Town Council - Special Meeting

Yeah. You know what, Roy will, yeah, Roy will, Roy, I've seen even himself go over to places and talk to the people. So, yeah, I would definitely talk to him.

That's why I wasn't sure what the

There you go.

Good evening. I'd like to call this special council meeting on June 30th, 2026 to order. If we could all rise, the Pledge of Allegiance. Pledge of Allegiance to the flag.

with liberty and justice for all.

Okay, so I'm going to ask for a motion to add as an additional agenda item, the presentation of grant money by Representative Speakman for Lights at the Athletic Field. And this is done under the RIGL section 42-46-6B.

I'll make a motion to that effect. Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Thank you, everybody. It's good to be back up here. And first, we don't have public speaking or whatever we call that. Public comment. Comment, period. Thank you, John. So we're going to go right to the proclamation. And this proclamation is the America 250 and 250 years of the United States Postal Service's

I don't have the proclamation in front of me yet.

And what's interesting about this, actually, I'd like you to use my stamp. What's interesting about this, if you all don't know, our post office was one of, I think, 60 or 69 post offices.

I believe it was 61.

61 original post offices that were here 250 years ago. So that's pretty cool when you think that Warren was doing business and doing its thing. So it reads... Whereas the year 2026 marks the 250th anniversary of the United States of America, a historic milestone commemorating the founding of our nation and the enduring principles of liberty, democracy, and opportunity. And whereas for 250 years, the United States Postal Service and its predecessor organizations have connected the American people, facilitated commerce, supported civic engagement, and served as a trusted presence in communities throughout the nation. And whereas since the earliest days of our country, postal employees have played a vital role in binding the nation together by providing reliable communication and delivery services to every community, regardless of size or location. And whereas the Postal Service continues to serve the residents and businesses of Warren through its commitment to universal service and community engagement. and whereas the 250th anniversary of the united states provides an opportunity to reflect on our shared history celebrate the contributions and generations of americans and recognize institutions that have strengthened our nation and local communities and whereas the residents of Warren joined communities across America in celebrating this historic anniversary and recognizing the enduring contributions of the United States Postal Service and its employees. Now, therefore, I, Joseph D. Pasquale, Town Council President, do hereby proclaim July 3rd, 2026, as America 250 and 250 years of Postal Service Day. in Warren and encourage all residents to participate in activities that celebrate our nation's 250th anniversary and recognize the Postal Service's longstanding commitment to serving the American people. And witness whereof I have here unto set my hand and cause the seal of the town of Warren to be affixed this 30th day of June, 2026. John Hanley, I mean, Kerry Cronin, John Hanley, Lou Rago, Derek Trombley. Their names aren't on here. Can it be amended?

We can. Yeah, I can have Denise. Denise is the one that did it, but I'll have her do it.

Today's the 30th, so we have a couple days, I think.

That's so fancy looking.

No, but you guys, you know, it's the 250th. You're in history. I'd like to... I'm nothing without you.

It's fine.

Maybe not nothing.

I can just ask her to send it to me and then I'll read it.

Yeah, I think it's nothing, John. I think it's nothing. It's up to you guys. Whatever, put it in the mail.

It doesn't really matter to me.

Is there a motion to accept?

Should that be a motion to accept with that amendment? Yes. I'll make that motion. Second.

All in favor?

Aye.

Question. Yes. Has the post office existed in that location for all these years? Is that the original and only location?

No, it's not the original building. So I don't know about the location, but we can ask. Actually, maybe we can call over and have that question ready for, what is it? It's Friday, right?

Thursday at 10 a.m. I'm not sure if you're available to review the clock.

I look at my schedule, but I think I... I don't know. It's Tuesday, is it? No, today's Tuesday.

Thursday. Thursday at 10 a.m., yes.

If I'm not there, Kerry, will you go? You'll be there at 10?

I was planning on being there. I can do the proclamation if that's necessary. Thursday at 10.

If you're the last person on the poll.

Okay.

Yeah, I kind of like my name in the post office, so it'd be good to have my name.

It'll match the picture.

Okay.

All right, all in favor? Aye. Thank you.

And I was the president.

Post office, they're having a little proclamation ceremony.

I spoke to the postmaster today. He stated it's going to be a very brief ceremony, so it won't be very long.

I mean, I'll look at my schedule. I'll actually look before we leave. I do know I have a 2 o'clock reevaluation. I think I have a 10 o'clock therapy ceremony. So I've been told not to miss anything and I'm not. Next, we have the Department of Public Works Director. This is discussion and action authorizing the purchase of a Kubota zero turn mower. It's a 72 inch deck and it's from Norfolk Power Equipment using the Sourcewell Cooperative Purchasing Agreement in the amount of $21,554.10. Ms. Hunt, tell us how, why, and what. State mower that was presented three weeks meeting.

We've confirmed, I haven't confirmed the equipment that they are on the state NK number 506 that expired December 1st, 2027. Excellent. So they're on the state master agreement. FLOTA is a brand that's off the source wealth property.

