CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE

DOCKET-REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

TUESDAY, March 19, 2024

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

 

Notice: The meeting will also be viewable live at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0YEW6s1RpjcKR47VMil1LA

 

City Council:

Council President, Bob Rodericks – At Large

Council Vice-President: Frank Rego – Ward 1

Councilwoman Anna Sousa - Ward 2

Councilman Frank Fogarty - Ward 3

Councilman Rick Lawson - Ward 4

 

City Solicitor, Michael J. Marcello

City Clerk, Jill Seppa

 

 

I.          CALL TO ORDER

            Roll Call

 

Fogarty_____ Lawson_____ Rego_____ Sousa _____ Rodericks_____

 

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)

 

1.      Omsairam LLC d/b/a Rumford Motor Inn vs. City of East Providence

C.A. No. PC-2024-00413

Status Update

 

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty
Lawson
Rego
Sousa
Rodericks

 

IV.       RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION

 

Fogarty_____ Lawson_____ Rego_____ Sousa _____ Rodericks_____

 

V.        MOTION TO SEAL EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES

 

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty
Lawson
Rego
Sousa
Rodericks

 

VI.       CONSENT CALENDAR - For discussion and possible vote

 

A.    COUNCIL JOURNALS:

B.     LETTERS

1.      J. William W. Harsch, ESQ – Membership of the Design Review Committee Article IX, Chapter 19, Section 19-474

           

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty
Lawson
Rego
Sousa
Rodericks

 

VII.     LICENSES - For discussion and possible vote

A. Motion to bundle licenses

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty
Lawson
Rego
Sousa
Rodericks

 

B. Motion to approve licenses

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty
Lawson
Rego
Sousa
Rodericks

           

            C. NON-PUBLIC HEARING        

1. Sundays and Holidays

Applicant: Gustavo Altube

Business: ARG Locksmith

Business address: 272 Warren Ave (02914)

 

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty
Lawson
Rego
Sousa
Rodericks

 

2. Special Event : Class F1

Applicant: Alexandra Kavanaugh

Organization: St. Mary Academy – Bayview

Event: Back to the Bay Weekend

Location: 3070 Pawtucket Avenue (02914)

Date and Time: April 25, 2024 - April 28, 2024 4:00pm-11:00pm

 

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty
Lawson
Rego
Sousa
Rodericks

 

3. Mobil Food Establishment

Applicant: Jason Totten

Business: Big Dog Eats

Address: 187 N Brow St (02914)

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty
Lawson
Rego
Sousa
Rodericks

 

4. Mobil Food Establishment

Applicant: East Providence School Department : Robert Hanson

Business: Townie Tailgate

Address: 1998 Pawtucket Avenue (02914)

           

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty
Lawson
Rego
Sousa
Rodericks

 

VIII.    PROCLAMATIONS & PRESENTATIONS

 

1.      Acknowledgement and expression of gratitude for Police, Fire and EMT’s responding to 109 Summit St Structure Fire on 3/9/2024– Councilwoman Sousa

2.      Proclamation for National and International Women’s History Month 2024 celebrating “Women who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.” – Councilwoman Sousa

 

IX.       COMMUNICATIONS

            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 Small Business Owner Forum – hear from the East Providence local business owners, the effects the bridge failure has had on their business.

 

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

1.      Appointment to the Small Business Advisory Committee-Jennifer Voll-sponsor: Council Vice President Rego

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty
Lawson
Rego
Sousa
Rodericks

 

2.      Appointment to Waterfront Commission- Robert Andrade- Sponsor- Councilman Lawson

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty
Lawson
Rego
Sousa
Rodericks

 

XII.     COUNCIL MEMBERS

 

1.      Announcement- Rumford Easter Egg Hunt Sunday March 24, 2024 at 1:00pm at Freedom Green Park– Council Vice President Rego

 

2.      Announcement – East Providence Veterans Get Together Thursday March 28, 2024 6:00pm-8:00pm at Skeffs Pub 507 North Broadway, East Providence – Councilman Lawson

 

XIII.    PUBLIC HEARINGS – Ordinance for first and final passage and second passage - For discussion and possible vote

 

1.      Ordinance Of The Council Of The City Of East Providence Appropriating $95,000.00 For A Roll Off Truck For The Highway Department

Sponsor: Councilman Fogarty

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty
Lawson
Rego
Sousa
Rodericks

 

2.      An Ordinance In Amendment Of The City Of East Providence 2010-2015 Comprehensive Plan Map 4 of the City of East Providence 2010-2015 Comprehensive Plan Update entitled “Southern East Providence Generalized Land Use,” is hereby amended to identify the property designated as Assessor’s Map 709, Block 1, Parcel 1 as “Mixed Use.”

