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CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE
RHODE ISLAND
JOURNAL OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
June 2, 2015
Council Chambers, City Hall, 145 Taunton Avenue, East Providence, RI 02914
6:45 P.M. Executive Session, Room 101
7:30 P.M. Open Session
Mayor Rose
Assistant Mayor Cunha
Councilwoman Capobianco
Councilman Britto
Councilman Conley
City Manager Lemont
Solicitor Chapman
City Clerk Casci-Palangio
The City Council of the City of East Providence will meet in Executive Session pursuant to RI General Laws § 42-46-5 (a)(1)(2).
A. Peter Graczykowski
Department of Labor and Training
Complaint #2014-158
Settlement Agreement
B. New Claims
1. Froham Anderson
2. Danielle LeClair
3. Jacint M. Lima
4. Patrick R. Penta
5. Kenneth Turn
C. Claim for Reconsideration
1. Sonia Vieira
D. City Manager Job Performance Review
Mayor Rose calls the meeting to order at 7:35PM.
The Swearing-In of the new members of the East Providence Police Department was moved to this location and Mayor Rose performed the Oath.
A. Swearing-In Ceremony for newly hired members of the East Providence Police Department
A. Letters
1. Exeter-West Greenwich School Committee Resolution in support in support of H5861 S0743 regarding Gun Free Schools.
2. Exeter Town Council Resolution in opposition to S0510 and H5777 regarding legalization of marijuana.
3. Hopkinton Town Council Resolution in opposition to S0510 and H5777 regarding legalization of marijuana.
B. Cancellation/Abatements
| Year | Amount |
| 2014 | $187.01 |
| Total | $187.01 |
C. Tax Board of Review Abatements
Real Estate and Homestead
| Year | Amount |
| 2014 | $67,378.13 |
| Total | $67,378.13 |
D. Alcoholic Beverage Class F
East Providence Heritage Days, Pierce Field, 201 Mercer Street (02914), Alba Curti, July 17- July19, 2015.
E. Council Journals
1. Regular Council Meeting May 19, 2015
A motion to approve the Consent Calendar is made by Councilman Britto, seconded by Councilwoman Capobianco and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.
A. Frank “Ragman” Lopes – Summit Street
B. Tom Riley, 3620 Pawtucket Avenue – Water Metering Situation
A. Carousel Park Commission (by Assistant Mayor Cunha)
Christopher Moore, 718 North Broadway (02914)
A motion to approve the Appointment is made by Assistant Mayor Cunha, seconded by Councilwoman Capobianco and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.
B. Traffic Control (by Mayor Rose)
Nancy Stanley, 132 Rounds Avenue (02915)
A motion to approve the Appointment is made by Councilwoman Capobianco, seconded by Councilman Britto and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.
A. B-Full Privilege Vict
KAR DAV, Inc. DBA Madeira Waterfront Banquet Hall, 34 Water Street, 2nd Floor (02914)
A motion to approve the License, pending final walk thru and approval by Fire Department is made by Councilwoman Capobianco, seconded by Councilman Britto and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.
B. Dance Entertainment
KAR DAV, Inc. DBA Madeira Waterfront Banquet Hall, 34 Water Street, 2nd Floor (02914)
A motion to approve the License, pending final walk thru and approval by Fire Department is made by Councilman Britto, seconded by Councilwoman Capobianco and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.
A. Vict/Over 50
KAR DAV, Inc. DBA Madeira Waterfront Banquet Hall, 34 Water Street, 2nd Floor (02914)
A motion to approve the License, pending final walk thru and approval by Fire Department and that the Fire Chief provide the capacity limit of the second floor to the City Clerk is made by Councilwoman Capobianco, seconded by Councilman Britto and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.
B. Hawker – 60 Day (2 Locations )
Keith M. Lambert DBA Keystone Novelties, 201 Seymour Street, Lancaster, PA 17603, Keith M. Lambert, 1455 Wallum Lake Road, Pascoag (02859)
1. Location: 40 Highland Avenue
A motion to approve the License is made by Councilwoman Capobianco, seconded by Assistant Mayor Cunha and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.
C. Hawker – 60 Day (2 Locations )
Keith M. Lambert DBA Keystone Novelties, 201 Seymour Street, Lancaster, PA 17603, Keith M. Lambert, 1455 Wallum Lake Road, Pascoag (02859)
1. Location : 750 Taunton Avenue
A motion to approve the License is made by Councilman Britto, seconded by Assistant Mayor Cunha and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.
