East Providence City Council 9/17/24

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good evening call the meeting of September 17th to order East Providence uh city council Madame clerk could you please uh call the roll councilman fery councilman bson here Council vice president rioo here councilwoman Susa here council president Rodricks here let the record show there are four members present uh councilman fogy is home ill this evening please rise for the pledge uh

Tracy Johnson will you lead us in the pledge

evening everyone and uh this solicitor is also on his way if there is a critical legal question will hold off um I I did speak with him and he had um an unavoidable uh delay which I I understood fully so we'll we'll continue until uh and if we we have a a legal question so Madame clerk if you could start the uh agenda we we will hold off on Executive session for

now under consent calendar you have uh tax abatements for 2024 in the amount of $444 56 move to accept second motion by councilman Lawson seconded by councilwoman soua all in favor I I any opposed the eyes have it next item you have the option to bundle licenses through6 I'll make a motion to bundle one through six second motion by councilman Lawson seconded by councilwoman suer to bundle

Le license items 1 through six all in favor I I any opposed the eyes have that is there a motion to so moved just to get the conversation going but I'll move that we approve motion by councilman Lawson to approve the bundled items one through six for discussion is there a second a second second by councilwoman suer discussion from the councel I'm good none no questions uh is there um there was the motion to

approve in second all in favor I I any opposed yeah IAT next item under public hearing we have um a liquor a new liquor license application from Outsider cooking comme on 1055 South Broadway Mr President yes Cil vice president this time I have to abstain because of my buiness prep thank you are all the approvals in police all those S okay um any other questions from the Council while we're waiting for that

could you read the uh applicant one more time the applicant is Victor Foley his business is the outsider cooking company located at 1055 South Broadway the applicant present can you step up sir thank you

all right you can just go right to the podium there that's okay just give your name and address for the record C Victor and my address is 10 welcome councilwoman um so just wanted to know what is the um the intention for the liquor license like what is your vision because I know it's a a really nice place I've seen a lot of movement on social media and um heard a

lot of things from people who have bone there so congratulations on having a successful small business in the city um can you tell us what your vision for your business plan is to have the liquor at that establishment sure um so we're open five days a week from 4: to 9: that's Wednesday through Sunday and we're just trying to provide our customers with bar and wine okay I feel like it well it's I

don't know if but it's it's a little beastro French style um so be wine is really just what trying to buy that okay wonderful thank you for answering that question I have no further questions I move for any other Council questions okay the motion is seconded by Council then Lawson this is a public hearing anyone is present like to speak for or against the this petition please come forward at this

time ask one more time if anyone present would like to speak on this item please come forward uh seeing none I'll close the public comment and Madame click could you call a rooll councilman Lawson hi councilwoman Susa hi council president Rodricks hi thank you m pass is three to zero good luck so much we appreciate it thank you good luck thank you next item under Communications John R Peter speaking on Sabin Point

Park rep Peters just come forward please right to the podium just give your name and address for the record my name is John Peters I live at 14 Shore Road which is up from Sabin Point um welcome thank you thank you I've been uh I know I only have three minutes but I'll try give the Reader's Digest vertion B Point Park right now has a herd or flock of approximately 25

to 36 geese they call that area home now if you can please drive down there park in the parking lot and see if you can make it to the other side of the parking lot without stepping in Goose debris now a lot of people don't know this but Goose droppings have eoli in them the kids are down there playing rolling balls in it falling down with their hands on the grass and we have a

major health problem I have a solution to that the solution is if I can get City permission an agent of the city to sign a green permission card by the state now until the 30th I can Harvest with a Fufu Arrow geese it I know it's not popular you want a hunk geese at saing Point correct we would do it 66 yards from the nearest house we're allowed 200 ft which is 66.6

yard we would herd them close to the shore cuz I've been doing this for almost a week we would H them close enough to the shore we would not shoot at them until they were on soft either grass or sand and then we would shoot them with fuu arrows now these arrows only go 20 yards but I've been able to walk up 5T away from them that's 15 ft and I can shoot quarter put three arrows

and a quarter at 15 ft I need about four other Hunters we would go in a half an hour before Sun up when they come up from the beach walk to the grass and then we would Harvest as many as we could in the second or two that we would only have to shoot at him when you say Fufu does that kill him oh yeah oh no this Arrow will go clean through and

stick in the ground the back stop and what are you going to do with all these dead geese eat them we would eat them we could take your suggestion and run it up the ladder thank you thank you stetus actually that was Communications right yeah okay candy seal speaking on Public Safety in the parkway yeah

welcome seal thank you madam clerk I wish tonight to read into the public record two emails that I sent recently one to the Waterfront commission and one followup to the city council with very brief remarks after that this will take no more than five minutes if that I appreciate your Indulgence on September 5th I wrote an email to Ray Ley executive director of the East Providence Waterfront

commission chairman Will William fioli copied uh planning director Bryan and police chief frone good morning I am writing on behalf of keep medic comic Green with the request that the commission require Marshall Medicom properties to produce an updated Public Safety report to be subsequently peer-reviewed The increased traffic flow along the parkway from the additional 11,000 projected annual daily V vehicle trips

will be substantial the addition of 30 daily delivery trucks 60 round trips for the grocery store will be even more so this figure does not include the other 60,000 Square ft of commercial space which could include a large Pharmacy Furniture Ander appliance store a hardware and or garden shop and a general merchandise store all units will have need for delivery if there are an additional 20 delivery

trucks per day 40 round trips that represents a total of 100 round trips per day this does not take into account the 10-year construction traffic and delivery traffic to 890 units of housing by law trucks are prohibited on the parkway other than trucks making deliveries to a Parkway address currently very few trucks at all Traverse the Parkway and don't draw much attention from law enforcement however

with the increase of upwards of 100 daily round trips by delivery trucks between the highway and lion Avenue and with the additional 11,000 Vehicles what burden will this place in our police department will traffic officers be able to distinguish delivery trucks from non- delivery trucks in the effort to enforce the law will they pull them over will they even have the time to bother Public Safety impact report

submitted to Marshall by Christopher W Bruce on December 28 2023 did not even mention enforcement of traffic laws as an aspect of public safety as we know that job is an important part of policing Mr Bruce stated that the short time given him one month during the holidays and the unavailability of much of the required data made his report quote less complete than I would like and quote he recommended in his

conclusion a more complete study given more time to our knowledge the public safety report has not been updated nor has a peer review been conducted at the beginning of this process the commission agreed that all Impact studies would be peer-reviewed unless there was Universal agreement that one was not necessary at the commission's public hearing on December 21st 2023 Marshall listed a number of impact

studies to be submitted including the one on Public Safety which came in a week later at the close of the meeting the commission voted to accept the list during discussion commissioner Amoroso asked whether peer reviews were part of the vote and chairman foli said that they were an updated study and peer review of this issue is necessary and warranted the author of the public safety report

himself said it was rushed and incomplete the commission voted for the peer review I submit this request for the record please share it with the other members of the commission thank you Candy seal several days later September 11th I forwarded that email to the council members with this message good afternoon members of the council I'm forwarding to you an email that I sent last week to

the executive director and chair of the Waterfront commission planning director Brian s and pre police chief Fran Sone were copied I have not received a response from any of them this issue should be of great concern to you and everyone in East Providence I do not know if you or chief Fran Sone has had been aware of the scope of anticipated increased traffic on the parkway nor the

burden that it will place on our Police Department in controlling that additional traffic you will recall that the previous Council voted to limit development along the parkway to its traffic capacity those words appear in the design guide lines not only for the metacom subdistrict but for the kettle point and Veterans Memorial Parkway sub districts as well we urge you to place this issue on an upcoming docket for

discussion for the edification of the public they are certainly in the dark as well despite our continuing efforts to inform them thank you Candy seal yesterday two of you responded to my email of September 11 thank you for that you both expressed confidence in the appointed Waterfront commission and have chosen to leave it to them to do the right thing you both compared the metacomet project to Kettle point you

suggested that kettle Point has not added considerably to traffic on the Parkway and that fears about the metacom development are unfounded that is an apples to Orange oranges comparison Kettle Point has a total of 290 residential units and the 90,000 square foot University Orthopedics building traffic in and out is is moderate and requires only a turn lanee and a flashing sign to indicate Vehicles

entering the parkway from P pedal Point Drive excuse me on the other hand metacomet or the Met is as it currently named will have 890 residential units and a total of 153,000 square ft of commercial retail space including the 995,000 foot grocery store complex Vehicles will be entering the site non-stop all day long if approved this will require a roundabout at Lion Avenue with 800 feet of four lanes in both

