I.            CALL MEETING TO ORDER:

            The meeting was called to order at 7:01 P.M. by the Council President.

II.            ROLL CALL:

            Roll call showed the following members present: Councilwoman Graziano, Councilmen Andujar, Ritz, Traficante, Councilwoman Vaziri, Councilmen Campopiano, Buonanno, Council Vice-President Haroian and Council President Wall -9.

            Also Present: Christopher Millea, City Solicitor; John Verdecchia, Assistant City Solicitor; Michael Marcello, City Council Legal Counsel; David DiMaio, City Council Budget Analyst; Rosalba Zanni, Assistant City Clerk/Clerk of Committee.

III.            PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by the body. 

IV.            ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, COMMENDATIONS AND CITATIONS 

CITATIONS of Congratulations to the Cranston CLCF Boys 10-U Football Team for winning the American Youth Football Blackstone Valley Super Bowl Championship.

            Council President Wall and Councilman Buonanno presented Citations.

            Council President Wall asked for a motion pursuant to RIGL 42-46D to amend the agenda under Council President Communication to give an update on the Open Meetings decision on Patten vs. City Council decision from the Attorney General for discussion purposes only and that discussion will take place under Council President Communication.

            On motion by Councilman Andujar, seconded by Councilwoman Graziano, it was voted to amend the agenda as stated by Council President Wall.  Motion passed on a vote of 8-0.  The following being recorded as voting “aye”:  Councilwoman Graziano, Councilmen Andujar, Ritz, Councilwoman Vaziri, Councilmen Campopiano, Buonanno, Council Vice-President Haroian and Council President Wall -8.  Councilman Traficante was not present for roll call vote.

V.            APPROVAL OF MINUTES 

VI.            PUBLIC HEARINGS AND PUBLIC COMMENT – DOCKETED ITEMS  

            Carol Cooney, 8 Eva Lane, appeared to speak regarding the fire that occurred at Lawn Beauticians and stated that she thinks that they are doing a very good job cleaning up the front part of the property.  Her concern is this is over a year and this is still ongoing.  She is concerned about the safety.  She would like some kind of remedy going forward so this does not happen again.  Today she took some photos of the piles from Eva Lane and presented them to the Council.  Her concern is maybe they could do a little more about the height of the piles.  She questioned if an Ordinance could be considered to address. This.

            David Moio, 460 Natick Ave., of Lawn Beauticians, appeared to speak and stated that as for the composting issue, they have DEM permit for composting.  As to the mulch, they operate under farming nursery.  As to the piles, the piles are only 10-12 feet high.  All the wood chips are in the middle of the property and not near property lines.  As to the issue of trucks, New England Mulching is a d/b/a of Lawn Beautician.  They also rent one garage, the office and a little bit of land to Bright View, which is a landscaping company.  The property is grandfathered in pre 1960’s and there is a Zoning decision about it and it is the same operation as owner of the property. 

            Joy Fox, 411 Thayer St., Warwick, Editor of Beacon, appeared to speak regarding proposed Ordinance 10-25-03 and expressed her appreciation for the direction in which the Ordinance is going this evening, but continues to raise questions about how this even came up in the first place.  Knowing that it was originally stated to them that it was part of a Charter Commission change that was voted on in 2022.  They are still waiting for clarification on that and they do understand when things are out of date they need to be updated to modernize practices, but as they have since they learned it was not actually voted on in 2022, it still begs the question where this actual Ordinance came from.  The Ordinance is a very good first step and still thinks it should have a print as an option.  She asked that this be continued to be looked at because the Ordinance is silent on the actual time for posting a special meeting and we do need to get to the bottom of why this was presented as a Charter change because that requires a pretty steep requirement in terms of a vote by the voters of the City of Cranston.

            Marcia Fowler, 35 Milton Ave., appeared to speak regarding the Housing Court and although she fully agrees that something does need to be done about abandoned properties and neglected properties that endanger neighborhoods, she has a few concerns about the proposed Housing Court.  Her main concern is about the unknown cost of adding a new Court especially on the cusp of School Budget season.  While this Council has historically made cuts to the City Budget in order to fund as much as the School Budget as possible, there never seems to be enough in the City Budget to fully fund the Schools.  She finds that creating a department that will carry a cost without the Council making cuts in other areas to fund it, is not appropriate at this time.  Although it was previously stated that the Court would bring in money, she feels it is not fiscally responsible to rely on a Court to fund itself down the road.  There needs to be more research done.

