City of Cranston Council, RI 2023 Meetings, 13 Apr 2023

Previous Meeting Next Meeting

⏯

youtube image

►

From YouTube: April 13, 2023, Public Works Committee Ordinance Committee Meetings

Description

April 13, 2023, Public Works Committee Ordinance Committee Meetings

A

It when did it stop.

B

You know when, when this stopped.

B

Okay, so what do? What do we do? This um I know that the that we have a legal counselor city solicitor a decade just wants to interject um before you're able to answer the question. Councilwoman uh Jermaine.

C

Thank you, madam chair and again the apologies for interrupting, but I feel I have to stand and put this on the record this matter. The blood-long pool is advertised as status and update. That's how it's docketed, that's how it was advertised. It's been on several times this proceeding now is taking on the characteristic of a hearing and under the chart of the council, certainly has the power to inquire and conduct inquiries into any issues that affect the city. However, there is a process that needs to be followed.

C

uh Witnesses need to be sworn subpoenas, can go out so on and so forth, but we're turning what was advertised as a status and update into a full-blown inquiry after the circumstances leading up to the bud long pool issue. So, in my legal opinion, I do not believe that this is a proper. This is the proper Forum. Procedurally, it's not proper. If there's going to be an inquiry that should be advertised as such Witnesses.

C

If they're going to come up and they're going to essentially testify, they need to be sworn but I, don't believe that that's appropriate tonight, not in the format that this issue has been advertised for tonight. If someone wants to come up and give comment, that's fine, but this is a question and answer session and it has all of the um characteristics as I said, of an inquiry. A hearing so I with all due respect. I I have to put my foot down here and say that this is not proper procedure.

B

Thank you, um solicitor, verdeckia, councilwoman Jermain. Are there any questions that you have for our legal counsel at the time? Okay,.

A

So what would you advise for now.

C

If this committee decides it wants to essentially hold an inquiry or an investigation into the circumstances leading up to the status of the bud long pool, then that procedure needs to be followed and that that's completely separate procedure and I can certainly advise at a later time on how that's to be conducted, but tonight's purposes, and the way this was advertised. It's essentially just commentary and it's advertised as update and status, not as a hearing or an inquiry. So you certainly can do this at a later time.

C

If the committee feels that that's appropriate, all I'm saying is tonight is not the time nor the place to hold this type of proceeding.

A

um So what do you say it's like I cannot ask him a question. Is that what you said? Yes,.

C

Because it's it's turning into as I said at the risk of sounding redundant, but a question and answer session such as this is really a hearing and it's an inquiry and there's a separate procedure. And there are separate provisions of the charter that apply to that type of proceeding. And what kind of mixing and matching tonight and I don't believe. Procedurally, that that's proper.

A

Because what I'm saying oh, what I don't understand is when we call someone we always ask questions. Was it always advertising that way, because I always ask questions when I call someone whatever anything for.

D

A

Update we always ask questions. Is that mean now anytime? You have someone I would like to to make sure it's not this or president, so the person at any time. Now we need to call anybody to clarify something to ask a question we need to advertise. Is that what you mean well,.

C

That's it's a little difficult to answer that because, when you say clarify this I, in my opinion, goes a little Beyond clarify, I, think what this is is um obtaining testimony from prior directors as to the history leading up to where we are today and I. I, don't know what other questions are forthcoming, but I would imagine that the inquiry is going to go along the lines of. Why did this happen? Why did that happen? What didn't happen so on and so forth? Now we do ask a limited number of questions.

C

For instance, when we do licenses, we call people up. Someone wants to open up a restaurant, they want a liquor license. We ask what kind of food you're going to serve. What are your hours of operation? That type of limited questioning is, is perfectly acceptable, but again this is not the same thing as.

A

That, in my opinion, um So Lisa I have a question also for Mr audio. Is that for the same because he he is the building inspection uh for public buildings in Queenstown? Is that falling the same? If.

C

Your question is going to go to the status of the bud long pool, which is how this was advertised. I, think that would be acceptable. But if we're going to go outside of those bounds and go back five six seven years and try to establish all of the circumstances that led up to where we are now, then I think that would be forbidden. If you just want to ask what is the status?

C

What is an update on the pool? That's fine, because that's what was advertised all.

A

Right so question: if I need to have those answers uh properly, do I can I put it in the agenda, pull populace advertise and they can come to answer the question. Yes,.

C

There's there's a pro there's a procedure under the charter: okay, for for the committee, the council to conduct the terms used on things such as investigation inquiry and I think this is really taking on the nature of an investigation and an inquiry, not a mere update and not a mere status as to what's going on. Okay,.

E

C

What I'm saying it's you're really delving into matters that are outside the scope of uh the way this was advertised for tonight's purposes. Okay,.

A

So would you each year, would you I understand properly what solicitor says? um Probably we need to award or make the awarding more toward what I need. um So would you um Mr um Tony Liberace? If you have any comment, you can say it, but I'm gonna, stop asking you question to follow the rules based on what um solicitor pavica says. So we have to follow the rules. Well,.

F

Through the chair, okay, I just want to go on record and saying: I did not come here tonight to talk about the mayor's. Seven million dollar plan is 3.7 million dollar plan. I was here tonight to talk about Budlong pool 2007 to the summer of 2022.. Whatever questions people of the council had that's it. Thank.

C

You director I, understand, and that's all the more reason why this is not the proper method to do that. This is strictly what is the current status of the pool? That's.

B

C

B

Interject well quickly, I think councilman Ferry Also may have.

G

So gracefully came here tonight when you open up public hearings. If he would come up at that time and maybe make comments on the pool that would be allowed correctly.

C

I I would just caution. I I would interject this cautionary comment. Mr Liberatore is a member of the public can certainly comment. However, I would emphasize that the comments need to be limited to status and update if we're going to go back to 2015 through 2022 I. Believe, that's that's out of bounds because it simply is not advertised that way. I think it's an open meetings issue.

F

Good evening to all of you, nice, seeing you have a good night.

B

Thank you um through the through the clerk. If we can also have for the record Council uh member, obviously Riley already had spoken, but if you can Mark him in as as present um I, don't think it's members on the committee.

B

um If, if that's the case Jermaine, do you have any additional comments or items under that specific uh Budlong pool project update.

A

B

A

Plus last um I've been in the agenda every month for quite a while, and that's gonna stay every month until the button will open and operational. So what I want to mention for the record is.

A

Last week, meetings there was a ordinance before us that request 350 000 to engage in engineering to rebuild a new pool, so that was something that I could not support, even though I have been advocating for opening the pool. So I base my decision on what was told to us. Okay, so for them we call in April 2022. Last year a report was submitted before us India report. They were three options: okay, so option one option, two option: three and all of those options cost a certain amount of money.

A

A

In in the report that was presented, there were no place where the report says cannot be fixed, cannot be repaired, cannot be Opera uh renovated. Nowhere.

A

Okay, so even though you know the the study was done, I don't care anyway. He was done, but it was presented to us. He was on the website. It was official. Okay, based on the budgetary situation of this city.

A

I think it should be wise to use an option that is less costly, cost effective and that will help us to open the poll in a timely fashion.

A

But the mayor presented a proposal for seven million dollars, so at the last meeting when I asked where this seven million dollars will come from, we did not know at the last meaning after we all discuss about it before the press release. The mayor has done director parallel came to the meeting.

A

Okay on February um much mean your Public Works, meaning he said quote.

A

The mayor has agreed with the will of the council in making the original plan project smaller. That means the original seven million dollars smaller it's going to be. This is what he says. It's going to be a pull and a bath house for the original price of about 3.7 million dollars.

A

So that's what the last communication we have and we were all happy. I, have a community conversation and I and I share this news with the constituents. I said we're moving forward so when the pool any bath house, so there was no question phase one phase two, because we did- and even at that moment we did not know- or we still don't know where 3.7 million dollars gonna come from okay.

A

So those are background now.

D

A

After this statement from the administration.

A

um The mayor has a press release and he says we're going to phase one and phase two now my question is 43 100 and you requests 350 000 to engage someone.

A

My question is how you have a study done and got it that was engineering, I, suppose I assume that show one two three. This is what needs to be done. Okay and you pay them, and now you have a group with what you need to do he for me. He just put a bid and then the person who will, if you choose between those three options, less cost effective right and you will have they start to work.

A

That's what I was hoping to see, but it's totally different right. It's it's a proposal to reduce the pull on one third of its size when you have a population from the last senses that 81 252 people to serve I believe I believe so, there's I'm not going to because I have other questions. I'm not going to want based on what um solicitor for vehicle says um to follow the rules. But what I believe frankly is.

A

We can add those features to the pool. We can repair if there is repair um need to be done to the pool we can win of it. We can win over the bath house and add Splash Pad. We can add picnic areas without building a new start from zero building, a new pool, because I am skepticians.

A

So the question that the poll is not fixable. This is this one: I cannot I, don't I, don't know I, don't believe it I, don't believe it because the the feasibility, because the first thing we had the feasibility feasibility study, we had tell us option one okay option: one: we can repair, put the bath house to Code Compliance and make it the facility operational.

A

So he never says it can be fixable and we, as the urgency, as is now we are in April, is getting already so hot. So as we need to have a pool, operational, I, believe, okay, we can go with their proposal and add, as I mentioned, we surface the basketball courts. Add splashback. If we have the money, add picnic area if you've had the money, but we don't need to build a new pool, because unless that's why I request? That's? Why I request to have this information? So looking for good information is not a problem.

A

Look for transparency is not a problem, so I believe. That's why I ask I email the administration to have these people come up because I believe Mr Tony Liberator, who work in this facility for so long, is in a better position to tell us really what's going on with the polls, because if he says the police crack the liner that they spent uh almost 200 I think 200 um thousand dollars to put a new liner in 2017., and that has a 20 years guaranteed.

A

So if we did put a new liner that sit in the basin, so if this is cracked is there's a leak on the liner. If the liner is no longer operational now we have a leak in the pool, so the first thing as the pool ever been emptied since 2019, when we close close for covered to see what crack what leak he has. How do we determine this?

A

If it's been closed, so I wanted to have those answers?

A

So if, if it's correct it cannot be repaired, that's one thing, but if we feel like it's too big, we don't need it, because it's too big, we need a new one. That's another thing: if we feel like the population we serve 350 people do not need the pool. That's one other thing, but the one thing I need to know is: what is the truth here? Is the studies lie because they said we can we we we we can fix it or not, because I want to hear from them.

A

This study what this study says in this report, he said we can repair. So for that reason, I give the background. Where I stand, they say before I I approve uh any money is 350. 000 is from upper money. I pass a resolution. I propose a resolution to use our permany, but guess what upper money is taxpayers money as well? It's not because it's up our money, we can waste it. We can spend it anyhow, it's not because it's not our money.

A

That is it's just Federal money we can do whatever we can waste it anywhere. No I, don't think we I think we need to use upper money wisely. That's my intention. So before I I say yes to three hundred and fifty thousand dollars. I know some of you do not have any problem to use it, but in good conscience.

A

If we have a study now, if the study was b bs, the administration will say I'm. Sorry I made a mistake. The study was BS, so we cannot. If the administration Administration says we cannot just because we said it when it was proposed. We didn't trust it, but it was the administration defend this study.

A

Now, if you tell me another thing, so I would like to know what is the administration says? This study facility study was BS. I'm. Sorry, I cannot just it okay. What I would ask is to continue this and to put proper um language verbiage to have Mr wodio Mr liberatoi, any member from Federal Hill to tell us what is.

B

It exactly councilwoman Jermaine, thank you and I just want to make sure that we don't go out of line in terms of kind of falling out of what was um added under status and update, which is on the Budlong pool project, because we can fall out of line want to say we stay within to make sure that what we advertise is what we're also um discussing so um I can um now uh if I can definitely have the director or this city solicitor, provide any questions or responses to your questions and then also continue this but I, think council, member Riley, do you have your hand up and who else comes some member done again as well?

B

H

You um I I, don't even know what planet I'm on right now the fact that we believe there's the fact that you're saying you're skeptical of a report and that it's BS coming from the mayor's office with no basis whatsoever you're, just throwing these accusations out there. This is absolutely out of line, so you know that you believe something you have to have a basis for it. You can't just say things and I mean that's just absolutely irresponsible. So, let's get to some facts.

H

First of all, the design of the pool, that's an executive function that is not a function, we're a legislative body. That's the mayor, he's executive. He has duties, we have different duties. If you want to do those duties run for mayor the the ask last week was not 350 000., it was up to 350 000. big difference, so they did that based on experts in that field, not because we believe something. So they said the uh the former uh Public Works director said a study, a study, the architectural drawings.

H

For something of this could go up to 350 000.. It could be two hundred thousand. It could be one hundred thousand. That is the responsible thing to do next to to fix this. The mayor gave us three proposals and he didn't have to.

H

He did it to be conciliatory to work with us not to give you fodder to just go off and blast them without any basis whatsoever, and this is just completely out of hand so to fix the bath house in the pool in its current form, I believe he said, it'll be about 2.7 or 2.5 million, then to build a brand new one would only be about 300, 3.5 million, so for 800 000 more.

H

We get a brand new thing rather than just patching up this thing and the study said the building's crumbling it's falling down on the left-hand side. The building is not ADA Compliant at all, the pool has a liner that has to be filled far more than what a new thing would cost. So you're saying you want to pay for all that water every single time you're going to fill that pool up.

H

Let me ask you: do you know how much it costs to fill the pool so the so that and the suction problems that come that come from that? That could put kids point.

G

Of order, why is he questioning her.

H

B

Me, okay, all right. Let's, let's have a little bit more order on here. Councilwoman Jermaine had a couple of items. Council member Riley is speaking. Let's stick with the topic, be respectful to one another stay within otter and council. Member Donegan has another response. Another uh has his hand up as well.

B

Let's just be respectful, I want to be mindful of that and then make sure that we move on councilwoman, Jermaine I believe has also asked that this be continued and have no objections to continue this for the next public works committee meeting scheduled in May, of which, at that point I think councilwoman Jermaine could work through the clerk's office or city solicitors as well to make sure that it's being advertised and we're going through the proper channels to make sure that we don't um derail from the topic that is being advertised on the docket.

B

Just as a reminder, we have to stick with items that are within the docketed items per our Charter and our laws. Councilman Riley.

H

Thank you, I apologize for getting worked up and the only reason I'm off the topic is because some of this fantasies that are put out there I'm trying to put on the record some of the facts that are actually there. So the suction problems that are with that liner that can hold kids down. That's dangerous people could die there.

H

I'm not saying it would happen, but it's a possibility that was set in that study for the 350 people are not there on a daily basis, so that is not the population where uh we're serving um and just the whole fact that you're throwing out the the the completely immature term of BS in regards to the mayor of the city of Cranston, that's just irresponsible and unacceptable.

B

Excuse me, let's just.

A

B

Please I cannot let.

D

B

Let's give it one second councilman Riley: if, if no and interject are you, are you almost done.

A

B

A

I answer that please, let's go right here for the record: I am not okay and I am not addressing this to counselor. Matt, Wiley and I see his address exactly me and I: don't have anything personal with you, I think grammarly when we say, if there's a reason we say if so, I I'm, not an English teacher but I know there is a reason when we say when you talk, you say if I said this study.

A

If this study is not staying as it was, if the administration can at base on this study, if it was BS, they will say don't put words in my mouth. Please I am not talking to you. I put okay, so I am put this all for discussion all right, so we can discuss it and I say if and for no no reason, I'm not talking to you all right, I.

B

I'm gonna actually move on at this point from this conversation, councilmember Donegan, if you have any other items to add to this other way, otherwise through a clerk. Can we continue this and add uh this item to the public works committee meeting in May and councilman Jermaine? If you can work through the clerk's office, just to make sure that what you would like to get accomplished through that meeting actually is um advertisers being used to the proper channels.

B

On on your on your end, um I was going to ask the solicitor another question but I'm going to move on um and add that to the next month's item um next item. Under our committee business managers, um Harry dobre, was a request from the Rhode Island energy for poll, location on Rose street that was continued in February and then in March, and then National Grid did um provide our city clerk with a uh email, a letter asking to withdraw um that poll location for anyone.

B

That is here for the ordinance committee meeting that was supposed to start at 6 30, we'll be getting to that shortly. Just for those here and those on on Zoom next item is request from the Rhode Island energy for poll location on Cadillac Avenue. That is about to be taken again. That was continued from February 16th and March um I. Don't if there's um sorry, that's that was not with drone correct through the clerk correct. Okay, great thank you! So can I have a motion to approve.

G

Motion to approve.