D. Carnival
East Providence Heritage Days, Alba Curti, 84 Merrill Street (02914), July 17-July 19, 2015
A motion to approve the License is made by Assistant Mayor Cunha, seconded by Councilwoman Capobianco and on a roll call vote it is unanimous
A. An ordinance regarding a stop sign at Estrell Drive (northbound and southbound traffic) at Larry Lane
AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 18 OF THE REVISED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, 1998, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED “VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC”
SECTION I. Subsection (b) of Sec. 18-269 entitled “Stop and yield intersections designated; when stops required” is amended by adding thereto the following:
Estrell Drive (northbound and southbound traffic) at Larry Lane
SECTION II. This ordinance shall take effect upon second passage and all ordinances and parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.
Requested by: Councilman Conley
A motion to approve the ordinance for final passage is made by Councilwoman Capobianco, seconded by Assistant Mayor Cunha and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.
B. An ordinance regarding amending the Drainlayer Application.
A motion to dispense with the reading of the ordinance is made by Councilwoman Capobianco, seconded by Councilman Britto and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.
AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 8 OF THE
REVISED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, 1998, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED “LICENSES AND BUSINESS REGULATIONS”
SECTION I. Sec. 8-35 entitled “Drainlayer–Application; approval.” of Article II entitled “Miscellaneous Business and Occupational Licenses and Permits” of Chapter 8 of the Revised Ordinances of the City of East Providence, Rhode Island, 1998, as amended, entitled “Licenses and Business Regulations” is amended to read as follows:
Sec. 8-35. Drainlayer--Application; approval. Underground Utility Contractors--Permit
No person shall engage in business as a drainlayer without first obtaining a license from the city clerk, upon proof of approval from the state department of health, and after approval by the chief of police, the plumbing inspector, and the director of public works. No person shall engage in the business of underground utility contractor unless said person has a license from the State of Rhode Island as defined under R.I.G.L. Chapter 5-65.3, et seq. No person shall engage in the installation, maintenance and repair of underground utility systems within the City of East Providence without first obtaining a permit for said installation and repair from the Director of Public Works and payment of all fees associated with said permit.
SECTION II. This ordinance shall take effect upon its second passage and all ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.
Requested by: Councilwoman Capobianco
A motion to approve the ordinance for final passage is made by Councilwoman Capobianco, seconded by Councilman Britto and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.
A. City Managers Report (by Acting City Manager, Paul Lemont)
1. Warren Avenue Culvert Project
Design/Permit/Build Services
Flood Management of the State Street Neighborhood
The City Manager reported that this item has been around for years dating back to Councilman Norman Miranda. The Planning Department has many records of all the people they have dealt with and it is finally to the point where he can recommend to the Council a bid. The originally cost was $500,000 with a total cost to the City of $629,000 the City has to come up with the $129,000 but if the Council rejects this then the City has to pay back $123,900. The one bid which came in from Lynch and Sons totals $586,700 leading to the overage of $129,700.
Councilman Britto asked why if the Council rejects the bid do they have to pay.
Director Boyle called David Bachrach to the podium. He stated the City would have to pay back the State for their services.
The City Manager requests the Council approve the bid thereby enabling the City to pay $129,700 and the hope is that it will relieve the problem in the area for the residents.
Mayor Rose stated the culvert is so narrow now and this will relieve a majority of the issue, not all of it but it will give them some relief.
Councilwoman Capobianco stated this has been going on for years and years and it’s been kicked down the road for years and the City is in a position to do this now.
A motion to approve is made by Councilwoman Capobianco, seconded by Councilman Britto and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.
2. Prequalification Contractors for Improvements to Jones Pond
The City Manager stated there are 3 approved bids and all have been reviewed by the Planning Department and he recommends prequalification to those 3 firms listed in the memo.
A motion to approve is made by Assistant Mayor Cunha, seconded by Councilwoman Capobianco and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.
B. Reports of Other City Officials
1. Claims Committee Report (by City Solicitor Timothy Chapman)
A motion to approve the Claims Committee Report is made by Assistant Mayor Cunha, seconded by Councilwoman Capobianco and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.
C. Council Members
1. Housing Stock Update (by Assistant Mayor Cunha)
Assistant Mayor Cunha stated this housing stock item is an update which he brought up a few weeks ago regarding condemned or boarded up homes. He and other residents are concerned regarding property values and ascetics around these homes. He would like to know what has been done since his request.
