NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL

 

Monday, April 1, 2024 at 5:00 p.m.

 

 

Special Meeting of the City Council was in the City of Cranston Council Chambers, Cranston City Hall, 869 Park Ave., Cranston, RI 02910, for the purpose of considering the following items listed on the agenda. Remote participation was also available.

 

YouTube Livestream

 

The meeting was live streamed on YouTube. Click the link below to view the meeting. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtE9vwA1B1PQHuftrNPcZjg.

 

Note: There will be NO public participation at this meeting.

 

This Special Meeting of the Cranston City Council has been called by the Mayor, Kenneth J. Hopkins, pursuant to the Cranston City Charter Section §3.07 and Section 2.04.060 of the City's Code of Ordinances.

 

The members of the City Council listed on the attached certification have been notified as provided for in §3.07 of the Charter:  Jessica M. Marino (Council President), Lammis J. Vargas (Council Vice President), Councilman Christopher Paplauskas, Councilman Robert J. Ferri, Councilman Richard D. Campopiano, Councilwoman Nicole Renzulli, Councilwoman Aniece Germain; Councilman John P. Donegan; and Councilman Daniel Wall.

 

I.                   CALL TO ORDER

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:05 P.M. by Council President Jessica M. Marino

 

II.                ROLL CALL

 

The roll was called by the Clerk.  Stated as present:  Councilman Robert J. Ferri, Councilwoman Aniece Germain, Councilman John P. Donegan, Councilman Richard D. Campopiano, Councilman Christopher G. Paplauskas, Councilman Daniel Wall, Council Vice-President Lammis J. Vargas, and Council President Jessica M. Marino.  Absent:  Councilwoman Nicole Renzulli.  Also present:  Mayor Kenneth J. Hopkins, David DiMaio, Budget Analyst; John Verdecchia, Asst. Solicitor; Christopher Millea, City Solicitor; Thomas Zidelis, Finance Director; and Tracy A. Nelson, City Clerk

 

III.             INTRODUCTION OF NEW MATTERS BEFORE THE COUNCIL

 

* These new matters are referred for public hearing to the appropriate sub-committee of the Council. They are listed here for informational purposes for future consideration as part of the budget.

 

While hearing dates before the appropriate sub-committee have been established, they are subject to change. For current information related to hearing dates, the public is encouraged to consult the “City Calendar” feature on the City’s website at www.cranstonri.gov.

 

Ø  Pursuant to Charter section §6.03, the City Council welcomes Mayor Kenneth J. Hopkins to deliver his budget message, and to introduce the City’s operating budget for the fiscal year beginning on July 1, 2024 and ending on June 30, 2025 as follows:

 

Council President Marino welcomed Mayor Hopkins and turned the floor over to him.

 

Mayor Hopkins presented his operating and capital budgets.  He gave two directives to his financial team assembling the budget.  The first was that the budget presented must meet the city’s needs, without requiring a tax increase.  His proposed budget does not increase local tax funding.  The government will operate on the same level of taxpayer support.  The second directive was that no American Rescue Plan Act funds would be used to find city operations. The fiscal year 2024 approved budget was $325,718,075.  That was a $4.7 million decrease from fiscal year 2023.  His proposed fiscal year 2025 operating budget is $323,328,164.

 

In 2021 he took office with certain expectations.  He soon learned of fiscal challenges such as a healthcare deficit and pension funding shortages.  He got to work to get the city’s financial house in order.  We now have an AA+ bond rating.  The audit shows there is a $4 million surplus.  That has restored and exceeded the 5% required in the rainy day fund.  Once again, he will be asking his department heads to do more with less, with no increase in discretionary funding, while maintaining current staffing levels, and fulfilling contractual step increases.  All have been difficult but necessary decisions.

 

He is asking the school department to work with the city.  They represent 56% of the budget.  He has allocated $1 million in remaining ARPA funds to the school department.  He fully supports the $40 million bond referendum on June 4th, allowing up to 74% reimbursement from the R.I. Department of Education.

 

The revaluation has been conducted.  If the budget is adopted, as proposed, the residential tax rate for one to five family homes will decrease from $18.90 per $1,000 value to $13.41 per $1,000 value.  The commercial rate will decrease from $28.35 per $1,000 to $20.12 per $1,000.