directions oversight of metacomet was offloaded to the Waterfront commission by the council in 20121 nothing seems to have changed once again the public has left to fend for itself thank you for your time thank you uh candy I I just want want to add um as as I said when I responded to you I will um personally meet with Police and Fire Chiefs at some point and just make sure that they um

stay aware of of the uh continuation of of this project and that everything that has been approved prior that we go by it and and live by it and we we'll wait and see you know the peer review of all these things I I haven't read the entire document I did read summaries and you're correct all that wording is there so they just need to adhere to it I but I do think the Waterfront commission has

done good things on all of the projects they've been involved with um some of them more so than this one they're involved in the after um planning of of some of this so uh the project has been approved and so far so good the Met has been well received as you acknowledge too so we'll we'll take it a day at a time that's met links the golf course yes met links

right oh thank you thank you again thanks for your time I have fancy hail speaking on um money for sustainability or energy resilience

light all right Nancy hail 889 Bullocks Point Avenue and I guess we you all have received budget for next year and was or it's not budget Jill oh we will be receiving it later tonight oh okay well anyway um it is sort of a leftover question from prior times when I've spoken about I'm going to skip energy resilience but focus on sustainability which um you know less trash less Plastics um

so one of my ideas is for a sort of park ranger position to be reminding residents and visitors to our parks of our Collective expectations that they take their litter when possible home with them and clean up after their dogs and keep their cigarette butts in wherever they should be so um park ranger jobs could also help remind people that their dogs need to be on leashes all of that kind of stuff

because the signs don't work signs just don't work there is now a sign at Crescent Park Beach which really isn't exactly a beach but um so the sign as you go down the stairs is mostly about keeping dogs on leashes and you know cleaning up after your dog and it also says you know violators will be fined I is that going to happen cameras there's it's a problem already and if you don't have people walking around

reminding residents and visitors to our city what our expectations are it's the problems aren't going to go away there's going to be more litter and you know plastic bags with dog excrement dropped on sidewalks it's all over the place so I would like to see while you guys and ladies and administration are working out to budget some kind of um plan for keeping our streets our sidewalks

our parks and everything else you know much in much much better condition it's all over the city council members know it I think the administration knows it too the only other thing I can um would love to see which wouldn't cost much money I hope would be something in the post or the reporter that could do some sort of recognition uh of small businesses that are actually doing sustainable actions

for example less Plastics bags straws Lids whatever plastic all there are businesses in Riverside Square I know that offer metal straws um there are businesses using compostable takeout containers they're switching over um consignment stores that are doing you know reusable clothing so it'd be nice if those stores could be recognized somehow and to encourage more actions like that thank you thank you thank you Miss

hail William Lewis speaking on water sewer billing

under council members city council Administration communication I'm hang on one second I'm sorry you I was in a sidebar with the VP here and so uh at at this point without objection I want to um move up a couple of presentations uh I would ask first that the superintendent of schools Dr fan and the uh Financial Officer for the school department Craig enus if they would come forward and make their uh presentation

want we're cutting Tony stien

thanks

thank you both for coming and you can proceed good evening tonight we're presenting the school budget that was approved um Mid July by the school committee like to just Begin by highlighting our goals these are in a plan academic Excellence for all students social emotional learning to support what academic learning educate is focus on continuous learning and family and Community engagement so all

of our budget priorities focus on those four areas just a brief snapshot of our enrollment right now we have in this changes every day at the beginning of the year but right now we're at 5,285 students then you can see our enrollment history um over the last five years um we're down a little bit right now but again that fluctuates throughout the year our special education enrollment is at

1,117 students and actually I think it's a little higher than that those that was our August count which is just over 21% of our population and as you can see since 2020 2021 school year we've G up significantly and then this is actually our bigest increase so these are our um multilanguage langu multilingual language Learners um we've had an increase since last year of 90 students

so many of these students are new to the country um have limited English skills um so we've seen a big increase um over probably the last month these are all East Provence residents people that have moved into the city this year we um we actually received a cut to State a Aid of about $150,000 so um we had just significantly redu our budget so these are the cuts that we made to Personnel um we had to

we eliminated three resource teachers at the elementary level we ended up closing three kindergarten classes throughout the city um so most of our kindergarten classes are at 25 right now we eliminated an elementary MLL teacher we had an instructional coach that we cut we were lucky enough to receive a grant from ride after the fact we were able to leave for that for one year we closed a

first grade and we closed a fourth grade all due to enrollment and we've C five par professional positions and moved some others around Sandy just one second before you move on can you just explain what a par professional is for those who are watching sure so our par professionals we have close to 150 they support classrooms um by assisting the teacher working with individual students we have

a par professional in every special ed classroom um some more than one um we also our state prek has a power professional that helps out in every classroom and they assist with lunch and recess also thank you um budget items that we had to add back in this year we had a fifth grade class at Francis that was a bubble class so we had to add a third fifth grade um we added two speech language

Pathologists because our numbers are really increasing we paid for summer school Staffing which was previously in our Esser budget which you don't have that money anymore web-based software custodial supplies additional substitute compensation and our esy summer program were all in Sr funding prior to this and all had to be absorbed back into the school department budget yesy it's a extended school year yeah sorry no

that's S I just learned thatou week go um I'll try I'll no that's I mean I'm used to summer school I remember that yeah so the esy is for our special ed population this is just these are all grant-funded positions um that we currently have in the school department that are not in the budget but that are um in our classrooms and then I just wanted to highlight where we saw our major

increases for this budget year we had a $450,000 Healthcare increase um 1.375 million in salaries um by contract and actually we were anticipating initially over 2 million but because of the Personnel Cuts we made it brought that line item down we had just over $400,000 in transportation costs that were in increase this year and just a couple of the bigger items besides salary and benefits that

impact our budget that really are out of our control are the 6.5 million in out of District placement and 7.46 million in transportation costs overall we just wanted to highlight some of the facility updates that we did last year so if you haven't been to Riverside I invite you to come and visit um it should be complete in the next week or so we upgraded the library and media library media center both fors um six

brand new science classrooms and new windows throughout the entire building um the obviously the prek um and Martin Middle School building which is moving very fast if you haven't been by lately a lot of the steel has gone up on the um Middle School side we had the wadington building project that we finished um which was closing in all those classrooms we are in the process of finishing up the Francis boiler we put

up the Olo fence um both the Francis boiler and the O Oro fence were Capital Improvement projects thanks to the council last year um we had a $100,000 Grant to redo the courtyard the middle of Oro we created additional Alp classrooms so we now have two Alternative Learning Program classrooms in the central office building so instead of sending students out of District our high school students we're

now keeping them in District and they're um housed in our building but we feel as if we can support students better in their learning needs and it is a cost savings for the district um we did some of the UN events at Whit neck a new gym curtain at Riverside Middle School and um some dishwashers and we're working on a walk-in freezer at Riverside Middle School so those were some of our major Capital Improvements this

year our maintenance priorities for next year our our biggest one is our building management system which is estimated probably closer to the $500,000 Marth we actually have been working with air masters um on some incentives on that so we're exploring that that controls all the heating and the air conditioning in the buildings currently we don't have the ability to do that um so that's our number one priority our

elementary intercom systems um many of them are original to the buildings so um we're experiencing difficulty with a lot of them we are going to also try and pursue some safety money for this but each one is approximately 160,000 on a total of 1.5 million replacing the univent at white neck Silver Spring Oro and oldum those are the Heating units inside the classroom again most of them

are original to the building um if you remember we had some issues at white neck this winter where we had some flooding um that was the reason know that's approximately 478,000 we need a new roof at some point on oldum approximately $1 million and we looked at Paving all of our um playgrounds and our walkways um at the different schools and that's 674 th000 of so those are some of the Capital Improvements that

we're looking at this year and this is our budget so we just we're going to present the whole budget but we're going to highlight um some of the areas where we've seen the biggest increases if you have any questions you feel free to ask uh so hi everyone uh so beginning in what we call the 51,000 series so that's everything to do with uh salaries um overall there's a 2.6% increase over the current

uh uh fiscal year uh the yellow arrow there that we have there we just wanted to um highlight so for our substitute line item uh we needed to add some more funds into that uh line item we have uh as you know staff are entitled to take their uh time off um and so we've um felt that the budget line item for this year we've already gone gone through U

through that uh but so the total for the 51,000 series for salaries uh 55, 33,2 N1 moving on to the benefits in the 52,000 series a 3.4% increase over the current fiscal year uh again a big hitter for us is our health care insurance uh we still have that uh a significant prescription uh claim it's about a million dollars a year um and so with that coupled with uh the mandated increases to the employees retirement

system we have some increases there uh a good note uh the workers compensation premium uh we after years of increases we have a reduction um so and that's due to the uh hard work of our of our staff who are really uh being cautious and working sa uh so total for the 52,000 series 24, 25,300 $97 for the 53,000 series The Professional and Technical Services a 5% reduction over the current year um we uh

due to the hiring of speech therapists uh that we had uh so we could reduce the uh outside services that we are uh um uh purchasing uh as a superintendent had mentioned uh we are now having to include all of our educational uh software so that line item there uh $400,000 um is what we had in the Esser Grant that's now coming back into um the uh general fund keep going next slide

and then just wanted to point out uh Line 53502 Tech Services uh so we are uh extremely proud of our intern uh ship program that we have with the high school students uh it has been so successful that a recent hire in the department is a former student who was in The Internship uh program so we've got a slight increase um to that uh line line there uh so total for the 53,000 series 1,615

