(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

Special Meeting

 

 

 

MINUTES

WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 20, 2025 at 6:00 P.M.

 

A Special Meeting of the Cranston City Council was be held in the Council Chambers, Cranston City Hall, 869 Park Ave., Cranston, RI  02910, for the purpose of considering the following items listed on the agenda. Remote participation was also available.

 

YouTube Livestream

 

The meeting was live streamed on YouTube. Click the link below to view the meeting. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtE9vwA1B1PQHuftrNPcZjg.

 

 

I.                   CALL TO ORDER

 

The meeting was called to order at 6:01 P.M. by Council President Jessica M. Marino.

 

II.                ROLL CALL

Roll call was taken by the City Clerk.  Stated as present:  Councilman Campopiano, Councilman Buonanno, Councilwoman Graziano, Councilwoman Haroian, Councilman Andujar, Councilman Ritz, Councilman Traficante, Council Vice-President Wall, and Council President Marino.  Also present:  Legal Counsel Stephen Angell, Solicitor Christopher Millea, Internal Auditor David DiMaio, Director of Administration Anthony Moretti, and City Clerk Tracy Nelson.

 

III.             INTRODUCTION OF NEW BUSINESS 

 

The following New Business items are listed for reference and for a vote to be referred

to the appropriate Council sub-committee for a public hearing:

 

PROPOSED AMENDMENT(S) to the Letter of Engagement (dated February 7, 2025) between the Cranston City Council and Stephen J. Angell, Esq. of Angell Law, LLC as Council Attorney and Litigation Counsel for the City Council, for the term beginning January 2025 and ending January 2027; to be referred to the Finance Committee August 20, 2025 @ 6:15 P.M.   (vote may be taken)

 

MOTION made by Council Vice-President Wall, SECONDED by Councilwoman Haroian to refer the proposed amendment(s) to the Finance Committee.

 

Solicitor Millea interjected before the roll was called and spoke:

 

He wants the body to be aware that, as of right now, no amendment has been posted to the website that he is aware of.  There’s been no amendment to any contract that has been posted publicly.  He would anticipate that moving forward at any point in time right now will cause a violation of the Open Meetings Act (OMA).  There has been nothing posted within the 48-hour notice.  As of right now, he still has not seen an amendment to any contract.  He cited the recent decision in Ford v. City of Cranston in which the Attorney General’s Office advised that the public body needs to give the public the opportunity to understand what is being discussed and notice as to what is being discussed so that they can have proper notice and can properly address the issue in public.  As of right now, he is warning the body they might run afoul of the OMA, based on the fact that there’s been zero notice to the public or counsel or to the solicitor’s office as to what the amendment to this contract is.  

 

Council President Marino thanked Solicitor Millea.  She believes from past experience that what is being done this evening, in the agenda as posted, is consistent with past practice of this body and does not violate OMA.  We are referring it to the proper committee with proper posting.  She called for the roll.

 

VOTE:  Ayes – 5 (Graziano, Haroian, Andujar, Wall, Marino)

   Nays – 4 (Campopiano, Buonanno, Ritz, Traficante)

 

MOTION CARRIES BY MAJORITY AFFIRMATIVE VOTE

 

IV.             ADJOURNMENT  (vote may be taken)

 

MOTION made by Council Vice-President Wall, SECONDED by Councilman Andujar to adjourn at 6:05 P.M.               All Ayes

 

 

 

 

 

Minutes approved as written September 22, 2025

 

Attest:  Tracy A. Nelson, City Clerk