[5:49] Mhm.

[7:44] » Mhm.

[8:28] » I'll call the August 4th, 2026 meeting

[8:31] to order.

[8:33] Please stand for the Pledge of

[8:34] Allegiance and remain standing for a

[8:35] moment of silence.

[9:02] Okay, item number one, acceptance of

[9:03] meeting minutes, discussion and possible

[9:05] action and vote with regard to the

[9:07] acceptance of meeting minutes from the

[9:08] meetings of May 29th, June 2nd,

[9:12] June 18th, and June 25th, 2026.

[9:16] Do we have a motion to accept?

[9:17] >> So moved.

[9:18] » So moved.

[9:18] >> Motion has been made by Councilman

[9:19] » Motion has been made by Councilman

[9:19] Bacalla, seconded by Councilman Is that

[9:22] DiLorenzo?

[9:23] All those in favor?

[9:24] >> I.

[9:25] » I.

[9:25] >> All those opposed, the eyes have it.

[9:26] » All those opposed, the eyes have it.

[9:26] Item number two, Senadale Manor

[9:28] restoration project. Mayor Lombardi

[9:29] would like discussion and possible vote

[9:31] on the Senadale Manor restoration

[9:33] project Superfund site. Mayor.

[9:38] » Mr. Chairman, of the council,

[9:40] as you all are aware of the Centerdale

[9:44] or Uncas Hut,

[9:46] the Superfund cleanup.

[9:48] Uh

[9:50] just to give you an update, I had asked

[9:53] that Charlotte Gray from the EPA

[9:56] and David Payne from Loureiro

[9:59] Engineering Associates come here this

[10:01] evening.

[10:02] Uh they need our permission for some of

[10:05] the properties there and also to give us

[10:08] a complete

[10:10] update as to the cleanup there. So, if

[10:13] you may.

[10:13] >> Thank you.

[10:14] » Thank you.

[10:14] >> Charlotte.

[10:18] » Just state your name for the record,

[10:19] please.

[10:20] >> Hi, Charlotte Gray with the US

[10:22] » Hi, Charlotte Gray with the US

[10:22] Environmental Protection Agency.

[10:24] >> Thank you.

[10:24] » Thank you.

[10:24] >> And David Payne with Loureiro

[10:26] » And David Payne with Loureiro

[10:26] Engineering Associates.

[10:28] >> Thank you.

[10:29] » Thank you.

[10:29] >> Ready?

[10:30] » Ready?

[10:30] >> Yeah.

[10:30] » Yeah.

[10:30] >> What do you want to start with? Kind of

[10:32] » What do you want to start with? Kind of

[10:32] where we're at and then access permits.

[10:33] >> Sure.

[10:34] » Sure.

[10:35] Um

[10:35] yeah, so what brought us here today is

[10:37] looking for an access agreement to do

[10:40] some work along

[10:42] Allendale Pond and Lyman Mill Pond. So,

[10:45] some of you may be familiar with the

[10:47] Centerdale Manor Restoration Project. Um

[10:50] since kind of 2018, the performing party

[10:53] has been as a settle

[10:55] an agreement with EPA to perform the

[10:57] remediation.

[10:59] Um we're the contractors that have been

[11:00] selected to do the work. So, we've been

[11:03] working towards investigating and

[11:05] remediating the site, which includes the

[11:08] Centerdale Manor and Brook Village

[11:09] Apartments, which one which we've

[11:11] investigated and remediated so far. And

[11:14] then we have three other operable units,

[11:16] which we call Allendale Pond and then

[11:18] the adjacent flood plain soils. Um the

[11:21] Oxbow area, which is large wetland kind

[11:23] of behind Allendale Mill Apartments and

[11:26] then Lyman Mill Pond and the adjacent

[11:29] flood plain soils.

[11:30] So, we are getting ready to remediate

[11:33] Allendale Pond, which will involve the

[11:36] excavation of the sediment within the

[11:38] ponds and then the flood plain soils

[11:40] adjacent to it. Um with that, there are

[11:44] some town properties, particularly it's

[11:46] the ends of roads. So, there's Aldridge,

[11:49] Centerdale Ave,

[11:51] Steer, a few others that will part of

[11:54] that is within the flood plain and that

[11:56] was contaminated by the site. So, we'll

[11:59] be excavating the ends of it's very

[12:03] limited. Doesn't even really end up into

[12:05] the kind of the the paved areas, maybe

[12:07] slightly.

[12:08] We'll have to excavate that and then

[12:10] we'll be restoring it.

[12:12] And then also some of the access for the

[12:14] along Lymanville Pond is to just do some

[12:16] sampling at the ends of the roads as

[12:18] well as survey

[12:19] as we continue to investigation over the

[12:21] next couple years and then in the future

[12:24] we'll be remediating

[12:26] those areas as well.

[12:28] So, kind of just a time frame we're

[12:30] looking at is we're hoping to start

[12:32] later this year with the flood plain

[12:33] soil remediation on Allendale Pond,

[12:36] get into the pond itself next year.

[12:38] Um and kind of looking at two years kind

[12:41] of per pond to excavate and

[12:44] restore. So, kind of looking the next

[12:47] six to eight years to complete the

[12:49] investigation, remediation and

[12:51] restoration of

[12:53] the site.

[12:55] >> Okay, thank you. Any questions?

[12:56] » Okay, thank you. Any questions?

[12:56] Councilman?

[12:57] >> Yeah, my only

[12:59] » Yeah, my only

[12:59] that that makes total sense to me. I'm

[13:00] all in favor of it. The only thing that

[13:03] I would like to see in here is an

[13:04] indemnification and hold harmless

[13:06] provision.

[13:07] If somebody gets hurt while they're

[13:09] doing work on town property, I want the

[13:10] town to be

[13:12] not liable and we get indemnified. Other

[13:14] than that, I don't know of any issues

[13:16] with it.

[13:17] >> Okay. Any other questions?

[13:20] Is there anyone here that would like to

[13:21] speak on this matter?

[13:25] Okay, do I have a motion to

[13:27] With the requirement that Councilman

[13:29] Martone the indemnification.

[13:31] >> Indemnification and hold harmless

[13:33] » Indemnification and hold harmless

[13:33] Yeah, so moved.

[13:34] >> Okay, motion has been made by Councilman

[13:36] » Okay, motion has been made by Councilman

[13:36] Macaluso. Is there a second?

[13:38] >> Second.

[13:38] » Second.

[13:38] >> Seconded by Councilman Faiola. All those

[13:40] » Seconded by Councilman Faiola. All those

[13:40] in favor?

[13:41] >> Aye.

[13:41] » Aye.

[13:41] >> All those opposed? The eyes have it.

[13:42] » All those opposed? The eyes have it.

[13:42] Thank you very much.

[13:43] >> Thank you.

[13:45] » Thank you.

[13:45] >> The merriest

[13:47] » The merriest

[13:47] left mine

[13:48] the design

[13:49] >> Item number three, zone change amendment

[13:50] » Item number three, zone change amendment

[13:50] Town Council to consider approval of an

[13:52] application from Smith Real Realty LLC

[13:55] to amend Article 2 Section 203 use table

[13:58] of the zoning ordinance of the Town of

[13:59] North Providence to classify doggie

[14:01] daycare as permitted use in the CP, CV,

[14:04] and CG districts only.

[14:06] This application was advertised in the

[14:07] Providence Journal on February 6th,

[14:10] 13th, and 20th, 2026 for a hearing on

[14:13] this date.

[14:15] Is there anyone here?

[14:18] Now, this matter is going to be

[14:19] continued to the September meeting. Do I

[14:20] have a motion to continue?

[14:21] >> So moved.

[14:22] » So moved.

[14:22] >> Second.

[14:22] » Second.

[14:22] >> Motion has been made by Councilman

[14:23] » Motion has been made by Councilman

[14:23] Macaluso, seconded by Councilman

[14:25] Laporte. All those in favor?

[14:26] >> Aye.

[14:26] » Aye.

[14:26] >> All those opposed? The eyes have it.

[14:29] » All those opposed? The eyes have it.

[14:29] Proposed ordinance. Notice was given of

[14:31] a public hearing on this date whereby

[14:32] the Town Council will consider passage

[14:33] of the following proposed ordinances.

[14:35] Item number four, ordinance 26-002Z,

[14:39] an ordinance amending the Town of North

[14:41] Providence zoning ordinance Article 2

[14:42] Section 203 use table. This item is in

[14:45] connection with the previous zone

[14:46] change. Do I have a motion to continue

[14:47] this to the September meeting?

[14:48] >> So moved.

[14:49] » So moved.

[14:49] >> Second.

[14:49] » Second.

[14:50] >> Motion has been made by Councilman

[14:51] » Motion has been made by Councilman

[14:51] Macaluso, seconded by Councilman Di

[14:52] Lorenzo. All those in favor?

[14:53] >> Aye.

[14:54] » Aye.

[14:54] >> All those opposed? The eyes have it.

[15:05] Item number 28, Centerdale Village

[15:07] Festival. Councilman Di Lorenzo requests

[15:09] discussion and possible vote on setting

[15:11] up a separate account for the Centerdale

[15:12] Village Festival. Councilman?

[15:15] >> Thank you, Council President. So, we're

[15:17] » Thank you, Council President. So, we're

[15:17] going to sell for the first time uh

[15:20] in the six years, we're going to sell

[15:21] some t-shirts

[15:23] uh

[15:24] promoting North Providence like we've

[15:26] been doing for the last six years.

[15:28] Um so, what I'd like to do is when we

[15:29] sell the t-shirts, I'd like to make a

[15:31] separate account, a special account,

[15:34] strictly for the Centennial Village

[15:35] Festival. And I I ask you that in the

[15:37] form of a motion.

[15:40] >> Do we have to do that?

[15:41] » Do we have to do that?

[15:41] >> You

[15:42] » You

[15:42] >> John.

[15:43] » John.

[15:43] >> It's something to be done through

[15:44] » It's something to be done through

[15:44] ordinance.

[15:45] >> What is it?

[15:46] » What is it?

[15:46] >> It's to make a separate account.

[15:47] » It's to make a separate account.

[15:47] >> So, do we have to create a line item?

[15:48] » So, do we have to create a line item?

[15:49] >> I would create a separate account.

[15:51] » I would create a separate account.

[15:51] >> All right. So,

[15:52] » All right. So,

[15:52] we have to do ordinance. So, I'll send

[15:54] it to ordinance cuz we have to set

[15:55] create a line item in the budget to do

[15:57] that.

[15:58] >> Okay. So, okay.

[15:59] » Okay. So, okay.

[15:59] >> And then we'll from that, we'll

[16:01] » And then we'll from that, we'll

[16:01] >> So, I'll make a motion to send this to

[16:02] » So, I'll make a motion to send this to

[16:02] ordinance.

[16:03] >> Second.

[16:03] » Second.

[16:03] >> Okay. So, that's a very good idea.

[16:05] » Okay. So, that's a very good idea.

[16:05] Uh I will say.

[16:06] >> Yeah.

[16:06] » Yeah.

[16:07] >> Um

[16:07] » Um

[16:07] So, motion's been made to send this to

[16:09] the ordinance committee to create the

[16:10] line item

[16:11] for the separate account for the

[16:13] Centennial Village Festival by

[16:15] Councilman Di Lorenzo. Is there a

[16:16] second? Seconded by Councilman Baccala.

[16:18] All those in favor?

[16:19] >> I.

[16:19] » I.

[16:19] >> All those opposed, the eyes have it.

[16:21] » All those opposed, the eyes have it.

[16:21] Thank you.

[16:27] Item number five, ordinance 26-010,

[16:30] an ordinance amending chapter 19,

[16:32] article 10,

[16:33] section 182

[16:35] of the code of ordinances of the town of

[16:37] North Providence entitled no parking

[16:39] generally to provide for certain parking

[16:41] restrictions on Cleveland Street.

[16:44] Is there anyone here from Cleveland

[16:45] Street? That's not what you guys are

[16:47] here for?

[16:49] Okay.

[16:50] >> I'm surprised I believe she was

[16:51] » I'm surprised I believe she was

[16:51] watching.

[16:52] >> Okay. Do we have a motion to pass?

[16:53] » Okay. Do we have a motion to pass?

[16:53] >> So moved.

[16:54] » So moved.

[16:54] >> Motion's been made by Councilman

[16:55] » Motion's been made by Councilman

[16:55] Is there a second?

[16:56] >> Second.

[16:57] » Second.

[16:57] >> Seconded

[16:59] » Seconded

[16:59] opposed, the eyes have it. Item number

[17:01] six, ordinance 26-011,

[17:04] adoption of 2026-2027

[17:07] operating budget ordinance. Do we have a

[17:09] motion to adopt?

[17:10] >> So moved.

[17:11] » So moved.

[17:11] >> Motion's been made by Councilman

[17:12] » Motion's been made by Councilman

[17:12] Baccala, seconded by Councilman

[17:13] LaPorteo. Any questions?

[17:16] There being none, all those in favor?

[17:17] >> I.

[17:18] » I.

[17:18] >> All those opposed, the eyes have it.

[17:20] » All those opposed, the eyes have it.

[17:20] Item number seven, class F1 liquor

[17:22] license. Town Council consider a vote

[17:23] for the approval of a class F1 liquor

[17:25] license for Enchanted Sip Mobile Bar for

[17:27] an event at Camp Meehan on September

[17:29] 5th, 2026.

[17:32] Come up, state your name for the record,

[17:33] please.

[17:35] » Hi, my name is Sonia Torres.

[17:38] >> Thank you. Are there any questions?

[17:42] You have all the information in front of

[17:43] you. Do you have a motion to approve?

[17:44] >> So moved.

[17:45] » So moved.

[17:45] >> Motion been made by Councilman Baccala,

[17:46] » Motion been made by Councilman Baccala,

[17:46] seconded by Councilman LaPorte. All

[17:48] those in favor?

[17:48] >> I.

[17:49] » I.

[17:49] >> All those opposed, the eyes have it.

[17:50] » All those opposed, the eyes have it.

[17:50] Thank you.

[17:50] >> Thank you.

[17:52] » Thank you.

[17:52] >> Item number eight, victualing license.

[17:53] » Item number eight, victualing license.

[17:54] Town Council to consider the approval of

[17:55] a victualing license for SM Food LLC DBA

[17:58] Hangry Joe's at 1670 Mineral Spring

[18:00] Avenue, North Providence, Rhode Island.

[18:02] Is there anyone here from Hangry Joe's?

[18:12] Okay, do we have a motion to continue

[18:14] this to the September

[18:16] Motion been made by Councilman

[18:17] seconded by Councilman LaPorte. All

[18:19] those in favor?

[18:20] All those opposed, the eyes have it.

[18:22] Item number nine, peddler vendor

[18:23] license. Town Council to consider a vote

[18:25] for the approval of a peddler vendor

[18:26] license for Country Fresh Farms

[18:28] Incorporated, 5081 Union Street, Union

[18:31] City,

[18:33] Georgia, 30

[18:35] 291. Sorry, I don't have my glasses.

[18:38] State your name for the record, please.

[18:39] >> Charles Olwen on behalf of Country Fresh

[18:40] » Charles Olwen on behalf of Country Fresh

[18:41] Farms.

[18:41] >> Just speak into the microphone, sorry.

[18:43] » Just speak into the microphone, sorry.

[18:43] >> Charles Olwen on behalf of Country Fresh

[18:45] » Charles Olwen on behalf of Country Fresh

[18:45] Farms.

[18:46] >> Okay, and where will you be selling?

[18:49] » Okay, and where will you be selling?

[18:49] >> Uh we'll be selling frozen meat, choice

[18:50] » Uh we'll be selling frozen meat, choice

[18:50] and prime.

[18:51] >> Is that in the parking lots?

[18:53] » Is that in the parking lots?

[18:53] >> Yeah.

[18:54] » Yeah.

[18:54] >> Okay.

[18:54] » Okay.

[18:54] >> Uh we have a cross promotional with

[18:56] » Uh we have a cross promotional with

[18:56] Lowe's. Uh we set up, it helps bring

[18:58] traffic to Lowe's, and we get traffic

[19:00] from them. It works out for everybody.

[19:02] >> So this is on Lowe's property?

[19:04] » So this is on Lowe's property?

[19:04] >> Yes.

[19:04] » Yes.

[19:04] >> Okay.

[19:05] » Okay.

[19:05] >> We have been invited by Lowe's.

[19:11] » I'll approve this pending Do you have to

[19:13] get health department approval?

[19:15] >> Yes.

[19:16] » Yes.

[19:16] >> All right, so so you can pick up your

[19:18] » All right, so so you can pick up your

[19:18] approval pending you provide us with

[19:20] that. Okay. Um I don't see that in our

[19:22] package here unless you we're missing

[19:24] it.

[19:25] >> I do not have that with me. Um could I

[19:27] » I do not have that with me. Um could I

[19:27] possibly uh

[19:29] >> You can come in and see the clerk.

[19:30] » You can come in and see the clerk.

[19:30] She'll

[19:31] >> Okay.

[19:31] » Okay.

[19:31] >> Her office is right downstairs.

[19:34] » Her office is right downstairs.

[19:34] Oh, actually, you know what? I'm not

[19:36] tech-savvy. You can just upload it

[19:38] online.

[19:39] >> Okay. Um I'm going to have to get in

[19:40] » Okay. Um I'm going to have to get in

[19:40] touch with my superiors and get that

[19:42] done.

[19:42] >> Okay. So,

[19:44] » Okay. So,

[19:44] I'll approve this pending the uploading

[19:47] of the health department certificate.

[19:48] >> Okay. Uh is there a specific health

[19:50] » Okay. Uh is there a specific health

[19:50] department like for this jurisdiction or

[19:52] just

[19:52] >> Rhode Island health department. Any time

[19:54] » Rhode Island health department. Any time

[19:54] you're serving food, you need

[19:56] [clears throat] a a sign-off from the

[19:57] health department.

[19:58] >> I just I wasn't sure if there was a

[19:59] » I just I wasn't sure if there was a

[19:59] local one I had to go through or not.

[20:01] >> No.

[20:01] » No.

[20:01] >> Thank you, sir.

[20:02] » Thank you, sir.

[20:02] >> Any other questions?

[20:04] » Any other questions?

[20:04] Okay, do I have a motion?

[20:05] >> So moved.

[20:06] » So moved.

[20:06] >> Motion been made by Councilman Di

[20:07] » Motion been made by Councilman Di

[20:07] Lorenzo. Is there a second?

[20:08] >> Second.

[20:08] » Second.

[20:09] >> Seconded by Councilman Baccari. All

[20:10] » Seconded by Councilman Baccari. All

[20:10] those in favor?

[20:11] >> I.

[20:12] » I.

[20:12] >> All those opposed? The eyes have it.

[20:13] » All those opposed? The eyes have it.

[20:13] Good luck.

[20:13] >> Thank you, sir.

[20:15] » Thank you, sir.

[20:15] >> Private investigator license. Town

[20:16] » Private investigator license. Town

[20:16] Council to consider the approval of a

[20:18] new private investigator license for

[20:19] Douglas Belcamp, 15 Thomas Street, North

[20:22] Providence, Rhode Island.

[20:24] >> I can

[20:24] » I can

[20:24] >> Good evening.

[20:25] » Good evening.

[20:25] >> Good evening. Just state your name for

[20:26] » Good evening. Just state your name for

[20:26] the record, please.

[20:27] >> Douglas Belknap.

[20:30] » Douglas Belknap.

[20:30] >> I'm sorry, it's misspelled on my

[20:32] » I'm sorry, it's misspelled on my

[20:32] >> I was going to bring that up. That's I

[20:33] » I was going to bring that up. That's I

[20:33] was going to offer to bring a business

[20:34] card or something.

[20:35] >> That's okay.

[20:38] Any questions? Councilman

[20:40] >> I just have one question. It says Thomas

[20:42] » I just have one question. It says Thomas

[20:42] Lane.

[20:43] >> Thomas Street.

[20:44] » Thomas Street.

[20:44] >> Thomas Street, I'm sorry. Your driver's

[20:46] » Thomas Street, I'm sorry. Your driver's

[20:46] license is Pawtucket.

[20:48] >> Yes, I I moved from Pawtucket about 3 to

[20:50] » Yes, I I moved from Pawtucket about 3 to

[20:50] 4 months ago, and I know per the statute

[20:53] when your license expires, you have to

[20:55] renew it through your new domicile.

[21:00] I haven't just uh changed my driver's

[21:02] license from Pawtucket to North

[21:03] Providence as of yet.

[21:06] >> Please sign.

[21:07] » Please sign.

[21:07] Okay.

[21:08] Any other questions?

[21:10] This package has been reviewed by our

[21:12] police department and signed off on.

[21:14] So, with that, do I have a motion to

[21:16] grant?

[21:16] >> So moved.

[21:17] » So moved.

[21:17] >> Motion has been made by Councilman

[21:18] » Motion has been made by Councilman

[21:18] LaPaccio, second by Councilman La-

[21:20] LaCala.

[21:22] All those in favor?

[21:22] >> I.

[21:23] » I.

[21:23] >> All those opposed, the eyes have it.

[21:25] » All those opposed, the eyes have it.

[21:25] Item number 11, license review. Town

[21:26] Council to conduct a license review on

[21:28] liquor and entertainment licenses for

[21:30] One of One Lounge, 1759 Middle Spring

[21:34] Avenue, North Providence, Rhode Island.

[21:36] Gentlemen, just come up, please.

[21:49] All right.

[21:50] Just state your name for the records,

[21:51] please.

[21:53] >> Wase Ali.

[21:54] » Wase Ali.

[21:54] >> Thank you.

[21:54] » Thank you.

[21:54] >> Michael, miss owner.

[21:56] » Michael, miss owner.

[21:56] >> Thank you.

[21:57] » Thank you.

[21:57] >> Lance Cherry.

[21:58] » Lance Cherry.

[21:58] >> Thank you. Um gentlemen, I have to say

[22:00] » Thank you. Um gentlemen, I have to say

[22:00] good job. I mean

[22:02] we've had a few small complaints.

[22:05] Nothing

[22:06] earth-shattering, but we get noise

[22:08] complaints from

[22:10] every

[22:11] establishment in the in the town. So,

[22:13] just be cognizant of that. Um but so

[22:17] far, you guys have given us your word.

[22:19] I've driven by, I see you guys out there

[22:21] patrolling the parking lot.

[22:22] Good job, thank you.

[22:23] >> Good.

[22:24] » Good.

[22:24] >> Makes our lives a heck of a lot easier,

[22:25] » Makes our lives a heck of a lot easier,

[22:25] so

[22:26] >> Good.

[22:26] » Good.

[22:26] >> um

[22:27] » um

[22:27] any questions from

[22:30] the council members?

[22:32] Councilman?

[22:33] >> Not a question, but just remain

[22:35] » Not a question, but just remain

[22:35] vigilant.

[22:36] If as soon as you let your guard down,

[22:38] it'll be a problem. So, whatever you've

[22:39] been doing, please keep doing it.

[22:41] >> All right.

[22:42] » All right.

[22:42] >> Definitely going to, you know, intensify

[22:44] » Definitely going to, you know, intensify

[22:44] that, for sure, and you know, and make

[22:45] more improvements as we go.

[22:48] >> Um

[22:48] » Um

[22:48] >> Thanks.

[22:49] » Thanks.

[22:49] >> we do have, you know, three incidents

[22:52] » we do have, you know, three incidents

[22:52] where the police have been contacted.

[22:54] Like I said, nothing noise violation, no

[22:56] noise complaints. So,

[22:59] just be aware of that.

[23:00] >> Okay.

[23:00] » Okay.

[23:00] >> And I was like, I think one was at 9:00,

[23:02] » And I was like, I think one was at 9:00,

[23:02] which is kind of you know, early in the

[23:04] evening, so so be aware of that.

[23:06] >> Right.

[23:07] » Right.

[23:07] >> Um

[23:07] » Um

[23:07] >> We've been proactive, too, going outside

[23:09] » We've been proactive, too, going outside

[23:09] after quiet hours, you know,

[23:11] always level up, taking pictures, and

[23:13] making sure the noise is not too

[23:15] crazy, outrageous, or anything like

[23:17] that.

