City of Cranston Council, RI 2023 Meetings, 23 Jan 2023

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From YouTube: January 23, 2023, City Council Meeting

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January 23, 2023
City Council Meeting

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Good evening, everyone today is Monday January 2023rd we'd like to call the meeting to order and we'd ask for um for for everyone to take their seats.

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If we could uh call to order this meeting and if the clerk could please take the role of attendance, Kaufman.

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Councilwoman Renzulli here.

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Jermaine president husband done again, president.

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Camper piano present Casa papelasquez president.

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Riley Council vice president Vargas present council, president Moreno.

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President and now we could stand for the Pledge of Allegiance.

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I understand the meeting minutes. The last meeting have not yet been circulated, so I would ask for a motion to continue the approval of those minutes motion.

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If you can, please take the roll Cosmic Ferry.

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Renzuli, yes, councilwoman Jermaine, yes, husband, John again.

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Yes, councilman piano, yes,.

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Councilman papalaska's, yes, Oscar councilwoman uh Council, vice president Vargas. Yes, that's present, Marino.

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Yes, next item public acknowledgments and commendations, we do not have anything on there this evening. We will move next to uh public hearings and public comment at this time. We will take public comment on any docketed items this evening. I would ask the public to please keep their comments to no more than four minutes, and we will take public comment in Chambers first and they will then we will check with zoom.

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So if anyone here from the public would like to speak on any docketed matters this evening, now is your opportunity.

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Is a docketed matter? Yes,.

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It's one person at a time name and address at the podium, please in four minutes per person. Thank you.

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So the residents of Edgewood uh yeah, my name- is Justin Cairns I live at 131 Massasoit Avenue Cranston, Rhode, Island, zero, two nine, oh five.

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The Edgewood laundry facility has machines inside their facility running the commercial operation that is creating shaking in all of the nearby residence homes, putting cracks and walls knocking things off of shelves, putting cracks in Windows and we'd like to have something done about this. Thank you.

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Good evening, James Kelleher, Esquire, 55 Alhambra Circle in Edgewood I, would want to point out to the council that several of the neighbors have contacted. City officials regarding this situation and I would say that that, on behalf of the administration, their response has been remarkably underwhelming and disappointing. To the extent that we've been told not me personally, but other folks involved have been told that this is entirely A.

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Private Matter, it's going to require private civil litigation and the city has in effect washed its hands of it, and that seems to be based on some Divine idea on the part of the city that this is clearly the fault of laundromat.

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If it is, I would suggest that the city uh would be well well served to protected citizens and intervene, but on the chance that it's not the laundromat, it's something else, and there are several properties in the area that are being, as people have said, being damaged by this and and if it's a situation that continues to deteriorate, then we don't know the extent of the damage that will occur. So I was particularly distressed by the fact that my city Administration, for which I pay dearly in taxes, seem to be in enormously disinterested.

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It's also my understanding that, at one point when somebody at the I believe the building officials, when maybe it was minimum housing office, was required to come out and do their job and inspect, they ended up citing the person who had called to complain which sounds really vaguely in my legal recollection.

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Like retaliation, I hope, that's not the case, but if it is, then that City officials should know that they'd be personally liable as well as be liable for retaliation in their capacities in agent of the city very very disappointing, and the city council should be aware of that. Thank you.

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Good evening, David burbach, that's b-u-r-b-a-c-h and I live at 1975 on Broad Street in Edgewood uh I'm, also here to speak about the laundry situation. uh Just to give you a little bit of context. um I've lived uh across the street roughly from this commercial laundry operation for about eight years, uh and there was no problem until two months ago, when I don't know whether they upgraded Machinery or something failed.

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um But is everybody here will be able to tell you. This was a sudden change that happened about two months ago. So it's not that we don't think a laundry can operate there at all. We understand it's. A mixed-use, neighborhood commercial uses are grandfathered in something changed and we're now suffering vibrations worse than a bus going by or a truck idling in front all day long I wake up, maybe one out of every two or three mornings between 6 and 6 30 a.m.

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When these vibrations begin I have things rattling, I teach down at the naval war College in Newport I often do video meetings and video lectures. uh My webcam is now shaky enough. Sometimes it poses a problem for me doing this. So this is interfering with my ability to work from home, so this is actually a pretty significant change and I know. Other residents feel that they've had plaster cracking pipes. You know I'm sure you'll hear from others, but you know I'm about 150 feet away from this facility.

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There are other homes as much as 250 feet away affected, so there might be 15 to 20 homes affected. I, know the liquor store next to the laundromat, has bottles just about rattling off the shelves. So this is not something that is appropriate, for you know an A6 residential neighborhood, so we are hoping you know. Well, if necessary, we may, you know we'll, certainly look into civil litigation. It certainly seems that this has got to violate some kind of ordinance to promote uh to cause this level of nuisance in our homes.

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So we hope the city is able to help out in some way. Thank you.

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My name is Lincoln Cox I live at 135, Massasoit Avenue, it's directly across the street, from the laundry and this shaking and vibration that we're all feeling only occurs when the laundry is operating which, by the way is 5 a.m to 6, P.M Monday through Saturday and many times on Sundays and holidays. Again to stress: when the laundry is not there when they're not operating, there is no shaking of our homes.

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um I too have have had damage in my home, I had uh water damage in the ceiling. In my dining room, I called a plumber, he cut the area open and found that a joint and some PVC piping had come loose. I asked him what he thought might have caused this and he said well. How long is all this shaking been going on? I said about a year and he said: well, there you have it so that repair cost me five hundred dollars.

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So we estimate that um this nuisance has a at least a three three block radius around the laundry and it's affecting many homes within this within this vicinity. So and again, I want to stress that this is not some sort of like minor thing, um some minor nuisance, that we can all just sort of Overlook or ignore it's incredibly intense, it's becoming unbearable and we all fear now for the um long-term structural Integrity of our homes.

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So there are some options: the laundry could take I've looked into it, there's pretty simple options, but they won't listen to us they'll, only listen if they're cited or asked by the city to act on this. It wouldn't take much by them. So we are respectfully asking the council to have this nuisance investigated and behave and abated on behalf of the residents of the neighborhood. Thank you.

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My name is Jesse Cerro I live at 53, Berwick Lane. It is my house that was cited after we complained. We did feel that it was retaliation instead of coming out and citing the laundromat, which we found out. They never got a citation. We got a citation for a unregistered car that was just parked in our driveway. It just was unused, uh so that was I mean we moved it, so that was fine, but I have been experiencing this issue for two years.

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I live two houses away from the laundromat, but my driveway abuts the property where they Park their commercial vehicles. This issue begins at 5 30. In the morning my son, who's, five. His room looks out onto the laundromat every morning. He comes into my bed because our homes starts shaking it's like an earthquake all day.

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Long I would invite anybody from the city to come to my house during the day, and you would be shocked at the rattling of my windows, the ship, my plants Shake inside my house, it it is a constant problem and our home I noticed cracks in our walls. If you're outside, you feel the ground shake and we live in a great neighborhood, I love our neighborhood. This is not something that the residents of Edgewood should be dealing with.

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You know: I tried to be a good neighbor to the people that own the laundromat I told them of this issue. I explained it to them. I said I, understand, you're, trying to run a business I respect that. But this is a real issue and they said it wasn't their problem. They told me that they, it had nothing to do with them. So if we all can pinpoint the fact that it doesn't happen when they're not in operation I, don't understand how nothing can be done with it by the city.

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I have complained to the building inspector multiple times, and nothing has been done on top of the shaking they keep garbage outside their property, no fence, nothing blocking it. They Park their trucks where there was a curb, there's, no driveway, there's nothing of the sort. There are huge barrels of chemicals outside all the time, not blocked off, not being protected by anything their dumpsters overflow.

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We have had a rat problem in our neighborhood it it's so many problems, the shaking, obviously being the most hard to deal with one, but hopefully somebody in the counselor somebody from the city can take care of this and I would welcome anybody to come to my house and experience the shaking for themselves.

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Good evening my name is.

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Okay, there we go. I would like to point out um that I have lived for 35 years in this house, a very stable 35 years until just a few months ago, when my house, which is three houses in from Broad Street, started shaking and the windows and the walls and the doors rattle. Now they rattle consistently there's no schedule to the rattling, but they come regularly at unusual intervals.

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You never know when it's going to Rattle and you never know how hard it's going to rattle, but for the first time, uh a few weeks ago, things on top of furniture started moving small items started moving around when it first happened. My husband and I had no idea. We were not alone, I found out and thinking was there, an earthquake I mean the bed was shaking um Furniture was shaking in the house, and we found out.

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We were not alone, we found out, as you can see tonight, and with the bad weather and us being Rhode Islanders. This is an impressive show out. I really think it is.

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um We found out that many other people were going through the same thing now. It appears to have started at different times for different people. I wonder if that is just your location in terms of how far away you are, if there's something to do with the soil under our particular houses, where vibrations carry Better or Worse one to the other, I don't know. But as of now, when we discovered we were all feeling the same thing and we started talking.

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We have identified at least seven streets in Edgewood that have people impacted by this constant shaking, which does start around 5 20 5 30 in the morning and I can see when the light goes on and- and that's that's to me- a factor um but right now, we've identified Broad Street, Massasoit, Doylestown, Glenn, Berwick and Sefton and Alhambra all streets that we've talked to people that are impacted by this. It is an Edgewood problem right now it is the Edgewood problem, but that makes it the Cranston problem, because Jim um Kelleher is correct.

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The city has just told us: it's not our problem, it's your problem, but we don't accept that and we don't believe that because it doesn't make any sense. Now. It's true people commonly believe that it is the laundry that is causing this problem, and there are several factors. You've heard some of them tonight about why they believe that, but it is time for the city of Cranston to investigate what is going on now. I understand that, just a few weeks ago the city did an investigation.

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um It was a cursory investigation. They did nothing but walk in. Look at the machines, say: oh they're, the same size as any other machines that were there previously so they're all grandfathered in well. We don't think that's enough. We think that there must be a thorough investigation with scientific. You know fine, we want to know.

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We don't want to say it's this and you must treat it as if it is this, we want to know what's happening and once we can all figure out or you can figure out and tell us, then the obligation is, of course on the city, to ameliorate the problem and whether that is by change. You know forcing or compelling changes in the business.

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If that's where it is your ordinance, our city ordinance certainly doesn't allow any licensed business in the city to destroy the quiet enjoyment of our homes to most of us and I would guess to most of us in this room. Our homes are our major asset. You know that is what we work for. What we try to keep above all else and I just know that the city will follow its Duty and obligation to protect its residents and to find out what this is.

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If it's, not the laundry fine, no one here is out gunning for the laundry but here's the problem. If it's not the laundry we most likely have a much more serious problem, because that would mean something is underground, because those of us who have been there for decades have never experienced this before, but trucks and buses come every day. It's not a problem. Occasionally the airplane goes over, not a problem. Something has changed. We believe it's the laundry it deserves a thorough investigation. Thank you.

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My turn, uh my name is Stephen Nguyen I live at 127 Massacre and, like all my neighbors, my house shakes um I. I came here uh this evening with an idea, perhaps not to blame the laundry and give you guys the opportunity to send out investigators and to look at it for yourselves.

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It seems, though, based on what some of my neighbors, who I've not met before I, just heard their testimony this evening that it's the laundry so if I could ask you to um commit uh to commit some funds to do a full investigation to find out exactly what it is. As the lady who got up here before me said, if it's not the laundry, we have a much bigger problem, um it's got to be dangerous.

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It has got worse in the last year, I've lived there for three years now, um if I, if you could have seen a video of me running around my apartment being like.

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What is that? Oh, my God, the house is shaking.

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Thought it was my downstairs neighbors on their exercise, machine.

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Then Lincoln's like hey, can I ask you can ask you a question: it's like yeah. What is it? Does your house Shake yeah and the joy in his eyes he's like? Oh, my God I'm, not going crazy. Everyone has a shaking house and the long-term effects of our house. Our house is shaking, has got to be I mean everyone who owns their home is worried.

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It's not going to get any better. Some of these heads are 100 years old and they're on Stone foundations.

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um One of my neighbors said earlier that they had a porch, but on the house they had to raise it six inches because they pushed their porch shrunk.

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um So yeah I mean I. Think I've taken up my four minutes. Thank you. um Yeah I hope you can uh figure out some some solutions for us all, because I think all of us are here for the same thing right most about right. All of us are here for the same thing, though,.

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My name is Victor lavenstein I live at 119, Massasoit Avenue, that's l-a-v-e-n-s-t-e-I-n,.

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I have lived in my house since 1997 I believe 96. Thank you.

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When you get to my age, you'll begin to get a little forgetful at the same time, so we we I like to think that I've been around a while and I just like to support the general observation that what we are all feeling has only started to occur recently uh at it, for it, like everyone else, I I felt the shaking going on on things is that my heating system is there something wrong in my house and I'm also running around all over the place I'm going down in the basement, putting my hands on various heating elements and plumbing elements and trying to figure what's going on?

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Is it my refrigerator? No there's none of those things uh and, as all my friends have said, you know, we've talked to other folks in the area. It is your housing. Yes, suddenly relief, I, I, know I'm, not crazy.

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um I have not until now heard that uh the the city of Cranston has said that this is not their problem. I I hope that that is not the case, but I would submit to you that what is causing our houses to shake and probably putting cracks in and causing things to Rattle and uh as I understand, causing some Plumbing to come loose I would submit that.

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That means that uh certain elements of uh City uh owned uh property, whether it be a sidewalk or a street or anything else, is probably getting damaged as well, and if Plumbing is becoming a problem, I can only shutter to think what might happen if a gas line comes loose. I just leave you all with that thought. Thank you very much.

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Evening, my name is Chris ruggieri I'm at 88, Glen Ave I live right behind Lincoln on Glenn Avenue. We have experienced this problem for the last year. We moved it about. A year ago my wife had said the house was shaking and I thought she was crazy until we experienced it together, it wakes us up in the morning. It keeps us up in the afternoons when we're trying to nap we're very, very concerned about our brand new home, and this meeting tonight is eye-opening. I didn't realize how many people were having this issue.

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So I just want to reiterate that my this is shake my plant shake my windows shake, and we are very, very concerned about liquid liquid faction of the soil, causing our foundations to change and we're very concerned about it and again to the point of a gas line or a sewer line, um we're very, very concerned about so hopefully the city council can do what's right here. Thank you.

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Hi, my name is Donna golden g-o-l-d-I-n, I live at 123, Massasoit Avenue and my neighbors here have so wonderfully described the situation.

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um You know I'll pick on my husband a little bit here and just say that he loves to tap. You know to music and it drives me. Batty now, I have that all day long, this vibration, that's just going on through the house, I'll, be sitting there six o'clock in the morning with my coffee. You know looking at the news and then all of a sudden you know so the the problem has been really significant for everybody um and I appreciate what everyone has said. So my question to the city council is um I.

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I looked at everybody and I see that you're taking this matter very seriously. When and how do we find out what will be done.

