Town Council - Regular Meeting

I will call the June 3rd, 20125 North Providence Town Council meeting to order. Please stand for the pledge of allegiance and remain standing for a moment of silence. I pledge algiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. 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 6, 2025 and May 27th, 2025. Do I have a motion to accept the minutes? So moved. Second. Motion's been made by Councilman Bala, seconded by Councilman Pollock. All those in favor? I. All those opposed, the eyes have it. Item number two, 787 Restaurant and Lounge LLC DBA 787 Restaurant and Lounge. Summons was delivered to Liz Vasquez, president registered agent for 787 Restaurant and Lounge LLC DBA 787 Restaurant and Lounge located at 1270 Mineral Spring Avenue, North Proidence, Rhode Island, for a formal hearing and possible vote concerning the BV liquor license, liquor and entertainment licenses for this establishment and the failure to make payment to the North Providence, the town of North Providence for police details consistent with the required conditions of their license. Is anyone here from 787? Just come to the microphone, please. You just state your name for the record.

Garin Vasquez. Thank you. Um, we ran into this problem a while back with uh the detail bill. Um, and our we were approached by a police department to they informed us that it's happened again. So, well, we have a meeting. I think it was in January, and um the officer told us to pay $2,500 every month, which I'm I'm paying that every month. Okay. Um can I if you could just step aside, I'm going to have someone uh here from our police department. Just state your name for the record, please. Lieutenant Kevin Gindon. Thank you, Lieutenant. Um, what is going on with the payments? So, to the best of my knowledge, there was only one payment made of $2,500. Oh, you have it. See, I have the say that's going to be 2500 a month. What was the last payment you made? Oh, our records show that you have an outstanding bill. Okay. Well, if that's being done, you know, it's not being communicated to us with our records. So, can I can I ask Councilman? Go ahead. Who Who are you making the payments to? Who are you making the payments to? I went to the Northland Police Department. Police Department. Where are you taking them? You taking them to to the department?

Are you mailing them in? What are you doing? I go directly there and check and you give them to the whoever's at the front desk. Yes. And um if you know or or lieutenant if you know on a monthly basis how much is the police detail roughly? I believe it's 2,000 a month. It's about 2,000 a month. 2,000 a month. So if they continue to pay 2500 they chip but they're chipping away 500 roughly. Roughly. Okay. Yeah. Okay. So, right right now the total is $61,252. We chip away from So, and I agree it's probably not um a feasible continuing um agreement. However, at this point, the only information that I have is that she made an agreement with the police department for 2500 a month and she's been making those payments. I I'm I'm happy to send her back to make a new agreement or potentially make a new agreement, but I at this point my information is she's being cooperative. Yeah, she did show me a a check. I'm going to have to do some research. Uh I'm going based off of our uh uh detail program. Mhm. So, I have to see where if the money is going back to the town and then comes back to us. Um but it's not being communicated to me, so I'm going to have to look into that. Okay, thank you. Yeah, listen, I'm going to take your word for it, but uh at the end of the day, we're still got a pretty big uh balance here that the colonel is concerned about. Okay. Um Councilman Pollock, you have a question? No. Is there any other questions from the council? So, Lieutenant, I'm sorry I can't see, but you've seen that there is proof of payment. There was a check there. Whether where it went again, I'm not

in um February, March, April, May 14th. Okay. Tomorrow, can you bring in proof of payment to the clerk's office and then I'm going to have the clerk call the chief and we'll we'll discuss this further. and she uh so am I still understand it's only $500 off the balance cuz if she paid 20 if she paid $2500 2,000 as far as the balance goes we'll have to deal with that next let's discuss the plan that was she does have a check um that was laid out but there is a payment for 18 that was um posted on 516 this year but prior prior to that there was a a payment made on 71 2024. So based on this information that I'm looking at, so we're going to have to do some research into uh our records. That's the April All right. We're going to do this tomorrow. So we're not doing it in public. That's not fair to you. That's not fair to the police department. Um, and I'm going to have to ask that this matter be continued because um I'm at a loss right now for Yeah, I'm at a loss, too. Like I said, I'm going based on the records that's available to me. Well, I I have I have a motion that I'd like to make. I' I'd make a motion uh that we continue this matter to what have to be our August meeting now. To our August meeting. Um, however, and with the establishment remaining open. However, I would issue I would also as part of my motion have a conditional

cease and desist, conditional suspension if you do not come to town hall tomorrow and show proof. And so, as long as you're not lying to us, you're good to go till August. If you're lying, I would ask that our clerk uh issue a cease and desist uh to prevent operations until our August meeting. Okay, that's been a motion by Councilman Martone. Is there a second? Second. Seconded by Councilman Laoro. Any questions? There being none. All those in favor? I. All those opposed? The eyes have it. Thank you. Okay. Item number three, Elite Lounge and Beastro LLC, DBA, Elite Lounge, and Beastro. Summons was was delivered to Carlos Nelasco Asavdo, registered agent for Elite Lounge and Beastro LLC DBA Elite Lounge and Beastro located at 1759 Men Spring Avenue, North Province, Rhode Island, for a formal hearing and possible vote concerning the BV Liquor and Entertainment Licenses for this establishment and the failure to make payment to the town of North Providence for police details consistent with the required conditions of their license. Okay, the total for this one is $15,186. Is anyone here? Can you just come to the mic? Just state your name for the record, please. Carlos Nolasco. Okay. Thank you, Mr. Nolasco. Like the last one, has there any been been any communication? Uh, last communication was uh about four or five months ago with the police department. Uh, I only made one payment towards the balance. How much was that? Uh I think it was uh worth of uh one week of uh detail which was like over 500 bucks. Do you foresee yourself paying the balance? Do you have a payment plan? Oh, I just I was

