City Council - Regular Meeting

Ready? Good evening. I'll call the meeting of the East Providence City Council to order from November 18th, 2025. Uh, Madame Clerk, would you please call the role of the council?

Councilman Fogerty. Councilman Lawson here. Council Vice President Ria here. Councilwoman Souza here. Council President Rodri

here. The record show there was a quorum. Four members present. I did hear just within the hour from Councilman Fogerty who was planning on being here but um he he did uh authorize me to say that he cannot make it. they are having a a a difficult evening. They're they're losing a family pet. They don't think the pet will make the the evening. So, the family is gathered around um their their their little dog and hopefully things work out uh for the Fogerty family, grandchildren, and and their pet. Uh with that, um please rise for the pledge. Thank you.

Madame clerk, if you would start the reading of the agenda. consent calendar for discussion and possible vote. Council journals approval of regular meeting minutes September 30th, 2025 and November 4th, 2025. Motion to approve. Oh, sorry. I actually would like to table November 4th as it's not included in here. So, I would then um include it on the December 4th one if that's okay. Okay. Motion to approve the council journals for the 30th day of September 2025. Second

without the uh number four um motion made by council vice president Regal, seconded by councilman Lawson. All in favor? I. Any opposed? The eyes have it. Next item, tax abatements, cancellation and abatements tax assessor's office. $25,982.76. Motion to approve. Second. Motion by council vice president to approve. Seconded by Councilman Lawson. All in favor? I. Any opposed? The ISAP tax assessment board of review $2,337.68.

Is there a motion? Motion to approve. Motion Councilman Lawson to approve. Second. Second, council vice president Rigo. All in favor? I. Any opposed the eyes have next item? No. I'll make a motion to bundle one through four. Hang on. Let's let the clerk read the uh I can't get my mouth open. Licenses for disc. Clerk has to earn her pay tonight. So, licenses for discussion and possible vote. Motion to bundle non-public hearing licenses. on C1 through C4. Make a motion to bundle C1 through C4.

The motion is to bundle licenses on the agenda listed as C1 through C4. Is there a second? Second. Motion made and seconded. All in favor? I I. Is there a motion? Any opposed? The eyes have that 4 Z. A motion to approve. Councilman Lawson to approve. Is there a second? Second. Second. Council Vice President Rio. All in favor? I. I. Any opposed? The eyes have. Next item.

Hearing public hearing number one, annual alcoholic beverage licenses renewals. Please refer to exhibit A for business listings. Mr. President. Yes, sir. in compliance with Rhode Island General Laws 3614-6-1. I hereby recuse participating in discussion or taking official action relating to said matters. This does not prohibit participation as a member of the public in open meeting pursuant to commission regulations 703.

Thank you. Council vice president Rigo is recused from this discussion. Have we heard from the police any concerns on any of these licenses? Has there been any concerns raised by the police department on any of these licenses? No, they all been approved. Okay. So, everything obviously if it got to this point, everything's in order. The paperwork police department have has approved. Any specific questions by anybody on the council? It's not a public hearing. It's a This one is This one is uh says non-public. No, this one's

item D. Item. Yes. Public hearing. Which one are we on? What number is it? The licenses. The licenses. Mine said. Yes. And I'm sorry I didn't put those. Okay, that's all right. Mhm. So, while we're waiting to see if there any council comment, anyone, I'll open it up. It's public hearing. Anyone present wants to speak for or against this license.

Okay. Once again, is anyone here present to speak for or against this license? Seeing none, I'll close the public hearing. Is there a motion? Make a motion to approve the licenses listed on the agenda for renewal. Councilwoman Souza makes the motion to approve as listed. There a second. Second. Councilwoman Lawson second. All in favor?

I. Any opposed? The eyes have that three to zero. Thank you. Next item. Number two, street abandonment. Summary. The purpose of the public hearing is for the city council to consider the abandonment of a 1,350 square f foot portion of Breeze Avenue that is currently unimproved in a butts property at 82 Crescent View Avenue owned by Paul Platt. Okay. Make a motion to approve. Just want Councilman Rigo to get settled. But um we do have a motion on the floor by Councilman Lawson to approve. Is there a second?

