CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE

AMENDED DOCKET-REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

August 11, 2026

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, Andreza (Andy) Skipworth

 

 

I.          CALL TO ORDER

            Roll Call

 

Fogarty   X   Lawson   X   Rego   X   Sousa   X   Rodericks   X  

 

II.        EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

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

            pursuant to RIGL §42-46-5 (a)(2)

 

1.      City Council to meet to approve or deny a sewer abatement for 77 Allen Avenue based on City Ordinance Section 17-183.  

 

            MOTION TO MOVE INTO EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty	Seconded
Lawson	X
Rego	X
Sousa	Motion
Rodericks	X

           

            MOTION RECONVENE INTO REGULAR SESSION

 

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty	Seconded
Lawson	X
Rego	X
Sousa	Motion
Rodericks	X

 

MOTION TO SEAL EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES

 

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty	Seconded
Lawson	X
Rego	X
Sousa	Motion
Rodericks	X

 

III.       SALUTE TO THE FLAG

 

IV.       PROCLAMATIONS & PRESENTATIONS

 

V.        CONSENT CALENDAR - For discussion and possible vote

 

A.    COUNCIL JOURNALS:

 

1.  Regular meeting minutes July 7, 2026; July 28, 2026

 

B.     CANCELLATIONS/ABATEMENTS

 

YEAR		AMOUNT
2026		$26,172.64
TOTAL		$26,172.64

 

C.    LETTERS:

1. Notice of New Property Numbers

a.       240 Becker Avenue, E. Providence, RI 02915, Map 513, Block 32, Parcel 001.10

b.      26 Spring Street, E. Providence, RI  02915, Map 513, block 49, Parcel 001.10

c.       23 Padelford Avenue, E. Providence, RI  02915m, Map 311, Block 12, Parcel 013.10

 

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty	Seconded
Lawson	Motion
Rego	X
Sousa	X
Rodericks	X

 

Motion made for all above items except cancellations/Abatements B

 

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty	Seconded
Lawson	Motion
Rego	X
Sousa	RECUSED
Rodericks	X

 

Motion to approve cancellations/Abatements B where Councilwoman Sousa herself from the vote.

 

VI.       LICENSES - For discussion and possible vote

 

A. NON-PUBLIC HEARING

 

1.      Special Event – One Day Entertainment License

Applicant: Tara Machado

Type of Event: Labor Day Party – Live Band

Event Address: 79 Narragansett Avenue, E. Providence

Date & Time: 9/6/26; 5:30pm – 10pm

 

2.      Special Event – One Day Entertainment License

Applicant: Michelle Cooper

Type of Event: Prayer Gathering w/ Solo Musician

Event Address: 555 Waterfront Drive, E. Providence

Date & Time: 9/17/26; 8am – 3pm

 

3.      Special Event – One Day Entertainment License

Applicant: Keith Anderson

Type of Event: Narragansett Terrace, Jetty (Acoustic Guitar)

Event Address: 102 Riverside Drive, East Providence

Date & Time: 8/29/26; 2pm – 5pm

 

4.      Special Event – One Day Entertainment License

Applicant: Pam Byrd (Trinity Tabernacle Inc.)

Type of Event: Community Festival

Event Address: 251 Central Avenue, E. Providence

Date & Time: 9/13/26; 11am – 5pm

 

5.      Special Event – One Day Entertainment License

Applicant: Deborah Sears

Type of Event: Sears Wedding (Computer Generated Music)

Event Address: 56 Euclid Avenue, E. Providence

Date & Time: 9/12/26; 4pm – 12am

 

6.      Special Event – One Day Entertainment License

Applicant: Lucy Fontaine

Type of Event: Family Fun Day - Children

Event Address: 60 Berkley Street, E. Providence

Date & Time: 8/22/2026; 12pm – 4pm

 

7.      Special Event – One Day Entertainment License

Applicant: Lisa Cabral

Type of Event: Ocean Grove End of Summer Family Gathering

Event Address: 99 Howland Avenue, E. Providence

Date & Time: 8/29/2026; 3pm – 8pm

 

8.      Type of Business: Block Party/Food Truck Event

Applicant: Natalie Karneeb

Business Name: Cowtruck

Owner’s Location: 151 N. Brow Street, E. Providence

Event Location: 187 N. Brow Street, E. Providence

Date & Time: 9/6/2026; 3pm – 7pm

 

