(The following is not a verbatim transcript of comments or discussion that occurred during the meeting, but rather a summarization intended for general informational purposes.  All motions and votes are the official records). 

         

 

CRANSTON CITY COUNCIL

Regular Monthly Meeting

 

 

 

 

MINUTES

 

MONDAY, JUNE 23, 2025 at 7:00 P.M.

 

The regular monthly meeting of the Cranston City Council was held on Monday, June 23, 2025 at 7:00 PM. in the Cranston City Council Chambers, Cranston City Hall, 869 Park Ave., Cranston, RI  02910 for the purpose of conducting the items of business appearing on the docket.  Remote participation was also available.

 

YouTube Live Stream

 

This meeting was live streamed on YouTube. Click the link to view the meeting.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtE9vwA1B1PQHuftrNPcZjg.

 

 

       I.            CALL TO ORDER

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:03 P.M. by the Council President Jessica Marino.

 

    II.            ROLL CALL

 

Roll was called by the City Clerk.  Stated as present:  Councilman Campopiano, Councilman Buonanno, Councilwoman Graziano, Councilwoman Haroian, Councilman Andujar, Councilman Ritz, Councilman Traficante, Council Vice-President Wall, and Council President Marino.  Also present:  Atty. Stephen Angell, Legal Counsel; Atty. John Verdecchia, Asst. Solicitor; Anthony Moretti, Director of Administration; Colonel Michael Winquist, Cranston Police Department; and Tracy Nelson, City Clerk.

 

 III.            PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by the body.

 

 IV.            APPROVAL OF MINUTES   (vote may be taken to consider as a block)

 

MOTION made by Council Vice-President Wall, SECONDED by Councilwoman Haroian to consider all three sets of minutes as a block
Ayes – 9  (unanimous)

APPROVAL of the minutes of the May 27, 2025 Regular Council Meeting (vote may be taken)

 

APPROVAL of the minutes of the June 2, 2025 Special Council Meeting (vote may be taken)

 

APPROVAL of the minutes of June 12, 2025 Special Council Meeting (vote may be taken)

 

MOTION made by Council Vice-President Wall, SECONDED by Councilwoman Haroian to approve the block of minutes.
Ayes – 9  (unanimous)

 

    V.            PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND COMMENDATIONS 
None

 

 VI.            PUBLIC HEARINGS AND PUBLIC COMMENT – DOCKETED ITEMS  
None

VII.            RESOLUTIONS
None

 

VIII.            REPORTS OF COMMITTEES  

 

A.    Report from the Chair, Councilman Wall, on the CLAIMS COMMITTEE meeting of June 2, 2025: Report of Claims Paid June, 2025   (no vote)

 

B.     Report from the Chair, Councilwoman Haroian, on the SAFETY SERVICES & LICENSES COMMITTEE meeting held June 2, 2025:   (nothing to report)  (no vote)   

 

C.    Report from the Chair, Councilman Wall, on the FINANCE COMMITTEE meeting held June 2, 2025 and the SPECIAL FINANCE COMMITTEE meeting held June 12, 2025:  

 

RESOLUTION Authorizing Real Estate Tax Abatements as requested by the Tax Assessor and recommended for approval by the committee June 2, 2025 (vote may be taken)

 

MOTION made by Councilwoman Haroian, SECONDED by Councilman Buonanno to approve the Resolution.     Ayes – 9  (unanimous)

 

CONSIDERATION of Tax Interest Waiver Approvals for the month of May, 2025 as recommended by the City Treasurer and recommended for approval by the Finance Committee June 2, 2025 (vote to be taken)

 

MOTION made by Councilwoman Haroian, SECONDED by Councilman Traficante to approve the Tax Interest Waivers.
Ayes – 9  (unanimous)

 

05-25-05          ORDINANCE Amending the City of Cranston 2025 Municipal Budget (Engineering Salary Schedule Amendment); Sponsored by Mayor Kenneth J. Hopkins; Co-sponsored by Councilman Ritz; Recommended for approval by the Finance Committee June 2, 2025 (vote may be taken)

