Town Council - Regular Meeting

5 North Providence Town Council meeting to order. Please stand for a pledge of allegiance and remain standing for a moment of silence. We'll dedicate this moment of silence to Peter Simone who was uh served on the North Providence Town Council from 1983 to 2004. He passed away yesterday. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, liberty and justice for all. You got

item number one, acceptance of meeting minutes. Discussion and possible action and vote with regard to the acceptance of meeting minutes for meetings of September 2nd and September 15, 2025. Do I have a motion to accept? So move. Motion's been made by Councilman Bakal. Is there a second? Second.

Seconded by Councilman Martone. Any questions? There being none. All those in favor? I. All those opposed, the eyes have it. Item number two, zone change amendment. Town council to consider approval of an application from Connley Law and Associates to amend article 5, section 409E of the zoning ordinance of the town of North Providence. This application was advertised in the Providence Journal on July 11th, 18th, and 25th, 2025 for a hearing on this date. This item was continued from the September 2nd, 2025 meeting. Uh, is there anyone here from the applicant? Can you deny this?

If you read our planning board's decision, they gave an unfavorable ruling. So, with that being said, I'm going to entertain a motion to deny the zone change. So, for the record, uh, I'll be recusing on this matter. Okay. Just for the record, Councilman Marton is recusing. Uh, a motion's been made by Councilman Baloa. Second, seconded by Councilman Laoro. Any questions? There being none. All those in favor?

All those opposed? The eyes have it. Please note for the record that the matter was denied. And number three, zone change amendment. Town council to consider approval of an application from the town of North Providence to amend article 2 section 202 of the zoning ordinance and zoning map of the town of North Providence. This application was advertised in the Providence Journal on September 12th, 19th, 26th, 2025 for hearing on this date. I've just been informed by my legal counsel that there is an issue with the way this was advertised, but I do know that there is people here that would like to speak on this matter. So, if you'd like to come up, I will take testimony, but we're not going to be voting on anything tonight. Mr. Mr. Chairman, I briefly explained to the uh young ladies here uh that we needed to revertise and that this will be addressed uh next month, but I want to just u make sure it's part of the record. just um Charles do you want to explain just

so very briefly the way that it was noticed for tonight's council meeting it didn't specifically describe the lots for the area but you're welcome to speak on it now um as the council president indicated um just state your name for the record please Deborah Pesurro. Thank you. I own with my sister 977 Mineral Spring Avenue and we just we want to sell and retire and we're not able to the way the zoning is right now.

What your your hair salon now? Okay. Does anybody have any questions? Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Um Brent, did you want to add?

So, uh what brought this up is um she owns a business non-conforming. We can't bring new tenants in because they're not exactly the same as what was grandfathered in. So, this proposal is essentially going to bring Mineral Springs from um Twins Pizza to the Kentucky line into conformance. Um there's no single family homes. There's a few three families which would conform in the CV zone and all the businesses would conform in a CV zone. They're currently in an RG zone which essentially doesn't allow any business. So, it's a business friendly move in my opinion. Okay. Any questions, Councilman?

So, any business in that area right now are prior non-conforming uses? Yes. So, they're they're all um businesses in RG zones. So, the non-conforming rules essentially don't allow them to expand, intensify, um or or even change the use. So, it's very limiting currently. So if someone was to buy it as a hair salon, it could stay there, but if it's something else, they can't. Someone that's buying it wanted to put an office and they are not able to. I'm I'm sorry to see the hair salon go for for selfish reasons, but thank you for coming out. We're going to continue this matter to the uh November meeting. Thank you, Mayor.

Mr. Chairman, members of council, um most of the neighbors have been spoken with. They were all in favor of this. protects them in the long range did take the councilman down um and visit. So I think it's the right thing just fairness for the businesses in the area. Thanks. Thank you. Okay. Do I have a motion to continue? So moved. Motion been made by Councilman Pollock, seconded by Councilman Dorenzo. All those in favor? I

All those opposed? The eyes have it. Okay. For uh Brent, I'm going to I got a couple people that got to get out of here. And I know that's going to be a long presentation. So, real quick, I'm going to go to item number 11, town seal. Communications director Ralph Nehe request discussion and possible vote on a new town seal. Ralph,

good evening. Um, she's going to bring it over so you can see. We submitted the pictures with it if you saw it. Um, our town seal currently, as you see it, is a single uh color over a blue background. Very hard. We've basically digitized um, you know, we'll wait till she brings it up. So, if you look, that's our current town seal we use for all our letter head. Um, everything we do, social media, websites, and everything. It's pretty uh outdated. Um, if you can bring the new one up. Uh my team has designed and developed this online and um through software and it's much more highlighted multiple powered. Um it still keeps basically the same exact type of picture that we have. Uh the words on it the same. Um it just kind of cleans it up and brightens it up.

That looks really good. That's a great job. Yeah, they worked together on my whole team worked together on it. We would like to get that seal approved as the new town seal which would be used for letterhead things like this. Um we certainly didn't know what the exact procedure was because I don't think the town seal has changed in many many years. So we just asked if it could be approved. Does anybody have any questions for Ralph on this seal? No, I'll make a motion. Okay. Motion's been made to approve by Councilman Dorenzo, seconded by Councilman Laorio. Ju just want to make sure we're not throwing away any of that old paper. We're going to use it before it runs until it runs out. Right. We know that. Count to every envelope. All those in favor.

