the cops prevent the crime, aren't you helping prevent the crime? Aren't you create preventing more crimes?

If there is a crime committed in the city, you don't want to give law enforcement every tool they need.

Absolutely. I have all the faith of an uh East Province Police Force.

I have nothing against So give me an example of how these cameras are being misused.

I'll give you an example.

Like if somebody takes a picture of your license plate going through first of all, it's just not a license plate. If you look at the plot contract, it takes a picture of your vehicle, the rear of your vehicle, your license plate. If you have a bumper sticker with a nothing says uh you know, a college insignia, it's ID, whatever.

Bumper sticker that says something derogatory on it, which your first amendment right, you have every right to do.

Of course, that goes into a database that gets singles you out. You fill out an application for your license, right, at the registry. Do you know what goes on the application? if you're a Democrat, if you're a Republican, if you're an independent, where your address is, your social security number. So, all that information, it goes to a private server. That private server then returns that favor back to the police

department. That's what we're paying.

John, can I interrupt you though? Uh because we're just legally There will be a public hearing when you because I don't want people watching this to say, "Gee, I would have come and and talked if I knew." So that's the lead. But I appreciate I'll just add this on a lighter note. They they do pick up all New York Yankee stickers and put those aside.

Those I have no problem.

Those we want to catch.

Yeah. So we want to get those guys.

But let's end this.

I thought you were a Yankee fan. That's why you saying that. All right. So thank you, John. And we'll we'll continue this for sure. No, I think I think it's just uh overall it's it's a slippery slope and I think we should uh do some due diligence looking into these contracts especially.

We'll stay on where our data is going too.

Yep. Thank you, John.

Thank you for responding. Yep.

At this time, uh without objection, I'd ask I know the chief and deputy chief also have another item and rather than have you as a courtesy to them, I would like to move that item up now. It's a uh contract um to increase school safety at St. Mary Academy Bay View and Councilman Fogerty, you've been pushing for this.

So without objection, I would ask the U police chief and then deputy chief if needed to address this this time.

Councilman Fogerty, do you want to lead it with Leation?

Yes. Um Madame Clerk, would you please uh read the uh resolution?

Will that be number four?

Number four. Yes, sir.

Number four, resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract with uplink it to increase school safety at St. Mary's Academy Bay View. Councilman Fogerty.

Thank you, Chief. You can proceed and councilman can then add to it.

Thank you. Uh so last year around this time, uh my grant writers that are part of my uh department found these uh great grant opportunities to increase uh school safety in the city. Um we were able to secure approximately 300, excuse me, $235,000 from the federal government to implement uh two projects. Uh one of the projects is with um the East Province School Department, which you'll

see probably at the next uh city council meeting for uh a resolution. Uh this one in particular is for uh St. Mary Academy Bay View. Uh we have a very close relationship with all of our private schools and uh they they reached out about some funding to get some uh some security increases and and improvements in their school. Uh this includes a lot of uh digital and um key card access

systems, upgrades to their to their uh their facilities. Uh four excuse me, five doors amongst four buildings. Um and uh obviously the school is extremely grateful for our relationship and the federal funds that are uh that were awarded after uh a pretty extensive uh process of the grant moving forward.

Thank you, Chief. Councilman, you want to add to that?

Yeah, I want to add that it's a great feature that we could have claimed and the chief and I expl exchanged emails along the way with my questions and answers on the uh cost factor and what would what would be gained. The gain is the security of those students attending and the residents around. In my opinion, it's a no-brainer for that whole area.

And I appreciate the efforts of the police department. It It's a win-win.

And as the chief has said, we do have a good relationship. We appreciate the partnership we have with uh Bay View, also Country Day, Gordon, other schools in the community, St. Margaret. uh we have a a great partnership with all of them serving uh our families not only in East Providence but statewide and this is grant funding. We're not tapping into budget issues. So uh excuse me I want to thank Andre for

including me with the emails with the chief on that and the follow-up questions and uh very professional and thanks again chief. I I really Councilman, do you want to make a motion on this? I'd like to make a motion to approve.

Second. Seconded by Councilman Lawson.

All in favor? I I. Any opposed? The eyes have it. Thank you, Chief and Deputy Chief. Appreciate it.

Council President, yes.

We have members of the Carousel Commission waiting patiently and we have three items. Could I respectfully request we move them up?

Without objection. Yes.

One is the appointment. If uh All right, let's have the city clerk read those uh appointments and let's let's do that.

Appointment. Appointment of Christopher Michael Betett to the city council crescent park carousel commission. Seat term ends 15207. Councilman Lawson.

I make a motion to approve.

Second.

Motion made by Councilman Lawson, seconded by Councilwoman Souza. All in favor? I. Any opposed?

The eyes have it. Next.

Then the other two is I believe there I'm just saying we got two ordinances. Yeah, I'm just looking for Yeah, if we could move up. Um, were there other appointments people?

You said there were three three question related issues.

Okay.

Yeah. So, this would be um under ordinance number three and number four.

