2026-09-14 - City Council Special Meeting

12:17542 like to call the claims committee to

12:19order. Roll call, please.

12:25Council vice president Orion

12:27>> present. Councilman Anduhar.

12:30>> Councilman Ritz

12:31>> present.

12:32>> Councilman Traansy

12:33>> present. [clears throat]

12:34>> Counciloman Vazeri.

12:36Council president Wall

12:38>> here. Let the record show a quorum is

12:40present. Any members of the public wish

12:43to address the board and any docketed

12:45members only? Seeing none, is there

12:47anyone on virtual?

12:49>> There is no public comment online.

12:51>> Thank you.

12:53I'll entertain a motion to convene

12:56executive session according to Allen

12:58General Laws 4246582.

13:01So moved. Second that.

13:04>> Roll call, please.

13:09Council vice president Hawaiian.

13:10>> Yes. Council Ritz

13:13>> present.

13:15>> Council Trazy.

13:16>> Yes.

13:18>> Counc.

13:19>> Yes. Now an executive session.

27:31to return to open session.

27:35>> Second.

27:36>> Roll call, please.

27:39>> Counciloman Hoyan,

27:41>> yes. Councilman Ritz,

27:42>> yes.

27:43>> Councilman Trapy,

27:44>> yes.

27:44>> Council President Ro,

27:46>> yes.

27:47>> Motion carries. There were motions made

27:50in the executive session. I'll attend a

27:52motion to seal the minutes of the

27:53executive session.

27:55>> Motion second.

27:57>> Made in second. Roll call, please.

28:03>> Council vice president Hawaiian.

28:05>> Yes.

28:06>> Council Ritz.

28:07>> Yes.

28:08>> Councy.

28:09>> Yes.

28:10>> Councilman Council President Wolf.

28:12>> Yes.

28:14>> Motion to adjourn.

28:16>> Some moved.

28:17>> There a second. Second.

28:18>> All in favor?

28:19>> I

28:20>> oppose the as have the motion carries.

28:24Five minutes.

33:16and licenses to order. Could I please

33:18have a roll call vote?

33:25>> Counciloman Bazeri,

33:27Counciloman Graciano,

33:30>> Councilman Ritz,

33:31>> present. Councilman Travacansy

33:33>> present.

33:34>> Council vice president Hoyan

33:36>> present.

33:37>> Council President Wall

33:38>> here. Councilman

33:40>> Andor.

33:43Okay. Next is approval of minutes. We

33:45don't have them from the last meeting.

33:46We're going to move on to public com

33:48public comments tonight are limited to

33:50only those matters appearing on the

33:52docket. Is there anyone here tonight

33:55from the public that would like to speak

33:57to docketed items only? If so, please

34:00come up to the podium. State your name

34:02and your address. If you're here with a

34:04business, you can come up when I call

34:06the business. When I say, "Is there

34:07anyone here from the business?

34:18There anyone online?"

34:21>> There is no public comment online.

34:23>> I'm closing public comment now.

34:27For the public hearing tonight, it's

34:29class BV liquor license. This is a new

34:31one and it's DNC Incorporated doing

34:34business as Campanella's Restaurant

34:36located at 9:30 Oak Avenue. Hours uh

34:40Sunday through Saturday 11:00 a.m. to

34:421000 p.m. Is there anyone here tonight

34:45representing the business that would

34:46like to come up and speak to us from the

34:48podium?

34:52>> Good evening, Madam Chairwoman. Uh for

34:54the record, Robert Murray representing

34:56DNC Inc. doing business as Campbell's

34:58Restaurant. My client is expected. I

35:00don't know where they are. Do you want

35:01me to wait a minute or I'm happy to

35:03proceed?

35:04>> You can definitely proceed. We can move

35:05on.

35:06>> Thank you. Um this uh this establishment

35:09is well known to the community and to

35:11the committee and the council. Um u Rich

35:14Sabrina Campanella have uh 2024 had sold

35:20their business. Uh as members of the

35:22committee may know um the successor

35:25owner ended up in receiverhip. They have

35:28reacquired the assets of the uh the

35:32company and uh they are looking forward

35:35to reopening and being part of the

35:37community again as owners and uh

35:39principal operators. Uh tonight on your

35:42agenda, you have both a application for

35:44a new class B liquor license. Uh they

35:47obviously have uh 20 years of experience

35:50as a duly authorized holder of a liquor

35:52license and without complications or

35:55problems. We've complied with all the

35:57requirements for the liquor license

36:00including with goodstanding certificates

36:02and tip certification and insurance. You

36:05also have the companion victing license.

36:08Uh and again we've done everything

36:11required on the checklist including the

36:14sign off from the health department last

36:15week. So um on behalf of them I want to

36:19thank the chairwoman and the committee

36:21for your consideration. Uh I know that

36:24uh if this is approved tonight uh later

36:26in the evening there will be a special

36:28council meeting which uh we would we are

36:30very grateful for and look forward to

36:32reopening and being part of the

36:34community again. Thank you.

36:36>> Thank you Mr. Murray. Keeping me in the

36:38loop with this business. I appreciate

36:40that.

36:44Councilman, do you have something?

36:46>> Councelor question. Um, you have a 10

36:49p.m. closing and that's a family

36:50restaurant and it's very popular. Do you

36:53anticipate that they might go over and

36:55you show you don't want to amend this

36:56and close later?

36:58>> No, they they typically I I went to the

37:00outer band um for example list Sunday.

37:04I'm not sure they're going to be open

37:05Sunday. Um, typically they they close

37:089:30 and that's that's the plan. I

37:11appreciate the suggestion, but um if

37:13they were going to stay open later, um

37:16we'd come back to the committee, but I

37:17don't think that's going to be an issue.

37:18Thank you.

37:18>> Thank you. That was my only concern.

37:21>> I'm asking for a motion to approve this.

37:23>> Motion to approve.

37:23>> Second.

37:25>> Any discussion?

37:28Clerk, could I please have a roll call

37:30vote? Councilman Ritz?

37:33>> Yes.

37:33>> Council Travacante?

37:35>> Yes.

37:35>> Counciloman Hyan,

37:37>> yes. Council President Wall,

37:39>> yes. Councilman Andor.

37:41>> Yes.

37:42>> Okay. All set. We'll see you in shortly.

37:45Class A liquor license transfer

37:48Corporation doing business as Edgewood

37:51Wine and Spirit located at 1990 Broad

37:54Street. Is anyone here from that

37:56business tonight?

37:58>> Nicholas Lamrose. I'm the attorney uh

38:01for the petitioner, the applicant. I

38:03have the applicant here with me as well

38:06in case you have any questions.

38:14Today we did receive two emails from

38:16Snappy Law Associates um stating that

38:20they objected this because of

38:22outstanding bills, but then they sent a

38:24later email stating this would be okay

38:26and they released the first email

38:28stating all debt had been paid.

38:31Okay.

38:32Um,

38:37>> make a motion to accept those two

38:39letters into the record.

38:40>> Could I please have a motion to accept

38:41these two letters into the record?

38:44>> Second.

38:46>> Any discussion?

38:48>> Councilman,

38:49>> I just hope that they sell the Poppy Van

38:51Winkles at cost during November. That's

38:54all.

38:56>> Cler, could I please have a roll call

38:57vote? Councilman Ritz?

39:00>> Yes.

39:00>> Councilman Tracante?

39:01>> Yes. Council Vice President Hoyan.

39:03>> Yes.

39:03>> Council President Wall.

39:05>> Yes.

39:05>> Councilman Andar.

39:06>> Yes.

39:07>> Could I please have approve this

39:09license?

39:11>> Second.

39:13>> This

39:15clerk, could I please have a roll call

39:16vote?

39:16>> Councilman Ritz?

39:18>> Yes.

39:18>> Councilman Traanti?

39:20>> Yes.

39:20>> Council vice president Hawaiian.

39:22>> Yes.

39:22>> Council President Ro.

39:25>> Yes.

39:25>> Councilman Andar.

39:26>> Yes.

39:28>> Thank you.

39:29>> Thank you. Tonight [snorts] under show

39:32cause solicitor Malay would like to

39:34speak to us.

39:41>> You want to speak about Yeah.

39:44>> Didn't you want to speak about

39:53agenda?

39:56>> I don't I don't see none.

40:00You called him up. You can speak.

40:07Yeah. Put

40:09>> Can you hear me now, Jeff? All right. I

40:11just wanted to make an announcement.

40:13There was a special emergency meeting

40:15that was called for uh later this

40:18evening. Um I'm going to request the

40:21council at this point reschedu that or

40:24actually cancel the emergency meeting.

40:26it can be placed on the um regular

40:29scheduled meeting for September should

40:32there be a need. There's some issues

40:35going on in the law department that I'd

40:37like to address before

40:40um which may become it may make the

40:43issue move. So, I'd like to uh ask the

40:46the uh the members to pass the meeting

40:50from I have had conversations with the

40:53owner of the meeting uh the owner of the

40:55property and he will not be present this

40:58evening as well. So, uh rather than take

41:01any action, I think it's in prudence to

41:04pass the meeting at this point.

41:06>> Council President Wall, please. So, if

41:08I'm understanding this correctly, and we

41:10did have a conversation prior, um

41:13[clears throat]

41:13the mayor the mayor requested the

41:16special meeting, the emergency meeting.

41:18>> He's of that mindset that we should

41:20cancel this evening's meeting and at

41:22some further date, perhaps the next

41:24safety service, um you'll have a show

41:26cause at that.

41:27>> Should it be needed? Yes.

41:29>> Should it be needed?

41:30>> Yes, Mr. President. Yes.

41:31>> Very good. Councilman Nandah Council, my

41:34my concern is that if there's something

41:39going on there,

41:41we should be able to respond to it now

41:43for public safety and public health. Um,

41:45I'm just worried that

41:48if something continues there, then we're

41:51we're going to be at fault and I'm going

41:54to get the phone calls. uh potentially

41:56there are there are some legal issues in

41:58in I don't want to discuss it in open uh

42:02open meetings but I think at this point

42:06it's safe to say we we have the issue um

42:10>> under control

42:12>> identified and under control.

42:13>> Okay, that's all I need to add. Thank

42:14you.

42:15>> I think that it it'd be imprudent best

42:17prudence would be to allow the emergency

42:19meeting to pass. If there's a need,

42:22we'll place it on the next meeting or if

42:24there's a need for an emergency, we can

42:26we can always do that. Um, but I there

42:29are some legal hurdles that need to be

42:32crossed before I think we should take

42:33any action.

42:34>> Thank you, councelor. Thank you, chair.

42:36>> Thank you.

42:36>> Thank you, solicitor.

42:38>> Committee matters carried over. We don't

42:40have any tonight. New matters before the

42:42committee. Um, new victorin licenses

42:50Cava Mesagil LLC doing business as Cava

42:54located at two Chapel View Boulevard. Is

42:56there anyone here from the business

42:58tonight?

42:59No. All is in order. I would like to ask

43:02for a motion to approve.

43:03>> Motion to approve. Second.

43:06>> Any discussion? Councilman Andaha.

43:09>> Is was the previous tangible text bill

43:12paid?

43:13Yes. Um I called the clerk today and

43:17spoke to him. Everything on our agenda

43:19tonight is in good standings.

43:21>> Thank you.

43:24>> Could I please have a roll call vote?

43:26>> Councilman Ritz,

43:28>> yes.

43:28>> Councilman Tracy,

43:29>> yes.

43:30>> Council Vice President Horian,

43:31>> yes.

43:32>> Council President Wall,

43:34>> yes.

43:34>> Councilman Andar,

43:35>> yes.

43:36>> Next on the agenda, DNC Incorporated

43:39doing business as Campanellis. All is in

43:41order. Could I please have a motion to

43:42approve?

43:44>> So second.

43:45>> Any discussion?

43:47>> Clerk, could I have a roll call?

43:54>> Councilman Ritz?

43:55>> Yes.

43:55>> Councilman Trafancy?

43:57>> Yes.

43:58>> Council President. Council Vice

43:59President Hoyan.

44:00>> Yes. Council President Wall.

44:01>> Yes.

44:02>> Councilman Andor.

44:03>> Yes.

44:05Dollar Tree stores doing business as

44:07Dollar Tree. 11602 located at 1763 Broad

44:11Street. All is in order. May I have a

44:14motion to approve?

44:15>> Motion to approve.

44:16>> Second.

44:17>> Any discussion? Clerk, could I have a

44:19roll call vote?

44:22>> I'd like to identify uh Councilwoman

44:24Graciano is now present at 6:15.

44:27Counciloman Graiano,

44:29>> yes.

44:31Councilman Ritz,

44:32>> yes.

44:34Councilman Trafocanty,

44:35>> yes.

44:35>> Council Vice President O'Brien,

44:37>> yes.

44:37>> Council President Wall,

44:38>> yes.

44:39>> Councilman Andar,

44:40>> yes.

44:42>> Okay. Class F liquor licenses. This is a

44:45new one for Heather's Gardens doing

44:47business at Scandinavian Communities

44:49located at 1811

44:51Broad Street. There will be one event on

44:54916 20

44:5726 and the hours is only 5 to 6:30.

45:00Would you like to identify yourself and

45:02speak about this?

45:04>> Would thank you. I'm Tom Boucher. Uh I'm

45:06representing Pace organization. We just

45:08took over uh the Scandinavian property.

45:12Um they donated that property to

45:15property to us. We are continuing to

45:18keep that in the elder care service

45:20industry. Um Pace has been around for 20

45:23years. Uh we um are nonprofit. Uh we

45:28look to continue the work that's going

45:29on there. We're going to create assisted

45:31living. Phase one is done. You all

45:32should know we did there's two buildings

45:34on that property. Uh the first building

45:37is assisted living. We we're continuing

45:38to keep it that as is. We made some um

45:42renovations there just largely cosmetic.

45:44The other building is uh was a a

45:47shuttered nursing home which we're uh

45:49converting to assisted living as well

45:51and that'll take about a year. We're

45:53investing $7 million in that project.

45:56Um, this is a party to thank uh the

46:00Scandinavian board. Um, they were around

46:03for 96 years. Uh, and they realized they

46:06couldn't do it anymore and so they gave

46:08it the properties to us. So, uh, we're

46:10unveiling a special sculpture honoring

46:13the the the work and this is a special

46:18one hour and a half party.

46:20>> I have a question. Heather's

46:22[clears throat] Gardens doing business

46:23as Scandinavian communities, but your

46:25pace asking for this license.

46:28>> It's confusing, right? So, the it's it's

46:30Heather Gardens is the new name of the

46:32place. It it converted from Scandinavian

46:35to Heather Gardens. Pace is the um

46:38umbrella owner of it, but the specific

46:40place is now called Heather Gardens.

46:49I see

46:52you. [clears throat and cough]

47:02>> Please have a motion to approve this.

47:04>> So moved.

47:04>> Second.

47:05>> Any discussion?

47:07Clerk, could I please have a roll call

47:09vote?

47:10>> Councilwoman Graciano,

47:12>> yes.

