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PAWTUCKET CITY COUNCIL
PAWTUCKET MUNICIPAL ANNEX, 100 FREIGHT STREET
2nd FLOOR – TEMPORARY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
ENTER PARKING LOT AT 75 SABIN STREET
WEDNESDAY, MAY 20, 2026
A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council was held on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at 7:36 p.m., in the Temporary City Council Chambers, 2nd Floor, 100 Freight St., Pawtucket, RI.
Present – President Mercer; Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.
Absent – 0.
President Mercer presided.
THE COUNCIL RECESSED AT 7:36 PM TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FOLLOWING:
THE MUNICIPAL ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET 2026-2027
THE PUBLIC HEARING WAS ADJOURNED AT 7:44 PM.
THE COUNCIL RECESSED AT 7:45 PM TO CONDUCT A JOINT MEETING OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.
THE COUNCIL RECONVENED AT 8:48 PM.
1. The reading of the records of the April 30, 2026 Finance Committee meeting and Joint Finance Committee and City Property Committee meeting; the May 6, 2026 Committee on Claims and Pending Suits meeting, Finance Committee meeting, City Property Committee meeting, Ordinance Committee meeting and City Council meeting was dispensed with and the records were APPROVED as prepared by the Clerk.
2. Upon motion made by Councilor Araujo, seconded by Councilor Moreno, the *Consent Agenda was APPROVED on a unanimous voice vote:
*THE FOLLOWING COMMUNICATIONS WERE READ AND ORDERED FILED
- 028 Resolution from the Town of South Kingstown in Support of House Bill H-8298 Entitled “An Act Relating to Capital Development – 2026 Bond Referenda
- 028 Resolution from the Town of New Shoreham – Public Health Crises – Deer Population
- 028 Resolutions from the Town of Exeter Requesting Parity in Ambulance Service Reimbursements for Services Provided on State-Owned Property; in Support of House Bill H-7446 and Senate Bill S-2691 Relating to Low- and Moderate-Income Housing – Protection of Drinking Water Supplies; in Support of Interstate Enforcement of Boating Laws on Beach Pond and Improved Public Safety; in Support of House Bill H-5202 Relating to Education and Regionalization Bonus; in Support of House Bill H-8029 Relating to Taxation – Collection of Taxes Generally; and in Support of House Bill H-8015 and Senate Bill S-2917 Relating to Towns and Cities – Rhode Island Housing Resources Act of 1988
- Communication from Megan Havrilla, Associate Director, Colliers Project Leaders, to Pawtucket School Department & Others (Pawtucket High School Construction Report)
- 590 Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket General Assembly (Renovation of Samuel Slater Middle School)
- 592 Communication from Jason Pezzullo, Commerce Director, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Rescinding the Request to Transfer City Property to the Pawtucket Redevelopment Agency – 575 Fountain Street (AP6, L671))
- 061 Communication from Jeannine S. Bourski, Deputy Finance Director, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Statement of Estimated, Realized and Unrealized Revenues for the fiscal period July 1, 2025, through March 31, 2026)
- Communication from Robert Burns, Tax Assessor, to Richard J. Goldstein, MMC, City Clerk (Hasbro Industries v Robert Burns – PC 2023-01367, PC 2024-02131, PC 2023-01370, and PC 2024-02144) – WAS REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE
- AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 210 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996, ENTITLED “FIRE PREVENTION CODE”. (Outdoor Burning and Cooking) SUBSTITUTE A – WAS LAID ON THE TABLE
- THE FOLLOWING CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY WAS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS:
· Jody Norberg – $175.00 (Property Damage)
3. THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE WAS TAKEN UP:
ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET ORDINANCE 2026-2027
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZED COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN
Upon motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by Councilors Moran and Rubio, the following amendment to the ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET ORDINANCE 2026-2027 was introduced:
AMENDMENTS TO EXPENSES
DECREASE IN FIXED CHARGES TOTAL $ 500,000
School Contribution $ 500,000
TOTAL DECREASE IN EXPENDITURES: $ 500,000
INCREASE IN OTHER FINANCING USES TOTAL $ 500,000
Other Financing Uses $ 500,000
TOTAL CHANGE IN EXPENSES (DECREASE) $ 0
TOTAL CHANGE IN REVENUES (DECREASE) $ 0
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZED COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN.
Upon motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by Councilors Moran and Rubio, the following AMENDMENT to the ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET ORDINANCE 2026-2027 was APPROVED on a roll call vote, as follows:
AYES – President Mercer; Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak, and Wildenhain
NOES – 0.
AMENDMENTS TO EXPENSES
DECREASE IN FIXED CHARGES TOTAL $ 500,000
School Contribution $ 500,000
TOTAL DECREASE IN EXPENDITURES: $ 500,000
INCREASE IN OTHER FINANCING USES TOTAL $ 500,000
Other Financing Uses $ 500,000
TOTAL CHANGE IN EXPENSES (DECREASE) $ 0
TOTAL CHANGE IN REVENUES (DECREASE) $ 0
UPON RECOMMENDATION FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE WAS READ FOR THE FIRST TIME AS AMENDED AND APPROVED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:
AYES – President Mercer; Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak, and Wildenhain
NOES – 0.
ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET ORDINANCE 2026-2027, AS AMENDED
4. UPON RECOMMENDATION FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE WAS READ FOR THE FIRST TIME AND APPROVED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:
AYES – President Mercer; Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak, and Wildenhain
NOES – 0.
CAPITAL BUDGET ORDINANCE 2026-2027
5. UPON RECOMMENDATION FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE WAS READ FOR THE FIRST TIME AND APPROVED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:
AYES – President Mercer; Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak, and Wildenhain
NOES – 0.
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM ORDINANCE 2027-2031
6. The following resolution was APPROVED on a roll call vote, as follows:
AYES – President Mercer; Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak, and Wildenhain
NOES – 0.
588 RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING THE MONTH OF MAY 2026 AS NATIONAL FOSTER CARE MONTH
7. The following resolution was APPROVED on a roll call vote, as follows:
AYES – President Mercer; Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak, and Wildenhain
NOES – 0.
588 RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF BOND LEGISLATION FOR THE FISCAL YEARS 2028 & 2029
8. UPON RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS APPROVED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:
AYES – President Mercer; Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak, and Wildenhain
NOES – 0.
588 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ACQUISITION OF LAND FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE PAWTUCKET WATER SUPPLY BOARD (1139 West Street, Wrentham, MA)
9. The following ordinance was read for the SECOND time and APPROVED on a roll call vote, as follows:
AYES – President Mercer; Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak, and Wildenhain
NOES – 0.
330 AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 410 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996, ENTITLED “ZONING” ARTICLE IV ENTITLED “FLOOD HAZARD DISTRICT”
10. The following ordinance was read for the SECOND time and APPROVED on a roll call vote, as follows:
AYES – President Mercer; Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak, and Wildenhain
NOES – 0.
330 AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 59 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996, ENTITLED “PENSIONS” (Mandatory Retirement)
11. UPON RECOMMENDATION FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE WAS READ FOR THE FIRST TIME AND APPROVED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:
AYES – President Mercer; Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak, and Wildenhain
NOES – Councilor Gregor.
AN ORDINANCE REPEALING AND REPLACING THE SCHEDULE OF PAY RATES FOR LOCAL 3960 IN SECTION §88-12 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996. (Add: Maintenance Coordinator)
Upon motion made by Councilor Araujo, seconded by the entire City Council, the meeting was adjourned at 9:54 PM.