I.                   CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Briden calls the meeting to order at 5:55PM

II.                SALUTE TO THE FLAG

III.             PUBLIC HEARING

A.    ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE APPROPRIATIN $171,790,750 FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING OCTOBER 31, 2015

Mayor Briden states that after speaking with Assistant Mayor Rose, the Finance Director and the Financial Advisor he would like to see the City look to future years. Next year the Council doesn’t want to raise taxes as much and so they are looking for those cuts now which can reduce next year’s tax increases.  They are working stay close to the 5 year plan and it’s been going well and they don't want to stray from that. Anyone can propose a particular cut and the Council will vote on it.  

THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE HEREBY ORDAINS:

SECTION I. The general fund receipts for the fiscal year ending October 31, 2015 have been established to amount to $171,790,750 made up as follows:

SECTION II. To defray the expenses of the City of East Providence for the fiscal year commencing November 1, 2014 and ending October 31, 2015, the sum of  money, or so much thereof as are authorized by law indicated in the accompanying  schedule, are hereby appropriated for the objects and purposes, and in the amounts  expressed therein, provided that payments thereunder shall be subject to the provisions of the City Charter of the City of East Providence and also subject to the provisions of said City Charter relative to the manner and form of expenditures of money set forth in said Charter from the City Treasury.

SECTION III. All monies appropriated are to be expended by the various departments in the manner and form approved by the Director of Finance.

SECTION IV. The payment to the School Fund of the following estimated receipts, included in the appropriation of $74,844,650 for the support of the public schools for the City of East Providence fiscal year 2014-2015, shall be increased or decreased to conform with the actual amounts received from such sources during the fiscal year 2014-2015 except the appropriation of property tax.

SECTION V. The purpose of this ordinance is to adopt the Budget for the fiscal year 2014-2015 which begins November 1, 2014 and ends October 31, 2015 as prepared and submitted by the City Manager, and to implement the recommendations as set forth in the City Manager's Budget Message by the approval of said recommendations as contained herein, or by other ordinances or resolutions of the Council of the City of East Providence; all in accordance with the provisions of said Article.

SECTION VI. This ordinance shall take effect upon its passage and all ordinances and parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed. 

Advertised:  East Providence Post September 25, 2014

Director Boyle was called to the podium to explain the need for part time clerical help and asked if they could make it work with $10,000 instead of $15,000 and she said they could. 

The City Clerk was asked if they could remove $1,000 from their postage line item and the City Clerk responded they could.

The Solicitor was asked if the Law Department could take a cut in part time clerical and outside service help.  

Mayor Briden spoke and stated that from experience of working as a Solicitor and seeing how decreased those salaries are now and the even heavier workload they have he would argue that they really do need that assistance.

Director Coutu was called the podium and asked if they could sustain a cut in the street light program and he indicated that they could sustain a reduction of $20,000 to $730,000.

The Chief of Police was called to the podium regarding a decrease in the unreimbursed medical.  Finance Director Moore stated that was also covered elsewhere in the budget and they could handle a decrease of $8,000.

The Judgments Line Item was discussed this is an account where claims are taken out.  Director Moore stated it has been trending well and the Council could remove some funds but that was a judgment call.

Councilwoman Rossi discussed the Self Help line item and stated this can type of funding can come out of CDBG and why not use that more for this line item. 

Director Boyle stated that CDBG funds have been decreasing and Self Help does help all East Providence residents in need. 

Councilwoman Rossi stated that they cover Newport all the way to East Providence and there is no guarantee they will use these funds just on East Providence residents.

Councilwoman Rossi asked about the costs associated with the land fill closure. 

Director Coutu came to the podium and said the City was under obligation to close the landfill. Solar development is only on one portion. The $250,000 is just for this year.  The City does not have bids already and these are preliminary estimates only.

Councilwoman Rossi asked what was the likelihood of this happening in the spring.

Director Coutu stated if there is funding they will work on it and they will take a lot of the work on through in house resources. It is the expectation from DEM that this next phase was this coming summer and the money is used to screen on site and re-grade what is there.

Councilwoman Rossi asked what DEM would do if the City didn’t do this right now.

Director Coutu stated a possible shut down as we have a letter from DEM and a plan of action, a remedial action work plan.

Councilwoman Rossi asked if the savings from these cuts can be used for a just in case line item for next year in case there is a short fall.

Financial Advisor Luba stated the Council can use the budgeted surplus for anything they want to use it for next year.

Director Moore stated if there is a surplus it would be rolled into capital.