B

Second, second, thank you. Any discussion, councilman Donegan.

I

Thank you, chairwoman, um as, as most of you know, I I live right around the corner from this location. um Actually, over the past year, gone to know the property owner that this would be on. You know budding their property fairly. Well, he he currently lives out of state, but him and his family are relocating.

I

um I appreciate the the Great Lengths that Rhode Island energy went through to communicate with uh that. Individual I did have an opportunity to speak with them uh them being the property owner this afternoon, and they did voice to me. They're explicit um objection to uh the poll being placed there um and for that reason, as their representative and neighbor um I will be voting now.

B

Any other discussion all right, seeing none clerk. Can you please take a roll on the vote.

J

Council vice president Vargas.

K

J

For me, Jermaine, yes, Hospital Ferry,.

G

J

Husband died again, no.

J

H

J

How's, the president Mourinho no.

B

Thank you. You should failed on a typo all right, so that's me when it dies so on to the next item on the agenda. It is item 2-23-03, ordinance, amendment of chapter 15, of the code of the city of France in 2005, entitled buildings and construction polls, relocation that is sponsored by councilman done again sorry, and that was continuing as amended from the March 16 2023 meeting. Is your emotion to approve principal?

B

Is there a second.

I

I'll, second, it for the purposes discussion, but.

B

Any discussion.

I

um There is a little bit of work that has to be done on this and, admittedly, just given the honestly all of my free time outside of school on Council matters is my nose is buried in the budget and I honestly, just haven't had a chance to to loop back around to this. So if we could continue this to next month, I'll have time to to go back through it. Certainly.

B

Not a problem through the clerk, if we can, please continue that uh to the May public works committee. There's no objection can I have a motion to continue.

K

B

To continue second discussion, seeing none clerk, can you please take the role.

J

For the Vargas, that's what you mean? Yes, Pastor Perry! Yes,.

G

J

G

J

Casper Riley, yes, Pastor, president Moreno.

B

Thank you. Moving on to the second item on the agenda that public hearings and new matters before the committee is there anyone here present in the council chamber that would like to go ahead and speak on docketed matters only.

B

Right if I, seeing none is there any one Tom on Zoom.

L

B

No public comment. Thank you. Oh, never mind I thought I. Was you all right? Thank you. uh Public senior now closed. Now. The next item is new matters before the committee um I had an item under no matter for the committee that was Waste Management trash pickup on Park, Avenue Ward, one um and uh the second actually item on there. It's kind of combined into one. It was this uh sweeping schedule and the Pavements of Ward one. So there's actually three items on here that I have, but it was under one bullet.

B

So the first item I had spoken to the director I'm already already and I just went for the record up here. He is thank you um I believe we discussed on that. But my concern on here was that on Park Ave um trash pickup in Ward, one particularly on Park Ave, going from work Avenue to Parkview, Middle School trash pickup, and we can avoid Waste Management from picking up the trash from 7 30 in the morning till 8 in the morning. um There's a lot of you know traffic at that point.

B

There's parents taking their kids to school and it has really caught up all the way past the fire station close to uh the Broad Street side, so I'm just wondering at least on Mondays. If we can avoid that time,.

M

The uh clean City coordinator is speaking with waste management and wasted it's in Waste Management Court to speak with the drivers to see how they can schedule their routes um just this past week, or so we've they've added the pickups for uh yard waste. Now so now you have trash truck, recycle and yard waste and they have two sets of trucks.

M

Two sets of three uh going from east to west and west to east, um but they're going to work out what if they can work out logistics and not promising it, but they certainly are taking your request very seriously and they'll be getting back to us. So we can certainly let you know I would expect within probably next week. I'm guessing they'll get back to us, but they took it very seriously. I.

B

Appreciate it, thank you. There's just cars parked in both sides, people have their trash and then the cans and then delays and it's tight tights grow down there. The next item that I have on my end is the street sweeping schedule. um Can you remind us again, I know it flips. uh Every year, where one year starts on the western side, then the next day on the Eastern side, what you, what side of this of the city, is it starting this year and has that started already? Last.

M

Last year it was east to west, so this year it's west to east and they run between April 1st to July 31st, the latest. If it gets done earlier, weather cooperating it'll be done before that, but what they do is they'll do all the main roads first anyhow, so all the roads, the main the main roads, such as Park Avenue, Warwick Avenue.

M

All those roads will be done before we get into the neighborhoods when we get into the neighborhoods it's west to east this year that we alternate, so that was that was just the Short Straw for the East side this year, but next year will be the east side. First, all.

B

Right great, thank you and the other item that I have left under my communication is the um Street Paving in terms of um the schedule or I believe there was an ordinance that Council uh president Mourinho and maybe Donegan, and a few others as well um asked for the administration to provide updates on what streets were going to be paved. Is that up and running? Yet? No.

M

It's not, um we do not have a list of streets to be paved yet. What we're doing is waiting to see what the approved capital budget is and kind of once we know that number we work the scheduling you know the the amount of work into the budgeted number um I could give you a flavor for where it's at though, as as a sense. Obviously, wherever there's been utility work dug up uh all those streets.

M

Where that you you see in the condition there are, they will be repaved during this Paving season, a lot of construction, as you know, councilman in Ward three uh that will be addressed uh this year, um the so what happened is it is this, um depending on the amount allocated, uh certainly because of the mayor's proposal for the uh improvements infrastructural improvements in Knightsville.

M

We want to actually reduce the amount of Paving of budgetary purposes, so we're not looking for an expansive list this year, but philosophically because of Niceville trying to balance the money, I could say that a focus will be Park Avenue, as we all know uh the way it is it's not not there that the utilities would pay for the park. Pay for the pavement on Park Avenue because we requested that they move up the work, um so we could Park. Avenue was in tough shape before and and given the rating system that we have.

M

So that will be a priority. That'll be a lot of money. Frankly, and uh that's that's kind of what our focus is at this point, but in terms of many neighborhoods, maybe not as many this year as the past, but that would be then perhaps the road around the um Garden City school once the school's completed, so that whole area is I'll, say pristine or up to speed. So, but we don't have a list yet we will we'll develop it after after we have the proposal, but I do have to it.

M

Gives you a general sense as to where we're coming from at this point.

B

All right, thank you. I just want to make sure that we, if we're Paving streets throughout the city, let's um try to have some equity in terms of throughout the city and not just in one possible location and and if you don't mind once I get started once we have that list, if you can just share it with all of us, so at least we know what streets are absolutely.

M

B

M

That would be and I believe we provided the list of what was paved last year. If we haven't we'll ask Justin matus to get that out to you, because I know that was part of that ordinance. I'm, not I, forget if that was that done, but uh so for the prior streets to know what we did great.

B

Thank you all right. That's all that I have under my communication. If anybody has any other questions, be none all right. We're going to move on to. uh Thank you. Director, meredy is request from there against the electric electric for poll, location, Afghanistan, Avenue can I have a moment to approve the.

I

B

Any discussion seeing none through clerk can you please take the role.

J

Yes, husband done again: Riley nope how's, the president Marino. Yes,.

B

Thank you. The next item that we have is a request from Narragansett electric for Paul, location and Hosey Drive and.

F

B

Any discussion seeing none through the clerk can you please take Ava role, pasta.

J

Vice president Vargas, yes, councilwoman Jermaine, yes, Cosmic Ferry, yes,.

G

J

Donegan Casper Riley nope Oscar present Reno. Yes,.

B

All right I'm seeing there's no item on the uh Doc. It's left uh may I, please all in favor say.

G

B

Look and say, nay, eyes have it meeting adjourned. The next meeting uh for the ordinance committee meeting uh will start in just five minutes, so we can have a five minute break so it'll start at 7, 10.

E

E

E

B

Good evening we're going to be starting the ordinance committee meeting right welcome to the ordinance committee meeting. It's Thursday April 13th 2023 through the clerk. If you can, please take the role.

J

Classified vice president Vargas woman Jermaine president councilman Rizzoli, pass by ferry present husband done again.

I

J

G

J

Council president Reno president, most.

G

To approve the approval of the minutes of the last meeting.

I

B

Would you like to take the gavel, councilman Ferry, it's all yours. If you'd like all right, if not all, right any discussion, seeing none through the clerk, can you please take a role on that.

J

Also vice president Vargas password Jermaine, yes, Cosmic Ferry.

I

Yes, Captain Donegan, yes,.

J

Hospital Riley.

I

J

B

Thank you um if there is no objection, um if I can actually have a motion to take the dot of order and actually go for um proceed to the second item which is public hearing on um so we can have a public hearing undocketed matters only so.

N

Moved second, any.

B

Discussion all right, Senator Clark. Can you please take the roll on that? Please.

J

G

J

Again, Casper Riley.

G

J

Marina, yes,.

B

Thank you. Is there anyone here in the chamber that would like to speak on docketed matters only please come forward to the podium state, your name and address for the record.

O

Yes, good evening, Robert Murray, 21, Garden City Drive in Cranston I'm, just rising to speak in support of ordinance 3-2302 relating to the no parking restrictions on Kenwood, Street I. Believe you all have correspondence from me that I'd asked to be part of the record, but I want to uh publicly thank councilman Ferry for his cooperation. I represent jmdh real estate, who owns the property at 140, Inwood Street, which is the Restaurant Depot.

O

The proposed ordinance would have restricted parking at all times on both sides of the street along their street Frontage um I believe at the appropriate time, councilman Ferry will offer an amendment to move the no parking restriction uh about 200 feet North to another pole. That would be appreciated by Restaurant, Depot and uh and I hope that the amendment will be offered and passed and happy to answer any questions. But you you have my letter. Thank you.

B

Thank you is there anybody else I'd like to come up and speak on docketed items.

B

Parking or the overnight parking I believe it is sir. Yes, that is as well yep. You can speak on both of.

P

The time or you could speak on those.

B

That is correct, sir yeah absolutely.

P

I'm not sure um so the first I'm, sorry I'm, sorry, Thomas, wojic, W, o j. I c k 11 all Place Branson. Thank you. um So I uh mentioned uh I'm going to speak about the trees. To begin with and I just want to be supportive of the uh item, the docket item about replanting trees and that the city take a a real vested interest in in doing this, um and I have a uh just a quick thing: I can pass out to everyone, but a value.

P

I mentioned these comments at the last time uh last meetings that I thought it was the documented thing, but, as you can see, the top part of what I have here is um just to show us that a tree is has value, and it also can, you know, be uh crammed into um dollar value. So when we take down a tree, we lose a lot. We even lose um Capital, so the effort by the city to go ahead and replace trees when they take them down.

P

I think is a really critical aspect, along with that, we are losing trees just naturally as well as we have homeowners, who don't see the full value in trees and they're taking trees down the tree in front of my house is probably over 100 years old. It probably has another two years, maybe to live.

P

um It's a constant. uh You know sorrow that I have knowing that that's going to go um and we're going to need to have to to replace these these items now the value of trees is. Is it's hard to even put a dollar value?

P

um First of all, trees improve the real estate value, both the Residential Properties, as well as businesses. People prefer to live in areas where there are trees. Second, as it's related to the weather today and the pool, um we need more trees because we need more shade and we need to have a cool city um without trees. We will not have a cool City and when you don't have a cool City people act out.

P

People act out in cities because part of it is heat. Related heat can cause a lot of mental issues. Emotional issues, as well as physical issues trees, can help reduce that um educational benefits. There are many studies that show that children learn better where there are trees, having trees even in the school setting wherever they are, they need to be replaced when we take them down. It would even be great if we had a more expansive plan to plant more trees, um kind of thing.

P

I remember when I wasn't retired I was traveling around and I was coming back on a plane and I was sitting next to this gentleman and we started chatting and he said what do you do and I told them? You know: I ran psychiatric hospitals and he and I said so.

P

What do you do and he says well I um run a company, then we go around and we replace um paintings and photos and offices, people, rent them, and so every quarter I go into our clients and I change, trees or or the photos, and he said most of these voters are of Nature and I said. Oh, it's interesting I said. So how does it go? He said. Let me tell you a story about what happened today.

P

He said: I went into this office, the woman was sitting there that are at her desk and I went over and I started sizing up the picture, taking measurements about what I was going to replace it. What size I needed- and she said what are you doing and he said well I'm taking measurements because I'm going to be taking this this painting down, she said no you're, not she says that's.

P

My sanity did I get to look at those trees every day, I can't go outside, but I can get to look at them and that helps me keep my sanity Even in our psychiatric hospitals. We made sure there were plenty of trees, plenty of pictures of nature, so I just wanted to advocate for the small amount of money you're going to get a large payoff.

P

You get a cool City very important, and the last thing is: is that I have a sister that lives out in California and it's been horrendous with rain out there and they haven't had enough trees to absorb water. Now the way climate change is going. We will not know where the next rain season might be like they had in California.

P

If we keep losing our trees, we're going to run into problems with runoff that are going to damage buildings going to damage roads are going to damage a lot of things. Trees can begin to help us slow that whole process down as well as save us and save us money, so I just want to advocate for um that particular ordinance. I hope that you will pass it it's it's really critical.

P

My last thing is on the overnight parking I think it's completely absurd that we're not permitting people who cannot park in a driveway that we're taking their privilege away of parking on the street. This the street is a public Street. What is the reason tell me why we can't do that.

P

Why can't we do that if they can do it in Newport? Why can't we do it?

P

You know what I just heard that the last meeting someone asked. Can we please change the hour that the trash trucks pick up on Pratt Avenue, because it's too darn crowding we've got it pause, we've got buses, we've got trash pickups we've got kids going to school.

P

Well, why don't we be in the trash, then on Mondays, if it's too dangerous to have things in the rooms? Why aren't the police complaining about that? Why aren't everybody complaining about that? Why? Why is it? Okay?

P

This is- and this is at night, this is when the cars are parked overnight, parked it's not like jam through and we still pull over I'm sorry. This is completely ridiculous. This is really a um uh an issue that makes City not a good city but a bad City, because it's not addressing the needs of our citizens. It's taking away rights, it's taking their ability to pay their rent to to live comfortably and I.

P

Think it's really unfortunate that we even cater to two basic things, and it's not a safety issue because they do it in all cities throughout the United States. Thank you.

B

Thank you. Is there anyone else from the public or they would like to have any public comment on docketed items only good evening, sir, can I have your name and address for the record sure.

Q

Good evening Brian Laplante with Law Offices at 78, Kenwood Street in Cranston I um I I, appreciate very much this committee taking up what is ordinance.

Q

3-23-02 and in particular, I appreciate councilman, Ferry and Mayor Hopkins for sponsoring it. This has been a long-standing issue since we moved our business from Providence to Cranston. One of the reasons we did is because of what you're doing this evening, which is protecting and helping businesses like ours and our budding business owners, Henwood Street, which is runs parallel to Niantic, is an absolute parking lot.

Q

It has gotten so horrible that over the last week, we actually have truck tires now being stored along the street for changing the tires on trucks that park on the street. Most of the owners of those trucks. We've learned actually live in the city of Providence because of its proximity from Kenwood Street to Providence. The bottom line is unlike the resident parking that is at issue in another ordinance. This is a no-brainer. This is entirely protective of business and and there's really no no downside to this.

Q

In fact, I appreciate attorney Murray, involving himself in communicating openly with us about his clients, particular concern with respect to Restaurant Depot, as they have truck drivers there early in the morning. Sometimes they have to wait to consummate their deliveries in the morning, and so we certainly don't want to undermine that that legitimate business effort, but as far as storing trucks and trailers and peripheral items it it really needs to end and I, appreciate very much your support of that ordinance. Thank you.

B

Thank you, sir. Is there anyone else good evening, sir? Your name and address for.

R

The record good evening, my name is Warren Hayman I live at 70, Arnold, Avenue and I want to speak. First of all, I want to commend the council for passing the ordinance previously. That says, the city is going to replace every tree that gets taken down. I think that's an important first step. I do have a question. I, don't understand, since you've passed that ordinance I would assume that the money for that has to be put in the budget. Otherwise it doesn't seem to make a lot of sense.

R

So so, but tonight I want to comment on the other uh tree ordinance that is before us that Council people Vargas, Mourinho and Donegan put in about.

R

When you take down a tree, then there would be a notice, posted and I think that's a very important um or Amendment to the ordinance I do want to suggest that you don't require there to be a hearing for every tree, that's taken down, but rather that when the city wants to take down a tree, they would post a notice on the website and on the tree the notice would stay up for seven days. Seven calendar days, if someone were to then say they would like a hearing, then the city would have a hearing.