47:12>> Council Ritz,

47:14>> yes.

47:14>> Council Trafocanty,

47:15>> yes. Council Vice President O'Brien.

47:19>> Council President Wall.

47:20>> Yes.

47:21>> Councilman Andar.

47:22>> Yes.

47:23>> Okay. Next on my agenda, Rhode Island

47:25Aviation Hall of Fame Incorporated at

47:282115 Broad Street and the event is 11:21

47:332026. Is anyone here? No. Okay. All is

47:38in order. Could I please have a motion

47:39to approve?

47:40>> So moved.

47:40>> Second.

47:41>> Any discussion?

47:44Clerk, could I please have a roll call

47:46vote?

47:46>> Counciloman Graciano,

47:48>> yes.

47:48>> Councilman Ritz,

47:49>> yes.

47:50>> Councilman Travancy,

47:51>> yes.

47:51>> Council vice president Hawaiian,

47:53>> yes.

47:53>> Council President Wall,

47:54>> yes.

47:55>> Councilman Andor,

47:56>> yes.

47:57>> Okay. Next on my agenda is extended

48:00hours license. This is a new license for

48:02Zona Lounge located at 195 Niantic A.

48:06This is for three different events. The

48:08event dates are 9:18,

48:11Saturday 9:19, and Sunday 9:20. Is

48:16anyone here tonight from Zona Lounge?

48:20>> No. Councilman Andah, what do you have

48:22to say?

48:23>> So, I put this on the agenda because uh

48:25we're going to raise some money for

48:26three different organizations. The first

48:28one is going to be the Education Center

48:30for Arts and Science, which is like a

48:32Latino theater um company group. I am a

48:36honorary member of the board. Uh the

48:39second one would be Cranon Cares and

48:41then we're looking at raising money for

48:43the Enzo project and the Cranston animal

48:46shelter. Uh the reason why I'm asking

48:48for the 2 a.m. is because the DJs and

48:50the band that's coming from out of state

48:53might come a little later. So they might

48:55close at 1:15 1:30. So I wanted to be in

48:58the preview of not kicking everybody out

49:00at 1:00. So that's why we asked for that

49:02time. We will have extra security as I

49:04know that the police department

49:06sometimes cannot provide detail. Um but

49:09we're more than happy to um I I I spoke

49:12to the establishment and what they're

49:13more than happy to have the detail if if

49:15the police or if the police department

49:17wants it. So that's basically it. We're

49:19raising money. All the proceeds at the

49:21door will go to those four organizations

49:23and it's just a one-time thing. as as I

49:26wanted to pick an area that was not

49:28neighborhood. Um, so we couldn't really

49:31do it at any other places and that's why

49:32I chose uh zona lounge in war 3.

49:36>> I think the police department's here

49:38tonight also to discuss this.

49:40>> I'm here.

49:48>> How you doing? Uh the c the colonel down

49:52is uh in the major is totally against

49:55staying up till 2:00. If it's a

49:57fundraiser, you can start early. You

50:00don't have to stay till 2:00. There's no

50:01fundraiser I ever heard of at 2 o'clock

50:04in the morning. That's all it's going to

50:06do is bring trouble in, more trouble in

50:08from Providence and drinking and we had

50:11100% against that.

50:14>> So Major, what you're basically saying

50:15is uh

50:16>> Captain

50:16>> Oh, captain. Okay. Captain. Captain. So

50:18you're basically what you're saying is

50:20we don't want patrons to come in and

50:25you want us or I should say you want the

50:29entity to close earlier because you feel

50:33it's unsafe.

50:35>> It's going to what?

50:35>> You feel it's unsafe.

50:37>> We've had problems at that exact

50:39location. And yes, I do say if you're

50:42staying open till 2:00, yes, it would be

50:43more unsafe. So if they were to ask for

50:47a police detail, you still would be the

50:49you guys would still be against it.

50:51>> Well, how many details you talking?

50:54>> We got

50:54>> because no one's going to go there by

50:55themselves.

50:56>> No, it's a twoman detail. I mean, it's

50:58common sense, right? Two and when it

50:59when it's a nightclub or or a bar or

51:02restaurant or anything to do with

51:03alcohol, there's always a twoman detail

51:04unless Cranston's different from

51:06everybody else.

51:07>> Yeah. Minimum two.

51:08>> Yeah. So if they were to provide a

51:10twoman detail for each night, you would

51:14be more inclined to supporting it.

51:18>> No,

51:18>> still would be against it.

51:20>> It would still have to be a twoman

51:21detail, but it wouldn't stay open till

51:232. No. Totally against staying open till

51:262. There's no reason for that.

51:28>> I understand. But during the soccer

51:30matches, were there any issues?

51:32>> You guys did that in the soccer matches.

51:34>> No, no, but I'm asking against that,

51:35too.

51:36>> Oh, yeah. No, you were against it. But

51:37did any issues happen? Because we did it

51:39citywide. I'm not trying to get into an

51:41argument issue. I just want to lay the

51:42facts up.

51:43>> Did you ever talk to the bars that

51:44stayed open?

51:45>> Yes, I spoke to a few of them. And uh

51:47>> Who did you talk to?

51:49>> Can we talk about this here? I could

51:51name the names. Okay. So, I I spoke to

51:53Barasio. They stayed open till later.

51:55>> Zona stayed open till later. There were

51:57never issues.

51:58>> Okay. So, what did Barazio say about

52:00that?

52:01>> They Italy wasn't in the World Cup, so

52:03they didn't have a lot of people, but

52:04they did stay open a few nights. They

52:06didn't.

52:07>> But they did pay the detail. Correct.

52:09>> The first day they paid the detail. Him

52:11and and uh and also Morasos was sorry

52:14they ever did it because they had to pay

52:16the detail in the first night and it

52:18wasn't worth it.

52:19>> Okay. But talked to me directly.

52:22>> Yeah.

52:22>> And said,

52:24>> "No, we're not staying open."

52:25>> But they did it one night and they did

52:26pay. Were there any

52:27>> first night that they Nobody was there.

52:29>> Okay. But did they pay the detail and

52:31did any incidents happen? I wasn't

52:32asking about the crowd.

52:34I wasn't asking about what?

52:36>> I wasn't asking about the crowd. I was

52:37asking if they were compliant with

52:39paying the detail and did they stay

52:40open?

52:43They

52:43>> didn't stay open till 2:00.

52:44>> Can we take a recess for a second,

52:46please?

52:46>> Yes. Could I please have a recess?

52:50>> No.

57:18back from recess now. Councilman Ander

57:20Howard would like to recuse himself.

57:21He's going to fill out the form and

57:23leave the room for

57:23>> Yeah. due to uh council uh advice, I

57:27would have to recuse myself and end

57:29conversations. So, I'll get you on the

57:31next one.

57:35I'm going to ask for a motion to deny

57:37this.

57:39>> Second.

57:43>> Motion to deny.

57:46All those.

57:49All right. Any discussion on this?

57:54Is the police department

57:57willing to reduce the hours of operation

57:59for

58:00>> business is currently open till 1:00

58:03a.m.? DJ that is coming is coming from

58:06out of state New York and may not arrive

58:08till 12:15 or 12:30. So they would like

58:10it to be open till 2. We've decided to

58:13ask for this to be denied.

58:16Council President Wall.

58:17>> Yeah. No. And I heard pretty clearly

58:19that see [clears throat] police

58:20department wants wants this denied. I

58:22hear crystal clear. Are there any other

58:24instances aside from and I know during

58:27the soccer the World Cup we did have

58:28extended hours. Do we have any any other

58:31instances when we have hours up to 2:00

58:35because that that was a rarity in my my

58:37time

58:40actually right up there. Thank you.

58:42I personally know the owners from

58:44Balazio and Mascos.

58:48They clo they didn't even stay open till

58:50two o'clock that first night because

58:52they had no patrons,

58:53>> right?

58:54>> And it was kind of tough because when I

58:59left here, I wrote the details right

59:00away. Then they went there and they

59:02ended up paying for details and it was

59:04it was not worth it.

59:06>> So as a practice, Cranston doesn't issue

59:09licenses after 2 o' after 1:00. One

59:12o'clock is our cut off.

59:13>> 34 years here. I've never seen it except

59:16for that.

59:16>> Except for that one.

59:18Thank you.

59:20>> Have any discussion at

59:24Please have a roll call.

59:26>> Counciloman Graiano.

59:27>> Yes. Council Ritz.

59:31>> Yes. Decision I

59:33>> Yes.

59:33>> Councilman Tracy.

59:35>> Yes.

59:35>> Council President Hoyan.

59:37>> Yes. Council president Wolf.

59:39>> Yes.

59:40>> Okay. On to the next matter. Mobile food

59:43establishment.

59:45So you can come back in. Okay.

59:48Okay. Mobile food establishments. These

59:50are newformational purposes only. We

59:53don't need to vote on them or anything.

59:56License renewals before the committee

59:58tonight. Could everyone just please take

1:00:00a quick look at them? Everything is in

1:00:03order. And if there's no objections, I

1:00:05would like to take them as a block.

1:00:07>> Motion to approve as a block.

1:00:11>> Second.

1:00:13>> Any discussion?

1:00:15Clerk, could I please have a roll call

1:00:17vote?

1:00:18>> Counciloman Graziano,

1:00:19>> yes. Councilman Ritz,

1:00:21>> yes.

1:00:21>> Council Travacansy,

1:00:22>> yes.

1:00:23>> Council Vice President Han,

1:00:25>> yes. Council President Wall,

1:00:26>> yes.

1:00:27>> Councilman Andor to take it as a block.

1:00:31>> Yes.

1:00:32>> Okay. May I please have a motion to

1:00:34approve the block? [clears throat]

1:00:35>> So moved.

1:00:36>> Second.

1:00:37>> Discussion.

1:00:39Could I please have a roll call?

1:00:42>> Counciloman Graciano. Yes. Councilman

1:00:45Ritz.

1:00:46>> Yes.

1:00:46>> Councilman Tracanty.

1:00:48>> Yes.

1:00:48>> Council vice president Hawaiian.

1:00:50>> Yes.

1:00:50>> Councilman Wall.

1:00:52>> Yes.

1:00:53>> Council Andor.

1:00:54>> Yes.

1:00:55>> Next up is

1:01:01one could just take a second and look at

1:01:03them all. They are all in order.

1:01:05Everything is situated. So if you can

1:01:07just take a look at all the Victorin

1:01:09licenses, please. It will be 1 through

1:01:1358.

1:01:19I please motion to take 1 through 58 as

1:01:22a block.

1:01:22>> Motion to approve as a block.

1:01:24>> Second.

1:01:25>> Any discussion?

1:01:27Could I please have a motion to approve

1:01:29the block?

1:01:30>> So move

1:01:33the motion to

1:01:36>> Councilman Tracanty, should you be a

1:01:38motion to take as a block? Motion to

1:01:40take as a block.

1:01:44>> Didn't I second?

1:01:45>> Yes.

1:01:45>> Yeah, but it was the wrong motion to

1:01:47begin with.

1:01:48>> So,

1:01:49>> can I please have a roll to take them as

1:01:51a block?

1:01:52>> Right.

1:01:53>> Council Graciano.

1:01:55>> Yes. Council Ritz.

1:01:56>> Yes.

1:01:57>> Council Shafkanti.

1:01:58>> Yes.

1:01:58>> Council vice president Hawaiian.

1:02:00>> Yes.

1:02:00>> Council President Wall.

1:02:01>> Yes.

1:02:02>> Councilman Andar.

1:02:03>> Yes. Could I please have a motion

1:02:06approve the

1:02:07>> motion to approve the block?

1:02:09>> Second.

1:02:11>> Any discussion on the block?

1:02:13>> Clerk, could I have a roll call?

1:02:15>> Counciloman Graciano.

1:02:17>> Yes. Councilman Ritz.

1:02:19>> Councilman Travacante.

1:02:21>> Yes.

1:02:22>> I know.

1:02:23>> Council Vice President Hyan.

1:02:25>> Yes.

1:02:25>> Council President Wall.

1:02:26>> Yes.

1:02:27>> Councilman Andar.

1:02:30>> All right. Up next is entertainment

1:02:31license. This is all is in order for

1:02:35management doing business as Spectacle

1:02:37Live Park Theater.

1:02:40Is there anyone here? No. Okay.

1:02:42Everything's in order. Um they do

1:02:44business from noon to 11 p.m. They've

1:02:46been good to our neighbor for a motion

1:02:49to approve.

1:02:49>> Motion to approve.

1:02:50>> Second.

1:02:52>> Any discussion?

1:02:55Could I have a roll call vote?

1:02:56Counciloman Graciano.

1:02:58>> Yes.

1:02:59>> Councilman Rhett.

1:03:00>> Yes.

1:03:00>> Council Travacante. Yes.

1:03:01>> Council vice president Hawaiian.

1:03:03>> Yes.

1:03:03>> Council president Wall.

1:03:05>> Yes.

1:03:05>> Councilman Andar.

1:03:06>> Yes.

1:03:08>> Septic hauler license. Um situate

1:03:10cesspool

1:03:12number one. Okay. It's only one. Could I

1:03:14please have a motion to

1:03:16>> motion to approve?

1:03:17>> Second.

1:03:18>> Any discussion? Clerk. Could I have a

1:03:21roll call vote?

1:03:26>> Yeah. We're going to have to go back to

1:03:27last repair.

1:03:31Just do this one now.

1:03:32>> We'll do the septic now. Okay.

1:03:35>> Councilwoman Graciano.

1:03:36>> Yes.

1:03:37>> Councilman Ritz.

1:03:38>> Yes.

1:03:38>> Council Chanty.

1:03:40>> Yes.

1:03:40>> Council vice president.

1:03:41>> Yes.

1:03:42>> Council President Wall.

1:03:43>> Yes.

1:03:44>> President Andor.

1:03:44>> Yes. Councilor.

1:03:46>> Auto repair license renewal's

1:03:50glass America located at 140 Comtock

1:03:52Parkway. Could I please have a motion to

1:03:54approve?

1:03:55>> Motion to approve.

1:03:56>> Second.

1:03:58discussion.

1:04:00I have a roll call.

1:04:03>> Counciloman Graiano,

1:04:05>> yes. Council Ritz,

1:04:06>> yes.

1:04:06>> Council Tracy,

1:04:07>> yes.

1:04:08>> Council Vice President Royan,

1:04:09>> yes.

1:04:09>> Council President Wall,

1:04:11>> yes.

1:04:11>> Councilman Andar,

1:04:12>> yes.

1:04:13>> Okay, we're back in order now.

1:04:17Jyss Import LLC.

1:04:20>> You didn't take it as far. Jys Import

1:04:23LLC doing business at 265 Station

1:04:27Street. May I have a motion to approve?

1:04:29>> Motion to approve.

1:04:30>> Second.

1:04:31>> Any discussion?

1:04:34Could I have a roll call vote? Council

1:04:36>> Garciano.

1:04:38>> Ritz.

1:04:38>> Yes.

1:04:39>> Councilman Tracanty.

1:04:40>> Yes.

