EP City Council 10/22/24

good evening I call the meeting of October 22nd 2024 to order uh Madame clerk would you please call the role of the council councilman Fogerty yeah councilman Lawson Council vice president rioo Hi councilwoman Susa here council president Rodricks here with the record show of four members are present uh councilman Lawson has indicated that he is ill today will will not make the meeting

please rise for the salute to the flag

thank you madam clerk could you please read the first item the city council of East Providence may meet an executive session pursuant to Rhode Island general law 42- 46-5 A1 discussion of the job performance character dot dot dot of a person provided that the person or persons affected have been notified in advance in writing city clerk employee agreement ment council president I move

to go into executive session second motion by Council Woman soua seconded by Council vice president Rego move into executive session according to Rhode Island law at this time all in favor I I any opposed the eyes have it shall return

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thank you everyone your patience so motion to return to open session motion to go into to return to ex Open Session motion by councilwoman soua seconded by councilman bogy all in favor I I any opposed guys have it yes councilwoman motion to seal the the motion to seal am minutes by councilwoman Souza seconded by councilman fogy all in favor I any opposed the eyes have that 4 Z thank you

madam clerk next item please the consent calendar you have council meeting minutes for August 20th 2024 regular meeting minutes September 3rd 2024 excuse

me oh all set we take a 5 minute recess 5 minute recess

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thank you um everyone for your patience I will call us back from recess and let's continue with the uh consent the consent calendar council meeting minutes August 20th 2024 regular meeting minutes September 3rd 2024 regular meeting minutes September 17th 2024 regular meeting minutes September 177 2024 executive meeting minutes October 1st 2024 regular meeting minutes October 1st 2024 executive meeting minutes October

8th 2024 regular meeting minutes and you have six notice of new property numbers yes and you don't have to read all of those that's a new property numbers which is a very routine item and you have tax abatements in the amount of $6,196 128 motion to approve the consent calendar as read second motion by councilwoman Souza to approve as read seconded by councilman fogy all in favor

I I any opposed the eyes have it thank you next next item you have the option to um bundle licenses 1 through 7 these are um solicitor licenses special event um and that option to bundle excludes items seven and8 which is an annual renewal and um a license review for an entertainment license so I make a motion to bundle licenses one through six motion to bundo items 1 through six from councilwoman soua seconded by

councilwoman B all in favor I I any opposed the eyes have that make a motion to approve licenses 1 through six motion to approve by councilwoman Souza is there a second councilman fogy all in favor I any opposed the eyes have that thank you and continue on the number seven number seven is there a thank you gentlemen have a great night thank you good luck good luck with your business there a motion for number

seven read it okay annual renewal of miscellaneous licenses authorization granting to renew subject licenses excluding alcohol beverage licenses for year commencing December 1st 2024 upon application by L and approval by Chief of Police and as required by health inspector and other City officials that's vice president I'm sorry this excludes alcoholic licenses so this yeah you're okay to stay yeah I

so before moving um on this docket item I did um want to exclude or remove for further um for the next council meeting one of the businesses um to come before the council um before approving one of the licenses um that they hold so I don't know if the the rest of the council has anything that they want to discuss I'd like to hold another license as well at this time okay

so personally I think if the council's okay um if we I would prefer in the future if instead of bundling all of the licenses under one renewal we could separate them or um So currently we do the business then we do the liquor and then we could have a separate for entertainment um because those are additional licenses that uh businesses acquire or or seek approval for I don't think the Sunday ones are of any

consequence to us but the entertainment I know has been an ongoing concern at some establishments and I just want to be able to to separate those um instead of bundling so that way a business can operate but maybe not all of the licenses under the business are approved at one time sure we we have that option well that makes that makes some sense we can so since these um are commencing on

December 1st we still do have the month of November to be able to issue or approve licenses so I would make a motion to continue this to the next first council meeting in November but separate them into the three different um categories yes please motion by councilwoman soua as she stated seconded by councilwoman f i could I before so so to the extent that you want to notify particular license holders that

you have some questions because most most people won't show up for this right so we the clerk will need to send a letter to these LIC to whoever the lenses are and saying that you would want you'd like them to appear so we can email that request or is it the CL and she can so councilman vice president whatever that license is I don't know what business you were talking about

Miss sou is already indicated one that she mentioned but so we'll let the clerk know this is the time where we can bring in a business for the renew because it's a renewal period you still have to give them notice that you're gonna you have my questions and you might but yes yes I think you might have an idea who actually I don't know I don't want to I'm surprised I figured you would know

all right so anyways I'll do that thank you you're welcome so that's a motion and a second already all in favor I I any opposed the eyes have that till the first in November ad Madame collect just to clarify you um know the the ask yes except that do you want it on the October 29th meeting or the November 12th we might need to give businesses time the November 12 November 12th yes thank

you thank you next item minus Cafe entertainment license passed April 2nd 2024 subject to a six-month review at um the business is located at 3:15 Waterman Avenue I believe this was scheduled from before that we indicated we'd have a six-month review anyone on the council have anything to add at this point um no I think I haven't had any complaints or inquiries from the residents since we had those multiple

meetings there have been some conversations um just on followup with residents and there seems to have it seems to have been going well thus far um um with the location so I am okay with renewing their entertainment license for the old year anyone else I know I have not received any any complaints at all as long as long as the counceling from that Ward and you at lodge are comfortable I comfortable is there an

action required tonight or is this just a review we're not we weren't holding that a permanent appointment up based on this review it's well their license is due for Renewal be due anyway right so it would we would okay so that's a good report uh next item alcoholic beverage license renewals um refer please refer to exhibit a for business listings we going to hold these or are we going no but this is if we are going

to vote no this is what I'm saying are we going to hold these or are we going to go over this was part of the table Yeah so this was advertised for public hearing tonight the extent that you want to put it off another dat you just got to do it without advertising okay so I make a motion to table without additional advertisement for the November 12th meeting contined so the motion is to continue

the hearing which was for tonight to the November 12th meeting without further advertising is there a second second seconded by councilman fogy all in favor I I there any opposed hearing none motion passes uh three to zero with uh one um re recusal thank you next item under Communications we have mer excuse me one second I still got to fill out this form all right I just wanted to make sure

thank you councilman I'm sorry continue uh under the communications we have Marissa Jenkins speaking on a public safety issue with fing J Street sure U please come forward to the podium Y and just list your uh name and address for the record good evening my name is Christopher kuster my wife Marissa Jenkins and I own the property on 74 J Street in Rumford welcome thank you the property is directly behind the

old Union Primary School in Rumford uh which has recently been converted to condos and the fence in question divides the condo property uh with our property and two others on J Street and then um it goes up and divides another three to five properties on Holly Burton um the fence is quite old it's rusted it's broken it has decent sized trees growing through it and in fact it

also has a a a pretty huge hole in the bottom uh where animals can come in and actually our our toddler had crawled through it into the um the other property and we couldn't get to them I tried to get under there I cut myself pretty good um it's it was noted so we have here the notes from the developer touchdown realy group when they did the proposal and in the notes here it says