R

If nobody says they want a hearing, then you don't need to have a hearing, but I believe the way it's written now it would require there to be a hearing for every tree. That's taken down. So I think this is an important modification, but I don't think that we should have hearings for every single tree. I do think that the public needs to know about every tree. That's supposed to be taken down or going to be taken down should be posted on the website.

R

We should have seven days to go and look at it and then decide whether or not we do or don't want to have a hearing. Thank you.

B

Thank you, sir. Anyone else on the council that would like to speak on docketed matters before us this evening.

B

Good evening, sir, your name and address for the record please good.

S

Evening, uh Roger farron 92, Woodbury, Road, Cranston, Rhode, Island and I'd like to speak on the uh legislation to protect the patuxa river, in particular the situation dealing with the PVC pipes that are located on actually on the Warwick side of the river, but uh I'm very pertinent to our Cranston. Also, the uh there's a large supply of PV site PVC pipes over there, also known as polyvinyl chlorine floral guide um when these things are manufactured, they're supposed to be stored indoors in and not subject to weather and palletized.

S

These PVC pipes are currently just scattered all over the the lot, and what's happened is the the weather has gotten at it. The because they're not stacked, they're starting to become deformed and they're starting to break down both physically and chemically the material is not stored. Properly, starts a process to chemically break down the PVC leaching chloride into the soil and surrounding areas.

S

It also starts a physical breakdown where the material starts to break starts, to become distorted and.

S

Sorry about that and leads to product failure.

S

The issue becomes: what do you do with this with these piles of PVC that are are no longer you useful, so disposal of PVC is quite quite a process. Only 0.5 percent point five percent of PVC is recycled. You can't burn it because of the chlorine that would be released into the air. So what happens? What has to be happening is it has to be ground to um make it more feasible to compact because of the process and the air filtration systems that are needed for this, along with Federal mandates.

S

This becomes a very expensive process.

S

Landfills are also running into issues now, with the wound. Pvc now becoming issues in the landfills themselves. As far as causing chemical imbalances.

S

So I looked at the costs of of the PVC to get rid of it. First of all, a lot of cities and states will not take large amounts of PVC. The Johnston landfill will not take large amounts of PVC.

S

The closest I could find was New England recycling in Taunton Mass, and that was 185 dollars. A ton to dispose of the PVC I looked at the weights of the pipes per 100 feet. Half inch pipe is 20 pounds per 100 feet. Four inch pipe is 285 pounds per 100 feet. An eight inch pipe is 830 pounds per 100 feet.

S

So when you start factoring in 185 dollars a ton to dispose of this, it becomes quite a number and across the river on 175 Post Road. They have quite a number over there.

S

Plus you have to go through the unloading, I mean the loading and then the unloading of the trail is at the at the landfill, the transportation to and from and the counts. The cost stop mounting considerably.

S

We've been told that they, these these PVC pipes are a good product, are a good product, but they're not moving. It doesn't make sense, it doesn't add up to two to me and by that I mean, if it's a good product it should be set, it should be moving and it's not I, don't know if they've got to do like a BOGO buy one get one, have a fire sale or something like this, but these pipes are not moving they're, nothing but a an eyesore and uh a menace to the environment and everything around it.

S

So I would just like to encourage that the PVC pipes in this kind of a quantity is a large issue to deal with and I believe that the reason why it's not being uh uh dealt with with at 175 Post Road is because of the cost involved and they've got a pile of junk, so the sources that I've used for this uh uh Pacific Plastics out of ocean California, International Association of certified home inspectors, New England, Recycling and taunting mass and SGS polymer, Solutions Incorporated, also of California.

S

B

Thank you, sir. What else? Oh you have another person good good evening and actually I'd like to recognize a former Council Citywide councilwoman Sarah Lee, welcome back to the chambers.

T

I am I I'm, Sarah, Lee, uh 131 or 13 30 Narragansett Boulevard Cranston um I just wanted to. Thank you all for uh voting. Whoever did our passing uh legislation to replace the trees that are taken down, that that was great to hear and um I want to um just comment on the ordinance uh to uh make notification when trees are going to be trimmed or or taken down um that they create a list just like Warren said so that we can see where uh and when trees are taken down.

T

So we have a history of of this, so we can kind of keep track of of the canopy cover and where we're going thin and what's what's happening, we do have some areas with older trees along the streets that are going bare, so um that would be great and um and that you know again, maybe we don't need to schedule hearings for every single tree, because sometimes it's it's just plain obvious that it's dead and um uh but if, if a hearing is requested, um that we'd be given the seven days to to make that request.

T

So, um but thank you very much for for being pro-tree thanks. Thank.

B

You nice to see you councilman anyone else good evening name and address to the record.

U

Good evening uh Dr Donna Rook, 79, Paul, talkset Avenue I just want to speak briefly on the um ordinance Banning street parking overnight read an article on it recently and I really questioned some of the reasoning and the logic, um one of them being that emergency vehicles cannot get through, but for some reason only during those hours, which doesn't make sense never heard of any other community that had this type of ordinance.

U

Other communities that have narrow streets have other plans that allow some people to park in front of their own houses in residential areas and Cranston streets aren't any and narrower than any other community. The article also cited saying that this law has served us well since 1969.

U

I'm glad that it's not 1969. there's a lot of us that didn't fare so well in 1969.. The composition of our households are very different right now our household is combined with different Generations so that we can survive so there's more adults living in the same household. Those adults need cars. uh It's not 1969 where one person had a car. Now you have more cars. Now there are Apartments because people can't afford their own home.

U

So when that house is broken up into apartments and there's one driveway, then the people that live in those apartments can't park their cars in front of their house.

U

There's houses that don't have driveways, don't have this room for them and don't have garages so should those houses never have been sold, I mean some of the things that were stated in that article were just not logical, so I just wanted to make sure that you know it was heard that I feel that that ordinance is an equity problem, because the burden is falling on those people that already have a hard time making ends meet and they're. They are the ones that are getting those tickets. Thank you.

B

Thank you. So much is there anyone else here in the chamber that would like to speak undocketed items before we move on to zoom right, seeing none uh Tom do we have any well I, see them.

B

Okay, Mr Jersey thank.

V

You, madam chairwoman, can you hear me? Okay, we can uh thank you. Matthew Jersey, Katie, Woodbury, Road I, want to thank uh you, madam chairwoman, for having this hearing on the resolution to protect Patuxent River and the three pieces of legislation sponsored by Cranston representative Joe McNamara, uh as well as the council president. Unfortunately, this hearing fell on the two days that I'm with my son in Washington DC touring, the Smithsonian Museum, so I apologize that I couldn't be there in person, but I'm calling in because uh these these ordinances are kind of this.

V

Excuse me, these three pieces of legislation are critical to the entire city of Cranston, really for the whole state of Rhode Island. um My neighbor Roger touched briefly on one of the pieces of legislation regarding PVC piping, but I, just wanna and I'm cognizant of the time and and how long you've been in hearings this evening. So I'm going to keep this really short.

V

um There's a 15 acre proposed Industrial Development at 175 Post Road in the Patuxent Industrial Park.

V

uh They are proposing a 70, 000 square foot, industrial use, it's in a flood plain and it's in a wetland, and all of us on the Cranston side have seen six feet of the river on that site during the Great March 2010 flood and we've seen all those PVC pipes rolling in the water, and we believe that that site, especially with climate change and the storm surge, is more vulnerable to than ever to putting oil and gas and chemicals which they're looking to put at that site, putting that into the river spilling it into the Cove and destroying the quality of life.

V

My CH, my four kids, when we moved uh to Patuxent Village in 2009, would play in that River and come out with their shirts Brown as brown can be, and now there's fish back the waters transparent. It's you know, you know you can really say that patux river is back and notwithstanding that, there's a proposed development.

V

After four meetings, the Warwick planning board voted to Move It Forward by a vote of four to three, because there are 13 Cranston legal of Butters to this project, including myself. Roger we've appealed the project and we intend on continuing to appeal the project, but our Cranston delegation um put in these three pieces of legislation that speak to the larger issues of number one you shouldn't be storing all all of this PVC piping on site and rep McNamara has a bill that would authorize the director of Dem to order them to safely store it.

V

The second Bill speaks to the Three Mile Trail that um 30 years ago the Cranston Boy Scouts helped develop um that ends on Post Road, in retaliation from over 1 000, Cranston and Warwick Neighbors coming together and opposing this project. The owners of 175 Post Road closed that historic 30 year old trail and put up do not enter private property signs up and down the trail.

V

We've spoken with the Office of the Attorney General about law enforcement, action that can be taken or civil enforcement action that can be taken under a theory of adverse possession or another. Such land use Theory, but this bill would Empower uh Dem to protect uh long-used public Trails such as this and then the final bill deals with a Superfund Site called siba gaige that many of you are familiar with and simply says, notwithstanding the fact that the EPA has a as a plan, I believe is approved in 2017 for the site when there's massive flooding.

V

G

V

Don't speak to what bubbles up um from groundwater from below ground water and would require testing to make sure neighbors who are Downstream boat owners who are Downstream people who live along the coast? What would know what is entering the water and so I know these three bills as written aren't perfect, we had a hearing at the state house and all three of them and rep McNamara and the director of the Dem are currently working on improved language for all three.

V

But um the next month is very critical in terms of will the bills get out of committee and a resolution from the city council will go a long way if you were able to do that. So thank you for your time tonight and uh happy to answer any questions. If you had any.

B

Thank you, Mr Jersey, all right we're going to move on to anyone else now on Zoom, who would also like to speak undocketed items.

B

Is there anyone else I see no.

N

L

B

Good evening, thank you, please have your name and address for the record.

W

I'm Suzanne, Chase and I live at um 54 Elgin Street in Cranston I'm, actually, two streets away from you currently I'm calling uh in in regards to the documented item for the overnight parking I strongly strongly oppose it. My street is a street that is used constantly for the fire. Trucks, um which is one block over I, have neighbors at the very bottom of the street that continue to park on the side of the street. That says no parking.

W

um Nobody follows the rules. People just park wherever they want whenever they want I, have an issue day to day with the school high school children parking, which is fine, I, go to work every day. I come home, they're gone I agree with the overnight parking situation, problems I'm going to have more issues as it is. Now they don't listen. They don't who's going to follow the rules of the permit who's available for them following to make sure they are legal enough.

W

People in the city to do I feel bad that they don't have parking Park, say in a drive whatever it is, I get it I get it. However, I solution, you're going to have issues with snow, don't move the cars when you have Park events. So what's the solution to the problem? I don't know, but I do not agree at all. With this overnight park. Tell you my street alone is a nightmare, an absolutely.

B

Thank you. Is there anyone else, Tom.

B

L

I

See no public comment.

B

Okay, thank you right. There's! No additional public comment on docketed items: I'm going to move I'm going to close that out and move forward with committee business matters carried over the first item on committee. Business carried over was 1-23-04 and that is ordinance. Amendment of chapter 17 of the code of the city of Cranston 2005, entitled zoning change of Zone 1381 Francis Street and 767 Dyer Avenue Cranston Printworks project. This is sponsored by councilman papelasquez and it was continued from the March 16th meeting. So you're um motion to approved.

I

Motion to approve.

B

Exactly any discussion.

B

Right, if there is no discussion, I see being non-madam clerk. Can you please take sorry? Councilman I did not see your hand raised councilman um done again. Thank.

I

You uh chairwoman, vice president um I, do recognize the attorney representing the project here this evening. Just wasn't sure if there were any additional comments uh to be made.

O

Good evening Robert Murray, 21, Garden, City, Drive uh I'm, not sure I can only go backwards from a motion to approve, but uh um Madam chairwoman I represent uh Brady Sullivan properties, um two of their entities on the Cranston Print Works I have a number of witnesses here tonight to make a presentation, if you'd like to hear it.

O

um uh I know in August of 2021 a number of the the president council members attended a site visit. We had there and over the last 18 months or more we've been working to get to this point tonight. Last week the City Planning Commission approved this project as a major Land Development. It basically comprises the existing prancing Print Works uh proper from the pond to Cranston Street the existing buildings, not the property across the street. You will recall that we had a separate site visit a couple, maybe three weeks ago for the knights Corner development.

O

That's not part of this, and hopefully we'll be back here next month to talk about that. We're here tonight just talk about 1381, Cranston Street and the plans for to create 129 units of apartments and Self Storage. uh What's before you this evening, that has the positive recommendation of the Planning Commission is a change of Zone.

O

The Self Storage use that Brady Sullivan is planning for this property is already a permitted use.

O

The apartments are not a permitted use and that's why we've asking the council to rezone this property, leave it as M1, with the condition that we could um include up to 150 units, but the plans call for 129. uh councilman Donegan. It's his Ward and he's been very.

F

O

Involved in in the discussion of this project- and you know has has always tried to be supportive of it, and we appreciate that as well as other members of the council, I'm chilling I, don't know how much of a presentation you want. What what we have here is a quick uh PowerPoint that we could Chris Reynolds from Brady Sullivan could go through um I have a traffic expert here.

O

I have the project engineer and I have someone who provided a fiscal study on the benefits of this project uh before the meeting result, I believe passed out to you an overall College site plan of the site, a copy of Mr Reynolds PowerPoint presentation about the the projects Brady Sullivan has done in Rhode. Island I gave you a short synopsis of the points. The traffic engineer would uh would talk upon talk about and then I gave you Mr spinella's report um this.

O

This ordinance is basically a framework very similar to what you did with the legion Legion Bowl. uh When we created the overlay District in the Garden City Garden City shopping center. You you created kind of a contract Zone uh for the property to allow the Redevelopment to go forward. The.

O

um The one topic that I I want to talk about is this Council has had a considerable discussion interest in recent months about affordable housing. This project from the beginning, from the outside, from August of 2021, when Mr Reynolds, gave a tour of the property.

O

um Affordable housing was never a component. In fact, I think it was the chairwoman who asked the question that morning about it. Brady Sullivan's projects in Rhode Island is five or six Mill redevelopments they've done as part of their business model or plan. There is no affordable component.

O

A sum I know: that's a a discussion point, but this ordinance as as presented you does not include it.

O

um There is an opportunity here to take an historic property and redevelop it and bring it back to life in a section of Cranston that uh the council president, when we talk about Knight's, corner and I'm paraphrased, I think she said this is a pinch me project for nights going across the street I'm, not sure, what's what's exponentially greater than a pinch me project, but this is a golden moment for the city of Cranston um uh to take a property that is on its last last legs.

O

There are challenges with this property flood plain gem, but there is the site plan there. You can see the existing buildings, the left-hand side, the new storage buildings on the right and uh Brady Sullivan just does not do affordable housing. um I think I'd. Ask that the council look at the the benefit and the strength of this proposal and the the moment in time. We are to say this project overrides what is absolutely a legitimate discussion of affordable housing, I I, totally respect that uh there there are.

O

There are, hopefully other opportunities coming down the line, including Knights Corner that will include affordable housing. uh I, don't want to be apologetic about it. I want to be sincere about it. It's just that from day one before they bought the prop before they did the due diligence. They were upfront with the city.

O

um None of our projects have affordable housing components, um so um I want to put that right on the record. I know: councilman, donig and I have had discussions about that and uh but I'm hoping that the the greater good is served today by this proposal uh to bring back an historic property.

O

um Councilman Donegan asked me recently. If this project this owner would be looking for any type of tax stabilization agreement, uh we are not, uh they are, they are prepared to move forward um and you know I think you have to look at you know at the point in time we are right. Now there are other developers who are taking step back, whether it's Fain Tower, whether it's a Superman building, whether it's the Pawtucket stadium and those all have a component of public financing.

O

We will be applying for historic tax credits, but that's separate apart from any tax relief, they're looking from the city of Cranston, so Brady Sullivan, um this you know the expression I like to use is you'll know what they'll do by what they've done. Okay and when you look at their portfolio their body of work, it's something that everybody in this city can get rally behind and get involved and support, and hopefully this council could with that long introduction. uh In anticipation, you might not want to hear a lengthy presentation.

O

I tried to jam it into my my remarks. I'll defer you manage your woman, we're ready to share more information answer any questions I'll be guided by you.

B

Thank you, Mr Murray, I, appreciate the information. I think a lot of us uh I think all of us have attended that site plan. I want to say we all. We all have that joint meeting. We have the information that was given to us um right through through uh the clerk's office, in terms of obviously the meeting that was coming before us on this docketed item.

B

So um if anybody would like to see or have any further discussion in terms of the presentation, please let me please let me know otherwise I'm fine with what we were given. However, it is open up for discussion at this point. I do see. Council member donigan has his hand up Sir. You have the floor. Thank.