Make a motion to approve. Second.

All in favor? Aye. You have the money in your account now?

We moved that around last meeting. I think that was one of all the changes we made last meeting.

I wasn't moving around last meeting. Thank you. Next, we have a request for the use of the war in town beach on Wednesdays at 6pm until August 25 for free yoga instructions by Jeffrey Brown of Ocean State Park yoga and wellness and everyone is allowed to participate.

Yes.

In the past. Yeah, he did it last year. Did anyone else contact you.

We have another person that yoga.

Is she from Tividen?

She was in the church.

All right, because there was someone who contacted me from Tividen. Was that the sauna people? No, that was a different.

This one's... She finished her seats out in May.

This person is Grace, and she loves Warren, and I think had read about the free yoga and was wondering if and when we were doing it again, what the opportunities... She's an instructor, and she wanted to do it free. So she didn't contact you, and then I forwarded the information. Okay, so is there a motion to approve? Make a motion. I have a quick question. We'll have discussion, or you can have a question first. Go ahead.

Sorry. I have the question. Yes, my question is on the agenda. It says August twenty fifth, but on the application, it says, I'm just reading the twenty sixth. Is that an impediment? Does he want to have it as a twenty six?

I'll make the motion to go to the twenty. I'll make a motion. We approved to go to the twenty six just in case that's the correct date. I'll second that motion all in favor.

Okay. Next we have.

6th is the Wednesday, 25th is the Tuesday.

All right, so it's just a typo. Discussion and action regarding the ADA-accessible bleacher installation and site work bid.

So we've had three bids come in, and I believe you have them in front of you.

No, we don't.

I don't. So there was the Toledo was $147,000, $147,300. Ursula Brothers was $82,000. and W. H. That's general contractor one twenty six, eight sixteen. And so again, the manager and the. Well, and we chose this general contractor, which is the 126, 126,000. He was actually the original who stole our wedding consult in Bristol at the field. So he's familiar with it. He still thinks he may have a plans and his shop. And he also has a photograph of

I don't have the bids in front. Is he the lowest bidder?

No, by $40,000 roughly.

The lowest bidder was $82,000. He was $126,000. Because he was the original installer and he had the experience with those bleachers and he actually may still have plans for those bleachers.

How would we not have plans with bleachers? We got them for free. Oh, this is that installation? Sheesh, $40,000.

That's an awful lot.

Is there a process for us to talk to him again? Reject all bids and talk to him? It's a $40,000 difference to the lowest bidder.

Is there a reason? Matt knows his thing. Is there a reason why we would pay $40,000 more?

I think because he was familiar with installation of features. There is going to be some Equipment that needs to be purchased, like screws and nuts and bolts.

I know, but it could accumulate to 40,000 pounds.

Was that included in the bids? Did the bids say labor, but you're going to buy the screws?

No, no. So all of the hardware is included with it.

This is a tough call. I think knowledge and first-hand knowledge is worth some, but not $40,000 more.

And potentially a lower cost.

Right.

If you know how to do something, you should make the cost would have been a lower cost.

So these are bleachers that we got from the high school that had gone to Veterans Field. And so this is just to install them.

Right. They are currently already in place at the field in Warren. They were moved from by EPW in October when they were disassembled at their field.

So this is just, are we talking cement work and stuff like that?

This is excavation. This is cement work. This is installation.

I can understand where you're coming from as far as experience, but 40,000.

It's actually 44,000.

I think that, I mean, is this something that has to be done tomorrow? Is it something that can wait and... and we can talk to the guy.

If we reject the bids, you could have the conversation, but then it turns into, are they going to be available when the time comes?

If we reject the bids, that $82,000 one doesn't have to come back in.

Correct. And we may find his construction schedule full because this is the time you start doing this.

Yeah, I don't think the plans and the first-hand knowledge is worth $40,000. It may save him a day or two of putting it in,

I'm going to make a motion when we approve the $82,000 bid.

I agree. I think the experience should have given us a lower price than a higher price. I know that's how it is with me when I do a project for the first, second, third time. It gets easier and cheaper. Any other questions?

Mr. Rigo? Do you think going this through or do you think we need further discussion? Kara, I'm talking.

Yeah, no, I'm talking.

I was present for the meeting with the other contractors. My impression of them is because these bleachers are in pieces, it is going to take a lot and it is going to require someone who is familiar with this system. I don't know about both Lloyd Brothers, so I don't have an opinion on contractors. the confidence level with that might speak to that.

But he's got to figure it out. That's why we're paying.

I've been I've been in construction for GM for 40 years. And, you know, the new guy, it may take him a day or two to figure out the system, but it's not rocket science. They're not putting somebody on the moon. They're putting bolts and holes and lining it up. I don't think the experience is worth $46,000 or $42,000. $40,000 buys two more track discs for us.

Yes.

That's the way I'm looking at it.

Or, unfortunately, potentially, whatever else we may need to put these things together. We know what we have. Is this money coming out of the light money?

