I.     CONSENT CALENDAR

A.   APPROVAL OF COUNCIL JOURNALS

       November 14, 2006 – Regular Meeting

B.   LETTERS OF RESIGNATION  - Robert E. Cusack – Zoning Board of Review; Anthony Almeida – East Providence Housing Authority.

On motion of Councilman Caine, seconded by Councilwoman Perry, and on a roll call vote, it is unanimously voted to approve the Consent Calendar.  It is noted for the record that Councilman Midgley is absent.

II.    APPOINTMENTS

Beautification Committee (by Mayor Larisa)

Peggy DeAngelis, 224 Centre Street (02916)

On motion of Councilman Caine, seconded by Councilwoman Perry, it is unanimously voted to approve.  It is noted for the record that Councilman Midgley is absent.

Donna Yan, 44 Garden Drive (02915) (by Councilwoman Perry)

(to fill the unexpired term of Tracy Oliver)

On motion of Councilman Caine, seconded by Councilwoman Perry, it is unanimously voted to approve.  It is noted for the record that Councilman Midgley is absent.

Economic Development Commission (by Mayor Larisa)

James W. Hammond, 49 Scott Drive (reappointment)

On motion of Councilman Caine, seconded by Councilwoman Perry, it is unanimously voted to approve.  It is noted for the record that Councilman Midgley is absent.

Robert Carlin, 66 Merritt Road (02915) (to fill expired term of Don McLean)

On motion of Councilman Caine, seconded by Councilwoman Perry, it is unanimously voted to approve.  It is noted for the record that Councilman Midgley is absent.

Jonathan Killian, 15 Windmill Lane (02916) (to fill expired term of Elizabeth Pegg)

On motion of Councilman Caine, seconded by Councilwoman Perry, it is unanimously voted to approve.  It is noted for the record that Councilman Midgley is absent.

John F. Conley, II, 95 Hoyt Avenue (02916) (to fill expired term of Harold Gerstein)

On motion of Councilman Caine, seconded by Councilwoman Perry, it is unanimously voted to approve.  It is noted for the record that Councilman Midgley is absent.

Traffic Control (by Councilwoman Perry)

Idalia Corbin, 34 Gemini Drive (02914)

On motion of Councilwoman Perry, seconded by Councilman Caine, it is unanimously voted to approve.  It is noted for the record that Councilman Midgley is absent.

Tracy Penha, 338 Brown Street (02914) (by Councilwoman Perry)

On motion of Councilwoman Perry, seconded by Councilman Caine, it is unanimously voted to approve.  It is noted for the record that Councilman Midgley is absent.

Zoning Board of Review (by Mayor Larisa)

Antonio Cunha, 10 Don Avenue (02916) (to fill the unexpired term of Robert Cusack)

On motion of Councilman Caine, seconded by Councilman Silva, it is unanimously voted to approve.  It is noted for the record that Councilman Midgley is absent.

Zoning Board of Review- Alternate Member (by Mayor Larisa)

Richard Croke, 22 Metropolitan Park Drive (to fill the expired term of Alternate Member #2)

On motion of Councilman Caine, seconded by Councilwoman Perry, it is unanimously voted to approve.  It is noted for the record that Councilman Midgley is absent.

Mayor Larisa asks the City Clerk to send letters to the members of the Economic Development Commission thanking them for their years of service on the board.

III.   CITY COUNCIL SITTING AS LICENSING COMMISSIONERS

LICENSES NOT REQUIRING PUBLIC HEARING

Vict/Not Over 25  Subject to approvals from the Chief of Police, Building Inspector, Health Inspector and Fire Marshall.

Salamon J. Gilmore, Salamon’s Pizza, Inc. d/b/a Pizza Hollywood, 2777 Pawtucket Avenue

Salamon J. Gilmore, 6 Leyland Court, Bristol, RI is present and sworn in by the City Solicitor

On motion of Councilman Caine, seconded by Councilwoman Perry, it is unanimously voted to approve.  It is noted for the record that Councilman Midgley is absent.

Vict/Not Over 25 - Transfer  Subject to approvals from the Chief of Police, Building Inspector, Health Inspector and Fire Marshall.

From: Edna Tipple

To: John B. Vicario, Jr., d/b/a Roland’s Subs and More, 188 Taunton Avenue

John B. Vicario, Jr., 43 Marne Street, Johnston, RI is present and sworn in by the City Solicitor.

On motion of Councilman Silva, seconded by Councilman Caine, it is unanimously voted to approve.  It is noted for the record that Councilman Midgley is absent.