that uh they are currently discussing with the city regarding responsibility of repair or replacement of the fence that is along the north and east sides of the property the fence is a mediocre condition and needs repair and replacement um now since the the it was determined that the realtor was not responsible we were hoping that the the city would take action what who determined that the

realtor was not responsible the zoning committee who's property does it lie on so it's they said it was it was the city's property the city's fence it was the city's F excuse me sir it was the city's fence City owned Union primate so I'm thinking on transfer of the property to the developer that it's now his like when I buy a house from you fence is on my side of the property it's

my fence now it's not the it's not the past holder of the land so it it trans that fence would transfer with the property correct so it's the responsibility of that property owner I.E touch down uh real real estate or developer it's his responsibility or that corporation's responsibility to maintain property Mr Jenkins when was that um discussion with the zoning board do you have those

notes this matter was before the zoning board board for a use variant Mar that was this is a uh R3 Zone where multif family homes are not allowed so get the of the apartments whatever they are had to go to resing board for okay so it had nothing to do with property lines it was just usage of there is a note in the file that there was a dispute not a dispute it was

concern over who actually own the F was they I read it to say at the time they were before the joining board they weren't sure if the the fence with the schools or the Butters and they were that was to be worked out eventually deter fence fence correct transfer devel wouldn't wouldn't a survey so let's back up to construction stuff so when you're doing a new construction or a land survey would have need to be done

correct so they took a school in well any construction they still this the city government the city um office still requires um land surveys I understand but they they took a school and made it into condos so there was construction so

permits there was a survey there would be no need for I don't know if there was a survey but it's not required that I'm aware of so my question and it happens all the time and the council president we've gotten we've received calls throughout my ward and that's the only I can go on is about minimum keep of Property Standards I am here to protect my constituents and this touchdown developer is not living up

to and I remember reading the articles in the local newspapers and watching it I don't think he's living up to his end of the bargain to my constituents so what cost of action just like minimum housing standards do we have to enforce touchdown developer to do and become a good partner for this city I concerned uh the seven or eight houses between halberton and the houses that are you know about

that so if the I'm sorry were you done yeah I'm done to the extent that the that the fence may be in violation of the minimum housing code or minimum standard vors um I believe that sorry I believe Mr sa went out there to look at the fence I don't know if they were exited or not I don't believe they were well don't know as of today I don't theyed for I just F that might be

misrepair have have you had any Comm I'm sorry again I've seen I've gotten phone calls from elderly people who have gotten stickers on their property because their grass might have been a little high and this is beyond grass being high I'm not suggesting no no I'm just saying it's an opinion no I'm just saying I I I want to get I want to get peace in mind to this family and every other family up

there they they they shouldn't have to stay here they shouldn't have to be up here tonight first of all and they shouldn't have to be worrying about getting it getting a child caught under offence or trying to go after offence I mean that is that's wrong and for that developer not to do this it's appalling with the chair yes councilwoman so um Mr solicitor could we inquire to the housing minimum housing officer to um

take photo I don't know if he's taken photos or anything but to contact UM and file a complaint on behalf of the council inspection right determin that the Defence was not proper or whatever he would site them but I don't know the what could you do can you send that request on our behalf we will send we will send that request to Mr T I believe you yeah if you could send because the council can't direct

thank you and also um think you did send us some photos um we can look at those and we can get new ones and we'll have um minimum housing look at it I want to ask you a basic question um have you as homeowners not that this is your responsibility totally but have you asked these this ownership if they will fix the fence do you get any communication from them either way or

there were several uh Community meetings with the uh the attorney and the architect uh and they were also present here at the zoning board when we had were trying to Hash things out um and it was determin because they did note the issue in the fence but it was not contingent on approval for zoning they didn't have to um fix the the the fence I think the the drawings which I can't find anywhere online initial drawings

was um they were supposed to remove the fence completely and replace it with Greenery to enhance the neighborhood

yeah you use the mic thanks they said a lot of things that they didn't follow through with and there have been emails going back and forth and like you said we came to the zoning meaning um our neighborhood did and they had their lawyer comes and nothing got accomplished so it appears what um what I've been able to determine and the council vice president Rigo myself I know State Rep in the area we've we've

been looking into this it seems like there was no zoning uh stipulation about the fence so it right now would be in the hands of the city to do minimum housing take that approach have um Mr Savory who's an inspector he evidently has been out there we'll ask him to give us a report or go out there again and it's about the best we can do right now if the zoning

board made as part of their decision stipulation that that fence would be replaced removed repaired whatever we could easily enforce that but it doesn't appear That's that took place I'm not saying it should or shouldn't have you know probably should have but it it didn't so we'll um we'll ask the solicitor and our chief of staff zendi see her taking notes if you could both uh get together and you know hopefully

tomorrow get word out to minimum housing I have them go out there right away I know uho and myself have been by we'll try to go by again and look firsthand was this before the planning board also okay and you've had numerous conversations with touchdown developer or whatever he goes by correct I don't know that I've had specific conversations with him I talked to somebody on the zoning board and I

talked to Katherine gazarian I know she also talked to the mayor and they have all been in touch with down the r but I myself have not been I didn't know if any neighbors or at that but again at that time when this process started like he talked about I still remember being there because I wasn't your council person yet but making sure that that historic I wish that historical building

was used for something else but that's a story for another day uh I believe at the initial the initially proposed it touchdown me was The Greenery the nice shrubs it was going to you know it was gon to it was going to fit into the setting of your neighborhood right where it's it's a very green neighborhood I mean as well as most of our community is right I thank you and I I as your council

person I apologize I've been I mean I apologize that you've have to live with this with an unruly neighbor and because you know when anybody else has a problem with a neighbor with fence they come to a conclusion it's usually done well let's split the fence or and you shouldn't split the fence on this one but it it comes there so I and then when you told me about your child that just you know

anytime kids get involved it even strikes a harder cord in me and I'm as your council person I I apologize that you have to live with that and I as I've been in communication with you for a while I will do my dondis to make sure that touchdown development real estate whatever he calls himself gets that fence fixed thank you my my final question not to Bel beli it you

folks you know to stay here um are you asking to have a portion of the fence replaced repaired are you asking for the entire length of the fence what what are we looking at looking at yes the entire length of the fence it's the the whole thing is a mess I'm not going to say how old I am but I've lived in runford my whole life it's the same fence that's been been

there when I was seven years old in that parking lot and I'm sure you would not fit through that hole today no I'm not fitting through the hole but well we'll do what we can we we'll have the staff get right on this and we have been you know exchanging emails and talking with State Rep as you have and you know short of us going out there as a council and demanding something you know

we have to go through these steps and uh we will get on it and keep in touch with us let us know what you're hear here what you see okay thank you for coming out tonight thank you I appreciate it Lu thank you so Council BP if you don't mind if we could have on um this continued topic on the November um docket to get an update on what um has

happened in sure specific put it down for a review with the November meeting thank you thank you November 12th so just for the folks who are still here we will um review this on November 12th thank you next item under public comment we have Patricia rendi signed up yes ma'am good evening council president members of council welcome I just um I wanted to just be able to read mayor communication

um but if if I'm able to do that during that time I'm happy to refrain from commenting at if you want to read them now then we won't do it

later so uh we have two proclamations that we'd like to um that were submitted and we'd like to acknowledge one is a Native American Heritage Month um it's if I may read it very briefly um during Native American Heritage Month these Providence recognizes and honors the first people to call this nation home while also com uh committing to the collective and institutional work we must continue to embrace as we create a

city that respects values and uplifts Indigenous people whereas over the course of the last few years we celebrated the unveiling of new mural um honoring the Pocono tribe the development of the mayor's advisory Council on indigenous Affairs and the first intertribal powow in the city of East Providence and whereas we celebrate these achievements we remind ourselves that they are but small signs of

