CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE

RHODE ISLAND

JOURNAL OF SPECIAL MEETING

MARCH 25, 2008

The City Council meets in the Council Chambers on Tuesday, March 25, 2008 and Mayor Isadore S. Ramos calls the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.

The invocation is read by Councilman Cusack and the Salute to the Flag is led by Mr. Brown.

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

Mayor opens the meeting by stating that the reason for the special meeting is to appoint the Ward One School Committee member to replace Eileen Lovett, who resigned. He says his vote tonight will be based on his integrity, his principals, and his values, not on the emails that he has received, nor the threats to his Political career.

APPOINTMENTS

WARD ONE SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBER (by Councilman Cusack)

Anthony A. Carcieri

42 Bridgham Farm Road (02916)

Councilman Cusack recaps on how the process has been handled, and how we came to have this special meeting. He states that he solicited interest from people in Ward 1, and identified Mr. Carcieri as a qualified candidate. After the vote was postponed for a second time at the March 18^th Council meeting, a special meeting was scheduled for tonight, March 25, 2008. Prior to tonight’s meeting, he formed a committee, consisting of Mayor Ramos, Mrs. Leslie Tente, who is the incoming President of the parent teacher organization over at Myron Francis School in Ward 1 and also Jake Fahey, who is the President of the East Providence Tax Association. The committee interviewed Mr. Carcieri along with Michael McNamara and Tim Norton, who had expressed interest, on March 20^th. We voted with Mayor Ramos’ abstention, unanimously to nominate Anthony Carcieri again. Councilman Cusack then went to the City Clerk’s office at 3:45 pm and submitted the nomination of Anthony Carcieri, and was informed by the Clerk that there was another nominee. Councilman Cusack states that the other nomination was made by another Council Member obviously before the people were interviewed, so it didn’t matter if he had a committee. He says he feels very offended in the unprecedented interference in Ward 1. He finishes by saying that he is pleased, along with his committee, to place the nomination of Anthony Carcieri of Ward 1, and urges his Council colleagues to approve the nomination.

Councilman DiTraglia states that the City Charter reads that it is up to the City Council to appoint a member of the School Committee, and believed he put the name of someone he believed to be a more qualified candidate on the docket. He proceeds to give the credentials of Mr. McNamara. He says he thought he was doing the right thing by letting people get involved in the City problems. He also says that any time it is going to cost the taxpayers’ money, they should be involved.

A motion to approve the nomination of Anthony Carcieri is made by Councilman Cusack and seconded by Councilwoman Perry. Roll call vote follows:

*Councilman Cusack*	*Aye*
*Councilman DiTraglia*	*Nay*
*Councilwoman Perry*	*Aye*
*Councilman Silva*	*Nay*
*Mayor Ramos*	*Aye*

The motion passes 3-2.

Mayor Ramos states that he took a vote based on his conscience, but respects both Councilman Silva and Councilman DiTraglia. He says that regardless of how they see things, this Council is trying and will move forward. He says that from this point on, the Council has to come together and go forward.

Councilwoman Perry applauds the Mayor for what she says was not an easy vote for him to make. She thanks Mr. McNamara for putting his name forward, and says that there are not many people willing to take the time and put themselves before the people and all the problems that go along with being an elected official. She says that the City Council members sitting here do what they feel has to be done, and while politics sometimes gets in the way, the Council does try to do their best. She says that she believes Mr. Carcieri will bring good things to the School Committee and the City, and the City Council will go forward.

The City Clerk gives the Oath of Office to Mr. Carcieri, and he is officially sworn in.

Councilman Cusack thanks the Mayor for the vote and for participating on his committee. He also thanks the other members of his committee and all those who wrote in support or who participated on this issue by attending meetings.

On motion of Councilman Cusack, seconded by Councilwoman Perry, it is unanimously voted to dispense with the public hearing.

On motion of Councilman Silva, seconded by Councilwoman Perry it is voted to adjourn.

Mayor Ramos adjourns the meeting at 7:30 p.m.

Attest:

_________________________________

Virginia B. Nunes

City Clerk

Approved: April 15, 2008