I.          PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND COMMENDATIONS

Council President Paplauskas acknowledged Jackson Caito form Troop 66, who is present this evening working on his Citizenship in the Community Merit Badge.

II.        PUBLIC HEARINGS & PUBLIC COMMENT 

            Robert Zanni, 19 Blossom Dr., appeared to speak in favor of “Resolution Supporting Limb Loss and Limb Difference Awareness Month” and stated that this is a Bill being passed across the Country to bring awareness to people living with limb loss.

            Roy Witt appeared to speak via Zoom in favor of proposed “Ordinance in amendment of Chapter 8.16 of the Code of the City of Cranston, 2005, entitled “Littering”.  Council President Paplauskas stated that this is New Business and anything under New Business will be heard on the date that is listed.  The Public can speak on these under Public Comment on Undocketed Items at the end of the meeting.

            Linda Zawislak appeared to speak regarding proposed “Ordinance in amendment of Chapter 10.12.250 of the Code of the City of Cranston, 2005, entitled “Motor Vehicles and Traffic – Crosswalks Enumerated”.   Council President Paplauskas stated that this Ordinance will be heard May 12^th.

III.       RESOLUTIONS

IV.       REPORT OF COMMITTEES

V.        PUBLIC COMMENT FOR UN-DOCKETED ITEMS

            Crystal Krug, 111 Marlow St., Apt. 2, appeared to speak and asked who can help with having street swept from Wal-Mart to Atwood Ave and sidewalks cleaned.  Council President Paplauskas asked that Ms. Krug e-mail any of the Council Members and they will forward the request to the Director of Constituent Affairs.

            Sheila Resseger, 50 Malvern St., co-founder of 5G Free Rhode Island, along with Claire Staudelmeur, who is also a Cranston resident, appeared to speak and stated that she sent an e-mail to the Council this morning and read it into the record.

VI.       ELECTION AND/OR APPOINTMENT OF CITY OFFICIALS

            None.

VII.     REPORT OF CITY OFFICERS

VIII.    EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

ADVICE AND CONSENT OF RE-APPOINTMENT OF JOHN WIGGINS AS A MEMBER OF THE CONSERVATION COMMISSION FOR TERM TO EXPIRE ON OCTOBER 22, 2024

            Director Moretti appeared to speak.

            On motion by Councilman Reilly, seconded by Council Vice-President Ferri, it was voted to approve the Mayor’s Advice and Consent of re-appointment of John Wiggins as a member of the Conservation Commission.  Motion passed on a vote of 9-0.  The following being recorded as voting “aye”:   Councilwomen Marino, Renzulli, Vargas, Germain, Councilmen Donegan, Campopiano, Reilly, Council Vice-President Ferri and Council President Paplauskas -9.

REQUEST TO BE CONTINUED IN SERVICE FOR ONE YEAR DETECTIVE LIEUTENANT STEPHEN BROOKS , CRANSTON POLICE DEPARTMENT

            Director Moretti appeared to speak.

            On motion by Councilwoman Marino, seconded by Councilwoman Vargas, it was voted to approve the above request.  Motion passed on a vote of 9-0.  The following being recorded as voting “aye”:   Councilwomen Marino, Renzulli, Vargas, Germain, Councilmen Donegan, Campopiano, Reilly, Council Vice-President Ferri and Council President Paplauskas -9.

REQUEST TO BE CONTINUED IN SERVICE FOR ONE YEAR CHIEF JAMES WARREN, CRANSTON FIRE DEPARTMENT

            Director Moretti appeared to speak.

             On motion by Council Vice-President Ferri, seconded by Councilwoman Renzulli, it was voted to approve the above request.  Motion passed on a vote of 9-0.  The following being recorded as voting “aye”:   Councilwomen Marino, Renzulli, Vargas, Germain, Councilmen Donegan, Campopiano, Reilly, Council Vice-President Ferri and Council President Paplauskas -9.

IX.       COUNCIL PRESIDENT COMMUNICATIONS 

Council President Paplauskas read a thank you note addressed to the entire City Council from Lou Cirillo, who helped out in the Clerk’s Office thanking the City Council for the opportunity to serve the City in the Clerk’s Office.  Council President Paplauskas thanked Mr. Cirillo for everything he did for us and for the thoughtful note and he is missed.

