(The following is not a verbatim transcript of comments or discussion that occurred during the meeting, but rather a summarization intended for general informational purposes.  All motions and votes are the official records). 

         

 

CRANSTON CITY COUNCIL

Notice of Special Meeting

 

APRIL 3, 2021

 

 

 

 

            A Special meeting of the City Council was held on Saturday, April 3, 2021 via  Zoom Webinar.

 

            The meeting was called to order at 9:05 A.M. by the Council President.

 

Roll call showed the following members present:  Councilwoman Marino, Councilman Ferri, Councilwomen Renzulli, Vargas, Germain, Council

          Also Present:  Anthony Moretti, Director of Administration; Robert Strom, Director of Finance; John Verdecchia, Assistant City Solicitor; David Dimaio, City Council Budget Analyst.

 

             Council President Paplauskas stated that any departments not heard today before the Special Finance Committee meeting will be referred to a future Budget Hearing.

 

Public Comments:

 

            Paula McFarland, 100 Pomham St., appeared to speak on several areas of the budget.  She thanked everyone for taking their Saturday morning and her Saturday morning to hear a most comprehensive portion of our budget, which she thought was odd that we would have so many areas of our budget that are so comprehensive to our City and they would be heard on a Saturday morning at 9:00 a.m.  They could have been split up in a better manner.  She addressed the no rate and assed values on properties and stated that she looked at the Building Department and it was interesting to see that Building Inspections permits are not really at a substantially high level in the last few years given the fact that we are in a housing boom and that means and that tells her that many of the people are repairing their homes without getting permits.  It also speaks to the fact that the no rate and assessment rate properties are being assessed outside and not in the interior of their properties.  She also finds it unusually that the commercial rate was given a better break on their reassessment than the homeowners of the City of Cranston Theirs was substantially lowered where ours was not and that was concerning to her.  She also looked at the fact that there is an influx of revenue coming from the American Relief Act.  This is a one-time influx in the budget.  That is not future money that will be here for the remainder of the duration and looking at some of the expenses, that is concerning.  Our economy is just starting to boom back and those people who have been out of work and to see those reassessments from $300-$500-$600 more in their property taxes for next year is also disheartening given the fact that people are still not back to work.  It is really the wrong time to ask for people to give that kind of money.  She asked that everyone take the time to look at this budget.  She commended the Mayor on the improvements that he has been making in the City and hopefully those improvements are not impacted into this budget and they are through grant opportunities or using CDBG funds.  She thanked the City Council and the Mayor for the work and dedication to our City.

 

 

The meeting adjourned at 9:13 P.M.

 

 

 

 

                                                                        /s/ Leanne Zarrella, D

                                                                        City Clerk

 

 

 

/s/ Rosalba Zanni

Assistant City Clerk/Clerk of Committees