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CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE
MINUTES-REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 5, 2023
CALL TO ORDER: 6:30 P.M.
145 TAUNTON AVENUE-CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND
City Council:
Council President, Bob Rodericks – At Large
Council Vice-President: Frank Rego – Ward 1
Councilwoman Anna Sousa - Ward 2
Councilman Frank Fogarty - Ward 3
Councilman Rick Lawson - Ward 4
City Solicitor, Michael J. Marcello
City Clerk, Jill Seppa
I. CALL TO ORDER
Roll Call
Fogarty__X___ Lawson__X___ Rego__X___ Sousa __absent___ Rodericks__x___
II. SALUTE TO THE FLAG
III. EXECUTIVE SESSION
The City Council of East Providence may meet in Executive Session,
pursuant to RIGL §42-46-5 (a)(2)
A. New Claims
1. Linda & Joel Eissenberg
2. John & Nancy Mulligan
3. Lexine Stearns
| Member | Aye | Nay |
| Fogarty | X | |
| Lawson | Motion, X | |
| Rego | Second, X | |
| Sousa | | |
| Rodericks | X | |
IV. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION
Fogarty_____ Lawson_____ Rego_____ Sousa _____ Rodericks_____
V. MOTION TO SEAL EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES
| Member | Aye | Nay |
| Fogarty | | |
| Lawson | | |
| Rego | | |
| Sousa | | |
| Rodericks | | |
IV. PROCLAMATIONS & PRESENTATIONS - none
V. CONSENT CALENDAR - For discussion and possible vote
A. COUNCIL JOURNALS
1. November 9, 2023 – regular meeting minutes
2. November 14, 2023- regular meeting minutes
| Year | Amount |
| | |
| 2023 | 23,064.48 |
| TOTAL | 23,064.48 |
| Member | Aye | Nay |
| Fogarty | | |
| Lawson | motion | |
| Rego | | |
| Sousa | | |
| Rodericks | | |
VI. LICENSES - For discussion and possible vote
A. NON-PUBLIC HEARING
1. Sundays & Holidays
Applicant: Monique Oliveira
Business: Union Square Bistro
Address: 332 Bullocks Point Avenue
| Member | Aye | Nay |
| Fogarty | Seconded, X | |
| Lawson | Motion, X | |
| Rego | X | |
| Sousa | | |
| Rodericks | X | |
B. PUBLIC HEARING -none
VII. COMMUNICATIONS – none
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.
Josh Berlinsky of Daryl Everett Legal spoke on the Metacomet Green resolution
Jacqueline Knott spoke about a new business she is registering.
Nancy Hale spoke in favor of archelogical survey at Metacomet.
VIII. 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. Each speaker will be limited to three (3) minutes. The order of speakers will be on a first come, first serve basis and the maximum time for public comment shall by limited to thirty (30) minutes per meeting.
IX. APPOINTMENTS –
1. Appointment of William McMahon to the City Council Veteran Advisory Committee- Sponsor; Councilman Lawson
| Member | Aye | Nay |
| Fogarty | Second, X | |
| Lawson | Motion, X | |
| Rego | X | |
| Sousa | | |
| Rodericks | X | |
X. COUNCIL MEMBERS
1. Council vote on requesting a resolution for funding and implementing a full time fourth rescue – discuss and vote – Council Vice President Rego
| Member | Aye | Nay |
| Fogarty | Second, X | |
| Lawson | X | |
| Rego | Motion, X | |
| Sousa | | |
| Rodericks | X | |
2. Discussion with administration on next steps for the following ARPA funded projects- discuss- Councilman Lawson, Council President Rodericks
Councilman Lawson gave an update of the ARPA projects.
a. Clam Shack at Crescent Park
b. Oldham School - business incubator
c. Riverside Splash Pad
d. Infrastructure needs
e. Placemaking initiatives
3. Discussion with administration on status of Kent Heights playground project to include funding, final design, and where the project currently stands- discuss- Councilman Lawson, Council President Rodericks
Director Dan Borges reviewed the Kent Heights project.
4. Discussion of process for engineering study for a plan for East Providence infrastructure needs- discuss-Council Vice President Rego
Director Dan Borges reviewed plan for infrastructure plan.
5. Creating a building committee for the proposed Community Recreation Center, membership and charge of committee- discuss and vote- Councilman Lawson & Council President Rodericks
Discussion of creating a building committee for community recreation center, to include two council members. Vice President Rego volunteered to be one of the council members.
| Member | Aye | Nay |
| Fogarty | | |
| Lawson | | |
| Rego | | |
| Sousa | | |
| Rodericks | | |
6. Discussion on hiring independent legal service for support with proposed zoning changes and audit – discuss and vote – Councilwoman Sousa
This item was tabled.
XI. PUBLIC HEARINGS – Ordinance for first and final passage and second passage - For discussion and possible vote
1. An ordinance of the Council of East Providence repealing ordinance Chapter 900 and reallocating and reappropriating up to $3,000,000 toward a community recreation center.