LICENSING COMMISSIONERS RESUME SITTING AS CITY COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING

IV.   NEW BUSINESS

A.     REPORTS OF OTHER CITY OFFICIALS

CLAIMS COMMITTEE (By William J. Conley, Jr. - City Solicitor)

No claims report.

B.     COUNCIL MEMBERS

Councilwoman Perry states she is excited about the new term, but sad to say goodbye to some of my council members.  This Council has worked well together.  Although there were some differences, there were more instances of cooperation and overall goodwill toward one another.  The cooperative efforts with the School Committee have made history and indicate a brighter future for all taxpayers in the City.  The worse thing was the loss of our friend and colleague, Norman Miranda.  We miss him terribly, but are confident that Councilman Silva will continue to represent Ward 2 with the same enthusiasm as Councilman Miranda.  It is my hope the incoming Council will work as this Council did for the good of the City and not for any partisan or special interests.  Mr. Caine, Mr. Larisa, and Mr. Midgley I wish you Godspeed and continued success in the days ahead. 

I also want to say a fond farewell to our City Clerk, Dana Toy.  Dana will be here a few more weeks, but has decided not to seek reappointment.  I cannot say enough about Dana taking this position without any prior knowledge of government workings.  She grasped the responsibilities very quickly and has done an outstanding job.  Her staff and colleagues have a very high regard for her and are saddened by her pending departure.  Thank you for all you’ve done over the past two years.  The City Clerk’s job is of great importance to the City Council and it is imperative for the City to have an efficient City Clerk to keep things running smoothly. 

Councilman Caine states that Dana has done a phenomenal job.  I didn’t know you beforehand, but you’ve been professional, a-political, and have done a phenomenal job.  You respond to everything that everyone asks you to do and I’m astounded at the efficiency at which you work and appreciate that.  I’m saddened to see you’re not seeking reappointment, but wish you the best with whatever you decide to do. 

From a Council perspective, it was a humungous loss to lose Norman.  He was a phenomenal man.  He was man of his word, was upfront, and honest.  He’d stop by my Dunkin Donuts in Lincoln on Monday mornings and we’d chat about things.  We as a Council have worked well together.  We’ve done what is best for the City.  We have better budgeting and a great City Manager.  City Solicitor Bill Conley has helped me tremendously over the last two years.  You are a wealth of knowledge and I appreciate that and hope that the next Council does the same thing and takes your advice.  I appreciate the employees and collective bargaining units stepping forward and doing what was right.  I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished.  I have a high interest with what goes on in the City so I challenge the next Council to follow the road of non-partisanship and do what is best for the City. 

Mayor Larisa discusses where things stand with the Council At Large election and hopefully things will get wrapped up next week.  I want to thank all the people who helped on my campaign and all the citizens who turned out to support me.  I’ve been honored to have been elected to the Council by the people six times and elected Mayor three times.  People ask why I do this.  I love this City; I was born and raised here.  I believe I can make a difference on the Council.  It’s the closest office to the people and can affect people’s everyday lives.  I want to give back to the people who put me here, the taxpayers of the City who put me through East Providence public schools, the teachers who educated me in East Providence public schools, and the community I’ve been part of all my life. 

Some politicians go along to get along; they don’t rock the boat and try to stay away from controversial issues.  This may help you stay in power a long time, but some of us want to do more than that.  I tell the truth and tell it like it is and want to effectuate change where needed.  I think this and other Councils have made a big difference on people’s lives. When I was elected, the first change we made to the Charter to improve it was to require professional qualifications in the Charter for City Manager.  Before that, you only needed a high school diploma.  After that, you needed a college degree, prior experience as a City Manager, a Masters Degree and other qualifications.  The result of that is shown by whom we have as City Manager now, Richard Brown, a professional City Manager with over 30 years of experience.  This Council also instituted the first in the State tax cap recently. 

We were number one in the State with the humane treatment of animals.  We banned the gas chamber, and have mandatory spay/neuter for cats.  The State followed our lead and put that into State law.  We’re now the most progressive State in the nation on these issues.  With Rose Larisa Memorial Park, people said we had enough space, let the condos be built.  My mother said why can’t we get it back.  Gail Durfee was there with us saying is there any way we can get this back.  And now everyone is enjoying the park, having prom and wedding pictures taken, we have an amphitheatre for concerts.  And that’s when you feel you’ve helped to make a difference in the lives of the people in East Providence.  That is why I keep running for office.  The Senior Center was going to be a Super Stop & Shop.  People said that no one would use it.  We built it and now it needs to be expanded, it’s made a real difference in the lives of our seniors.  I shut down the Mayor’s Office; I think that was contrary to professional Council/Manager government to have a strong Mayor-type office in the City and it became a Council office for everyone to use. 