9.      Special Event Alcoholic License

Applicant: Deborah Sears

Type of Event: Sears Wedding

Event Address: 56 Euclid Avenue, E. Providence

Date & Time: 9/12/2026; 4pm – 11pm

 

10.  Type of Business: New Mobile Food Establishment

Applicant: Arthur Evans

Business Name: South County Barbeque

Owner’s Location: 615 Condgon Hill Road, Saunderstown, RI

 

11.  Type of Business: New Mobile Food Establishment (READ IN ONLY)

Applicant: Gerardo Orellana

Business Name: A & E FS LLC

Owner’s Location: 83 Parnell Street, Providence, RI

 

12.  Type of Business: New Mobile Food Establishment (READ IN ONLY)

Applicant: Christine Holden

Business Name: Dukes Chicken and Waffles

Owner’s Location: 615 Condgon Hill Road, Saunderstown, RI

 

13.  Type of Business: New Mobile Food Establishment (READ IN ONLY)

Applicant: Martika Fana

Business Name: Cassava LLC

Owner’s Location: 282 Webster Avenue, Providence, RI

 

B. MOTION TO BUNDLE NON-PUBLIC HEARING  LICENSES A1 – A13

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty	Seconded
Lawson	Seconded
Rego	X
Sousa	Motion
Rodericks	X

 

C. MOTION TO APPROVE NON-PUBLIC HEARING LICENSES A1 – A13

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty	Seconded
Lawson	Seconded
Rego	X
Sousa	Motion
Rodericks	X

           

D. PUBLIC HEARING - NONE

 

VII.     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.

 

a.       Nancy E. Hale – Discussion on Nancy’s Volunteer Report ( Progress in Riverside) – Public safety – great progress on eliminating speeding at Carousel and Crescent Park; If individual neighbors helped by cleaning trimming their hedges to allow better sites. Public needs to help clean up litter of plastic and dog waste.  DPW does a lot, but they keep up with everything, if the residents can help with cleaning it wil help stop our taxes from going up. Met with Andre Herrera regarding lantern flies and how they jump, bite, eat wood and are harming to agriculture. Best way to get rid of them is when they are in egg mases which are a putty color and could be found usually in wood chips.

 

b.      Robert A. Yuski – Fire Ordinance requiring 30ft from any structure. – Councilman Lawson spoke to Mr. Yuski prior to the meeting in turn he did not attend the meeting.   

 

c.   Paul Rodrigues – Police detail employment. Mr. Rodrigues addressed the Council with his concerns with the Council regarding not being hired to work in detail with the City.  Mr. Rodrigues presented a letter from Diego Jones, Human Resources Director, stating he will not be offered a position within the City.  Council President Rodericks stated that the Council does not have a legal jurisdiction as to who gets hired within the City.

 

XIII.    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 be limited to thirty (30) minutes per meeting.

 

1.  Jen Tierney – Vice President of East Providence Tree Commission in support of Resolution #2, concerning further support for the City’s tree planting and pruning program.  Allocating for the City to budget for tree maintenance.  So far, they have planted approximately 200 trees and without regular maintenance they will die.  Dead trees cause hazards to the community. When dead they may fall on someone or their property.

 

2.  Candy Seel – Hotel and Wheeler Library Parking – A) Hotel situation regarding a hotel not permitted in Metacomet Sub description; Glad to see the public and elected officials coming together to take of the key issue which was resolved quickly and appreciated.  B) Mentioned the Wheeler parking issue which is another example of the public and elected officials working together to solve the problem (Resolution #1).

           

3.  Linda Vaughan Dubois  - Requesting the Council to end the relationship with the Flock Cameras. Concerned about ICE using the cameras to track people and civil liberties being abused and concerned about a woman from Texas being hunted down when she went to a blue state to have an abortion and that Texas troopers followed her and arrested her and charging her for murder. Asked the Council to support woman here in Rhode Island by removing Flock cameras from our City. She stated as of 6pm tonight North Kingstown,  Gloucester, Narragansett, South County, New Bedford have removed Flocked cameras. The ACLU is asking Cumberland to stop Flock cameras.

