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CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE
JOURNAL – SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
THURSDAY, APRIL 29, 2021
CALL TO ORDER: 7:00 P.M.
145 TAUNTON AVENUE-CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND
EXECUTIVE SESSION: CONFERENCE ROOM A
RECONVENING OPEN SESSION WILL IMMEDIATELY FOLLOW EXECUTIVE SESSION
City Council:
Council President, Robert Britto - Ward 1
Council Vice-President: Bob Rodericks - At Large
Councilwoman Anna Sousa - Ward 2
Councilman Nate Cahoon - Ward 3
Councilman Ricardo Mourato - Ward 4
City Solicitor, Michael J. Marcello
Assistant City Solicitor, Dylan Conley
City Clerk, Samantha N. Burnett
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, this meeting will be both in person and virtually,
through an application called, "Zoom".
IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE VIRTUALLY, USE THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS:
By phone:
Call the toll free number: 1-877-853-5247 (audio only) and enter the following information:
MEETING ID: 993-0796-0324
You do not need a meeting passcode.
By computer or smartphone (this is the audio and video option):
To participate visually (with audio) you will need to log into the following from your computer or smart
phone, go to: www.zoom.us
Enter the following information when prompted
MEETING ID: 993-0796-0324
You do not need a meeting passcode.
Once entered, you will be able to join the meeting. At the appropriate time for public comment the
moderator will allow you to provide comment at the meeting.
The meeting will also be available live on our city website, located at:
http://www.clerkbase.com/RI_EastProvidence_Live_CityCouncil.html
REGARDING PUBLIC COMMENT
In addition, written public comment on any agenda item can be submitted by 4:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 29, 2021 in the following delivery methods:
Email the City Clerk at: sburnett@eastprovidenceri.gov
Deliver your written comment in person to the City Clerk
Location: City Hall 145 Taunton Avenue East Providence, Rhode Island 02914
IF YOU WISH TO PARTICIPATE IN PUBLIC COMMENT VIA ZOOM, YOU MUST USE THE “RAISE HAND” FUNCTION VIA ZOOM NO LATER THAN 7:15 P.M. TO BE RECOGNIZED BY THE MODERATOR OF THE MEETING.
I. Call to Order/Roll Call
Council President Britto calls the meeting to order. The City Clerk, Samantha Burnett, produces a roll call. All member of the Council are present.
II. Executive Session
1. The City Council may vote to go into executive session pursuant to R.I.G.L. § 42-46-5(a)(2) & (5) regarding discussion or consideration related to the acquisition of real property for public purposes related to the potential taking of property located at 500 Veterans Memorial Parkway, East Providence 02914, formerly known as Metacomet Golf Club. (MAP 107/BLOCK 15/PARCEL 1) by Eminent Domain and potential litigation and process to do so.
Councilwoman Sousa makes the motion to invoke Executive Session. Councilman Cahoon seconds the motion. The motion passes unanimously, 5-0. The Council leaves the Chambers to meet in Conference Room A for Executive Session.
| Council Member | Aye | Nay |
| Sousa | X | |
| Cahoon | X | |
| Mourato | X | |
| Rodericks | X | |
| Britto | X | |
III. Reconvene in Open Session Immediately Following Executive Session
Council returns to Open Session. All Council members are present. Attorney, Harris Weiner, sits alongside City Solicitor, Michael J. Marcello for this meeting. Attorney Weiner is independent counsel regarding Eminent Domain for the City Council.
a. Motion to seal minutes of Executive Session
Motion to seal the minutes from Executive Session made by Councilman Cahoon. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sousa. Motion passes unanimously, 5-0.
| Council Member | Aye | Nay |
| Sousa | X | |
| Cahoon | X | |
| Mourato | X | |
| Rodericks | X | |
| Britto | X | |
IV. Continued New Business
a. City Council discussion and potential vote related to pursuit or termination of Eminent Domain proceedings for property located at 500 Veterans Memorial Parkway, East Providence 02914, formerly known as Metacomet Golf Club. (MAP 107/BLOCK 15/PARCEL as a result of completion of formal appraisal and presentation of re-development plan as presented by Marshall Development at the previous City Council meeting; Special Legal Counsel Harris Weiner
Attorney Weiner addressed the public regarding Eminent Domain, including releasing the appraised amount of this property. Malcolm Moore, Finance Director for the City, answered question regarding available sources of funding to pay for additional costs. Moore stated that there was $6 million available in the Capital Fund currently, and the Charter states the Capital Fund is solely based for Capital Funding Projects. The definition of what is used for “Capital Projects” cannot be for any repayment of bonds.
Motion to release the appraised value of Metacomet to the public wasmade by Councilman Cahoon. Motion seconded by Councilman Mourato. Motion passes unanimously, 5-0.
| Council Member | Aye | Nay |
| Sousa | X | |
| Cahoon | X | |
| Mourato | X | |
| Rodericks | X | |
| Britto | X | |
The value appraised number is released to the public: $8.23 million based of the “Highest and Best Use” under the current zoning designation of 0-1.
The Council discussed the options further, including what the scenario would look like financially for the City, should they pursue Eminent Domain over the Metacomet property.
After much discussion and vetting, the motion was made by Councilman Cahoon not to pursue Eminent Domain at this time. The motion was seconded by Council Vice President Rodericks. The motion passes 4-1.
| Council Member | Aye | Nay |
| Sousa | | x |
| Cahoon | X | |
| Mourato | X | |
| Rodericks | X | |
| Britto | X | |
V. Public Comment on items related to this agenda only.
| NAME | COMMENT FORMAT | FOR OR AGAINST EMINENT DOMAIN |
| DAVID O’CONNELL | IN PERSON | AGAINST |
| DELMAR CONDINHO | ZOOM | AGAINST |
| JIM CUNNINGHAM | IN PERSON | FOR |
| CHRISSY ROSSI | IN PERSON | FOR |
| GREG OLSON | IN PERSON | FOR |
| DERRECK MENDOZA | IN PERSON | FOR |
| PJ DOPPKE | ZOOM | AGAINST |
| TRACY MCGOWAN | ZOOM | FOR |
| RUARRI MILLER | ZOOM | AGAINST |
| RICK LAWSON | | AGAINST |
| CHERYL MAYER | | AGAINST |
| DIANE PETRELLA | | FOR |
| CARL HELMETAG | | FOR |
| MARILYN WALSH | | FOR |
| CHRISTOPHER GRAHAM | | AGAINST |
| BERNARD MANCHESTER | | AGAINST |
| PATRICIA PITA | | AGAINST |
| RAYMOND PITA | | AGAINST |
| GLENN ALMQUIST | | AGAINST |
| PETER HAYES | | AGAINST |
| CATE MCQUAID | | FOR |
| OTIS BROWN | | AGAINST |
| MICHAEL BURKE | | AGAINST |
| JEANNE SHENNING | | FOR |
| PAULA M. CARROLL | | FOR |
| JAMES H. HAHN | | AGAINST |
| BEN SKRABAK | | FOR |
| MB DWYER | | FOR |
VI. Adjournment
Motion to adjourn made by Councilman Cahoon. Motion seconded by Council Vice President Rodericks. Motion passes 5-0. Meeting adjourns.
| Council Member | Aye | Nay |
| Sousa | X | |
| Cahoon | X | |
| Mourato | X | |
| Rodericks | X | |
| Britto | X | |