ADDITIONAL FUNDING FOR RHODE ISLAND TREE COUNCIL

FUNDING FOR ONE CROSS ALERT SYSTEM FOR BIKE PATH

Council President Paplauskas stated that there is some funding left over in the “Orders of the Council”.  A vote can’t be taken on this this evening, but he asked if there are any objections from members of the Council to send some additional funding to the RI Tree Council and funding for Once Cross Alert System for Bike Path from the “Orders of the Council” line item.  No one objected.  Council President Paplauskas asked if there may be enough funding the “Orders of the Council” to fund both of these items. 

Councilman Reilly asked how much is left in the account and how much these two things would cost.  Council President Paplauskas stated that the crossover system costs approximately $14,000 and that lets people know when they come to cross the road that it’ll blink before you cross and since the RI Tree Council has requested more funding, knowing that this budget might be challenging, that we could maybe send them $5,000 to try to fund what they are doing.

Council President Paplauskas stated that if there are no objections, he would like this placed on the Finance Committee agenda, but he would like the entire City Council to discuss this.  Councilwoman Renzulli objected because she would like to know more about it and it is $19,000, which we may need for something else depending on what happens with the budget.

Councilman Reilly stated that he is not suggesting that these are not worthy causes, but everything is tight right now and everybody can use a little help.  He would like to take a closer look at this. 

Council President Paplauskas stated that this will be on the Finance Committee Agenda for next month.

Council President Paplauskas announced that Wednesday is amendment night for the budget and the following week is the budget adoption.

X.        COUNCIL MEMBER COMMUNICATIONS

COUNCIL VICE-PRESIDENT FERRI:

• Explanation and update on Cranston Workforce Solutions.  What does the Department do and how do the citizens and businesses of Cranston City Council access its available resources.

Director Moretti stated that the City of Cranston and Providence have an expired consortium

agreement of which resources are pooled.  There has been, in the past, representatives from Cranston and Providence serving on helping people with their resumes, networking with potential employers, prepping people for interviews, improving job-related skills or retraining people.  Cranston has on the payroll three staff members and it is controlled by the Cranston Providence Workforce Board.  Predominantly, Mayor Elorza, in the City of Providence, has fundamental organizational control of that group.  The Cranston employees that are on the payroll are to be reimbursed to the City of Cranston from the federal government through Providence Cranston Workforce Board. 

            Council Vice-President Ferri asked what we are doing as a City to advertise and let people know that this exists or are we doing anything?  Director Moretti stated that that group does its own advertising.  As a City, to his knowledge, in the past, it has been advertised, but it is its own entity.  It is governed by them and they made it quite clear to us that Cranston is not part of that management.  He will discuss this more in Executive Session.

COUNCILWOMAN VARGAS:

·         Public Nuisance Task Force

Councilwoman Vargas asked what the status is of this task force and whether it was ever established.  She also asked if she could be provided with a spreadsheet of what the Inspectors are working on.  She also questioned whether this task force would be able to address some of the nuisance that we are seeing throughout the City if the Council were to make the appointments to this task force and also when they would start meeting.

            Director Moretti stated that the Administration would be happy to cooperate with the Council in getting this task force going.  As far as the spreadsheet, he will have to check with Director Rodio and follow-up.

·         City of Cranston Boards and Commissions

Councilwoman Vargas stated that she has had people reaching out to her in being interested in serving on the boards in the City.  She indicated that the lists posted on the City’s website are not updated.  She would like to have these updated so when people are interested in serving on a board, they can have access to the correct information that is posted on the website.

Director Moretti stated that that is a project that was assigned within the Office and have made good progress and he will check to see where we are with that.

Councilwoman Vargas asked that this be kept on the Docket for status update for next month.

COUNCILWOMAN MARINO:

·         Budlong pool status of opening

Parks and Recreation Director Tessaglia appeared via Zoom and stated that in February, an engineering group was hired to do a feasibility study of the pool.  He received the report on Friday and contacted a few Council members.  The report was emailed to the City Council this morning.  In reading the report, there are things that need to be addressed.  Problems such as electrical.