Solicitor Chapman stated the Planning Department sent the current foreclosure report which listed 57 currently which is a decrease of 14 percent. The area of boarded properties given contains 6 boarded home and one recent fire. The Building Inspector’s comments were a breakdown of boarded properties over the last 9 years. There were a total of 46 however not all are boarded now. Boarding liens for last year totaled $44,538 and 28 were paid with 16 outstanding. They expect to receive all of them back. $18,000 were from grass/overgrowth that had to be cut. $5,000 were paid in outstanding liens also attached to the properties. The process follows State and City codes regarding unsafe properties. Most are vacant and not abandoned and most vacant are owned by the banks. There are no added fines other than boarding fees and he doesn't think it’s a good idea for the City to own properties because if you demolish them it adds costs and vacant lots.
Assistant Mayor Cunha discussed RI Housing which previously took back 4 homes by the eminent domain law passed in 2008. This law required that if it is a blighted area a home may fall under this law for redevelopment.
David Bachrach provided a breakdown on possible solutions to assist including aggressively contacting the banks to help sell the properties. The City Council could draft a resolution to the State Representatives and Senators to direct resources toward renovations in general. He also suggested hosting a meeting with the new head of RI Housing and talk to her about some of the specific housing resources all of which can be used to acquire, rehab and sell back like what was done with 78 Anthony Street. He recently spoke with RI Housing and feels they do have resources though it’s not typical hence the need for the resolution and the meeting.
Assistant Mayor Cunha asked if the City could remove the boarding.
Solicitor Chapman stated that he would address this with the Building Official.
2. Summit Street Update (by Assistant Mayor Cunha)
Assistant Mayor Cunha recapped what was stated at the last meeting.
The Police Chief added it was left up to the Council as to how long they wanted to keep the traffic pattern this way. Does the Council need a vote from to terminate the temporary traffic pattern on Summit Street? The barriers did show success and there may be a traffic engineer to tie in the issues and possibly have a firm do a study. They could go back on social media and let people know.
Assistant Mayor Cunha stated yes to terminate the barriers as he didn’t want to cause a problem on surrounding streets but keep the counters out to see how it has increased the traffic and if they could report this back at the next Council meeting in 2 weeks.
Frank Lopes spoke and thanked everyone for working so hard on the situation.
3. RFP for New Financial Advisor Update (by Assistant Mayor Cunha)
Assistant Mayor Cunha stated this was an update regarding his previous request.
The City Manager responded the priority list is high but they will get to it shortly.
Director Moore was called to the podium and stated if the City goes out for RFP right now the company would only get paid when the City goes out to bond for the next TANS which would be in January. An RFQ would be what he would suggest.
4. Ground City Program Update (by Assistant Mayor Cunha)
Assistant Mayor Cunha stated the ground city program was meant to liven the City up with flowers and weeding and he would like to know what is going on with this. He noticed that some color was added around City Hall and Weaver Library. Perhaps the City could reach out to volunteer groups with the “adopt an island” program.
Director Coutu stated he would pull this item out again.
Councilman Conley asked if there was any chance they can get the field done at the Riverside Rec.
Director Coutu stated that while they cut the grass the school is responsible for the lines benches and grub treatment.
5. Bayside Soccer Field (by Assistant Mayor Cunha)
Assistant Mayor Cunha asked for an update regarding Bayside Soccer Field.
Solicitor Chapman states that they met with the attorney for Bayside, the School Committee Attorney and the Planning Director and the City Engineer. They came out of the meeting with 10 items to address. Some items to address have to do with engineering ie: relocating a forced main pipe, school property and tangible taxes. Once this agreement is finalized it will come back to the City Council and School Committee for approval.
Councilman Britto asked that based on the amount of investment is there a way that the taxes can be deferred as it is a benefit of the community.
Councilwoman Capobianco stated that it is a for profit business.
Councilman Conley stated he read the contract over the weekend and the question of who owns the turf and it being a for profit business where the City uses it only 15 hours a week, Bayside own/leases it for 25 years, if you give them a break on taxes every for profit business will jump in on that. He believes in the project and supports it but there are some issues which need to be buttoned up and tied down before we complete the project.
Assistant Mayor Cunha agreed with the due diligence.
6. Relay for Life (by Councilwoman Capobianco)
Councilwoman Capobianco stated that Relay for Life couldn't be here but it takes place this weekend June 5th and 6th at Pierce Field and there is a Survivors Reception at 5pm. It opens at 6pm and closes 8am on Saturday. This is a family friendly event and all are welcome.