Those opposed, the eyes have it. Thank you. Just stay right here. Item number 14, sound system and council chambers. Councilman Bakala request discussion and possible vote on upgrading sound system in council chambers.

Uh Ralph, I got a couple of calls when we're on YouTube. Well, you know, whatever we're doing in here, it doesn't seem to be resonating when people are giving their testimony. Some people having a hard time hearing. And I don't think it's just our our meetings, the planning, zoning, and and that. So, I don't know if we can do anything in here to kind of upgrade. And every now and then, we do get a lot of feedback, but also in a couple of the planning meetings, zoning, and that what we're seeing here that the people out there can't see like, you know, if I'm not mistaken on couple of the zoning and planning it out.

So, it's more about the operation. They kind of just put it on for their meeting and walk away from it. But like what um the girls did this meeting, her moving that seal. Yeah. The public can see it. Yeah. But not even that when someone was coming in here, they had a they brought their own presentation. It wasn't something they had digital digitally. They couldn't see it from there. So I don't know if there's a camera or something. We can put No, it's just like it's what they're going to be able to do. It's just like what Brett's going to do for this meeting. It's just a training thing that we can train them how to do. But anything they plug in, we can send over. they can cut over to that street. So, do we make the recommendation to anybody doing a presentation that they have to come with that and they can't come with a with an easel and a and a pitcher?

Right. So, that that's what happened was uh last month Bad Avenue put a few of the the constituents there and the presentation was on the boards and was re being presented to the planning board but no one in the audience could see it. So, I think that's that's kind of what we're trying to give us some guidance on. We want the people that are sitting in the audience to be able to see the same thing that planning, zoning, and anybody out sitting up here is able to see. And I'm okay with telling them they have to bring a presentation to plug into a laptop or an iPad or whatever. If that's what we're moving towards, then that's what we just need to make sure that we know to let everybody know if you're going to come and do a presentation that, you know, unfortunately not everybody can make the meetings in here. So they will be able to see, you know, what's there. So,

right. So, I'm assuming that's what your recommendation is that they that they plug into that and we'll do give them a little bit of training on on that. As far as the audio goes, you guys all sound wonderful on the line ver online version. It is difficult by some here because you know some of them are out here, some of them are over here talking, some of them are over here talking and then that just wipes out it getting to the See, right now it's working perfect. There's no feedback. There's no nothing. Sometimes we get a

So the other thing is is it's ironic that you said that because I've been working for two years to try to get this room squared away. And our biggest problem is vendors. You you Councilman Leaportio, you recommended vendors that didn't come and we it was just a mess. Well, as of today, I received the final unofficial quote. Um last week we met in here to do the echoing problem. Um, it's taking three seconds from the time somebody talks in this room to stop bouncing along the wall off the walls. It takes three seconds every time they talk. That's why the echo is bad. That's why we get in the hum. We had the whole entire speaker system, amplifier system analyzed. Our system is in great shape. It's the room is the problem. The other is is for you guys to hear. You don't have any amplification for you guys to hear about the state. So, the only I got the unofficial quote today because they don't have the freight charge for us yet, but it's $32,000 to fix this room completely the way it needs to be fixed with soundproofing on the walls, gray panels installed that'll match between the um between the white things so it'll all look natural and something and stuff like that. Um, so and that's certainly stuff that can come out of that um account that we've used to upgrade this system. So, we're finally there.

Now, it'll probably take a couple of months to get approved and installed, but by next meeting I'll have the full It's a good time to do it. We're changing the seal. We might as well change the scenery, too, a little bit. Right. All right. All right. Thank you. Thank you. So, just to clarify, you're gonna get with Brent. Brent, you're going to be able to require whoever's doing a presentation, commercial digital presentation. You're gonna get him trained on that because he's the one that's here for the meetings. Yeah, we'll take care of that during the day. One of my guys will take it. Thank you. Thank you, Ralph. Thank you. Thanks, Ralph.

Okay. Ate number four, comprehensive plan 2025. Notice was given of a public hearing to be held on this date in the Providence Journal on September 12th, 19th, and 26, 2025. hearing is to consider a possible vote on the North Providence comprehensive plan for 2025. Good evening. Thank you. Just to uh preface um we're not going to be taking any votes on this tonight because this is the first time a lot of us are seeing it. So you guys can give your presentation. If but before we start, if if I may, can you email us all a copy of the actual comprehensive plan? It's also on the website. Is it online? Yeah.

Okay. Where's Ralph? All right. Well, while you guys are setting up, I'm going to go to proposed ordinances. Notice was given of a public hearing on this day whereby the town council will consider passage of the following proposed ordinances. Item number five, ordinance 25-00007Z, an ordinance amending the town of North Proidence zoning ordinance article 4, section 409E. This item is in connection with the zone change item from Connelly Law. I have a motion to remove this item from the agenda since the zone change did not pass.

So move. Motion been made by Councilman Laoro, seconded by Councilman Dorenzo. Any questions for the record? Recuse. Council MTO will recuse on the item. All those in favor. All those opposed, the eyes have it. Item number six, ordinance 25-011Z, an ordinance amending article 2, section 202 of the zone the zoning ordinance. This item is in connection with the zone change item from the town of North Providence. Do I have a motion to continue this to the November meeting? So move. Motion made by Councilman Pollock, seconded by Councilman Bala. Any questions? There being none. All those in favor? I.