[23:18] >> Good.

[23:18] » Good.

[23:18] >> Any other questions?

[23:20] » Any other questions?

[23:20] >> No, just uh emphasize what uh Councilman

[23:22] » No, just uh emphasize what uh Councilman

[23:22] Matton said, keeping it clean, keeping

[23:24] it out there. Doing what you're doing,

[23:26] just keep it up cuz even the complaints,

[23:28] the noise ones, I don't think they were

[23:30] coming from

[23:31] right behind you, which was most of the

[23:33] people that were complaining.

[23:34] >> Yeah.

[23:34] » Yeah.

[23:34] >> So, you know, so take that for what it's

[23:36] » So, you know, so take that for what it's

[23:36] worth, but just keep vigilant and keep

[23:38] doing what you're doing.

[23:39] >> All right, thank you. I appreciate you

[23:40] » All right, thank you. I appreciate you

[23:40] guys.

[23:40] >> My phone hasn't rang, right?

[23:44] » My phone hasn't rang, right?

[23:44] >> You're doing a good job, so keep it up.

[23:45] » You're doing a good job, so keep it up.

[23:45] >> All right, thank you, guys.

[23:46] » All right, thank you, guys.

[23:46] >> All right, so from going forward, you

[23:48] » All right, so from going forward, you

[23:48] have a full

[23:49] You have a motion to approve a full

[23:51] liquor and entertainment license from

[23:52] here on out.

[23:54] >> All right.

[23:54] » All right.

[23:54] Thank you, guys.

[23:55] >> Yeah.

[23:55] » Yeah.

[23:55] >> Appreciate you, guys.

[23:56] » Appreciate you, guys.

[23:56] >> All right, wait, wait.

[23:57] » All right, wait, wait.

[23:57] Yeah.

[23:58] >> I'll make a motion.

[23:59] » I'll make a motion.

[23:59] >> Motion's been made by Councilman De

[24:00] » Motion's been made by Councilman De

[24:00] Lorenzo, seconded by Councilman Baccala.

[24:02] Question with question.

[24:03] >> The only The only thing I just want to

[24:04] » The only The only thing I just want to

[24:04] point out is renewal time's going to be

[24:06] coming up, so just make sure uh December

[24:09] 1st, the license expires.

[24:11] Uh Amanda, when do you send start

[24:12] sending that stuff out? Like October?

[24:14] September?

[24:15] Okay. So, but don't Renewal time's going

[24:17] to be coming up, so make sure you renew

[24:19] the license, okay?

[24:20] >> We'll definitely, yeah.

[24:21] » We'll definitely, yeah.

[24:21] >> Good job, guys.

[24:21] » Good job, guys.

[24:21] >> Back up seriously.

[24:23] » Back up seriously.

[24:23] >> Make sure the Make sure the attorney's

[24:24] » Make sure the Make sure the attorney's

[24:24] not at this time.

[24:25] >> [laughter]

[24:26] » [laughter]

[24:26] >> You're welcome.

[24:28] » You're welcome.

[24:28] >> Thanks to the councilman for giving me

[24:30] » Thanks to the councilman for giving me

[24:30] the band over the last 10 business days.

[24:34] » Item number 12.

[24:37] Wooded Road, Louisquisset Golf, Town

[24:38] Council to conduct a review of the

[24:40] measures taken it to stop the golf balls

[24:42] from hitting properties on Wood Road. Is

[24:45] there anyone here from Louisquisset?

[24:47] >> I don't see anybody.

[24:47] » I don't see anybody.

[24:47] >> I've been in con- constant contact.

[24:50] » I've been in con- constant contact.

[24:50] Um

[24:51] Seems like there's been a lot of

[24:52] measures taken to mitigate this, and I'm

[24:55] happy to hear that. A window was broken

[24:57] recently and the golf course is paying

[24:59] for it, but that was a one one-off

[25:01] incident of debris.

[25:03] So, I'll make a motion to remove this

[25:04] item from the agenda.

[25:05] >> So moved.

[25:06] » So moved.

[25:06] >> Second.

[25:06] » Second.

[25:06] >> Motion been made and seconded. All those

[25:07] » Motion been made and seconded. All those

[25:08] in favor?

[25:08] >> Aye.

[25:09] » Aye.

[25:09] >> All those opposed? Guys have it.

[25:11] » All those opposed? Guys have it.

[25:11] >> I told you that three would be fine.

[25:13] » I told you that three would be fine.

[25:13] >> Noise ordinance discussion. Resident

[25:15] » Noise ordinance discussion. Resident

[25:15] Carolyn Mancone would like to address

[25:18] the council with a desire for a daytime

[25:20] noise ordinance to address excessively

[25:22] loud music coming from 4 Cross Street.

[25:25] Is Carolyn Mancone here?

[25:30] How are you?

[25:30] >> Hi. Good. Carolyn Mancone.

[25:32] » Hi. Good. Carolyn Mancone.

[25:32] >> Thank you.

[25:33] » Thank you.

[25:33] >> Um

[25:34] » Um

[25:34] So, [snorts]

[25:36] I wanted to come before the council

[25:38] because if some of you may remember that

[25:40] I was here in 2024 because there was a

[25:42] lot of noise coming from that address

[25:44] that year. Um

[25:47] they have improved, you know, they're

[25:50] not doing it as much, but they did have

[25:52] an ins- one incident, only one, this

[25:55] summer, which is excellent. Um but, it

[25:57] was extremely loud. It was on a Sunday

[25:59] afternoon, probably around 2:00.

[26:02] And it was loud enough to be heard, you

[26:04] know,

[26:05] 200, 300 ft away. I could hear it in my

[26:08] living room, in the front of the house,

[26:09] with the TV on, with the with the

[26:10] windows closed.

[26:12] You know,

[26:14] and I thought that back in 2024 that we

[26:17] had agreed to a noise ordinance for

[26:20] excessive

[26:22] daytime noise, you know.

[26:24] If I'm Let's just I'll just give you an

[26:26] example. That day when I went in my

[26:27] backyard and I I did a measurement on my

[26:30] phone with a decibel meter and it was

[26:32] over 80 decibels, which is very, very

[26:35] loud.

[26:36] Um

[26:38] it it interrupts your your relaxation

[26:40] and enjoyment of your home.

[26:42] And when I called the police,

[26:45] they were

[26:47] they didn't want to come out. I kept

[26:49] them on the phone and I'm like, "Look,

[26:50] this is this is a nuisance."

[26:52] When they came out,

[26:54] they went in and talked to the people,

[26:56] the music got turned up,

[26:58] and I asked the police officer about it,

[27:00] and she said, "Not my problem." She was

[27:02] indifferent.

[27:03] So, I called the police again,

[27:06] and then they were scrambling trying to

[27:07] look at what's the ordinance. You know,

[27:09] they transferred me like two or three

[27:11] times. I think I finally spoke to a

[27:13] sergeant,

[27:14] and he sent somebody out, and then, you

[27:16] know, then the music was shut off, but

[27:20] did we have an ordinance for this? I You

[27:23] know, I remember it was supposed to be

[27:24] like if it was heard more than 200 ft

[27:28] from the source that it was supposed to

[27:29] be

[27:31] not allowed,

[27:33] you know?

[27:34] >> Cuz it's intrusive.

[27:36] » Cuz it's intrusive.

[27:36] >> No, we have We do have an ordinance

[27:37] » No, we have We do have an ordinance

[27:38] Yeah, so I I know we had started talking

[27:39] about it, and then kind of the the issue

[27:41] seemed to die down, so we never um we

[27:44] never put in place something for the

[27:47] daytime. That's

[27:48] you know, considering you're bringing it

[27:49] back up, I certainly think it's

[27:51] something that we can put back on the

[27:52] ordinance uh committee's docket and talk

[27:54] about potentially implementing that. And

[27:56] And I And you're right. I think the what

[27:58] we were thinking about was potentially

[28:00] something that if you could hear it from

[28:02] 200 ft away from the source, that would

[28:04] be too loud, so that way you don't have

[28:05] to get into the decibels and all that

[28:06] stuff. So.

[28:07] >> Right. I mean, you know, the issue is I

[28:08] » Right. I mean, you know, the issue is I

[28:08] think is that

[28:10] the technology and for stereos has, you

[28:13] know,

[28:16] come so crazy that people have these

[28:18] really loud stereo systems,

[28:21] and they're just not cognizant of the

[28:23] fact that they're disturbing, you know,

[28:25] I'm not saying people can't listen to

[28:26] music, but be reasonable.

[28:29] You know, have have a care for your

[28:30] neighbors, and

[28:32] that I would like to be able to, you

[28:34] know, if that ever happens again, to be

[28:36] able to call and say, "Look, we have

[28:37] this ordinance. You need to come out

[28:38] here."

[28:40] And And have the police be informed

[28:43] that it it is on the books.

[28:46] Cuz they didn't seem to know.

[28:47] >> You shouldn't have to deal with that.

[28:48] » You shouldn't have to deal with that.

[28:48] You're right. And

[28:50] we will get on that.

[28:52] >> Okay. Great.

[28:52] » Okay. Great.

[28:53] >> That's serious. So, that's

[28:54] » That's serious. So, that's

[28:54] unacceptable.

[28:55] >> you.

[28:55] » you.

[28:55] >> No problem. Do you have any questions?

[28:58] » No problem. Do you have any questions?

[28:58] Okay, do you have a motion to send this

[28:59] to the audience? So moved. Motion has

[29:00] been made by Councilman Laporte, you

[29:01] second by Councilman Vacallo. All those

[29:03] in favor? Aye. All those opposed, the

[29:05] eyes have it.

[29:06] Item number 14, block party resident

[29:09] Jordan Shore requests discussion and

[29:11] possible vote on a block party on

[29:12] Orchard Street on August 29th, 2026.

[29:17] >> Jordan Shore cannot make it tonight.

[29:19] » Jordan Shore cannot make it tonight.

[29:19] She's on her way to Alaska.

[29:20] >> Oh, good.

[29:21] » Oh, good.

[29:21] >> This is this is right behind Richie

[29:24] » This is this is right behind Richie

[29:24] School. They want to have about 50 to 75

[29:27] ft part of the street. Not blocking

[29:29] anyone. Just for the sake of doing it

[29:32] the proper way. She asked to put the

[29:34] palm palms.

[29:35] So, I'd like to make a motion that we

[29:37] approve

[29:38] the block party on uh

[29:41] >> Okay, motion has been made by Councilman

[29:43] » Okay, motion has been made by Councilman

[29:43] Di Lorenzo, second by Councilman

[29:44] Vacallo. All those in favor?

[29:45] >> Aye.

[29:46] » Aye.

[29:46] >> All those opposed, the eyes have it.

[29:48] » All those opposed, the eyes have it.

[29:48] Item number 15, paid property. Maureen

[29:49] Gerard would like to discuss the

[29:51] the progress [clears throat] of the paid

[29:52] property and to propose a community use.

[30:04] Thank you for coming.

[30:06] >> Hi.

[30:06] » Hi.

[30:06] >> Maureen Gerard.

[30:09] » Maureen Gerard.

[30:09] >> Thank you.

[30:11] » Thank you.

[30:11] >> Amy Robinson.

[30:12] » Amy Robinson.

[30:12] >> Thank you.

[30:12] » Thank you.

[30:12] >> I have folders.

[30:22] » Oh, Amy, you and I spoke a few times via

[30:24] email, right?

[30:26] >> I don't think so.

[30:27] » I don't think so.

[30:27] >> And Amy, you you and I spoke via email a

[30:29] » And Amy, you you and I spoke via email a

[30:29] few times, correct?

[30:30] >> Yeah.

[30:31] » Yeah.

[30:31] >> Thank you.

[30:35] » Oh, I thought we got homework.

[30:37] >> So, we have drawn up a proposal petition

[30:41] » So, we have drawn up a proposal petition

[30:41] to request a green clean space for the

[30:44] Pate property in conjunction

[30:47] with the parking issue at the KFC field.

[30:50] Um I spoke with Josh Johnson, the uh

[30:53] president of the North Providence Jets

[30:55] Football Organization, which is

[30:57] currently using the former Casey

[30:59] baseball complex on Ivan Street.

[31:02] He's not asked for this plan to be

[31:05] developed, but he is in favor of it.

[31:08] The actions we're asking the town to

[31:10] take involve the following. Remove the

[31:12] basketball poles from the basketball

[31:14] court on Ivan Street and use the court

[31:16] as a paved parking lot.

[31:18] Remove the playground area at Ivan

[31:20] Street and use that area for additional

[31:22] parking in an unpaved lot.

[31:25] Establish a basketball court and a

[31:27] tennis court one behind the other at the

[31:30] entrance to the Pate property with

[31:31] parking for eight to 10 spots.

[31:34] Further, in the Pate property, rebuild

[31:37] the playground and a walking area with

[31:38] benches in a figure eight format.

[31:41] We've attached a diagram of this

[31:43] scenario at the Pate property.

[31:45] Additionally, we've been in touch with

[31:47] Sherry Lepore, our grants manager, and

[31:49] we have a proposed applying for a Lowe's

[31:52] community grant for the Pate property

[31:54] project.

[31:56] And a Lowe's grant can be used in

[31:58] conjunction with Rhode Island DEM

[32:00] grants. I contacted both of them.

[32:03] They don't conflict, I'm told. Rhode

[32:05] Island DEM said, "You can reapply for

[32:08] the grant we lost

[32:10] and use the Lowe's grant at the same

[32:12] time. It's not conflicting."

[32:15] There are also a lot of other grants

[32:17] that can be used for trees, perennial

[32:19] gardens.

[32:22] Uh we feel that the signing of the names

[32:24] on the petition represent the wishes of

[32:26] the neighbors and those of the mayor who

[32:28] has communicated that he wants this

[32:30] project to be successful and meet the

[32:32] wishes and expectations of the community

[32:34] surrounding the Pate property.

[32:37] Last, but most important, we ask that

[32:40] the mayor and the council form a

[32:41] committee that includes several of the

[32:43] residents of the peat property area to

[32:46] work on overseeing the implementation

[32:48] and oversight of the development of the

[32:50] peat property green clean space.

[32:53] We ask that this be formed no later than

[32:56] this September

[32:57] of 2026.

[32:59] And this is on behalf of the residents

[33:01] surrounding the peat property.

[33:05] » This is really good.

[33:06] Thank you for putting this together.

[33:08] I mean, obviously, it's an initial

[33:10] reaction. It's the first time I'm seeing

[33:12] it.

[33:13] First time we're all seeing it, but this

[33:14] this is We appreciate

[33:16] you guys putting this together. This is

[33:18] very, very good.

[33:19] >> pretty good that

[33:20] » pretty good that

[33:20] Um we might ask for your help with the

[33:22] grant.

[33:23] >> [laughter]

[33:24] » [laughter]

[33:24] >> No, this is good. I appreciate it,

[33:26] » No, this is good. I appreciate it,

[33:26] seriously. Um

[33:28] obviously, this is the first time we're

[33:30] seeing it. Let us digest it and um

[33:34] any questions?

[33:36] >> No, I just wanted

[33:36] » No, I just wanted

[33:36] >> I wish everything had this presentation.

[33:40] » We do have a couple of questions

[33:42] regarding our last meeting with the

[33:44] mayor. Um we were told that the property

[33:46] would be cleaned out, which it was, and

[33:48] we do appreciate that. That was great.

[33:51] Um but since then, there was more soil

[33:55] um that was put on top. They would be um

[34:00] so we want to know what happened with

[34:02] the plan of just flattening out and

[34:04] putting the grass and putting up a gate.

[34:08] Um

[34:09] so there's been um more soil in addition

[34:12] to the one that was dumped, and we want

[34:14] to know why it was brought in. And this

[34:16] was not part of the plan that we were

[34:18] told the last time we met with you guys.

[34:20] And then we had some serious flood

[34:23] flooding in the area, and quite a bit of

[34:25] soil from the peat property flooded into

[34:27] the Washington Street and onto the small

[34:29] bridge, pouring over the bridge in the

[34:32] upper Canada Pond moving a small river

[34:35] not sure if this type of sediment is

[34:38] safe to be going into this waterway

[34:41] since it is the protected.

[34:44] >> Okay.

[34:45] » Okay.

[34:45] Bernie, can you answer any of those?

[34:48] You could

[34:53] » Yes, so I'm familiar with the runoff

[34:56] that they're talking about. There's been

[34:58] runoff twice that occurred.

[35:01] And as the I'll speak for the soil that

[35:03] was brought into the property because I

[35:05] don't think there's an understanding

[35:06] about the stockpiling of soils. So that

[35:10] has to go all the way back to the

[35:12] embankment line and that drop that

[35:14] elevation drops off so they're moving

[35:16] soil in there and they are stockpiling

[35:20] it in a ramp fashion. So when they clean

[35:23] out all the the bull briar and the brush

[35:25] and everything else, they can flatten

[35:27] that soil out. That hill's going to come

[35:30] down and it eventually establish a flat

[35:33] field so to speak. And then

[35:36] the level of soil erosion that is

[35:39] developed there, it's for developed

[35:42] within a half inch of water within an

[35:44] hour. We received an inch and a half of

[35:46] water in 45 minutes. But I can tell you

[35:49] this morning that I met the engineer,

[35:51] met the contractor down there, stepped

[35:54] that soil erosion plan way up from the

[35:56] engineer's design and that should not

[35:59] occur anymore.

[36:00] >> Okay.

[36:01] » Okay.

[36:01] Okay, thank you. Any questions for

[36:02] Bernie from the council?

[36:05] Thank you very much.

[36:10] » He answered everything.

[36:11] >> Okay, I'm going to send this plan to the

[36:12] » Okay, I'm going to send this plan to the

[36:12] finance committee so we can have a look

[36:14] at it. Look at it in more of

[36:17] intimate setting,

[36:18] ask some questions and we'll invite you

[36:21] to that meeting.

[36:21] >> Okay.

[36:22] » Okay.

[36:22] >> So we can have a more free flowing

[36:23] » So we can have a more free flowing

[36:23] conversation.

[36:24] Unless there's any questions from any

[36:27] residents, any council members?

[36:29] I'll make a motion.

[36:31] Sure.

[36:36] » I'm Ken Conti. I uh

[36:39] I'm trying to get a sense of what what

[36:40] property we're talking about exactly. I

[36:42] know you guys

[36:45] What in relationship to the Ivan Street

[36:47] baseball field, where is that?

[36:49] >> Okay, if you go past the bridge

[36:51] » Okay, if you go past the bridge

[36:51] >> Yeah. Oh, so it's not part of the Ivan

[36:53] » Yeah. Oh, so it's not part of the Ivan

[36:53] Street baseball field.

[36:55] >> Cuz I know just past

[36:56] » Cuz I know just past

[36:56] >> Okay, Ken, it's right across the street.

[36:58] » Okay, Ken, it's right across the street.

[36:58] There used to be a garage in there.

[37:00] Oh, the old

[37:01] >> Oh, okay. All right. I thought it was

[37:02] » Oh, okay. All right. I thought it was

[37:02] the Ivan Street field cuz I thought it

[37:04] was a great opportunity.

[37:05] >> I was going to say that the North

[37:06] » I was going to say that the North

[37:06] Providence Land Trust owns property

[37:08] adjacent to the North Providence uh

[37:10] Little League field.

[37:11] >> Well, that property That property does

[37:15] » Well, that property That property does

[37:15] It doesn't connect to the But They're

[37:17] They're

[37:17] >> field's not owned by the town, all

[37:19] » field's not owned by the town, all

[37:19] right? That's owned by the K

[37:20] >> No, but where they're

[37:21] » No, but where they're

[37:21] where they're proposing the parking lot

[37:24] is part of that is part of the Cuz

[37:26] that's where the basketball courts are.

[37:28] So, if you want to take a look at it.

[37:32] » With the um field that's past the park.

[37:35] >> Yeah, this is the bridge.

[37:36] » Yeah, this is the bridge.

[37:36] >> Yeah, so it's not part of the

[37:37] » Yeah, so it's not part of the

[37:38] >> In the meantime, I want to make a motion

[37:39] » In the meantime, I want to make a motion

[37:39] to send this to the finance committee.

[37:41] Motion made by Councilman LaPorte,

[37:43] seconded by Councilman Pollock. All

[37:44] those in favor?

[37:45] All those opposed? The eyes have it.

[37:47] Thank you.

[37:49] >> Very nice.

[37:59] » And Mr. Chairman, there's a piece of

[38:01] property

[38:02] uh to the left

[38:05] It's up a little higher that we utilize

[38:07] for parking.

[38:09] There's property next to that that abuts

[38:12] that last house coming down Ivan Street

[38:16] that we own.

[38:19] We're looking at that at this point in

[38:21] time and maybe try and garner some funds

[38:24] to increase that top pocket lot

[38:27] to address the need for additional

[38:29] parking

[38:31] uh now that the it's going to be

[38:33] utilized by what from the football

[38:36] um club

[38:38] and soccer.

[38:40] We know we have a an issue with the

[38:41] parking.

[38:43] And also temporary with the parking or

[38:45] for the parking is when you go into the

[38:48] Ivan Street though field that we're

[38:50] living on off now. Right there to the

[38:53] left.

[38:55] We're hoping that we'll be able to

[38:58] clear that as quick as possible, put

[39:00] down some of what we call the road grind

[39:04] and use that for some temporary parking

[39:06] to relieve

[39:08] any of the parking issues there.

[39:10] So, that's in play also at this point in

[39:12] time.

[39:15] » Thank you.

[39:16] Ma'am, my understanding though is that

[39:18] once

[39:19] uh Woodhaven school is done

[39:21] that football field is going to be put

[39:23] back.

[39:24] >> Well, that's another issue.

[39:28] Because in most of these areas I

[39:30] shouldn't say dealing with, but we're

[39:32] dealing with

[39:33] neighbors' wishes.

[39:37] So, at this point in time

[39:40] I'm not sure.

[39:45] » Okay.

[39:50] » And number 22, ordinance introduction,

[39:52] discussion, and possible vote on the

[39:54] introduction of the ordinance number

[39:57] 26-013

[39:59] relating to resident only parking signs

[40:02] on Oregon Avenue.

[40:04] Councilman DiLorenzo.

[40:05] >> So, we have a problem on Oregon Avenue

[40:08] » So, we have a problem on Oregon Avenue

[40:08] with parking.

[40:09] Uh

[40:12] it seems that the people who are there

[40:15] are parking all the way down the street.

[40:16] The people in front of the houses cannot

[40:18] park their cars.

[40:19] However, Steve, I understand, Steve,

[40:22] Hold on one second. Wait till they don't

[40:40] » I want

[40:42] I want them to be able to hear cuz

[40:55] » All right.

[40:56] Thank you. Okay.

[40:57] >> So, residents are having a problem

[40:59] » So, residents are having a problem

[40:59] parking on Oregon Avenue.

[41:01] Uh the the two houses next to the

[41:04] building

[41:05] uh

[41:06] the old base furniture that has

[41:08] qualified businesses in there.

[41:10] Uh Kevin uh a community police officer,

[41:13] we were there the other day and looking

[41:14] to see what we can do is probably need

[41:15] about maybe 100 ft, Kevin.

[41:18] >> That's correct.

[41:18] » That's correct.

[41:19] >> Um

[41:20] » Um

[41:20] which is

[41:21] what we do need to protect those two

[41:23] houses.

[41:24] Uh but I understand now that

[41:27] uh this game room business

[41:31] cannot open

[41:32] uh unless we approve the ordinance for

[41:36] for the resident only parking sign. I

[41:38] guess they need it on a variance in

[41:41] order to get open. And they've been

[41:42] patiently waiting for something to

[41:44] happen with that.

[41:45] Um Kevin, maybe you can articulate a

[41:47] little bit more what what the

[41:49] >> Right parking situation.

[41:49] » Right parking situation.

[41:49] >> Brent's here, too. He can explain what

[41:51] » Brent's here, too. He can explain what

[41:51] the

[41:52] >> Brent, come up, please.

[41:53] » Brent, come up, please.

[41:53] >> Yeah.

[41:53] » Yeah.

[41:54] >> Thank you.