Sponsors: Council President Rodericks, Council Vice President Rego, Councilwoman Sousa, Councilman Lawson, Councilman Fogarty
| Member | Aye | Nay |
| Fogarty | Second, X | |
| Lawson | Motion, X | |
| Rego | X | |
| Sousa | | |
| Rodericks | X | |
- 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”
Summary: Section 18-307, No Parking, Warren Avenue (north side) from Purchase Street East 60 feet
Sponsor: Councilwoman Sousa
| Member | Aye | Nay |
| Fogarty | Second, X | |
| Lawson | X | |
| Rego | Motion, X | |
| Sousa | | |
| Rodericks | X | |
3. An ordinance of the Council of the City of East Providence repealing ordinance chapter 897 and reallocating and reappropriating up to $447,870 for the Potter Street and Burgess Street parking lots.
Sponsor: Councilwoman Sousa
| Member | Aye | Nay |
| Fogarty | Second, X | |
| Lawson | X | |
| Rego | Motion, X | |
| Sousa | | |
| Rodericks | X | |
XII. CONTINUED BUSINESS –
1. Discussion and overview of required changes to the East Providence Zoning code as required by recent amendments to state law.
a. Receive report from planning of delineation of changes required by law
b. Discuss comprehensive changes
c. Receive update and recommendations from Planning Board as a result of their December 4, 2023 meeting as required by law.
2. Report of totals of what each city department had remaining in their account end of year FY23 and was turned over to the general fund – receive report- Vice President Rego and Councilman Lawson
3. Council requests updated report from October 3, 2023 “Detailed ARPA allocation, spending, and existing purchase orders from inception to date broken down by program and line item” to include dates of ARPA expenditures– receive report and discussion - Council Vice President Rego
4. Rumford Motor Inn 400 Newport Avenue, update on show cause hearing- discuss- Council Vice President Rego, Council President Rodericks
XIII. NEW BUSINESS
A. MAYOR COMMUNICATIONS - Mayor Communications
1. Appointment requiring Council Approval: Jonathan Jacobs; Zoning Board of Review
| Member | Aye | Nay |
| Fogarty | Second, X | |
| Lawson | Motion, X | |
| Rego | | |
| Sousa | X | |
| Rodericks | X | |
B. REPORTS OF OTHER CITY OFFICIALS
1. Claims Committee
C. REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE LIAISON
D. INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES - For discussion and possible vote
1. An ordinance of the council of the City of East Providence amending ordinance Chapter 894 appropriating up to $50,000 for a citywide utility art box project
Sponsor: Councilwoman Sousa
This item was tabled.
| Member | Aye | Nay |
| Fogarty | | |
| Lawson | | |
| Rego | | |
| Sousa | | |
| Rodericks | | |
E. RESOLUTIONS - For discussion and possible vote
2. Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Purchase Salt Applicators, Ice Master with Gas Pump and Application Tank to be Added to the Department of Public Works Highway Division Trucks – Sponsor- Council President Rodericks
| Member | Aye | Nay |
| Fogarty | X | |
| Lawson | Second, X | |
| Rego | Motion, X | |
| Sousa | | |
| Rodericks | X | |
3. Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Enter Into a Change Order for Additional Material Required for the Pole Lights at the Riverside Middle School – Sponsor: Council President Rodericks, Councilman Lawson
| Member | Aye | Nay |
| Fogarty | X, Second | |
| Lawson | Motion, X | |
| Rego | X | |
| Sousa | | |
| Rodericks | X | |
4. Resolution Allocating Funds to Replace the Fence on City Property Abutting Glenlyon Field – Sponsor: Council Vice President Rego
| Member | Aye | Nay |
| Fogarty | Second, X | |
| Lawson | X | |
| Rego | Motion, X | |
| Sousa | | |
| Rodericks | X | |
5. Resolution Requesting that the Coastal Resources Management Council (CRMC) Require an Archaeological Survey of the Metacomet Site at 500 Veterans Memorial Parkway as Part of Their Review and Approval Process Sponsor: Council Vice President Rego
This item was tabled in Councilwoman Sousa absence.
| Member | Aye | Nay |
| Fogarty | | |
| Lawson | | |
| Rego | | |
| Sousa | | |
| Rodericks | | |
6. Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Execute a Proposal for Architectural and Engineering Services for the Proposed East Providence Community Center – Sponsor: Council President Rodericks
| Member | Aye | Nay |
| Fogarty | Second, X | |
| Lawson | Motion, X | |
| Rego | X | |
| Sousa | | |
| Rodericks | X | |
XIV. ADJOURNMENT
| Member | Aye | Nay |
| Fogarty | X | |
| Lawson | Motion, X | |
| Rego | Second, X | |
| Sousa | | |
| Rodericks | X | |
If communication assistance is needed or any other accommodation to ensure equal participation, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 401.435.7596 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting date.
Approved by Council: December 19, 2023
Attest: ___________________________
City Clerk