All those opposed? The eyes have it. I'm going to go on to number seven while you guys are setting up. JL and Bow Reinvestments LLC DBA Dana Sports Lounge representative of Dana's Lounge to appear for a check on the opening of the business after a flood and meeting of the requirements on liquor license.

Good evening, Mr. Council President, members of the council. John Manny on behalf of the license holder. Uh since we were here the last time, uh my client has complied with the requirements for the renewal. Uh he still has work to do there and we expect that that will be completed uh hopefully by uh mid November or December. Uh based on the paperwork that was submitted in the clearance from the division of taxation etc. I'm going to respectfully request that uh his license be granted um with the caveat that he's not going to be open for a little bit um because they're not finished with the floors and whatnot yet. However, uh all the paperwork is in order relative to that. In addition, I know the renewal's coming up soon. So, I'm wondering if it's possible to combine those two issues um to try to resolve this uh rather than having to come back or if we have to come back obviously we'll certainly do that.

Yes. Can you just so our legal council can hear, can you just ask that question again about combining? Oh, I'm sorry. Yes. So, my client's been closed this entire past year because of this flood. Uh, he's still not open, although we're expecting it would be in November or the beginning of December. Notwithstanding that, we're seeking approval uh of his renewal from last year. And we're going to respectfully request if possible that the uh renewal fee be waved since he basically been out of business for the last 10 months and counting.

Yeah. So yeah, I would like to put that in form of a motion uh for the renewal. I would also like to make that part of the motion to wave the uh renewal fee for this year. He's had no income this year. He's anticipating open December sec on around December 2nd. So, I'd like to form of a motion for the renewal, but to to wave the current to wave the current uh renewal for this year. Okay. A motion's been made by Councilman Pollock, seconded by Councilman Laoro. Any questions? Maybe none. All those in favor. All those opposed, the eyes have it. Thank you. Thank you very much. Appreciate it. You guys all set?

Sure. Thank you. Um, my name is Susan Mara. I'm a planner with Weston and Samson. We were hired by the town of North Providence in 2023 to assist with the update of the local comprehensive plan. So, the state of Rhode Island requires all cities and towns update or requests that all cities and towns update their comprehensive plan every 10 years with about a 25 year horizon. So, it's a very far in the future looking plan. um contains a number of different chapters and contains goals and policies that will guide the local land use regulations and planning for the local communities. So when you start off with like big picture, so that's the community vision. And so when we initially started with Brent and also with the steering committee which was made up of planning board members and zoning board members and um also residents, you start with the big picture vision. And in general in North Providence, what we heard from people is that they like their town a lot. They tend more than a lot of other towns that I've worked in, you tend to have families um that stay in town. A lot of times you see when you know kids leave and go to college, they move away. But there seems to be a little more longevity here. It's it's a true town. Um and people were really happy about their level of service in their neighborhoods. The one the one sort of you know overarching theme is that they wish it was a little better connected in terms of both transportation and information. But in general um we get a lot of positive response. So we set the vision with the town and working with our working with the stakeholder committee and then from there you have goals which support the vision and then policies and then specific actions that are recommended at the end which all go

to support um this vision that the town has set. And part part of the plan that the state requires is also outreach. And so we worked with Brent and his team and we did three public workshops. We had a project website which is still up where you can see the plan, the draft plan. We did a project survey. Um this is a picture of Brent at I think the Centerale Festival trying to get some, you know, drum up some interest and responses for the survey. You can see the QR codes on the poster report that he has. And we had probably 10 or more meetings with the steering committee to go over the chapters. um and review each chap each of the 10 chapters and the goals and the policies and the actions.

Ask a question before you go. I notice you have the QR codes on there and and I think that's wonderful. Do you know how many people do we have it as how many people actually downloaded it or have any I do you know what I I don't have that number for you right now counselor but if you can get it when we come back we will definitely I would just like to see the analytics of it because I think that's in it's in the plan actually it's in chapter one we have like the summary of it and I think we have the appendix which you know has all the answers to all the different surveys or survey questions. We also had um hard copies because, you know, we had the QR codes for folks that could use their phone, but we also had some hard copies that people could fill out manually and we had our, you know, interns just enter them um if people could not do the online version. Interesting to see how many young kids actually did that because I'm sure that's what the demographic was.

Yeah, we actually we you know who we had help us with this is the um the recreation department director. Yeah. Uh Dean Vickers helped us. Yeah. So, she brought it to her um she has a youth group. She brought it to her youth group. Get them the numbers. That's

um so there's about 10 different chapters give or take. Um some communities tend to, you know, decide to organize their plans a little differently, but so for each chapter there's sort of just general goals that we we put in there that we'll also drive down into policies and to actions that are included in the plan. And so, as I mentioned, the the town is pretty built out and is pretty well established and there are a lot of existing stable neighborhoods. Um, residents in the survey and in the workshops seem to really like their neighborhoods and make sure want to make sure that any planning and local regulations would go towards protecting that. There was a lot of success um in Centerale that they liked and they thought maybe repeating that in some of the different um villages could be could be something that the town could work towards. Housing is a chapter that's also required. Um, and the state also pushes the towns to sort of identify ways to make sure that they're serving all of the residents and making sure that, you know, housing is affordable. And our goals that we reflected with the with the community um through the workshops is that you know the the town did think that housing should be affordable um and available to everyone and identified a couple of different groups that maybe the town could focus on in terms of its work towards affordable housing including um including seniors.

