Mhm.
» Mhm.
» I'll call the August 4th, 2026 meeting
to order.
Please stand for the Pledge of
Allegiance and remain standing for a
moment of silence.
Okay, item number one, acceptance of
meeting minutes, discussion and possible
action and vote with regard to the
acceptance of meeting minutes from the
meetings of May 29th, June 2nd,
June 18th, and June 25th, 2026.
Do we have a motion to accept?
>> So moved.
» So moved.
>> Motion has been made by Councilman
» Motion has been made by Councilman
Bacalla, seconded by Councilman Is that
DiLorenzo?
All those in favor?
>> I.
» I.
>> All those opposed, the eyes have it.
» All those opposed, the eyes have it.
Item number two, Senadale Manor
restoration project. Mayor Lombardi
would like discussion and possible vote
on the Senadale Manor restoration
project Superfund site. Mayor.
» Mr. Chairman, of the council,
as you all are aware of the Centerdale
or Uncas Hut,
the Superfund cleanup.
Uh
just to give you an update, I had asked
that Charlotte Gray from the EPA
and David Payne from Loureiro
Engineering Associates come here this
evening.
Uh they need our permission for some of
the properties there and also to give us
a complete
update as to the cleanup there. So, if
you may.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> Charlotte.
» Just state your name for the record,
please.
>> Hi, Charlotte Gray with the US
» Hi, Charlotte Gray with the US
Environmental Protection Agency.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> And David Payne with Loureiro
» And David Payne with Loureiro
Engineering Associates.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> Ready?
» Ready?
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> What do you want to start with? Kind of
» What do you want to start with? Kind of
where we're at and then access permits.
>> Sure.
» Sure.
Um
yeah, so what brought us here today is
looking for an access agreement to do
some work along
Allendale Pond and Lyman Mill Pond. So,
some of you may be familiar with the
Centerdale Manor Restoration Project. Um
since kind of 2018, the performing party
has been as a settle
an agreement with EPA to perform the
remediation.
Um we're the contractors that have been
selected to do the work. So, we've been
working towards investigating and
remediating the site, which includes the
Centerdale Manor and Brook Village
Apartments, which one which we've
investigated and remediated so far. And
then we have three other operable units,
which we call Allendale Pond and then
the adjacent flood plain soils. Um the
Oxbow area, which is large wetland kind
of behind Allendale Mill Apartments and
then Lyman Mill Pond and the adjacent
flood plain soils.
So, we are getting ready to remediate
Allendale Pond, which will involve the
excavation of the sediment within the
ponds and then the flood plain soils
adjacent to it. Um with that, there are
some town properties, particularly it's
the ends of roads. So, there's Aldridge,
Centerdale Ave,
Steer, a few others that will part of
that is within the flood plain and that
was contaminated by the site. So, we'll
be excavating the ends of it's very
limited. Doesn't even really end up into
the kind of the the paved areas, maybe
slightly.
We'll have to excavate that and then
we'll be restoring it.
And then also some of the access for the
along Lymanville Pond is to just do some
sampling at the ends of the roads as
well as survey
as we continue to investigation over the
next couple years and then in the future
we'll be remediating
those areas as well.
So, kind of just a time frame we're
looking at is we're hoping to start
later this year with the flood plain
soil remediation on Allendale Pond,
get into the pond itself next year.
Um and kind of looking at two years kind
of per pond to excavate and
restore. So, kind of looking the next
six to eight years to complete the
investigation, remediation and
restoration of
the site.
>> Okay, thank you. Any questions?
» Okay, thank you. Any questions?
Councilman?
>> Yeah, my only
» Yeah, my only
that that makes total sense to me. I'm
all in favor of it. The only thing that
I would like to see in here is an
indemnification and hold harmless
provision.
If somebody gets hurt while they're
doing work on town property, I want the
town to be
not liable and we get indemnified. Other
than that, I don't know of any issues
with it.
>> Okay. Any other questions?
Is there anyone here that would like to
speak on this matter?
Okay, do I have a motion to
With the requirement that Councilman
Martone the indemnification.
>> Indemnification and hold harmless
» Indemnification and hold harmless
Yeah, so moved.
>> Okay, motion has been made by Councilman
» Okay, motion has been made by Councilman
Macaluso. Is there a second?
>> Second.
» Second.
>> Seconded by Councilman Faiola. All those
» Seconded by Councilman Faiola. All those
in favor?
>> Aye.
» Aye.
>> All those opposed? The eyes have it.
» All those opposed? The eyes have it.
Thank you very much.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> The merriest
» The merriest
left mine
the design
>> Item number three, zone change amendment
» Item number three, zone change amendment
Town Council to consider approval of an
application from Smith Real Realty LLC
to amend Article 2 Section 203 use table
of the zoning ordinance of the Town of
North Providence to classify doggie
daycare as permitted use in the CP, CV,
and CG districts only.
This application was advertised in the
Providence Journal on February 6th,
13th, and 20th, 2026 for a hearing on
this date.
Is there anyone here?
Now, this matter is going to be
continued to the September meeting. Do I
have a motion to continue?
>> So moved.
» So moved.
>> Second.
» Second.
>> Motion has been made by Councilman
» Motion has been made by Councilman
Macaluso, seconded by Councilman
Laporte. All those in favor?
>> Aye.
» Aye.
>> All those opposed? The eyes have it.
» All those opposed? The eyes have it.
Proposed ordinance. Notice was given of
a public hearing on this date whereby
the Town Council will consider passage
of the following proposed ordinances.
Item number four, ordinance 26-002Z,
an ordinance amending the Town of North
Providence zoning ordinance Article 2
Section 203 use table. This item is in
connection with the previous zone
change. Do I have a motion to continue
this to the September meeting?
>> So moved.
» So moved.
>> Second.
» Second.
>> Motion has been made by Councilman
» Motion has been made by Councilman
Macaluso, seconded by Councilman Di
Lorenzo. All those in favor?
>> Aye.
» Aye.
>> All those opposed? The eyes have it.
Item number 28, Centerdale Village
Festival. Councilman Di Lorenzo requests
discussion and possible vote on setting
up a separate account for the Centerdale
Village Festival. Councilman?
>> Thank you, Council President. So, we're
» Thank you, Council President. So, we're
going to sell for the first time uh
in the six years, we're going to sell
some t-shirts
uh
promoting North Providence like we've
been doing for the last six years.
Um so, what I'd like to do is when we
sell the t-shirts, I'd like to make a
separate account, a special account,
strictly for the Centennial Village
Festival. And I I ask you that in the
form of a motion.
>> Do we have to do that?
» Do we have to do that?
>> You
» You
>> John.
» John.
>> It's something to be done through
» It's something to be done through
ordinance.
>> What is it?
» What is it?
>> It's to make a separate account.
» It's to make a separate account.
>> So, do we have to create a line item?
» So, do we have to create a line item?
>> I would create a separate account.
» I would create a separate account.
>> All right. So,
» All right. So,
we have to do ordinance. So, I'll send
it to ordinance cuz we have to set
create a line item in the budget to do
that.
>> Okay. So, okay.
» Okay. So, okay.
>> And then we'll from that, we'll
» And then we'll from that, we'll
>> So, I'll make a motion to send this to
» So, I'll make a motion to send this to
ordinance.
>> Second.
» Second.
>> Okay. So, that's a very good idea.
» Okay. So, that's a very good idea.
Uh I will say.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> Um
» Um
So, motion's been made to send this to
the ordinance committee to create the
line item
for the separate account for the
Centennial Village Festival by
Councilman Di Lorenzo. Is there a
second? Seconded by Councilman Baccala.
All those in favor?
>> I.
» I.
>> All those opposed, the eyes have it.
» All those opposed, the eyes have it.
Thank you.
Item number five, ordinance 26-010,
an ordinance amending chapter 19,
article 10,
section 182
of the code of ordinances of the town of
North Providence entitled no parking
generally to provide for certain parking
restrictions on Cleveland Street.
Is there anyone here from Cleveland
Street? That's not what you guys are
here for?
Okay.
>> I'm surprised I believe she was
» I'm surprised I believe she was
watching.
>> Okay. Do we have a motion to pass?
» Okay. Do we have a motion to pass?
>> So moved.
» So moved.
>> Motion's been made by Councilman
» Motion's been made by Councilman
Is there a second?
>> Second.
» Second.
>> Seconded
» Seconded
opposed, the eyes have it. Item number
six, ordinance 26-011,
adoption of 2026-2027
operating budget ordinance. Do we have a
motion to adopt?
>> So moved.
» So moved.
>> Motion's been made by Councilman
» Motion's been made by Councilman
Baccala, seconded by Councilman
LaPorteo. Any questions?
There being none, all those in favor?
>> I.
» I.
>> All those opposed, the eyes have it.
» All those opposed, the eyes have it.
Item number seven, class F1 liquor
license. Town Council consider a vote
for the approval of a class F1 liquor
license for Enchanted Sip Mobile Bar for
an event at Camp Meehan on September
5th, 2026.
Come up, state your name for the record,
please.
» Hi, my name is Sonia Torres.
>> Thank you. Are there any questions?
You have all the information in front of
you. Do you have a motion to approve?
>> So moved.
» So moved.
>> Motion been made by Councilman Baccala,
» Motion been made by Councilman Baccala,
seconded by Councilman LaPorte. All
those in favor?
>> I.
» I.
>> All those opposed, the eyes have it.
» All those opposed, the eyes have it.
Thank you.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> Item number eight, victualing license.
» Item number eight, victualing license.
Town Council to consider the approval of
a victualing license for SM Food LLC DBA
Hangry Joe's at 1670 Mineral Spring
Avenue, North Providence, Rhode Island.
Is there anyone here from Hangry Joe's?
Okay, do we have a motion to continue
this to the September
Motion been made by Councilman
seconded by Councilman LaPorte. All
those in favor?
All those opposed, the eyes have it.
Item number nine, peddler vendor
license. Town Council to consider a vote
for the approval of a peddler vendor
license for Country Fresh Farms
Incorporated, 5081 Union Street, Union
City,
Georgia, 30
291. Sorry, I don't have my glasses.
State your name for the record, please.
>> Charles Olwen on behalf of Country Fresh
» Charles Olwen on behalf of Country Fresh
Farms.
>> Just speak into the microphone, sorry.
» Just speak into the microphone, sorry.
>> Charles Olwen on behalf of Country Fresh
» Charles Olwen on behalf of Country Fresh
Farms.
>> Okay, and where will you be selling?
» Okay, and where will you be selling?
>> Uh we'll be selling frozen meat, choice
» Uh we'll be selling frozen meat, choice
and prime.
>> Is that in the parking lots?
» Is that in the parking lots?
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
>> Uh we have a cross promotional with
» Uh we have a cross promotional with
Lowe's. Uh we set up, it helps bring
traffic to Lowe's, and we get traffic
from them. It works out for everybody.
>> So this is on Lowe's property?
» So this is on Lowe's property?
>> Yes.
» Yes.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
>> We have been invited by Lowe's.
» I'll approve this pending Do you have to
get health department approval?
>> Yes.
» Yes.
>> All right, so so you can pick up your
» All right, so so you can pick up your
approval pending you provide us with
that. Okay. Um I don't see that in our
package here unless you we're missing
it.
>> I do not have that with me. Um could I
» I do not have that with me. Um could I
possibly uh
>> You can come in and see the clerk.
» You can come in and see the clerk.
She'll
>> Okay.
» Okay.
>> Her office is right downstairs.
» Her office is right downstairs.
Oh, actually, you know what? I'm not
tech-savvy. You can just upload it
online.
>> Okay. Um I'm going to have to get in
» Okay. Um I'm going to have to get in
touch with my superiors and get that
done.
>> Okay. So,
» Okay. So,
I'll approve this pending the uploading
of the health department certificate.
>> Okay. Uh is there a specific health
» Okay. Uh is there a specific health
department like for this jurisdiction or
just
>> Rhode Island health department. Any time
» Rhode Island health department. Any time
you're serving food, you need
[clears throat] a a sign-off from the
health department.
>> I just I wasn't sure if there was a
» I just I wasn't sure if there was a
local one I had to go through or not.
>> No.
» No.
>> Thank you, sir.
» Thank you, sir.
>> Any other questions?
» Any other questions?
Okay, do I have a motion?
>> So moved.
» So moved.
>> Motion been made by Councilman Di
» Motion been made by Councilman Di
Lorenzo. Is there a second?
>> Second.
» Second.
>> Seconded by Councilman Baccari. All
» Seconded by Councilman Baccari. All
those in favor?
>> I.
» I.
>> All those opposed? The eyes have it.
» All those opposed? The eyes have it.
Good luck.
>> Thank you, sir.
» Thank you, sir.
>> Private investigator license. Town
» Private investigator license. Town
Council to consider the approval of a
new private investigator license for
Douglas Belcamp, 15 Thomas Street, North
Providence, Rhode Island.
>> I can
» I can
>> Good evening.
» Good evening.
>> Good evening. Just state your name for
» Good evening. Just state your name for
the record, please.
>> Douglas Belknap.
» Douglas Belknap.
>> I'm sorry, it's misspelled on my
» I'm sorry, it's misspelled on my
>> I was going to bring that up. That's I
» I was going to bring that up. That's I
was going to offer to bring a business
card or something.
>> That's okay.
Any questions? Councilman
>> I just have one question. It says Thomas
» I just have one question. It says Thomas
Lane.
>> Thomas Street.
» Thomas Street.
>> Thomas Street, I'm sorry. Your driver's
» Thomas Street, I'm sorry. Your driver's
license is Pawtucket.
>> Yes, I I moved from Pawtucket about 3 to
» Yes, I I moved from Pawtucket about 3 to
4 months ago, and I know per the statute
when your license expires, you have to
renew it through your new domicile.
I haven't just uh changed my driver's
license from Pawtucket to North
Providence as of yet.
>> Please sign.
» Please sign.
Okay.
Any other questions?
This package has been reviewed by our
police department and signed off on.
So, with that, do I have a motion to
grant?
>> So moved.
» So moved.
>> Motion has been made by Councilman
» Motion has been made by Councilman
LaPaccio, second by Councilman La-
LaCala.
All those in favor?
>> I.
» I.
>> All those opposed, the eyes have it.
» All those opposed, the eyes have it.
Item number 11, license review. Town
Council to conduct a license review on
liquor and entertainment licenses for
One of One Lounge, 1759 Middle Spring
Avenue, North Providence, Rhode Island.
Gentlemen, just come up, please.
All right.
Just state your name for the records,
please.
>> Wase Ali.
» Wase Ali.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> Michael, miss owner.
» Michael, miss owner.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> Lance Cherry.
» Lance Cherry.
>> Thank you. Um gentlemen, I have to say
» Thank you. Um gentlemen, I have to say
good job. I mean
we've had a few small complaints.
Nothing
earth-shattering, but we get noise
complaints from
every
establishment in the in the town. So,
just be cognizant of that. Um but so
far, you guys have given us your word.
I've driven by, I see you guys out there
patrolling the parking lot.
Good job, thank you.
>> Good.
» Good.
>> Makes our lives a heck of a lot easier,
» Makes our lives a heck of a lot easier,
so
>> Good.
