EP City Council 10/15/24

good evening call the meeting to order the budget hearing Madame clerk would you please call a role of the council councilman fery yeah councilman Lawson Council vice president rioo councilwoman Susa here council president Rodricks here director Joe all five members are present please rise for the salute to the

flag thank you Madam clerk you can start with reading the agenda um the city council of these Providence may meet an executive session pursuant to Rhode Island general law 42- 46-5 A1 discussion of a job performance character of a person provided that the person or person's affected may have been notified in advance in writing city clerk employee agreement thank you is there a motion so

moved motion by councilwoman Souza seconded by councilman fog according to Island general laws 42- 46-5 a and one to convene at this time in executive session all in favor I I opposed we will move to Executive session

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motion to return to regular session returning to regular session and seal the minutes motion by councilwoman souer second seconded by councilman fogy turn to regular session and seal the minutes of the executive session all in favor I I any oppos eyes have thank you also in terms of an announcement for anyone who may be here in the room and you you came for a planning board meeting they they are meeting at this

time also but upstairs on the third floor room 306 Madam clerk could you uh continue with the agenda a discussion and possible vote on changes or amendments to the mayor's fy2 proposed budget um the first Department of city government city council mayor's office City Clerk law and canvasing so under the city government section there questions or comments from the council or from the uh Administration

yes Council woman Susan can we just U make sure that this is open to the public for a public sure it it is uh has been advertised and is a public public session public meeting so to kick it off with us um I'll got a question on um under salaries we allocated that 26 652 but that was an anticipation of maybe getting a a part-timer um if we're not looking at

that right now do we need this in this budget right now or does it make

right but is it something that we think we're going to create or do we think we're going to do it via Charter I'm fine either way I'm just saying if there no intent for this budget season to look into it um I'd rather not allocate but if there is a general sense that yes we would then I'm I went leaving it I just want to put it out there um because there's two ways we

can do we could either come up with job description and do it or we're going to be doing some Charter changes probably late next year early 2026 I'm not in uh again as you said councilman I could live with this either way I'm I have no burning desire to add another job in today this budget and you know we do have Charter changes that we be forwarding we can we haven't developed the job description or role

and I think as in any budget but probably this year and the next couple of years every every dollar is is important is they always are important but things get tighter grants and other things are drying up Opera is drying up um I I don't I don't see a burning need in my opinion it's not something I would fight if this Council wants to do that I think we have time to work on it that's

why I'm asking if you guys feel we are going to do it this year I'm well I'm fine with leaving it I'm just throwing it out there if we I don't know how the others feel um I mean I I think it's good to have somebody part time I don't mind doing back leg like I did with the city clerk's position um so I'm good with keeping it if that's the pleasure of the

council if not I'm certain we could figure something else out um I just I do agree with the long-term position in the charter um but recognizing that that's a 2-year out um so in the metime that would be two years not having okay the part-time being able to and we're good with this number 26 I think that's reasonable okay good just wanted to bring that to the table thank you councilman um anything

else one thing I wanted to mention um I think we've seen overwhelmingly um our public celebrations brass attack all the other stuff that goes on in the city um we still got 3200 um but we still got the Live Nation fund so I'm fine utilizing the Live Nation until it wears down but I definitely um there's a lot of good public celebrations to be had and I I think we've seen that the city it's

something they really enjoy um so I'm fine with leaving the 3200 as is um other than that I didn't have anything with our budget other than those two things thank you anybody else before we ask members of the public have any questions any other areas uh in this first group City Council mayor's office city clerk law canvasing from from the council so the law uh let's see we're budget in

total purchase Professional Services just to refresh my memory that's how we pay Mike correct and then salaries is um Robin uh tell me what page you're on just so I can uh I don't know I'm online but it's 350 lower expenses by types I just want to make sure we got the right number to properly fund the department so um the salary line includes the two staff persons but it also includes $100,000 um May mayor's

intent to um hire assistant city solicitor as an employee for the $100,000 that's in the budget so that's why an employee yeah that's that's why the line as an employee but the CH States it's an appointed position it is but sub but yes it's appointed position subject to council approval but he can can be an employee used to be that way before the budget commission came in it doesn't have to doesn't have to be

no that's why that money that increased excuse me that's why that line increased by $100,000 and the other line that increased was the healthcare because U some some of our two of our employees became eligible for healthcare they weren't taking it before but they had a qualifying event and um that's the biggest change in that budget what what is the line item of assigned for assistant solicitor

that's the I think number you're referring to is salary you'll see the salary line item fiscal year what pages I'm sorry 26 FC year 24 budget was 131 919 fiscal year 25 is proposed by the budget is 23277 approximately $100,000 so there's there are dollars involved madam what we call it you know employee or I mean it's got to be funded I'm not an employee of the city um yeah

but my services come out of the purchase Professional Services are are we um right now we just have yourself in the office are we close to uh I know this isn't your decision this might be the mayor's office um where because this this might affect how we deliberate on on funding for legal uh I understand and have been interviews where does that stand hiring and assisted uh good evening council

president members of the council that's correct so we did go through the process and interview process as cicor Marcel mentioned we do need to bring uh the candidate before uh this Council for appointment so we've done our interviews and we have a candidate in mind um but we were deep in budget process so we haven't made the official onboard um offer because it has to come through you first okay so the interviews are

completed recomendation is pending correct so we know that'll be coming aboard uh soon so if it was a s a city higher would then that person not be eligible for all benefits

time thank you thank you so are we going to leave uh well I also have a question under miscellaneous um Legal Services 250,000 why is that under Legal Services I mean under miscellaneous and not under the law where you referring to it's not um 900 miscellaneous IS 250 allocated for Legal Services why isn't that under uh section 350 lower expenses it used to be years ago but the solicitor at the time had

said you pay so much for the U solicitor and so under his contract let's say he does ABC but then he was doing de so they decided to move that since that was really Beyond on the scope of the solicitor into 900 you'll see in 900 you see more legal and then you'll also have two lines in so if we move that back to 350 under the purchase Professional Services was

still covered yes just a matter of which department in charge tracking it's a tracking issue and it might involve uh areas beyond the scope of the regular like Bond Council was um cases that come up environmental Council we've hired for the couple things that property some land closings stuff like that so yeah so again it seems like it's a tracking thing it's not changing the amount of money um if

we want to put it back that's fine with with me if we want to put it all under legal semantics it's just a yeah because last year we didn't put anything into it from the um business concern is there a preference uh Malcolm is it make accounting or auditing different easier difficult no um I think what had happened before is they were budgeting for the solicitor then they were spending say

400 over so at the time we said well why don't we put it over here give it separate budget so that you have the expenses specifically denoted in the solicitors cont up so it' be easier to compare app Environ all of sudden one year 200 600 so it needs to be shown clearly where where the where the dollars are are going obviously um so it's a matter of of to repeat myself but

tracking and um it isn't just a salary item for a solicitor the legal services could really May you're not sure who uses those we pay arbitrators fees out of that account as well but when we have like a labor arbitration both sides pay generally half the bill out of that any kind of services like so is there a preference on the council where we in the budget book you

you want to see this either way it has to be mount's not going to change it has to be tracked it has to be aligned with an expense I'm just trying to wrap my head so to 200 so 450 in legal purchases between 350 and 900 another 232 for salaries and that includes an assistant solicitor okay and one21 for benefits how many people are receiving benefits in that office currently none but the

new fiscal year they'll be at uh two and a half two two two two the solicitor if you're saying they're going to be City employee person he or she would become eligible for benefit now quote unquote employee and not I don't think we pay benefits for part-time employees right so so but two employees 60,000 with a benefits each 60,000 per individual family okay 20 each that's only 40,000 you guys a budget in$ 121

who's the three I believe we did budget for the assistant city solicitor to receive benefits but he's saying we're not giving benefits to a part-time we don't give it a we don't but I I don't know for sure whether or not a person has not been hired yet who would be part-time or full-time so I don't know that that decision but if it if it's uh precedent that we do not

offer benefits for part- timers then it should end there right there won't be I don't think they can confirm that it's going to be a part-time person it may very well be a full-time person oh so you're saying it might be there fulltime in the event that they make it a full time the position was was posted as a full-time position so we do have to budget I if you give me a moment I can

look into our Workforce plan it is budgeted as um the position was posted as full-time in therefore we whenever we do any kind of position we don't know if the person's going to come in and request uh single or family so we always go the route by putting in a family amount so we have that that funds because we can't ask them in the process well will you be taking a full Family

Healthcare or single so therefore we budget of in the quotequote worst case scenario with a family budget right you have to assume the highest and maybe we'll get the lower but was the former assistant solicitor part-time or full-time Dylan an so this might be a change say solicit assist City solic now we're switching the CH nothing in the chat prevent you from being an employee

I'm just saying so it's still hiring an assist still hiring a solicitor the title is the same it's it's the status yeah the status has changed so why wouldn't we stay consistent either they're both subcontractors or they're both employees doing this now this is the second second for now all of a sudden halfway through the second term I think the mayor I can't speak for right no gohe I'm sorry yeah yeah Dylan

Cony was still assistant C solicitor we wouldn't be here and we wouldn't have this increase in this budget line I won't speak for the mayor but I think the the mayor's idea was that he could he wanted someone here more more regularly um where as an employee and that's why he budgeted for that and thought it might be more efficient that's a mayor's choice not mine how much is uh the most expensive family plan

