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CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE

DOCKET-REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

TUESDAY, December 7, 2021

CALL TO ORDER: 6:30 P.M.

145 TAUNTON AVENUE-CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND

EXECUTIVE SESSION: CONFERENCE ROOM A

OPEN SESSION WILL IMMEDIATELY FOLLOW EXECUTIVE SESSION

City Council:

Council President, Robert Britto - Ward 1

Council Vice-President: Bob Rodericks - At Large

Councilwoman Anna Sousa - Ward 2

Councilman Nate Cahoon - Ward 3

Councilman Ricardo Mourato - Ward 4

City Solicitor, Michael J. Marcello

Deputy City Clerk, Leah Stoddard

I. CALL TO ORDER

Roll Call

Cahoon_____ Mourato_____ Rodericks_____ Sousa _____ Britto_____

II. SALUTE TO THE FLAG

III. EXECUTIVE SESSION

The City Council of East Providence may meet in Executive Session,

pursuant to RIGL §42-46-5 (a)(2) to discuss and resolve the following claims and settlement agreements

Member	Aye	Nay
Cahoon
Mourato
Rodericks
Sousa
Britto

A. New Claims

1. Joseph Anselmo

2. Sherri Feld

3. Maryann Fonseca

4. Paulo Vilela

B. Claim for Reconsideration

1. Richard & Linda Pina

C. National Prescription Opiate Litigation, C.A. No. 1:17-MD-2804 - Update and possible vote to approve proposed settlement.

D. 10 Tripps Holdings, LLC vs. City, C.A. No. PC-2021-01018 & PC-2020-06665- Update and possible vote to approve proposed settlement.

IV. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION

Cahoon_____ Mourato_____ Rodericks_____ Sousa _____ Britto_____

V. MOTION TO SEAL EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES

Member	Aye	Nay
Cahoon
Mourato
Rodericks
Sousa
Britto

VI. CONSENT CALENDAR

A. COUNCIL JOURNALS:

1. Regular meeting minutes November 16, 2021

2. Tax Abatements

Year	Amount
2021	$6,595.99
Total	$6,595.99

Member	Aye	Nay
Cahoon
Mourato
Rodericks
Sousa
Britto

VIII. PROCLAMATIONS & PRESENTATIONS

Any person who submits a communication to the Council and wishes to speak on it must indicate this in writing no later than 4:00 p.m. the Thursday prior to the next regularly scheduled Council meeting. A person who lists more than one topic on their communication will be allowed to speak on the first one listed.

1. East Providence Christmas Community Dinner – Stephen Costa

X. PUBLIC COMMENT

All persons wishing to make public comment shall sign a public comment sheet stating their name, address and the subject of their comments. Each speaker will be limited to three (3) minutes. The order of speakers will be on a first come, first serve basis and the maximum time for public comment shall by limited to thirty (30) minutes per meeting.

XI. APPOINTMENTS

XII. COUNCIL MEMBERS

1. City Clerk vacancy. Process for filling of the Clerk vacancy for balance of term, job description and appointment procedure – Council Vice President Rodericks - Discussion with possible vote

Member	Aye	Nay
Cahoon
Mourato
Rodericks
Sousa
Britto

2. Community service recognition for volunteers that assisted in painting the Riverside mural – Councilman Mourato

3. Freedom Green tree lighting December, 11, 2021 – Council President Britto – discussion only

XIII. PUBLIC HEARINGS

A. First and Final Passage

1. An ordinance of the Council of the City of East Providence appropriating $100,157 for the installation of lights at the George S. Lima, Sr. Memorial Park at Hull Street Playground (as advertised 11/18/2021)

Sponsor: Council Vice President Rodericks

Member	Aye	Nay
Cahoon
Mourato
Rodericks
Sousa
Britto

2. An ordinance of the Council of the City of East Providence appropriating $25,000 for improvements and repairs at the Kevin Robinson Memorial Skate Park at Onna Moniz-John Park (as advertised 12/2/2021)