» Good.
>> um
» um
any questions from
the council members?
Councilman?
>> Not a question, but just remain
» Not a question, but just remain
vigilant.
If as soon as you let your guard down,
it'll be a problem. So, whatever you've
been doing, please keep doing it.
>> All right.
» All right.
>> Definitely going to, you know, intensify
» Definitely going to, you know, intensify
that, for sure, and you know, and make
more improvements as we go.
>> Um
» Um
>> Thanks.
» Thanks.
>> we do have, you know, three incidents
» we do have, you know, three incidents
where the police have been contacted.
Like I said, nothing noise violation, no
noise complaints. So,
just be aware of that.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
>> And I was like, I think one was at 9:00,
» And I was like, I think one was at 9:00,
which is kind of you know, early in the
evening, so so be aware of that.
>> Right.
» Right.
>> Um
» Um
>> We've been proactive, too, going outside
» We've been proactive, too, going outside
after quiet hours, you know,
always level up, taking pictures, and
making sure the noise is not too
crazy, outrageous, or anything like
that.
>> Good.
» Good.
>> Any other questions?
» Any other questions?
>> No, just uh emphasize what uh Councilman
» No, just uh emphasize what uh Councilman
Matton said, keeping it clean, keeping
it out there. Doing what you're doing,
just keep it up cuz even the complaints,
the noise ones, I don't think they were
coming from
right behind you, which was most of the
people that were complaining.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> So, you know, so take that for what it's
» So, you know, so take that for what it's
worth, but just keep vigilant and keep
doing what you're doing.
>> All right, thank you. I appreciate you
» All right, thank you. I appreciate you
guys.
>> My phone hasn't rang, right?
» My phone hasn't rang, right?
>> You're doing a good job, so keep it up.
» You're doing a good job, so keep it up.
>> All right, thank you, guys.
» All right, thank you, guys.
>> All right, so from going forward, you
» All right, so from going forward, you
have a full
You have a motion to approve a full
liquor and entertainment license from
here on out.
>> All right.
» All right.
Thank you, guys.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> Appreciate you, guys.
» Appreciate you, guys.
>> All right, wait, wait.
» All right, wait, wait.
Yeah.
>> I'll make a motion.
» I'll make a motion.
>> Motion's been made by Councilman De
» Motion's been made by Councilman De
Lorenzo, seconded by Councilman Baccala.
Question with question.
>> The only The only thing I just want to
» The only The only thing I just want to
point out is renewal time's going to be
coming up, so just make sure uh December
1st, the license expires.
Uh Amanda, when do you send start
sending that stuff out? Like October?
September?
Okay. So, but don't Renewal time's going
to be coming up, so make sure you renew
the license, okay?
>> We'll definitely, yeah.
» We'll definitely, yeah.
>> Good job, guys.
» Good job, guys.
>> Back up seriously.
» Back up seriously.
>> Make sure the Make sure the attorney's
» Make sure the Make sure the attorney's
not at this time.
>> [laughter]
» [laughter]
>> You're welcome.
» You're welcome.
>> Thanks to the councilman for giving me
» Thanks to the councilman for giving me
the band over the last 10 business days.
» Item number 12.
Wooded Road, Louisquisset Golf, Town
Council to conduct a review of the
measures taken it to stop the golf balls
from hitting properties on Wood Road. Is
there anyone here from Louisquisset?
>> I don't see anybody.
» I don't see anybody.
>> I've been in con- constant contact.
» I've been in con- constant contact.
Um
Seems like there's been a lot of
measures taken to mitigate this, and I'm
happy to hear that. A window was broken
recently and the golf course is paying
for it, but that was a one one-off
incident of debris.
So, I'll make a motion to remove this
item from the agenda.
>> So moved.
» So moved.
>> Second.
» Second.
>> Motion been made and seconded. All those
» Motion been made and seconded. All those
in favor?
>> Aye.
» Aye.
>> All those opposed? Guys have it.
» All those opposed? Guys have it.
>> I told you that three would be fine.
» I told you that three would be fine.
>> Noise ordinance discussion. Resident
» Noise ordinance discussion. Resident
Carolyn Mancone would like to address
the council with a desire for a daytime
noise ordinance to address excessively
loud music coming from 4 Cross Street.
Is Carolyn Mancone here?
How are you?
>> Hi. Good. Carolyn Mancone.
» Hi. Good. Carolyn Mancone.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> Um
» Um
So, [snorts]
I wanted to come before the council
because if some of you may remember that
I was here in 2024 because there was a
lot of noise coming from that address
that year. Um
they have improved, you know, they're
not doing it as much, but they did have
an ins- one incident, only one, this
summer, which is excellent. Um but, it
was extremely loud. It was on a Sunday
afternoon, probably around 2:00.
And it was loud enough to be heard, you
know,
200, 300 ft away. I could hear it in my
living room, in the front of the house,
with the TV on, with the with the
windows closed.
You know,
and I thought that back in 2024 that we
had agreed to a noise ordinance for
excessive
daytime noise, you know.
If I'm Let's just I'll just give you an
example. That day when I went in my
backyard and I I did a measurement on my
phone with a decibel meter and it was
over 80 decibels, which is very, very
loud.
Um
it it interrupts your your relaxation
and enjoyment of your home.
And when I called the police,
they were
they didn't want to come out. I kept
them on the phone and I'm like, "Look,
this is this is a nuisance."
When they came out,
they went in and talked to the people,
the music got turned up,
and I asked the police officer about it,
and she said, "Not my problem." She was
indifferent.
So, I called the police again,
and then they were scrambling trying to
look at what's the ordinance. You know,
they transferred me like two or three
times. I think I finally spoke to a
sergeant,
and he sent somebody out, and then, you
know, then the music was shut off, but
did we have an ordinance for this? I You
know, I remember it was supposed to be
like if it was heard more than 200 ft
from the source that it was supposed to
be
not allowed,
you know?
>> Cuz it's intrusive.
» Cuz it's intrusive.
>> No, we have We do have an ordinance
» No, we have We do have an ordinance
Yeah, so I I know we had started talking
about it, and then kind of the the issue
seemed to die down, so we never um we
never put in place something for the
daytime. That's
you know, considering you're bringing it
back up, I certainly think it's
something that we can put back on the
ordinance uh committee's docket and talk
about potentially implementing that. And
And I And you're right. I think the what
we were thinking about was potentially
something that if you could hear it from
200 ft away from the source, that would
be too loud, so that way you don't have
to get into the decibels and all that
stuff. So.
>> Right. I mean, you know, the issue is I
» Right. I mean, you know, the issue is I
think is that
the technology and for stereos has, you
know,
come so crazy that people have these
really loud stereo systems,
and they're just not cognizant of the
fact that they're disturbing, you know,
I'm not saying people can't listen to
music, but be reasonable.
You know, have have a care for your
neighbors, and
that I would like to be able to, you
know, if that ever happens again, to be
able to call and say, "Look, we have
this ordinance. You need to come out
here."
And And have the police be informed
that it it is on the books.
Cuz they didn't seem to know.
>> You shouldn't have to deal with that.
» You shouldn't have to deal with that.
You're right. And
we will get on that.
>> Okay. Great.
» Okay. Great.
>> That's serious. So, that's
» That's serious. So, that's
unacceptable.
>> you.
» you.
>> No problem. Do you have any questions?
» No problem. Do you have any questions?
Okay, do you have a motion to send this
to the audience? So moved. Motion has
been made by Councilman Laporte, you
second by Councilman Vacallo. All those
in favor? Aye. All those opposed, the
eyes have it.
Item number 14, block party resident
Jordan Shore requests discussion and
possible vote on a block party on
Orchard Street on August 29th, 2026.
>> Jordan Shore cannot make it tonight.
» Jordan Shore cannot make it tonight.
She's on her way to Alaska.
>> Oh, good.
» Oh, good.
>> This is this is right behind Richie
» This is this is right behind Richie
School. They want to have about 50 to 75
ft part of the street. Not blocking
anyone. Just for the sake of doing it
the proper way. She asked to put the
palm palms.
So, I'd like to make a motion that we
approve
the block party on uh
>> Okay, motion has been made by Councilman
» Okay, motion has been made by Councilman
Di Lorenzo, second by Councilman
Vacallo. All those in favor?
>> Aye.
» Aye.
>> All those opposed, the eyes have it.
» All those opposed, the eyes have it.
Item number 15, paid property. Maureen
Gerard would like to discuss the
the progress [clears throat] of the paid
property and to propose a community use.
Thank you for coming.
>> Hi.
» Hi.
>> Maureen Gerard.
» Maureen Gerard.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> Amy Robinson.
» Amy Robinson.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> I have folders.
» Oh, Amy, you and I spoke a few times via
email, right?
>> I don't think so.
» I don't think so.
>> And Amy, you you and I spoke via email a
» And Amy, you you and I spoke via email a
few times, correct?
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> Thank you.
» Oh, I thought we got homework.
>> So, we have drawn up a proposal petition
» So, we have drawn up a proposal petition
to request a green clean space for the
Pate property in conjunction
with the parking issue at the KFC field.
Um I spoke with Josh Johnson, the uh
president of the North Providence Jets
Football Organization, which is
currently using the former Casey
baseball complex on Ivan Street.
He's not asked for this plan to be
developed, but he is in favor of it.
The actions we're asking the town to
take involve the following. Remove the
basketball poles from the basketball
court on Ivan Street and use the court
as a paved parking lot.
Remove the playground area at Ivan
Street and use that area for additional
parking in an unpaved lot.
Establish a basketball court and a
tennis court one behind the other at the
entrance to the Pate property with
parking for eight to 10 spots.
Further, in the Pate property, rebuild
the playground and a walking area with
benches in a figure eight format.
We've attached a diagram of this
scenario at the Pate property.
Additionally, we've been in touch with
Sherry Lepore, our grants manager, and
we have a proposed applying for a Lowe's
community grant for the Pate property
project.
And a Lowe's grant can be used in
conjunction with Rhode Island DEM
grants. I contacted both of them.
They don't conflict, I'm told. Rhode
Island DEM said, "You can reapply for
the grant we lost
and use the Lowe's grant at the same
time. It's not conflicting."
There are also a lot of other grants
that can be used for trees, perennial
gardens.
Uh we feel that the signing of the names
on the petition represent the wishes of
the neighbors and those of the mayor who
has communicated that he wants this
project to be successful and meet the
wishes and expectations of the community
surrounding the Pate property.
Last, but most important, we ask that
the mayor and the council form a
committee that includes several of the
residents of the peat property area to
work on overseeing the implementation
and oversight of the development of the
peat property green clean space.
We ask that this be formed no later than
this September
of 2026.
And this is on behalf of the residents
surrounding the peat property.
» This is really good.
Thank you for putting this together.
I mean, obviously, it's an initial
reaction. It's the first time I'm seeing
it.
First time we're all seeing it, but this
this is We appreciate
you guys putting this together. This is
very, very good.
>> pretty good that
» pretty good that
Um we might ask for your help with the
grant.
>> [laughter]
» [laughter]
>> No, this is good. I appreciate it,
» No, this is good. I appreciate it,
seriously. Um
obviously, this is the first time we're
seeing it. Let us digest it and um
any questions?
>> No, I just wanted
» No, I just wanted
>> I wish everything had this presentation.
» We do have a couple of questions
regarding our last meeting with the
mayor. Um we were told that the property
would be cleaned out, which it was, and
we do appreciate that. That was great.
Um but since then, there was more soil
um that was put on top. They would be um
so we want to know what happened with
the plan of just flattening out and
putting the grass and putting up a gate.
Um
so there's been um more soil in addition
to the one that was dumped, and we want
to know why it was brought in. And this
was not part of the plan that we were
told the last time we met with you guys.
And then we had some serious flood
flooding in the area, and quite a bit of
soil from the peat property flooded into
the Washington Street and onto the small
bridge, pouring over the bridge in the
upper Canada Pond moving a small river
not sure if this type of sediment is
safe to be going into this waterway
since it is the protected.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
Bernie, can you answer any of those?
You could
» Yes, so I'm familiar with the runoff
that they're talking about. There's been
runoff twice that occurred.
And as the I'll speak for the soil that
was brought into the property because I
don't think there's an understanding
about the stockpiling of soils. So that
has to go all the way back to the
embankment line and that drop that
elevation drops off so they're moving
soil in there and they are stockpiling
it in a ramp fashion. So when they clean
out all the the bull briar and the brush
and everything else, they can flatten
that soil out. That hill's going to come
down and it eventually establish a flat
field so to speak. And then
the level of soil erosion that is
developed there, it's for developed
within a half inch of water within an
hour. We received an inch and a half of
water in 45 minutes. But I can tell you
this morning that I met the engineer,
met the contractor down there, stepped
that soil erosion plan way up from the
engineer's design and that should not
occur anymore.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
Okay, thank you. Any questions for
Bernie from the council?
Thank you very much.
» He answered everything.
>> Okay, I'm going to send this plan to the
» Okay, I'm going to send this plan to the
finance committee so we can have a look
at it. Look at it in more of
intimate setting,
ask some questions and we'll invite you
to that meeting.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
>> So we can have a more free flowing
» So we can have a more free flowing
conversation.
Unless there's any questions from any
residents, any council members?
I'll make a motion.
Sure.
» I'm Ken Conti. I uh
I'm trying to get a sense of what what
property we're talking about exactly. I
know you guys
What in relationship to the Ivan Street
baseball field, where is that?
>> Okay, if you go past the bridge
» Okay, if you go past the bridge
>> Yeah. Oh, so it's not part of the Ivan
» Yeah. Oh, so it's not part of the Ivan
Street baseball field.
>> Cuz I know just past
» Cuz I know just past
>> Okay, Ken, it's right across the street.
» Okay, Ken, it's right across the street.
There used to be a garage in there.
Oh, the old
>> Oh, okay. All right. I thought it was
» Oh, okay. All right. I thought it was
the Ivan Street field cuz I thought it
was a great opportunity.
>> I was going to say that the North
» I was going to say that the North
Providence Land Trust owns property
adjacent to the North Providence uh
Little League field.
>> Well, that property That property does
» Well, that property That property does
It doesn't connect to the But They're
They're
>> field's not owned by the town, all
» field's not owned by the town, all
right? That's owned by the K
>> No, but where they're
» No, but where they're
where they're proposing the parking lot
is part of that is part of the Cuz
that's where the basketball courts are.
So, if you want to take a look at it.
» With the um field that's past the park.
>> Yeah, this is the bridge.
» Yeah, this is the bridge.
>> Yeah, so it's not part of the
» Yeah, so it's not part of the
>> In the meantime, I want to make a motion
» In the meantime, I want to make a motion
to send this to the finance committee.
Motion made by Councilman LaPorte,
seconded by Councilman Pollock. All
those in favor?
All those opposed? The eyes have it.
Thank you.
>> Very nice.
» And Mr. Chairman, there's a piece of
property
uh to the left
It's up a little higher that we utilize
for parking.
There's property next to that that abuts
that last house coming down Ivan Street
that we own.