Goodwill and progress in the journey toward truth and healing while we fully educate ourselves on the histories and cultures of the first peoples in order to co-design a future that elevates native voices and experiences where many of the predecessors sought their um eradication the pocano quit triy in the Pocono nation and the Pocono Confederacy was the largest Indian nation in the

colonial times in Southern New England and whereas the territories of native peoples in Southern New England were fairly extensive and together numerous tribes and bands formed the banoa nation and whereas in Bristol Rhode Island at the head of the naragansett bay was the to I'm not going to say this properly uh the lookout of the Pocono Town known today as Mount Hope which is at the seat

of the uh massao the great leader of all pocon noit uh whereas during King Philip's War um between 1675 and 1678 the colonial government made it illegal for any male 14 years of age or older to call himself Pocono or he would be put to death and whereas the Pocono pocon noit were called wampanoags from that point on in history but Wampanoag refers to a nation not a tribe and whereas it

is incumbent that we REM remind ourselves of the price indigenous peoples had to and continue to pay as a result of centuries of Oppression and we owe it to them to better understand acknowledge and Elevate their place as the first peoples of these lands whereas East Providence commits the lifelong process of learning more about the diverse indigenous communities in our city as we work toward truth justice and

accountability for all therefore I on behalf of Mayor Roberto Silva on behalf of the city of East Province Proclaim that November 2024 be recognized as the Native American Heritage Month in the city of East Providence um we also have included for um the council's uh review is the September Finance reports those are in your packets uh we are also reminding the council as well as uh the general

public that we will hold our annual Veterans Day ceremony on November 11th at 10:00 a.m. sharp at the Garden of flags we invite all of you to attend we also want to let everyone know that we will hold be holding our annual holiday celebration on Saturday December 7th from 4 4 to 7:00 p.m. here at City Hall Plaza with the rain date for Sunday December 88th 2024 uh in addition oh appointments

we'll wait for appointments yeah we'll do that on appointments and then if the council could know first I'm sorry don't you realize again and this is Joe this is a smile to your face don't you realize that the first Saturday in December is a national holiday in the state that that's a peace Pro College URI basketball game schedule any other events I apologize Council vice president I'm not a big basketball

fan I'm known to be more of a baseball hockey kind of mom I just did that to you last year so U but we'll we'll have Coco ready for you I promise you that um and you can wear a Santa PC sweatshirt uh and then just one last thing if the council um Can can just um allow me to read into record uh we have the dwali Festival of Lights um whereas Dali or

deepali is celebrated in Autumn of each year by Hindus cikas Janus Buddhist and others throughout East Providence and Dali is celebrated by lighting the diaha I'm not saying that right or the oil lamp which symbolizes dispelling darkness and bringing light into life with traditional offerings rituals and festivals and deali is a festival of lights that includes Traditions such as gathering with friends and family for

community prayer exchanging in gifts setting off fireworks and decorating houses with colorful wringle and whereas dwali is also the Hindu New Year and is celebrated on The Darkest Day of the Indian lunar month of PR uh during the new moon and for Seas Diwali is the day on which Guru harband the sixth of 10 Founders was released from confinement by the mugal emperor jenger I'm not going to say that

properly and whereas for James Diwali symbolized is Lord mahavar attainment of Nirvana and whereas for Hindus dwali is a celebration of good triumphing over evil and that light will prevail over darkness and whereas the Buddhist jali represent the day Emperor ashoh chose the peaceful path of Buddhism over destruction and Carnage and whereas diversity represents one of our greatest

strengths and East Providence will join all those around the world celebrating Diwali therefore I on behalf of Mayor Roberto Ela Silva on behalf of the city of East Province recognize the celebration of Diwali from October 28th to November 3rd 2024 in the city of East Providence thank you Council thank you for the announcements you you had mentioned the veterans do do we want to um bring up I know councilman

Lawson is ill tonight and not able to be here but he did ask us to uh say that November 13th and where is that councilman fogy it's a dinner all right to be determined we'll we'll get it announced and we'll have it on the city website and the council website and social media but November 13th will be the uh veterans appreciation dinner with that we will resume under uh public comment did you have anyone else Madam

clerk okay let's continue did you appointments with appointments uh Mike Kennedy Crescent Park advisory commission appoint to appointment one from 10222 24 to 1527 sponsored by councilman Lawson David Louise creson Park advisory commission appoint to appointment 4 10222 24 to 1527 sponsored by councilman Lawson Dennis theal cesen Park advisory commission appoint to alternate one 10222 24 to 1527 sponsored

by Council L Lawson and Katherine Vier Baker of the creson park advisory commission appoint to alternate to 10222 24 to 1527 sponsored by councilman laon motion motion by councilman fogy to approve is there a second second second by Council vice president Rigo all in favor I any opposed yeah is having thank you under council members Council request update on all our funded projects discussed councilman Lawson

would you like me to read the list um hold off on reading it I did ask the councilman if he wanted to table he said no to let it proceed but so what I'll do is ask the uh Chief of Staff if you could summarize this list I think councilman Lawson realize is not here he may not won't be able to obviously ask you issue by issue if any other member

here want wants to follow up on any of these items but in the meantime if you can summarize the councilman's list there are quite a few things there sure council president and I can run through this uh fairly quickly there are some that um we don't necessarily have an update on and just describe the area as you talk about it an order that um that was listed um I did mention to the cman

that to the park that I would be able to have these um or I wouldn't have them ready for this evening but I was be a to to get some from our our directors so parter and Burgess parking lots uh both parking lots have been paved fencing should be completed by next week still waiting for the solar area lighting to be delivered due to a back order light should be tely installed by mid November

however once fencing is installed the parking lots can be start to be used here's field we just received design proposal to complete upgrades at the stadium we will be preparing a presentation for the council to identify improvements and to approve contract at future uh excuse me a future council meeting um I don't have a current update on sront Improvement program the community center plans and

specifications are progressing Bentley Builders is in the process of estimating final cost for project and should be presented to the council in the next month or so uh the police department I know demolition is in terms of Renovations is ongoing um we I know that they're in process of uh making that all come to par and they're adjusting prent Park concession stand uh plans are nearly finished project should be going

out to bid in the coming month uh Kent Heights the Adaptive playground the playground equipment currently is has been is being installed uh the final rubber Dy surface was to be tentatively installed early next week wether dependent uh the overall project is progressing walking paths dog park near near completion Paving for new courts has uh received binder course top course should be installed in the coming months

along with the remainder of the walking path surrounding the playground area parking lots improvements likely to occur in Spring of 2025 the art utility box project I'm sure you have seen some of them in progress uh we've seen them throughout the city um we've observed several boxes being painted City Y so that is ongoing oldo Park walking paths are complete line striping and final pavement