uh if you guys would give me uh a little bit more time to make another payment, maybe September, I think I will pay a nice chunk back to the balance. Well, I mean, it's just uh with you know, they've been open since 2019 that they still struggling to pay some money back towards it 787. My business was only open for a year. You know, I haven't seen no profit yet. So, I was hoping that you guys can uh will allow me to I understand the the issue we face is like we don't want to put these details on bars and restaurants. We like we go out of our way not to and we wait till the very end when it comes as a suggestion of our police department because they're the ones that have to go out and answer the calls. Yeah. you know, um, but like I said, I was open for a year. I only had one art altercation. I I don't think I ever had any type of violation. And then towards the end of the detail, you guys say, "Okay, let let's extend it for one more month for no reason. It was just to read a letter and that that that gave me like another month of detail, you know. I it's it's it was it's tough for for a brand new business. I Okay. Can I ask you a question? Go ahead, council. Right now, you don't have any details to say. No, no, I don't have no details. So, this bill is not climbing. No bill is 15,000. 15,000. Yeah. All right. What what I would like to do is continue this to August, provided you make two payments towards that in August between now, one in July and one in and one in August. You got it. um those payments. I mean I I think they should be at least 500. Um I don't know how everybody else

feels. So 500 in July, 500 in August. Okay. I would also ask um or this is my thoughts. My my other thought would be between now and our August meeting, you meet with police and you figure out a payment plan. You got it. That they're comfortable with that you're comfortable with. And I at our August meeting, I would expect that both those payments have been made and that there is some arrangement in place going forward. Yeah, I believe by September I might be able to do half by September. I'm not even as I I my personal preference is as long as you're showing what we can't have is you having no communication with police and you know them trying to get a hold of you and they can't get a hold of you. That's the thing that bothers. But if you're making regular consistent payments and you're not having any problems, I think, you know, we we try and work with businesses as best we can in situations. Look at that. I understand. Thank you. I I think the key point and there's no more problems as long as it's good and you don't need any more detail back in there. You got it. I have to agree. I agree with Mr. Council M. Can I add something to what you just said? I think that instead of waiting until August, I think something should be made with the North Pro Police Department immediately and work on it that way. Maybe you can get a hold of Lieutenant Gidden talk on the side over there. Set something up where you can do it. I think it should be immediate instead of waiting. So I made it with the police department. Sure. Okay. So like here here's the point. I I know our police department has tried to reach out to you. Yeah. But they have they been and they were health issues and stuff and there's been a lack of communication. There have been. Yeah. We don't want I think you know I've worked with you. We've gone against recommendations of the police department. We don't want both of you coming here. It's the same two every month. Like, help us help you. You know, like I I'm I'm not going to lie. I was fully prepared to come here tonight and just cancel out both

licenses because it's a lot less aggravation for me. So, okay, you know, and I don't want to do that. So, I mean, it's a family business. I've been kind of harsh. And like I said, you know, we only have one, but you have to understand there's there's 35 other liquor licenses in the town. It's the same two bars in front of us every month. You know, every month I haven't been here for a long time. You're here a lot more than every other bar. You know, you are. You've been coming for a while. Me? I'm trying to help you. Don't I'm trying to help you here. Okay. I'm just explaining a point. If you want to go back and we'll chart the agendas to see who's the top two bars that come before the council. Listen, it's 787 and Elite. If I'm not gonna argue with Troy, take the deal that he said and and then let's move on tonight. But, you know, don't leave here and not communicate with our police department. I'll talk to him. Try and work out an agreement now. Um, and let's get this settled. You got it. So, is there any other questions? No. So, did you want to put that in Is there a motion? Motion's been made by Councilman Marone. Is there a second? Second. Seconded by Council Bala. All those in favor? I. All those opposed, you guys have it. Thank you. Thanks. I have to move item number 24 up. Fruit Hill Grant. Councilman Laaporio request discussion and possible vote on an update on the Fruit Hill Grant. Councilman, thank you, Mr. President. Uh I had uh thought we'd have a couple representatives here to help us out along with this grant. Um like to have the mayor. I think we've

invited uh the Bernie Salvatore from DPW and I believe uh Dave Demo was working on a design, but we're not quite sure of that. We do have two grants, one from Rhode Island Infrastructure for $80,500, uh which has been awarded for plans and designs. The second grant is for $639,000 for storm water and drainage. The people in the area uh one specific area in the foothill section on Wiiota Street um in particular have been seeing this uh orange colored water come through onto the streets. Uh, and it's been like that for quite a while. This this in particular, this uh grant is dated back to 2024, uh, March, I believe, when we heard from, uh, Senator Reid's office on this originally. U, we're trying to get some clarity on who is, if we do have a designer, an engineer on this. Um, we'd like to know when he was hired, if there were any plans drawn up yet for this, because this seems to be sitting on the docket. It it it really is not something that uh our DPW director can move forward on to to look at until we have plans in the design, but we don't know if we've gone that far. And the frustration lies in that some people are calling myself and I'm sure uh Councilman Bala and we just want to give them answers. We have uh gentlemen in the audience tonight from that area. Uh Mr. Curtis, if you would like to speak uh please feel free come