I

You uh Madam chairwoman, uh not this, isn't and I. Don't have another question for for Mr Murray. We open for discussion now amongst the members.

I

um Thank you, Mr Murray, um so from from the outset, the developer was upfront that this wouldn't include, affordable, housing and you know I think we all recognize the dire necessity for more um actual, affordable housing in the city and and uh to be fair, we've seen more of that coming into the city in the past. What four months than I think in any other been in the first four years that it was on the council, so uh the city is making progress in that regard.

I

um I I do feel that this is a missed opportunity to introduce more um affordable units into the city, but I do think that overall, the the increase of by 129 units it is a net positive and and from a historical standpoint.

I

You know this is this: is a property and general area that really was at the heart um you know of industrialization in Rhode Island, along with in in Pawtucket, but also kind of the you know the culture one of the cultural and economic centers of of the city and uh whether it's the churches in the area or the row houses that are still there for the workers, uh the governor's break Mansion.

I

So the opportunity to see this property preserved and reused and revitalized for you know, 21st century purposes is, is a I think a reason to support it. um So for that reason, despite my very um biting my tongue but uh I'm disappointed, it doesn't including affordable, but I I do think. In the end, it's a net positive, so um I'm gonna be supporting it this evening.

B

Thank you, sir. Are there any other council member papalaskis thank.

X

You uh chairwoman, while I'm not on the committee tonight, uh to vote I'm happy to be the sponsor of this ordinance and certainly uh we'll support it at the full Council. For uh many of the reasons that councilmember Donegan spoke of um you know, I've, probably driven by this place. I think we all have hundreds, if not thousands of times it's a property that deserves to be saved. It has a lot of history in Cranston um and I.

X

Think we're at the time where, if we don't save it, it's never going to be saved, I mean you can see one of the pictures there's a tree growing out of the roof that they just showed on the TV there. So I think it's uh it's a it's an opportunity to um create jobs too and help the jobs that are in the area.

X

um This Potter of Cranston, Street and Dyer Avenue is kind of at the footstep tonight, so where we have a lot of restaurants and delis and shopping um and all of those are within walking distance to this, this will make our city more walkable as well. This project um so certainly support it. I have one request: nothing going in writing for the developer, but to hear I'll I'll say it. I'll say it when we were taking the tour I noticed the flagpole donated by the Boy Scouts or the plaque, the plaque's 47 years old.

X

If there's a chance to save it, I'm sure the scouts that put it up 47 years ago will appreciate it when they come back to visit or maybe possibly um live there. So that's my only uh comment on that, but um thank you, madam champ. For the time.

B

Great, thank you any other questions or comments or concern counsel, woman Jermaine. Thank you.

A

Madam chair um so I always upload. You know the businesses that come into grandson to bring new life and this complex um been there for a long time and not really news, but um I have many constituents that email me that say you know one thing that we really need in in Queenstown.

A

We need housing, affordable housing, but I'm a little bit disappointed to he there's none of those houses affordable at all, so I think we should I, don't know the question for the developer or the Anthony Murray why there was any uh concession negotiation to have at least one or two affordable housing.

B

Mr Murray, if you would like to come up for that, um to provide a yeah.

O

Response I appreciate councilman germain's question or comment. um I've tried to describe this Myriad of ways. um It's just not something that Brady Sullivan does in their business model.

O

Okay, they bring good clean, Redevelopment, new housing, housing opportunities for people, whether it's young professionals, whether it's uh you know in uh and I, don't want to bore you and not bore you, but I don't want to go through the the difficulties of re-tooling, this Mill to create housing opportunities that that one apartment will be the same as another just because of corners and poles and everything else.

O

um This is a substantial project that involves a lot of creativity and foresight, and we have the premier Mill redeveloper in New England, ready to start um to you know from day one they said respectfully. We do not do affordable housing. So um it's not an act of disrespect. It's just that. If there's a maybe another developer who came along and wanted to do this Redevelopment, maybe they would include affordable housing, but um the you know the executive director of the Cranston Housing Authorities on the Planning Commission.

O

He was at the Planning Commission meeting last week when they unanimously supported this changes on ordinance and when we're talking about the size of capital investment into this project, um he questioned whether or not the developer could support the cost of the project if they were required to have affordable housing. He's the executive director of the Housing Authority.

O

So that's the um that's the give and take of the economics of the project, um but um if we want Brady Sullivan to go forward with this, we have to take a leap of faith with them that this will be a very special project, special result and still provide 129 units of new housing and councilman donegan's Ward that aren't there today and, if you're familiar with their other Rhode Island projects, whether it's American, tourister or Anthony, Mills or U.S rubber in Providence, particularly in light of the covid experience more people working from home.

O

This will be an epicenter of a lot of new energy and activity for Ward 3 and the Knightsville area and I'm asking and Brady Sloan's asked you asking the this Council to say we know. Affordable housing is a consideration.

O

Please support this um because if you want Brady Sullivan to do the project, um that's that's the that's the portfolio they're putting forward this evening.

B

A

You Mr Murray. Thank you for the explanation. So I asked the question: it's not because I'm not in support of it. So um I said it before I am. If you live in Queensland, you have the money to afford a 500 000 home. We have to be able to offer that in the same time, if you live in Queenston, you have to be able to offer a 1500.

A

You have to have it so I'm all for development, but at the same time I like to see also everyone can be in for inclusively, can be if for something in this city. So that's why the question was asked, but I all um I will be in support of the uh ordinance change. Thank.

O

B

Thank you. Anyone else on uh any council members have any additional questions comments.

B

Right director, would you like to add? Yes, please.

M

Just want to pass along uh the May Hopkins has been working closely with the people with Brady Sullivan had conversations with them. um This is one tremendous opportunity for the city of Cranston: it's not just 129 housing units.

M

um This is a business decision. I think everyone here is making, and that was a decision that was going through the mayor's head. Ideally, yes, we would want to see it at an affordable housing component. We all would, but if it doesn't fit into this business model, we understand that.

M

um Not only do we have the opportunity to have a terrific uh housing complex it will, as as Mr Murray indicated, it will totally change the landscape of Knightsville and into the Arlington section and the Cosman Donegan is wearing.

M

It sees the big picture there, certainly and he's a major proponent of affordable housing, and we compliment him for also seeing that, because what it means for the not just the people in that area, but for the city of Cranston uh they'll, be on the tax rolls, obviously that, as a as contributing you know, to help us out would go needless to say and Brady Sullivan is not just a developer, their Class Act I think is. If you go on the internet, look at any of their properties.

M

um They are superb properties, well maintained and they do deliver. So this is probably the last chance for the city to make something of that facility there. That really is downtrodden and um and bladed, and we have the opportunity to completely change the Outlook of that I feel everyone's on board, but I want to say that the mayor has been working, encouraging Brady Sullivan into the City, and uh we certainly uh hope we see that construction uh sometime next year. Thank you.

B

Thank you, director, Moretti Council woman, rinduli hi.

Y

Thank you first I just would like the record to show that I'm present, um my apologies for being late um and I, want to say thank you for this wonderful presentation. I have been following it closely since it was first presented. I do live in the area and Drive by Print Works every day, and my kids ask every day. What is that we go through what what it was and I said. What is it going to be and I know that affordable housing is important to all of us.

Y

It's important to me as well and I do wish that there was an affordable housing component, um but that's an ideal situation. We have to sometimes think about the cost of development, and sometimes the cost of a certain place doesn't lend to the affordable housing Factor.

Y

um But this is still going to be 129 units of housing that maybe perhaps there's going to be families who are downsizing, who are who are going to go from their homes to to come to these apartments, and then new families in the area are going to be able to buy those homes, and we go around in a circle and I think that it's very important that you know we support this development, otherwise losing the opportunity.

Y

So I want to thank the developer for adding more housing stock to the city of Cranston and for um it's going to be a great compliment to to Knightsville and the Redevelopment that the mayor has proposed for that area. Thank you.

B

Any other council members council, president Mourinho.

K

Thank you, I know we're running short on time, so I'll keep my comments brief this evening. um I want to say that um we've had this discussion in the past as a council and the administration as well about the need for affordable housing. With that said, you know this project has been in in theory and development in the works for some time.

K

The fact that you're, not looking to have a tax stabilization agreement is something that's welcoming to offset the fact that there isn't an affordable housing component to it and I'm, not naive to the delicate financial and economic times that we are in right now, as a as a state city and Country so I understand, there are certain economic risks with the development of this size and the improvements that you're looking to put here are something that I think very eagerly awaited by many um I've I'm old enough to have, even in my adult years, been around when that plant was operational and I've, seen it in its Decline and I'm.

K

Looking forward to the improvements that you're going to bring to that property. Thank you.

B

Thank you, council president, any other council members, I sure, council, member Riley.

H

um Like everyone has said, this is going to be a beautiful project for the city um and as far as the affordable housing component, I think that a developer coming in and putting in 129 units into the city does far more for the overall affordability through Natural Market forces than just putting two or three. You know token units in for considering affordable housing, so I think a major project like this. We can't we can't pass it up.

H

um Not only is it a landmark in the city and bringing back some beautiful buildings, but we're definitely adding to the housing stock, which will naturally help the affordability of the city.

B

Thank you all right. Any other council members I'd like to add to this discussion right, seeing that and there are no other council members. I'll also I'll, add my um comments on here.

B

um Thank you to the Sullivan group as well, so everyone involved in this project, um echoing the fact that council member Donegan had mentioned and a few other council members in terms of no affordable housing, is a little disappointed.

B

However, uh also echoing what council president had mentioned looking at the financial times and the strains that we also face um here in in the city and nationally, we also have to make sure that we're doing what's up to best interest for for the city um and, having said that, I only have one quick question actually to Mr. Murray are some of those trees being cut down now, given the fact that we're talking about trees.

O

May be some along Dyer Avenue, but I don't think there are many there's Mike Smith Planning Commission was very concerned about a large tree in the back towards the top of the screen and we've committed that that's not going anywhere um there because, obviously we're working with the existing Builders. So there's no trees to worry about there. I I'm not sure about the one coming out of the roof, but um the.

B

I think we can donate that one.

O

To Congress am I correct: where are there a lot of trees, we're moving or okay Mike malinowski? Our project Junior just said that there are no specimen trees that we're removing so.

B

It's fine. Thank you. Thank you very much um and I'll be in support of this. This project this evening to the clerk. Can you please take the role on this.

J

B

Thank you motion pass on to the next item on the agenda. That is a great evening on to the next item on the agenda, and that is 2-23-04 that is ordinance and amendment of chapter 15, of the code of the city of Cranston 2005, entitled buildings and construction, LED safe home, sponsored by councilman done again it's co-sponsored by Cosmo Benjamin. This was continued from the March 16 2023 meeting. It is up before it's gonna have a motion to approve the movie. The second motion.

G

B

All right, we have a motion to continue. Is there a second on that? Second, all right can any discussion on that. Seeing on clerk, can you please take the role on that? Please.

J

B

Can I actually.

L

B

For the next meeting correct.

L

Madam chair, you have a pending motion to approve. First, okay,.

B

So, there's a motion to continue all right, so I'm sorry can whomever did the emotion to approve. Please.

H

B

Now we have the other motion and that is to continue for the next ordinance committee meeting in May through the clerk. Can you please take the role on that.

J

B

Thank you next item on the agenda is 2-23-06 and that is ordinance and amendment of Title IX, chapter 9.08.062 of the code of the city of Cranston 2005, entitled public peace, morals and Welfare notice, requirements for removal and pruning of trees. That is sponsored by councilman Donegan Council. Vice president embargas and council president just Marino that it was continued from the March 16 20.

B

23 meetings. Sorry, that is scribblers, are on the docket and can I have a motion to approve.

F

B

All right, I have a motion in a second any discussion.

B

Council president Mourinho.

K

um Thank you in discussions with the administration and discussions with Council vice president Vargas I have some amendments that uh would likely satisfy all the concerns that were discussed at the previous meeting. With that being said, I would ask that the motion to approve be withdrawn and that we entertain a motion to amend and I will set forth. Those amendments.

G

I, wouldn't throw my emotion. Thank you, sir.

K

Okay, I will make a motion to amend second.

B

Discussion: councilwoman council president Mourinho.

K

Thank you, okay, beginning on line 20 nine, but we will start reading on line 28 Rose of uh I apologize to the clerk. There's going to be a lot. If you have any questions after I'll answer them for you, okay notice on the tree, and we will replace should with Xiao, which is on line 29.

K

continue with the word indicate and then we will add, add in the email and mailing address of the tree, Warden comma, the deadline for written objection, comma. If no written objection, objections, comma there will be no hearing period.

K

We will strike the remaining language on line 29 continue on to line 30 and strike tree Warden telephone number and email.

K

Continuing with the amendment we will insert at line 32 after the word notice, so it will read the tree. Warden shall hold the public hearing and give reasonable notice.

K

By email or if no email by regular mail of the date comma time, comma and location, and then it will continue as it reads to all those persons and we will insert after persons.

K

Comma firms corporations objecting in writing within the time prescribed period, and then we will strike again at the end of line 32.

K

who are, and we will strike the entire line of 33.

K

We will strike the word vicinity on line 34..

K

It will then go to line 35.

K

And that sentence then we'll read within seven days of the hearing comma, the tree Warden shall render his or her decision granting or denying the appeal and notify- and this is where the changes after the word notify we will add in all those persons firms corporations having objected in writing of said, final decision of the tree Warden period.

K

Then we will strike on line 35.

K

the remainder of that line.

K

We will then strike lines 36 through 38 and we will insert the following sentence.

K

At the city council, Public Works committee meeting each month, the tree Warden shall provide a list of trees removed, comma, identifying the location of each tree removed period, and that is it for the amendment.

B

B

Any council members have any discussion questions on this.

B

Council member done again.

I

Could the council president repeat that.

I

B

If there's no council member Jermaine, it's.

A

Not this really substantial uh amendment. Can we we advertise.

B

Or that would be a question through our city solicitor. It's not that substance! Absolutely we'll take a second on that.

B

You can always say something nice, sir. Thank.

M

You I would like to say something nice, uh first of all great ordinance uh proposed by the folks, and it was a pleasure working uh with you, councilwoman and council president to amend it into a very practical format, and it was the way things should work and the Administration very much appreciates uh uh working collaboration. Thank.

B

You I take it that the administration supports this I, appreciate that once again, uh through uh Felicia radekia.

C

Yes, I've conferred with uh solicitor Angel and these changes as councilman uh Donegan pointed out. Oh I'm, sorry councilman Germaine. Let me give credit where it's still um are very substantive, so we believe the proper way forward would be to do this vote on the motion to amend okay, but then it should be re-advertised, because these are very substantial changes, and this way we can have uh public comments on these rather significant changes. Yeah.

E

B

Right so councilman down again councilman.

I

What wouldn't the advertising for the full Council satisfy the need for reposting.

D

L

Sorry because it's such a substantive change, um my recommendation would be to take the vote on the change, okay and re-advertise the change, so the public can wrestle with the language. That's the appropriate way to do it through advertisement.

B

Okay, councilwoman Rizzoli attorney.

Y

Angel I, just before I sit back down I'm just curious. Aren't we supposed aren't we doing what we're supposed to do in ordinance like make changes that are, can be substantial and then they are re-advertised as part of the full council meeting to council donkins point this they're going to people are going to have the opportunity to talk about these changes there and.

L

Then we can just we can talk about them tonight. They can talk about them there. What is important is that the ordinance itself, as amended, is re-advertised so that people can see it.

Y

Okay, so it doesn't need to be at another.

L

Oh that's accomplished: it doesn't need to stay in this committee to have it re-advertised.

Y

Okay, then, that's more clear to.

W

Y

B

Okay, all right any other council members have any questions before we vote on this uh mended motion. No, all right through the clerk can we please take Evo on the motion.

J

Lots of Vice President Vargas, yes, councilman Germaine, yes, councilwoman Rizzoli,.

Y

J

Cosmic Ferry, yes, Cosby done again. Yes,.

F

J

H

J

Constant president Reno, yes.

B

Thank you so um map motion passed. Do we have to do a motion now to have this continued um attorney? Angel? No, okay,.

L

You can send it out to the full Council as long as the amended ordinance is what is advertised perfect.

B

Thank you all right.

B

Next item we did public hearings already, so we took that out of order. We are now going to section 2B, and that is new matters before the committee.

L

Madam chair, you have to vote on the on the ordinance as amended and send it out. I'm sorry motion.

Y

To approve the ordinance as amended second.

B

Any discussion none clear clerk. Can you please take a role on that.