Send in the public hearing. Yeah. Second. So we have a second. Councilwoman Souza. Anyone else who'd like to speak on this is open up for public hearing. Is there anyone here that wants to speak for or against this uh for I don't know if we need to describe this for any of the it's if you're going down Crescent View right heading towards Crescent Park on the right it's kind of like juts out and stuff like that. So it it's been that way forever, right? You know, so makes makes sense and um it it's not Yeah. to the advantage of

nothing ownorous. We'll close the public hearing. Don't hear anyone coming forward. If there's no other discussion on the council, we've had a motion and second. All in favor? I I Any opposed? The eyes have it. Thank you. Next item. 2B. Resolution abandonment of a portion of a certain portion of land consisting of the 1,350 square ft that is currently the right of way of Breeze Avenue and being bounded and noted in the attached exhibit A subject to receiving a mids and bounds description introduced by the city council. Motion to approve. Second

pending the public hearing. Motion to approve pending the hearing by Councilman Lawson. Seconded by council vice president Rigo. All in favor? I. Any opposed? The eyes have. Next item. Public comment. Rick Lawson.

Uh I put this I forgot to add it to the agenda. I just want to follow up on the Veterans Day stuff. Um we had an awesome dinner. Well attended. Uh thank you guys so much. The support you guys give to veterans. it it's it's noticed and we are grateful. Um we had a great night. Everything was good. Um next uh next tomorrow 11 to 1 at the senior center is a veterans cafe put on by the office of veterans affairs. Um so I know it's during the workday for most of us but if anybody's available would like to make it um you're more than welcome. Uh again, it's 11:1 at the senior center. And again, I just want to thank you guys, everybody. Uh Ros's Tavern, All Seasons Cafe, uh the Blueest Star Moms, the Elks. Um it it was a great dinner, great time, and uh it's appreciated. So, I just wanted to extend that thank you

and and thank you to yourself who pretty much acted as the chair of this event along with Councilman Fogerty. Uh, Councilwoman Soua did bring baked goods. I didn't get to bring any home because Lawson took them all after they were left. They were gone, buddy. So, it was it was a very u positive night. Lena took the rice cups. That was hers. Thank you. Any other person signed up or Yes, Clay Graham. Hi, just come to the podium and you just have to give your name, address for the record. Thanks.

Hi. Uh my name is Klay Graham. I live at 59 Grooner Avenue, right around the corner. Um I want to speak about the ebike ordinance. Um, so I just wanted to understand if there's any differentiation between like class one, class 2, class 3 and uh motorized dirt bikes. I have a class one ebike. It goes like less than 20 miles an hour. Um, and I know the issue was like at the park with like the burnout and I think that would be hard to do with some of the class one, class two, and class three. So, I'm just asking um you know, please don't I guess penalize those that use it for like my wife commutes to Brown with with her bike and she puts like we have a Shih Tzu that she puts on the back. So, it's just you know, it's a tool for us. Um and then the second thing I want to talk about is we have a lot of speeding on our street um with like last few years at the bridge um like people regular doing 50 60 miles an hour. It's an estimation of course. Um, I've commented on like the GIS portal, but I haven't heard anything back and I just wanted to I have like a kid on the way. There's a lot of old people on older people on our street and young families and um just looking out for all of our safety. So,