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Tom, if we can check on Zoom, if there's any public comment as well, Sam.

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Hello, uh Sam Brusco, 11, Alhambra Circle, my house doesn't shake but I'm a bit farther uh than the other uh residents who are in attendance tonight um and I became aware of this from uh social media uh on nextdoor.com and I looked up uh some some stats uh regarding these commercial washing machines. They weigh in excess of a thousand pounds. So it's like a a compact car. uh They spin between 1 000 and 1200 RPM, that's 20 times a second um and in that spin cycle.

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uh What I found was that they create over 300 G's. So if laundry goes in at 100 pounds and with the size of them, that's entirely possible, uh it weighs a hundred thousand pounds when uh it gets up to speed and humans pass out at four or five G's. You know except fighter pilots. The other thing I wanted to mention was uh yeah from from the chatter on uh uh the social media. It's it's all in a radius of that um of the laundry uh uh and what I think it is.

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Is that either uh it's happening during the spin cycle and it's either an unbalanced load um or it's too much laundry in the load uh or one or two large items is, you know like on one side, and everything else is on the other side, it's just unbalanced.

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The other possibility is that there is a broken suspension spring uh or a a broken, strut and I know this, because it happened to my machine. A few years ago, I.

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Able to fix it, but it was not easy um and it was when it broke. It was rattling like the devil, um so that's all I got. Thank you.

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See no further public comment.

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Hello, my name is Winnie Van, Horn, Pryor and I live at 94, Alhambra Circle. um So just to put my two cents in, we are getting cracks in our ceiling.

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um We are, let's see about two houses away from the laundromat, we're across the street across Broad Street and um we're getting cracks in our ceiling, our neighbors, who are right on Broad Street, it shattered or cracked one of their main windows. It's like a big window pane and it cracked it she's not here today, because she had fallen and broken her shoulder in an unrelated incident, but I figured I would represent her. The other thing is my son works at the liquor store that is attached to the laundromat.

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He said the bottles totally Rattle and it feels like it's internal, so I just figured I would share that too.

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Thank you and we will now close public comment.

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uh There is one additional.

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Information: okay Leah. This latest.

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um My name is Mel Perez and, oh sorry,.

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uh To the member of the public on Zoom would be going to unmute yourself, hi.

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My name is Leah deslandis I live at 1999, Broad, Street I reside on the second and third floor of this house. I have noticed lots of shaking I have mirrors and pictures on the wall that shake, and my television also shakes and actually just about 15 minutes ago, I noticed a shaking of my television.

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um It happens at all different times of the day and I just wanted to put that out there for everybody to know that it seems to happen early in the morning and even into the evening. Thank you.

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No further public comment on zoom.

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And then yes, no and Chambers is different. We we're all set, but Zoom is closed and now public comment and Chambers. um Unless you have a comment, you can come up to the podium. If you can please just state your name and address for the record. Thank.

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You so my name is Melanie Perez and my address is 1968. Broad, Street and I also feel shaking um I have been it's been shaking at night, though also so it's like it's very confusing to where it's coming from I do worry about um my house and the stability of my house, because it feels as though like the I have metal. Hang pictures hanging and I can hear them. Clanking like and um I just I worry about just the structure of my house and um I.

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Don't know if any of the things that are happening in my house could be because of that. But I am too two buildings away from the laundromat um and I do hear it, and sometimes it wakes me up at night. um So that's all I all I'd like to really say about it.

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We will now close public comment before moving on to uh the resolution. I do want to stay just to the public that this issue of the Edgewood laundromat is a matter that is on the agenda. The public comments section is not a back and forth so in terms of the constituent concerns of what's going to be done, we'll be addressing that when we address the agenda item later on this evening and I um and I'll reserve my comments for that time as well. Okay, thank you.

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Resolutions this evening we have a resolution declaring the first week in February to be Nashville gun violence survivors week, sponsored by councilwoman, Jermaine, councilman, Donegan Council. Vice president Vargas and council president Mourinho.

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If I can have a motion to approve.

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Motion to approve.

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Second, any discussion, Dr councilman, Jermain or one of the sponsors- would like to speak this evening.

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But John councilman Donegan thank.

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You, council president, uh thank you, everyone um and the sponsors uh this this evening is uh a resolution to recognize survivors of gun violence awareness. um You know. Over the past couple years we've tried to make an emphasis uh to highlight and bring to the Forefront the issue of gun violence, not only as a national issue, but something that does plague our city.

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Here in Cranston, there have been numerous incidents of of gun violence that have occurred specifically within ward 3, the area that I represent over the past couple years, um as, as you know, I remember, Election, Day 2020, showing up to one of the polling places and uh three streets down off of Francis Street. Someone had been uh killed earlier that morning, so it's something that, uh unfortunately, has uh impacted many lives here in Cranston.

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uh We want to commemorate their lives as well as uh the survivors of gun violence, and continue to make sure that this is something that stays on the top of our our minds as we uh work to ensure the the public, health and safety of all 80 000 plus residents here in Cranston.

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Councilwoman Jermaine thank.

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You, council, president, oh that sounds so good to see. Councilman President right um as the council Dunnigan said, uh it's unfortunate that we have to bring something to uh you know to Survivor.

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So my hope is one day we can say: oh, we have less and less gun violence survival, but it's also uh an opportunity, a privilege to have people who are impacted by gun violence and have the luck to be alive.

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uh Last week, something happened in California how many people we need to that need to be dead. So this is a reminder again for each one of us within the power we have to make sure we do something to decrease gun violence.

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I cannot say to eradicate gun violence, but this thing we can do to decrease gun violence so, as we propose this resolution to have a weak of celebration for those who are still alive, uh a gun, violence survival is anyone who, as personally experienced gun violence, whether you have witness enough of conveyance, been threatened or wounded by a gun or had someone you know, and care for wounded or killed by gun violence.

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So this resolution is just a reminder. In our experience to make sure that we think about those who are impacted and who are living with those traumas as well in Wood Island 43 people are killed in Acts of gun, violence and nearly 165 more are sharp and wounded just in order.

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So I uh encourage our colleagues to vote Yes for this resolution and to make sure we take a moment each day to see what we can do to stop gun violence in our society, particularly in our community. Thank you.

B

Council vice president Vargas.

AA

Thank you, uh council president.

AA

um You know I'm in support of this resolution um and uh obviously I'm one of the co-sponsors on here, and uh you know, with everything going on from the west coast to the east coast um from what happened even at Monterey Park um Sunday night. My heart goes out to the families of the victims and also of uh the survivors.

AA

um You know it, echoing what council a woman Jermaine has just mentioned the fact that you know every year and each year we've had to submit a resolution, and you know commemorating National Gun Violence Survivor week um is, is you know my heart goes out to the families, but it's truly heartbreaking to know that you know there's obviously um a lot going on in um in a country when it has to do with with uh gun suicides, domestic violence and and everything else. That's actually noted on this resolution uh this evening.

AA

um So I'm in support of this resolution clearly and I encourage anyone else on the council who would like to be added a co-sponsor um to please uh do so this evening. Thank you.

B

E

Ranzulli, thank you. I would just like to thank the sponsors for bringing this forward and I would appreciate if I could be at it as a co-sponsor. Thank you very much, foreign.

AB

B

You councilman Curry ditto, okay, all right all right uh rosalba! If we could please take the role.

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Pastor Gary, yes, Castleman Rizzoli,.

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That's woman Germaine! Yes, Wisconsin done again; yes, piano, yes, Pastor papascus, yes, Council! Vice president Vargas.

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Concert Marino, yes,.

B

Next on the agenda this evening is I'm, sorry sure councilwoman Jermaine. Oh thank.

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You I I feel a little sorry. We should take um Mom them an action for their support for this resolution, so I would not feel good if I didn't mention that, and particularly Candice um in this in sporting to have this done. Thank you.

B

Next on the agenda's report of committees, first is finance committee and chair councilman Donegan. Thank.

F

You, council president, uh the before us on the finance committee. We have three items: I would uh urge passage of all three, the first being resolution authorizing real estate tax, abatements.

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Emotional proof second,.

B

Clerk, we can please take the role.

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Cosmic Ferry, yes,.

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One Rizzoli: yes, councilman Germaine. Yes, yes,.

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That's the president, Mourinho.

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Council president point of order, there was no discussion on that or asked and.

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Do we need? Is there any discussion.

B

No no Point moving on.

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uh Next, on the docket uh we had the resolution authorizing Motor Vehicle Tax, abatements I would urge Passage.

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B

Any discussion.

B

Yeah there being none, please take the role.

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Costume Ferry.

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Yes, councilman Germaine, yes, Captain John, again, councilman piano, yes, paplaska's.

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That's the vice president. Yes.

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Lastly, we had tax interest waiver denials I would urge Passage.

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To approve second, any discussion.

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Please take the role.

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Casper Ferry, yes, councilwoman Jermaine, yes, has been done again: councilman Camp piano, yes, Cosmic paplaska, yes, Vargas! Yes, council, president Marino, yes,.

B

Thank you, councilman John again next this evening is a public works committee Council. Vice president chair, Lamas, Vargas.

AA

Thank you, council president, under Public Works committee, there is only one item and that was requests from carbonado Group LLC permit for alteration near historic, Cemetery, cr030, King, Randall lot, this past out of committee and honestly and I urge passage this evening.

AA

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Any discussion.

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There being none clerk, please take the role.

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Huntsman Ferry: yes, yes, councilman down again.

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Yes, piano, yes,.

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Vice president Vargas, yes, council, president Marino.

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Next on the agenda is the ordinance committee Council vice president chair, Lomas Vargas? Yes,.

AA

Thank you council president, on this ordinance committee. We also had one item: um 12 ordinance, 12, 22-02, ordinance and amendment of chapter 10, title 32, section 020 of the court of the city of Cranston 2005 entitled motor vehicles and traffic; stop intersections enumerated; wrangling, Road and Carver Road sponsored by Mayor Hopkins and councilwoman Renzulli. This passed out of committee anonymously and I urge passage this evening. I.

G

Wish you no approve.

AA

B

Any any uh discussion on this.

B

For the for the record, um I'd like to uh just bring to the clerk's attention, just a motion to amend that at the top, it notes- um Christopher pablowska, says council president, and it should just be councilman Moreno.

B

Legal counsel: do we need to take a vote on that Amendment description.

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B

Okay, all set all right any just any discussion and they're being none. Please take the role.

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Cosmic Ferry, yes, councilman Renzulli, yes, councilman Germaine, yes, Cosby down again. Yes,.

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Yes, that's pepluscus. Yes, that's the best for the Vargas. Yes, council, president Marino.

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Council president.

J

D

um I was wondering if we could move the audit committee out of order in respect to the people that are here in Chambers and the people that are receiving appointments tonight, that maybe we could do that business first.

B

We can take a motion to take the agenda out of order out of order to move the audit committee on uh to after a council member Communications.

B

T

There's an emotional move. Second,.

B

Any discussion clerk please take.

C

The role Hospital Ferry, yes,.

D

C

Rizzoli, yes, councilman Germaine, yes, Captain John, again customer care, piano, yes, custom, Pat, Velasquez,.

J

C

Mr Vice President of August, yes, council, president Mourinho.

J

B

Next on the agenda this evening is a public comment for any undocumented item, so if the public, any members in Chambers or on Zoom, that has uh public comment. Now is your opportunity to comment uh limited to four minutes and please state your name and address for the record. Is there anyone in Chambers that wishes to speak on any undocketed items.

AC

uh Hi, my name is Josh plush I live at 127, Massasoit Avenue I've lived at my apartment for about a year and a half my girlfriend and I rent at this apartment. But sorry um we do not.

AC

uh According to our lease, we don't have access to the driveway um and often we have to park on the street unless we coordinate with our neighbor um and in this process we've received now uh three parking tickets each um and between us that's a hundred fifty dollars just to live on our street, which at this point is kind of ridiculous, so um we're just hoping that there could be some sort of parking permit uh systems just created for us or anyone else who's experiencing this problem. Thank you.

K

Hi Justin Cairns, 131, Massachusetts Avenue I also have an issue with the parking tickets that are being reported. Why I don't understand why we cannot park in front of our home overnight? I understand that there's an ordinance between whatever it is 1 and 7 A.M for more than two consecutive hours, but we live on a residential area and we need to park in front of our own homes, we're not in a commercial area, and we should be allowed to park in front of our house overnight. I am not in favor of a parking permit system.

K

That is not the way forward. We have more than enough space to park on a street. A permit system exists so that there are more cars than there are spaces, and so you try to limit the amount of cars in the area. That's not a problem that we have in the city of Cranston.

K

Instead, I propose that the ordinance be changed so that, if you are within one two, three doors of your own home when they go to look up your car to give you that ticket you're able to park in front of your home. Thank you.

Q

Hello again, Stephen Nguyen 127 Massasoit Avenue, like my neighbors I, agree. um Apparently um some of my neighbors that have lived on the uh in the area. Excuse me in the area for years, um there's a police, a couple of police cars who come around once a year and give parking tickets and it happens once a year. So everyone's like ah you, know what 25 bucks, whatever I, don't care, I'll pay it.

Q

But it's happened four or five times in the last two or three months, um and it's not fair for particularly young neighbors, who are at school having to pay 25 bucks um a night. If the cop chooses to come around and and put tickets on the cars to park outside there's plenty of space, you could fit four cars down the street.

Q

So if there's a way that you could look at that- and just I mean canceling. It is the answer, um but if it has to be a permit, so be it, but I don't think we should have to pay to park on our street right outside our house and people don't have money to spend on parking tickets. People aren't doing anything wrong. They're just parking outside their homes.

Q

B

Tom is there any public comment on Zoom.

V

See no public comment.

B

At this time, public comment and undocumented items is closed. Next, on the agenda, is the election and or appointment of City officials um I would just State for the record this evening. The first item is a scrivener's error: affordable housing, commission, the reappointment of Derek Tutt return to expire on 123 2025. That is a duplicated appropriately later on in the agenda. So the first item this evening is the juvenile hearing board.

B

First, we have the reappointment of Bernard Kevin O'connor as an alternate member for term to expire on 12 1 2023, as sponsored by councilman pavlaska's.

E

B

Approve second, second, any discussion.

B

There being none clerk, please take the role Hospital.

C

Ferry no not summer mentally, yes, councilwoman Jermaine, yes, has been done again.

D

C

Cosmic kid piano: yes, councilman papalaska's.

AD

C

Hospital vice president of August, yes, council, president Mourinho.

J

B

Next item is the appointment of Stephen Cortino to fill the unexpired term of Vincent turketta to expire on 12 1, 20 23.. It's actually sponsored by myself.

E

Motion to approve second.

B

Second, any discussion there being none clerk. Please take the role Cosmic.

C

E

C

Yes, councilman Germaine, yes, Captain down again.

J

C

Yes, papa yes classified for the Vargas, yes council, president Moreno, yes,.

B

Next on the and I'd like to just congratulate uh the reappointment of Bernard Kevin O'connor and the appointment of Stephen Cortino next on the agenda is the board of contract and purchase. We have the reappointment of Anthony mastintuano, as appointed by the minority leader for a term to expire on January 1 2024, and this is for informational purposes. Only as no votes will be taken next on.