completed over the last month bench pads uh will be installed in the coming month and electrical for lightning uh lighting excuse me will be completed over the winter and the kayak mat launch to be installed this spring uh oldum physical building so roof windows and doors the roof project materials have been delivered espesos abatement has begun and Roofing replacement is to occur soon

thereafter um placemaking is in process as well uh I don't have a a compl update on that one the splash pad splash pad in Riverside has been ordered tenative install is March a of 2025 the spash pad will be completed hopefully by Memorial Day that's a good summary could you just back up to letter G event pad is there any update on that I don't have uh that just okay coun pres you have um I can't

fully speak for the councilman from W 4 who's not here tonight but in od discussion about these projects I think one of the issues and maybe he wasn't specific in his request is how much of the Opera funds that this Council allocated to these projects has been used and what is obviously not been allocated or used as the clock is ticking because on letter N the splash pad that ended up being a

rent so I think we allocated 450,000 I don't have my she I don't have my sheets in front of me so I think I would like it and I think I mean I think everybody here I think that's where Rick was going with this is to see what's available because the clock is ticking there's 60 days left and if we we're not going to leave any I don't want to and I don't think

anybody else wants to leave any dollars on the table if we can uh move into other projects and there's one that thank you just sent me a report on on Glen line if we need as the DPW director said at the last budget meeting last week that the Glen line issue project might be coming up short so if we can use some of that just for example Flash Pad for $120,000 whatever the amount is to use

that to complete the Glen line field project as well as the bour park project that I think that's the intention of this council is to make sure that everything gets used at the time and as as well as my fellow council person to the right here councilman fogy fighting for infrastructure projects if there's some money that we can use to upgrade Waters Su uh you know Paving Street sidewalks

now is the time as I just don't want to come December 30th and say oh well here they all are we're just GNA we're just going to put it here and again I'm just speaking for myself but that's that's what we need at the next meeting is to see what's been spent and what's been Al and where we are with it thank you thank you uh Council vice president yes uh I'm the

docket I I thought it was just a project update that's we've been doing all along um so that's why this is what was provided and I was away um however the councilman um who's not here this evening did request via an email separately separate in apart from what is on tonight's docket um an update on the financial part of things which we are compiling and almost ready for him

and just so we so we know for anyone watching I I will get the exact figures but I don't think the flash pads are 450 it was like 150 but I don't I could be wrong but we'll we'll figure that you know we'll get that I seem to remember demm grants around 150 half a million seems like a lot but we'll find out we'll get it exactly but yeah okay thank

you next item discussion andoss vote on city council subcommittee sponsor councilman Lawson he he did mention to me that if anyone here had a specific comment but I think we could hold off on this until till he's back um I know we he's talked about having finance subcommittees and other subcommittees um I I had mentioned at the last council meeting that generally that seems to work when you have

councils like the city of Providence where they have maybe 15 members and they then have subcommittees that do a lot of the work we kind of do sub commes we'll assign like a couple for veterans couple for something else but you know I'm fine with if we want to make a formal uh process for standing subcommittees we can we can look into that but why don't we wait for him to

come back and give us a a specific idea if there's nothing else on that next item requested report on Glen Minefield detailed accounting discuss Council vice president yes Council vice president uh thank you uh Adam clerk Mr President um again uh the chief of staff provided me with this update I I got this tonight at 6 at 6:30 thank you uh and you broke it down it's really an

eyot and you know you know so uh but long and I'm going to do a summation and that's why I brought it up is uh and there's a couple of issues that I've seen and a couple of my constituents have pointed out and maybe you can transmit this back to the DPW director so right now there's approximately $160,000 left on these two projects and that's why I'm saying to uh Dan thought

we were going to be coming up short to make this complex equal to what's been going on throughout the rest of the city so uh I think we're going to need to use some Opera funds but in the meantime the there's some solar pole maybe that we can add some more po solar poles and everything but um if you could have DPW checked this and it's been a concern to some parents and people walking by about

the post where the new solar lights have gone in that the metal fixtures uh are almost like a safety hazard if a child or somebody was to fall so uh I haven't seen it up close I saw I I got a phone call and I looked at it in the car so I didn't go fully expected but they were talking about the cement holding and the uh metal uh the screws that hold the

lighting panel in that they there should be some sort of covering for obviously you know children or people walking by and again I think I think we're going to need to allocate some more funds to this so uh 160,000 isn't going to do what uh director bges when he met me up there back in July of this past year um do the basketball courts to add ball base I mean to do the tennis courts

over as well as uh fixing some of the you know baseball fencing and around the big diamond field uh 160,000 isn't going to cut it thank you thank you Council vice president I think the next item is uh yours no I'm sorry go ahead Madam clerk is that uh something we covered the veterans committee update is that next okay we did mention that behalf of councilman Lawson and councilman fogy who've been

working on that that there will be an appreciation dinner free to any veteran in the area on November 13th um not sure if the location has been has has been determined yet but we'll get that out on various sources throughout the community next item request for detailed breakdown of allocation as awarded to the EP fire department 3.75 million saf for Grant fund disc Council vice president R yes

sir uh thank you and this arises from the budget meeting when the buyer Chief came in front of us and talked about the safer Grant fund uh could we have the breakdown as far as what is per se fire Personnel breakdown equipment anything like that could that be all broke could we get a report on that being broken down that way so that we know what is what is personnel and what is possibly equipment or non-personnel

on this grant um so the short answer as I can get that information I I know that the chief went through some of that detail as you mentioned during the budget meeting but um I can have him break it out if it's possible to break out any further um Bas more so than what he had already um

provided sa for Grant was for a little more than $3 million something like that and that was for three years and that's for 13 firemen for salary and benefit there's no equipment correct that's what I recall that 3 million covers their basic salary it doesn't include forecasting anything overtime just salary their base salary and their holiday pay and then their their health life rental pension and then there's

a cost of living incase so all so all the these 13 or 13 new firefighters so all their equipment they you know obviously there turnout gear all their all their gear is will be is separate from the where okay and that would C I mean what was passed by this Council a couple of meetings ago in July or August with the new with their equipment that would be they're covered under that factored in

new 13 firefighters as well sir I would think so but I'm not ask but I think that um the chief was anticipating getting 13 people to through the academy this grant just pays for those salaries so he just backed that out if you remember from the budget but all the equipment was anticipating that he would have those people on stack so I believe that's right but we can confirm that thank you and I and I also

believe there was a restriction I recall as testimony before this Council that 50% of time or even maybe more of their time has to be devoted to fire um fighting fires it's opposed to rescue service but we can get thatti too thank you thank you I think it was being on the apparatus itself yeah yeah yeah they couldn't be in the rescue but the apparatuses go for Malcolm is this your f is this the

farewell city council meeting to no okay all right it wasn't too sure with the bud you know because you know the budget's over so you know schedule for the end of November I got about six feot okay we'll load up the questions for you thanks thank you next item an ordinance and amendment of chapter 17 of the revised ordinances of the city of East Providence RH Island 1998 as amended entitled utilities summary section