sure. No, thank you coming out. As as far as the ebikes, uh, number one, for anyone who was expecting any action tonight, it's not on the agenda. There'll be no vote on this tonight. It'll be the next meeting, which I think is December 4. Um it couldn't be on tonight because there was a between the last meeting and this meeting was a a legal holiday which um delayed our legal advertising in the local paper. So it wouldn't be um advertised legally in time for tonight. So there was nothing other than that involved. Um and as far as I I'm concerned, the others can speak. U we're not changing anything. the ebikes go by whatever the state laws are. We're just asking, some of us anyway are asking that they be prohibited from driving on basketball courts, tennis courts, grassy fields. You can go to any park in the city that you want on an ebike and just park in the parking lot or some appropriate space and enjoy the park. you know, this is not to prevent people from uh having having use of any city property or parks or playgrounds. Um, and I I agree, but maybe that damage we've seen might not have been an ebike. It looked like it could have been a mini bike or um, you know, that there a lot of abuses there as well. But at least this, our police chief agreed that this gives him the uh legal tools to enforce it anyway. If he sees any kind of vehicle that doesn't belong there, um he he can do something. But we're not going to stop your wife from going to Brown or um going to any of our playgrounds. And I'm sure that you folks are

responsible and you'll pull up and park the bike and enjoy the park. So that's the intent as I see it. Yep. Thank you. Uh Mr. President, for the record, our next meeting is Tuesday the 2nd. Oh, I'm sorry. I think I said the fourth. Yeah, somebody said Yeah. Well, the 6th is Saturday. PC, you are right. That's all I know. I backed it up. So to clarify, our next council meeting is Tuesday, December 2nd, right, 2025. Thank you, Councilman, Council Vice President. Anyone else on the list to speak? Alex and Kate,

I just show this name and address for the record. I'm Alex Bus and I'm at 104 Waterview Avenue. Welcome. And how about the little guy? Little man. What's What's the little man's name? This is Daniel. Hi, Daniel. I think he's the youngest one to appear in front of us in three years.

We just wanted to come out and we saw that on the conversation Dr. Tonight was thinking about uh investment opportunities particularly in Spooky Bottom. That has been an area that we are down by all the time and or grant opportunities and we're just so excited to see that you're continuing to think about how to invest in that space. that is you already see an amazing amount of foot traffic down there. The troll was a spectacular ad just the cultural vibe of the city. We cleared it out and added some fencing. The decisions this committee has made have really revitalized that space and the more that you can do to continue to draw people down there and make it a space that's usable for kids with the playet adults for a place to sit and even work out. Calisthenics place is that there's space there and I love to hear that you guys are thinking about it. This is so exciting. We were like let's go to town council at bedtime. Thanks. Yeah, hopefully um mayor's office and us will will get we'll get that grant and uh get get this get this done. It's I agree with your sentiments.

Progress. Thank Thanks for coming out. Anyone else? That ends public comment. Okay, thank you. Next item, appointments. Appointment of Jeremy Lynch, Esquire for the Waterfront District Commission. Motion to approve. Motion by Councilman Lawson to approve. Is there a second? Second. Second by Councilwoman Souza. Also, Council Vice President uh Rigo. All in favor?

I. Any oppose? The eyes have it. Thank you. Thank you to uh Mr. Leech for stepping stepping in. Oh, next item. New mayor, new business, mayor communication, director of policy and con constituent services, Andre Herrera. You confuse me. You started out by saying new mayor. I I think you Okay, I get it.

Members of the council, I I just wanted to officially introduce to you um Andre Herrera. Andre comes with a wealth of experience in uh both federal and local government and private sector. Uh really has been uh wonderful. This is week two for Andre in the office and I already see uh remarkable things coming from this young man. Uh worked with Congress Cecilini's office for four years. Uh worked with Congressman Gabe Amo's office for a year and was also working with the city council of Providence before that. So he's got a lot of experience. uh he just came out of the private sector and we're happy to have him uh working with our team. He will be handling policy constituent services and also will be delays on uh to to the community and members of the council. Uh members of council always able to reach out to me direct, but if you ever wanted to reach out to uh someone in the office, Andre uh is the person to reach out to. Thank you so much.

Thank you, Mayor. Andre, if you want to say a couple words. Welcome. Welcome to the city. Good evening, council president, members of the city council. Thank you so much for having me and thank you, mayor, for the very kind words. I'm honored to be part of your administration and uh really look forward to serving the residents of East Providence after you receive a hundred emails from us tomorrow. We'll see if you still feel that way. Give me 30 days. I'll hold it down.