22 so that's 44,000 why are we at 121,000 even if you added the third that's only 66 and you guys are doubling up on that previous years they were actually benefits in the budget also help okay so they would just benefit the total benefits that's longevity other things yeah and I now I can see what you're talking about so the 44,000 under health insurance that's 44,000 that's assuming

$222,000 for each employee for full family health care so that's what we have to assume the 122,000 that you're referring to is the regular salaries line that's the current salary line the 44,000 is reflective of the health insurance if you look on the screen and that 44 is the toal potential it's about 22,000 for family healthare for the city correct it's about and then the regular salaries line

Kayla if you go up to that's your actual salaries So in theory we're going and then the proposed Kaye if you could pull the proposed column the side right

there so is the is the potential recommendation that this position could be full-time it could be full-time it was it was post as fulltime but it could very well be it depends on the situation of the um the candidate that would come in if it was a situation similar to Mr Conley's then Mr connley was a full-time so he worked for multiple municipalities and he was um he was a an attorney with

the law firm but then he he was part-time with us the job was advertised as full-time adver I would assume that the candidates are expecting full-time stat yes I would I would guess but if they applied for a job and it was right said at fulltime I mean it can always be lower I guess you know always better to be on the safe side and correct but I understand the money

has to be in the budget if it does go

I think it's more than that I it's more than that yeah it's it's more than that maybe that was on on on your uh council stuff but yeah yeah he when he did stuff for my office that comes out of that yes Council pres when we when when I've talked at the law department and um worked with um with uh our legal secretary on payments it when we put this posting together it was with the

idea that they would actually be saving to the City by doing this full-time position even if it was part-time or or full-time there would be still savings to the city based on uh the cost for Mr connley or for the previous City assistant City just an example Mr Connelly's office not did prosecutions for the city I don't do prosecutions for the city so the idea is to get the new employee to do the prosecutions as an

employee of the city so we charging us by the hour to do that so the plan could it may be or is is that rather than getting unexpected outside legal bills or outside cases we would have two full-time people and we're not going to one full-time person I'm not full-time okay that's right you're not you seem to be I seem to be yes I do get paid so I'm not complaining but um so

the question to the council is and I don't know if this is our decision or if this is management decision do we have a full-time or a part-time solicitor assistant is that even our call by Charter we fund it the budget issue the budget issue so what what is the pleasure of the council do trying to see so you're going to hire somebody 40 hours a week they're going to sit here in City Hall

as opposed to us just paying like we have been all along yeah I don't know if we have the power but that that amount that we were paying was we paid more than we paid more than more than

$100,000 so that that seems clear that we paid more than the 100 why is that

you always have to pay okay so what is our what is our direction to the budget process I'd like to move on to city clerk there's no other questions sure okay councilwoman thank you um so in the city clerk um budget um I'd like to um on the line so I know and I guess Malcolm can correct me or the secretary the chief of staff the uh salaries across the board for all

departments where department heads given a 2% raise this year in the budget either of you thank you is that

fact we know which departments that be shared with her thank

you Malcolm and you say the majority did not did not what did not get anything did not get the two that's zero okay the department department heads

so so most department heads received 0% increase I think and they received the two

and then I know in the court the the judges all received an additional um pay and increase in pay is that correct there a way to break that down on the

about $600 increase across the board for 600

all right so um can we confirm what the total is and the in what is that

thank

you you see under the adjustment column under Court pay it say $62 that's the adjustment that happened split evenly um between the judges and the court bayth or just the judges I don't think the court bayth experienced an increase in this

budget thank you so I'd like to I'd like to add a 2% um to our city clerks um but M oh Michel um yeah um solic had to run upstairs to the other meeting U part of having one attorney but he'll be back uh he's at the planning board yes uh director sorry so I can't answer some question so when we brought in a new hire for instance Our IT department was a new hire so that

person wasn't brought in and budgeted for an additional 2 year uh when there were requests for particular department heads um in terms of the 2% increase yes so police and fire they have their own contract so that wasn't included but others did receive in fact 2% but if they were a new hire just coming on board that was not added to their budget coming in that makes sense it does thank

you I think you did right and we had a conversation and I think the 2% has been added to the um clerk in this budget and we go into the regular salad salary and break it down please that one no okay the the direct yes I had sent that in to complete to include right so I think that should be there just wanted to make sure sure no that's good that you ask

right because it's no it's not clear to know CU salary just says salary so it's we know it's everybody in the department salary but who got a raise who didn't get a raise who gets a bonus and to be fair we've received the the original the amended there's a lot of um a few changes that have gone on through this process so um following it meticulously is not the easiest thing to do

but as long as the clerk's 2% is in the budget for um that office for the fiscal year coming up then that answers my question I just want thank you that that was taken care of and I don't believe I have any further questions in that department thank you councilman other questions between city council to canvasing before I ask public counil we can you can come back of course and add something so my only

thing with canvasing is uh it looks like we're pretty much um budgeting the same as last year um I know we're in a non elction year so I don't understand why we need to budget the same as the previous year since the workload um is not the same so that was a a question that I had with that um does when we look back to non election years oh yeah

that's so then we had a a sir no because we had to also

budget just an election yeah okay thank you anyone here that wants to raise a question or comment in that first section that's listed under City govern government we can move on to City operations Council can always come back at any time with questions um so the council anyone want to start off with Finance controls and accounts tax collection Etc as you see on the agenda might ask the finance director if you

could stay at the podium please and my question is General uh do you are you anticipating any increase major increases did you have to add from from last year no I think the

assessment um a re Malcolm in um Department 2070 the tax collection what is the property that requires $10,000 line onm expense what property are you looking to purchase or maintain that requires

$110,000 it was 10,24 and there was only half year 450 the two previous years they were under a th000 now I think that's in the budget so that that kind of rolls up category

what technology software that went up in the last two years from under $1,000 something that we'll be using mannually is it just for the revalve okay so then

no all right so that's a fixed fee that we will expect to see annually as part of the software what's the name of the

software that's the puras of Professional Service

and under the Professional Services that search and title is that um when we're going for the tax sale annually when we're doing those okay and then the rest of the funds is that all associated with going for tax sale The Rossi collection commission Brinks send four say Motor

Vehicles just mail

just share share was yep okay thank you thank you councilman other members uh on finance tax collection or assessment moving to a Human

Resources Director Perry any anything of note that we should know or any significant increase or decrease or I know a lot lot of us have already asked these questions we've had couple other hearings and but we're just trying to finalize

things the two increases are for ADP fees unfortunately ADP we are past the point where we were getting discounts from the initial ation of ADP 2018 uh additionally in years when we have contract negotiations it often requires to increase the number of payrolls so if we have 26 payrolls we may have to on and off week on payroll we actually get paid via charge every time we the payroll so we are looking at the where

we were the halfway mark determined that with the help of mountain that increase would cover us for the next year so ADP is going up ADP is our employee uh organization system that we use um to do payroll to do time and attendance to do recruiting it does a lot of the functions that we have in in our Vegas budget and you said there might there was another area uh yes uh I asked for a

increase to dues and fees uh two members of the HR department are not members of Sherm the Society of human resource management and I wanted them to have membership so that they would have access to uh our payroll uh and our benefits coordinator coordinator so they would have access to all of the resources from Sherm including um all the Professional Knowledge and access to some cour s thank

you anybody else question on HR moving on to affirmative action e ooc question yes Council VP

that

was see what

was talking doing one of 25 jobs around this building throughout the city this is

closed to do his job properly just playing playing

up my proposal I said to thank you anybody else uh Mr director do you have anything to add in terms of significant either an increase or decrease that you that you've proposed uh no sir I think um you know sitting down with with mayor sta um I felt like the uh budget was quite Fair um but um I I am grateful thank you for recognizing um the work that I do um every day here city thank

you anybody else hi Elma thanks for all you do appreciate that on the next four areas anybody in the council I know we did speak at length last couple of meetings ago I think about it but is information technology miscellaneous that service capital I think at the last hearing or a couple hearings ago Mr zamb brano from it said they were pretty well funded the way that he felt was appropriate know if anyone has any

changes to

that or we open it to public comment anything from council members anyone here that would either City employee department head member of the public anyone who wants to mention anything on any of these areas under City operations hearing none let's move on Community Development planning and Economic Development I know there's a planning board meeting elsewhere in City Hall tonight comments from the

council is there anyone here from planning are they all up upstairs oh oh yes come on come on up please thank you didn't see you back there thank you good evening members of the council anything of significance that you need to tell us no I think our budget is pretty um pretty modest just a five a 4.9% increase mostly just um natural increases to salary and benefits no new Li item no Capital Improvement requests

either when we get to that you have a staff opening still we do our senior planner position that was formally occupied by uh Johanna walzak um this position we did have someone who we selected for the position a few months ago they ended up taking another position elsewhere so we had to uh go out advertise for that again interview schedule next week are there applicants or what why I'm asking is I'm wondering how the

department is doing in the interim how how critical at this position is to fill it is definitely a need we have you know it's not just a want for us you know it's a position that manages several um Grant funded projects like a $750,000 USDA Grant it's a multifaceted Grant too which isn't just tree planting it's education component you the workforce component with that um as well as well as other Grant

funded so it's something that we really feel the the lack of that position you have interview scheduled uh do you have more than one applicant we do I think uh six or so if I'm not mistaken so basically