B

The agenda is also for the board of contract and purchase the appointment of Anne-Marie macaron for term to expire on 1124, that is the council president appointment and again for informational purposes, with no votes to be taken.

B

Next is the reappointment of Doris Blanchard per term to expire, January, 1 2024 as a majority leader appointment for informational purposes, with no votes to be taken, and next and final for the board of contract and purchase? Is the appointment of Robert Wilson for term to expire, January, 1 2024 as the majority leader appointment for informational purposes, with no votes to be taken and I congratulate them on their appointments and reappointments.

B

Next is the city council grant writer? This is the reappointment of Lisa andosia, as a city council grant writer for term to expire, January, 6 2025, as sponsored by myself, Council vice president Vargas and councilwoman renzuley.

B

This is subjectable.

F

B

To approve second any discussion, yes, councilwoman.

E

Razuli, thank you. um I would just like to say. Ms indoja has I support my Sentosa, because she's done a incredible job, bringing in money for the city of Cranston, I, think she's secured something like 2.2 million dollars, and we we haven't seen that from a grant writer in any recent time that I can remember and through covid and in a time when there's financial difficulties across the board and inflation.

E

We need this grant money so that we can do the things we have to do so I would I would like for you to please support this reappointment. Thank you.

B

Any additional discussion- I I, see uh Miss sandosia is present this evening and um I assumed you'd like to say a few words. Yes,.

AE

Thank you. Thank you, madam president, and I just wanted to thank all of you. um It's been an absolute pleasure representing the city of Cranston, I loved it and I want you to know I'm not going to rest on my Laurels uh I'm, going to be humble and I'm going to work harder to over deliver and try to exceed what we've secured today and I just want to thank everyone.

B

Thank you, Miss santosha, thank you for all the money that you have generated and we look forward to additional grant funding uh to save the city money and to help us develop the city uh in a very tax-friendly way. Thank.

AE

You thank you and thank you responses. I appreciate it.

B

And clerk, if you can please take the role. Thank you. Cosby.

C

Ferry, yes, councilman Rizzoli, yes, councilman Germaine, yes, Cosmo Donegan,.

J

AD

AF

C

Casper paplaska's.

AF

C

J

B

And congratulations to the sandosia. Next is the Municipal Court Clerk. This is the reappointment of Elizabeth Bettis as Municipal Court Clerk for term to expire, January, 6 2025, as sponsored by myself and Council. Vice president Vargas.

E

This motion to approve.

B

School second, any discussion there being none clerk. Please take the role Casper.

C

D

C

Councilman Rizzoli.

E

C

Councilwomanjamin, yes, husband done again.

J

C

The cape piano.

J

C

Yes, council, president Moreno.

B

Yes and congratulations to miss Bettis and thank you for your work. Next is the Emergency Management liaison. This is for informational purposes, only with no votes being taken, and this is for Council. Vice president Vargas, the chair of Public Works for term to expire on January 6 2025 as the Emergency Management liaison next is the school buildings committee, councilman Donegan for term to expire, January, 6, 2025 motion.

E

B

Second, any discussion there being none clerk, please take the role costume.

C

Ferry, yes, Pastor Renzulli.

E

C

Customer Germaine, yes, husband, John again.

AD

C

Kid piano yes, paplaska's, yes,.

D

C

For the Vargas, yes, that's president Marino.

B

Yes, next is for councilman camper piano for term to expire, January, 6, 2025.,.

F

Motion to approve.

B

Second, any discussion there being non-cler: please take the role. Yes,.

B

And thank you to both of you for serving on that committee. Next is the affordable housing commission and we have first up the reappointment of Derek a Tutt for term to expire, February 22 2025 as the minority leader appointment, with no votes being taken as for informational purposes.

B

Only next is the appointment of Amy rainone for term to expire, or it should be reappointment for Amy Reynold for term to expire, February, 22 2025 as the majority leader appointment for informational purposes, with no votes to be taken and finally, the appointment of Christina Brown pertured to expire, February, 22 2025, and this is subject to a vote.

F

Motion to approved.

B

Second, any discussion there being none clerk. Please take the role Casper.

C

Ferry, yes, yes, husband done again. Yes,.

D

C

From Cape piano.

D

C

Yes, that's present. Marino.

J

B

And congratulations to them for their reappointments and appointment next evening is the report of City officers at this time. I would ask Mr Hill, as chair of the historical cemeteries commission, to come to the podium as the Cranston historical cemeteries, commission and he will discuss their annual report.

B

AD

uh This is my first one of John Hill, chairman of the commission. uh This is my first rodeo on this I'm. Not sure I can make remarks. You have the report. I could take questions. Whatever is your pleasure.

B

Are there any questions from Council Members for Mr Hill.

B

There's no no questions: uh Mr Hill! We thank you very much for your service and the members of your commission as well. We know it's a volunteer basis and you've done a remarkable job about the city. I've had the opportunity, at least on one occasion, to volunteer my time as well and I appreciate all of all of your efforts and- and the report speaks for itself. But if you have anything you'd like to add you're more than welcome.

AD

Among decisions, I'll, probably regret later um I would just like to kind of say it was. It was kind of a chaotic year for us. We lost, uh we had two resignations at the beginning of the year and then we had uh the death of one of our members. uh uh Walter Slocum Walter was a living Encyclopedia of the city. He knew everything you know the history of the city, he knew every cemetery and- and uh he was one of those guys- uh someone will take.

AD

Someone can take his place on the commission, but he was Irreplaceable and, and we miss him every day um you can see the stuff in the report. I think we've we're really excited about our social media program. That's really taken off well, um the only other thing I really wanted to say was I wanted to thank the public works department, because when we do these cleanups we can generate anywhere near 50 bags of yard waste and uh they've. Both they've been great about finding ways uh we can.

AD

uh We can get those bags picked up, they're, never around for more than a couple days and uh they've been great for us and I wanted I wanted them on the record on that. Thank you.

J

B

B

um I would ask this evening for a motion to accept Mr Hill's report into the record and his comments so.

F

B

Any discussion- oh councilman poplazquez thank.

G

You, council, president, um sir from the uh cemetery's uh commission, just want to say thank you um I'm, a member of a Boy Scout Troop with my son and a lot of the other troops and two years ago we cleaned up the cemetery on green Avenue and you guys came back this year and did it again and that when we did it two years ago, it was way over 50 bags of of uh lawn debris and twigs and branches, and a tree fell over and uh I'm glad.

G

You came back because I can't believe how much in one year it overgrows and get. It looks just like no one touched the year prior, so I just want to thank you and all your members and if you ever have any projects going on in the city that you need help with shoot me an email um if there are scouts looking for service hours, I'm happy to send them your way to help out.

G

B

AA

I just want to say where's Mr Hill there. He is again thank you for submitting this.

AA

um Some people know that I am very adamant when it comes down to cemeteries and making sure that they're taken care of, um but also providing a report in terms of the plot and all the information as much as possible uh to the city. So I really appreciate this and I look forward as well as working with you I think there was a cleanup as well over on Park Avenue next to the gas station and so uh look forward to reaching out to you and partnering up again and doing a clean up there as well.

AA

Thank you so much.

B

Thank you and Rosal. If you could, please take the role thanks.

C

Cosby Ferry, yes,.

D

C

Z

C

Councilman Germaine.

Z

C

Husband John again yeah husband, cave piano.

G

C

Pastor papelasquez.

G

C

That's the vice president Vargas. Yes, that's the president. Yes,.

B

Next is executive Communications. We have the request to be continued in service for one year: Deputy fire chief Robert Ryan, the Cranston fire department.

B

um Before we take any motions, I'll give the administration an opportunity to speak thanks, I.

AG

Think, council president, the mayor and the administration would like to uh advise everyone that deputy chief Ryan has met all the requirements to be continued in service for one additional year as part of the Cranston fire department he's had a great career and we want him to stick around as long as possible. So we ask that you will prove him. Thank you, foreign.

B

Up for any other discussion before I take a motion any there being none open, promotions, promotional proof.

G

Second, second,.

B

Okay, rosalbot, you can please take the role.

C

As the ferry- yes, yes, has been down again, yes became piano. Yes, that's paplaska's,.

G

C

Past Sebastian Vargas Yes master president Perino.

J

B

Next, this evening is the legal expense analysis report from July 122 to January 23 2023 do I have any motions.

A

No, we don't need to.

B

No I'm, sorry, my error, it's informational and no votes taken. Okay. Is there any discussion on that this evening, many council members councilman down again.

F

Thank you, uh council president I know that we can't get into the uh particulars of the case of the cases themselves um on 12 14. We we paid just shy of twenty thousand dollars on the coastal Partners um matter with uh desisto law.

F

Do we have an expected amount of of approximately what that might cost us in legal fees.

AH

That matter, as you know, is in litigation and I think we're best off if you'd like going to Executive session, but probably not for public consumption uh because of the lawsuit that's uh currently being pursued by Coastal partners.

F

um uh Let me uh I thank you director already. Let me rephrase uh not in terms of litigation just from a a. How much is it is it going to cost us in legal fees.

AH

It's unknown to the extent that the suit persists. That's why I, probably it's an indefinite answer?

AH

um They can look at court filings and draw a conclusion yourself, but I don't think the city should represent that in any fashion, It could only Prejudice us foreign, but not trying to keep anything from you but happy to discuss in private and in confidence.

B

Any further discussion there being none, we'll move on to Council Credit president Communications, there being none this evening. Next, we'll move on to council member Communications and first up is Council. Vice president Vargas.

AA

Thank you, council president. So I have one item on here um and the one item that I have on here.

AA

uh The is the item that the majority of the residents of Ward one are here for which is actually the Edgewood laundry mat on uh the corner of Broad Street in Massasoit um I've spoken to many of you who are replied to emails and um or text messages in terms of the um vibration concern and the interruption of the quality of life that many of you have been experiencing uh lately or for the last few months and I've wanted to first and foremost. Note that um your problem is our problem.

AA

At least it's my problem and it's the problem and I don't want to speak on behalf of the other council members, but I'm sure that they would agree that it's also our problem, because no one wants to have their Quality quality of life Interrupted at all, and so um that laundromat, um and so for the record. I did reach out to uh the laundromat and I finally was able to connect over a phone call um and I spoke to to the owner. I believe that there was, as mentioned, an inspection.

AA

um We have the city that did go out and give that a look, um I believe that area is Zone, as in a sixth Zone, um possibly some pre-existing non-conforming, um and so it seems like possibly with upgrades. um They could be the reason why that that vibration has taken place.

AA

uh I have seen videos to my Council colleagues, I have seen videos, I have um been emailed information um and I've been hearing a lot from The Neighbors in terms of the rattling and the vibration that's been taking place.

AA

I do want to say that um by all means, I am in support of small businesses because they are the backbone to our local economy um and I am not asking the business to be shut down, nor to move but to First address the issue on this vibration that is taking place um and start off there and move forward and see what we're able to do.

AA

I reached out to uh the city, uh one of our city, solicitors, who I is here with us this evening, I did mention to the owner um that I would be bringing this up before the city council meeting this evening.

AA

um They did you know, I I, don't want to speak on their behalf, because I also want to make sure that I'm courteous that they can come and speak on their selves and represent themselves at the same time, um and so uh I I would like to have uh the administration or the one of our legal counsel, from behalf of the city, provide us with some information or some guidance as to the power that we as a city that we as a city council, can have to either bring the possible business before us.

AA

Possibly talk about ours or um you know what have they done and if this is the reason why the houses are rattling in the vibration taking place and whether it's reinforcement or you know, machine, not level in order to avoid is Rock rocking the rocking of of the machine.

AA

um We've I think there has been previous issues or concerns have been brought to us where there has been vibration or noise um situations that we've actually sent. Someone out and I wasn't sure um whether or not we have um I think they're called Doppler vibration meters, where it's an equipment that can measure noise and vibration. On this end, um it's certainly not fair to the residents, um given the fact that I don't actually know what the hours of operation are.

AA

um Do we have power as a city council, to start off in those steps and possibly have a conversation as to can we ask them about hours hours of operations, um whether it's Monday through Friday, whether it's on a weekend and I know we currently have an ordinance in place for landscapers and the city to pick up trash at seven as of after seven o'clock in the morning, um not after the laundry mats that we have in the city and so I just I know that's a lot to kind of take in, um but even if it was by virtue of introducing a new ordinance um as we're hearing right uh these.

AA

This was a laundromat. That's been there for quite some time um because they've been there, you know, are they able to be grandfathered even if I introducing ordinance um that would actually restrict them in terms of hours of operations, and so um I asked um that um that the city solicitor can at least provide us with some for information um to the and that's one?

AA

The other point that I do want to point out is um it's clearly a residential neighborhood and um I drove by and I have pictures on my phone, and when someone came to the podium and mentioned that there was a barrel of a chemical I did see it. I took a picture of it um and uh I did you know I. We have children in that neighborhood and the last thing we want, whether it's water or whether it's it's clearly has a chemical noted on there. You know what responsibility you know.

AA

Do we, as a council, have if inspection did go by um and find you know, was able to find the neighbor, but not the laundromat again. I just want to make sure that everybody knows I'm not after like a certain business, but I do want to make sure that the business while they're there are also being com are also in compliance with the city.

AA

Whether it's with you know the cleanup, whether it's the rodents, whether it's chemicals out there um in leaving carts full of towels in the back of the actual building um I, didn't print the um the pictures um and I'm not sure what the protocol kind of is in terms of I can pass. My phone around or I can actually have uh forward that information eventually order the clerk, and she can then disseminate that to the rest of the uh the council later on.

AA

um So there's a lot of info that I just kind of threw out throughout you Mr radekia, but if we can at least figure out what we can possibly do to help out the neighbors um and it's just not fair to them um and I know: I, wouldn't want to be living next door to a place that is making my house vibrate.

AA

If I come home, whether it's at two o'clock in the morning from work or not or or not, the point is: is a vibration going on and in those videos you, you can actually see the kitchen island of one of the videos that I was sent with their kitchen items on there, like just rattling.

AA

um So that's just one of the videos that I ended up seeing so if we can kind of get what some sort of a sure.

AI

AA

Advice on this.

AI

So, um as vice president um Vargas has stated, we did have some conversations on this uh within the last week or so, and I've done quite a bit of research and frankly, this is not really a new issue. For me, the specific facts are always different, but the overall issue is the same, and we've seen it before. We've seen it with the windmills in Johnston, encroaching on Cranston residents, we've seen it with Yard Works down in that area off Warwick Avenue, we've seen it with Northeast tree.

AI

This is nothing new, but what sets this one apart a bit from the others, is the fact that laundromats are not regulated under our code of ordinances. That that's the first thing that sets this one a little bit apart. So what does that mean? It means that you can't have a show cause and bring them in and threaten to take some type of action on a license because they're not required. Well, there are ordinances to have one okay.