up to the microphone and give us a little bit of your details, sir. Jim Curtis. Nice to meet all of you. It's Wasota Avenue. It's a dead end. This has been going on for a couple of years, maybe three years. The amount of water that comes down the end of the street and floods in front of the one of my neighbors, Kadir Joe Cado's house, comes down and runs down the hill. In the winter, it's completely a sheet of ice. I don't know how anybody hasn't recognized this. This is the Indian village, but you can tell public works the Indians moved out a couple of years ago, 20 years ago. There's no Indians there. They don't have to be afraid of the Indians. Uh but I'd like to see about getting it done and we don't we the neighbors coming to see me. I'm just a a resident, you know. I'm just little old resident, but I want to see it get done. It's dangerous. It's it's a lot of water. You should take a ride by there. It runs tw 12 months out of the year. I don't know whether it's an underground stream, you know, but it's it's dangerous. It's it's really dangerous. And then uh I haven't seen anybody down there doing anything. And you know, there's some elderly people down that end and they come down and talk to me because I know a few people. I've been driving uh the two Councilman Leachio and Bala crazy. uh with calling them, but you know, we want to get it fixed. Uh I don't know why the public works hasn't done anything. Uh that we're just looking for an answer in getting it done. Can it be fixed? What is it? Is it an underground stream? Is it broken pipe? But there's a substantial amount of water. And like I said, it comes down and runs down the hill and goes into the

drain at the bottom of the hill. But in the winter, you wouldn't believe what it looks like. You could actually skate on it probably. So, all right. Yeah. I, in fact, uh, the chief, uh, Roger and I had gone down there many times during the winter time. Uh, someone had taken out a stop sign because of the ice. Yeah. Somebody took it out and and Bernie had kind of gone there to give a quick fix and he he did that. He had to dig out a storm drain there. Uh but he said there's a serious problem there. Uh my thing is we try to respond to the the the constituents in the area and say, "Hey, listen. We've got this money. Um let's just find out how and when." It's not on Bernie to get it done. It's we've got to get this money allocated to an engineer. See if the engineer has drawn the plans up and let's move forward on it. So uh and I just hope it's done behind by the time they fix the Washington Bridge. I hope that gets done. So, Councilman, the money, it's been that long. It's been that long, Curtis. So, Councilman, I've only been here six years, so the money's been applied for and applied for and it has been awarded to Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank has awarded it uh and waiting for plans in the design. Do we have an engineer that's physically looked at it and made any designs? That's why I wanted them here to see if we could find that out for the people. Okay. Um, I mean, it's a safety matter, but it's it's been going on for too long. Way too long. Uh, you know, and I got to totally agree. Find out what's going on. See what's going on. Let's send a You want to send a letter? I I would like to uh make a motion to No, Mr. Cado was supposed to be here, but he didn't show up, but so I told him I'd come down. Okay. But I mean, Joe's been complaining about that for a long time. Long time. Long time. And u in the summer it's

water. In the winter it's ice. It's sheets of ice. And all the way down the hill because it runs. Yeah. You know, it it to me I've been there several times and it's looks like rusted water to me. It's I don't know. I' I've been down there, but it looks like it's coming out of a hole somewhere over there. I don't know what somebody tried to fix it in the past and did something with it. I don't know. But I think it's an underground stream. We have several over there. Yep. that runs down and but uh I'm going to make a motion that that we uh send a letter to the administration um to uh to explain to us what what stage we are at with this grant as far as the design to fix this problem in particular uh and other issues that are in Fruit Hill area because we we've had money allocated to get this done and uh it's it's bothering these people for a long time now. I think it's time we address it. Okay. A motion's been made by Councilman Leoch. Was there a second? Second. Seconded by Councilman Bala. Any questions? All those in favor? I. All those opposed? The eyes have it. Thank you. Thank you very much. We have a we have a we have a tree over there we got to take care of, too. Yeah. Well, that's that's another issue, but that's a safety issue, too. It's hanging over the street. We're on Ron. I'm just making that point cuz we roll like be junior operist going to talk about it tonight. Okay. Item number four, class BV liquor license. Notice was given of a public hearing to be held on this date in the Providence Journal on May 16th and 23rd, 2025 for a new class BV limited liquor license. Sold the Portugal restaurant incorporated DBA sold to Portugal 1525 Smith Street, North Province, Rhode Island 02911. To state your name for the record, please. Hi, Mr. President. Jeff Cafrey, an attorney with the law firm of Resnicking Cafrey. I also have with me

the principal Mildred Alvarado who may also be testifying. Thank you. Um, you all have the information in front of you. Any questions on the liquor license? So, uh, we appreciate your patience. I know it's been a while before you, uh, come up here and get this and we've tried to help you as much as we can. U, so, a couple questions are, uh, what your hours, what are they going to be? Uh the hours um on the Tuesday through Thursday uh the hour is going to be from 4 to 10. Uh Friday through Sunday the hour is going to be 11. And initially they're going to try and extend the hours up until perhaps as late as one depending upon uh how much demand there is. Good. Any other questions? Do I have a motion to approve? So So move. A motion's been made for the class B liquor license by Councilman Dorenzo. I'm sorry. We can discussion I can ask. Seconded by Councilman Famagedi. Any questions? Yeah. Sorry, you you moved too fast when I had a couple questions. What what's their experience with serving liquor? Um I would you like to answer that question? What was your question again? What's your experience with serving liquor? Have you worked in other restaurants, bars, anything? Um, so I personally don't have uh experience. Uh, but we have a couple bartenders that have experience that we hired. Okay. And they'll be certified obviously. Yeah. Yeah. And um and right now what are your current hours? Um 11 to 10. Um Friday, Saturday, Sunday. Tuesday to Thursday, it's uh 4 to 7.