J

Council vice president Vargas, yes possible, Jermaine; yes, yes, Cosmic Ferry,.

F

J

Riley, that's the president. Yes,.

B

Thank you all right now we're moving forward with the new matters before the committee first item I have under new matters before is 2-2301 ordinance. Amendment 2 chapter 17 of the code of the city of Cranston 2005, entitled zoning change of Zone zero, Plainfield, Pike AP 36 lots a and 37 sponsored by councilman campobiano.

B

Is there a motion to approve motion to approve? Second, the discussion.

B

Councilman compobiano.

Z

Thank you much Madam chair vice president, um although I don't have a vote in this on this audience, uh I am the sponsor and it is an excellent use for that property. It's not a big change from what it's known now and uh I urge approval.

B

Thank you. No other council members have any questions or comments at all through cleric. Can you please take a vote.

J

Council vice president Vargas, yes class women Japan, yes,.

A

J

Ferry, yes, yes,.

B

Thank you second item before us is 223-02.

B

And that is ordinance and amendment of chapter 17, of the quote of the city of Cranston 2005, entitled zoning change of Zone 35 Carlsbad Street plot 7, lot, 3141 and zero Carlsbad Street plot seven lot 3744. This is sponsored by councilman, danik and interior motion to approve to approve.

B

Second, thank you discussion, I, see council member donegan's hand up.

I

Thank you, chairwoman. um The uh the people at Taco uh reached out to me and asked me to sponsor this after meeting with them at the property, taking a visit walking through the property, um yeah I I have no objection.

B

Thank you, sir. Is there any other questions for the committee I see that there's someone that's before us is this someone councilman Donegan that you've.

B

AA

Good evening, good evening, members of the committee attorney Amy Goins here tonight on behalf of Taco I um I, don't want to speak too long. You can hear my voice and I know you have some other business ahead of you. I just want to clarify that the ordinance committee will uh we're respectfully requesting your approval and of the revised ordinance that we submitted, which does allow for an increased height of 65 feet for efficient space utilization of this manufact manufacturing and warehousing facility.

B

Would you like.

AA

Yes, ursillo tights and Rich to Williams Street, Providence, Rhode Island.

B

All right, thank you. The earning questions from the committee members or council members, as you say, on this item, all right. Seeing none, please take a role through the clerk.

J

Castle vice president Vargas.

B

Yes, housewoman.

J

Jermaine, yes, yes,.

AA

J

G

J

Casper Raleigh Reno, yes,.

B

Thank you thank.

J

D

B

You ma'am next item is 3-23-02 ordinance, amendment of title 10, chapter 32 of the quote of the city of Cranston 2005, entitled motor vehicles and traffic; no parking commercial vehicles, Kenwood Street, both sides. This is sponsored by Mayor, Hopkins and councilman Ferry. Is there a motion to approve motion to approve second discussion council member Ferry.

G

Yes, uh I'd asked like to ask our I.T person um Mr Lima, to please put the uh pictures up that I sent him.

G

So what we're talking about very quickly is the fact that I've been dealing with um attorney Laplante and Lang's bowlerama over the last three months, and they have been opposing the parking that exists in front of their businesses to the point where uh trucks are being maintained, tires are being changed, oil is being changed, trucks are left there for days at a time and basically we we have not enforced the two-hour parking ordinance as it stands now so very eloquently.

G

uh Maternity Laplante has helped me write an ordinance that will eliminate commercial Trucking on Kenwood Street in front of his business. If you could show a picture of his offices by the way that right there, he this is his office that he moved from Providence to Kenwood Street, and he has to deal with the fact that those trucks are parked in front of his office days at a time of interfering with his business and Langs.

G

So we're going to eliminate commercial Trucking on Kenwood, Street and I'm gonna make um a slight change on the um ordinances or reads um Madam clerk I would like to change line 31 to.

G

Oh, do I have to make the motion first. Can I just give her that information now.

B

G

Yeah we did have a motion to approve.

B

Meant I can withdraw my motion to approve and then can we have a motion to.

Y

One minute.

B

Please motion to amend.

G

B

I'd like to thank you any discussion, councilman Ferry, I'd.

G

Like to change line 31 to read poll number nine instead of poll number 11.

G

and I'd like to change line 32 to read 900 feet instead of 1100 feet,.

G

The reason for this is to give Restaurant Depot a chance to let their trucks pull up at three or four or five o'clock in the morning and wait to unload, and they would not be in violation of the code and both attorney Laplante and Lang's. Bolarama is in agreement with this, so I urge passage of this. No commercial vehicles um ordinance to help these businesses do their business and not be interfered with the obvious um violations that are taking place. If you look at those pitches. Thank you.

B

Thank you. So you have a motion in the council member done again.

I

Thank you um I'll just say something very quickly now and then be done. um It's a two-hour ordinance was something that I had introduced years ago when I first got on the council.

I

um After talking with some of the other businesses that were there, they asked me to do that, and that was the solution that we saw at the time and it clearly hasn't um it hasn't uh rectified the the situation. So I appreciate uh councilman Ferry as well as the the businesses there. um This is atrocious. They shouldn't have to deal with this.

I

Our part of the city shouldn't have to deal with this, just because it's along the highway doesn't make it right and I hope that it will be enforced to the strictest way possible, because they've had plenty of chances.

B

Thank you any other discussion, councilwoman Rizzoli I.

Y

Would just like to thank thank councilman, Ferry and the mayor for bringing this forward. um I do agree that councilman Donegan I know he brought a solution and it was not working so I appreciate that they could work together with the businesses in order to try and fix this problem, um put a monetary amount to the violation.

Y

Sometimes you know money talks and I'm I'm, hoping that this will work if um it would be. Okay with the sponsor I would like to be added as a co-sponsor as well.

G

Certainly councilman Downing. Would you like to be out as a co-sponsor.

B

Thank you, council president Mourinho thank.

K

You similarly I want to be added as a co-sponsor if you would be so kind that'd be great. um I wanted to thank councilman, Ferry and I wanted to thank um attorney Laplante for being very proactive in coming up with solution. You know oftentimes, as council members, we just experience the complaints and not the solution, end of it.

K

So we appreciate you working hand in hand, and we appreciate the administration and the police department and helping to come up with that solution, and this is egregious- and we hope that this helps remedy the problem and if not, we all want to hear about that too. So, thank you and I'll gladly support this.

B

Thank you. Does the administration want to add okay direct him already? Yes,.

M

Please um I don't know if it matters, but yes, the administration would certainly welcome anyone to correspond to this uh particular. The mayor wanted me to particularly mention there's a gratitude to councilman Ferry attorney Laplante. Yes, it's a it's a mess over there and we pledge our support from the police department to um enforce this well-deserved, well-merited uh ordinance. Thank.

B

You thank you so there's a motion to um to amend any further discussion through the clerk. Can you please take a roll on the motion to amend? Please.

J

Council vice president, yes, councilman Germaine, yes, yes, husband died again. Yes, Cosmo Riley cause Arena. Yes, thank.

B

You now we need a motion to approve it's a motion to approve motion to approve second discussion.

B

I just had a quick question. Those tires that we see in the pictures I might be out of derailing. Are those tires that are just in the city.

G

They just change tires and leave them there. Okay, they're using it as a truck. Stop basically um I have you said, is any discussion I like to thank attorney Murray for helping out with this? Also thank.

B

You all right I'll, move away from that, instead of derailing, so we have a motion to approve in a second any further discussion, not through the clerk. Can you please take payroll on this.

J

Council vice president Vargas, yes, Council of engineering, yes, councilman Rizzoli, yes, Prosper Ferry,.

G

J

Husband done again: Casper Raleigh Marino, yes,.

B

Thank you on to the next item. It is 3-23-03 that is ordinance and amendment of title 10, chapter zero, four section: zero: three: zero of the code of the city of Cranston 2005, entitled motor vehicles and traffic penalties for traffic violations. This is sponsored by Mayor, Hopkins and councilman Ferry.

B

Is there a motion to approve motion to approve? Second? Is there any discussion seeing none Council through the clerk? Can you please take a vote.

J

Council vice president Vargas, yes,.

F

J

Rizzoli, yes, class women, Germaine, yes, cosplay Ferry,.

G

I

John again, yes,.

J

President Reno, yes, okay,.

B

Thank you on to the other next item on the agenda. It is 3-2304 ordinance and amendment of title 10, chapter 8, section 0, 9, 0 of the code of the city of Cranston 2005, entitled motor vehicles and traffic all night parking prohibited. This is sponsored by councilwoman. Jermaine. Is your emotion to prove.

I

Motion to approve.

B

We have a second.

B

Second, discussion.

B

Right if councilwoman Jermaine.

A

Thank you chairman.

A

Oops, sorry I'm, sorry, um this ordinance I presented this ordinance I, withdraw it and I get back and I make it some suggestion with the constituents and some and get it much better.

A

um That's why I am introducing again today so based on the emails that I received. One thing I want to mention for the public is most of the people. The overnight parking ban affect, do not have the luxury to come here before you tonight, because those people are the people who mostly have two jobs to make ends meet that can even make it.

A

Those people are the one who do not have child care to stay with their loved one. So it's not because they don't care they email me.

A

They say we need to do something. So that's why I'm going to read some emails is not my word but I'm gonna read those people who cannot be here tonight.

A

So this is those email, I'm gonna read the couples not but a lot, but just a couple of emails I'm going to wait for you, so you can hear them because, as I promise, I will be their voice.

A

I live on. Urban Street in Queenston I am reaching out to you today about overnight parking in the city. I know that there is no overnight parking in the city of Cranston. However, I have lived in Queenston my whole life and in my current house for a year, never has anyone. Ticketed me for overnight parking.

A

In the past week, my roommate and I have been ticketed twice by the same officer. At the same time of night, I have family who live too sweet over on wood, Bean Suite, where the whole Suite is line lined with cause overnight and I, have never seen a ticket on the street.

A

It's very frustrating to feel like our street is specifically targeted. I know they have all right to ticket us I. Just don't know why it's so selective is there any way concern could bring forth and overnight parking permit tag. Thank you. For your time.

A

A second person I live on Talman Ave in Queenston, and the police apparently went on an overnight ticketing spree in my neighborhood I have lived in here for 12 years, and this has never happened on my street in the past.

A

I do understand that there is a law on the books against overnight street parking and I will pay my ticket accordingly. However, it would have been nice if a warning could have been even that the police were suddenly going to police something that hadn't been any issue for 12 plus years.

A

It's unfortunate that this is how the city decided to make some extra money right before the holidays. There were probably 15 ticket calls on my street alone.

A

I am fortunate enough that a 25 ticket won't break the bank for me, but there are obviously people for whom even 25 is an issue, especially this time of the year, never mind I just received your other email. It sounds like this proposal isn't going to be helpful in my neighborhood in particular, where most of us have single family homes on wide neighborhood street. It's unfortunate. The city refuses to give up its money maker by pretending it has to do with safety.

A

How on Earth, do police cause ambulances and fire trucks navigate the overnight Suite of Warwick with cars park on them willy-nilly?.

A

Good morning, just to let you know that we got ticketed for overnight parking last night, I have two cars driveways and two cars apart on the street, except during snow days. We were okay for slightly over a year, but it seems that police is again hitting an unpop neighborhood can. Finally, something can be done about this issue.

A

The town is growing and laws enacted back in times when most family has one or two cars are no longer constructive.

A

Good afternoon my name I, don't I'm, not gonna, say the name and I am a resident of Queenstown in the urban neighborhood as a first-time homeowner of a duplex on Richard Street, just a few doors down from where my parents live when their my brother and I were babies. Finally, the parking situation with the other household that lives in the home has been somewhat challenging to the driveway wide only accommodating one car.

A

This morning, I came out to my car, which was back on the street directly in front of my house to a parking ticket, while I have since learned that packing of an eye on the street is prohibited in the city. There is no signage. That said this, the only parking related sign on this street reflect that it's one hour parking up until 6 00 pm on weekdays. Nothing is mentioned about overnight parking, while I will pay the fine per the ordinance.

A

Is there any plan within the city council to revisit the issue of enough of overnight parking Prohibition in Queenston the pain causes and an undue burden on many residents, especially those who live in multi-family homes and who may be lower income than neighbors who can afford homes with wider drivers? Last one good morning.

A

My apology is in advance if this email is a little all over the place, but out of complete frustration, I am not sure where to start or who to speak to a few months, back I had seen an article I believe in the Clinton Hill, where you had spoken out about overnight parking fees in Queenstown, then I saw a post you made in the inquestion. Facebook group is passing your frustration I own, a home on Manola Street, where my husband daughter, 19 years old son, 10 years mother-in-law and myself reside a few things to note.

A

My daughter is a student. At week we have her staying with us instead of living on campus to keep her out of debt. My mother-in-law stays with us to help with my special needs son. He has heartism and it also a type 1 diabetic.

A

He cannot be left unattended and needs constant supervision, medical attention, which helps significantly with me being able to continue working and my husband works full time and we need all the assistance we can get. This leads to the issue at hand. We have two parking space available in our driveway, which place is my husband and mother-in-law. Park I would in front of our home.

A

This does not cause an issue with minimal space on our street as no one Parks adjacent to them and leaves plenty of room, sorry and love, and and leave plenty of warms, both ways of traffic and emergency vehicles to safely past you, the parking ticket have been getting more frequent.

A

I would like to know if there is any way I can contribute in helping this come to an end, with the cost of living already being outrageous in every aspect of life. We do not need the extra expense so again, if there is any way I can help get this problem alleviated. Please let me know, as I am more than happy to help. Thank you.

A

So this is a couples of letters I receive, and that's why this issue is so, and there is more emails. More and more I just take a couples. A lot of people cannot be here. I know that we like to see the house full of people, and then we can take a decision.

A

Although I understand the pushback from the administration about allowing permits for overnight parking I strongly believe that the overnight parking ban is an equity and Injustice issue.

A

Does it make sense to allow packing for two hours, not for four hours?

A

One of the recalling arguments has been public safety issues I understand, but when looking at these arguments, such as the band making it easier to detect abandon in stolen vehicles, this does not stand because the police department has a camera system in place to identify stolen vehicles.

A

If we go to the issue of emergency vehicles, access and response time, I wonder how we can explain that it is more difficult for fire trucks and ambulances to access this street when it's empty, with no pedestrians at night, then, during the day when cars park on both sides of the street and crowded, it is my belief that we need to do something to ease the financial burden on people who are more, who are the most impacted by this unjust law that has been in place since 1969., so no 1969, there has a lot of thing that wasn't allowed a lot.

A

Okay, segregation was just: we had just passed the law to end segregation to have voting white for black people and he wasn't really done so. I know change is hard. We all live with, what's gonna happen, but change is necessary and we need colleges, brave people to make change together and that's what I believe together we can make change so those people who email me that asking each one of you not me, particularly each one of you to do something if Warwick, if Newport, if Providence and so many more City, do it.

A

Why can't we donde high five? Don't they have ambulances?

A

Why can't we so I urge I urge each and every one of you to be on this side of Justice equality and equity? Thank you.

L

B

Chair, thank you. Council.

L

Madam chair, if I may in the future, just so that the council is reminded it's a structural part of every agenda. That written comment can be submitted to the clerk by a certain deadline before the meeting, so that those comments in the written documents can be put into the record and provided to the council members or committee members in advance of the meeting so that their voices can be heard. This Council has had that mechanism since I've sat here.

B

Thank you, solicitor um actually so to uh councilman Jermaine. Do you mind submitting that to the clerk.

A

B

A

And then obviously, we're can I forward the email to all of.

B

You priority to the clerk I think that would be the best way. I.

A

Would do that over tonight and.

B

Then, obviously, for all of us as an FYI.

A

Yes, yes, thank you.

B

Steve Angel provided us, yes, um yeah I think having an email that, yes.

A

Thank you yes, yes. Thank you. Thank.

B

You are there at this time. Thank you. Are there any other? um Any council members who would like to speak on this ordinance come before us this evening.

B

Okay, councilman down again sorry, Cosman, Donnie I, think I need to put a bell over there, mura, I'm, sorry I can't see you I'm gonna put that'll push for. Add sir. You have the floor. You.

I

Guys are going to want to throw the bell at me before the end of each night, so careful what you wish for um I uh I I, want to thank councilwoman Jermaine for for working on this um be I, think the first.

I

This is what, for you like year, four five on the council, the first maybe three years.

I

um The comments that I received from constituents were predominantly people who wanted greater enforcement of the overnight parking ban and I I'm not going to try and quantify it, but it was they were in the majority the past two years. It has been um overwhelmingly people reaching out who are affected by the overnight parking ban and I.

