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CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE
MINUTES–SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 15, 2019
CALL TO ORDER: 6:30 P.M.
145 TAUNTON AVENUE – CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND
PUBLIC HEARING – BUDGET FY 2019-2020
ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE APPROPRIATING $192,051,126 FOR THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING OCTOBER 31, 2020
PUBLIC COMMENT
Public was offered on each department section.
1. Dan Landry, speaking in favor of a Rescue at the Rumford station.
2. Chrissy Rossi, speaking in favor of approving the Recreation budget as presented.
3. Jessica Beauchaine, spoke regarding the Carousel referencing staffing for the new projects. Tracey Johnson, manager of the carousel did respond to that question.
4. Bev Lefort spoke during the Police budget to ask if the chief had a secretary.
5. Chrissy Rossi, spoke during the Wastewater issue and smell in the Riverside area.
6. Chrissy Rossi, spoke in favor of fixing the Carousel and the passing of all three Carousel projects.
7. Stephen Costa spoke to clarify the site preparation project for the Carousel.
8.
A) PROPOSED ADDITIONS
| Department | Description | Amount | Sub Totals |
| 100 City Council | transfer - audit fees | 32,175.00 | |
| 100 City Council | transfer - legal | 75,000.00 | |
| 100 City Council | transfer - consulting | 50,000.00 | 157,175.00 |
| 450 Canvassing Authority | Add 1 FTE | 40,107.60 | |
| 450 Canvassing Authority | Add 1 FTE | 9,136.18 | |
| 450 Canvassing Authority | Add 1 FTE | 390.72 | |
| 450 Canvassing Authority | Add 1 FTE | 523.86 | |
| 450 Canvassing Authority | Add 1 FTE | 8,518.86 | |
| 450 Canvassing Authority | Add 1 FTE | 3,110.23 | |
| 450 Canvassing Authority | Add 1 FTE | 18.00 | 61,805.45 |
| 605 Building Inspection | Add phone line | 3,000.00 | 3,000.00 |
| 610 Engineering | Add phone line | 900.00 | 900.00 |
| 900 Misc/General Gov't | Increase self help | 15,000.00 | |
| 900 Misc/General Gov't | Increase grant matching | 15,000.00 | 30,000.00 |
| 910 capital | Add dog park | 6,000.00 | |
| 910 capital | Add grant matching | 80,722.00 | |
| 910 capital | Add Jones pond | 75,000.00 | |
| 910 capital | Add bathrooms | 15,000.00 | 176,722.00 |
| 950 School Department | restore | 950,000.00 | 950,000.00 |
| 12000 Water | 13,000.00 | 13,000.00 | |
| TOTALS | 1,392,602.45 | 1,392,602.45 |
B) DISCUSSION, ACTION AND VOTE ON POTENTIAL FURTHER AMENDMENTS TO FISCAL YEAR 2019-2020 WHICH MAY INCLUDE AMENDMENTS/REDUCTIONS/TRANSFERS OTHER THAN ADDITIONS AS LISTED IN SECTION A).
Motion to approve City Council Budget for FY 2019-2020 in the amount of $180,412.00
By: Councilman Cahoon.
Seconded by: Councilwoman Sousa
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to approve the Mayor’s Budget for FY 2019-2020 in the amount of $463,290.00
by: Councilman Cahoon
Motion seconded by: Council Vice President Rodericks
Discussion held amongst the Council.
Motion passes. Aye: Cahoon, Rodericks, Britto. Nay: Mourato, Sousa
Motion to approve the City Clerk’s Budget for $668,171.00 FY 2019-2020
by: Council Vice President Rodericks.
Motion seconded by: Councilman Mourato
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to approve the Legal Department’s budget for FY 2019-2020 in the amount of $376,852.00 by: Council Vice President Rodericks.
Motion seconded by Councilman Mourato.
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to approve Canvassing Authority’s budget for FY 2019-2020 in the amount of $270,103 by: Councilman Cahoon.
Motion seconded by: Councilwoman Sousa.
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to approve Finance Department budget for FY 2019-2020 in the amount of $730,595.00 by: Council Vice President Rodericks
Motion seconded by: Councilwoman Sousa.
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to approve Tax Collector’s budget for FY 2019-2020 in the amount of $563,121.00
Councilwoman Sousa.
Motion seconded by: Councilman Cahoon
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to recess by Councilman Cahoon.
Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sousa.
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to approve Tax Assessment’s budget for FY 2019-2020 in the amount of $472,407.00
by Council Vice President Rodericks
Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sousa
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to approve Human Resource’s budget for FY 2019-2020 in the amount of $707,997.00
by Councilwoman Sousa.
Motion seconded by Councilman Mourato.
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to approve Information Technology’s budget for FY 2019-2020 in the amount of $866,724.00
by Councilwoman Sousa.
Motion seconded by Councilman Mourato.
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to approve Miscellaneous budget for FY 2019-2020 in the amount of $6,628,256.00
by Councilwoman Sousa
Motion seconded by Council Vice President Rodericks
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to approve Debt Service’s budget for FY 2019-2020 in the amount of $6,049,841.00
by Coucilman Cahoon
Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sousa
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to approve Planning Department’s budget in the amount of $780,527.00
By Council Vice President Rodericks
Motion seconded by Councilman Cahoon
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to approve Recreation’s budget in the amount of $541,633.00
by Councilwoman Sousa
Motion seconded by Councilman Mourato
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to approve Pierce Stadium budget project in the amount of $76,500.00
By Councilman Cahoon
Motion seconded by Vice President Rodericks
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to approve the Carousel budget in the amount of $163,477.00
by Councilman Cahoon.
Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sousa
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to approve the Library budget in the amount of $2,486,343.00
by Councilman Cahoon
Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sousa
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to approve Senior Services budget in the amount of $323,378.00
by Council Vice President Rodericks
Motion seconded by Councilman Cahoon
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to approve Public Works budget in the amount of $278,471.00 for FY 2019-2020
by Councilwoman Sousa
Motion seconded by Councilman Mourato
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to approve Building Inspection budget in the amount of $845,718.00 for FY 2019-2020
by Council Vice President Rodericks
Motion seconded by Councilman Cahoon
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to approve Engineering budget in the amount of $724,042.00 for FY 2019-2020 made by Council
Vice President Rodericks.
Motion seconded by Councilman Mourato.
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to approve Highway budget in the amount of $1,040,879.00 for FY 2019-2020
by Councilman Mourato
Motion seconded by Councilman Cahoon
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to approve Refuse Disposal budget in the amount of $2,854,969.00 for FY 2019-2020
by Council Vice President Rodericks
Motion seconded by Councilman Mourato
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to approve Public Buildings in the amount of 1,201,714.00 for FY 2019-2020 from
Councilwoman Sousa.
Motion seconded by Council Vice President Rodericks.
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to approve Central Garage in the amount of $818,537.00 for FY 2019-2020 from
Councilman Cahoon
Seconded by Council Vice President Rodericks
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to approve Police Department’s budget in the amount of $15,433,870.00 for FY 2019-2020 from
Council Vice President Rodericks.
Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sousa.
Motion to approve Animal Shelter’s budget in the amount of $321,964.00 for FY 2019-2020 from
Councilwoman Sousa
Motion seconded by Councilman Mourato
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to approve Harbormaster’s budget in the amount of $50,652.00 for FY 2019-2020
by Councilman Cahoon
Motion seconded by Council Vice President Rodericks
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to approve Fire Department’s budget in the amount of $21,618,819.00 for FY 2019-2020
by Councilman Cahoon. (This was amended)
Motion seconded by Councilman Mourato
Motion passes 3-2. Aye: Cahoon, Rodericks, Mourato Nay: Britto, Sousa
Motion to approve Wastewater budget in the amount of $14,212,249.00 for FY 2019-2020
by Councilwoman Sousa
Motion seconded by Council Vice President Britto
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to approve Water Department budget in the amount of $10,538,474.00 for FY 2019-2020
by Councilwoman Sousa
Motion seconded by Councilman Cahoon
Motion passes unanimously.
Section 65 – Street Lights was referenced. Motion to approve $600,000.00
By Councilwoman Sousa.
Motion seconded by Council Vice President Rodericks.
Motion passes 4-0 with Councilman Cahoon not present for the vote.
Capital Improvement Project Votes
Carousel Projects
$50,000 Structural Stabilization Phase 1
Motion to approve by Councilman Mourato
Motion seconded by Councilman Cahoon
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to approve the Ice Skating Rink Capital Project, based on the notion that the commission will come back to the Council with more information
by Councilwoman Sousa.
No Council members seconded. Motion is dead.
Motion to table item for year round concession item by Councilman Mourato.
Motion seconded by Councilman Cahoon.
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to approve both line items of Finance Tax Assessment Collection software and the Finance Accounting Software for the Capital Improvement Budget
by Councilman Cahoon
Motion seconded by Council Vice President Rodericks
Motion passes, 4-1 with Council President Britto voting as Nay.
Fire Station Capital Improvement Budget Items (3)
Motion to approve by Council Vice President Rodericks
Motion seconded by Councilman Cahoon
Motion passes unanimously.
Planning and Economic Development Capital Improvement Projects
Motion to table the soccer field project by Councilman Mourato
Motion seconded by Councilman Cahoon
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to approve the arts grant project by Councilman Mourato
Motion seconded by Councilman Cahoon
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to table the splash pad by Councilman Mourato
Motion seconded by Councilman Cahoon
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to approve the parking lot expansion for the police department
by Council Vice President Rodericks.
Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sousa.
Motion passes 3-2. Aye: Rodericks, Britto, Sousa. Nay: Cahoon, Mourato
Motion to approve the police vehicles made by Councilwoman Sousa
Motion seconded by Councilman Cahoon
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to approve Runnins River Improvements made by Councilman Cahoon.
Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sousa
Motion passes unanimously.
Motion to approve Pedestrian Signal Improvements in Kent Heights School area
Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sousa.
Motion passes 3-2. Aye: Rodericks, Sousa, Britto. Nay: Cahoon, Mourato.
Motion to allocate $3.6 million to be maintained in the Capital Fund subject to future Appropriations by the City Council.
Motion seconded by Council Vice President Rodericks.
Councilman Cahoon makes a motion to recess.
Councilwoman Sousa seconded the motion.
Motion passes unanimously.
Council President announces the reconvening from recess.
At recess, Assistant City Solicitor Conley, Finance Director Moore and City Clerk Burnett worked on the budget ordinance and presented to the Council.
Tax rate originally was 2.8% and it is now 2.3% with the revisions made during the budget Sessions. This was asked by inquiry of Councilwoman Sousa and answered by Finance Director Moore.
Councilman Cahoon made the motion to approve the budget ordinance as presented.
Council Vice President Rodericks seconded the motion.
Motion passes 3-2. Aye: Rodericks, Mourato and Cahoon. Nay: Sousa and Britto.
Motion to adjourn made by Councilwoman Sousa
Motion seconded by Council Vice President Rodericks
Motion passes unanimously.
Meeting adjourned.
C) ADJOURNMENT