We're looking at that at this point in
time and maybe try and garner some funds
to increase that top pocket lot
to address the need for additional
parking
uh now that the it's going to be
utilized by what from the football
um club
and soccer.
We know we have a an issue with the
parking.
And also temporary with the parking or
for the parking is when you go into the
Ivan Street though field that we're
living on off now. Right there to the
left.
We're hoping that we'll be able to
clear that as quick as possible, put
down some of what we call the road grind
and use that for some temporary parking
to relieve
any of the parking issues there.
So, that's in play also at this point in
time.
» Thank you.
Ma'am, my understanding though is that
once
uh Woodhaven school is done
that football field is going to be put
back.
>> Well, that's another issue.
Because in most of these areas I
shouldn't say dealing with, but we're
dealing with
neighbors' wishes.
So, at this point in time
I'm not sure.
» Okay.
» And number 22, ordinance introduction,
discussion, and possible vote on the
introduction of the ordinance number
26-013
relating to resident only parking signs
on Oregon Avenue.
Councilman DiLorenzo.
>> So, we have a problem on Oregon Avenue
» So, we have a problem on Oregon Avenue
with parking.
Uh
it seems that the people who are there
are parking all the way down the street.
The people in front of the houses cannot
park their cars.
However, Steve, I understand, Steve,
Hold on one second. Wait till they don't
» I want
I want them to be able to hear cuz
» All right.
Thank you. Okay.
>> So, residents are having a problem
» So, residents are having a problem
parking on Oregon Avenue.
Uh the the two houses next to the
building
uh
the old base furniture that has
qualified businesses in there.
Uh Kevin uh a community police officer,
we were there the other day and looking
to see what we can do is probably need
about maybe 100 ft, Kevin.
>> That's correct.
» That's correct.
>> Um
» Um
which is
what we do need to protect those two
houses.
Uh but I understand now that
uh this game room business
cannot open
uh unless we approve the ordinance for
for the resident only parking sign. I
guess they need it on a variance in
order to get open. And they've been
patiently waiting for something to
happen with that.
Um Kevin, maybe you can articulate a
little bit more what what the
>> Right parking situation.
» Right parking situation.
>> Brent's here, too. He can explain what
» Brent's here, too. He can explain what
the
>> Brent, come up, please.
» Brent, come up, please.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> Lieutenant, you can you can stop.
» Lieutenant, you can you can stop.
>> I can speak to, you know, we've had some
» I can speak to, you know, we've had some
calls from residents that are having a
hard time parking during certain hours.
There are several businesses in that uh
block of 1726 Mystery that do take up
some of those businesses. So, I think we
owe it to the residents to to give them
some relief for for company and
you know, whatever you can
>> By the way, one of them is handicapped
» By the way, one of them is handicapped
and has a caretaker there. On the second
house, has a caretaker there, so I
wanted to make sure we protect her. Now,
in in the first house, we just had a
livery by the way, something like that.
And so, both of those houses have, you
know,
>> So, uh Steve is correct. Uh
» So, uh Steve is correct. Uh
They got approval from the zoning board
uh conditional to receiving council
approval for no park or uh resident only
parking signs down Oregon Ave.
>> Right.
» Right.
>> Um just because there is,
» Um just because there is,
you know, a tight parking situation on
the property right now, and they don't
want the parking extending into the
residential neighborhood. They'd rather
see it
>> Right.
» Right.
>> I I have a question on the street.
» I I have a question on the street.
>> All right, I have a question. And
» All right, I have a question. And
So, I'm familiar with that building. I
live right down the street.
>> [clears throat]
» [clears throat]
>> You have a tattoo shop, a hair salon,
» You have a tattoo shop, a hair salon,
this potential game business, and then
there's another business I think in
between the tattoo shop.
>> And don't forget the business behind.
» And don't forget the business behind.
There's a construction company behind.
>> That's not their business?
» That's not their business?
>> No, no. They got GameStop, which is on
» No, no. They got GameStop, which is on
the street, but in the back of that
building there's a construction business
uh in the back of it. So, there's five.
>> So, how are these
» So, how are these
>> [clears throat]
» [clears throat]
>> uh
» uh
businesses allowed to open with such
little parking on a main road? And I say
that for the residents, but also them.
Like, that's not fair to them either.
Like, I mean, cuz it's right around that
curve, so there's not much street
parking.
It's all residential behind the
building.
Are they expected to park across the
street and cross
Smitty, it's a pretty busy road.
>> So, the zoning board reviewed the the
» So, the zoning board reviewed the the
time schedules of each um business, and
they felt comfortable enough voting to
approve it because the the
it was alternating
time frames um of of peak hours. So,
there's not necessarily enough to meet
the regulation. However, they
they think it could be accommodated on
the property and within the I believe
there's seven spaces on Smith Street.
>> So, so GameStop right now is looking for
» So, so GameStop right now is looking for
eight spaces that are currently there.
» So,
>> There's no additional spaces, just the
» There's no additional spaces, just the
ones that are currently there.
>> So, essentially all the spaces right now
» So, essentially all the spaces right now
on the property are utilized by the
existing businesses. So, they got the
variance for
what they would need eight eight spaces.
>> Right.
» Right.
>> To make the the whole lot legal
» To make the the whole lot legal
essentially.
>> Right.
» Right.
>> And that's not just this location.
» And that's not just this location.
That's assuming businesses don't extend
their hours.
The other businesses that are there
could extend their hours.
Theoretically correct?
>> That's always possible, yes.
» That's always possible, yes.
>> I'm just saying that
» I'm just saying that
kind of go by what the president's
saying, you know.
>> So, if if you remember
» So, if if you remember
uh maybe two three months ago I had a
resident only parking sign put on the
right hand side coming
>> Yes, that's why I'm not yeah.
» Yes, that's why I'm not yeah.
>> Be- because fire apparatus could not get
» Be- because fire apparatus could not get
through.
People, I mean, listen, I'm on that
street I go up and down that street 10
times a day other day.
>> Right.
» Right.
>> Fire apparatus could not get through.
» Fire apparatus could not get through.
So, I had a no parking sign put there.
Uh
kind of put some of the people back into
the parking lot a little bit. It's not
so bad, but now they're on the opposite
side of the street.
>> Right.
» Right.
>> Coming all the way down.
» Coming all the way down.
So,
you know, it's a combination. There's
one house over there that has eight
cars. And between those eight cars and
everybody else that's parking, the two
people who are who are leaving
>> Of course.
» Of course.
>> park their cars.
» park their cars.
>> And you guys going to be okay
» And you guys going to be okay
to open with with such a
limited
not so
ideal parking situation?
I don't I I want to see you guys be
treated unfairly either. That's That's
>> Thank you. Um my name is August Bogner
» Thank you. Um my name is August Bogner
This is Genesis Sanchez. We're the
owners of the game house.
>> Oh, nice. Thank you.
» Oh, nice. Thank you.
>> Um to your question, um
» Um to your question, um
if this is not approved tonight, it will
not be okay.
>> Right, right. And I'm saying like I have
» Right, right. And I'm saying like I have
no problem. Like we're going to do
whatever you can to let you get you guys
open, right?
But I'm saying going forward
like
you know, you're going to have people
coming there and see there's no parking.
You know, and they might not visit your
your business cuz
it's it's such a packed
little building.
>> Sure, if I may. Um so I think one of the
» Sure, if I may. Um so I think one of the
points that we had raised earlier had
been raised at the earlier hearings is
that So we operate from 5:00 in the
afternoon to 9:00 in the afternoon
Monday through Friday and then 2:00 p.m.
to 10:00 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays and
we find ourselves at the game house
every weekend sort of, you know,
polishing things up and getting things
ready that need to be and we there's
plenty of parking at least on the
weekend. I'm not sure when the
complaints are coming in if it's during
the daytime more frequently than not,
but in terms of the weekend traffic in
that area, it's significantly decreased.
We never have an issue with parking
whatsoever. The lot is always empty. In
fact, whenever we're there on Saturdays
and Sundays and that would be our peak
hours. We're also targeting the students
from Rhode Island College that are
nearby from Providence College, from
North Providence High School. And so the
hope is that people would just come to
us walking or carpooling and have less
needs. And my understanding is that the
parking variance was for actually six
spaces um because we are one combined
spots. We would only need six additional
spaces, but again, given our experience
there
every weekend for the last six months
while we wait on the process, I I don't
think that there's a parking
problem on the weekends at least as
>> I agree with you.
» I agree with you.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
>> And nighttime it's it's it's much easier
» And nighttime it's it's it's much easier
to get in and out. Um If if you can stay
vigilant have people park in the back.
>> Absolutely.
» Absolutely.
>> Listen, I I want to see you guys being
» Listen, I I want to see you guys being
in business. Great kid. I want to see
you guys being in business. I just you
know, we have to I we have to worry
about the neighbors.
They're just as important as everybody,
you know.
>> Absolutely, and we understand and that's
» Absolutely, and we understand and that's
our our hope is really that they get
their sign tonight because if it gets
referred and we've been waiting for
about 6 months just sort of in the
evolution of this process
for permitting. I think we submitted our
business application back in February
and so it's just we're really struggling
because the bills are still coming and
there is no income being generated and
as you see from the pamphlets that are
at in front of you, there's a lot of
interest, media, people, the community
and so we really just need a chance to
to get to exist.
>> Mayor, Mayor, so um
» Mayor, Mayor, so um
Mayor.
Mayor, is Bernie still here? Well, can
we have DPW put up the two signs
and I'll I'll have an ordinance meeting
within the next 2 weeks so they can open
and then I'll pass the the no parking
signs cuz they've been waiting.
Yeah.
» [clears throat]
>> You can get with me if you like and
» Yep.
>> Thank you. We'll take care of it. You'll
» Thank you. We'll take care of it. You'll
be all set.
» We'll help you be successful.
>> Thank you, sir.
» Thank you, sir.
>> We can see.
» We can see.
>> All right. All right, so
» All right. All right, so
Thank you, Mayor.
That's very helpful. So, they'll put up
I'll expedite the
the ordinance process.
You guys okay with that?
>> Yeah, absolutely. I was just How many
» Yeah, absolutely. I was just How many
square feet is this?
>> It's about 1,200, but do you have floor
» It's about 1,200, but do you have floor
plans? So, I think you might have a more
exact Not there.
>> You still have the pictures and great
» You still have the pictures and great
marketing the free parking sign up.
>> You know
» You know
>> You got a good concept going there. It's
» You got a good concept going there. It's
a place for people to go. So, I agree
with, you know, getting getting it open
and we need more businesses like this.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> Okay, okay, wait. Excuse me.
» Okay, okay, wait. Excuse me.
>> Can I make a motion to dispense with the
» Can I make a motion to dispense with the
ordinance now?
>> I I will if you want, you know.
» I I will if you want, you know.
All right, so
>> I'll do it.
» I'll do it.
>> All right.
Just uh
Yeah, just to make a motion to dispense
with the reading of the ordinance.
>> Uh I want to make a motion to dispense
» Uh I want to make a motion to dispense
with the reading of the ordinance.
>> So moved.
» So moved.
>> Second.
» Second.
>> Motion been made by Councilman
» Motion been made by Councilman
DeLorenzo, seconded by Councilman
Vaccola. And a motion by Councilman
DeLorenzo to introduce
ordinance 26-013.
» So, so that we're all clear
B Spoke's can now open.
>> Well, yes, but I I asked
» Well, yes, but I I asked
>> Borrow.
» Borrow.
>> Well, they're going to make just make
» Well, they're going to make just make
sure everything from the business
perspective is
>> Business license license
» Business license license
>> License and all that. Yeah.
» License and all that. Yeah.
>> And your your building permit is
» And your your building permit is
>> I mean, everything
» I mean, everything
>> Do you have a building permit?
» Do you have a building permit?
>> Everything on the portal is up to date.
» Everything on the portal is up to date.
>> Yes.
» Yes.
>> But this is just a printout. I'm going
» But this is just a printout. I'm going
to have the clerk
make sure everything's
You know, you guys have everything you
need, but is it if there's anything
she can think of, you know, just check
with her before you do anything.
>> Yeah, we'll we'll get anything done that
» Yeah, we'll we'll get anything done that
needs to get done as quickly as
possible.
>> Invite us to the grand opening.
» Invite us to the grand opening.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> All right.
» All right.
>> I will. Thank you.
» I will. Thank you.
>> Okay, a motion's been made, seconded.
» Okay, a motion's been made, seconded.
All those in favor?
» Motion.
» Okay.
>> I'm going to challenge DeLorenzo.
» I'm going to challenge DeLorenzo.
>> Look, I I got to do one of them now.
» Item number 16, Good Energy, John
O'Rourke like to address the
>> So, uh as far as the residential parking
» So, uh as far as the residential parking
signs, we're going to take care of it. I
don't need to make any motions to do
that.
>> No, you just got to meet him and tell
» No, you just got to meet him and tell
him where you got to go.
And then I'll take care of that. We just
We got to It's not enforceable until we
pass this.
>> I know that.
» I know that.
>> All right.
» All right.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> Okay, uh President would like to address
» Okay, uh President would like to address
the council once again concerning
community electric aggregation. Thank
you.
>> President O'Rourke, Tillo, members of
» President O'Rourke, Tillo, members of
the council, uh thank you for letting us
come before you today.
Um my name is John O'Rourke.
My associate, Steve Di Natale.
Uh if you remember, uh we appeared
before you on December the 3rd, uh gave
you a presentation at that point in
time. Much of the presentation I have
for you tonight is that same
information. So, rather than rehash that
information and in the interest of time,
I'm going to go directly to the last
page, which is the key points of these
programs.
All you're doing by putting together a
community choice electricity program
is forming a buying group
that gives your residents and small
businesses another choice for getting
their electricity. It also gives them
increased buying power to move forward
with uh large uh supplies of electricity
that want their business.
Participation is voluntary.
There is never any
um
uh fee or termination
uh charge to get out of the program once
they're in the program.
Um
these programs provide increased
protection from unscrupulous
um marketers of electricity,
particularly for those seniors that may
be preyed upon
uh by those those individuals.
There's no cost to the town.
Essentially, uh uh Uh,
we would as consultant to put these
plans together, we're paid by the
competitive supplier.
What I'll do now is open it up for
questions.
>> Mr. O'Rourke.
» Mr. O'Rourke.
I'm in the program with you now.
Walk me through how I
if I choose to want to withdraw and how
long that process will be.
>> To uh, to opt out of the program,
» To uh, to opt out of the program,
uh, there's a website that's set up that
you can go to to fill out a form or you
can call the supplier directly, you can
call us directly, and on your next meter
read you're out.
» Okay, I'm just trying to play the
devil's advocate. I'm I'm
75 years old, not computer literate,
don't have websites that can Okay. I can
call you, speak to a human being.
>> Absolutely.
» Absolutely.
>> And and easily be opted out.
» And and easily be opted out.
>> That's correct.
» That's correct.
>> Councilman.
» Councilman.
>> All right.
» All right.
We've we've heard uh, the pitch I think
enough times that everybody understands.
What I want to understand is
we're going to look like heroes if the
numbers make sense. We're going to look
like
villains if the numbers don't make
sense. So, the last year, 3 years, 5
years, you've beaten Rhode Island Energy
or you're not beating Rhode Island?
