I.                  PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND COMMENDATIONS

 CITATION IN RECOGNITION OF GAZMINE MASON

            Councilmember Germain acknowledged Ms. Mason.

            Ms. Mason thanked the members of the City Council for the acknowledgement.

II.               PUBLIC HEARINGS

            None.

III.           RESOLUTIONS

IV.            REPORT OF COMMITTEES

FINANCE COMMITTEE

(Council Vice-President Michael W. Favicchio, Chair)

V.               PUBLIC HEARINGS

Sheila Resseger, 50 Malvern Ave., member of 5G RI, appeared to speak and stated that there are several members of the public who would like to speak regarding 5G.

Cece Doucette, Ashland, Massachusetts, appeared to speak and gave a presentation regarding 5G.  She indicated that this is not just a community problem, it is a City and Statewide problem that needs to be taken seriously.

Claire Stadtmue, 963 Seven Mile Rd., appeared to speak regarding 5G and read a statement into the record.

Angel Lopez, 41 Dorchester Ave., Providence, member of 5G RI, appeared to speak regarding 5G.

Stephen Dahl, 36 Diane Dr., Kingston, appeared to speak regarding 5G and asked that the City Council pass a 5G Moratorium for Cranston.

Chris Soeller, 28 Eddy St., West Warwick, appeared to speak regarding 5G and showed pictures of tree damage from 3G and 4G.

VI.            ELECTION OF CITY OFFICIALS

BUILDING APPEAL BOARD:

• Re-appointment of Louis P. Petrucci, Jr. for term ending August 24, 2025 (Councilmember Paplauskas)

On motion by Councilmember Brady, seconded by Councilmember Paplauskas, it was voted to re-appoint Louis Petrucci, Jr., as a member of the Building Appeals Board.  Motion passed on a vote of 9-0.  The following being recorded as voting “aye”:  Councilmembers Stycos, Hopkins, Vargas, Germain, Donegan, Brady, Paplauskas, Council Vice-President Favicchio and Council President Farina -9.

VII.        REPORT OF CITY OFFICERS

CRANSTON DIVERSITY COMMISSION – UPDATE AND PRESENTATION BY ONECRANSTON OF COMMUNITY SURVEY RESULTS

            Susan Ayrassian, Director of Personnel and member of the Diversity Commission, appeared to speak and stated that last week she submitted, on behalf of the Commission, a written report outlining update on the progress of the Commission it has made since October.  The focus of the Commission since October has been on the community survey.  There were two different components to that.  One was done in a closed fashion with limited participation by residents that were invited to participate and there was also an open survey that was conducted over a period of approximately one month.  Major Patalano of the Police Department executed that survey and compiled the results.  The Commission reviewed these results at their last in-person meeting in February and then their work was on hold for a few months due to COVID.  They did have a meeting last month via Zoom and were able to have the results of the survey reviewed by OnceCranston and they did a lot of the data and presented their findings to the Commission at the last meeting and made some recommendations.

            Caitlyn Blankenship of OneCranston, appeared to speak and stated that they analyzed the data the Commission presented and gave their findings to the survey.

            Andrea Champagne of OneCranston, appeared to speak and also addressed the findings of the survey.

            David Quiroa, member of the Diversity Commission, appeared to speak and on behalf of the Diversity Commission, he thanked the people at OneCranston for all their help in this survey.  He questioned what the Council feels is the role of the Commission now that this survey is completed. 

Council President Farina stated that with the results of the survey, there are some short-term goals and some long-term goals.  He thinks that we should look at is basically decide how we can better utilize the Commission going forward as the first phase is finished and now it will be where do we go with the Commission, how do we work together and continue to focus on driving equity training, leverage grant opportunities and continue to implement some of the things the Commission has identified both in short-term and long-term.

            Councilmember Brady stated that he appreciates the information and it was very insightful and he definitely will take that information as we go into the budget hearing season next year.  These are all incredibly important initiatives that we need to move forward on, but some could be started without funds, but the ones that require funds, he would like to be there when time comes.

            Councilmember Donegan thanked everyone on the Diversity Commission and the members of OneCranston for all their work on this.  We need elected officials who have the political will to take on systemic racism and that is going to cause difficult conversations, but we need to build with our community partners and educate ourselves and work towards dismantling systemic racism in Cranston.

            Councilmember Vargas thanked all the members of the Diversity Commission and also the School Department who disseminated the survey out to the families the School Department has e-mails to.

            Council Vice-President Favicchio thanked everyone on the Diversity Commission for all the work they did.  He has been advocating for years that we have a vocational school and Cranston East High School and has been imploring the School Department that we should be recruiting our students from our student population for EMT or Police and this would be with no funds needed.

            Councilmember Stycos thanked the Diversity Commission for their work.  He urged everyone to keep all the elected officials to their fire on this.

            Councilmember Brady thanked everyone for putting together this survey and presentation and thanked the Diversity Commission for all the work they did on this. 

            Mr. Quiroa stated that with the term “systemic racism”, he thinks the better term we should use is “systemic disadvantage to minorities” because by the use of “systemic racism”, it almost implies that all of us that are in government are serving elected or appointed or hired, are also racist because we are part of that systemic system.  He thinks that that is not where we are in 2020.  There are disadvantages and disparities, but he is a strong believer that racism as a word is very strong and full of hate and by no means has he actually met a person that is filled with that kind of hate.  There is systemic disadvantages that we need to work together to make a field an equal playing field.

            Councilmember Germain stated that that is the problem we have.  We are always afraid of addressing a real issue.  WE are in denial all the time.  We cannot be afraid to talk about it.  You need to call it the name.  The name exists.  You may not be racist, but it exists so we need to acknowledge it exists and do something about it.

            Councilmember Vargas suggested that the results of this survey be updated to the City’s website for the public to view.  Council President Farina stated that he will speak to the Administration regarding this.

VIII.    EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

REPORT ON HIRING OF SPECIAL COUNSEL, CONSULTANTS, ETC., PURSUANT TO CHARTER SECTION 15.05.

            No discussion.

IX.            COUNCIL PRESIDENT COMMUNICATIONS

None.

X.               COUNCIL MEMBER COMMUNICATIONS

COUNCILMEMBER VARGAS:

• Regulations, if any, for 5G antennas

Discussed earlier in the meeting.

• Sanders School – rodents and people playing in building

Councilmember Vargas stated that a neighbor, who lives next door to the school, reached out to her and indicated that there were people playing in the building rodents in the area.  She asked if Administration can confirm that that building is fully intact and if Public Works can look into the rodent control in that area.  Director Parrillo stated that he will have Public Works look into the rodent issue and will have the building looked at to make sure it is not accessible to people.

COUNCILMEMBER DONEGAN:

• Bike Path trash

Councilmember Donegan thanked the Administration for addressing the issue at the bike path at Harmon Ave. and being cleaned up.

Councilmember Donegan asked what the schedule is for cleaning of the bike path and possibility of placing trash receptacles in areas of the bike path.  Director Parrillo stated that Parks and Recreation has a set schedule and are out as much as possible cleaning the bike path.  He also stated that as to the receptacles, he will follow-up with Parks and Recreation Director Liberatore in the morning.

XI.            OLD BUSINESS

            None.

XII.        INTRODUCTION OF NEW BUSINESS

XIII.    MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS ON CLERK’S DESK

None.

The meeting adjourned at 9:30 P.M.

                                                                        /s/ Leanne Zarrella, JD

                                                                        City Clerk      

/s/ Rosalba Zanni

Assistant City Clerk/Clerk of Committees

(See Stenographic Notes of Ron Ronzio, Stenotypist)