Page seven. Number three, an ordinance of the city of the council of the city of East Providence appropriating 150,000 from unallocated capital funds for the support of the Crescent Park roof carousel and facilities introduced by Council President Rodri's.

Yes. And I think with Councilman Lawson's help, this is part of the moving this project along.

Yeah.

Yeah. I mean, if you go by, you already see the construction going on. This is just doing the legal ease part of Yes. legal without discussion. The motion by Councilman Lawson. Is there a second?

This isn't public.

Yeah.

This is a public.

Yeah. I just want to get a motion in a second.

Oh, yeah. Absolutely. Motion and second council vice president Regal.

So, if there isn't any other p uh council comment at the moment, I'll open it up for public comment. Anyone here that wants to speak? Yes, Nancy. Come forward.

I don't really have a I don't really have a comment. I have a question.

Sure.

Why is it in two ordinances? Why is the money divided up?

It is It's two separate questions.

Yeah, because you got the building and the event tent.

Um, I don't have that specifically in front of me, but that that's why two different events, excuse me, two different appropriations for two different just to be more transparent and it's it's just easier to make it clear.

So, number three is for the support of Crescent Park Lof Carousel and facilities.

Yep.

Carousel itself and facilities. But if you and the other one is really for the new structure sort of like that if you read the I'm sorry if you read the ordinance for the $150,000 that's for the repair of the current carousel and the second ordinance is yes for a capital uh appropriation for the uh a non-mporary tent facility.

Thank you.

A temporary temp facility. Sorry.

Yep. Thank you. Any other comments from anyone here hearing? None. We'll close public comment and go back to the council. Yes.

Just a quick question just for financial housekeeping because I had requested um and I'm certain the city all the council had received the June finance finance report. Um is this pretty much I guess this is a question for the director of finances. Is this summing up this isn't coming from one line item. It is a sum of multiple line items within the carousel's budget um for capital

improvement um for both projects which essentially brings this number down significantly. Imagine it was unallocated capital.

That's this was from un unallocated capital left not leftover but from the budget that was not on a budget that was un unallocated capital that we're taking unallocated capital.

Yeah. It's it's not a carousel line item.

Carousel line item.

No. In so in the capital budgets capital improvements the carousel. So, it's 850 the line item for capital improvement for carousel. There's, you know, 10 different line items for different projects. And some of those projects that funds have been allocated for in the capital improvement um budget are carousel infra facilities, the concession stand, like there's a ton of different things. Any of those funds or

are those separate? And this is separate. Yeah, this is unallocated capital. that's being uh used separate from the other line items in department 850.

Okay. So, those would be those would be added to the 850 from tonight's ordinance. Yes, tonight's ordinance.

Yes, that will be added to in the next fiscal uh report.

Correct.

As being uh Yep.

encumbered. Okay.

Y Thank you.

You're welcome.

Other council questions.

Make a motion to approve.

Second.

Motion. Councilman Lawson to approve.

Seconded. Councilwoman, there was already a motion pending.

Yeah.

Who made that?

Lawson and Rigo.

Okay. So, it's three, right?

Number three. Okay. So, that was motion and second. All in favor? I I. Any opposed? The eyes have it.

Number four, an ordinance of the council of the city of East Providence appropriating $500,700 from unallocated capital funds for the support of Crescent Park Lof Carousel improvement plan tent structure introduced by council president Rogers.

So again, this is moving along this project. Uh council discussion, make a motion to approve pending public comment.

Second. Motion Councilman Lawson to approve. seconded. Council Vice President Rio, I'll open it up for public comment.

Again, this is something that the community has been saying, you know, when are we going to get going? So, we're trying to once once vendors and people are ready, we want to get this thing going. Uh, hearing none, I'll ask one more time. Anybody wants to add to this? Tracy, you're okay with all this? You're ready to move?

That's our Crescent Park manager. Okay, we'll close the public hearing. All in favor?

I.

I. Any opposed? The eyes have it. Thank you for letting us move things around.

Madame clerk, if you can make sense of that now and go back to where we are.

Thank you, Steve.

Thank you, Carousel Commission.

I believe we're on 10 council members because we did the appointment already.

Council members, number one, review of OPA funds outstanding. Councilwoman Souza.

Yes, Councilwoman.

Thank you. So, having received the files, I'm trying to make sense of what the monies that we have left in this opera fund that are unallocated, which are still open and have not encumbered. all of the funds that were um assigned or awarded to each specific uh project. Um and so I haven't been given that answer. Um so I'm I'd like to know that and I know we're the last fiscal um report that we received was

from June. So I understand that now we are finishing or probably wrapping up July. So, those numbers are are probably changing on a day-to-day basis as things come in and get put out. Um, but I'm I'm trying going into this new budget to wrap my head around the money that the city has allocated, the money the city has spent, and the money that the city is still needing or looking to to get.

Is there a report available on that?

Yes, Sunday.

Good evening members of the city council, councilwoman Soua. I'm going to address I item one and two. You kind of both of those u so the for the record it's review of the ARPA funds. Um there was a misprint uh it said APPA. So this is clar point of clarification ARPA funds and the due to the meeting change from August 4th to August 11th. um our presenter that was going to come and

present um was not available tonight. Uh but we would like to do a detailed presentation. If you want to move this item uh to the September 1st meeting, I'd be happy to be happy to do that.