>> We've beaten Rhode Island Energy. And
» We've beaten Rhode Island Energy. And
just just as a matter of um,
information, I'm not sure whether you're
aware of this, but Rhode Island Energy
as of October 1st is going to 17 cents
for residential rate.
Uh, our
Rhode Island buying group is at 13
cents.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
I will say this. I I know you guys came
and several other companies have. In
December, you guys came in October,
another group came.
Those and we put it in the finance
committee.
What happened was, and I know you were
elected at some point, our budget came
out.
And as you know, you know, this year was
a controversial budget, so we put a lot
of this stuff on hold until we finished
up our budget. So, I will be having some
finance committee meetings in the next
month or so to start looking at the
numbers that you just Maybe we can go
into those in more
>> Yeah, there's there's no cost to the
» Yeah, there's there's no cost to the
town.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
>> Just so I understand again, and I
» Just so I understand again, and I
request
everybody in town's going to be put into
this program. It's there they have to
opt out.
>> This is a This isn't This isn't opt-down
» This is a This isn't This isn't opt-down
program.
>> Everybody's going to be put in. It's
» Everybody's going to be put in. It's
their duty
to figure out
with many ways that you said how to opt
out.
>> There's a tremendous amount of
» There's a tremendous amount of
information given out before
the 30-day period where they have to opt
out. So, they're fully informed. The
letter that they get is fully
informational. Everything we do has to
be approved by the
Public Utilities Commission. So,
essentially, we're not we're not acting
alone. We're acting through through your
review and through the review of the the
PUC. Okay? And essentially,
again,
everyone is initially put into the
program
unless they picked a third-party
supplier.
And they they can opt out if they want.
Now, interestingly enough, Rhode Island
had an opt-in aggregation program for
many years that went nowhere because
suppliers will not bid on that kind of a
program.
So, it's an opt-down program. It's
basically
modeled on the Massachusetts program,
which was the first
municipal aggregation program in the
country and the one every successful law
in the country is based on right now.
>> So, it's not worth it for your company
» So, it's not worth it for your company
or any company to come in and have an
opt-in program.
No, it's
>> Which You can't You can't do it because
» Which You can't You can't do it because
nobody nobody else apply it.
» Okay, is there this motion to send it
back to the finance committee?
>> So moved.
» So moved.
>> Second.
» Second.
>> Motion been made by Councilman Bacalla,
» Motion been made by Councilman Bacalla,
seconded by Councilman Martone. All
those in favor? All those opposed? The
eyes have it. We'll let you know we're
going to have that meeting those
meetings soon. Thank you, gentlemen.
Thank you. Have a good night.
>> You got to do Colletti Farms.
» You got to do Colletti Farms.
>> I got to do it all.
» I got to do it all.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> Then I'll do Kennedy.
» Okay.
>> Where are we?
» Where are we?
>> Item number 26, Colletti Farms property.
» Item number 26, Colletti Farms property.
Councilman Pollock requests discussion
and possible vote on Colletti Farm
property.
Councilman?
>> So, may I say correct?
» So, may I say correct?
Mr. President, um
I think a lot of us thought we were in a
place that
there was an agreement with everybody
what's fine what was finally
going to go into that property.
And then we read the Valley Breeze
saying that the town respectfully
I don't know what the word is. Not
decline, but
you know, the grant.
Which
got a lot of calls to us from the
residents of the neighborhood.
Um
May I, if you don't mind, I'm not trying
to put you on the spot, but can you tell
us what transpired between
June meeting
the June special meeting we had last
year when everybody was kind of in
agreement that final program
to December?
Um
you know, we read that we were aware I I
know I wasn't aware that
the grant was turned back. And the other
part of the concern is the condition of
that property right now.
That's I know there's some residents
here, a couple that couldn't come.
But are we going to address the
condition of that property?
Sherry, hi.
I'm sorry, I didn't see you there, May.
I'm sorry.
» Good evening. How are you?
So, um in terms of where we stand with
the Colletti property, there are two
grants that are for Colletti. One of
them is through the Rhode Island
Infrastructure Bank, which is for phase
one design, and the other one will be
the HUD grant that we were awarded
through the earmark. Um and that's for a
million dollars. One can be used as a
match for the other.
Where we currently stand right now is we
have
the approved designs from town
council that were approved last
September, I believe. And we have just
gotten our extension with the Rhode
Island Infrastructure Bank so that we
can move ahead, and we are in the
process of bidding out for the design
for Colletti right now. We have the
concept, but we need the formal design.
» What happened between I think it was
June the special meeting
and December when that first grant
What was Was it the
DEM grant? I think.
>> The DEM grant, sure. So, when I came on,
» The DEM grant, sure. So, when I came on,
there was some conversation about the
DEM grant because unlike the other
grants, particularly federal grants,
there's not as much flexibility with the
DEM grants. So, by the time that final
design had been approved, the concept
was so vastly different than what we had
applied for that they considered it to
no longer be the same project. And so,
what was advised to us is simply don't
struggle with the grant you have,
withdraw without prejudice.
>> That's what I thought.
» That's what I thought.
>> Yes.
» Yes.
>> [laughter]
» [laughter]
>> And that means we can apply again
» And that means we can apply again
um once we have a better grasp of what
the design is actually going to look
like, everyone's in agreement. So, we've
moved quite a bit towards that goal um
of having that final design that was
approved and getting that extension so
that we could go ahead and start bidding
for the formal design process.
>> I I I appreciate you coming in the
» I I I appreciate you coming in the
explanation. I think
some of us, if not all, were just kind
of caught off guard reading the Valley
Breeze that
>> Sure.
» Sure.
>> knew
» knew
when myself, I didn't know.
>> Right.
» Right.
>> When I got the calls,
» When I got the calls,
I had no answers for them because I I
did not know that that grant was
>> Yeah, sure.
» Yeah, sure.
Well, I would love to make myself
available for any type of finance
committee meeting that can be scheduled.
I've got reports waiting for you. I can
tell you more about how I do things, why
my position is different than just being
a grant writer. I'm the actual
grants manager, so there are other
elements to what I do that, you know,
what you may not be used to
in the recent past. I'm more than happy
to go over anything in detail. My office
is right across the hall, so please feel
free to you know, call on me and I will
explain everything to you.
>> As I didn't know,
» As I didn't know,
they have any questions. You know what I
mean?
>> Are there any residents that have any
» Are there any residents that have any
questions?
» Uh Michael Porter, Hamlin Street.
I think the most
um
yeah,
biggest point that I wanted to make
right now was that Larry Feeney and I,
Larry can't be here tonight, he's on
vacation, went to sit down with the
mayor
uh
back in November 25th.
We had a discussion as far as what was
going on with all the dirt coming in.
There's more and more and more dirt and
it continued.
The mayor made a phone call and said
there wouldn't be any more dirt,
but it kept on coming.
And it kept on coming all the way until
the weather changed.
And then that was the end of it.
And then in March, it started coming
again, which we're assuming was coming
from Richie for the new athletic turf
field.
Right now, when we walk out my front
door, I have a 60-ft mountain of dirt.
All grown over with grass.
When you go down to the back, there was
a duck farm a duck pond back there.
There's starting to get beer cans back
there.
There's kids going up and down the hills
on their bikes, and somebody's going to
get hurt
because this keeps getting put off and
off and off.
Now, one of the last
uh Breeze articles, the mayor was noted
on saying this would be taken care of
soon.
Eventually,
the land would be
uh made even, plowed out,
get rid of the mountains.
But, that hasn't happened.
And personally, um
with that back end, with the neighbors
back there with the drainage problems,
he's already mentioned that that
backside will probably have to go up on
concrete slabs 11 ft.
So, it's just not a matter of taking
that dirt and spreading it out.
It's going to have to be done nicely so
nobody gets flooded on the other end of
the street, the other end of the
property.
That's a big concern.
Hamlin Street right now,
okay, Hamlin Street was going to be
taken care of.
They put down a load of the gravel tar
on it,
which is
giving away slowly, but giving away. And
right now, to get to Only Street on
Hamlin, all the brush and everything is
all grown in.
So, the DPW or somebody has to get out
there and clean it back so cars can get
down it.
I've already done the tree on the corner
of my property because there was vines
hanging down from it, and I couldn't
even pull out.
So,
Hamlin Street uh uh we've been there
since 2002.
Hamlin Street there's two maps of roads
in the town. Hamlin Street is not on one
of them.
For the big blizzard of last winter, I
had to call,
and then
Councilman had to come down, and
he brought people with us to get the
snow plowed.
And that's the same condition that
street is in right now.
Instead of snow, we have trees and
holes.
» [clears throat]
» Just want to see something.
Somebody's going to get hurt.
And I want to get rid of the eyesore.
You know, I was speaking to a friend of
ours who was a
uh a realtor,
and she was telling me how much this is
hurting the property value of my land
for this eyesore that's across the
street.
Not to mention the dust and the dirt and
everything else that blows across off
that mountain. Got to keep all our
windows closed and everything
because of the mess.
The other items I brought out about the
uh the money,
I know we lost the 400,000,
but if the other things are still open,
I I count that's almost like 4 and 1/2
million.
I think they said this was only going to
cost around two to have it done.
So,
thank you very much. That's all I got.
>> Thank you. Are there any other residents
» Thank you. Are there any other residents
that have any questions?
>> I I have a question.
» I I have a question.
>> Sure.
State your name, please.
>> My name's Joe Castellano.
» My name's Joe Castellano.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> I want to know, why does it take so long
» I want to know, why does it take so long
to get any project done?
I'm just saying in general.
Wha- why? Like what like
>> Hey, you're 100% not wrong.
» Hey, you're 100% not wrong.
>> Wha-
» Wha-
>> You're not wrong and it's it's a
» You're not wrong and it's it's a
municipal, state you know, if we could
build
>> No, but but why not have plans? Wha-
» No, but but why not have plans? Wha-
>> No, no, I I understand what
» No, no, I I understand what
>> When you build a house, you don't just
» When you build a house, you don't just
say
>> That's that's what I'm saying, you know.
» That's that's what I'm saying, you know.
>> That's what I'm saying. Wha- why? Like
» That's what I'm saying. Wha- why? Like
we should have plans done.
We're talking
>> Well, we we need
» Well, we we need
>> the ball field where Mr. Carci was
» the ball field where Mr. Carci was
president.
All right. I spoke to Nick.
I think what you should do down here is
you put the girls softball down here and
you put the football at Stephen O'Leary.
>> I
» I
>> All right? I mean, you're still going to
» All right? I mean, you're still going to
have parking issues. Don't get me wrong.
All right? But it's an open area.
>> Mhm.
» Mhm.
>> It's a big open area. You can
» It's a big open area. You can
you know,
and then the other thing is when they
use the high school field, the how long
is that turf going to last? 10 years?
>> Right.
» Right.
>> Then what happens?
» Then what happens?
>> Right.
» Right.
>> Mayor, you want to pay for it?
» Mayor, you want to pay for it?
I'm just because I mean, what do we do
with the money? Do we charge them
to use the field?
>> I I
» I I
Councilman O'Leary, I think the mayor
they they
did some nice work.
>> They did.
» They did.
>> Recently down at Neil F. Second and Ivan
» Recently down at Neil F. Second and Ivan
Street.
And the Jets are happy they extended the
I mean, we made the you moved the
telephone poles back. So, the Jets are
happy there.
Do you know, we've gone to the girls
softball games and I think at times they
got two or three games going at the same
time.
So, you couldn't fit them
over at that location.
>> Um
» Um
>> It well, we've been there
» It well, we've been there
[clears throat] with the
>> I I listen, I coach girls softball.
» I I listen, I coach girls softball.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
>> So, you could fit two or three games
» So, you could fit two or three games
>> How many How many kids are in that
» How many How many kids are in that
league?
>> In what?
» In what?
>> In girls softball.
» In girls softball.
>> I don't know. 40
» I don't know. 40
40 cops. You have two fields you can
use.
>> Right.
» Right.
>> Or you did. I don't know what the mayor
» Or you did. I don't know what the mayor
has done, but you had two fields there.
>> Are you talking about Coletti?
» Are you talking about Coletti?
You're talking about Coletti Farm?
>> No.
» No.
>> No, no, I'm talking about Knights of
» No, no, I'm talking about Knights of
Columbus field.
>> Yeah, we we you got to stick to Coletti
» Yeah, we we you got to stick to Coletti
Farm though. That's this agenda right
on.
>> Well, I'm just I'm but I'm just saying
» Well, I'm just I'm but I'm just saying
>> I know I know what you're saying. Yeah,
» I know I know what you're saying. Yeah,
I understand.
>> But my point is it takes forever
» But my point is it takes forever
>> You're you're not wrong.
» You're you're not wrong.
>> I just don't understand.
» I just don't understand.
>> But I I will say
» But I I will say
>> give me an answer.
» give me an answer.
>> Can I have a minute to explain?
» Can I have a minute to explain?
You're not wrong.
We collectively with the mayor's office
came up with a a plan for a field.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> The neighbors did not want that. And I
» The neighbors did not want that. And I
understand. So then we changed the plan
again. This is the fourth iteration of
the plan.
>> tell the people, "Guess what? We didn't
» tell the people, "Guess what? We didn't
want because of you we lost money. So
here's what's going to happen."
>> No, no, but I'm explaining it to you.
» No, no, but I'm explaining it to you.
And then we have a bidding process that
we have to go through. It's not like
when I built my house, I can just go buy
the wood. We have to go to bid for it.
We have to It's Trust me, it's very
frustrating.
>> how can we streamline this? Why not go
» how can we streamline this? Why not go
out to bid first? Like how can we
streamline this? Why not go out to bid
first? Like how can we streamline this?
>> If you want to come to the state house
» If you want to come to the state house
with me and argue that point, I'll you
I'll take you with me tomorrow.
>> [laughter]
» [laughter]
>> But I'm just saying, WHY CAN'T WE
» But I'm just saying, WHY CAN'T WE
streamline it?
>> Yeah, you're not
» Yeah, you're not
>> We want to put a whatever baseball
» We want to put a whatever baseball
field, football field.
I mean we can get a nice complex over
there
at the high school.
Okay?
But it's half done.
It's half done.
>> Oh, I know. I played on that field. I I
» Oh, I know. I played on that field. I I
I I I
>> I coached down there. It's half done.
» I coached down there. It's half done.
Why didn't we do the whole field?
Now you wouldn't have problems if it was
all I I mean I don't know what happened.
I You did it, you know what I mean, with
that project.
Um
That's all I'm saying. If then you
wouldn't be in this mess if you guys
just did something.
Spend a little while I mean
I I don't get it.
>> So Bronco light, so
» So Bronco light, so
Um I think Sherry mentioned about
finance committee. It's something that
we could I can make a motion at least
send the Coletti project to finance.
>> Yep.
» Yep.
>> I I make put that in form of a motion.
» I I make put that in form of a motion.
>> Okay, motion's been made by Councilman
» Okay, motion's been made by Councilman
Pollick. Is there a second?
>> Second.
» Second.
>> Seconded by Councilman Bacall. All those
» Seconded by Councilman Bacall. All those
in favor?