 

MOTION made by Councilman Buonanno, SECONDED by Councilman Andujar to approve Ordinance 05-25-05.
Ayes – 9  (unanimous)

 

06-25-01         ORDINANCE Ratifying the IAFF (International Association of Fire Fighters) Contract, Local Union 1363 (July 1, 2025-June 30, 2028); Sponsored by Mayor Hopkins; recommended for approval by the Finance Committee at the special meeting June 12, 2025   (vote may be taken)

 

MOTION made by Councilman Buonanno, SECONDED by Councilwoman Haroian to approve Ordinance 06-25-01.
Ayes – 9  (unanimous)

 

D.    Report from the Chair, Councilwoman Graziano, on the PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE meeting held June 12, 2025:  (nothing to report)   (no vote)

 

E.     Report from the Chair, Councilman Andujar, on the ORDINANCE COMMITTEE meeting held June 12, 2025:  

 

04-25-02          ORDINANCE In Amendment of Title 10, Chapter 32, Section 030 of the City of Cranston, 2005, Entitled ‘Multi-Way Stop Intersections – Enumerated’; Sponsored by Councilman Andujar; recommended for approval by the Ordinance Committee June 12, 2025 (vote may be taken)

 

MOTION made by Councilwoman Haroian, SECONDED by Council Vice-President Wall to approve Ordinance 04-25-02.
Ayes – 9  (unanimous)

 

04-25-03          ORDINANCE In Amendment of Title 10, Chapter 32, Section 040 of the City of Cranston, 2005, Entitled ‘No Parking on Certain Streets’; Sponsored by Councilman Andujar; recommended for approval as Amended by the Ordinance Committee June 12, 2025  
(vote may be taken)

 

MOTION made by Councilwoman Haroian, SECONDED by Council Vice-President Wall to approve Ordinance 04-25-02.
Ayes – 9  (unanimous)

 

05-25-01          ORDINANCE In Amendment of Title 5, Chapter 04 of the City of Cranston Code of Ordinances, 2005, Entitled ‘Licenses Generally’; Sponsored by Councilwoman Haroian; recommended for approval by the Ordinance Committee June 12, 2025
(vote may be taken)

 

MOTION made by Council Vice-President Wall, SECONDED by Councilwoman Graziano to approve Ordinance 05-25-01.
Ayes – 9  (unanimous)

 

05-25-02          ORDINANCE In Amendment of Title 5, Chapter 68 of the City of Cranston Code of Ordinances, 2005, Entitled ‘Tobacco Dealers’; Sponsored by Councilwoman Haroian; recommended for approval by the Ordinance Committee June 12, 2025
(vote may be taken)

 

MOTION made by Councilwoman Graziano, SECONDED by Council Vice-President Wall to approve Ordinance 05-25-02.
Ayes – 9  (unanimous)

 

05-25-03          ORDINANCE In Amendment of Title 5, Chapter 20 of the City of Cranston Code of Ordinances, 2005, Entitled ‘Bingo Games’; Sponsored by Councilwoman Haroian; recommended for approval by the Ordinance Committee June 12, 2025
(vote may be taken)

 

MOTION made by Council Vice-President Wall, SECONDED by Councilwoman Graziano to approve Ordinance 05-25-03.
Ayes – 9  (unanimous)

 

05-25-04          ORDINANCE In Amendment of Title 5, Chapter 32 of the City of Cranston Code of Ordinances, 2005, Entitled ‘Flower Vendors’; Sponsored by Councilwoman Haroian; recommended for approval by the Ordinance Committee June 12, 2025
(vote may be taken)

 

MOTION made by Council Vice-President Wall, SECONDED by Councilwoman Graziano to approve Ordinance 05-25-04.
Ayes – 9  (unanimous)

 

 IX.            PUBLIC COMMENT FOR UNDOCKETED ITEMS   (no votes)

 

Diana Gordon, 85 Briggs St., spoke of harassment she is being subjected to by drug addicts that are allowed to live in the senior housing complex she resides at.  The police do nothing.  She indicated her cat was stolen from her apartment because the animal shelter erroneously believed it had been abandoned.