D. Report of School Committee Liaison
E. Resolutions
A motion to dispense with the reading of the Resolution is made by Assistant Mayor Cunha, seconded by Councilwoman Capobianco and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.
(Amendment to Resolution No. 26A - Adopted June 18, 2013)
RULES OF PROCEDURE OF THE CITY COUNCIL
BE IT RESOLVED, that the following Rules be and they are hereby adopted as the Rules of the City Council of the City of East Providence.
Rule One. Duties of the Presiding Officer
a. The Mayor shall be the presiding officer at all meetings of the City Council. The Assistant Mayor shall preside in the absence of the Mayor.
b. The presiding officer shall preserve order and decorum at all meetings of the City Council. In the interest of preserving order and decorum, the presiding officer may in his/her discretion limit the remarks of a citizen or his/her attorney to a period of not more than five (5) minutes on any matter, and may also limit the remarks by the public to a period of not more than one (1) hour on any matter.
c. The presiding officer may speak in preference to any other member of the City Council and shall, subject to the restrictions imposed by subsection (d) of Rule One, decide all questions of order.
d. Any member of the City Council may appeal from the ruling of the presiding officer or the parliamentarian by moving that the presiding officer’s ruling or ruling of the parliamentarian be referred to the members of the City Council who are present. In the event that such motion is seconded, the presiding officer shall immediately, without debate, put the following motion before the body for consideration: “Shall the rule of the chair be sustained?” which question shall be decided by a majority vote of the members present.
e. The presiding officer shall propound all questions and motions in the order in which they are moved, unless the subsequent motion is previous in nature, as set forth in Rule Five, Section (e).
Rule Two. Order of Business
a. A majority of all of the members of the City Council shall constitute a quorum for the conducting of business. A smaller number than a majority may adjourn from time to time until a quorum shall be present. Notice to be given in accordance with the provisions of the City Charter in Article II, Section 8.
b. The order of business of each City Council meeting shall be as follows:
I. Call to order
II. Invocation
III. Salute to the flag
IV. Consent Calendar
V. Proclamations & Presentations
VI. Communications. Any person who submits a communication to the Council and wishes to speak on it must indicate this in writing no later than 4:00 p.m. the Thursday prior to the next regularly scheduled Council meeting. A person who lists more than one topic on their communication will be allowed to speak on the first one listed.
VII. Public Comment. All persons wishing to make public comment shall sign a public comment sheet stating their name, address, and the subject of their comments. Said public comment sheet shall be available on a desk at the entrance of the City Hall Chambers no later than forty-five (45) minutes before the call to order of any regularly scheduled council meeting and shall be delivered by the City Clerk to the presiding officer no earlier than five (5) minutes before the call to order of the meeting.
VIII. Appointments. All Council appointments will appear on the docket under the heading Appointments listing the appointment being made, the name and address of the candidate, and the Council member nominating the candidate. City Council members will submit the information to the City Clerk no later than Thursday preceding the Council meeting.
IX. Licenses (Requiring Public Hearing and Non-Public Hearings)
X. Public Hearings
XI. Continued Business
XII. New Business
a. City Manager’s Report
b. Reports of Other City Officials
c. Council Members
d. Report of School Committee Liaison
e. Resolutions. All resolutions will appear on the docket with the name of the Resolution’s sponsor after having been referred to the Law Department for review.
f. Introduction of Ordinances. All ordinances shall appear on the docket after having been referred to the Law Department for review.
c. At any special meeting called of the City Council, the meeting shall be restricted to the business of the special meeting and no other business shall be considered without the unanimous approval of the City Council.
d. Council members shall submit items for discussion purposes no later than 4:00 p.m. the Thursday prior to the next regularly scheduled Council meeting. The docket for all regular meetings shall be prepared and delivered and/or electronically forwarded to each Council member at least 72 hours prior to said meeting. Any petition requiring a hearing shall be referred to the proper City department for a written report prior to being placed on the docket for discussion or hearing. Copies of all said petitions shall immediately be forwarded to the City Council. No matter may be considered at any meeting that is not specifically on the docket (including votes) without the unanimous consent of the City Council. No petition for rezoning may be withdrawn at any meeting to which it has been assigned for hearing unless such petition is withdrawn at least 72 hours prior to such meeting. The docket will contain a plain language explanation for all ordinances.