177-183 7 calendar day grace period to seven business days for the sewer ordinance sponsor councilwoman Susa make a motion to approve thank you this is also a public hearing so a motion has been made by councilwoman Souza to approve a discussion is there a second seconded by councilwoman fogy any discussion from the council at this point I'll open it up through the public for that portion of the public hearing

or any of the three members of the public who are here tonight want to speak on this hearing none uh we'll close the oh I'm sorry um our finance director is here yes sir um I just wantan to point out that um we we have BR periods we're not I'm not opposed to those the concern that we have we have um it's in the bills out once a month and right now we start the

process after seven days so it takes a day or two to get to the printer and the out what normally gets to the taxpayer before a little bit more weeks for the due date and and so if you're you're going to pack on another couple days you're you're shorten that window there's where it's just it's just tight they don't against it but it makes the window shorter and in the tax collection

they are getting they get complaints periodically about we just got the bill and doe can't we get sooner I know we have this for the property because those bills quarterly that's not problem just with the 30-day window just makes it tight sure you are aware thank you no I I'm aware of it um and that's one of the reasons why I think having the seven business days because residents get it two weeks before it's

due or in some cases a week before it's do it becomes difficult to then get to City Hall or go on most people don't want to go online and pay because they don't want to pay the extra be so this just gives that person who cannot get here during the week and then Friday the city hall closes at 2 um weekends nobody's here so it just gives them those extra days to be able to get to

City Hall without having um and stew it upon them but I understand I don't see why it would change process for sending out the bill I think that should would remain the same um it just starts two three just it tighten so now going to get it bless and we already having issues why would they get it less than two weeks so if they if they post it so they received it two weeks prior and

then they pay somewhere during their grace period it shouldn't implicate when the next one goes out it might you're saying it's not going to post their payment in time no no so on and there's a a weekend in s not going to start the process till and now it's going to take a day or two to the you could be 17 days out just your the process is the same but just the window Cort of trying

toing this window from when they get the build extending their their wage period I don't know I'm still not understanding how we're shortening the time for so they're going to get the bill at the same time that doesn't change why would that change two extra days but why does that affect the the dates so if it closes if go ahead I know what you're saying well because they can't start the process the

end somebody gets in on that very last so we have to wait till that before we to but that shouldn't affect what the person's usage is for the month the right so it that but that's that's different right no I understand you so you're waiting to see whether you're going to put a late charge on

someone counc you want to try to get further word from the taxt department and see if if there's more information I mean there's could do this in November if it's if you're not changing your mind I mean I'm just hesitant at times that when the people who are doing the work have some some thoughts on it and some Sometimes the best of intentions which this is doesn't work the way we we hope it will

work I'm I'm not sure just saying I don't know the expedience if you know we have people that are working with this every day maybe you even could come in and sit down with them yeah I would think maybe to revisit it now that I trying to grasp it myself on the it is all to do with the notice is given and the time so you it's less time to pay it at

the end of the day you're running out of the end paying that's what it sounds so I agree with the idea yeah forget since we send the bill out is there a way to do it where it's because as we know this used to be a quarterly bill is there any way to do it where we're doing 45 days every 45 days yeah like extend the billing process so that it would all lot for the grace

right I just know that the this the way it is now though it does give some um some relief it it was always it was done initially I believe right before the transition of monthly so it had some benefit to Residents right because they had that that window and it didn't it wasn't a huge impact with the billing but now when we're going monthly and I know for myself personally I get it

typically a week and a half before it's due um for other people a week and a half might not be enough time to get to City Hall or to pay depending on what the you know because you never know month-to month what that bill is going to look like it can be $100 it can be 350 so to be to be able to and we know how you know a lot of people in this

community work paycheck to paycheck so anticipating or having the ability to pay that bill in a week and deciding whether or not you're going to get you know how many groceries you're going to purchase that week because the water bills due and I don't want to to get hit with that fee because I couldn't pay the full Bill and I'm going to still get hit with a percentage regardless whether I

pay half of the bill or the or a quarter of the bill or none of the bill you know that's where I'm trying to find the balance for the homeowner because it's not like the the quarterly for the taxes where they know well in advance now if they are late paying it after the grace Perry which I'm still going to move for the seven business days um they've they have the time right so they've gotten

the three months or they have it a year in advance where it's consistent it doesn't change my you know 1,200 quarterly is 12200 quarterly it's not going to change unless I get interest because I'm late but my water bill fluctuates tremendously depending on all kinds of variables um so that's where I I I will continue the water ordinance for further discussion with the water department slash tax

assessor slash you slash staff anyone else who wants to join the conversation um to get a better handle but I think maybe it's six days I don't know you know it's the the it's the availability of someone being able to come to city hall or to put it in the mail or drop it off where it's not going to um affect them having to pay that extra we um because we have holidays

that are on Mondays so we lose it and again myself I can't get here on a Friday I can't get here by 6 on any given Thursday so it does you know people only have sometimes the weekend to put it in and I'm assuming that the city's doing it on a faith basis right if the due date was on the Friday if they it's in there on the by the Monday morning they've been

graced with those two day week that weekend and they're not going to get tackled with but I don't know if they get hit with a a so I I think you know you're on a track here if we give it a little more time would would you withdraw the motion and will not withdraw the uh well I will I will make a motion to continue this we have a motion on the second on the floor so

we'd have to either amend it or yeah I'm going to amend my motion to continue this ordinance for this um the last council meeting of November I and and councilman F did you uh second the amended okay yes Council vice president so I believe that's November 9th 19 so I'm just going to throw this out Malcolm as a scenario I have to pay the no not both just the

water all right so I have to I mean I have to pay my excise tax to the state of R Island by the 10th of every so can we have the period being the grace period being 10 days will that affect anything that would be very similar that's what I mean it's similar that that way you know just just thrown out the grace period and everything that that now that creates a problem on the

backside two now you're a week you're extending from seven to 10 that's the issue I have it's not about trying to get the bills out get them into

taxpayer all right I think the the issue is is the they can't send out the new next bill until the grace period's over yeah that's what I mean yeah so that 10 days is really extending it 10 days is just doing what you said same yeah same yeah I mean the thing that I would like to add on too is the we in in this Economic Times that we're in right

now we've had ideas about helping people that in neighborhoods affected by the bridge and everything one of my goals was you know help the whole whole entire city with the budget as I said last week I think one of the things we could look at and is uh that we reduce the penalty and you know give it a scenario we end up having we had that program last year where we basically absolved everybody sins so we

should think about doing that for you know again for a while no penalties we we make money off of it but I think if we're going to give if we're thinking if we thought about giving $50 gift cards out to people I think giving out reducing the penalties on late fees on sewer bills and I'm not saying the property tax I'm just saying the water and sewer bill that maybe we

should think about that that that would be a good Avenue for the constituents in the city just throwing that okay so as far as this the motion you're okay with the amended so we'll table one and two of the um public hearing for final passage both them continuing yep we're continuing to the 19 1119 correct okay so we'll close the public hearing and all in favor of the amended a continuance to November 19th I