So I'll defer this to the September 1st.

Thank you, Councilwoman. And I will say I've been asked we allocated 500K for adaptive equipment and I haven't seen it going anywhere. So if they can include where that money is and if we're getting these glider swings for the kids, we'll clarify that in September.

Thank you.

And then for item two, review of capital improvements. U so the number I have here that as of the advertisement of the ordinances, the unencumbered and unallocated balance remaining in the capital budget equals $2,716,720.

Just for point of correction, including today's Not including today's Okay.

So, I think that took us down like two What's that number again, please?

It's right on the ordinance that you guys passed.

Oh, it's on the line. Yeah.

Okay.

Same number.

Can you give me the number again? I'm sorry. 2 million.

2,716,720.

That was before the allocations that you just made.

So just [clears throat] giving an example because we were talking about the carousel and obviously I'm a huge supporter of the carousel always have been. So this is nothing to do with the carousel. It just happens to be on the agenda for allocating un unallocated funds. Um and I have their capital improvement up on my screen to reference. So, and these are this is why I have these questions and concerns is

even though I I don't have a problem again investing in our infrastructure because I think as a city this is very important practice for us to do. But when I look at the capital improvement um carousel budget, I see that there are similar wordings for things that we're allocating additional funds, but the funds have not been used that are in that current line item that are similar.

So if for example uh line item uh 26 touch screen just messed up my so one of the line items is regarding um carousel facility improvements. All right very generic there's that may be the stabilization the second part of the stabilization.

Nope that's down uh a few more lines there.

Okay.

So and again it's not please don't anybody take offense to this. I'm trying to this needs to be clearance. We need to know what's going on with the money or what's not going on with the money.

Um, and if this is a way for the city to say, let's use unallocated funds and keep like a piggy bank or savings that we can dip into if we need it. Say Tracy calls and it's like, hey, the plumbing just went, we need some extra money.

This is our little savings account line item that we can do that. Then I'm fine.

I just need that communication or to know that in the background instead of thinking, hey, this council approved an ordinance for facility improvements. And I'm assuming that there are facility improvements taking place because we've allocated this money a year ago. So in that line item, there's an allocation for capital uh carousel facility improvements of $150,000.

None of that money has been allocated or used or encumbered this fiscal year to date. that well as of June 2026. So we have a month that something could have trickled in or is on the back burner and it kind of goes along that line floor the sanding and painting of the floor has that oh that looks like that has been completed but there was some extra left over. So those are my questions

like when I'm looking through all of these different departments and I'm seeing nothing's been allocated nothing's been nothing's been encumbered like we've set we've put in uh money to do things or purchase things. Now the purchasing of vehicles, I know that procurement process takes a little bit too because they are getting the best bang for their buck. So things take a while to come in, especially with

detailing of special equipment that they want on their equipment. So I know that that can take a little bit longer. But for a majority that I'm looking through, there has been some that have not been utilized. Not in every department, but in a good majority of them. So, I'm just trying to understand where we are and are these just placeholders in the event that we need something.

Thank you, Councilwoman, for the clarifying questions. Uh, yeah, the latest report is uh whenever I get them, I send them over. So, I I haven't gotten the July report yet, but as soon as I get that, I will send it over and um I don't have the Excel spreadsheet in front of me, but um I'm writing down some of your questions and um Dominic uh September 1st will be able to answer those.

So, will he be able to do um an APA and a capital improvement?

Uh most likely. Yeah.

Yeah. I mean, it just makes sense if he's going to do an update.

Yeah, we'll put it all together. might as well do a capital so that we get it all um taken care of.

I uh you Yeah, sure. Go ahead.

My question to you and I'm not letting the finance director get away. Easy.

She's not in the Okay.

um is the opera funds as we know the winds have changed in Washington DC and I've read and on numerous occasion on occasions excuse me where things get rejected when things have been submitted and paperwork done properly just like look at what we're going through in the state of Rhode talent. The snow removal for the blizzard has been kicked off. But to get to my point, like opera, the one of the biggest

things, I'm not worried about all the the the senior center, Pier Stadium, Glenn Line, police station, everything that we have allocated for. I know the finance director and and before her Malcolm and the staff, we have every receipt and we can back back everything up. My concern is the storefront opera money that was allocated.

If those individuals, if we don't have the proper information or the proper backup from the private sector that we gave this money to, we could potentially be paying the government a fine because we don't have and again, no fault of ours, but if we have and I've read about it in other states where pe where it didn't match or there's some reason and Washington now they one word changes something and

we're on the hook for that money. That That's the one opera fund bucket that has me very concerned. Really concerned.

I mean, we know of one situation before you got here where somebody painted a side of a building and we gave them $20,000 and they never moved into the building.

As far as I know, if I'm the guy, if I'm that guy in Washington now, even if the wind didn't change, I'd be saying, "We don't owe you that $20,000."