 

Council President mentioned that some of the items you mentioned are not under the scope of the Flock cameras but stated he planned on talking about Flock cameras which is listed on today’s agenda.  Although Council President is not in favor today of removing Flock cameras but has assured the public that when the discussions regarding the cameras arise, he will make sure it is in open forum to allow the public to speak.

 

Chief Rapoza feels the community is safer with the Flock cameras installed; He understands that misuse has happened in other communities and states, but it has not happened in East Providence. 

 

John Renquinha – Mentioned that in 2023 the Council voted on Flock cameras unanimously to have installed into the city. At that time there were approximately 2500 cameras across the country since the last 3 years it has increased to almost 130,000. According to Flock’s website, they collect 20 billion license plates a month. They have a 7% ratio of mistakes.  Those figures weren’t known at the time of approving the cameras. The East Providence Flock camera’s contract puts the city at a great liability and Flock has no liability. If you cancel the contract there is a line in the contract there is a survival paragraph that states all the other paragraphs still move forward, which means the data that was collected can be used for training and all sorts of purposes. Seems to be a one-sided contract.  

 

IX.       APPOINTMENTS

 

            1.  Appointment of Christopher Michael Bessette to the City Council Crescent Park Carousel Commission. Seat term ends 1/5/2027.          Councilman Lawson

 

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty	X
Lawson	Seconded
Rego	X
Sousa	Motion
Rodericks	X

 

X.        COUNCIL MEMBERS

 

1.      Review of ARPA funds outstanding. Councilwoman Sousa

2.      Review of Capital Improvements YTD (current FY 2026 budget unencumbered fund) (Total YTD balance of Capital Funds). Councilwoman Sousa

3.      Traffic pattern signage at Weaver Library and upgrade to parking lot. Councilwoman Sousa

4.      Two - no parking signs between 9am to 5pm. See attached photo of location at end of library driveway. Councilwoman Sousa

5.      Place signage directing one way library entrance. "WRONG WAY" sign. Councilwoman Sousa

6.      Process of recent approval for State Police additional Flock cameras. Council President Rodericks

 

XI.       PUBLIC HEARINGS – Ordinance for second and/or final passage

 for discussion and possible vote

 

1.      An Ordinance in Amendment of Chapter 19 of the revised Ordinances of the City of East Providence, Rhode Island 1998, As amended, entitled “Zoning”.  Introduced by Council President Rodericks

 

Amending Section 19-480 uses permitted by striking hotel from the Metacomet District to conform with use table.

 

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty	Seconded
Lawson	X
Rego	X
Sousa	Motion
Rodericks	X

 

2.      An Ordinance in amendment of Chapter 19 of the revised ordinances of the City of East Providence, Rhode Island 1998, as amended, entitled “Zoning”

 

By amending Section 19-360.12 attached single family dwelling to comply with State Law R. I. G .L 45-24-33 (26) 45-24-37 (j) As petitioned by Attorney Dylan  Conley

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty	X
Lawson	Seconded
Rego	Motion
Sousa	X
Rodericks	X

 

3.      An Ordinance of the Council of the City of East Providence appropriating $150,000 from unallocated Capital Funds for the support of Crescent Park Loof Carousel and Facilities.  Introduced by Council President Rodericks.

 

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty	X
Lawson	Motion
Rego	Seconded
Sousa	X
Rodericks	X

 

4.      An Ordinance of the Council of the City of East Providence appropriating $500,700.00 from unallocated Capital Funds for the support of Crescent Park Looff Carousel improvement plan/tent structure. Introduced by Council President Rodericks. This project is funded by a grant.

  

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty	Motion
Lawson	Seconded
Rego	X
Sousa	X
Rodericks	X

 

XII.     CONTINUED BUSINESS

 

XIII.    NEW BUSINESS

 

A.    MAYOR COMMUNICATIONS – Director of Policy & Constituent Services, Andre Herrera

1.            Appointment/Reappointment requiring Council Confirmation

·         None

2.      Appointment/Reappointment not requiring Council Confirmation

·         Appointment of Clayton Lee Grahm to the Mayor’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee for a (1) year term effective 8/11/2026 – 8/10/2027.

·         Appointment of Ryan Lauer to the Mayor’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee for a (1) year term effective 8/11/2026 – 8/10/2027.

