2026-10-05 - Finance Committee

16:42Monday, October 5th, 2026.

16:45I would like to take a roll call,

16:48please.

16:50>> Councilman Anduhar,

16:51>> present.

16:52>> Councilman Rhettz, Councilman Tracante,

16:55Councilwoman Vazeri,

16:56>> present.

16:57>> Council Vice President Horian,

16:58>> present. Counc

17:00>> here.

17:01>> Is there anyone in chambers who would

17:02like to make public comment on agenda

17:04matters only?

17:06Is there anyone online?

17:10>> There is no public comment online.

17:12>> At this time, I would like to close

17:14public comment.

17:16I would like to entertain a motion to

17:18convene to executive session pursuant to

17:20RIGL4246582.

17:24Do I have a motion?

17:25>> Motion.

17:27Second.

17:28Clerk, can you please call the role?

17:30>> Councilman Andir,

17:32>> yes.

17:33>> Counciloman Vizeri,

17:34>> yes.

17:35>> Council President Horan,

17:36>> yes.

17:37>> Council President Wall,

17:38>> yes.

17:39>> We are now in

17:42>> We are now in executive session.

34:45So moved.

34:46>> Second.

34:49>> Discussion. Clerk, can you please call

34:50the role?

34:53>> Hold on a second.

34:55>> Hold on.

34:56>> Councilman Anduha.

34:57>> Yes.

34:57>> Councilman Ritz.

34:58>> Yes. Councilwoman

35:02Vizeri,

35:02>> yes.

35:03>> Council Vice President Han,

35:04>> yes. Council President Wall,

35:06>> yes.

35:08>> I want to state for the record that

35:09motions were made in executive session.

35:12I would like to make a motion to seal

35:13the executive session minutes.

35:15>> Motion to seal the executive session

35:17minutes.

35:18>> Second.

35:19>> Any discussion? Clerk, can you please

35:21call the role?

35:22>> Councilman Anduharb.

35:23>> Yes.

35:24>> Council Britz.

35:25>> Yes.

35:26>> Counciloman Bazeri.

35:27>> Yes.

35:27>> Council Vice President Orion.

35:28>> Yes. President Wall.

35:30>> Yes.

35:33>> I would like to make a motion to approve

35:35the minutes of the September

35:37>> on there.

35:45>> I have a motion to adjourn this meeting.

35:46>> So moved.

35:47>> Second.

35:48>> All in favor? I.

35:50>> Any nays? Eyes have it. This meeting is

35:53now

1:01:43Safety Services and Licensing Committee

1:01:45to order. October 5th, 6:30 p.m.

1:01:50>> Yeah, I didn't.

1:01:52>> Clerk, could I please have a roll call

1:01:54vote? Councilwoman Bazeri,

1:01:57>> present. Councilwoman Graciano.

1:01:59>> Councilman Ritz,

1:02:00>> present.

1:02:01>> Councilman Trapanti,

1:02:03>> Councilman Andrew Har,

1:02:04>> present. Council Vice President Oyan

1:02:06present. Council President Wolf

1:02:08>> here.

1:02:13>> We don't have last meeting, so we're

1:02:15going to go right into public comment

1:02:17tonight. Is there anyone here tonight

1:02:19from the public that would like to

1:02:21comment on agenda items only?

1:02:29Tom, is there anyone online that would

1:02:31like to comment on agenda items only?

1:02:34There is no public comment online.

1:02:36>> Thank you. I'm going to close public

1:02:38comment now.

1:02:40[clears throat]

1:02:42>> Okay. If there's no objections, I'd like

1:02:45to take under a public hearing um class

1:02:49A liquor license 1 through

1:02:528 as a block.

1:02:54>> So moved.

1:02:55>> Second.

1:02:56>> Okay. I would like a motion to approve 1

1:03:00through 8 as a block. So moved. Second.

1:03:04>> Is there any discussion on this?

1:03:09>> Clerk, could I have a roll call vote?

1:03:12>> Counciloman Vizeri,

1:03:14>> yes.

1:03:15>> Councilman Ritz,

1:03:16>> yes.

1:03:16>> Councilman Trapey,

1:03:17>> yes.

1:03:17>> Councilman Anduhar,

1:03:18>> yes.

1:03:19>> Council President Hoyan,

1:03:20>> yes.

1:03:21>> Council President Wall,

1:03:22>> yes.

1:03:24>> Okay. And the B, it's class A, class as

1:03:28liquor license renewal. And that was we

1:03:31did get the letter of good standings

1:03:33today for Joseph B. Tallying

1:03:34Incorporated. I would like a motion to

1:03:36approve. So move

1:03:37>> to approve.

1:03:38>> Second.

1:03:39>> Any discussion? [clears throat]

1:03:41Clerk. Could I have a roll call vote?

1:03:43>> Counciloman Vizeri.

1:03:45>> Yes.

1:03:45>> Councilman Ritz.

1:03:46>> Yes.

1:03:46>> Councilman Traanti.

1:03:48>> Yes.

1:03:48>> Councilman Enderhart.

1:03:49>> Yes.

1:03:49>> Council Vice President Hoyan.

1:03:50>> Yes.

1:03:51>> Council President Wall.

1:03:52>> Yes.

1:03:54>> Okay. The next item on the agenda is

1:03:56class A liquor license. This is a

1:03:58transferring and they were here earlier

1:04:00in the meeting. It's uh Jay Gaga

1:04:03Incorporated doing business as Capital

1:04:06Liquors. They are missing some of the

1:04:08information we need for tonight. We are

1:04:10going to continue this till next Tuesday

1:04:12the 13th. Could I please have a motion

1:04:14to continue this?

1:04:15>> Motion to continue to Tuesday the 13th.

1:04:18>> Any discussion?

1:04:20Clerk, could I have a roll call vote?

1:04:25Councilwoman Vizeri? Yes.

1:04:29Councilman Ritz.

1:04:30>> Yes.

1:04:30>> Councilman Tracani. Councilman Anduhar.

1:04:33>> Yes. Council

1:04:33>> Vice President Haran.

1:04:35>> Yes.

1:04:35>> Council President Wall.

1:04:36>> Yes.

1:04:38>> Class B liquor licenses renewals. Um,

1:04:43two. All right. Alpine Country Club.

1:04:46Everything is in order. Could I please

1:04:48have a motion to approve? So moved.

1:04:51>> Second.

1:04:52>> Any discussion?

1:04:54Could I have a roll call? Counciloman

1:05:00Bazeri.

1:05:00>> Yes.

1:05:01>> Councilman Ritz.

1:05:02>> Yes.

1:05:02>> Councilman Tracanti. Councilman Andrew.

1:05:05>> Yes.

1:05:05>> Council Vice President Hoyan.

1:05:07>> Yes. Counc.

1:05:08>> Yes.

1:05:10>> Next item. Um I guess it's Coochi uh

1:05:14Cranston LLC doing business as Coochie

1:05:17Sushi and Steakhouse. It does not look

1:05:19like we have all the needed information.

1:05:21I'd like a motion to continue that till

1:05:23next month. So moved.

1:05:24>> Second. Any discussion? Clerk, could I

1:05:28have a roll call? Counciloman Vizeri?

1:05:30>> Yes.

1:05:31>> Councilman Ritz?

1:05:32>> Yes.

1:05:33>> Councilman Trapy.

1:05:34>> Councilman Andrew?

1:05:35>> Yes.

1:05:36>> Council Vice President Havoyan?

1:05:38>> Yes. Council President Wall?

1:05:39>> Yes.

1:05:40>> Next items. LSF Cranston doing business

1:05:44as Legal Seafood. All is in order.

1:05:46Clerk, could I please have a roll call?

1:05:49>> No. Can I have a motion to approve?

1:05:50>> Motion to approve.

1:05:51>> Second. Any discussion?

1:05:54Clerk, could I have a roll call vote?

1:05:56>> Counciloman Vizeri,

1:05:57>> yes.

1:05:58>> Councilman Ritz,

1:05:59>> yes.

1:05:59>> Council Trapicante,

1:06:00>> yes. Councilman Anduhar,

1:06:01>> yes. Council

1:06:02>> Vice President Royan,

1:06:03>> yes.

1:06:04>> Council President Wall,

1:06:05>> yes.

1:06:06>> Next on the agenda is Lunchbox Cafe LLC

1:06:10doing business as Lunchbox Cafe. We have

1:06:13not received all the proper information.

1:06:15Could I please have a motion to continue

1:06:17till next month? So moved. Second.

1:06:20>> Any discussion?

1:06:24Court, could I have a roll call vote?

1:06:26>> Counciloman Vizeri,

1:06:27>> yes. Councilman Ritz,

1:06:28>> yes. Councilman Trapicante,

1:06:30>> yes.

1:06:30>> Councilman Andar,

1:06:31>> yes. Council

1:06:32>> President Hawaiian,

1:06:33>> yes.

1:06:33>> Council President Wool,

1:06:34>> yes.

1:06:36>> Next on agenda is Mera's Italian

1:06:38Restaurant doing business as Mera's

1:06:40Italian Restaurant. I do not have all

1:06:43the information I need. Could I please

1:06:45have a motion to continue to next month?

1:06:48So moved.

1:06:49>> Second. Discussion.

1:06:52Could I please call vote?

1:06:54>> Counciloman Pazeri.

1:06:55>> Yes.

1:06:55>> Councilman Ritz.

1:06:56>> Yes.

1:06:56>> Councilman Traanti.

1:06:58>> Councilman Anduhar. Yes.

1:06:59>> Council Vice President Hoyan.

1:07:00>> Yes.

1:07:00>> Council President Wolf.

1:07:02>> Yes.

1:07:03>> Next is Papa Raza Cranston doing

1:07:05business as AIO located at 90 Hillside

1:07:08Road. I do not have all the information

1:07:11we need. Could I please have a motion to

1:07:13continue for one month? So moved.

1:07:15>> Second.

1:07:16>> Any discussion?

1:07:19Clerk, could I have a roll call vote,

1:07:21please?

1:07:21>> Counciloman Vizeri,

1:07:22>> yes.

1:07:22>> Councilman Ritz, Councilman Tracante,

1:07:25Councilman Andar,

1:07:26>> yes. Council

1:07:27>> Vice President Hoyan,

1:07:28>> yes.

1:07:28>> Council President Wall,

1:07:29>> yes.

1:07:30>> Next is Spectico Management doing

1:07:32business at Specto Live. All is in

1:07:35order. Could I please have a motion to

1:07:36approve?

1:07:37>> So moved.

1:07:38>> Second.

1:07:39>> Any discussion?

1:07:41Cler, could I have a roll call vote,

1:07:43please?

1:07:44>> Council Bazeri?

1:07:45>> Yes.

1:07:46>> Councilman Ritz?

1:07:47>> Yes.

1:07:47>> Councilman Trapicante. Councilman Andar.

1:07:49>> Yes.

1:07:50>> Council vice president Hoyan.

1:07:52>> Yes.

1:07:52>> Council President Wool.

1:07:53>> Yes.

1:07:56>> Next on it is uh Taba Frankie Canteen

1:07:59Incorporated at 170 Randall Street. I

1:08:03did hear from their accountant and they

1:08:05have put in for the letter of good

1:08:06standing and he believes all is paid.

1:08:09We're going to ask for a motion to

1:08:11approve subject to receive the letter of

1:08:13good standing.

1:08:14>> So moved.

1:08:16>> Any discussion?

1:08:18Clerk, may I please have a roll call

1:08:20vote?

1:08:21>> Counciloman Vazeri,

1:08:22>> yes. Councilman Ritz,

1:08:24>> yes.

1:08:24>> Councilman Tracanti. Councilman Andar.

1:08:27Council

1:08:27>> Vice President Hoyan.

1:08:28>> Yes.

1:08:29>> Council President Wall.

1:08:30>> Yes.

1:08:32>> Thank you. Next is BVL liquor license

1:08:35renewal. This is Basil's Pizza located

1:08:38at 1270 Cranson Street. Um the same

1:08:42accountant also did reach out to us and

1:08:44say all was in order. He was positive

1:08:47everything was paid for. We're just

1:08:49waiting for that letter on good

1:08:51standings, but all is in order, he told

1:08:53us, and we're going to take his word.

1:08:56So, could I please have a motion to

1:08:57approve subject two? So, moved.

1:08:59>> Second.

1:09:02>> Discussion.

1:09:05>> You're doing subject two.

1:09:07>> Doing subject two on this. Yes.

1:09:12Can I please have a roll call vote?

1:09:14Councilman Bazeri. Councilman Ritz.

1:09:17>> Yes.

1:09:17>> Council Tracante. Councilman Andrew.

1:09:19>> Yes.

1:09:20>> Council Vice President Hoyan.

1:09:21>> Yes. Council President Wolf.

1:09:23>> Yes.

1:09:25>> Next is the class BV full liquor license

1:09:28transfer.

1:09:30Is there anyone here tonight from

1:09:31Mulligan's Island?

1:09:43Hi, this is Michael Canfield. I'm with

1:09:45uh Blue Jeans Golf Cranston LLC.

1:09:50>> I have some questions here. Sure.

1:09:52>> Um does who owns the business now? Is it

1:09:54Mulligans Island or is it Golf Ranch?

1:09:57>> It's it's owned by Golf Ranch and that's

1:10:00our DBA and what we'll be rebranding to

1:10:02after construction.

1:10:05>> Okay. Um, and all we're waiting for is

1:10:08the subject, the letter on good

1:10:10standing, but you're a new LLC here in

1:10:13Rhode Island, correct? Um, that's right.

1:10:16We've got a letter of good standing from

1:10:19the entity that purchased and owns the

1:10:22property. I think what we're waiting for

1:10:23is a letter of good standing from the

1:10:25seller, Mulligan's Island LLC. And the

1:10:29holdup there is withholding taxes

1:10:31related to the sale.

1:10:34Okay. Um,

1:10:38yeah. And the hours of operation you

1:10:40would like are 10:00 a.m. to 900 p.m.

1:10:43>> That's correct.

1:10:45>> Is this business operating now?

1:10:49>> It is closed as of the 21st of

1:10:53September. We've already broken ground

1:10:56on the renovations. Um, it's going to

1:10:58remain the existing business that it is

1:11:00today, but we'll be investing in the

1:11:03building and the Tline there.

1:11:06>> Are you hoping for the construction to

1:11:08be done and for the business to be

1:11:09opened?

1:11:12>> Um, we're expecting for that to happen

1:11:14in late February.

1:11:17>> February.

1:11:30Councilman Wall, Council President.

1:11:33>> Thank you, Madam Chair. I want to go

1:11:35back to you're waiting for a letter good

1:11:37standing regarding taxes owed owed by

1:11:40the previous owner. Who Who are those

1:11:42taxes owed to?

1:11:44>> That's correct. It's a It's due to the

1:11:47state of Rhode Island. So, we're waiting

1:11:49for this seller's certificate of good

1:11:52standing from the state of Rhode Island.

1:11:55>> I was just checking in case you owe us

1:11:57taxes.

1:11:58>> No, not that not that I know of, but

1:12:00please let us know if so,

1:12:03>> but you were able to do the transfer of

1:12:05the business and complete it without

1:12:07that letter. It wasn't needed for the

1:12:09transfer.

1:12:10>> That's correct. Because this is due to

1:12:12taxes owed on the purchase price that we

1:12:14paid

1:12:15by the seller. to be clear.

1:12:17>> That's my

1:12:19>> Thank you. Uh sir, I was in conversation

1:12:20with President Wall earlier. Are you

1:12:22going to maintain security there?

1:12:24Because, you know, the last thing we

1:12:26want is, you know, just people playing

1:12:28around or sneaking in and doing dirt

1:12:30bikes and stuff over there. So, what is

1:12:32your security plan as we speak um while

1:12:35you're in the stage of renovations?

1:12:37>> Yep. Yeah, thank you for that question.

1:12:39So, we've got a full 247 remote

1:12:42monitoring. It's the same monitoring

1:12:44service we have in place at all of our

1:12:46other sites. There's obviously the gate

1:12:48at the front that's locked and then we

1:12:50have a supervisor on site um during

1:12:52working hours which is effectively every

1:12:55day of the week

1:12:58>> and at night. Do you have um anything in

1:13:00the back like with a the part three,

1:13:03part 9, whatever that is?

1:13:06>> Um nothing that covers the back. We do

1:13:08have camera coverage and once again it's

1:13:10the 247 remote monitoring that covers

1:13:14everything on the entryway and the

1:13:16parking lot and then the existing

1:13:18structures as well.

1:13:23>> Would you be comfortable if I continue

1:13:25this till next month then because you

1:13:27don't plan till open till February to

1:13:28give you time to get all the information

1:13:30we need in the letter?

1:13:34Yeah, I I my ask would be if we can have

1:13:37the subject too if it's just the letter.

1:13:39Um I think that would be very helpful to

1:13:41us. I know we're hopeful to get this in

1:13:44on the September meeting. Um it is one

1:13:46of the things that is due to be

1:13:48transferred to us by the seller. Um so

1:13:51if we can get it subject to the seller's

1:13:54letter of good standing, that would be

1:13:55very helpful to us.

1:14:01>> All right. Could I please have a motion

1:14:02to pass this subject to the letter of

1:14:05good standing being turned into the

1:14:07city? So moved.

1:14:08>> Second.

1:14:09>> Any discussion?

1:14:11>> Clerk, could I have a roll call vote?

1:14:14>> Counciloman Vizeri?

1:14:16>> Yes.

1:14:16>> Councilman Ritz?

1:14:17>> Yes.

1:14:20>> Councilman Trappante?

1:14:21>> Yes.

1:14:22>> Councilman Anduhar?

1:14:23>> Yes.

1:14:23>> Council President Orion.

1:14:25>> Yes.

1:14:25>> Council President Wall.

1:14:26>> Yes.

1:14:29>> Great. Thank you all.

1:14:30You're welcome.