So, that's my concern. I want to make sure as the protector of the city's financers, and I think we all are, that that account we we have every eye dotted and every tea crossed. So, if you people can help me help us on that one.

That one, that one has bugged me since day one, taking over this, you know, taking over this.

Um, so we do have records of everyone that received a check from us with ARPA money. Um, I do the quarterly reports to the federal government. Uh, everything that we have expensed was allocated according to the federal government deadline of December 31st, 2024.

and um anything that I've reported on quarterly is you know I haven't gotten any feedback that they're concerned with anything or that they're requesting additional information or anything along those lines and we have done a great job keeping records for everyone that has awarded any you make that that makes me more comfortable on I like I like I said I had no worried between Malcolm and

yourself as far as every receipt every bit on every other job. It was that, you know, when we deal with the public sect, when we deal with the, you know, outside the city.

Yeah.

And Andre, if you could pass with 2 million unallocated, Old Ham needs some attention. That building, we were told it's going to be used for indoor recreation, community use.

$2 million we can do. I believe we already did the roof. We need some abatement interior. So, it is a city-owned building and it's highly appropriate we maintain it. So, that will be something coming up. Thank you.

That is all.

Thank you, Councilman.

Just uh for Madame Clerk, you were stepped away. Can you Yes. September 1st, right?

We're going to have a presentation from our senior planner um for September 1st council meeting on the opera and capital improvement projects. Thank you.

Thank you. Next item when you get to it.

Review of capital improvements year-to- date current fiscal year 2026 budget incumbent fund total year-to- date balance of capital funds. Councilwoman Souza.

Yeah, we just Yeah, we just included all of that. Correct. And then numbers three, four, and five, we've already addressed earlier in the session.

Also six.

Six. We've we've addressed that the flock cameras.

So that completes council members public hearings ordinance for second and or final passes for discussion and possible vote. Number one, an ordinance in amendment of chapter 19 of the revised ordinances of the city of East Providence, Rhode Island 1998 as amended entitled zoning introduced by council president Rogers amending section 19-480 uses permitted by striking hotel from the metaccomat district to confirm with

use table.

So this was that language fix that we've talked about um fully. Um, this is a public hearing if anyone here is present to speak. Um, Miss Seal did speak earlier on this and we've all talked about it at length. Once again, is anyone here that wants to speak about this language? Seeing none, I'll close the public hearing. Uh, this should be move to approve.

Quick move motion by Councilwoman Soua to approve, seconded by Councilman Fogerty. This is the hotel thing at Metac comment. All in favor?

I. Any opposed? There's 50. Thank you.

Next item.

Number two, an ordinance and amendment of chapter 19 of the revised ordinances of the city of East Province, Rhode Island 1998 as amended entitled zoning by amending section 19-360.12 attached single family dwelling to comply with state law. Rhode Island General Law 45-24-33 26 45-2437J as petitioned by attorney Dylan Connley.

Thank you. I'm representing uh Dylan Connley um who's unable to be here tonight and I know he's in meetings in Providence Friedick.

Just give your name and address for the record.

Bridgam Street in Providence. Thank you for having me.

And go ahead if you want to continue as this is basically um complying with state law but going along with our local uh tweaking.

Yes, exactly. Um there was a state law passed last session in 2025 to encourage home ownership. The idea being that just because you share a wall with a your neighbor should still be allowed to own your land underneath your property. So that state law allows that in residential zones. Um and the goal here is to also include that in East Providence's commercial zones. So across the street down in Riverside, um things

like that. So that's what the application that was submitted was for.

Uh went through the um planning department and city staff and the planning board with unanimous recommendation with some tweaks. Those are fine to us. So in front of you here this evening.

President.

Yes, sir. Council vice president.

This is a great resolution ordinance for the city of East Providence.

You uh back in May, you and myself attended the public forum as far as uh housing in this in the state. the the numerous people were here. The secretary of housing was here and one of the things that can happen and I've talked about this and I again thank the council support of you know what we did with the ADUs. This is another step where we have a lot of large colonials or even capes

where now you want to subdivide them make them into condos. I mean, excuse me, town houses or you know, town houses and duplexes and each person can own their individual things. This obviously gives the power for firsttime homeowners.

And uh again I and again it sounds like I'm beating a drum cuz I mentioned this in the post on you know an article about myself but we came up with those ideas and it doesn't change the look of the area and we're building on land that's already been built on. And as unfortunately the woman from the uh pre uh group is gone. But this will help preserve green space in in the city and

another opportunity for firsttime home buyers or people in their, you know, 50s who want to or 50s or 60s 55 to maybe move into a smaller uh living quarters.

I move passage. I'm sorry for interrupting you if you have more to say, but this is this goes along with the plan where we're not changing the unique character of this city in all the different areas and we're helping our fellow man or town uh preserve their rights to stay in the city.

My my only question was um apartments we usually only require one parking spot.

If it's now considered an owner occupied home, is the zoning, the parking affected? Does that change the equation?