AI

Does that mean that the city is completely powerless to regulate businesses that are operating within the confines of City boundaries? And the short answer to that is no. The city is not powerless, however. Those powers are very, very limited, and the reason uh for that is because the all of the the activity that the neighbors have described tonight a bit under the general category of what we call legally nuisance. Okay, what does nuisance mean?

AI

Well, someone says to you you're, being a nuisance. um You're bothering me is basically what it means, but in the legal sense, um nuisance generally defined means something some activity that constitutes interference with one's reasonable use of their property. That's probably the the simplest definition. There are two types of nuisances: there's private, there's public and you may recall- and you may not I- don't know, but when the windmill issue was before us, I I discussed at length at that time how the Rhode Island Supreme Court, treats the two of them.

AI

Public nuisance um is extremely difficult to establish. The attorney general has tried to do it with lead paint.

AI

um They've worked in conjunction with Dem on a few other sites um and were moderately successful. So this is on the state level. Okay.

AI

um So for us when I say us, when I when I mean the council, even the administration, um we have some Authority, but it's very limited in terms of what we can do. So if there were a situation where a business was operating in such a fashion that it posed a serious direct Health threat to the citizens of Cranston.

AI

The mere fact that they're not licensed would not stop would not act as a bar I should say from having the city taking some type of action.

AI

The problem is and I know the neighbors are not going to be happy with this, and they don't want to hear this, but what's being described here, does not rise to that type of level. Okay, in my opinion and based on everything, I've read um if lead paint, poisoning doesn't rise to that level, as the Supreme Court has already found, something like vibration and causing cracks and walls and glasses falling is certainly not going to rise to that level and I.

AI

Don't say that to minimize anything they're going to believe me: I have looked high and low both under our ordinances of state law. I've looked everywhere to find, as I always do when, when these types of cases arise to try and find a way uh to take some action, but, as I said, unfortunately, there's because of the fact that they're, unlicensed and they're not required to be licensed. It really puts us in a disadvantageous position to do anything um now at the beginning.

AI

In some of the comments, I know that the term private nuisance was briefly discussed by by someone and again I I know people don't want to hear this, but when you have a certain number of people in a certain area being affected by a business operation, it's really up to them to file a private nuisance action, because the city, under those circumstances, in my opinion, probably would not have even have the legal standing to go into court on their behalf.

AI

um So again, it's not that the city doesn't want to do something. It's not that vice president uh Vargas doesn't want to do something. It's not that the Safety Services committee doesn't want to do anything with it. The full Council doesn't want to do anything. It's a question of having the legal ability, the legal Authority and, most importantly, most importantly, the proof required to get something accomplished.

AI

So, but having said that, I think a wise first step. We I don't believe that we can compel someone who's unlicensed to come in, but I would suggest reaching out to them so that we can learn a little bit more from a factual standpoint as to what's changed.

AI

So, in other words, um how long has this condition existed with this vibration and with these machines, when were they replaced? What type of machines we should be able to get an opinion from someone, an engineer, someone who could tell us what the adverse effects are of these types of machines, because it may be a situation where perhaps it could be remedied by something as simple as putting more insulation, some type of rubber um some type of rubber surrounding the machine.

AI

I, don't know I'm, not an engineer, but we should explore some type of solution, I think on a voluntary basis with them.

AI

First, because I really don't think at this point, we have authority to compel them to come in, so that that would be my my first recommendation um and that's again, you know we're kind of mixing the legal with the social and the political aspect of this, and it kind of involves all three but from the legal, purely legal standpoint, um we're not in a very strong position as a city um to do something uh in court in court, because once you go to court, I mean these videos are great the testimony of the the neighbors.

AI

That's all that's all great for this type of a hearing. When you go into a courtroom, it's a completely different standard that has to be met and I've read cases where people have come in looking to establish a private or a public nuisance. They've submitted affidavits they've had some medical testimony, they've had testimonies of Engineers and it was found to be insufficient to meet the burden of establishing a nuisance. It's a very, very high bar okay.

AI

um The latest case was just decided not even a year ago. I've got it here, and this concerned windmills down in Portsmouth.

AI

So I I again I know it's it's a little discouraging to hear this, but I'm speaking strictly from the legal standpoint and from the standpoint of what the city, whether it's the administration, whether it's the council, what we can do uh to help these people and from a legal standpoint, it's extremely extremely limited. What we could do, the.

AA

Council president can actually continue to have a question. Thank you. um So.

AA

So I'm trying to kind of understand um this whole process. So if the laundry mat decided to operate 24 7.

AA

they're in their own right to do so, but we don't have the power to limit them on the hours or could we because at what point, do you then say you're clearly opening yet you're open for 24, 7. and you're disturbing the neighborhood with the? If you know, assuming, let's say yes, that the vibration is definitely coming from this establishment who just put new uh whether it's a washer or I, assume it's a washer, but they did put new new machines in there from what I was from what the owner mentioned to me.

AA

Do we have any jurisdiction at that point, the.

AI

Short answer is yes, okay, but it's we're used to dealing with licensed businesses with hours of operation on their application as part of their license, and we've seen it um once a month like a CVS will come in they'll want a 24-hour license.

AI

um A BV restaurant will come in and want to remain open at 1am, so on and so forth. Again we don't regulate laundromats per se. However, that being said, every city council, every Town Council in the state of Rhode Island, has what we call all the powers of the town, all the powers of this city. What that means is that the administration and the council can always do what's best or try to do its best to promote the health, safety, welfare and morals of its citizens.

AI

Now it it sounds like a fancy phrase and it sort of is what exactly does that mean? It doesn't lend itself to an easy definition. It just means if we take an extreme example, like you just said, and they were operating 24 hours a day and they were making all kinds of noise and it was. There was hazardous material coming out the windows or whatever something like that. The mere fact that they're not licensed doesn't mean we have to say: oh well, sorry, we we can't do anything.

AI

Okay, we could, but that's an extreme example and I think what we would need to do is we would have to invoke the assistance of the Superior Court in that instance, and there's a mechanism and I've done it in in other cases we would have to actually go to Superior Court, because we don't have the power really to have a we don't we can't have a show cause that there's no license to take, so we would have to invoke the equity of the court and say: look. We need your help. We need a restraining order.

AI

We need a preliminary injunction, it's affecting the health, safety, welfare and morals of the city of Cranston, but that's an extreme example.

AA

So two quick things: well, not quick, but two things is we as a city, don't have I, guess: I, don't know Powers the right word to regulate laundromats, who does and B. If we were to write an ordinance to re uh uh requiring a license, would would they be part of this ordinance that we would submit or I'd submit or whoever this Council was in it.

AI

I did try to look up some. There is some state, some sporadic state law on on laundromats, but it mostly talked about being having as a requirement Wastewater facilities and adequate water hookups and things of that nature.

AI

um It didn't really get into the the nuts and bolts of Regulation per se. It was more from an environmental standpoint. So if.

AI

It depends, depending on the type of ordinance, that the council would want to pass it's difficult for me to give an answer without seeing precisely what the ordinance would Encompass would it be limited to hours of operation? Would it be limited to number of machines? Would it be limited to some other factor? I, don't know because I I don't know what what you have in mind and I know you're, probably looking to me for guidance.

AI

Well, what could we do and that that's a difficult question to answer too, because it's a mixed-use area to my knowledge and I haven't done any research on them? My belief is that they're, a prior non-conforming use, my guess- is they've been there uh in operation before the cranston's zoning ordinances, making it residential took effect so they're grandfathered in that's the term everyone uses, but prior non-conforming uses if they're changed or altered to the extent that they no longer resemble the original use.

AI

Then the prior non-conforming use is extinguished, but that is an intensive, factual analysis. I don't have enough information to know that, um so it would to answer your question. It would really depend, and it's something I think we would need to discuss an executive session as to you know how far the council would want to go in terms of Regulation, because you cannot aim regulation at any one, specific business, it's okay to regulate an entire classification. That's one thing, but you have to be careful if it looks like it's being aimed at.

AA

AI

AA

I understand that um and and and so how do we know if it's commercial versus industrial? What's how do we Define that.

AI

Well, I think uh I see the director pazulo's here tonight, but um that that's more of a zoning uh question like code enforcement should know that I know they went out there. If anyone would be familiar with zoning and- and you know the distinction between those two uses, it would be them. I mean there is a table of uses. Laundromats um are allowed I believe in a C1 through a C5 Zone I I saw that um beyond that, I I think we would have to talk to code enforcement.

AA

My last question: um I apologize um council member, but it's um what? What did the inspector find? Can you inspector find anything because again, if the inspector went by at a certain time where uh they weren't that machine specific, if there was one machine specific, that's actually causing my vibration, it wasn't in operation you're not going to find anything right, so I'm just curious. What what did they find? The.

AI

Pro I I'm, not privy to that I, haven't spoken with anyone. I, don't know who went down there, but part of the problem is this. Use kind of is falling into a crack that we have in our code of ordinances. We have noise, ordinances, very specific, tells you how many decibels are allowed during with time periods a business can operate at a given level of decibel very specific.

AI

We don't have anything that talks about vibration per se, it's kind of mixed in with the noise and vibrations it's they use those kinds of of uh phrases, but there isn't a specific measurement. There isn't a specific table. There isn't a specific ordinance that just deals with vibration.

AI

Unless code enforcement can show me or you or or the Safety Services committee, a specific ordinance being violated again. It basically takes any power we may have away from us, because if we can't show that they're violating a specific ordinance, I I, don't see how we can take action unless, as I said, unless there are exceptions to everything unless it Rose to a level that was just off the charts and from what I'm hearing I again with all due respect to every one of the neighbors I mean it's going to be really aggravating.

AI

But again from a legal standpoint. It has to be off the charts through the ceiling type of activity.

B

Councilwomanzulli hi.

E

um Attorney protect yeah, so there is an American Society of heating, refrigerating and air conditioning Engineers. That does assess human response to vibration and potential damage to structures, but they don't actually um it's not required by the international building code. So there is someone who does do this. It's just not required by building codes, so I don't think that they have to.

A

AI

um Yeah there are people, and you know again: I I have to revert back to what I said my beginning remarks when we're talking about this still comes under the category of nuisance. This is classic nuisance and the law on nuisance. As I said at the beginning, it's very very clear and the Supreme Court has considered these cases for many many years, and this is not a public nuisance case. This is a private nuisance Case by definition by case law, analysis, it's private, and if it's private, it means it's up to the private individual.

AI

To do something we can only do and take action if we have an ordinance or some other code provision, that's being violated and I'm not seeing it. I haven't talked to anyone at code enforcement. My understanding is, they didn't cite anyone for any type of violation except I, guess for for a neighbor but I'm talking about the laundromat, they didn't find any ordinance being violated, so it reverts to A Private Matter.

T

AI

E

Say that I don't think it's part of their code, but if we, if the city does take action to help, maybe they owner of this laundromat doesn't know that they don't want to get in trouble. They don't want to admit any fault. If we tell them that there are ways to mitigate the excessive vibration, they might be open to it right just by being good neighbors. If we say we don't we can't regulate you, but there are people who do know how this is a problem. Other places is all I'm trying to say. Thank you.

B

uh Councilman pablovskis.

G

Thank you. Just uh a couple points of information um in the past uh attorney vedekia going back a while. If we had an issue with a business, we would send them a letter or we could send them a letter to come in. You know those Safety Services. The license may request your presence not going to be a typical show cause right, maybe something where we can ask them to come in.

G

It sounds like me to me: they either outgrew their capacity at that location or they have a machine that needs servicing if it's coming from there. So maybe, if we can send a letter, get them to come in, you know get that dialogue going. It might fix itself just by doing it. Yeah.

AI

I actually I had suggested that when I, when I spoke with the vice president, uh Vargas I said I'd be happy to to draft a letter asking them. You know in a nice way, as as you suggested, to come in before, let's head this off before it really becomes a problem, it's in their interest. To do so, I mean I. Think the last thing they want to do is is litigate a matter that possibly should be able to be worked out and.

G

uh And I I don't represent your area Council vice president Vargas does but I'll take a ride out to Edgewood um this week or next week and I'll set my car out there and I want to feel the vibration too. So I just want to let you know what time 5 a.m. uh You know when, when all.

A

G

I'll definitely take a ride by other members of the council will most likely do the same, and when you started talking about the underground, I was looking up on my computer that Narragansett Bay Tunnel that they're digging when I was trying to think of anything. I could be doing that, but it doesn't seem like they're near you so trying to figure it out. Thanks.

B

I'm, sorry public comment is no longer allowed and councilman pavlowskus is um is aware of that as well. Thank you, uh councilwoman Jermaine. Did you have your hand up.

Z

Yes, thank you. um I have a question as I. Listen to um solicitor for Vicky always feel like there's nothing to do and I don't want. I, don't want to be pessimist because we have a huge problem here and all of those people here they need answers so I.

Z

Remember we passed an ordinance about nose right if we can take the president noises when we have Worcester, we wouldn't say it's private, because resident has their who study only they have nose in their home and that impact I know the whole and those noises whether we call it vibration or whatever it's nuisance. For me, this is nuisance. He said reasons yes,.

AI

But that's, but that goes back to what I I said at the.

Z

Beginning if it's nuisance, something should be done. It's nuisance.

AI

But what I'm saying is it can't be done, there's very, very strict requirements as to what can be done and from the city standpoint, there's basically very little. If anything we can do. It has to come from the private sector to get this done. Unless, unless so we enact an ordinance, then we can enforce. We don't have one on vibration. We don't have any on laundromats.

Z

So when we talk about music, so we're going to go back, I am not a lawyer. If we go back to the Charter when they describe reasons so vibration doesn't fall on the reasons is that what we can say, white and black um vibration is not in reasons because I would say, like you know, by definition reasons.

Z

So if it's not nuisance or because I feel like if it's music, if it doesn't say, vibration is not part of it, there's something we can do.

AI

No I I I'm saying that I'm not denying it's a nuisance, it sounds to me like it is so.

Z

If it's a good question was.

AI

What can we do about it, and my answer is very very little: can the city do about it in the absence of a violation of a specific ordinance, and we don't have any so, and even if, even if we did we to establish a public nuisance, as I said, the state of Rhode Island couldn't do it with lead paint? It would be impossible for us to establish this as a public nuisance. It can only be established as a private nuisance, but think of the word private.

AI

Not public private means private individuals, private citizens, private landowners have to initiate this.

Z

So how we can help them, because that's why they.

AI

Are here well, I I think uh Council. uh Vice president uh Vargas mentioned she was asking about. Perhaps if um we enacted some type of legislation regarding this type of that pertains to this type of situation, regulations that apply to laundromats, not just this one online Maybe.

AI

So we have a very detailed noise ordinance. We might want to amend that to include vibration, okay, but we would need the assistance of some type of sound engineer, someone who's who's in the the field. Who could tell us what is an acceptable amount of vibration? What isn't just like we do with the noise, so under 60 decibels is okay. Over 60 decibels is a violation. You need that. You.

Z

Need that kind of particularity, I I disagree.