1:14:33Okay. Next is the class BV full liquor

1:14:36license. This is a new liquor license

1:14:38for Cafe Erie located at 1686. I believe

1:14:42the owners are here. They have been

1:14:44reaching out to us to keep us in the

1:14:46loop. They have purchased this business

1:14:49that was in receiverhip that had

1:14:51multiple issues to keep it in

1:14:53Knightsville. They own a very well-run

1:14:56establishment in Knightsville and they

1:14:59want to keep the neighborhood looking

1:15:01good. Um, I do need some more

1:15:04information, but because of the

1:15:06situation they're in and the business

1:15:08being in receiverhip and them buying it,

1:15:11they have asked if we can pass this

1:15:14subject to. The owners are in the um

1:15:18works of getting the department of

1:15:19health in the letter of good standing,

1:15:22but they need to close on the business

1:15:24and they need these so that they can

1:15:27have everybody come into the business.

1:15:29This is a different situation seen as

1:15:31how the business was in receiverhip. We

1:15:34did the same thing with Campanellis.

1:15:37[snorts] So, would you like to say

1:15:38anything to us tonight?

1:15:40>> Thank you, Madam Chair. I will with you.

1:15:43chair

1:15:44>> Christopher Meelli for the I'm the

1:15:47attorney for Cafe Tree. My office is at

1:15:49909 North Main Street in Providence. And

1:15:53uh thank you for that introduction, man.

1:15:55Um as you all know,

1:15:58Enchenzo Maza has also run Barasia,

1:16:03which is almost across the street from

1:16:05Cafe Eri. It'll be coming up this coming

1:16:07March. It'll be two years that we've

1:16:09been open. Um, and we're very proud to

1:16:12be in the Knightsville area. Um, as you

1:16:14know, this property, everybody's well

1:16:16advertised, the good, the bad, the ugly.

1:16:19Hopefully, this turns a new chapter for

1:16:21this establishment back to the good. Uh

1:16:25but yes, there are some problems with

1:16:27the receiverhip. Not problems I should

1:16:29say, but complications along the way

1:16:31with the receiverhip with the fact that

1:16:33the reason why we're asking for a new

1:16:35liquor license rather than a transfer is

1:16:38because the former owner, as we probably

1:16:40all know, owes money in taxes. Um those

1:16:44taxes, from what I understand, will be

1:16:46taken care of at the closing, but they

1:16:49need the proceeds from the sale to clear

1:16:52those taxes. So essentially the the the

1:16:56liquor license that's there now and the

1:16:57victing license that's there now will be

1:16:59abandoned and we're asking for a new

1:17:02subject to that. Um and the reason why

1:17:04we couldn't get the health department in

1:17:06there is because we don't really have

1:17:08access to the building to make sure the

1:17:09building's clean prior to having the

1:17:12health department come in. So all that

1:17:14needs to take place in order to to uh be

1:17:18operational and be have the health

1:17:20department come in on a proper basis.

1:17:23As far as just so everybody knows Kathy

1:17:25Eri the it is a new corporation. So

1:17:28there is we have requested the division

1:17:31of taxation certificate. We are not

1:17:33buying the corporation. In fact just so

1:17:37everyone knows Cathree was closed out by

1:17:40the previous owner Greg. Um, and the

1:17:44owner that was there for the past, I

1:17:46don't know, year or so never really

1:17:49established themselves or registered

1:17:52Cafe Utry with the Secretary of State's

1:17:54office. So, that has been closed out and

1:17:56he was basically operating as Cafe Tree

1:17:58without really having permission from

1:18:00the Secretary of States to do so. But,

1:18:03so we have started a new corporation as

1:18:05of last month. Everything's clean slate.

1:18:08So that's so everyone knows we're not

1:18:11we're not taking any type of ownership

1:18:13of any of the debts or liabilities.

1:18:16You

1:18:17>> have any questions?

1:18:18>> Mayor Traffic,

1:18:20>> I'm I'm extremely happy to see this

1:18:21establishment reopen. It's a beautiful

1:18:23establishment. Would you just clarify

1:18:25for me why couldn't the liquor license

1:18:27be transferred? Why does it why does it

1:18:29require a new license?

1:18:30>> So the reason why councilman is because

1:18:33he owes tax the previous owner owes

1:18:36taxes. It's in receiverhip and the state

1:18:38law does not there is a specific

1:18:40exception to in the receiverhip statute

1:18:43that allows

1:18:45uh the receiver to avoid vendors for

1:18:49purposes of transfer of a liquor license

1:18:51but it does not allow them to avoid

1:18:53taxes and the reason so we can't he

1:18:57cannot essentially he cannot transfer

1:18:59the license to us so we're basically

1:19:01coming here we almost basically did the

1:19:04same thing with our hot sale there

1:19:06because we're in the same situation. The

1:19:08guy, the gentleman prior to us could not

1:19:12owe taxes, could not get the good

1:19:14standing certificate. So, you issued a

1:19:16new license, but they abandoned or

1:19:20terminated the old license. It's

1:19:22basically one for one. We're not asking

1:19:24for a new we're asking asking for a new

1:19:27number.

1:19:29You know,

1:19:33>> I believe we revoked that license. It

1:19:35was this time last year when they were

1:19:37coming in to get it approved. So I am

1:19:40asking tonight um for a motion to

1:19:43approve subject to us receiving all the

1:19:46information we need. They have

1:19:48guaranteed they are not opening until

1:19:50everything is in order. They run a

1:19:53business diagonal and they're investing

1:19:55in our community. So could I please have

1:19:57a motion to approve subject two? So

1:20:01moved.

1:20:01>> Second. Any discussion?

1:20:05Clerk, could I please have a roll call

1:20:07vote?

1:20:08>> Counciloman Vizeri,

1:20:09>> yes.

1:20:10>> Councilman Ritz,

1:20:11>> yes.

1:20:11>> Councilman Tracanti,

1:20:12>> yes.

1:20:13>> Councilman Andrew,

1:20:14>> yes.

1:20:14>> Council Vice President Hoyan,

1:20:15>> yes.

1:20:16>> Council President Wall,

1:20:17>> yes.

1:20:18>> Madam Chair,

1:20:20>> yes.

1:20:20>> I just also wanted to note that this is

1:20:22above the cap.

1:20:23>> So, it'll be next Tuesday's full council

1:20:25meeting to approve.

1:20:27>> And they also have a victing license

1:20:29that's on this meeting.

1:20:34Thank you

1:20:35>> very much. [snorts] Okay, next on it we

1:20:38have Wicked Good Sausage Company located

1:20:40at 1674 Cranson Street and I know they

1:20:44are here also

1:20:48>> if want state your name and your

1:20:50address.

1:20:51>> Sure. Good evening. My name is Jeff

1:20:52Cafrey and my address is two Green

1:20:55Meadow Drive.

1:21:00hours of operation you would like at

1:21:0110:00 a.m. till 12 a.m.

1:21:04>> That's correct.

1:21:05>> Okay. And we're just waiting for your

1:21:07letter of good standing, but I did speak

1:21:09to Mike and he told me he has requested

1:21:12it and it is in the way here.

1:21:14>> It's a brand new entity, so we just

1:21:16formed it about a month or so ago, so it

1:21:18should be no problem.

1:21:19>> Okay. Could I please have a motion to

1:21:20approve subject to us receiving the

1:21:22letter of good standing? So moved.

1:21:24>> Second.

1:21:25>> Any discussion?

1:21:27Clerk, may I have a roll call vote?

1:21:31>> Counciloman Vizeri,

1:21:32>> yes.

1:21:32>> Councilman Ritz,

1:21:33>> yes.

1:21:34>> Councilman Trappanti,

1:21:35>> yes.

1:21:35>> Councilman Andrew,

1:21:36>> yes.

1:21:37>> Council Vice President Heryan,

1:21:38>> yes.

1:21:38>> Council President Wall,

1:21:40>> yes. Thank you.

1:21:41>> Okay. I believe you are also under

1:21:43Victor. So, if you could just wait a few

1:21:45minutes for that up also.

1:21:47>> Madam Chair, this will also be over the

1:21:49cap. It needs to be on Tuesday's agenda.

1:21:53>> Thank you.

1:21:55Next to show cause is Lanes Bolarama

1:21:58doing business as Lanes Bolarama at 225

1:22:02Niantic Avenue. I'm asking for a motion

1:22:04to continue this till next Tuesday the

1:22:0613th. So move.

1:22:07>> Second.

1:22:08>> Any discussion?

1:22:12Everybody is aware the owners are out of

1:22:13the country and they asked us to

1:22:16continue it and the police department

1:22:17was perfectly fine with that. Could I

1:22:20have a roll call vote on the

1:22:22continuence?

1:22:23Counciloman Bazeri.

1:22:24>> Yes.

1:22:26>> Councilman Ritz,

1:22:27>> yes.

1:22:27>> Councilman Shaanti,

1:22:28>> yes.

1:22:28>> Councilman Anduhar,

1:22:29>> yes. Council vice president Hoyan,

1:22:31>> yes.

1:22:32>> Council president Wall,

1:22:33>> yes. [clears throat]

1:22:34>> Okay. Next is new matters before the

1:22:37committee victory licenses and it's

1:22:40baked at Buns LLC located at 1757

1:22:45and the owner has been sitting here very

1:22:47patiently. If you would like to just

1:22:49state your name and your address. Hi,

1:22:50I'm Samantha Turnbull and my address is

1:22:531757 Cranson Street.

1:22:56>> Excellent. Now, Samantha, you put down

1:22:59um Thursday through Sunday 10:00 a.m. to

1:23:032, but when I had a conversation with

1:23:05you, you said you would like it every

1:23:06day of the week and maybe till 10 at

1:23:08night. Is that correct?

1:23:09>> Yes, please. [snorts]

1:23:10>> Okay, clerk, would that be a problem for

1:23:13that to be changed um once this is

1:23:16approved tonight? No. As long as it's

1:23:18part of the motion, we can just change

1:23:19it on the certificate.

1:23:20>> Okay. Thank you. [snorts]

1:23:23Could I [gasps] and the dep she did

1:23:25explain to me department of health up

1:23:28she has a date for them to come in. So

1:23:30could I have a motion to approve this

1:23:32with Sunday through Saturday

1:23:3510:00 a.m.?

1:23:37>> Could I actually do a little bit

1:23:38earlier?

1:23:39>> Yes. Okay. What would you like?

1:23:41>> Um what's the earliest I can do?

1:23:44>> Seven. Okay, great. Yeah.

1:23:47Yeah, that's probably good. I don't know

1:23:48if I want to do it.

1:23:49>> All right. 7 a.m.

1:23:52to 1000 p.m.

1:23:53>> Yeah, that works. Thank you.

1:23:55>> Okay. And you would like that Sunday

1:23:56through Saturday. So, you have the

1:23:58options.

1:23:59>> Could I have the motion to approve this

1:24:01with those hours subject to us receiving

1:24:04the Department of Health inspection?

1:24:06>> So moved.

1:24:07>> Second.

1:24:08>> Any discussion?

1:24:10Clerk, could I please have a roll call

1:24:12vote?

1:24:15>> Council Vizeri? Yes,

1:24:17>> Councilman Ritz. Yes,

1:24:18>> Councilman Trapanti.

1:24:19>> Yes,

1:24:19>> Councilman Andrew.

1:24:20>> Yes,

1:24:21>> Council Vice President Hoyan.

1:24:23>> Yes,

1:24:23>> Council President Wall.

1:24:25>> Yes.

1:24:26>> And thank you for also choosing

1:24:27Nightsville. Another great business

1:24:29coming to us. Thank you. Have a great

1:24:32night.

1:24:34Okay, up again is Cafe Etri. Um this is

1:24:39for their victin license. Um, and they

1:24:42need to be cleared by tax and upload the

1:24:45Rhode Island Department of Health

1:24:46license. We just went over all that and

1:24:49stated what was going on. So, I would

1:24:51like to approve and your hours. Um, you

1:24:54want it only 400 p.m. to 11

1:25:09>> 10 a.m. to 11. Is that possible?

1:25:12Yes.

1:25:15>> And um Monday through Sunday, yes. 10:00

1:25:18a.m. [snorts] to 11 p.m.

1:25:24And I'm asking for the motion to approve

1:25:26this subject to us receiving the letter

1:25:28of good standing and the Department of

1:25:30Health inspection. So moved.

1:25:32>> Second.

1:25:33>> Any discussion?

1:25:35Clerk, could I have a roll call vote?

1:25:38Council

1:25:39>> Vazeri. Yes.

1:25:41Councilman Ritz.

1:25:42>> Yes.

1:25:42>> Councilman Travacante.

1:25:44>> Yes.

1:25:44>> Councilman Anduhar. Council Vice

1:25:46President Orion.

1:25:47>> Yes.

1:25:47>> Council President Wall.

1:25:48>> Yes.

1:25:50>> All right. You're all set for tonight.

1:25:51We'll see you next Tuesday.

1:25:52>> Thank you, Madam Chair. [clears throat]

1:25:56>> Next up is Wicked Good Sausage Company

1:25:59located at 1676. Glad you didn't go far.

1:26:03and you are asking for 10:00 a.m.

1:26:06through 12 a.m. Um, all we need is the

1:26:11Department of Health inspection. You

1:26:12explained to me you have a date on

1:26:14Wednesday. So, I'm asking for the motion

1:26:16to approve this subject to the

1:26:18Department of Health inspection.

1:26:20>> So, moved.

1:26:20>> Second.

1:26:21>> Any discussion?

1:26:23Clerk, could I have a roll call vote?

1:26:26>> Counciloman Vizeri,

1:26:27>> yes.

1:26:27>> Councilman Ritz,

1:26:28>> yes.

1:26:29>> Councilman Trapanti,

1:26:30>> yes.

1:26:31>> Councilman Anduhar,

1:26:32>> yes. Council Vice President Haran.

1:26:34>> Yes.

1:26:34>> Council President Wall.

1:26:36>> Yes.

1:26:38>> Thank you for also picking Knightsville.

1:26:44>> Knightsville is going to be a very busy

1:26:46section over there.

1:26:47>> I'm glad I'm moving to Ward five.

1:26:53Next, um item number nine. I'm asking if

1:26:57everyone is okay with it to take A B D E

1:27:01FG as a block.

1:27:04>> So move.

1:27:05>> Second.

1:27:06>> Okay. Um

1:27:09any no discussion? Any discussion on it?

1:27:11All right. Could I please have a motion

1:27:13to approve as taken as a block? So move.

1:27:16>> Second.

1:27:17>> Okay.

1:27:25Motion to approve. Could I please have a

1:27:27motion to approve as a block? So moved.

1:27:29>> Second.

1:27:29>> Second.

1:27:30>> Any discussion?

1:27:32>> Clerk, could I have a roll call vote?

1:27:35>> Council Vizeri,

1:27:36>> yes.

1:27:37>> Council Ritz,

1:27:38>> yes.

1:27:38>> Councilman Travante,

1:27:39>> yes.

1:27:40>> Councilman Andrew,

1:27:41>> yes.

1:27:42>> Council Harrian.

1:27:44>> Council President Wolf.

1:27:46>> Yes.

1:27:47>> Okay. Next is C mobile food

1:27:49establishment. It's aformational

1:27:51purposes only. It's Bittersweet LLC

1:27:54doing business as Bittersweet.

1:28:18could just take a look at the monthly

1:28:20schedules, please.

1:28:27Could I please have a motion to accept

1:28:30the monthly schedules into the racket?

1:28:32So moved.

1:28:33>> Second.

1:28:34>> Any discussion?

1:28:36Clerk, could I have a roll call vote?

1:28:39Counciloman Vazeri.

1:28:40>> Yes. Councilman Ritz.

1:28:42>> Councilman Tracanty.

1:28:43>> Yes. Councilman Anduhar.

1:28:44>> Yes. Council

1:28:45>> Vice President Heryan.

1:28:46>> Yes. Council

1:28:47>> President Wolf.

1:28:48>> Yes.

1:28:49>> There is nothing under communications

1:28:51tonight. Um license approved. Subject to

1:28:54not yet issued. Thankfully we don't have

1:28:56any. Could I please have a motion to

1:28:58adjurnn tonight?

1:28:59>> So moved.

1:28:59>> Second.

1:29:00>> All those in favor please say I. I.

1:29:03Name.

1:34:41every Thank you everybody for coming.

1:34:43Today is Monday, October 5th. It is 7:03

1:34:46p.m. I would like to call the finance

1:34:47committee meeting to order. Clerk, can

1:34:50you please take a role?

1:34:55Counciloman Vizeri

1:34:57>> present. Councilman Graiano. Councilman

1:35:00Ritz

1:35:01>> present. Councilman Travacanti.

1:35:03Councilman Andrew

1:35:04>> present. Council

1:35:05>> Vice President Hoyan

1:35:06>> present.

1:35:07>> Council president Wall

1:35:09>> here.

1:35:11If there is no objection, I'd like to

1:35:13take the meeting out of order.

1:35:16>> So moved.

1:35:17>> Seeing none, we will begin with

1:35:21resolutions. resolution urging the state

1:35:23of Rhode Island, the state, the Rhode

1:35:26Island General Assembly, and the Rhode

1:35:28Island Department of Education to cease

1:35:30the enactment of unfunded mandates uh

1:35:34sponsored by Councilman Kobiano.

1:35:37Councilman, the floor is yours.

1:35:39>> Thank you, chair. I trust everyone uh

1:35:42read the resolution and the letters of

1:35:44support. I introduced this resolution

1:35:45because we need to address an issue that

1:35:48faces all taxpayers, transit taxpayers.

1:35:51The growing burden of unfunded unfunded

1:35:53state mandate for our schools. Francis

1:35:56schools are required to provide services

1:35:58mandated by the state of Rhode Island

1:36:00while operating with tight budgets.

1:36:02School districts have not received full

1:36:05embburments for these costs since 1992.

1:36:08That means cran taxpayers are being

1:36:10asked to pay for decisions made at the

1:36:12state level.

1:36:14for you on the council. Now, we're on

1:36:16the school committee, so you know

1:36:17firsthand how difficult this is.

1:36:20Superintendent Notam Massie provided one

1:36:22major example of a financial impass from

1:36:25these mandates to our city. And since

1:36:272021, high cost education program has

1:36:31cost approximately $43 million while

1:36:33receiving only $4 million in

1:36:35reimbursements.

1:36:37There are

1:36:39I'm not suggesting these programs not

1:36:41important. They provide valuable

1:36:43services to the students and families.

1:36:45The question is who should pay when the

1:36:47state requires programs that place

1:36:49significant costs on our schools.