,000 uh 54,000 Series this is anything to do with uh Property Services uh to maintain our um buildings um and grounds overall there's a 5% root reduction over the current year 55,000 series uh this is the other services uh superintendent had already talked about our big increase to the transportation $400,000 uh lines 55 630 640 and 650 um just wanted to so those are all of the tuitions for out of district

superintendent had mentioned to you uh that we have created our own Alternative Learning uh program so the $771,000 that we budgeted for this current year we were able to move that to zero because all of those students are now staying within the city um and so the total for the 55,000 series 14 m94 $2,274 56,000 series for the supplies a 16% increase over the current year uh primarily due to utilities uh we have

the custodial uh supplies coming in um I must say uh the school department joined the city with the green energy uh program we are reaping the benefits we are very grateful to to see the credits uh come in every every month that's helping to keep the uh electricity um costs uh down uh so the total for the 55 56,000 series excuse me two 2, 539,000 I just have a quick question um the

custodial supplies was that being covered somewhere else that was being covered through the grant oh okay so just like that webbased software that's now coming back in thank you you're welcome um in the 57 uh thousand series um uh so once again uh you know due to the budgetary constraints for the other other areas that we had to focus on uh we did we were we were not able to put

any funds in the land improvements or the building Improvement line items uh 57311 Tech Hardware um uh Tech sorry tech software so this is all the operational software uh that we have for the district uh that too was covered by the grant that has now coming back so the total for the 57,000 series $250,000 uh for the M miscellaneous for the 58,000 series uh same as last year no increases total is $82

,000 so this brings our total expense budget to 99 m396 n62 you talk about the revenue pieces how are we going to pay for it uh so we are here uh tonight uh to ask you for the maximum uh increase we can ask you for of 2.2 million so that would bring our uh local fund appropriation to 57 million2 3,620 as a superintendent had already said we are are seeing a slight decrease in state aid 38,8

57,7 $51 um we have the tuition so this is for all the students that are coming in from the other districts to the Career and Technical Center 1.4 million um so uh now that the uh lunch program is operating and running that'll probably be a little bit more higher uh uh actually but we budgeted for the 1.4 million rental income so we up that to uh this current year for 125,000 we up

that to 190,000 we're just close to 160,000 year two date so we still have a couple more months left refund prior years experiences uh there's always a refund that we have to uh that we have to log in for the prior year $25,000 or Medicaid so any uh students that are covered by Medicaid we can get reimbursed uh for those Services we have a provider that we pay for those Services

$1,250,000 coming back in uh finally and then uh the two last pieces uh TIAA so part of the employees retirement system uh the great um uh changes that were done in 2009 uh all of the uh cities uh get back a portion uh for the certified staff only of TIAA so that's approximately next year going to be $ $330,000 for the miscellaneous uh in order for us to um make the budget work

uh we are going to be taking um a one-time withdrawal out of our OPB account to cover the health insurance costs or retirees for next year it's approximately 315,000 uh there was no other way uh we had to make this work um and our our account uh is is doing well and so we can um we can take those those costs out uh so we're coming to tonight uh to presenting the budget expenses and revenues 9,396

n62 thank you thank you both so the increase U requested is 2.2 million and appreciate the presentation it was um very very direct and clear um knowing that with any budget there's always more that any Department would like is is there a glaring weakness or lack of a better word deficit of something you're not providing for the schools that um you wish you could have obviously you you

need more everyone needs more but um it appears that you're fairly stable moving forward the schools are the bond issues are all on time and doing well Martin's moving along well some people don't realize that Martin Bond also helped out with Wasington Riverside Middle School so there seems to be a lot of progress there but if you had a one item wish list item not a list one what what would

it be if if anything you don't have to I just want to make sure in my mind there isn't one glaring hole somewhere in in in what you need

yeah me tilt it up a little B volume

I suppose now you want a new microphone in the budget hang on SEC those at home uh maybe can't see this we it's having a technical issue with uh microphone gentleman is working on it if you want to go to the podium and speak they could just do that because I know that's working yeah why don't we just do that that's okay okay sorry for that if you want to continue you you were saying

Riverside was sure um Riverside the the money for Riverside is coming out of our Capital funds it's we get a percentage um reimbursement through um FEI money through ride but that will drain most of our Capital um so it's it's always capital projects that you know that we could have more money for there's always something that needs to be done as I'm sure you know the the roof at olm which

is some of us know the old metal Crest building yes is that um in danger of is it leaking now is there a current um urgency so we've been patching it at this point um it will need to be replaced but we have been putting patches on those leaks any other questions from theair Members yes councilwoman than you for clarifying um so in the revenue it was mentioned Tia reimbursement that 400

that 340 goes back to or is given back because of the certified pension or certified person is that I'm wondering does that have does that uh assist with the increase correct so the so the $130,000 that we get back um from TIAA so that is strictly through the root retirement for certified staff only okay so so that's a a quarterly check that we get in that we recognize as um uh revenue revenue okay but we're still

it's still in the fcal year we created a C an increase in that line item so then so then on the next line so then the last line I talked about was the other post employment uh benefits so the opep account that we have that was started long before I started here uh that's managed through Rhode Island into local risk management trust the city has one um as well so over the years we've been

able to put in funds every so often that money gets in invested and it's managed it's doing quite quite well so we are in order to make the budget work to to balance an allowable withdrawal that we can take out is to cover the health care expenses of the retirees for the year so that's what we're going to be doing um and this is kind of a little bit off because I was

wondering this a few weeks ago the in as it pertains to the high school so with the high school bond um when we were hitting those Milestones the city was getting the um reimbursement from ride have we to the best of your knowledge received all of the reimbursement back for the money the reimbursements are still coming in uh Malcolm would be will be happy to know so we sent him the

housing aid um chart um so the so the city uh every year until I we talking about this today I think until 2040 um is gonna be getting $333,000 um as part of the in incentives that we met on on the high school uh so that that money comes in every single year okay and is that money going into the school department or we as the city keeping it aside to pay back the the city keeps

that thank you um and then I my last question thank you for being patient um is um Dr fan mentioned about the maintenance um plans um that she listed is that do we have a five-year uh Capital Improvement plan for the school I mean I'm sure you do um I would be I'm sure I don't know about the rest of the council but I'd be interested in seeing um what that

projected plan is and the costs or estimated costs um in addition to what you presented to today as priority items um I think that would be helpful because we know that you know Capital Improvements just historically have not been easy City and school to get done and I think the city's been doing a really good job at doing Capital Improvements within the city and I think similar to last year um we need to kind

of step up and do the same for the school department so just to get an idea in addition to the priorities that you've laid out tonight I'd like to see what that fiveyear looks like thank you that's all council president Council vice president weo thank you Mr President um when we back on December 11th that famous day when the bridge went down you were getting Aid you were getting assistance from the state for busing

additional my question is have you received the payments um as a matter of fact last week we just received check first check the check so $56,000 it it was it it encompassed everything okay just got it okay and next question is more towards super I know you mentioned this when we're at the volleyball game the other night too the additional n 90 students of you know what impact does that have

on when you're starting obviously you already starting this budget process long before the school enrollment what impact do those 90 students have on this budget and what is the potential long term because obviously they're coming here from they're not just coming here from one country they're coming here from multiple countries what what does that do to your budget so it it will require extra

Staffing especially um the majority I think we had 40 or 40 new enrollments at the high school so we didn't see it at the elementary school as much we've seen it at the high school so our staff is definitely stretched th um that is servicing that population so it is going to probably require additional Staffing next year all right councilman so you're asking the city for 57 million