[41:56] » Thank you.

[41:56] >> Lieutenant, you can you can stop.

[41:57] » Lieutenant, you can you can stop.

[41:57] >> I can speak to, you know, we've had some

[41:59] » I can speak to, you know, we've had some

[41:59] calls from residents that are having a

[42:01] hard time parking during certain hours.

[42:04] There are several businesses in that uh

[42:06] block of 1726 Mystery that do take up

[42:10] some of those businesses. So, I think we

[42:12] owe it to the residents to to give them

[42:14] some relief for for company and

[42:18] you know, whatever you can

[42:19] >> By the way, one of them is handicapped

[42:22] » By the way, one of them is handicapped

[42:22] and has a caretaker there. On the second

[42:24] house, has a caretaker there, so I

[42:26] wanted to make sure we protect her. Now,

[42:27] in in the first house, we just had a

[42:29] livery by the way, something like that.

[42:31] And so, both of those houses have, you

[42:33] know,

[42:35] >> So, uh Steve is correct. Uh

[42:38] » So, uh Steve is correct. Uh

[42:38] They got approval from the zoning board

[42:41] uh conditional to receiving council

[42:43] approval for no park or uh resident only

[42:46] parking signs down Oregon Ave.

[42:47] >> Right.

[42:48] » Right.

[42:48] >> Um just because there is,

[42:50] » Um just because there is,

[42:50] you know, a tight parking situation on

[42:52] the property right now, and they don't

[42:54] want the parking extending into the

[42:55] residential neighborhood. They'd rather

[42:57] see it

[42:58] >> Right.

[42:58] » Right.

[42:58] >> I I have a question on the street.

[43:01] » I I have a question on the street.

[43:01] >> All right, I have a question. And

[43:04] » All right, I have a question. And

[43:04] So, I'm familiar with that building. I

[43:05] live right down the street.

[43:07] >> [clears throat]

[43:08] » [clears throat]

[43:08] >> You have a tattoo shop, a hair salon,

[43:12] » You have a tattoo shop, a hair salon,

[43:12] this potential game business, and then

[43:14] there's another business I think in

[43:15] between the tattoo shop.

[43:18] >> And don't forget the business behind.

[43:20] » And don't forget the business behind.

[43:20] There's a construction company behind.

[43:22] >> That's not their business?

[43:23] » That's not their business?

[43:23] >> No, no. They got GameStop, which is on

[43:24] » No, no. They got GameStop, which is on

[43:24] the street, but in the back of that

[43:26] building there's a construction business

[43:29] uh in the back of it. So, there's five.

[43:31] >> So, how are these

[43:33] » So, how are these

[43:33] >> [clears throat]

[43:33] » [clears throat]

[43:33] >> uh

[43:34] » uh

[43:34] businesses allowed to open with such

[43:36] little parking on a main road? And I say

[43:38] that for the residents, but also them.

[43:40] Like, that's not fair to them either.

[43:42] Like, I mean, cuz it's right around that

[43:44] curve, so there's not much street

[43:46] parking.

[43:47] It's all residential behind the

[43:49] building.

[43:50] Are they expected to park across the

[43:52] street and cross

[43:54] Smitty, it's a pretty busy road.

[43:56] >> So, the zoning board reviewed the the

[43:59] » So, the zoning board reviewed the the

[43:59] time schedules of each um business, and

[44:02] they felt comfortable enough voting to

[44:05] approve it because the the

[44:07] it was alternating

[44:09] time frames um of of peak hours. So,

[44:14] there's not necessarily enough to meet

[44:16] the regulation. However, they

[44:19] they think it could be accommodated on

[44:21] the property and within the I believe

[44:23] there's seven spaces on Smith Street.

[44:25] >> So, so GameStop right now is looking for

[44:27] » So, so GameStop right now is looking for

[44:27] eight spaces that are currently there.

[44:31] » So,

[44:32] >> There's no additional spaces, just the

[44:33] » There's no additional spaces, just the

[44:33] ones that are currently there.

[44:35] >> So, essentially all the spaces right now

[44:37] » So, essentially all the spaces right now

[44:37] on the property are utilized by the

[44:38] existing businesses. So, they got the

[44:40] variance for

[44:42] what they would need eight eight spaces.

[44:46] >> Right.

[44:46] » Right.

[44:46] >> To make the the whole lot legal

[44:48] » To make the the whole lot legal

[44:48] essentially.

[44:49] >> Right.

[44:49] » Right.

[44:49] >> And that's not just this location.

[44:51] » And that's not just this location.

[44:51] That's assuming businesses don't extend

[44:53] their hours.

[44:55] The other businesses that are there

[44:57] could extend their hours.

[44:59] Theoretically correct?

[45:00] >> That's always possible, yes.

[45:03] » That's always possible, yes.

[45:03] >> I'm just saying that

[45:05] » I'm just saying that

[45:05] kind of go by what the president's

[45:06] saying, you know.

[45:07] >> So, if if you remember

[45:09] » So, if if you remember

[45:09] uh maybe two three months ago I had a

[45:11] resident only parking sign put on the

[45:13] right hand side coming

[45:14] >> Yes, that's why I'm not yeah.

[45:15] » Yes, that's why I'm not yeah.

[45:16] >> Be- because fire apparatus could not get

[45:17] » Be- because fire apparatus could not get

[45:17] through.

[45:18] People, I mean, listen, I'm on that

[45:20] street I go up and down that street 10

[45:21] times a day other day.

[45:22] >> Right.

[45:23] » Right.

[45:23] >> Fire apparatus could not get through.

[45:25] » Fire apparatus could not get through.

[45:25] So, I had a no parking sign put there.

[45:28] Uh

[45:29] kind of put some of the people back into

[45:32] the parking lot a little bit. It's not

[45:33] so bad, but now they're on the opposite

[45:35] side of the street.

[45:35] >> Right.

[45:36] » Right.

[45:36] >> Coming all the way down.

[45:37] » Coming all the way down.

[45:37] So,

[45:38] you know, it's a combination. There's

[45:40] one house over there that has eight

[45:41] cars. And between those eight cars and

[45:43] everybody else that's parking, the two

[45:44] people who are who are leaving

[45:47] >> Of course.

[45:47] » Of course.

[45:47] >> park their cars.

[45:49] » park their cars.

[45:49] >> And you guys going to be okay

[45:51] » And you guys going to be okay

[45:51] to open with with such a

[45:53] limited

[45:55] not so

[45:57] ideal parking situation?

[45:59] I don't I I want to see you guys be

[46:01] treated unfairly either. That's That's

[46:04] >> Thank you. Um my name is August Bogner

[46:07] » Thank you. Um my name is August Bogner

[46:07] This is Genesis Sanchez. We're the

[46:09] owners of the game house.

[46:10] >> Oh, nice. Thank you.

[46:11] » Oh, nice. Thank you.

[46:11] >> Um to your question, um

[46:15] » Um to your question, um

[46:15] if this is not approved tonight, it will

[46:18] not be okay.

[46:20] >> Right, right. And I'm saying like I have

[46:21] » Right, right. And I'm saying like I have

[46:21] no problem. Like we're going to do

[46:23] whatever you can to let you get you guys

[46:24] open, right?

[46:26] But I'm saying going forward

[46:28] like

[46:29] you know, you're going to have people

[46:30] coming there and see there's no parking.

[46:33] You know, and they might not visit your

[46:34] your business cuz

[46:36] it's it's such a packed

[46:38] little building.

[46:39] >> Sure, if I may. Um so I think one of the

[46:42] » Sure, if I may. Um so I think one of the

[46:42] points that we had raised earlier had

[46:44] been raised at the earlier hearings is

[46:46] that So we operate from 5:00 in the

[46:49] afternoon to 9:00 in the afternoon

[46:50] Monday through Friday and then 2:00 p.m.

[46:52] to 10:00 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays and

[46:54] we find ourselves at the game house

[46:56] every weekend sort of, you know,

[46:58] polishing things up and getting things

[46:59] ready that need to be and we there's

[47:02] plenty of parking at least on the

[47:04] weekend. I'm not sure when the

[47:04] complaints are coming in if it's during

[47:06] the daytime more frequently than not,

[47:08] but in terms of the weekend traffic in

[47:11] that area, it's significantly decreased.

[47:13] We never have an issue with parking

[47:15] whatsoever. The lot is always empty. In

[47:18] fact, whenever we're there on Saturdays

[47:19] and Sundays and that would be our peak

[47:21] hours. We're also targeting the students

[47:25] from Rhode Island College that are

[47:26] nearby from Providence College, from

[47:27] North Providence High School. And so the

[47:29] hope is that people would just come to

[47:30] us walking or carpooling and have less

[47:33] needs. And my understanding is that the

[47:35] parking variance was for actually six

[47:37] spaces um because we are one combined

[47:41] spots. We would only need six additional

[47:42] spaces, but again, given our experience

[47:44] there

[47:45] every weekend for the last six months

[47:47] while we wait on the process, I I don't

[47:49] think that there's a parking

[47:51] problem on the weekends at least as

[47:54] >> I agree with you.

[47:55] » I agree with you.

[47:55] >> Okay.

[47:55] » Okay.

[47:55] >> And nighttime it's it's it's much easier

[47:58] » And nighttime it's it's it's much easier

[47:58] to get in and out. Um If if you can stay

[48:01] vigilant have people park in the back.

[48:03] >> Absolutely.

[48:04] » Absolutely.

[48:04] >> Listen, I I want to see you guys being

[48:06] » Listen, I I want to see you guys being

[48:06] in business. Great kid. I want to see

[48:07] you guys being in business. I just you

[48:09] know, we have to I we have to worry

[48:12] about the neighbors.

[48:13] They're just as important as everybody,

[48:15] you know.

[48:15] >> Absolutely, and we understand and that's

[48:17] » Absolutely, and we understand and that's

[48:17] our our hope is really that they get

[48:19] their sign tonight because if it gets

[48:21] referred and we've been waiting for

[48:23] about 6 months just sort of in the

[48:24] evolution of this process

[48:26] for permitting. I think we submitted our

[48:28] business application back in February

[48:30] and so it's just we're really struggling

[48:32] because the bills are still coming and

[48:34] there is no income being generated and

[48:36] as you see from the pamphlets that are

[48:38] at in front of you, there's a lot of

[48:40] interest, media, people, the community

[48:43] and so we really just need a chance to

[48:45] to get to exist.

[48:46] >> Mayor, Mayor, so um

[48:48] » Mayor, Mayor, so um

[48:48] Mayor.

[48:51] Mayor, is Bernie still here? Well, can

[48:53] we have DPW put up the two signs

[48:58] and I'll I'll have an ordinance meeting

[49:00] within the next 2 weeks so they can open

[49:03] and then I'll pass the the no parking

[49:06] signs cuz they've been waiting.

[49:09] Yeah.

[49:12] » [clears throat]

[49:13] >> You can get with me if you like and

[49:17] » Yep.

[49:19] >> Thank you. We'll take care of it. You'll

[49:20] » Thank you. We'll take care of it. You'll

[49:20] be all set.

[49:24] » We'll help you be successful.

[49:26] >> Thank you, sir.

[49:28] » Thank you, sir.

[49:28] >> We can see.

[49:30] » We can see.

[49:30] >> All right. All right, so

[49:32] » All right. All right, so

[49:32] Thank you, Mayor.

[49:33] That's very helpful. So, they'll put up

[49:36] I'll expedite the

[49:38] the ordinance process.

[49:40] You guys okay with that?

[49:42] >> Yeah, absolutely. I was just How many

[49:43] » Yeah, absolutely. I was just How many

[49:43] square feet is this?

[49:45] >> It's about 1,200, but do you have floor

[49:47] » It's about 1,200, but do you have floor

[49:47] plans? So, I think you might have a more

[49:49] exact Not there.

[49:50] >> You still have the pictures and great

[49:51] » You still have the pictures and great

[49:51] marketing the free parking sign up.

[49:53] >> You know

[49:55] » You know

[49:55] >> You got a good concept going there. It's

[49:56] » You got a good concept going there. It's

[49:56] a place for people to go. So, I agree

[49:58] with, you know, getting getting it open

[49:59] and we need more businesses like this.

[50:01] >> Thank you.

[50:02] » Thank you.

[50:02] >> Okay, okay, wait. Excuse me.

[50:04] » Okay, okay, wait. Excuse me.

[50:04] >> Can I make a motion to dispense with the

[50:05] » Can I make a motion to dispense with the

[50:05] ordinance now?

[50:07] >> I I will if you want, you know.

[50:10] » I I will if you want, you know.

[50:10] All right, so

[50:10] >> I'll do it.

[50:11] » I'll do it.

[50:11] >> All right.

[50:15] Just uh

[50:16] Yeah, just to make a motion to dispense

[50:18] with the reading of the ordinance.

[50:20] >> Uh I want to make a motion to dispense

[50:22] » Uh I want to make a motion to dispense

[50:22] with the reading of the ordinance.

[50:24] >> So moved.

[50:25] » So moved.

[50:25] >> Second.

[50:26] » Second.

[50:26] >> Motion been made by Councilman

[50:27] » Motion been made by Councilman

[50:27] DeLorenzo, seconded by Councilman

[50:28] Vaccola. And a motion by Councilman

[50:31] DeLorenzo to introduce

[50:33] ordinance 26-013.

[50:38] » So, so that we're all clear

[50:40] B Spoke's can now open.

[50:41] >> Well, yes, but I I asked

[50:43] » Well, yes, but I I asked

[50:43] >> Borrow.

[50:44] » Borrow.

[50:44] >> Well, they're going to make just make

[50:46] » Well, they're going to make just make

[50:46] sure everything from the business

[50:47] perspective is

[50:49] >> Business license license

[50:51] » Business license license

[50:51] >> License and all that. Yeah.

[50:52] » License and all that. Yeah.

[50:52] >> And your your building permit is

[50:55] » And your your building permit is

[50:55] >> I mean, everything

[50:56] » I mean, everything

[50:56] >> Do you have a building permit?

[50:57] » Do you have a building permit?

[50:57] >> Everything on the portal is up to date.

[50:59] » Everything on the portal is up to date.

[50:59] >> Yes.

[50:59] » Yes.

[50:59] >> But this is just a printout. I'm going

[51:01] » But this is just a printout. I'm going

[51:01] to have the clerk

[51:02] make sure everything's

[51:04] You know, you guys have everything you

[51:05] need, but is it if there's anything

[51:08] she can think of, you know, just check

[51:09] with her before you do anything.

[51:11] >> Yeah, we'll we'll get anything done that

[51:13] » Yeah, we'll we'll get anything done that

[51:13] needs to get done as quickly as

[51:14] possible.

[51:16] >> Invite us to the grand opening.

[51:18] » Invite us to the grand opening.

[51:18] >> Yeah.

[51:18] » Yeah.

[51:18] >> All right.

[51:18] » All right.

[51:18] >> I will. Thank you.

[51:20] » I will. Thank you.

[51:20] >> Okay, a motion's been made, seconded.

[51:21] » Okay, a motion's been made, seconded.

[51:21] All those in favor?

[51:24] » Motion.

[51:28] » Okay.

[51:31] >> I'm going to challenge DeLorenzo.

[51:32] » I'm going to challenge DeLorenzo.

[51:32] >> Look, I I got to do one of them now.

[51:37] » Item number 16, Good Energy, John

[51:39] O'Rourke like to address the

[51:42] >> So, uh as far as the residential parking

[51:44] » So, uh as far as the residential parking

[51:44] signs, we're going to take care of it. I

[51:46] don't need to make any motions to do

[51:47] that.

[51:47] >> No, you just got to meet him and tell

[51:49] » No, you just got to meet him and tell

[51:49] him where you got to go.

[51:50] And then I'll take care of that. We just

[51:53] We got to It's not enforceable until we

[51:54] pass this.

[51:55] >> I know that.

[51:56] » I know that.

[51:56] >> All right.

[51:56] » All right.

[51:56] >> Yeah.

[51:57] » Yeah.

[51:57] >> Okay, uh President would like to address

[51:59] » Okay, uh President would like to address

[51:59] the council once again concerning

[52:00] community electric aggregation. Thank

[52:03] you.

[52:03] >> President O'Rourke, Tillo, members of

[52:04] » President O'Rourke, Tillo, members of

[52:04] the council, uh thank you for letting us

[52:06] come before you today.

[52:08] Um my name is John O'Rourke.

[52:11] My associate, Steve Di Natale.

[52:14] Uh if you remember, uh we appeared

[52:16] before you on December the 3rd, uh gave

[52:19] you a presentation at that point in

[52:21] time. Much of the presentation I have

[52:24] for you tonight is that same

[52:26] information. So, rather than rehash that

[52:29] information and in the interest of time,

[52:32] I'm going to go directly to the last

[52:33] page, which is the key points of these

[52:36] programs.

[52:39] All you're doing by putting together a

[52:41] community choice electricity program

[52:45] is forming a buying group

[52:47] that gives your residents and small

[52:49] businesses another choice for getting

[52:52] their electricity. It also gives them

[52:55] increased buying power to move forward

[52:58] with uh large uh supplies of electricity

[53:03] that want their business.

[53:05] Participation is voluntary.

[53:08] There is never any

[53:10] um

[53:11] uh fee or termination

[53:13] uh charge to get out of the program once

[53:16] they're in the program.

[53:18] Um

[53:19] these programs provide increased

[53:22] protection from unscrupulous

[53:25] um marketers of electricity,

[53:26] particularly for those seniors that may

[53:29] be preyed upon

[53:31] uh by those those individuals.

[53:34] There's no cost to the town.

[53:37] Essentially, uh uh Uh,

[53:40] we would as consultant to put these

[53:43] plans together, we're paid by the

[53:45] competitive supplier.

[53:47] What I'll do now is open it up for

[53:49] questions.

[53:51] >> Mr. O'Rourke.

[53:53] » Mr. O'Rourke.

[53:53] I'm in the program with you now.

[53:55] Walk me through how I

[53:57] if I choose to want to withdraw and how

[53:59] long that process will be.

[54:01] >> To uh, to opt out of the program,

[54:04] » To uh, to opt out of the program,

[54:04] uh, there's a website that's set up that

[54:06] you can go to to fill out a form or you

[54:09] can call the supplier directly, you can

[54:12] call us directly, and on your next meter

[54:14] read you're out.

[54:18] » Okay, I'm just trying to play the

[54:19] devil's advocate. I'm I'm

[54:22] 75 years old, not computer literate,

[54:24] don't have websites that can Okay. I can

[54:26] call you, speak to a human being.

[54:28] >> Absolutely.

[54:29] » Absolutely.

[54:29] >> And and easily be opted out.

[54:31] » And and easily be opted out.

[54:32] >> That's correct.

[54:33] » That's correct.

[54:33] >> Councilman.

[54:34] » Councilman.

[54:34] >> All right.

[54:35] » All right.

[54:35] We've we've heard uh, the pitch I think

[54:38] enough times that everybody understands.

[54:40] What I want to understand is

[54:42] we're going to look like heroes if the

[54:45] numbers make sense. We're going to look

[54:47] like

[54:48] villains if the numbers don't make

[54:49] sense. So, the last year, 3 years, 5

[54:52] years, you've beaten Rhode Island Energy

[54:54] or you're not beating Rhode Island?

[54:56] >> We've beaten Rhode Island Energy. And

[54:58] » We've beaten Rhode Island Energy. And

[54:58] just just as a matter of um,

[55:00] information, I'm not sure whether you're

[55:01] aware of this, but Rhode Island Energy

[55:04] as of October 1st is going to 17 cents

[55:06] for residential rate.

[55:08] Uh, our

[55:09] Rhode Island buying group is at 13

[55:11] cents.

[55:12] >> Okay.

[55:13] » Okay.

[55:13] I will say this. I I know you guys came

[55:15] and several other companies have. In

[55:17] December, you guys came in October,

[55:20] another group came.

[55:21] Those and we put it in the finance

[55:24] committee.

[55:25] What happened was, and I know you were

[55:27] elected at some point, our budget came

[55:29] out.

[55:30] And as you know, you know, this year was

[55:32] a controversial budget, so we put a lot

[55:33] of this stuff on hold until we finished

[55:37] up our budget. So, I will be having some

[55:38] finance committee meetings in the next

[55:40] month or so to start looking at the

[55:42] numbers that you just Maybe we can go

[55:43] into those in more

[55:44] >> Yeah, there's there's no cost to the

[55:46] » Yeah, there's there's no cost to the

[55:46] town.

[55:47] >> Okay.

[55:48] » Okay.

[55:48] >> Just so I understand again, and I

[55:50] » Just so I understand again, and I

[55:50] request

[55:52] everybody in town's going to be put into

[55:53] this program. It's there they have to

[55:56] opt out.

[55:58] >> This is a This isn't This isn't opt-down

[56:00] » This is a This isn't This isn't opt-down

[56:01] program.

[56:01] >> Everybody's going to be put in. It's

[56:03] » Everybody's going to be put in. It's

[56:03] their duty

[56:05] to figure out

[56:07] with many ways that you said how to opt

[56:09] out.

[56:09] >> There's a tremendous amount of

[56:10] » There's a tremendous amount of

[56:10] information given out before

[56:13] the 30-day period where they have to opt

[56:16] out. So, they're fully informed. The

[56:18] letter that they get is fully

[56:20] informational. Everything we do has to

[56:23] be approved by the

[56:25] Public Utilities Commission. So,

[56:27] essentially, we're not we're not acting

[56:29] alone. We're acting through through your

[56:32] review and through the review of the the

[56:35] PUC. Okay? And essentially,

[56:38] again,

[56:40] everyone is initially put into the

[56:43] program

[56:45] unless they picked a third-party

[56:47] supplier.

[56:49] And they they can opt out if they want.

[56:51] Now, interestingly enough, Rhode Island

[56:54] had an opt-in aggregation program for

[56:58] many years that went nowhere because

[57:01] suppliers will not bid on that kind of a

[57:04] program.

[57:05] So, it's an opt-down program. It's

[57:08] basically

[57:09] modeled on the Massachusetts program,

[57:12] which was the first

[57:14] municipal aggregation program in the

[57:16] country and the one every successful law

[57:20] in the country is based on right now.

[57:22] >> So, it's not worth it for your company

[57:23] » So, it's not worth it for your company

[57:23] or any company to come in and have an

[57:26] opt-in program.

[57:27] No, it's

[57:28] >> Which You can't You can't do it because

[57:30] » Which You can't You can't do it because

[57:30] nobody nobody else apply it.

[57:34] » Okay, is there this motion to send it

[57:36] back to the finance committee?

[57:38] >> So moved.

[57:38] » So moved.

[57:38] >> Second.

[57:39] » Second.

[57:39] >> Motion been made by Councilman Bacalla,

[57:40] » Motion been made by Councilman Bacalla,

[57:40] seconded by Councilman Martone. All

[57:42] those in favor? All those opposed? The

[57:44] eyes have it. We'll let you know we're

[57:45] going to have that meeting those

[57:46] meetings soon. Thank you, gentlemen.

[57:47] Thank you. Have a good night.

[57:50] >> You got to do Colletti Farms.

[57:52] » You got to do Colletti Farms.

[57:53] >> I got to do it all.

[57:53] » I got to do it all.

[57:53] >> Yeah.

[57:54] » Yeah.

[57:54] >> Then I'll do Kennedy.

[57:57] » Okay.

[57:58] >> Where are we?

[58:00] » Where are we?

[58:00] >> Item number 26, Colletti Farms property.

[58:02] » Item number 26, Colletti Farms property.

[58:02] Councilman Pollock requests discussion

[58:04] and possible vote on Colletti Farm

[58:06] property.

[58:07] Councilman?

[58:09] >> So, may I say correct?

[58:11] » So, may I say correct?

[58:11] Mr. President, um

[58:15] I think a lot of us thought we were in a

[58:16] place that

[58:18] there was an agreement with everybody

[58:20] what's fine what was finally

[58:22] going to go into that property.

[58:25] And then we read the Valley Breeze

[58:27] saying that the town respectfully

[58:31] I don't know what the word is. Not

[58:32] decline, but

[58:33] you know, the grant.

[58:35] Which

[58:36] got a lot of calls to us from the

[58:38] residents of the neighborhood.