Rule Three. Decorum and Debate
a. When a motion is under debate, the chair shall receive no other motions except as set forth in Rule Five, Section (f).
b. Any member desiring to speak shall address the presiding officer and, after his right to speak has been recognized, he shall not be interrupted while speaking except by a call to order or for the correction of a mistake or to yield to another member. He shall confine his remarks to the question under debate and shall avoid personalities. No member shall speak more than once on the same question until all other members desiring to speak thereon shall have done so, and in no event shall any member speak more than twice on any question without the permission of the majority of the members of the City Council. There shall be no conversation among the members while a roll call is being taken, while any paper is being read, or while a question is being stated by the presiding officer.
c. A roll call vote shall be taken as required by the Charter of the City of East Providence, the ordinances of the City, or at the request of any Council member.
d. After a roll call vote has been ordered, said roll call shall not be interrupted, delayed or stopped by the presiding officer or any member of the Council for any reason whatsoever including points of order, personal privileges or for a member to explain his vote. All roll calls shall be taken alphabetically except for the presiding officer who shall vote last.
e. A motion shall be carried by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Council members voting on the motion and the presiding officer shall declare the passage or defeat of any motion. In the case of a tie, the motion shall be defeated.
f. When a vote has been passed, it shall be in order for ay members voting with the majority to move or second the reconsideration thereof not later than the next regular meeting and, when a motion to reconsider has been decided, that vote shall not be reconsidered.
Rule Four. Consent Docket
a. When the City Manager determines that any item of business requires action by the Council but is of a routine and non-controversial nature, he/she may cause such item to be presented at a regular meeting of the Council as part of the Consent Calendar.
b. The Consent Calendar shall be introduced by a motion “to approve the Consent Calendar” and shall be considered by the Council as a single item.
c. There shall be no debate or discussion by any member of the Council regarding any item on the Consent Calendar beyond asking questions for simple clarification.
d. All items on the Consent Calendar which require public hearings shall be open for hearing simultaneously and the Mayor shall announce or direct the City Clerk to announce the titles of all such items.
e. On objection by any member of the Council to inclusion of any item on the Consent Calendar, that item shall be removed from the Consent Calendar forthwith. Such objection may be recorded at any time prior to the taking of a vote on the motion to approve the Consent Calendar. All such items shall be considered individually in the order in which they were objected to immediately following consideration of the Consent Calendar.
f. Approval of the motion to approve the Consent Calendar shall be fully equivalent to approval, adoption, or enactment of each motion, resolution, ordinance, or other item of business thereon exactly as if each has been acted upon individually.
Rule Five. Miscellaneous Provisions
a. The City Clerk shall prepare a docket of the business to be conducted at each meeting of the City Council which shall be delivered and/or electronically forwarded to each council member not less than 72 hours before the meeting of the City Council. No ordinance, resolution, petition, order or matter of business shall be considered unless notice of the same shall have been given previously in accordance with these rules. Any additional public hearings concerning a zone change and/or subdivision will require the written consent of a majority of the City Council.
b. Any reports or communications from any department head, City Manager or otherwise, shall be in writing and copy supplied to each Council member with the docket.
c. Regular meetings of the City Council shall be held on the first and third Tuesday of each month at 7:30 p.m. in the City Council chamber in City Hall or at such other place as may be designated by a majority of the Council except in the months of July and August when there shall be only one meeting per month on the Tuesday designated by a majority of the City Council. Amended December 1, 1988 (See Council Journal). Amended November 13, 1989 (See Council Journal).
d. All meetings of the City Council shall be open to the public and all votes shall be cast in public.
e. A special meeting of the City Council may be called in accordance with the provisions of Article II, Section 7 of the City Charter at the request of the Mayor or upon written request of three (3) members of the City Council, said request addressed to the City Clerk. No business shall be considered at said special meeting other than that as set forth in the call of the meeting without the unanimous consent of the City Council.
f. The order of precedence of motions shall be as follows:
1. Fix the time in which to adjourn
2. Adjourn
3. Recess
4. Raise a question of privilege
5. Lay on the table
6. Suspension of the rules
7. Previous question
8. Limit debate
9. Postpone to a certain time
10. Refer to committee or other official
11. Amend
12. Postpone indefinitely
13. Main motion
The above list shall be the order in which motions may be considered. When any motion is pending before the City Council, any motion before that said motion on this list shall take precedence and be acted upon first and those following shall be out of order.
g. The following motions shall not be debatable:
1. Adjourn
2. Recess
3. Raise question of privilege
4. Lay on the table
5. Suspension of the rules
6. Previous question
7. Limit debate
h. These rules shall not be altered, amended, suspended or repealed at any time except by an affirmative vote of four-fifths (4/5) of the entire City Council unless docketed 72 hours prior to meeting.
