Providence Committee on Finance-Wednesday, May 1, 2024-5:30 PM

My name is Helen. I'm the chair of the committee on finance.

I'm calling to order our regular meeting on Wednesday, 05/01/2024 at 05:34PM. Madam clerk, you'd be so kind as hell will.

Chairwoman Anthony?

Present.

Vice Chairman Kaler is absent. Councilor Andelwyn?

Present.

Councilor Graves is absent. Councilor Sanchez?

Here.

Three present, two absent. You have a plan.

Thank you so much. And I'd like to thank counselor Don Salz for joining us this evening. And, also, we have Steven Nelson from the from the city solicitor's office. Thank you so much for coming. And, of course, our wonderful clerks, Lauren Rivieres, Donna Collision, and we had Jim Rose keep in the chat.

So thank you all for coming as well as our distinguished guests. So with that, I would like to have a motion to waive the reading of items one through four.

So moved.

Second.

Motion made by councilor Campbell, seconded by councilor Sandigas.

All in favor? Aye. All opposed. With that, we are going to call... We have the the permanent inspections and the with director Moore, and Kevin Mahoney is here this evening too.

We'd love to have you as well as the finance team all come to the table, and we would swear you in.

Wait. You're right. No. No. There's nothing.

You found... Found here perfectly that the testimony you're about

to give is the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.

So please state your names for the records, and

then I'm here to tell us.

James Seymour, director, inspector. Kathy Mahoney, deputy director, executive director, budget officer.

Thank you

so much. And before we begin, I am going to just announce that we will be not hearing economic development, that Department of Economics Development. I believe that we stipulate that or Make sure the first May 21. Tentative. May 20.

I think we're confirmed on that. So right now, we're gonna move that to May 21. That is the new agenda. I have revised... We're constantly revising the schedule, but I will second you because you got that.

Actually, I just said earlier. Yes. Yeah. Do. Thank you.

And then I would also like a motion to mark the presentation from the Department of Inspections and Standards as item number five.

I have a new motion.

Second.

Alright. Motion that councilor Anteball, seconded by councilor Sanchez.

All in favor? Aye. All. So I think we are ready. Yes.

Chief Nancy.

Madam chair, if I may, before we begin to ask for, if I may qualify me on

the committee for a matter of point of personal approach. Please. So last evening, we had a discussion. And while I don't mean to be pointed on that, I too should have spoken last evening, but I did not. So upon reflection this morning, I must say that it was greatly disturbed by the comments that I made last evening with respect to information that may or may not be hidden from the council.

Let me say for the record that in fifteen years of my thirty seven years service appearing for this committee, I have never been engaged with the separate practice nor has my staff and nor will we ever... And I speak for the administration in part. So while I would have done that last evening, I respect the request that if you built that for the record that we did not engage in the separate practice. So while it may not have been intended that way, it shouldn't be felt that way. You for that opportunity.

Thank you so much,. And I will say... And I'm sure that wasn't the intent last night, but I really do... I mean, your your staff is unbelievable. And certainly, people, the principal, and the integrity of team, I am constantly grateful that we have a team.

And I mean that for the entire administration because they have

to come through finance in order to be here. So we take the

the highest degree of respect.

I I certainly appreciate you saying that, and I... That's a wonderful way to start on it. Right. So thank you so much.

But with that said, I

don't care. I'm just gonna delay. We'll continue with the same format. You know, finance director, that we are responsible for

the city for the preparation. So director will begin the process by giving it

to the executive assembly followed by

the department that got available for your questions or comments.

Thank you.

Thank you. You. Beginning with building administration. Revenue in fiscal twenty five is proposed at $9,028,000. This is an increase of $2,000,000 over the '24 budget, and it is due to additional development activities within the city and is supported by trend.

Moving on to expenditures. Total salaries for fiscal 'twenty five are proposed at $790,443 a decrease of $2,159

from

the budget. And the department has made the following organizational changes. An increase to the salary for the secretary to board review and zoning official, $7,834. A transfer of the zoning assistant to two structures in the zoning, $64,000 and 990 savings in this division. And a defunding of the inspections coordinator at a savings of $49,536.