The taxpayers always have to come first.  I get the calls from seniors who can’t afford any more taxes.  You always get those who want no increase and others that say a contract is a contract and you have to pay them regardless.  I think we have to look at our community, our income levels, at what people can afford.  That’s why we kept the tax increase to 3.5% the last two years.  We’ve really changed the course of debate on the budget and taxes.  There used to be days when the kids would flood City Hall saying our band uniforms will be taken away, our football uniforms will be taken away and that is not what the school funding issue is about.  We talked about the benefits school department employees get that are different from the taxpayers.  We brought up the buybacks and talked about co-pays and how Police and Fire stepped up to the plate for the taxpayers.  They did co-pay when they didn’t have to.  We talked about these entitlements and it’s not bashing the teachers, it’s just different from what the population has and can afford.  We changed the debate.  When the school budget came here, we talked about the 8.9% tax increase last year; we talked about the over 5.5% tax increase this year.  We analyzed the budget for fiscal impact.  We put in a fiscal impact ordinance so the taxpayers know how each contract will affect them.  We put in the Charter Amendment, which was overwhelming passed by the people a few weeks ago.   This Council has made a positive difference for the people.  We’ve fought for open and honest government.  We’ve let people go on endlessly and state their position on an issue.  Some may not like it, but telling the truth is in the public’s interest. 

There is a notion out there that I am anti-labor.  I went to Duke University on labor wage.  My father was a carpet installer and a major union member in Council 94 and that’s what helped me go through college.  I’m anything but anti-organized labor.  I constantly commended the Police and Fire unions for stepping up to the plate and negotiating a co-pay.  All I was pointing out was if the school department contract requested the same as our City contract, we would have had a balanced school budget and the taxpayers would have been $1.5 million dollars healthier with lower taxes that wouldn’t have to be paid. 

I said earlier the teachers are the reason I’m here.  I credit them everywhere I go.  My education was in East Providence.  There has never been an issue with the teachers and I think we should all be proud of what they accomplish in our schools.  The only issue was a disagreement on benefit levels and whether the contract took precedence over the taxpayers.  I pointed out what could be done to get this in line.  I didn’t want to hit the taxpayers up for more money when there were school department employees getting benefits that none of the taxpayers are getting.   Also the comment I said about my opponent being in bed with the teachers, I should have said in bed with the teacher’s union.  Anyone who took that as an insult or defamatory, it is just slang for being tied too closely and affiliated with.  To the intent anyone thinks in bed with is a bad thing, some of us wear it with a badge of honor and I will admit tonight that I’m in bed with the taxpayers of the City and proud of it.

The election divided the City down the middle and we’ve heard we want to bring the City together and that the new Council should do so.  I applaud that effort and fully support it, but it is a two-way street.  We have a lot of special interests on one side, a lot of people who have these benefits.  Bringing together cannot be code for leaving the taxpayers out of the mix.   Two years ago taxes went through the roof in a botched revaluation.  There is another revaluation underway now for the new Council.  Two years ago before this Council, we had a 6.5% pay increase.  We can bring the City together, but it doesn’t mean we give up fighting for the taxpayers.  That means we have buyback litigation and have already seen the grumbling, how much will it cost?  That isn’t the point, the point is it is $1 million dollars that the taxpayers will have to pay if we don’t fight it and that’s just for last year and this year.  I made a promise that I would handle the litigation in Superior or Supreme Court for free.  Don’t let it be said we had to drop the litigation because it costs too much money to fight because it won’t cost a dime if the next Council wishes me to take it.  We have a Charter Amendment that authorizes the Council to negotiate co-pays and contracts.  It doesn’t obligate them to negotiate any item of school committee term of any contract.  It is up to the Council to do it.  People need to be vigilant and watch out for that.  I applaud being brought together, but not at the expense of the taxpayers of the City. 

The reigns of command get turned over.  Next week, I expect Mr. Ramos to win, I will shake his hand, and urge all of you to join in and support the new City Council to get the job done.  If I beat Mr. Ramos, the reverse would happen. A lot of people ask what does my future hold.  I’m not leaving East Providence and I hope not to have to run again.  I put a lot of time in here; hopefully we get more good government people to run for office in the future.  But let’s see in the next eighteen months what happens.