Z

If you are in your home, it's shaking and your wall is cracking your ceiling is cracking. This is not something we can take lightly.

Z

So if we have 15 people have the same problem, it's a huge problem, so laughs cracking so you need I I, don't think we that's tangible, you don't need, or, or especially to say this cracking. This is wasn't happening before it's happening within two years or one year, so I think we should have enough evidence to.

Z

We don't need to go further so to have my house cracking my house shaking and someone go to see that, so what I would like to ask Council vice president said so they are not my, but we all hear, as she said before, we all care about what's going on here and we need to find something as soon as possible. So I would not like to have my house cracking and something. What is my private matter is not something. So that's why we are power to do something. Thank you.

B

Councilman down again and councilman Campbell piano friends.

F

Thank you, council president. Thank you, uh solicitor, protect you, so um we we, the inspections, is unable to cite them for anything because they're not out of compliance with any code, because no code exists.

AI

That's my understanding. I haven't spoken with them. Personally, that's what I've been.

F

Told, and, and through the enactment of an ordinance not specifically tailored towards this business entity, but more generally, towards laundry mats or to deal with vibrations emanating from a property um that could help us. We could leverage that code to compel them into compliance through whatever.

AI

Then we would have an enforcement mechanism. Yes,.

F

Completely lost my train of thought: I am polishing, it uh I I might I might raise my hand again later. Sorry, that's.

B

Okay, we'll we'll give you a pause, councilman, camper, piano.

AB

Thank you, council president uh I understand uh this is his point that we have no power, but I do have a little bit of expertise in this area. uh I deal with equipment all day long that is easily 10 times the size of uh these washing machines in these dryers, and uh if they're mounted correctly with the the mounted vibration control, you could stand within two feet of them, not feel anything. So it's my view that this is something that is not mounted correctly.

AB

It is not on the right paths and um if they want to be a good neighbor, they only have to address this and fix this problem. It should be very simple.

B

Be and I believe everyone has spoken at least once um if councilman Donegan, if you recalled what you wanted to say, go ahead. Yeah.

F

Sorry, um uh not uh through the uh council president to uh director Moretti um is there. Did the inspections department report anything back to um the mayor's office or to yourself about their their findings?.

AH

Yes, councilman um kind of pretty much just to repeat this feelings that uh solicit of radekia explained inspections had gone out and went through the book to see. If there's any violations, uh they thought that they I could say some of the things I recall from their their reporting was that they had purchased new equipment more of the high technology which could result in Greater, uh faster speeds in terms of cleaning in terms of drying. That could result in that, but there was no violation because they did not be.

AH

They were not required to receive permits for any special electrical wiring, so they just adapted to what was currently there um so relative to vibration. There's nothing on the books that they reported back, that uh that could be uh noted or or uh addressed.

AH

um There was an issue of uh a report of rats, um but she inspected and, and they produced a certificate to say that the business uh had a contractor.

AH

You know that um I think they noticed a lid was opened in the dumpster and just just made sure that that lid was closed for that purpose um and I believe the issue over some laundry bins uh that were out in the I said the yard or the back, um but it was just during in transit during business hours and operations, um but there was nothing that they could point to relative to any uh any uh ordinances on the books or state ordinances that that could be enforced.

AH

um She did speak with the owner, I believe and uh addressed I believe the issue that Mr councilman Kempa piano uh mentioned about the vibration I too believe that maybe something could be done, and certainly uh we happy to I'll personally be happy to go out there with myself or anyone else here to speak with the owner to see if they uh cooperatively could identify what the problem is so happy to do so. But inspections had been, there done a thorough evaluation as a councilwoman and I had spoken about sorry.

B

To say: is there anyone who hasn't already spoken on this topic? Who wishes to be heard from council members.

B

I would like to say to the residents in this area that are experiencing this. um You should not have to be dealing with this. That's an understatement and those words don't solve your problem and I understand that, but having been a resident, you know myself before being a council member I've been in your shoes in terms of coming here before the council and seeking help and I can assure you that myself and our other council members take that role with great responsibility.

B

You have heard that- and some of you may have understood this before you came in this evening- that we are restricted within the bounds of the law, but that doesn't mean that we don't have some remedies and recourse available to us and I think solicitor's office this evening for addressing this I.

B

Think councilwoman Vargas for bringing this to to the table to us and what I would like to to see is, as has already been discussed this evening, inspections with code enforcement addressing it because, clearly you know there has to be some type of recourse with that type of shaking and stuff going on. The overarching issue of just common decency- you know there are many laundromats throughout the state and I'm sure they are not causing this kind of issue.

B

So it's you know not acceptable and from a business standpoint, if they're responsible business owners, you would think that they would respect that and welcome some guidance in trying to how to be a better neighbor.

B

And the last thing I would say, is that two things I foresee to um point us, hopefully as a council and acting an ordinance that prevents this in the future. Even if it unfortunately cannot retroactively be applied to this situation, which that question remains.

B

um You know to to be seen so that that we have a license that we have standards so that it may be applicable to the situation it may not. We'll have to see as time goes on, and the last thing I will I will say is that, in terms of where we go from here, um perhaps we can move this item to either Safety Services or ordinance committee, or the next full council meeting to be determined. I would hate to put it on just two weeks from now.

B

In Safety Services- and there isn't much of substance to to report back at that time, but I'm sure councilman Vargas will will will also Council vice president Vargas will be in touch and we'll be in touch with you as well. Thank you, Council. Vice president Vargas. If you have something.

AA

uh Yes, thank you, I'm, definitely going to take that offer and as far as sending out a letter, um if we can actually draft that um Mr verdecchio, so then that way we can at least provide them with the time and and date um and come in and allow the business as well to provide us with any changes or anything else. That would help out and probably then will they also be able to understand the concerns that the neighbors are living with on a daily basis. I'll.

AI

Be more than happy to drop that letter and we'll have it delivered, and hopefully we get a good response, because it seems to me that every time we do that people take it seriously, they do want to be good neighbors and they come in so hopefully that'll be the case here. Thank.

AA

You and to the neighbors that are here today. You know when that letter gets drafted with a date and time I will also let all of you know.

AA

So that way um you are uh kept abroasted in terms of the time deeds and, if you'd like to obviously come to that meeting as well, and if you can never, if you are not able to come in person, note that we also have a zoom uh live linking as well that you're also able to provide your um public hearing testimony through that Avenue as as well and I'll work as to Echo that Council presidents um Point um on you know possible ordinances as well, whether or not it'll actually retro act, that'll, be you know determined, but at least we're able to actually move forward and know that all of you are being heard today and continue to provide me with any emails or videos as well as a matter of fact.

AA

I would probably um share with all the council members as as well or, if you send it to me, I, don't mind forwarding that over the clerk, so she could disseminate to each and every one of us as well. Thank you.

B

Next, this evening, councilman Renzulli, you have some council member Communications. Yes,.

E

Thank you, madam president. um Okay, so my first communication would be in regards to waste management. I, don't see Mr barnado here but and I. Don't I really wanted to see how the rest of the count? The council, if they've, been getting complaints so I have some reinvigorated complaints of trash not being picked up on schedule. I, don't it might be just one side of the street it might be. Trash was picked up and not recycling. It's on both sides of the city. It's random addresses it's even you know.

E

Former council members saying hey my recycling I picked up. My trash got picked up.

B

If I, if I, could just ask members of the public, if you could quietly leave, the chambers of the sonographer can accurately take a record. Thank you.

B

E

Ahead so I'm I'm, just curious of when complaints come in because I know the Clean City coordinator does coordinate with waste management, but when complaints come in through different Avenues, if there is a shared document or software or something that is keeping track of these complaints, so we can know if it's certain areas repeatedly certain streets. If it's because I know there is still a staffing problem across industry across the country, I'm just curious.

E

If we have any of this data to to ever, compare what's going on because I'm having a hard time, you know keeping up with my residence complaints on this matter and I, don't know what to tell them. We.

AG

Do not have a database, but yet speaking of so basically the calls either go right directly to Joe and Joe's, very responsive handling them or they'll go through Gina architectural Affairs, and then she coordinates them. uh I spoke to director Bernardo today and he has not been getting any complaint, not any complaints but in any inordinate amount of complaints. Recently more than the couple a day that we always get. So this is relatively new from what he's telling me about the amount of complaints that you're receiving.

E

I, usually, to be honest with you, I I call the Clean City coordinator myself, because it's easier for me to try and get direct help.

E

I just I'd like to just know, and then sometimes I tell the residents it's difficult when we get through the holiday season, there's holidays that cause delays and then there's weather that causes delays on top of that um I I, don't know if they'll come out of your Friday you're kind of like you know, Sol until you get to the next week, because I think that the the jump is closed on Saturdays to my understanding, but sometimes I see trucks out there.

E

So I'm just I'm trying to understand what we should be telling residents I, don't know any other council members have this problem, but I can't I, don't want to always be calling Mr, De Carlo, so I want to know who, but I think we should be tracking specific types of complaints and categories. Otherwise we're going to constantly be having these conversations.

E

This happened with with rats and we try to to implement something otherwise we're just always in here saying: oh I get a lot of complaints, oh I did I did and then someone says well I haven't, but that's not a way to govern. It's not a way that someone would do business when you, when I call a business or when I work at a business. We have the complaints categorized.

E

So we can say: I got 32 complaints this week and they happened to be over on this side of the city and that driver's wife just had a baby and they don't have coverage. And then that's that's an easy fix, but we don't have that I, don't know I'm not really requesting it. I know: I can't request.

AG

I'm sure this he has some kind of system that he utilizes himself, but to see we have a city-wide database. We do not have that, but I can follow up with Joe see what system he utilizes to categorize these, as you say, and maybe be able to pinpoint certain areas in particular. Okay,.

E

Thank you, I, don't know if anyone else has the same problem. Councilman.

B

Jermaine thank.

Z

You, council president, so you know since I started in this Council I, always with the issue with my risk management and um sometimes things work out and sometimes it doesn't and we with this um trash, have not been picked up with beans that has not been replaced.

Z

um We have a huge issue, so I have complaints, sometimes I just feel like discouraged even right now, um because it's like you, you don't see the solution. I have someone that emailed me, the you know. Until now we do not know when they're gonna pick up uh yard West resident in many ways you didn't have bags of yard waste in front of their long and sitting there and they they are scheduled to pick up Christmas tree and Christmas has not been speak, uh pick up in all the cities.

Z

So right in front of my house, I see the Christmas tree right on the lawn and I mentioned that we have an enforcement problem, but because it's a contractor, so they can do whatever they want, because there is no penalties. So that's really frustrate me. I have to say: I am frustrating with risk management.

Z

I, don't know what to say to the resident anymore, and you remember, you see even my being at home, my own being weep off. I cannot solve my the problem for my research. That I cannot stop my so to come to replace the beans and, as you mentioned, the words problem we have when you do not have uh you're being secure. You have pile of trash, even if you had with in front of your lawn. So what we can do, because this is really inacceptable.

AH

There were systematic problems during the pandemic. We've addressed that we spoke about it um because primarily waste management was having problems hiring. uh We were feeling very good actually over the last uh several months that we feel with those problems behind us.

AH

We're caught up receiving less complaints and I have to tell you we probably have the best clean, City coordinator around I, think anyone who dealt with Mr takalo, um he addresses things on the spot and by the next day, I'll be surprised if these issues, if addressed to the city, are not taken care of um that's why we have a system with constituent Affairs to council women's observation, uh beginning this past week we spoke to the council president Council.

AH

Vice president, we're going to change things a little bit around to track reports of constituent issues to be able to log them in we're going to affect all of some communication to the council folks um about documenting and creating these logs. So we can look back, so we can give you statistics actually going forward. So that's something new that we're going to be trying to implement just just now, I'm going to begin to roll.

AH

This roll this out as we literally as we speak, but I have to say: if there are issues, please send them directly to Mr directly to the administration, certainly if constituents have them to Mr de Calo, but I am not aware, and director Bernardo was a straight shooter um he's not aware of any any significant issues. This 80 with 82 000 residents and approximately 50 000 households this every day, there's going to be an issue probably, but to say this systematic problems about trees.

AH

If someone, if they didn't pick up the tree and if we're aware of it I could tell you I, don't think this is the column keeps things on back order and he follows up but be happy to follow up on any issues you do have. But I was almost proud to say that we're fine. They were at a point, post pandemic that we should be. We are, we felt we are in good shape, and this is news to us.

AH

But if this we need specifics in order to act upon it, generalities doesn't help us um to that point. Waste Management there's been issues over some of the trucks leaking Hydra. There's some older equipment with a pandemic they've had problems with old used equipments Parts. They promised us I, believe six new new trucks uh beginning this spring more than that I believe in terms of recycling. So we're looking to improve that in terms of bins, actually have authorized a very good amount of bins. That should not be any trash bin issues with holes.

AH

If it's reported to us, they can have a new bin. If there's repairs, I'll go downstairs and I'll see Wheels bin wheels in the public works department that people are going to pick up what Joe's going to be going out, but I encourage everyone to report these issues to us. If we have a problem, then then bring it back to us, but I have to say Mr bernado uh he's not going to not tell us the truth.

AH

If there's really been a backup and there's honest as could be to answer one of the the questions I believe yes, the landfill closes on Saturdays but went out of the spillage. If you will, for various reasons for pickup, they will pick up on Saturdays to the points with is the trucks are a capacity to hold them for the weekend.

Z

Question uh when the yard, with do we have a schedule for the yard waste to be picked up, yeah.

AH

I I forget to stop my head, but I believe a ghost the ends I think in approximately no December 10th that week approximately it's on the website. That's on the city's website and I believe it's probably been posted for 2023 when it begins to pick up the spring, but obviously it ceases in the winter time. But it's constantly it's there.

AH

It's something standard, that's posted! Now we just transitioned a set to a new year. um Hopefully we have that schedule posted if not it'll be posted some, but there's no, no, there's no yard waste pickup right now.

Z

What do we do for those with that who have those bags of yard waste sitting in front of the house? What do we do for them? Do we have someone to call um directly to deal with that.

AH

They can bring it right to the landfill themselves. The city enabled this program for 10 9 10 months out of the year and going into mid-December. The city feels as if it's Amp amount ample time for graduates to be picked up, that people won't be doing much yard work into the months of December, mid-December January February um to be able to to save money. So we don't do Crews to go around the city, picking up yard waste during those months, so they can certainly go to the uh the landfill themselves and dispose of the material.

AH

Z

We asked the resident to bring the yards with themselves. That's why we asked them yeah the city.

AH

I, don't think it's prudent for us to do year-round yard waste pickup, so there's kind of a cut off, which is approximately mid-December I believe picks up sometimes in March. um If you want I, don't think it's wise. My recommendation is not to enact uh to ask us to do it uh during the months of the winter months. uh Probably not a lot of activity going on so we'd ask the council people to publicize that we have that on the uh the city's website. I think it's reasonable.

AH

Sometimes we can't address every issue every bag, but that's certainly the exception.

B

Any um uh councilman, Barry and then I'll go back to councilman. It.