 

Susan Blake, 173 Grand Ave., believes the Administration is giving the impression they are dragging their feet with Budlong Pool.  She questioned whether the engineer did their due diligence since the surprise aqueduct was documented.  She stated $4 million of the $4.75 million for the pool expires December 31, 2025 if it is not spent.

 

Kimberly Bogosian, 45 Mount View Dr., stressed safety in the workplace with the current heat.  She commended Seven Stars Bakery for being a top-notch business.

 

     X.            ELECTION/APPOINTMENT OF CITY OFFICIALS   

 

RE-APPOINTMENT of David L. Cloxton to the Building Appeals Board, as Licensed Building Contractor, for the term March 6, 2023 through March 6, 2028 (vote may be taken)

 

MOTION made by Councilwoman Haroian, SECONDED by Council Vice-President Wall to re-appoint David Cloxton.
Ayes – 9  (unanimous)

 

 XI.            REPORT OF CITY OFFICERS
None

 

XII.            EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS  

 

Administration/Police Department Review of Traffic Safety Measures and Enforcement    (no vote)

 

Director Moretti invited Colonel Winquist to speak to the Council and public because of the number of traffic safety complaints, particularly speeding, that have been reported.

 

Colonel Winquist explained that traffic enforcement is data driven.  They can quickly deploy data collection devices which collect the speed of each vehicle that passes and records the average speed.  If it is determined to be a high area for enforcement, they can assign an officer to overtime detail using the CARE detail budget.  The best measure to get people to slow down is high visibility of marked patrol vehicles.  Stop signs are not an effective tool to reduce speed.  It leads to not stopping at the stop sign.  Their purpose is directing traffic.  Some towns installed speed bumps and then removed them.  People learn where they are and avoid them or accelerate, which is dangerous for cyclists and leads to undercarriage claims.  The potential for rear-end collisions is more risk than reward.  Speed cameras, by law, can only be used in school zones.  The tickets are issued by a private company and received weeks later.  It is more effective to catch offenders in the act.  Road narrowing is a possibility.  When Council members receive complaints and refer them to the department, the best approach is to do a speed study and determine best enforcement measures.  The data will be reported back to Council.  There are some roads that keep coming up.  There are only so many resources to go around.  They try to patrol on the right days and times.

 

Council Vice-President Wall, along with Council President Marino, attended the Neighborhood Crime Watch meeting with Captain Dutra.  The topic of no speed bumps came up.  In his experience, people need to slow down at speed bumps.  He asked if this was a philosophy or a department policy.  He asked if residents could appeal to the city. 

 

Colonel Winquist replied that if you put in one, everyone will want one.  All they do is divert traffic to other streets.  They also reduce response time for first responders.  There is no law or ordinance against them to his knowledge.  Mayors Fung and Hopkins both asked him for his professional opinion.  He noted another option is blinking speed signs.  They aren’t cheap.  Perhaps they could work with the Grant Writer. 

 

Councilwoman Graziano does not support speed bumps.  She is concerned about access for emergency vehicles if roads are narrowed.  She asked if an officer from the CARE details could conduct a neighborhood discussion.

 

Colonel Winquist confirmed.  He can have someone from the traffic unit attend one of Captain Dutra’s Neighborhood Watch meetings.

 

Councilman Buonanno recalls the Laffey administration installing temporary speed bumps.  They were not in long, which infers they were not effective.  People will use other roads which could open Pandora’s box.  He has requested studies.  The data he got shows perception and reality are different.  He suggested Council turn complaints over to the police department and let the experts handle them.