$23,660 we haven't seen the budget yet have you got in any indication that you are receiving that full amount we've met with the mayor and we presented it to the mayor um okay we haven't seen the budget yet so we don't know but yeah our our indications have been that he was going to put that forward at the full amount okay you my support that the full amount being in there um and the capital projects um

there's no way in hell I am going through this budget without old D's roof the communications in these buildings we just had that shooting in Georgia they said one of the biggest things that helped was the school communication systems and um the HVAC controls we can't defer maintenance we we have to do it now I heard there may be 3 million left over so I'm going to respectfully ask that the administration

and you guys let us know before we vote on this budget if that money is available CU if not I'm going to be pulling some of these Vehicles out of the budget for Capital cuz tiny townies are in that Oldham building and having a roof that needs to be fixed let's do it you know deferred maintenance over the years we saw what happened it doesn't work it it only kicks the can down the

road um I looked at uh Capital proposals there's nothing there that I see that's a priority over those three things I just listed for the schools so I'm going to ask I don't know who determines if that extra Bond money can be put into this budget for this um but if it is I I'd like to see a line item for those three things built into this budget sure

I just would add that the if there is which there is extra um high school bond issue funding um it it once the project is closed out which it's about to be um it does come to the city you know where one all one city but its Administration from that point on would come to the city Administration the city council mayor's office uh to determine the use of that money so we'll

have a discussion on that when it comes um so we can if we don't have that answer by um when weot we can use that money we can allocate the money to the school projects to anything really and then if that 3 million comes through then we can just unallocate it and use do it that way and and I I do do want to add that I think the mayor's budget which will they will be presenting

tonight now actually it was scheduled to come before the school presentation but I moved it up so that superintendent that says the capital budget well but the other budget too will'll be getting tonight so and I'm pretty sure that it's being fully funded but we'll we find out okay yeah so yes Council I uh I agree with my counterpart for w four on those three issues um but the next question

and he he raised it as far as the communications with the school in another tragedy a week ago or two weeks ago whenever it was so my question to you uh Mr superintendent is are you comfortable with all the security obviously God never knows what's going to happen but are you comfortable with the security systems are in the school because with this additional money before I buy a before I buy another

snowplow I want those schools to be as perfect as close to being safe as possible which I know the word Perfection only exists in the dictionary so because we we know that this city is loaded with keyboard Warriors and Monday morning quarterbacks the communication is our biggest issue right now I mean we have put a lot of work into um you know the cameras in the building and um the alarm systems and the doors and

the vestibules um so we have done a lot of that security work we had I think 500,000 last year so two years ago um in rde Security money they're actually putting that out again now so we're going to pursue that also um for some of the intercom systems and hoping to get some of that um but that the communication is our biggest issue we still have the resource officers covering the the schools do two at the

high school and then one at each of the middle schools and and I have to say we're very lucky in this city we have an amazing partnership with the police department and the fire department they both sit on our threat assessment team we meet monthly um they do walkthroughs of our buildings so um anytime we have an issue you may have heard there's been a lot of threats um across the country

um just a lot of false threats and so we're experiencing that same thing um the first thing we do is get in touch with the police department and assess the situation and no matter what time they're always there for us so you know and the community each school has a community officer and they stop in there um you know at the ele schools to to spend time so you know I I do very much

appreciate the Partnerships that we have with them great you have my full support on your budget as well as the capital budget as I said because again people come to the city because of schools it increases the value of the houses which the city a great place to people want to live you're going to education if you're a young family and you're not going to go to a private school you're going to look at how

good's the education between City a a city B and I want to be that City that can choose along with obviously having the you know having good police and fire coverage but you're if you're you're starting with a young family you're not going to pick a city that doesn't doesn't support their schools and as councilman Lawson said for too long it was Band-Aids on buildings it was Band-Aids on educa on the education

aspect and I commend you as a superintendent that looks at the education and you've taken politics out of things and you and you're making a curriculum that people can be proud of in the city that you're putting the students education for and hopefully you'll start seeing that and scores from year in and year out and I commend you and your staff for the great work you've done in the two years that we've been

council members here thank you appreciate I got one more thing um about three weeks a month ago I sent an email to you and the administration asking to look if Opera funds could be used for any of your maintenance things things like un events that deal with air quality have you guys had that conversation is there any movement there yep sure I was going to ask if the administration I know the question was

raised about budgets and so if you want to um join in good evening council president members of the council so just to clarify you know that there was some reference to Capital as well as um the budget just to clarify what was going to be presented this evening was our capital budget um but I understand that's that's going to be held off till the end um our our um councilman I know

you said you haven't received our budget um it was sent to the council um in PDF uh per our Charter rules and when did it get sent it was sent uh yesterday evening um before midnight I saw a budget sent again this morning with a a an interactive link I just wanted to make sure you received that um who was from you that's correct so that's so that I just

wanted to clarify that on the record um in reference to the 3 million and um the discussions that we've actually had uh two meetings I believe with the superintendent and with our finance director we also sent a letter um and I'd like to read into record to the council which states um that we recent from the mayor that we recently met with superintendent foran and Craig Gus myself and finance director Malcolm

Moore we did discuss closing out the East Providence High School Bond once the Project's fully complete we anticipate having an overage of approximately 11 excuse me $3 million not 11 uh and based on our conversation our intent is to take that overage from the East Providence High School Bond use it to pay for future East Providence School Department Capital Improvements uh the most financially Ben um

beneficial plan to leverage these funds would be to withdraw those funds from the Rhode Island Health and education building Corporation use the overage to pay the debt service that's already budgeted in this fiscal year budget the proposed budget and then this will then result in debt service Surplus that will then be placed into the capital and put in an interest bearing account so what

does that mean the what we'll have to then come to the council to do is we'll be requesting the mayor will request that the city council allocate through a very specific directed line and our Capital Improvement plan the above mentioned plans um funds so the $3 million to be used towards um School improvements so we're in the early stages of the conversation we met at gra length the after um the other day we're

just waiting for that to be closed out and we're awaiting action from the school building committee um and then obviously the East pan school committee before we can take anything further but the that's the plan this was sent to will it be done before the budget because I'm not passing a budget unless there's a line item for those three things we're we're waiting on the on the school bonds I don't know well somebody

I hope gets the answers before there's been and I received the budget this morning at 9:30 there was you actually received two councilmen I was here up last night I received the budget letter to the council and this morning at 9:30 it was also an attachment councilman I was here at midnight sending it so I know for sure I'm looking at my email right here there's a PDF attached and a

link it says it and it just says that the interactive budget would be sent in the morning but there's there's link embedded so um again as as long as those three items are in this budget I'm fine so I don't know who has to get moving to uh free up that money but I hope it's done soon and what about the Opera money for um like univent stuff like that was that discussion ever

had no we haven't had that a specific discussion you mentioned one particular project or you said the univent anything Opera can do towards the school that fits on op uh we did have actually we did have conversation we had conversation about um those and I believe the superintendent and correct me if I'm wrong superintendent but the request was made to have cost of what those projects that were presented to US

during our meeting would cost and bids and and and I know that the superintendent was working on that okay correct yeah we had did have two conversations about because we got to the end of the year for Opera just waiting for that information okay is there somebody that can move things along we do okay all right thank you bottom line we're supporting your budget and we're going to make sure you get

those three items yeah I think it's clear that this this Council uh and and I want to also add that this has been the case uh over the past um well every budget that I've been involved with on both councils I've sat on uh the school department has received their budget requests we've been supportive and we we continue to do that as my colleagues have said that always wasn't the case we we did have problems

with school maintenance and uh positions that were cut salary line items uh that's all behind us uh we are working together one city that we can have some differences in in some um items but as far as this I'm sure the school budget will be fully funded that 3 million that will come back is definitely can be a marked for school uh purposes the the issue and we'll we'll have more time to discuss this but it's

it's timing you know we we you don't just get a $3 million check next week from the um the bank and the bonding company U but it is ours I I get that but I'm not passing this budget without no interest so if that three million comes into our account and builds up interest at whatever rate is out there that's a lot a lot of money so it will get done it's just let's do it

the best way Council M I think what councilman Austin was just saying and I'm going to say itly is we might not have the $3 million in our hand but there's going to be a line in this budget for that $3 million that's going to be dedicated to the school department and they're going to receive everything that we just talked about the new HVAC systems and those schools that the superintendent talked about that

communication because I got laughed at by the former Chief of Staff about fences up at Glen line and sure as hell two weeks later there was a clown flying over there with a drone and people in that playground and I was criticized about putting fences up you don't think it can happen in this city they didn't think it's going to happen in every other city and town in the United States so those schools are