I any oppos yeah I have thank you thank you councilwoman for that next item appointment reappointment requiring Council confirmation Matthew appointment to zoning board of review award 2 appointment 6m 5 years 8 2122 4 2822 motion to approve motion by councilwoman Souza to approve second by Council vice president Regal all in favor I any oppos the eyes have that thank you we already did the items for

announcements uh next please resolution authorizing the um actually you want report nothing to report on Executive session resolution authorizing the expenditure of funds to support these Providence historical societies forra holiday hay ride event sponsor Council Vice thank you um are you driving the wagon you know it I can't wait to get you in the back yeah no rephrase that but go

ahead get you in the back of the buggy yeah yeah just don't make it any worse go ahead fortitude no well all the PE yeah everybody in we set you off didn't we everybody in the back of the you know when they take the shop turn you'll be on the side but anyways no getting back to s's business uh this was a program that uh an event that was started by my predecessor council

president brdo who's now Senate President uh I mean Senate President excuse me senator brto they don't want to get him in trouble there so uh I am looking for 700 a vote tonight on $750 towards this you know a ride it would motion to approve motion to approve by councilwoman soua seconded by councilman fogy all in favor I I any oppos I have it thank you councilman resolution authorizing the

mayor to enter into a contract with manaport Brothers aim for the Booth Avenue slope stabilization project sponsor council president Rober it's within the Red Island infrastructure Bank water bond that that will cover this make a motion approve second motion by councilman fogy seconded by councilwoman Susan all to approve all in favor I any oppos have thank you resolution authorizing the mayor to

enter into a contract with Robert H Lord company for the design purchase and installation of Library Furnishings sponsor council president Rober and the 12737 is from a grant awarded by the Champlain Foundation second motion to approve councilman fogy seconded by councilwoman Souza all in favor I eyes have it any opposed the eyes have it thank you resolution requesting the Department

of Public Works purchasing install placemaker banners councilwoman Susa yes councilwoman thank you just I just want to read that resolution into the record um and just of note when I looked um on the finance report there was a substantial amount of funds under that um line item so I know that we have um monies available to have this completed um whereas the city has previously purchased placemaker banners

to Adorn Street um street lights in the city and whereas some banners enhance the aesthetic streetcape of the city like Riverside and waren Avenue and whereas plac makers um banners also help celebrate various holidays seasons and other Civic events now therefore let it be resolved that the city of East Provident City Council um request the following that the Department of Public Works purchase and

install placemaker banners to be displayed on Toton Avenue and to be changed out regularly to celebrate each season of the year and similar banners be installed and purchased to State welcome to Rumford um and additional Banners To Be obtained to honor the East Providence Veterans so this is um on the docket and request is being made um in an effort to um again addressed one of the statements

that the council vice president made about funds that are remaining in current um line items that were allocated um with the Opera funds placemaker banners being one of them and I know we have started and the process seems to be moving slowly from the person looking from the outside in um so whatever is being done internally I'm just here on behalf of from the council to give some guidance as to what we or

myself speaking for myself um would like to see again Twan Avenue is our main entrance and thorough way into the City and though small improvements like the name of the city on City Hall so that people know when they're coming down that that City Hall um is a great addition but I think we are far from where we should be and could be given the funds that have been allocated to do

so um so I move this for approval and look for some feedback um and updates within the next six weeks from the um Administration on where we are with some of these orders motion by councilwoman Souza to approve second second by Council vice president Regal discussion all in favor I any opposed yeah I have it thank you thank you councilwoman next item resolution requesting a review of

all crosswalk and pedestrian Crossing traffic devices in cityor Council thank you so um again I'm going to read this into the record thank you so whereas pedestrian crosswalk signals provide motorists and pedestrian enhanced Safety and Security at various locations throughout the city and whereas many of the crosswalk signals are controlled maintained in the property of the State of Rhode Island

and by the Department of Transportation and whereas there are several crosswalks signals and pedestrian Crossing devices that are not functioning and otherwise non-operable and whereas repairing or replacing such devices will improve Public Safety and help protect the residents throughout the city now therefore let it be resolved that the city council of the city of East Providence requests the following

that the East Providence Department of Public Works conduct a review of all crosswalks in pedestrian Crossing trafficking device within the city and that all defective and nonfunctioning crosswalk signaling devices be repaired or replaced as needed with the help and support of the Rhode Island Department of Transportation that the review be done within a six months passage of this resolution and that the results be

reported back to the city council the city clerk is hereby authorized to send a certified copy of this resolution to director pety alviti um of the Department of Transportation so I move for first passage and I have some items to add well for approval under discussion the councilwoman soua moves first passage so resolution I'm sorry resolution motion is for first passage is there a second

second second by Council vice president we go the discussion thank you so I have this on the docket yet again today as a resolution with an official ask because the last six months when I have asked over six times or had this on the docket six times the requ the responses remain the same we've ordered we're waiting we're checking it out we're looking into it all great an ERS um but no resolve um

I have been speaking about crosswalk and pedestrian safety and public health um consistently at Council meetings throughout the last four years in various locations throughout the center of the city in which I represent um and that does not minimize the rest of the city who also have additional safety concerns issues that have been brought at some point or another um before this body it's interesting that there's a

survey I noticed on social media asking residents about do you walk do you bike you know slew of questions trying to get feedback um for what reason um I'm not sure I think maybe looking at bike Lanes or walking Lanes throughout the community which are great right because we have a lot of people who do seek alternative transportation versus a vehicle and with the increase in traffic um I'm sure a lot of residents and

commuters are opting to not use a vehicle which is slowing them down but using other forms of transportation like ebikes or scooters I've seen a large amount of those throughout the city of recent and I commend that but if we're not dealing with the crosswalks and the signaling devices that make it safe for those pedestrians and cyclists than why are we looking to change or to implement

something like that I know um I looked back on some records that I've had and this isn't the first time that I've been notified or inquired about options that the city could Implement and have brought it to the attention of the city um and so one of them being and I think this is a great idea and I it's on the website so certainly um everybody has access to if they're interested in

public safety um the rapid um the rrfp which is the rectangular rapid flashing beacons so this alerts vehicles that a pedestrian is entering or approaching a crosswalk um there are many time and that's solar so there are multiple options but solar would obviously not require any electrical um to be involved which may be something that would be helpful um the safety benefits um reduce crashing by

47% and increase a yield response by Vehicles by 98% which are great statistics for safety purposes um I don't see why this isn't an option that the city could not have looked into now I understand if some of the signaling devices are not city property and the process for going through the state can be cumbersome especially when there are other priorities that the state transportation

department has but the city does have the ability to do other actions with requests by the state so if they the state can't fix an APPA uh a signaling device then get permission for us to put our own signaling device um so that we can monitor and take care of it I think it's irresponsible of us as a city not to address this ongoing concern on major roadways throughout the city um so I am

happy to add this to the record Madam clerk I'm not sure if anybody on the council received that but if we could add that to the record um and I encourage those viewing in the council you can go on the federal department of Transportation websites there are wonderful programs that have been um implemented throughout other cities and towns throughout the country um that have yielded great Traffic Safety um

implications thank you councilwoman U yes M Mendes uh thank you council president uh councilwoman thank you for that I just wanted to provide you with an updated report um that I'm sure you will be thrilled with so the um the report is that this is already being done the city is working with BHB a consultant who's already performed an assessment of all signals Citywide we're currently reviewing the findings and are

working with the consultant to begin developing um a capital Improvement plan for Signal improvements over the coming years we do have a report um it's a 12-page report that specifies um all of the traffic signals emergency signals pedestrian signals locations uh throughout multiple uh multiple areas um throughout the city um recommendations what it's considered high priority medium priority the long-term planning

um for I it's a very thorough report by the consultant um so and this does include information in regards to coordinating with ryot to determine if they can facilitate improvements within a separate project along the state maintained uh roadways as well so it's it's very in-depth and IT addresses um um almost everything that you mentioned here this evening when um when was that report completed uh this uh it's dated