1:36:52Every dollar Cranon spends on covering

1:36:54an unfunded state mandate is a dollar

1:36:57that cannot be spent on priorities

1:36:59including schools, roads, public safety,

1:37:01and other needs for our residents. When

1:37:04the state creates a financial burden for

1:37:06our city, the state should also take

1:37:09responsibility for funding it. under

1:37:12this resolution

1:37:13may fall. Although this resolution may

1:37:15fall on deaf ears at the state house,

1:37:18that cannot stop us from speaking up.

1:37:20Transon should not remain silent. We

1:37:22should send a clear message to the state

1:37:24of Rhode Island. If you mandate it, you

1:37:26must fund it. Transon should have no

1:37:28choice between providing essential

1:37:31services to our residents and paying for

1:37:33mandates handed down by the state. I

1:37:35urge my fellow council members to

1:37:37support this resolution and stand up for

1:37:38the taxpayers of Cranston. I hope we get

1:37:41support. Thank you. Thank you,

1:37:42Councilman. May I also entertain a

1:37:44motion to enter to the record a letter

1:37:46from representative of District 15,

1:37:48Chris Papalosquez, and a letter from our

1:37:53citywide uh school committee person,

1:37:55Anthony Milo.

1:37:56>> Motion to enter these two documents into

1:37:58the record.

1:37:59>> Second.

1:38:00>> Any [clears throat] discussion?

1:38:02>> Council Council Vice President Hero.

1:38:04>> I'd like to speak on this mandate. I

1:38:06think the intention when it started was

1:38:08good and it was phones.

1:38:11When school was going back into session,

1:38:13I heard from teachers that were worried

1:38:15there wasn't enough Google Chromebooks

1:38:17and how are their students going to do

1:38:19their work. A lot of children take their

1:38:22own laptops from home to school and then

1:38:25take it home because everything's on it.

1:38:27I was also made aware that a lot of

1:38:29children are used to wearing an Apple

1:38:31watch to either check their health,

1:38:34check their steps for different reasons

1:38:37and they can no longer wear their watch.

1:38:39Um, some kids this made them very

1:38:42anxious. I understand the intentions of

1:38:44this was for cell phones so that kids

1:38:46weren't distracted, but there's also a

1:38:49big financial note with this and it's a

1:38:52big financial strain. Um the school

1:38:54departments cannot keep funding unfunded

1:38:59mandates. Neither can cities and towns.

1:39:02The um resolution that

1:39:06Councilman Campiano is putting in um I

1:39:10hope that some other cities and towns

1:39:12also follow. I don't know if it will go

1:39:14anywhere, but I will be in full support

1:39:16of this tonight.

1:39:19>> Thank you. And is there anyone else I

1:39:20would like to speak on supporting of

1:39:22these two letters of support?

1:39:24>> Um, mayor traffic.

1:39:27>> I want to preface my remarks by saying I

1:39:29totally support this resolution 100%.

1:39:32>> But after 43 years of hearing this

1:39:34resolution being brought before school

1:39:36committees and council council members

1:39:38throughout the state of Rhode Island

1:39:40falling on deaf ears, I get kind of

1:39:42pessimistic. It reminds me of Don

1:39:44Coyote, the Lord of Lamonta, who's

1:39:46constantly fighting windmills and losing

1:39:49and and that's who that's who I feel

1:39:50like we are. We're the Don Coyotes at

1:39:53the local level, constantly fighting

1:39:54this willmill called state government

1:39:56and our state candidates who basically

1:39:59the message is falling on their their

1:40:01ears and falling on deaf ears. So, but I

1:40:03I I encourage you keep fighting after 43

1:40:07years. You might get discouraged like I

1:40:09do.

1:40:11>> Thank you, clerk. Can you please take a

1:40:12role on the entering the documents into

1:40:15the record?

1:40:17>> Counciloman Vizeri.

1:40:18>> Yes.

1:40:19>> Council Ritz.

1:40:20>> Yes.

1:40:20>> Councilman Travacante.

1:40:22>> Councilman Andar.

1:40:23>> Yes. Council

1:40:24>> Vice President Royan.

1:40:25>> Yes.

1:40:25>> Council President Wall.

1:40:27>> Yes.

1:40:28>> May I entertain a motion to approve the

1:40:30resolution?

1:40:31>> So moved. Second.

1:40:32>> Any discussion? M Council President

1:40:35Wall.

1:40:36>> Uh thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um like my

1:40:38colleague uh my colleague and I sat on

1:40:40the school committee for a number of

1:40:42years and uh let me first preface my

1:40:45remarks that I'm I'm in support of the

1:40:46resolution. Um as we sat in this chamber

1:40:50many times and talked about our budget

1:40:51and we didn't have enough money and

1:40:54asked for more. Um we fought more than a

1:40:56few windmills together. So I'm willing

1:40:58to fight windmill once again and uh

1:41:03hope that this time it'll it'll settle.

1:41:06Perhaps something, you know, something

1:41:07will happen, right? So, thank you for

1:41:09putting

1:41:11>> any further discussion. Seeing none,

1:41:13clerk, please take a role.

1:41:14>> Counciloman Vizeri,

1:41:15>> yes.

1:41:16>> Councilman Ritz,

1:41:17>> yes.

1:41:17>> Councilman Tracanty,

1:41:19>> yes.

1:41:19>> Councilman Andrew,

1:41:20>> yes.

1:41:20>> Council Vice President Hoyan,

1:41:22>> yes.

1:41:22>> Council President Wall,

1:41:24>> yes.

1:41:26>> Moving on to council member

1:41:27communications. Um, I'm going to start

1:41:29with council vice president Hoyan.

1:41:32Update regarding discussions with

1:41:33Johnson and Wales University concerning

1:41:35a potential pilot payment in line of

1:41:38taxes agreement. Councilwoman the

1:41:39floors.

1:41:41I'll wait till director Moretti makes

1:41:43his way to the front

1:41:57to also get to director. Um,

1:42:00Councilwoman Vizeri also has most of the

1:42:03same exact questions about the Howard PL

1:42:06complex. We're concerned with

1:42:09All right, Johnson and Wales.

1:42:12Has the money changed at all in the last

1:42:1410 years. I know you and I have had

1:42:16in-depth discussions about this well

1:42:18before it was on Go Local and all of

1:42:21that and that you guys have been in

1:42:23meetings with them. Um, do you want to

1:42:26state a little bit of that so we can

1:42:28have the racket please?

1:42:32>> Sure. Director Stro might uh give more

1:42:35history than I. However, um nothing has

1:42:39been received over the past three years.

1:42:41Just prior to that, it was about it was

1:42:43$190,000.

1:42:45And then

1:42:46>> that's for Johnson and Wales. Do you

1:42:48want to answer for both that and the

1:42:50Howard or just the Johnson and Wales

1:42:52first? We can we can do both to the

1:42:54extent then I'll certainly rely on

1:42:56director strong um

1:42:58>> thing for the last three years.

1:43:01>> Correct. And and frankly um uh

1:43:06another ghost of the past with our

1:43:07former uh finance team uh frankly hadn't

1:43:11gotten to it. But we're addressing that

1:43:13with uh with the Johnson and Wales folks

1:43:17uh during our negotiations with them

1:43:20prior to that. The year prior to that

1:43:22they were at $190,000.

1:43:26>> Okay.

1:43:31>> And prior to that for 224,000

1:43:46the director and speak so we can all

1:43:48hear it or instead of repeating

1:43:51Okay. 2 220 I think we can 2021 was 218

1:43:57uh uh 2019

1:44:012022 was uh 22 24 and then 2023 was 190.

1:44:10>> Okay. [clears throat]

1:44:11Um, do you know on average how many

1:44:13police I know they have their own

1:44:15security department, but do we know on

1:44:17average how many times our city is

1:44:20sending fire, rescue, police there and

1:44:23tying up our services and not being paid

1:44:25for it?

1:44:26>> Yeah. So something to note I have those

1:44:29answers for on average annually number

1:44:32of police calls to Jwood facilities is

1:44:35approximately 20 annually 20 calls.

1:44:39>> Okay. in fire. Uh the past year was 17.

1:44:43So we're probably averaging in that in

1:44:44that vicinity prior to that also.

1:44:47Something to know is Ju has their own

1:44:48security.

1:44:49>> So that probably results in less less uh

1:44:52you know frequency of calls too.

1:44:55>> Okay. And where are you in um talking

1:44:58with them and how many meetings has

1:45:00there been between the city

1:45:02administration and Johnson and Wales?

1:45:05>> Yep. There's

1:45:07face-toface meetings. Uh recently the

1:45:10last uh there's been two meetings

1:45:12involving myself, director Stum, the tax

1:45:15assessor and uh the mayor was in the

1:45:18last one. Um and then there were a

1:45:20number of correspondents uh prior to

1:45:23that lining it up and some of us

1:45:25actually in negotiating couple couple

1:45:28things to note. Um one is getting to

1:45:30know the people. So it actually takes a

1:45:32little bit of time and I think

1:45:33negotiations go smoother and it's more

1:45:35effective on both sides to to develop a

1:45:38relationship. So it's kind of think it's

1:45:39one of those nurtures. It's not just one

1:45:41of those things that you're just going

1:45:42to make a demand and there is no demand

1:45:45per se we can make as everyone's aware.

1:45:47This is a voluntary contribution by JW

1:45:52um that they're exempt and so it is it

1:45:55is their voluntary payment in lie of

1:45:57taxes. Um, so it's one of those things

1:46:01where you finesse it. Um, if you you

1:46:04don't want to strongh.

1:46:08So, we've I could I believe I could tell

1:46:10you in summary where we're at. Um we h

1:46:13have just received a uh uh uh reached

1:46:18agree uh tenative agreement um and uh

1:46:21just received a uh a draft umou

1:46:26it's under review and you know once that

1:46:28gets ironed out we'll be presenting that

1:46:31to the city council.

1:46:33>> Okay. Could I one more question? And I

1:46:35know we brought this up during the

1:46:37budget and last year during the budget,

1:46:39both Johnson and Wales and the Howard

1:46:41complex. When did start talking to them

1:46:45this year? Do you remember could have

1:46:47been?

1:46:48>> It was right around it was right around

1:46:49budget time that that there was

1:46:52correspondence to to trying to line

1:46:54things up. One of the uh was a a bit of

1:46:58a hiccup, if you will. Unfortunately,

1:47:02some of the correspondents resided with

1:47:04with uh u

1:47:07assistant city solicitor Ross soon who's

1:47:09no longer with us. So that so we had to

1:47:13re you know pick things up after that.

1:47:15So that that that resulted some of the

1:47:18list. So yes, it's been a good number of

1:47:19months that those discussions have been

1:47:22have been taking place. So it's not new.

1:47:24It hasn't it's nothing that just hit the

1:47:26news or anything like that. What we do

1:47:28is we discussed this I believe at the

1:47:30city council finance meetings and you

1:47:32know we said we're going to be looking

1:47:33into it. we have. So, it's no breaking

1:47:36news per se, but it was it's uh I think

1:47:38so,

1:47:39>> and I understand the difference. Um the

1:47:41Johnson and Wales program is kind of

1:47:44them being voluntary, but we're going to

1:47:46try to increase the revenue here, but

1:47:50the Howard complex, am I correct, the

1:47:52governor decides that in the state

1:47:54budget? um a combination well the

1:47:57governor and general assembly uh it's a

1:48:00combination both but actually the the

1:48:02pilot money is as a formula it's a it's

1:48:05a governmental formula I believe

1:48:07established by the general assembly

1:48:09>> not the situation with Johnson and Wales

1:48:11though you guys are negotiating it

1:48:13>> no now realize too by the way some

1:48:15something to note that we have been re

1:48:18what I referred to those those numbers

1:48:20before um that's direct payments of

1:48:23pilot to the city of cran

1:48:25from Johnson and Wales. But the state of

1:48:28Rhode Island has been paying the city of

1:48:30Cranston pilot money on behalf of those

1:48:33nonprofit organizations. Um and those

1:48:36numbers.

1:48:38>> So the state of Rhode Island has been

1:48:39paying us on behalf of Johnson and

1:48:41Wales.

1:48:41>> Not on behalf of that's kind of the

1:48:43formula that they you for all um the

1:48:46state contributes for all nonprofits to

1:48:49the to the local municipalities.

1:48:51So we have been receiving some some form

1:48:54of payment in terms of because of those

1:48:56John Suarez facilities. In fact um it

1:49:00was 100 excuse me one second.

1:49:06Yeah that's assess value. Oh 250. Okay.

1:49:10Yeah. So we had the last year we

1:49:13received $258,000

1:49:16from the state for those Johnson and

1:49:19Wales facilities. So it's not that it's

1:49:20zero. It's it's it was 258 and it has um

1:49:24prior to that it was I think probably

1:49:26called 275,000

1:49:29in that vicinity. It it changes based on

1:49:32value you know valuations. JWoo had uh s

1:49:36over the last couple of years had sold

1:49:37off a couple of properties. Obviously

1:49:40the that would be taken off the rolls

1:49:42and actually in a good way though but it

1:49:43was actually put back on on a commercial

1:49:45on the commercial tax roles.

1:49:48>> Okay. Do you mind?

1:49:54>> Yeah.

1:49:59I just wanted to give you some type of

1:50:00chronological order of what took place.

1:50:03When I first came on board, I saw in the

1:50:06budget where we weren't getting any

1:50:07money from Johnson and Wales in my prior

1:50:10tenure, we always did. Uh but that

1:50:14agreement expired. So, there had to be a

1:50:16new agreement uh drawn up. Um, and what

1:50:21happened was I reached out to Chris

1:50:23Rosson,

1:50:24uh, our solicitor. He reached out to

1:50:27Johnson and Wales on May 11th. On May

1:50:3026th, he had correspondence, Chris

1:50:33Rosson, with Joe Green, who is the

1:50:36president or chancellor of Johnson and

1:50:37Wales. Um, we had a meeting with Mr.

1:50:42Moretti

1:50:43um with

1:50:46Ken Mlette, the tax assessor and myself

1:50:49with the CFO of Johnson and Wales on

1:50:52August 26th

1:50:54and on 9:23

1:50:58uh we didn't hear anything more from

1:51:00them. So I followed up uh with her uh

1:51:04the CFO and there was a meeting uh set

1:51:08up uh on October 1st last Thursday and

1:51:12it was the mayor, Mr. Moretti, myself

1:51:15and uh Mr. Mallette meeting with um the

1:51:19chancellor Joe Green and the CFO uh who

1:51:23we've been discussing uh scenarios with.

1:51:27And then today we received a draftou for

1:51:32review. So we need to as a group will

1:51:35review it and get back to them and uh

1:51:38hopefully we can get something resolved

1:51:40soon.

1:51:42>> Do you think that would be on next

1:51:43month's finance meeting for us?

1:51:47>> Uh I like to think so, but it all

1:51:48depends if we can get it uh agreed upon

1:51:51and I can't say for sure, but we're

1:51:54certainly going to attempt to. Okay,

1:51:57chairperson, could I please have this on

1:51:59every month's agenda till we get it

1:52:02settled?

1:52:03>> Cler, can you please take a note of

1:52:04that?

1:52:04>> Thank you.

1:52:05>> Mayor Travant,

1:52:07>> the pilot program, the payment L taxes

1:52:10for the state, is that set in stone

1:52:13right now or are we still negotiating

1:52:14with them?

1:52:16Now, mayor, the if I may just interject

1:52:19to wrap up that last conversation, uh

1:52:22Jay Woo has advanced the city $120,000

1:52:25check as a as a good faith gesture. Just

1:52:28want to make a notation of that at this

1:52:30point in time. uh and it will be applied

1:52:32to whatever to so mayor to answer your

1:52:35question though um this the I'll explain

1:52:38what happened in the past but the in

1:52:40fact the mayor and I did a presentation

1:52:42to the governor um about three years ago

1:52:46and about two years ago met with the

1:52:49speaker um and did whatever we could to

1:52:53show all the resources that the city

1:52:57devotes in terms of public safety uh in

1:53:00terms of fire runs, rescue runs, em EMT,

1:53:04police, and uh they didn't move a move a

1:53:08dime. Um I guess it's a for it's a it's

1:53:10a formula that they arrived at and it's

1:53:13one of those things if we do it for you,

1:53:14we have to do it for everybody type of

1:53:16thing. But Cranston is a bit unique

1:53:18other than Province which has a lot of

1:53:19the hospitals and uh and universities

1:53:22where there's actually a lot of revenue

1:53:24generation as a result of that. Cranston

1:53:26has prisons and so it's not necessarily

1:53:29the most desirable properties. We made

1:53:31that argument also but that fell on uh

1:53:33with non-sympathetic ears. So maybe

1:53:35sympathetic ears but non-financial ears.

1:53:38So, so my point is it is an objective

1:53:41amount stipened if you will that's uh

1:53:44that's arrived at I believe municipal

1:53:48finance uh comes up with that formula

1:53:52derived from the general assembly

1:53:56>> so you're saying with the police the

1:53:58fire the rescue the kind of services we

1:54:00deliver is that how the program

1:54:02increased or is it remained constant

1:54:04>> actually over the last I'll say five

1:54:07years it's probably decreased close to

1:54:09$2 million um be because the uh

1:54:12properties if you notice at the Howard

1:54:15complex there pastori complex they've

1:54:17been knocking down buildings and that

1:54:20that actually resulted in lowering our

1:54:23pilot on those values

1:54:26so it's been decreasing steadily

1:54:29regarding Johnson Wales being a private

1:54:31institution I I assume that's separate

1:54:34from the pilot program of the state

1:54:36>> yeah it'll be collecting money from the

1:54:38from Johnson Wales as a private

1:54:39institution.

1:54:40>> Uh yes, we're looking for their

1:54:43contribution from private, but also the

1:54:46state um relative to those properties,

1:54:49the state does compensate the city pilot

1:54:52money as they do other communities that

1:54:55have similar institutions.

1:55:00>> President Wall,

1:55:03>> thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um just to be

1:55:05clear, so we're talking about the

1:55:07formula for a little while, right?

1:55:09Regarding there's a state formula for

1:55:10nonprofits and there's a certain figure

1:55:12you get and that figure is going down

1:55:15partly because of the

1:55:18Howard complex having less and less

1:55:20building.

1:55:21Um

1:55:23the other other thing and it's what we

1:55:25read mostly in go local providence is

1:55:27negotiating with Johnson Wales which is

1:55:29a pro private institution. If I'm not

1:55:31mistaken, they're under no obligation to

1:55:33pay us dime one.

