| | CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE RHODE ISLAND JOURNAL OF JOINT WORKSHOP WITH SHCOOL COMMITTE APRIL 29, 2008 | |
The City Council with the School Committee meets in the Room 306, Tuesday, April 29, 2008 Mayor Ramos calls the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M. and Chairperson Mildred Morris calls the meeting to order at 7:35 P.M.
| Present: | Mayor Isadore S. Ramos | | |
| | Robert E. Cusack | ) | Council Members |
| | Bruce DiTraglia | ) | |
| | Valerie A. Perry | ) | |
| | Bryan P. Silva | ) | |
| | | | |
| | Richard M. Brown | ) | City Manager |
| | William J. Conley, Jr. | ) | City Solicitor |
| | Virginia B. Nunes | ) | City Clerk |
| | | | |
| | Dr. Jacqueline Forbes | ) | Superintendent |
| | | | |
| | Chairperson Mildred Morris | ) | School Committee |
| | Vice Chairperson Robert Faria | ) | |
| | Steven E. Santos | ) | |
| | Stephen A. DeCastro | ) | |
| | Anthony A. Carcieri | ) | |
The invocation is read by Councilman DiTraglia and the Salute to the Flag is led by Mr. Carcieri.
Dr. Forbes reported on the 2007-2008 fiscal year and recommended the sale of school properties Grove Avenue and Platt-Waters supposed note sales of this property to pay down the deficit.
Mr. DeCastro states, our School Meeting is coming up I didn’t think we would vote on Grove Avenue. My concern is surplus Platt-Waters where does Administration go?
Ms. Morris states 5/9 meeting with Auditor General, go to him with a plan, move to advertise Union Primary.
Mr. Brown recommended advertising Martin Middle School, Union Primary’s 50 year lease which they haven’t paid for 6 years. We forecast a $3.5 deficit the State is even worse, we don’t have a lot of time to go through alternative plans, no support for supplemental tax relief. There was an offer for Grove Avenue for $823,000.
Councilman Cusack states the market is very weak and relying on assessor’s value is laughable.
Mr. Brown states, deficit reduction bonds appear by Auditor General Bond counsel. If we declare them surplus today and bond issue isn’t approved where are we? Five year $5.1 million, do you have an alternative, 25% $1.1million or $4 million on the then borrowed money, I don’t have another alternative.
Councilman Cusack states, general obligation deficit reduction bond, Auditor General wants us to solve our problem, a massive reduction in the way we do business.
Mr. Brown is looking for a basic approval to maximum cash flow working with collective bargaining agreements. We need to upgrade, streamline the operations, finance and purchasing, finance and payroll, custodian consolidation.
Dr. Forbes states, the bottom line of unpaid bills if $5.5 million, $4.1 not to be paid it’s a cash flow issue not a $3.2 million deficit at this time.
On motion of Councilwoman Perry, seconded by Councilman Silva and on a roll-call vote, it is unanimously voted to adopt a deficit reduction plan subject to coming back for proper approval at each step implementation.
On motion of Mr. Faria, seconded by Mr. DeCastro and on a roll-call vote, it is unanimously voted to adopt a deficit reduction plan subject to coming back for proper approval at each step implementation.
Mayor Ramos adjourns the meeting at 8:50 P.M. on a motion of Councilman DiTraglia.
Ms. Morris adjourns the meeting at 8:50 P.M. on a motion of Mr. Faria, seconded by Mr. Santos.
Attest:
_________________________________
Virginia B. Nunes
City Clerk
Approved: July 15, 2008