            Drake Patten, 684 Natick Ave., appeared to speak via Zoom regarding the Housing Court and stated that she has asked in the past for a better fiscal note that defines what the potential income might be.  Many of the things Ms. Fowler stated speak to what she has asked for, which is to be data driven.  Where is the data for this decision and how can we do this in the best possible way?  She thinks that this is premature and encouraged the Council to take a pause and engage in some more data collection and perhaps conversation with the community including landlords.  She also spoke regarding proposed Ordinance 10-23-03 and stated that it is great that the online has been added, but let’s add that in addition to newspaper print being left in there.  Other municipalities do use the Providence Journal and that is daily and it is Statewide.  She thinks it is verging on discriminatory to not provide opportunity to those who may not have a computer and often the elderly are not prepared to do that or that is the way they have always understood things.  She really would like to see us not take away options for participation.  She also spoke regarding Lawn Beauticians and stated that she is delighted to hear that they have a DEM permit.  She is confused by that because there is nothing listed on DEM site, but she is also confused by that only because when there is a DEM permit, there is a requirement that the municipality has a safety plan in place for just such an incident that happened one year ago.  As to Mr. Moio’s statement that mulching is a farm activity, farm activity is limited to the materials produced on the farm.  It is a complete misstatement to say that the piles are not high.  Let’s get a copy of that permit.  This business is not the same business that it was in the 60’s.  Look at the aerials.  Make sure you use all the tools possible to make sure the neighborhood stays safe.

            On motion by Councilwoman Graziano, seconded by Council Vice-President Haroian, it was voted to enter into the record the photos presented by Ms. Cooney.  Motion passed on a vote of 9-0.  The following being recorded as voting “aye”:  Councilwoman Graziano, Councilmen Andujar, Ritz, Councilwoman Vaziri, Councilmen Traficante, Campopiano, Buonanno, Council Vice-President Haroian and Council President Wall -9.

VII.            RESOLUTIONS

            None.

VIII.            REPORTS OF COMMITTEES  

IX.            PUBLIC COMMENT FOR UNDOCKETED ITEMS  

            Susan Kelly, 199 Jordan Ave., appeared to speak regarding homelessness and stated that the City of Providence has a system called Regional Access Points, which is a centralized informational access site through which to get help if one is homeless or in imminent danger of becoming homeless.  Providence also has a dashboard that lists homeless shelters, their capacity and their use.  This dashboard reports the number of people who need shelter balanced with the number who were able to access shelter.  When she saw a homeless man on a bench in Cranston recently, she began to wonder if Cranston has its own system to care for our homeless people and neighbors.  She visited the City of Cranston webpage hoping to find a similar situation so the next time she sees someone sleeping outside in the cold she would be able to direct them to our local resources.  She did not find anything.  She could not find information on the number of people in Cranston experiencing homelessness, nor could she find a list of shelters available for the homeless.  She could not find anything similar to Providence’s Regional Access Points.  It seems to her that one major help the City of Cranston could provide would be a centralized resource for people under the incredible stresses of food insecurity and homelessness.  Within this resource would be factual information on the number of people in our community who are experiencing homelessness so that the public can understand the need and that our tax dollars will help take care of those in need.  Also included should be a list of available shelters, whether these shelters are provided by the City or by local churches, the number of beds provided, and the number of beds taken.  In addition, a list of food pantries, their hours and their requirements should be listed.  She hopes Cranston has the will and heart to address the financial, emotional and political stresses that come with the crisis of homelessness.

X.            ELECTION/APPOINTMENT OF CITY OFFICIALS   

APPOINTMENT of Mario Carlino to the Tax Assessment Board of Review as Alternate 2 filling un-expired term of Elizabeth DelPadre; for term ending January 28, 2026; as requested by Council President Wall. 