1:55:35>> That's absolutely correct.

1:55:36>> So when we're negotiating, we're at the

1:55:38mercy of what if in that realm, we're at

1:55:40the mercy of what Johnson and Wales

1:55:43would like to give us.

1:55:46>> You want to step up? I'm sorry. You're

1:55:48the chair.

1:55:51>> Sure.

1:55:52>> It is it's an active negotiation. So, I

1:55:55don't think we should I don't think we

1:55:57should really get into the the actual

1:55:59details, but it is an actual negotiation

1:56:01between the city uh and the board

1:56:05president of Johnson Wales um based on

1:56:10obviously their needs and our needs.

1:56:13>> In the past, and I'll speak

1:56:14hypothetically

1:56:16um and director STM was involved, was

1:56:20the council involved in those

1:56:21negotiations? Director

1:56:24>> would the council legally be involved in

1:56:26those negotiations at all.

1:56:27>> A member couldn't serve. So the

1:56:29administration does that negotiation?

1:56:31>> Correct.

1:56:32>> And I understand having negotiated a

1:56:34contract or two in my time. You keep

1:56:36those behind closed closed doors until

1:56:38you come up with an agreement. It's

1:56:40confidential and

1:56:41>> Yes, sir. Yes.

1:56:42>> Okay. Thank you very much.

1:56:46>> Director would like to say something.

1:56:47>> I just want to mention um Jay Woo,

1:56:50they're not the bad guys. They're

1:56:51they're actually very good business

1:56:53people. They're very sharp. Uh and

1:56:56they're just good, you know, good people

1:56:57to deal with. They're empathetic to the

1:56:59needs of the city of Cran. I just wanted

1:57:01to let you know that we're dealing with

1:57:02the with some very good individuals that

1:57:05care about the city and care about the

1:57:06reputation of the university.

1:57:08>> Thank you, director. Um I overheard that

1:57:11the contract expired.

1:57:13Do you know what date it expired?

1:57:17>> Have been three years ago.

1:57:20And because of the expiration, we

1:57:21haven't received any payment. Correct.

1:57:23That's

1:57:23>> That is That is correct. [clears throat]

1:57:26>> Thank you. I would like to thank uh the

1:57:27administration, especially the mayor and

1:57:29your team for um definitely uh working

1:57:32this out. I mean, it

1:57:36uh Councilman Ritz,

1:57:37>> I just want to make a comment. Director

1:57:39kind of said what I was going to say.

1:57:40You know, I was a graduate, my

1:57:41undergraduate and my NBA from Johnson

1:57:43Wales. Fantastic university. you know,

1:57:45we're lucky to have them in Cranston and

1:57:47from what I've heard in the news and

1:57:48tonight, um, you know, they're looking

1:57:50to be a good partner here in my

1:57:51professional life at TripleA, we had

1:57:53negotiated a partnership with them, too.

1:57:55So, I know that, you know, good people

1:57:56and and I'm sure they'll do the right

1:57:58thing here and it seems like they're

1:57:58really doing it, too. So, I just wanted

1:58:00to say that because I do feel like

1:58:01sometimes media, they are getting a

1:58:02little villainized here. Uh, you know,

1:58:04but they're trying to be a good partner

1:58:05and it seems like it's going right.

1:58:07Thank you.

1:58:07>> Thank you. Moving on. Councilwoman

1:58:10Roseri, update on the Howard complex.

1:58:12The floor is yours. So, in regards to

1:58:14the Howard complex, um how many fire and

1:58:18police runs do they have? And does that

1:58:21um pilot cover half of them considering

1:58:24that there is the homeless shelter

1:58:26nearby

1:58:28and how much money are we losing?

1:58:31>> Sure.

1:58:32>> Right. Yep.

1:58:36>> Yes. Yep. Um, [snorts]

1:58:42first off, in terms of number of runs,

1:58:47uh, in terms of calls, police in the in

1:58:50the past year, uh, had 2025 had 366.

1:58:56Um, and we're probably, um,

1:59:01probably projecting about the same for

1:59:03this current year. um and fire is uh was

1:59:08over 500 about 514 I believe in that

1:59:12vicinity. So they're there more than

1:59:14once a day basically on average. So, the

1:59:18Cranson serves that uh facility, that

1:59:20complex quite well.

1:59:30>> Councilwoman, Council Vice President

1:59:33>> Question, 500 fire rescue calls is

1:59:36little alarming. I know the are a little

1:59:39bit lower because state police are

1:59:40supposed to cover that being a state

1:59:42complex.

1:59:43Um, do you know do the inmates have any

1:59:47kind of insurance rescue fire trucks

1:59:50bill or we losing all the and also with

1:59:53the homeless shelter? Like is this just

1:59:55money out the window and we're not being

1:59:57reimbursed or do these people have some

2:00:00form of insurance Medicaid or

2:00:04intake that we get build and about how

2:00:07much are we losing a year by that

2:00:09complex being located in Cranston and

2:00:12what is what are we receiving a year as

2:00:15the pilot program and how has that

2:00:17changed over the last five years? Okay.

2:00:20The beginning of that I don't have a

2:00:22firm answer but I was under the

2:00:23assumption the answer is I believe not

2:00:26perhaps director strong

2:00:29he hasn't believed that either. Can't

2:00:30say definitively and fires shaking their

2:00:33head too right now. The chief is shaking

2:00:36his head no. So

2:00:37>> a basic rescue run would probably cost

2:00:39$3 to $600. And we're taking a rescue

2:00:42out of service. And if it's anything

2:00:45serious we're also sending an engine.

2:00:47towards gas manpower

2:00:49um and we're not being reimbursed for

2:00:51that. What has it changed the pilot

2:00:54program? Has the state changed or how

2:00:56much are we getting per a year? And does

2:01:01it go by the number of people at the

2:01:03highwood complex? Like if the homeless

2:01:05shelter is completely full and they have

2:01:08no insurance, is there anything our

2:01:11state legislators could do to try to

2:01:14make our pilot program

2:01:17work better for the city of Cranston.

2:01:19>> Okay. The pilot program uh over the last

2:01:24years

2:01:25uh in 21 we received um

2:01:30$2 million rounded off. In 22 we

2:01:34received 4.8.

2:01:36In 23 we received 5 million. in 244

2:01:41million 20 uh 54 million

2:01:46uh this year we received uh 3.3 million

2:01:51in 26 and we've budgeted based on what I

2:01:55have for figures almost 3.6 million in

2:01:59this uh current fiscal year. Now, one

2:02:01thing I wanted to mention is that

2:02:05they calculate what's been calculated is

2:02:09there's a very small segment of Brown

2:02:13University which is $1,830.

2:02:17Johnson and Wales is two almost 260 and

2:02:20the state hospital in prison is 3.3

2:02:24million. So for this year that we're in

2:02:26it's 3.5 almost 3.6 6 million and it's

2:02:30based on 27%

2:02:33um of for taxes based on the um

2:02:39valuation of the properties and this has

2:02:42usually what they do is they it's every

2:02:44two years. So for instance, what we're

2:02:46receiving this year is based on the

2:02:49assessment of 123124

2:02:51that's going to be change when we do the

2:02:53assessment in 2026

2:02:56uh in December because that will uh uh

2:03:00change either up or down depending on

2:03:02what's the values are there. So it does

2:03:05change and it's at 27%.

2:03:08Fixed.

2:03:10>> All right. So 23 we're at 5 million 24

2:03:1325 4 million and then 26 3 million right

2:03:18>> that's a little bit of a deficit here

2:03:20when we're doing more and more and we're

2:03:22having money taken away from us. Well,

2:03:24again, it's I think it's based on what

2:03:26the properties are and if they've uh uh

2:03:32if they terminated some of these

2:03:34properties and you know and they uh they

2:03:38don't have as many, they're going to

2:03:40give us less based on the assessment.

2:03:42It's not based on the runs of police or

2:03:45fire at all.

2:03:48And I [clears throat] understand that

2:03:50some of the buildings could be empty and

2:03:52vacant, but that doesn't mean the

2:03:54homeless or whoever isn't living in it

2:03:56and calling in and the police and fire

2:03:58is still getting called.

2:04:00>> Oh, absolutely. But I think that's a

2:04:02something that needs to be done with the

2:04:04legislation.

2:04:05>> Right. So, we would need our state

2:04:06legislators to really sit down with the

2:04:09city and understand this and see if they

2:04:12could advocate for a higher number for

2:04:14the city.

2:04:15>> Right. But as Mr. already said we are

2:04:18getting pilot money but it fluctuates

2:04:21based on every two years assessment.

2:04:24>> Okay, thank you.

2:04:27I I just think it's weird it's going

2:04:29down. I understand the buildings

2:04:30everything else in the world is going up

2:04:32up up and for us to be losing I mean 5

2:04:36million now we're at 3.3 million is a

2:04:39significant decrease.

2:04:41that if I may just add, you know,

2:04:44absolutely agree with you. That's why we

2:04:46met there. We think it's very unfair. We

2:04:48expressed that in no uncertain terms to

2:04:51those two governmental bodies and and uh

2:04:53[clears throat] there was no interest.

2:04:55>> Mayor Taganti,

2:04:59>> Anthony, you made you made a you made a

2:05:01statement about first responders. Are we

2:05:04is the Cranston police still the first

2:05:06responders and not the state police?

2:05:08We're

2:05:08>> we're close. We're close as typically it

2:05:10is.

2:05:11Sorry. T

2:05:12>> typically we would be the first

2:05:13responders given given the proximity.

2:05:16>> I think it's supposed to be state

2:05:18police, but it's whoever's closer. If

2:05:20they call 911 and a Cranson police

2:05:23officer is closer, he's there first

2:05:25where state police could be on another

2:05:27call. But we're losing a lot of money

2:05:29here.

2:05:30>> It's been that way for a long period of

2:05:31time that we've been first responders

2:05:34all in all situations at the state

2:05:36institutions.

2:05:37Any

2:05:39further questions? Okay, moving on to

2:05:43we're still in council member

2:05:44communications. Council President Wall,

2:05:46the floor is yours for the June and July

2:05:47monthly finance report.

2:05:49>> If it pleases the chair, I'm going to

2:05:51step down to the podium.

2:06:06>> Mr. President, you understand we are on

2:06:07the June monthly finance and July

2:06:10monthly finance.

2:06:12>> Oh, yeah.

2:06:13I wasn't sure.

2:06:16>> Director Strong, if you could just step

2:06:17up to the podium.

2:06:24>> We're on June and July monthly finance

2:06:26reports.

2:06:28>> Then after that, we'll go into August.

2:06:33>> Mr. President, the floor is yours.

2:06:35>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Um, director,

2:06:38do you want to tell me about any when

2:06:40you're ready?

2:06:40>> Go ahead.

2:06:41>> You want to tell me about any of the

2:06:42changes in the June financial report

2:06:44June and July?

2:06:45>> Um,

2:06:46>> they've been updated.

2:06:49>> Um,

2:06:49>> yeah,

2:06:51>> it's just

2:06:51>> we're basically

2:06:53>> we're basically uh finished with the

2:06:55fiscal year of FY26.

2:06:58>> Um, we I have figures now. I think last

2:07:03month we talked I didn't have figures

2:07:06from the school department which I've

2:07:08since received and it looks like the

2:07:12city ended up with about an 8.3 almost

2:07:158.4 deficit.

2:07:17The school ended up with a million

2:07:19dollar deficit. So that's a total

2:07:21combined of 9.4

2:07:24and our fund balance right now has

2:07:27dropped to $6.6 million.

2:07:31So

2:07:32>> that fund balance would be what we would

2:07:34call surplus the rainy day fund.

2:07:36>> That's correct.

2:07:36>> It's it's talked about in the press a

2:07:38lot that way. So we have a $6 million

2:07:41>> rainy day fund.

2:07:42>> Right. So, we're doing the

2:07:44administration is looking to do various

2:07:47things that will probably at some point

2:07:49be brought to to the council to try to

2:07:51stimulate some sales of property and

2:07:55changes that could uh bring in some

2:07:57revenue as a transfer in of money that

2:08:01would go directly to the rainy day fund

2:08:03to try to restore it. sales of property

2:08:06and those properties of course without

2:08:08saying because we've had other times

2:08:10that would come from the administration

2:08:12it would have to be approved by the city

2:08:14council.

2:08:14>> Yes.

2:08:15>> Okay. Um

2:08:18so for that report that kind of

2:08:20finalizes that. So my questions on that

2:08:22first report.

2:08:23>> Well can I just

2:08:25>> add whatever you need.

2:08:26>> Yeah. I just want to make sure that

2:08:28everyone knows that it's the final

2:08:30internal report. It's unaudited and we

2:08:33have our auditor that's coming in on

2:08:34October 15 to do a a final audited

2:08:38financial statement that has got to be

2:08:40done by 12:31

2:08:41>> and that has to be done. That's the city

2:08:43council audit and um at that point I

2:08:46know this is a question we should

2:08:47probably ask is so everything seems to

2:08:49be in order and ready to go when the

2:08:51auditor comes in.

2:08:52>> Oh absolutely.

2:08:53>> So it is I know there were a couple of

2:08:55things last year that held us up um with

2:08:58the audit um but this year you're good

2:09:01to go. I don't know what that was.

2:09:02>> No, you and Nor should you.

2:09:05>> Yeah. Nor should you. Yeah.

2:09:06>> Well, this was a based maybe on the

2:09:08single audit.

2:09:09>> Last year's audit. Yeah. Last year's

2:09:11city council [clears throat] order.

2:09:12Yeah.

2:09:12>> All right.

2:09:13>> But so this year now, you can't speak

2:09:16for the school department. Is is the

2:09:17school department's stuff all finalized

2:09:19as well?

2:09:20>> Yes, it is.

2:09:21>> All right. Because you'll need that for

2:09:22the Okay. That's all. What they what

2:09:25they'll do is they'll go they'll have

2:09:26some of their team go to the school

2:09:28department

2:09:30and audit and uh also do us and then

2:09:33we'll combined and have a

2:09:36one audited uh financial statement.

2:09:39>> So that's all I have for the first part.

2:09:40You want to open it up to other.

2:09:42>> Anybody else for June and July? Any

2:09:44questions?

2:09:45>> Mayor Trafante

2:09:47just clarify something for me. We were

2:09:50at

2:09:52by budget we utilized six million of of

2:09:55the surplus day fund,

2:09:57>> right?

2:09:58>> Dropped to 14 million.

2:09:59>> Correct.

2:10:01>> You say it dropped from 14 million down

2:10:03to 6 million.

2:10:04>> Yes.

2:10:06>> Explain that to me. I'm a little

2:10:08confused about that.

2:10:09>> Well, it was it it was 14.5 million

2:10:13going into 26

2:10:15fiscal year.

2:10:17Then the school had 1.5 million in a uh

2:10:22surplus.

2:10:24And then with what transpired with the

2:10:269.5

2:10:28million, if you you take those two

2:10:30surpluses minus the big deficit of 95,

2:10:33it brings it down to 6.6 million. And

2:10:36that's what the net fund balance rainy

2:10:39day fund is combined with school and

2:10:41city.

2:10:43Okay.

2:10:45>> Anyone else? Councilman Ritz, June and

2:10:48July.

2:10:48>> I did have three uh questions that I

2:10:51sent over to to Director Strong. I do

2:10:53those. So, the the I sent over was uh

2:10:56that I that I saw we had moved about $3

2:10:58million we transferred into the general

2:11:00fund from the prior year sewer interest.

2:11:02Yes.

2:11:02>> Um I'm assuming that that came from the

2:11:0430 million that we had in the sewer fund

2:11:06interest from that. Can we move any more

2:11:09of that money? Well, what what we did

2:11:10was we had two years that went into the

2:11:13um 2026 or prior year. That was

2:11:18approximately uh 2.9 million. And then

2:11:21we had another 1.3 that's in this year's

2:11:23budget that we moved in uh for 26 for um

2:11:29reducing our u uh interest, you know,

2:11:34that was overstated. So, we added to it

2:11:37so that the deficit in the interest

2:11:39income wasn't as great as what it was

2:11:41originally going to be. And then I

2:11:44wanted to just let you know that this is

2:11:46an ongoing uh practice that we can do

2:11:49and it's strictly from sewer and we're

2:11:53also looking at the ice rink because

2:11:54they're both enterprise funds. Whatever

2:11:57interest can be generated just the

2:11:59interest not taking funds away from the

2:12:02the uh uh enterprise fund whatever we

2:12:06can do uh to generate interest which is

2:12:10like with OIP cable bank TD bank blah

2:12:13blah blah that we can transfer over into

2:12:18the uh general fund. Yeah, that that's

2:12:20what I had on my other part. Could this

2:12:22be a feeder to build back the rainy day

2:12:24fund?

2:12:25>> And that's our goal to try to build up

2:12:27the rainy day fund or at least offset

2:12:30any overages in the fiscal year.

2:12:34>> Then my other question was uh we had 2.7

2:12:38million um more in the other revenue

2:12:41category. I just couldn't figure out

2:12:43where that

2:12:43>> that's the interest being carried in

2:12:47>> coming in from the prior. Okay. All

2:12:49right. That makes sense. So hope that

2:12:51was something to build upon. And then my

2:12:53last one was just obviously last year we

2:12:54had the blizzard. Um but assuming we

2:12:57have a a normal winter with three or

2:12:59four very plowable uh snowstorms there,

2:13:02are we budgeted correctly to support a

2:13:05normal winter storm here?

2:13:09>> Yes. Uh I I'm glad you sent that by the

2:13:12way. You gave me a little time to

2:13:14review. Um,

2:13:17and what it shows is that

2:13:20in 21

2:13:22snow removal it was just short of

2:13:25800,000.

2:13:2622 was 8.84.

2:13:29It dropped considerably in 23 to 427.

2:13:34In 24 it was 672.

2:13:3825 727.

2:13:41And um we budgeted 700,000

2:13:44for 26, but it really the actual was 1.5

2:13:49million because of the blizzard and

2:13:51things. And this year we budgeted 740.

2:13:54So if we don't have anything that's

2:13:56really uh you know going to cost the

2:13:59city a lot of money for snow removal

2:14:02like a blizzard or something of that

2:14:04nature, we should be in good shape for

2:14:06this year.