Sorry I I have a question. Is density covered in the housing section? Because it is and it's also in the land use section because we include the the zoning map is in the um is in the land use chapter as well as what's called the future land use map which Brent is going to talk about in a little bit. But so our recommendations don't include increases in density. I think our recommendations include maintaining your zoning categories as they currently exist. Yeah. I mean just just and I ask only because I think density it it's density is the the driver of issues. So

So the previous comp plan had a maximum the highest density um as seven units per acre and this remains the same with less dense you know as they go. Seven is the max. Seven's the max.

Thank you. In terms of economic development, residents in the town seem to really like the activity in Centerale and want to try and see if that's something that could be replicated in some of the other villages. Um, and then also looking at Mineral Spring Avenue. I know we had had a lot of conversations with Brent around this like are there ways to, you know, improve traffic flow um along Mineral Springs. So, those are those were sort of the two main emphasis areas for economic development. municipal buildings, facilities, and services. Um, as as we noted, a lot of the a lot of the folks that showed up at um at the meetings were pretty happy with the level of service that that the the town provides. So, I think in general, our goals with municipal buildings and facilities and services is to continue to maintain that high level of service. In terms of natural resources, um you know, the it's a pretty fairly built-out town that doesn't have a lot of natural resources. However, um it seems that the town has in the last, you know, 10 years or so really made an effort to um acquire and to preserve um green space in town. Um some of it's related to recreation, but also open space. And so, you know, again, this is this the goals for this for this plan would be to continue to look for opportunities to do that. and to preserve and maintain um the natural resource areas that you that you do have.

Historic and cultural resources. The state sort of pushes the communities to make sure that you know when you're addressing historic and cultural resources, you're making sure that you are inclusive of um all of the all of your residents and in particular like you know the prior indigenous communities. Um but beyond that, the the town did also identify that there are some a lot of local districts and neighborhoods that are um worthy of both preservation and interpretation.

You give a permission. So, open space and recreation. Um, compared to a lot of towns, like the per capita amount of recreation and open space services, um, you know, North Providence is on the high side. And so, I think residents definitely recognize that. And the only thing that they, you know, maybe pointed out was like, why wouldn't it be great to have like a way to get between some of these resources, um, you know, by biking or walking and so maybe improving some of those connections? But in general, um, they were, you know, they seem to appreciate the level of open space and recreation services that the town does have. So, transportation, um, again, Mineral Spring sort of comes up a couple of times when we talk to um, people at the workshops and then, you know, when we looking at the surveys, it's obviously it's a big economic engine. Um and but there are room there is room for improvement and so you know look looking at ways to perhaps improve circulation and access um making it safer and you know more accessible along Mineral Spring. It's it's a um not something that you can fix in one, you know, in in one action, but just, you know, thinking about maybe ways to to, you know, combine curb cuts or or um organize traffic in a way that, you know, allows for a little better access and circulation. So, those are the those are the 10 sort of subject area chapters. And then at the end another required element of the plan is this implementation plan um which is at the end and it this also goes by by chapter and so for land use there'll be a series of proposed actions also for economic development for historic and cultural resources etc etc and so it's a list of the actions and you know who would be responsible and what is the time frame and what is the priority

and where we are in the process. So, you know, we've been working on this for over a year and we've done the public engagement. The we have um submitted a draft plan to the state. They have come back with comments. We have addressed their comments. Um we've been before the planning board and they have made a positive recommendation. And so now we are in front of the city council. Once the city council approves it, it will become your locally approved comprehensive plan. We still submit it to the state and so that it also becomes a state approved one. But once once it becomes your locally approved plan, it can act as a guidance document for your zoning and for your planning and zoning decisions. And I think Brent had a um has a floor amendment for the future land use map. I'll let him talk about that.

Yes. So, the um the amendment that I wanted to discuss essentially mirrors the zone change that was continued this evening. Um it spans from Beard Avenue to Dick Dixon on the north of Mineral Spring and then it spans from Beard Avenue to Dorman on the southern side of Mineral Spring and that's the residential general to CV zone change to bring everything into conformance in that area. Um, but that wasn't thought of yet when we drafted the comp plan. So, that's an amendment that we have to make on the public floor tonight. So, but if you're not voting on it tonight, um, I believe this would just have to be done before the zone change. Yeah, Charles, if you could.

Yeah. Yeah. Okay. I think it was it also supposed to be done during the public hearing or at least brought up during the public hearing to do to do an on the floor like you know on time amendment. I don't know the answer to that. I'd have to actually looked at that before giving the council president an answer on the floor amendment. Yeah, I'd have to ask him but give me a little Yeah, I mean I'll have an answer certainly before our next meeting. Okay, thanks. Councilman Dorenzo has a question.