·         Appointment of Laura Ostrander to the Mayor’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee for a (1) year term effective 8/11/2026 – 8/10/2027.

·         Appointment of John Harris to the Mayor’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee for a (1) year term effective 8/11/2026 – 8/10/2027.

·         Appointment of Sam Archer to the Mayor’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee for a (1) year term effective 8/11/2026 – 8/10/2027.

·         Appointment of San Shoppell to the Mayor’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee for a (1) year term effective 8/11/2026 – 8/10/2027.

·         Appointment of Eric Lauterbach-Colby to the Mayor’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee for a (1) year term effective 8/11/2026 – 8/10/2027.

3.      Items for announcement/discussion

·         Director of Communications Matt Paddock to address city hiring practices for traffic control.

·         Executive Order establishing all flags on municipal buildings be flown at half-staff in recognition of the passing of Dr. Isadore S. “Izzy” Ramos.

·         Executive Order establishing the Mayor’s Young Innovators Advisory Committee (MYIAC).

·         Proclamation honoring City Controller, Kim Brown upon her retirement after 21 years of dedicated Service to the City of East Providence.

·         Proclamation recognizing August as Gastroparesis Awareness Month in the City of East Providence.

·         Proclamation recognizing August 15 as Indian Independence Day in the City of East Providence.

·         Proclamation recognizing August 18 as Never Give Up Day in the City of East Providence.

 

B.     REPORTS OF OTHER CITY OFFICIALS

 

C.    REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE LIAISON – Councilman Lawson

Councilman Lawson met with the new School Superintendent of East Providence Schools addressed concerns including budget, staffing and other school related issues.

 

D.    RESOLUTIONS - For discussion and possible vote

 

1.      Resolution Requesting the Department of Public Works to take all necessary steps to implement the Department of Public Works parking plan and signage at Weaver Library (Councilwoman Sousa)

 

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty	X
Lawson	X
Rego	Seconded
Sousa	Motion
Rodericks	X

 

2.      Resolution concerning further support for the City’s tree planting and pruning program. (Councilwoman Sousa)

 

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty	X
Lawson	X
Rego	Seconded
Sousa	Motion
Rodericks	X

 

3.      Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to Enter into a Contract with Musco Sports Lighting, LLC for the installation of new LED Lights at Pierce Memorial Stadium (Council President Rodericks)

 

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty	Seconded
Lawson	X
Rego	Motion
Sousa	X
Rodericks	X

 

4.      Resolution Authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with UpLinkIt to increase school safety at St. Mary Academy/Bay View (Councilman Fogarty)

 

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty	Motion
Lawson	Seconded
Rego	X
Sousa	X
Rodericks	X

 

5.      Resolution-Council Rules of Procedure (Councilwoman Sousa)

 

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty	X
Lawson	Seconded
Rego	X
Sousa	Motion
Rodericks	X

 

6.      Resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into a Third Amendment to the Water Tower Lease at 0 Walmer Avenue with T-Mobile. (Councilman Fogarty)

 

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty	Motion
Lawson	X
Rego	X
Sousa	Seconded
Rodericks	X

 

E.     INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES - For discussion and possible vote

 

1.      An Ordinance in amendment of Chapter 18 of the revised ordinances of the City of East Providence, Rhode Island, 1998 as amended, entitled “Vehicles” and Traffic” Amending SECTION I.  Section 18-307 Parking prohibited at all times amended as follows:

 

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty	Motion
Lawson	Seconded
Rego	X
Sousa	X
Rodericks	X

 

2.      An Ordinance in amendment of Chapter 18 of the revised ordinances of the City of East Providence, Rhode Island, 1998, as amended, entitled “Vehicles and Traffic” Amending Section 18-308 entitled “Parking time limitations – 15 minutes”

 

Warren Avenue (South Side) from a point 105 feet West of South Hull Street Westerly 20 feet.

 

A motion to table until September 1, 2026

 

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty	X
Lawson	Motion
Rego	X
Sousa	Seconded
Rodericks	X

 

XVII.  ADJOURNMENT

                 A motion to adjourn was made at 9:21pm and passed unanimously

Member	Aye	Nay
Fogarty	X
Lawson	X
Rego	Motion
Sousa	Seconded
Rodericks	X

 

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.