i. Roberts Rules of Parliamentary Procedure shall prevail in the absence of any specific rule as set forth herein.
j. The City Solicitor is designated as parliamentarian for the purpose of interpreting these rules of procedure.
k. In the event that any section of these rules shall be in conflict with the City Charter or ordinances of the City of East Providence, then such rule shall fail, however, those rules which are not in conflict shall remain in full force and effect.
l. Any member of the public who requests to speak on any docket item that is not part of the Public Hearing section or specifically on the docket will be allowed to speak if approved by unanimous consent of the Council.
m. The City Council shall adjourn no later than 10:00 p.m. The Council shall vote each time in order to extend the meeting in 15 minute increments. Said time increment extensions shall require a super majority vote. Any business before the City Council not completed by 10:00 p.m. will be tabled to the next available meeting. The date shall be announced and determined by the Council President. Waiver of this rule requires a super majority vote.
Requested By: Mayor Rose
A motion to approve the Resolution is made by Assistant Mayor Cunha, seconded by Councilwoman Capobianco and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.
2. RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF PROPOSED AMENDED LEGISLATION FOR CAPITAL CITY UNDERGROUND UTILITY INITIATIVE
A motion to dispense with the reading of the Resolution is made by Councilwoman Capobianco, seconded by Assistant Mayor Cunha and on a roll call vote it is unanimous with Councilman Britto recusing.
WHEREAS, Narragansett Electric Company, now known as National Grid, is authorized to proceed with the construction of the underground alignment of the E-183 line (proposing to run from Franklin Square in Providence to Bold Point in East Providence) referenced in the Settlement Agreement that was approved by the Energy Facility Siting Board in 2004 (hereinafter, the “Underground Project”); and
WHEREAS, incremental costs of the Underground Project, including the acquisition of any property rights needed to implement the Underground Project are to be included in the electric rates of electric customers in the cities of East Providence and Providence; and
WHEREAS, during the passage of over 10 years since the approval of the Settlement Agreement, the incremental costs have increased; and
WHEREAS, proposed amended legislation will allow incremental costs exceeding $2,000,000 to be distributed in rates to all electric customers within the State of Rhode Island; and
WHEREAS, the benefit of the Underground Project is statewide and electric customers statewide should absorb a certain amount of the incremental costs that have now increased with the passage of over 10 years since the settlement was reached; and
WHEREAS, additionally, the proposed amended legislation will direct and authorize the Energy Facility Siting Board to establish an enforceable schedule to complete the Project on or before July 30, 2016; and
WHEREAS, the potential benefit to the environment, economic development, existing and future parks, and public spaces along the waterfronts of Providence and East Providence provides a substantial boost to the State of Rhode Island; and
WHEREAS, to quote a November 20, 2014 Providence Journal editorial, “Burying the lines would enhance the beauty of the waterfront, elevate property values and diminish power failures.” It should also improve the prospects for getting the Route 195 land redevelopment.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, the City Council for the City of East Providence hereby resolves that it supports the proposed amended legislation for the capital city underground utility initiative (R.I.G.L. § 42-98-1.1 et seq.) and hereby requests that the City Clerk send a copy of this Resolution to the Governor of the State of Rhode Island, Lieutenant Governor of the State of Rhode Island, the President of the Rhode Island Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Senators and Representatives for the City of East Providence.
Requested by: Councilman Conley
A motion to approve the Resolution is made by Councilwoman Capobianco, seconded by Assistant Mayor Cunha and on a roll call vote it is unanimous with Councilman Britto recusing.
E. Communications
1. Tom Riley, 3620 Pawtucket Avenue (02915) requesting to address the Council regarding Waterfront Housing Development Project.
Director Jeanne Boyle was called to the podium regarding the decrease in 400 apartments. She stated there would be no sale of the bond until the project moves forward in its entirety.
A motion to return to Executive Session is made pursuit to 42-46-5(A)(1) for the purpose of discussion of the City Manager Job Performance Review is made by Councilman Britto, seconded by Assistant Mayor Cunha and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.
Council returns to Open Session and Solicitor Chapman reports the vote to return to Open Session and that no other votes were taken.
A motion to adjourn at 9:58PM is made by Assistant Mayor Cunha, seconded by Councilwoman Capobianco and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.
Approved By Council: July 21, 2015
Attest: _______________