And if you were to get the liquor license, um is there any plans to change the operations in any way? No, it's it's intended to be a restaurant. Um then, you know, after dinner hours, relax at the bar, maybe watch a game, some entertainment. you planning on moving any tables or doing anything like that at a certain point in the night? Well, the thought was that they're going to put some of the tables outside if they get the approval of of the council for outside dining, but they're not in planning on increasing the capacity beyond which they are right now. But, and I guess what I'm asking at some point is the format going to change where you would move tables, create like a dance floor or anything like that in the place? Uh, no. It's not intended to be a dance floor. It's going to be more of like a lounge type of thing after dinner. Okay. Are you planning on serving your full menu for the whole time you're open? They're going to serve a full menu um for so long as there are diners there and then they'll do like uh appetizers and small plates thereafter. Good. Yeah. Yeah. Um I mean I think my my preference would be to do uh some sort of probationary license. um maybe until renewal time. They're going to have to renew the license in this De December 1st anyway. um only because uh doesn't sound like the operators have a whole lot of experience uh with liquor service and you know just my experience is that places that serve food versus places that serve food and liquor can be different and I think this gives them enough time to prove themselves and then we'll you know we'll go from from there as far as the only thing I would say to address that Mr. Martone is that they've expended a significant amount of money in reliance upon them being able to operate a full service restaurant. If

for some reason December rolls around and the council feels that they haven't lived up to what your expectations are, you've got the ability to pull that license, which would be really punitive. I mean, they've been operating since March without a liquor license and and it's literally a dry opening and it's it's very detrimental to business. So I mean obviously we have to come back and renew periodically anyway. I would ask that there not be any restrictions on the initial issuance of the license. So I mean we we have also not only given probationary license but we've also given restrictions with regard to hours and things like that. I don't want to do that. But I I do like to keep the option open that it's a probationary license when we give a full license and then it's subject to renewal. Uh it's becomes a a steeper hill for us to climb. And my personal preference is I want to keep control over it. This is a plaza that has caused problems in the past. um it's surrounded by neighbors and I have every hope that there's not going to be any issues and I think if they you know run the estab I haven't heard any complaints I don't think we've got them so um I don't expect there to be any issues and I would expect that the license would get renewed um but you know I I think I feel like we've done probationary on a pretty regular basis here um recently we have yeah just just because I feel like we've we've gotten burned from time to time. Um, and you know, again, not to not I don't I hope that's not going to happen. I don't think it'll happen. And you know, as long as things run smoothly, I there would be no reason in my mind for there to be any issue with the renewal. December is when I would say probationary till whenever the renewal happens. Like I wouldn't want to stop them from operating. I just think whenever the renewal So should

have it in November. So they came in before the renewal um before issue when we do the November renewals. I would say a probation area until December 1st. Yeah. Because theoretically that's when the that's when the license would the current year's license would expire. Okay. A motion's been made and second it. All those in favor? I all those opposed? The eyes have it. Item number five, entertainment license. Town council to consider the approval of two entertainment licenses for Soldi Portugal Incorporated DBA sold to Portugal 1525 Smith Street, North Proidence, Rhode Island, DJ and other types of entertainment. Uh please explain what kind of entertainment. Uh sure. Right now the expectation is that they're going to have a guitar player in there and somebody with vocals. Um they're really not planning to have a DJ initially, although that is something they might contemplate in the future. So, basically, um some um background music, some uh dinner music, and then um you know, nothing beyond really like a two-piece type of uh situation with the guitar and vocal, not a band. I will uh full disclosure, we just did deny a entertainment license in that plaza. Um, you know, I'll defer to the councilman that represent the area, but that is a tough plaza. It's very overcrowded. Uh parking can be an issue. Neighbors behind you have been an issue for years with anything that's going in that establishment. You guys can kind of I think that maybe we should uh relook at the entertainment license when we we re look at the license again on December 1. I think that's the right probably the right thing to do. I'm comfortable with that. Mario. Yeah. I mean, I I you know, I'm always I my personal preference when we give these licenses out is to slowly step them up. So, you know, they got the first license for food and I know that's difficult to to continue to run an operation.

Um I think, you know, we approved the liquor license and I I I agree with with Steve, you know, I think it probably makes sense to see how that goes first. Uh my worry is you know when you combine liquor and entertainment um you know it it has I've seen it as a problematic recipe from time to time. I don't um have any problem with you know background music during dinner and you know I don't think it should be silent. Um but um yeah I I I agree with Steve. I I think it makes sense to to see how they see how it goes and then stick go from there. And and on top of the fact that just to be fair, we did just deny a license in that plaza. Do you have any questions for us? Well, I I think was I thought Mr. Dorenzo would said that he thought grant it would make it reviewable again in December. Is that I guess so we can we can relook at it again. Yeah, I didn't say granted. No, not granted. No, I was under the impression that we would do it. We will we look at it again, you know, uh if we see that there is no trouble like the things you just heard earlier and you know we can we look at it. So you wouldn't consider putting restrictions on the type of music that's done between now and December 1st to allow them to do the interior music you know with guitar and and vocal. You want it completely restricted until December. I I don't think we want it in the very beginning at all. Okay. So, uh the the uh I mean after that we can what will we look at? So, you can have background music. Yeah, you can we can have it now. You can have background music. You just can't have a DJ or you can't have no no entertainment yet. No live entertainment. You can have background music. So, you're talking about like a radio or something playing in the background, but not a a live performance. Yeah, correct. Okay. Okay. So, I'll make a motion to deny the entertainment license and we'll revisit it in December when they're up for renewal. It's in the form of a motion. Yes, I'll I'll make that motion. Motion