so we have yeah there's been a good amount of time that we've been short time

um it it really varies depending on if some things do it can be almost all of someone's time if there's a big Grant with a deadline coming up or can be significantly less than that um it's something that's well worth the effort over the past four years our department has successfully applied for about n over $19 million in grant funding not counting the annual community development block grant M we get so um

and for example if you look at Johanna wallack's position I mean she was personally responsible for bringing a lot of grant money into the city which was been uh very uh beneficial Revenue

wise if the winds happen to

change if the winds happen to change if the wounds happen to change excuse me wounds happen to change in a Way Washington over the next couple of months years and there's less grants being out there did you say that you would need additional person yeah it's a hypothetical situation so there's a lot of of I would say we definitely would still need this level over the next few years

because of the management of the grant projects that we recently received you know maybe five years from now if things dry up at the federal level that would be a different story but for now we're sometimes applying for the grant and getting it's an easy part and managing it implementing it takes a lot more resources and that's the stage that we uh we are in now with a lot of these

do we still have any Grant funded employees um for the next fiscal year um no we had Melissa spur who was uh paid for with arpa funds um she's no longer with the city now um with the exception of um our community development block grant uh Community Development Division had who's funded through cdbg funds okay and can you just um speak to what software the program the department is using and that has because this is

another department that has software and repair and maintenance of equipment um that are higher line items than the previous years yeah some of the things we use here are uh Reich project management software um impl software which is sort of an economic development software that we often use for applications and and things like that um Adobe uh ezri for uh GIS mapping and um Civic plus

which I believe is another Economic Development related uh software is everybody in your department capable of writing a grant or do you have specific planners who are qualified to do that have taken extra everyone does in our office times depending on the topic but it is something everyone uh on is that a requirement as part of the hire to have grant writing experience um yeah it is I think it is

in the job description it is something that would you look for okay thank you thank you councilwoman excuse me Keith do you have a reason why you think there's nobody pounding the door down to be a city planner well one of the reasons that the state has found is that University of Rhode Island did away with their planning uh planning program a while ago which is um where a number of people in our in our

office uh graduated from um but for our recent senior planner positioned when we advertised again we did get a good amount of applications I think we got nine altogether which was a lot better than a few months ago but um like some other um professions there is a shortage in this area qualified people but we're pretty happy with the uh the turnout we got this time thank you anyone here in the chambers like to ask

question of planning

hearing none on to Community Services areas of recreation Pierce Stadium Carousel Library Senior Center open it up to the council first Stadium you president you mentioned Fair Stadium yes let appreciating the work being done over there um and all more work needed for the fencing um I'm sure that our management is aware of the safety behind the behind the dugouts and the irrigation is going well um I know

council president you've been over there I've been first over there now because I I I've decided to become part of the East Providence Central Little League again after 30 years of being there I'm going back with the grandchildren so um I'm a little concerned about the fencing and the back stops and such and sure Mr Bo and uh I know we're glad to have you back at little I've been told that

you're moving a little slower but you're still there so that's good um I was on your side until then go ahead Dan thanks that that was a statement didn't need an answer but seriously I thank you and most of this Council if not all actually we we are concerned with the other Jewel of the city we all know about the carousel but the pier Stadium uh is the other Jewel of this

City and I at every turn that I can try to dispel rumors that the complex is being neglected uh it was the very first thing I did when I was elected my first term was to walk the complex with the new mayor at the time and point out those fences that you talk about that were were very dangerous and since then uh things have have really improved with more to come but let let's ask the uh

director DPW if you can uh kind of give us a quick summary and how is this budget um moving with Pierce I mean if um you've been by Pierce recently and looked at the it looks phenomenal um our Park staff are doing a great job of maintaining excuse me maintaining the facility um we've been installed uh bleachers throughout the complex in various locations uh bathroom was recently installed composting toilet was

recently installed about two weeks ago um adjacent to Amaral and rodri's Fields uh both irrigation systems are up and running amall was just completed last week and the batting cages uh excuse me the B yeah the batting cages um were recently cement was recently poured surrounding those we're waiting on a few loads of stone dust and the uh structure itself will be installed week or two um

and then just an update on the fencing we just re we just got um approval for the um replacement of the back stops for the two Fields Rodricks and Amal those will be completely replaced um where we remove the existing fabric uh repaint the poles and install brand new fabric on and and I know uh councilwoman susar and I we walked there one day and um again I'm compelled to dispel some of

the things that we hear about we have that beautiful new high school now so they're not using Pierce field anymore is so far from the truth day we were there and another day that I was there football stadium was in use with the the younger programs in the city the big baseball stadium had game after game after game the Little League Fields had fall ball teams playing the basketball

courts had their league going and the general grassy areas just had people enjoying it and moving around and of course the splash pad had been shut off um finally um the place and there was there were no parking spaces that day I pulled in and of course needing the exercise was fine I parked out on Lion Avenue but there were say excuse me I didn't hear you yeah you heard me say something about exercise council

president we're we're trying uh so Pierce Stadium complex is in probably more use than ever and we're we're getting things done there is is the budget adequate for moving forward yeah if you recall council president um last year we increased the budget significantly for um on the fertilization end um ization cost a little bit they kind of teetered out um so you really don't see an increase here

because we feel comfortable with um the budget as it is to continue to maintain complex okay enough about padium thank you councilman one other thing uh how is Hull Street coming along because after you and I have talked is that the contracts is are still being held accountable correct yes thank you there there are catch Basin drains that have not been installed that is the reason why the field has water on it um the

catch Bas and drains have not been installed they've been on back order so um Crush Stone base with uh piping is all there it's just draining a lot slower than it would if it had so hopefully in the next week or two they will be in and we will not see uh standing water on that field that's I that was a question mostly for the budget Pro that's not coming out of our

pocket right no no no that that's all part of the original contract right there's no I heard rumors there was and this I just wanted to squash anything on record that the contractors are accountable for what's happening at the contractor has not even been thank uh Dan just a quick followup um on that uh field specifically are Street yeah is the um the electrician cuz I know that they had were finishing up the

electric work um were they able to put in an electrical outlet like drop an ELC Outlets or um in around the area there are no like around the field area no there are no electrical outlets around the field area no I know it was an ask I had seen the person there um and he said it wasn't an Ask of them um I had spoken to the mayor about it and he said that

it could be done if you know we thought it was a good idea so I'm just wondering if that conversation come certainly can be added it's just something we' have to go separately buted the electrical panel at that facility right you know for future expansion if we had to um the playground area or anywhere else so there's certainly room in that panel if you did want to do that but

it's certainly not part or was not part of any other scope D okay thank you uh Council vice president please the board what is the status of the track yes so we've recently um contracted with uh par and who teamed up with uh Invictus who is a professional Turf designer they provided us with several Concepts to widen the track um as well as you know reconfiguring some items in the stadium um so

those those uh Alternatives have been provided to the city we have to essentially select one and then go out to request a formal proposal from them to actually do the design that facility keep in mind there is $2 million in grant funding to complete that project that the city received since the middle school

score I believe that that was a request from the middle school and I believe that is being Incorporated part of and then

the side wreck sorry had him confused yeah one and four of

all think the so we have uh preliminary pricing from the contractor or the courts um I I don't know if I should provide that cost because we've only gotten one price and I in an effort to remain uh I think we're going to have some budget constraints with that I think the cost of those resurfacing those courts is going to come in much higher than what we have allocated um but I can't

tell you that for certain yet me I would be yeah I'd be happy to get you that when uh when we have all the information together and uh create a Level Playing Field for for all the

HS Senator started this project longue many years even before field the fields in northern indan city have negle don't person started Senator started change

itm so I mean GNA take the ball field at Glen Lion looks fantastic right now uh we had some electrical issues with the irrigation system some pump related issues that wasn't uh didn't give us the ability to push water out to that main field so the grass there does not look great but we've um air it and top dressed it and overseed it um we're going to put some Turf blankets down once upsa is done

utilizing that and hopefully we'll have some nice Turf come the

spring yeah I believe there was one strand that was

removed put that back tomorrow I no that yesterday I'd like to ask I'm sorry go ahead I just wanted to say thank you to make sure you tell the staff that too that work at PS is phenomenal I really appreciate the public work really hard to make everything look great likewise uh I'd like to ask the recreation director Diane eling if you want to come forward and I I don't think any of us have

any major issues but want to give you an opportunity to first of all thank you for all the great programming to the year and working I know as you do with DPW and it's it's a it's a team but anything significant budget wise to report microphone I think Patricia is trying to tell you but I'll just speaking out I thank you sorry about that yeah it it's it's a pretty pretty