2:14:07>> Perfect. Thank you. I appreciate looking

2:14:08back at those other numbers. I was

2:14:10looking at it was hard for me to tell

2:14:11who budgeted correctly in there, but

2:14:12adding those factors. Thank you. Thank

2:14:15you, Ch

2:14:17>> Director.

2:14:18This is for June and July.

2:14:22>> I did my It's just

2:14:26>> I was wrong.

2:14:27>> Oh, yeah.

2:14:28>> I was August.

2:14:30>> It's just August is next. Chair

2:14:35chair might

2:14:37>> Yeah, I said yeah.

2:14:39>> Thank you very much a while ago. I I

2:14:41just want to underscore just kind of put

2:14:44put this prior behind. Obviously, we

2:14:46have the audit and needs to be audited,

2:14:48but to put things in perspective, um you

2:14:51know, months it was thought that perhaps

2:14:54that [clears throat] the deficit would

2:14:56be 101 million, but if they just want

2:14:59you to hone in on the $ 8.3 million. So,

2:15:03it was certainly, you know, we want to

2:15:05do better than that, but that that 101

2:15:08million is not the case. It's the $ 8.3

2:15:11million deficit which did include

2:15:14approximately a million dollars due to

2:15:16the that the blizzard and that u that

2:15:20crazy windstorm that we had July 3rd of

2:15:22last year. So now is about a million

2:15:25dollars. So just to kind of cap this off

2:15:27and I want people's minds 8.3 not the

2:15:301011 that people like talking about.

2:15:35>> Thank you. So Mr. Mr. President, my

2:15:37understanding is we did June, July,

2:15:39August.

2:15:40>> So, if we're done with if we're done

2:15:42with June, we're good for we're ready to

2:15:44go to August.

2:15:45>> All All right, let's go to August.

2:15:46>> Okay. Um, director,

2:15:52so if I'm reading the front page, is it

2:15:54is always the headline. Um,

2:15:57if I'm looking at it, am I seeing um

2:16:02surplus here?

2:16:03>> Yes.

2:16:05$500,000 change, right?

2:16:07>> Correct. But keep in just keep in mind

2:16:09this is very premature.

2:16:11>> However, I haven't said this in a while,

2:16:14so I'm pleased that this was

2:16:15>> I just I mean, you know, it's it's not

2:16:18even

2:16:20the full quarter.

2:16:21>> Not a full quarter

2:16:22>> mostly, but uh we got some entries and

2:16:24things to that, but right now

2:16:27I ran a report myself today

2:16:31as of October 5th. Um, we have a surplus

2:16:37balance between

2:16:4092 million in revenues and 70 million in

2:16:44expenses. Uh, we should be at about

2:16:4722.3%.

2:16:49Once we close the quarter, it'll be

2:16:51roughly 25%.

2:16:54>> And so the expenses are below that,

2:16:58they're at 20.27% 27% and the revenues

2:17:01are at 26.39%.

2:17:03But it's important that there's things

2:17:06that we uh do blanket orders and things

2:17:10of that nature that can increase the

2:17:13appearance of expense and there's some

2:17:16revenues that haven't come in yet

2:17:18particularly from the state.

2:17:20>> So you got to look at it

2:17:22you know you can't just say yes it's

2:17:25great that right now we have a surplus

2:17:27balance. I think I think it would be

2:17:29horrendous if we ever if we didn't at

2:17:32this point. But uh that's why I wanted

2:17:35to uh run a report today to give a more

2:17:38accurate number.

2:17:39>> Yeah.

2:17:40>> And I want to also say I know you going

2:17:43to talk about the work program that's

2:17:46based

2:17:46>> Don't don't take me yet. You you want to

2:17:48go right there before I want to ask you

2:17:49a few questions on this one?

2:17:51>> Yeah. Okay. Go ahead.

2:17:52>> Um I really don't Yeah. So generally you

2:17:55kind of took a little bit of my fire

2:17:56away. Generally as I studied the years

2:17:59we didn't see any deficits in the early

2:18:01quarters. In fact when we first started

2:18:03seeing the deficit we started to see it

2:18:04at the very end the first year where we

2:18:07had a 4.9 and you know 6.3 deficit in

2:18:11that first bad year.

2:18:12>> Um this year would be our second bad

2:18:14year and we've discussed that in some

2:18:16length. Um, and you know, not to

2:18:21minimize um what the director said, I'm

2:18:24pleased that there's we've shaved off a

2:18:26million and a half or $2 million.

2:18:28Certainly, that's nothing to sneeze

2:18:29about at all. All right. So, I'm happy

2:18:32to see that. Um, traditionally,

2:18:35in the two budget years, we were doing

2:18:38okay for the first few quarters. All

2:18:40right. Um, so I'm cautiously optimistic,

2:18:44but prior to I I did see it early, which

2:18:47surprised me. I forget which month it

2:18:49was. Early early in the fiscal year, we

2:18:51already run a deficit. I remember that

2:18:53during the summer, we talked about it. I

2:18:55was like, what's going on? Um, so why

2:18:59was please can I ask you I'm going to

2:19:00ask you a few questions, but I don't I

2:19:02don't have a lot in this report. I'm not

2:19:03going to tell you. I'm not going to I'm

2:19:05going to use your word drill down too

2:19:06much.

2:19:08If we look though um and I'll ask you a

2:19:11couple of things. So

2:19:14our um our revenues are down a little

2:19:16bit. Am I correct? If I go to page two.

2:19:21>> Well, I mean our revenues right now are

2:19:23at 80. Well, on this report it's 90

2:19:26million now, but in this report it's 85

2:19:29million.

2:19:30>> Okay. So, we're up a little. That's very

2:19:31good.

2:19:31>> Yes.

2:19:32>> And our expenditures are

2:19:35down a bit. All right. So that's where

2:19:37we're seeing that that surplus. Correct.

2:19:39>> Correct.

2:19:40>> Okay. What areas of concern would you

2:19:42have if you looked at this? If I didn't

2:19:44go through the whole thing right now, as

2:19:46you're saying, you're projecting this is

2:19:48the trajectory we're going at the end of

2:19:50the first quarter. What areas of concern

2:19:51could you report to the public?

2:19:54>> Um,

2:19:56well, from an expenditure side, I

2:19:58checked both police and fire, as you

2:20:00know, overtime their salaries, etc. And

2:20:05if you combine the salaries with the

2:20:06overtime, they're right on where they

2:20:08should be, where they weren't last year.

2:20:10At least not

2:20:11>> when I came on board.

2:20:13>> They were way over budget. So that

2:20:16that's a good thing. There's at at this

2:20:19juncture of time, our debt service is

2:20:22right on where it should be.

2:20:27Almost every department is below budget.

2:20:30And I'll just see if I can find one in

2:20:33particular that that's over and and

2:20:36again it could be due to the fact that

2:20:39for instance we

2:20:42a tree uh area where you know they're

2:20:45planting a trees removal of tree

2:20:47whatever it is

2:20:48>> that's considerably over because they uh

2:20:53they did a blanket incumbrance. So that

2:20:56throws it makes it look like the

2:20:59expenses are over when in fact that's

2:21:01going to be drawn as needed basis. So

2:21:04there's nothing at this point that I

2:21:06would be concerned about from the

2:21:08expense standpoint.

2:21:09>> And to your point and and I'll let you

2:21:12speak in a second to your point that the

2:21:15police and the fire you say well you had

2:21:18some concern. However, they're right

2:21:19where you thought they would be. So it

2:21:21leads me to believe

2:21:22>> salary and overtime.

2:21:23>> Yeah. Salary and overtime was budgeted

2:21:25as we spoke before. Correct. It was

2:21:27budgeted correctly in the cycle.

2:21:29>> Correct.

2:21:29>> Right. You looked at the historical

2:21:31averages. You gave it some thought and

2:21:33you projected salary there was supposed

2:21:34to be overtime the way it was supposed

2:21:36to be where in the previous year we

2:21:38undercut it and we paid dearly for it.

2:21:41So thank you.

2:21:42>> Um and I see the director didn't want to

2:21:44add

2:21:49areas of risk. I think it was a great

2:21:51question actually. I I would I would

2:21:53always say medical claims is a concern.

2:21:56You don't know. It's a wild card. Um

2:21:58[clears throat]

2:21:59and I can say we are experiencing fuel

2:22:02fuel and energy costs as something that

2:22:05definitely we may be going. I would

2:22:07think we're going to

2:22:09>> maybe go over budget. I think there's a

2:22:10beyond expectation. Uh we have to watch

2:22:13that. But I think the key ones Mrs. Shan

2:22:16mentioned the salaries and the overtime

2:22:18and and keep our fingers crossed that

2:22:20crime remains low. So we're not calling

2:22:22in so so many resources and not as many

2:22:25fires as we as we would uh you know want

2:22:28not want. So but that was it. But I but

2:22:30certainly medical claims always sticks

2:22:32out at me as being any law unforeseen

2:22:35lawsuits.

2:22:37>> Thank you. Um at that section I I'll

2:22:40yield my time.

2:22:42>> Any further questions? Councilman Ritz

2:22:44the other one.

2:22:46Andy

2:22:48just one thing to add to this as I had

2:22:50stated in the past the report you

2:22:52receive on a monthly basis or reported

2:22:54on the cash basis. So it's a time cash

2:22:57is received is considered revenue and

2:22:59the kind expenditures are made by check

2:23:01is considered the expense. The reason

2:23:04for the dramatic change usually later in

2:23:06the year is when the acrruel starts

2:23:07because our financial position when we

2:23:09do the audit is based on the acrruel

2:23:10method. So any expenditures that in that

2:23:13that are incurred within the calendar

2:23:15year that may be received later on will

2:23:17be acred and that'll increase the

2:23:19expenditures at that point.

2:23:22Any further questions?

2:23:24Seeing none. Thank you director Stum for

2:23:28giving us uh the info that we needed.

2:23:30All right, let's move back to new

2:23:32matters before the committee. Pretty

2:23:33sure everybody saw their real estate tax

2:23:35abatements in their packet. May

2:23:36entertain a motion to approve.

2:23:38>> I think we missed something. Uh Mr.

2:23:40Chairman, the work report.

2:23:44>> Oh, the work. All right, let's go. Go

2:23:46back.

2:23:46>> It won't take a long time.

2:23:47>> The president, the floor is yours.

2:23:49>> Um, director, you were already going

2:23:50into the work report, so you know what

2:23:52I'm going to ask? Um, you might as well

2:24:01shut up. Thank you. The work program

2:24:03that uh was developed was based on the

2:24:06fiscal year, the budgeted year and by

2:24:10quarter. So basically it's allocated

2:24:13into four equal quarters. What once we

2:24:18finish through September, which should

2:24:21be in the next couple of weeks,

2:24:23um I will have a report that will show

2:24:26the first quarters uh budgeted and what

2:24:30the actual are. and you we'll see what

2:24:32the variances are and if there's any

2:24:35issues

2:24:36uh to discuss uh on that we you can

2:24:40bring it to our attention but uh it has

2:24:42to it's going to be done by quarter

2:24:44because that's how the program was set

2:24:46up. So when you and when you have that

2:24:50data available.

2:24:51>> Yeah.

2:24:52>> Will it be available for the next FI

2:24:54finance meeting so we can go over and

2:24:55have a discussion

2:24:56>> next? That would be

2:24:58>> I believe we're the seven November

2:25:00>> November.

2:25:03>> Yeah, it would be November.

2:25:04>> Yeah. So November we'll be able to

2:25:07discuss how we did the first quarter,

2:25:09right?

2:25:09>> Yeah.

2:25:10>> So it'll be that time. So I look forward

2:25:12to that. And you realize why I did it at

2:25:15the time. I know there was some

2:25:17discussion that maybe a little back and

2:25:19forth, but the idea is so much of what

2:25:21the council gets is after the money is

2:25:24spent

2:25:25>> and to see how we planned out a work

2:25:28report, how it's going to be spent. It's

2:25:31a game plan

2:25:33>> and then now we're in the we're in the

2:25:34first quarter of the game

2:25:35>> and so we'll be able to have that data I

2:25:37think will be very helpful and that

2:25:39trajectory of it needs to be adjusted. I

2:25:41think that's the time we have that

2:25:42conversation before it gets too late. So

2:25:44that's why I did it. I appreciate I know

2:25:46it was not what you really initially

2:25:48wanted, but I appreciate the effort you

2:25:50did you going into it and your

2:25:52department going into it.

2:25:53>> And just to follow up on what you said

2:25:55about uh getting the reports after and

2:25:58finding out things as you know this is

2:26:02the report that was generated to you for

2:26:04was through August.

2:26:06>> I'm already running reports through

2:26:08September as I told you. Uh that report

2:26:12I ran today was October 5th. It wasn't

2:26:14for everything through September, but a

2:26:17good portion of it. So it gives a for me

2:26:20I run it on a weekly basis. It gives me

2:26:23a better idea how we're tracking.

2:26:26>> And I appreciate you making those

2:26:27available if necessary if we need.

2:26:29>> Yes.

2:26:29>> Thank you.

2:26:30>> Okay. Moving on to number three.

2:26:38>> Number three is all set.

2:26:54That's all I have. That's all I have.

2:26:58>> We have final numbers. Fiscal year 2026.

2:27:02>> Yeah, I know you covered it, but it's on

2:27:04the agenda. So, all right. All right.

2:27:06All right. Let's go back to new matters

2:27:08before the committee. Item C, real

2:27:10estate tax abatements. I'm pretty sure

2:27:12everybody got in their packet. May I

2:27:13entertain a motion to approve?

2:27:14[clears throat]

2:27:15>> Motion to approve.

2:27:16>> Second.

2:27:17>> Any discussion? Cler, please take a

2:27:18role.

2:27:21>> Counciloman Vizeri,

2:27:22>> yes.

2:27:23>> Councilman Ritz,

2:27:24>> yes.

2:27:25>> Councilman Tracanty,

2:27:26>> yes.

2:27:26>> Councilman Andar,

2:27:27>> yes.

2:27:28>> Council vice president Hawaiian. Council

2:27:30President Wolf,

2:27:31>> yes.

2:27:32>> At this time, I would like to open the

2:27:33floor for public comment. Is there

2:27:34anyone in the audience that would like

2:27:36to speak on docketed items only? Please

2:27:37come up to the podium.

2:27:41Seeing none. Clerk, is there anyone

2:27:43online?

2:27:48>> I see no public comment online.

2:27:50>> At this [snorts] time, I would like to

2:27:51close public comment and move on to new

2:27:54matters before the committee. Ordinance

2:27:5781702 ordinance and amendment of title 3

2:28:00chapter 8 section 60 of the city of

2:28:02Cranston code of ordinances 2005

2:28:05entitled Board of Contract and Purchase

2:28:08sponsored by Council President Wall. Mr.

2:28:10President, the floor is yours.

2:28:11>> Thank you. And once again,

2:28:12>> and if you could come down

2:28:13>> this time, I'm going to come down.

2:28:15>> Pardon me. This time you have it. While

2:28:17you're coming down, may I entertain a

2:28:19motion to enter into the record a

2:28:21memorandum from our from our attorney

2:28:24and a letter from Taff and MSali LLP?

2:28:30>> So moved.

2:28:31>> Any discussion on entering these two

2:28:33into the record? Seeing none, clerk,

2:28:35please take a role.

2:28:38>> Counciloman Vizeri,

2:28:39>> yes.

2:28:40>> Council Ritz,

2:28:41>> yes.

2:28:41>> Councilman Tracanty,

2:28:42>> yes.

2:28:43>> Councilman Andrew,

2:28:44>> yes. Council Vice President Hawaiian.

2:28:46Yes. Council President Wall.

2:28:47>> Yes.

2:28:48>> Thank you, Mr. President. The floor is

2:28:50yours.

2:28:50>> Mr. Chairman, did we enter? Um, and we

2:28:53have Oh, so we did what? I make sure we

2:28:55did both of them. Okay. Very good.

2:28:58So, what you see up there on the screen

2:29:02is just the amendment um to title 3,

2:29:07chapter 8, section 0606, the board of

2:29:11contracts and purchases. Um, those of

2:29:13you who had a chance to look over uh

2:29:16attorney Marcela's memorandum, we did

2:29:18take into consideration some of the

2:29:21suggestions that were brought forth some

2:29:23by by members of the public, but also

2:29:25also by the solicitor. And there is

2:29:28going to be um an amendment, not

2:29:31substantive, an amendment to this a

2:29:34after the conclusion. So if you see

2:29:36that's the way the amendment was

2:29:39originally written. We will make some

2:29:41changes and I'll introduce that that

2:29:43amendment but it's not pardon me it's

2:29:46not substantive. I'll do it on the floor

2:29:48when I'm done.

2:29:49>> Yeah.

2:29:51>> Okay. I'm sorry I thought you were

2:29:52speaking there. I got you. Okay. So if

2:29:55you read it and for the most part the

2:29:57substance of this amendment to the

2:30:00ordinance is intact. No contract,

2:30:05purchase order, change order for goods,

2:30:07services approved by the board of

2:30:09contracts, and purchases of an amount,

2:30:11and you see that I highlight $100,000 or

2:30:13more shall be entered into, awarded

2:30:15unless approved by the city council at a

2:30:18regular or special meeting of that body.

2:30:21You'll notice that I highlighted

2:30:23$100,000.

2:30:25In my view, that's a large expenditure.

2:30:28In a time of a budget crisis, I think

2:30:30that's a very large expenditure.

2:30:32But many of the monies that are passed

2:30:35by the border contracts exceed that.

2:30:38Hundreds of thousands if not several

2:30:40million dollars at times.

2:30:43Upon referral to the by the board of

2:30:46contracts and purchases, any contract,

2:30:48purchase order or change order request,

2:30:52[clears throat and cough] the request

2:30:53for approval shall include and I think

2:30:56this is highlighted and very important

2:30:58sufficient detail and documentation for

2:31:00the city council including but not

2:31:03limited to the actual contract, purchase

2:31:04order, change order for the city council

2:31:07to act upon the request. I think this

2:31:10this section of the amendment is

2:31:12important as well because basically it's

2:31:15asking for details and documentation

2:31:19so we can make a wise decision. And I'll

2:31:22get to back to that in a point why I

2:31:23think these two points are so important.