            On motion by Councilman Traficante, seconded by Councilman Andujar, it was voted to appoint Mario Carlino to the Tax Assessment Board of Review as Alternate 2 filling un-expired term of Elizabeth DelPadre for term ending January 28, 2026.  Motion passed on a vote of 9-0.  The following being recorded as voting “aye”:  Councilwoman Graziano, Councilmen Andujar, Ritz, Councilwoman Vaziri, Councilmen Traficante, Campopiano, Buonanno, Council Vice-President Haroian and Council President Wall -9.

APPOINTMENT of Richard Santamaria to the Board of Contract and Purchase as Citizen 3 filling un-expired term of Jesse Dooley; for the term ending January 5, 2026; as requested by Majority Leader.

On motion by Council Vice-President Haroian, seconded by Councilman Traficante, it was voted to appoint Richard Santamaria to the Board of Contract and Purchase as Citizen 3 filling un-expired term of Jesee Dooley for term ending January 5, 2026.  Motion passed on a vote of 9-0.  The following being recorded as voting “aye”:  Councilwoman Graziano, Councilmen Andujar, Ritz, Councilwoman Vaziri, Councilmen Traficante, Campopiano, Buonanno, Council Vice-President Haroian and Council President Wall -9.

XI.            REPORT OF CITY OFFICERS

None

XII.            EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

Legal Expense Analysis - None provided.

XIII.            COUNCIL PRESIDENT COMMUNICATIONS  

            Council President Wall asked Attorney Marcello to give update regarding the OMA Complaint of Patten vs. City Council.

            Attorney Marcello stated that a complaint was filed against the City Council for an alleged violation related to three meetings that occurred on August 20, 2025 relating to a meeting of the Cranston City Council, the Finance Sub-Committee and then back to the City Council.  The complaint was filed by the same individual.  The complaint was that the agenda was not specific enough, it did not provide enough comment time period, 48 hours-time period, for the people to comment on the complaint as well as there was no link to the alleged amendment relating to the legal contract by the former Counsel for the City Council, Mr. Angell.  After thorough decision, the decision was printed on November 3, 2025, the Attorney General’s Office found that there was no violation by this body of the Open Meetings Act or the posting of the  notices and that the notice provided was sufficient to inform the public as to what was happening.  The requirement that there be a link to the agenda of the document that was being discussed, the Attorney General has consistently held that public bodies are only required to post attachments or links to additional information when the sufficiency of the agenda item itself is contingent on the information in the link or the attachment.  There were no findings of a violation of the law and he is pleased that the Attorney General rendered a decision pretty quickly.

            Council President Wall thanked Attorney Marcello for the work he did on this.

XIV.            COUNCIL MEMBER COMMUNICATIONS

Councilman Andujar:  (no vote)

·         Update from Administration on status of Rescue 5

Director Moretti stated that Rescue 5 has been kind of defined the 5^th Rescue service within the

City of Cranston that has been operating on a part-time voluntary basis being first shift with an agreement of the Firefighters Union.  This has been going on for a number of years.  As a result of the most recent negotiations, one of the items for follow-up is going to be making a final determination in terms of keeping Rescue 5 full-time staffing full-time and discussions have taken place with the Fire Administration, the Firefighters Union and the City Administration and the feeling is to recommend to the Council to staff a full-time Rescue 5.  It does not come inexpensively, but it will certainly reduce the Overtime.  There has been a verbal agreement to proceed to bring this forth to the Council and it is one of the highest priority right now sitting with the Solicitor’s Office to develop an MOU to be looked into with the Firefighters along with an Ordinance to alter the Budget in terms of fiscal note and a companion Ordinance to modify the Budget.  Those are being worked on and it could be a matter of days rather than weeks until something is produced.  The process would be sharing that and coming to an agreement with the Firefighters Union and then eventually building it into the contract.  Over the coming days, they hope to have that in place so the Administration can come forward with a specific program, an outline to produce to the City Council seeking approval.

            Councilman Andujar stated that Rescue 5, as everyone knows, is in Ward 3 and it also generates funds because they bill Medicare.  He thanked the Mayor for making it permanent and if they need any help, he can sponsor it and would love to be part of that.