Bor everything has stayed the same as last year with the exception of increase in temporary salaries we are trying to keep Pace with the minimum wage which will be going up again as of January 2025 so any other questions uh Council vice president I think I was stopped at uh St again I even talk to the officials of uh the the league officials and this was just a parent talking to me

and the local leagues get preference of outside leags excuse me City League so for instance take Kimberly androck if runford runford little league has that field then is there a check check and balance that uh check in with rum little league as to if they're not going to use the field before it gets rented out I know we put all that together so that no outside person could control it

themselves that was the case before but this person made me believe that one of the Rumer teams got bumped in Fall Ball so uh just trying to I can speak to that situation so there there was one instance where there was a an event that was planned at Kimberly Rock been planned two weeks in advance Rumford L League had not provided us uh the dates of some of their G some of their practices um so

unfortunately they came to us a few days before wanted to utilize the fields but we had already rented it out two weeks prior um so we work very closely with the little leagues epysa all the all the organizations they get preference and what we typically request of them is to provide us a schedule up front so that we can block the days off in the calendar I knew there had to be a reason

that's why I was asking the question I I can assure you we provide person that they weren't getting bumped through the year because I would have heard about it they they came to us at the 11th hour and unfortunately knew they had again that's why I brought it up thank you and to add to that um councilman Rigo um we also are work work very closely with the leagues and they're very they're very good about working

with um releasing Fields if if they're not going to use it there might be a time when they don't need a practice schedule and so they'll release it for another another League or a private resident wanting to use it for a a special occasion or something thank you anyone here in the chambers would like to speak on have for ask a question or comment about Recreation or Parks hearing none thank you thank you

director Sullivan thank you we'll move on to Carousel Library Senior Center comments from the council I just had a question yes on the a part-time temporary pay how many do we have currently for the carousel for part-time or temporary pay working

C Johnson is approaching the podium and may have that answer evening thank one and that also includes maintenance there was a seasonal or year round seasonal I have one part that on and all right that was my only question thank you other questions thank you other questions on Library Senior Center hearing none I'll try to move this along any comments from those here I know the directors are here of

the senior center library and answer any questions D is doing phenomenal great programs I was there the other day with some nice programming councilman you guys are hanging out yeah I'm a member I'm of age it's got a membership I'm M I'm of age no it wasn't the aerobics it was a cooking class great program is that why they need the D manager what else want settle everybody uh let's move on uh

Zumba thank you to those directors and the employees next section is Public Works we did hear a little bit from Public Works director I got one simple one question um 2.3 million for Road and sidewalks how did we come up with that number and are we doing this in-house are we Contracting out is that 2.3 million worth of cement just trying to figure out how we got to that number and what

the game plan is you're referring to the capital capital part of this so the the 2.3 million is roughly the number that will get us to complete all of the really terrible roads in the city um subject to them being cleaned and lined with the watermain project that's currently out to bid so that's that's the approach approximate number we also um wanted to allocate additional funds

above what uh the state was potentially going to give the city for M for um so the city has to have a required matching amount to the money that the governor has in the municipal R um so we knew the last few years that municipalities have not had money set aside so we thought it be smart to allocate additional funds to have you know additional matching funds to get more of that money from the state

capitalize on you know getting roads paid for fre essentially okay so how much of this would you say is more Road Centric as opposed to sidewalks so the roadway is all roads Nas um the if you're looking at sidewalk improvements we typically did bid that separately um and that was funded separately over the last few uh Capital uh requests there was a million dollars allocated just strictly walk

improvements and that went out to bid SE that was bid separately it's a whole different bidding process so 2.3 strictly roads okay what is the can I just ask what is the um anticipated match so the city slated to receive around $200,000 uh from the state and I I don't know the match percentage off the top of my head I believe it's 25

how many streets I I couldn't tell you how many streets I mean I could get you the list tomorrow and certainly we provided that to the council before but I can certainly get it all piercefield area yeah all all essentially W all of the center of the city you know the it's it's the first second third street um the main part of the city that has not been cleaning line

water main cleaning line so we want to complete that work cut into the road patch it and then pave everything and be completely done how many years will 2.3 cover um because we can't do it all at once obviously we could spend that all in one year if if the cleaning and lining gets completed two $2 million is not a lot when it comes to payment okay it's it's not a lot of money and

what's our contract with hot mixet so we have um I believe one more year or it may be ending this year with the ability to extend for one additional year and that's where this funding will come in correct okay y thank you any other questions on any of these other areas and departments engineering Highway Park street lights refuges disposal public building Central garage and again a reminder to public we

have had hearings in these areas many of us if not all have met in individually here at City Hall with Administration and department heads so this is not our first look at this any other comments those here tonight in those areas uh seeing none let's move on thank you director move on to Public Safety always the heart and soul of most communities keeping us safe P Police Department animal shelter

Harbor Master Fire Department Public Safety the communications uh police chief is here uh Chief do you have anything of significance to then the one question I'm going to have for you Chief is do we do we need the budget for 98 positions if we think we're only going to get to maybe 90 we're um actually budgeted for 95 sworn those other positions are um they also include our clerks but when

we budget for for our sworn personnel sometimes we budget half year less than a half year because way the acmy fall so we're going to get uh next academy starts in January we wouldn't get those folks till July that's why there's that kind of looks a little odd so you said we're at about 84 now correct and realistically do you think you can get up to 94 we did in 2022 2023 we put on like

people I'm optimistic I'm optimistic that we can we can get there with the combination of laterals and okay you know just from our Viewpoint the concern is if we're allocating money and we're not going to be able to fill them that's on the taxpayer I I complely understand that we did drop it last fiscal year was7 we did drop it down a couple um and I think that um I think we can get there at

798 we're at 84 in the books but we have we have a couple people deployed um right now technically that we have you know working each and every day we're at 79 but deployments and a couple other issues going on we're at a little less than 84 but the deployments we we cannot um not consider them they have to remain on the books for by by law right right so we're

gonna as I as I mentioned last week it's a nationwide issue with hiring law enforcement position we're very very active we're going to a very large um uh career fair tomorrow at a college of massachusett we're working at it please give thanks to the officers involved in the DV um recently it sounds like it was outstanding the way your men handled

it we have three right now correct January well we have we're doing doing background checks right now so um going to be making unfortunately our applicant pool is only five people um for the next Academy so we're doing background checks on those folks and then making some decisions in the next I just I saw somewhere theal

there's um that's a concern we're we're we're in this area we're pretty much on the higher end um I've seen some very very very high numbers out west um but in this area we're we're pretty competitive when it comes to Collateral issue

usual I see so um last fiscal year we we had quite a few um I see yeah probably about four or five this coming fiscal

year right right now we have four in the pipe we have three in the academy we have one waiver candidate that's coming from um Baltimore Marland uh he's wopping up his training um and we also have in addition to the five we're looking at for the entry level Academy we also have another five laterals that apply we're also doing background check so we have a a separate separate group we're looking at

also and it's uh uh pretty much open enrollment um our our police app our place where folks go to apply is opening tonight 121 for the next next round so all the way through January anyone else here anyone here in the room that would would comment on the police budget hearing none thank you Chief thank you appreciate it any other questions on these other areas before we get to the fire department is animal

shelter H master um do we have have we hired um I know we were last we were looking for um an officer an animal control officer did we officially get yes we have a animal control um supervisor newly hired Animal Control supervisor and a full-time Animal control officer we are um facing some challenges with hiring the part-time pound Keepers got a couple that didn't work out didn't last very long um but we

do have a supervisor in place and a full-time Animal control officer do um how many of the part-time positions are you looking for um I think we're budgeted for two i' have to double check it's about 56,000 so are there two part time yeah that would be two part time is there anybody I know a while back um we spoke um about having a need to have somebody on off hours I mean as

your I'm sure aware like most of the residents uptick of coyotes throughout the community has been um increased I know in the last two weeks here in the center of the city um there's two to three that are consistently at Hall Street Park um last night around 11:00 one was walking down South Broadway in grosner at that intersection um a lot of animals are you know pets and people walk their animals in this area and it

has been become a real unnerving situation for a lot of our residents especially since that's in a school area with this park what are we doing or what can we do with our Animal Control division to have accessibility where a resident can call and they've Spott it and that there's an action so regarding the scheduling um to the issues he had seven daily recovering during the day not at night right um

that's that's the goal again to have someone weekends that can respond um when it comes to evening calls we don't have animal cover much somewhere in most most towns unless and you know we've had some trainings on this in the past I know counil several years ago held a an informational session on cootes um and unless they're acting overly aggressive or clearly have an issue really not much we can do that can

be done um you know we we've had you know requests Through The Years um I know there was a push to um you know lower the population um and you know we were in that meeting we had I remember them saying like if you were to do something like that you'd end up with more coyotes you would have another pack them in take over they would you know we would end

up positive so as far as I know there's really not a whole heck of a lot we can do with coyotes unless of course they're you know sick or you know Rabbid police office absolutely respond to that that situation so no way of getting somebody to be in part-time in the evening hours to be able to respond to something like that we can't get parttime during the day right now yeah un fortunately we're

having a hard time hiring I mean that's if if we get the candidates and they would be look at absolutely but they would be more at they would be pound keepers not necessarily the dog the pound officer or a supervisor I'm looking for somebody who's who's trained to be able to respond yeah we we able as those kind those pack animals aren't out during the day typically although I've seen some I did

hear the call not too long ago at at Hall stre that was like five yeah it was to get it was really early yeah yeah um I did hear that one it's I mean maybe maybe since we do have two persons working um in that department Maybe they can come up with the plan to figure out how to address that situation in that area to leave to I don't know with the scheduling you

mean or no the just the situation in general um I mean they're coming back on a daily basis throughout the day and evening so I don't I'm not an animal you know officer so I don't know maybe there are things that they can employ that can deter them from coming back to that area or can track it to figure out where they're coming from and try to fix that I don't know if they have those

capabilities yeah minimal control I don't know if that's something de can do um but yeah there are strict guidelines with it right I'm sure but somebody must be able to do something I mean that's a school I'd hate for there to be a situation there and then us knowing that a situation not have done something proactively so I'm just asking that we be proactive the city with the state um