September 16 202 and what um so is that report now going to where are we with that report so now the city has the report we have the report and we're currently reviewing the findings and then working with the consultant to begin developing the the capital Improvement plan to be able to provide the signal improve improvements over the next few years I mean there's multiple intersections mentioned here

throughout the city some of them are uh related to the fire station or they they basically they uh break them down B based on high priority medium priority the long-term planning it it's very thorough Ada accessibility issues which we often talk with ryot about in terms of improvements when did we hire that um consultant I don't have the in front of me but I can I need a small font um but

I can find out said it was vhp b or B as and boy B as and boy correct can can you get that are you at Liberty to give that report to the council um not at this time because I believe it makes it a at this time I I I can't but I'm happy to to go over all of this with and get all that mail it to us yeah just for information there's no

no I'm not saying put it on the the public record but it can be emails Council yeah just mainly because of there's passes it out now becomes public right yeah there's some sensitive information in here in terms of configurations which is why so it's a it's a public safety issue which is why I can't just I wouldn't say to the public for the council perfect that would be helpful um and you say years are we talking

about a 5-year plan a 10-year plan what's years I can't answer that at this time I'm definitely not a traffic uh signaling expert uh this we can check with the consultant but um my notes Here in the coming years but it's again a very thorough report that specifies all of the the process and again it's prioritized based on um on priority did I say that oh I'm sorry you know I I

flew in and I got home at 2 am from my travels so I'm a littlea you flew in your arms must be tired um because I know we have landed we're gonna have some Opera funds I think left over so I'm going to be looking for support to to reallocate some of those for this um this project we'll look at that report will be interesting to see what the do says

about any any of that and if if they'll streets yeah all right thank you take yep so we do have um the motion in in second to um go ahead and support this and and with the knowledge that we'll be receiving a a report also all in favor I I any opposed yeah I have it thank you thank you councilwoman for keeping on that next item resolution authorizing the mayor to purchase the property

located at zero KCK Avenue sponsor councilman fogy councilman fogy please this is the lot across from the old Benny's on Pucket Avenue it is listed as zero um it'll be a good lot purchase for the uh parents that pick up and drop off at uh Ken height School uh for the Overflow parking also would be a good for the winter for the uh businesses right there across the street uh the

little Plaza there on P Avenue so I move F motion by councilman fog there a second second second by councilwoman suer and and with that this will be funded by um Opera funds all in favor all right all right I'm sorry second yes question so it's going through Opa off oper funds um and I I read some of the contract so the city is in full so what's the city's intention um I

believe last time when we spoke about this a year or so ago or maybe more it was going to be converted into a parking lot that the school would be able to use and faculty and we wouldn't be selling it off to anybody correct that's sell it because we just bought it right no but I mean things happen and things change and I just want to we clear that it's not that's correct yeah that's correct

councilman fogy and I walked this for for years when Benny's owned it and it was it's just a dirt lot that would really help the not only the school but the neighborhood and and teachers can park there and get away from in front of all the houses um would that law are we anticipating repairs or resurfacing that parking lot and adding light fixtures like are there additional expenses I

haven't heard about lights but it will be paved it'll be a regular parking lot stripes and everything that's an issue for the DPW Department once they we actually own property but I don't know I don't have all the extent of what's going to happen there I know it was the idea was it was going to be paved over so that way it could be used um and not pav sign strip lines parcking

herb herb I don't know the full details of the curbing but it's definitely a lot in use with lineage for the just be able to pull in and park councilman you do you anticipate us using addition allocating additional funds or maybe coming out of the street Paving like I didn't I don't foresee us using any oh it seems like the contract is or already set I mean I like I mean I

support the idea uh it's been an eyesa for years like when we talked about the old Benny's being there and everything the only thing that I'm perplexed on and that's why there was that question that councilman Lawson asked about his money we were told meetings ago that there was no more Opera funds and this and again I'm supporting this I'm doing it but I'm scratching my head where we're coming up

if we've allocated all the Opera money where it where's the 160,000 I I'm going to vote Yes but I need to have some clarification cuz now all of a sudden we've gone Malcolm I'm not putting words in your mouth a couple of meetings ago said that we basically had dried up the Opera funding and now we this is the second time one we put the kibos on and

I'm not putting the co I mean we put the about the rug about the rugs in City Hall I am not doing that because the people in one three have waited a long time for this property to be done but I need to get some explanation to we're at 160,000 but I move passage as well yeah and I'm happy director could answer but I I do think one of the explanations I received when asking that

is that there are unexpended funds we may have made I've forgotten now but we've made some amendments and changes along the way so I'm sure there are dollars sure I actually available the funds are coming from a very specific um um it was the unallocated funds that were our related um based on what I came to this Council to discuss when we were doing the P um firefighter equipment and

you had asked where those funds were coming from I think it was about 600,000 this is from that same pool this is the arpa uh project that we did with barington correct sir I just we had that it's coming from that $1.6 million that was uh Reed my question I'm just looking at the Opera funds from a year ago and everything thank you y oh good question Madam clerk did you get the motion in

second on that I'm I forgot who you all sat with it yes okay all in favor I any opposed the eyes have it thank you all next item ordinance of the city council of the city of East Providence appropriating up to $5,500 for scholarship to the East End theater and Performing Arts sponsor councilwoman cisa thank you madam clerk so I have this before the council uh for approval this is coming out of the

already appropriate five 50,000 um dollar that was associated with the Citywide utility arts project um the funds in that were to um used for the utility box um art project and any anything else pertaining to Arts that um the Comm the council or the Arts committee might have uh the Arts Council may have found appropriate um we have a theater in the city Performing Arts that has um participated

in the expansion of arts for our youth and um they have multiple summer camps um that provide a space for young performers to be creative and to participate and gain knowledge and confidence in this um the world of arts and so I think it would be a great idea to invest not only into the Arts but also into our youth by sponsoring um $5,500 towards scholarships for residents um of these

Providence very good um I move first off effort first passage by councilwoman suar is there a second second second Council vice president Rego all in favor I any opposed guys have it thank you thank you and next item ordinance chapter 2 adding article a East Province school department Capital Improvement revolving fund sponsor council president Robert so this is an ordinance which um