1:04:40>> Council Vice President Hoyan.

1:04:42>> Yes. Council President Wall.

1:04:43>> Yes. Councilman Andar.

1:04:44>> Yes.

1:04:46>> Food establishment license.

1:04:53You guys

1:04:55mobile food license

1:04:58brothers Ice Cream LLC. Could I have a

1:05:01motion to approve?

1:05:02>> No action.

1:05:03>> You're good. It's just

1:05:05>> No action needed. And just next is

1:05:07monthly schedules. If everyone had a

1:05:10look at them, um I would like to vote

1:05:12them as a block.

1:05:14>> I'd like to take the next ones as a

1:05:16block. Monthly schedules. Without

1:05:18objection.

1:05:19>> Without objection.

1:05:19>> Without objection.

1:05:20>> We don't need a motion.

1:05:21>> Could I please have a motion to approve

1:05:23as a block into the record the

1:05:25schedules?

1:05:25>> Motion to take as a block.

1:05:28>> Motion to approve as a block.

1:05:32>> Okay. Any discussion?

1:05:34>> It's just a motion to accept into the

1:05:36record the schedules if there are any.

1:05:41>> All right. Now I'm going to ask for a

1:05:42motion to accept them into the records.

1:05:46The schedules.

1:05:47>> Motion to enter these schedules into the

1:05:49record.

1:05:50>> Second.

1:05:53>> Could I have a roll call vote, please?

1:05:55>> Counciloman Graciano.

1:05:56>> Yes.

1:05:57>> Councilman Ritz.

1:05:57>> Yes.

1:05:58>> Councilman Tracy.

1:05:59>> Yes.

1:05:59>> Council vice president.

1:06:01>> Yes.

1:06:01>> Council Council President Wall.

1:06:03>> Yes.

1:06:03>> Councilman Andar.

1:06:04>> Yes.

1:06:05>> Okay. Communications. Umformational

1:06:08purposes only. We don't have any door to

1:06:11door solicitors. I'd like to take them

1:06:13as a block. Okay.

1:06:16>> Informational only. All set. Licenses

1:06:19approved. Subject to not issued. Um we

1:06:21don't need to do anything. I'd like to

1:06:23call adjourn this meeting. All those in

1:06:25favor?

1:06:26>> Motion to adjurnn.

1:06:27>> Second.

1:06:30>> Any [clears throat] discussion? Nope.

1:06:31Roll call vote to adjurnn. No. All those

1:06:33in favor say I. I. All those opposed.

1:06:37>> All right.

1:06:42636. text.

1:31:28Finance Committee meeting to order.

1:31:30Today is Monday, September 14th, 2026 at

1:31:337 p.m. Clerk, can you please take a

1:31:35role?

1:31:37>> Counciloman Vizeri,

1:31:40>> Counciloman Graiano,

1:31:41>> present.

1:31:42>> Councilman Ritz,

1:31:43>> present.

1:31:44>> Councilman Traanti,

1:31:45>> present.

1:31:46>> Council Vice President Ryan,

1:31:48>> present.

1:31:48>> Council President Wall,

1:31:51>> here. House and

1:31:53>> present. At this time, I entertain a

1:31:55motion to approve the minutes.

1:31:57>> So moved.

1:31:57>> Second.

1:32:00>> I didn't see any on there. That's why

1:32:01put it on there. Usually it's

1:32:04>> all right. [laughter and clears throat]

1:32:05Just being safe. Okay. If there's no

1:32:09objection, I'd like to take the meeting

1:32:10out of order.

1:32:16I just said it because in case there was

1:32:18All right. There's no objection to take

1:32:20the meeting out of order.

1:32:22Seeing none, moving on to new matters

1:32:24before the committee. Ordinance 81702,

1:32:27ordinance and amendment of title 3,

1:32:29chapter 8, section 60 of the city of

1:32:32crson code of ordinances to entitled

1:32:34board of contract and purch sponsored by

1:32:37wall. Mr. President, the floor is yours.

1:32:42>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

1:32:48Those of you who have read the ordinance

1:32:50and I guess it has gotten a little bit

1:32:52of play and a little bit of reading this

1:32:54evening, I can tell you what's behind

1:32:56the ordinance.

1:32:58Talking to people,

1:33:00listening to people, what they've said,

1:33:03concerns about how we're spending our

1:33:04money,

1:33:06not just the allotments we make during

1:33:08the budget cycle, but the money that we

1:33:10have in the capital budget. Is

1:33:12everything in the capital budget

1:33:14necessary?

1:33:16Those of you who sit on the council with

1:33:18me and scrutinize over the budget

1:33:19realize that we are in a crisis. You do

1:33:22not have to like this fact and you

1:33:24probably shouldn't, but it is just a

1:33:25fact.

1:33:28If we do things exactly as we did it the

1:33:31last two years, logic would tell you

1:33:34you're probably going to be in a similar

1:33:36place.

1:33:40The amendment, and it's one amendment,

1:33:45to this ordinance chapter 3 uh title 3

1:33:49chapter 8 section 0606 if I'm correct um

1:33:54and it came

1:33:57a lot of it came through the discussion

1:33:59we had in the summer many of you may

1:34:01have been here in July 1st we discussed

1:34:04some of the issues with the St. Aries

1:34:06follow

1:34:07that time there was a lot of mis

1:34:09misconceptions that were put to rest but

1:34:12a couple of things were brought brought

1:34:13to the light that at this date to this

1:34:16day and I mentioned this to director a

1:34:18short time ago I still don't know how

1:34:20much the following cost

1:34:24I wasn't given an answer that evening

1:34:26there was no itemized there's nothing

1:34:28written on the board of contracts and

1:34:30purchases

1:34:32there was no backup financially

1:34:36And if someone can show it to me, I I

1:34:38would appreciate knowing how much it

1:34:39cost. But we asked that question in

1:34:41July. And those of you in the room with

1:34:42me will recall

1:34:45the section C, which is the amendment to

1:34:48the ordinance, reads, and pardon me, I

1:34:50wear my glasses. No contract, purchase

1:34:52order, change order for goods or

1:34:55services approved by the board of

1:34:58contracts and purchases of an amount of

1:35:01$100,000 or more shall be entered into

1:35:04or awarded unless approved by the city

1:35:06council at a regular or special city

1:35:08council meeting of that body upon

1:35:12referral to the board of contracts and

1:35:13purchases. Any such contract purchase

1:35:16order change order um the request of

1:35:19approval shall be include sufficient

1:35:21detail and documentation for the city

1:35:23council including but not limited to the

1:35:26actual contract purchase or change order

1:35:29for the city council to act upon the

1:35:31request. The reason I put in that is

1:35:33because I've looked over every board of

1:35:36contracts meeting from from the whole

1:35:38fiscal year and I can tell you this and

1:35:41I I challenge any of you to do it. There

1:35:43is no detail on these meetings.

1:35:47Please do I would refer to the very

1:35:50board of contracts meeting

1:35:54special meeting that was held on the

1:35:5622nd

1:35:58of July. It's a little small here if I

1:36:00remember correctly. 22nd of July where

1:36:05the the award for

1:36:08Knightsville revitalization project

1:36:10phase three was approved.

1:36:14The city council, some of my colleagues

1:36:16are in this room approved of that as

1:36:19part of the capital budget that year. A

1:36:22lot of things changed during that time.

1:36:24When we approved of it, we were in very

1:36:27good financial situation. We didn't

1:36:29think anything of it. Although I must

1:36:31admit there was mention about whether or

1:36:33not we should continue to use damp

1:36:35concrete. As many of us know, it costs

1:36:37twice as much as regular concrete

1:36:40that was brought up just so you know and

1:36:43I think colleague or I may remember it

1:36:48but at that meeting which took exactly

1:36:51six minutes by the way we we allotted at

1:36:54that meeting

1:36:57I want to say $3.5 million but it's

1:36:59awful small here to read.

1:37:04We allotted that figure without with six

1:37:06minutes deliberation and other items on

1:37:07there.

1:37:09I don't think anybody in this room on

1:37:11this board would be allowed to approve

1:37:13of an expenditure of $3.5 million

1:37:17without any backup or any deliberation

1:37:19of six minutes.

1:37:22I am not throwing shade at the board of

1:37:24contracts and purchases. They are good,

1:37:27well-meaning citizens who wanted to

1:37:29pitch in for their city or town.

1:37:31However, I do believe that this

1:37:35ordinance

1:37:37seeks not to interfere in the bidding

1:37:39process,

1:37:41not to mess with the separation of

1:37:43powers,

1:37:45but instead have someone who is directly

1:37:48responsible to the taxpayers be involved

1:37:52with the money that we're sending out to

1:37:53bond.

1:37:56This council is directly responsible.

1:37:58When I tell you, you all know when you

1:38:01do something that the public doesn't

1:38:02know, you get a call and an email, and I

1:38:04don't mean one or two people will talk

1:38:06to you in the supermarket. It's a good

1:38:08thing.

1:38:11It's important

1:38:15that the people who pass the capital

1:38:18budget, and that would be this body,

1:38:20have some say in how it's spent.

1:38:24There's something inherently wrong with

1:38:26with passing a budget and then just say,

1:38:28"I don't know how it's going to be

1:38:30spent. Spend as much money as you can.

1:38:32There's no itemized process."

1:38:35It doesn't make any logical sense to me.

1:38:40In the interest of transparency,

1:38:43it's important these projects

1:38:46have the necessary documentation

1:38:48in front of the public that's put out

1:38:50like all of our of all of our agendas so

1:38:53the public can see it. What we're voting

1:38:56on, what we're looking at, that level of

1:38:58transparency is not there now. And I

1:39:00look to bring that in.

1:39:04This crisis has made it obvious to me

1:39:06through not just public outcry, but just

1:39:09having to go through the academic

1:39:11exercise of looking at some of the the

1:39:13the boards and and some of the meeting

1:39:15minutes and just logical common sense.

1:39:20This needs to be done because the truth

1:39:22is we are still spending monies that I

1:39:24think we shouldn't have to spend. And

1:39:26the truth is it's not fair for one

1:39:28person to say I like this and that's the

1:39:31way it is. It's not fair to that person.

1:39:33It's not fair to the taxpayers. It's

1:39:35certainly not It's not fair to these the

1:39:37members of this committee, this council.

1:39:40Now,

1:39:42was brought to my attention. I

1:39:44appreciate it because when when this

1:39:45does actually get voted on, I certainly

1:39:48would like it to be done properly. Um,

1:39:52but advice of contact uh council because

1:39:56we want to make sure we advertise it

1:39:58properly when we do it. Um, we are going

1:40:02to treat this as how how do you say it?

1:40:08As a a second introduction, more of a,

1:40:10you know, because we will not be able to

1:40:12take the vote on it because we need

1:40:14additional time to have it advertised.

1:40:16Now, that was pointed out a little

1:40:17earlier today and I do appreciate that.

1:40:21But I want you to know this. This was

1:40:23not put in here to take any power away

1:40:26from the executive. the executive has

1:40:28the power and I I appreciate the work

1:40:30that they do. Um, it was not put in here

1:40:33to say the board of contractors is not

1:40:35doing a good job. What it was put in

1:40:38here is that we would have some

1:40:39oversight how our monies are spent.

1:40:42Often it's often that put to us, every

1:40:44member of the council has heard about

1:40:46this oversight. Oversight that doesn't

1:40:48exist. I don't wish to violate the

1:40:50charter. I don't believe it does violate

1:40:53the charter. I'm willing to have that

1:40:55discussion, but the truth is I firmly

1:40:58believe that it is necessary that we

1:40:59have oversight and that we can take

1:41:02certain things out of a bid that we

1:41:04believe are unnecessary.

1:41:08I don't want to hop on the fountains.

1:41:10Fountains are beautiful. I don't want to

1:41:11hop on the on certain trees. Trees are

1:41:14nice, but at certain times, we have to

1:41:16tighten our belt. And I didn't make that

1:41:18phrase up, but I've heard it many times

1:41:20during this cycle. It's time to tighten

1:41:22our belt and put our money where our

1:41:24mouth is. I think the people in this

1:41:26room are the people who can do it. I

1:41:30relent my time.

1:41:31>> Thank you, Mr. President. Um, since we

1:41:34will not be voting on this, may I

1:41:35entertain a motion to enter into the

1:41:38record three handouts. One from attorney

1:41:40Murray, one from Solicitor Malay, and I

1:41:43believe I have a agenda from the August

1:41:464, 2026 meeting at 5:30 p.m. from the

1:41:50board of contractors contract and

1:41:52purchase.

1:41:52>> That's separate. That one's for um Mr.

1:41:55Trafficante's communication.

1:41:56>> Okay. All right. So, may I entertain a

1:41:59motion to enter for the record uh letter

1:42:02from attorney Murray and solicitor

1:42:04Malay?

1:42:06Second that.

1:42:07>> Any discussion? [clears throat]

1:42:09Mr. Ritz, Councilman Ritz,

1:42:12>> few things to just mention. I appreciate

1:42:14the council president putting this

1:42:15forward. I think the public thinks we

1:42:17already have this oversight. I mean, uh,

1:42:19you know, email, social media, when I go

1:42:21to doors, people already think we have

1:42:22this this oversight. So, I think it's

1:42:25good that that this is put forward. Um,

1:42:27you know, in my professional life, if

1:42:29our CEO is spending over $100,000, the

1:42:32board of directors is involved in that

1:42:34process, just just from an oversight

1:42:36perspective, not getting involved in the

1:42:37bidding um, in the contracts and that

1:42:40piece. And I, as I understand it, I I

1:42:42think this looks at the same way. I also

1:42:44read both the the legal letters, I

1:42:46guess, for the solicitor. Is there

1:42:48alternative language that you would

1:42:50recommend with this ordinance?

1:42:55I believe we're just in discussion for

1:42:58us.

1:43:00Sorry, councelor, but you could have a

1:43:02seat. Anybody else discussion?

1:43:07Mayor Trappy.

1:43:10This the city charter

1:43:14holds the city council responsible for

1:43:17all expenditures whether they be

1:43:19operational budget or they be capital

1:43:21budget. the city taxpayers hold us

1:43:24responsible as well and it behooves all

1:43:28of us to be knowledgeable what those

1:43:30expenditures indic implicate. Uh I

1:43:34looked over the border contract and

1:43:36purchase August 4th uh data and and I

1:43:40went through the list and and I could

1:43:42not understand what several of them were

1:43:45all about because there was no

1:43:46explanation whatsoever next to her. I'm

1:43:49not saying it's improper. I'm just

1:43:51saying I didn't know exactly what they

1:43:53were talking about because they were

1:43:55using verbiage that was not

1:43:57understandable. They were abbreviating a

1:43:59lot of things and I say I think it's it

1:44:02behooves all of us to be knowledgeable

1:44:03of the fact of what's being basically

1:44:06what's being appropriated at the border

1:44:08contract pressures level.

1:44:10>> Thank you. Is any further discussion?

1:44:12Councilwoman Graziano.