[58:40] Um

[58:42] May I, if you don't mind, I'm not trying

[58:44] to put you on the spot, but can you tell

[58:45] us what transpired between

[58:48] June meeting

[58:49] the June special meeting we had last

[58:51] year when everybody was kind of in

[58:52] agreement that final program

[58:55] to December?

[58:57] Um

[58:57] you know, we read that we were aware I I

[59:00] know I wasn't aware that

[59:02] the grant was turned back. And the other

[59:04] part of the concern is the condition of

[59:06] that property right now.

[59:08] That's I know there's some residents

[59:10] here, a couple that couldn't come.

[59:12] But are we going to address the

[59:13] condition of that property?

[59:16] Sherry, hi.

[59:21] I'm sorry, I didn't see you there, May.

[59:22] I'm sorry.

[59:26] » Good evening. How are you?

[59:28] So, um in terms of where we stand with

[59:31] the Colletti property, there are two

[59:33] grants that are for Colletti. One of

[59:35] them is through the Rhode Island

[59:36] Infrastructure Bank, which is for phase

[59:38] one design, and the other one will be

[59:41] the HUD grant that we were awarded

[59:43] through the earmark. Um and that's for a

[59:46] million dollars. One can be used as a

[59:49] match for the other.

[59:50] Where we currently stand right now is we

[59:53] have

[59:54] the approved designs from town

[59:58] council that were approved last

[1:00:00] September, I believe. And we have just

[1:00:03] gotten our extension with the Rhode

[1:00:05] Island Infrastructure Bank so that we

[1:00:07] can move ahead, and we are in the

[1:00:09] process of bidding out for the design

[1:00:11] for Colletti right now. We have the

[1:00:13] concept, but we need the formal design.

[1:00:18] » What happened between I think it was

[1:00:20] June the special meeting

[1:00:21] and December when that first grant

[1:00:24] What was Was it the

[1:00:26] DEM grant? I think.

[1:00:27] >> The DEM grant, sure. So, when I came on,

[1:00:29] » The DEM grant, sure. So, when I came on,

[1:00:29] there was some conversation about the

[1:00:31] DEM grant because unlike the other

[1:00:34] grants, particularly federal grants,

[1:00:37] there's not as much flexibility with the

[1:00:40] DEM grants. So, by the time that final

[1:00:43] design had been approved, the concept

[1:00:45] was so vastly different than what we had

[1:00:47] applied for that they considered it to

[1:00:51] no longer be the same project. And so,

[1:00:54] what was advised to us is simply don't

[1:00:57] struggle with the grant you have,

[1:00:59] withdraw without prejudice.

[1:01:01] >> That's what I thought.

[1:01:02] » That's what I thought.

[1:01:02] >> Yes.

[1:01:03] » Yes.

[1:01:03] >> [laughter]

[1:01:03] » [laughter]

[1:01:03] >> And that means we can apply again

[1:01:06] » And that means we can apply again

[1:01:06] um once we have a better grasp of what

[1:01:08] the design is actually going to look

[1:01:09] like, everyone's in agreement. So, we've

[1:01:11] moved quite a bit towards that goal um

[1:01:15] of having that final design that was

[1:01:17] approved and getting that extension so

[1:01:19] that we could go ahead and start bidding

[1:01:21] for the formal design process.

[1:01:23] >> I I I appreciate you coming in the

[1:01:24] » I I I appreciate you coming in the

[1:01:24] explanation. I think

[1:01:26] some of us, if not all, were just kind

[1:01:28] of caught off guard reading the Valley

[1:01:30] Breeze that

[1:01:31] >> Sure.

[1:01:31] » Sure.

[1:01:31] >> knew

[1:01:32] » knew

[1:01:32] when myself, I didn't know.

[1:01:35] >> Right.

[1:01:35] » Right.

[1:01:35] >> When I got the calls,

[1:01:37] » When I got the calls,

[1:01:37] I had no answers for them because I I

[1:01:39] did not know that that grant was

[1:01:41] >> Yeah, sure.

[1:01:42] » Yeah, sure.

[1:01:42] Well, I would love to make myself

[1:01:44] available for any type of finance

[1:01:46] committee meeting that can be scheduled.

[1:01:48] I've got reports waiting for you. I can

[1:01:50] tell you more about how I do things, why

[1:01:53] my position is different than just being

[1:01:54] a grant writer. I'm the actual

[1:01:57] grants manager, so there are other

[1:01:58] elements to what I do that, you know,

[1:02:01] what you may not be used to

[1:02:03] in the recent past. I'm more than happy

[1:02:05] to go over anything in detail. My office

[1:02:08] is right across the hall, so please feel

[1:02:10] free to you know, call on me and I will

[1:02:12] explain everything to you.

[1:02:15] >> As I didn't know,

[1:02:16] » As I didn't know,

[1:02:16] they have any questions. You know what I

[1:02:18] mean?

[1:02:20] >> Are there any residents that have any

[1:02:21] » Are there any residents that have any

[1:02:21] questions?

[1:02:28] » Uh Michael Porter, Hamlin Street.

[1:02:32] I think the most

[1:02:34] um

[1:02:36] yeah,

[1:02:36] biggest point that I wanted to make

[1:02:38] right now was that Larry Feeney and I,

[1:02:41] Larry can't be here tonight, he's on

[1:02:43] vacation, went to sit down with the

[1:02:45] mayor

[1:02:46] uh

[1:02:47] back in November 25th.

[1:02:50] We had a discussion as far as what was

[1:02:52] going on with all the dirt coming in.

[1:02:54] There's more and more and more dirt and

[1:02:56] it continued.

[1:02:58] The mayor made a phone call and said

[1:03:00] there wouldn't be any more dirt,

[1:03:02] but it kept on coming.

[1:03:04] And it kept on coming all the way until

[1:03:05] the weather changed.

[1:03:07] And then that was the end of it.

[1:03:09] And then in March, it started coming

[1:03:11] again, which we're assuming was coming

[1:03:13] from Richie for the new athletic turf

[1:03:16] field.

[1:03:17] Right now, when we walk out my front

[1:03:19] door, I have a 60-ft mountain of dirt.

[1:03:23] All grown over with grass.

[1:03:26] When you go down to the back, there was

[1:03:27] a duck farm a duck pond back there.

[1:03:30] There's starting to get beer cans back

[1:03:32] there.

[1:03:33] There's kids going up and down the hills

[1:03:35] on their bikes, and somebody's going to

[1:03:37] get hurt

[1:03:38] because this keeps getting put off and

[1:03:41] off and off.

[1:03:44] Now, one of the last

[1:03:47] uh Breeze articles, the mayor was noted

[1:03:50] on saying this would be taken care of

[1:03:53] soon.

[1:03:54] Eventually,

[1:03:56] the land would be

[1:03:58] uh made even, plowed out,

[1:04:01] get rid of the mountains.

[1:04:03] But, that hasn't happened.

[1:04:06] And personally, um

[1:04:08] with that back end, with the neighbors

[1:04:10] back there with the drainage problems,

[1:04:13] he's already mentioned that that

[1:04:15] backside will probably have to go up on

[1:04:18] concrete slabs 11 ft.

[1:04:22] So, it's just not a matter of taking

[1:04:25] that dirt and spreading it out.

[1:04:27] It's going to have to be done nicely so

[1:04:30] nobody gets flooded on the other end of

[1:04:32] the street, the other end of the

[1:04:34] property.

[1:04:36] That's a big concern.

[1:04:39] Hamlin Street right now,

[1:04:42] okay, Hamlin Street was going to be

[1:04:43] taken care of.

[1:04:45] They put down a load of the gravel tar

[1:04:47] on it,

[1:04:48] which is

[1:04:49] giving away slowly, but giving away. And

[1:04:52] right now, to get to Only Street on

[1:04:55] Hamlin, all the brush and everything is

[1:04:58] all grown in.

[1:05:00] So, the DPW or somebody has to get out

[1:05:03] there and clean it back so cars can get

[1:05:05] down it.

[1:05:07] I've already done the tree on the corner

[1:05:09] of my property because there was vines

[1:05:11] hanging down from it, and I couldn't

[1:05:13] even pull out.

[1:05:16] So,

[1:05:17] Hamlin Street uh uh we've been there

[1:05:19] since 2002.

[1:05:21] Hamlin Street there's two maps of roads

[1:05:24] in the town. Hamlin Street is not on one

[1:05:26] of them.

[1:05:28] For the big blizzard of last winter, I

[1:05:30] had to call,

[1:05:34] and then

[1:05:35] Councilman had to come down, and

[1:05:38] he brought people with us to get the

[1:05:40] snow plowed.

[1:05:43] And that's the same condition that

[1:05:45] street is in right now.

[1:05:47] Instead of snow, we have trees and

[1:05:49] holes.

[1:05:52] » [clears throat]

[1:05:56] » Just want to see something.

[1:05:58] Somebody's going to get hurt.

[1:06:00] And I want to get rid of the eyesore.

[1:06:03] You know, I was speaking to a friend of

[1:06:05] ours who was a

[1:06:06] uh a realtor,

[1:06:08] and she was telling me how much this is

[1:06:10] hurting the property value of my land

[1:06:14] for this eyesore that's across the

[1:06:16] street.

[1:06:18] Not to mention the dust and the dirt and

[1:06:20] everything else that blows across off

[1:06:22] that mountain. Got to keep all our

[1:06:24] windows closed and everything

[1:06:26] because of the mess.

[1:06:31] The other items I brought out about the

[1:06:33] uh the money,

[1:06:35] I know we lost the 400,000,

[1:06:37] but if the other things are still open,

[1:06:41] I I count that's almost like 4 and 1/2

[1:06:43] million.

[1:06:45] I think they said this was only going to

[1:06:46] cost around two to have it done.

[1:06:50] So,

[1:06:53] thank you very much. That's all I got.

[1:06:55] >> Thank you. Are there any other residents

[1:06:56] » Thank you. Are there any other residents

[1:06:56] that have any questions?

[1:06:59] >> I I have a question.

[1:07:00] » I I have a question.

[1:07:00] >> Sure.

[1:07:03] State your name, please.

[1:07:04] >> My name's Joe Castellano.

[1:07:05] » My name's Joe Castellano.

[1:07:05] >> Thank you.

[1:07:06] » Thank you.

[1:07:06] >> I want to know, why does it take so long

[1:07:09] » I want to know, why does it take so long

[1:07:09] to get any project done?

[1:07:11] I'm just saying in general.

[1:07:13] Wha- why? Like what like

[1:07:15] >> Hey, you're 100% not wrong.

[1:07:17] » Hey, you're 100% not wrong.

[1:07:17] >> Wha-

[1:07:17] » Wha-

[1:07:17] >> You're not wrong and it's it's a

[1:07:19] » You're not wrong and it's it's a

[1:07:19] municipal, state you know, if we could

[1:07:22] build

[1:07:23] >> No, but but why not have plans? Wha-

[1:07:26] » No, but but why not have plans? Wha-

[1:07:26] >> No, no, I I understand what

[1:07:27] » No, no, I I understand what

[1:07:27] >> When you build a house, you don't just

[1:07:28] » When you build a house, you don't just

[1:07:28] say

[1:07:29] >> That's that's what I'm saying, you know.

[1:07:30] » That's that's what I'm saying, you know.

[1:07:31] >> That's what I'm saying. Wha- why? Like

[1:07:32] » That's what I'm saying. Wha- why? Like

[1:07:32] we should have plans done.

[1:07:35] We're talking

[1:07:35] >> Well, we we need

[1:07:36] » Well, we we need

[1:07:36] >> the ball field where Mr. Carci was

[1:07:38] » the ball field where Mr. Carci was

[1:07:38] president.

[1:07:39] All right. I spoke to Nick.

[1:07:42] I think what you should do down here is

[1:07:45] you put the girls softball down here and

[1:07:47] you put the football at Stephen O'Leary.

[1:07:51] >> I

[1:07:52] » I

[1:07:52] >> All right? I mean, you're still going to

[1:07:53] » All right? I mean, you're still going to

[1:07:53] have parking issues. Don't get me wrong.

[1:07:56] All right? But it's an open area.

[1:07:59] >> Mhm.

[1:07:59] » Mhm.

[1:07:59] >> It's a big open area. You can

[1:08:02] » It's a big open area. You can

[1:08:02] you know,

[1:08:03] and then the other thing is when they

[1:08:05] use the high school field, the how long

[1:08:08] is that turf going to last? 10 years?

[1:08:11] >> Right.

[1:08:11] » Right.

[1:08:11] >> Then what happens?

[1:08:12] » Then what happens?

[1:08:12] >> Right.

[1:08:13] » Right.

[1:08:13] >> Mayor, you want to pay for it?

[1:08:15] » Mayor, you want to pay for it?

[1:08:15] I'm just because I mean, what do we do

[1:08:17] with the money? Do we charge them

[1:08:20] to use the field?

[1:08:21] >> I I

[1:08:22] » I I

[1:08:22] Councilman O'Leary, I think the mayor

[1:08:24] they they

[1:08:26] did some nice work.

[1:08:27] >> They did.

[1:08:28] » They did.

[1:08:28] >> Recently down at Neil F. Second and Ivan

[1:08:30] » Recently down at Neil F. Second and Ivan

[1:08:30] Street.

[1:08:31] And the Jets are happy they extended the

[1:08:33] I mean, we made the you moved the

[1:08:35] telephone poles back. So, the Jets are

[1:08:37] happy there.

[1:08:39] Do you know, we've gone to the girls

[1:08:40] softball games and I think at times they

[1:08:41] got two or three games going at the same

[1:08:43] time.

[1:08:44] So, you couldn't fit them

[1:08:46] over at that location.

[1:08:47] >> Um

[1:08:48] » Um

[1:08:48] >> It well, we've been there

[1:08:49] » It well, we've been there

[1:08:49] [clears throat] with the

[1:08:50] >> I I listen, I coach girls softball.

[1:08:52] » I I listen, I coach girls softball.

[1:08:52] >> Okay.

[1:08:52] » Okay.

[1:08:52] >> Okay.

[1:08:53] » Okay.

[1:08:53] >> So, you could fit two or three games

[1:08:55] » So, you could fit two or three games

[1:08:55] >> How many How many kids are in that

[1:08:57] » How many How many kids are in that

[1:08:57] league?

[1:08:58] >> In what?

[1:08:59] » In what?

[1:08:59] >> In girls softball.

[1:09:02] » In girls softball.

[1:09:02] >> I don't know. 40

[1:09:03] » I don't know. 40

[1:09:03] 40 cops. You have two fields you can

[1:09:06] use.

[1:09:06] >> Right.

[1:09:07] » Right.

[1:09:07] >> Or you did. I don't know what the mayor

[1:09:09] » Or you did. I don't know what the mayor

[1:09:09] has done, but you had two fields there.

[1:09:11] >> Are you talking about Coletti?

[1:09:14] » Are you talking about Coletti?

[1:09:14] You're talking about Coletti Farm?

[1:09:15] >> No.

[1:09:15] » No.

[1:09:15] >> No, no, I'm talking about Knights of

[1:09:17] » No, no, I'm talking about Knights of

[1:09:17] Columbus field.

[1:09:18] >> Yeah, we we you got to stick to Coletti

[1:09:20] » Yeah, we we you got to stick to Coletti

[1:09:20] Farm though. That's this agenda right

[1:09:21] on.

[1:09:22] >> Well, I'm just I'm but I'm just saying

[1:09:23] » Well, I'm just I'm but I'm just saying

[1:09:23] >> I know I know what you're saying. Yeah,

[1:09:24] » I know I know what you're saying. Yeah,

[1:09:24] I understand.

[1:09:25] >> But my point is it takes forever

[1:09:27] » But my point is it takes forever

[1:09:27] >> You're you're not wrong.

[1:09:28] » You're you're not wrong.

[1:09:28] >> I just don't understand.

[1:09:30] » I just don't understand.

[1:09:30] >> But I I will say

[1:09:31] » But I I will say

[1:09:32] >> give me an answer.

[1:09:32] » give me an answer.

[1:09:32] >> Can I have a minute to explain?

[1:09:34] » Can I have a minute to explain?

[1:09:34] You're not wrong.

[1:09:36] We collectively with the mayor's office

[1:09:38] came up with a a plan for a field.

[1:09:40] >> Yeah.

[1:09:41] » Yeah.

[1:09:41] >> The neighbors did not want that. And I

[1:09:42] » The neighbors did not want that. And I

[1:09:42] understand. So then we changed the plan

[1:09:44] again. This is the fourth iteration of

[1:09:46] the plan.

[1:09:47] >> tell the people, "Guess what? We didn't

[1:09:49] » tell the people, "Guess what? We didn't

[1:09:49] want because of you we lost money. So

[1:09:51] here's what's going to happen."

[1:09:52] >> No, no, but I'm explaining it to you.

[1:09:53] » No, no, but I'm explaining it to you.

[1:09:53] And then we have a bidding process that

[1:09:55] we have to go through. It's not like

[1:09:57] when I built my house, I can just go buy

[1:09:59] the wood. We have to go to bid for it.

[1:10:01] We have to It's Trust me, it's very

[1:10:03] frustrating.

[1:10:03] >> how can we streamline this? Why not go

[1:10:05] » how can we streamline this? Why not go

[1:10:05] out to bid first? Like how can we

[1:10:06] streamline this? Why not go out to bid

[1:10:07] first? Like how can we streamline this?

[1:10:08] >> If you want to come to the state house

[1:10:10] » If you want to come to the state house

[1:10:10] with me and argue that point, I'll you

[1:10:11] I'll take you with me tomorrow.

[1:10:14] >> [laughter]

[1:10:15] » [laughter]

[1:10:15] >> But I'm just saying, WHY CAN'T WE

[1:10:16] » But I'm just saying, WHY CAN'T WE

[1:10:17] streamline it?

[1:10:18] >> Yeah, you're not

[1:10:19] » Yeah, you're not

[1:10:19] >> We want to put a whatever baseball

[1:10:20] » We want to put a whatever baseball

[1:10:21] field, football field.

[1:10:22] I mean we can get a nice complex over

[1:10:24] there

[1:10:25] at the high school.

[1:10:27] Okay?

[1:10:29] But it's half done.

[1:10:31] It's half done.

[1:10:33] >> Oh, I know. I played on that field. I I

[1:10:34] » Oh, I know. I played on that field. I I

[1:10:34] I I I

[1:10:35] >> I coached down there. It's half done.

[1:10:39] » I coached down there. It's half done.

[1:10:39] Why didn't we do the whole field?

[1:10:42] Now you wouldn't have problems if it was

[1:10:44] all I I mean I don't know what happened.

[1:10:46] I You did it, you know what I mean, with

[1:10:48] that project.

[1:10:49] Um

[1:10:50] That's all I'm saying. If then you

[1:10:52] wouldn't be in this mess if you guys

[1:10:54] just did something.

[1:10:57] Spend a little while I mean

[1:11:00] I I don't get it.

[1:11:03] >> So Bronco light, so

[1:11:04] » So Bronco light, so

[1:11:04] Um I think Sherry mentioned about

[1:11:07] finance committee. It's something that

[1:11:08] we could I can make a motion at least

[1:11:10] send the Coletti project to finance.

[1:11:12] >> Yep.

[1:11:13] » Yep.

[1:11:13] >> I I make put that in form of a motion.

[1:11:15] » I I make put that in form of a motion.

[1:11:15] >> Okay, motion's been made by Councilman

[1:11:17] » Okay, motion's been made by Councilman

[1:11:17] Pollick. Is there a second?

[1:11:18] >> Second.

[1:11:18] » Second.

[1:11:18] >> Seconded by Councilman Bacall. All those

[1:11:20] » Seconded by Councilman Bacall. All those

[1:11:20] in favor?

[1:11:20] >> Aye.

[1:11:21] » Aye.

[1:11:21] >> All those opposed? The ayes have it.

[1:11:22] » All those opposed? The ayes have it.

[1:11:22] >> One more motion. Can we just uh

[1:11:25] » One more motion. Can we just uh

[1:11:25] maybe notify DPW to at least see if they

[1:11:27] can move down and kind of trim along

[1:11:29] that Hamlin Street area and to make it a

[1:11:31] little more accessible.

[1:11:32] >> Okay, mo- motion's been made by

[1:11:34] » Okay, mo- motion's been made by

[1:11:34] Councilman Pollick to contact DPW about

[1:11:36] the

[1:11:37] overgrowth at Hamlin Street

[1:11:39] and seconded by Councilman Bacall. All

[1:11:41] those in favor?

[1:11:42] >> Aye.

[1:11:43] » Aye.

[1:11:43] >> All those opposed? The ayes have it.

[1:11:44] » All those opposed? The ayes have it.

[1:11:44] Thank you.

[1:11:45] >> We need to talk with Sherry.

[1:11:46] » We need to talk with Sherry.

[1:11:46] >> No.

[1:11:47] » No.

[1:11:47] >> Oh.

[1:11:49] » Oh.

[1:11:49] >> Okay.

[1:11:50] » Okay.

[1:11:50] 18, Brook Farm Bridge. Kenneth Con-

[1:11:53] Conti, Kenneth Conti. I'd like an update

[1:11:56] on the bridge on Brook Farm Road.

[1:11:58] >> I'll tell them excuse me, Mr. President.

[1:12:00] » I'll tell them excuse me, Mr. President.

[1:12:00] >> Hi.

[1:12:00] » Hi.

[1:12:00] >> Thank you, Councilors uh hearing me

[1:12:02] » Thank you, Councilors uh hearing me

[1:12:02] tonight.

[1:12:03] >> One second. I have to recuse myself from

[1:12:05] » One second. I have to recuse myself from

[1:12:05] this item.

[1:12:06] >> Okay, just note for the record

[1:12:07] » Okay, just note for the record

[1:12:07] Councilman Fielder is re- uh

[1:12:09] recusing.

[1:12:10] >> Sorry.

[1:12:10] » Sorry.

[1:12:10] >> Thank you.

[1:12:12] » Thank you.

[1:12:12] >> I'm Ken Conti, uh 9 Carriage Way.

[1:12:15] » I'm Ken Conti, uh 9 Carriage Way.

[1:12:15] Um I was uh before the Town Council

[1:12:17] about I think it was 4 months ago

[1:12:20] and um

[1:12:23] identified the issue of the bridge over

[1:12:25] at Brook Farm Drive that leads the road

[1:12:28] that leads to uh Birchwood Middle School

[1:12:30] and the entranceway that leads Farm

[1:12:32] uh plat.

[1:12:33] Um you know, the issue was

[1:12:36] that there's an issue with the bridge um

[1:12:39] structure, I suppose. And um

[1:12:42] you know, it's been there. There's been

[1:12:44] a temporary plate over that area.

[1:12:47] Um I think this is the 2-year

[1:12:48] anniversary of it, actually.

[1:12:50] Um and you know, nothing's really been

[1:12:53] tangibly done on this. Um,

[1:12:56] at the last meeting back in March, um, I

[1:13:00] understand that the mayor came up and

[1:13:01] identified a potential solution and was

[1:13:04] hopeful that

[1:13:06] by today that we would actually see

[1:13:08] something

[1:13:09] uh, going on there. Um, but yet there's

[1:13:12] still nothing uh, tangibly going on. Um,

[1:13:16] you know, it's it's an issue that I

[1:13:18] assume

[1:13:19] there's a reason why those plates were

[1:13:21] put there. It has to be a I assume it's

[1:13:23] a safety issue.

[1:13:25] Right? Why else would you put plates

[1:13:26] over a bridge? Um, i.e. the bridge or

[1:13:30] the the big bridge over there in

[1:13:32] Providence. Um,

[1:13:34] there's got to be a structural problem.

[1:13:35] Something's going on. It's been there

[1:13:36] for 2 years now. Those plates aren't

[1:13:39] going to last. That's not a permanent

[1:13:41] fix. Right? Um, I feel as though if I

[1:13:45] didn't come before this board the

[1:13:46] council 4 and 1 ago,

[1:13:49] status quo would be status quo. Nothing

[1:13:51] would be going on. Um, I did call the

[1:13:54] uh,

[1:13:55] town engineer who we have on retainer,

[1:13:57] David DeMico.