Brent, does that great job by the way, Brent? Does that the zoning change amendment you just said about Beard Avenue, does that change what's going on? The status of that place actually right now, is that going to change it? No, the status of which place? Sorry. Hi. The one on Beard Avenue? You mean uh 114 you just said, is that going to change what's going on presently right there? It wouldn't. It only spans about 100 feet off the road off of uh Mineral Springs. So, it's it's

we made sure it it went in line with the lots in the north and the south. There's a few lots that are double that span road to road. We propose only half of those. So, we protect the the residential neighborhood from further commercial development. I have a question. Um, and you might have just answered that, but so when you do when we approve this comprehensive plan, does this clean up a lot of those spot zoning areas? like um cuz I remember when we did this last time 10 years ago, it addressed a lot of the ones down this end of the town. Is there a need for zone changes once this is in place? So there there wasn't that much spot zoning. Um the

Yeah, there's a few places in the land use map, but as far as the zoning ordinance or the zoning map goes, um not a lot of changes. Uh most of the spot zoning in town is currently either open space or uh institutional. So those are the the majority of and when I when I say spot zoning that's me that's my lack of knowledge in this area. So what I'm talking about is like on middle spring avenue have you have like residential commercial village commercial like does this kind of

add up? So yeah we're um we're making sure there's no new spot zoning. We've corrected spot zoning that we we thought was addressable in this plan, but um as far as addressing the whole town, you know, individual lots, uh we didn't go individual.

No, no. I I was more talking about Middle Spring Avenue and like the business card is Smith Smithfield Road and um Douglas Avenue. Mhm. So, as far as this this major zone change slash future land use map amendment, um that is a continuation of the CV zone that spans Charles Street and Mineral Spring from the stop and shop to Twin Peace already. So, continue um and uh I don't

I remember there was an issue on Douglas Avenue, I believe, too. we had to address as part of this uh that's on the back of shores the opposite side of you remember that but yes yeah the Shaw's plaza was changed to commercial general from commercial village um to allow big box stores and that kind of thing and the large retail spaces that are there. Okay. All right. Then it was that pie that when when you come in from Douglas that pie right if you remember we as well that's what I'm talking Yeah. Okay.

Yeah. So, uh, they did that individually. Um, they did a simultaneous, uh, future land use map amendment with the zone change. So, that's already changed in our existing plan. So, uh, this will reflect that as well. I just wanted to point out, too, although it's a 10-year plan, you can amend it up a couple times a year. You know, if things come up, if things change, it's not as if you have to wait for 10 years to change it again. Just got counsel. So the the and and I should know this but I don't. When we pass the future land use map, is that what the new zones are? Is that

So the future land use map is essentially the zoning map in the comp plan. That's the plan. So that's so if it's different than the land use map that is in the zoning ordinance. So, if the zoning ordinance and the future land use map don't match, the zoning ordinance is generally supposed to be revised to match the comp plan because that's the the future plan for the town, but it's this is where we hope to go. If we have something, if we pass the future land use map and like you said the the um Mineral Spring Avenue, let's let's say we pass the future land use map changing that area from Twins Pizza to Pucket to

and then two weeks from now someone comes and says to me, "Hey, you know what? That's a terrible idea. It's in the future land use map, but I don't have to make that actual change. How I want to understand what the

generally the you're supposed it's supposed to be your zoning is supposed to be in compliance with the future land use map. That's the way the state is directing you to do it. Um if things change, you can amend your comp plan again. So like if something like that happened, you could go back and change your comp plan, future land use map. So that didn't recommend changing the zoning. Um we don't really recommend changing zoning except for in a couple places that Brent was just mentioning. um the institutional and um open space which is sort of like making that making the zone boundaries match the existing land use in a couple places and the one he's bringing up tonight um along Mineral Spring. Yeah.

Which we will update for him. Um and the final planning will include that change. And is the is this comp plan is this a whole new comp plan or is this amending the old comp plan? It's it's a new one. I mean they're all sort of sequential but it it is Yeah, it's a It's a new plan. Yeah. Any other questions? You guys all set or you All right. I'm going to make a motion to move this the ordinance committee for for a vote. So move second. Motion been made by Councilman Bala. Second by Councilman Dorenzo. All those in favor? I. All those opposed? The eyes have it. Thank you. Item Thank you very much. Great job.

Nice job. Item number eight, 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 Meion on October 31st, 2025. Do I have a motion to approve? So motion been made by Councilman Laoio, seconded by Councilman Pollock. Any questions? There being none, all those in favor? All those opposed? The eyes have it. Item number nine, extended hours license. Town Council to consider the approval of an extended hours license for Wendy's, 1460 Mineral Spring Avenue, North Proidence, Rhode Island. Applicant wishes for the drive-thru to be open until 2 a.m. Just state your name for the record, please. Good evening. This is Aisa Bilo, and this is my general manager, Katila.

Thank you very much. What time are you open till now? 2 a.m. Oh, you're already open till 2 a.m. Yeah. This a formality, huh? for two years now. So motion to approve. Okay. Um Okay. All right. Is there any questions? Have a motion to approve. So move. Can say I got I got Can you come back? Yeah. Good.

You you just state your name, please. Yeah, my name is uh Bernie Sawyer and um on the situation with the Wendy's on Mineral Spring Avenue. Um they're extending the drive-thru until uh 2:00 a.m. Um did I hear you say that it was open until 1:00 a.m. right now or and it hasn't gotten It's currently open till 2 am.