1:44:14>> Thank you. I just want to thank

1:44:16President Wall for bringing this

1:44:17forward. Think this is something that we

1:44:19talked about during um our financial um

1:44:24review of the budget um and just overall

1:44:26concerns with um the fact that some of

1:44:29our line items were exceeded and how

1:44:31much is being spent when it's being

1:44:34spent and when the city determines that

1:44:36it's in a financial

1:44:38precarious situation. So we should be

1:44:41reviewing things. I think this is

1:44:44transparent and I am appreciative that

1:44:46it's coming forward now. Thank you,

1:44:49>> Councilwoman Huroy.

1:44:52>> Vice President Norway, sorry.

1:44:54>> I thank you, Council President, for

1:44:55bringing this forward. Um, this year has

1:44:58been very difficult with the budget and

1:44:59then to find out things are added into a

1:45:02grant, but if we were to take them out,

1:45:05we'd have to repay the whole grant and

1:45:07not knowing how all the money is spent

1:45:10itemized when we approve something is

1:45:12something we all need to work on going

1:45:14forward.

1:45:16>> Any further discussion? Mr. President, I

1:45:19thank you. I'll be in full support.

1:45:20Hopefully, we get this back on the

1:45:22agenda and uh, Mayor Traffic, the floor

1:45:24is yours. I just want to ask the council

1:45:25president a question. Why the $100,000?

1:45:28Council president.

1:45:31>> Well,

1:45:34I think East Province said 50,000

1:45:37and that's I use that as a basis and

1:45:41that was written a number of years ago

1:45:43with the cost of living. But I'll tell

1:45:45you the truth, I could be talked into

1:45:47amending it when that time comes to go

1:45:50down to 50. I'm not going to lie to you.

1:45:52Um, I had to pick a number and I was

1:45:54betw twixed in between and I used

1:45:56inflation as my guide.

1:45:58>> I would definitely encourage you to

1:46:00think about a low.

1:46:03That's my personal opinion.

1:46:04>> Point. Well, take.

1:46:06>> All right. So, we're voting on the

1:46:09approval of the handouts.

1:46:11No further discussion. Clerk, please

1:46:13take a role.

1:46:15Councilman, can I be heard briefly?

1:46:18>> I would have to assume. Our attorney,

1:46:19what's he say? Would

1:46:23you? We're voting to put letters onto

1:46:25the record.

1:46:26>> Could you speak?

1:46:28>> Let's just

1:46:29>> Mr. Solicitor, floor is yours.

1:46:31>> If I If I may, thank you. Um, Chairman

1:46:34Andar, I I just wanted to

1:46:38just offer the legal end of this, which

1:46:40is

1:46:42I understand that this is being

1:46:46presented in good faith by all involved.

1:46:49that is not what the the intention of my

1:46:53speaking nor

1:46:57the point of my conversation. However,

1:47:01there is a separation of powers issues

1:47:05here and the council as a body under our

1:47:10charter has the authority to

1:47:14issue money to where it deems it

1:47:18appropriate. Whether it be to

1:47:20departments A, B, C, or D, doesn't

1:47:23matter.

1:47:26Once the money is expended or at least

1:47:29allocated,

1:47:31it's up to the departments to spend the

1:47:33money within their department and the

1:47:38council does not have the authority

1:47:41under the charter to continually approve

1:47:44those expenditures. That time is is

1:47:48appropriate at budget time.

1:47:53this and I know it's being put in good

1:47:56faith is an overreach

1:47:59where every single thing with boap needs

1:48:03to be approved.

1:48:06It's not how it goes. In fact, just to

1:48:09educate

1:48:11strike I I I don't want to say educate

1:48:13because that means I'm teaching

1:48:14something and that is not my my

1:48:16intention.

1:48:18BoAP,

1:48:20this body owns the majority of the

1:48:23members that sit on BOAP.

1:48:27According to the uh the ordinances and

1:48:29how BOAP is created, it's an

1:48:32administrative functioning body that

1:48:35actually the president of the council

1:48:38has a member. The minority member of of

1:48:41this council has two members and the

1:48:43majority party has two members. So this

1:48:46body already has the actual um function

1:48:50to oversee

1:48:52cap by a five to uh to two ratio. The

1:48:58other two members being the director of

1:49:00finance and the director of purchasing.

1:49:02So to say we need oversight over cap is

1:49:06not appropriate. If if you wish that

1:49:10reports are sent from BOAP on

1:49:13expenditures, that would be appropriate.

1:49:15But to say that every expenditure over

1:49:19$100,000 or whatever that number is,

1:49:21respectfully, Mr. President, ends up

1:49:24being

1:49:26is an overreach and it's actually it's

1:49:28actually interference in the charter

1:49:30with city business. That is an

1:49:32administrative function. Vocap

1:49:36we you cannot possibly in the realm of

1:49:40doing business on a day-to-day basis in

1:49:42a city the second biggest city of the

1:49:44city of Cranston expect every contract

1:49:48that's over x amount right now it's over

1:49:51100 to come back before this board for

1:49:54approval this council the city will come

1:49:57to an absolute grind it's not possible

1:50:01we already bring contracts such such as

1:50:05the teamster, such as the police, such

1:50:07as the fire department, they are before

1:50:09this board and they are reviewed and

1:50:12oversight is given. But dayto day, for

1:50:16instance, a hundred $1,000

1:50:19uh ashall project that someone does not

1:50:22like because it's the administration's

1:50:24project. It's not appropriate, nor is

1:50:28it, in my opinion, legal to require the

1:50:31council's approval.

1:50:34Just think on the bigger picture. The

1:50:36legislature up at the state house does

1:50:39not vote every time that DOT needs to

1:50:43fix a road. They do not vote anytime DEM

1:50:48needs to expend a few million dollars to

1:50:51do something. They spend the money or

1:50:54they give the money to the different

1:50:56divisions and the different departments

1:50:58and they expect it's done correctly.

1:51:00Oversight

1:51:02is after the fact. Oversight is looking

1:51:05at the expenditures. It is not an

1:51:08approval process. It is up to the

1:51:10executive branch to spend that money.

1:51:13And should this body decide that an

1:51:17expenditure has been done in such a way

1:51:19that was inappropriate, excessive, you

1:51:24name the adjective. then it's up to this

1:51:26body to correct that in the next

1:51:28budgetary session. But to interfere with

1:51:32the day-to-day activities

1:51:36of the administration

1:51:38is overreach and I just I caution the

1:51:42body to that that this could have other

1:51:46implications.

1:51:48Remember

1:51:50you have the body has the authority on

1:51:53the board.

1:51:55This this body that sits before me has

1:51:58five members. So to say we then need

1:52:00further overreach is not appropriate.

1:52:03And I think it it's legally um unsound

1:52:07and I'm happy to [clears throat] sit

1:52:09down and I know the administration is

1:52:10happy to sit down with the members of

1:52:12the body and discuss this and see if we

1:52:15can come to a compromise before a vote.

1:52:18Um I speak on behalf of the

1:52:19administration for that and I thank you

1:52:21Mr. President and I thank Mr. Chairman

1:52:24Handuha for that for allowing me to

1:52:27>> any further discussion Mr. President

1:52:30>> just want to [clears throat]

1:52:33appreciate

1:52:34>> Mr. President, can you wait? I just want

1:52:35the administration. Let's let um

1:52:37>> you want me to let

1:52:38>> Yeah, just let Mr.

1:52:39>> Absolutely.

1:52:40>> Director Mor already's yours.

1:52:43>> Thank you. I'll be brief. Um aside from

1:52:46I assume this ordinance probably

1:52:49proposed ordinance isn't necessarily

1:52:51reflecting just on this administration,

1:52:53but this is a catchup over time. Uh so

1:52:56just want to kind of point that out. I

1:52:57believe that's what the intent of this

1:52:59is for the future. So I hope that no one

1:53:01singles necessarily. They could question

1:53:03some expenditures or what have you, but

1:53:06not necessarily question the integrity

1:53:08as to as the uh this administration, but

1:53:11it has to do with the operations of

1:53:13prior administrations, I believe. Um and

1:53:16frankly, it probably won't have all that

1:53:18much of an impact over two more years.

1:53:21Uh um there

1:53:24at $100,000, it's I think a fairly low

1:53:27threshold for a city this size. Um but

1:53:30obviously it's going to have an impact

1:53:32for many more years ahead than just the

1:53:34next two years with this current

1:53:36administration. Um but I do encourage

1:53:41this group to be open-minded for for two

1:53:43things. Um in terms of whatever

1:53:46controls, financial controls, guidance,

1:53:48oversight, whatever powers the council

1:53:51has, all for it. Uh not an issue. But

1:53:54just overall in terms of governance,

1:53:56that issue that Mr. Malay raised about

1:53:58is it an overreach or a violation of the

1:54:01charter is the only thing that frankly

1:54:03the administration's really truly

1:54:05concerned about and it's not to nitpick

1:54:08this this ordinance but just overall

1:54:10I'll say the constitutionality of it. So

1:54:12there is just that question so

1:54:14open-minded in terms of other

1:54:15discussions that the lawyers might have

1:54:17and it's simple as that. So not

1:54:19objecting to the spirit of it but more

1:54:21so the the form of it. Um and then

1:54:25there's one question I do have for

1:54:26deliberations council president and the

1:54:29way it reads is is that the council will

1:54:32be assuming this goes forward the

1:54:35council would be approving the the

1:54:37expenditures over 100,000. Um the

1:54:41question is my concern is the speed of

1:54:44government. Uh government moves pretty

1:54:46slow to start and this will slow it down

1:54:48more. Um the question is does it have to

1:54:51go can the go directly to council

1:54:53council review it and approve it or does

1:54:56it have to go through the process of

1:54:57going to council refer to committee back

1:54:59to council. So that would be just a

1:55:01question maybe fine-tuning this whatever

1:55:03your intent is maybe to clarify um to

1:55:07clarify that my concern the second

1:55:09concern is just the speed of government

1:55:11as I said obviously you don't want to

1:55:13jeopardize uh doing things improperly

1:55:16impropriety and what the intent of this

1:55:18is uh but at the same time the

1:55:20practicality is to take a look at how

1:55:22that would be administered thank you

1:55:25>> director this room.

1:55:31>> Thank you. I just want to point out a

1:55:33few things. Um, we have a a bowl cap

1:55:36meeting. I believe it's the first

1:55:38Tuesday and the third Tuesday of every

1:55:40month.

1:55:42And uh we do send out the Friday before

1:55:47the docket and the minutes of the

1:55:49previous minute uh meetings to the

1:55:53council. And um I want to point out that

1:55:58at that point that's you know I feel

1:56:01that if there was any issues with any

1:56:03line item whether it's bid waiverss,

1:56:05contract awards, uh bid award, uh any uh

1:56:10changes that's you have time to to

1:56:13contact purchasing

1:56:16uh tell them what your concerns are and

1:56:20at that point we could you know uh

1:56:22resolve if there's any issues. issues

1:56:24because sometimes some of these bid

1:56:26waiverss require their soul source,

1:56:30there's exceptions and there's

1:56:31emergencies and we need to move along

1:56:34with getting these things processed and

1:56:38uh we can't always wait uh for something

1:56:41that's been proposed in tonight's uh

1:56:45ordinance. So, I just wanted to bring

1:56:47that to your attention that we are

1:56:49available. And I gotta tell you, when we

1:56:51have our bowl cap meetings, I'll be very

1:56:53frank with you, I've been doing this for

1:56:55over 13 years. I've never seen a council

1:56:58person attend it. So, I think that's

1:57:01should be noted as well.

1:57:04>> Thank you, Mr. Director. Maybe we should

1:57:07have the meetings in the afternoon. Um,

1:57:10any further discussion? I will go with

1:57:12Councilwoman Graciano.

1:57:14>> Um, I just want to ask a question about

1:57:16our procurement officer. Did Did he have

1:57:19an opinion on this?

1:57:33>> Yes, Mr. Maresi more or less went along

1:57:37with what I just said and he feels that

1:57:40uh you know he's been doing it for even

1:57:42longer than me and uh we have the vocab

1:57:44meetings and the agendas sent out way in

1:57:48advance the minutes there's plenty of

1:57:51time to have discussion if there's any

1:57:53issues.

1:57:56>> Okay. And and the other thing is before

1:57:58things are awarded,

1:58:00it goes to the department head, they

1:58:03review it and they make a decision

1:58:05before anything is uh awarded for a uh

1:58:09open bid process.

1:58:13>> Okay. Um and

1:58:16um Director Stum, could you just would

1:58:19you mind emailing me a list of the

1:58:20thresholds for sending stuff out to bid

1:58:23um for the city like $50,000 and under?

1:58:26Thank you.

1:58:29>> May

1:58:33look I wasn't I wasn't questioning the

1:58:35process. I just like I said I'd like to

1:58:38we we cannot attend every board of

1:58:39contracted [clears throat] purchase

1:58:40meeting. Miami. Most of us have

1:58:41full-time jobs, so we can't be spending

1:58:43all our time in city hall. But I I

1:58:46expect when I get minutes from the board

1:58:48of contracted purchase meeting that that

1:58:50explains

1:58:52what's many of these items are all about

1:58:54because there is no explanation

1:58:56whatsoever on on some of the maybe

1:58:59factually the bid waiverss, you know,

1:59:01and they say they spent a lot of time at

1:59:03the border contract and purchase level.

1:59:05I'm looking at the August 18th meeting.

1:59:09The meeting was called to order at 5:32.

1:59:13The meeting was adjourned at 5:45.

1:59:17I mean, that's 13 minutes. Discuss

1:59:20thousands of dollars of of

1:59:25material contracts, etc., etc.

1:59:30That's my question and that that's what

1:59:32that's my concern.

1:59:34>> Cler, could you please know what the

1:59:35mayor wanted? he wanted um copies of the

1:59:37minutes or something of that extent if

1:59:39you could just forward that that request

1:59:41to the finance director and anyone else.

1:59:44Seeing none, Mr. President, the floor is

1:59:46yours.

1:59:47>> Thank you. Just to sum it up by Listen,

1:59:49I'm a person who's reflective. I

1:59:51certainly read what people give me. I

1:59:54listen to their feedback. Um I may have

1:59:57a couple of comments in response, maybe

1:59:59brief, not to get in debate. I did hear

2:00:02and I do appreciate, you know, I'm not

2:00:04an attorney.

2:00:06Um, I represent the I represent the

2:00:08taxpayers. Um,

2:00:11the comment about the city will come to

2:00:13a crashing halt, I do take a bit of

2:00:16exception, too. You know, when the

2:00:18city's going to come to a crashing halt,

2:00:20we run out of money.

2:00:22We overburden the taxpayers.

2:00:25So, that would be a time I think we're

2:00:26going to have problem. And I think we're

2:00:28just looking at it from different

2:00:29angles. So, I may put that in. It's not

2:00:32intended to be sarcastic, but I'll be

2:00:34honest with you.

2:00:35And that's a possibility.

2:00:38Um,

2:00:40I know the minutes are available because

2:00:42I've read them. I know the agendas are

2:00:45available because I read them. There's

2:00:47nothing there.