So, like if I want to build because I'm all for this. I think those townhouse style, that's the workforce style. But if you're building those and selling them off individually, I I don't know our zone and off top of my head, would a single family home require two spaces?

Um because that would factor into the equation. that in the overlay zone where first of all this was this lilies the residential zones this would be uh that residential zones that only allow multif family houses so that's the R4 and the R six zone which allows uh multif family home by special use permit and the R5 zone which is also a special use permit and also in the overlay zones the overlay

zones require uh are different one spot per uh for per unit so that would apply for rentals correct no whatever just the unit is whatever it is.

Okay.

One one unit and you got one spot. So when an overlay zone that would apply I it's a fair question Peter that I don't know it's a good question. I don't know that we have the answer. What often happens is the lot that gets created doesn't really fit zoning. So a variance which is not ideal or as a condition of the subdivision approval you have the group of lots exist as the zoning. So the lots in

aggregate would meet the requirements.

So it still might be multif family in the zoning code but yeah allows each p each person to own the land under and I'm supportive but I represent people that you know they fear the buildup and then if we're reducing parking requirements now they got people parking on the streets and I get calls I can't back out of my driveway. So I just wanted to bring that to the table that something we can certainly look into.

It's a good it's a fair question. I will say that the setback requirements of the underlying zone except for that middle unit will still have to be met. So there's dimensional stuff that has to still be met, but you're basically allowing um a lot. I I was showing Councilwoman Souza earlier.

And I will say home ownership is how you gain wealth in America. I'm all for this. If this was a single family lot or excuse me if this was a lot where you could put multif family homes instead of putting so basically what you do is you divide the lot you put three units there and each person owns this lot and that house as as their own.

So like Ivy Place is an example of the townhouse row style housing across the street.

That's mixed use but yes right but you could with this ordinance they could be sold as individual I think some of those are condos though I'm not sure.

Right. I think they're all condos. I think at least they have town houses on G.

Ivy Street. Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah. The Toron a frontage is different, but the Ivy Street is like the row.

Yeah. But it's a mixeduse but same concept. Yep.

So in that in that area they could the person would need to have the storefront and the residential above different. This is residential only.

This is res.

I thought the the planning had um suggest their recommendation in commercial zones. That's that's a mixeduse. Okay.

So, this is so this this would allow it in commercial zones. These type of row houses, right?

What you're talking about is mixed use and that's not allowed. This would not be allowed. Mixed use would not be allowed to take advantage of this. The state laws, excuse me. Where? So, where the old Wampenog diner was, Councilman. You know, I'm not from East Providence, but go ahead. Tell me where that is.

That's on Wanog.

You know where Pizza Omar is.

Go ahead.

Where Low Sandies is going in?

Some of the farms. Yeah. So the Wagdano is on that corner, not from the fire station.

I don't know if it's C1 or C2. It's only in the C1 and C2 zones that we allow multif family. It's not every commercial zone. C1 and C2.

C1 and C2.

No, it So I think that's C1.

So just to be clear, in those commercial zones which allow residential housing, which under our code is C1 and C2 by special use permit, this would apply which is an expansion of the state law. State law mandated only in residential. the applicant and the planning department is recommending that we expand it to C1 and C2.

And we have some commercial that don't allow housing.

Yes, we do.

Is there a specific reason why?

Uh probably for economic development purposes. You don't want to put a house in an industrial zone kind of thing like I get industrial but but yeah maybe but I I I'm thinking about like these strip malls that and we build above them, you know. Yeah.

So, okay. of the two zones that I know for sure, C1 and C2 allow multif family and I I'm assuming they're probably mixed in in residential neighborhoods.

So that was a motion by Council Vice President Regal, seconded by Councilman Lawson. Further discussion?

Go ahead.

No.

So just want to make sure what we're passing is the ordinance that we did not adopt everything that they were we're adopting the the clean version of this ordinance here that was also posted. You just wanted to show you the strikeouts that the planning department This is above what state law requires to the extent that we're expanding this into a C1 and C2 zone. Yes. But we're allowed to do do that if we want.

But the concept and ideas is the same principle. Yeah.

Okay.

Advertise as a public hearing. If anyone else wants to speak on this or or against again a great thing we're adding we're adding opportunities as Rick said for firsttime homeowners or people who want to downsize and gain wealth through real estate still in this country and this is a great opportunity helping young build equity young county families stay in the city and you know Yep. This a public hearing

part right now, but this Okay, there's no other discussion. We'll close the public hearing.

Public at this point.

Yeah, you're public. Um, and by the way, again, just again, this is mandated by state law, at least in the res, right? We're tweaking, but something it's already mandated. Yeah. All in favor? I. Any oppose? The eyes have.

Thank you. Thank you for waiting tonight. Appreciate it.

New business. Mayor Communication, Director of Policy and Constituent Services, Andre Herrera,

these papers got mixed up here. Where are we?

Good evening. Okay.

We've um these uh kind of prefuncter um bicycle pedestrian advisory. We we have a need to just bundle these motion to bundle or accept them into the record.

Yeah, except right because these are not requiring council confirmation.