I

Think, given the area that I represent, which is fairly similar to Ward, to probably not probably even it is even more densely populated, um it uh impacts those families and um and I agree that it is something that I I don't quite understand. Why we? Why we can't do it um I, don't think our answer should a reasonable answer should should never be well. We just can't do it um I think that we look around the country. Other cities can do it. We look around the the state. Other cities can do it.

I

Might it take a little bit more work? Yes, um but I think that we um we should be able to get to a place collaboratively collaboratively.

I

You know what I'm trying to say um uh where we can. We can make this happen um and I hope that we can. We can get there, but thank you councilman.

B

Councilman Fieri and we have councilman Rizzoli, sorry I, wasn't sure who raised her hand. First thank.

Y

You um I I'm I, also have received a lot of complaints about not being able to park, but when we originally came the first time to discuss this, maybe it was the end of the last session.

Y

um I think there was discussion that the current DPW director said we needed to know what it was going to cost in order to analyze what streets this would work on based on the width of the streets regardless, if we're parking on one side only I think that that was a concern. We don't currently that DPW director is no longer with us to speak, but I know that attorney Angel also expressed some knowledge of this fact as well.

Y

um I, don't see that present I, don't see a fiscal note with this I. Don't I acknowledge that this is a problem, but I, don't know how we fix it with simply this ordinance, because this is going to take more than just there's a lot of streets in Cranston, so the DPW department is not necessarily equipped to go around and say which roads can do this and which can so I, don't know.

Y

If, maybe perhaps the planning director has any insight on this and he is present today, so perhaps no okay, he says no so I, just I, don't know how we necessarily go forward as this stands.

Y

um I do agree that there is an issue. um I would also like to say that, as this stands, there is language that would have to be changed just concerning um a valid driver's license. This would also have to say driver's privilege card. Thank you.

B

Thank you, council, member Ferry. Yes,.

G

um I would like to acknowledge that there are a lot of issues that go along with this ordinance and for me, the one on the top of the list would be garbage pickup because I'm the type of person, if somebody parks in front of my house on garbage day, that's a big No-No so in snow plowing is an issue.

G

The fact that we're not getting the support from the public safety officials, that's an issue and the fact that the administration is not behind. It is an issue, so there are many issues behind it, but just saying no is not enough: it's not enough!

G

There are, if you walk to Ward three ward, two or Ward one during the campaign. People were constantly chatting about this I had 50 conversations about this and I've got 30 more emails to go along with it. So it is an issue for people that live in this city that have children that have moved back home. They need a place to park and we're not making any effort to give them any compromise to do it on some streets to do a trial. The answer is just nope. We can't do it sorry, move on.

G

Let's talk about something else, it's not enough! So I know the issues are bad I know it's a problem, it'll be a problem where I live, especially with garbage pickup, but the bottom line is I'll support this because it's better than not supporting anything. Thank you.

B

Thank you, councilmember Riley,.

H

Thank you, John I tend to agree with councilman Ferry on this. This some places this works in the city, some places it doesn't and we can't sit here and say just one yes or no, if you say yes, you're you're, it's an injustice and you're a bad person. But if you say no, it's it's a problem in and of itself. We need a compromise on this. There are certain streets that this will work on in in Ward, six I get the complete opposite.

H

People complain about it because more and more people are parking on the streets. It's a suburb. They don't want parking on the street. It takes away from the neighborhood aspect of things and there isn't. There are driveways enough to fit the cars there. So it's an opposite of the problem. So just one broad stroke doesn't fix this problem either way.

H

um I think in down in one two and three, the driveways are smaller. They were built at a different time and there needs to be some recognition of that. So I think it has to be a larger project and I. Think, like councilman Ferry said it needs to be a compromise.

B

Council, member popular skis and then I'll say.

X

If you will thank you, uh Madam chair um I certainly see both sides of this. You know I I, remember when councilman McCauley at the time brought it up and his his line was the year of the family station wagon is over right, so we can't fit. If you have four cars in your house, you really can't fit.

X

It then I also pivot back to hearing Public Safety when they were here the police chief having the concern of identifying stolen cars at night time, because now there's more cars on the street and then also the fire chief. You know talking about if there's a fire in a building- and they have to you- know- put the Outriggers to put up the ladder. If there are cars parked there, they might not be able to put the ladder up on the fire truck quick enough. God forbid. They have to save someone so I I.

X

Think of that too I mean I'm sure there is a solution that we can work around. I do uh remember talking about the survey councilwoman Rizzoli brought that up and then mentioned the planning department. I didn't even think of the aspect of planning weighing in on on this to see. If there's, maybe they have a solution. You know in that that has been brought up in City Planning in other towns too, but I certainly commend Council uh women's Germaine, for you know bringing this up and keep working on it.

X

I don't know what the solution is, but I'm certainly drawn just like councilman Ferry said about the public safety aspect. So that's a concern. Thank you.

B

Thank you council, president Mourinho. Thank you.

K

um To what many of us have said um and I'm sure I'm, not the only one who said this I know, I've said it publicly. If this was simple, this would have been solved a long time ago um to everyone's point. I know for myself, being city-wide I have heard an equal number and in all words, including one two and three more more one, I heard even complaints on both sides. I get complaints and emails of people saying there's vehicle they're working on it. Excuse me they're working on it on the street.

K

um It's staying there overnight, it's not supposed to be there.

K

um It's blocking my driveway um and then I hear the opposite side, where I've got people where their property is one where they don't have enough parking space um I compliment councilwoman Jermain, for you know, bringing forth this ordinance, but there is more discussion that needs in work that we can do to get this to a better place.

K

um The issue that that I have is that I I'm, not sure that we should have a one-size-fits all for the whole city. I, do think that an assessment as much as that's going to take time. I think it's important um and the implementation of this type of system. We need to be certain that we as a city have the tools and the Personnel to implement this type of system.

K

um I I think that it's giving um residents who are looking for a permit solution, I think that if we approve this tonight in this form that we're giving them a false sense of assurance that their problems are going to be solved with passage of this ordinance because I don't think we have the tools yet to do it um and I'm open to uh the discussion. Thanks.

B

Thank you I'm, going to add to that um I'm sorry! Is there any other council members council member done again and then I'll provide my two cents? Sorry.

I

um Two things I know: I, know you're here and I'm, not going to ask you to weigh in on the merits of overnight parking, um I'm, gonna, try and tap your GIS expertise. Is that something that the city could utilize? Would there be tools within GIS software, where we could measure without having you know, one of us to go out there with a with a ruler and measure the width of each street is.

B

That so we had a comprehensive plan.

B

It's just joking, just joking around.

AB

um Most of those layers exist in the gis system, in terms of uh roadway width and right-of-way width you'd have to cross check that with the Aerials and then do measurements it's time consuming, but it's uh it's possible to do with existing tools.

I

Thank you all right um and then the the only other thing that I would add is- um and this is a long-term thing right- it's not going to fix the issue, but there's a lot of cars on the street. And if we want less cars being parked on the street or less cars parked in the driveway, then we need to plan and build cities that are not so car dependent.

I

So we can try and make steps towards that by investing in the and ensuring the implementation of the transit 2040 plan, increasing our public transit building, more walkable cities. So that's a longer term strategy which we should all move towards. But um in the interim we got to figure something out.

B

Thank you, councilwoman Rin, Zuli, I,.

Y

Just want to say quickly that perhaps also I think some frustration that at least I hear, and it seems that councilman Jermaine conveyed is that um various streets are are getting ticketed and people don't know, necessarily that this is a thing so and it seems like a one street is one street? Isn't the I know that the police do not have time necessarily to always be enforcing this ordinance broadly, in the same way that you can be going 50 in a 25 and one day, you're gonna get ticketed and the next day you're.

Y

Not because there's someone, that's not there. That doesn't mean that you can now go 50 and you cannot expect to get ticketed for going 15 to 25.. You have to always expect that this is an issue, but perhaps it could be work with the colonel and the majors to have some type of warning system. Your first they can look up if someone has received a ticket at an address.

Y

So if it's now a warning and the information is given that you can call um the police to get a pass for certain period of time, if you know someone is staying with you or you're having you know, your driveway done or different issues, I think there is a way to warn people better so that they feel like it's being more equitably. You know you're getting tickets more equitably. That's it! Thank you.

B

All right, I'm, just gonna, add my um opinion on this.

B

I understand but I'm going to say, I want to talk, I haven't had a chance to talk, or you would have a chance to talk.

E

Right all right.

B

Definitely I agree with many of the council members who have spoken in terms of receiving emails on both sides, one in favor of we want overnight parking and two.

B

We don't want overnight parking, I've heard it and we want overnight parking because, particularly in um at least the weather, I represent I have areas that are very dense, that there are three family homes and we have all had that conversation imparted even this evening that, right now, if you have a car, it's probably either a necessity, not really more of a luxury Rhode Island, we don't have the subway, but we do have Ripta.

B

However, there are families that in a three family home or four, you may have two cars one for each spouse so forth, maybe possibly their kids. Then we have the same problem with the second floor and the third floor. So now there's no space because that house parking lot is very limited to the number of cars and so I've also experienced where I've actually firsthand have seen folks who live in a that more so dense community area, Pocket of Edgewood, where they're actually making money off of another neighbor.

B

They are actually removing trees, laying Asheville down and then charging 200 300 per vehicle to their neighbor or a few houses down the street because they actually have a bigger lot so their park. The folks can actually park there, so they can avoid overnight parking I've, also heard of folks who are complaining that they don't want overnight parking and some of the folks quite honest who have said to me. They don't want it.

B

They actually have a lot of parking in their house and so I don't understand those that are complaining that they don't want overnight parking that have ample parking because they have. It. I've also heard from folks that they don't want overnight parking because they like to walk their dog at six o'clock in the evening or 10 o'clock in the evening.

B

I should say, and they like to feel safe and know that no one's hiding behind the car well, it gets dark at four o'clock P.M on in December, so people can hide behind any car at that point and I I feel bad for those you know, I I want everybody to be safe.

B

Then I've also heard from folks saying: well, there is emergency vehicles that are going to have trouble going through the through the city in the middle of the night, because there's Parks cars park the middle night. What do we do in the daytime?

B

There's we don't we still get through those streets, so I think that there is you can justify on which side you take. There's there's argument on both sides um and I really wasn't joking when I said the comprehensive plan to the director pizulo, because to the point that council member Donegan said right, it's the transit plan and maybe reaching out to Ripta at that point.

B

I, don't want to derail but having a more accessible transportation in our side, but I feel that the ordinance, the way it's been presented before us definitely needs a lot more work on here. I can't support it. The way that it currently has come before us has other cities and towns gone through the same conversations we have yes city of Providence. Did that and it was I remember.

B

It was councilman luno who passed away a call with councilman Aponte and they started the whole parking permitting in the city of Providence and they went based on color permits and the way they work is. They have different color permits, depending on the actual Ward within the city, and there is a cost for those permit and the cars have to be registered and be up to date with their taxes.

B

And then those vehicles have to make have to go once a year and get a new again a new sticker all the time, and they have to go to the public safety complex to make sure that they purchase that sticker.

B

So there is a quest on making the stickers on the signage deciding which side of the street you do decide to actually park or not Park, but I've also heard from some constituents who said we shouldn't be paying for permit because we're paying a lot of taxes already to the city, and we have the right to park right in front of our house.

B

So there's there's a lot of work, of which this specific ordinance needs um and I'll be very transparent. I know that one point I was highly considering introducing a very similar, not similar, but in some ways it was to do with overnight parking, um but um I I also commend councilwoman Jermaine for bringing this up to the attention, but I think at some point collaboratively.

B

We can all work on what we can do, and one last thing I do want to say is there was a pilot program that was introduced to the city when council member staikos was on the council and it was to start off the pilot program with just a few streets and that was shut down by the council members.

B

So what I would at least say is if we're going to move forward or to have these conversations. We can possibly start off with the pilot program and see how that's working I'm, not saying that's the way that I'll move forward with, but I it's just one slate suggestion, oh and doing maybe a couple of streets throughout the different Wards, so there's Equity across, but this definitely needs a lot of a lot more work, councilwoman, Jermaine um and I'm open to additional suggestions or or ideas that come out of this um and I.

B

Don't think that Workshop really took place. That was also discussed in the previous term, but um I can't support this. The way this stands this evening, but thank you for submitting this overnight parking because I am receiving a lot of emails on both sides of the aisle.

B

Councilman Germaine, thank you.

A

um When it comes to so the Division I propose is an amendment, it's not something that comes out of the blue. Is it just an amendment of all existing ordinance? Just I mean I mean it. So that's the first question.

A

Secondly anytime you hear: let's get a study, that's the way to say we want to do it, but let's have a study and it can stay longer and longer and longer, and while people who are impacted continue to be impacted, I really in this audience of me with it, because nothing I made a lot of progress on that one to because there was a question that was um asked section: 091.

A

The city of Queenston shall issue on Street overnight parking permits on one side of residential Suite to applicants seeking additional parking if they meet the eligibility criteria.

A

So the criteria is display in the ordinance so just to follow the Clinton Department of Public Works shall designate the parking slot by using signage on one side of any Street, except so you know already where you will not have like a one-way Street State words in front of what the water hydrant in front of driveways.

A

So those are already there. So you know, if you go one sweet, you don't need to just take a random street and you know you cannot put a signage in front of Ohio driveway. You cannot put it in front of water hydrate. You cannot put it into. You know already said what you know one way already.

A

So this is the addition I had from the last version. I purpose.

A

No packing slot should be designated on the opposite side of any driveway.

A

So when it comes to trash, pickups I think that's the way I do it. My beans, just white across my driveway. That's why it is, and and and one thing.

A

We want to make a study to to spend more money and I do believe. We need that I do not believe. We need to spend more money to have a study to delay something simple, because what is happening is the law that prohibited overnight parking has not been enforced equally consistently.

A

It is the same people who are the most impacted have been impacted, impacted over and over so I'm I'm open to compromise. If we want to do a Pilots, if we want to do it, World War II, because they keep this. What two is a word that is really dense if we want to do it forward to making Amendment say, let's start with what do I'm open with that, but something has to be done for these people.

A

My next question, so we all say the same thing over and over for safety uh for Chuck. So during the day, I saw those ambulances going back and forth.

A

So, while people in the street cause pop both sides, can we explain how is it more difficult when everybody's sleeping and it's a doing one a.m to 7 A.M people start waking up at 4. Am 2 am to go to work a lot of people, wake up at 3am to start work, I, don't get it I, really don't when it comes to safety and Chuck cannot go through question about plowing trash pickup does not doesn't stand because people who they.

D

Pick up, they don't pick up trash at night. People Park during the day and Pickups.

A

Start pictures pick up start at seven: eight A.M, 7 A.M, so 7 A.M. That's when a lot of us left to go to work right, so our driveway, we put your trust, I- think that there's time to compromise, if we want to do it, we can do it. So this is doesn't stand when it comes to safety and I. Think we were bragging.

A

Queenstone is one of the safest cities. So now it was a lie. So if now we are so afraid we are so afraid to have power parking from 1am to 5 p.m. When people start leaving home at 3am to go to work, we are so afraid, because we have I would now I would like to see all those data that show how we have robberies, how we have teeth in our city, because I think we all were bragging.

A

We have one of the police that is so effective in our city and we do not have a lot of crimes. That's what I thought for maybe I need to have the research. The data I don't have about the criminalities that exist in our city, where people are afraid. If the car parts so Madam.

L

A

L

In parking yeah and not talking about crime statistics, yeah no.

A

That's those are those uh argument that proposed to say we cannot have overnight parking. All of those are arguments.

A

Arguments about sweeping or plowing the pain when we have a snow band that stays in place, and this is comebacks again about enforcement.

A

So if we have a bin people do not respect the band, that's why we told the cause, so we have to play to write, not double standards.

A

So if we want to make in fact we want to emphasize enforcement, it has to be for everyone, not for one part of the city and all of those I'm telling you I went over and look at them and I said we are all all people who write those things or we are all the very, very smart people. We know when we have arguments we know when we stand behind evidences he has to stand.

A

He has to have essence because at the end of the day, when you say safety for fire trucks for ambulances, Newport do not of provide safety to his resonance when they have uh needs. While we do not provide safety, I, don't think that stained really but I am open to compromise, but I think we need to do something. I, don't think we need Spain, because this is says it public was going. If you, you know, they have already system in place for Oppo, um there's gonna be fee.

A

If you have the someone come in reply forward, this is just a little work to really make life better for people who do not have you know the uh I understand they. They don't come here. You know they don't come here and I know, and we talk about 1969. We want the status code stays the same.