2:00:49One of my points was there's no backup.

2:00:54The people in that audience wanted to

2:00:56read about what what was itemized, what

2:00:59was spent, what's in a bid for $3.5

2:01:02million. And like the director says,

2:01:04it's not just for this administration.

2:01:06It's not just for the past

2:01:07administrations. It's going forward.

2:01:10They couldn't find any detail.

2:01:14And the council level, we have to

2:01:16provide backup. We have to provide

2:01:18detail.

2:01:19We have to have public comment.

2:01:22And that's a good thing

2:01:25because it keeps everybody honest.

2:01:28If the people are saying, if they read

2:01:30it and they ask the question, do you

2:01:33really need stamp concrete in this part

2:01:36of the city? Could you just do with

2:01:39regular concrete when so many parts of

2:01:41the city don't even have sidewalks or

2:01:43the sidewalks were built during the

2:01:45Great Depression?

2:01:47It's okay for them to say that because

2:01:49the truth is they're going to pay it. It

2:01:51wasn't free money. It was bonded money

2:01:55and they're going to pay it back with

2:01:56interest. So, I do have I do believe we

2:01:59do need more oversight. And I would add

2:02:02a suggestion.

2:02:04If it's going to bring the city to a

2:02:05halt,

2:02:07provide the necessary detail when you

2:02:09pass it at the border contracts level

2:02:12and then you won't have to worry about

2:02:14anything because it's crystal clear when

2:02:16it gets to the council how the money was

2:02:17spent.

2:02:19However,

2:02:21if it's done the way it is done now with

2:02:23no detail and no backup, it will keep

2:02:25things to a halt. So I think there's a

2:02:27paradigm shift that we have to be more

2:02:29transparent. We have to tell the public

2:02:31how how monies are spent. So it's

2:02:34crystal clear and they may not always

2:02:36agree with how we spend it and we have

2:02:38to listen to them.

2:02:41>> Thank you. Now seeing there's no further

2:02:43discussion. May uh clerk can you please

2:02:46take a roll call vote on the acceptance

2:02:48of the handouts?

2:02:51>> Counciloman Graciano.

2:02:52>> Yes.

2:02:53>> Councilman Ritz.

2:02:54>> Yes. Councilman Tracanti.

2:02:57>> Council Vice President O'Brien.

2:02:58>> Yes.

2:02:59>> Council President Wall.

2:03:01>> Yes.

2:03:02>> Councilman Andor.

2:03:03>> Yes. Moving on. I'm pretty sure

2:03:05everybody got in their packet the real

2:03:06estate tax abatements. May entertain a

2:03:08motion to approve.

2:03:09>> Motion to approve.

2:03:11>> Is there a second?

2:03:12>> Second.

2:03:13>> Second. Any discussion?

2:03:15Seeing none. Clerk, please take a role.

2:03:18>> Councilman Graciano.

2:03:20>> Yes. Councilman Ritz.

2:03:21>> Yes.

2:03:21>> Council Travacante. Council Vice

2:03:24President Royan.

2:03:25>> Yes.

2:03:26>> Council President Wall.

2:03:27>> Yes.

2:03:28>> Councilman Andar.

2:03:29>> Yes.

2:03:31>> To pretty sure everybody on their pack

2:03:33of tangible tax abatements. I may

2:03:35entertain a motion to approve.

2:03:37>> Motion to approve.

2:03:38>> A second.

2:03:39>> Any discussion?

2:03:41Seeing none, clerk, please take a vote.

2:03:43>> Counciloman Graciano.

2:03:44>> Yes.

2:03:45>> Councilman Ritz.

2:03:46>> Yes.

2:03:46>> Councilman Tracanty.

2:03:47>> Yes.

2:03:48>> Council vice president Royan. Council

2:03:50>> President Wall.

2:03:51>> Yes. Councilman Andar.

2:03:53>> Yes. Moving on to public comment. Is

2:03:56there anyone in the audience that would

2:03:57like to speak on doceted items only?

2:03:58Please step up to the mic. Please state

2:04:00your name and address and you have four

2:04:02minutes.

2:04:04>> Good evening. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

2:04:07Robert Murray, 21 Garden City Drive in

2:04:09Cranston. Um,

2:04:12I just want to speak briefly on

2:04:13ordinance uh

2:04:1511902. Uh, I appreciate the efforts and

2:04:18the thoughts of the council president.

2:04:20Uh you all sh uh received from me um

2:04:25some thoughts on this proposed

2:04:27ordinance. Obviously uh it was not in

2:04:29support of it. Uh but I appreciate the

2:04:32spirit in which the council president

2:04:33received my comments and shared told me

2:04:36that uh he always appreciates hearing

2:04:38from constituents. Um I want to I just

2:04:40want to say a couple things and I'll

2:04:42I'll reserve u to another evening, but I

2:04:46want to be clear here. first uh you

2:04:48received a letter from me. Um I did not

2:04:51discuss that with anybody um in the

2:04:54administration. Um they saw it after you

2:04:57saw it. Um but I want to be clear that

2:04:59letter would have been written

2:05:00regardless what party was called the

2:05:02mayor's office. Whether it was

2:05:05Republican, Democrat, unaffiliated,

2:05:07socialist, progressive, I don't care. my

2:05:10my concerns and my interests and

2:05:14support for this community rises above

2:05:17whoever's in the mayor's office. Um

2:05:21I don't want to repeat everything that's

2:05:22in my my letter. I just want to say a

2:05:24couple of points that were raised

2:05:26tonight. First, I do agree that there's

2:05:28a serious mechanism problem with the

2:05:31mechanism to get achieve what you're

2:05:33trying to do. I honestly believe that

2:05:36the charter cannot be amended by

2:05:37ordinance. That the proper vehicle would

2:05:40be a charter review commission put

2:05:42before the voters the very issue the

2:05:44council president doesn't speak about.

2:05:46Let the voters decide they want you

2:05:48approving anything over $100,000. That

2:05:51is a that's fundamental in my argument

2:05:55that you cannot do this by ordinance. Um

2:05:59and

2:06:01I hope there there'll be some thought

2:06:02given to that. Um, if this is going to

2:06:05be reintroduced or introduced, I'd ask

2:06:07some consideration through your legal

2:06:09counsel to the council president and

2:06:11sponsors. I'm unclear how would you be

2:06:14doing this? Are you going to do it by

2:06:16ordinance? Are you going to each

2:06:18contract by resolution?

2:06:20You know, what is the mechanism? That

2:06:22seems to be the process the council

2:06:25enjoys. You approve things by resolution

2:06:27or ordinance. Um, I'm not sure an

2:06:29ordinance is required, but you know, I'd

2:06:32ask you to give some thought to that

2:06:33because I think that's that's a void in

2:06:36where we are right now, even though um I

2:06:39think there's a large void, but um the

2:06:41other question I have is for your

2:06:43consideration is how are we going to do

2:06:46this? Um and and you know, I I don't

2:06:49want to be one of these picky lawyers.

2:06:51The drafting um was confusing to me in

2:06:55some parts. Is it your intention that

2:06:59before the board of contract bridge

2:07:01takes any action

2:07:03that it has to come here? So, does that

2:07:06mean all the bids are coming with the

2:07:09backup for you to review? And I assume

2:07:13the finance department would make a

2:07:14recommendation

2:07:16um and the council would either agree

2:07:18with the recommendation or instead of

2:07:19saying vendor A, we want you to hire

2:07:22vendor B or buy um

2:07:26this product from X company rather than

2:07:29Y company. Um and then it goes to the to

2:07:33the board of contract and purchase. Um

2:07:36the language of the ordinance is drafted

2:07:38seems to say you want to see the

2:07:40contract. And as I tried to say in my

2:07:42letter, that process is the last step.

2:07:45And so we're really talking about a

2:07:48board of contract and purchase that

2:07:49awards bids. they receive RFPs, uh,

2:07:54responses to RFPs or bids, and they make

2:07:58a decision on that. If it's if it's an

2:08:01item that requires an actual legal

2:08:03contract, those things follow later. So,

2:08:07your ordinance says you want to see the

2:08:09contract. Um, I'm not sure that's the if

2:08:13that's the cart before the horse. Um,

2:08:16and then the last thing, Mr. already

2:08:19touched on my last point was, you know,

2:08:21is it your in

2:08:24your intention to schedule one meeting

2:08:26to review

2:08:28it then another separate meeting to

2:08:31award or would it be done in the same

2:08:34evening? Uh I didn't even think about

2:08:36the process of going through committee

2:08:38and all that stuff. But um and the la

2:08:42last comment I would just make is that

2:08:45um you're selling yourself short. The

2:08:48council, you know, under the charter is

2:08:51the one that approves the budget. That

2:08:54includes the capital budget. Um I was

2:08:56here for the discussion about the

2:08:58fountain in Knightsville phase three or

2:09:00whatever. I heard Mr. Pareo say the

2:09:02fountain was really a $30,000

2:09:05item and you know but there was some mis

2:09:08misinformation that somehow was 175 and

2:09:11I've seen that repeated elsewhere. So my

2:09:14bottom line is thank you for your time.

2:09:16Um I appreciate the spirit in which my

2:09:19comments were were were shared. I may

2:09:21have some furthering um in the future.

2:09:25Uh but there is um and that whole

2:09:28mechanism of you know is the threshold

2:09:31100 but if we start at 75,000 and then

2:09:34we get a $50,000 change order you know

2:09:36is the council involved in that because

2:09:38now we're over 100. Just things things

2:09:40to talk about. I tried to uh not sure my

2:09:43letter was as clear as it could be but

2:09:45for Sunday in the rain that's what you

2:09:47get. So thank you for your time.

2:09:50>> Thank you clerk. Please note for the

2:09:51record, although Councilman Banano is

2:09:53not on this committee, he is present in

2:09:55the chamber. Is anyone else in the

2:09:56audience would like to speak on doceted

2:09:58items only? Please step up. State your

2:10:00name and address.

2:10:02>> Hi, Marcia Fowler, 35 Milton Avenue. I

2:10:05just want to thank Council President for

2:10:07bringing this topic up. It sounds like

2:10:08it's a lot more confusing than what

2:10:11initially was spoken tonight, but please

2:10:13keep at it because it's really important

2:10:15for us, the public, to know what's

2:10:18happening. Um, at the last, I think it

2:10:20was the plan commission, we talked about

2:10:22sidewalks, and it was stated that

2:10:24there's no more money for public to have

2:10:27sidewalks repaired, such as the woman in

2:10:29Edgewood who needed it repaired. Um,

2:10:31that's really disturbing. And also to

2:10:33know like on the school side, how

2:10:36there's not money for buses to take the

2:10:38kids to sports at this point. So, they

2:10:40have to wait until 4:00 at this time of

2:10:43year to start just start traveling to

2:10:46their sports. So, for us as the public

2:10:48to know where this money is going and

2:10:50for all of you to know as well, um it's

2:10:52appreciated. Thank you.

2:10:54>> Thank you. Is there anyone else in the

2:10:55audience like to speak on doced items

2:10:57only?

2:10:59Seeing none, clerk, is there anyone

2:11:00online?

2:11:03>> There is no public comment online.

2:11:05>> This time I'd like to close public

2:11:06comment. Moving on to council member

2:11:09communications.

2:11:10Um

2:11:12my communication. Um September 9th, we

2:11:15had the primary election cost. I invited

2:11:17our director to come up and speak. Um,

2:11:20director. Oh, first, uh, may I entertain

2:11:22a motion to enter into the record a

2:11:25handout from director Lima and and I

2:11:27guess there was an email as well.

2:11:29>> So moved.

2:11:31>> Is there a second?

2:11:32>> Second.

2:11:33>> Second. Uh, clerk, please take a role.

2:11:35Any discussion? Seeing none. Clerk,

2:11:37please take a role.

2:11:39>> Counciloman Graciano,

2:11:40>> yes.

2:11:41>> Councilman Ritz,

2:11:42>> yes.

2:11:43>> Councilman Tracanty,

2:11:44>> yes. Council Vice President Hoyan.

2:11:46Council President Wall.

2:11:48>> Yes.

2:11:49>> Councilman Andar.

2:11:50>> Yes.

2:11:52>> Director, thank you for coming. Um,

2:11:54great job on the primary election.

2:11:56Everything ran smoothly. I just want to

2:11:58make sure that you're on mark for your

2:12:00spending. And if we if you have any red

2:12:03flags, now's the time to say it. So, the

2:12:05floor is yours.

2:12:06>> Thank Thank you, Chairman Anderhar,

2:12:07Council President, members of the

2:12:09council and finance committee. Nick

2:12:10Lemur, registar, director of elections

2:12:12for the canvasing authority. And yes, uh

2:12:14you at this time u I'll give you the

2:12:16bottom line of the report. You can read

2:12:18the full five pages at your leisure. Uh

2:12:19if you have any questions, you always

2:12:21reach out to me anytime, phone or or

2:12:23email. Um but we are not only on budget

2:12:26right now, we are under budget. Uh

2:12:28that's where I'm projecting it right

2:12:29now. Now, as a closure to the report, we

2:12:32do have what's actually in the city

2:12:34finance system as of today. Um there are

2:12:36obviously a lot of bills related to the

2:12:38primary. There's overtime for staff.

2:12:40We're not even in that completed this

2:12:41this twoe payroll cycle yet. So that

2:12:44will be reflected in the actual finance

2:12:45of the city. But what I've done for the

2:12:47council is just to give you more of an

2:12:49operational view in this report. I

2:12:51actually get into the the detail of what

2:12:53I expect to come in over the next couple

2:12:55of weeks and where our position will be

2:12:57as we head into the general election.

2:12:58And in summary, uh the position is is a

2:13:01good one. Uh in part large part that's

2:13:03because um we had a lot of planning for

2:13:06knowing the the city's financial

2:13:08position going into this budget year.