Sponsor: Council Vice President Rodericks and Councilman Cahoon

Member	Aye	Nay
Cahoon
Mourato
Rodericks
Sousa
Britto

B. Public Hearing

1. Street Abandonment

Summary: To consider a street abandonment of a 1,748 sq. ft. portion of Sabin Street that is currently unimproved. Sabin Street is a local road with a right-of-way of 20 feet that runs north/south from Balkcom Street to Sabin Point Park. Only a portion of Sabin Street is improved that allows physical access to several dwellings at the intersection of Sabin Street and Peary Street

XIV. CONTINUED BUSINESS - None

XV. NEW BUSINESS

A. MAYOR COMMUNICATIONS

1. Appointments requiring council confirmation

a. Nicole Bateman, appointment to the Economic Development Commission,

Appointment/Seat 4 (vacant), Term (11/27/2017-11/21/2022)

Member	Aye	Nay
Cahoon
Mourato
Rodericks
Sousa
Britto

b. Robert McNelis, appointment to the Economic Development Commission,

Appointment/Seat 8 (vacant), Term (10/18/2017-10/17/2022)

Member	Aye	Nay
Cahoon
Mourato
Rodericks
Sousa
Britto

c. Michael Beauparlant, reappointment to the Zoning Board of Review,

Ward 1 seat, Term (06/03/2020-06/02/2025)

Member	Aye	Nay
Cahoon
Mourato
Rodericks
Sousa
Britto

d. Eugene Saveory, reappointment to the Zoning Board of Review,

Ward 4 seat, Term (06/03/2021-06/02/2026)

Member	Aye	Nay
Cahoon
Mourato
Rodericks
Sousa
Britto

2. Items for announcement/discussion

a. The City of East Providence has been awarded up to $367,000 in grant funds to expand Internet access for low- and moderate-income residents. The awards are funded by Community Development Block Grants (CDDBG) and managed by the state’s Office of Housing and Community Development (OHCD). The funds will leverage planned municipal infrastructure improvements to provide open access

Wi-Fi in targeted Census tracts, largely overlapping with the City’s designated Opportunity Zone. This project will also support digital literacy training in partnership with East Providence House Authority, the East Providence Library, EBCAP, the Boys and Girls Club, and the senior center as well as device access for households through the East Providence School District – Community Development Coordinator Dave Bachrach

b. The City of East Providence Fire Dept. has been awarded FY 2021 Homeland Security Grant Program funding in the amount of $50,000 for the Environmental Response/Tech Rescue project. EPFD received the Heavy Rescue Grant from the Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency (RIEMA) for training programs and team start-up costs for its official participation in the Rhode Island Heavy Rescue Task Force. The Task Force is organized into the East Bay (EPFD) and West Bay (Warwick FD) Heavy Rescue Squad. When the two squads come together they form the Rhode Island Heavy Rescue Task Force that is a Type-4 Urban Search and Rescue Team asset for the State of Rhode Island and beyond - EPFD Chief Glenn Quick

c. Streetlight Conversion update and presentation – DPW Director Dan Borges & Lisa Maine of RISE Engineering

d. November Capital Expenses & General Fund Expenses – Finance Director Malcolm Moore

B. REPORTS OF OTHER CITY OFFICIALS

1. Report of the City Solicitor

a. Claims Committee Report

2. City Council Regular Meeting Dates 2022 – Deputy City Clerk Leah Stoddard

a. January 4 & January 18

February 1 & February 15

March 1 & March 15

April 5 & April 19

May 3 & May 17

June 7 & June 21

July 19

August 16

September 6 & September 20

October 4 & October 18

November 1 & November 15

December 6 & December 20

C. RESOLUTIONS

1. Resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into an agreement for the purchase of a technology platform for automatic license plate detection for the Police Department

Sponsor: Council President Britto & Council Vice President Rodericks

Member	Aye	Nay
Cahoon
Mourato
Rodericks
Sousa
Britto

2. Abandonment of a portion of Sabin Street

Sponsor: Councilman Cahoon

Member	Aye	Nay
Cahoon
Mourato
Rodericks
Sousa
Britto

D. INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES - None

XVII. ADJOURNMENT

Member	Aye	Nay
Cahoon
Mourato
Rodericks
Sousa
Britto

If communication assistance is needed or any other accommodations to ensure equal participation, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 401.435.7596 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting date.