Director Moretti stated that there are structural issues and safety issues, non-compliant issues,

such as ADA and operational of the pool is in tough shape.

Director Tessaglia stated that the building itself is not safe.

Director Moretti stated that the Mayor would like the City Council’s input on where we should

go with this.

Director Tessaglia stated that everything in there falls to the safety and liability.

Council President Paplauskas asked that this item be placed on the Public Works agenda.

Councilwoman Marino stated that she understands that this report just came out, she understands that there are safety and liability concerns, but these structural concerns did not happen overnight, the pool did not stop its operation because of COVID shutdowns and all the time, for the Administration, Parks and Recreation, Public Works, whoever needed to be to address the problems with the pool knowing ARPA funds were coming, knowing there was a great sentiment and outcry for the opening of the pool, but instead that did not take place and that is what is very concerning.  The City Council, she herself, specifically in anticipation of this Spring and Summer, had asked the Administration to make a good faith effort and here it is a feasibility study was done in February to find out whether or not the pool should be opened.  We learned about it as City Council members by reading it in the paper not because they received any type of communication from the Administration with respect to this feasibility study.  She does not know who authorized this study, she does not see in past BOCAP agendas any bid grants for this, she does not see any bid waivers for this and she does not even know where the funding is coming from.  There are problems and concerns that give her great pause for the authorization of the findings in this report.  She agrees that some of it is glaring, but she does not think it is not being completely honest with the residents of the City to say that this has always been a top priority because actions speaks louder than words and they have been severely lacking.

Director Moretti stated that we are under the assumption that the pool would, could, should be re-opened upon further examination.  Director Tessaglia had concerns and he contracted this firm.

Councilman Reilly stated that before this was put in the Capital Budget, he asked how many opportunities were looked at in terms of federal grants or reaching out to our Grant Writer, to the Senators and our Representatives given that Senators and State all came to help out with the Knightsville project, but this is a historical pool.  This is one of the largest pools in America.  He finds that it would be reasonable if they are giving us money for the Knightsville project, it may be worth it to give them a call.

Councilwoman Germain stated that during last year’s budget hearings, she questioned why there was -0- dollars allocated for the pool and she thinks there was a negligence on the Administration’s part because if in 2020 the pool was operational, how can it be in less then two years, it is in such status?  She cannot understand how this happened in just less than two years.  She would like someone to explain that.

Director Tessaglia stated that when he did his research on the pool, he spoke to a few people that have done work on the pool.  The pool was not in great shape two years ago.  From what he heard, the chlorine levels were down because of the amount of water and the leakage.  There was so much going on that the fact that it was closed, we were able to address some of those negligences and that is where we are.  Councilwoman Germain stated that the pool was closed because of COVID, it wasn’t closed because of safety concern.  Director Tessaglia stated that once it was closed for COVID, these issues were glaring at us.  Councilwoman Germain stated that if the pool was closed for safety concerns, she would understand, but we did not receive a report saying the pool is closed because of safety concern.  There was no money allocated to the pool because we thought COVID would not let us open it.  That is what she was told at the budget hearing last year.  There was -0- dollars allocated and now with this report she received thanks to Councilman Donegan because she did not receive it as Council Member for the Ward.  Director Tessaglia stated that there was -0- dollars in the line item before last Summer because of the virus, however, it seemed like it was starting to get a little better, but he had a pool company go there and assess just immediate needs.  Nothing to do with the building, just total pool structure and he told him the same thing he was hearing so at that point he gave him a report on the amount of close to $100,000 and said it can have been underestimated to try to get it open and going for last year, which we were not going to do because of COVID.