been made by Councilman Mone, seconded by Councilman Dorenzo. All those in favor? All those opposed? The eyes have it. And item number six, outdoor dining license town council to consider a vote for the approval of an outdoor dining license for Sold Portugal Incorporated, DBA, Soldier, Portugal, 1525 Smith Street, North Providence, Rhode Island. I I I personally have no problem giving that. Maybe it'll help the business a little bit. Sorry, guys. We appreciate that. So, I I I have no problem giving that. You want to make a motion? I'll make a motion to give an outside dining question. Okay. A motion's been made by Councilman Dorenzo. Is there a second? Second. Second by Councilman Mone. All those in favor? All those opposed? You guys have it. Thank you. Good luck with everything. I got you. Good luck. And I'm glad that you have paella for one. Okay. Item number seven, holiday sales. Town council consider to a vote for approval of a holiday license for BRC Retail LLC DBA Plato's Closet, 1401 Douglas Avenue, North Providence. Just state your name for the record, please. Stephanie Gardner. Thank you very much. You all have the information in front of you. Is there any questions? Do I have a motion to approve? So move. Motion been made by Councilman Famaged. Is there a second? Second. Seconded by Councilman Bala. All those in favor? All those opposed? The eyes have it. Good luck. Thank you. Thank you. Item number eight, peddler vendor license. Town council to consider a vote for the approval of a peddler vendor license for Phantom Fireworks to be sold at 1920 Mineral Spring Avenue. Just state your name for the record. Matthew Smith. Okay. This gentleman's here every year. We've never had any issues. Uh you all have the information in front of you. Is there any questions? Motion to approve. Motion made by Councilman Famagedi. Seconded by Councilman Laorio. All those in favor. All those opposed, the eyes have it. Good luck. Good luck. Thank you. Item number nine, town council to consider the approval of a peddler vendor license to sell fireworks from Keystone Novelties Distributors LLC, DBA Keystone Fireworks 10 at 41 Smithfield Road and 1525 Smith Street. Just state your name for the record,

sir. Ed McMahon. Thank you very much. Does anybody have any questions? Okay. Does anybody have any questions? You all have your information in front of you. Do have a motion to approve. So move. Motion been made by Councilman Famagedi. Is there a second? Second. Seconded by Councilman Bala. All those in favor? I. All those opposed, you have it. Thank you. Good luck. Number 10, temporary outdoor dining town council to consider a vote for approval of a temporary outdoor dining license for the Social Kitchen Incorporated DVA Social 1449 Middle Spring Avenue for June 6th through June 8th, 2025 with the St. Anony's feast. have been asked to pass this off the agenda. And number 11, class F1 liquor license. Town council to consider a vote for the approval of a class F1 liquor license for behind the bars mixology for an event at Camp Mian on October 3rd, 2025. Just state your name for the record. Jeremy Messenger. Thank you very much. Anybody have any questions? Motion to approve. Motion been made by Councilman Laorio, seconded by Councilman Pollock. All those in favor? Hi. All those opposed, you guys have it. Thank you very much. Head number 12, class F1 liquor license. Town council to consider a vote for the approval of a class F1 liquor license for at your service bartending for an event at Camp Mian on June 22nd, 2025. Uh Gina Malazo Collins contacted me. Her child is graduating Steven only tonight, so she they could not be here, but she is here every month and we've never had an issue. Motion been made by Councilman Pollock, seconded by Councilman Porchio. All those in favor. All those opposed, the eyes have it. Item number 13, private investigator license. Town council to consider the approval of a new private investigator license for Dieago Relo 40 Sherwood Avenue, North Proidence, Rhode Island. Just state your name for the record,

please. Dieago Melo. Thank you very much. Um, you all have the information package in front of you. Is there any questions for Mr. Melo? Okay, it's been signed by the chief. So, I have no problem. Further questions. I would like to entertain a motion to approve. No move. Second. That was made by Councilman Laio, seconded by Councilman Bala. Any further question? All those in favor? All those opposed? The eyes have it. Thank you very much. Okay. At number 14, Community Choice Aggregation. Freedom Energy Logistics respectfully requests the opportunity to allow CEO Bar From to make a presentation to the North Providence Town Council to introduce and explain community choice aggregation and electricity program. Just state your name for the record, please. Uh Bart Fromath, Providence, Rhode Island Freedom Energy Logistics. Thank you very much. Uh thank you very much for uh entertaining uh my audience tonight. Um uh I met with Mayor Lombardi back in October to discuss a relatively new program here in the state of Rhode Island called community choice aggregation. Um the first uh community choice aggregation program launched in 2023. There's a few communities that have uh made a move towards this program. In its essence, it is a largecale buying group created by the municipalities. And that's why I'm here before you today. Um, Rhode Island Energy is the current um, utility here across the state of Rhode Island and they offer electricity service under the guise of a program called Last Resort Service. Last resort service is a program for anybody that hasn't made an affirmative choice to move on to a third-party private electricity