It It is. Oh, well, you mean there they've already done the 2 AM and they haven't and they're still trying to get it approved? I don't get it. So, they were operating under the assumption that they could open till 2 a.m. and they couldn't. So, they're here now cuz we realize that and they've been called in. So, they're here now to get a license to operate till 2 a.m. Oh, they have to get a license now. Yes. Oh, okay. So, that's how how it works. I didn't fully understand that. Yeah, it was a mistake on their part for doing that and it was a mistake on our part for not catching it sooner. Now I understand. Thank you. No problem. Mayor,

question. Is the restaurant open till 2 or is the drive-thru also open till 2? Just a drive through till 2 2 a.m. No. Yes, it's already open till 2. Yeah. I believe it's the same thing across the street with Taco Bell also, correct? I'm sorry. Yes, Taco Bell is the same thing. 2:00, correct? Yeah. So, what time would the inside close? 10 a.m. 10 p.m. 10 p.m. Okay. Okay. Do I have a motion to approve? Motion been made by Councilman Pollock. Is there a second? Second. Second by Council Pala. Questions? Just want Just want to make sure that we're being clear that uh this would be an approval for 2 a.m. for the drive-thru. The dining room would remain closed after 10 p.m.

Yes. Perfect. Okay. All those in favor. All those opposed, the eyes have it. Thank you. Thank you. Item number 10, entertainment licenses, town council to consider the approval of two entertainment licenses for S. Alex Jackson, DBA 360 venue, 1525 Smith Street, North Proidence, Rhode Island, and DJ and other types of entertainment. Mr. Jackson, just state your name, please.

First, I'd like to thank everybody for helping me out in the past. Uh you're probably wondering why I'm here when you probably heard that I moved out. So um unfortunately there was a breakdown in communication with Mr. Joe Romano. Originally I was to have three months to open and then after the three months we agreed on from December on I would start paying him for the rental space. Uh, I get a text message a week later telling me to move. I have no idea what's going on, what happened, why it happened. Um, but then he went on to put locks on the door. So, I had to get an injunction through the judge, through the courts to um force him to unlock the door so I can get all my equipment out. So, um, there was there was a breakdown actually six months prior because he allowed a business to open next to me doing the same exact thing that I was trying to do. And that business is currently running with no licenses, no anything. And I've already brought this up and the business is still running.

The business is next to the one you are going to open. Yes. So it it used to be a bank and um so he rented that space out and told them to just run the business. So and that's what they did. And from what I understand, one night the the police did go by there. I don't know what they said to them or what the reason was, but there was music being played. Uh they were serving alcohol and they were running the business as a business. So that caused a big problem between me and the owner because I spent thousands with with fees and trying to do everything right here and then all of a sudden I got a business that's opening up right next to me doing the same thing that I'm supposed to be doing. Councilman,

so where exactly are you talking about? Okay. So if you if you're in I'm looking at I'm looking at the place that you were renting. Okay. to the right near the soul of Portugal. No, no. So, if you're looking at my place, on the right hand side would be the pet shell. All right. On the left hand side is where the bank was and that's the business. In fact, I have p I have pictures. Isn't that the place that's running like a creative arts place? No, that's No, no, that's that's the old it's the old bank. But I have I have some pictures here so you you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. They have not. They've come to ask. Well, we'll uh send someone to tomorrow.

Ouch. Do you know the name of it? They don't They didn't put a name. They just opened it.

Just if I may, you have He just He just stepped outside. I thought the policeman was still here because

that's okay. So, so with the pictures I'm giving you are pictures of the actual place that was running that day. They were running some kind of 50th anniversary party. Also, I'm showing pictures of Joe Romano throwing my my equipment outside of the building. So, you'll see you're going to see some equipment outside the building. That's my equipment that he threw out. and um the injunction for the judge to uh allow him to give me access to the place. So, it's it's been a hard two and a half years of uh trying to get this place open. I lost a lot of money. He actually wanted to take over my business. He actually wanted me to leave everything there. And I told him, I'm not leaving my equipment here. I'm not leaving anything here. So, I took it as a takeover that he was trying to take over my business. And um so I had to get lawyers and I was with the judge a couple of days ago. They did give me the injunction for me to get to to get into the place. All of a sudden, quote unquote, the keys are missing. So, I try to get in today. No one's got keys to get into the place, you know. So supposedly tomorrow morning I'm going to meet with his manager. Um she manages for him now and I'm I'm supposedly able to get in tomorrow morning. So we'll see what happens with that, you know. So I know that I came here initially for the entertainment license. I know that's not that's not going to happen. Uh and I know I have a full liquor license right now at the time. I would consider looking in other places in North Providence. Um but I'm just leaving that open, you know, right now. Uh but this is this has devastated me financially.