2:13:09You know, initially we asked for about

2:13:11260 $265,000 in our budget. We ended up

2:13:14with 210 to conduct the election. We

2:13:16made appropriate cuts uh to staffing for

2:13:18both early voting and our poll workers

2:13:20to to accommodate for that. Uh we made

2:13:22some other operational changes. We were

2:13:24the benefit, as you know, of the general

2:13:25assembly moving the primary to a

2:13:27Wednesday. That saved us upwards of

2:13:29$20,000 in overtime costs from having to

2:13:31set up polls on Labor Day. We we did all

2:13:33that mostly on a business day. So

2:13:34there's a lot of savings that we were

2:13:36able to institute there that allow you

2:13:38to be confident to to report to the

2:13:39council that we're not only on budget

2:13:42but on track to be under budget even

2:13:44after the general election. And the

2:13:45other fact that dur that I I'll

2:13:47elaborate on a little more in the report

2:13:50is the fact that we've been awarded two

2:13:51separate grants uh $20,000 from

2:13:54Secretary of State Amore from help

2:13:56America vote act federal funding that's

2:13:58for election security. uh that's

2:14:00actually going to offset the cost of our

2:14:01police details for both the primary and

2:14:03the general and that in turn frees up

2:14:05additional funding in case we need it

2:14:07for contingency in case there are other

2:14:09operational costs. There's an additional

2:14:11$15,000 from the US alliance for

2:14:13election excellence which our office is

2:14:14a member of. We're seeking accreditation

2:14:16through that program so we can become an

2:14:18accredited election office through the

2:14:19alliance of standards. That $15,000 is

2:14:22for emergency planning. We were able to

2:14:23use that funding uh in consulting with

2:14:25the fire chief, the administration to

2:14:27purchase uh uh walkie-talkie radios. So,

2:14:30we have citywide comms on election day

2:14:33from with our field technicians as well

2:14:35as generators in case there's a power

2:14:36outage at the polling location. And

2:14:38those are assets that now the city has

2:14:39in it possession in any other emergency

2:14:41that's not election related. They're

2:14:43under the the control of the camping

2:14:44authority, but obviously we'd we'd lend

2:14:46them if there was needed for any other

2:14:47purpose. There's some tertiary benefits

2:14:49there. Um, overall I did reference our

2:14:52pole workers. Again, we cut some

2:14:54positions, but we always staff above the

2:14:56minimum from the state in part. You

2:14:57know, you saw what happened with

2:14:58Providence. Sometimes if you're staff

2:14:59right at the minimum and then you have

2:15:01call outs or no shows on election day

2:15:02morning, you have chaos. So, we always

2:15:04have a couple of extra pull workers per

2:15:05location. Uh, they say 10% above above

2:15:08the minimum is what you should staff.

2:15:09We're probably 15 or 20% above that. And

2:15:12we did also have call outs. We had um

2:15:15about 20 uh that that either called out

2:15:17in the morning of the election, the

2:15:18night before. We had another 20

2:15:19positions that we lost in the leadup to

2:15:21that. Um, which also keeps us under

2:15:24budget because those are people that

2:15:25aren't paid. Um, but we we can roll with

2:15:27that. I don't think the voters would

2:15:28even notice that those positions weren't

2:15:30staffed because we either had backups in

2:15:31place or because the polling place was

2:15:33adequately staffed, that position, you

2:15:35know, was was uh tertiary to the actual

2:15:37operations. So, our our budget picture

2:15:40is very good. With all those factors uh

2:15:42considered, we're going to have a very

2:15:43similar operation, very similar cost to

2:15:45the general election. and and in

2:15:46conclusion uh chairman of account of the

2:15:48of the committee uh if there's any

2:15:50questions I'm happy to answer them but

2:15:52one thing I do elaborate on extensively

2:15:54in this letter uh is that elections are

2:15:56a whole of city operation when we run a

2:15:58citywide election it's for potentially

2:16:0060,000 registered voters and is the

2:16:02single largest event conducted by the

2:16:04city of Cranston and it is a operation

2:16:07that we would not be successful about in

2:16:08just a canvasing authority we have 20

2:16:10departments from the mayor and

2:16:12administration his administration team

2:16:14the school department right on down to

2:16:15the smallest departments in the city all

2:16:17help us in some way, shape or form. Uh

2:16:20much of that work is done during the

2:16:22business day. Some of it is overtime is

2:16:24charged to our budget. Uh we we we

2:16:26account for that, but much of that work

2:16:28is done and not necessarily reflected in

2:16:30this document. If we had to take take on

2:16:32all those functions ourselves, for

2:16:34example, you could easily add $100,000

2:16:36to our election costs. So there's a

2:16:37significant whole of city effort and a

2:16:39team effort that goes into making sure

2:16:41elections are successful. And we're

2:16:42thankful for all the uh help from the

2:16:44administration, the school department,

2:16:46the police department, the fire

2:16:46department, senior services, and every

2:16:48other department we reference in this

2:16:49letter uh that uh even though it may not

2:16:53show up in the budget, does have an

2:16:54impact on our success.

2:16:56>> Thank you, Councilman Ritz.

2:16:58>> A question for you. I did see in the

2:16:59media that they kind of focused on

2:17:00Providence Cranson a lot for the call

2:17:02outs. Is 20 kind of is that what you

2:17:04usually see in these type of

2:17:05>> Absolutely. routine.

2:17:06>> Okay.

2:17:07>> Mr. President,

2:17:09>> I just want to say and I I believe when

2:17:11I stepped out of the room someone said

2:17:12it, but I'm going to say it for the

2:17:13record. Um, Director Leman, you do a

2:17:15excellent job. You and your staff do an

2:17:17excellent job on the elections. I know

2:17:19of no one who who puts more effort and

2:17:22diligence into the job they do

2:17:24elections. So, we're you're an asset to

2:17:26the city and we really appreciate how

2:17:28you help us get through our elections in

2:17:29a very professional, organized manner.

2:17:33>> Thank you, Council President. And I've

2:17:34been here for 10 years. is about to run

2:17:36my 15th election going into November and

2:17:38one common denominator across all those

2:17:40elections is I've had a phenomenal team

2:17:42in that office. There's nearly 80 years

2:17:44of experience between the four staff in

2:17:46the canvasing but also we get the

2:17:48resources from the administration from

2:17:50the council to and and the funding we

2:17:52need to conduct elections successfully.

2:17:54I've never had to go into an election

2:17:55starved of resources uh because we

2:17:57prioritize making sure that every voter

2:17:59can cast their ballot accurately.

2:18:01>> Thank you. I also want to thank you

2:18:02because um your staff was very

2:18:04professional, especially with

2:18:05non-English-speaking

2:18:07um voters that came in to vote to vote.

2:18:09So, I really want to thank you and your

2:18:10staff and congratulate you. And with

2:18:12that, anybody else? Seeing none, thank

2:18:14you, director.

2:18:18Moving on, uh may I entertain a motion

2:18:21to enter into the record the agenda for

2:18:23the board of contract and purchase

2:18:25agenda that was on August 4, 2026 at

2:18:285:30 p.m.?

2:18:30>> So move. Is there a second?

2:18:32>> Second number three.

2:18:34>> This is just end to this.

2:18:36>> Okay.

2:18:39>> No. No. Is there Are you seconding?

2:18:42>> Second. All right. Any discussion? Cler,

2:18:44please take a role.

2:18:46>> Council Graciano. Councilman Ritz.

2:18:50>> Yes.

2:18:50>> Council Trafocanty.

2:18:52>> Yes.

2:18:52>> Council President Horian.

2:18:54>> Council President Wall.

2:18:56>> Yes.

2:18:56>> Councilman Andor.

2:18:58>> Yes. Mr. President and and Mayor

2:19:00Trafkanty, the floor is yours.

2:19:01>> I'm going to defer to Mayor Trafkanty.

2:19:06>> I discussed some of the issues already

2:19:07with regarding this. You know, I'm not

2:19:10trying to overstep up my responsibility

2:19:12or step on any toes of the

2:19:13administration, but you know, when we

2:19:15get the agenda for the border contract

2:19:17and purchase, you know, when I see 26

2:19:20items for bid waiverss, close to

2:19:23$800,000 with actually no explanation

2:19:25whatsoever. Like I said, it it just

2:19:27bothers me because I want to be

2:19:29knowledgeable what we're spending the

2:19:31money on. That's the bottom line.

2:19:36>> Thank you, Mr. President.

2:19:37>> I listen, I kind of said this during

2:19:39during the deliberations before

2:19:41regarding the ordinance that was uh

2:19:43proposed. Um but case in point, there's

2:19:48a lot of entries here.

2:19:50The truth is I you know, I've been on

2:19:53the the council for a number of years.

2:19:54I've been government in government for

2:19:56over a decade. I don't know what most of

2:19:58these things are. How do I expect the

2:20:00general public to know it? This is how

2:20:02their money is being spent and that is a

2:20:04concern. If I could look at a backup on

2:20:08an agenda and understand what was going

2:20:10on or have some idea, I I I think I

2:20:13probably wouldn't feel so strong. I

2:20:15would feel like the public knows how

2:20:16their money is being spent. So that's

2:20:19that's in the sake of transparency. I I

2:20:21couldn't agree more. So, it's it's a

2:20:23good case in point.

2:20:27>> Councilman Ritz,

2:20:28>> just to add on to that, I I I think

2:20:29there's even simple things we can make

2:20:31now with another column that explains

2:20:32what this ties back to and how it's

2:20:34used. Just to the other points that were

2:20:36made, just some some simple clarity

2:20:38here. Um, just because, you know, we get

2:20:40questions by the voters now more than

2:20:41ever with the with the tax increase

2:20:43here. Just having some way to quickly

2:20:45tie it back and then we can dig in

2:20:46deeper, too. But I I think we need some

2:20:48more transparency here. Council member

2:20:50Mano,

2:20:52>> thank you. Um,

2:20:54thank you for uh entertaining my

2:20:56comments. I uh I agree, you know, I

2:20:58don't want to beat a dead horse, but I

2:21:00agree with Council Ritz, Council Trafky,

2:21:02Council President Wall. Um, the biggest

2:21:05[clears throat] complaint over the past

2:21:06year, and I'm not walking door to door

2:21:08right now, so I can imagine those of you

2:21:10who are, it's probably uh exponentially

2:21:12more, but the biggest complaint that we

2:21:15gotten over the past year is, you know,

2:21:17why didn't the council know more

2:21:18earlier? And any step that we can take

2:21:22to ensure that the council knows more

2:21:24earlier um is a good step not only for

2:21:29us and our answering to our constituents

2:21:31but for the constituents themselves

2:21:33because they have the opportunity to

2:21:34study this material um sometimes a

2:21:37little bit later than they want I know

2:21:38but um they have the opportunity to

2:21:40study this material uh as well as we do.

2:21:42So, um, you know, I've heard it said on

2:21:46this floor that transparency is key for

2:21:47everybody and, uh, and I agree with

2:21:49that. So, um, thank you.

2:21:52>> Any further?

2:21:54>> Seeing none, Mr. President, the work

2:21:57plan pursuant to charter provision 6.15.

2:22:00>> Thank you so much.

2:22:01>> Floor is yours.

2:22:02>> Thank [clears throat] you, Mr. Chairman.

2:22:03Um, I just have a question. Director

2:22:05Stum, I know we've talked about this

2:22:08before.

2:22:16Absolutely.

2:22:34>> Director of the floor is yours.

2:22:35>> Thank you. [clears throat]

2:22:37>> Should say the president, but at the

2:22:40time. Council President, um I know you

2:22:43asked for this. We we generated what I

2:22:46would call a proformer budget four

2:22:50quarter summary sheet listing all the

2:22:54expenses just like it's in the budget.

2:22:57Uh and what we did was we uh basically

2:23:02divided the the budgetary figures by

2:23:04four quarters.

2:23:05>> Okay.

2:23:06>> Okay. After the first quarter, we will

2:23:09have actual expenditures by each

2:23:12department comparing those budgeted

2:23:15figures by quarter. If there's an issue

2:23:18on anything, that's when we would bring

2:23:20it up to them to explain why certain

2:23:24line items may be over budget. But right

2:23:27now, it's somewhat premature because uh

2:23:30we haven't completed a a quarter yet for

2:23:33the first fiscal year for this fiscal

2:23:35year. Okay, I could bring the charter up

2:23:39and put it up there. When we had this

2:23:40discussion, I believe it was sometime in

2:23:43May. I could find it. Um, when we

2:23:46discussed the provision that is in the

2:23:48charter,

2:23:50um, not to be combative, it all four

2:23:53quarters were supposed to be done before

2:23:55the beginning of the fiscal year. That's

2:23:57how the charter reads. I could ask Tom,

2:23:59I think it was, if you want to look it

2:24:01up in your email, but I don't think we

2:24:02need to. If we recall that it was

2:24:05supposed to be a work plan for the

2:24:06current year, not a quarterly report of

2:24:10how you spent your money.

2:24:13>> What we had or what we did was for the

2:24:15whole year

2:24:16>> by quarter.

2:24:18>> Okay.

2:24:18>> From the first to the fourth.

2:24:20>> Okay.

2:24:21>> Right now it's just budgeted figures for

2:24:23the four quarters.

2:24:25>> So I think I think we're on the same

2:24:27page. So what we're going to do is once

2:24:29we complete through September,

2:24:31>> we will have

2:24:33actual expenditures for that quarter.

2:24:36>> You can compare your work plan with what

2:24:38you actually expend by department

2:24:41>> at the end of this month will be the end

2:24:42of the first quarter.

2:24:43>> Well, I would say probably the middle of

2:24:44October when all the expenditures are

2:24:46done through that quarter. We can't cut

2:24:49off. We could cut off right at September

2:24:5130th, but it may not be as accurate.

2:24:54>> All right.

2:24:55>> Yeah. You got you got different things

2:24:57like a cruels that David just mentioned.

2:24:59>> Um, now as the head of one department,

2:25:03as the head of the city council, I

2:25:04haven't done my Did someone do my

2:25:06homework, Tony?

2:25:10>> No, but I can provide you that

2:25:11information

2:25:12>> because I'd like to do it just as an

2:25:13academic, you know, I'd like to see it

2:25:15how you guys did it so I can understand

2:25:17it.

2:25:18>> Well, we took the your budgeted numbers

2:25:19and

2:25:19>> divided into four.

2:25:20>> Correct.

2:25:21>> All right. So, I I think we can do it.

2:25:24Um, I would like to see the work plan as

2:25:26well now that you have the document set.

2:25:28I appreciate you doing it. I think it I

2:25:30think it is a good idea. Can I ask you a

2:25:32question? When you did it,

2:25:34>> did you consult the members of the

2:25:36department when you did it at any you

2:25:38know because there are certain

2:25:39departments I assume that it's not I I

2:25:41assume the council is almost divided up

2:25:43into four. It's going to be equal almost

2:25:45all the year for the most part. Yeah,

2:25:46there are departments it's not quite

2:25:47like that.

2:25:48>> That is correct.

2:25:49>> Okay. So there was some

2:25:51>> we well we need once we do the first

2:25:54quarter there's going to be much more

2:25:56discussion with each department okay

2:25:58>> because as you stated sometimes things

2:26:01are certain uh timing of certain times

2:26:04of year for instance just to use the

2:26:06example our debt service is much heavier

2:26:10in the first quarter because that's when

2:26:11our cash positions better and that's

2:26:14when we pay out more debt but it's

2:26:15planned that way

2:26:18>> so yeah and I'm I'm pleased to hear that

2:26:19you did it. Thank you. I know it was not

2:26:21something you were pleased to do when

2:26:22asked, but I'm glad you did it. Um,

2:26:25>> but also, Councilman, I just want you to

2:26:27know I run, and this even relates to

2:26:31BoAP, I run weekly reports, and I and

2:26:34before I approve bid waiverss,

2:26:38>> I make sure that whatever that line item

2:26:40is on the bid waiver, there's enough

2:26:43funds to support it.

2:26:44>> Right? If there's not, I call the

2:26:46department and discuss it with them or I

2:26:49won't put it through.

2:26:51>> And I do the same thing with the

2:26:52expenditures, normal expenditures based

2:26:54on incumbrances and actual expenditures.