supplier. Uh we all live in the state of Rhode Island and we've seen our bills fluctuate from 10 cents typically during the summertime to about 17 or 18 cents during the winter months. What this program seeks to do is to provide your residents in North Providence and other communities with some budget certainty and some savings versus the last resort service. So what the jurisdiction does is they can take an affirmative vote to move into this program and they create a buying pool of all of your residents and your small businesses that are clients of Rhode Island Energy and they can go out and negotiate for third-party largescale electricity contracts at the same scale as some of the large businesses uh here in Rhode Island and get excellent discount rates and excellent terms and uh consumer protections. Um, this program has about uh just in New England alone, about 220 jurisdictions that have made the move into this. And like I said, it's it's new to Rhode Island, uh, but certainly not new to to Massachusetts and to New Hampshire with these programs have have been in place for some time. Massachusetts going all the way back to about 2012. Uh, so I want to come before you today and um answer any questions you might have and see if there was some interest in uh, pursuing further information for North Providence. How many um communities have you gone before to this point in Rhode Island? Say that again. Sorry. How many communities have you been before in Rhode Island to this point? Uh to this point in time, probably 13 or 14. Okay. And how's the reception? Uh you know, probably the the warmest reception I've gotten is in the town of Westerly who is planning to move forward this fall and the coldest reception I've received is in Burlville. So Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Councilman Lorenzo, you had a question? Yes. Uh so roughly signing up for this program, how much would the average resident save? What what you're doing here? So it it varies. Um the savings over the last few years have been somewhat pronounced and I I wouldn't hold on to those as indicative of of how you're going to perform in the

future. Uh we had a big runup in the um utility market space after the war in Ukraine in uh 2022 into 2023. So some of our communities um in Massachusetts save upwards of uh over over half or 100%. So the utilities in Massachusetts went to 36 cents. We had some communities that were 11 cents a kilowatt hour. So significant savings, but I I think that that is more of an anomaly rather than uh anything you should hold on to indicative going forward. I think a successful program delivers about 10 to 15% in savings over the course of a contract. It says here in your uh that you're affiliated with Colonial Power Group. Yes, that's correct. They've done work in Rhode Island before. Correct. Say I'm sorry. They've done work in Rhode Island. Uh just Westerly is our our only existing client that we're moving forward at this time between uh us and Colonial Power Group. But the city of Boston, city of lol, Springfield, all the major municipalities in Massachusetts use Colonial Power Group as as their aggregator. Councilman. So you hear all these companies being like the delivery portion of your bill. Is that kind of what this is? Is for the delivery? It's a great question, uh, councelor. Uh, so there's really two portions to the bill. There's the delivery, the wires charges that Ryland energy charges you just for again the delivery and distribution of electrons. And then there's the cost of the commodity. That's the energy supply charge. This program replaces the energy supply charge, which at varying times, especially during the winter time, can be about 70% of your Rhode Island energy invoice. So, it's the bulk of uh of of what consumers pay is is what we replace. Councilman, yeah, I I um I'm I'm pretty sure that I don't know if it was your company, but I think we've gotten a presentation. We have one before. Yes. A while ago. And two of the things that I remember that that stuck out to me um

and and I'm I'm not saying it's it's necessarily a bad uh thing to do. It seems like it's something that a lot more places are doing even if it's not necessarily in Rhode Island, but one is um you can also get locked into a higher price, right, than what Yeah. So actually my competitor I only have one competitor in the state and that's a company called Good Energy. And so their program is different from ours in that they do offer a savings guarantee. So they offer in their program always to offer the residents of their town a savings versus Round Energy. Our program doesn't have that sa savings guarantee. We differentiate ourselves from the standpoint that yes, they deliver savings, but if you looked at the city of Providence's rate right now for their aggregation, uh Rhode Island Energy is at, you know, 10.5 cents, I believe, and they're offering a 10-centent price. And in the winter time, uh, this past winter when our energy went to 17 cents, they were at 16.25 cents. So really minimal savings. What we're looking to do is create budget certainty, budget savings over a long time term contract. So if we do a three-year contract at 9, 10, 11 cents, we're going to see the bulk of the savings for uh North Providence residents over the winter time. And then we're going to be at even and sometimes even take a small loss during the summer months versus Rhode Island Energy. But the losses or the the the parody we're going to be at during the summertime is more than overcome uh with the savings that we can deliver during the winter months when energy tends to be at its highest. And so I think if you measure up our program versus theirs in the long term, the residents get material savings opportunities from us versus nominal if if not insignificant savings in a Providence program. C. So, just to expand a little bit on what Mario just asked you, uh, we had someone come a few years back, if you remember. And, uh, what I didn't like about it was that