The only thing I request is Dr. Ramis, if you'd like to speak on that. Oh yes, we I I do accept talking about all the bicycle people.

That's Oh, the appointments. I apologize.

So, is there is there a motion under number two to um ex accept for information the uh appointments as bundled?

Accept the appointment. I make a motion to accept the um newly advised comm mayor's bike and pedestrian advisory committee um to be bundled.

And it is part of the record for anyone who's interested in getting those names.

you know, we'll make that available. Is there a second to that?

Absolutely. Councilman Lawson. All in favor? I. Any opposed? The eyes have it.

Thank you.

Congratulations to the new members and we look forward to hearing about what you have.

Yes. Good point. It's a very active community and we we have our support.

Could you uh put item names on the council website too? So, another avenue for people to Thank you.

Thank you, councilors. Um, we're going to move to item number three.

Item number three. Thank you.

Items for announcement and or discussion. Uh, the first bullet point we've already addressed. Yes.

Uh, second bullet point.

Um, executive order establishing all flags on municipal buildings be flown at half staff in recognition of the passing of Dr. Is Adidor Izzy Ramos, a lifelong East Providence educator, community leader, and the first American mayor of Cape Birdie descent whose compassion and decades of service deeply enrich enriched our city. Um, rest in peace. So along along with that, I'll I'll just

interject uh one one comment. You know, we could make um all of us here could make hundreds of comments, but I'll I'll I'll just say this one thing. Um you know, Dr. Ramos, he was called Doc, Dr.

Pops, Poppy, Mister by students like myself who had him because he didn't have his doctorate at the time when he was my gym teacher. but [clears throat] he was the first black teacher hired at East Providence High School, which was quite substantial. And it's safe to say that it was some difficult days. The late 60s, early 70s, American high schools were in some kind of turmoil.

And East Providence was no different. We were pretty good, but we had a few skirmishes. And it was the Mr. Ramos at the time who was in the gym when the school was dismissed because of a basically a fight happened. We were big then we had 2,400 students last year of single sessions and just at the high school.

Just at the high school. Yes. Yes. Just at the high school.

2,200 kids went home at 11 in the morning. No code reds in those days. the principal get on the speaker and said, "Everybody go home." And most waiting every day if that was the case.

So, a couple hundred kids milled around the building looking, you know, as high school kids would do for trouble. And it was uh Mr. Ramos uh who herded everybody into the auditorium and he black kids were on one side, the white kids were on the other side and there was talk back and forth and long story short from that day forward he got his Providence High School to work well together and the

next couple of weeks the superintendent of schools Ed Martin at the time said I want him out of the gym and we're making him dean of students.

And so he became the first dean of students and worked on student relations and the rest is history. So we we all miss him. Obviously he was a became a personal friend of of mine and I know he knew every single one of us here in the council and big loss for East Providence. So I appreciate appreciate the mayor reaching out. What's that?

Did this already happen?

Yes, we're just announcing it. This just happened after.

Yeah, it happened through his um interament which was just just recent.

And you know, even the governor ordered state flags half mass. That's was quite quite a tribute. So Izzy, my friend, uh you've left a legacy for East Providence to uh continue on. Thank you, Andre, if you want to continue.

Thank you, Council President. Uh next bullet. Uh we have an executive order establishing the mayor's young innovators advisory committee, also known as MYAK South. Uh youth and young adults ages 16 to 26 are the future of East Providence. They bring energy, creativity, and direct insight into issues that affect quality of life, housing, employment, and community resources. Providing structured

opportunities for civic engagement ensures their voices help guide innovation and problem solving. and the administration is committed to listening to the next generation and incorporating diverse perspectives so that city decisions reflect the full community and build a stronger future.

Um, next we have a proclamation honoring city controller Kim Brown upon her retirement after 21 years of dedicated service to the city of East Providence.

We offer our sincere thanks and best wishes. Just make sure she leaves the checkbook here. When she Yes, she's When she left, did she leave all the checks and stamps, etc.?

She was great. She'll be missed. She had so much knowledge here. We hope she's retiring well.

Next, we have a proclamation recognizing August as gastroparesis awareness month in the city of East Providence.

And next we have a proclamation recognizing August 15th as Indian independence day in the city of East Providence.

Next we have a proclamation recognizing August 18th as never give up day in the city of East Providence.

And that is all for mayor communications and thank you. I think for all of those groups in some of us it may not mean that much and it might it might but for those individual groups I I know that they they appreciate it and uh we thank you for reaching out to them. Okay, next item. Madame Clerk, reports of other city officials, city solicitor Michael Marcelo.

Thank you, Madam Clerk. At the executive session, the uh city council approved a sewer charge abatement in the amount of uh $147.92 property located at 77 Allen Avenue.

Nothing else further to report.

You you mentioned earlier you don't live in East Proidence. You know, we have vacancies. You're welcome to move here.

Have to live in one of those uh condos.

Is that just I mean the one of those uh you could buy.

Yeah, there's some available across the street walking.

I got my law office right across the street. Right.

There's a there's a couple houses up in Ward One.