All right. 30 days, members. All right. So, just some items for announcement. Uh, announcing the hiring of Andre Herrera as director of policy and constituent services. And I also have some proclamations here. Council president, would you like me to read the titles of the proclamations or read them in? Uh, just the titles, please. Right. Can I do request that the last two be read into the Certainly. Certainly. Okay. So, we have a proclamation celebrating Extra Mile Day. uh proclamation affirming a sister city relationship with Via Frana Doampo. Actually, let can we do the last three because that's an important one too. Right. Yeah, if we could have those read in.

Sister city relations via Frana Doampo Portugal. Whereas the Portuguese American community within the city of East Providence has always maintained a close relationship with the country of Portugal. And whereas many Portuguese immigrants within the city of East Providence originate from the village of Bia Franco Dampo on the island of Sao Miguel Azors in Portugal. Whereas a significant amount of East Providence residents from Bia Frana. Those immigrants came to this city for everything East Providence has to offer and also brought with them their traditions, culture, and for many their work ethic. Whereas Via Frana offers its thousands of tourists that visit each year, great beaches, its eyelets sora de pass and its famous custards, kihadas de via frana doampo do morado which are imported from via frana to Canada, Bermuda and the United States. And whereas the purpose of becoming a sister city with Via Frana Dukampo is to strengthen relations between the city of East Providence, Rhode Island and the village of Via Frana Duampo, Portugal. And whereas since 1983, the nonprofit organization Via Franquences D Nova Inglatera has brought hundreds of people each year from the village Canada, Bermuda, and all over the United States to join in its anniversary celebration. Whereas the organization also has an ongoing relationship with the city through its cultural and educational events at Weaver Library, participation in city events, and fundraising for various scholarships. And whereas both the city of East Providence and the village of Via Franco Ducmpo are committed to developing tourism, exchanging business practices, and creating opportunities for people to learn and experience other cultures through long-term relationships.

Whereas the city council of the city of East Providence through resolution 158 on October 1st, 2024 affirm a sister relationship with Via Franco Dampo. Therefore, I, Mayor Robert El Dilva, on behalf of the city of East Providence, hereby affirm its relationship with the village of Via Franco Dampo, Portugal, as its sister city. All right. and the proclamation recognizing Staff Sergeant Peter Burrilla. I think before that was uh Chappie Rose. Chappie Rose. Sorry. Either way. Either both of

In fact, while you're pausing there for a second, I'd ask councilwoman I I believe is you have a connection to the sister city. Did you want to add anything? Yeah. So, we did um the the city council and administration um collectively supporting our uh second sister city here in the city of East Providence did have an event um a couple of weeks ago where the uh president of the council of Franca um President Graasa Melo and her vice president uh Carlos were Pimentel were here amongst a couple of other dignitaries um here at city hall where we unveiled an amazing tile tile plaque that sits outside of City Hall on Grove Avenue across right at the uh the front door illuminated with lights. Uh the tiles emulate the same plaque that's also sits in the ratunda in the heart of Vila Franca um where the residents there and our immigrants who come back can um enjoy um matching recognitions of our um ongoing commitment to each other to provide again cultural economic um and support for our our two communities and countries.