if we were to sign up with the Urban Energy Company that every resident in this town signs up for it. Did they have to opt out in order to get out? They do. They do. And as the president asked me a moment ago, the reason I got the the coldest reception in Burlville was because of the opt out feature. Uh I was pretty much run out of town as a result of that. But um it it it certainly isn't for every community and you know this isformational only. But the reason that it's an opt- out mechanism is that Rhode Island has had an optin private supplier option for the better part of of 23 years at this point in time. And only 20% of the marketplace has moved forward with that. Um it just hasn't been marketed well. And the other issue with it is the consumer protections surrounding that private option. People sign up for an Amazon gift card or an MX gift card. They get a great rate for three months or six months. They stop paying attention to the electricity invoice and when that contract expires, the rate explodes on them. They've given back all the benefit of that. So, the Reliant legislature adopted this mechanism to kind of mirror some of the success that Massachusetts has had with this program in delivering long-term savings with consumer protections that can really deliver finally that that energy choice that the legislature thought they were providing for everyone back in 20 uh 2002. But really at this point in time, only our large businesses, our large municipalities have only benefited from the choice program. This seeks to to deliver it to the residential uh and small commercial customers. Als and and if I remember correctly, part of the reason for that is the more people you have in your orbit, the the better you're able to uh negotiate pricing or or absolutely absolutely there's a there's a economies of scale at at play there. And so if I take a look at a a marketplace like Rhode Island and I market to individual households, individual small businesses, it costs about $185 per customer acquisition under that model. And so with this model, you wipe out the cost of customer acquisition entirely. So not only you get the economies of scale with

that collective buying group, but you also don't have to account for what would typically be a significant barrier to entry from a cost per customer acquisition standpoint. There's one more question. So uh does the fact that other cities and towns do it or don't do it impact like like who's your group? So like if if we were to join in Yes. Do we get to have the power of the Massachusetts municipalities behind us or I guess what I'm saying is if five Rhode Island or one Rhode Island municipality goes with your program. Sure. Does that impact your ability in the market? No. So, North Province um would would stand on its own two feet and have its own program. We do have some communities in other states that have banded together. Typically, the smaller communities will sometimes do that. They'll have five or six or seven. Um, but you're all in the municipal space and and you know how hard it can be sometimes to negotiate a a multilateral community contract with everybody having to sign on the same day, especially since this is a commodity. Um, very very difficult. And there's also input in terms of what communities want to move forward with which plans. Um, some of our communities opt for a maximized savings rate and some of our communities want to build in more of a sustainability bend to the offering that they do. So they want to offer a 25 or a 50% renewable inclusion in the uh in the power that they that they consume uh on behalf of the residents. So typically we recommend that communities try uh at least initially to go off on on their own and that way they they maintain power over their own program and don't have to seek advice from others. Okay, council just one more question. Sure. So if I remember correctly that the it's you don't get a savings on the total of your electric bill. This is just on that small part that you were saying earlier. Well, I wouldn't I wouldn't say small. It is the largest portion of the bill and it gets up to about 70% during the winter months. So it's a it's a sizable portion of the bill. Okay. Because if I remember

correctly, the other people were here, the savings are extremely minimal. And and I believe that was my competitor, Good Energy. And that's just their program. They do offer a guaranteed savings, but it's as long as they're below Rhode Island Energy, they fulfilled that promise. And if you go back in the track record of the year and a half they've been operating, you know, um it it has been rather minimal in terms of the savings. So I I I would say just to add that as these programs mature in time, the one thing that residents really do uh tend to latch on to and the reason it has a a high um uh rate of um I'm trying to trying to think of the the term I'm using. the reason they keep so many customers, a high percentage of the customers, 92% of customers typically stay in these programs is because of the smoothness of that budget certainty and they're not seeing that escalation where, you know, I'm using the same amount of power that I used in September and October, but yet my my bill almost doubled. You know, for residents on fixed income, that's quite compelling. So, it's the savings really launches the program, but the budget certainty is why the retention rate is uh is so high over time. And then the last thing I would mention is that anybody can come and go. It's a universal access program. So even if North Providence decided to move forward and did a two-year agreement, someone can come and go on the very next meter to read date after this is announced. Or if someone's visiting family in Florida or South Carolina or Illinois, they missed the opt- out notice. All they have to do is make a phone call, send us an email, and they're right back with Ron Energy the very next month. So Okay. Thank you. It's a very informative pres presentation. I'm going to uh refer this to our finance committee. Okay. Meeting so we can have you in and really dig down a little deeper. I think there's some more questions from the council. Um so I'd like to entertain that motion. So moved to motion been made by Councilman Bala, second by Council Martone, and uh we'll reach out in the next month when that next meeting is. All right. Great. Thank you very favor. I All those opposed. Thank you. Item number 15,

resolution 25-002, discussion and possible vote on the passage of resolution 25-002 concerning vision zero policy safe roadways planning director stated it was okay with the police chief. Any questions on resolution 25-002 motion to pass the resolution. Motion made by Councilman Laoro. Is there a second? Second. Second by Councilman Famagedi. All those in favor. All those opposed? The eyes have it. And number 16, ordinance introduction, discussion and possible vote to introduce ordinance 25-007, amending the building official fee schedule. Do I have a motion to introduce ordinance 25-00? Motion been made by Councilman Bala, seconded by Councilman Pollock. All those in favor? I don't think I'll make a motion to dispense with the reading. Second. Okay. Motion has been made by Councilman Famagetti, seconded by Councilman Martone. All those in favor? All those opposed? The eyes have it. Number 17, ordinance introduction. I've been informed to pass this off the agenda. Number 18, Our Lady of Fatima Hospital. Discussion and possible vote on the sale of Our Lady of Fatima Hospital. Uh I don't think there's anything new to report unless Well, the the the bonds did not sell, which is that confirmed? Uh yeah, I'm pretty sure that's confirmed. Um but I I don't think that means I'm going to stop trying, but uh so I guess we'll see what happens. Okay. Anybody else have anything to add? Well, yeah, there is been a rumor that well that the bonds did not sell and we do not know what that means for the future of that deal. So item number 19, resignation letter. received a letter of resignation to be accepted with regret from Ken Ki of the North Proidence Land Trust. Do I have a motion to accept the