He doesn't want to go to Rumpford, he said.

Thank you. Next item.

Thank you.

Number three, resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract with Muskill Sports Lighting LL.

I'm sorry. Could we just back up a second? Did you want to add Councilman Lawson any school committee uh business?

Summer vacation.

Summer vacation. Next. Okay, continue.

Summer reading. Right. I I will say I did meet with uh Rob Perry, my old friend, the new superintendent.

We had a good conversation. I brought up some concerns. I had the budget, as you know, every year with the schools, it's tight and they're going to go through.

Um he said he will be emailing uh the council gave us a little heads up what's going on.

um as you know he's new and he's still getting acclimated and it's right in the middle of budget season and I believe the contract's up uh November one I believe the teachers contract so I know that's not you that's not me I don't know um I believe other things that don't involve me yeah I believe they're going to be talking about the contract so I I told him some concerns I had about staffing

and and um he's going to be in contact with us soon u Rob I can say from experience. Um, well, you guys all dealt with them. What am I talking about? So, um, I think we're in good hands and, um, I look [clears throat] forward to a good relationship and, uh, I reemphasize that that Wall City schoolside, we're shattering it. You know, we are one city and the school is a department of the

city. So, um, that's it. I I attended the building committee meeting last night, the Martin and the preschool and uh they also discussed the Wington school progress uh and all are right on schedule doing well. We're going to have a fantastic preschool.

These are things that other communities are struggling with and we're um providing this education for for our our families. And so far um it's there are contingency funds available so they're money they're ahead of the schedule that can change problems can exist and you know they may end up not saving money like the high school did but we're we're on target and I will say spoiler alert I'm going

to be advocating we put some money in this budget into the school building fund just because we did an initial seed money y that doesn't mean that's it you know you got to keep that fund so they can continue. You know, you hear the complaints on Facebook. Oh, there's a crack in the sidewalks and the schools are falling apart. Well, we're putting the money there. So, yep. We got everything they asked for.

Thank you. Now, you can continue, madame clerk. Is it letter D?

Number three, resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into a contract with Muskill Sports Lighting LLC for the installation of new LED lights at Pis Memorial Stadium. Council President Rogers.

So again, I'm not going to go into in detail. We've discussed it um before.

This is where they're they're ready to go. Looks like the price money that has 255,000.

Is that correct? Yes. And I think you approve lighting for Pierce Field.

Yes. Now for the This is not So this is the stadium lights. So it's a different it's two two different contracts.

The track is exactly.

So is there discussion on this?

And we're on track to redo the the field itself. Correct.

We passed that. Yes. That funds been allocated and Okay. Move to passage.

Second.

Motion made by both Councilwoman Souza and Council VP Rigo. Seconded by Councilman Fogerty. All in favor? I. Any oppose? The eyes have. Next item number five, resolution council rules of procedure. Councilwoman Souza.

So this is just um some housekeeping um with our order of um of docket docket items. Thank you. So um previously the salute of the flag came a couple of uh numeral rumal Roman numerals later. So this is just moving it to the top. We've always done it at the beginning anyway. So it's a minor technicality um just to make it consistent with what's posted.

Yep. Makes it reality with what we've been doing. Um is that a motion?

Yes, sir.

Second. Second. Councilman Lawson. All in favor?

I. Any opposed? And you can maybe work with the uh city clerk to get Do you need anything more from us? You know what's It should come right after the uh right after the roll. Just adjusting the template.

Yeah, the template is we're well set.

Yeah, it's right after the roll call because if there isn't a majority, there's no meeting.

All right. Thank you. Next item.

You need to pledge allegiance.

Number six, resolution authorizing the mayor to enter into a third amendment to the water tower lease at zero warm avenue with T-Mobile. Councilman Fogy.

Yes, they already lease it. It's just uh they want to do a pad to support their system and I move passage. Hopefully I have your support.

Second motion. Councilman Fogerty, seconded by Councilwoman Souza.

I can explain this if you want. I know there is. So this this is a third amendment of the lease. Under the current lease, they are allowed up up to lease up to 225 ft. They're only using uh 160 square feet, I believe. Um, and this uh amendment is to allow them to put a a generator pad, which I guess is under new federal regulations, they have to have a generator on on the site that

it's workable to keep the power on for the antenna. I do apologize. I know that some council people said they didn't get the map. Um, but it is really, again, it's all within the current lease. They current pay they currently pay us $7,745.28 a month for this lease. Um, and it's just I can pass this along, but it really is just little gra it's it's really 40 square feet. So, um, I again C

I know Councilman Lawson said he didn't get it.

I'm good. I'm good. I was able to catch up. Uh, yeah, it's it's just a technical thing and but we require them when they expand on on the footprint that they come back before us.

No, my thing is if I'm going to vote on something, I agree. I just want to check them off quick. Yep, we're good.

Thank you.

Good. Uh where was the second on that?

I'll second if there isn't one.

All in favor?