to get something done over there to help the community absolutely speak with the Animal Control Officers see if they can apprciate that information on that thank you thank you councilwoman thank you Chief uh fire chief if you are available you can come on up you have anything of significance to inform us about the budget not since last time the same same as last report question so uh let me bring it up with

these Grant funded positions do we need this much money in overtime so actually this budget year I did not add the 3.5% pay increase in salary rates for this year and I reduced over time training

side so the salaries went up by about 400k maybe a little less and you're saying that's not included in the 3.5 pay Bump by contract so what would that number be 14 21199 that's without the 3.5 what's that number with the 3.5 number you looking at 750 under salaries fire department dis uh Department expenses by type it say say your propos in fiscal year 25 14,21 11,990 in salaries but you're saying

that doesn't account for 3.5 pay increase by contract no no salar is accountable over remember salaries go up 3.5% overtime goes up right but okay so let me refr my question do we need this much money allocated towards overtime if we have 12 new position what is the purpose of the new positions is it to fill in sit calls and vacations the Marshall okay yes they will not back only

as we before so the overtime budget this year I not add increase number remember overtime numbers based on last threee average of taking off right I I get right I get that what I'm missing is so take three out of the 12 there's nine positions from the grant funded there's 12 total right so it's three that's how you break it down three push P very minimal each okay about what the

savings would be for there I've already

reduced and I also reduced $60,000 in training s our number down all said and done said with a mayor three times this year we $782,000 out of our budg we started this budget this year with 1.7 million 3.5% for the salary increase increase for medical coverage increase for vental coverage incre pchs add the one 1.7 milon 700 that's as close as we get okay so three extra bodies per shift out

of how many shifts a day per house we have four shifts to do two days 210 days for every for all four stations so there there aren't nine positions just floating no so

shift so or my entire life over City

so now there a extra firefighter one you're saying two the safer so the order to get wed funding under the safer Grant meet the no the no basally we have to beat a section of 1710 based on a single family house fire on what the requirements are for manpow safety so out of that standard I looked at how we operate where I could F in what they're asking for so right now

we run two people on a lad and when you put two people on the roof the roof ventilation you need something by 17 adding that third person to the lad truck we met that that gave us enough points that we were award and the other part that we got was the RIT teaming company as a writ team rid prevention team should a fire has to be a four person company so

by what we wrote and how we approached it 12 positions try not to confuse it with what we had before we had 20 people over last night the last class and we made well for oh two and a half years and then we're back to inia always better to run strong and the council has brought it up before for mental health reasons or people being stuck in the stations around the clock we had that several

times during my career to the detriment of not only our people but their feelings so these 12 positions are actually three per based on on the grant re 17 I'm not questioning that I just wanted to know the reason why then obviously you know I I know you're gonna go C the safer Grant is for fire that's the reason on the fire that's where I was so requirement is

more than 50% of their time they have to be on fire unfortunately am forf doesn't mean they can't do they just have to spend more than of their time three years does that include Mutual um Aid or does it have to be within the city when they when they serve has to be it does does have to be in it doesn't have to be for an incident in the city

no it can be for Mutual a right yep how are we doing on pension funding I'll go back to you in a second but the um pension fund are we healthy that's not really part of your budget okay in the we now have in the budget which is what we put and they've been putting in consistently since the mayor actuary whatever the actu okay we have an academy scheduled for

the 2015 in the academy in the more than actually their has operations examed today they have a couple more weeks then they come to us for another eight weeks for us in school and then they'll be wonderful and they're already in the budget so they're in the budget of Z but we will do and I have a meeting tomor with the grant will be setting up exp so we'll be pay salaries andit sub many for reimbursements

for back none of their salary or benefits not in this it's covered

one any other additional ummies other than these for the r of uh not right now okay thank you although if we do have vacancies in the future we have to right we're also restricted so probably

get we have still meet thank you Chief thank you Chief questions

station what it called the Smith Street engine CH and rescue Smith Street side which is near St Brandon's so it would the engine and the rescue would pretty much if they're both in service at that station they would Prett much on the scene simultaneously maybe 60 second delay maybe with the sometimes the rescue gets there quick station that rescue two would be dispatched to Smith Street in service was service

so at the same time race Avenue engine four and rescue for this pretty much going to be so at the same time five fire showing up at scene at the same time they both yeah again I'm saying perfect world everybody and this is the so engine one rescue one lion service both shelter three this is this is that midnight yeah right two engines that split Center City I'm going to now I'm going to the

street now I'm going to the street close by to the you notice I pick house streets close by to the the stations are so obviously split that so now we go to uh just pick drown uh engine three and what rescue if rescue ones and serviceing in the barn if not the time the time that both so those other three instances I gave the truck and the the rescue and the engine go up

pretty much in a matter of seconds together but in the case of the Station 3 scenario there's going to be a lag time either St so so the the probability chances if I was to put money on which station's going to have a rescue and the engine show at the same time which one wouldn't you bet on you were betting in which one wouldn't you out of those out of those

four scenarios I gave you which one wouldn't you put which one wouldn't you have put money down on that would have both the engine and the rescue shown up at the same time which which of those scenarios I gave you well that's what I mean because resc because there's not a full-time rescue rescue at station okay so so there's a dis so from a from a standpoint of the residence of w one for donly

Rumford they have a their service isn't deeper to or greater than any other part of the city in the perfect this is all perfect world correct if we look at all four different actually five district five at any given time we have we can have mutual a coming in or going out we can't guarantee that they're always going to be in the house and the ambulances are the busiest companies

that we have just look at the numbers there is they're out of service on a run more often than they're in the house waiting for a run but the chances are greater you sh I'm not too sure about that because Ken Heights is busier than rord and the center of the city is almost twice as busy as rord or a little bit a little bit more than that just I'm rord is the

slowest District that we have for learnes I'm just saying I'm just saying I just want to you know in this budget somehow someday somehow people the chief of staff there isn't just two or three people majority of people there want feel they're not being S I know that's not a slight against you or your men or your women that's you know here's what I know here's what I know to be true it's

perception perception is wrong and can't say anything bad or good about that perception what I can't tell you is within four minutes we have a company there that's Advanced life support both equipped and same Personnel for treatment within four minutes to every house to the city that's our average response time because our engines and our ladders our ALS licensed nontransporting ambulances with either

an emtc or an EMT paramedic on them to treat Personnel so those engine ladders when they show up they're not stand there with their hands in their pocket they are trained Personnel fully equipped including medications and heart Mones to take care of those people what I'm saying is it's perception yes each district has a rescue to a point look at the center of the city it's actually two districts together we share a

rescue so you could say The five district or the one district is not far off from the rord district and I think I've said it more than once in front of the council I could take all the ambulances and put them in the center of the city in one building and run them out of there and be just as efficient because they're always running we're not the only ones go to Providence they're running several rescues they're

bringing a mutual Aid more than we are every Community is in the same boat it comes down to fiscally what can we afford I think I did what we needed to do with our budget this year as I was asked in charge because we're at the cap the only way we're going to raise the cap well that falls under the charter that's up to the council that's up outside of

my thank you anybody here in the room want to address the fire department thank you Chief thank you so we move on to the Enterprise fund Wastewater Pollution Control water utilities concerns from the Council budget items think we've talked about that off any anybody here in the public or anyone in those departments that need to indicate

anything hearing none that concludes that section so at what point do we start um making our changes that we like to propose are we there now or after the public hearing Welling once we close you know public discussion but um would that be under the ordinance Mr solic it should be right now before we move on so this would be the the this would be the time um we're on the areas we just discussed up up

SC well capital is listed yep so any any changes significant changes I I mean I don't have any from what we just went through no my questions were about the number of FTS for the fire department and the over time for uh fire I mean uh please and fire um sounds like they need it so um I have no changes councilwoman you um any changes of I'll say significance but any changes

actually sure take your time uh anyone else uh the council

just solicit if we do not have changes we would just move on to pass the budget tonight if you yes Council vice president that's SE separate from Capital stuff right so we can still discuss

capital I uh firmly believe that we need Tove I don't know if it's I mean I have two areas where I'd like to move so that we can take care front of the we can either take it out of human resources or we the administration's budget but we need to do this we promised a community this last year in indirectly so I'll move