A

um Both sides of the aisles and I understand, but you know what things is. What is I would say the example of 1863.

A

There were both sides of the aisle that didn't want slavery.

B

We have to stick within the actual overnight.

A

Parking, no, no just an analogy to say sometimes both sides when you have both sides, you have to go to the side of Justice. This is an equity issue is not nothing else is an equity issue because we have some people that are impacted, that ask for help and going for study do all of this is like. Oh, it's all of those things is have our courage to say we want to do something for those people and I do believe.

A

When people come here, a lot of people ask to do something for Worcester we did. We did all of us. We did okay when you, because those people unfortunately cannot come as I mentioned earlier. They cannot come because they have to do. You know, go to work, they don't have child care, you know they are squeezing most of them. They do. They cannot come here to represent, but I am open to compromises, but we need to do something for those people. This is an equity issue. We need to do it.

B

So councilwoman Jermaine is this something you would like to then: have it continued, or do you want this to go for a vote this evening, as is.

A

My my um if there is any Amendment what we want to do, but I I'm not like, let's put it there, when we're going to decide to do something. So if there is any proposal to our men to making uh uh like to to make it better, let's propose something, because this has been advertised. Everybody knows it. We've been talking about this for a while. We gotta do something. What.

B

Type of position so there's two questions: would you like to continue this, or would you like this to be Amanda I mean to be um voted on this evening.

I

I'll make a motion to continue.

B

All right discussion through the clerking, please take a role to continue this to uh what do you want like to this continue to the mayor, the June, so to give you two more time, probably June, just because.

B

To the month of June, you said.

A

Okay, so I Contin I will let continue for two months and everybody who has something to add to it to make it better and then we can bring it in.

B

Two months: okay, so two months in June or would you like.

Y

I I would also just like say: point of information should probably get a fiscal note on this. This is going to have a fiscal impact, no matter it's kind of a whether it's a negative or positive. We have to have a fiscal note. We've had this discussion and I don't want you to come back in two months, there'd be no fiscal note, and then this continue to happen and who think it's on on purpose. We need a fiscal note. Thank you. So.

B

Councilwoman, would you like to move this to the June ordinance meeting, or would you like to move it or maybe to the July, so I can give you ample time to possibly uh have a conversation with the administration on any possible note and do some language changes on here if you'd like or it's up to you I'm leaving you're the build sponsor of.

A

Course, um I want to have everybody the input if we can, if we want to do it and also it's up to the administration, how long it's going to take to have his physical note director.

M

Moretti, the council has a budget. Analyst. May I suggest that you utilize that individual to prepare the fiscal note and then run it by Mr zydelis.

B

um Director but I don't think the I. Don't think that the our our auditor is entitled to do.

L

That I think that would be interesting. I did it when I had that job. It's not something! That's in order for the budget analyst. The fiscal note must come from the finance director correct.

B

This is what that, which is what I just said: correct. Could.

M

They collaborate with them. It's not possible to collaborate. Is that correct, so he will not collaborate with the with your auditor. That's okay!.

B

Very good unless he would like to collaborate with it, but um other way.

L

B

Ahead, sir, the.

L

Council's analyst cannot? Author, the fiscal note.

B

Right, thank you. So councilwoman minzoli.

Y

um Through the chair to councilwoman Jermaine, you might want to also work with the Municipal Court on on this as well. If they're going to perhaps be involved in the issuing of departments, I know Elizabeth from Municipal Court uh the clerk. There has some information on this and they they already work with the tickets, and it just might be something that you want to consider discussing with them. If you want to talk to all the different departments that are going to be affected by this, um that might be something to think about.

Y

B

You and if I could price for our suggestions, probably with our Public Safety as well and maybe reaching out to other cities and towns and see exactly you know, how is it that they're doing it in any possible opinion and advice or show that they're able to provide that we can possibly um use on use on our end for the overnight parking? So um that being said, did you say you would like it for what month.

A

We didn't have the answer from the administration. How long it's going to take for to have a physical note.

B

Director, do you have a timing at all on finance and any not at all? Okay. So if would you like, I mean we're in a current budget process right now, um I would recommend at least starting it for July. That's just my opinion on that council. President I think you had something.

K

To say as well, I was going to say with all the different. um You know, participants in that discussion for to be productive. You need ample time the police need to be part of that conversation. The fire needs to be part of that conversation.

K

Dpw needs to be part of that conversation, Municipal Court, I've heard from from them as well with concerns and the fact that we're in budget season, the finance direct us to do the fiscal note, and we don't have a DPW director July gives more of a cushion to get as much of that done. I, don't think. June is a realistic time.

A

So, let's put it.

B

Into July, okay I think there was a motion to continue so there's a motion to continue then for the July 2023 ordinance uh committee, and we had a second on that as well. We just had our discussion through the clerk. Can you please take the uh roll call on the vote on that? Please.

J

Vice president Vargas, yes, housewoman Jermaine, yes, councilman Rizzoli,.

D

J

Master Ferry, Yes master.

AB

J

AB

J

Master for the Marino, yes,.

B

Thank you. Next up, we have the resolution urgent, the general assembly to support legislation to protect the Patuxent River, which is House Bill 5087 and House Bill 5088, along with House Bill 5116. This is sponsored by council president Vargas council president uh Mourinho, and um have a motion to approve motion.

H

To approve second.

B

I'll start off with the discussion and say that I think everyone receives through the clerk's office this afternoon, a letter from representative uh Joe McNamara uh this this evening, um and we obviously heard two uh members of our community in support of these uh three bills that are coming before us.

B

um Clearly, the Patuxent River is is vital to to her. State comes right through the city of Cranston and among so many other municipalities, and these three bills in general um is the main goal is really to just protect our environment and maintaining Public Access as well, um and also holding companies.

B

As we all know, we had a whole history of the sibagi in our city and particularly in Ward one, and it's making sure that um we have a Dem works with with sorry the state DM Works in making sure that this bill um provides a protection from any contaminated water and sediments being released to our Waters. If there's any additional discussion, council members would like to add I welcome that at this time consulate thank.

Y

You um it's because we don't have a lot of time. I'll just say, can I please be added as a co-sponsor. Thank you.

B

Absolutely any other council members.

K

Council president yep I just want to thank the members of the public who spoke on this resolution. I know you've done a lot of uh work in this regard and I just want to know. We have your support and I want to thank representative McNamara for his work on on this in this area as well. Thanks.

B

Great thank you, council president, um and thank you to the residents who's beared with us all evening. Up till 9 30.. We still have one other meeting to get going on um that being said tomorrow. Any other council members, her discussion, councilwoman Jermaine.

A

Oh I would like to be added as the corresponder absolutely.

B

Through the clerk, yes, all right, all right, no further discussion through the clerk. Can you um please take notes of the members of the council who would like to be out of co-sponsors and take the role on uh the motion to uh that's been presented before us on this resolution?.

J

J

Yes, Johnson Donegan, yes, Pastor Riley,.

H

B

Thank you seeing that there's no further items on the ordinance agenda for this evening may I. Please have a motion to adjourn one.

J

B

Where was that one up there sorry Jason all right resolution, one more item, I apologize resolution. Thank you all right. So there's a resolution authorizing the adoption of the 2022 Cranston Hazard mitigation, Plan update this is sponsored by Mayor, Hopkins and council. President Mourinho azir motion.

H

B

Second great discussion: seeing none Clark can please take the parole.

J

Council vice president Vargas, yes possible, Jermaine, yes, councilman Rizzoli,.

E

J

Casper Ferry, yes, has been down again ask for Riley, yes master, president! Yes,.

B

Thank you, okay. That concludes the ordinance committee. May I. Please have motion to adjourn all in favor, say aye aye, aye all right eyes. Have it motion adjourn meeting adjourned.

I

I

9 40 7 minutes.

E

D

E

But what's happening.

D

E

E

W

Minutes two minutes.

E

E

E

E

I

Good evening, everyone, if council members, could please take their seats.

D

H

Well, no, they don't lock.

E

I

All right, good.

D

D

E

I

We're we're just waiting for the door to be open, and then we will. We will begin.

I

30 seconds.

I

Good evening, everyone at this time a call to order our special finance committee meeting clerk. If you could, please take a role.

J

Constant Donegan present Council vice president Vargas Cosby Ferry councilman Jermaine, president house for cave piano, present, Casper papascus.

Z

J

Pastor president.

I

So there is one matter before us this evening: advice and consent hearing on the mayor's appointment of uh former city councilman Michael favicio welcome as the uh Personnel director at this time, I'd like to provide director Moretti the opportunity to introduce the mayor's nominee.

M

Thank you chairman, um as probably everyone here is familiar with, knows attorney Mike favicchio, um simple enough he's been a Cranston resident. He can probably tell you how many years, but as long as I can remember, we all know it was a seasoned attorney in the state of Rhode Island. He also believe he's licensed in Florida I'm, not sure. Where else um one thing we, the mayor, sees and and Mike amongst many things is certainly as an attorney.

M

uh One of the biggest emphasis of the job is dealing with our bargaining units and being able to understand those contracts uh is critical to actually the day-to-day operations of of the uh of the Personnel Department of the city. It's uh there, I I can't tell you, it is I, say every day, every day twice a day three times a day, there are Personnel issues pertaining to bargaining units and you have to know those agreements like the back of your hand and to how to maneuver around them.

M

So we believe an attorney would probably uh be a good person to be able to understand those agreements and apply them so and- and that brings us to his judgment, his experiences, maturity and that's what the mayor feels very strongly and confident about a attorney for vickio, um so he's not an unseasoned person and he's a practical person. Obviously um he was the finance chair of the city council straight down.

M

The council, I believe for 10 years I believe he had to leave office uh not run for reelection because he he was on for 10 years. um uh Another favorable thing the May was very impressed with and and that uh he would bring with him is a ability to speak Spanish.

M

He is bilingual and we think that's getting more and more important in the city and be able to Service uh employees and and uh and and Beyond and and and relate to uh the Spanish-speaking individuals in the in the city in in our employees, as he as we move on in this uh Generation.

M

Um Obviously, from his experience uh both on the council and his familiarity with the city of Cranston, he has a very great understanding of city ordinances, the Personnel it expands Beyond, just people sometimes, and it's understanding how departments work um the roles, responsibilities of department, heads the people in those departments and with the experience that he has, um uh we think, is a quite an impressive resume.

M

um uh You know we believe unless the council sees something uh egregiously wrong with attorney uh favicio. We certainly urge the uh your advice and consent.

M

um We think he's well qualified for it um any any uh dots, a lot of eyes and Crosses a lot of T's uh and um in terms of finding uh attorney for vickio.

M

For this position, uh we had searched for this position, probably for the last three months or so with the inclination that directed Barillo would be moving on, and so the mayor has networked um personally via the league of cities and towns uh attending all the meetings uh in all the discussions that take place at those meetings about uh recruiting personnel and, in fact, that's probably the one single challenge that is uniformed throughout the state of Rhode Island, is finding and hiring sound qualified people willing to commit to public service at the director level for several reasons, both salaries and certainly Cranston.

M

It's not tremendously impressive, our salary structure and, obviously, with the state pension reform, the pension's not like what they used to and give another opportunities, and with the vast experience that Mr favicio has I think we're fortunate to have them come with the city. We've also searched um through uh we at the in the third floor. We have the pleasure of having a terrific Esprit decor with various staffs through of of uh administers administrators throughout the state and speaking with people who they know. So. Basically, it's networking uh was so much part of the recruiting.

M

I. Don't think we've advertised in the past um and received anyone through advertisement uh at that at this level, because, let's face it it uh this position um uh is that the uh uh and that will employ that that the uh the mayor has the right to uh hire and well I should say at least fire uh or with the with the term.

M

If the mayor certainly may Hopkins has about a year and a half in his first term, uh not knowing what the future has to hold certainly has intentions, I believe hopefully staying on as mayor, but that'll be up to the people, um but certainly this person would run the risk of uh losing their job in in a while.

M

So with all that, for good reasons and for defensive reasons, uh the mayor strongly feels that Mike favicchio is the person for the job and he I Mike uh can explain his background and answer all your questions for you. So the the mayor feels very very strongly about him. He feels thrilled to have him come on board with his talent and and strongly urges the council's advice to consent, and if you should only see any egregious reasons why Mr favicio should not be uh given that position, uh the mayor urges your support. Thank you.

M

Yes, it's up to me to to introduce attorney from vikia, which he needs no introduction to you. Folks, thank you.

N

Thank you very much, director I know one thing: I I do miss those chairs having sat out here for all this time. I don't know about the long meetings, but I do miss the cheers. Thank you um I'm happy to explain uh you know any anything you want to know about my background. uh As you know, I've been working practicing an attorney as an attorney for 43 years.

N

I've done just about everything. With the exception of criminal matters but um I've handled Family, Court matters, workman's, comp, Human, Rights, Commission cases, um Superior Court bankruptcy, all different courts, um I understand the work, the medical issues with medical liens and things of that nature.

N

Even unemployment hearings, I've even done those over the years and have probably done just about anything on the Civil side and a lot of it has to do with um with the type of issues in the Personnel Department um Collective. Bargain agreements I've been was involved as a council member, and uh you know, as vice president of the Council on finance, chair with many collective bargaining agreements with the police, fire laborers, teamsters and I developed a good relationship actually with many of the the union.

N

People that most of them are still there actually, the police chief I, know pretty well, because I was here when he was appointed and I got to know him. uh I know the Command Staff there um I know the I know our workman's comp is handled by Beacon. uh I do know our actually no personally, the rep that we use there. So uh any workman's competitions I, would call call our rep and and get into it.

N

um I I understand quite a bit about the medical issues only because uh time on the council, and also with doing some personal injury uh matters, you get to deal with hospitals and medical bills and all different issues that come into play in in this Arena.

N

So I I think that you know most of it is fairly routine for, for most, lawyers probably would have an easier time at it uh than anyone else because of the variety of things that we tend to handle.

N

um I I've been in the city, probably half a century uh at least probably more but um full time so I I know the city pretty well I've, seen it develop, I've seen it grow over the years and change over the years, and some things that you probably don't know is that my my my dad was a Credit Union president for many years and I ran a credit union, probably a half a mile down the street on Park Avenue so um and he he did a lot of lending to to most of the immigrants in uh in Providence and Cranston area, um and so that was my introduction into the Hispanic community, and that goes back, probably 45 years or more.

N

So that was just part of what we did. He was product of immigrants. We would you know all my grandparents were immigrants, um they didn't speak the language very well, and um so we kind of had a good understanding of the struggles uh that a lot of people go through um and so and I basically have represented a lot of people in the Hispanic community in the last 15 years.

N

Hired many many, uh mostly Hispanic women. Quite honestly, for my office so um and more recently, I've kind of slowed down. I I got I'm, trying to eliminate I've eliminated almost every Court matter that I've had uh just because I don't enjoy doing it anymore.

N

I had some stragglers things that I want to get rid of, but um I don't uh I, don't do litigation basically anymore, so um I, you know the challenge was presented and I said you know it's something that I had spoken to Mr Perillo about, because I've known him now for quite a few years and I spent a couple of couple of days there uh discussing what's going on in the city.

N

What's going on with all of our cases, um our you know injured on duty cases and things of that nature, which have been a problem over my entire tenure here and so I understand those issues, and hopefully, with you know some at some point. The state will help us out and take some people into the disability retirement so that we're not uh burdened with paying for um overtime, because we have to back. We have to backfill positions. uh We can't hire new people to replace somebody.

N

Who's had a heart attack and is you know unable to work as a police officer or a fireman, so those issues I know are Forefront um I, don't you know I, don't foresee any uh issues other than the the the the petty issues that I'm sure I'll face with some of some of the people, but um again I, you know, I, don't think it would be uh all that uh difficult.

N

Any any questions I mean answer them. uh I uh I have a good friend that wanted to speak on my behalf since I've known him for quite over quite a few years.

I

Thank you councilman. um We we do need to allow for public comments so before we get certainly allow members to ask any questions. I apologize, I I skipped right past public hearing. So if there are any members of the public in person or online, uh now is your time to speak. Please.

AC

Come to the council meeting will be done at seven. The chairs are really comfortable. Yeah right, don't hire this guy. Ladies and gentlemen, Madam president Madam vice president members of this body, thank you for giving me the opportunity to come see you today. My name is Alberto Aponte Cardona, although I don't live in Cranston I have an office at 10 I own 107, Warwick Avenue, where my law office was uh originally. My law office was in Central. Falls I was the best lawyer in Central.