[1:13:59] Um, we had a good discussion. He did

[1:14:01] explain to me, um, I think it was about

[1:14:04] a month ago I spoke with him, that um,

[1:14:07] the town is now seeking a uh, they moved

[1:14:11] some money from the EPA from West River

[1:14:15] uh, restoration area,

[1:14:17] um, to move it for this project cuz he

[1:14:20] he indicated to me that it's going to be

[1:14:22] a very expensive project just the

[1:14:24] permitting alone. Um, it's going to be

[1:14:26] six figures. I was kind of surprised at

[1:14:28] that.

[1:14:29] Um,

[1:14:31] but you know, it's it's an issue that

[1:14:34] you know, people in the plat don't like,

[1:14:36] right? We we have we we pay a lot in

[1:14:38] taxes, right? North Providence, second

[1:14:41] highest tax rate. Just got my tax bill.

[1:14:44] Went up.

[1:14:45] And you know, we pay a lot of taxes. We

[1:14:47] ex- the expectation is that the services

[1:14:50] from our town are going to meet those

[1:14:52] taxes that we pay.

[1:14:54] Um

[1:14:55] and repairs like this should be done on

[1:14:58] a timely manner. Um it's a matter of

[1:15:00] public safety, from my opinion.

[1:15:03] Um

[1:15:03] those plates, uh from what I understand,

[1:15:06] I don't know, maybe I'm not sure if

[1:15:08] anyone on the council knows. I'm sure

[1:15:09] the mayor can let us know.

[1:15:11] I don't think we own those plates. I

[1:15:12] think we rent them.

[1:15:14] So, I think there's a payment that we

[1:15:16] make,

[1:15:17] whatever, to rent those plates.

[1:15:19] Um there's a cost there that's going on

[1:15:21] for 2 years now.

[1:15:23] Uh I'm not saying that's going to cover

[1:15:24] the cost of the replacement of the

[1:15:25] bridge or repair of the bridge, but

[1:15:27] um there are certainly solutions out

[1:15:29] there that we shouldn't be should be

[1:15:32] further progressed than it is right now.

[1:15:34] Um I understand that there may be not a

[1:15:37] lot of communication from the town

[1:15:40] to the council on this.

[1:15:42] I don't I personally don't understand

[1:15:44] why.

[1:15:45] Um

[1:15:46] I understand it's up to the mayor to run

[1:15:47] this town, and I, you know, commend him.

[1:15:49] He's doing a great job for

[1:15:52] 20 plus years.

[1:15:54] Um I've always been on the mayor's side

[1:15:56] on on many things. Um but at this this

[1:15:59] point, I think that this this has gone

[1:16:01] on, you know, like I said, it's been 2

[1:16:03] years. And we we kind of joke and we

[1:16:04] call it the mini the mini Greystone

[1:16:06] project there.

[1:16:07] And uh you know, it's it's it's still

[1:16:10] access, but again, there is a concern

[1:16:13] that, you know, there's a reason why

[1:16:14] that's that those plates aren't going to

[1:16:15] last forever. And I think that um we

[1:16:19] should identify,

[1:16:21] you know, some

[1:16:22] tangible schedule

[1:16:25] to the replacement of the bridge. You

[1:16:27] know, I understand that um there's some

[1:16:29] form of a grant or whatever,

[1:16:31] but there's got to be money somewhere

[1:16:33] for emergency fund that can, you know,

[1:16:35] push this along. We don't even have a

[1:16:37] design yet.

[1:16:38] Um

[1:16:39] you know, there are certainly structural

[1:16:41] engineers out there who can come up with

[1:16:43] a a solution. Um my company is a civil

[1:16:46] engineering company.

[1:16:47] Um we just we were in the process of

[1:16:49] doing a project. Um we're not structural

[1:16:52] engineers, but we have a project where

[1:16:54] there's a similar issue where there's a

[1:16:56] a major culvert that replaced a a stream

[1:17:01] for about 2,000 linear feet, which is a

[1:17:03] lot more than this bridge.

[1:17:05] And it was an issue that we wanted to

[1:17:06] put a parking lot over this culvert, and

[1:17:09] it wasn't it was you know, 100 years

[1:17:11] old.

[1:17:12] And um the structural engineer came in

[1:17:14] with came up with a design to do an

[1:17:16] insert inside the culvert to improve the

[1:17:19] structure of it and not have to rebuild

[1:17:22] the whole culvert just for the parking

[1:17:24] lot.

[1:17:25] You know, this maybe that's a solution

[1:17:26] here. Cuz I I, you know, I'm not sure

[1:17:29] what the answer is, but I think you you

[1:17:31] got to get it go out to bid and get some

[1:17:34] ideas of prices, I would assume, before

[1:17:36] you can uh you know, come up with a

[1:17:37] solution and

[1:17:39] find out what it's going to cost, cuz

[1:17:40] right now I don't think anybody knows

[1:17:42] how much it's going to cost to replace

[1:17:44] that. And I I think that should be

[1:17:46] really the starting

[1:17:48] >> Thank you.

[1:17:49] » Thank you.

[1:17:49] Does anybody have any questions for Ken

[1:17:51] while he's up here?

[1:17:53] >> I don't want to talk about Ivan Field.

[1:17:55] » I don't want to talk about Ivan Field.

[1:17:55] >> Mayor, do you do you have any updates

[1:17:56] » Mayor, do you do you have any updates

[1:17:56] you can you can provide for us?

[1:18:08] » Hi, again.

[1:18:09] Um so, Brook Farm Bridge, yes. It is

[1:18:12] obviously a priority. When I came on, I

[1:18:16] was made aware of its priority, and one

[1:18:19] of the first thing I did was I applied

[1:18:20] for an earmark grant. However,

[1:18:24] probably to the point the last gentleman

[1:18:26] made, as you know, earmark grants can

[1:18:28] take about a year to to be approved. So,

[1:18:30] that's like

[1:18:32] too far down the road.

[1:18:34] We had also been approved for an earmark

[1:18:39] grant for the West River Parkway, which

[1:18:41] is right near the Brook Farm Road

[1:18:43] Bridge.

[1:18:45] I attended the

[1:18:47] mandatory webinar, and I found out that

[1:18:49] we could do something called a technical

[1:18:51] correction if we wanted to change the

[1:18:54] scope of the project. See, every grant

[1:18:56] is different in what they allow you to

[1:18:58] do. So, these people said the EPA said

[1:19:01] you can do that.

[1:19:03] So, I contacted the person that I

[1:19:05] normally speak to. We started the

[1:19:07] process of the technical correction. It

[1:19:10] looks like it's going to be

[1:19:13] I can't speak prematurely. That wouldn't

[1:19:14] be right, but it's going in the right

[1:19:16] direction. Let's just say it's really

[1:19:18] going in the right direction. I spoke to

[1:19:19] her again today. Not only can we

[1:19:22] probably get a technical correction that

[1:19:24] will allow us to use the funds for the

[1:19:27] Brook Farm Road Bridge and the larger

[1:19:29] area's stormwater issues,

[1:19:32] but it's looking like we will be exempt

[1:19:34] from the environmental review and any

[1:19:37] match requirements. So, I've been

[1:19:38] working on that with them as well. So,

[1:19:41] if this goes through, it looks like it

[1:19:44] could be another two or three months. Um

[1:19:47] but, yeah, nothing gets done quickly. It

[1:19:48] does take a very long time. Um I can't

[1:19:52] speak to anything else in the budget

[1:19:54] because I just deal with the grants, but

[1:19:56] I can tell you I've been working very

[1:19:57] hard to see if we can get some funds in

[1:20:01] our hands much sooner than, you know,

[1:20:04] the year to two years it would take if

[1:20:06] we went through the entire formal

[1:20:09] earmark process.

[1:20:13] » Any questions for Sherry? Dana, I have

[1:20:14] one.

[1:20:15] >> Councilman?

[1:20:15] » Councilman?

[1:20:15] >> Sherry, when we apply for these grants,

[1:20:17] » Sherry, when we apply for these grants,

[1:20:17] and and thank you for go moving forward

[1:20:19] on this.

[1:20:20] >> Yeah.

[1:20:21] » Yeah.

[1:20:21] >> Are they

[1:20:23] » Are they

[1:20:23] When we apply, should it be shovel

[1:20:25] ready? In other words, we get approved

[1:20:26] and we go to work on it.

[1:20:28] >> There's a process. So,

[1:20:31] » There's a process. So,

[1:20:31] in the beginning, you're alerted to the

[1:20:33] fact that there's earmarked money for

[1:20:35] you, and you're told that you can

[1:20:37] propose a general idea, a general

[1:20:40] budget. It's not a very detailed

[1:20:42] application.

[1:20:43] You submit that, and it goes through the

[1:20:46] steps of General Assembly, then to, you

[1:20:48] know, on and on and on and on.

[1:20:50] If your project is approved, that does

[1:20:53] not mean that you should be

[1:20:55] shovel-ready. That's just the beginning.

[1:20:58] What you have to do next is obligate the

[1:21:00] money.

[1:21:01] And that's where you sort of go through

[1:21:03] the conversations of, "Okay, well, we

[1:21:05] said that we were going to do this

[1:21:06] project, but now let's talk about it in

[1:21:09] specifics."

[1:21:11] Once you get the specifics of that

[1:21:13] project, you get the specific budget of

[1:21:15] that project, you can obligate the

[1:21:18] money, you submit that final

[1:21:20] application, and then the project gets

[1:21:23] moving. So, it's multi-tiered in what

[1:21:26] you have to do.

[1:21:28] Um I'm at the point right now where

[1:21:29] several of the earmarks that were

[1:21:31] approved now have to be obligated, and

[1:21:34] the full applications have to be

[1:21:36] written. And I'll talk to you more about

[1:21:38] that when you call me up for my my item,

[1:21:41] but that's pretty much what I'm in the

[1:21:42] process of doing. So, there's multiple

[1:21:45] grants.

[1:21:46] >> So, so my question is kind of

[1:21:48] » So, so my question is kind of

[1:21:48] double.

[1:21:49] >> Uh-huh.

[1:21:49] » Uh-huh.

[1:21:49] >> It's two.

[1:21:52] » It's two.

[1:21:52] I understand, great explanation. Do we

[1:21:54] have a plan? Do we know what we're going

[1:21:56] to do to this bridge?

[1:21:57] >> For Brook Farm Bridge? We're in the

[1:21:59] » For Brook Farm Bridge? We're in the

[1:22:00] middle of discussing different options,

[1:22:02] but I haven't really been involved in

[1:22:03] the discussions for the specific types

[1:22:06] of, you know,

[1:22:07] We are going to We're going to have to

[1:22:09] go back to bid

[1:22:10] >> Yep.

[1:22:11] » Yep.

[1:22:11] >> if we are allowed to do this technical

[1:22:13] » if we are allowed to do this technical

[1:22:13] correction, and it's going to have to be

[1:22:15] for structural design. Um there's

[1:22:19] possibilities of saving money in certain

[1:22:23] ways that we've been talking about. Um

[1:22:27] but the specific plan as of yet kind of

[1:22:30] hinges on whether or not we get the

[1:22:32] technical correction and how much we

[1:22:34] have to incorporate of the surrounding

[1:22:35] area. But we are working on definitely

[1:22:39] working on ideas to getting this bridge

[1:22:41] done as quickly as possible.

[1:22:43] >> Thank you.

[1:22:44] » Thank you.

[1:22:44] >> Yeah.

[1:22:44] » Yeah.

[1:22:44] >> Thank you.

[1:22:46] » Thank you.

[1:22:46] Any other questions?

[1:22:48] May.

[1:22:51] » The only thing I The only thing I

[1:22:53] [clears throat] can guarantee everyone

[1:22:54] here, and especially Mr. Conti,

[1:22:57] that's safe.

[1:22:59] It's not an issue where it's not safe.

[1:23:03] I'll clear that up with you.

[1:23:05] And

[1:23:07] the discussion now is whether that

[1:23:10] bridge is going to be built on site

[1:23:14] or because of the size of it not being

[1:23:16] that built big,

[1:23:18] if it's going to be built

[1:23:21] in someone's

[1:23:24] welding yard.

[1:23:26] And once it's built,

[1:23:29] just dropped in place.

[1:23:32] Which would mean that that road won't be

[1:23:36] closed for that long.

[1:23:38] Because if the bridge is built on site,

[1:23:41] it's going to take

[1:23:43] considerably longer time.

[1:23:45] These are all all the discussions at

[1:23:47] this point in time.

[1:23:50] Now, I will tell you this,

[1:23:52] if we can't

[1:23:54] get that transfer of the funds,

[1:23:57] then we will be back to you

[1:24:00] uh asking for

[1:24:03] the money.

[1:24:04] But at this point in time, being that

[1:24:06] it's safe and it's not an issue

[1:24:09] uh of safety, uh we feel we're moving in

[1:24:12] in the right direction. And that's what

[1:24:14] I got to report to you at this time.

[1:24:16] >> Thank you.

[1:24:17] » Thank you.

[1:24:17] >> May, do we have any price on it a

[1:24:19] » May, do we have any price on it a

[1:24:19] ballpark on how much that the

[1:24:22] >> The last [clears throat] I was told

[1:24:25] » The last [clears throat] I was told

[1:24:25] Steve is somewhere around 6-700,000

[1:24:28] dollars which is hard to believe because

[1:24:31] a bridge is not that big but

[1:24:35] That's what it is.

[1:24:36] >> Thank you.

[1:24:36] » Thank you.

[1:24:36] >> Okay. Any other questions?

[1:24:39] » Okay. Any other questions?

[1:24:39] >> Can I

[1:24:40] » Can I

[1:24:40] talk a little bit?

[1:24:41] >> Yeah.

[1:24:42] » Yeah.

[1:24:42] >> First of all, I appreciate again the

[1:24:43] » First of all, I appreciate again the

[1:24:43] mayor giving us that update.

[1:24:46] Um

[1:24:47] but quite frankly, the fact that

[1:24:50] take your word if you're

[1:24:53] certain things but you're telling me

[1:24:54] it's safe but there's a reason why those

[1:24:56] plates are there. It must not be safe.

[1:24:58] That's my opinion. Okay, it's my

[1:25:00] opinion. Mayor has his own opinion.

[1:25:03] >> wanted to make sure it was safer than

[1:25:06] » wanted to make sure it was safer than

[1:25:06] what was there.

[1:25:08] >> Are we renting those?

[1:25:09] » Are we renting those?

[1:25:09] >> Yes, we are.

[1:25:10] » Yes, we are.

[1:25:10] >> From from DOT? Is that

[1:25:12] » From from DOT? Is that

[1:25:12] >> I want to say it's

[1:25:13] » I want to say it's

[1:25:13] uh the company of

[1:25:16] >> That's all right. You

[1:25:21] » The point is I really don't know what

[1:25:23] the issue is. I From what I understand

[1:25:25] there's some substandard concrete that

[1:25:26] was

[1:25:27] uh poured that was used that was not

[1:25:30] um

[1:25:31] sufficient for that type of use. Is that

[1:25:35] Oh, yeah. It was before the mayor.

[1:25:37] Yeah, I have nothing to do with it. It's

[1:25:38] his job to fix the problem,

[1:25:40] unfortunately.

[1:25:41] Um I I just think that at this point we

[1:25:45] should go out for at least the design

[1:25:46] and have a concrete idea of how it's

[1:25:49] going to be corrected. Right now, I From

[1:25:51] what I understand, I don't doesn't sound

[1:25:52] like

[1:25:53] there's no one working on a design. We

[1:25:55] don't have a structural engineer.

[1:25:56] There's hasn't been a survey made

[1:25:58] uh performed on it. Um you know, we need

[1:26:00] all those things done now so that if the

[1:26:03] money does get allocated, it can be done

[1:26:06] a little bit quicker.

[1:26:07] Um yeah, that's all I I would ask that

[1:26:09] the council consider trying to at least

[1:26:12] coordinate with the mayor. If he does

[1:26:13] have to come and ask you for money, I'm

[1:26:15] sure you're going to want to see a

[1:26:16] design. So, at least let's try and get

[1:26:19] that on a little bit further. It's not a

[1:26:20] lot of money, I don't think, to do that,

[1:26:23] personally.

[1:26:24] >> It's a good Okay.

[1:26:25] » It's a good Okay.

[1:26:25] All right. I think, you know, Councilman

[1:26:27] Bacalao put in the form of a motion to

[1:26:28] start working on a to send a letter to

[1:26:30] the mayor.

[1:26:31] >> May as well just start working on

[1:26:33] » May as well just start working on

[1:26:33] >> the conceptual design.

[1:26:34] » the conceptual design.

[1:26:34] >> Conceptual design and see where we're

[1:26:35] » Conceptual design and see where we're

[1:26:35] going to go from and start getting some

[1:26:37] cost. Did Did you want to say something,

[1:26:38] Lori?

[1:26:41] The motion has been made by Councilman

[1:26:42] Councilman Bacalao, seconded by

[1:26:43] Councilman LaPorte.

[1:26:46] >> Hi, I'm Lori Conti.

[1:26:48] » Hi, I'm Lori Conti.

[1:26:48] I um live in Lees Farm.

[1:26:52] So,

[1:26:53] >> Do you know the address?

[1:26:54] » Do you know the address?

[1:26:54] >> Yeah.

[1:26:54] » Yeah.

[1:26:54] >> Okay.

[1:26:55] » Okay.

[1:26:55] >> Nine Carriage.

[1:26:57] » Nine Carriage.

[1:26:57] So, just to give you an example of

[1:27:00] I mean, even maintenance of this

[1:27:04] This is

[1:27:05] currently what it looks like. Not even

[1:27:08] like the DPW is keeping the bridge free

[1:27:12] of debris, garbage, all along the sides,

[1:27:15] and the other side as well. This is what

[1:27:17] it looks like.

[1:27:19] Um

[1:27:21] just disgusting. Like I was in downtown

[1:27:23] Providence and driving around in the

[1:27:25] hood. That's how I feel for the amount

[1:27:28] of taxes and the amount that my home is

[1:27:32] assessed at.

[1:27:33] I feel like this is

[1:27:36] This is not

[1:27:39] up to my standards and I don't think

[1:27:41] it's up to everybody's standards that

[1:27:43] drives in

[1:27:44] to their

[1:27:46] house in Lees Farm. And I'm sure

[1:27:49] multiple people would agree. So, and I'd

[1:27:52] like to maybe get an idea of what we're

[1:27:54] spending on those plates, too, because

[1:27:57] I'm sure those are not cheap to rent.

[1:27:59] So, at some point, I will be back again.

[1:28:02] We will be back, right? I'd like to know

[1:28:05] what charge is for these plates.

[1:28:09] So,

[1:28:10] but um

[1:28:12] No.

[1:28:13] Uh and and secondly, it's a giant speed

[1:28:16] bump. So, vehicles coming in and out

[1:28:20] are taking

[1:28:22] a hit, you know, every time you go over

[1:28:24] it back and forth. I'm in and out of the

[1:28:26] plot every

[1:28:27] But, to me, you know, like I said,

[1:28:30] the neighborhood in North Providence,

[1:28:32] highest taxes we pay, we're third in the

[1:28:34] state, second or third in the state.

[1:28:36] This is

[1:28:39] no.

[1:28:40] Not good. It's just

[1:28:43] just not

[1:28:44] doesn't sit with me.

[1:28:46] Um

[1:28:47] and that's basically,

[1:28:49] you know, and I'm sure

[1:28:51] other people in the neighborhood,

[1:28:53] whatever, I got the I have a big mouth.

[1:28:56] I'll speak and say the truth, but um

[1:29:05] that's basically anything else that

[1:29:08] Yeah. No.

[1:29:10] >> Thank you.

[1:29:12] » Thank you.

[1:29:12] >> I mean, houses in the plot are going 7,

[1:29:15] » I mean, houses in the plot are going 7,

[1:29:15] 800,000 dollars. Does that look like

[1:29:17] what you want to drive into?

[1:29:19] Does that look like what you want to

[1:29:20] drive into your neighborhood and look at

[1:29:22] every day?

[1:29:23] That's

[1:29:24] ticks me off.

[1:29:26] And I don't think,

[1:29:28] you know,

[1:29:31] » Okay, thank you. Any other councilman

[1:29:33] >> I mean, action. It's been 2 years. The

[1:29:35] » I mean, action. It's been 2 years. The

[1:29:35] problem should have been addressed from

[1:29:37] day one.

[1:29:39] Should have been

[1:29:40] found out what was structurally wrong

[1:29:42] and then go on from there. But, we

[1:29:44] kicked the can down the road like we did

[1:29:48] with the other situation and the other

[1:29:50] bridge. Now, we're in the junior stage.

[1:29:54] So, thank you.

[1:29:55] >> Thank you. Councilman

[1:29:57] » Thank you. Councilman

[1:29:57] >> Make a motion we just uh

[1:30:00] » Make a motion we just uh

[1:30:00] send a request to DPW to go down and

[1:30:03] clean around those uh

[1:30:04] barriers and just kind of

[1:30:07] continue to maintain around that.

[1:30:08] >> Okay, a motion has been made by

[1:30:09] » Okay, a motion has been made by

[1:30:09] Councilman Is there a second?

[1:30:11] >> Second.

[1:30:12] » Second.

[1:30:12] >> Seconded by Councilman Baccala. All

[1:30:13] » Seconded by Councilman Baccala. All

[1:30:13] those in favor?

[1:30:14] >> Aye.

[1:30:14] » Aye.

[1:30:14] >> All those opposed, the ayes have it.

[1:30:16] » All those opposed, the ayes have it.

[1:30:16] Item number 17, Centredale petition

[1:30:19] petition on Centredale streetscape

[1:30:20] bypass. Hector

[1:30:22] Benacar.

[1:30:24] I'd like to present a petition in

[1:30:25] opposition to this issue.

[1:30:27] Hector.

[1:30:36] » Good evening, council.

[1:30:39] I have Joyce here that is going to read

[1:30:41] my petition of 269

[1:30:45] citizens.

[1:30:56] » Hello.

[1:30:56] >> Hi. Could you state your name, please?

[1:30:58] » Hi. Could you state your name, please?

[1:30:58] >> My name is Joyce Casiba.

[1:30:59] » My name is Joyce Casiba.

[1:30:59] >> Thank you.

[1:31:04] » All right. I am reading here a petition

[1:31:08] um that Hector Boo Can Butanker

[1:31:12] um put together and had 269 people uh

[1:31:16] sign.

[1:31:17] Uh it's called the Centredale bypass

[1:31:19] petition

[1:31:20] May 23rd, 2026.

[1:31:24] North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi

[1:31:27] is in the process of negotiating a

[1:31:29] change to Centredale bypass.

[1:31:32] He is proposing a project in conjunction

[1:31:35] with the Rhode Island Department of

[1:31:37] Transportation

[1:31:38] to create a two-way street in front of

[1:31:41] the town hall

[1:31:43] as opposed to keeping the current

[1:31:45] one-way street.

[1:31:47] The plan encompasses eliminating parking

[1:31:50] on one side of the street to accommodate

[1:31:53] the new central flow lane.

[1:31:57] To this end

[1:32:02] a federal grant of 1.7 million dollars

[1:32:05] has been approved in 2024.

[1:32:08] Grants manager Sherry Lepore

[1:32:11] explained that the town of North

[1:32:13] Providence would have to provide a 20%

[1:32:16] match that equaling $425,000.

[1:32:22] Mayor Lombardi and Councilman Mayor

[1:32:25] Martone expressed hesitation in a May

[1:32:28] town hall meeting

[1:32:30] about going forward with the project

[1:32:33] because their personal goal is to reduce

[1:32:35] the town budget, not put added stress on

[1:32:38] it with the 20% match.

[1:32:43] I Hector

[1:32:44] Betancourt

[1:32:46] believe there are secret ulterior

[1:32:49] motives behind the project that have not

[1:32:52] been disclosed at this time.

[1:32:55] I'll explain this in a town meeting.

[1:32:58] We residents disagree with this project

[1:33:01] because it does not help us. It would

[1:33:03] benefit only a few businesses in

[1:33:05] Centerdale

[1:33:06] while putting the financial burden

[1:33:09] on us municipal and federal taxpayers.