Councilman Donegan stated that the City Council has brought up on numerous occasions their wishes for the Budlong Pool to be open this year.  There is a sense of disappointment when we received the budget proposal and despite $19 million increase in spending, opening the pool was not part of that.  As Councilwoman Marino pointed out, it has been closed for two years and the time to address those issues are not when the pool’s supposed to open.  Kids on the Eastern side of the City depend on that for recreation.  He is disappointed that this is coming to surface now.  This contract that was awarded to Federal Hill Group or Federal Group was not done so through public award or Contracts of Purchasing.  The City Council did not even know about any of this until an article came out in the Herald and he feels that it is intentional act of keeping the City Council in the dark about it.  The City Council has not been kept abreast of what is going on with this despite numerous requests they have made.  He asked what the date of the contract is that was awarded with the Federal Group.  Director Moretti stated that he was not party to that.  Perhaps Director Tessaglia knows that.  Director Tessaglia stated that he would say something in early February.  Councilman Donegan asked how much the feasibility report cost.  Director Tessaglia stated that he does not have that information at this time.  Councilman Donegan asked if this was approved by someone in the Purchasing Department and what date it was approved.  Director Tessaglia stated that he does not know how it transpired, but he was told to go forward with it.  Councilman Donegan asked if any money in Fiscal Year 2022 was approved for any of these feasibility report.  Director Tessaglia stated that he does not believe so, but he is not 100% correct.  Director Moretti stated that he would be happy to look into answers to these questions and the facts and circumstances surrounding it.  Councilwoman Vargas sked that Director Moretti provide that information to the Clerk or send it to the City Council if possible.

Councilwoman Vargas asked if the City has reached out to Senator Reed’s Office and Congressman Langevin’s Office in terms of finding any type of appropriations whatsoever for the pool.  Director Moretti stated that they say with this infrastructure money, that may be something available and they would let us know.  The Grant Writer is pursuing that and we are also looking into other opportunities.  Councilwoman Vargas stated that she would appreciate it if the Administration can give the City Council an update to what their offices say.  She also stated that the City of Pawtucket received approximately $2.3 million in appropriation by Congressman Cicilline for the renovation of their pool.  We may be a little late, but worthwhile reaching out to our federal delegation and see what could possibly take place.  Director Moretti stated that he will look into this.

Councilwoman Marino stated that she did add to the Finance Agenda, but the Grant Writer is to report to the City Council quarterly and the Finance Committee monthly and we have not received an update in quite a number of months.  The need for that this evening is ever more apparent because she reached out to her and asked her about what grants were pending and she told her we will check with the Administration and now the Administration this evening is telling us that they will check with the Grant Writer.  She understands everyone is busy, but it is really imperative that we do it so we are not in a position of not getting answers as to what funds are available and being applied for.

Council President Paplauskas stated that this item is on the agenda and he realizes that Councilwoman Marino had received that report and it will be sent out to everyone through the Clerk and we will have Ms. Andoscia, the Council Grant Writer, come before us and speak about this.

COUNCILMAN DONEGAN:

·         Agreement with Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau 

Councilman Donegan stated that he has been communicating with Economic Development Director Paulino about the status of executing the agreement with Providence Warwick Convention and Visitors Bureau about the “Go Cranston” kind of initiative or plan.  He would like an update on this.

Director Moretti stated that he knows that Legal was reviewing the agreement and it has been executed and the renumeration on that was zero to be paid in year one and $10,000 for year two, but what we did in this agreement was to make sure that in that $10,000 there was an asterisk or footnote pending City Council approval and funding for it so he believes we have that covered and they understand that.

·         Plastic Bag Ordinance Enforcement

Councilman Donegan asked if there have been any citations issued.  Director Moretti stated that, to his knowledge, no.  Director Paulino continues to respond to complaints and approaching businesses and sort of issue warnings, but if citations have been issued, he probably would know about it.

Councilman Donegan asked for a list of all places that have been visited pursuant to that Ordinance as well as a list of any businesses that have received any sort of warning letter.  He thinks that it is really important that three years on from when that was finalized, we start actually enforcing it.  Director Moretti stated that as to the issuance, he will consult with the Solicitor of who should be responsible to do so because the Ordinance is vague as to the enforcement of it.  Councilman Donegan stated that he believes the Ordinance has language that specifies that the Ordinance shall be administered by the appropriate designated department so he believes that would be up to the Administration to designate a department to enforce that.

Council Vice-President Ferri suggested a fluorescent flyer be included when application for license is sent out to the businesses.

XI.       COUNCIL BUSINESS MATTERS CARRIED OVER

            None.

XII.     INTRODUCTION OF NEW MATTERS BEFORE THE COUNCIL*

XIII.    MISCELLANEOUS BUSINESS ON CLERK’S DESK