>> Aye.
» Aye.
>> All those opposed? The ayes have it.
» All those opposed? The ayes have it.
>> One more motion. Can we just uh
» One more motion. Can we just uh
maybe notify DPW to at least see if they
can move down and kind of trim along
that Hamlin Street area and to make it a
little more accessible.
>> Okay, mo- motion's been made by
» Okay, mo- motion's been made by
Councilman Pollick to contact DPW about
the
overgrowth at Hamlin Street
and seconded by Councilman Bacall. All
those in favor?
>> Aye.
» Aye.
>> All those opposed? The ayes have it.
» All those opposed? The ayes have it.
Thank you.
>> We need to talk with Sherry.
» We need to talk with Sherry.
>> No.
» No.
>> Oh.
» Oh.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
18, Brook Farm Bridge. Kenneth Con-
Conti, Kenneth Conti. I'd like an update
on the bridge on Brook Farm Road.
>> I'll tell them excuse me, Mr. President.
» I'll tell them excuse me, Mr. President.
>> Hi.
» Hi.
>> Thank you, Councilors uh hearing me
» Thank you, Councilors uh hearing me
tonight.
>> One second. I have to recuse myself from
» One second. I have to recuse myself from
this item.
>> Okay, just note for the record
» Okay, just note for the record
Councilman Fielder is re- uh
recusing.
>> Sorry.
» Sorry.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> I'm Ken Conti, uh 9 Carriage Way.
» I'm Ken Conti, uh 9 Carriage Way.
Um I was uh before the Town Council
about I think it was 4 months ago
and um
identified the issue of the bridge over
at Brook Farm Drive that leads the road
that leads to uh Birchwood Middle School
and the entranceway that leads Farm
uh plat.
Um you know, the issue was
that there's an issue with the bridge um
structure, I suppose. And um
you know, it's been there. There's been
a temporary plate over that area.
Um I think this is the 2-year
anniversary of it, actually.
Um and you know, nothing's really been
tangibly done on this. Um,
at the last meeting back in March, um, I
understand that the mayor came up and
identified a potential solution and was
hopeful that
by today that we would actually see
something
uh, going on there. Um, but yet there's
still nothing uh, tangibly going on. Um,
you know, it's it's an issue that I
assume
there's a reason why those plates were
put there. It has to be a I assume it's
a safety issue.
Right? Why else would you put plates
over a bridge? Um, i.e. the bridge or
the the big bridge over there in
Providence. Um,
there's got to be a structural problem.
Something's going on. It's been there
for 2 years now. Those plates aren't
going to last. That's not a permanent
fix. Right? Um, I feel as though if I
didn't come before this board the
council 4 and 1 ago,
status quo would be status quo. Nothing
would be going on. Um, I did call the
uh,
town engineer who we have on retainer,
David DeMico.
Um, we had a good discussion. He did
explain to me, um, I think it was about
a month ago I spoke with him, that um,
the town is now seeking a uh, they moved
some money from the EPA from West River
uh, restoration area,
um, to move it for this project cuz he
he indicated to me that it's going to be
a very expensive project just the
permitting alone. Um, it's going to be
six figures. I was kind of surprised at
that.
Um,
but you know, it's it's an issue that
you know, people in the plat don't like,
right? We we have we we pay a lot in
taxes, right? North Providence, second
highest tax rate. Just got my tax bill.
Went up.
And you know, we pay a lot of taxes. We
ex- the expectation is that the services
from our town are going to meet those
taxes that we pay.
Um
and repairs like this should be done on
a timely manner. Um it's a matter of
public safety, from my opinion.
Um
those plates, uh from what I understand,
I don't know, maybe I'm not sure if
anyone on the council knows. I'm sure
the mayor can let us know.
I don't think we own those plates. I
think we rent them.
So, I think there's a payment that we
make,
whatever, to rent those plates.
Um there's a cost there that's going on
for 2 years now.
Uh I'm not saying that's going to cover
the cost of the replacement of the
bridge or repair of the bridge, but
um there are certainly solutions out
there that we shouldn't be should be
further progressed than it is right now.
Um I understand that there may be not a
lot of communication from the town
to the council on this.
I don't I personally don't understand
why.
Um
I understand it's up to the mayor to run
this town, and I, you know, commend him.
He's doing a great job for
20 plus years.
Um I've always been on the mayor's side
on on many things. Um but at this this
point, I think that this this has gone
on, you know, like I said, it's been 2
years. And we we kind of joke and we
call it the mini the mini Greystone
project there.
And uh you know, it's it's it's still
access, but again, there is a concern
that, you know, there's a reason why
that's that those plates aren't going to
last forever. And I think that um we
should identify,
you know, some
tangible schedule
to the replacement of the bridge. You
know, I understand that um there's some
form of a grant or whatever,
but there's got to be money somewhere
for emergency fund that can, you know,
push this along. We don't even have a
design yet.
Um
you know, there are certainly structural
engineers out there who can come up with
a a solution. Um my company is a civil
engineering company.
Um we just we were in the process of
doing a project. Um we're not structural
engineers, but we have a project where
there's a similar issue where there's a
a major culvert that replaced a a stream
for about 2,000 linear feet, which is a
lot more than this bridge.
And it was an issue that we wanted to
put a parking lot over this culvert, and
it wasn't it was you know, 100 years
old.
And um the structural engineer came in
with came up with a design to do an
insert inside the culvert to improve the
structure of it and not have to rebuild
the whole culvert just for the parking
lot.
You know, this maybe that's a solution
here. Cuz I I, you know, I'm not sure
what the answer is, but I think you you
got to get it go out to bid and get some
ideas of prices, I would assume, before
you can uh you know, come up with a
solution and
find out what it's going to cost, cuz
right now I don't think anybody knows
how much it's going to cost to replace
that. And I I think that should be
really the starting
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
Does anybody have any questions for Ken
while he's up here?
>> I don't want to talk about Ivan Field.
» I don't want to talk about Ivan Field.
>> Mayor, do you do you have any updates
» Mayor, do you do you have any updates
you can you can provide for us?
» Hi, again.
Um so, Brook Farm Bridge, yes. It is
obviously a priority. When I came on, I
was made aware of its priority, and one
of the first thing I did was I applied
for an earmark grant. However,
probably to the point the last gentleman
made, as you know, earmark grants can
take about a year to to be approved. So,
that's like
too far down the road.
We had also been approved for an earmark
grant for the West River Parkway, which
is right near the Brook Farm Road
Bridge.
I attended the
mandatory webinar, and I found out that
we could do something called a technical
correction if we wanted to change the
scope of the project. See, every grant
is different in what they allow you to
do. So, these people said the EPA said
you can do that.
So, I contacted the person that I
normally speak to. We started the
process of the technical correction. It
looks like it's going to be
I can't speak prematurely. That wouldn't
be right, but it's going in the right
direction. Let's just say it's really
going in the right direction. I spoke to
her again today. Not only can we
probably get a technical correction that
will allow us to use the funds for the
Brook Farm Road Bridge and the larger
area's stormwater issues,
but it's looking like we will be exempt
from the environmental review and any
match requirements. So, I've been
working on that with them as well. So,
if this goes through, it looks like it
could be another two or three months. Um
but, yeah, nothing gets done quickly. It
does take a very long time. Um I can't
speak to anything else in the budget
because I just deal with the grants, but
I can tell you I've been working very
hard to see if we can get some funds in
our hands much sooner than, you know,
the year to two years it would take if
we went through the entire formal
earmark process.
» Any questions for Sherry? Dana, I have
one.
>> Councilman?
» Councilman?
>> Sherry, when we apply for these grants,
» Sherry, when we apply for these grants,
and and thank you for go moving forward
on this.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> Are they
» Are they
When we apply, should it be shovel
ready? In other words, we get approved
and we go to work on it.
>> There's a process. So,
» There's a process. So,
in the beginning, you're alerted to the
fact that there's earmarked money for
you, and you're told that you can
propose a general idea, a general
budget. It's not a very detailed
application.
You submit that, and it goes through the
steps of General Assembly, then to, you
know, on and on and on and on.
If your project is approved, that does
not mean that you should be
shovel-ready. That's just the beginning.
What you have to do next is obligate the
money.
And that's where you sort of go through
the conversations of, "Okay, well, we
said that we were going to do this
project, but now let's talk about it in
specifics."
Once you get the specifics of that
project, you get the specific budget of
that project, you can obligate the
money, you submit that final
application, and then the project gets
moving. So, it's multi-tiered in what
you have to do.
Um I'm at the point right now where
several of the earmarks that were
approved now have to be obligated, and
the full applications have to be
written. And I'll talk to you more about
that when you call me up for my my item,
but that's pretty much what I'm in the
process of doing. So, there's multiple
grants.
>> So, so my question is kind of
» So, so my question is kind of
double.
>> Uh-huh.
» Uh-huh.
>> It's two.
» It's two.
I understand, great explanation. Do we
have a plan? Do we know what we're going
to do to this bridge?
>> For Brook Farm Bridge? We're in the
» For Brook Farm Bridge? We're in the
middle of discussing different options,
but I haven't really been involved in
the discussions for the specific types
of, you know,
We are going to We're going to have to
go back to bid
>> Yep.
» Yep.
>> if we are allowed to do this technical
» if we are allowed to do this technical
correction, and it's going to have to be
for structural design. Um there's
possibilities of saving money in certain
ways that we've been talking about. Um
but the specific plan as of yet kind of
hinges on whether or not we get the
technical correction and how much we
have to incorporate of the surrounding
area. But we are working on definitely
working on ideas to getting this bridge
done as quickly as possible.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
Any other questions?
May.
» The only thing I The only thing I
[clears throat] can guarantee everyone
here, and especially Mr. Conti,
that's safe.
It's not an issue where it's not safe.
I'll clear that up with you.
And
the discussion now is whether that
bridge is going to be built on site
or because of the size of it not being
that built big,
if it's going to be built
in someone's
welding yard.
And once it's built,
just dropped in place.
Which would mean that that road won't be
closed for that long.
Because if the bridge is built on site,
it's going to take
considerably longer time.
These are all all the discussions at
this point in time.
Now, I will tell you this,
if we can't
get that transfer of the funds,
then we will be back to you
uh asking for
the money.
But at this point in time, being that
it's safe and it's not an issue
uh of safety, uh we feel we're moving in
in the right direction. And that's what
I got to report to you at this time.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> May, do we have any price on it a
» May, do we have any price on it a
ballpark on how much that the
>> The last [clears throat] I was told
» The last [clears throat] I was told
Steve is somewhere around 6-700,000
dollars which is hard to believe because
a bridge is not that big but
That's what it is.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> Okay. Any other questions?
» Okay. Any other questions?
>> Can I
» Can I
talk a little bit?
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> First of all, I appreciate again the
» First of all, I appreciate again the
mayor giving us that update.
Um
but quite frankly, the fact that
take your word if you're
certain things but you're telling me
it's safe but there's a reason why those
plates are there. It must not be safe.
That's my opinion. Okay, it's my
opinion. Mayor has his own opinion.
>> wanted to make sure it was safer than
» wanted to make sure it was safer than
what was there.
>> Are we renting those?
» Are we renting those?
>> Yes, we are.
» Yes, we are.
>> From from DOT? Is that
» From from DOT? Is that
>> I want to say it's
» I want to say it's
uh the company of
>> That's all right. You
» The point is I really don't know what
the issue is. I From what I understand
there's some substandard concrete that
was
uh poured that was used that was not
um
sufficient for that type of use. Is that
Oh, yeah. It was before the mayor.
Yeah, I have nothing to do with it. It's
his job to fix the problem,
unfortunately.
Um I I just think that at this point we
should go out for at least the design
and have a concrete idea of how it's
going to be corrected. Right now, I From
what I understand, I don't doesn't sound
like
there's no one working on a design. We
don't have a structural engineer.
There's hasn't been a survey made
uh performed on it. Um you know, we need
all those things done now so that if the
money does get allocated, it can be done
a little bit quicker.
Um yeah, that's all I I would ask that
the council consider trying to at least
coordinate with the mayor. If he does
have to come and ask you for money, I'm
sure you're going to want to see a
design. So, at least let's try and get
that on a little bit further. It's not a
lot of money, I don't think, to do that,
personally.
>> It's a good Okay.
» It's a good Okay.
All right. I think, you know, Councilman
Bacalao put in the form of a motion to
start working on a to send a letter to
the mayor.
>> May as well just start working on
» May as well just start working on
>> the conceptual design.
» the conceptual design.
>> Conceptual design and see where we're
» Conceptual design and see where we're
going to go from and start getting some
cost. Did Did you want to say something,
Lori?
The motion has been made by Councilman
Councilman Bacalao, seconded by
Councilman LaPorte.
>> Hi, I'm Lori Conti.
» Hi, I'm Lori Conti.
I um live in Lees Farm.
So,
>> Do you know the address?
» Do you know the address?
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
>> Nine Carriage.
» Nine Carriage.
So, just to give you an example of
I mean, even maintenance of this
This is
currently what it looks like. Not even
like the DPW is keeping the bridge free
of debris, garbage, all along the sides,
and the other side as well. This is what
it looks like.
Um
just disgusting. Like I was in downtown
Providence and driving around in the
hood. That's how I feel for the amount
of taxes and the amount that my home is
assessed at.
I feel like this is
This is not
up to my standards and I don't think
it's up to everybody's standards that
drives in
to their
house in Lees Farm. And I'm sure
multiple people would agree. So, and I'd
like to maybe get an idea of what we're
spending on those plates, too, because
I'm sure those are not cheap to rent.
So, at some point, I will be back again.
We will be back, right? I'd like to know
what charge is for these plates.
So,
but um
No.
Uh and and secondly, it's a giant speed
bump. So, vehicles coming in and out
are taking
a hit, you know, every time you go over
it back and forth. I'm in and out of the
plot every
But, to me, you know, like I said,
the neighborhood in North Providence,
highest taxes we pay, we're third in the
state, second or third in the state.
This is
no.
Not good. It's just
just not
doesn't sit with me.
Um
and that's basically,
you know, and I'm sure
other people in the neighborhood,
whatever, I got the I have a big mouth.
I'll speak and say the truth, but um
that's basically anything else that
Yeah. No.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> I mean, houses in the plot are going 7,
» I mean, houses in the plot are going 7,
800,000 dollars. Does that look like
what you want to drive into?
Does that look like what you want to
drive into your neighborhood and look at
every day?
That's
ticks me off.
And I don't think,
you know,
» Okay, thank you. Any other councilman
>> I mean, action. It's been 2 years. The
» I mean, action. It's been 2 years. The
problem should have been addressed from
day one.
Should have been
found out what was structurally wrong
and then go on from there. But, we
kicked the can down the road like we did
with the other situation and the other
bridge. Now, we're in the junior stage.
So, thank you.
>> Thank you. Councilman
» Thank you. Councilman
>> Make a motion we just uh
» Make a motion we just uh
send a request to DPW to go down and
clean around those uh
barriers and just kind of
continue to maintain around that.
>> Okay, a motion has been made by
» Okay, a motion has been made by
Councilman Is there a second?
>> Second.
» Second.