Um him making that move like that. Uh cuz I only had three months to open. So I lost I lost a lot. I was already booked out two years in advance. That's how that's how many bookings I had, you know. and um he just came in. He sent me a text message. It was one night I'm I'm sitting at home. He sends me a text message and tell me start looking for another place. I'm like I I couldn't believe I was reading what I was reading, you know? So, it's this is crazy. I I have no idea what's going on. I don't know if somebody's in his ear or I I have no idea, you know. But we have total breakdown on communication. I don't talk to him. My last communication was through text messaging and I just asked him, "Let me get in there, get my stuff so we can both just part ways." He didn't want to hear it. And then then he threw my stuff out. As you can see, he put my stuff out on the on the I didn't even know it was out. The pet shop guy called me. Scott called me and said, "Alex, do you know your stuff is out on the on the thing?" I'm like, "What?" So, this is this is just craziness. Two and a half years of dealing with this guy. And I did everything for him. I I put in the lines for the state for all the parking, the parking stops, all the handicap signs. I I was working with the state with that. I did all of that for him. And the fire the fire system. I I'm because I'm licensed. I worked with the fire tech to make sure that the Sandies could open and they and the back lot that you just spoke about. They weren't able to get their uh certificate of, you know, to open and because of the fire system wasn't inspected. So, I worked two and a half weeks over there to help him get that done. You know, the the sprinkler system had that inspected.

I did all of that and this is what I get, you know, and so, you know, I know it's hard for you guys and I know there was some issues over there in the plaza and I was hoping to open it up and do, you know, do positive things for the neighborhood, but I definitely was not expecting this. This this drew me for a loop. Yeah. Are you familiar with someone opening up a nightclub in the uh the old gold gym plaza? Are you familiar with that?

I'm not familiar with it. I'll have to speak with Mr. Jackson to get a little more information, but I haven't received any complaints. There was there was a call a police car did go by there that night when I ran by. In fact, that's that's the day and that's the when you have running. Can we send someone by tomorrow just to see if what I'll make a point to uh make contact with someone and they're still moving. Um you saw the box truck back of the box truck. You can see that they're moving round tables. They were moving round tables into the building. Okay. So evidently they're running that place with no with no kind of

as a whole. It's an empty hall, empty room. It just So, as long as you understand, Alex, that that did not come from this town council. Oh, no. I understand that. That's why I'm bringing it to your attention. I'm sure you didn't know. No. Yeah. Thank you for Yeah. So, so do you want So, technically, because you don't have a place to operate, we're supposed to take the license back. Do you want a few months to look? I would, if you could consider doing that, just give me some time. Look around. Maybe there's a potential spot somewhere around the area that I could consider. I I definitely will not do what I did here where I started building things out. I hear you. I understand.

Um if it's an existing place and it seems like it's feasible, I would consider it,

you know. Okay. And um just one other note um I don't know why he's able to get away with what he get away with here in North Providence, but you know he comes out of Massachusetts or New Hampshire, comes in like a tornado, does his dirt, and then he takes off like what he did with me. I mean, he's got illegal apartments in the back there that was built with no permits, no no electrical permits, no nothing, you know, and you need you really need to look into this guy, you know, because after he did what he did to me, especially and I and I've known him about four and a half years. Um, because I'm an IT engineer, I'm a tech. In fact, all the stuff that you were talking about earlier, I do all of that. you know, I'm a licensed tech in Rhode Island and

get on the job. I do all sound, all of that IT stuff and so I did a lot for this guy and so I kind of trusted him thinking that he would do the right thing and this is what I end up with, you know. So you, you know, I'm not trying to throw him under the bus, but at this point I I think you really need to consider looking into what he's doing over there. Where are the apartments in the back? Um, if you look at if you know where Sandy's is up top, right? You know where Sand Well, that's one, but there's another one he just built where Sandy's um deli is in the back

right next to that. So, if you go to her back door, it's sitting right there, you know, and he's already threatened to take my house and take this and take that. I'm I'm like, you know, don't waste my time, you know. He I got all text messages from him. I can just print them out and you can read them. You know what I mean? So I'm not This is not hearsay stuff that I'm giving you. This is facts, you know? And and Steve's known me a long time. You know, I don't what I tell you how it is. That's how it is. So I I I will say you you have a good reputation. I you know, anytime a business owner comes into town, you do your homework. and I've I have not heard anything negative about the way you operate a business or or yourself personally. So,

yeah, thank you. Um, you can hold on to the license for a couple months. We just created we opened more up for businesses in town, right? Um, let's do another check-in in December. Okay. Uh, at the December council meeting and see where you're at if you found a location. All right. I appreciate it. Okay. I'm sure I'm going to get the wrath of this now. He probably won't even let me back in the building tomorrow now. Well, I I know uh Lieutenant Gon will be going out to check on that business tomorrow. We've never licensed anything over there. Yeah. Um so I'm glad you brought that up. Yeah. Thank you. And uh with that, I make a motion to consider continue this matter.

I really appreciate you. I know what you guys are going through and I really appreciate you, you know, trying to give me a break. Yeah, no problem. All right. Thank you. Make a motion that Councilman Laapor has made the motion. Is there a second? Second. Seconded by Councilman Bala. Any questions? All those in favor? All those opposed? The eyes have it. Okay. Mayor,

Mr. chairman that the property that this gentleman um is having an issue with uh has been an issue with a number of uh businesses in there and it's I will take the blame also because the owner of that property not a nice person. So if he's watching this I'll take that blame for saying that he doesn't do a good job there. We had a problem with them at the gym with the parking. The police chief came pretty close to arresting a few people there that worked there. And I told this fella, the problem was that the owner of the property told this fella he could do whatever he wanted. And I explained to him the mistake you made was not coming to the town to see what you could do there. So this poor guy expended thousands there. I'm sure anyone that's gone by there has seen it, but it's really whether anything can happen, but it's really not his fault. It's the owner of the property and he does it to everybody that rents there.