going to be as secure as possible that when we go to bed at night we can put our heads down and say that our children are safe as possible and again the word Perfection or perfect is a word in the dictionary but I'll be damned if I'm going to sit here and spend money on plow trucks before every single kid in this school isn't as safe as they can be and shame on anybody who doesn't support

that no I don't hear any arguments on that on that point we just need to do it the best and legal way we'll get it done okay thank you thank you superintend I'm trying to look um appreciate it um is the school getting their full ask of 57 million change I'm trying to look through real quick here and will we be receiving a printed version as we usually receive from the

mayor's office or are we just getting the hyperlink no I'm sure we're getting a printed but if you want to ask those questions I think the school needs 99 million 396 962 and I'm trying to find where in the interactive budget that number you could bear with me one moment yep were two questions one you were looking for it what was the other question I just want to know how much

you do the school department get their fulles from the administration

I see your school committee talking junk about us we're going to so I will take you guys are doing an awesome job opportunity to appreciate it I know that for sure buddy we know that brother we know that I would take this opportunity to long overdue buddy if I can get a word in here to to acknowledge that uh three members of the school committee are here tonight with their superintendent and finance

director uh Anthony uh Ferrera Ryan Queen and Jessica Bain we appreciate their attend to answer your question councilman if you click on the table of contents and it's the budget overview in the first I think three slides uh and you click on general fund expenses by Department the school department is the first one listed with a fiscal year proposed amount of 9,396 962 is that what you needed that's the

same F you go your full amount awesome we just want to thank the council for all of your support and not just here financially but even just the support that you show for the schools when you show up for our parades and our games and it's recognized and appreciated you might want to mention that while the meeting is being taped we have toy Pride Parade coming up the 27th at 4:45 4:45 it's actually at the

high school this year um girl soccer game great well you had three of us that went through the system you went through half of it right you put your kids through it so there's a lot of Pride for us to take care of the school department absolutely thank you for coming tonight okay Madame clerk if you can make sense of the agenda and figure out where we are so moving on to the presentation of

the fiscal year 2025 capital budget proposal review and yes we were going to just have that presented tonight the capital budget rather than go through the items we'll do that later on in the workshops um the administration wait till we hear whether or not that money is going to be available for the so I don't know if Patricia do you want is there a a handout for that and then we'll discuss it at another meeting the

cap just what you gave us already right I have make a motion to accept it and then um once we're done with the a regular budget then we can go back and that's what we so motion by councilwoman Souza to accept the uh BR off documents is presented and we'll discuss at a later meeting yeah uh second second by councilman Lawson all in favor I I any oppos the eyes have it and if I yes

please uh just to answer the question so the we I left the printed copies of all the budget information in The Five-Year Plan um at theas with you we did have Dominic Leonardo here to do a brief presentation but I thought I was the you had mentioned that the council wasn't interested in the presentation this evening and that you wanted to do it at the end after the workshop that was the

council we apologize to uh Mr leonado but okay I I just right we thought we'd wait and save it for the workshops right I and I did remember that the councilwoman as I was walking away had a question about the printed version so yes so typically what we've done in the past is we send the electronic version for the date per the charter and then once we come to do the budget

presentation we have um the printed copies per the charter for the council for the clerk and for the public but I'm happy to print all of those hard copies out uh for you to have in preparation because I know you like the hard copy I just I thought today's was the presentation of this today was the day well and I I get what you're saying you're saying well I sent you a link

online this morning um but in my mind it's always been a hand we've always been given it the correct you will but today uh on the dock it was the capital budget not the proposed because as you know in for previous years the mayor comes he presents the budget we have copies we have copies for the public um and that's still going to be the case but we were under the assumption that uh

based on the docum that this evening it was just capital budget that was being presented and we're prepared for that we had presentation we had software placed on the laptop ready to present all of that and yeah I don't thank you for that but I'm confused because the council when we talked about this in in workshops um we said that the capital Improvement budget was going to be after

we weren't going to discuss any of those things until after so I'm a little confused as to why it would have been placed on the docket today in that that that may have been me because when they sent that I think somebody asked so I said why not just put the school in the capital um I didn't need the presentation cuz the capital I could read and it's just a bunch of trucks and

grinding stuff but um that that's on me okay I think I asked you to put it on but yeah that's on me so what happened was in the docket meeting we weren't able to confirm that we would actually have the budg that's correct for the council by the time of the meeting so then we discuss so that you could get a head start putting the capital budget and the school budget

you didn't have that makes more sense well if the budget wasn't ready for today technically by that meeting then that would make not a printed version that's cor okay AB so when we will when will we have the printed versions We had them last year at the time the mayor's presentation was made on the 20th of August 2023 and then we had it I can print them out right now um Council

that' be great so you know so we'd have them you know ahead of time thank you thank you everyone have copies made um for the clerk so that she can make it available to the public per Charter that's that is what we have to do but as long as you receive the B the budget by uh yesterday evening um we're following Charter rules next item please so going back to council MERS and those items correct so

city council Administration communication discussion council president robs from page five going back to page five of the agenda and this was um u m vend you might as well come back up uh thank you it was the ongoing discussion that we as a council are having with um Administration and department heads and communication and trying to adhere to the Charter I had a discussion met with our

solicitor um so basically the City Charter prohibits council members from dealing directly with City staff Personnel department heads um there was one sentence in that in the paragraph that gives some confusion Mr solicitor when it talks about other than inquiries but as you explained to me inquiries might mean more of the council retains a right to investigate or investigated department or not necessarily a person

um if you can elaborate on that I think basically the the cleanest way here to handle this because I think all five members here have made it clear we do not want to dictate to any staff member department heads but Administration needs to know that we're we're also we're not potted plants we're elected officials we have a constituency we get phone calls we get emails about minor issues to major issues and there isn't

an elected official anywhere worth their their weight that doesn't want to get back the constituents and so that's our dilemma so right now the the funnel technically would be to go through directly through the chief of staff and or the mayor directly we've tried by contacting let's say the DPW head and copying the mayor's office either the chief of staff so just want to get this cleaned up tonight and

just just to read the language in the charter it says except for the purpose of inquiry the council and its members shall deal with the administration service solely through the mayor and neither the council nor any member thereof shall give orders to any subordinate of the mayor publicly or privately so the question is by Charter do we have the right to email a department head we been doing that with

Patricia R but then I was told I I'm not allowed to email department heads so I just want to know by Charter do I have the authority to be able to email just for inquiry um department heads I'm sorry I don't have a charter in front of me um but look at the powers of the council and list the powers of the council it uses the same word inquiry in another inquiry of inquiry of

basically investigations so that except for purposes of inquiry relates back to that power of the of the council when they want to like investigate a department and whatnot that's what that that's what that is commonly so you're saying this Charter doesn't give us the ability to contact the department head no not directly okay so I think the common sense approach well go ahead go ahead well I was just

going to say to me a common sense approach is the proof is in the pudding let's let's email and I asked the mayor uh yesterday when I asked him about this and I said we obviously can contact you directly and he said yeah said that that mayor's office which Patricia you can explain that email goes to about five people right or four people and in the staff and what I would say

is email the chief of staff or those those four people that mayor at East Providence whatever the email is if you don't hear back right away then we know we have an issue um let's you know let's try to tighten it and give that a chance call me right away and yell at me say look I did it your way we went through the channels we followed the chart

and miss vendi or the mayor or his Aid didn't get back to me and I and I've got to call my constituent then I will get on it and get it solv unless someone has a better explanation you know maybe CH language can be changed we know we're facing that coming up um to say that but this is still part of the different form of government and growing pain so what's

your take of so um my take is we're all a team and we all answer to the residents of this city and we all want to work collaboratively and I anyone who knows my work ethic knows I want to be able to get you an answer as quickly as possible um when you say like immediately uh there are sometimes inquiries that I get at 7 a.m. text messages so so the inquiries come in all

different ways so if we could come together with one cohesive way um I know it's worked for the councilwoman she does most of the time cual arts and that's great it goes right to the right department head uh the right Department in that process uh Council vice president will send uh or forward an email from a constituent CC us on it will respond and you know and work out

that way um the council in from W 4 will send me daily emails with information sometimes there's one or two sometimes it's five or six so I I a day so I am able to within reason get those answers now some of them are very quick hey how do I get this to this constituent I'm able to do that some of their them a little bit more in depth you know

provide me a list of this which takes some time and um I have to reach out to department heads to gather that information but um if there's ever an issue of timeliness please reach out I I I know that's my work ethic to be always on if you will and I try to do my best I think I've answered your calls on email on Via emails on weekends evenings while