[1:33:13] Hector Betancourt

[1:33:16] » Thank you. Um

[1:33:18] can you

[1:33:19] >> Thank you.

[1:33:19] » Thank you.

[1:33:19] >> Can you submit that petition? Can we

[1:33:22] » Can you submit that petition? Can we

[1:33:22] have a or a copy of it? Um

[1:33:24] >> I I

[1:33:25] » I I

[1:33:25] >> I We have it. We have it. I'm sorry.

[1:33:26] » I We have it. We have it. I'm sorry.

[1:33:26] >> And then I bring I actually I email some

[1:33:29] » And then I bring I actually I email some

[1:33:29] of the councilman

[1:33:31] the last three things.

[1:33:32] >> Okay.

[1:33:33] » Okay.

[1:33:33] >> Which I try to make a call to you. I

[1:33:34] » Which I try to make a call to you. I

[1:33:34] like to get this park and then

[1:33:37] be with my mayor.

[1:33:38] >> Yeah.

[1:33:39] » Yeah.

[1:33:39] I I

[1:33:41] But I I will say thank you and

[1:33:44] Yes. Yeah. Thank you and I think

[1:33:47] I think most of the council agree that

[1:33:50] we do not want that as a two-way street.

[1:33:52] So and I and I know and the mayor stated

[1:33:54] too that he he that was just mentioned

[1:33:56] in an article as part of a project, but

[1:33:58] that was never There's no working with

[1:34:00] the DOT or anything like that. So, we'll

[1:34:03] keep an eye out on it for it, and thank

[1:34:05] you for presenting that.

[1:34:11] I know.

[1:35:21] Thank you.

[1:35:22] >> Can I

[1:35:23] » Can I

[1:35:23] Can I just say something?

[1:35:24] >> Sure.

[1:35:25] » Sure.

[1:35:25] >> I would just like to point out that like

[1:35:27] » I would just like to point out that like

[1:35:27] in these meetings, which I'm very new

[1:35:29] to, this is something very new to me,

[1:35:31] but I think everybody all the taxpayers

[1:35:33] should really open their eyes because

[1:35:35] just in this one meeting alone, you guys

[1:35:37] are planning discussing like I don't

[1:35:40] know, like $6 million at least. He said

[1:35:43] $4 million. This project's $2.4 million.

[1:35:46] You got one meeting, you're talking

[1:35:47] about $6 million, you know? It's a lot

[1:35:49] of money, and everybody really needs to

[1:35:51] pay attention, you know, to make sure

[1:35:53] you know, everybody needs to be

[1:35:55] accountable and everybody needs to pay

[1:35:56] attention to who we put in office.

[1:35:59] Although you guys all seem very nice.

[1:36:01] Nothing personal. I just mean, you know,

[1:36:02] I'd like to see more diversity on the

[1:36:04] stage a little here. You know, it's

[1:36:06] looks like all white, maybe all white

[1:36:08] Italian men, I'm not quite sure. But I'm

[1:36:10] just saying if there were women out

[1:36:12] there,

[1:36:13] um people of color, I think it would

[1:36:14] more represent our community.

[1:36:17] And also I just noticed and I've only

[1:36:19] been to two meetings. I've noticed that

[1:36:21] there's people coming up here like, "Oh

[1:36:23] my god, this is going wrong and we've

[1:36:25] complained and we've complained and why

[1:36:27] is it being pushed back and why is this

[1:36:29] being pushed back?" And they're right.

[1:36:31] Our taxes are like the highest. They're

[1:36:33] so high. On a middle class community,

[1:36:36] it's even more of a burden because we're

[1:36:37] not East Greenwich. This isn't East

[1:36:38] Greenwich. This is like North

[1:36:40] Providence.

[1:36:41] Um

[1:36:43] and I just think people really need to

[1:36:45] pay attention to who they vote for. They

[1:36:47] need to get out for elections and vote.

[1:36:50] And put people in here that represent

[1:36:52] all of us, you know? And you're you

[1:36:55] know, you have people in here begging

[1:36:56] for little things, but yet I've only

[1:36:59] been here and you guys are talking about

[1:37:00] project after project after project of

[1:37:02] new things to be installed.

[1:37:05] You know, it's just like your home. If

[1:37:07] you don't If you can't keep up with your

[1:37:09] current bills, don't make more bills

[1:37:11] worth millions and millions of dollars.

[1:37:14] And that's all.

[1:37:15] >> Thank you very much. I do have a motion

[1:37:17] » Thank you very much. I do have a motion

[1:37:17] to accept the petition. After that's it.

[1:37:21] >> So moved.

[1:37:21] » So moved.

[1:37:21] >> Motion been made by Councilman Baccari,

[1:37:23] » Motion been made by Councilman Baccari,

[1:37:23] seconded by Councilman Matone. All those

[1:37:24] in favor?

[1:37:25] >> I.

[1:37:25] » I.

[1:37:25] >> All those opposed? The eyes have it.

[1:37:27] » All those opposed? The eyes have it.

[1:37:27] Item number 19, speed bumps on Baird

[1:37:28] Avenue. John Heckelman would like to

[1:37:30] address the Town Council

[1:37:33] regarding speed bumps on Baird Avenue.

[1:37:44] » Good Good evening. John Heckelman, 49

[1:37:47] Baird Avenue.

[1:37:48] >> Thank you.

[1:37:48] » Thank you.

[1:37:48] >> Um

[1:37:48] » Um

[1:37:48] >> initiated this petition along Baird

[1:37:51] » initiated this petition along Baird

[1:37:52] Avenue.

[1:37:53] The logistics are pretty simple.

[1:37:56] When you start at Ward Avenue going

[1:37:58] toward Mineral Spring,

[1:38:00] you got Ward, Anderton, Atwood, Mineral

[1:38:04] Spring. It's about a third of a mile.

[1:38:06] And there's no impetus for any reduction

[1:38:10] in speed for that third of a mile.

[1:38:13] There are stop signs on Anderton and

[1:38:15] Atwood and Ward, but once you get on

[1:38:18] Baird, it's a straight shot, and you can

[1:38:21] go, well, too fast, which is why we've

[1:38:24] got this here. So, I wanted to bring

[1:38:28] this to the attention of the council.

[1:38:30] Spoke with uh

[1:38:32] everybody I possibly could on Baird

[1:38:34] Avenue. For all the eligible households

[1:38:38] on Baird Avenue, we have about 86, 87%

[1:38:41] that have signed for this.

[1:38:44] So, when I was doing the

[1:38:47] signatures July 25th, 26th, 27th, I was

[1:38:50] doing sort of a a quick head count of

[1:38:53] children that I saw on Baird Avenue.

[1:38:57] 10 to 15 that I saw during my times. So,

[1:39:01] I think that's very important that we

[1:39:02] get some sort of structure in there to

[1:39:05] keep the speed down from the cars and

[1:39:07] the mini bikes,

[1:39:09] which are just zipping up and down like

[1:39:11] crazy.

[1:39:13] Along with that, we also have the

[1:39:15] commercial structure that's going up on

[1:39:17] the end of Baird Avenue,

[1:39:20] which is only going to increase traffic

[1:39:22] even more.

[1:39:24] So, this is something that I feel is

[1:39:26] very important for Baird Avenue to get

[1:39:29] the speed down to keep it to

[1:39:31] a safe level, because right now it's

[1:39:33] really not between the cars and the mini

[1:39:35] bikes that are going up and

[1:39:38] and so they they use and so they they

[1:39:42] use

[1:39:43] one of the ways to do that.

[1:39:45] >> Okay. So, you have the petition?

[1:39:47] » Okay. So, you have the petition?

[1:39:47] >> Uh yeah, that was

[1:39:48] » Uh yeah, that was

[1:39:48] >> No, no, no, I know. So, you have the

[1:39:50] » No, no, no, I know. So, you have the

[1:39:50] petition.

[1:39:51] >> Yeah.

[1:39:52] » Yeah.

[1:39:52] >> There's always a second step. See, we

[1:39:54] » There's always a second step. See, we

[1:39:54] we're the vehicle to get the

[1:39:56] conversation started. However, it is our

[1:39:58] police department that has to actually

[1:40:00] enforce the whether people are using,

[1:40:03] you know, using the street, speeding

[1:40:04] down the street, if the speed bump is

[1:40:06] effective. So,

[1:40:08] um

[1:40:09] our police

[1:40:11] do have a little bit of an issue with

[1:40:12] putting a speed bump there. They did two

[1:40:15] or three traffic studies, and so I think

[1:40:18] this is something we have to discuss.

[1:40:20] And I'll let you hear from the

[1:40:22] lieutenant as to what their findings

[1:40:24] were.

[1:40:25] >> Okay.

[1:40:29] » Hi.

[1:40:31] All right. Back in March,

[1:40:33] um

[1:40:34] over a 10-day period, we did do conduct

[1:40:36] a

[1:40:37] traffic study. We had our trailers out

[1:40:40] there. And over that 10-day period,

[1:40:43] there was 4,157

[1:40:45] vehicles that went down that street.

[1:40:48] >> Yeah.

[1:40:48] » Yeah.

[1:40:48] >> Over 10 days.

[1:40:50] » Over 10 days.

[1:40:50] Um there was about four 415 cars going

[1:40:54] down that street per day.

[1:40:56] Um the average speed

[1:40:58] was 17.13

[1:41:01] mph. Um 50% of that people going down

[1:41:05] the street were doing 16

[1:41:07] mph.

[1:41:09] 85% of the people were doing 21

[1:41:12] mph.

[1:41:14] Um

[1:41:15] I think it's something that we have to

[1:41:16] take a look at. There may have been um

[1:41:19] some construction during this period on

[1:41:21] Lowe Spring Ave. that may have sent some

[1:41:23] people down and slowed people down.

[1:41:26] Um

[1:41:26] but I'm open to revisiting it and uh

[1:41:30] conducting another study.

[1:41:32] >> What's the legal speed limit on Baird

[1:41:34] » What's the legal speed limit on Baird

[1:41:34] Ave.?

[1:41:34] >> It's 20 25 mph.

[1:41:36] » It's 20 25 mph.

[1:41:36] >> 25?

[1:41:36] » 25?

[1:41:36] >> Yes.

[1:41:38] » Yes.

[1:41:38] There was a maximum speed.

[1:41:40] There was one person who drove down 54

[1:41:43] mph, which obviously is dangerous. Um

[1:41:47] but like I said, the average speed was

[1:41:50] about 16 mph.

[1:41:52] >> Mr. Mr. Hinkelman.

[1:41:54] » Mr. Mr. Hinkelman.

[1:41:54] I know how are you.

[1:41:57] So, I know we talked a little bit and

[1:41:58] you had mentioned about the the

[1:42:01] I don't want to say motorcycles, but

[1:42:02] those bikes and whatnot. Yeah, this so

[1:42:05] you're aware and I know the lieutenant

[1:42:07] they're in the process of trying to

[1:42:09] look into the issue of town-wide maybe

[1:42:11] with ordinances to enforce that. That's

[1:42:13] not just an issue on that street. I can

[1:42:15] assure you that's an issue all over

[1:42:17] town.

[1:42:18] So, the

[1:42:19] police department is working to try to

[1:42:21] give them some

[1:42:22] legal backbones to, you know, to enforce

[1:42:25] that.

[1:42:25] Also, that's that is one step.

[1:42:27] >> What does enforcing look like though?

[1:42:29] » What does enforcing look like though?

[1:42:29] What would enforcement look like for

[1:42:31] >> Well, the difficulties that we have now

[1:42:33] » Well, the difficulties that we have now

[1:42:33] is that they've created these e-bikes,

[1:42:35] which don't fall under our current laws.

[1:42:38] Uh our statutes are limited with that.

[1:42:41] So, we have to revisit it. Um the town

[1:42:43] of East Providence developed a an

[1:42:46] ordinance that addressed most of those

[1:42:47] concerns.

[1:42:49] We have that ordinance in hand. We're

[1:42:51] working on it. We're going to try to

[1:42:52] address it.

[1:42:55] » To eliminate

[1:42:56] >> Not to enforce it, to give us more teeth

[1:42:58] » Not to enforce it, to give us more teeth

[1:42:58] to enforce. Um anything

[1:43:01] >> Right now, is that considered like a

[1:43:02] » Right now, is that considered like a

[1:43:02] bicycle?

[1:43:03] >> Yes.

[1:43:03] » Yes.

[1:43:03] >> So, it doesn't matter how fast he's

[1:43:05] » So, it doesn't matter how fast he's

[1:43:05] going. It doesn't have a registered

[1:43:06] vehicle and it's not He could be doing

[1:43:07] 50 on his e-bike. And there's nothing to

[1:43:10] stop him. He's well, he don't have an

[1:43:11] engine on it, so

[1:43:12] >> Right.

[1:43:13] » Right.

[1:43:13] >> And it's not registered, so what are you

[1:43:14] » And it's not registered, so what are you

[1:43:14] going to do? I'm telling him slow down.

[1:43:15] Basically,

[1:43:15] >> He's got to follow the traffic laws.

[1:43:17] » He's got to follow the traffic laws.

[1:43:17] We'd have to issue tickets like we would

[1:43:19] somebody driving a bicycle. And we don't

[1:43:21] do it that often.

[1:43:23] But it it's it's obviously becoming an

[1:43:25] issue. It's a statewide issue. It's a

[1:43:27] country issue. They developed this these

[1:43:29] e-bikes that go very fast and there's no

[1:43:32] regulations on them.

[1:43:34] >> And then they leave them places.

[1:43:35] » And then they leave them places.

[1:43:35] >> They leave them places and that's a

[1:43:36] » They leave them places and that's a

[1:43:36] whole other

[1:43:39] Um it's something that we know, we're

[1:43:42] aware of.

[1:43:43] Um

[1:43:44] we're enforcing what we can.

[1:43:46] Uh

[1:43:46] we have issues in our parks where

[1:43:49] we have an ordinance that that says they

[1:43:50] obviously can't ride them in the parks

[1:43:51] and we're addressing that.

[1:43:53] But on the streets,

[1:43:55] if they're following traffic,

[1:43:57] they're hard hard things for us to

[1:43:58] enforce.

[1:44:01] » But I think you're

[1:44:02] you're sort of inviting

[1:44:05] problems, especially on Bear Ridge,

[1:44:07] you've got this straight shot, 3/8 of a

[1:44:08] mile long,

[1:44:10] with no impetus, no hindrance

[1:44:13] uh to you slow down.

[1:44:15] >> Yeah. No, it's We have several streets

[1:44:17] » Yeah. No, it's We have several streets

[1:44:17] like that, unfortunately.

[1:44:20] Right.

[1:44:20] >> And the children, like I said, there's

[1:44:22] » And the children, like I said, there's

[1:44:22] going to be increased traffic with the

[1:44:24] commercial business that's going up at

[1:44:26] the end of Bear.

[1:44:29] » I think it's something that we'd like to

[1:44:30] conduct another study

[1:44:32] to see if it was

[1:44:34] because of the time that we the period

[1:44:35] that we conducted it, maybe

[1:44:38] um

[1:44:38] maybe things have changed.

[1:44:40] So, it was back in March.

[1:44:42] Um

[1:44:43] definitely do another study and see

[1:44:45] where we're at.

[1:44:46] >> March of this

[1:44:47] » March of this

[1:44:47] >> Yes.

[1:44:48] » Yes.

[1:44:48] I'd like to entertain a motion uh to if

[1:44:51] anyone would mind send this to ordinance

[1:44:53] so we can

[1:44:54] keep it on there, we can see something,

[1:44:56] but also maybe the police doing them

[1:44:59] make sure we make a motion just they do

[1:45:00] another study for it for a month or

[1:45:02] 6 weeks anyway, whatever we can do to

[1:45:03] get more data, just so we know what

[1:45:05] we're dealing with.

[1:45:06] >> Also, Lieutenant, could you uh possibly

[1:45:08] » Also, Lieutenant, could you uh possibly

[1:45:08] just You know, you guys are busy as it

[1:45:10] is, but

[1:45:12] in the meantime, try to increase the

[1:45:13] enforcement in the area a little bit.

[1:45:15] >> Yeah, we'll make sure we uh have some

[1:45:17] » Yeah, we'll make sure we uh have some

[1:45:17] nice posts up down there.

[1:45:19] >> Talk to them on the weekends.

[1:45:21] » Talk to them on the weekends.

[1:45:21] >> Weekends. I'll second Councilman Carlos'

[1:45:23] » Weekends. I'll second Councilman Carlos'

[1:45:23] motion.

[1:45:24] >> I'm I'm President Rinaldi, so I'm

[1:45:26] » I'm I'm President Rinaldi, so I'm

[1:45:26] >> Sorry, excuse me.

[1:45:27] » Sorry, excuse me.

[1:45:27] >> President I need someone to make the

[1:45:28] » President I need someone to make the

[1:45:28] motion.

[1:45:29] >> Make the motion.

[1:45:29] » Make the motion.

[1:45:29] >> I'll make the motion.

[1:45:30] » I'll make the motion.

[1:45:30] >> Okay, motion's been made by Councilman

[1:45:32] » Okay, motion's been made by Councilman

[1:45:32] Field and seconded by Councilman

[1:45:33] All in favor?

[1:45:34] All right, the eyes have it.

[1:45:37] >> I'll be happy to share this with you.

[1:45:40] » I'll be happy to share this with you.

[1:45:40] >> Welcome now.

[1:45:40] » Welcome now.

[1:45:40] >> Yeah.

[1:45:41] » Yeah.

[1:45:41] >> Take a look at it.

[1:45:43] » Take a look at it.

[1:45:43] >> Mr. Hagler, this I'm sorry Mr.

[1:45:44] » Mr. Hagler, this I'm sorry Mr.

[1:45:44] President.

[1:45:45] If there's an issue in that neighborhood

[1:45:47] and you get one of these bikes or

[1:45:49] somebody's speeding up and down the

[1:45:50] street, by all means call the police

[1:45:52] department so they can get out there

[1:45:54] right away.

[1:45:57] » I'm good.

[1:45:58] >> Good.

[1:45:59] » Good.

[1:45:59] Thank you.

[1:46:01] Yeah.

[1:46:06] » Hi, my name is James Piccolo. I also

[1:46:08] live on Baird Ave, 47 Baird Ave, which

[1:46:11] is right in the middle.

[1:46:12] Um

[1:46:13] about a year and a half ago

[1:46:16] I woke up at 4:00 to go to work. So, I'm

[1:46:18] getting ready and a police officer

[1:46:20] knocks on my door because somebody

[1:46:22] totaled my fiance's car right in front

[1:46:24] of my house. They were speeding. They

[1:46:26] fell asleep.

[1:46:28] So, right there that's the damage which

[1:46:30] is on the insurance companies, of

[1:46:31] course, but it could have been avoided

[1:46:34] if we do put in a speed bump, um

[1:46:36] particularly at Atwood Ave

[1:46:39] where it crosses from Baird.

[1:46:41] Um there's a ice cream parlor at the end

[1:46:44] of the street and there's tons of

[1:46:46] families that walk to the ice cream

[1:46:48] parlor every night in the summertime and

[1:46:50] that is also a public safety risk if

[1:46:53] somebody gets hit by a car.

[1:46:55] Um

[1:46:56] those are my two concerns. I walk my

[1:46:59] dogs through the neighborhood all the

[1:47:00] time and I have to pull them off the

[1:47:02] road, so.

[1:47:03] >> We're going to have the police conduct

[1:47:04] » We're going to have the police conduct

[1:47:04] another study. We're going to continue

[1:47:06] this but not just going to

[1:47:07] >> No, I understand.

[1:47:08] » No, I understand.

[1:47:08] >> We're not going to just say no. We're

[1:47:09] » We're not going to just say no. We're

[1:47:09] just going to

[1:47:10] >> With all due respect to the um traffic

[1:47:12] » With all due respect to the um traffic

[1:47:13] study, if you see a big white metal

[1:47:16] frame with something telling you how

[1:47:17] fast you're going, you are going to slow

[1:47:19] down.

[1:47:20] And for 4,300 cars to go by in a week

[1:47:24] uh or 10 days, I'm sorry. I leave my

[1:47:26] house and I come home. I travel down

[1:47:29] that street twice a day, so that's 100

[1:47:31] times

[1:47:32] uh

[1:47:34] more than it should be for the whole

[1:47:35] street.

[1:47:36] There's only 40 units on the street.

[1:47:38] All right.

[1:47:39] >> Thank you.

[1:47:39] » Thank you.

[1:47:39] >> Thank you.

[1:47:41] » Thank you.

[1:47:41] >> Okay, item number 20, Senadale

[1:47:43] » Okay, item number 20, Senadale

[1:47:43] Streetscape and Revitalization Project,

[1:47:46] Sherri LaPointe, Grants Manager,

[1:47:47] requests discussion and possible vote

[1:47:49] regarding authorization

[1:47:51] to enter into an agreement with DOT

[1:47:53] regarding the Senadale Streetscape and

[1:47:55] Revitalization Project. This item was

[1:47:57] continued from the May Town Council

[1:47:59] meeting.

[1:47:59] >> Mr.

[1:48:00] » Mr.

[1:48:00] >> Mr. President, if I may. I have to

[1:48:02] » Mr. President, if I may. I have to

[1:48:02] recuse myself from this one.

[1:48:03] >> note for the record, Councilman Failor

[1:48:04] » note for the record, Councilman Failor

[1:48:04] is recusing.

[1:48:05] >> You get a deduction.

[1:48:09] » Good evening. So, um picking up where we

[1:48:12] left off a couple months ago,

[1:48:14] a lot has developed. So, I'd like to

[1:48:17] fill you in and hopefully get this

[1:48:19] approved. Um

[1:48:21] First of all, I'd like to clarify

[1:48:23] anything that is still out there that

[1:48:26] has to do with that contraflow lane that

[1:48:29] we were discussing.

[1:48:30] This is a $1.7 million grant. It would

[1:48:33] never, ever cover the cost of removing

[1:48:37] the bypass and creating a two-way

[1:48:39] traffic pattern. What the conversation

[1:48:42] had been was perhaps we could use some

[1:48:45] of

[1:48:46] the funding to do a feasibility study

[1:48:49] and see what would make sense to make

[1:48:51] the bypass area safer.

[1:48:54] The reason this came up was because we

[1:48:56] had done a revision of our

[1:48:59] um

[1:49:01] safety action plan in 2025.

[1:49:04] And although it wasn't specifically

[1:49:06] advised for us to change the traffic

[1:49:08] pattern, it was noted that the bypass is

[1:49:11] a high injury network. And it was

[1:49:14] recommended, and this is public

[1:49:16] information. You can find our

[1:49:19] the whole document is on the RIPTA

[1:49:22] website under Safe Streets for All. So,

[1:49:24] it's public. It's there for everyone. Um

[1:49:26] they did recommend that we look into

[1:49:28] ways of making that area safer,

[1:49:30] particularly for pedestrians. And so, it

[1:49:33] was simply an idea that had come up in

[1:49:34] discussion with DOT that maybe we could

[1:49:37] see if it was feasible.

[1:49:39] Based on the reaction that we got when

[1:49:42] it was kind of mentioned just in

[1:49:44] passing, I went back to the funder and

[1:49:46] said it looks like at this point we're

[1:49:48] going to stick to just the

[1:49:50] beautification aspect of it, the

[1:49:51] streetscape aspect of it. We're not

[1:49:54] going to be doing anything with the

[1:49:55] traffic patterns for now. So, it is back

[1:49:58] to its original form. We're looking to

[1:50:01] obligate the money so that we can do the

[1:50:03] beautification projects.

[1:50:05] The second concern that we had was

[1:50:08] obviously the match. $425,000

[1:50:12] is a big match.

[1:50:15] Um since then, obviously, you've dealt

[1:50:18] with the budget, and I've dealt with

[1:50:19] things on my end.