Great. Thank you. Thank you for your work. Thank you, Mayor Dilva, for your work in bringing these dignitaries together. Um, can you want to continue, please? Thank you. Proclamation recognizing Corporal Avalino Chappie Rose. Whereas, Corporal Avalino Chappie Rose was born on March 21st, 1924 in the city of East Providence. The eldest of four children born to Joseé D. Rosa of the island of Fogo and Annie Breurto Rose of the island of Brava. And whereas Corporal Avalo Chappie Rose was a cornerstone of the East Providence Cape Verdian community, he was the heart of those living in the area of Carlton Avenue and his impact on those lives he touched carries on to this day. And whereas in 1942 at just 18 years old, Corporal Rose enlisted in the US Army serving as a corporal in the 1883 1883rd Aviation Engineer Battalion, an all black unit attached to the 10th Air Force in the China, Burmu, Burma, India Theater during World War II. Known as the Trailblazers, these soldiers carved roads through some of the most treacherous terrain of the war. an effort recognized by historians as one of the most complex and courageous undertakings of the Allied campaign. And whereas for his service, he was awarded the Purple Heart, the World War II Victory Medal, and the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with Bronze Battle Star. He later served as commander of the China Burma India Ministate Basha Rhode Island Veterans Association from 2003 to 2009. And whereas after returning home from the war, Corporal Rose married Alice Fance, first settling in Fox Point, Providence. But Chappie's intentions were always to return to his roots of East Providence. And whereas Corporal Rose's devotion to the Cape Verdian community continues to be on

full display today, where he was known as a jack of all trades, a pillar of the Cape Verdian Progressive Center. Jappie volunteered countless hours as building chair, shaping the physical and spiritual heart of the Cape Verdian CV Club through his hands-on work with renovations to the front bar and construction of the founders hall. And whereas Corporal Rose also was the first black/capeian processing sheriff in Rhode Island in the first black cape waterfront superintendent for John J. or and sons. And whereas Corporal Rose was a war hero, a trailblazer on the docks, and a visionary son of immigrant parents, he was a man ahead of his time, fiercely proud of his heritage, deeply rooted in his neighborhood, and committed to lifting others through hard work, humility, and love. Therefore, I, Mayor Robert L. D Silva on behalf of the city of East Providence recognize the late Avalino Chappie Rose for his years of dedication and contribution to our community and thank him for his dedicated service to United States of America this Veterans Day in recognition whereof hereby set my hand and cause a seal the city of East Province to be here unto a fix this 11th day of November 2025.

Thank you. Next proclamation. Proclamation recognizing Staff Sergeant Peter Burilla. Whereas Staff Sergeant Peter Burilla was born in Syracuse, New York on January 4th, 1934. Borilla went to Assumption Catholic Academy and then Bryant University to pursue his education. Whereas Staff Sergeant Peter Burrilla moved to Rhode Island in 1959 after getting married to his wife and spent all but two years in the city of East Providence. And whereas Staff Sergeant Burrilla graduated from high school at the age of 18 on June 20th, 1952 and enlisted in the United States Air Force just a month later in July of the same year. Whereas during his time in the armed services, Staff Sergeant Burila would spend his basic training at the Samson Air Force Base in Geneva, New York, three months at Keisler Air Force Base in Beli, Michigan, and a year at the England Air Force Base in Alexandra.

Lux in Mississippi, Beluxy, Mississippi. Apologies. And a year at England Air Force Base in Alexandria, Alexandra, Louisiana. No,

Louisiana. And whereas Burila was then deployed to Japan where he spent 18 months followed by an additional 6 months in the Philippines during the Korean War. And whereas Staff Sergeant Burrilla Service, he received the State of New York Medal of Merit, Good Conduct Medal, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, and the National Defense Service Medal. And whereas after returning to Rhode Island after his military service, Staff Sergeant Burrilla and his wife would settle down, have three children who Burrilla describes as his greatest accomplishments in life. Peter Burrilla Jr., Victoria Guleen, and Catherine Anthony. He now is a grandfather of three, Nicholas, Joshua, and Patrick, as well as a greatgrandfather to his grandson Noah. And whereas when Staff Sergeant Burrilla returned to the workforce, he began at an accounting firm before joining the state of Rhode Island as a bank examiner, security examiner, and then moving to municipal work for the city of East Providence as a city's controller, and finishing his professional career as East Providence School District's number one school business administrator. And whereas Staff Sergeant Burrilla's advice for future generations is, think of peace. We need to come together as a nation and get away from the current current turmoil. It is not good. I grew up poor, but we were always surrounded by our friends, our loved ones. We had laughs, we had coffee, we had camaraderie, and I think we need to get back to enjoying one another rather than focusing on our differences, Borilla added. Therefore, I, Mayor Roberto El D Silva, on behalf of the city of East Providence, I recognize Staff Sergeant Peter Burrilla, for his years of dedication and contribution to our community, and thank him for his dedicated service to the United States of America this Veterans Day. In recognition whereof, I hereby set my hand and cause the seal of the city of East Providence to be here unto affix this 11th day of November, 2025.