I'm in Portugal all of the above that being said it is easier for me to be able to enter that there is an email it's mayor's office East Providence ri.gov the public does in fact use that but if it's something like a tree or trash not being picked up you know that would be the best place because it is monitored by multiple um employees if it's something a little bit more in

depth please reach out to me directly the the issue sometimes is this council president and members of the council is sometimes um like as as you've seen here from I've seen it I've witnessed it I've experienced it being respected yelled at here during this this public forum so imagine department heads being contacted by this body and not given providing an answer that maybe you've received so

there have been department heads who have reached out to say they've been contacted there are employees who have reached out to say they've been contacted via text so yes Charter says to do it that way unfortunately not everyone is always adhering to that so there are multiple times where I'm receiving an inquiry that went to an an employee via text from a council person and I wasn't aware of it I'm not cced on

it so there's a lot of that happening um but if we could come together I'd love to be able to move forward together with um with having a set way to be able to answer all of your questions for your constituents and give you all the information that you need to be able to do what you need to do as an elected body okay so let's mean yes so I education you say the word inquiry

that means to ask also you're being very it also look it also means to ask ask a question so yeah so so inquiry doesn't just mean an investigation it means to ask a question you have to look at the powers of the council which is at 2-9 I saying the word inquiry if you go to Webster's Dictionary inquiry means ask a question as well I'm I'm not disputing that but I'm again me just my opinion

and disagree with it that's fine on the powers of the councils it says section number six inquire into the conduct of any office department or agency of the city make investigation as to Municipal Affairs and for such purposes the council May subpoena Witnesses and gives you that Authority okay so that's a specific power of the in of the council to inquire into the conduct of any office offices so then you have the

can't interfere with the day-to-day operations of the government except for purposes of inquiry and in my humble opinion and that's a common provision inot many different Charters when it says except for purposes of inquiry they referring back to the council's ability to investigate inquire into the conduct of any office or department is otherwise it would make no sense right you can't have

the power here under Section six and then say you can't interfere with the day-to-day operations of the government ever except for purposes of inquiry so it relates back to that power oh that's that's all I'm saying does it mean that you can't call a department said hey how what's going on how are you today no that's not that's not the purpose but that's the real that's the G just to

piggy back on what the solic was saying council president members of the council is that we want I want to be able to give you information I mean my background has always been Communications I want to communicate the information that you're looking for to you to be able to get it back to your to our residents right it's just a matter of if you're reaching out to one person and they don't have it but they're

assuming that the council member has reached out to me as well and then I'm here during a council meeting representing our office or the administration and you're asking me about something that I have no idea about because you've been texting an employee or emailing a a uh emailing a department head and I'm not aware of it I can't do my job well to provide you the information that you need to then

provide to your residents our residents so let's um all go by the strict interpretation of the charta send the questions to the um mayor's office and if you send something on a Monday in the end of the day you haven't heard call me have my word that I will then follow up and say where's the response you know and we're all using common sense if we're in a Dunkin Donuts and

the DPW director is next to me and you know I have no problem in saying hey um Dan how's that um Paving project going on X Street or something you know but I'm not directing him so so my concern was I thought we agreed that every communication has Patricia on it that's what I was doing I never checked I don't know the intent was there but then I was told no more cuz you can't have the

department head and to me we talk about transparency and all of a sudden you're cutting off so that was me but hey I hear you as long as I know the rules I'll play by them and if you tell us we can't contact people for info and it's not to belabor it but again council president and uh councilman Lawson there were there were times where department heads were contacted by email I wasn't

cced employees were text we receiving text M so again I don't want to belabor it but um but yes that has happened that has occurred and and if it wasn't a department heads coming to me directly to say hey this is something I didn't feel comfortable with and then you know this would be a non-issue but we all want do together so obviously we'll make it work we'll make it work let's move on

I'm willing to do that thank you open discussion on the proposed plan to disperse 1.2 million meant for small business impacted by the bridge closure discuss councilman lawon so I'm getting a lot of um small business owners feeling a little insulted of the dollar amounts and I'm not sure if the dollar amounts are low because the city of East Provident said we're taking half of our

allocation for gift cards but I since we voted that down last week I would like to see if we could ask our Commerce if it's possible that the the low end the 500 be bumped up because you know these people they they got killed on December 11th when for like five six days it was deadlock and you've had businesses losing thousands and thousands of dollars personally I think you focus on

the main area the Warren AV Waterman torton and then masso um Broadway pucky Cara that was gridlock we had the egresses ingresses of 195 minimum 2,000 you know help them pay their rent for that month or whatever this I mean it I'm hearing it's not even worth applying if I'm only getting 500 so I don't know who to talk to yet I'm looking into it I've been reading the application process um that

they're asking you know a bunch of questions stuff um there's only two weeks to apply we're a week in so I hope people know that they got less than a week to apply for this um but I'm going to do more info on the process and I'll get it to you all but I just want to say that you know I I hope the dollar amounts weren't low because we said

we're taking half of our allocation but if it's possible to put that allocation back in to bump up at least the minimum 500 to I would prefer the low be 2,000 you know again you can certain parts of the city weren't affected as much you know down South we we didn't get hit as hard you know there may be some businesses that were affected that have a different model but to me why

we're not focusing right on that court I really got nail with people couldn't move um that that's just I'm just giving my two points I'm speaking for the small business owners um that you know feel disappointed you know for no fall to their own that bridge is not safe and they bore the brunt of it and they deserve some compensation so that's what I going on that no good point I agree thank

you next item update on Volkswagen settlement funds for Sab Point discuss councilman laon so I years and years ago and it's funny I saw an article you wrote on it council president um we received some money and the funds are for storm water negation at saving Point um those who know saving Point you're at the bottom of a couple Hills you got Bluff you got Shore Road other roads the

water comes in and the area by the basketball court there's some basins that the water just sits and when water sits it breeds bacteria so there was a nice presentation from save the bay and it looks like we're close to that project moving and what it's going to do is at the top of the hills there'll be some catch Basin so the storm water will go in those bases and hopefully gets

absorbed by the ground and it lessens the amount that flows down those Hills and then over near at the basketball courts will be another catch Basin that instead of those um current basins that are just sitting there it will keep the water more flowing into the pipe and stuff so the good news is um it looks like we're moving closer to that design to get it done and um you know I was going to save the

bab but unless you guys feel the need for a presentation um but it's uh you know I'm a saving Point kid and you know it's a good thing so I just want to give that positive news that's moving forward thanks it is a question that comes up a lot so does to know it's moving does maybe when they're almost done we can get a presentation on how it looks absolutely whatever you guys need

next item please Madam clerk update on crosswalk light repairs and replacement Citywide discuss councilwoman sua thank you um so this is something that I've had on the docket for months um on and off uh probably for the better six months um is the two specific crosswalks in the city one at Reynolds in Broadway in front of our um fire station in the center of the city um that has had a nonfunctioning crosswalk um

light and the one that is um on Warren AV in purchase um right after right around 7th Street um both are very busy roads see high volume traffic especially on Broadway where we know is consistently congested um with backed up traffic um in a lot of vehicles all hours of the day coming down that road it has been an ongoing safety issue for the community many residents have and still continue to reach out wondering

why that this has been brought up to the city and still has not been fixed last the administration had mentioned um the update from the DPW director was that there was a piece that was ordered and still has not come in I find it very difficult to believe that a a piece to a a lighting fixture would take more than four months unless it's coming from somewhere um I don't know across the

world it just it's very disheartening to the residents I see people crossing all the time um with children and animals and it's in front of our public safety building so it certainly should be a place where people feel safe to cross and they don't um so I am I ask again respectfully for the administration to expedite the operation of that crosswalk on Broadway and Reynolds so that

residents can safely cross to the park to the school um we have children that are walking to school now that we're back in session again it's not um a safe road and we already know in the last couple of weeks that they have been pedestrian vehicles um incidences throughout the city so we're trying to avoid that happening in this um specific area especially since it's something that has been brought to

the attention um multiple times um so I I would really like um respectfully an update with proof that something has been ordered and that there has been communication saying that this is the reason why it's delayed so that the public knows that it's something that the city is moving forward and has has put in place to get going it just there is truly an actual delay or discontinued

piece I mean if we have to just in my opinion take the whole thing down and put up a new one it's better than just sitting around doing nothing waiting for something bad to happen and again Warren Avenue a very high traffic area cars go down that road pretty quickly because there really isn't any traffic lights until you get to lionav again we're in between two schools in parks with neighbors children

are walking parents are walking a lot of pedestrians businesses I'd hate to see there be a significant injury or fatality on those two roads when it's been something that's been discussed and brought to the attention that needs to be addressed so it'll be on the docket again until I can get an update thank you uh I'd ask that um director wasen did you pick up that you make notes right okay so we'll follow up

thank you next item oh can I just add one more thing kind of affects this but the solicitor might not uh agree so I do think that it is great we have the um digital sign at the fire station trying to rhy people not to block the um entrance which when there's a live uh safety patrol there then they don't block it but when they're not they do block it so that's kind of ironic um but

could we have please them not obstruct the sidewalk so that's been an issue that I've been getting a lot of calls and texts and emails about that either the sign or the traffic control vehicle or police vehicle is also obstructing the sidewalk where then they have to get go into the street which we know there is no emergency breakdown Lane in the street now because we're using double