D

Was on the website that it was the week of December 19th was the last week and it was on the way you know months ago. So if somebody missed it, it's not really the city's fault at this point so I had a guy in my neighborhood I actually asked him to take the bags back into his yard and he wasn't happy about it, but I.

AH

E

Councilman Rizzoli, thank you. I I just want to thank the city that they're going to be tracking stuff. I. Think that that's great, that we're implementing a tracking system for complaints and I want to make clear that I was not saying Mr to college is an amazing job. He's one man with a city of 82 000 people, like you said my problem was directly with waste management and how they will miss a whole side of the road because to those people who live on that side of the road it doesn't matter.

E

If 79 990 people got their trash picked up, they they care. So that was my my only thing. The administration is great. Whenever I contact them, I am annoying and I contact everybody all the time it. The problem was with Waste Management, because we have a big contract with them and throughout the pandemic we find them, and we we've they've, had this contract for I, don't know how long I know we're not going to be doing this ourselves, but it's it's kind of like like monopolized, so they can do whatever. Thank you.

AH

Through the chair, if it's reported to us that there's a miss, they will be there the next day to pick up.

AH

um Thank you director, I have said with the exception, if it's on a Saturday, if you're at the tail end of the week, I think Western Cranston was if the trucks are filled up, we can't pick up until Monday. That would be the should be. The only exception happened to my house a couple of times and had some fun with Mr takalo about that, but he's I believe we will send a truck off for one pickup. If, if that's the case, if.

B

They mess up. Thank you to the administration, I believe that everyone on Council has spoken, who wanted to, with the exception of councilman, down again, believe you had your hand up or you're all set well, okay, the administration's all set on this topic. Thank you.

B

uh Next on the agenda, councilwomanzulia of Emergency, Management, Liaisons and.

E

Yeah, that's unnecessary because I I put that in before.

B

E

uh Councilwoman Vargas was, is the emerging Emergency Management liaison I just had a the overnight parking permit. I just was seeing if there was an update, I guess the last time we talked about this at a workshop I guess it was going to be seen what the feasibility was to study the roads to see. If this was something we could do.

E

um That's what Mr Bernardo said he's not here. So we could I can push this out to another time.

B

Does the administration have anything they would like to add to this issue of overnight parking permit, update.

AH

The city, we don't have the money funded, tens of thousands I forget the number eighty thousand I forgot. The number in discussion wouldn't have the money to do that now uh to assess I think we should bring it to fruition to very, be very concise, to see what the directive is then just do a survey come back and spend many tens of thousands of dollars for consideration. I think it should be tighter.

E

No, my question was just I think, and someone can correct me if I'm wrong I think it was to just say how much it might cost to do the study so that he could say if Council it will cost twenty seven thousand dollars to do this study to see if this is even feasible and we don't have the money for that. It was just. uh They were going to give a number someone that he had video from.

AH

A discussion with Mr Bernardo who's, pretty good um I, believe some I recall something in the vicinity of eighty thousand dollars, let's say 50 to 100 000. If that gives you a ballpark, it's not 10 or 20 or 30..

E

Okay, thank you very much. That's all I needed.

B

Any other council members wish to have any discussion on this.

B

Councilman Germaine.

Z

Thank you, council president. um Thank you, Council Wednesday, to put this in the communication. So, as you all know, this is something that really close to my heart.

Z

This uh issue, with overnight parking um I, receive it later, two letters whom wisdom and I think for me: it's a waste of time to even think wasting money to go do to to feasibility of overnight parking. That's my opinion. It's waste money to even Envision to do that, because the problem, it's simple, really simple: we have other cities that has talking and they do not have been, and not everyone need overnight parking.

Z

It's just a few people who've been suffering over and over for lack of packing, so I am not for wasting money. To do is study. I. Don't think we need to study to do that.

Z

It's just a matter of passing ordinance to require someone who need a parking, can have it, someone who do not have driveway to have a parking most of people have, but in certain area people who need to park overnight do not so I, don't think we need to go around go on Circle in circle, because we don't want to do it and we look for any any. It's a little thing to make it a big thing, that's my opinion. So we need to allow overnight parking for people we need in the city period.

Z

We don't need to waste taxpayer to do study study for what that's my opinion.

B

Thank you at this time. I would just like to acknowledge that we did have a workshop as a council. This is as simplistic as it sounds of an issue it's clearly not because if it were, if this problem would have been solved years ago, but we as a as a council body are taking on this issue and looking to find a resolution along with the assistance of the administration, because it's going to take all of us to try and come up with a solution. That's going to.

B

Hopefully please many, but nothing is going to satisfy all, and we understand that and and part of that, taking that on attorney, Angel has done some work with uh input from council members in the workshop and if he could maybe give us an update as to where that stands. That would be helpful thanks.

H

Based on the last Council discussion on this, uh the recommendation to have this um heard in a workshop. You'll have an ordinance uh for you in February, and a workshop can be scheduled for the full Council to meet and do as it pleases, with an amendment or construction of the ordinance policy wise, what studies they want or whatever else they want to do. But that will happen in February.

B

Thank you next on the agenda this evening is councilwoman Jermaine uh you have a couple of items up floor is yours. Thank.

Z

You, council, president I, have two item in the um agenda. It's the first one is a discussion about sidewalk safety. uh I said in award too and I. Think of many of our area in this city may have the same issue with sidewalk safety.

Z

So thank you, uh Mr Lima, for showing that so uh during the course of the election, I was working, um knocking doors and that's when I realized how our side work are unsafe.

Z

We live in a neighborhood where we want our children to be able to riding their bike play on the street play on door, but I almost fell many times because our sidewalk is a disaster and one thing I realized we have those trees. We have in the sidewalk that make um even that, and what do we do with that and my question about side work is who is responsible of the sidewalk? So I would like to ask because that's something I keep looking I, don't have the answer.

Z

Who is responsible of the sidewalk? Who is the owner of this sidewall? So I would like to have this answer, because I have one of my residents close to my house that inform me of a situation where a young child boy fell on the sidewalk brought his home and Sue the city.

Z

So my son fell on the sidewalk was a thief foreign.

Z

The quality of life of our wisdom, that has to be a priority for our sidewalk to be safe, our children or our elders. What about those people who are working those side working at accommodate someone in a wheelchair someone with a walker?

Z

So we are not helping our elders to go for a walk. We have speeding going on in our street now we have decide what the such situation so I have so many ideas in my head about sidewalk safety, but my first question is: I want to be able to have this confusion go away today with our illegal to know who is the owner of this sidewalk and if something need to be done, who is responsible? Thank you.

AI

So uh councilwoman Jermaine the I, noticed in the uh communication. It says also, it says who is liable so, okay, the short answer to your question is that the sidewalks are owned by the city. Unless there is a situation where there's a private development and the private development puts in the sidewalks the way they put in the roads. Okay, but if you're talking about Oakland Avenue you're talking about Pontiac Avenue you're talking about Ralph Street you're talking about the neighborhoods, that's all city property.

AI

Okay, now who is liable again I'm going to give you the short answer? The short answer is like any other property that the city maintains and controls and owns the city, but there is an exception if I live next to a sidewalk and I, make changes or alterations to the sidewalk if I plant flowers, if I plant grass in in you may see some of the sidewalks there's like a strip of grass and the middle. Sometimes, if I put one of those little fences to decorate.

AI

Well, someone slips and falls because I exercised control over that portion of the sidewalk in our likelihood I would be liable because I made changes. I made alterations, I exercised some control over the sidewalk, but that's the exception. The rule is it's city property. It's no different than a parking lot, a little different than a road, no different than a set of stairs in a public building.

AI

City's responsibility.

Z

Thank you so listen now. My next question is uh Mr Lima. Can you show off the for me? We see in the sidewalk a lot of trees and we need the trees. Okay, we need them, but, like this picture here you see how the concrete is lift up, and you see the big tree right there. So this tree, so in terms of legal that tree is it the city, poverty.

AI

That's a good question that tree looks to me, like probably 75 to 100 years old I, don't know who planted it now if it's the property owner who planted the tree I guess the argument could be made that they're responsible for the damage you did to the sidewalk I, don't know who put that tree there.

Z

Thank you. So now we have a program in this city that help residents who want to repair the sidewalk right. So.

Z

My I'm thinking about how, if this city is the sidewalk is, is the city property and we have residents making you know a contribution or mostly say, 50 50., that's what they would says. 50 50. am I, am I right, am I right, legal. It's a 50 50 for the program side work.

Z

You don't know.

B

Councilwoman Jermaine this was discussed in public works. I know you had a previous engagement and you weren't able to attend, but I might suggest that.

J

B

Conversation maybe continue.

Z

B

Into public works, where you can get answers to those questions with director Bernardo being present at that time, I think that might be a good idea if you're so inclined.

Z

I agree with you, because I have so many other questions. Thank you. So I'm gonna stop here. uh If anyone have any question regarding this.

B

B

uh As for you had a second item update on Broad long pool project, um is that an item also you'd like to continue to public works for discussion um as I believe it was previously slated for that as well.

Z

um Yes, I think I I have many letters that was sent to me during the week after in article where the mayor talked about Badland pool and I have a lot of people that Express disappointment. Frustration, myself, included uh I have many questions about it as well, so as to the update, how much it costs to uh because we do not still. We do not have a number. uh We know we have a grant and we don't know how much money we can have from the upper.

Z

We know we have a resolution, so I have a lot of questions as getting late, so I think um I'm going to um refer to the finance or public course.

B

For for for public works for the update on Long pool project and uh the sidewalk safety, would you like to continue those both I.

Z

Would like to continue those as soon thank you if.

B

It's okay with the chair of Public Works. If rosalba can add those to the agenda for uh this uh upcoming Public Works meeting that'd be great.

Z

Thank you, council president. Thank.

B

You one order of business that I want to go back to uh councilman down against chair of the finance committee, um an attachment and a link uh made something a little unclear. So just for cleanup of the record at the finance meeting. As the chair uh you uh and the finance committee continued, the approval of the tax interest uh waivers is that correct, yep.

F

Yes, that that is correct, all right.

B

I just out of an abundance of caution. If um you could take that item- and maybe we could have a motion uh to continue that for the records to the next finance committee meeting as it came out of committee as to the approval of the tax interest waivers.

F

Are we approving? Are we continuing that to the next? You.

B

Are continuing um with the recommendations to approve the tax interest waiver approvals.

F

uh I'll entertain a motion so moved.

B

Yeah any discussion clerk, please take the role.

C

Costume Ferry, yes, councilmanzulli.

J

C

Councilman Germaine, yes, Captain John again, yes,.

F

C

Camp piano, yes, yes, Council vice president of August, yes, council, president Moreno, yes,.

B

All right next, as we voted to take the agenda out of order right now, we will go to the audit committee and I will give the floor to councilman Donegan for the audit committee.

F

Thank you um before I go any farther um any further I uh I. Don't think it would be fair to not acknowledge the work that uh councilman uh Robert Ferry did as Finance chair for the past two years and as the chair of the audit committee to get that committee back up and running I, don't think it had met and five five years uh before that I was I was gonna, say a decade.

F

I thought it would have been even longer so um I want to just thank you on behalf of the Council on behalf of residents of Cranston, for all the work that you did as well as I know, um budget author de Mayo was instrumental in that as well, as you know, help from um uh our legal counsel and the administration directors of Dallas as well so but but uh to councilman Ferry. Thank you for all that you did I shouldn't go unrecognized! Thank you um with that.

F

We'll welcome uh representative from Markham uh LLP to provide the presentation for the audit of the fiscal year ending June 30th uh 2022.. This was continued from the December meeting um and uh members of the council believe I received the presentation um and and uh comments um earlier this afternoon and uh moments later. I appreciate uh rosalba for forwarding that to the council, so uh copies should be available, digitally as well as uh physically uh handouts here um at the clerk's desk. But uh sir uh great the.

AJ

Floor is yours. Thank you. Thanks for the opportunity to be present tonight again, this follows up our meeting in mid-December with the audit committee, where we discussed audit planning the status of the audit at that point. In time uh substantially all the field work had been done. There were a few remaining items, um Finance directors of Dallas and the administration team did work to provide us with those last pieces. We did exchange some questions back and forth.

AJ

We haven't been able to complete our reconciliation process and today we've continued to circulate more finalized drafts of the numbers which were included with what was sent today. Our team is continuing to work on review of the note disclosures and putting the entire annual financial report together, which we're scheduled to uh issue by next Friday next Tuesday to be in accordance with the state's extended due date of January 31st.

AJ

We did prepare a brief presentation. It's the the collet item that has been circulated. um We are in the process of doing the final uniform guidance of the compliance order of the federal programs, uh which was again the result of finalizing the schedule of expenditure of financial uh Federal. Awards it was presented that report is due by March 31st and we'll be pleased to return to the council at that point in time and discuss any findings with that or any final observations and recommendations that will make us as a result of the audit process.

AJ

um Our intention in the next week is to issue the the our ordered opinion on the city's annual financial statements um again to meet the the state extended due date of January 31st um within the package I'm on page three. Now uh to talk a little bit about the city's general fund, uh total fund balance for the general fund increased by just under 443 thousand dollars for the year. uh The unassigned fund balance uh some people call it. The rainy day fund at June 30th of 2022 amounted to 14 million, just under 237 thousand dollars.

AJ

It represents 4.5 percent of the general funds budget expenditures slightly below the target of five percent. That's set, but certainly it's a significant rebound from the previous year.

AJ

um In the June of 21 financial statements, uh the city did report a significant amount of its fund balances non-spendable, as it was represented by a receivable from the internal service fund, which did not have the ability to repay that that amount.

AJ

um The the subsequent years, funding of the internal service fund for health care in the 22-23 year, which has been represented to us, has certainly brought that fund back to a break even position, so that amount is no longer required to be shown as non-spendable in the general fund. That's an increase of just about four million dollars in the undesignated, in addition to the 442 thousand dollars of current year operating results that the city had um you know, certainly on an operation.

AJ

The size of the city of 442 thousand dollar increase in fund balance is is largely Break Even, but that's the design. So uh you know when communities see a big number there they're certainly questioned. Certainly this year um you know the the city operated within its within its Appropriations and uh within the plan that was set forth.

AJ

um Moving to the next page, the school general fund. It's the second, the largest major fund within the city uh for the fiscal year, the the fund balance increased by just over two hundred thousand dollars. The total fund balance is just under 8 million in June 30th of 2022. all has been earmarked for educational purposes. There is a portion of that that is reported as non-spendable solely because it's held as a claims deposit by the fund administrator for the school Department's health care plan. It's not available for disbursement.

AJ

It's again, it's held by a third party.

AJ

um The next page within the presentation, does give a chart of fund balances of the city's governmental funds again, showing that the general fund, the school unrestricted fund uh this year, the the school bond there was a 51 million dollar anticipation. Note, which was issued during the year about just over 15.5 million dollars, has been spent.

AJ

um That currently is shown as a negative fund balance until permanent financing is issued to replace an anticipation. Note, um the other governmental funds is a conglomeration of all funds that don't meet the definition of major at the end of the year. They ended with just under 14.4 million dollars of fund balance available to fund programs at the city's discretion.