2:31:31What this amendment seeks to accomplish

2:31:34is to provide oversight for large

2:31:38expenditures within our capital budgets

2:31:40and our capital projects

2:31:44to ensure that itemized details,

2:31:47financial backup and documentation is

2:31:50provided for those capital projects.

2:31:54to ensure that those affformentioned

2:31:56details and backup are provided not only

2:31:59to the council

2:32:02but to the members of the public who are

2:32:05the people who are going to pay for

2:32:07these projects.

2:32:12I believe it's important that those

2:32:14people see see us deliberate see us

2:32:17discussing these things

2:32:24and I also want to go go to the next

2:32:26one. This amendment does not in my view

2:32:29and I've consulted with legal

2:32:32um and let me start with the last bullet

2:32:35and this this was printed and I I I

2:32:38would not like any misrepresentation. So

2:32:41me let me be very very clear in my

2:32:42intention when we wrote this. It is not

2:32:45intended to be a slight or an insult or

2:32:49any shade towards the members of the

2:32:51board of contracts and purchases. I have

2:32:54nothing but the highest respect for the

2:32:56well-meaning people who serve on this

2:32:58board who ensure that our bids are done

2:33:02properly without any political

2:33:04influence.

2:33:07However, what they are not is a co-equal

2:33:10branch of government that can put the

2:33:13brakes on something and say, "I'd like

2:33:15more detail and send it back." They are

2:33:17not that.

2:33:20It does not change the bidding process

2:33:23or provide the provide for the council

2:33:25to interfere in which but bids are being

2:33:28selected. In no way, shape or form do

2:33:31those words do that. It does not

2:33:33conflict with any charter provision

2:33:36regarding the language of directing

2:33:37administrative personnel. It was

2:33:40referred to and I did take a moment to

2:33:42look at in our charter 3.19. The

2:33:45language speaks of directing

2:33:47administrative personnel and it speaks

2:33:51of appointing administrative personnel

2:33:54and removal. It does not speak of this

2:33:56in my view and I I certainly am not a

2:33:58lawyer but I have consulted with legal

2:34:01council attorney

2:34:04if you would.

2:34:06I certainly do not want to belabor this

2:34:09point but the genesis of this issue came

2:34:13to me sometime in July

2:34:16when I know some of you will recall on a

2:34:19hot evening we were here and we were

2:34:21discussing some of the controversy with

2:34:22the St. Mary's Fountain,

2:34:26as I mentioned, I I went out to the St.

2:34:28Mary's Fountain to see if it was built

2:34:29at all. All right. And I was part of at

2:34:32least a small part of how it got to to

2:34:35be here. Um the St. Mary's Fountain was

2:34:39built, as you may have known, may have

2:34:41read during that time, as part of

2:34:43Knightsville revitalization project

2:34:46phase three.

2:34:48That was part that was approved of by

2:34:50the planning commission in the spring of

2:34:522025.

2:34:54At that time, by the way, there was not

2:34:56a budget crisis. We were in good

2:34:58financial standings, at least we

2:34:59thought. Um, it was approved by the city

2:35:02council as part of the capital

2:35:04improvement budget in the spring of

2:35:062025, approximately a month later. And I

2:35:09will reiterate again, we weren't in a

2:35:12financial crisis at that time. and then

2:35:14it was approved by the board of

2:35:15contracts and purchases on July the

2:35:1722nd, 2025.

2:35:21Unfortunately, it may not have been

2:35:22known then, but our financial report did

2:35:24indicate at that time that we had a $4.9

2:35:27million deficit. So, we were in the

2:35:30start of our financial crisis.

2:35:34Please. Thank you.

2:35:38Now, this is kind of small and I'm I I

2:35:40apologize for my rudimentary PowerPoint

2:35:43skills. Um, but I start with this. The

2:35:46board of contracts and purchases of five

2:35:48appointed members and it's important to

2:35:51add that they are appointed by the

2:35:52members of the council. And it also

2:35:54includes the public works director and

2:35:57the finance director.

2:36:00And one of the big responsibilities

2:36:01you'll see in the ordinance in the

2:36:03charter is to ensure that we take

2:36:06the lowest bids.

2:36:09If you see below in the little um I

2:36:11don't know insert I copied the gez July

2:36:17July 22nd agenda for the board of

2:36:20contracts and purchases. This is not the

2:36:22only agenda I've read. It's not the only

2:36:25minutes I've read. But as you go through

2:36:27these minutes

2:36:29and you go online and I ask you to do

2:36:31it, you'll notice what's not included.

2:36:35There is no attachments. There is no

2:36:37detail.

2:36:39How can they make an infor? I was told

2:36:42that they're provided with detail. Okay,

2:36:44that's fine. But something does not sit

2:36:47right for me if it's not provided for

2:36:49the public to view.

2:36:51Certainly, I could call them and ask

2:36:53them. But if this is the agenda that

2:36:56they're provided with, what answer are

2:36:58they going to give me?

2:37:01Somehow I thought that was wrong and I

2:37:03think we needed some detail because if

2:37:05I'm not mistaken, we paid we spent $3

2:37:08million at that on that night.

2:37:12Now, as I said before, those people are

2:37:15just regular citizens who are doing a

2:37:17service for the city. But we as city

2:37:19council people,

2:37:21if you were going to spend $3.5 million,

2:37:24I have a feeling every one of you wants

2:37:26some detail.

2:37:28I have a feeling if we going to spend $3

2:37:29million with nothing, these chambers

2:37:32would be full. And well, they should be.

2:37:36Next one, please.

2:37:39Some points to consider as I close

2:37:42this ordinance. I'll I'll reiterate it

2:37:44again. It doesn't seek to interfere with

2:37:46the bidding practice. In my type, I made

2:37:49a type typographical error. What it does

2:37:51is ensure that the elected body that is

2:37:54directly responsible to the taxpayers

2:37:57is involved with the way the bonded

2:38:00monies are spent.

2:38:03Not in the spring, but as they're spent.

2:38:10In the interest of transparency, it's

2:38:12important that capital budgets with

2:38:14necessary documentation are deliberated

2:38:17not only thoroughly, but the way we do

2:38:20our business publicly.

2:38:25The budget crisis has made it crystal

2:38:27clear to me and very obvious through

2:38:29public outcry. Every one of us received

2:38:32emails regarding these incidents. The

2:38:35the fountain itself

2:38:37and just common sense that we as a

2:38:40legislative body need to provide more

2:38:42oversight on how the public's money is

2:38:45being spent and this is a step in that

2:38:48direction.

2:38:52If you would

2:38:55this is a quote I used to give trap

2:38:57remember we used to have the all the

2:38:59speeches for the schools. This is one I

2:39:00use quite often. It's a quote from

2:39:02Lincoln where he said, "The best way to

2:39:04predict the future is to create it."

2:39:09This is a receipt

2:39:12from Job Lock.

2:39:14The other day I went in and I bought

2:39:16some protein bars, some cleaning

2:39:18supplies, some coffee, some tea.

2:39:24Spent $39.

2:39:28Here it is. $39 in one minute. That

2:39:31woman gave me more detail than every one

2:39:33of the board of contracts agendas in one

2:39:36minute.

2:39:38I think we can expect better.

2:39:41As Lincoln says there, the best way to

2:39:43predict the future is to create it. Not

2:39:46to be melodramatic, but if we want a

2:39:48better financial financial future in

2:39:50this city, don't sit there and do things

2:39:53exactly the way we've done it before.

2:39:55Create something different. Think

2:39:57outside the box. That's why I'm putting

2:39:59this before you. I hope for your

2:40:01support, members of the council. Thank

2:40:03you.

2:40:05>> May I entertain a motion to approve?

2:40:07>> So moved.

2:40:09>> Any discussion?

2:40:11Councilman Ritz,

2:40:12>> I just have a a few few thoughts. I I

2:40:14think this does make sense. It gives us,

2:40:18you know, the public already feels that

2:40:20we have this this oversight, so it does

2:40:22give us some oversight. I think $100,000

2:40:24is a big number. It's not a small

2:40:26number. Um, you know, I think it also

2:40:29gives us some insight because I do agree

2:40:30it is you can't follow those notes in

2:40:32those meetings. So I I do think this

2:40:34makes a lot of sense with some oversight

2:40:36and some insight. Like I said, I think

2:40:37people already feel that we have this

2:40:39kind of gives us what we already

2:40:44>> any council members further discussion.

2:40:47Mayor Traffic

2:40:52>> if I have my brothers, Mr. Council of

2:40:54President, I would lower the $100,000 to

2:40:57much less than that because many of our

2:40:59bids come in cost much less than

2:41:02$100,000.

2:41:04And the reason why I'm saying that, and

2:41:06by the way, I'm not trying to step on

2:41:07the toes of the administration. That's

2:41:09not my point at all. You know, when you

2:41:10knock on a door, the first day one thing

2:41:12they want to talk about is city

2:41:14finances. That's the exact thing they

2:41:16want about talk about why my tax

2:41:18increase went up 4%.

2:41:20and and they said, "Do you have a handle

2:41:22on city finances?" And the answer could

2:41:25be, "Yes, we have we have a handle on

2:41:27the operating budget." We do not. We do

2:41:30not have a handle on the capital budget.

2:41:33And because it goes through a process

2:41:35where we are left out of that process,

2:41:39you know, you look at the last contract

2:41:41and purchase, you know,

2:41:45bid waiverss alone $4.2 million. bid

2:41:48waivers, not bid contract, bid waivers.

2:41:51They had a a line item of $269,000

2:41:55as part of a bid waiver. That's totally

2:41:58inappropriate. They should have gone to

2:42:00a bid process. It should have gone to

2:42:03the lowest bidder, not not to a bid

2:42:06waiver. And like I said, I totally agree

2:42:09with the council president on his intent

2:42:11this particular resolution and ordinance

2:42:14that's coming forth. I will support it.

2:42:16But again, if I have my brothers, I'd

2:42:18lower the amount. Give it give us a

2:42:20better handle on city finances.

2:42:22>> Mr. President,

2:42:24>> I know we've uh we've had a motion to

2:42:26approve in a second, but I did uh make a

2:42:30statement that we did have a couple of

2:42:33suggested amendments and I just want to

2:42:34be clear um before we go on that I agree

2:42:38with them. It's not substantive. Um and

2:42:40I'm gonna read them. There's pretty

2:42:42pretty well. All right. I um

2:42:46it still keeps the intent. That's what I

2:42:48meant. So my um if you may, I'd like it

2:42:51to read the following and then I'll give

2:42:53this um to the clerk. The changes should

2:42:56be this. No contract

2:43:00uh takeout purchase order. We decided

2:43:02purchase orders. They're not handled by

2:43:04the board of contracts. Or change order

2:43:07for goods or services approved by the

2:43:10board of contracts and purchases of the

2:43:13amount of $100,000 or more shall be

2:43:16entered into or awarded unless approved

2:43:19by the city council at a regular or

2:43:21special meeting of that body. Upon

2:43:24referral

2:43:26by the board of contracts and purchases

2:43:29of any contract, strikeout purchase

2:43:31order, please or change order.

2:43:35The request for approval shall include

2:43:38sufficient detail and documentation for

2:43:40the city council, including but not

2:43:43limited to

2:43:48>> to the add the proposed

2:43:51slash strike actual contract

2:43:56if available. Add that strikeout

2:43:58purchase or change order.

2:44:02strike [clears throat] out for the city

2:44:04council and then finish with to act upon

2:44:07the request. This is in U attorney

2:44:11Marcelo's memo to all of us so you have

2:44:13it available. Just so you know um the

2:44:16attorney illegally say that is so we

2:44:18want to do it now so it's clear. It was

2:44:21some of the language that was offered

2:44:23and um I'm going to give you have you

2:44:26have a copy? you have.

2:44:32>> So I I'm gonna propose that amendment.

2:44:35>> Yes, please.

2:44:38>> May I entertain a motion to make an

2:44:41amendment?

2:44:46Oh, may I entertain a motion to accept

2:44:49this as amended?

2:44:50>> So moved. Second.

2:44:51>> Cler, please take a roll.

2:44:57Councilman Vizeri, yes. Councilman Ritz,

2:45:01>> yes.

2:45:01>> Councilman Tracante. Councilman Anduhar,

2:45:04>> yes.

2:45:05>> Council Vice President Heryan,

2:45:06>> yes.

2:45:07>> Council President Wolf,

2:45:09>> yes.

2:45:11>> Any further any other council people

2:45:12would like to speak before I let the

2:45:13administration speak?

2:45:17>> Floor is yours. Mr.

2:45:18>> Thank you, chairman. Members of the

2:45:21council, I understand and I respect uh

2:45:24the purpose or the intent behind this

2:45:29proposed ordinance, but I have to still

2:45:32object to its its legality and its form.

2:45:36Uh this is clearly

2:45:40uh a separation of powers agreement when

2:45:42and while Mr. Marel might disagree with

2:45:44that based on his memo. Um,

2:45:49I would just respectfully disagree with

2:45:51that opinion.

2:45:53Um, what's left out of

2:45:57the presentation is that the charter the

2:46:01city of Cranston created the board of

2:46:04contractors and purchasing. It is not by

2:46:06ordinance, it's by charter. So any

2:46:09changes to BOA cap need to be done by

2:46:12referendum to the people of the city of

2:46:14Cranston. It's not something that the

2:46:17the members of this particular council

2:46:20or any council moving forward can

2:46:22change. OAP is created under title 7

2:46:26finance uh 707 which creates BOA cap.

2:46:30708, 709, they all spell out the powers

2:46:34of not only Bo, but purchasing agents of

2:46:37the city and his abilities to regulate

2:46:41uh the purchasing process within the

2:46:43city of Cranston. Um I I don't disagree

2:46:48with or or question uh President Wall's

2:46:52intent. I understand that the council

2:46:57wants more

2:47:02definitions, for lack of a better term,

2:47:05if we'll use that, to vocap.

2:47:08But that being said, the power of BOAP

2:47:12is spelt out

2:47:14in the charter and does not require any

2:47:19council approval

2:47:22once it makes its decision. to be quite

2:47:25frank and it's listed in your uh

2:47:27properly within the memo. BAP is

2:47:31actually

2:47:33somewhat controlled by the city council

2:47:35in that five of the seven appointed

2:47:38members are

2:47:41appointed by members of this body.

2:47:43Council president gets an appointee or

2:47:45himself if they wish to show up. The

2:47:48minority gets two members and the

2:47:52majority party gets two members.

2:47:55Included in that is the director of

2:47:57finance, Mr. Strom or his designate and

2:48:00Mr. Marchesy would be the the head of

2:48:03BOAP simply due to the fact that he is

2:48:06the head of of purchasing here in the

2:48:10city.

2:48:11Um

2:48:14I don't say this lightly.

2:48:16The mayor has has taken a position in

2:48:19the last six years in which he's

2:48:23upholding

2:48:25the charter, the laws, the ordinances of

2:48:28the city of Cranston. And that's solely

2:48:32what we're doing. We're not trying to

2:48:34recreate anything. I have consulted with

2:48:37Mark Disto and his law firm of which

2:48:41Brian Sty is here today listening.

2:48:45I don't think that this is something

2:48:49that we should do without further

2:48:52discussions. I highly re would recommend

2:48:56to this body as the lawyer for the city

2:48:59to have discussions regarding this

2:49:04particular ordinance, its intent and how

2:49:08we can move forward.

2:49:11And I say that because this could very

2:49:14well lead to litigation

2:49:18against this council

2:49:22from the administration.

2:49:24And that in its

2:49:28in my view and perspectively looking

2:49:31forward could cost

2:49:35the taxpayers of the city thousands and

2:49:38thousands of dollars which we do not

2:49:40have

2:49:41to argue this

2:49:44in superior court if it were to be

2:49:47passed in its current form.

2:49:52money. Money that this council doesn't

2:49:54have, money that the city does not have,

2:49:58and money that the taxpayers not only do

2:50:01not want to expend, but it is exactly

2:50:04what the intent,

2:50:08respectfully, the intent of of President

2:50:11Wall and and members of this body want

2:50:14to stop is the spending without the

2:50:17oversight. Well, I am offering you right

2:50:21now the oversight.

2:50:24Should this pass, there is a very good

2:50:26chance that litigation will be commenced

2:50:31based on this particular ordinance.

2:50:34And if that happens, the members,

2:50:37taxpayers of the city

2:50:41will be on the hook for thousands of

2:50:43dollars.

2:50:45Now,

2:50:48I don't try to predict the future.

2:50:53I like to believe that the city has

2:50:58a very good chance at winning.

2:51:00Otherwise, I would not initiate such a

2:51:02suit.

2:51:04We could lose. That's always a

2:51:06possibility. That'll be up to a judge in

2:51:08superior court. But at the end of the

2:51:10day, there will be money expended,

2:51:14thousands of dollars.

2:51:17And I want everyone here to know that.

2:51:20Put you on notice.

2:51:22I said this once before and it happened.

2:51:25And it did. That particular case cost, I

2:51:29think, over $30,000 at the end of the

2:51:31day

2:51:33to the city of Cranston. So there's

2:51:37nothing that cannot be resolved or

2:51:40nothing that cannot be further discussed

2:51:43prior to passing this and rushing it

2:51:45through with the exception of

2:51:50I'll I'll strike that please.

2:51:54There is no rush in this. This is

2:51:56something that can be discussed. This is

2:51:58something that does not does not need to

2:52:00be pushed through tonight. It does not

2:52:03need to be pushed through at a council

2:52:04meeting in two weeks. This is something

2:52:07that is not only uh would affect the

2:52:11this administration, but should this

2:52:13ordinance pass in its current form would

2:52:17have implications for every

2:52:19administration moving forward.

2:52:21And this body simply does not have the

2:52:25authority to regulate these purchases.

2:52:29It's done so through the charter. If the

2:52:31city of Cranston wishes to change that,

2:52:35then the city, the citizens of the city

2:52:37could take up a referendum and change

2:52:39the charter. It's clear and simple. It

2:52:43is spelled out in title 7 of the

2:52:47charter. So, I'm respectfully asking

2:52:50that you, the members of this board,

2:52:52table it. I would like to digest the

2:52:55memo in addition that was provided to by

2:52:58Mr. Marcelo to myself a minute ago. I

2:53:01haven't had a chance to read it, nor

2:53:02have I had a chance to read his

2:53:04citations. I haven't had a chance to do

2:53:06any legal research on this matter. And I

2:53:08know every member of the council didn't

2:53:11do that either because this was just

2:53:13provided to us today.