You very good. Thank you very much for the report. Appreciate it. Next item. C resolutions for discussion. Can I throw one quick curve? I know I didn't ask for the school committee, but yes,

next Tuesday, November 25th, they'll be cutting the ribbon. Martin Middle School, the junior high, well, it's middle school, not portion will be open. the kids coming off Thanksgiving break will be reporting to the new wing of the building that was built and um so it's at Martin 10:00 a.m. next Tuesday and then they're going to be moved in and once they're moved in construction will start on the other side for the preschool kids. So

right December one is the first start date for the students. So families, uh, students, faculty, we we wish you well. Good good luck. And then the remainder of the year, they'll be demoing the old classroom building. And we we going to have a fantastic middle school. Um, the bond issue as we sit here today is is under budget, moving along uh pretty well, just like the high school plan. So, we'll keep our eye on that and wish the students and faculty and all staff good luck as they make this big.

Thank you and the rest of the building committee. This this is a big task from the high school to this and the city's invested over $300 million in our schools. So, and part of this bond issue has covered improvements at Wington Elementary School. There's some demo there of some old type configurations and drainage work that's been going on for decades. Problems with drainage there. Um, and Riverside Middle School has received a lot of improvements. So, a lot of bang for the buck here.

And to all the naysayers that they are working, if there's an issue, they are going to address it and take care of it. And um, it doesn't help all the constant bombardment of negativity. Nobody is intentionally trying to undermine these buildings and uh they have my full support. It's looking good.

I agree. And old terminology perfection is only a word in the dictionary. And you can go into any building had a father that was in many projects, God rest his soul, and from hospitals to uh the John Hancock building, if you remember. I'm dating myself where glass plates would fall from uh the sky of Boston and on that job. So, you know what, as you said, the naysayers, they have to have something to say. So, you know, say it. But great job on everybody on the building committee and uh the contractors, everybody involved in these two school projects as well as the community center coming along.

Thank you. Exciting time for this this city. Uh, next item. C, resolution for discussion and possible vote. Number one, resolution authorizing the submission of a grant application to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Recreation Department development grant program introduced by Council President Rodri. Motion to approve. Motion to approve by Councilman Lawson. We we talked about this a little bit at the beginning of the meeting to what we want to do with this. Is there a second? Second by Councilwoman Souza. All in favor? I I Any oppose? The eyes have. Next item.

Number two, resolution requesting the Rhode Island State Traffic Commission to install a left turn signal and a designated left turn lane at the intersection of Pucket Avenue and Waterman Avenue. Introduced by city council. Motion to approve. Second. Motion to approve. Councilman Lawson. Second by Councilwoman Souza. All in favor? I I any opposed? The eyes have that. Thank you.

D. Introduction of ordinance for discussion and possible vote. Number one, an ordinance in amendment of chapter 8 of the revised ordinances of the city of East Providence, Rhode Island, 1998 as amended to section 8-31B regarding the repealing holiday sales licenses introduced by Council Vice President Rio. Motion to move accept. Second. Can you clarify what was the motion to motion to uh Yeah, it sounded like you said remove. Oh, I said motion to approve. Okay. And you second it. Sounded like move, but approve.

Yeah. Motion by council vice president Rigo to approve. Seconded by Councilman Lawson. All in favor? I I Any oppose the ISAP. Thank you. Motion to adjourn. Next item. Adjournment. This morning, you guys. Yeah. Motion to adjourn. Councilwoman Souza, seconded by Councilman Lawson. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Meeting is adjourned. Thank you all.