>> Seconded by Councilman Baccala. All
» Seconded by Councilman Baccala. All
those in favor?
>> Aye.
» Aye.
>> All those opposed, the ayes have it.
» All those opposed, the ayes have it.
Item number 17, Centredale petition
petition on Centredale streetscape
bypass. Hector
Benacar.
I'd like to present a petition in
opposition to this issue.
Hector.
» Good evening, council.
I have Joyce here that is going to read
my petition of 269
citizens.
» Hello.
>> Hi. Could you state your name, please?
» Hi. Could you state your name, please?
>> My name is Joyce Casiba.
» My name is Joyce Casiba.
>> Thank you.
» All right. I am reading here a petition
um that Hector Boo Can Butanker
um put together and had 269 people uh
sign.
Uh it's called the Centredale bypass
petition
May 23rd, 2026.
North Providence Mayor Charles Lombardi
is in the process of negotiating a
change to Centredale bypass.
He is proposing a project in conjunction
with the Rhode Island Department of
Transportation
to create a two-way street in front of
the town hall
as opposed to keeping the current
one-way street.
The plan encompasses eliminating parking
on one side of the street to accommodate
the new central flow lane.
To this end
a federal grant of 1.7 million dollars
has been approved in 2024.
Grants manager Sherry Lepore
explained that the town of North
Providence would have to provide a 20%
match that equaling $425,000.
Mayor Lombardi and Councilman Mayor
Martone expressed hesitation in a May
town hall meeting
about going forward with the project
because their personal goal is to reduce
the town budget, not put added stress on
it with the 20% match.
I Hector
Betancourt
believe there are secret ulterior
motives behind the project that have not
been disclosed at this time.
I'll explain this in a town meeting.
We residents disagree with this project
because it does not help us. It would
benefit only a few businesses in
Centerdale
while putting the financial burden
on us municipal and federal taxpayers.
Hector Betancourt
» Thank you. Um
can you
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> Can you submit that petition? Can we
» Can you submit that petition? Can we
have a or a copy of it? Um
>> I I
» I I
>> I We have it. We have it. I'm sorry.
» I We have it. We have it. I'm sorry.
>> And then I bring I actually I email some
» And then I bring I actually I email some
of the councilman
the last three things.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
>> Which I try to make a call to you. I
» Which I try to make a call to you. I
like to get this park and then
be with my mayor.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
I I
But I I will say thank you and
Yes. Yeah. Thank you and I think
I think most of the council agree that
we do not want that as a two-way street.
So and I and I know and the mayor stated
too that he he that was just mentioned
in an article as part of a project, but
that was never There's no working with
the DOT or anything like that. So, we'll
keep an eye out on it for it, and thank
you for presenting that.
I know.
Thank you.
>> Can I
» Can I
Can I just say something?
>> Sure.
» Sure.
>> I would just like to point out that like
» I would just like to point out that like
in these meetings, which I'm very new
to, this is something very new to me,
but I think everybody all the taxpayers
should really open their eyes because
just in this one meeting alone, you guys
are planning discussing like I don't
know, like $6 million at least. He said
$4 million. This project's $2.4 million.
You got one meeting, you're talking
about $6 million, you know? It's a lot
of money, and everybody really needs to
pay attention, you know, to make sure
you know, everybody needs to be
accountable and everybody needs to pay
attention to who we put in office.
Although you guys all seem very nice.
Nothing personal. I just mean, you know,
I'd like to see more diversity on the
stage a little here. You know, it's
looks like all white, maybe all white
Italian men, I'm not quite sure. But I'm
just saying if there were women out
there,
um people of color, I think it would
more represent our community.
And also I just noticed and I've only
been to two meetings. I've noticed that
there's people coming up here like, "Oh
my god, this is going wrong and we've
complained and we've complained and why
is it being pushed back and why is this
being pushed back?" And they're right.
Our taxes are like the highest. They're
so high. On a middle class community,
it's even more of a burden because we're
not East Greenwich. This isn't East
Greenwich. This is like North
Providence.
Um
and I just think people really need to
pay attention to who they vote for. They
need to get out for elections and vote.
And put people in here that represent
all of us, you know? And you're you
know, you have people in here begging
for little things, but yet I've only
been here and you guys are talking about
project after project after project of
new things to be installed.
You know, it's just like your home. If
you don't If you can't keep up with your
current bills, don't make more bills
worth millions and millions of dollars.
And that's all.
>> Thank you very much. I do have a motion
» Thank you very much. I do have a motion
to accept the petition. After that's it.
>> So moved.
» So moved.
>> Motion been made by Councilman Baccari,
» Motion been made by Councilman Baccari,
seconded by Councilman Matone. All those
in favor?
>> I.
» I.
>> All those opposed? The eyes have it.
» All those opposed? The eyes have it.
Item number 19, speed bumps on Baird
Avenue. John Heckelman would like to
address the Town Council
regarding speed bumps on Baird Avenue.
» Good Good evening. John Heckelman, 49
Baird Avenue.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> Um
» Um
>> initiated this petition along Baird
» initiated this petition along Baird
Avenue.
The logistics are pretty simple.
When you start at Ward Avenue going
toward Mineral Spring,
you got Ward, Anderton, Atwood, Mineral
Spring. It's about a third of a mile.
And there's no impetus for any reduction
in speed for that third of a mile.
There are stop signs on Anderton and
Atwood and Ward, but once you get on
Baird, it's a straight shot, and you can
go, well, too fast, which is why we've
got this here. So, I wanted to bring
this to the attention of the council.
Spoke with uh
everybody I possibly could on Baird
Avenue. For all the eligible households
on Baird Avenue, we have about 86, 87%
that have signed for this.
So, when I was doing the
signatures July 25th, 26th, 27th, I was
doing sort of a a quick head count of
children that I saw on Baird Avenue.
10 to 15 that I saw during my times. So,
I think that's very important that we
get some sort of structure in there to
keep the speed down from the cars and
the mini bikes,
which are just zipping up and down like
crazy.
Along with that, we also have the
commercial structure that's going up on
the end of Baird Avenue,
which is only going to increase traffic
even more.
So, this is something that I feel is
very important for Baird Avenue to get
the speed down to keep it to
a safe level, because right now it's
really not between the cars and the mini
bikes that are going up and
and so they they use and so they they
use
one of the ways to do that.
>> Okay. So, you have the petition?
» Okay. So, you have the petition?
>> Uh yeah, that was
» Uh yeah, that was
>> No, no, no, I know. So, you have the
» No, no, no, I know. So, you have the
petition.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> There's always a second step. See, we
» There's always a second step. See, we
we're the vehicle to get the
conversation started. However, it is our
police department that has to actually
enforce the whether people are using,
you know, using the street, speeding
down the street, if the speed bump is
effective. So,
um
our police
do have a little bit of an issue with
putting a speed bump there. They did two
or three traffic studies, and so I think
this is something we have to discuss.
And I'll let you hear from the
lieutenant as to what their findings
were.
>> Okay.
» Hi.
All right. Back in March,
um
over a 10-day period, we did do conduct
a
traffic study. We had our trailers out
there. And over that 10-day period,
there was 4,157
vehicles that went down that street.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> Over 10 days.
» Over 10 days.
Um there was about four 415 cars going
down that street per day.
Um the average speed
was 17.13
mph. Um 50% of that people going down
the street were doing 16
mph.
85% of the people were doing 21
mph.
Um
I think it's something that we have to
take a look at. There may have been um
some construction during this period on
Lowe Spring Ave. that may have sent some
people down and slowed people down.
Um
but I'm open to revisiting it and uh
conducting another study.
>> What's the legal speed limit on Baird
» What's the legal speed limit on Baird
Ave.?
>> It's 20 25 mph.
» It's 20 25 mph.
>> 25?
» 25?
>> Yes.
» Yes.
There was a maximum speed.
There was one person who drove down 54
mph, which obviously is dangerous. Um
but like I said, the average speed was
about 16 mph.
>> Mr. Mr. Hinkelman.
» Mr. Mr. Hinkelman.
I know how are you.
So, I know we talked a little bit and
you had mentioned about the the
I don't want to say motorcycles, but
those bikes and whatnot. Yeah, this so
you're aware and I know the lieutenant
they're in the process of trying to
look into the issue of town-wide maybe
with ordinances to enforce that. That's
not just an issue on that street. I can
assure you that's an issue all over
town.
So, the
police department is working to try to
give them some
legal backbones to, you know, to enforce
that.
Also, that's that is one step.
>> What does enforcing look like though?
» What does enforcing look like though?
What would enforcement look like for
>> Well, the difficulties that we have now
» Well, the difficulties that we have now
is that they've created these e-bikes,
which don't fall under our current laws.
Uh our statutes are limited with that.
So, we have to revisit it. Um the town
of East Providence developed a an
ordinance that addressed most of those
concerns.
We have that ordinance in hand. We're
working on it. We're going to try to
address it.
» To eliminate
>> Not to enforce it, to give us more teeth
» Not to enforce it, to give us more teeth
to enforce. Um anything
>> Right now, is that considered like a
» Right now, is that considered like a
bicycle?
>> Yes.
» Yes.
>> So, it doesn't matter how fast he's
» So, it doesn't matter how fast he's
going. It doesn't have a registered
vehicle and it's not He could be doing
50 on his e-bike. And there's nothing to
stop him. He's well, he don't have an
engine on it, so
>> Right.
» Right.
>> And it's not registered, so what are you
» And it's not registered, so what are you
going to do? I'm telling him slow down.
Basically,
>> He's got to follow the traffic laws.
» He's got to follow the traffic laws.
We'd have to issue tickets like we would
somebody driving a bicycle. And we don't
do it that often.
But it it's it's obviously becoming an
issue. It's a statewide issue. It's a
country issue. They developed this these
e-bikes that go very fast and there's no
regulations on them.
>> And then they leave them places.
» And then they leave them places.
>> They leave them places and that's a
» They leave them places and that's a
whole other
Um it's something that we know, we're
aware of.
Um
we're enforcing what we can.
Uh
we have issues in our parks where
we have an ordinance that that says they
obviously can't ride them in the parks
and we're addressing that.
But on the streets,
if they're following traffic,
they're hard hard things for us to
enforce.
» But I think you're
you're sort of inviting
problems, especially on Bear Ridge,
you've got this straight shot, 3/8 of a
mile long,
with no impetus, no hindrance
uh to you slow down.
>> Yeah. No, it's We have several streets
» Yeah. No, it's We have several streets
like that, unfortunately.
Right.
>> And the children, like I said, there's
» And the children, like I said, there's
going to be increased traffic with the
commercial business that's going up at
the end of Bear.
» I think it's something that we'd like to
conduct another study
to see if it was
because of the time that we the period
that we conducted it, maybe
um
maybe things have changed.
So, it was back in March.
Um
definitely do another study and see
where we're at.
>> March of this
» March of this
>> Yes.
» Yes.
I'd like to entertain a motion uh to if
anyone would mind send this to ordinance
so we can
keep it on there, we can see something,
but also maybe the police doing them
make sure we make a motion just they do
another study for it for a month or
6 weeks anyway, whatever we can do to
get more data, just so we know what
we're dealing with.
>> Also, Lieutenant, could you uh possibly
» Also, Lieutenant, could you uh possibly
just You know, you guys are busy as it
is, but
in the meantime, try to increase the
enforcement in the area a little bit.
>> Yeah, we'll make sure we uh have some
» Yeah, we'll make sure we uh have some
nice posts up down there.
>> Talk to them on the weekends.
» Talk to them on the weekends.
>> Weekends. I'll second Councilman Carlos'
» Weekends. I'll second Councilman Carlos'
motion.
>> I'm I'm President Rinaldi, so I'm
» I'm I'm President Rinaldi, so I'm
>> Sorry, excuse me.
» Sorry, excuse me.
>> President I need someone to make the
» President I need someone to make the
motion.
>> Make the motion.
» Make the motion.
>> I'll make the motion.
» I'll make the motion.
>> Okay, motion's been made by Councilman
» Okay, motion's been made by Councilman
Field and seconded by Councilman
All in favor?
All right, the eyes have it.
>> I'll be happy to share this with you.
» I'll be happy to share this with you.
>> Welcome now.
» Welcome now.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> Take a look at it.
» Take a look at it.
>> Mr. Hagler, this I'm sorry Mr.
» Mr. Hagler, this I'm sorry Mr.
President.
If there's an issue in that neighborhood
and you get one of these bikes or
somebody's speeding up and down the
street, by all means call the police
department so they can get out there
right away.
» I'm good.
>> Good.
» Good.
Thank you.
Yeah.
» Hi, my name is James Piccolo. I also
live on Baird Ave, 47 Baird Ave, which
is right in the middle.
Um
about a year and a half ago
I woke up at 4:00 to go to work. So, I'm
getting ready and a police officer
knocks on my door because somebody
totaled my fiance's car right in front
of my house. They were speeding. They
fell asleep.
So, right there that's the damage which
is on the insurance companies, of
course, but it could have been avoided
if we do put in a speed bump, um
particularly at Atwood Ave
where it crosses from Baird.
Um there's a ice cream parlor at the end
of the street and there's tons of
families that walk to the ice cream
parlor every night in the summertime and
that is also a public safety risk if
somebody gets hit by a car.
Um
those are my two concerns. I walk my
dogs through the neighborhood all the
time and I have to pull them off the
road, so.
>> We're going to have the police conduct
» We're going to have the police conduct
another study. We're going to continue
this but not just going to
>> No, I understand.
» No, I understand.
>> We're not going to just say no. We're
» We're not going to just say no. We're
just going to
>> With all due respect to the um traffic
» With all due respect to the um traffic
study, if you see a big white metal
frame with something telling you how
fast you're going, you are going to slow
down.
And for 4,300 cars to go by in a week
uh or 10 days, I'm sorry. I leave my
house and I come home. I travel down
that street twice a day, so that's 100
times
uh
more than it should be for the whole
street.
There's only 40 units on the street.
All right.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> Okay, item number 20, Senadale
» Okay, item number 20, Senadale
Streetscape and Revitalization Project,
Sherri LaPointe, Grants Manager,
requests discussion and possible vote
regarding authorization
to enter into an agreement with DOT
regarding the Senadale Streetscape and
Revitalization Project. This item was
continued from the May Town Council
meeting.
>> Mr.
» Mr.
>> Mr. President, if I may. I have to
» Mr. President, if I may. I have to
recuse myself from this one.
>> note for the record, Councilman Failor
» note for the record, Councilman Failor
is recusing.
>> You get a deduction.
» Good evening. So, um picking up where we
left off a couple months ago,
a lot has developed. So, I'd like to
fill you in and hopefully get this
approved. Um
First of all, I'd like to clarify
anything that is still out there that
has to do with that contraflow lane that
we were discussing.
This is a $1.7 million grant. It would
never, ever cover the cost of removing
the bypass and creating a two-way
traffic pattern. What the conversation
had been was perhaps we could use some
of
the funding to do a feasibility study
and see what would make sense to make
the bypass area safer.
The reason this came up was because we
had done a revision of our
um
safety action plan in 2025.