2:53:17So again, take a step back, table it.

2:53:21There's no rush in this and discussions

2:53:23can be had between the council, lawyers,

2:53:27administration, and let's get this

2:53:29right. if there is a way to get it

2:53:31right. Thank you,

2:53:32>> Mr. Solicitor. I think you should stay

2:53:34there. Tom, can you post up or pull up

2:53:36the last um the slide from President

2:53:41Wall's uh the Boat meeting in July for

2:53:44me?

2:53:47Okay. No, the right there. Um

2:53:51yeah, I believe that one is um so from

2:53:55what you said, Mr. Solicitor, and you

2:53:56know, I have all the utmost respect for

2:53:58you. You're advising us to play politics

2:54:00with the vocap board to stop that

2:54:03because right now I mean I can't read I

2:54:05think uh Councilwoman Vizeri, can you

2:54:08please read the change order? What what

2:54:10what that says?

2:54:13>> Change order to replacement of missing

2:54:15section of sidewalk on Broad Street.

2:54:17Original contract amount $4,950

2:54:21with J&J Masonary Solutions in amount of

2:54:24$992.

2:54:26So, my understanding is that went up

2:54:28$992 and we don't know what kind of

2:54:30cement they're using. We don't know what

2:54:31they're using. So,

2:54:34this is transparency. This is common

2:54:37sense

2:54:39legislation. And I'm new to Cranston and

2:54:44I just keep on getting into these um

2:54:49these these roadblocks where it's like

2:54:52common sense legislation is not what

2:54:54Cranon wants. you guys want no sense

2:54:57legislation. So, I I just I'm confused

2:54:59here on why the mayor or why had the

2:55:02administration would be fighting for

2:55:04transparency, fighting for just

2:55:07accountability so we know what's going

2:55:08on and we could report back to our

2:55:10constituents and say, "Hey, oh yeah,

2:55:12there's a change order. It's that

2:55:13because this because that." No, it's

2:55:15just you guys just want it to pass

2:55:17through.

2:55:18>> So, I I'm confused. I I don't need a

2:55:21response.

2:55:22>> This is ridiculous to me. Mr. President,

2:55:24you could speak.

2:55:25>> I'm going to I'm going to respond

2:55:26because you asked me my opinion.

2:55:28>> My opinion is legal.

2:55:30>> I didn't hear a question.

2:55:31>> My opinion is

2:55:33>> President I'm I'm done. Uh you could

2:55:34speak.

2:55:35>> My opinion is legal.

2:55:37>> Okay. My opinion is you as

2:55:39>> I'm with you, Mr. Solicitor. I think the

2:55:41president has the mic right now.

2:55:42>> Chairman, you asked specifically what my

2:55:44opinion

2:55:45>> Okay. Yeah. The question is, do you want

2:55:47the council to play politics with the B

2:55:50cap? As you said specifically,

2:55:53we have members on that board. So when

2:55:54there's a change order like that, you

2:55:56want us to read it and call our people

2:55:58and say, "Hey, you're a Democrat. You

2:56:00appointed by us. Vote no." Is that what

2:56:02you're telling us to do? Because that's

2:56:04what that's what I was getting.

2:56:05>> I'm not telling you anything.

2:56:06>> That's the That's the question I asked

2:56:07you,

2:56:07>> Councilman. Respectfully, I'm not saying

2:56:09anything to any member of this board

2:56:11what to do.

2:56:14If any member of this board has any

2:56:15questions about what happens at Boap, go

2:56:18to a Boap meeting. Okay, that's what I'm

2:56:21saying.

2:56:22What I'm here to address is the

2:56:24authority of what BOAP does. And what

2:56:28BOAP does is spelled out in the charter,

2:56:33not in ordinances. The charter is the

2:56:35governing body, the governing paperwork,

2:56:38the constitution of the city of

2:56:40Cranston. It can be changed by

2:56:43referendum, but it cannot be changed by

2:56:46ordinance. And the powers of BOAP are

2:56:49specifically written into title seven of

2:56:52the charter. That is what I'm saying. If

2:56:54any member here or any member of the

2:56:57public wants to ask about any notes that

2:57:00are written there, they can attend a

2:57:03BOAP meeting and see what documents were

2:57:07provided. That seems to be a summary of

2:57:10what happened at BOAP. But there's a

2:57:12meeting, no different than if someone

2:57:15picked out the minutes of a council

2:57:17meeting

2:57:19here without watching the entire video.

2:57:23They're two separate things. One is a

2:57:25summary of a quick line by line bullet

2:57:28and another thing would be to watch the

2:57:30entire Zoom meeting or YouTube meeting

2:57:33and see what was actually discussed at

2:57:35the meeting. I am not suggesting one way

2:57:38or the other whether you should go or

2:57:40not go. I am certainly not suggesting

2:57:43any politics one way or the other. What

2:57:46I am saying is legally it's an it's a

2:57:50charter and the charter can only be

2:57:53changed by the people of the city of

2:57:54Cranston. Right? An ordinance. You as a

2:57:59body assign the money to different

2:58:02departments within the city that get to

2:58:05spend that money. you then don't get the

2:58:08authority to tell them how to spend it.

2:58:11That's not how the government works.

2:58:14It's an administrative process. Now, if

2:58:16the people want to change that, they can

2:58:18certainly change it at an election and a

2:58:21referendum. But Title 7 is clear. And

2:58:25nowhere in Title 7 does it give the

2:58:28authority of the council the right to

2:58:30call a vote and shut down any contract

2:58:34over any amount. It doesn't exist. The

2:58:38powers are clear within Boap and in the

2:58:41and in this case, Mr. Markeesi as the

2:58:43head of purchasing. That is all I'm

2:58:45saying. I'm not getting into the

2:58:47politics of anything.

2:58:48>> So, Mr. Solicitor,

2:58:51>> you're basically saying that if this

2:58:52gets passes, if this passes tonight,

2:58:55you're going to be directed by the

2:58:56administration. Let me just say it.

2:58:58You're going to be directed by the mayor

2:59:01to sue us.

2:59:03What I'm saying is first of all whether

2:59:06it passes this body is not the issue. It

2:59:09has to pass through a council. It has to

2:59:11go to the mayor's desk. I will tell you

2:59:13that I will give it in its form a

2:59:16negative endorsement. Should the mayor

2:59:19choose to accept it or veto it is

2:59:23entirely up to the administration. That

2:59:25is up to the mayor. and then it very

2:59:29well could play out in a court of law.

2:59:33That's what I'm telling the members of

2:59:36the B of of the council. I'm It's not

2:59:39I'm being open and transparent in that.

2:59:42And if this body wants to still pass it,

2:59:46Councilman, then you have the right to

2:59:48do that. and the mayor and the

2:59:51administration and the people of the

2:59:52city of Cranston have the right to go to

2:59:54court and argue that it's

2:59:57unconstitutional.

3:00:00If that happens, again, it's up to a

3:00:02judge of the superior court who will

3:00:04decide what whether or not we are

3:00:08correct and whether or not the council

3:00:09is correct. But in the end of the day,

3:00:12it's going to expend thousands and

3:00:15thousands of dollars.

3:00:18That this body just spent an hour and a

3:00:21half that I've been sitting here talking

3:00:22about finding ways to save money and

3:00:25finding ways to find money and not spend

3:00:28money. So that's what I'm that's what

3:00:32I'm telling the members of the board.

3:00:34And respectfully, Coun Councilman, I I

3:00:37don't find it funny because I would have

3:00:39to hire a law firm

3:00:42to go in and represent the city and

3:00:45advise a law firm and spend hours and

3:00:47hours, whether it be doing legal

3:00:50research or spending it in court and

3:00:53answering memos when this is something

3:00:55that does not need to be rushed through

3:00:58at this point in time and it can be

3:01:01discussed. And that is my opinion on the

3:01:04matter.

3:01:07>> I still find this amazing, Mr.

3:01:08President.

3:01:10>> Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Let me couch my

3:01:12uh mark. So, I do not ask a question

3:01:14until I want to.

3:01:17[cough and clears throat]

3:01:20Council wants more. It's a phrase that I

3:01:23heard come up. They want more.

3:01:26Council wants more oversight.

3:01:29You do. I'll be honest with you. It

3:01:31wasn't an epiphany. And I tell you where

3:01:33I got it. I've been knocking on doors

3:01:35since June.

3:01:37All right. The people want more

3:01:39oversight.

3:01:41People have asked every one of you, "How

3:01:43did that happen?

3:01:46How come there's stam concrete all over

3:01:49Nights, but I can't get a sidewalk?

3:01:53How come X tree had to be imported from

3:01:56some other place? How come there's a

3:01:58fountain in this area where the where we

3:02:01have a financial deficit? That's what

3:02:03they're asking. You don't believe me?

3:02:06Knock on a few doors. You'll hear it.

3:02:09All right. Council does want more

3:02:11oversight.

3:02:13I The other statement I'd say this has

3:02:16been around for almost two months now,

3:02:19and that's the first time I heard a

3:02:21reference to the charter. Aside from,

3:02:24pardon me, uh, attorney Bob Murray did

3:02:28mention the charter and I read his

3:02:29letter very well written and we did

3:02:31address it.

3:02:33I'm going to definitely recommend that

3:02:35the members of this committee pass it.

3:02:39All right, I'm going to recommend it.

3:02:41And I don't like being threatened with a

3:02:44lawsuit. And I don't like someone

3:02:46telling me, not only am I going to

3:02:49threaten you with a lawsuit to spend

3:02:50more money, I have a track record of

3:02:53doing it in the past.

3:02:55So I'd say now that we found that

3:02:57charter provision, certainly certainly

3:03:00I'm certainly willing to take a look at

3:03:01it. I'll check with you after to have a

3:03:04look at it. We'll check with the

3:03:05attorney. And if you really want to save

3:03:07the city money,

3:03:10file a lawsuit. File a lawsuit. That's

3:03:12the best way to save us some money.

3:03:14Spend extra money for our legal expense

3:03:16report. By all means, do that.

3:03:20That's not the council's intention. I

3:03:22say it again, if we keep doing what

3:03:24we're doing, expect the same results.

3:03:29Right now, there's no oversight. instead

3:03:32of trying to be an obstacle to creating

3:03:34some oversight, why don't you find a

3:03:36legal way to help us? Because I think

3:03:39for the most part, I even heard director

3:03:41director Moretti on the evening of July

3:03:441st because I just recently looked the

3:03:46report say we wouldn't do that again.

3:03:48We'd look to change that change things.

3:03:51We wouldn't we wouldn't have the same

3:03:52ornate things if we knew the financial

3:03:55if the financial condition of the city

3:03:57at the time. But instead, let me put an

3:04:00obstacle and let me put a threat in

3:04:02front of this council that we're going

3:04:04to put a lawsuit in front of you.

3:04:09Two months. Two months this has been

3:04:12around. I got one phone call 5:30 on

3:04:16Friday.

3:04:17I recommend passage. That's all I have

3:04:19to say.

3:04:19>> Council member Ritz,

3:04:20>> I I have a question. So, um, say the the

3:04:24Boap group pulls their money and they

3:04:26buy a Powerball ticket and they win the

3:04:28Power Ball and they all leave and we

3:04:30have no B cap board. Who who approves

3:04:32this stuff? What happens in that

3:04:33situation?

3:04:35>> I don't know who could answer that.

3:04:37>> I would you'd have to appoint another

3:04:39board. There would have to be.

3:04:40>> So, they would sit until the board was

3:04:42appointed. There would be a board

3:04:43following how this works. So, stop

3:04:46government.

3:04:48>> The charter requires the board to be

3:04:50instituted. So if people if they all

3:04:52resign tomorrow, right, whether they're

3:04:54provable or not, we'd have to appoint

3:04:56new people to to perform their fun.

3:04:58>> So there there's holes in this besides

3:05:01this that that

3:05:02>> Well, I I do want to point out and I and

3:05:04again you again the reason I just want

3:05:06to make it very clear the reason why I

3:05:07didn't give my memo to the solicitor

3:05:09prior to the vote of the council tonight

3:05:10is because that's an attorney client

3:05:12privilege between me and the council. as

3:05:14soon as you voted to make a public

3:05:15record, I then released it to him and I

3:05:18have utmost respect for solicitor Malay,

3:05:21but I couldn't give it to him because

3:05:22it's not my role to wave your privilege

3:05:23to give him a memo that I wrote to you.

3:05:25So that's why it was given to him

3:05:27tonight until that vote was taken, I had

3:05:29no idea whether you wanted to keep it

3:05:30private or not. But I will say that um

3:05:32looking at the charter and the language

3:05:34you again, we there's always a healthy

3:05:37disagreement, a a little friction always

3:05:39between the executive branch and the

3:05:40legislative branch. It happens in any

3:05:42state government, any any any anything.

3:05:44But I want to make it clear this this

3:05:46notion of separation of powers at the

3:05:48municipal level has been indicated by

3:05:50the Supreme Court of Rhode Island that

3:05:51is does not exist, right? There and you

3:05:55can look at it and I say it in my memo.

3:05:57You can see why it doesn't exist because

3:05:59the awarding of contracts in this case

3:06:01technically you could say that's an

3:06:03executive function but the majority of

3:06:04that board is is is composed of people

3:06:07who are in the legislature. So that is a

3:06:11in my understanding and my my view

3:06:14that's why the notion of separation of

3:06:16powers doesn't exist because if it truly

3:06:18existed the administration would have

3:06:19all the power and all the appointees on

3:06:22that board but the charter specifically

3:06:24indicates that there are at least five

3:06:26members that come from the legislative

3:06:28branch. Now you might indicate well that

3:06:29means that that that's where the

3:06:30oversight comes from. There are other

3:06:32limits in the charter and there are

3:06:33other limits in the ordinances that have

3:06:35been passed since this amendment in the

3:06:38charter that gives the council and my

3:06:40respectful opinion the ability to

3:06:42further limit the type of contracts or

3:06:45whatever that they wanted to do and I

3:06:46and I spelled that out in the memo which

3:06:47is now public. So I again I'm not a

3:06:51judge Mr. Malain and I am not going to

3:06:53wrestle this out here. Um we don't know

3:06:56how a judge would rule but I stand by

3:06:58the opinion that I wrote. I do not think

3:07:00it's I would not give you an opinion

3:07:01that I thought was violative of the

3:07:02charter. I do not believe it is and uh

3:07:05you know how how it plays out. We have

3:07:07to go through the process. You have to

3:07:09either pass it or if it's rejected it

3:07:11goes nowhere. If it's passed and the

3:07:13mayor vetos it and it's overridden then

3:07:16it becomes in play or if he vetos it and

3:07:18it's not overridden it's dead and we go

3:07:19back to the status quo. So there are a

3:07:21lot of options here. We just don't know

3:07:22how it's going to end. This is the first

3:07:24step and um until we get to that end

3:07:27point really no suit can be filed until

3:07:29we figure out what the actual result is.

3:07:32>> Vice President Hoy,

3:07:34>> I just want to comment how we got here

3:07:36tonight is by our constituents being

3:07:39upset with what happened with a fountain

3:07:42in a phase three of the St. Mary's um

3:07:45Nightsville. We didn't get here because

3:07:48we wanted oversight. We got here because

3:07:50of things happening here in the city of

3:07:53Cranston. We're trying for that not to

3:07:56repeat. I'm a little confused though,

3:07:58Solicitor Malay. You stated that we can

3:08:01have more discussions on this and that,

3:08:03you know, it can be talked about.

3:08:05Doesn't be need to be rushed tonight.

3:08:07Well, are we were going to have talks

3:08:09about it, but then you said it can't

3:08:10happen because it's the chatter and we'd

3:08:12have to change the chatter. So if we

3:08:15continued it tonight, what talks would

3:08:17we happen that wouldn't be affecting the

3:08:21charter? That's kind of contradicting

3:08:22itself, I felt.

3:08:25>> Councilwoman, it it can be discussed on

3:08:28ways to deal with with this issue, but

3:08:33the way that it's written respectfully,

3:08:36and I and I say that, the way it's

3:08:38written is encroaching on the board of

3:08:41of contract and purchasing. It's which

3:08:44is just spelled out in the charter that

3:08:46the charter says what the powers are and

3:08:49enumerates them. And to be quite frank

3:08:52and Mr. Mola is absolutely correct. The

3:08:55this body has actual technical control

3:08:59over the board of contract and

3:09:00purchases. You have five votes compared

3:09:03to two for the administration.

3:09:05But it's the board that makes that

3:09:07decision.

3:09:09not comes back to the council and that

3:09:12is that power is not spelled out in the

3:09:15charter.

3:09:17So maybe there's a maybe there's a way

3:09:20around it legally and and again as I

3:09:23said research needs to be done but that

3:09:26>> do you feel if it was continued and

3:09:28discussions were done that it could be

3:09:31written so that there wouldn't be a

3:09:32lawsuit.

3:09:33>> I I think that there certainly could be

3:09:35good faith discussions. I certainly

3:09:37think and and again this was something

3:09:39that was brought up at the last month's

3:09:41meeting and was continued because of

3:09:43notice and and now it's on for today.

3:09:46It's not this isn't something like the

3:09:48Rome isn't burning.

3:09:51What what is being discussed is not an

3:09:54emergency and it's certainly something I

3:09:57think boap meets every month so it's not

3:10:00it's not

3:10:01>> twice a month.

3:10:02>> Twice a month. Okay. Twice a month. So,

3:10:05you know, if if it's continued and we

3:10:07can continue having good faith

3:10:08discussions between the council and the

3:10:11administration on ways to legally do it

3:10:13that won't violate the charter, then the

3:10:16administration, the mayor, and is open

3:10:19to those conversations. I'm just

3:10:21offering this body the legal opinion

3:10:24that because nothing that was presented

3:10:27talks about the actual powers of vocap

3:10:30written in the charter.

3:10:32It's clear. So again, that's my legal

3:10:37opinion. That's not a slight on on the

3:10:39president. It's not a slight on Mr.