 

He thanked the city and school employees, first responders, and plow truck drivers, with a special thank you to the city employees who interface with the residents daily.  His proposed budget maintains the city services while protecting the city’s financial health.

 

At this time, Mayor Hopkins turned the floor back to the Council President. Council President Marino read the following items into the record, for informational purposes only:

 

RESOLUTION Adopting the Operating Budget and Salary Schedule for the General Fund, the Sewer Fund, the Insurance Fund and the Capital Budget for the Fiscal Year Commencing July 1, 2024 and ending June 30, 2025; and adopting the Capital Improvement Program for the four succeeding years.*  To be referred to Special Finance Committee Meetings. (No vote to be taken)

 

ORDINANCE Making Annual Appropriation for the City of Cranston for the Fiscal Year Commencing July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2025.*  To be referred to Special Finance Committee Meetings (No vote to be taken)

 

RESOLUTION Levying and Ordering the Assessment and Collection of a Tax on Ratable Real Estate and Tangible Personal Property, pursuant to Charter §6.11.*  To be referred to Special Finance Committee Meetings.  (No vote to be taken)

 

ORDINANCE Fixing the Date When Taxes Are Assessed, Due and Payable, and the Date When Unpaid Taxes Will Carry a Penalty.*  To be referred to Special Finance Committee Meetings   (No vote to be taken)

 

Fixing the time and place for public hearings on the Operating and Capital Budgets.

(No vote to be taken).

 

Council President Marino read the following budget schedule aloud and pointed out that it is also available on the city website.

 

Ø  2024-2025 Budget Hearing Notice – This notice is attached for informational purposes to provide the public with the dates, times, and access to the sub-committee meeting at which each department-level budget will be discussed and at which the public will be heard. Hearing dates are subject to change. Please consult the City website (mentioned previously herein) for updated information.  (No vote to be taken)

 

Council President Marino announced that is the conclusion of the informational items this evening. The Council has one additional item on the agenda for action.

 

 

03-24-02  ORDINANCE In Amendment of Title 2 of the Code of the City of Cranston, 2005, Entitled “Administration and Personnel” (Minimum Wage); Sponsored by Councilmember Donegan and Councilwoman Germain; to be referred to Finance Committee meeting April 1, 2024

(vote may be taken)  

 

MOTION made by Councilman Donegan, SECOND by Council Vice-President Vargas to refer Ordinance 03-24-02 to the Ordinance Committee meeting to be held later this evening.

 

Councilman Paplauskas questioned if the ordinance was advertised correctly.  There is a waiting period required prior to the public hearing.

 

Asst. Solicitor Verdecchia understands the ordinance is to be continued.

 

Councilman Donegan, one of the sponsors, confirmed.  At the Finance Committee meeting he will request the ordinance be continued to next month.

 

Asst. Solicitor Verdecchia feels the ordinance was not properly posted to begin with as new business to be introduced and referred.  The posting does not satisfy the legal requirement.  It should not be acted upon at this time, until it is properly advertised.

 

Council President Marino conferred with Asst. Solicitor Verdecchia and Solicitor Millea. Afterward, she reported the introduction was advertised as it is for every monthly meeting, with 48-hours’ notice.  The Finance Committee can hear the ordinance on April 8.  They are convening a special meeting that evening for budget purposes.

 

MOTION withdrawn by Councilman Donegan.

 

MOTION made by Councilman Donegan; SECOND by Council Vice-President Vargas to refer Ordinance 03-24-02 to the April 8 Special Finance Committee meeting.

 

Councilman Paplauskas will not vote in favor.  He believes the ordinance is improperly before the Council.  It should not be on the docket.

 

Council President Marino reiterated that she deferred to the Solicitors.  They gave their legal opinion.  She will be in favor of the motion to hear this at Finance on April 8.

 

VOTE ON MOTION:          Ayes - 6  (Ferri, German, Donegan, Wall, Vargas, and Marino)

Nays – 2  (Campopiano and Paplauskas)

 

MOTION CARRIES.

 

IV.             ADJOURNMENT

          (Vote may be taken)

 

MOTION made by Councilman Wall, SECOND by Councilman Donegan to adjourn at 5:38 P.M.    All Ayes

 

 

 

Minutes approved as written April 22, 2024

 

 

 

Attest:                                                              

Tracy A. Nelson, City Clerk