            Councilman Buonanno stated that in that area, there is the Cranston Senior Center and approximately 4-5 elderly housing complexes and there is the Riverbend complex on Dyer Ave.  Having grown up in that neighborhood, he is flawed it has taken this long to get to the point we are at, but he applauds the Administration, he applauds the Fire Department and he applauds the Mayor’s Office for bringing this forward.  This is something that is vastly needed because while there is a cost associated with it, Medicaid will pay for any bills and also it will probably reduce some of the Mutual Aid calls, which will in turn make the services for Cranston residents that much better.  We are moving in the right direction and he supports this wholeheartedly.

            Council President Wall stated that he supports what his colleagues have stated.  Improving safety in the City can’t be a bad thing, we can’t do it enough.

            Councilman Traficante stated that he is totally in support of this.  When he was Mayor, he approved the construction of a new Rescue on Scituate Ave. so he knows the importance of covering the entire City.  His only question is why this was not brought to the Council’s attention during the Budget process during the current year since it is so critical.  Director Moretti stated that at that time, Rescue 5 was the way it has been for the past decade or so.  During the Budget process, that was coinciding with the Fire negotiations and negotiating the Firefighters contract, which was adopted and agreed upon after the Budget process was completed and this was one of the issues that came up as a result of that.  Chronologically, the Budget process took place, the Budget was adopted concurrently at the time negotiations were going on and when negotiations finished up, which was post-Budget, that is when it was agreed that we would take a serious look at this.  He believes it was the first week in July when the actual Firefighters contract was approved and we had a target of October 1 to reach a conditional agreement to proceed or not proceed and here we are today.  We have reached that and we are at the point of having it in writing.  The Mayor and Fire Administration and Union addressed this after decade or more of this lingering out there.  He congratulated the Mayor and Fire Administration and Fire Union to come to this point.  It is something that is going to be worthy of consideration.  It is not a costly endeavor.  There is a lot of justification for it and he looks forward to presenting a very good comprehensive look at this both in terms of cost, in terms of rescue runs, etc.

Councilman Ritz 

·         Liquor License Renewal – BCI

Councilman Ritz stated that he will hold his comments on this.

·         Update from Administration regarding Lawn Beauticians

Councilman Ritz stated that this business has been in the City for a long time.  They are a good

citizen in the community.  There was a fire there approximately a year ago and he appreciates the efforts the business is making from what the residents have asked for.  The one thing that does keep coming up is the height of the mulch piles that are there.  Mr. Moio mentioned that they are 10-12 feet, which is in regulations, but he is wondering if Mr. Moio could look at lowering them just to be a good neighbor since that is the neighbors’ concerns.  Also, if it is possible to pull the tree line away. 

            Councilwoman Graziano stated that she sees this as a very black and white.  They are either in compliance or they are not.  She does this a lot.  This is what she does for a living.  Looking at the photos presented, these piles are definitely higher than 12 feet.  She would like to see the composting permit and compliance with large scale, medium scale or small scale composting.  It looks like the operation has expanded over the years.  We do not need to go round and round.  It is either in compliance or it is not.

            David Moio appeared to speak and stated that the mulch piles are not really high, but there are piles in the back that is soil.  Maybe people are getting top soil and finished compost confused with mulch because the mulch piles are as high as the loader and the loader only goes 10-12 feet high. 

            Councilwoman Graziano stated that she is not going to say what the problem is.  She needs the Administration to tell us if this is in compliance or not.

            Solicitor Millea stated that as far as the City is concerned, Lawn Beauticians on that property, is in compliance right now.  Should that change, we will certainly report back to Lawn Beauticians and to the Council.  Right now, Inspections has been out there numerous times and it is his understanding that they are in full compliance with DEM.

XV.            COUNCIL BUSINESS MATTERS CARRIED OVER    

            None

XVI.            INTRODUCTION OF NEW BUSINESS 

XVII.            INFORMATIONAL ITEMS – NO ACTION REQUIRED 

              None.

XVIII.            ADJOURNMENT

The meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m.

                                                                        /s/ Rosalba Zanni

Assistant City Clerk/Clerk of Committees