 

Council members expressed various concerns about specific areas.

 

Councilman Traficante believes the best solution is road narrowing. 

 

Colonel Winquist agreed.  It is the most cost effective as well. 

 

President Marino does not believe there is a one-size-fits-all solution.  Council members should get as much info as possible to convey complaints to the police department.

 

 

Legal Expense Analysis for the period of July 1, 2024 through June 23, 2025   (no vote)

 

There were no comments or questions.

 

XIII.            COUNCIL PRESIDENT COMMUNICATIONS   (no votes)
None

 

XIV.            COUNCIL MEMBER COMMUNICATIONS  (no votes) 
None

 

XV.            COUNCIL BUSINESS MATTERS CARRIED OVER   
None

 

XVI.            INTRODUCTION OF NEW BUSINESS 

 

At the request of Atty. Angell, a MOTION was made by Council Vice-President Wall and SECONDED by Councilwoman Haroian to take the next two items out of order. All Ayes

 

RE-ADOPTION/CONFIRMATION of the Final, Amended budget for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026, as adopted by the Cranston City Council on April 23, 2025, Ordinance #2025-09 and Resolution #2025-18  (vote may be taken)

 

RE-ADOPTION/CONFIRMATION of the Tax Levy of $192,255,150 as Adopted by the Cranston City Council on April 23, 2025 for the Fiscal Year July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026   (vote may be taken)

 

Atty. Angell explained that the advertisement for the levy did not get done.  Council leadership was notified.  The tax bills need to go out.  There is a misnomer on the agenda.  It is not re-adoption.  It is confirmation.  The levy has not changed.  It was approved by the RI Department of Municipal Finance.  The required advertising just did not take place.  The motions tonight will ratify the actions already taken by the City Council on April 23, 2025, to adopt the amended budget, the ordinance and resolution; and to ratify the tax levy.  There is a letter from the Mayor included in the packet indicating he has no intention of vetoing.  He recommended a motion to accept the Mayor’s letter as part of the record.

 

MOTION made by Council Vice-President Wall, SECONDED by Councilman Buonanno to include Mayor Hopkins’ letter as part of the record. All Ayes

 

Councilman Buonanno asked if there was a clock on the advertisement. 

 

Atty. Angell replied yes.  The time had passed.  The billing has been delayed. 

 

Council President Marino pointed out that the advertising was not the Council’s error.

 

MOTION made by Councilman Buonanno, SECONDED by Councilman Traficante to ratify the final, amended budget for the fiscal year July 1, 20265 through June 30, 2026, as adopted by the City Council on April 23, 2025. All Ayes

 

MOTION made by Councilman Buonanno, SECONDED by Councilman Traficante to ratify the tax levy of $192,255,150 as adopted by the City Council on April 23, 2025 for the fiscal year July 1, 2025 through June 30, 2026. All Ayes

 

The following New Business items are listed for reference and for a vote to be referred

to the appropriate Council sub-committee for a public hearing:

 

CLAIMS to be referred to the Claims Committee meeting of July 7, 2025 as follows:   (vote may be taken)

 

CLAIMANT                           TYPE OF CLAIM                  DATE OF INCIDENT

Renee Fisher                           Vehicle Damage                                 04/05/2025

Linda Marzilli                          Vehicle Damage                                 06/12/2025

 

MOTION made by Council Vice-President Wall, SECONDED by Councilwoman Haroian to refer the listed claims to the Claims Committee.       All Ayes

 

XVII.            INFORMATIONAL ITEMS – NO ACTION NEEDED  (no votes taken)
None

 

XVIII.            ADJOURNMENT (vote may be taken) 

 

MOTION made by Council Vice-President Wall, SECONDED by Councilman Buonanno to adjourn at 8:00 P.M.
All Ayes

 

 

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Tracy A. Nelson, City Clerk

 

 

 

Minutes approved as written July 28, 2025

 

Attest:  Tracy A. Nelson, City Clerk