3:10:40Marcelo. It's my legal opinion that this

3:10:43is in violation of the charter. and

3:10:47should we could discuss it and and by no

3:10:49means am I making any threats. I'm not I

3:10:52don't want to engage anyone. I don't

3:10:55want to be paying a law firm. I don't

3:10:57want to be going to superior court. And

3:10:59I know that this body doesn't want me

3:11:02to, nor does the the administration or

3:11:04the people of the city of Cranston.

3:11:07So, thank you.

3:11:10>> I think this is out of frustration.

3:11:11Also, the people that are actually

3:11:13knocking on doors. We're hearing so much

3:11:16about this. I mean, tonight there's a

3:11:18viewer that has named themselves St.

3:11:20Mary's Fountain.

3:11:23This is upsetting the residents of

3:11:25Cranston the way it happened.

3:11:29>> Mayor Travant,

3:11:32I

3:11:33>> I'm trying to think think logically

3:11:34here. We go out for bonding, let let's

3:11:38say for police and fire apparatus,

3:11:40[clears throat] and the mayor decides

3:11:42that the fire department needs a new

3:11:43fire engine. Let's say let's say it's a

3:11:45half a million dollar.

3:11:48All right. Once the mayor expends that

3:11:50money, it creates debt.

3:11:54That debt shows up in the operating

3:11:56budget, which the council is responsible

3:11:58for. the SA and then the mayor can

3:12:01create that debt and we have absolutely

3:12:04no no say whatsoever because we have to

3:12:07basically cover that debt in the

3:12:08operation budget and basically possibly

3:12:11raise taxes because of some of that debt

3:12:16>> director before we vote.

3:12:19>> Thank you. Just specifically on that

3:12:21though there is a control that's called

3:12:23the capital budget which the council

3:12:25needs to approve. So that expenditure

3:12:26never would occur unless the the uh the

3:12:29city council approved the purchase of

3:12:31that fire engine and approved the

3:12:33capital budget. I just want to point

3:12:34that out. So I don't think it's that

3:12:36that uh uh hidden

3:12:40I'm speaking on behalf of the mayor.

3:12:42Okay. Right now

3:12:45if you look at this let's this is not

3:12:48about the the specifics of the

3:12:50ordinance. It it is purely about the

3:12:52constitutionality.

3:12:54He's sitting in the office asked the

3:12:56legal department whenever the mayor

3:12:58makes a decision about reviewing an

3:13:00ordinance. Is it legal and is it

3:13:02basically his opinion what's best for

3:13:04the city? And just about all the time

3:13:07advised it's legal and then it's more of

3:13:09a I'll say political decision in terms

3:13:12of what's best from the viewpoint of the

3:13:14city not in a negative way a positive

3:13:16way political. here. It's a stumbling

3:13:19block the mayor is torn with right now

3:13:21because he's not getting past when he

3:13:23asked the question, is it legal? He's

3:13:25getting legal advice from the

3:13:28solicitor's office to say they believe

3:13:30have the opinion that it is not legal

3:13:33that this ordinance pass. It's not

3:13:36anything to do with the specifics and

3:13:38and I just want to make sure that's very

3:13:40clear because it's easy to for keyboard

3:13:43cowboys out there to say, "Oh, the

3:13:45mayor's against this because it's going

3:13:47to control his spending." This goes way

3:13:49beyond this mayor mayor Hopkins because

3:13:51this existed with Mayor Trafocanti. It

3:13:54existed with Mayor Fun and Mayor

3:13:55Npalitano and Mayor Oli and and so on

3:13:58and so forth and is going to in the

3:14:00future. So, we're just a little snippet

3:14:02in time. So he's looking at it more from

3:14:04the constitutionality of it. So he's

3:14:06getting the opinion from the solicitor's

3:14:08office. We asked to say solicitor can

3:14:12you ask legal legal counsel outside

3:14:14legal counsel who we very much respect

3:14:16the sister law firm what their opinion

3:14:19is not a biased fashion but in a fashion

3:14:21to say what is their opinion. They're

3:14:24coming back and say preliminarily based

3:14:26on what they're aware of that they

3:14:28believe it's not constitutional either

3:14:31relative to the charter.

3:14:33With all due respect, certainly we

3:14:36respect attorney Marcelo's opinion

3:14:38[clears throat]

3:14:39and particularly now something some an

3:14:42opinion that was just shared with you

3:14:43folks that the administration the mayor

3:14:45sitting his office hasn't seen. So, what

3:14:47we're requesting is a proper vetting, a

3:14:51congenial vetting to work with the city

3:14:53council and the mayor's office that the

3:14:55lawyers, particularly the lawyers, I

3:14:57don't I don't know the law, so I don't

3:14:59have an an opinion on this, but to them

3:15:02to work it out and to come up with

3:15:03something. So, all we're asking for is

3:15:05to just just continue this and and and

3:15:08just see what the lawyers say. And it's

3:15:10in fact I think the council president

3:15:12even mentioned perhaps they'll come up

3:15:14with even a [clears throat] better

3:15:15solution. So that's what we're asking

3:15:17for. It's not on the particulars of what

3:15:20this is doing. And I we don't take this

3:15:21as anything against Mayor Hopkins

3:15:23because it's not you could question

3:15:25expenditures. It's political time. I'm

3:15:26sure that personel there's a lot of

3:15:28people that don't like Mayor Hopkins out

3:15:29there by the way that that you know kind

3:15:32of phony names and things like that

3:15:33we've experienced. So we're used to

3:15:36that. So that's okay. But they're not

3:15:38gonna be intimidated by that either. But

3:15:40all they were doing is if you picture

3:15:42him in his office getting advice to say

3:15:44it's not legal and it doesn't feel right

3:15:47to be able to proceed with it. So there

3:15:49was the concern that we don't want to

3:15:51fight legally. We don't we'd rather get

3:15:53together and to have the lawyers. So

3:15:55just asking for to continue it for

3:15:57another for a session to give these

3:15:59attorneys the opportunity and to give

3:16:01the both both folks the the advice.

3:16:04That's that's that simple. It's not

3:16:05emotional. It's not political in that

3:16:08respect.

3:16:10>> Council Haro,

3:16:12>> could I ask a question and could you

3:16:14email me the responses to this? Since

3:16:16the mayor took office, how many lawsuits

3:16:18has he been named in after given legal

3:16:21representation?

3:16:25>> Mr. President, I don't know the answer,

3:16:28but

3:16:29um

3:16:31>> Mr. President,

3:16:32>> thank you.

3:16:34Yeah, actually that's probably not the

3:16:36topic. Um, listen, I make you a counter

3:16:39proposal to show I'm a reasonable man.

3:16:41Nothing's going to happen tonight that's

3:16:43going to change the world. This is a

3:16:44committee meeting. We can vote this out

3:16:47of committee. The page in the charter

3:16:49pretty much matches the ordinance. As I

3:16:51compared the two of them, it's about one

3:16:53page. I think with smart minds, we got

3:16:56what, two weeks before the next council

3:16:58meeting. I certainly willing to sit

3:16:59down. I'm a reasonable man. I'm sure the

3:17:01council attorney would be willing to sit

3:17:03down and see if we find a solution. The

3:17:05truth is as of right now, and I'm not a

3:17:07lawyer, I'll certainly look at it again.

3:17:09And this was just introduced to me now

3:17:10and I read it very briefly and I

3:17:12compared it to the ordinance that's in

3:17:14there because it sounds like the

3:17:15ordinance was based on the language in

3:17:17the charter and I didn't believe at that

3:17:20time that that ordinance violated

3:17:23anything. We don't do away with the

3:17:25board of contracts and purchases. We

3:17:28just add a layer of oversight. So, I

3:17:31would advise my colleagues once again,

3:17:33I'll say it again, pass it tonight.

3:17:35Nothing's going to change that much as

3:17:37amended and we'll sit down. Well, it has

3:17:40to be passed as amended because we

3:17:42without the amendment. I don't think

3:17:44that was done.

3:17:48>> We passed.

3:17:49>> We passed the amendment, but I think we

3:17:50have to pass it if I'm not mistaken as

3:17:52amendment. Okay. All right. And I'll

3:17:55certainly sit down. However,

3:17:57that it violates the charter. The only

3:18:00provision that was ever given to me was

3:18:01the non-interference and many times it

3:18:03was pointed out to me last time we met

3:18:05that was overstep overstep. This is very

3:18:08much an overstep. No, no charter

3:18:10provision. I certainly am a reasonable

3:18:12man. I'll look at it. I am not one of

3:18:14those people who hides behind the

3:18:16keyboard and says I'm a hater of Mayor

3:18:19Hopkins. Personally, I know Mayor

3:18:21Hopkins very well. We may be in

3:18:22disagreement at this point. I'm here who

3:18:26I am representing the taxpayers and

3:18:28that's what I'm doing. That's why I'm

3:18:30doing it because we're spending too much

3:18:33money on certain projects. It's that

3:18:35just that simple. And we really don't

3:18:37know how it's being spent. It's that

3:18:39simple. I s sound angry because I'm

3:18:41frustrated. Perhaps I am a little angry.

3:18:43All right. But I'm a reasonable person.

3:18:45I'd recommend that we pass it this

3:18:47evening out of committee and before we

3:18:49meet in the council council chambers. I

3:18:51certainly am willing to sit down and

3:18:53maybe I can even coers the council

3:18:54attorney to sit down as well.

3:18:55>> I I I think having that open mind is is

3:18:57the right thing to do. Um because

3:18:59correct it's not law until until it's

3:19:03the full body and so there's another

3:19:04bite at the apple. I think that's fair.

3:19:06Council President,

3:19:07>> but I am hesitant to do this. I'm

3:19:10hesitant to just stop and

3:19:14go forward. The truth is if we weren't

3:19:16here tonight, I never even would have

3:19:18got this provision of the charter.

3:19:21Sometimes a little pressure builds what?

3:19:23Diamond, right? So, we're going to build

3:19:24something out. This pressure is

3:19:26important. I don't mean that to be

3:19:27facitious or snarky.

3:19:31>> Thank you. Have all the members of the

3:19:32committee as questions?

3:19:36>> Clerk,

3:19:38>> I just have a question if the council

3:19:39president's PowerPoint needs to be voted

3:19:42as part of the record or not. And can I

3:19:45be provided

3:19:46>> entertain a motion to Oh, no. We have to

3:19:48finish this one, right?

3:19:48>> Without objection.

3:19:50>> Without objection, may we enter the

3:19:52PowerPoint presentation into the record?

3:19:54>> Seeing none, it's entered into the

3:19:56record. Um, have all the members of the

3:19:58committee ask questions? Would a

3:20:00minority leader, our guest today,

3:20:02Councilman, would like to say anything?

3:20:05Councilman. Okay. No comment. Um,

3:20:08>> can I just say one comment? Director

3:20:10Strum,

3:20:11>> I just wanted to bring to the council's

3:20:14attention that I've been on the count uh

3:20:17on the board of contract and purchasing

3:20:19for 13 years. I came back now. I've been

3:20:21on it another six months and I have to

3:20:24say never has there been a council

3:20:27person attend a B contract and

3:20:30purchasing meeting. So if there were

3:20:32issues, he did once, yes, but if you,

3:20:36you know, in history, if there was any

3:20:38issues on a particular item that was on

3:20:41that agenda,

3:20:42the council has never came to question

3:20:46it, want additional information, and I

3:20:50think that should be noted. Okay.

3:20:53>> Thank you. Minority Leader, please

3:20:55speak.

3:20:55>> Thank you, Chair. Um, there's one thing

3:20:57I've learned uh from being on the

3:20:59council for 5 years. If there's two

3:21:00lawyers in a room, there are absolutely

3:21:03two opinions. So, I look forward to

3:21:06getting that resolved and hopefully it

3:21:08is resolved before the uh the council

3:21:10meeting when we have to vote on this as

3:21:12a as a a team. Uh the other thing is I

3:21:16did notice the uh the board of contracts

3:21:18you put up that agenda that is a snippet

3:21:21of the agenda. That is not what the

3:21:24whole

3:21:26>> contract get. It was a little It wasn't

3:21:29much by all means.

3:21:30>> No, no. What I mean is that's what you

3:21:33see, but I think uh Director Stum can uh

3:21:37elaborate on this is it's more detailed

3:21:39what they look at. They don't just look

3:21:41at that little

3:21:43uh just the number and and uh if you can

3:21:46elaborate uh director on [laughter]

3:21:51>> we uh we get the full docket at the you

3:21:55know I know it goes out on a Friday but

3:21:57we review it and at the border contract

3:22:00and purchasing meeting there's

3:22:01supporting documents for what is being

3:22:04voted on

3:22:06>> right so it's much more detailed than

3:22:08what we see there

3:22:09>> and the Other thing is I want to say I

3:22:11know councilman trafficy mentioned about

3:22:14uh bid waivers. Bid waver sometimes

3:22:18there's only a sole provider. There's

3:22:21not other companies bidding on it.

3:22:24There's also an emergency situations at

3:22:26times. Uh so sometimes when we make

3:22:30decisions, it's not something that we

3:22:32have choices to make. It's we're limited

3:22:34to our choices and the it's not always

3:22:38the lowest price. It's the most it's the

3:22:41lowest and the most responsive bidder

3:22:44when we make decisions as well and if

3:22:46they're qualified.

3:22:48>> Okay. Well, I just want to say that I

3:22:50look forward to getting this resolved.

3:22:52Uh I look forward for more transparency.

3:22:54I do agree. I do agree with you there.

3:22:56Um there are we do knock on doors and we

3:22:59do hear it. So, uh I just this is a

3:23:02major step. It's in the process with

3:23:05boap and how we purchase. So, I just

3:23:08hope it's thought through and it's

3:23:10because we're going to have to live with

3:23:11it for a long time. So, hopefully by the

3:23:14council meeting some of these things are

3:23:15handed out. Thank you,

3:23:16>> Mayor Tracante.

3:23:19I I just want to comment [clears throat]

3:23:21you know I mentioned I mentioned the bid

3:23:23waiverss you know how much discussion

3:23:25could take place when you spend a half a

3:23:28million dollars in 15 minutes. How much

3:23:31discussion actually takes place? only to

3:23:33know because I like I said I don't

3:23:36intend to bought a contract to purchase

3:23:37meetings but if you're going to discuss

3:23:39a half a million dollars of expenditures

3:23:41it should take more than 15 minutes

3:23:44that's what bothers me

3:23:47president Wall

3:23:48>> and just you know certainly I appreciate

3:23:51I appreciate you bringing this uh

3:23:54Councilman Campiano up because what

3:23:57you're saying is is really the crux of

3:23:59the issue if the public went on to the

3:24:02border contracts and purchases and

3:24:04looked at the agenda. What's being

3:24:06discussed tonight, that's what they

3:24:08would see. There's a little extra that

3:24:09wouldn't fit. That's what they would

3:24:10see, not what everybody else in the

3:24:13room.

3:24:15If the public saw we're putting a phone

3:24:17in front of St. Mary's or whatever, we

3:24:20never got the actual price. I have a

3:24:22feeling they would have showed up.

3:24:25But just those five people get it. And

3:24:27that's not the members that we appointed

3:24:29who made that decision. We didn't make

3:24:31that decision.

3:24:33No offense. They just took a vote on

3:24:35what we were given.

3:24:40There's a whole b bunch of stuff

3:24:45that clerk Renulli puts onto this

3:24:47agenda, attachments, backup, and stuff

3:24:50like that. And people look at it online.

3:24:53I think the real real thing that I would

3:24:56like to see is the board of contracts

3:24:58purchases has that type of detail so the

3:25:01public can look at it. All right, where

3:25:04and maybe they would show up. But if I

3:25:06saw that agenda, why would I show up?

3:25:10I'm not I think we need to change the

3:25:13way we do business. We need to do

3:25:16businesses provide more transparency,

3:25:18not less, not make excuses why we can't

3:25:21do it. And I'm glad you said that

3:25:23because you pointed out something that's

3:25:24really one of the issues that I

3:25:26highlighted in the beginning. There

3:25:27isn't enough detail provided, not for

3:25:30the members of that board, not for the

3:25:32members of the city council, and not for

3:25:33the public who is paying for it.

3:25:37I won't say anymore. I promise.

3:25:40>> Thank you. Well, to my point, uh, this

3:25:43is a major step in the process. So maybe

3:25:46that be one of the steps that we need to

3:25:49take care of. Uh I've always coined the

3:25:51term maybe better to step on the brakes,

3:25:53but maybe we could take this analyze it

3:25:57and make the right decision for the

3:25:59citizens of Cranston.

3:26:02>> Thank you. Any other members?

3:26:06Well, as chair, I have full faith that

3:26:07the mayor and the administration will

3:26:11enter into talks with the council and we

3:26:12could find a resolution to this. But the

3:26:16quote of the night is, you know, when

3:26:19the city solicitor said Rome isn't

3:26:21burning, but I feel that if we don't

3:26:23stop this, Rome is about to be bankrupt.

3:26:25So with that, clerk, please take a role.

3:26:30>> The amendment as amended.

3:26:34>> As amended.

3:26:35>> Yeah, this is the ordinance as amended.

3:26:37>> Somebody make the motions.

3:26:39>> Yeah, we already made it.

3:26:40>> Motion.

3:26:40>> Oh, the pass

3:26:42>> on the amendment. Okay,

3:26:44>> Council Missouri,

3:26:45>> can I just be real clear before we take

3:26:47it? This is passing the ordinance as

3:26:50amended and motion to approve that

3:26:53ordinance.

3:26:53>> May I entertain a motion to pass

3:26:56>> the ordinance as amended?

3:26:57>> So moved.

3:26:58>> Second.

3:26:59>> Any discussion? Further discussion?

3:27:01Clerk, please take a role.

3:27:03>> Counciloman Vizeri,

3:27:04>> yes. Councilman Ritz,

3:27:06>> yes.

3:27:06>> Councilman Trapicans,

3:27:07>> yes.

3:27:08>> Councilman Anduhar,

3:27:09>> yes.

3:27:09>> Council [snorts] vice president Hoyan,

3:27:11>> yes. Council President Wall.

3:27:13>> Yes.

3:27:17>> I believe we're done, right? Motion

3:27:19passed.

3:27:20>> Mhm.

3:27:21>> May I entertain a motion to adjurnn?

3:27:22>> Motion to adjurnn.

3:27:24>> A second. All those in favor say I.

3:27:26>> I.

3:27:26>> Any naysay? Eyes have it. We are journed

3:27:28at 856.

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