And although it wasn't specifically
advised for us to change the traffic
pattern, it was noted that the bypass is
a high injury network. And it was
recommended, and this is public
information. You can find our
the whole document is on the RIPTA
website under Safe Streets for All. So,
it's public. It's there for everyone. Um
they did recommend that we look into
ways of making that area safer,
particularly for pedestrians. And so, it
was simply an idea that had come up in
discussion with DOT that maybe we could
see if it was feasible.
Based on the reaction that we got when
it was kind of mentioned just in
passing, I went back to the funder and
said it looks like at this point we're
going to stick to just the
beautification aspect of it, the
streetscape aspect of it. We're not
going to be doing anything with the
traffic patterns for now. So, it is back
to its original form. We're looking to
obligate the money so that we can do the
beautification projects.
The second concern that we had was
obviously the match. $425,000
is a big match.
Um since then, obviously, you've dealt
with the budget, and I've dealt with
things on my end.
I couldn't really tell you this at the
last meeting because the decision had
not been made yet, but I was able to get
grants that will cover the match. Um I
was given a $392,000
grant from Rhode Island Commerce, which
will allow us to do all of the uh
lighting in Centredale,
and that will serve as the match to the
$1.7 million. That combined with um
studies we have from Crossman
Engineering that we paid for several
years back when the project began.
It's covered. So, knowing that and
knowing that it's just back to a
beautification project, I would like to
request that the council sign to let us
progress with the project.
Sure, sure. Um as an added bonus,
the lighting that we are going to remove
from Centerdale so that we can replace
it with new lighting, many of those
lights are still functional and in very
good condition.
So, we're going to take those and we're
in in combination with another Rhode
Island Commerce Grant that was before my
time for Maryville,
we're going to actually be able to move
some of the lights we had from
Centerdale into Maryville.
And then we're actually also going to be
able to use some tree grants to plant
trees in Maryville. So,
we kind of have multiple projects that
are all going to be able to stem from
this sort of one larger project and we
can definitely utilize grant funding to
match each other. We've got a strategy
in place. So, um it looks like if we can
get one area done, we can start moving
into the next area.
>> I just have one question.
» I just have one question.
As far as the lighting in Centerdale, as
far as what we're looking at,
>> Yes.
» Yes.
>> do we have cuz before we go out and ask
» do we have cuz before we go out and ask
for money, we got to know what we're
spending what we're spending it on. And
like I think I made the comment of
doesn't need to be Paris, but also I
don't need it to be Beirut, either.
>> That's right.
» That's right.
>> So,
» So,
>> That's right. Um so,
» That's right. Um so,
>> Sorry to be blunt, but that's just the
» Sorry to be blunt, but that's just the
way I look at it.
>> But, you know, I don't I don't have any
» But, you know, I don't I don't have any
skin in the game, right? I just get I
get told the numbers and I get told what
we want. So, I can tell you that um
essentially our communications team is
the team that is in charge of the lights
lighting as well. They were able to give
me costs based on what they had recently
gotten quotes for.
Um and there were 101 lights in
Centerdale that need to be replaced. The
entire grant was for the replacement of
the lights plus whatever the cost would
be for our folks to Yeah, exactly.
>> Any way we can get a look at those or
» Any way we can get a look at those or
no?
>> Um I'm sure that I could see the
» Um I'm sure that I could see the
lighting that you know, I'm sure they
must have a catalog or something of some
sort. I don't have it on me, but I can
reach out and I can get it.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> Yeah, sure.
» Yeah, sure.
>> Any other questions?
» Any other questions?
Councilman
>> Yeah, so I know we saw the design
» Yeah, so I know we saw the design
last meeting. Was that design
um
created with that number in mind?
With with the with the grant number with
>> With the 1.7 million?
» With the 1.7 million?
This design that I have was created many
many many years ago. I don't know if it
was done in tandem with that idea. I'm
sure it informed the ask. Um I'm again,
I have to write the complete
application. If it's approved, then I
have to go in and say this is
specifically what we're doing with it.
Um I'm happy to share the binder with
you. It's got everything in it for the
grant and it's got the designs as well
and I think the date on them is from
2021.
>> Yeah, no I I mean I'm just saying what
» Yeah, no I I mean I'm just saying what
if that design comes in at
you know,
1.2 or what if it comes in at 2.5? You
know
>> Make sure that
» Make sure that
we have it funded and not
get out of hand so to say.
And
that was
portion of the
data.
So we'll
» Any other questions?
>> Can I ask a question?
» Can I ask a question?
>> Sure.
» Sure.
>> What's going to happen
» What's going to happen
>> George, you're supposed to ask it.
» George, you're supposed to ask it.
>> Oh.
I was just wondering what's going to
happen to the clock? What's going to
Nothing, it's just going to stay there?
That's that's cool.
Yeah, that's a
Are they going to be topiary?
You don't know.
Okay, well you seem to know a lot of
like all the numbers cuz you had to
present them to the government.
Do you know the annual maintenance
costs?
You don't have that? Oh my god. That's
important. That's very important.
Well, no, I'm just shocked that there's
not somebody here to talk about the
maintenance costs.
Does anybody have the maintenance costs?
Or know who would have the maintenance
costs?
>> Well,
» Well,
with all due respect, we don't know what
we picked yet, so you don't know what
the maintenance is going to be if we
don't even know what we're having.
>> each plan pitched should show the
» each plan pitched should show the
maintenance costs. I mean, you wouldn't
make a decision without knowing the
maintenance costs.
>> We'll probably have to take that into
» We'll probably have to take that into
consideration when we find out find out
>> Once we finalize
» Once we finalize
>> and we can
» and we can
>> Okay, I was just there were yeah, one of
» Okay, I was just there were yeah, one of
the reasons that like like I'm just
wondering like is the
changing it to the streetscape,
how much is that going to increase our
annual maintenance costs, you know? And
also if topiary are put out because I
think I saw a plan that had topiary. I
don't know if it's the same plan you
have there now cuz you're saying you
have a different plan than that was
presented from the lady in the purple
suit. Um is that a Do you know the lady
from the last meeting in the purple
suit? What was her name?
>> Once the decision's made, Mr. Chairman,
» Once the decision's made, Mr. Chairman,
from the council, then we'll know
what the maintenance costs would be.
>> So, you make a you make a decision
» So, you make a you make a decision
without knowing the maintenance costs?
>> We haven't made the decision yet. Made
» We haven't made the decision yet. Made
the decision
>> And will the public know about the
» And will the public know about the
maintenance costs before you make that
decision?
>> It's all here. It Yeah, we're ready to
» It's all here. It Yeah, we're ready to
>> It's all here?
» It's all here?
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> Where?
» Where?
>> It it be once we once we Yeah, once they
» It it be once we once we Yeah, once they
once they have
>> At another meeting, you'll discuss the
» At another meeting, you'll discuss the
maintenance cost prior to
>> Before we make a decision about
» Before we make a decision about
>> make a decision. I'm just curious about
» make a decision. I'm just curious about
that.
>> Just to address your concern, excuse me.
» Just to address your concern, excuse me.
Every single meeting we have is public.
>> As well.
» As well.
>> So, every meeting we've had we have is
» So, every meeting we've had we have is
public.
>> Yeah, I know. I know. I saw it on
» Yeah, I know. I know. I saw it on
YouTube.
>> about costs. So, like every cost of
» about costs. So, like every cost of
projects that
were brought up tonight have been
discussed in a public forum. I would say
close to 30 times prior to tonight.
>> Okay, but I don't think any maintenance
» Okay, but I don't think any maintenance
costs
>> No, no, no. We're talking about other
» No, no, no. We're talking about other
I'm saying other projects
>> talking about maintenance costs. That's
» talking about maintenance costs. That's
all.
>> We're I'm You keep saying that we're
» We're I'm You keep saying that we're
throwing around big numbers, but the
>> Well, no. In general, like millions and
» Well, no. In general, like millions and
millions of dollars.
>> You're You're right. Okay.
» You're You're right. Okay.
>> Yeah, that's a lot of money.
» Yeah, that's a lot of money.
>> We make all the plastic flowers. We
» We make all the plastic flowers. We
won't need anything.
>> Well.
» Well.
It's an option. Perfect. I'm for it now.
>> Anyways.
» Anyways.
>> Anyway, that's all I have.
» Anyway, that's all I have.
>> Thank you, Sherry. Okay, is there a
» Thank you, Sherry. Okay, is there a
motion to enter into an agreement for
the revitalization?
>> So moved.
» So moved.
>> Motion has been made by Councilman
» Motion has been made by Councilman
Martone, seconded by Councilman Bacalla.
All those in favor?
All those opposed? The eyes have it.
Thank you.
Item number 21, green infrastructure
center.
» Sherry.
Sherry, I'm sorry.
I want to thank you for putting this
this piece out for us.
Yeah, I just have one question if we
could Can we touch on that? Do you know
at all?
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> Thank you.
The Fruit Hill.
>> Fruit Hill, yes.
» Fruit Hill, yes.
>> Um it says that
» Um it says that
you met with Dave
and the grant uh
the grant won't be extended any further.
>> That's correct. We got I think already
» That's correct. We got I think already
one extension and they are giving us
until December of this year, the end of
December of this year to get the final
designs. We've spoken to the DEM.
They approached us because there was an
opportunity for them to provide us with
technical assistance. I believe one of
the reasons why the design process has
slowed down is because there were
certain storm water elements that they
were trying to figure out without
excessive cost or without disruption to
the residents around them.
If we are awarded this technical
assistance, then DEM is going to help us
to design the rest of Fruit Hill. We
should know that within the next couple
of weeks or so if we are awarded that,
and then that way we can finish the
design and we can move on to the federal
portion of it.
>> Okay, and who's doing the design?
» Okay, and who's doing the design?
>> Um David DeMico.
» Um David DeMico.
>> David, okay. So, he knows this that we
» David, okay. So, he knows this that we
have to have this because this thing has
been around for a while.
>> Yes.
» Yes.
>> And I still get calls from the residents
» And I still get calls from the residents
constantly.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> And
» And
we we keep on putting it
let's move it forward, move it forward,
and it stalls.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> Now, we've got $639,000
» Now, we've got $639,000
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> plus another 80,000
» plus another 80,000
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> that we potentially can just wash our
» that we potentially can just wash our
hands with unless we have everything
done.
>> That's right.
» That's right.
>> on David to get these designs ready for
» on David to get these designs ready for
these people.
>> That's correct.
» That's correct.
>> be done by the end of the year.
» be done by the end of the year.
>> Yes.
» Yes.
>> Okay, I just wanted to wanted that said
» Okay, I just wanted to wanted that said
because I thank you very much for all
this.
>> You're welcome. Anytime.
» You're welcome. Anytime.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
Item number 21, Green Infrastructure
Center.
Right Wagon and Molly Henry, Community
Forestry Planner of Green Infrastructure
Center, request to appear before the
Council to present findings of the RIDEM
Urban Forestry Technical Assistance
Program. Brent.
>> So, as part of that technical assistance
» So, as part of that technical assistance
program, the Green Infrastructure Bank
was uh
>> Center.
» Center.
>> Center, sorry. Center, but not bank. Um
» Center, sorry. Center, but not bank. Um
was uh hired by the It was It was
>> I can explain everything.
» I can explain everything.
>> Yeah, if you want.
» Yeah, if you want.
>> It's kind of confusing. Hi everybody,
» It's kind of confusing. Hi everybody,
good evening. I'm going to try to make
this fast because you all had a packed
agenda. Oh, look, there's a presentation
there.
So, originally Inflation Reduction Act
funding, so federal funding came through
filtered into the state, went to the
Department of Environmental Management.
They hired us, the Green Infrastructure
Center. I live in Pawtucket, I'm local,
been working in
12 different municipalities now. We've
been providing free technical assistance
around urban forestry and related things
like stormwater and urban heat.
And
the town of North Providence was one of
those many communities, thanks to Brent
and the mayor actually for sitting down
with us and realizing the value of the
program. We are a non-profit. We do a
lot of mapping, spatial analysis, and we
do some outreach engagement. We also
have free money for trees, and I want to
mention that um
trees are great traffic calming
mechanism, too. So, the speed bumps,
that conversation, there's definitely
connection, and I was looking at Baird,
and I was like, there's a lot of
plantable space down there. So, if we
could get some of those front yards
planted, that would really help. Um if
you can advance to the next one,
this is the process that what we went
through. It's about 10-month process. We
had a ad hoc committee. It was
town staff and land trust members and
who else was it? Um
>> We had some public works, Peter GIS
» We had some public works, Peter GIS
>> Yes.
» Yes.
>> coordinator
» coordinator
>> public safety
» public safety
Yes, and so kind of we went through, and
they gave us feedback on projects that
were, you know, happening, what would
affect the the current landscape. We
were actually able to assess the the
land cover for the entire town, which
I'm going to share with you, and we did
a code and ordinance review looking at
everything that impacts stormwater and
tree canopy, and um came up with a goal
because before this, there was no data
on what the canopy cover looked like.
So, that helped inform a goal and the
strategies that would support that. And
then, we're kind of at the phase where
we completed all the technical
assistance and we're going to be
publishing a report in the
I don't want to promise a timeline. In
the coming year, um there's some other
communities that had to view. Um but,
before that is published, I want to make
sure you all are aware of this and the
findings and recommendations um
before, you know, that goes into
publication. So, if you can advance to
the next one, this is your tree canopy
cover, your land cover. Um you are 27%
tree canopy cover. So, if you're bird
flying over, 27% of the land area is
covered by um tree canopy.
Pretty significant amount of
imperviousness. That's all of your
pavement, hardscape. That's where water
has nowhere to go. So, you're going to
ask me, where does North Providence
stack up compared to other Rhode Island
communities? If you go to the next one,
this is a comparison. So, you're kind of
on the lower end of the 12 or so
communities that we have um done a land
cover analysis for. And um you also have
pretty significant imperviousness
relative to other communities that we
have analyzed. So, um just something to
consider because I know in Rhode Island,
we all like to compare um what our
neighbors are doing and maybe a little
healthy competition is good. But, with
that, um I will advance if you can
advance. We did develop a goal. Um so,
this ad hoc committee, the tree canopy
advisory committee is what we called it,
um wanted to increase canopy by 2% over
the next 10 years. And that includes
maintaining the trees that we currently
have, making sure we're saving them
through policy, um and then also trying
to create programs to add tree canopy
because you're going to need to do both
in order to really add. The numbers look
big and they are big because if you want
to increase by 2%, you're looking at
somewhere around 700 trees annually. But
this is public and private property. So
we need to have programs that encourage
and then educate
residents and property owners to plant
trees in their front yard. So bear that
great example. You can get trees in that
front yard, you can get traffic calming,
you can get cooling effects and you can
have it contributing to the goal. So if
you go to the next one,
we have a lot of maps. They're all going
to be in the report. This is just the
goal broken down by neighborhood. The
the darker colors of orange are the
areas that need to be prioritized more.
When you break down that
overall canopy goal
and then if you go to the next one, I
just like to point this out. Really
stark
imagery here. So all of your commercial
corridors have really high heat zones.