Lanes so if they could park somewhere where and not obstructing the um walkway for um residents to um utilize that sidewalk in that area be greatly appreciated are you talking on freeor in the corner I'm talking on Broadway in front of the um where the um fire station is and before the entrance to the highway no so you're walking from Grove oh okay closer to Grove right so in front of the um funeral home going to

the PO the fire station us a patrolman there or traffic control person making sure that people aren't blocking during the high Peak Travel um but their vehicle is typically parked blocking the walkway so might be an oversight you know not realizing and just that CU why we talk just got a text that uh Washington Bridge demolition work is being halted to preserve evidence for the state law schools

lawsuits uh I don't know we were supposed to close Waterfront Drive starting tonight so I don't know if that yeah just want to let folks know when we start getting calls thank you thank you councilwoman next item update on word one traffic study requested 9324 discuss Council vice president rioo thank you um just as an update uh we had the meeting sent an inquiry into the mayor's office

who read the letter um we still are getting we still are getting questions about it and uh just want to update that I have had no communication as far as the process for this study and I think we hear about it now about crosswalks and walking and everything I think it's a city issue and we really have to do something about the I know it's you know it's a double EDG sort about speeding and everything

people don't want the cameras they do want the cameras they want everything like that but it has impact it has impacted the neighborhoods and as the councilman just said now uh every time there's a delay in the bridge uh councilwoman su's Ward and my ward get impacted the most because of the inary tactics as far as taking different routes to get around that it impacts the situation the only email I can say off

the Record is to a constituent it didn't seem like the mayor was uh in support of of having a traffic study but if I'm going to if I'm going to invest in the future of the city as far as you know red light cameras Etc I think these things need to go thank thank you coun councilman follow up on that next item update on opening contract with East Province fire department for implementation of fourth

W view discuss Council vice president rioo yes sir

I'm going to read a letter to go into the record and I'll provide this to the clerk so the documentation but this letter is to the this letter is to The Honorable Roberto D Silva the mayor of the city of East Providence it says Dear mayor Roberto D Silva I am following up on the request made on the 5th of December 2023 for the planning and implementation of the fourth full-time rescue

this was followed up by a council resolution 137 signed on June 4th 2024 with the unanimous Council support for a fourth full-time rescue in a recent press release you announced that the city of East Providence will receive a $3.75 million safer Grant to hire 12 new firefighters in your later dated August 6 2024 you affirmed that this is your goal to add rest res coverage where needed

can you please let the council know what the plan is to add additional rescue service serving the city of East Providence where this has been placed in the budget and how do you anticipate 12 new firefighters was part of the ongoing plan so we were told back in December that we needed a class see the class is there we have the money so I think it's time that we get the fourth rescue so if you don't

mind giving this to the clerk so she can process this for the record thank you m thank you sir yes Madam the chair um I know we have a gentleman in the audience who has an item on the docket so I would ask for unanimous consent to move up section um e um introduction of ordinances number one yes so with without objection uh let's do that on on page seven um Madam clerk

if you could read the The Heading he should be right back we'll wait for councilman Lawson to return but if you want to um read what the how the motion is stated This was um brought back from prior meetings for discussion and possible vote motion to remove from table and set hearing date for potential Zone comprehensive plan change um for the location zero trail map 709 block one parcel one it's a petition for

a zone change from an i1 to a C2 a second okay motion is made to untable please the next meeting seconded by Council woman Souza yes I'm sorry it's actually not going to be the next meeting it'll be we got adver for three weeks so whatever date let the applicant know but it's going to be advertised for at least three weeks so my motion is to just untable it untable it and we'll

bring it back after the advertisement has been completely make a motion to untable and bring it back when advertising needs subm thank you and I would also want to add to this just for food for thought here is that the bud we're up against it because we didn't receive the budget until today which is is at the at the maximum point where we could get it in 45 days no

Frank we got it last night sorry we got it last night I didn't get it inactive link you didn't get it but anyways that's fine but we got it last night um I will say that we've already had the we have a schedule for the budget hearings and now that the clock is ticking between advertising and everything and we've said this before that we were going to limit what we were

going to do so I have no problem on you know on Hing this and seeing if they're going to come back with the proposal that they can tell us what it is instead of you know like a Fantasy Island situation but I will wait till after I think we should wait till after the budget in November just to give next couple hearings our meetings are going to be pado with this budget I

it's my okay so the but the motion tonight is just to untable but I don't want I don't want you know three weeks I I I'm not going to be I we don't need to be put something else on our plate when we have more important things which is the budget right now for the citizens of these provins we did that we made that we've made that comment already about

the you know about the you know with the with the planning department with the new plan so that is what we're going to do I'm G to wait till after the budget process you know the new plan thank you so motion motion second bike councilwoman shes on discussion um the attorney is here uh judge Mara did want to add anything okay so thank the council for setting up the hearing understand I'm watching all

evening you've got a variety of issues we got to advertise um he do he has done some marketing and he has some information to impart you that's new so I went for the I appreciate that youve got as a 30 seconds ago another issue that we're not uh going to solve any traffic problem very very soon so you got you're going to have a lot of besides the budget other isses is it a burden on your

client if we wait till November after we do the budget process to vote or no I I don't think so I I you know I think that's fine okay yeah we got we got at least a month to adverti okay okay then we got uh 200 for the butters to to notify Y and so okay whatever that is but I thank you for November first Mee November okay thank you for your

patience judge we would have brought you up sooner but you your counterpart uh solicitor Marcelo said made him make him wait so oh those well thank you thank you very much we call for a vote okay good idea yes so anybody second my motion yes councilwoman Susan seconded uh all in favor I I any opposed the eyes have it three four zero thank you next we back to the regular agenda we're keeping you hopping Madam

clerk I can handle it we can handle it so under public hearings we have an ordinance section 18-3 seven no parking on Somerset Avenue and Arrowhead Avenue Avenue sponsor council president councilman so councilman Lawson and myself uh have visited the the site many many times we know through the years uh with the recreational activities there um Parkin has been an issue I think we've discussed this before so it's uh

this was needed to just show up the legalities and get some signage there so it is um public hearing um if people are asking this is the Riverside rack someone said I and and um a couple of the neighbors who've been very Cooperative they actually sit in their lawns and they watch the activities they enjoy seeing the kids and families there but when cars park on both sides of the streets I

know the councilman myself were trying to direct traffic one night I mean you just can't get through and it's not a cliche there was a night when a rescue could not get to a side street had to go around the block so we have to um Shore this up so there's no other discussion from the council I'll open it up to a public hearing any members public here that have any comments on

this any members want to come forward of the public to comment on this uh seeing none I'll close the public hearing uh what is your pleasure make a motion to approve motion by councilman Lawson to approve there a second second second by councilwoman soua all in favor I I any opposed the eyes have it thank you next item standing I am discuss impact of Washington Bridge closure and C

