(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

Regular Monthly Meeting

 

 

 

 

TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2025 at 7:00 P.M.

 

The regular monthly meeting of the Cranston City Council was held on Tuesday, May 27, 2025 at 7:00 PM. in the Cranston City Council Chambers, Cranston City Hall, 869 Park Ave., Cranston, RI  02910 for the purpose of conducting the items of business appearing on the docket.

 

This meeting was live streamed on YouTube. Click the link to view the meeting.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtE9vwA1B1PQHuftrNPcZjg.

 

 

I.            CALL TO ORDER

 

The meeting was called to order at 7:00 P.M. by Council President Jessica M. Marino

 

II.            ROLL CALL

 

The City Clerk called the roll.  Stated as present:  Councilman Campopiano, Councilman Buonanno, Councilwoman Haroian, Councilman Andujar, Councilman Ritz, Councilman Traficante, Council Vice-President Wall, and Council President Marino.  Absent:  Councilwoman Graziano.  Also present:  Asst. Solicitor John Verdecchia, Legal Counsel Stephen Angell, Internal Auditor David DiMaio, and City Clerk Tracy Nelson.

 

III.            PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by the body.

 

IV.            APPROVAL OF MINUTES   (vote may be taken to consider as a block)

 

MOTION made by Council Vice-President Wall, SECONDED by Councilwoman Haroian to consider all the minutes as a block.  
Ayes – 8  (unanimous)

 

APPROVAL of the minutes of the April 23, 2025 Special Council Meeting (vote may be taken)

 

APPROVAL of the minutes of the April 28, 2025 Regular Council Meeting (vote may be taken)

 

APPROVAL of the minutes of the May 15, 2025 Special Council Meeting (vote may be taken)

 

MOTION made by Council Vice-President Wall, SECONDED by Councilwoman Haroian to approve all three sets of minutes.  
Ayes – 8  (unanimous)

 

V.            PUBLIC ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AND COMMENDATIONS 
None

VI.            PUBLIC HEARINGS AND PUBLIC COMMENT – DOCKETED ITEMS
There was no public comment.

 

VII.            RESOLUTIONS

 

RESOLUTION in Recognition of the Month of June as Pride Month; sponsored by Councilwoman Haroian, Councilwoman Graziano and Council President Marino (vote may be taken)

 

Councilman Buonanno, Council Vice-President Wall, Councilman Andujar, Councilman Ritz, Councilman Traficante and Councilman Campopiano asked to be added as co-sponsors.

 

MOTION made by Council Vice-President Wall, SECONDED by Councilman Buonanno to approve the resolution. 
Ayes – 8  (unanimous)

 

Councilwoman Haroian announced the Pride Flag raising will be held Monday, June 9 at 5:30 P.M.

 

VIII.            REPORTS OF COMMITTEES

 

A.    Report from the Chair, Councilman Wall, on the CLAIMS COMMITTEE meeting of May 5, 2025: Report of Claims Paid May, 2025
(no vote)

 

B.     Report from the Chair, Councilwoman Haroian, on the SAFETY SERVICES & LICENSES COMMITTEE meeting held May 5, 2025:   

 

            NEW CLASS BV LIQUOR LICENSE (vote may be taken)

            OVER CAP AND REQUIRES FULL COUNCIL APPROVAL            

Equis Restaurant & Lounge, LLC located at 355 Dyer Ave.; Peter Petrarca, Esq.

            Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 11am-1am

               Outstanding items required prior to issuance of license by City Clerk - NONE

 

MOTION made by Council Vice-President Wall, SECONDED by Councilman Andujar to approve the Liquor License.  Ayes – 8  (unanimous)

 

C.     Report from the Chair, Councilman Wall, on the FINANCE COMMITTEE meeting held May 5, 2025:   (nothing to report)   (no vote)

 

D.    Report from the Chair, Councilwoman Graziano, on the PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE meeting held May 15, 2025:  (nothing to report)   (no vote)

 

E.     Report from the Chair, Councilman Andujar, on the ORDINANCE COMMITTEE meeting held May 15, 2025:  

 

RESOLUTION “School Transportation Resolution for Out of District, Homeless and Private School Students”; Sponsored by Councilman Buonanno, Councilman Traficante, and Council President Marino; approved by the Committee May 15, 2025  (vote may be taken) 

 

Council Vice-President Wall, Councilwoman Haroian, Councilman Ritz, and Councilman Andujar asked to be added as co-sponsors.

 

MOTION made by Council Vice-President Wall, SECONDED by Councilwoman Haroian to approve the resolution.  Ayes – 8  (unanimous)

 

RESOLUTION “School Transportation Resolution in Support of H-5420 & S-636 & S- 397; Sponsored by Councilman Buonanno and Councilman Traficante; approved by the Committee May 15, 2025  (vote may be taken)

 

Council Vice-President Wall, Councilman Andujar, Councilwoman Haroian, Council President Marino, Councilman Ritz, and Councilman Campopiano asked to be added as co-sponsors.

MOTION made by Council Vice-President Wall, SECONDED by Councilwoman Haroian to approve the resolution.  Ayes – 8  (unanimous)

 

RESOLUTION “Public Schools Fair Funding Formula”; Sponsored by Councilman Buonanno, Councilman Traficante, Council President Marino and Councilman Campopiano; approved by the Committee May 15, 2025  (vote may be taken)

 

Councilwoman Haroian, Councilman Andujar, Council Vice-President Wall, and Councilman Ritz asked to be added as co-sponsors.

 

MOTION made by Council Vice-President Wall, SECONDED by Councilwoman Haroian to approve the resolution.  Ayes – 8  (unanimous)

 

IX.            PUBLIC COMMENT FOR UNDOCKETED ITEMS   (no votes)

There was no public comment.