resignation letter? Motion been made by Councilman Dorendo, seconded by Councilman Pollock. All those in favor? All those opposed? The eyes have it. Item number 20, board appointments, town council discussion, action regard to the appointments to be made to the following boards. Land trust, no mayoral appointment, Katherine Lanny. Do I have a motion to appoint Katherine Lanny to the land trust? Motion been made by Councilman Pollock. Executive by Councilman Leortio. All those in favor. All those opposed? The eyes have it. Item number 21, golf balls from Louiswis. Councilman Pollock would like discussion and possible vote regarding golf balls from Louiswis golf course landing on a property on Clement Street. Councilman. Uh Mr. President, I received correspondence from someone that lives right on Clement Street. I guess there's an issue with uh some golf balls going over the fence. The fence in that location at Lewis Quizit. Uh the netting is not high. But my understanding is the bushes are exceeding the fence. Um I'm looking to I spoke to Counciloman Portio. I believe National Grid might own some of that uh those uh bushes and trees. So I'm looking to send correspondence as the first motion to uh National Grid that get them to trim that as a first step to uh maybe address this issue. Okay. A motion's been made by Councilman Pollock. Is there a second? Second. Second, second by Councilman Marton. Any discussion? All those in favor? I I have we confirmed whether there's any correlation between when councilmen are playing on Lquisit and when the balls hit the neighbor's yards. I I cannot confirm nor deny that that is my any further discussion. But I know cutting less trees might not be the might not be the answer. That's just what I'm saying. All those in favor may help. All those opposed, the eyes have it. Uh, do you have a second motion? Might be a good idea maybe if you want to send this to the public safety committee.

Yeah, I have no problem with that. I All right. Is that an form of motion? Public safety. Motion's been made by Councilman Pollock. Is there a second? Second. Second by Councilman Martone. All those in favor? All opposed? The eyes have it. Item number 23, stop sign. Councilman Leaportio request discussion and possible vote on a stop sign at the intersection of Barber Anne Drive and Wood Haven Boulevard. Councilman. Yes, thank you. I've received uh several calls from several different uh people that live in the area uh up in Wood Haven. It seems to be uh a pretty pretty tough area where people just blow through the stop signs and speed through the streets and a lot of hills there. So, they just continually go down there. um like to see if we could have uh stop sign. They would like to see if we'd have a stop sign put down there in that area. Um I believe we'd have to make a a motion to move this to ordinance first. Motion's been made by Councilman Leaportio. Second, second by Councilman Bala. Any further discussion? All those in favor? All opposed? The eyes have it. Item number 23, pruning bushes. Councilman Laaportio request discussion and possible vote on residents concerns regarding pruning of bushes on Esther Drive and Sherwood Avenue that are blocking the view of oncoming traffic. Councilman. Uh likewise uh bushes at Esther at Sherwood are very close to the corner. Um causing a blind spot when people are oncoming in traffic. Uh like to have uh again send this over to ordinance and contacting people uh to have the bushes cut. I don't think there's anything we could do by ordinance, but um going to send it to DPW, don't we? We could send it to uh

public safety or we could send a message communication to DPW to in the uh housing inspector to see if there's any violations. Let's let's Yeah, let's send it to DPW. Okay. Have them take a look at it. All right. Motion private property or is it It is on private property. That's why I'm That's why I always question. If it's on private property, I would suggest that we notify the building in um the building inspector's office or the zoning office. Okay, let's do the bill Mike. Okay, a motion's been made by Councilman Leaporio, seconded by Councilman Bala. Any discussion? All's in favor? I oppose. The eyes have it. Item number 25, tax abatements under $1,000. Town council discussion in action possible vote for the approval of list of tax abatements under $1,000 received from tax assessor in the amount of $1,388.28 for motor vehicles. Do I have a motion to abate? So move. Motion's been made by Councilman Bala. Is there a second? Second. Second by Councilman Martone. Any further discussion? Are all those in favor? I. All those opposed? The eyes have it. Item number 26, tax abatements over $1,000. Town council uh discussion and action. Possible vote for the approval of a list of tax abatements over $1,000 received from tax assessor in the amount of $1,689.24 for motor vehicles. I have a motion to send this to the finance committee. So moved. Second. Motion's been made by Councilman Bala, second by Councilman Dorenzo. All those in favor? I. All posted, the eyes have it. Item number 27, public safety committee report. Town council discussion and action with regard to public safety committee report presented by Councilman Pollock. Yes, we met on uh May 29th. We had uh numerous residents from Beckside was there. Also, Mayor Lombardi and Bernie Salvatore was there. Dave De Mo unfortunately was not able to make it. He was away. He had prior plans. Um, we're just going to continue this.

Counciloman Portio is going to follow up with Dave Demo and also speak to uh our council and then we'll report back once we get more information. Okay. Do I have a motion to accept Councilman Pollock's report? So moved. Motion's been made by Councilman Bala, second by Councilman Leaporio. All in favor? All opposed? The eyes have it. Item number 28, claim submitted. Town council discussion and possible vote with respect to a claim received from the following. Andrea Cypriano, 22 Plymouth Road, North Proidence, Rhode Island. Do I have a motion to send this to the claims committee? So moved. Motion made by Councilman Bala. Second by Councilman Dorenzo. All in favor? All opposed? The eyes have it. Do I have a motion to adjurnn? So move. Motion made and seconded.