I. Any oppose? All right. [snorts] Thank you all.

E. Introduction of ordinances for discussion and possible vote. Number one in ordinance in amendment of chapter 18 of the revised ordinances of the city of East Providence, Rhode Island 1998 as amended entitled vehicles and traffic amending section 1 section 18-307 parking prohibited at all times. amended as follows. Dova Avenue, both sides from Warren Avenue South to Baldwin Street.

This was Councilman Fogerty, I believe, right? We talked about we've talked about this before and it's Yeah. Here's the deal. We've talked about it. I think the residents on that Do Street that live there have seen me more than my wife has seen me. Okay?

because the ordinance is very important to me and the residents of that area and and it's a stickler and there's just some some people that just don't want to follow the law and you know they don't even live there. They work down the street and they have opportunity to park I'm going to go on with just a minute. I know we want to get out of here. They they want they can park up the street at

Walgreens and walk down. They walk almost as far the credit union they can set up in a deal with the corner lot with this ReMax because nobody parks in those 24 spaces there on the corner.

They're inconveniencing. So now it's both sides is what I want. I hope I get your support because of the residents inconvenience that own a home there. And this is everywhere I guess is including it's a common sense approach. I tried one side and that was ignored andor lease ticketed right we got that far as Mike knows and uh so I just you know a little spiel on that but it will help

the residents in the area and god forbid there's an emergency and both sides are being parked on you can't get emergency vehicles down the street without a nuisance if someone's coming at you. So that's what I have to say. And for those who don't know this area we're talking about, this is the bottom of Dover Avenue, which comes into Warren Avenue, the Walgreens would be down the road a bit. CVS down at the

intersection. So it's where do meets Warren and trying to get in and out of there sometimes is almost impossible. So again, along the lines of helping with parking and that's what the and it's not going to inconvenience anyone. and Nana, if you ever want to discuss Summit Anthony.

Yeah, I drove down them the other day.

Uh, you got my full support.

Yes. As as we've discussed previously in a council meeting, I the rrooting of making potentially oneway traffic patterns so that you're not getting rid of all of the on street parking because it is densely populated with a lot of I I get that. But I went by yesterday and it was it's very difficult people getting out of the driveway apparatuses getting down and I'm thinking kids playing the ball

goes in the streets running in between cuts.

It's a big challenge. It's a big challenge, but that's I'm seconding Frank's if there hasn't been one yet.

Yeah.

First passage.

First passage.

Councilman Fogerty made the motion.

Seconded Councilman Lawson first passage. All in favor? I. Any opposed?

The eyes have it. Thank you. Next slide.

Number two, an ordinance and amendment of chapter 18 of the revised ordinances of the city of East Providence, Rhode Island, 1998 as amended entitled vehicles and traffic amending section 18-308 entitled parking time limitations 15 minutes Warren Avenue Southside from a point 105 ft west of South Hull Street Westerly 20 ft.

This is a similar uh re request in that I think it might be in front of the cleansers there.

That's what I was trying to uh the cleaners.

The cleaners going to say it's no parking down the whole opposite side.

And this allows people to run into the cleaners, drop off your your clothes or pick up and you know not have cars parking there for a long time. That that's my understanding of this request.

Well, they have a big parking lot, so I don't know if it's for them.

I don't think it's just for them, but it's in that area. Um, they they do have a parking lot, right? They have a big And across the street. Well, I think too, so there are businesses across the street, the other side. Yes.

Correct. There's a nail salon. There's the um the florist and then next door is that little uh on the corner has a restaurant. It has a T-Mobile, like a mobile store. There's multiple there's a lot in there.

They have I think four or six parking spots and they have no other parking. It gets busy.

People do need the parking on the street there. Um 15 minutes I don't know to get your nails done. It takes longer than 15 minutes. Manny Petty is an hour and a half. So despite the black me.

No. So I don't know. 15 minutes I think is a little short. Um we can always tweak it. I mean that's in that area.

It's his first passage, right?

Yeah.

Okay. Okay.

So, it can be we can amend it on the I mean because I don't think going to it'll be a public hearing next time, right?

But then we'd have to change everything.

I think we're going to make a change. It should be made now versus having to pay for advertising multiple times. It can't be because of the cleaner because the cleaner has substantial parking in their parking lot. So, it's not for the cleaners. Um well, DPW had mentioned that, but it might not be them. It might be right. That was a fair amount of time. I mean, yeah. 30 minutes.

30 minutes.

Maybe 30 minutes.

Yeah. I Yeah.

Um and I don't think that So, who put this forward?

Yeah.

It came from DPW.

So, can we just table this? I'd like to talk to them.

Hey, why don't we then allow them to come and explain their rationale?

I think 15 minutes doesn't make sense in that area when Yeah. Let's put this off till that has parking September 1st. Make a motion we table.

Second.

All in favor? I I the motion was Councilman Lawson's seconded by Councilwoman Souza. I did try to clarify today. I I didn't have time to get more information. I apologize. We We'll do that for the first. It can it can wait a little longer. Okay. Does that bring us to the adjournment?

Adjournment.

Yeah. Thank God. Motion to adjourn.

Sorry.

Motion. All in favor? I mo meeting is adjourned. Thank you all.