I don't know if we want to wait until we have a full Council but I mean basically it was discussed a bit at our our last meeting and there's some talk about I will give a very quick summary the high school bond issue has about $3.2 million left over which is a good thing that and that was born and that's a committee upon which uh I am a member of representing the council once councilman kahoun left

uh and school committee chair Montero and this is through years of of being very careful with spending pulling things out of the high school putting them back in and right about now the I checked today and the committee is ready to close out the bond so the steps would be that the the bond issue would be announced as closed by law and procedure any any surpluses get get turned over to the

city Side of government at which point the city can do whatever they want with that money the feeling on this Council was that that should be monies that stay for schools schools infrastructure and other needs there are a lot of suggestions from some people at our meetings at the public uh some say the public voted for this give the money back to the taxpayers in the budget some say a number of other

things a consensus on this Council seems to be let's put it towards the school so we got a little controversial last meeting but basically this is an attempt to put in writing what some of us want to do it is saying that the $3 million and I we'll have an exact figure at some point but it's about $32 million will go into an interest bearing account right now it receives zero interest and

can only be used for school items period can't be used for Cityside items superintendent of schools the business manager or the facilities manager would send a request it does have to come to this Council I can't imagine that we would decline to pay for a boiler or other systems so this was something I talked to the mayor about I talked to the superintendent of schools about and all we attempted to do was put in

writing what many people want to do as you know it got intertwined with some capital projects so I just want to lay that Foundation now we don't have a full Council I know councilman Lawson had some strong thoughts about this do we want to wait till the next meeting just remember I think there time because we haven't been given the closeout yet by the school bond committee that will

occur at their next formal meeting I believe which will be any day so we could wait for that first of all to get the exact amount but remember whether we're purchasing fire trucks or we're trying to fix schools the more we put off bureaucracy and paperwork the longer it takes to get these things done so what is it feelings also pleas president thank you Mr President yes sir um first I'm going to start out by saying

that with this amount of money uh I think we weren't going to spend it in the next 14 days and I think because of the councilman having an illness it would be inappro I shouldn't use the word it wouldn't be right to have a quarter of the city I know you represent the whole city but have the council person who represents a quarter of the city not be here for a major financial decision on

the city so I uh that's all I have to say I have I've had my thoughts about how the how to spend the money I mean I'm I'm very liberal but can be fiscally conservative if I find a way to lower my mortgage payment and lower the principal I'm going to lower the principal and uh I mean and and and and the schools are still not going to go with out what they

need based on what happened last week so I just think it's right for the people of w for to have their representation in this matter so I move that uh I move that we move this item to the November 12th meeting sure that's a motion that's my uh that's my thought the discussion motion by Council vice president R had some comments I wasn't you know that makes sense to me now that

you said it that way but I was in favor of it to make a motion and move it forward but since you said it that way I will I will entertain that sure so will that be a second that'll be a that's a second and I think I think there's some time I just want urge the councel to give this some serious thought this is not an either or issue isue it's not

either school or either City infrastructure there is money that does not affect the tax rate that is available to take care of all of these needs and what better than to put three million bucks in the bank and collect interest think of that interest on it um so let's let's revisit it we have a motion in second yes discussion you raised a question now and I'll ask the solicitors

since I know there's a lot of red tape and in regards to bonds and everything are we able because we we borrow the money from the state and are we able to put this money then into an interest earning account or is there anything that prohibits it since it really wasn't on money I just he when he mentioned that about earn interest which I think is a great idea but we you know state has all

sorts of regulations is that that I'm just asking I'm not I wasn't the bond Council for the city on this project but I'm assuming that you've had discussions at your committee level whether this is is uh capable able to be done I know that's the answer that we' we've received if it stays in the current situation there is no interest I can reach out to bond Council to get that

and I don't know if Malcolm do you have any former Council authorized the high school bond so we we we are two councel I mean it was it was really D well it was a community vote yeah a community vote yeah so but I wonder if uh a finance director sees it as I've explained it I think it's pretty clear that once that money is turned over to the city it goes into a dedicated

account schools only interest bearing I think we can do that it's just the process of how we do it I knew that had to be a something I knew there had to be a twist we have to as a solicitor said we need to talk to bond counsel to do this right so it would be one of two ways if it's done I would think that one of the

options would be to take it and use it pay down the bond which would have which then in theory would free up $3 million at the end of the fiscal year which would roll that you could roll into a separate fund so that may take a little bit longer um but if it's done by the end of the this year but then it could be done in in say November the other one is you know you

just take it out of that you just draw it down and put it into the account so I think we can get there just a matter of when but I just want to confirm with Ellen Ellen um Coro I think well I'll reach out to the bond Council sure so between now and the next meeting maybe get get that either way there's even if there's no interest there's $3 million

for schools no but it's a great it's a we have all our answers right I mean now this makes another reason why this was we were just jump we were jumping into the 10 foot water and you we should only we should only be swimming in four feet water we didn't have all the answers here so I I think by us discussing it here tonight that we raised issues that

weren't in front of us and bringing it back so if we're going to do something we're going to do it right I mean you know so I think we'll have well it has been you know in my mind I I'm all almost I'm not I'm not I'm not this was the no not not me or you but this was the bond council's advice from that school bond committee right I will say council

president Council vice president that this is a typical thing that happens in school bonds this ordinance is actually modeled after an ordinance that tan put into place that I was part of yeah I'm a solicitor interor as well they're lucky right so just as lucky as these provinces but um what what what you need to know um just to make sure you're aware is that this money as written can

only be used on ride approved projects and ride approved projects have a reimbursement reimbursement so say you get a 35% reimbursement rate and it's a $100,000 project right and you take money from this and you put 100,000 this ordinance says you pay the $100,000 ride then reimburses you $35,000 that's 35% assuming that's the reimbursement rate free Providence and that money goes back

into the fund so it's it keeps on funding itself that's why they call it a revolving fund that's it's a a lot by the way this is not something I invented a lot of cities and towns do this for schools but it's just a way to keep the the money flowing into the the School departments from leftover Bond monies or other things and the ordinance also a set up allows the city council or the

school department to put other funds into this fund other monies into this fund when they deem appropriate so it doesn't necess necessarily have to be all Bond money as well it could almost be as as an analogy a rainy day fund you know we don't have to spend the 3 million next month we fix a boiler we wait we they have another pressing need you know there's some talk about security systems and yeah so it's a

win-win in my mind but point is that the the $3 million assuming your uh reinvestment rate is 35 reimbursement rate is 35% that's going to keep on generating generating generating more exactly fix more more problems and it's a it's a good program that other towns have adopted but whether or not you want to do it that way that's up sure so we'll get further word from the school bond uh group that

they close out and actually turn the money over to the city and we'll get a couple more questions I think the the sentiment and everybody's on board with the school getting money to do infrastructure repairs um I don't think that's the issue uh it might be just some of the language all right okay motion to adjourn hold on hold on mot no we haven't voted on on this do we have the

the right Motion in second Madam clerk all all in favor I think this is the motion to continue to the November the November is it 19th you meeting said November 12th that's what I wrote down but if you'd like oh well whatever the first meeting is in November I don't want to delay this November 12th would be fine is that the first meeting yeah it is okay motion to adjourn we're going to take the vote we

guys all in favor of moving this uh any opposed yeah have that Council vice president rioo motion to motion to adjourn all in favor any opposed thank you