Maybe
not news to you. We drive down Mineral
Spring. It feels hot, it looks hot. But
the data is really showing us there's a
huge heat disparity
in in those areas. And just something to
think about is that trees take a long
time to establish and to grow. So if you
want to get all those great health
benefits that we know that they provide
of air quality and heat reduction
and storm water mitigation, you have to
plant them now. And we're looking at in
the mid-century we're going to have up
to 12 days over 100°. So if we don't do
those measures now, we don't have a way
to protect people and combat some of the
the heat that we know that we're going
to experience.
Next one,
storm water just because it's a big
issue in North Providence.
Take away here is your trees right now.
All of the trees that we have
analyzed and
figured out kind of in terms of the
value that they're bringing to North
Providence, into your storm water
infrastructure and to the health of your
ecosystem. All of the nitrogen,
phosphorus, sediment, we have all those
numbers for you on what your trees are
doing right now. So, if you lose them or
if you add, that number is going to
change. Also, the volume of storm water.
We even the last few days had a ton of
storm water or ton of, you know, water
in general. Maybe not up to the 1-year
24-hour
rainfall event, but it's doing a
tremendous amount to reduce storm water,
right? And so, just thinking about that,
that how important these trees are. It's
not just like they're pretty to look at.
They're doing a lot of work. They are a
part of the the town's infrastructure.
Um and then the next one, um I mentioned
we're doing a canopy plan. This is just
Pawtucket's um because we published it.
So, that's an example if you want to
look and see what the plan might look
like. That's a good example. And then
these are the top five strategies.
Again, we engaged the Tree Canopy
Advisory Committee and residents. We had
over 100 residents um through a virtual
survey and in-person give us feedback on
what they wanted to see for strategies.
Um so, those are the top five. I'll let
you read those on your leisure. And I
just want to end with this takeaway,
which is that for Town Council, things
you can do, I don't want to talk about
money because I feel like that's a sore
subject right now. But there's a lot of
great financing mechanisms to pay for um
planting and maintenance of trees.
Brandon has already come up with some
really interesting ideas that were one
of the top five. So, building permits,
having that go toward dedicated fund.
There's also tree bonds. There's ways of
having dedicated funding for planting
and um maintenance of trees. I also
would love to see a 10% minimum for all
of your streets, town streets, um in the
comprehensive plan. And also, um
I'll just point out that uh you don't
have a way to really protect any of the
trees right now um that are standing and
we just talked about all the work that
they're doing. And um I recognize that
it's going to take baby steps, right? To
have any sort of you know, significant
tree policy where you're protecting it
on private property. That would be like
the end goal potentially.
But one thing you could consider is the
town of Warren does this, they have a
voluntary program where if there is a
significant tree and you would have to
identify what that would look like in
the the ordinance.
Um you would then be able to protect
that tree through an easement um and
that would be, you know, saved in
perpetuity. And so that's a really good
easy strategy just to start like, you
know, really trying to protect your
existing trees. So, that's all I have
for you. Um I blew through that pretty
quickly. This is my contact information.
My colleague AJ Elton is also um our
community forester and arborist and
we've been working also with the tree
warden really closely. So, Tim Thorpe
has been finding projects left and right
for us. Um we'd love to get, you know,
your support. If you have constituents
who are really looking for for trees or
issues around flooding or heat,
please, you know, let let Brent know um
and thank you so much for for having us.
>> Great presentation.
» Great presentation.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> This is great. Thank you.
» This is great. Thank you.
>> I'd like to add that we just got a grant
» I'd like to add that we just got a grant
to um get Tim a GPS device to map out
locations of new trees. So, if you have
any ideas of locations of tree
plantings.
Uh we also have many trees that we
received from the Green Infrastructure
Bank
and several other uh resources. So,
>> Brent, can any of this be incorporated
» Brent, can any of this be incorporated
in when somebody's going to has a
building permit, they're building a
house, they're building a commercial
property, whatever. I know we talked
about at some point having so much
greenery
and not so much of parking lots. Can any
of that money be used if we tell
somebody that's
you know, they're going to put the
project up. Oh, by the way, if you put
some trees in there, we have
you know, money for things up there that
make sure we have that green space and
adding the trees in it at no expense to
>> We can certainly develop a program like
» We can certainly develop a program like
that. Um we are discussing um raising
the
I think we it was from 5 to 15
landscape requirements for commercial.
So,
uh since it's a requirement, we can
certainly assist
>> Okay.
» Okay.
>> businesses, uh property owners to plant
» businesses, uh property owners to plant
them.
>> Great.
» Great.
And also, I'll just mention that Sherrie
has been great at um getting grants with
DEM. Um there's a lot of money out there
for things like just programmatic
things, also physical trees um because
in the next year this grant is going to
expire that I'm working under. Um but
for the Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank
also has lots of grants. We have other
communities that have literally used
this data and these reports to apply for
grants um that have been successful.
>> When you talk about maintenance, really
» When you talk about maintenance, really
it's just trimming them and keeping them
like neat.
>> So,
» So,
>> It's not We don't have to fertilize
» It's not We don't have to fertilize
them. We're not putting fertilizer on
them. We just need to fix
>> I mean, maintenance really in the first
» I mean, maintenance really in the first
2 years is the most important. So,
making sure that they're getting watered
cuz an urban tree, they struggle.
>> Got you.
» Got you.
>> So, yeah.
» So, yeah.
>> But I'm going to take horticulture next
» But I'm going to take horticulture next
week.
>> This is where Brent the Encompass Park
» This is where Brent the Encompass Park
you mentioned that was green the Green
Infrastructure Bank also.
>> So,
» So,
we were going to use trees from the
Green Infrastructure Bank and they were
involved, but that was you or I that was
really
>> Yeah, I did.
» Yeah, I did.
>> No, I was just going to compliment cuz
» No, I was just going to compliment cuz
the mayor explained it and gave me what
was going to be there tonight. I was
just was going to thank you cuz I know
at one point you had mentioned Green
Infrastructure.
>> The lead um designer, Stephanie Nordoff,
» The lead um designer, Stephanie Nordoff,
um does work for us. She's taking a
break and working for the lab over the
summer. Um but we've been talking about
that plan and um possibility of
investing some of our trees if there was
interest in implementing a phase of that
project.
>> Yeah, that's the mayor explained that
» Yeah, that's the mayor explained that
tonight. I was going to say thank you
because there was a lot of
misconceptions with some of the
neighbors down there what was going
there.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> So.
» So.
>> Yeah, a little of that was just uh
» Yeah, a little of that was just uh
>> Yeah, no. No, I I wanted to thank you.
» Yeah, no. No, I I wanted to thank you.
The mayor had explained it to me
tonight, so.
>> If I may, Mr. Chairman.
» If I may, Mr. Chairman.
The biggest One [clears throat] of the
biggest problems we have now is
addressing the calls that we're getting
from
residents that want trees taken down.
And I can tell you that, you know, we're
in a debate daily. You know, we'll go
out, take a look at them, and then we
have to call Northeast cuz they're uh
the company that provides the service to
us. And I can tell you that we're doing
our best
to try to convince them which trim it
instead of take it down. Oh, I just want
to take it down supposing it falls. So,
now Tim will go out. Trees like this not
going to fall.
But I I just don't want it there
anymore.
That's another issue that we're trying
to fix.
We'll handle right now. People that are
requesting
the trees to be taken down, and we're
doing our best not to take down many
trees. First of all, it's costly.
And second of all, you know, talking
with Tim, and we take him out there, you
know, we're trying to stay here as nice
as green as possible. So, that's that's
becoming a little a little issue with us
now.
>> May I make one comment?
» May I make one comment?
Um I we talked about this in our
meeting. So, Tim, you're tree warden, um
I would recommend um having the tree
risk assessment qualified. It's track.
It's a International Society of
Arboriculture certification. And the
reason I say that is because having him
go out there and assess um those trees
for possible risk, and then having it
that put in in any sort of inventory,
which, you know, is we've been talking
about with that that DEM grant, um
reduces the liability for the town. It
shows you've been here, you checked the
tree, he's certified, he says that it
did not have risk, um, and so the town
is then reducing its liability. So, I
would definitely highly recommend, um,
encouraging He's also very enthusiastic.
>> [laughter]
» [laughter]
>> Yes.
» Yes.
>> I'm glad you brought up liability cuz I
» I'm glad you brought up liability cuz I
had a question.
So,
um, and and and I'm in favor of this as
a as a practical matter. So, if you walk
around Providence, the amount of,
uh, sidewalks that are uplifted roots.
>> [laughter]
» [laughter]
>> Um, so, is there something you're doing
» Um, so, is there something you're doing
differently when you plant trees or is
there something because, you know, from
a liability perspective, I worked for
the city.
Half of our slip and falls were as a
result of tree roots that came up.
>> Absolutely. So, um, it's what we call
» Absolutely. So, um, it's what we call
the the field right tree right place.
And one of the issues with, um, the
trees probably that you're seeing, I
just looked at the tree inventory that
DEM did last year it was technically or
it was like early this year. Half of
your trees are maple. First of all,
that's problematic cuz of species
diversification, but if you look at it,
most of those are Norway maple. And if
you're familiar with Norway maple,
they're one of the like fastest growing
most crumbly trees and they've become
your prominent street tree that like to
pull up sidewalks. And so, when you
don't have right tree right place and
yes, they're not properly planted and
planted in a good location and there's
not enough soil volume and I can nerd
out and talk about all that stuff. But,
there's a lot of thought that goes into
making sure the pit size is large
enough, it's the right size tree.
There's, you know, AJ, my colleague
who's our, you know, forester and
arborist.
He's adamant about making sure right
tree right place happens. So, yeah.
>> Thank you.
And
the reason The reason that is, you know,
to to my
Give an example
of power lines
and the poles.
I was 35 years ago. It was a big
program.
All new
utilities,
new sidewalks, gorgeous.
You know what's happening today?
>> Looks like nothing. I go down power all
» Looks like nothing. I go down power all
the time.
>> No, no. You know what's happening today?
» No, no. You know what's happening today?
Trees have lifted up the sidewalks.
And so, what I'm concerned is that if we
plant some new trees here, make sure the
arborist or whoever is going to make
that decision that that tree, when it
grows, it's not going to stop growing
and you know,
the sidewalks up and they say, "Well,
those guys didn't know what they were
doing." So, it's it's another issue when
we're planting trees and all
all the trees.
You got to plant them.
Got to I don't know. But,
we're worrying about that now, but down
the road.
>> We're also taking into account now
» We're also taking into account now
utilities, structures, and that kind of
thing. So, that you don't want large
canopies in narrow areas and that's what
>> Yeah, overhead wires are underground. We
» Yeah, overhead wires are underground. We
need to think safety overall.
So, yeah.
» Everybody all set?
Thank you.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> Very much.
» Very much.
>> Item number 23, ordinance introduction,
» Item number 23, ordinance introduction,
discussion, and possible vote on the
introduction of ordinance 26-014
relating to an amendment to the flood
hazard district ordinance.
Do I have a motion to introduce?
>> I'll move.
» I'll move.
>> Is there a second?
» Is there a second?
>> Second.
» Second.
>> Motion been made by Councilman Mattoon,
» Motion been made by Councilman Mattoon,
seconded by Councilman Bacalla. All
those Now, Brent, this has to be passed
by August 27th?
>> 27th, yes.
» 27th, yes.
>> 27th?
» 27th?
>> 27th.
So, that's essentially just um a minor
typo. A letter H has to be changed to a
J or vice versa. And uh two dates have
to be changed uh to the end of June.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
All right. So, we're going to
have a meeting before the 27th to pass
this for insurance purposes.
So, tomorrow
send an email out, get everyone's
availability.
Thank you. Okay, motion's been made and
seconded. All those in favor? All those
opposed? The eyes have it.
Item number 24, Woodhaven Elementary
School. Council President Odiello
requests discussion and possible vote on
privacy concerns for Woodhaven
Elementary students and residents on
Jacksonia Drive. Myself, Councilman
LaPorchio, and Councilman Bacalla
attended
>> [clears throat]
» [clears throat]
>> a neighborhood gathering at a resident's
» a neighborhood gathering at a resident's
house.
All the residents on Jacksonia Drive's
properties are completely wide open and
exposed to the side of Greystone School.
They were told in several building
hearing meetings that there would be a
privacy barrier put up for them
with trees,
arborvitaes, or whatever, and that has
not been done.
Those students that are on the second
floor can literally look down into their
house, and the and the people in those
houses can look up into the classroom
windows.
So, I'd like to send a letter on behalf
of this Town Council to our
finance director to instruct the
building committee
with to use any leftover funds from the
bond to go towards creating that barrier
that these residents were told.
I can't see it.
>> the view from the room?
» Okay. Um
I I will say that um the
superintendent's been very helpful with
communicating back and forth, but um
this is a concern, and I they also need
to go and look at it when it's
the winter and the leaves aren't on the
several the the few trees that are
there. So, that's the form of a motion.
Motion's been made by Councilman
LaPorchio, seconded by Councilman
Bacalla. All those in favor? Aye. All
those opposed? The ayes have it. Thank
you.
Item number 25, dash light installation.
Council President O'Loughlin requests
discussion and possible vote on a dash
light installation for Father T.J.
Barges' vehicle. This item is going to
be removed from the agenda.
Item number 27, property at 995 through
1
005 Mineral Spring Avenue. Councilman
requests discussion and possible
vote on debris and garbage in lots at
995
to 1005
Mineral Spring Avenue. Councilman
nice work on this matter. I
know it's been addressed already.
Therefore, I was under the assumption it
was being moved off the agenda.
I know the victualing license, the town
clerk has spoke to them. They're coming
in and fill out the paperwork.
If there's anything else you'd like to
add, I thought this was being removed
off the agenda, but apparently not.
>> Not.
» Not.
As long as they're coming in, we're
good.
>> Okay. Thank you.
» Okay. Thank you.
Item number 29,
board appointment, town council
discussion and action with regard to the
board appointment to be made to the
following board. New appointment, Board
of Canvassers, Republican alternate,
Michael Chomak. Do I have a motion to
appoint Michael Chomak?
>> So moved.
» So moved.
>> Motion been made by Councilman Baccala.
» Motion been made by Councilman Baccala.
Is there a second?
>> Second.
» Second.
>> Seconded by Councilman Fiola. Item
» Seconded by Councilman Fiola. Item
number The uh
>> 30.
» 30.
>> Motion's been approved. Item number 30,
» Motion's been approved. Item number 30,
claim submitted, Town Council discussion
and possible vote with regard to claims
received from the following.
Albert Santinello, 22 Cushing Street,
North Providence, Rhode Island. Horizon
Sierra CMR Claims Department, P.O. Box
60770,
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Nicholas Pezzey, 32 Andover Street,
North Providence, Rhode Island.
Audra Cornell, 31 Justice Street, North
Providence, Rhode Island. Michael
Marino, 172 Pleasant View Avenue,
Smithfield, Rhode Island. Denise
Defenzi,
203 Obed Avenue, North Providence, Rhode
Island. Do you have a motion to send
this to claims committee?
Motion has been made by Councilman
Macaluso, seconded by Seconded by
Councilman Fio- Fiola. All those in
favor?
All those opposed? The eyes have it.