Thank you, Mayor. I'm not sure if you're aware I you were in the hallway, but uh he indicated that there's two possibly illegal apartments in that building also. Is that right? Well, I think if um well, as long as he takes care of the lieutenant takes care of that and I'll have Mike go up and check it. Yeah. He said there's two apartments that were built in the back of the building. We'll meet with Angelina, see what we're we're taxing the property uh for and we'll take care of that. Thank you. Okay. Item number 12, no parking. Council President Oella request discussion, possible vote on no parking on Ferncliff Street. Uh Chief Ojerio went out there, gave me a recommendation. And I'm going to refer this matter to the ordinance committee. Moved.

Motion made by Councilman Mone, seconded by Councilman Dorenzo. All those in favor? All those opposed? The eyes have it. Item number 13, G. Richard FSA. Councilman Bala request discussion and possible vote on having something in the town named after G. Richard Faucer. Councilman.

Uh, make sure I word this correctly. Um, Mr. Foster as of going to another going on to another chapter in his life obviously outside of being in this town hall and he's been a staple in this community for a long time. I just want to get the conversation started. I'm not up here saying what we should or should not do. But if we can either form a little committee or have it inside a committee just so we can discuss some options and see what's what. I think for the lifetime of service, you know, that's been here. It's just something that we should uh we should look at. How that's a good idea. Who's on? I would send it to the school building committee, but he's the chairman of that and I don't show that I'm not sure that's the appropriate. I'm going to send this to the public service committee. I think this would be a good forum for that to be discussed.

Absolutely. Okay. Motion's been made by council mala. Seconded by councilman Dorenzo. Any questions? All those in favor? I. All those opposed? The eyes have it. Item number 15, our light our lady of Fatima Hospital. Discussion and possible vote on the sale of our lady of Fatima Hospital. We have a motion to continue this to November. So moved. Motion been made and second. All those in favor. All those opposed? The eyes have it. Item number 16, pole location. Discussion of possible vote regard to the approval by the town council concerning a pole location on Timber Street. Any issue with a motion to approve? Motion to approve made by Councilman Martone. Is there a second? Second.

Seconded by Councilman Balo. All those in favor? All those opposed? The eyes have it. Item number 17, a town council discussion and possible vote with regard to to a claim received from the following. Michael Douly, 23 Pox Street, North Providence, Rhode Island. Christopher Coil, 10 Randall Road, North Province, Rhode Island. Michael A. Kelly, Esquire for Matlaw Corporation, 128 Doran Street, Providence, Rhode Island. Query and Laour, LTD for Paula Aldridge, 226 South Main Street, Providence, Rhode Island. and Raymond Pashar Easquia for Pasco Landi 5 Power Road Pucket Rhode Island. Have a motion to send these to the claims committee. So move second. Motion been made by Councilman Bala, seconded by Councilman Dorenzo. All those in favor.

All those opposed? The eyes have it. Any questions? Item number 18, tax addenders over $1,000. Town council discussion and action possible vote regard to the list of tax addenders received from the tax assessor in the amount of 161,72744 tangibles. We have a motion to send this to the finance committee. This one uh yeah we can send it. I have a motion to send it to the finance committee.

Motion made by Councilman Mone who second. Councilman Dorenzo is a second. All those in favor? All those opposed? The eyes have it. Item number 19, tax addenders under $1,000. Town council discussion and possible vote with regard to the list of tax addenders received from the tax assessor in the amount of $598.7 real estate. Do I have a motion to approve? So move to approve. Motion been made by Councilman Laorio, seconded by Councilman Martone. All those in favor?

All those opposed? You guys have it. Item number 20, tax abatements under $1,000. Town Council discussion and possible vote for the approval of the list of tax abatements under $1,000 received from the tax assessor in the amount of $8282 cents for real estate. Do I have a motion to approve? Move. Motion been made by Councilman Lao. Is there a second? Second. Seconded by Councilman Dorendo. All those in favor?

All those opposed? The eyes have it. Item number 21, tax abatements over $1,000. Town council discussion and possible vote for the approval. the list of tax abayments over $1,000 received from the tax assessor in the amount of $13,756.17 for real estate and $28,59.19 for tangibles. Have a motion to send this to the finance committee. Motion been made by Councilman Dorenzo. Is there a second? Second by Councilman Martone. All those in favor? All those opposed? You guys have it. Item number 22, finance committee report, town council discussion and action with regard to the finance committee report to be presented by Councilman Martone.

Yes. Uh I I apologize because we had a uh I had to leave the finance committee meeting early this week. Uh I need to coordinate with C president. So I would just ask we continue this to uh next meeting and I will have a full report. Okay. Motion been made to continue. Second. Seconded by Council Laora. All those in favor? I. All those opposed? The eyes have it. And item number 23, ordinance committee report, town council discussion with regard to the ordinance committee report to be presented by council president Oello. I have not had time to type this up yet. So um motion to accept this.

Can I can we accept it as submitted and I'll give it to all you tomorrow? A motion's been made by Council Mala, seconded by Council Laoro. All those in favor. All those oppos have it. Motion to adjurnn. So move.