Providence so councilman Lawson you kind of let the cat out of the bag what's going on over there me and councilman rioo received a text from the reporter asking um uh basically this is the first I heard um Washington Bridge demolition work being halted to preserve evidence for the state law schools the news just broke um we got this about an hour ago so couple hours ago probably so I know

that the plan was to close Waterfront Drive tonight at 10 p.m. until next Monday I that's all I know buddy that's all I know so um it is what it is until we got a bridge back I did notice though because I go Waterfront every day to get over the brown going over the bridge what not too heavily I thought you tell me to watch my language that doesn't work I so if you notied

um like behind the Sculpture Park it's already coming down yeah so they've been and the Jackhammer in I guess some folks were a little upset but if it was only going to last a week that would have been okay however who knows now that they want to preserve evidence for lawsuits um I don't know I got no answers um so like I said I we just found out be a text dur

in the meeting so well seeing how they still don't have uh company need to build a new one I guess it's all relative I guess some uh what those the Lincoln Logs or whatever they say Tonka toys tker toys There we go um folks is time that we come together you know I it is what it is there's nothing we can do as a city council as the city Administration it's we're at the mercy

of ryot so and the courts now yep and the courts and is the AG running the lawsuits now the cas isn't in the name of the AG but there are two private attorneys who are running it and I'm assuming I just from I'm sure that the the defendant Bridge people probably filed the motion to preserve evidence default to stop the oh oh he he actually he stopped it oh so then he filed motion so what was

it 12 different lawsuits there's there's a lot of defendants on suit I believe right but like a lot of moving pieces a lot of different businesses one suit but there are like 12 more defendants yes one of them probably is asking for prob the AG I didn't see the press release but a prob the AG has asked for a okay they would need to preserve evidence I guess so that's which is not uncommon

litigation but it's uncommon because it's a public bridge now now I will say it shouldn't affect our current traffic patterns the way they've been for the last month or two um this bridge work being halted it shouldn't affect any anything um right I think it's more of a it's it's a critical news item but it's not affecting the flow it's affecting the timetable yeah I just hope my boss

which is not good I I'm not saying it's a good thing I just hope my boss ain't watching because that was my excuse to go in late tomorrow ah R will send the tape to him slow next item please they Council to schedule and select date for public hearing on mayor's proposed fy2 budget I don't have any obligation so I am pretty open if Mondays can be avoided but if we have to I can be

available um but other than that I don't have any like um vacation family to anything like that oh I'm sorry oh so as the calendar yes um Mr we had met with you vice president Jill uh to kind of come up with a schedule this October 1st date was contingent upon us getting approval from the Department of Revenue on the proposed ad which reflects the mayor's budget we were a little nervous that we weren't going to

get the approval until maybe later this week but Malcolm was here earlier and and uh apparently the approval came from the Department of Revenue today at 6 o'clock so that this date can be met if the advertisement goes in this Thursday I think which I think the clerk has uh reserved the spot in the I think the post for this ad to go in so we're all the schedule that we discussed amongst

ourselves is the October 1st would be the first public hearing after that public hearing uh then you guys EXC me you guys the council can um you know start you know making changes or or discussing it but nothing prevents you from having workshops between now and uh first as well something so the first was our regularly scheduled next meeting for the hearing I'm sorry okay so October 1st for the

advertisement and then October 8 for another hearing I believe that how many meetings have to be advertised two uh at least two depend depend then it depends upon what you do if you add or you add to the budget has advertis again so that's the key if we add if we take away we don't have so if we do October 1st is the next that is the first one that has to be

advertised yeah that's the first one that advertised I know it gets a little confusing because we advertisement and so that's why we pay you the big bcks yeah I know thank you so uh look at the gray hair so we um we have tedly scheduled a workshop for the 24th which is kind of like what you did stay with the school dep Department right you had a workshop on you can call anybody on

the 24th next week and that's up to you if you guys want excuse me the council doesn't want to have it on 24th that's up to you decide but definitely October 1st we need that at least that deadline because that that that helps us meet the final deadline by the end of October so would the 24th need to be advertised no except except for 24 hours except for noral 48 hours so I would suggest

let us read the budget to see what we need I don't think we need every department head coming through um again I haven't had time to go through it yet but um oh that's a good point I mentioned to the mayor's office that we probably won't require every right apartment to come in whichever ones the members want a question right will'll get word to mayor's office to the clerk

or someone um yeah I'd like to get my questions together and then you know I mean obviously police fire DPW finance things like that even that I may not need yeah there may be some fire pretty straightforward but all right so we'll start the advertisement Madam clerk you so I just need you to go to set the hearing date for October 1st okay and then cler will take care of the advertisement and then we'll wait to

hear from you if you want to have a hearing on the 24 workshop on the 24th cler will just have to post that meeting as a workshop and you'll have to let us know 48 Hours by this Friday so is there a motion to make a motion that we schedule October 1st for our first advertised um budget meeting hearing with the public hearing on the mayor's proposed budget of the prop mayor's proposed budget motion by

councilman Lawson there a second second second by councilwoman Souza all in favor I I any oppos the eyes have no thank you and Madam clerk you'll keep us surprised of the well that's the only date right now anyway if we hear from you that you want to have a meeting on the 24th we just let the clerk know we have to post it and then um well I think can we just get that because we

discussed this already at the last meeting so I don't think we need to discuss it we want to just put it in writing now black and white it saves us emails and communication so um I'm more than available for Tuesday the 24th Workshop um I think the we have the 15th October 15th for the um second public hearing um octo we have our October 22nd meeting um I know I made a note that the

council's last final changes could be made only be made on the 21st of October um for with regards to so if on the 15th for whatever reason the um there's a change in an addition in the budget then we would have to advertise again me on the dates but I think correct if there's any any additions be adver right so the 21st and that's five what that's a five- day notice right or

seven-day notice I think so how does the 1st the 8th the 15th and the 21st sound right all budget workshops yeah so earrings public all Tuesday and then the Monday for the final vote unless you want to do the final vote on 22nd we do next so no not next week we talked about the 24 because and then the first is the advertisement next week's a workshop and then the first is the the

public hair and the adverti for you know public heing it's got to be advertised I'm sorry and and then after that the public hearing ends and you want to have a workshop after that public hearing that day you can do that as well yeah so the first could be both then if we make changes if we don't make changes on the 1 and we make them on the eth yes now it's five day it's five days

right either five or seven I think five or seven so we we were going to reserve that Thursday for the Post Yeah the 10 depending on what you do so then then that will be the then that'll go for the next mean which was I think was the the 15th the 15th and then the 15th is is the is the is the last one potentially but unless you make changes again then

we got to re advertise someu then we then we have to go to Monday to 20 but then we're up against the clock with the with the post because the Tuesday right because now if it goes on on the Thursday we're only at four days we could use the journal too we got a little bit of a backup right so just just rule of thumb the 21st of October is the last and final public hearing on

the vote for the budget if we need that day to be on the safe side but is that gives 10 days for the veto right so we can hold that as a placeholder I I think I me yeah we're holding yeah we're holding the dates but if we switch anything on the 21st now we're up no you can't no we can we got to approve it that whatever we got to do because then

we're up against the clock I just want to make a note um also that on our calendar November 5th is the election day and it's a council meeting day so we're not going to be in session why what do you mean why why are they going to there's no voting here I'm joking I'm joking so just to clarify for the clerk myself are you going to keep the work session on the 24th next week yes yes

and you'll let us know what departments you want to bring I'd rather have some time but if you guys are going to meet

I okay I just don't know what yeah now we're being crunched because origin I mean we just got the budget last night at whatever time um so so you want to do the 24th the first first we have to by the 15th and the 21st we're just putting place yes placeholders for those days 2 and and and excuse me I don't interrupt the force can also can be after the public hearing is over then

you can have a work session additional that day and traditionally I mean not all members with work schedules and other things make all hearings as long as we have a quorum the first also is a regular scheduled counsel meeting it's the first Tuesday of the month and and I think that's what the council president KN it white so yeah yeah try to yeah a little heavy all right okay so that's next Madam

clerk resolution to authorize the mayor to purchase new helmets for the fire department from fira Supply Company Incorporated sponsor council president Rodricks councilman so move second motion made in second all in favor I any oppos I just have it thank you madam clerk the council still didn't address the election day council meeting on November 5th so can we just put it on the docket for next council meeting

unless the council wants to make decision now on so you want to do day before day after the right yeah 12 you can do it the 12th the following Tuesday fine yep make that change do we have to vote on no okay who who made that schedule did I make that for November fifth on it because you saids on an election you be to vote quickly that makes sense but they they won't be voting in here

because early voting ends what the day before day before so um I move to go into executive session do we have to go or can we do it right here no we have to go one item yes item a we can do the claims here and I'd rather go into executive session okay on everything yes please okay okay so we will yes yes um let me go back to the oh that

page oh think it's here we go so the council uh will meet an executive session pursuing to general laws 42- 46-5 a in one personnel with notice given uh a the city clerk and we have four claims uh the and those are different 42- 46-5 a and two the claims of Mario Carrera William Nicholls Edward tangue SE charge of batement BMB Enterprises there a motion to uh go into executive session

moved motion by councilman soua seconded by councilman Lawson to go to executive session we will return to public session hi

hi e

the meeting is uh the video is going to end now folks uh we're just going to do some claims so there's nothing for us to come back to so we're going to let the IT guy go home and the minutes will reflect uh everything we do in session all the claims for