I move $26,000 out of Department 125 and put it into Department 410 so under discussion um you know I understand what what you're saying but I I don't I'm comfortable with the current affirmative action setup we heard from the director tonight that he was pretty satisfied with his budget I'm not getting complaints from the community that affirmative action eooc you know things are not being not being

met um we had an advisory Comm member who did say to us he'd like to see more more help for the director but what I'm trying to do but I'm not sure the director is saying that and I I don't know let's you know it's important enough so let's ask the director to I mean I can be sede but and I don't want to put you on the spot Mr P but um I think you

are well he came up I didn't I always like seeing Elmo we have a player that goes back 30s something years in basketball Arenas should I yell at Elmo or that would be against I should not say it did you bring your whistle definitely I don't need a whistle yeah um so just just a touch on that um since our last meeting I have been doing some homework um I did uh

speak to um a gentleman at the State House on trying to uh recruit some internship uh in my office in my absence um and um and with that being said I you know am successful in obtaining that um and again this is happened right before our our our meeting here vice president um had um allocated uh the set of funds to my to my uh to my budget item um so

with that you know I I would hate to you know take it away from you know human resources or somewhere else where it's really needed um I think the mayor said it best you know if I can uh have one to two people in my office i' I'd be happy happy as as as a a pig in mud um but you know when I first started we did have uh

a person uh a full-time person uh that that helped me um but I think by filling this void and having somebody come from the state's um internship program um I think that would help um it's free free money has it doesn't come out of my budget it's com the city budget it comes right out of state um hero she will be with me uh Monday through Friday uh but

um I I am grateful I I I really am um it's something I've been asking for some time now and of course the members of the affirmative action committee have also uh been asking because um if I'm out sick or I'm vacation or a constituent or an employee needs to uh talk about you know uh discriminatory practices I I would love for somebody to be you in the office do you work closely

uh I obviously know the answer but do you work closely with HR director and HR department yes sir I do yes sir so affirmative action just so you know affirmative action polices um or somewhat Works heavy with human resources to to ensure that that they are uh going by the policies and procedure put in place um to effectively in in in in terms of equality hiring people of color in

women I if you are comfortable I mean we made this I mean last year at this time if you remember right uh yes sir we were basically uh thrown this the five of us were thrown to the Wolves it was you know some uncharacteristic comments came from people in the community and it was and and it was gaslit and it was wasn't true about the character of the five of us up here and

you're comfortable and I said and I told and I said what I would do and I carried it through so if you're comfortable and I can see the president doesn't have the fortitude to move forward with this and you're fine with this we will I guess I'll you know rest it but I I was not gonna I was not going to have this Council go through what we had to go

through last year and it wasn't you it was and the people know who brought these people in here and it was uncharacteristic and again they know who they were and they brought they brought them in here and made the five of us try to be something that we weren't so you'll always have my support thank you sir if you're comfortable now I'm I I got no problem funding this position it sounds like there's

definitely a need for it interns are great but they come and go would it make more sense that if the needs there that we put the position in now well I was in getting that feeling from you know I I would blame the council president on that no but after hearing that there is absolutely a need and not only from um the director but I'm not sure I appreciate the term fortitude I don't

know what you meant by that but I'm sorry I Ed I know sometimes you misspeak that's okay but it seems like the need was addressed by a free yeah but those come and go I work with interns all the time they come and go I would rather have with the shot so where where in HR are they going to lose $26,000 what what are we going to take out how many open position don't plan

and has an open that's not my idea if somebody wants to take it out where you going to take it from I had the mayor's I had ideas mayor's office you know again how does that work though Frank that's the problem so it's just in my mind it's just reallocating and then it just lowers the bottom line number and then that office has to reallocate their funds however they need to work their

budget it wouldn't be our decision to how they would reallocate the end number in their Department that would be something that they would have will it be a position that they will fill we gave them three Public Works in the past and they just didn't well one went from parks and they made it a carpenter so um that's the problem we run with any trying to the chair yes councilman F I'd like to ask Elma a

question Elma um is your trust fully with this new availability to have these interns work in favor of what you need for the office as a going forward movement that that would work and you want to try it or do you want us to make a mo well that's a question to ask you do you think we need uh to hire an assistant in your office or would you like to try the

entrepreneur program of the state and see how that works out yeah c for that's a good question um so this program is new to me um I know um C clerk um Jilla had used an internship uh person and he was very satisfied uh with the internship so I I would like to to try it to see again it's free money um but I do agree with with comes with loss and I

mean they do come and go um but if I get somebody solid to kind of just be a backbone when I'm not in the office um why not use it if it's if it's free and attainable to me I think an internship then turns into a parttime higher if that's something that well that's works out so that's good we could hire somebody that you like that you get along with that will work in the office

so we try it for free and if we have to move on from there we go from there that's my opinion only only you're working there day and you know the comings and going and what's needed for the public and for the employees and very valuable asset you have so to have another set of eyes body bones person I agree with you I agree with the council and I think that's what

they're we're all trying to do is satisfy that you're picking up on that so I I'd rather lean on you and your expertise in that office do you think it would work to have the intern for now and wait on the hire yeah it would be because again this intern um this intern will be doing a lot of the administrative work um here or she will not be seeing some of the confidential

stuff I'll be using um I mean that's down the line if you know I do get a you know a solid part-time person maybe in a year or maybe you know a full-time person who knows but um some of the heavy stuff I'll be dealing with the investigations and the meetings but this person will be doing like my minutes the agendas you know um administrative duties I think we're all saying the same

thing including uh Council v p I think your intent is a good one to help the office let's try it the way the director feels he can try it and if it evolves into a job well we'll we'll hire another person at that time but yeah I'm open to a motion if you want to if anyone wants to move move or just leave it alone you okay with that Council VP and case scenario mid we'll find

outy Capital some that okay let's let's try it let's move on thank you Council vice president members of the council thank you Mr director thank you so much appreciate it uh other areas of change or I don't have any who um oversees the dispatcher Communication Center who's in charge of that budget Chief you want to come thank you Chief sorry I didn't ask when you were up here earlier thank you so the council for

probably three consecutive budgets had budgeted for additional full-time employees and dispatchers and those um were not filled we're currently at recently at 11 correct we are at 11 we are still at 11 um still shows for the 11 but we also they just contracted with the steel workers uh Union and the current CBA we now do up to eight part-time dispatches and that's the new program um we might be faced with two

people leaving in January I don't have that in stone again unless we see a piece of paper in front of me that says I'm leaving we can't go by just here say but we might have to actually hire for some full-timers to fill to the 11 and then get to the eight eight part-timers so the eight part- timers sorry what is so 45,000 is going to cover eight part- timers is that

accurate that's what they're projecting for right now and salaries I don't know if we accounted in salaries for was last year it looks like the um the need because we weren't funding full-time um and I think probably at a minimum a couple of part-time perhaps there was an increase in your overtime mine item right and then there we went back and forth with losing people using a lot of part-

timers um right burnout the hours not being able to man it's a it just keeps going right very busy um I think once we get to the eight part- timers and I believe the way it's set up um I would have to go back but I don't want to misspeak but those part- timers will be committed to certain shifts certain days and that'll be there they have to do in order to provide that relief on

service and you're thinking the 45 the 45 just doesn't seem like a reasonable number for eight people remember we're talking part-time employees that hourly wage isn't going to be as high as the salar Personnel that we have right but it is 24 hours right you have three you have four so they do they follow the police department's shift schedule which is 38 hour shifts no 12h hour shifts in that

department so they can do uh two shifts in a row then at most four hours after those the two shifts and then they have to go home we have to put somebody else in the seat oh like a 16 hour max have right but we don't want them we like maybe a f an eight and a four right um but there are dispatchers that do do it and sometimes especially during Peak uh vacation time

during the summer it they get stuck there what does the shifts look like in term of personnel is it you know three two 3 three supposed to be 3 three and two the third shift but we don't backfill all the time for day shifts if we can't get somebody you mandate the P Tim is might actually alleviate that like a split shift you mean like like a in between so if somebody took a

sick day let's say during the day shift we can go down to the two and if we try to hire a dispatcher but nobody will take it we're not going to order somebody to do that you wouldn't mandate somebody to stay and you would leave the whole city with two dispatchers right do you think that that's safe do it at night right but I mean doesn't mean that it right agreed but remember both dispatchers

have access to everything for police and fire and it's literally a a team effort when when they're in there whether it's two or three or some large instance we've had up to four people and we've put a police officer or firefighter there yeah but there isn't typically the offic in charge is he usually on site the officer in charge is in the police station so he they have to call the

officer in charge if they have a call come through that they want to speak to them right so the new phone tree does go to the police station if it goes to the dispatcher first they refer it to the police right are they still Ming the doorbell that's at the police station too okay lot going on for two or three people in a big city all right sounds like you want to hire

more well it it's it's a mute point right you can put the money in but you can't make them do it so um and that's the problem I have with the budget um is you can give as much money as you want to try to help because I know those people suffer over there those dispatchers are are overworked they're burnt out they're not happy but they're doing the job because they love the city

that they work in and that they love their job um but it's not I wouldn't call it a very great work environment I I know I wouldn't feel like it would be a great work environment if I was there with the new center it's it's very nice environment you aesthetically it can be nice while they're working aesthetically it can be and like you said if uh so if I don't order that for that person from

a day shift and we have to follow the CBA speaking yes so not only do we do the CBA but by not ordering that person to work that day shift and them running with two you're you're not impacting the life speed ordering somebody the whole order game becomes the the Rabid game show no yeah that's diff because nobody wants to be held against their will it starts it

just Cy C just keep of course so we try to avoid that but if something goes down where active got structure fire we get people over there to back them up when we need right but I think the eight part- timers will that are in the new uh new collective bargaining agreement if it's done correctly and they negotiate it and they're on board so we'll see how that works and when it comes to quality of

life and having more people in there it might be a good balance to start with necessary but we need to get there right exactly it's a new process and hiring is dismal at best well that's what I was going to say do you really think you're going to be able to get these eight pot time people we have problems getting police officers that's what I mean so realistically what what are the Chan how

do you think we're going to I think the next hiring they talked to the HR Director do full exhausted you do a fulltime hiring and then once we have that Lis and they're waiting an open for full they get their feet start getting in it's almost kind of like that internship I think that that that whole process is of a list and exhausting a list that's probably three years old and those people more than likely aren't