This is part of that.

So my goal is to try and be as conservative as possible because there's no overruns. If what you're doing down there comes 20,000 more, We don't have it. So I think it is up to us to...

I mean, it's a contract. It's steel and concrete piers. If he puts them in the wrong place, it's on him. He's got to dig them up and put them back where they belong. Somebody who's bidding on this project, I think, would look at it and know what they're capable of doing. And like I said, it's not rocket science. It may take a little while to figure it out, but it's not... Well, we're going to give them a chance.

Any other questions? Motion to approve. I made the motion. I don't know. It did. I think Louis seconded it. All in favor? Aye. Next, we have discussion and action regarding the athletic field lighting and installation bid.

So this one, we actually are going with the lowest bid. So this one, we are going, we actually have five bids come in. We are going to be going with the lowest bidder, which is TechLine Sports Lighting, $331,540. The closest to that was K Electric, which was $445,639. We did have some come in at $855,000, but we said no. They had a lot of experience doing it. TechLine actually has their national company, I met them when I was at the national conference. So they've done major projects around the country. This is what they do. Good. So I felt we were confident with their, and they can meet our timeline. So they're the only one that actually said that they could meet our timeline and get started right away.

Mr. Rigo. Question. I don't know if this is related. So are they going to, the power is at the field now, right? They don't need to get power from the school.

No, we have our own park.

So we have a situation right now, could be direct or indirect with this, where we're trying to get conduit from the school to the field. And I think this was a $2,700 or $20,000. I'm hoping it was the $20,000. Yeah. Yes.

I'm hoping it was.

at the event we talked about the possibility because these lights will actually have wifi. So I don't know,

So I just wonder if some of this water, some of these funds could be used for the conduit. If it is $20,000, they got to go to 2,700, the school superintendent got to go to $20,000. So I'm just wondering if there would be funds in there to- Were they trying to put cameras at the field? Yes.

Our police want to tie in with new lines.

So that can be part of the match? So we do, this brand does have a match. So if we were to put that additional fund in, that could be part of the match.

Well, we don't have the money. Yeah. So we're hoping that you can...

It's very specific to what was written in the brand.

Correct.

And that connection... So if we did something, we could... You understand where I'm going with this.

We are going to meet with the superintendent and get some clarification because... The chief got one quote and they're telling us something else.

I'm thinking maybe if the trenches are going in the same place, you might be able to just work a deal out with the guy if somebody can buy the car.

They want it from the school to the field or security, the police. So it's not related. Any other questions? I have one. Mr. John Lee.

So TechLine is based in Austin, Texas, it seems. The rest of the bidders were based in either Rhode Island or Massachusetts. Are they familiar with working in projects? I know this is a national company, but have they worked in Rhode Island, Massachusetts before? I'm getting a yes from our DPW director, so I'll take that as a yes. All right.

As long as they're familiar with it.

They can work in Texas. They can work in Rhode Island. It's a lot. I don't know.

We have different regulatory schemes and things.

They submitted a list of projects and they're going to be checked to see.

You mean to the proud school? Yes.

So you looked at Mary Mary, gave you that look like dad used to do in the old days and was like...

I don't know what you're talking about, but she was nodding her head. Yes.

So I assume. So they've done some local projects. Okay.

Thank you. Great. Thank you.

Okay. Is there a motion? I'll make a motion. We award to the 300. Let me see if I can remember this 351,000. And what was the rest? 331,000. $331,540. $540. I'll second.

All in favor? Aye. Okay. Now, what everybody likes, we have Rep. Speakman coming up.

Skip the police chief.

Well, it's all included there because she has a $5,000. I'll let you say what you are. Good evening. Good evening. Good evening.

did a check up for $5,000 for I believe the project you were talking about. I just wanted to commend the director, is that the title? For her perseverance in pursuing these funds. She lets us know when she's applying and then she reminds us when she hasn't heard back. And that's the way that this works. So we didn't get what she wanted, but she got it.

This will be very helpful. This goes towards the match. So it is very helpful.

Thank you very much.

And I have to thank June and Jason because they have been very, very generous with their legislative grants to the Parks and Rec Department.

Thank you very much. And pass along to Jason. Thank you very much as well.

Next, police chief, request permission to overspend in police, general and office expense, account 0154002010 for $10,000 to be offset by police wages and salaries, union, account 0154001020. Good evening. Good evening. We managed to cover the expenses that was added.

As long as you have it, we'll move it around.

Is there a motion? We'll make a motion. grant permission to overspend the general and office expense account to be supplemented by the wages and salaries union account. Second.

Is there any discussion?

Just a quick question. Was there a reason why we had so much money left over from the wages? Did we plug in more or was there somebody out of work?

Both, I guess. I could piece. Yeah, I'm good. Okay.

Motion to approve. I mean, all in favor? Aye. Okay. Anyone want to say anything?

Make a motion to adjourn. Okay.

All in favor?

Aye.

There it is.

I don't know how far I'll be able to go.