2:26:58>> Okay.

2:26:59>> So that would be reflected on a quarter.

2:27:02Yeah.

2:27:03>> You'll be able to send that to the

2:27:05members of the council

2:27:06>> pretty soon like

2:27:07>> this week you think or is it ready this

2:27:09week or?

2:27:10>> Well, the the budget and numbers are

2:27:12Yes.

2:27:13>> Yeah. the plan the work plan is right

2:27:15here.

2:27:15>> Yeah. And then

2:27:17>> when you're ready after the the the

2:27:18first quarter that'll be one of the

2:27:21items on the finance we'll put them on

2:27:23you know how are the numbers that you

2:27:25projected for that quarter like you said

2:27:27before compared to the actuals

2:27:29>> right

2:27:29>> and what do we have to change going

2:27:30forward basically that's that's probably

2:27:32the discussion we're going to have

2:27:34>> and

2:27:35I can also state to you that I will be

2:27:38having discussions with the departments.

2:27:40Thank you.

2:27:42>> Specifically certain ones.

2:27:45>> Thank you. That's perfect. I I

2:27:46appreciate that.

2:27:47>> Director Councilman Bono,

2:27:49>> thank you. I just I just want to

2:27:52underscore why I think it's important um

2:27:56to

2:27:58the director and and and to members of

2:27:59the public who might be paying attention

2:28:02now or at some point in the future. Um

2:28:04like you just said and you yourself

2:28:07director just said it. It's not as

2:28:08simple as taking the four quarters and

2:28:10dividing it by four and this is the and

2:28:12this is the number you know if if we're

2:28:14not at this target you know because like

2:28:17you said there are different things that

2:28:18come at different times of the year.

2:28:19>> Correct. And I think it's uh I think you

2:28:24you know I have every confidence in you

2:28:27um and I think most people on the

2:28:29council do um and I to be honest I think

2:28:32the public should based on what you know

2:28:34your your track record in the past but

2:28:36the more knowledge that we have the

2:28:39better it is for everybody. the more

2:28:41knowledge that again not only us as the

2:28:43council but the public has as well how

2:28:45that how that sort of falls throughout

2:28:47the year it's easier to see um you know

2:28:52trouble coming and the more eyes that

2:28:54are on potential trouble coming the

2:28:56better if we've learned anything over

2:28:57the past two years I think that's that's

2:28:59that's the ultimate goal I don't feel as

2:29:01though I want to see it to bust

2:29:02anybody's chops or to to make anybody

2:29:04look bad um I just want to see it so I

2:29:07have a better understanding and u that

2:29:10way the better my understanding is the

2:29:12better I can serve the folks and you

2:29:15know two sets of eyes is always better

2:29:16than one. So that's why it's important

2:29:18to me to see some of this stuff. I think

2:29:20I think you'll agree that um you know uh

2:29:23while it might be an honorous task at

2:29:26the beginning once we sort of get it

2:29:28going it's going to help the budget

2:29:29process throughout the whole year. And

2:29:31to be honest, I'm not I'm surprised that

2:29:33we haven't been doing it for as long as

2:29:36I can remember be, you know, before I

2:29:37was before this council, before the

2:29:39previous council, before this

2:29:40administration or the previous

2:29:41administration. I'm surprised that this

2:29:43has fallen by the wayside for so long.

2:29:45Um, just so we can see if we're hitting

2:29:46our projections based on what they're

2:29:48supposed to be throughout the year. So,

2:29:51thanks. Just to want to point out one

2:29:53other thing based on the four quarters

2:29:56at the end of the fiscal year and I know

2:29:58you can't wait till then uh because you

2:30:02know what's happened in the past but

2:30:04based on that you may have peaks in the

2:30:07second quarter less in the third but it

2:30:10all should come out at the end as a

2:30:12balanced budget.

2:30:13>> Yeah. and knowing how those I think the

2:30:15the thing of it is knowing how those

2:30:16peaks and valleys predicting those peaks

2:30:18and valleys you know so when we get our

2:30:22when we get our monthly reports we don't

2:30:24go you know expletive deleted why are we

2:30:27so why are we so below on this well

2:30:30that's the way it's that's the way it's

2:30:31been by the fourth quarter it'll catch

2:30:32up knowing those projections I think

2:30:34will will be extremely helpful in

2:30:37knowing where to focus our mental

2:30:39resources

2:30:40>> you know what I mean

2:30:41>> yeah and and I just I want re-emphasize

2:30:44that I always make myself available to

2:30:48the council if you ever have questions

2:30:49about any uh particular department line

2:30:52item whatever. Uh hopefully I can get

2:30:56view a good answer.

2:31:00>> Director, just for the record, you do

2:31:02share all these reports with our

2:31:03auditor, correct?

2:31:06>> Thank you. All right, moving on. I

2:31:08believe you should wait. Oh, causing me.

2:31:10>> Not to blavorver the point, but I I will

2:31:12say repeat some of the comments that was

2:31:14said there, too. I mean, you know, I I

2:31:15think you're doing a fantastic job, but

2:31:16I I think before, you know, you pretty

2:31:18much lied to, you know, with what was

2:31:20going on to the point and and, you know,

2:31:21we all paid the price, especially in the

2:31:23public force. I think the more we can

2:31:25see and have our hands around it and I

2:31:27appreciate everything you're doing. I

2:31:28think the more we can ask questions, I

2:31:29think, you know, from the last meeting

2:31:30where I asked questions about the trees

2:31:32and it was, you know, why were we so far

2:31:33over in trees and it was because of the

2:31:35storm last time. At least we can explain

2:31:36this stuff and I think we help the

2:31:38administration, administration helps us.

2:31:40So I think the more we can be

2:31:41transparent and talk about this stuff, I

2:31:42think it just helps everybody. So thank

2:31:44you.

2:31:45>> Okay. I also want to thank the director.

2:31:47He's always available and every time I

2:31:49called for a question on anything, he is

2:31:51uh standup gentleman. So thank you

2:31:54director. Um

2:31:57anybody else? Nope. Okay, moving on. Mr.

2:31:59President, update on the June

2:32:03there. our auditor

2:32:05>> just to add um for director Strom uh the

2:32:10perspective of what he says is that

2:32:11nothing is isn't equal bound. So a

2:32:14quarter is an adjustment but also

2:32:16remember there are events that take

2:32:17place seasonally. So if you're looking

2:32:19at pox and wreck for an example the pool

2:32:22comes in at a certain time. So those

2:32:24expense should be there but also in the

2:32:26month of the reports that are provided

2:32:28there is one column that has a

2:32:30percentage that it's supposed to be. So

2:32:31I think every month is about 8.33%

2:32:34give or take. That'll give you

2:32:37perspective monthly if they're over or

2:32:39under. But again, you're probably best

2:32:42at a quarter and probably at 6 months is

2:32:46be a good mirror to see. Now the one

2:32:49thing that a working program does not

2:32:51take into effect and obviously uh

2:32:53director Trump couldn't plan is the

2:32:55anomaly that takes place. So if we're in

2:32:57the winter and we have snow, you have an

2:32:59issue. If we have a windstorm, you have

2:33:01an issue. So, if there's something that

2:33:03takes place that's an anomaly, even a

2:33:05work report isn't going to be prepared

2:33:08for that. So, you know, what what's put

2:33:11together and I'm available for any

2:33:12questions as as the director is, we work

2:33:14together, we you know, if I have a

2:33:16question, he has a question. So, that's

2:33:18just something to keep in mind. You

2:33:20know, there could be a another

2:33:22perspective could be if that in the

2:33:25budgetary period we didn't invoke a job

2:33:27until January 1 or we didn't invoke an

2:33:30increase in a contract till January 1.

2:33:32Your first six-month perspective is not

2:33:34going to show that in a work report.

2:33:36It's going to roll into the next one.

2:33:37So, you just have to keep some of those

2:33:39in mind because it's not a specific that

2:33:42it's everything's the same every month

2:33:44or every quarter. There are a lot of

2:33:46variables that take place. interest

2:33:47rates up, interest rates down, things to

2:33:49that effect. So, just to keep that in

2:33:51mind that it's a good picture at a point

2:33:54in time that you can ask questions

2:33:56about.

2:33:58>> Councilwoman Graiano for the auditor.

2:34:00>> Thank you. Um, just I I think that's a

2:34:03great point to be made. Um something

2:34:05I'll recommend is that quite possibly we

2:34:08would have maybe like micro meetings

2:34:12um instead of like the quarterly when we

2:34:15have um snow or ice issues when we're

2:34:19over sanding and be looking at those

2:34:21budgets. So sorry, not like an extra

2:34:22meeting, but kind of like, okay, we know

2:34:25that there was a snowstorm. Instead of

2:34:26looking at the projections for the

2:34:28quarter, we need to take a peek at the

2:34:30projections right now because we had,

2:34:33you know, three snowstorms and we're

2:34:35already over budget on salt or sand. So

2:34:38I I'm thinking like we just need to flag

2:34:40those times um with the director, the

2:34:44president, and yourself and take a look

2:34:46at those December, January, February,

2:34:49and just make sure we're on point

2:34:50instead of quarterly.

2:34:52>> Yeah. And uh director, correct me if I'm

2:34:54wrong. The only issue that we had with

2:34:55the last snowstorm, a lot of the

2:34:57expenditures came in late because there

2:35:00was so much time put into clearing up.

2:35:02So getting sanding bills and getting our

2:35:04contractors to bill us, it was a a

2:35:06longer process. So I think you might be

2:35:08able to get a good estimate or at least

2:35:10have an idea that there's been

2:35:12additional expenditures that took place,

2:35:14but sometimes the timing is tough in

2:35:16those because we're more concerned with

2:35:18public safety and getting the job

2:35:20completed to get us back operational.

2:35:28>> Mr. Director, the floor is yours.

2:35:31One other thing, we have sometimes huge

2:35:34blanket orders and we draw off of them

2:35:37during the course of the year. So you

2:35:39may see an incumbrance

2:35:41of say use the term $100,000,

2:35:44but we haven't really expended all

2:35:46100,000. We're going to be drawing as

2:35:48needed basis for the whole fiscal year.

2:35:51So the incumbrance is a part of that

2:35:54quarter. So it may distort the actual

2:35:58expense.

2:36:00Thank you, director. Anyone else?

2:36:03Seeing none, moving on to the last item

2:36:07on the agenda, the updated June monthly

2:36:09financial report and July monthly

2:36:11financial report. Mr. President, the

2:36:13floor is yours.

2:36:14>> Thank you once again, Mr. Chairman, and

2:36:16I'll be needing Mr. Stum in a minute.

2:36:19Um, I figured this would be the easiest

2:36:22of all our financial monthly reports

2:36:24because it's the first month of the

2:36:25quarter of the July. Um, however, even

2:36:28getting it was a little difficult

2:36:30because I guess the numbers for the

2:36:31schools were not available right away.

2:36:34Um, however, I only looked at two pages

2:36:37this time, Director Stram. So, um, I

2:36:40looked at the first one and I know

2:36:42there's some some uh there's going to be

2:36:45some discussion and some explanation,

2:36:47but as I as I look at it, I see revenues

2:36:52are down. Correct.

2:36:55Six. So on this on this on the report,

2:36:59if I'm reading it correctly, the report

2:37:01says the revenue is down about $6.7

2:37:04million.

2:37:06>> But [clears throat] there's some

2:37:07explanation to that,

2:37:08>> right?

2:37:08>> This is the month of June, just for the

2:37:10record, right?

2:37:10>> Um,

2:37:11>> no, this is the month of July.

2:37:12>> July.

2:37:13>> We did that. Yeah, we did.

2:37:15>> June June.

2:37:16>> We did it already. We did it last month.

2:37:19>> Yeah, but I I've updated it. We

2:37:22constantly are updating it.

2:37:24>> I'm looking at the July All right. Well,

2:37:27let's

2:37:27>> I think I'm looking at July.

2:37:28>> No, I'd like to also discuss with you

2:37:30after this July uh excuse me, June.

2:37:33>> Okay. All right. Yeah, I'm welcome

2:37:35>> because what we showed as a deficit is

2:37:37now not as great.

2:37:39>> So, you want you want to bring that in?

2:37:41>> Well, no, we can discuss July

2:37:43>> because July won't take very much,

2:37:44>> you know, July I I just want to point

2:37:46out,

2:37:49but you really need to look in July and

2:37:51some of these figures to the right. I

2:37:54need to have a discussion with u uh my

2:37:58finance department. But I have

2:38:02reports here that substantiate

2:38:06year to date, which is only one month

2:38:09>> of July of revenues of 69.4

2:38:13million and expenditures of almost 22

2:38:17million. So really for that month, and I

2:38:21know it's distorted, it's it's like

2:38:2547.9.4

2:38:28million as a um uh surplus. Now,

2:38:33obviously, that's going to change as the

2:38:36season goes.

2:38:37>> So those are the key numbers right

2:38:39there. And the percentage, as you can

2:38:42see, is 19.87 and the expense side is

2:38:466.28. 28.

2:38:48>> So that's only one month. I have a more

2:38:51realistic number through

2:38:54August and part of September that I

2:38:57could provide to you if you're

2:38:58interested because it's

2:39:00>> Yeah,

2:39:00>> it's much more realistic.

2:39:02>> Yeah, I certainly would like that.

2:39:03>> Yeah,

2:39:06[clears throat]

2:39:07>> because as I stated, I run reports if

2:39:11not weekly, every two weeks, every

2:39:14Monday. And right now for fiscal year

2:39:1727, as of today's date, our expenses

2:39:21were 62.1

2:39:24million with incumbrances of 2.3

2:39:27totaling 64.5

2:39:30million. That's roughly 18.46%

2:39:33of for the fiscal year. Revenues are

2:39:3786.7

2:39:41uh million. They're at 24.81. So as of

2:39:46the end of August, beginning of

2:39:48September, we currently have a surplus

2:39:52balance of 22187264.

2:39:57>> So that's considerably better than the

2:39:59numbers I have in front of me. Yes.

2:40:01>> And that and when I look at the reports,

2:40:05I think uh

2:40:08Mr. Deo mentioned it too. It gives you a

2:40:10percentage.

2:40:11>> If you look at the revenue or or The

2:40:14percentage is 24.81

2:40:17and the expenditures

2:40:20are 18.46.

2:40:23It ties right into what it to what it

2:40:26was supposed to be because if you look

2:40:28at it through that period of time 18.46

2:40:31is really where we should be

2:40:32percentwise.

2:40:33>> So we're right on track

2:40:34>> right on track expenditures over on the

2:40:36revenues.

2:40:37>> So what do you think happened with the

2:40:38report we have in front of us? Is it

2:40:40just a mistake?

2:40:41The report you have in front of us

2:40:46has some details here that just didn't

2:40:48ex uh generate.

2:40:50>> There's something wrong. Yeah.

2:40:52>> But the key column is actually near to

2:40:55date.

2:40:55>> Yeah.

2:40:56>> You see that?

2:40:57>> Yep.