AJ

You can see on the on the bottom line on that chart. You can see the changes in fund year over year.

AJ

um The table on page six does show this: the combined fund balance of the city and school department for the last five years, and again that 2022 column, you can see the blue representing the designated fund balance rebounding significantly from where that was a year ago and in the prior audit report.

AJ

On the the next page of the presentation, we did include a summary of the revenues and expenditures and changes in fund balance again for the city's governmental funds, uh the two on the left-hand side being the most significant, the general fund and the school unrestricted fund.

AJ

um You can see where the general fund recognized revenues of just over 240 million dollars for the fiscal year expended currently about 142 million on current operations, as well as Debt Service, and then transfer it out to other funds. Just about 97.5 million. The majority of that going to Cranston Public Schools shown as a source and they're calling directly to the right.

AJ

Cranston Public Schools expenditures were about 181.4 million for the year.

AJ

um They did raise uh just just under 84 million dollars of external funding, uh state aid, tuitions and other charges to support their operations again, bringing them at the end of the year, with a slight increase in fund balance of 200 000 generally operating again within their appropriated allocations.

AJ

When we look at the budget actual comparison for the city's general fund, total revenues are above budget by 965 000., again, certainly on a operation, the size of the city. You know a 965 thousand dollar variance is certainly well within um reason. Property taxes came in just about 743 000 above it was anticipated uh permits and licenses again were above budget by about 912 000. Most of our communities are seeing similar results uh with the home refinancing boom that was taking place during that fiscal year.

AJ

There were a lot of taxes that were caught up as well as recording fees and the like for recording mortgages. So um foreign there were some other. You know areas of the budget that had small. You know positive and negative variances as well, but certainly nothing of significance to comment on moving to page nine expenditures in the city's general fund were 712 000 above appropriated amounts.

AJ

There were five departments that had uh variances that were above a hundred thousand dollars and we've listed them here again, certainly nothing that wasn't explained as a one-time item or a change in operations that impacted just the current year, foreign moving to slide 10 the school department results of operations. Revenues are above budget by just under a million one, fifty largely doing more Federal funding and more tuition, Revenue than anticipated and expenditures were below the appropriated amounts by 241 000 for the year.

AJ

Moving on the the city does operate business type activities. Those are not funded by tax dollars. Those are funded by charges for services. The Wastewater or sewer fund is a major fund. By definition, at the end of the fiscal year, it ended with a positive net position of 70 million dollars. Again, a small increase amount of the prior year, just about 420 000 increase in its net position.

AJ

In addition to the Wastewater operations, school lunch fund and the ice rink, those are both operated on the same basis, although they don't meet the definition of major fund collectively they had positive increases in that position and both all Enterprise funds generated positive cash flow from operations again being self-sufficient supporting their own activities.

AJ

We have a few slides as we wrap up uh the city, police and fire Pension Plan um end of the year for financial statement purposes at a 24.38 funding uh down from 27.25 the previous year largest impact of that was the investment performance.

AJ

um All of our clients are seeing their Pension funds take a hit valuation Wise from the Investments. um Nothing no surprises there or nothing that is really within the control of the city. Certainly, the city has made all its required contributions at the actuarily determined amounts uh for the year.

AJ

At the end of the year, the city is recording a 215 million dollar net pension liability, where the obligation to pensioners, both current and future exceeds the current Assets in that fund by that amount, certainly funding the annual contributions at the actuarily, determined amounts are designed to address that and resolve that. So there's no going concern issue with the plan as long as those contributions are continue to be made, which most certainly assured they will be.

AJ

We have a brief slide on post-employment benefits, health benefits and the like for retirees. You know, police and fire plan has a liability of just under 40 million dollars. Again it's it's fun. It's funding percentage dropped during the year again, largely due to investment Returns. The school department has a 12 million dollar opeb liability at July at June, 30th uh and again that their funding status remained about the same, certainly on the other poised employment benefits. There's more estimates and assumptions that go into that liability, certainly for a pension plan.

AJ

The biggest variable assumption is rate of return on assets with post-employment Benefits you're, looking at rate of return on assets, plus the health care cost Trend rate, which really is um difficult to pin down for it. That way, there's no set payment on stream on this. It's really paid through premiums on a year by year basis.

AJ

Most plans are on a pay-as-you-go basis and are not generating sufficient assets to really be considered self-sufficient the cities in no no different condition than anyone else um again, as I mentioned when we issue the report we'll issue a communication to those charged with governance, the city council, as well as the school committee when their financial statements are issued, that will summarize what our responsibilities under General accepted auditing standards were any difficulties. We had any delays which we did not have anything significant.

AJ

We did not have any disagreements over the application of accounting principles and the like um overall observations and recommendations. As a result of the audit and the uniform guidance, compliance audit again will be issued at the time of that audit opinion before March 31st and we'll certainly be pleased to come back to the council and be with the the audit committee as well during that wrap-up stage on that and discuss any questions it may have on on that those Communications at that point. If there are any questions, I'd be happy to answer them.

D

Sure I don't know if this question is directed to you or to uh direct this I tell us into government. Intergovernmental Revenue came in at 1.1 million dollars the law. What was anticipated um any? What's the cause of that.

AF

Through the chair, um that's primarily caused by certain federal reimbursements that are accounted for in the general fund um timing, wise um predominantly some covid related expenses that the city has applied for there has yet to received the proceeds from um the federal government.

D

So it's money that we still may get through.

AF

Through the chair to the counselor, yes, that's correct. Thank.

D

B

Any other members of council have questions.

B

Good evening sure and I um actually before I have my questions. I'll have um are ordered our budget analyst David de Mayo speak thanks. Sure thank.

AK

You uh just a few clarifications on some of the discussions now that the numbers are here.

AK

um The question was asked because in our current budget or the current order period, we had 7.8 million dollars of Opera money that supplemented um lost revenues because we have the Surplus. It's an understanding that that money will stay in the, as we say, say, rainy day fund and cannot be put back in the Opera fund, because that's the flow of progress is that correct, correct, okay, um previous years, bought it fiscal 30 2021.

AK

Our internal service fund was at 5.5, almost 5.6 million dollars as deficit in the current order period. It's coming in at uh 6.9 about 1.3 million dollars of an increase correct um the funding.

AK

That's in the current budget that we're on which is fiscal June 30th 2023 has 19 million dollars of Opera money included, seven million dollars of one-time funding for that so going forward in the current period, we're actually at about a fifty one thousand dollar profit, not knowing if there'll be additional expenditures or that will have a better uh run rate per se with the health insurance. So correct.

AJ

I I think I would I agree with that. The the the deficit position in that fund, like I said, was 6.95 million if seven million goes into that it brings it back to the positive by fifty thousand dollars. Certainly the end of next year's audit. It will be reported what that current year result was, if there's positive results in the health fund, if working rates are adequate to cover costs that 50 000 will be sustained or grow. If they're not, you know, it will change at that point. In.

AK

Time, okay and the increase of the 1.3 was because the Run rate was not as good as we expected it to be for the health claims.

AJ

Yeah claims exceeded the the contributions of the fund for the year foreign.

AK

My only last question, just as a we have limited time, um will the audit issue and state be in compliance with the extension for the order in general? Yes,.

AJ

Or working diligently to issue that by Tuesday end of the day, yes, okay,.

AK

B

Sure um councilwoman Renzulli thank.

E

You um through the president, just asking if we we just received this today, if we have questions going forward, uh who should we direct them to, should we email them to Mark I'm, just looking for a contact so that I can read through this line by line I haven't had the chance to do that. Thank you.

B

Yeah um with respect to future questions with respect to the the actual audit I would direct them to the finance chair um and go through the finance committee to address those those questions and concerns. Thank.

E

You president,.

B

Councilman Ferry I'll.

D

I'll put I'll do that I'll go through the chair questions, sure.

B

Thank you, uh Mr Wilkinson. um We did. We just received this today after four o'clock and those of us who worked didn't have any time to you know digest really. This didn't have much time. I should say to digest this slideshow um presentation, although it's not the full report.

B

um I appreciate your your time and work on this I had um a question um to with respect to, uh on page eight, with the Department being a above budget.

B

876 thousand dollars um is that just general departments running over is there a specific Department that that was substantial I know you gave some percentages on page nine, but like, for example, the city clerk's office being 28, but that overall budget has been a school compared to the fire or police, so the percentages aren't as as telling as I think that they could be if you know so, any insight from.

AJ

Departmental revenues um they're made up of a variety of things that are collected at the department level. Okay, um we could. We could certainly you know through the audit committee, we can sort of recap what those are line by line uh at a future meeting.

B

Okay, but you don't have those those ready yet but they'll be in your full report.

AJ

I mean the details there, I, don't have it with me. Don't have it off top of my head. What the details are. Okay,.

B

Okay, so revenues were above budget right.

AJ

Yeah, this slide is here all on Revenue.

B

And the below budget of the 232 000 was there any particular Department more than another.

AJ

B

No that's another. That's.

AJ

Another category: it's really a okay.

B

Is the administration directors of Dallas? Do you have any insight on that.

AF

There were two components that you were just speaking to relative to the clerk's office um that was on the that was I, believe on page 9 to 28. That was one estimated expense. Primarily, um it appears to be fees. We turn over to the state that are collected through um the clerk's office. That was over budget, um but those are those are estimates that, as they're building the budget, they don't.

AF

You know they um quite honestly, is an estimate predicated on previous years, so that was not Troublesome on the revenue side, the other one that was the other category is it is a Collective catch-all and we can get you a report budget to actual um which makes up multiple departments. But, as Mr Wilkinson said, um it's a compilation of many Revenue accounts, but we can get you that information.

B

And then the other question I have is just on page 14, with respect to the funded ratio. Is there what determines what that ratio is set to be because it appears that it's decreased uh dealing with the opeb and I just want to make sure that we're on track as the way we need to be when I'm seeing the contribution decrease.

AJ

The the funded percentage is really a measurement of the extent that assets are set aside in a trust fund versus the the light. The value of the liability for future benefits that is out there um and again it's the liability for future benefits is really nothing you can budget for it's the actuaries come up with that and that Healthcare cost Trend rate if they use five percent one year versus ten percent the next year.

AJ

You know it swings and there's no there's no amortization on this, like a mortgage where you can say after 20 isn't going to be fully paid, this is really an accounting measurement of what that exposure is, but there's no set payment terms on how it's going to be retired. Okay,.

B

I, don't I don't have anything else if that raised any other questions from Council, Members or okay. I want to thank the members of the audit committee for their time and investment uh councilman Don again as chair and Council um uh Min Ferry, as well for his time and commitment and uh we'll be having more discussions in the future. Thanks thanks.

B

All right next on the agenda this evening is the introduction of new matters before Council I would suggest um we have a motion to take these all as a block. Second,.

T

B

And to refer them to committee as a block, okay,.

D

B

In a second second, okay clerk, please take the role any discussion. First, hearing none for clerk, please take the role costume.

C

Ferry? Yes, yes, councilwoman Jermaine, yes, councilman, constipated, piano, yes responsible! Vice president Vargas, yes, council, president Moreno.

J

T

B

Next on the agenda is.

B

Okay, next on the agenda, just for informational purposes uh is the Council rules. The adoption of the council rules being deferred to the regularly scheduled council meeting in February 2023.

B

And going back to page six of the agenda with the miscellaneous business on the clerk's desk, we have a few items and I would suggest that perhaps with respect to the 2023 city, council and committee meeting schedule, the 2023 Municipal Court schedule and the reappointment of John skorupsky as tree Warden, as well as the letter of Engagement for the hiring of council attorney. Stephen angel. That, though, that we have a motion to accept those on the record.

T

B

Hearing none clerk, please take the role.

C

D

C

C

Jermaine, yes, Cosmic Donegan, cosmicamp, piano.

AK

C

President Vargas, yes, yes,.

B

And next and finally, on the agenda, we have the interview of the two finalist candidates for the position of the city clerk before we have the candidates come up to the podium and speak I would like for attorney Angel, to um address the issue of why we are in this format, as opposed to Executive session.

H

Foreign, thank you, madam president. The open meetings act does not provide an exception for the council to go into executive session for interview purposes or any public body for that matter. Person would have to be hired and it would have to be a matter of job performance or some other job-related function. For that to be discuss, discussed an executive session and obviously the employee would have the option to have it closed or public. In this instance, uh the individuals are not employees so that whatever sort of discussion is going to be had about.

H

These positions must be done in public.

B

Thank you to uh attorney angel now with respect to the candidates for the city clerk position. I would ask council members to be thoughtful of the time while this is an important role and try and keep our questions if any concise and try to do this so that we have one single set of questions so that we're not going out around the womb repeatedly this evening, I would ask for Tracy Nelson as a candidate to come forward and just introduce yourself briefly.

B

Thank you very much.

AL

You can hear me yes good evening. Thank you for the opportunity to speak before you um just to tell you a little bit about myself. I began my career in municipal government about 20 years ago.

AL

Oh okay, understood I, get it yes, absolutely I apologize. So I began my career in municipal government nearly 20 years ago, following several years in the insurance industry, I've worked in various forms of government in varying capacities as a hired unionized assistant, Clerk and elected town clerk, a council appointed Town Clerk and presently as a hired non-union Department director I am a certified municipal clerk close to achieving my master municipal clerk, designation, I'm, an active and respected member of the Rhode Island Town and city clerk's Association, as well as our regional in international associations.

AL

These affiliations provide me with a valuable network from Municipal Clerks I am proficient in the open meetings. Act and the access to public records act, participating annually in the Attorney General's, open government, Summit, I'm comfortable now navigating Rhode Island general laws, the general assembly testifying on legislation at committee hearings. If I don't know an answer, I will find it over the course of my career I've served on multiple task forces and committees for previous secretaries of State, the Board of Elections, the general assembly and my professional associations.

AL

I have established positive working relationships on Municipal state and federal levels. I'm, a strong advocate of collaboration and bipartisan bipartisanship I have served successfully under both Democratic and Republican majority councils. The past president of my own Council, has consulted me regularly for institutional knowledge of the town and municipal government in general.

AL

I have two adult daughters and two granddaughters I purchased my childhood home from my parents. Seven years ago, I enjoy reading and writing I've discovered that work life balance is best achieved by employment in a municipality other than the one you live in, and one of my favorite quotes that applies to all areas of life is by Benjamin Franklin. By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail.

AL

I would like to thank the city council for their consideration and I'm, confident that I'm an ideal candidate for the position of certi, Clark and I'm happy to answer any questions you have for me.

B

Thank you, Miss Nelson. Thank you at this. At this time, I'll take questions from Council, Members, councilman, uh camper, piano.

AB

Thank you. Thank you, Tracy, for a raw being here today. A very impressive resume. I get a very simple question: do you feel that you can step I know the clerk's office is overburdened at this point. Do you feel you can step in on day one and perform your duties.