 

X.            ELECTION/APPOINTMENT OF CITY OFFICIALS

 

RE-APPOINTMENT of Mario Carlino to the Zoning Board of Review as Alternate 2 for the term July 12, 2025 through July 12, 2026   (vote may be taken)

 

MOTION made by Council Vice-President Wall, SECONDED by Councilman Traficante to re-appoint Mario Carlino.  Ayes – 7 (Campopiano, Buonanno, Haroian, Ritz, Traficante, Wall and Marino); Nays – 1 (Andujar)

 

RE-APPOINTMENT of Regina M. Spirito to the Public Library Board of Trustees for the term July 31, 2025 through July 31, 2028   (vote may be taken)

 

MOTION made by Council Vice-President Wall, SECONDED by Councilwoman Haroian to re-appoint Regina M. Spirito.  Ayes – 8  (unanimous)

 

RE-APPOINTMENT of Diane L. Schaefer to the Public Library Board of Trustees for the term July 31, 2025 through July 31, 2028   (vote may be taken)

 

MOTION made by Council Vice-President Wall, SECONDED by Councilman Traficante to re-appoint Diane L. Schaefer.  Ayes – 8  (unanimous)

 

RE-APPOINTMENT of Nancy Vitulli to the Arts Commission for the term July 25, 2025 through July 25, 2028   (vote may be taken)

 

MOTION made by Council Vice-President Wall, SECONDED by Councilman Traficante to re-appoint Nancy Vitulli.  Ayes – 8  (unanimous)

 

XI.            REPORT OF CITY OFFICERS
None

 

XII.            EXECUTIVE COMMUNICATIONS

 

Legal Expense Analysis for the period of July 1, 2024 through May 27, 2025 (no vote)

    

There were no questions or comments.

 

XIII.            COUNCIL PRESIDENT COMMUNICATIONS (no votes)
None

 

XIV.            COUNCIL MEMBER COMMUNICATIONS  (no votes)
None

 

XV.            COUNCIL BUSINESS MATTERS CARRIED OVER
None

XVI.            INTRODUCTION OF NEW BUSINESS

 

MOTION made by Council Vice-President Wall, SECONDED by Councilman Andujar to consider all the new business items as a block.  Ayes – 8  (unanimous)

 

05-25-01          ORDINANCE In Amendment of Title 5, Chapter 04 of the City of Cranston Code of Ordinances, 2005, Entitled ‘Licenses Generally’; Sponsored by Councilwoman Haroian; to be referred to Ordinance Committee June 12, 2025 (vote may be taken)

 

05-25-02          ORDINANCE In Amendment of Title 5, Chapter 68 of the City of Cranston Code of Ordinances, 2005, Entitled ‘Tobacco Dealers’; Sponsored by Councilwoman Haroian; to be referred to Ordinance Committee June 12, 2025 (vote may be taken)

05-25-03          ORDINANCE In Amendment of Title 5, Chapter 20 of the City of Cranston Code of Ordinances, 2005, Entitled ‘Bingo Games’; Sponsored by Councilwoman Haroian; to be referred to Ordinance Committee June 12, 2025 (vote may be taken)

 

05-25-04          ORDINANCE In Amendment of Title 5, Chapter 32 of the City of Cranston Code of Ordinances, 2005, Entitled ‘Flower Vendors’; Sponsored by Councilwoman Haroian; to be referred to Ordinance Committee June 12, 2025 (vote may be taken)

 

05-25-05          ORDINANCE Amending the City of Cranston 2025 Municipal Budget (Engineering Salary Schedule Amendment); Sponsored by Mayor Kenneth J. Hopkins; to be referred to Finance Committee June 2, 2025 (vote may be taken)

 

RESOLUTION “Supporting the Rhode Island Bottle and Extended Producer Responsibility Bill (H6207)”; Sponsored by Councilwoman Graziano; to be referred to Ordinance Committee June 12, 2025   (vote may be taken)

 

RESOLUTION Requesting the Rhode Island General Assembly to Amend R.I. Gen. Laws § 44-3-3 to Grant Tax-Exempt Status to the Little Flower Home for Property Located at 85 West View Avenue, Cranston, RI; Sponsored by Mayor Hopkins and Councilwoman Haroian; to be referred to Ordinance Committee June 12, 2025 (vote may be taken)

 

PETITION from The Narragansett Electric & Verizon New England Inc. for installation of new pole to serve new house on Summit Drive; to be referred to Public Works Committee June 12, 2025   (vote may be taken)

 

CLAIMS to be referred to the Claims Committee meeting of June 2, 2025 as follows:   (vote may be taken)

 

CLAIMANT	TYPE OF CLAIM	DATE OF INCIDENT
Gerard Deneault	Bodily Injury	02/26/2025
Helena Soares	Bodily Injury	04/20/2025
Sandra Cascione	Vehicle Damage	04/21/2025
Brahilin Santos Jiminez	Bodily Injury	04/23/2025
Joanne Eddy	Bodily Injury	05/03/2025
Christopher Lee Crofwell	Vehicle Damage	05/18/2025

 

MOTION made by Council Vice-President Wall, SECONDED by Councilwoman Haroian to refer all new business items to their respective committees. 
Ayes – 8  (unanimous)

 

XVII.            INFORMATIONAL ITEMS – NO ACTION NEEDED  (no votes taken)
None

 

 

XVIII.            ADJOURNMENT (vote may be taken) 

 

MOTION made by Council Vice-President Wall, SECONDED by Councilman Andujar to adjourn at 7:16 P.M.        All Ayes

 

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Tracy A. Nelson, City Clerk

 

 

 

Minutes approved as written June 23, 2025

 

 

Attest:  ____________________________

                  Tracy A. Nelson, City Clerk