AC

Falls I was actually the only lawyer, but I was the best lawyer and then a gentleman that I met during one of my most difficult cases. The attorney on the other side and I agreed through mediation to hire someone and I tell you. When Mike's name came across our desk, I didn't know him, we picked them uh and as soon as we picked them, I handed my paralegal to file and said get this ready for trial because there's no way it's going to settle two days later.

AC

It settled and Mike got the settlement, and not only did he settle it. He took money out of his pocket to bring the parties together when I met with my client, who only spoke Spanish by the way, I wanted to make sure that she understood what it was that uh she was agreeing to and I want to make sure that the translator that she was speaking with was clear, with the attorney what her position was, and she said there was no translator.

AC

The attorney spoke to me in Spanish. I didn't know that about him. I got to know him and we became great friends close to 20 years I've seen Mike really do a lot of things. The gentleman uh representing the mayor said a lot of things about Mike, which are absolutely true. The gentleman has a great heart he's very committed to his work. We've become friends, his Spanish is a little bit better than mine, but um it comes from years of practice.

AC

I've been in a lot of different places with Mike, where people will come up to us to talk, and they remember when his dad lend their family money so that they can start a business when banks in this city and in the state were not lending immigrants money. This is the kind of family he comes from. This is the kind of person he is. He understands difficult issues. He understands how to deal with those legal issues but, more importantly, he listens.

AC

He listens to folks and I, see him because after he dragged me down, the Cranston and I have my office here. One of the caveats was that he had to share space in that office. I haven't been in my office for three years, but I on a daily basis. I saw how he dealt with his Lions, how he held people's hands through some difficult times that they were going through and as attorneys. It's tough. We have a limited amount of time. We have clients coming in and out of the office.

AC

We just need to move folks along. Sometimes Mike wasn't like that. We don't agree on a lot of things, um but we can discuss them and we can talk about them. He's probably only one of three conservative friends that I have and the way this country is going. That number is dwindling, but I know Mike will always be a friend. He has always been a friend he's, a consummate professional.

AC

uh You guys are getting a great guy in Mike, tribikio I, stand by him um and that's why the speech would have been a heck of a lot better at seven o'clock. It's almost 10 out. Thank you for your time. I'll answer any questions you have, but uh I Have, No Reservations of being here and I, have no problem of actually waiting this long. Just to let you know what I think about this wonderful individual. Thank you.

I

Thank you, sir.

O

I stayed I feel compelled I should say something um Robert Murray again for uh speaking on behalf of Mike favicio. uh You all have known him as a councilman I've dealt with him as a councilman I've. Had the pleasure of dealing with him as an attorney. uh I know him to be most competent, uh professional and um a pleasure to deal with uh whether we're on the same side or opposing sides of issues.

O

um I just want to talk about what I think is the importance of the ability of a chief executive to assemble an administrative and leadership team that he can work with. Who can work with his other department heads who can take a critical position and monitor it, organize it run with it and keep the trains running on track. Mike without a doubt, in my mind, would be a great addition to the mayor's team. He would work with the other department heads.

O

He would protect the city's interests and he would balance that with fairness and objectivity with uh employee rights. He would look at the the bargaining units in a very fair way, but one that protects the interests of the city. They won't always agree, but when Mike favicchio, um even when he disagrees with you, you feel pretty good about it. So uh I hope that you will give him the favorable consideration. He deserves. uh I hope that you will allow the mayor. You know the role of advice and consent is an important one.

O

On that uh you know it's it's clearly a it's a legislative charge not only in Cranston but around the state and the country, but when you have a qualified individual um may not have been the same political party um I. Think you have to look beyond that and say, um as Tony used a word I like that word egregious, you know.

O

If he's qualified and you're satisfied that he is that he can do the job, then you should say I when they call for your vote and if you do so I think we will be pleased um with Dan, perillo's, successor and I hope. You'll support him. Thank you.

I

Thank you, sir. Are there any other members in the public here in person this evening? Seeing none are there any members of the public online see no public comment at this time. We will close public comment um should entertain a motion.

X

I

Right uh are there any comments from the committee members gonna go right.

L

Around if I may, if I may miss the chairman, it is a motion to provide advice and consent.

L

So I would recommend you withdraw the motion to approve. It is a motion to provide advice and consent. I'll remove my second.

X

I

Council vice president.

B

Thank you, solicitor, it's 10 o'clock, I can't even think right now, um but thank you through the chair um just wanted to say that I've had the pleasure of sorry, uh former council member, Mike, cravicchio um and um I want to say Buenas Noches as well. First of all, um and so um and my time serving with you I know we had agreed and we have disagreed but I think in terms of uh the uh appointment.

B

That's been coming forth under your name to uh spearhead the Personnel Department, it's obviously a Personnel department at human resource department General, um which has is also backbone to our city, right where we actually have employees who would be coming to you with matters that may be small, maybe big, and so some of them are and then a lot of them also may have some. You know HIPAA.

B

um We have to say within hipas and make sure that information that does not actually get um out of that office and I think you have the opportunity to come in as an attorney as well, and it is an advantage of having have having you had.

B

Oh the fact that you're an attorney coming in and being able to provide assistance when it comes down to our contracts um throughout the throughout the city and the fact that you're, obviously um you know uh bilingual um and I, think this is an opportunity for you as well to do a lot of professional development and have a lot of Staff retention as well in our city and be able to do um just shake things up a little bit for the better of our um of our city, um whether it's also human resource.

B

You know, platforms, time sheets, anything along those lines that are very Antiquated and I think this is an opportunity for you to come in and really demonstrate.

B

um You know your background not only in as legal but also, and hopefully in management as well, um for a staff of I, think it's like, possibly two or so that are coming in into that office, and so I do support your nomination. That's coming before us this evening. If it gets approved this evening, um you know the best of luck and I look forward to really working with you, particularly when we have any um Personnel questions as well.

B

Throughout the city, council and hope to work with you as you come in, and to provide us with any questions that we may have as a as a council, whether it's at a council meeting or through a phone call or an email. So thank you. Thank you.

I

X

Thank you chair, you know, um I, don't really get a lot excited about advice and consent, but this one I absolutely did I've known uh Mike favicchio for probably 11 years now. You know and uh I really wanted to make sure I was here for this vote tonight.

X

This morning, I was in Niagara Falls, with my family got my vacation short broke down on the New York Thruway found a shop, got the radiator fixed in the car to make sure I was here tonight, because this is such an important vote for not only um the city but for the employees of the city to have a Personnel director and and you in there as that head of Human Resources Mike.

X

um You know we all heard his soft spoken demeanor. We know it's soft-spoken demeanor and if I was an employee of the city and I had an issue, I would feel comfortable coming to you with that issue and trying to resolve it so I know you're gonna hit home runs in this role. I certainly support your advice and consent, and um you know if you get through tonight, I wish you the best of luck and I. Look forward to all the success that you'll do in that role.

X

Thank you for uh continuing to strive and help the city of Cranston.

N

Thank you for interrupting your trip too. That's a that's quite a sacrifice.

I

There are any other members of the committee council president.

K

Sure, thank you, I think for Vicky of the mic works for me. um I appreciate your background. I know your background as as a lawyer um as and as a council person as a lawyer, we've had some cases over the years together.

K

um It was one in particular, I can think of and as a council member I saw you in that role over the years. This role is is different, as you know, and I discussed briefly with you. You know that your role here, if, if this happens to be as Personnel director, would mean that you would be working in that capacity and you wouldn't be doing the practice of law, you wouldn't be the solicitor.

K

um You would be using your knowledge and experience, but in that role as Personnel director and I know, you fully um understand that and welcome that role that that that's right, that's.

H

K

Yeah um I wish you, uh you know luck in this role uh if it turns out that that is to be the case and I hope that you will continue to have your uh impartiality um in that role, because it's going to be needed in dealing with. You know employees and uh the matters before you and and I hope that that you will uh welcome that thanks.

N

Thank you, madam president,.

I

There are any other members of the committee councilwomanjamin.

A

Thank you chairman, good evening, um so I want to mention that I really, like your background and as a lawyer, to come into this position.

A

Although we serve a little bit for a few months when I came into the council, but um I think you love gwenstone and it will be, will put your knowledge, your expertise for the greater good for the people of Queenston. I have uh one question for you: uh do you know you will be the chair of the diversity Commission.

N

Yes, I do I spoke to Mr Perillo, about that um when we went over everything all the duties and everything and I read all of the uh the manual, basically that he gave me um yes, I do and I asked him. I said have they met and uh he said it hasn't met in quite a while and I said well, I, actually, I kind of welcomed that role, because I think um you know I I've been working in the uh Hispanic Community for so many years.

N

That I think would be easy and I've always had some ideas about how we can bring people in through the we've got the Career and Technical School, which is a great school to bring people in to do maybe do a police and fire um sort of piece on the news tonight about a young man that was graduating on the high school or something and he's already volunteering driving ambulances and wants to be an EMT.

N

But you know that's the kind of thing we need to promote um to help, because we have the programs available through kids um people at CCRI and in our Career and Technical School I. Think it's one place. I would start you know we try to get young people interested in doing and working for the city it might be. It would be a great thing, I think um so.

N

I I did know that that was part of the role and I I kind of enjoyed the the idea that I might be able to help in that regard.

A

Okay, so I'm glad you know already, but you know we did um you know, so you already have some ideas on how to move this commission forward for the benefit of all Resident in question. So I'm glad you already know um so I will be available if you need any help in that capacity, because I would like to see um the diversity and inclusion when we talk about diversity and inclusion is not only. We have Asian Native American black, but Latinos.

A

You know, and we have people who are identify are multi wishes and also we have elderlies. We have lgbtq populations, so the diversity encompasses. A lot of layers is not only about waste right, so I would like. So if you need any help, so I would be glad to work with you to organize some activities. Around diversity, like apple, is diversity month. So if something I know, we have some money from last year. So if that's something you can you can work together to organize your own diversity month? I will be glad to do that.

A

So I wish you good luck and I will be supporting your nomination. Thank.

N

I

Are there any other comments from the committee um I I'll mention? um You know we served one term uh together right, such as one yeah, um and uh it feels if feels longer, um and we we I, feel like we. We might have disagreed more than anyone else on the on the council at that time, I think and in terms of political ideology, but uh I appreciated two things uh about the time we served together. One was I think selfishly.

I

It made me a better council person, because I knew that I always had to be really well prepared, whether I had an idea or we. You know there was going to be a debate about something because I I always had to prepare for the meeting thinking all right.

I

What is what is Mike favicio going to say about this, and how can I be prepared to rebut whatever he's gonna, say um and, and the other thing I I really appreciated- was that, regardless of of those disagreements um that you know, we could be debating something quite ferociously here in these very comfortable chairs, sometimes at 10 o'clock at night, but on the way out, we could immediately pick up a conversation about baseball or or PC basketball or whatever.

I

It might be, um and I appreciated that from you as a person uh that you were able to do that, especially you know kind of being a fairly young person on the council. um So I appreciate that I think you, you bring a tremendous breadth of experience and I. Wish you nothing but success in the role.

N

Thank you very much, yeah no I uh I I. We always would be cordial after we're meeting I used to play basketball with councilman staikos. um You know we, we may have argued on the council, but we were friends off the you know away from the uh this area. So um that's the way it should be I mean you should be able to argue about something, but then shake hands and go out and have a beer or you know you just you need to you need to put it all in perspective.

N

I think that's the biggest uh thing we need to do, but um and a lot of times. You know when we disagreed. It was not because of the the uh the goal, but the way to get there or the or the you know the procedure so I'm. You know maybe too much in tune with the procedural uh norms and things especially with privacy. Things I I was always uh when I went to an executive session, because I didn't want to talk about Personnel matters or other matters.

N

uh um So I am well aware of those things, but um yeah I I. Still, we still run into each other and enjoy uh talking, and so thank.

I

You thank you at this time. Seeing no other comment from the committee clerk. Please take a role.

J

N

Yes, thank you, yeah. What you have to do, you have to do it as a full council meeting as well.

I

See seeing no other business before this special finance committee meeting will entertain a motion to adjourn second, any discussion, seeing none all in favor, say aye aye.

K

Okay good evening here we are for the Cranston City Council special meeting, and if the clerk can please take the role.

J

Osman Ferry, that's woman, Rizzoli president. Yes,.

J

Piano Pastor paplaska's president.

H

J

H

J

Richardson Vargas are the pastor present present.

K

First up this evening, we have the advice and consent of the mayor's appointment of Michael pavicchio, as Personnel director seems like this was ages ago.

L

Motion to approve second.

K

um I'll tell you or you got it, let's withdraw what you just stated a.

I

Motion to provide advice and consent on the mayor's appointment of Michael favicio as Personnel director. Second.

K

Good, okay, any.

K

Any discussion, uh councilwoman ranzuli.

Y

Thank you, I will be brief, um I'm not part of the finance committee, so I couldn't comment then, but I want to say that I do um know. Mr fabickio in a in a personal capacity since I was probably eight years old and in a professional capacity as a council person and an attorney and I'll say that um Municipal officials need to know more about Personnel law more now than ever. We with um so new civil rights laws, regulations and Court decisions. uh Municipalities really needs to concentrate on this.

Y

So um as oftentimes council president Marina who's also, an attorney is very cognizant of people's legal profession and how that provides them kind of an edge I. Think in this case, that is very, very true and I feel very comfortable with Mr pervickio leading the Personnel Department um with standards of employee conduct, record retention, discrimination law and all the various federal laws, including the fear standards, act. The fair labor standards act, so I just want to say thank you for taking this on this opportunity.

Y

As director Moretti said, it's probably not the highest paying job ever so. I know that you want to do it so that you can do the right thing for the city and I appreciate you taking this. Thank.

N

You thank you, council, member I. Remember you running track! So I, it's been a while. It's been a long time and I want to thank my uh good friend, judge, Cardona for for coming and waiting four hours, but three hours.

K

Any other members of the Council on discussion, Yep, they're, being none clerk. Please take the role.

J

Cat swimmer and Zuli yes, class woman, Jermaine, yes, cosmon, Donegan, how's, the kid piano awesome, papelasquez.

E

J

Prosper Riley.

H

J

Pastor Professor Vargas. Yes, that's president Reno.

K

Yes, congratulations and welcome again Mr video thank.

E

K

E

K

Right next, next, up this evening, we have the resolution authorizing the adoption of the 2022 Cranston Hazard mitigation, Plan, update motion.

X

K

All right, um any discussion from Members, okay, no okay, all right um before we do I- do just want to put some one thing on the record: um I sponsored this um resolution, as is traditionally the case. This is The Five-Year, Plan um uh I did have some reservations and in all Candor, with some shortcomings, I saw in the plan.

K

However, I understand we're up against the clock with FEMA, otherwise the the city, the planning department, would have to restart the wheel and it's a long process in which they would need Federal approval to present it, and it would put us in a little bit of a quagmire and so for that reason, I agreed to move ahead with this um this evening.

K

Okay um and any other discussion we're good all all those in favor say: aye, aye, okay, all those opposed, say, nay, okay, the eyes have it all right next, this evening is a resolution on the adoption of the city council rules, the 2023-2024 term, a sponsored by council president Mourinho. This came out of committee rules committee. Any discussion on this this evening could I make a motion to continue second foreign. Any discussion on the motion to continue.

Y

I just want to say my reason for the motion to continue I'd, like all council members to be present, for this I know that uh councilman Ferry had to leave and um I think that we should wait for everyone to to go through these because it does affect all of us. Thank.

K

You um I this was on the agenda. He didn't tell me that he had to leave um so this was on the agenda. We all knew about it. We're a quarter into the term um amendments you know can be presented. If someone has an issue or discussion, so I I want to move ahead. This evening, we didn't go through all this effort of putting it on the docket just to continue it. So um any other discussion on the rules.

K

X

Have about 10 Amendments.

K

Okay, well, we got the motion to continue. First, do you still I'll take the role uh on the on the motion to continue okay, A Rose album. You can take the role.

J

Customer rinsely, yes, passformer Jermaine, yes, constant down again.

I

J

Cost for kid piano yeah. Yes, president Vargas how's, the present Reno.

K

J

It's four three vote was four to three yeah continue.

K

Okay and um the motion to continue to win. Actually, the emotion wasn't valid technically.

Y

When would it please you, madam president, to continue? Do you.

K

Want I can go to the next Council council meeting yep. Do we.

E

Y

F

Note of it, it's fine.

K

Right, yep, that's fine! Yep! Thank you, and next up is a German all those in favor of a German right eyes. Have it any opposed nope good evening.