2:40:57>> Okay. That's the key. And the other

2:40:59thing is it's frustrating for us too

2:41:01because we've been waiting on the school

2:41:03department

2:41:04>> Yeah.

2:41:04>> to present us not only

2:41:07uh July, but we haven't got June yet. So

2:41:11I you know combined if you when we talk

2:41:14about through June we've updated our

2:41:17figures but I have not get gotten

2:41:20figures from the school because as you

2:41:22know we report that as a combination

2:41:24>> right you do

2:41:26>> and I I I don't want to get into

2:41:29>> no I don't want

2:41:30>> issues but

2:41:32>> I've I've requested it at least a half a

2:41:34dozen times

2:41:36>> some point there's going to be a meeting

2:41:39meeting get everything together because

2:41:41those figures are important to the city

2:41:43as well. I couldn't agree more

2:41:44>> because at one at at one time they're

2:41:48showing like I believe it's a half a

2:41:50million dollar

2:41:52deficit.

2:41:53>> Okay.

2:41:53>> And I was told that it could be better

2:41:56than that that it's not going to be as

2:41:58great.

2:41:58>> Okay.

2:41:59>> So, if that's the case, it'll make our

2:42:01fund balance even look better.

2:42:03>> Right.

2:42:04>> So, that's why it's so critical. I

2:42:05>> think it's important we have all the

2:42:06numbers.

2:42:07>> Yep. Can I go to and thank you for the

2:42:09that updated number because it's much

2:42:11better than what I have in front of me.

2:42:13Um on page two just for this and it's

2:42:15only pages I really had concerns with.

2:42:17>> Yeah.

2:42:18>> Um if you look at page two if I'm

2:42:20looking at property tax collection

2:42:23>> I'm read I think I'm reading it

2:42:25correctly that we're down in property

2:42:27tax collection by $1.1 million

2:42:30approximately.

2:42:32Is that what I'm seeing?

2:42:35Well,

2:42:37on my report that I just ran today,

2:42:39we're at 31.77%.

2:42:43>> And we haven't even hit a quarter. And

2:42:44the quarter is 25% if you want to do it

2:42:46on a quarterly basis.

2:42:48>> So, so and the quarter we balanced out

2:42:50>> at the time of this report, we were down

2:42:52a little bit.

2:42:53>> There might have been, don't forget, we

2:42:55had some 60-day rule revenues that

2:42:57haven't didn't hit. There are a few

2:43:00things that we have now kind of caught

2:43:02up after two months

2:43:03>> and that was just an anomaly. It hit me

2:43:05in addition to the state aid I see also

2:43:07down um four uh $4.7 million that

2:43:12balanced out a bit.

2:43:13>> Yeah. Well, no. Uh state aid, we receive

2:43:16state aid all during the course of the

2:43:17whole year.

2:43:18>> So, you get payments for motor vehicle,

2:43:21>> right?

2:43:21>> Uh public corporation tax, housing aid.

2:43:25>> There's a number of intangibles. So

2:43:27there's a number of things that we

2:43:29received from the state that are

2:43:31sometimes uh seasonal.

2:43:33>> Okay. So they were down in their aid

2:43:35from projection on this report.

2:43:37>> Yeah.

2:43:38>> 4.7 million.

2:43:39>> Yeah.

2:43:40>> Which is

2:43:41>> but we will be getting all that.

2:43:44>> That's something we will receive.

2:43:45>> You want to add something to the order?

2:43:47>> If I'm correct, I'm just so the reports

2:43:51come in on the cash basis. The

2:43:53projections are on the acrruel basis.

2:43:55So, for example, if there's a check that

2:43:56comes from the state where he's giving

2:43:58you a report at the end of the month,

2:44:00let's say August 31st, and that check

2:44:02shows up on September 1st, it's going to

2:44:04catch up in that period.

2:44:06>> Okay?

2:44:06>> So, basically the we we do our budget on

2:44:09the acrruel, but basically the reports

2:44:11are being given on the cash basis. So,

2:44:13it's a timing issue sometimes, mail,

2:44:16wire, whatever it may be, long holiday,

2:44:18something to that effect. So what's

2:44:20budgeted from the state I got to assume

2:44:23is correct and on point based on what

2:44:25they guarantee, but it's always a timing

2:44:27issue with some of them.

2:44:28>> Okay.

2:44:28>> So don't be alarmed. I, you know, I'm

2:44:30feel confident that Bob has got the

2:44:32right information.

2:44:36>> And at the end of the fiscal year, even

2:44:39if there's some money that hadn't come

2:44:41in, we set up receivables. So we book

2:44:44the revenue and we set up a receivable.

2:44:46So when we get it say in July, it really

2:44:49pertains to FY27 or 26, whatever fiscal

2:44:53year.

2:44:54>> So that kind of segus into you the good

2:44:56news you had regarding the end. So if

2:44:59no, there's no objection. I'd certainly

2:45:00like to hear what you said

2:45:01>> about June.

2:45:02>> About June. Yeah.

2:45:03>> Okay.

2:45:03>> If that's okay with anybody else, I I

2:45:05want to hear the good definitely good

2:45:06news.

2:45:11>> Who's got it?

2:45:25Okay.

2:45:27For June, um I believe the last time we

2:45:32uh

2:45:33came before you with figures, uh I

2:45:36believe the deficit at that time was uh

2:45:399 to10 million.

2:45:41>> Yeah, it was 9 something.

2:45:42>> Yeah. right now. Um, after all the

2:45:46revenues, 60-day rule, which is a prior

2:45:49year revenue

2:45:51for the city, it's down to 8.3 million.

2:45:55>> Okay.

2:45:56>> Now, it's still a deficit, but it, you

2:46:00know, at least

2:46:01>> it's better.

2:46:02>> It's not getting worse. It was getting,

2:46:03it's getting better, and we're pretty

2:46:05close to uh closing out. So, if the

2:46:09school does come through with, you know,

2:46:12right now they're showing like 2.1

2:46:15million

2:46:17uh and they had a fund balance of 15. If

2:46:20if that improves, our fund balance as a

2:46:23whole will look a lot better.

2:46:26>> And if I recall from last month, you you

2:46:30were expecting it to be somewhere around

2:46:32this point

2:46:33>> this year. Yes.

2:46:34>> We weren't expecting it to balance this

2:46:36year. That was never thought. You had

2:46:37you had been honest with us all straight

2:46:39through,

2:46:39>> right?

2:46:40>> That we were really looking to the 27

2:46:42budget,

2:46:42>> right?

2:46:43>> And you still feel confident going

2:46:45forward on that budget.

2:46:46>> 27?

2:46:47>> Yeah. Because you're in the budget now.

2:46:48It sounds like you are, but I won't put

2:46:49words in your mouth.

2:46:51>> Uh I've already indicated to department

2:46:53heads that we will not have a deficit in

2:46:57fiscal year 27.

2:46:58>> That's what I want to hear.

2:47:01That's what I'm going to quit it. Yes.

2:47:02I'm all done talking. Council

2:47:04>> Betto.

2:47:07Just a really quick question. You may

2:47:09not have the answer yet, but based on

2:47:10what you just said, the um projections,

2:47:13and you're close to closing out the

2:47:14year, what what's the balance in the

2:47:16rainy day?

2:47:18But what is the projected balance in the

2:47:20rainy day?

2:47:21>> Right now, the the balance would be uh

2:47:255.6 million in the rainy day fund, but

2:47:28if the school improves and gives me

2:47:31their numbers, it could be up to six to

2:47:33seven million.

2:47:35So, it's still a a drop off from what it

2:47:39used to be.

2:47:40>> But the other thing is we're, you know,

2:47:42we're working on things like um uh some

2:47:46property, you know, that uh there might

2:47:48be some land we may look to to turn

2:47:52over. There's a school we're looking to

2:47:54get a good real estate appraisal. Uh I'm

2:47:57working with Johnson of Wales for their

2:47:59pilot program, which hadn't been done

2:48:01for three years. Uh we're working at

2:48:04some real estate that we never received

2:48:07rent from from uh a certain uh uh group

2:48:12in the city that we're going uh having a

2:48:16discussion. It'll probably come before

2:48:18you on a new lease agreement. Right now

2:48:20we're not receiving anything. Hopefully

2:48:22we can institute that for this year and

2:48:25across the pilot the program and then if

2:48:28we can uh do any kind of real estate

2:48:31transaction we would like to restore

2:48:33that monies not into the real general

2:48:36fund but through the general fund into

2:48:39the fund balance.

2:48:42>> Thank you.

2:48:44>> Anyone else?

2:48:47Seeing none I think we can end on a good

2:48:48note. May I entertain a motion to

2:48:50adjurnn? Motion to adjurnn.

2:48:53>> All those in favor say I.

2:48:54>> I. Any naysay? Eyes have it. We are

2:48:56adjourned at 8:19 p.m.

2:48:58>> I give you two minutes and we'll start

2:49:00the next one.

2:54:34This time

2:54:36[clears throat]

2:54:37I'd like to call this special uh city

2:54:40council meeting to order

2:54:43uh this evening, September 14th, 2026. I

2:54:47ask clerk please call a role.

2:54:50>> Councilman Tracanti.

2:54:52>> Councilman Ritz

2:54:53>> present.

2:54:54>> Councilman Anduhar

2:54:55>> present.

2:54:56>> Counciloman Graciano

2:54:57>> present. Councilman Banano

2:55:00>> present.

2:55:01>> Councilman Campiano

2:55:02>> present.

2:55:03>> Counciloman Vizeri. Council Vice

2:55:06President Hoyan

2:55:07>> present.

2:55:08>> Council president Wall

2:55:09>> here. Thank you.

2:55:13First item of business and this there is

2:55:15just two items of business this evening

2:55:17would be public hearings on the class BV

2:55:21liquor license. This is a new license

2:55:24for DNC Inc. DBA BA Campanella's

2:55:29restaurant located at 930 Oakland

2:55:32Avenue. Um we we heard about this this

2:55:35evening. It passed through the um safety

2:55:38service this evening. I'm looking for a

2:55:40motion to approve. Motion to approve.

2:55:42>> Second.

2:55:46>> Public hearing. Yeah.

2:55:49>> Yeah.

2:55:50>> Hold on one second. I want to make sure

2:55:51I do.

2:56:00And just vice council, is anyone here

2:56:02who would like to speak on this matter

2:56:05regarding public hearing regarding this

2:56:07item?

2:56:09I think you're good. All right. I see

2:56:11none. Is there anyone anyone online?

2:56:13>> Yeah, there is no public comment online.

2:56:15>> Okay, so I see nothing. I've got a

2:56:16motion to approve. Is there any

2:56:17discussion?

2:56:19>> I'll just quickly mention uh I was a

2:56:21frequent flyer at Campan Ellis before.

2:56:22Excited to have them back. I saw the

2:56:24owner in here quickly. Uh you know, it's

2:56:26W six, but it bought us enough of Ward 4

2:56:28that we go there. So excited to have

2:56:29them back.

2:56:31>> Thank you, Councilman.

2:56:32>> Anybody else?

2:56:34Seeing none, I'm going to ask the clerk

2:56:36to please call the role.

2:56:37>> Councilman Tracanty.

2:56:39>> Yes.

2:56:39>> Councilman Ritz. Yes.

2:56:40>> Council Andrew.

2:56:41>> Yes.

2:56:42>> Counciloman Graciano.

2:56:43>> Yes.

2:56:43>> Councilman Banano.

2:56:44>> Yes.

2:56:45>> Councilman Campiano.

2:56:46>> Yes.

2:56:47>> Council vice president Hawaiian.

2:56:49>> Yes.

2:56:50>> Council president Wall.

2:56:51>> Yes. That motion is approved. All right.

2:56:54No executive communications. Council

2:56:57business carried over. Some of you

2:56:58remember that we did pass the substance

2:57:01of this contract, but this is actually

2:57:03passing it when it's all together. All

2:57:05right. So, this this item would be a

2:57:08contract between the city of Cranston

2:57:10and the IBO301

2:57:12for the FY uh fiscal year 2027 through

2:57:152029

2:57:17uh July 1st, 2026, June 30th, 2029.

2:57:22Is there a motion to approve?

2:57:24>> Motion to approve.

2:57:24>> Is there a second?

2:57:25>> Second.

2:57:26>> Discussion.

2:57:28>> I see. Councilman Enderhigh.

2:57:30>> Thank you, Mr. President. I just hope

2:57:31with this contract um they can um you

2:57:36know take care of the city um they serve

2:57:39the city well but I also would like them

2:57:42in the future to have a police academy

2:57:44so they could actually fill their

2:57:45details.

2:57:47>> All right. Any other comments?

2:57:51>> I see. Councilman Beno. I just want to

2:57:54briefly say that um

2:57:56you know serving in this capacity there

2:58:00are a lot of things that uh are

2:58:02troubling

2:58:03um but there are a lot of positive

2:58:05things as well. We see a lot. We see the

2:58:07best and the worst of the city sitting

2:58:09in these chairs. And uh one of the best

2:58:11things about the city is our police

2:58:12department. And um I'm I'm constantly

2:58:18proud of the work that they do um and

2:58:21and how they make the city look. You

2:58:23know, we've had we've had a we've had a

2:58:25rough couple of years and there's been

2:58:26some stuff a lot of it not under our

2:58:28control or the control of anybody in

2:58:30this building. Um, however, this the

2:58:33Cranston Police Department um constantly

2:58:36makes the city of Cranston shine. So, I

2:58:38just wanted to say that. I'll be very

2:58:39proud to vote for this contract tonight.

2:58:41Thank you.

2:58:42>> All right. I'm not going to believe the

2:58:43point. I share my colleagues opinion.

2:58:46I'll ask the clerk to please call the

2:58:47role. There's no further comments.

2:58:49>> Councilman Tracanti?

2:58:50>> Yes.

2:58:51>> Councilman Ritz?

2:58:51>> Yes.

2:58:52>> Councilman [clears throat] Andar?

2:58:53>> Yes.

2:58:53>> Counciloman Graiano?

2:58:54>> Yes.

2:58:55>> Councilman Banano?

2:58:56>> Yes.

2:58:56>> Councilman Campiano?

2:58:57>> Yes.

2:58:58>> Council Vice President Hoyan?

2:58:59>> Yes. Council President Wolf.

2:59:01>> Yes. That motion carries. And then

2:59:02there's no further business before the

2:59:04council this evening. So I'm going to

2:59:05ask for a motion to adjurnn.

2:59:07>> Motion to adjurnn.

2:59:08>> Second. All in favor, please signify by

2:59:10saying I. I. Opposed. Signify by saying

2:59:12nay. The eyes have it. The motion

2:59:13carries. This meeting is over. Good

2:59:16night.

2:59:47Just just just one second.

3:00:00Um ju just for the record uh programming

3:00:03note solicitor Malay on behalf of uh the

3:00:07administration withdrew the need for

3:00:09this meeting. They may or may not

3:00:10convene this meeting emergency meeting

3:00:12at another time at a safety service

3:00:14meeting. Um sorry for the inconvenience.

3:00:17Good night.

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