 

Summary: Comp Plan

Petitioner: JAG Properties LLC

Street address: 0 Wampanoag Trail

 

To be continued to April 16, 2024

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty
Lawson
Rego
Sousa
Rodericks

 

3.      An Ordinance In Amendment Of Chapter 19 Of The Revised Ordinances Of The City Of East Providence, Rhode Island 1998, As Amended, Entitled “Zoning”

 

Summary: Petition for zone change from I-1 to C-2

Petitioner: JAG Properties LLC

Street address: 0 Wampanoag Trail

Location: Map 709, Block 1, Parcel 1

 

To be continued to April 16, 2024

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty
Lawson
Rego
Sousa
Rodericks

 

XIV.    CONTINUED BUSINESS

1.      Standing Item - Discuss impact of Washington Bridge closure in the City of East Providence – City Council

 

XV.     NEW BUSINESS

 

A.    MAYOR COMMUNICATIONS

B.     Appointment/Reappointment requiring Council Confirmation

a.       Michael Robinson, reappointment to Planning Board, Ward 3 Seat, Term:1/16/24 – 1/15/29

C.    Appointment/Reappointment not requiring Council Confirmation

a.       NONE

D.    Items for announcement/discussion

a.       Update on Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank grant – Crescent Beach shoreline.

b.      Pierce Field Award – The Pierce Field Handicap Accessibility and Turf Resurfacing Project will provide handicap accessibility to access the track, field, and entertainment venue at Pierce Memorial Stadium in East Providence. The project also includes resurfacing the existing natural grass field and deteriorating track with a new artificial turf field. This project will make Pierce Field more accessible and sustainable and allow the stadium to continue as a center of civic and recreational use for East Providence.

c.       Small Business Resource Fair: City, in collaboration with several organizations, is hosting this on Thursday, March 21, 2024 from 6-8PM @ Riviera.

d.      City of East Providence Police have received accreditation from the Rhode Island Police Accreditation Commission

 

E.     REPORTS OF OTHER CITY OFFICIALS  

1.      Solicitors Report

A.     Request for public input regarding potential nuisance at 400 Newport Avenue (Rumford Motor Inn) for Attorney General investigation pursuant to RIGL 10-1-1 et seq. and RIGL 11-30-1 et seq. Correspondence may be sent by any private citizen to the City Clerk at jseppa@eastprovidenceri.gov

 

F.     REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE LIAISON

 

G.    RESOLUTIONS - For discussion and possible vote

1. Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Enter Into a Contract with Arista Information Systems for the Printing and Mailing of Utility Bills

Sponsor: Council President Rodericks

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty
Lawson
Rego
Sousa
Rodericks

2. Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Enter Into a Contract with New Venture Advisors LLC to Conduct a Feasibility Study on the Conversion of the Former Oldham Elementary School Into a Small Business Incubator

Sponsors: Council President Rodericks, Councilman Lawson

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty
Lawson
Rego
Sousa
Rodericks

3. Resolution in Support of Amendments to R.I.G.L. 45-24-38 Entitled "General Provisions—Substandard Lots of Record"

Sponsor: Councilwoman Sousa

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty
Lawson
Rego
Sousa
Rodericks

4. Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Enter Into a Contract Amendment for Additional Services Related to the New Building on Property Adjacent to the Crescent Park Carousel

Sponsor: Councilman Lawson

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty
Lawson
Rego
Sousa
Rodericks

5. Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Purchase a Twenty (20) Passenger Commercial Bus for the Recreation Department

Sponsor: Council President Rodericks

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty
Lawson
Rego
Sousa
Rodericks

 

6.      Resolution In Support Of S-2727 Related To “Snap Shot” Reporting Of Repairs/Reconstruction Of The Washington Bridge

 

Sponsor: Council Vice President Rego

 

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty
Lawson
Rego
Sousa
Rodericks

 

7.      Resolution Establishing The First Annual East Providence Restaurant Week

 

Sponsor: Council Vice President Rego, Council President Rodericks, Councilwomen Sousa, Councilman Fogarty, Councilman Lawson

 

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty
Lawson
Rego
Sousa
Rodericks

 

8.      Resolution In Support Of S-2560 Related To Residence Of Children For School Purposes

 

Sponsor: Council Vice President Rego

 

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty
Lawson
Rego
Sousa
Rodericks

 

H.    INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES - For discussion and possible vote

 

1.      An Ordinance In Amendment Of Chapter 16 Of The Revised Ordinances Of The City Of East Providence, Rhode Island, 1998, As Amended, Entitled “Taxation”

 

Summary: Adding Article XI. Tax Stabilization Agreement

 

           Sponsor: Council President Rodericks and Council Vice President Rego

 

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty
Lawson
Rego
Sousa
Rodericks

 

XVII.  ADJOURNMENT

 

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty
Lawson
Rego
Sousa
Rodericks

 

 

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