even interested in a position any longer to go back is Antiquated right it doesn't because people are our people are looking for jobs even though sometimes they're not applying some people I hear that they have to wait because the list and the the board didn't meet so it wasn't the list wasn't checked you know I I don't no we've had that yeah I think it recently it was cancelled but you know I'm sure an

executive decision can be made by the director to move things along um I just I know from the public and hearing for people who have applied for positions or tried to apply for positions it doesn't seem as simple as applying for a position and getting an interview and um we have a process of which we have to follow and there laws and there's rules and I would love to streamline it trust

me right process took nine months for the fight Department right and some things it does need to take a lot longer and then there were other positions that don't require n they're just is important they have to meet um Justice assciation service requirement so they're they're Public Safety officers whether people think they are or not and they're our first line of defense right but that has to be part of job

description right I'm not going to apply for a job that requires a doctorine degree and I don't have a doctorine degree that I have to look for a doc you know try to acquire one so I'm pretty sure if the description is laid out exactly what a person needs that they're going to do the steps that they need prior to an interview they don't even get an interview so all right well thank

you um I'd love to try to help your staff in that that building a lot more but there really let's see how the part-time eight the eight time eight part-time positions work out and how long that takes if you know anyone that is looking to apply I know a lot of people who have we want as many applicants as we can find even the police I had a couple people who I sent over to get

interviewed TR take some of my applicants thank you thank you councilwoman so I think we've gone through this we've had other meetings we've had individual meetings here with Administration uh we can address some other issues in capital but I think it's time to try to adopt this budget is there a was the pleasure of this Council so I'll go ahead and well we don't have to start with five right

because we can do them in order correct yeah that of going out of order so um I'll let the clerk yes um Madam clerk if you want to read the first ordinance ordinance of the council thece these provids ordering the assessment and collection of property tax on the rable real estate intangible personal property summary section 16-50 entitled assessment of article 4 excuse me article 9 entitled property tax on rable real

estate and tangible personal property and excise tax on registered motor vehicles and trailers again these a pretty perfunctory uh this is just the annual assessment ordinance you do you you'll note that uh section 16-50 is entitled registered motor vehicles and trailers which we don't tax anymore we have to we'll get a we'll get a fix for that at some point after this Bud was done

because that's what the ORD current ORD title is this really this is just a form are setting the assessment based upon Theos this is the second passage motion to approve as so before we uh continue with the with the Motions it is a public hearing anyone here do comment or any questions comments either on the council or in the public again this this was the discussed before this is down for second

passage anyone here that would like to comment hearing none motion has been made by councilwoman Souza to approve second seconded by councilman fogy all in favor I I are there any opposed you guys have that 5 Z thank you next item an ordinance authorizing the Director of Finance to borrow funds in anticipation of taxes same thing uh second second passage anyone here under public hearing wants to discuss

this hearing none what is your pleasure close the public hearing what is your pleasure Council motion to approved by councilwoman soua seconded by councilman Lawson all in favor I I any opposed the eyes have that 5 Z next item an ordinance authorizing the Director of Finance toor funds and anticipation of bonds motion to approve hearing is motion to approve by councilman Lawson under public hearing any

discussion comments questions is there a second I'll close the public hearing motion by councilman Lawson is there a second second second by councilman fogy all in favor I I any opposed eyes have that 5 Z next item ordinance of the Council of the CB's Providence appropriating 6,1 8,625 for the FY 2025 capital budget and the FY 2025 to 2029 Capital Improvement program I'd like to make some

adjustments to this one sure under public hearing um please continue councilman so um I want to add the three School items that we had discussed previously $1 million towards old ham for the roof 500,000 towards the energy management system for the school buildings and 1.5 million to the intercoms needed throughout the schools and to counter that $3 million addition I'd propose that we remove um the

allocation for latter three the allocation for rescue to the allocation for the 3500 uh trucks the allocation for the dump truck the allocation for the stump grinder and the allocation for the uh field groomer and that would balance out I believe these schools should be the priority over equipment and if funding for the schools comes through we can always reallocate this Capital funding

but I don't think um we should be passing a budget that doesn't take care of the building that the Tiny Town East of prek are in and we already mentioned school safety with the intercoms and energy management system so I would like to make a motion to make those changes can I just ask for a clarification the second item which was $500,000 what was that for uh energy management system

they call it EMS but I don't want people to get confused with Emergency Management it's basically the energy controls for the buildings almost like HVAC so under under discussion I think these are that would that I'm sorry you can go going go ahead under all Avenue School I mean we replaced my and J Francis Bo last year uh all avue schools having an issue with their heating system would that fall

into your category that we were just talking about all right you have a number we may be getting some extra money when the money comes back from we have to reach out to the school we'll have to reach out to the school department and then when the money comes back at the 2024 budget into Capital then it at that time there may be money left over from you yeah we yeah that's

true so what I was going to add under discussion is I I don't want to lose the opportunity to service all the needs within the city um whether it's trucks and vehicles on the city Side equipment on the school side so as long as there's some guarantee that we can try to reappropriate because I I can tell you that um and I've had discussions as late as today as you know I'm on the uh

school bond issue committees and I said to the mayor that you know it really is the council's um feeling that if there is money left over from the school bond that that money stays within schools and school needs and I'm not speaking for the mayor we're not at that point yet but he told me that um he agrees and he was already starting to word with the solicitor and they called me today to

put that in writing that there will be an ordinance in writing and I I can tell you that unless something changes in the next couple of days with the school bond meetings but I think they're pretty well done that there is a little over $3 million left from the high school bond issue and that's a good thing that that committee has been very um worked very hard to save money and

not just spend the entire bond issue blindly uh they were there were things that they took out of the school and then they put them back when they thought they could afford it uh um they were they were very good about watching the dollars and after all is said and done you know anyone who's worked on a house knows that you might always have a little project here or there but after

all is said and done they don't need to do anything more major to the high school so they will turn back it's a little over $3 million and maybe 3.2 well let's call it 3 m milon do that's a lot of money now under law as I understand it maybe the solicitor can add to this the city is free at that point to do what we want with that money

it does not have to go just for schools but I I am telling you that we will have an agreement in writing that says that $3 million will be put in a an account for nothing but schools and the good thing is it will be put in an interest earning account right now it's sitting in this school state Bond account getting zero interest so there's $3 million just sitting there we make this change I don't know

what the interest is on $3 million but that's that's pretty good amount of money we don't have to rush out tomorrow and spend the 3 million so when allo says hypothetically we need a boiler or any other school you know we will be able to what what the mayor has said he would like to do is have a whole oversight for this process a council representative school department representative public

representative and the superintendent of schools and the school committee would kind of have the last say as to what is needed we don't want them to you know willy-nilly go out and and buy okay Council would have the last say based on but we the ordinance it would be written to say not without input from the as written as proposed as proposed advisory right that board would be advisory but the council would have the

last see see I would be opposed to a board we we got a f we got a facilities director they can tell us the needs we don't need more bureaucracy it's just government we can change the ordinance I mean if we if we want to just leave it to the um administrators that's fine just put it in an account but it was an attempt that I thought would involve us

you know because you we we got a vote on the allocation of the funds over 50,000 we can take that out and just have it the administrators if you're happy with that that's fine just the school facility director comes to us and say we need a boiler there how much it cost well that was the point just to get their input so that 3 million plus will be their just for school and I you know

want to be fair also nobody supports schools more than than me I worked there for 30 years and I'm still doing stuff with the schools so support you I've been there for for day one I don't know if they support me well yeah you got a paycheck right I used to mention I used to so you know we we also want to answer the public that says we you know we we

need our streets plowed and we need we have infrastructure within the city and we've been buying plenty of vehicles we we have and we've been supporting schools they've gotten every budget they've asked for the past several years wasn't always the case and they should they should so I'm okay with this I'm just concerned with you know caught before the horse uh you know can we wait

and get this you know I made the motion council president second we just have the numbers again so we make sure yes 1 million for the roof at Old him 50000 for the energy management system yep go ahead and 1.5 million for the uh communication intercom systems throughout the school buildings that's um three million right yep and to counter that um you're striking so we lad three 2,123 625 rescue two which is 475,000

uh I think it was three trucks 190,000 two trucks two trucks I apologize 90 yep dump truck at 95,000 stump grinder at 80,000 and the field groom at 30 which I believe is like 2.9 change when it's all added up9 2.9 Million those those cuts will offset the addition and again if the 3 million comes of ailable if it could be used for this we just reoc you are in agreement

that if that 3 million comes to fruition I'd rather see it sit there for next budg you can replace those things that you're taking out we could have that conversation yeah because I'd rather see it sit there for next budget so they're not cutting teachers and social workers so under that I needed public hearing I see the fire chief had his finger up excuse one second before he uh yep last week it was told by