[1:50:22] I couldn't really tell you this at the

[1:50:24] last meeting because the decision had

[1:50:25] not been made yet, but I was able to get

[1:50:29] grants that will cover the match. Um I

[1:50:33] was given a $392,000

[1:50:35] grant from Rhode Island Commerce, which

[1:50:38] will allow us to do all of the uh

[1:50:41] lighting in Centredale,

[1:50:44] and that will serve as the match to the

[1:50:48] $1.7 million. That combined with um

[1:50:52] studies we have from Crossman

[1:50:55] Engineering that we paid for several

[1:50:57] years back when the project began.

[1:51:00] It's covered. So, knowing that and

[1:51:03] knowing that it's just back to a

[1:51:05] beautification project, I would like to

[1:51:08] request that the council sign to let us

[1:51:12] progress with the project.

[1:51:20] Sure, sure. Um as an added bonus,

[1:51:24] the lighting that we are going to remove

[1:51:26] from Centerdale so that we can replace

[1:51:28] it with new lighting, many of those

[1:51:29] lights are still functional and in very

[1:51:32] good condition.

[1:51:34] So, we're going to take those and we're

[1:51:36] in in combination with another Rhode

[1:51:39] Island Commerce Grant that was before my

[1:51:42] time for Maryville,

[1:51:44] we're going to actually be able to move

[1:51:46] some of the lights we had from

[1:51:47] Centerdale into Maryville.

[1:51:50] And then we're actually also going to be

[1:51:51] able to use some tree grants to plant

[1:51:53] trees in Maryville. So,

[1:51:55] we kind of have multiple projects that

[1:51:57] are all going to be able to stem from

[1:51:59] this sort of one larger project and we

[1:52:03] can definitely utilize grant funding to

[1:52:07] match each other. We've got a strategy

[1:52:10] in place. So, um it looks like if we can

[1:52:13] get one area done, we can start moving

[1:52:16] into the next area.

[1:52:17] >> I just have one question.

[1:52:20] » I just have one question.

[1:52:20] As far as the lighting in Centerdale, as

[1:52:21] far as what we're looking at,

[1:52:22] >> Yes.

[1:52:23] » Yes.

[1:52:23] >> do we have cuz before we go out and ask

[1:52:25] » do we have cuz before we go out and ask

[1:52:25] for money, we got to know what we're

[1:52:26] spending what we're spending it on. And

[1:52:28] like I think I made the comment of

[1:52:30] doesn't need to be Paris, but also I

[1:52:32] don't need it to be Beirut, either.

[1:52:34] >> That's right.

[1:52:35] » That's right.

[1:52:35] >> So,

[1:52:35] » So,

[1:52:35] >> That's right. Um so,

[1:52:37] » That's right. Um so,

[1:52:37] >> Sorry to be blunt, but that's just the

[1:52:39] » Sorry to be blunt, but that's just the

[1:52:39] way I look at it.

[1:52:39] >> But, you know, I don't I don't have any

[1:52:41] » But, you know, I don't I don't have any

[1:52:41] skin in the game, right? I just get I

[1:52:43] get told the numbers and I get told what

[1:52:44] we want. So, I can tell you that um

[1:52:47] essentially our communications team is

[1:52:51] the team that is in charge of the lights

[1:52:53] lighting as well. They were able to give

[1:52:54] me costs based on what they had recently

[1:52:57] gotten quotes for.

[1:52:59] Um and there were 101 lights in

[1:53:03] Centerdale that need to be replaced. The

[1:53:05] entire grant was for the replacement of

[1:53:07] the lights plus whatever the cost would

[1:53:11] be for our folks to Yeah, exactly.

[1:53:15] >> Any way we can get a look at those or

[1:53:17] » Any way we can get a look at those or

[1:53:17] no?

[1:53:19] >> Um I'm sure that I could see the

[1:53:22] » Um I'm sure that I could see the

[1:53:22] lighting that you know, I'm sure they

[1:53:24] must have a catalog or something of some

[1:53:26] sort. I don't have it on me, but I can

[1:53:28] reach out and I can get it.

[1:53:29] >> Thank you.

[1:53:30] » Thank you.

[1:53:30] >> Yeah, sure.

[1:53:31] » Yeah, sure.

[1:53:31] >> Any other questions?

[1:53:33] » Any other questions?

[1:53:33] Councilman

[1:53:34] >> Yeah, so I know we saw the design

[1:53:37] » Yeah, so I know we saw the design

[1:53:37] last meeting. Was that design

[1:53:40] um

[1:53:40] created with that number in mind?

[1:53:44] With with the with the grant number with

[1:53:45] >> With the 1.7 million?

[1:53:47] » With the 1.7 million?

[1:53:47] This design that I have was created many

[1:53:51] many many years ago. I don't know if it

[1:53:54] was done in tandem with that idea. I'm

[1:53:56] sure it informed the ask. Um I'm again,

[1:54:00] I have to write the complete

[1:54:02] application. If it's approved, then I

[1:54:04] have to go in and say this is

[1:54:05] specifically what we're doing with it.

[1:54:07] Um I'm happy to share the binder with

[1:54:09] you. It's got everything in it for the

[1:54:12] grant and it's got the designs as well

[1:54:14] and I think the date on them is from

[1:54:16] 2021.

[1:54:18] >> Yeah, no I I mean I'm just saying what

[1:54:20] » Yeah, no I I mean I'm just saying what

[1:54:20] if that design comes in at

[1:54:22] you know,

[1:54:23] 1.2 or what if it comes in at 2.5? You

[1:54:27] know

[1:54:28] >> Make sure that

[1:54:29] » Make sure that

[1:54:29] we have it funded and not

[1:54:32] get out of hand so to say.

[1:54:33] And

[1:54:34] that was

[1:54:35] portion of the

[1:54:37] data.

[1:54:38] So we'll

[1:54:44] » Any other questions?

[1:54:46] >> Can I ask a question?

[1:54:47] » Can I ask a question?

[1:54:47] >> Sure.

[1:54:48] » Sure.

[1:54:48] >> What's going to happen

[1:54:49] » What's going to happen

[1:54:49] >> George, you're supposed to ask it.

[1:54:50] » George, you're supposed to ask it.

[1:54:50] >> Oh.

[1:54:58] I was just wondering what's going to

[1:54:58] happen to the clock? What's going to

[1:55:02] Nothing, it's just going to stay there?

[1:55:04] That's that's cool.

[1:55:08] Yeah, that's a

[1:55:13] Are they going to be topiary?

[1:55:16] You don't know.

[1:55:18] Okay, well you seem to know a lot of

[1:55:20] like all the numbers cuz you had to

[1:55:21] present them to the government.

[1:55:24] Do you know the annual maintenance

[1:55:25] costs?

[1:55:28] You don't have that? Oh my god. That's

[1:55:30] important. That's very important.

[1:55:39] Well, no, I'm just shocked that there's

[1:55:40] not somebody here to talk about the

[1:55:41] maintenance costs.

[1:55:44] Does anybody have the maintenance costs?

[1:55:47] Or know who would have the maintenance

[1:55:48] costs?

[1:55:49] >> Well,

[1:55:50] » Well,

[1:55:50] with all due respect, we don't know what

[1:55:51] we picked yet, so you don't know what

[1:55:52] the maintenance is going to be if we

[1:55:54] don't even know what we're having.

[1:55:55] >> each plan pitched should show the

[1:55:57] » each plan pitched should show the

[1:55:57] maintenance costs. I mean, you wouldn't

[1:55:58] make a decision without knowing the

[1:56:00] maintenance costs.

[1:56:00] >> We'll probably have to take that into

[1:56:02] » We'll probably have to take that into

[1:56:02] consideration when we find out find out

[1:56:03] >> Once we finalize

[1:56:04] » Once we finalize

[1:56:04] >> and we can

[1:56:05] » and we can

[1:56:05] >> Okay, I was just there were yeah, one of

[1:56:07] » Okay, I was just there were yeah, one of

[1:56:07] the reasons that like like I'm just

[1:56:09] wondering like is the

[1:56:11] changing it to the streetscape,

[1:56:13] how much is that going to increase our

[1:56:15] annual maintenance costs, you know? And

[1:56:18] also if topiary are put out because I

[1:56:21] think I saw a plan that had topiary. I

[1:56:23] don't know if it's the same plan you

[1:56:24] have there now cuz you're saying you

[1:56:26] have a different plan than that was

[1:56:27] presented from the lady in the purple

[1:56:29] suit. Um is that a Do you know the lady

[1:56:32] from the last meeting in the purple

[1:56:33] suit? What was her name?

[1:56:35] >> Once the decision's made, Mr. Chairman,

[1:56:37] » Once the decision's made, Mr. Chairman,

[1:56:37] from the council, then we'll know

[1:56:39] what the maintenance costs would be.

[1:56:41] >> So, you make a you make a decision

[1:56:42] » So, you make a you make a decision

[1:56:42] without knowing the maintenance costs?

[1:56:44] >> We haven't made the decision yet. Made

[1:56:45] » We haven't made the decision yet. Made

[1:56:46] the decision

[1:56:48] >> And will the public know about the

[1:56:49] » And will the public know about the

[1:56:49] maintenance costs before you make that

[1:56:50] decision?

[1:56:51] >> It's all here. It Yeah, we're ready to

[1:56:53] » It's all here. It Yeah, we're ready to

[1:56:53] >> It's all here?

[1:56:53] » It's all here?

[1:56:53] >> Yeah.

[1:56:54] » Yeah.

[1:56:54] >> Where?

[1:56:55] » Where?

[1:56:55] >> It it be once we once we Yeah, once they

[1:56:57] » It it be once we once we Yeah, once they

[1:56:57] once they have

[1:56:58] >> At another meeting, you'll discuss the

[1:56:59] » At another meeting, you'll discuss the

[1:56:59] maintenance cost prior to

[1:57:01] >> Before we make a decision about

[1:57:02] » Before we make a decision about

[1:57:02] >> make a decision. I'm just curious about

[1:57:04] » make a decision. I'm just curious about

[1:57:04] that.

[1:57:04] >> Just to address your concern, excuse me.

[1:57:07] » Just to address your concern, excuse me.

[1:57:07] Every single meeting we have is public.

[1:57:09] >> As well.

[1:57:10] » As well.

[1:57:10] >> So, every meeting we've had we have is

[1:57:13] » So, every meeting we've had we have is

[1:57:13] public.

[1:57:13] >> Yeah, I know. I know. I saw it on

[1:57:14] » Yeah, I know. I know. I saw it on

[1:57:14] YouTube.

[1:57:15] >> about costs. So, like every cost of

[1:57:17] » about costs. So, like every cost of

[1:57:17] projects that

[1:57:19] were brought up tonight have been

[1:57:20] discussed in a public forum. I would say

[1:57:22] close to 30 times prior to tonight.

[1:57:25] >> Okay, but I don't think any maintenance

[1:57:26] » Okay, but I don't think any maintenance

[1:57:26] costs

[1:57:27] >> No, no, no. We're talking about other

[1:57:29] » No, no, no. We're talking about other

[1:57:29] I'm saying other projects

[1:57:30] >> talking about maintenance costs. That's

[1:57:31] » talking about maintenance costs. That's

[1:57:31] all.

[1:57:32] >> We're I'm You keep saying that we're

[1:57:34] » We're I'm You keep saying that we're

[1:57:34] throwing around big numbers, but the

[1:57:36] >> Well, no. In general, like millions and

[1:57:38] » Well, no. In general, like millions and

[1:57:38] millions of dollars.

[1:57:39] >> You're You're right. Okay.

[1:57:40] » You're You're right. Okay.

[1:57:40] >> Yeah, that's a lot of money.

[1:57:41] » Yeah, that's a lot of money.

[1:57:41] >> We make all the plastic flowers. We

[1:57:43] » We make all the plastic flowers. We

[1:57:43] won't need anything.

[1:57:44] >> Well.

[1:57:45] » Well.

[1:57:45] It's an option. Perfect. I'm for it now.

[1:57:49] >> Anyways.

[1:57:50] » Anyways.

[1:57:50] >> Anyway, that's all I have.

[1:57:51] » Anyway, that's all I have.

[1:57:51] >> Thank you, Sherry. Okay, is there a

[1:57:53] » Thank you, Sherry. Okay, is there a

[1:57:53] motion to enter into an agreement for

[1:57:54] the revitalization?

[1:57:57] >> So moved.

[1:57:57] » So moved.

[1:57:57] >> Motion has been made by Councilman

[1:57:59] » Motion has been made by Councilman

[1:57:59] Martone, seconded by Councilman Bacalla.

[1:58:00] All those in favor?

[1:58:02] All those opposed? The eyes have it.

[1:58:04] Thank you.

[1:58:05] Item number 21, green infrastructure

[1:58:07] center.

[1:58:12] » Sherry.

[1:58:13] Sherry, I'm sorry.

[1:58:15] I want to thank you for putting this

[1:58:17] this piece out for us.

[1:58:21] Yeah, I just have one question if we

[1:58:23] could Can we touch on that? Do you know

[1:58:24] at all?

[1:58:25] >> Yeah.

[1:58:26] » Yeah.

[1:58:26] >> Thank you.

[1:58:28] The Fruit Hill.

[1:58:30] >> Fruit Hill, yes.

[1:58:32] » Fruit Hill, yes.

[1:58:32] >> Um it says that

[1:58:33] » Um it says that

[1:58:33] you met with Dave

[1:58:35] and the grant uh

[1:58:37] the grant won't be extended any further.

[1:58:41] >> That's correct. We got I think already

[1:58:43] » That's correct. We got I think already

[1:58:43] one extension and they are giving us

[1:58:46] until December of this year, the end of

[1:58:49] December of this year to get the final

[1:58:51] designs. We've spoken to the DEM.

[1:58:56] They approached us because there was an

[1:58:59] opportunity for them to provide us with

[1:59:02] technical assistance. I believe one of

[1:59:04] the reasons why the design process has

[1:59:07] slowed down is because there were

[1:59:08] certain storm water elements that they

[1:59:10] were trying to figure out without

[1:59:14] excessive cost or without disruption to

[1:59:17] the residents around them.

[1:59:19] If we are awarded this technical

[1:59:21] assistance, then DEM is going to help us

[1:59:24] to design the rest of Fruit Hill. We

[1:59:27] should know that within the next couple

[1:59:29] of weeks or so if we are awarded that,

[1:59:31] and then that way we can finish the

[1:59:34] design and we can move on to the federal

[1:59:37] portion of it.

[1:59:38] >> Okay, and who's doing the design?

[1:59:40] » Okay, and who's doing the design?

[1:59:40] >> Um David DeMico.

[1:59:41] » Um David DeMico.

[1:59:41] >> David, okay. So, he knows this that we

[1:59:44] » David, okay. So, he knows this that we

[1:59:44] have to have this because this thing has

[1:59:45] been around for a while.

[1:59:47] >> Yes.

[1:59:48] » Yes.

[1:59:48] >> And I still get calls from the residents

[1:59:50] » And I still get calls from the residents

[1:59:50] constantly.

[1:59:51] >> Yeah.

[1:59:52] » Yeah.

[1:59:52] >> And

[1:59:53] » And

[1:59:53] we we keep on putting it

[1:59:55] let's move it forward, move it forward,

[1:59:57] and it stalls.

[1:59:58] >> Yeah.

[1:59:58] » Yeah.

[1:59:58] >> Now, we've got $639,000

[2:00:01] » Now, we've got $639,000

[2:00:01] >> Yeah.

[2:00:01] » Yeah.

[2:00:01] >> plus another 80,000

[2:00:03] » plus another 80,000

[2:00:03] >> Yeah.

[2:00:03] » Yeah.

[2:00:03] >> that we potentially can just wash our

[2:00:05] » that we potentially can just wash our

[2:00:05] hands with unless we have everything

[2:00:06] done.

[2:00:07] >> That's right.

[2:00:08] » That's right.

[2:00:08] >> on David to get these designs ready for

[2:00:10] » on David to get these designs ready for

[2:00:10] these people.

[2:00:11] >> That's correct.

[2:00:12] » That's correct.

[2:00:12] >> be done by the end of the year.

[2:00:13] » be done by the end of the year.

[2:00:13] >> Yes.

[2:00:14] » Yes.

[2:00:14] >> Okay, I just wanted to wanted that said

[2:00:16] » Okay, I just wanted to wanted that said

[2:00:16] because I thank you very much for all

[2:00:18] this.

[2:00:18] >> You're welcome. Anytime.

[2:00:19] » You're welcome. Anytime.

[2:00:19] >> Thank you.

[2:00:21] » Thank you.

[2:00:21] Item number 21, Green Infrastructure

[2:00:22] Center.

[2:00:24] Right Wagon and Molly Henry, Community

[2:00:26] Forestry Planner of Green Infrastructure

[2:00:28] Center, request to appear before the

[2:00:29] Council to present findings of the RIDEM

[2:00:33] Urban Forestry Technical Assistance

[2:00:35] Program. Brent.

[2:00:36] >> So, as part of that technical assistance

[2:00:38] » So, as part of that technical assistance

[2:00:38] program, the Green Infrastructure Bank

[2:00:41] was uh

[2:00:42] >> Center.

[2:00:43] » Center.

[2:00:43] >> Center, sorry. Center, but not bank. Um

[2:00:46] » Center, sorry. Center, but not bank. Um

[2:00:46] was uh hired by the It was It was

[2:00:50] >> I can explain everything.

[2:00:51] » I can explain everything.

[2:00:51] >> Yeah, if you want.

[2:00:53] » Yeah, if you want.

[2:00:53] >> It's kind of confusing. Hi everybody,

[2:00:55] » It's kind of confusing. Hi everybody,

[2:00:55] good evening. I'm going to try to make

[2:00:56] this fast because you all had a packed

[2:00:58] agenda. Oh, look, there's a presentation

[2:01:01] there.

[2:01:02] So, originally Inflation Reduction Act

[2:01:06] funding, so federal funding came through

[2:01:08] filtered into the state, went to the

[2:01:10] Department of Environmental Management.

[2:01:12] They hired us, the Green Infrastructure

[2:01:13] Center. I live in Pawtucket, I'm local,

[2:01:15] been working in

[2:01:17] 12 different municipalities now. We've

[2:01:19] been providing free technical assistance

[2:01:22] around urban forestry and related things

[2:01:25] like stormwater and urban heat.

[2:01:28] And

[2:01:29] the town of North Providence was one of

[2:01:32] those many communities, thanks to Brent

[2:01:34] and the mayor actually for sitting down

[2:01:37] with us and realizing the value of the

[2:01:38] program. We are a non-profit. We do a

[2:01:41] lot of mapping, spatial analysis, and we

[2:01:44] do some outreach engagement. We also

[2:01:46] have free money for trees, and I want to

[2:01:48] mention that um

[2:01:50] trees are great traffic calming

[2:01:52] mechanism, too. So, the speed bumps,

[2:01:54] that conversation, there's definitely

[2:01:56] connection, and I was looking at Baird,

[2:01:57] and I was like, there's a lot of

[2:01:59] plantable space down there. So, if we

[2:02:01] could get some of those front yards

[2:02:02] planted, that would really help. Um if

[2:02:05] you can advance to the next one,

[2:02:07] this is the process that what we went

[2:02:09] through. It's about 10-month process. We

[2:02:11] had a ad hoc committee. It was

[2:02:14] town staff and land trust members and

[2:02:17] who else was it? Um

[2:02:19] >> We had some public works, Peter GIS

[2:02:21] » We had some public works, Peter GIS

[2:02:21] >> Yes.

[2:02:21] » Yes.

[2:02:21] >> coordinator

[2:02:22] » coordinator

[2:02:22] >> public safety

[2:02:23] » public safety

[2:02:23] Yes, and so kind of we went through, and

[2:02:25] they gave us feedback on projects that

[2:02:27] were, you know, happening, what would

[2:02:29] affect the the current landscape. We

[2:02:31] were actually able to assess the the

[2:02:34] land cover for the entire town, which

[2:02:36] I'm going to share with you, and we did

[2:02:37] a code and ordinance review looking at

[2:02:39] everything that impacts stormwater and

[2:02:40] tree canopy, and um came up with a goal

[2:02:44] because before this, there was no data

[2:02:47] on what the canopy cover looked like.

[2:02:49] So, that helped inform a goal and the

[2:02:51] strategies that would support that. And

[2:02:53] then, we're kind of at the phase where

[2:02:55] we completed all the technical

[2:02:56] assistance and we're going to be

[2:02:58] publishing a report in the

[2:03:00] I don't want to promise a timeline. In

[2:03:02] the coming year, um there's some other

[2:03:03] communities that had to view. Um but,

[2:03:05] before that is published, I want to make

[2:03:07] sure you all are aware of this and the

[2:03:09] findings and recommendations um

[2:03:12] before, you know, that goes into

[2:03:13] publication. So, if you can advance to

[2:03:14] the next one, this is your tree canopy

[2:03:17] cover, your land cover. Um you are 27%

[2:03:20] tree canopy cover. So, if you're bird

[2:03:21] flying over, 27% of the land area is

[2:03:25] covered by um tree canopy.

[2:03:28] Pretty significant amount of

[2:03:29] imperviousness. That's all of your

[2:03:30] pavement, hardscape. That's where water

[2:03:32] has nowhere to go. So, you're going to

[2:03:35] ask me, where does North Providence

[2:03:37] stack up compared to other Rhode Island

[2:03:39] communities? If you go to the next one,

[2:03:41] this is a comparison. So, you're kind of

[2:03:43] on the lower end of the 12 or so

[2:03:46] communities that we have um done a land

[2:03:48] cover analysis for. And um you also have

[2:03:52] pretty significant imperviousness

[2:03:53] relative to other communities that we

[2:03:55] have analyzed. So, um just something to

[2:03:57] consider because I know in Rhode Island,

[2:03:59] we all like to compare um what our

[2:04:01] neighbors are doing and maybe a little

[2:04:03] healthy competition is good. But, with

[2:04:05] that, um I will advance if you can

[2:04:07] advance. We did develop a goal. Um so,

[2:04:10] this ad hoc committee, the tree canopy

[2:04:12] advisory committee is what we called it,

[2:04:14] um wanted to increase canopy by 2% over

[2:04:17] the next 10 years. And that includes

[2:04:19] maintaining the trees that we currently

[2:04:21] have, making sure we're saving them

[2:04:23] through policy, um and then also trying

[2:04:26] to create programs to add tree canopy

[2:04:29] because you're going to need to do both

[2:04:30] in order to really add. The numbers look

[2:04:32] big and they are big because if you want

[2:04:35] to increase by 2%, you're looking at

[2:04:37] somewhere around 700 trees annually. But

[2:04:40] this is public and private property. So

[2:04:44] we need to have programs that encourage

[2:04:46] and then educate

[2:04:48] residents and property owners to plant

[2:04:50] trees in their front yard. So bear that

[2:04:52] great example. You can get trees in that

[2:04:54] front yard, you can get traffic calming,

[2:04:56] you can get cooling effects and you can

[2:04:59] have it contributing to the goal. So if

[2:05:01] you go to the next one,

[2:05:03] we have a lot of maps. They're all going

[2:05:05] to be in the report. This is just the

[2:05:07] goal broken down by neighborhood. The

[2:05:09] the darker colors of orange are the

[2:05:11] areas that need to be prioritized more.

[2:05:14] When you break down that

[2:05:16] overall canopy goal

[2:05:19] and then if you go to the next one, I

[2:05:20] just like to point this out. Really

[2:05:22] stark

[2:05:23] imagery here. So all of your commercial

[2:05:25] corridors have really high heat zones.

[2:05:29] Maybe

[2:05:30] not news to you. We drive down Mineral

[2:05:32] Spring. It feels hot, it looks hot. But

[2:05:35] the data is really showing us there's a

[2:05:37] huge heat disparity

[2:05:40] in in those areas. And just something to

[2:05:43] think about is that trees take a long

[2:05:44] time to establish and to grow. So if you

[2:05:47] want to get all those great health

[2:05:48] benefits that we know that they provide

[2:05:50] of air quality and heat reduction

[2:05:53] and storm water mitigation, you have to

[2:05:55] plant them now. And we're looking at in

[2:05:57] the mid-century we're going to have up

[2:05:59] to 12 days over 100°. So if we don't do

[2:06:03] those measures now, we don't have a way

[2:06:06] to protect people and combat some of the

[2:06:08] the heat that we know that we're going

[2:06:10] to experience.