Councilwoman Rossi stated unless there was an emergency she would like it to be used to offset taxes next year.

Financial Advisor Luba stated it can be used for anything and the Council can state to apply it against the tax increase next year.

Mayor Briden asked if it can be in a reserve account.  The total is $334,500.

Solicitor Chapman stated the Council can do it by resolution and pass it at the next meeting.

Mayor Briden stated he would like to see it offset a possible tax increase next year.

A motion is made by Assistant Mayor Rose, seconded by Councilwoman Capobianco to cut the Council salary from $30,500 to $18,500 and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.

A motion is made by Assistant Mayor Rose, seconded by Councilwoman Capobianco to cut the postage budget of the City Clerk Office by $1,000 and on a roll call vote it is unanimous. 

A motion is made by Assistant Mayor Rose, seconded by Councilwoman Capobianco to change the budget line item under Tax Collection from $13,350 to $10,000 removing $3,350 from that line item and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.

A motion is made by Assistant Mayor Rose, seconded by Councilwoman Capobianco to reduce the line item from Outside Services, Planning Department, from $15,000 to $10,000 removing $5,000 and on a roll call vote it is unanimous. 

A motion is made by Assistant Mayor Rose, seconded by Councilwoman Capobianco to reduce the line item for street lights under Public Works from $750,000 to $730,000 a reduction of $20,000 and on a roll call vote it is unanimous. 

A motion is made by Councilwoman Rossi, seconded by Councilwoman Capobianco to lower the line item of Judgments from $275,000 to $255,000 a $20,000 cut and on a roll call vote it is unanimous. 

A motion is made by Assistant Mayor Rose, seconded by Councilwoman Rossi to take $8000 and leave $20,000 in the Police Unreimbursed Medical line item and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.

A motion is made by Assistant Mayor Rose, seconded by Councilwoman Rossi to cut $50,000 out of the Assessor’s Office line item for revaluation and on a roll call vote it is unanimous. 

A motion is made by Councilwoman Rossi, seconded by Councilwoman Capobianco to cut $15,000 out of the Self Help line item and on a roll call vote it is unanimous. 

A motion is made by Councilwoman Rossi, seconded by Councilwoman Capobianco to take the line item for studies of Riverside Square and Watchemoket Square totaling $30,000 and move this item to the Carousel for repairs and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.

A motion by Assistant Mayor Rose, seconded by Councilwoman Rossi to reduce the $100,000 for Kent Heights Field by $20,000 and give that to Pierce Field to care for the fields and fertilize and take $4,000 from the funds allotted to the Carousel and give that to Pierce Field to care for the fields there for a total of $26,000 to go to Pierce Field for Field care, $80,000 to Kent Heights Field and $26,000 to the Carousel for repairs and on a roll call vote it is unanimous. 

The Mayor states as a recap to the previous budget meeting, there will be a $5,000 reduction on the tangible tax and a 0% tax increase and there will be $200,000 taken out of TANS and with all these cuts this meeting the two combined are total cuts to the budget of $334,500.

A motion is made by Assistant Mayor Rose, seconded by Councilwoman Capobianco to introduce a resolution at the next meeting to support setting aside this money in a reserve account to offset the budget next year and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.

Under the Public Hearing portion:

Freddie Rybka, 9 Cozzens Avenue (02915) he asks for clarification regarding the Miscellaneous Account Expenditures from last year. 

Steve Costa, 86 Woodward Avenue (02914) Chair of the Carousel Commission, thanking the Council for the appropriation for repairs to the Carousel.

Mayor Briden stated that before adjourning he would like to commend the City Council who worked very hard.  This hard work is often not seen by the public. The Council has come together very well to ensure there is no tax increase and a $5,000 tangible tax exemption.  By his tabulations the Council has cut $334,500 from this budget and at the next meeting will introduce a resolution to really set aside that savings from the cuts and look a year ahead in order to use those funds to offset any possible tax increase. This was a great job and a great success.  

Assistant Mayor Rose stated that he was very happy with all they accomplished and that they continue to follow the 5 year plan and look toward the future.

A motion to adopt the budget with all the changes is made by Councilwoman Rossi, seconded by Assistant Mayor Rose and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.

IV.             ADJOURNMENT

A motion to adjourn the meeting at 7:31PM is made by Councilwoman Rossi, seconded by Assistant Mayor Rose and on a roll call vote it is unanimous. 

Approved by Council:  November 18, 2014

Attest:______________

              City Clerk