Mr Brown that we're probably and Malcolm can certify this we probably this present budget probably anywhere from two to $2.5 million surplus will be coming back our way no I mean left over I mean going from budget budget year 24 right now we're running probably like $2 million do will be going into capital I know we talked about a lot of that could come from the high school that's changed the

we what we do know is that the mayor in his opening conversation to address the council with the budget was that in 2026 Capital funds would go to Sur plant the the budget itself and there would be no capital budget so I think we have to be very careful with the budget as a whole right because we with all of the bonds it's great that we're going to get money back

from the bond but that is still money that we borrowed up it'd be nice to put that money as a pay as a payment down on debt services to lower the debt Services because it's Malcolm you have the it's 6.5 plus million that we have between the two bonds how much are we paying for the bonds so we have the high school bond and then we have the Middle School the total

amount even better even better so there's going to be so I'm okay with what we have going on because I have to be right um but there are going to be this Council and Future councils going to need to make some serious adjustments to each department whether we like to or not we should have really because it's it's just not going to be sustainable for the city with the debt and I and I

think it's amazing with the infrastructure and all the stuff that we're doing we have these apartment houses that are coming up these you know the Christina place we have but I don't see where the revenue is getting higher to cover what we need and it's certainly not we're not getting more Public Safety Personnel in to cover the influx of hundreds of people that are going to be moving into the city or currently have

moved into the city so have a lot um of hard decisions and there are people that are not going to be happy at all but at the end of the day the livelihood of this city so it doesn't go back to a budget commission is going to have to start sooner than later F Chief and I think next year we should have a subcommittee on budget that works throughout the process so that way we

can talk about these needed Cuts in the future I mean again I totally agree with you and I think what was put down by the past Council as far as dates and you can feel it here now with us not getting that Budget on August 20th we really didn't do the city of East problems any justice we really didn't do anything this this whole process has been rammed down everybody's throats and

it's not what the people of these PRS want I am not comfortable I'm going to vote for this budget because but as councilwoman susza said you got to take your belt and we got to go on a diet and and and that's why there was and that's the re and I wanted to do it but I felt I could feel you know I'm a pretty good Cod player and being born in political

family as as my late grandfather would tell me he taught me this in this city three and I didn't feel I had three tonight so I had to go that way but you know what so that's why there was concern about you know this extra million and tightening the belt I mean the schools have gotten boilers they've gotten everything the superintendent of schools was very satisfied with this budget and we're we're still ready to

help but the question was raised so I want the fire chief to comment the public hearing thank you coun in respect to the tower ladder and the rescue two things one we discussed the tower ladder last time I was here um we know the age of the vehicle that we have we did get it used um it's the last part of the front line feet that needs to be replaced that's 20 years old or

more right now just to build an engine or a ladder you're looking at two to three years to build a tow ladder you're looking at three to four years to get it built and then within that time frame the costs just keep going up we just took receipt of engine four and engine five it took two years to build that we paid 9930 $940,000 each truck right now those same trucks same manufacturer are 1.4

each every time we push something off the money goes up I've tried to Institute um an apparatus program when it comes to ambulances they're good for four years in service four years in reserve and then get rid of them because they're literally Trashed by them and we can show you some of the reserves we've taken out of service over the last couple years and for a rescue it's right now two and

a half years if you custom build I scored one um with Greenwood who started the process when they saw the writing on the wall with the chipsets and the trouble getting trucks so they've put placeholders in the factory we all battle over that right now I have a rescue coming in December for this year's Capital that was greatly needed and and the next year we basically need a rescue every year

because we have four full we have four fulltime yes one's not 24 hours but it's still full-time it's 42 um and for us to run them 44 and out we need to follow that process if we don't hey the people we transporting you've you've some of you have seen some of the trucks we've had over the years um not new but they just they don't last and the amount of cost it takes to repair

them it comes to the tail wags the dog shall we say we spend more doing that than we do having a program and doing 44 and out or 10 10 and out when it comes to an engineer ladder I I remember when I first got on the council last term and we Council ordered a new fire truck and I said oh it's great you know go see it next week and you know he said oh he's

two years away just got him literally since learned that process so that's why I'm I'm hesitant to support this now when right on the horizon we have over $3 million to put to these school projects and again if it comes through we can reality you wouldn't you wouldn't commit to replacing this stuff you said we'll have a we'll have a conversation we'll have a conversation that's not a

commitment chair yes councilman I'm again supporting it too because the equipment is needed now the agreement was made the fire apparatus goes up the truck goes up I understand the school I understand the school the time for the schools needs is with the 3 million that mayor has said will come to the schools when they need it the stuff that the DPW needs and the fire chief needs is is mandatory now

need nobody's without heat right now in the schools superintendent was satisfied with their budget uh I think this is a haste reaction but that's my op this is from the school department this isn't anybody just trying to do but they'll get their let's have the vote speaking please I didn't say anybody was trying to do anything shady I said it hastily that's all I said I think it's Hast I've

been talking about this for months with the administration let them finish these items were brought up by the super and also in emails back and forth and they get them well but why at the at the expense of the community's fire service holding fire department hostage my how am I holding them hostage I said once that money becomes allocated we'll talk about reallocating it well I don't want to

talk about reallocating it but you guys seem to already have your mind made up so we have a motion on the floor was there a sec yes cwom Su a second it um Madam clerk please call a r councilman fery councilman Lawson I these schools need this Council vice president rioo I councilwoman Susa hi council president rodri nay the schools need this and they'll get them in a couple of weeks

but vote is three to2 in favor of the motion thank you next item ordinance of the Council of the saves province appropriating 22,690 10101 for the support of the city government for the fiscal year ending October 31st 2025 under a public hearing anyone wishes to speak either on the council or here in the room I'll ask once again anyone here to speak another perun Act of of the budget

process close the public hearing is there a motion hearing none motion will I'll ask one more time is there is there a motion hearing none the motion fails motion is no council fails to adopt the budget right there's no budget the mayor's budget fail to adopt a budget by the deadline to budget that's by the end of year we make any changes understand I'm just no I'm just saying we didn't make any changes so in

theory we didn't make any changes next item please announcement of final public hearing on FY 2024 budget October 22nd 2024 this date down for next

22nd was it pass the budget put this back

oning this question this is in theory just like Governor not signing the bill because affirmative Act of don't have an affirmative act there we have a okay says you fail to act then it be becomes then it be automatic as long as that's clear that's where your intention I'm just saying that's I'm just letting it explain I'm oh it's a good question just letting it come you know let everybody know that's explain

it so it's not it's not exactly like the legisl governor legisl passing Governor can let it Law Without this would be this budget would become law without us passing because the charter says if you don't adop the budget by the seven days for the fiscal year the mayor's budget then becomes any any other I want the council to understand that well that's the reason why I wanted yeah we we need to

understand it so you can't come back and say we have a problem with the budget that's what I'm saying that's why I wanted him to yeah yeah anyone here there any comments on that is there a motion for this no we don't need my question not interested in sting another public hearing I guess does not we have a regular meeting right 22nd so there will not be another so therefore there will not be

another public hearing the mayor's budget will be adopted as by default as he proposed by default and there is a regularly scheduled meeting Tuesday October 22nd it just won't have uh a budget public hearing right you could I mean no one wants one so I assume we're we're okay all right next item please me just conf I've never had this situation but I think yeah the council's choosing not to

take a formal vote on whether they approve or deny the budget they're going to let it just pass as is well it's a form of approval well I mean right but it's it it is non-action it's a non-action it's not an approv just let it go it's not a disapproval it's you know it's like I understand it just has a I just want to make sure that everyone understands it I want to confer

with the finance director that we're all on the same page again that's why I asked I understand this is the first time that's happened in my tenure here so that's all so learn something every day thank you next item please so wait so we're not putting it on we're just correct we are not putting it on resolution authorizing the expenditure of funds excuse me to hire outside legal council sponsor motion to approve

second motion to approve and second there will be discussion any any comments no is there any so direction as to why this is being yes we need legal representation after what happened in executive session after um the mayor withholding the money from the businesses for the direct grants I think it's time that we have our own um legal representation on certain matters and um I mean I've always been a a supporter of

this and then tonight hearing that the assistant excuse me the assistant city solicitor could become a full-time employee I mean that will become a full-time employee will become a full-time employee that just you know so how does that work if it's appointment not an appointment then so it's an at will full-time employee Mr Nice used to be a full-time employee I'm just clarifying the

question it's a full-time as um well it's fulltime or not I don't know advertises full time I don't know I'm not involved in still that was when that that was a different form of government that's when the city manager reported to the city council who had the solicitors now it's a different it's changed I mean it's not an apple it's an apple vers IR scenario in for government so yeah I

mean I'm definitely supporting on that question of monies I think it was also demonstrated tonight that it it may save money I don't know we'll see but we spent more more money under the prior process that's negotiable I me yeah it's negotiable city solicitor had been our city solicit for multiple terms he performed at a high level we don't know who you know there's different grades of

attorneys so he just happened to be a higher end so is not something I I will support obviously the votes are here to support it but I have to get my opinion out um I I don't the the mayor's uh gift card program we shot that down so I don't need a lawyer to investigate anything um we it got stopped so why why they're still pushing let me finish why why are we going to spend

what's the amount of this for this position whatever well it's got to come from somewhere it's going to be we have 70 in our budget okay so if we have money to spend there other areas in the city that I prioritize we we have girls in the city looking for lights at their field all the boys have them the girls don't so there's some monies there and we we can we can add this

and I don't I have not had any problems getting legal advice someone some of you have mentioned and I understand that you know you you you want ordinances written up we've always gotten them we have a staff Robin and others who have been been good um we're going to have competing attorneys this is going to be interesting but anyway there's a motion in a second um Madam clerk can you call a role councilman

FY councilman Lawson hi Council vice president r hi Council Susa hi council president Rober n nay the motion uh passes uh read to two thank you next item move to adjourn hey yes second Yankees are losing I heard they're winning they're losing I don't all in favor of adjournment all