[2:06:12] Next one,

[2:06:13] storm water just because it's a big

[2:06:15] issue in North Providence.

[2:06:17] Take away here is your trees right now.

[2:06:19] All of the trees that we have

[2:06:21] analyzed and

[2:06:23] figured out kind of in terms of the

[2:06:26] value that they're bringing to North

[2:06:28] Providence, into your storm water

[2:06:30] infrastructure and to the health of your

[2:06:32] ecosystem. All of the nitrogen,

[2:06:34] phosphorus, sediment, we have all those

[2:06:36] numbers for you on what your trees are

[2:06:38] doing right now. So, if you lose them or

[2:06:40] if you add, that number is going to

[2:06:42] change. Also, the volume of storm water.

[2:06:45] We even the last few days had a ton of

[2:06:46] storm water or ton of, you know, water

[2:06:49] in general. Maybe not up to the 1-year

[2:06:51] 24-hour

[2:06:53] rainfall event, but it's doing a

[2:06:55] tremendous amount to reduce storm water,

[2:06:58] right? And so, just thinking about that,

[2:07:00] that how important these trees are. It's

[2:07:02] not just like they're pretty to look at.

[2:07:04] They're doing a lot of work. They are a

[2:07:05] part of the the town's infrastructure.

[2:07:08] Um and then the next one, um I mentioned

[2:07:11] we're doing a canopy plan. This is just

[2:07:13] Pawtucket's um because we published it.

[2:07:16] So, that's an example if you want to

[2:07:17] look and see what the plan might look

[2:07:19] like. That's a good example. And then

[2:07:21] these are the top five strategies.

[2:07:23] Again, we engaged the Tree Canopy

[2:07:25] Advisory Committee and residents. We had

[2:07:27] over 100 residents um through a virtual

[2:07:30] survey and in-person give us feedback on

[2:07:33] what they wanted to see for strategies.

[2:07:35] Um so, those are the top five. I'll let

[2:07:37] you read those on your leisure. And I

[2:07:39] just want to end with this takeaway,

[2:07:41] which is that for Town Council, things

[2:07:44] you can do, I don't want to talk about

[2:07:45] money because I feel like that's a sore

[2:07:47] subject right now. But there's a lot of

[2:07:49] great financing mechanisms to pay for um

[2:07:52] planting and maintenance of trees.

[2:07:55] Brandon has already come up with some

[2:07:56] really interesting ideas that were one

[2:07:58] of the top five. So, building permits,

[2:08:01] having that go toward dedicated fund.

[2:08:02] There's also tree bonds. There's ways of

[2:08:04] having dedicated funding for planting

[2:08:07] and um maintenance of trees. I also

[2:08:10] would love to see a 10% minimum for all

[2:08:13] of your streets, town streets, um in the

[2:08:16] comprehensive plan. And also, um

[2:08:20] I'll just point out that uh you don't

[2:08:21] have a way to really protect any of the

[2:08:24] trees right now um that are standing and

[2:08:27] we just talked about all the work that

[2:08:29] they're doing. And um I recognize that

[2:08:32] it's going to take baby steps, right? To

[2:08:33] have any sort of you know, significant

[2:08:35] tree policy where you're protecting it

[2:08:38] on private property. That would be like

[2:08:39] the end goal potentially.

[2:08:42] But one thing you could consider is the

[2:08:45] town of Warren does this, they have a

[2:08:46] voluntary program where if there is a

[2:08:49] significant tree and you would have to

[2:08:50] identify what that would look like in

[2:08:52] the the ordinance.

[2:08:54] Um you would then be able to protect

[2:08:57] that tree through an easement um and

[2:08:59] that would be, you know, saved in

[2:09:00] perpetuity. And so that's a really good

[2:09:03] easy strategy just to start like, you

[2:09:06] know, really trying to protect your

[2:09:08] existing trees. So, that's all I have

[2:09:10] for you. Um I blew through that pretty

[2:09:12] quickly. This is my contact information.

[2:09:14] My colleague AJ Elton is also um our

[2:09:17] community forester and arborist and

[2:09:19] we've been working also with the tree

[2:09:21] warden really closely. So, Tim Thorpe

[2:09:23] has been finding projects left and right

[2:09:25] for us. Um we'd love to get, you know,

[2:09:28] your support. If you have constituents

[2:09:30] who are really looking for for trees or

[2:09:33] issues around flooding or heat,

[2:09:36] please, you know, let let Brent know um

[2:09:39] and thank you so much for for having us.

[2:09:41] >> Great presentation.

[2:09:42] » Great presentation.

[2:09:42] >> Thank you.

[2:09:43] » Thank you.

[2:09:43] >> This is great. Thank you.

[2:09:44] » This is great. Thank you.

[2:09:44] >> I'd like to add that we just got a grant

[2:09:46] » I'd like to add that we just got a grant

[2:09:46] to um get Tim a GPS device to map out

[2:09:50] locations of new trees. So, if you have

[2:09:52] any ideas of locations of tree

[2:09:55] plantings.

[2:09:56] Uh we also have many trees that we

[2:09:58] received from the Green Infrastructure

[2:10:00] Bank

[2:10:01] and several other uh resources. So,

[2:10:04] >> Brent, can any of this be incorporated

[2:10:05] » Brent, can any of this be incorporated

[2:10:05] in when somebody's going to has a

[2:10:07] building permit, they're building a

[2:10:08] house, they're building a commercial

[2:10:10] property, whatever. I know we talked

[2:10:12] about at some point having so much

[2:10:13] greenery

[2:10:14] and not so much of parking lots. Can any

[2:10:17] of that money be used if we tell

[2:10:18] somebody that's

[2:10:20] you know, they're going to put the

[2:10:20] project up. Oh, by the way, if you put

[2:10:22] some trees in there, we have

[2:10:24] you know, money for things up there that

[2:10:26] make sure we have that green space and

[2:10:28] adding the trees in it at no expense to

[2:10:30] >> We can certainly develop a program like

[2:10:32] » We can certainly develop a program like

[2:10:32] that. Um we are discussing um raising

[2:10:35] the

[2:10:37] I think we it was from 5 to 15

[2:10:40] landscape requirements for commercial.

[2:10:42] So,

[2:10:43] uh since it's a requirement, we can

[2:10:45] certainly assist

[2:10:46] >> Okay.

[2:10:46] » Okay.

[2:10:46] >> businesses, uh property owners to plant

[2:10:49] » businesses, uh property owners to plant

[2:10:49] them.

[2:10:50] >> Great.

[2:10:50] » Great.

[2:10:50] And also, I'll just mention that Sherrie

[2:10:52] has been great at um getting grants with

[2:10:55] DEM. Um there's a lot of money out there

[2:10:57] for things like just programmatic

[2:10:59] things, also physical trees um because

[2:11:02] in the next year this grant is going to

[2:11:03] expire that I'm working under. Um but

[2:11:06] for the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank

[2:11:08] also has lots of grants. We have other

[2:11:09] communities that have literally used

[2:11:10] this data and these reports to apply for

[2:11:13] grants um that have been successful.

[2:11:16] >> When you talk about maintenance, really

[2:11:17] » When you talk about maintenance, really

[2:11:17] it's just trimming them and keeping them

[2:11:19] like neat.

[2:11:19] >> So,

[2:11:19] » So,

[2:11:19] >> It's not We don't have to fertilize

[2:11:21] » It's not We don't have to fertilize

[2:11:21] them. We're not putting fertilizer on

[2:11:23] them. We just need to fix

[2:11:23] >> I mean, maintenance really in the first

[2:11:25] » I mean, maintenance really in the first

[2:11:25] 2 years is the most important. So,

[2:11:27] making sure that they're getting watered

[2:11:29] cuz an urban tree, they struggle.

[2:11:31] >> Got you.

[2:11:32] » Got you.

[2:11:32] >> So, yeah.

[2:11:33] » So, yeah.

[2:11:33] >> But I'm going to take horticulture next

[2:11:34] » But I'm going to take horticulture next

[2:11:35] week.

[2:11:35] >> This is where Brent the Encompass Park

[2:11:37] » This is where Brent the Encompass Park

[2:11:37] you mentioned that was green the Green

[2:11:39] Infrastructure Bank also.

[2:11:40] >> So,

[2:11:41] » So,

[2:11:41] we were going to use trees from the

[2:11:43] Green Infrastructure Bank and they were

[2:11:45] involved, but that was you or I that was

[2:11:49] really

[2:11:49] >> Yeah, I did.

[2:11:49] » Yeah, I did.

[2:11:49] >> No, I was just going to compliment cuz

[2:11:51] » No, I was just going to compliment cuz

[2:11:51] the mayor explained it and gave me what

[2:11:52] was going to be there tonight. I was

[2:11:54] just was going to thank you cuz I know

[2:11:56] at one point you had mentioned Green

[2:11:57] Infrastructure.

[2:11:58] >> The lead um designer, Stephanie Nordoff,

[2:12:01] » The lead um designer, Stephanie Nordoff,

[2:12:01] um does work for us. She's taking a

[2:12:03] break and working for the lab over the

[2:12:05] summer. Um but we've been talking about

[2:12:07] that plan and um possibility of

[2:12:09] investing some of our trees if there was

[2:12:11] interest in implementing a phase of that

[2:12:13] project.

[2:12:13] >> Yeah, that's the mayor explained that

[2:12:14] » Yeah, that's the mayor explained that

[2:12:15] tonight. I was going to say thank you

[2:12:16] because there was a lot of

[2:12:17] misconceptions with some of the

[2:12:18] neighbors down there what was going

[2:12:19] there.

[2:12:20] >> Yeah.

[2:12:20] » Yeah.

[2:12:20] >> So.

[2:12:21] » So.

[2:12:21] >> Yeah, a little of that was just uh

[2:12:22] » Yeah, a little of that was just uh

[2:12:22] >> Yeah, no. No, I I wanted to thank you.

[2:12:25] » Yeah, no. No, I I wanted to thank you.

[2:12:25] The mayor had explained it to me

[2:12:27] tonight, so.

[2:12:29] >> If I may, Mr. Chairman.

[2:12:31] » If I may, Mr. Chairman.

[2:12:31] The biggest One [clears throat] of the

[2:12:33] biggest problems we have now is

[2:12:36] addressing the calls that we're getting

[2:12:38] from

[2:12:39] residents that want trees taken down.

[2:12:43] And I can tell you that, you know, we're

[2:12:45] in a debate daily. You know, we'll go

[2:12:48] out, take a look at them, and then we

[2:12:50] have to call Northeast cuz they're uh

[2:12:53] the company that provides the service to

[2:12:55] us. And I can tell you that we're doing

[2:12:57] our best

[2:13:00] to try to convince them which trim it

[2:13:03] instead of take it down. Oh, I just want

[2:13:06] to take it down supposing it falls. So,

[2:13:08] now Tim will go out. Trees like this not

[2:13:11] going to fall.

[2:13:12] But I I just don't want it there

[2:13:14] anymore.

[2:13:15] That's another issue that we're trying

[2:13:17] to fix.

[2:13:18] We'll handle right now. People that are

[2:13:20] requesting

[2:13:22] the trees to be taken down, and we're

[2:13:24] doing our best not to take down many

[2:13:26] trees. First of all, it's costly.

[2:13:30] And second of all, you know, talking

[2:13:32] with Tim, and we take him out there, you

[2:13:34] know, we're trying to stay here as nice

[2:13:36] as green as possible. So, that's that's

[2:13:40] becoming a little a little issue with us

[2:13:42] now.

[2:13:43] >> May I make one comment?

[2:13:45] » May I make one comment?

[2:13:45] Um I we talked about this in our

[2:13:47] meeting. So, Tim, you're tree warden, um

[2:13:49] I would recommend um having the tree

[2:13:52] risk assessment qualified. It's track.

[2:13:54] It's a International Society of

[2:13:56] Arboriculture certification. And the

[2:13:58] reason I say that is because having him

[2:14:00] go out there and assess um those trees

[2:14:02] for possible risk, and then having it

[2:14:05] that put in in any sort of inventory,

[2:14:07] which, you know, is we've been talking

[2:14:08] about with that that DEM grant, um

[2:14:11] reduces the liability for the town. It

[2:14:14] shows you've been here, you checked the

[2:14:16] tree, he's certified, he says that it

[2:14:19] did not have risk, um, and so the town

[2:14:22] is then reducing its liability. So, I

[2:14:24] would definitely highly recommend, um,

[2:14:27] encouraging He's also very enthusiastic.

[2:14:30] >> [laughter]

[2:14:32] » [laughter]

[2:14:32] >> Yes.

[2:14:34] » Yes.

[2:14:34] >> I'm glad you brought up liability cuz I

[2:14:36] » I'm glad you brought up liability cuz I

[2:14:36] had a question.

[2:14:37] So,

[2:14:38] um, and and and I'm in favor of this as

[2:14:41] a as a practical matter. So, if you walk

[2:14:43] around Providence, the amount of,

[2:14:46] uh, sidewalks that are uplifted roots.

[2:14:49] >> [laughter]

[2:14:50] » [laughter]

[2:14:50] >> Um, so, is there something you're doing

[2:14:52] » Um, so, is there something you're doing

[2:14:52] differently when you plant trees or is

[2:14:54] there something because, you know, from

[2:14:56] a liability perspective, I worked for

[2:14:57] the city.

[2:14:58] Half of our slip and falls were as a

[2:15:00] result of tree roots that came up.

[2:15:01] >> Absolutely. So, um, it's what we call

[2:15:04] » Absolutely. So, um, it's what we call

[2:15:04] the the field right tree right place.

[2:15:07] And one of the issues with, um, the

[2:15:10] trees probably that you're seeing, I

[2:15:11] just looked at the tree inventory that

[2:15:13] DEM did last year it was technically or

[2:15:16] it was like early this year. Half of

[2:15:19] your trees are maple. First of all,

[2:15:20] that's problematic cuz of species

[2:15:22] diversification, but if you look at it,

[2:15:24] most of those are Norway maple. And if

[2:15:26] you're familiar with Norway maple,

[2:15:28] they're one of the like fastest growing

[2:15:30] most crumbly trees and they've become

[2:15:34] your prominent street tree that like to

[2:15:36] pull up sidewalks. And so, when you

[2:15:39] don't have right tree right place and

[2:15:41] yes, they're not properly planted and

[2:15:43] planted in a good location and there's

[2:15:45] not enough soil volume and I can nerd

[2:15:46] out and talk about all that stuff. But,

[2:15:49] there's a lot of thought that goes into

[2:15:50] making sure the pit size is large

[2:15:52] enough, it's the right size tree.

[2:15:54] There's, you know, AJ, my colleague

[2:15:56] who's our, you know, forester and

[2:15:57] arborist.

[2:15:58] He's adamant about making sure right

[2:16:00] tree right place happens. So, yeah.

[2:16:03] >> Thank you.

[2:16:06] And

[2:16:07] the reason The reason that is, you know,

[2:16:09] to to my

[2:16:12] Give an example

[2:16:13] of power lines

[2:16:15] and the poles.

[2:16:16] I was 35 years ago. It was a big

[2:16:19] program.

[2:16:20] All new

[2:16:21] utilities,

[2:16:22] new sidewalks, gorgeous.

[2:16:25] You know what's happening today?

[2:16:27] >> Looks like nothing. I go down power all

[2:16:28] » Looks like nothing. I go down power all

[2:16:28] the time.

[2:16:28] >> No, no. You know what's happening today?

[2:16:31] » No, no. You know what's happening today?

[2:16:31] Trees have lifted up the sidewalks.

[2:16:33] And so, what I'm concerned is that if we

[2:16:36] plant some new trees here, make sure the

[2:16:39] arborist or whoever is going to make

[2:16:41] that decision that that tree, when it

[2:16:43] grows, it's not going to stop growing

[2:16:45] and you know,

[2:16:46] the sidewalks up and they say, "Well,

[2:16:48] those guys didn't know what they were

[2:16:49] doing." So, it's it's another issue when

[2:16:52] we're planting trees and all

[2:16:54] all the trees.

[2:16:56] You got to plant them.

[2:16:57] Got to I don't know. But,

[2:17:00] we're worrying about that now, but down

[2:17:01] the road.

[2:17:03] >> We're also taking into account now

[2:17:05] » We're also taking into account now

[2:17:05] utilities, structures, and that kind of

[2:17:07] thing. So, that you don't want large

[2:17:09] canopies in narrow areas and that's what

[2:17:11] >> Yeah, overhead wires are underground. We

[2:17:13] » Yeah, overhead wires are underground. We

[2:17:13] need to think safety overall.

[2:17:16] So, yeah.

[2:17:18] » Everybody all set?

[2:17:20] Thank you.

[2:17:21] >> Thank you.

[2:17:21] » Thank you.

[2:17:21] >> Thank you.

[2:17:22] » Thank you.

[2:17:22] >> Very much.

[2:17:23] » Very much.

[2:17:23] >> Item number 23, ordinance introduction,

[2:17:25] » Item number 23, ordinance introduction,

[2:17:25] discussion, and possible vote on the

[2:17:26] introduction of ordinance 26-014

[2:17:29] relating to an amendment to the flood

[2:17:31] hazard district ordinance.

[2:17:33] Do I have a motion to introduce?

[2:17:36] >> I'll move.

[2:17:37] » I'll move.

[2:17:37] >> Is there a second?

[2:17:38] » Is there a second?

[2:17:38] >> Second.

[2:17:39] » Second.

[2:17:39] >> Motion been made by Councilman Mattoon,

[2:17:40] » Motion been made by Councilman Mattoon,

[2:17:40] seconded by Councilman Bacalla. All

[2:17:42] those Now, Brent, this has to be passed

[2:17:44] by August 27th?

[2:17:45] >> 27th, yes.

[2:17:46] » 27th, yes.

[2:17:46] >> 27th?

[2:17:47] » 27th?

[2:17:47] >> 27th.

[2:17:50] So, that's essentially just um a minor

[2:17:52] typo. A letter H has to be changed to a

[2:17:54] J or vice versa. And uh two dates have

[2:17:57] to be changed uh to the end of June.

[2:18:00] >> Okay.

[2:18:02] » Okay.

[2:18:02] All right. So, we're going to

[2:18:03] have a meeting before the 27th to pass

[2:18:06] this for insurance purposes.

[2:18:08] So, tomorrow

[2:18:09] send an email out, get everyone's

[2:18:11] availability.

[2:18:13] Thank you. Okay, motion's been made and

[2:18:14] seconded. All those in favor? All those

[2:18:16] opposed? The eyes have it.

[2:18:19] Item number 24, Woodhaven Elementary

[2:18:21] School. Council President Odiello

[2:18:22] requests discussion and possible vote on

[2:18:23] privacy concerns for Woodhaven

[2:18:25] Elementary students and residents on

[2:18:27] Jacksonia Drive. Myself, Councilman

[2:18:30] LaPorchio, and Councilman Bacalla

[2:18:32] attended

[2:18:33] >> [clears throat]

[2:18:33] » [clears throat]

[2:18:33] >> a neighborhood gathering at a resident's

[2:18:35] » a neighborhood gathering at a resident's

[2:18:35] house.

[2:18:37] All the residents on Jacksonia Drive's

[2:18:39] properties are completely wide open and

[2:18:41] exposed to the side of Greystone School.

[2:18:44] They were told in several building

[2:18:46] hearing meetings that there would be a

[2:18:48] privacy barrier put up for them

[2:18:51] with trees,

[2:18:52] arborvitaes, or whatever, and that has

[2:18:54] not been done.

[2:18:56] Those students that are on the second

[2:18:57] floor can literally look down into their

[2:18:59] house, and the and the people in those

[2:19:00] houses can look up into the classroom

[2:19:02] windows.

[2:19:04] So, I'd like to send a letter on behalf

[2:19:05] of this Town Council to our

[2:19:08] finance director to instruct the

[2:19:09] building committee

[2:19:11] with to use any leftover funds from the

[2:19:13] bond to go towards creating that barrier

[2:19:16] that these residents were told.

[2:19:23] I can't see it.

[2:19:24] >> the view from the room?

[2:19:36] » Okay. Um

[2:19:38] I I will say that um the

[2:19:39] superintendent's been very helpful with

[2:19:40] communicating back and forth, but um

[2:19:43] this is a concern, and I they also need

[2:19:45] to go and look at it when it's

[2:19:47] the winter and the leaves aren't on the

[2:19:49] several the the few trees that are

[2:19:51] there. So, that's the form of a motion.

[2:19:54] Motion's been made by Councilman

[2:19:55] LaPorchio, seconded by Councilman

[2:19:57] Bacalla. All those in favor? Aye. All

[2:19:59] those opposed? The ayes have it. Thank

[2:20:01] you.

[2:20:04] Item number 25, dash light installation.

[2:20:07] Council President O'Loughlin requests

[2:20:09] discussion and possible vote on a dash

[2:20:11] light installation for Father T.J.

[2:20:13] Barges' vehicle. This item is going to

[2:20:14] be removed from the agenda.

[2:20:17] Item number 27, property at 995 through

[2:20:20] 1

[2:20:21] 005 Mineral Spring Avenue. Councilman

[2:20:24] requests discussion and possible

[2:20:25] vote on debris and garbage in lots at

[2:20:28] 995

[2:20:30] to 1005

[2:20:32] Mineral Spring Avenue. Councilman

[2:20:33] nice work on this matter. I

[2:20:35] know it's been addressed already.

[2:20:36] Therefore, I was under the assumption it

[2:20:38] was being moved off the agenda.

[2:20:40] I know the victualing license, the town

[2:20:42] clerk has spoke to them. They're coming

[2:20:44] in and fill out the paperwork.

[2:20:46] If there's anything else you'd like to

[2:20:48] add, I thought this was being removed

[2:20:50] off the agenda, but apparently not.

[2:20:52] >> Not.

[2:20:53] » Not.

[2:20:53] As long as they're coming in, we're

[2:20:54] good.

[2:20:55] >> Okay. Thank you.

[2:20:57] » Okay. Thank you.

[2:20:57] Item number 29,

[2:21:00] board appointment, town council

[2:21:01] discussion and action with regard to the

[2:21:02] board appointment to be made to the

[2:21:04] following board. New appointment, Board

[2:21:06] of Canvassers, Republican alternate,

[2:21:08] Michael Chomak. Do I have a motion to

[2:21:10] appoint Michael Chomak?

[2:21:11] >> So moved.

[2:21:11] » So moved.

[2:21:11] >> Motion been made by Councilman Baccala.

[2:21:13] » Motion been made by Councilman Baccala.

[2:21:13] Is there a second?

[2:21:14] >> Second.

[2:21:14] » Second.

[2:21:14] >> Seconded by Councilman Fiola. Item

[2:21:16] » Seconded by Councilman Fiola. Item

[2:21:16] number The uh

[2:21:17] >> 30.

[2:21:17] » 30.

[2:21:18] >> Motion's been approved. Item number 30,

[2:21:20] » Motion's been approved. Item number 30,

[2:21:20] claim submitted, Town Council discussion

[2:21:22] and possible vote with regard to claims

[2:21:23] received from the following.

[2:21:25] Albert Santinello, 22 Cushing Street,

[2:21:28] North Providence, Rhode Island. Horizon

[2:21:30] Sierra CMR Claims Department, P.O. Box

[2:21:33] 60770,

[2:21:37] Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

[2:21:42] Nicholas Pezzey, 32 Andover Street,

[2:21:44] North Providence, Rhode Island.

[2:21:47] Audra Cornell, 31 Justice Street, North

[2:21:49] Providence, Rhode Island. Michael

[2:21:50] Marino, 172 Pleasant View Avenue,

[2:21:53] Smithfield, Rhode Island. Denise

[2:21:55] Defenzi,

[2:21:56] 203 Obed Avenue, North Providence, Rhode

[2:21:59] Island. Do you have a motion to send

[2:22:00] this to claims committee?

[2:22:01] Motion has been made by Councilman

[2:22:02] Macaluso, seconded by Seconded by

[2:22:05] Councilman Fio- Fiola. All those in

[2:22:07] favor?

[2:22:08] All those opposed? The eyes have it.

North Providence Town Council Meeting 08/04/2026

Transcript