AL

I mean I would need some tutoring from rosalba I'm sure, which would be the case. You know I would think with almost anyone who came into the job, because every municipality has their own rules, their own policies, their own software, um so I would have a very strong foundation for that.

AL

um But I would certainly look to Rose for guidance on cranston's, unique structure and policies and rules and procedures.

AB

So there's nothing out of the ordinary that you would be encountering going into this position. No, thank you. That's all I have.

B

Council vice president Vargas.

AA

Thank you good evening. How are you good? Thank you good.

AA

Question um in terms of um he served as a town clerk in Richmond um and up until 2016 that I see here on the resume um and then in October 2016. You moved on to the City of Newport um to become the canvassing Clerk.

AA

um Can you walk me as to the reason why you kind of went in from town clerk to canvassing clerk as an election administrator and now would like to actually come back as a clerk sure.

AL

um So I was working in my hometown and um that presents its own challenges, but um in a small town in particular, you handle everything from issuing dump stickers to licenses to Vital Records, but one of my favorite parts of the job was elections. So when the opportunity came to uh transition to focus on solely on elections, I I took that opportunity. It was a more lucrative position um but I'm finding that I miss a lot of the other things.

AL

um You know, I miss a little more variety in my day.

AA

uh Thank you for that, and so um just to kind of piggyback on that. If I may um Rarity in terms of obviously like additional responsibilities, is that what a.

AL

And just Variety in my day-to-day, um so you know in elections everything centers around an election or voter registration, whereas in the clerk's office you could come in in one minute you could be. uh You know helping out with a marriage license and the next minute you have to shift to Preparing an agenda. So just a little more variety in my in my day-to-day performance.

AA

If I can add an additional ask, an additional question council president, okay sure um Miss Nelson, um you know the office and the cler, the clerk's office and rosabo may know this right. We have a demographic, um probably very much somewhat similar um a little bit to City of Newport, but we are definitely I would say highly more diversed, um and so we have. We may have individuals coming to the city clerk's office with a language barrier.

AA

um You know a neat explanation and and on there um just curious in terms of you know, um how would you know you handle a person who comes in who has a language barrier and is not able to actually um I guess the customer service component of that really sure.

AL

uh So I'm I'm, not you know, fluent in any other language um I, certainly would love to learn. It's it's a goal of mine to learn Spanish, um but I've used Google Translate in dealing with customers in my office. Currently.

AA

uh Thank you. Thank you for that and the um other part of the question that I did actually have um my God just had a lot of stuff. Sorry I just lost track.

J

AA

Think it's getting late, sorry I'm trying to stand up and down again I apologize, I'll defer to any other council members for the time being uh until it comes back. Thank you.

B

Tell us one more runzuli, I.

E

Did get to um I do have questions, but I did get to interview this this candidate separately, I, just so I wanted to forge anyone else, but I did step out to get a drink. So I don't know if everyone already did that you yep okay. Thank you. um Let's see so my questions are when you transitioned to Newport I'm sure there was a learning curve there, because you're going from a clerk, you did some elections to all elections. Can you tell me, are you a fast learner?

E

Can you explain how quickly you're able to transition into things? Because that's going to be important here, it moves quick, so.

AL

For instance, so the transition from a municipal clerk that handled everything, including elections to just elections, wasn't that difficult. But it was um different because I went from having only you know, a couple of precincts and uh popular voter population of about 6 000 to having now nine precincts and a voting population of about 16 000.. So that was the biggest transition. uh Just basically studying my homework um going out and uh you know viewing the sites that I needed to see.

AL

um But a lot of it was just homework. Research.

E

Do you can you tell us the strengths that you get from being part of the clerk's associations that I know you're associated with, because I'm just making an assumption that you can get a lot of good information there, a lot of knowledge that you can't get in other in other places? So could you just tell us what, for.

AL

Sure it's basically the municipal Clerk's equivalent of phona friends. You know if I, don't know the answer. If my staff doesn't know the answer or someone in-house doesn't know, the answer. um I certainly have a pool of resources available to me. That would either know the answer or know where to get it.

E

And this is through the council president to the administration. Are we still utilizing uh a someone who's bilingual within the building to go to other departments, or do we just use translation services? Now? This is just kind of a question, but it is applicable.

E

Okay, excellent, so you do have that. That's reassuring!.

AL

E

Right, thank you. That's all I have.

AA

Thank you just one more question. You know, there's nine council members, um and so um we might often ask and be requesting uh whether it's citations or someone who may be going through a uh establishing a business within the city and going through guidelines. How do you handle priority um in terms of the the council knowing that again, there's nine of us, including obviously the council president, um and that communication in itself? Well.

AL

I'd have to look at the substance of the request and see the urgency of it and then prioritize it from there. Foreign.

B

Councilwoman Jermaine.

O

Z

Ma'am, because this evening, um how you describe the role of eclipse.

AL

The role of a clerk- oh basically, you're the front line, you're the gatekeeper to the city or town. You are The Keeper of the records. um You know it's a it's one of the oldest roles that exists and I I. Think it's so important. It's vital! um It's part of our laws. You can't just not have a city or town clerk and that's for a reason. You know I I, think you know you're there to serve the council, each and every member of the council, but you're also there to serve all the residents.

AL

The business owners, the citizens um I think the role of Municipal Clark is is extremely vital.

Z

Can you give up an example of one thing that you you do as a clear precisely.

AL

One thing that I do as a clerk precisely um take the minutes of the meeting um write resolutions issue licenses, there's there's a lot of aspects to the role. Thank you. You're.

O

B

Councilwoman Julie.

E

Thank you. I just have one more question that just got triggered by councilman Germaine, so you mentioned serving the council serving the residents. It's also a position that serves the administration.

E

um It kind of a in between so I imagine but I'm unsure. If that's exactly how it was in in Richmond, can you tell us if it was the same way um where you are a director, but you also work for the council, so this is going to be a balance and are you comfortable with you know, keeping that balance and how you you plan to maintain that.

AL

Yes, I mean you know: I've worked as I said in in multiple forms of government. uh When I began in Richmond we didn't have an administrator or um manager, it was strictly the council, so I worked most closely with the council presidents um and then we finally wrote a charter in my town and we hired an administrator, but I was still an elected clerk at that time. So I still reported directly to the council president, um but of course I worked.

AL

You know, I worked alongside the administrator in order to you know, serve the needs of the residents. So I would imagine this. This would work the same.

E

And you may have mentioned this when I stepped out, so excuse me just tell me that you did. If I did um this role handles probate being a probate clerk as well, and um you know every couple years we also get new, probably judges. So it's a big part of the role as far as I understand it. Rosado can correct me or someone can correct me if I'm wrong. Do you have experience with that and if not, are you comfortable with learning how to do it so.

AL

I handle is probate enrichment, so I haven't done it in you know about six years, but I have again I have the foundation there. I would need to just kind of be brought up to speed on any changes. I know the state forms are available online, so they're easily accessible. The laws are online, so I would just need to be brought up to speed on the current practices and okay.

E

But you did do it, you did it in Richmond.

AL

E

Okay, yes ma'am, that's all I need to know. Thank you. I'm done.

B

And last call any other questions from Council, Members sure I'll ask.

AA

One more question: if I may sure um just disagreements, can you just tell me how you handle disagreements within your um in your in your office and just complex problems in general.

AL

Sure I mean anytime, there's disagreement. You you kind of need to whether it's between you and someone else or to other people that you need to um you know, negotiate um I. Think the most important thing is to just kind of listen to everybody's point of view, everybody's stance because a lot of times the disagreement is over a lack of understanding or some type of breakdown in communication. So if you can get to the root of that, then it's a lot easier to solve. Those disagreements.

B

Thank you. Thank you. Miss Nelson I had the pleasure of sitting down with you in the smaller subcommittee going through candidates, and so I appreciate uh the time that you took then as well. To answer questions and I appreciate your patience this evening, since the meeting went rather long but I'm sure, with your experience as a clerk, you understand that's outside of our control and.

AL

B

um And uh hopefully you'll you know be up for the task. If you were in this in this position, all.

AL

B

AL

You thank you. Thank you very much. Everyone.

B

Next, this evening is Miss, Sophia, milham, I, hope, I, didn't butcher your last name, and the same applies. If you just would like to introduce yourself. Thank you for taking the time this evening can I apologize for the uh the late night and then we'll take council member questions from there. Okay, thank.

AM

You so much you guys can hear me: okay, hi, my name is Sophia Milam and I. Am a current resident of Cranston I moved to the city about three years ago, purchased a home I have two small children who attend public school in the city. We are incredibly happy to move here.

AM

I currently work as a paralegal at Pinon, Lopes, Deborah and o'gara I work in the alternative dispute resolution team, um mostly uh overseeing the uh there's a large case in California dealing with mental health treatment in prisons there before that, I worked for 10 years in City and County of San Francisco, four years of which I worked in the city attorney's office uh in the uh Child and Family Services Division, and then for six years. I worked in the retirement system, which serves some 21 000 retirees and active members.

AM

I really love my current job, but I would also love to get back to working in the public sector, I loved working in the city, I, love being part of the city, I love learning all about how everything runs in the city. I feel like this job would also allow for that.

B

Thank you any questions from Council Members at this time, councilman camper, piano.

AB

Thank you, council president. Thank you supplier for coming tonight and I'm going to ask to basically the same question. uh Your resume is very, very impressive, but do you feel that you can step into the role as uh as um clerk on the first day, I know the clerk's office is challenged and I was curious. If you feel you can come into that.

AM

um Yeah I feel like I. Do I mean, as always, institutional knowledge is your best resource when you start a new job, the people who are already working there, um I am a very fast learner. I have had a wide variety of different kinds of jobs and I've Loved learning how to do all of them um and I feel like that would not be a problem for me.

B

Any other council members Council vice president Vargas.

AA

Thank you um so I'm going to ask you pretty much the same questions that I actually asked the previous candidate, because I actually believe in being um having some Equity along those lines right um and I. Think the first one was pretty much. Why why um why this position? It seems like you've, kind of answered that um already.

AA

um So if we can actually do, how do you uh prioritize again, knowing that there's, uh you probably heard my earlier question, but there's nine members of us.

AM

Similar to the prior candidate, you would you know, review the request, determine its uh priority, but I think also, um as you learn the job, you learn the rhythm of priority and when things need to be done, um that takes a little finesse and a little time in the position, um and also you can ask people how fast do you need this right.

AA

Thank you for that. uh I think. The other question that I did ask the other candidate as well was in terms of in Alaska is um again we have a very diverse city. um Clearly you you must. You know you're, probably a witness of that as well living here in the city um and how do you uh handle if there was someone who came in, and there was a language barrier coming to the uh city clerk's office right.

AM

Well, working in San Francisco, which is a very diverse City. Many of our employees, did not speak English as their first language. So you know, usually you have to know what your resources are where you work, who is by who can speak the language that they prefer to speak in um and use those resources? uh You know, I worked also at an immigration law.

AM

Firm and I had to screen lots and lots of telephone calls from people who did not speak English at all and you there are ways to figure it out and get people the help and information that they are requiring.

AA

I think, um and the other question was in terms of disagreements right within the office. How do you handle disagreements amongst uh staff, usually.

AM

When I have had to deal with that, it's best to address them head on and directly and have a conversation. If that's impossible, then you call in other resources such as human resources, other management, anyone else who can help, but I usually try to deal with it all head-on.

AA

Thank you. um It's getting kind of late, so I'm sorry did I ask about the priority how you prioritized, and if yeah you have my little things on here. um Thank you. Thank.

T

B

Any other questions.

B

Councilman Germaine.

Z

Hello hi, thank you for being here, so I I would like to ask the same question as well. The question I asked. Obviously um what is the duty of a club as a question, and there is one thing you can give font size right.

AM

I would say you would manage all of your roles and responsibilities right um and here it's probate and records and meetings and um being able to project manage all of those. Various duties would be your role.

A

B

Any other questions, councilwoman Renzulli hi.

E

Thank you for being with us and staying so late. um Similarly, to the questions, I asked if I might have to edit the question a little bit, but your transition, you have a very impressive resume and I'd like you to describe the transitions between the different jobs that you did and how you adjusted to them. Okay,.

AM

So when I moved from the city attorney's office to the retirement system, those were two completely very different. Jobs I had very little experience in benefits Administration. It was a whole new language, so you know I started and I sat with all the various departments that me and my boss oversaw is that with people who worked in them from our clerks all the way up to management to see how that all worked, I also did a lot of research learning how to apply San Francisco as a charter based city city. Sorry, it's a little late.

AM

It's a charter-based city, so reviewing all of the charter language that applied anytime, there was an election. There was always some change to all of our retirement benefits and how they were administered so keeping up with that learning the basis and also learning from all the people who had been there. As you know, in city government people work there 20 30 years and really that's your best resource for learning. Your job.

E

Yeah I totally agree with that, and um I would say that our clerk has been here for a long time if she were to retire.

O

E

Would be I, don't know that the people in that office have been there that that long, yeah so and I said you're a quick learner. So it has to be like.

AM

Yeah no I understand that's.

E

So my other question I think I know because you're not you haven't been a clerk I, don't know if you've done any, have you done any legal work in Probate because I'm.

AM

Not but I actually am very confident in my legal skills as I've been a paralegal legal secretary and did a lot of the legal work at the retirement system for over 20 years now,.

E

And, what's the other question I asked I asked: oh you work for the council, you work for the residents in a very customer service, oriented position um and then you're also a member of the administration. So can you tell me how you would foresee yourself keeping the balance to kind of keep everyone happy, because it's kind of challenge I.

AM

Understand that role um at the Retirement Board I um served the board I served our members I served the public I served the executive director and the deputy executive director, so I had to balance all of those roles and all of those people requesting information from me and I loved it. You know I, think you, you learn um how to communicate and how to prioritize all of those demands that are put on you in that kind of position.

E

I think my final question is: if you were to be named the city clerk. Do you first see yourself becoming part of Clark's associations and getting within that Network, because I think a legal background is obviously it's advantageous, but there's separate things about being a clerk. That's just you won't know. Unless you're with clerks and around the clerks.

AM

I totally understand I'd be open to all of that. Yes, okay.

E

AM

You very much thank you.

B

Any other questions from council members nope councilman down again, not.

F

uh Not a question, but just for the record, as as uh some have mentioned, I had the opportunity to sit in on a subcommittee to to meet and interview both of you, as well as several all the candidates that was able uh afforded the opportunity to ask questions. There.

F

I appreciate both of you uh for your interest uh for the expansive backgrounds that you bring to the table uh and I know that, whichever way we as a body go we're going to be in great hands in the city but seriously, thank you both for your time and uh for being here. Thank you. Thank.

AM

B

Thank you very much, Miss, milham and and similarly I can't. Thank you enough for your patience um and if you are uh the one that is in this gets the clerk's position. You will be used to these late evenings from time to time as well, so I thank you and um we will be in touch through HR, Director uh Perillo. With respect to uh when we'll make our our final decisions, we.

J

Have to have another meeting scheduled.

B

Thank you at this time, I'll take a motion to adjourn second.

J