Providence Committee on Finance-Tuesday, January 28, 2025-5:30 PM

January 28, 2025

Call to Order and Roll Call

21:48 - 22:17

Chairwoman Helen Anthony calls the Finance Committee regular meeting to order. A quorum of committee members is established through roll call.

Resolution Authorizing Contract Award to Odyssey Construction Inc.

22:17 - 32:17

The committee discusses procurement authority rules and legal opinions concerning the Providence Public Building Authority and enters documents into the record as exhibits. The resolution awarding the contract to Odyssey Construction Incorporated is approved.

Reappointment of Bruce Bartell to the Building Board of Review

32:17 - 39:15

The committee interviews Bruce Bartell regarding his service and structural engineering background on the Building Board of Review. The committee votes to recommend approval of his reappointment for a term expiring in 2030.

Reappointment of Nelson Ferreira to the Building Board of Review

39:15 - 46:40

Nelson Ferreira speaks to the committee about his expertise in commercial construction and the appeal processes before the Building Board of Review. The committee votes to recommend approval of his reappointment.

Reappointment of Kojo V. King to the Board of Tax Assessment Review

46:40 - 50:58

Kojo V. King describes his first year of service and background with state taxation on the Board of Tax Assessment Review. The committee votes to recommend approval of his reappointment for a term ending in 2028.

Reappointment of Robert L. Ritchie to the Board of Tax Assessment Review

50:58 - 56:45

Robert L. Ritchie discusses the board's workload, small business inventory exemptions, and upcoming statistical revaluations. The committee votes to recommend approval of his reappointment.

Reappointment of David Igliozzi as Chief Judge of the Providence Housing Court

56:45 - 01:12:05

Chief Judge David Igliozzi discusses modernization efforts, remote access, case management systems, and judicial temperament in the Housing Court. The committee votes to recommend confirmation of his reappointment.

Reappointment of Paul Robusta as Associate Judge of the Providence Housing Court

01:12:05 - 01:27:20

Associate Judge Paul Robusta reviews his work handling lead paint enforcement, emergency safety orders, and new court technology initiatives. The committee votes to recommend approval of his reappointment.

Adjournment

01:27:20 - 01:27:47

With all business concluded, a motion is made to adjourn the Finance Committee meeting. The committee approves the motion and the meeting concludes.

Unknown

21:48 - 21:48

Hello,

Unknown

21:50 - 21:50

sir.

Unknown

21:51 - 22:03

Good evening. My name is Helen Anthony. I'm with Chair. I'm committing on finance. I'm calling to order a regular meeting on Tuesday, 01/28/2025 at 05:36PM.

Unknown

22:03 - 22:05

Madam, would you please call the board?

Unknown

22:05 - 22:06

Chairwoman Anthony.

Helen Anthony

22:06 - 22:07

Present.

Unknown

22:07 - 22:08

Vice chairman Taylor?

Unknown

22:08 - 22:09

Yes.

Unknown

22:09 - 22:10

Councilor Angela?

Unknown

22:10 - 22:11

Present.

Unknown

22:11 - 22:14

Councilwoman Gray is is absent. Councilor Sanchez?

Unknown

22:14 - 22:15

Present. We

Unknown

22:15 - 22:17

have four questions and one's absent. We have the floor.

Unknown

22:17 - 22:36

Thank you so much. I would just like the rest of the time. Solicitor's office joining us this evening, and a wonderful clerk, Marissa and Donna. Thank you so much for all you need for us always. And with that, I would like I need to read that.

Unknown

22:38 - 22:57

Resolution authorizing approval of the following contract award by the Board of Contracts and Supply in accordance with section 21 by 26 b one and two. Odyssey Construction Incorporated $1,309,374 public property.

Unknown

22:58 - 23:00

Madam chair, if if I may?

Unknown

23:00 - 23:00

Yes, please.

Unknown

23:00 - 23:01

I appreciate

Unknown

23:01 - 23:36

it. As you recall less than a week ago, this item came up, and there was discussion relative to the authority of the Providence building authority to go out to bid on their own, separate and apart from the city council. So and there was talk about Jeff Dana was aware of it and essentially knew about it and agreed with the opinion. At this committee's, request, I did speak to the solicitor, and he is in agreement. He and Megan DeSanto from the office researched this issue several years ago.

Unknown

23:37 - 24:09

However, we did have mister Salvador provide a legal opinion, which Jeff has read and agrees with it regarding the authority. And if if that were to change, the authority would be if this committee had requested the authority to change where they would have to comply with the Board of Contract and Supply, that would require a change in the general law statute. K. So that was provided on I think they're two pages. Can you read this?

Unknown

24:09 - 24:10

Yes. Yes.

Unknown

24:10 - 24:11

It's Yes.

Unknown

24:11 - 24:13

I said it was labeled. Oh, okay.

Unknown

24:13 - 24:14

Oh, I

Unknown

24:14 - 24:15

They're not stable. They're

Unknown

24:16 - 24:17

Oh, it's a bit weird statement.

Unknown

24:19 - 24:23

I think the Turks might be able to tell him, so I think I'm missing page one. Yeah.

Unknown

24:23 - 24:27

This is going up. I'll know I have the patience.

Unknown

24:27 - 24:31

No. I think I have to go to that. Oh, hang on. Maybe that'll

Unknown

24:31 - 24:46

We'll have the clerks handle that. So But but another issue came, Madam Chen, this is a one page early page document, which I think I can handle. Yeah. I don't I don't understand how we take it. The the blue It

Unknown

24:46 - 24:47

only has the same?

Unknown

24:47 - 24:49

Yeah. If you look at the format.

Unknown

24:49 - 24:50

So And then that's the.

Unknown

24:51 - 25:19

Yep. The other relevant issue that or the issue that came up was, the agreement, the retainer agreement with Mr. Salvador and how that came about. Here, I have a letter from to Jeff Dana from Mal Salvador relative to that question. And just for clarity for the committee, the solicitor's office does not retain, does not pick the attorney in Salvador.

Unknown

25:19 - 25:39

This is done separate and apart. They it's not paid through the city, the law department, and we'd have to discuss that with the Providence Public Building Authority of how what their process is for retaining Mr. Salvador and how they pay him. But the solicitor is not aware how they do that.

Unknown

25:39 - 25:42

Okay. Thank you very much, dear. And

Unknown

25:43 - 25:46

my apologies for the distribution of the first document.

Unknown

25:46 - 25:49

Technically not your doc too. A copy.

Unknown

25:49 - 25:50

Oh, she accepted. Yeah.

Unknown

25:50 - 25:53

Thank you. So I do appreciate it.

Unknown

25:53 - 25:53

Thank you, Don.

Unknown

25:53 - 25:56

Appreciate it. This is what you did

Unknown

25:56 - 25:56

to move it over. Yeah.

Unknown

25:57 - 26:03

This is the the separate documents, which everyone has. It's a one page document.

Unknown

26:03 - 26:14

So I am going to mark these. I don't actually know if we your recommendation if I mark these, I can Yeah.

Unknown

26:14 - 26:14

I don't I

Unknown

26:14 - 26:15

don't see a problem. Okay.

Unknown

26:15 - 26:26

Alright. May I have a a motion to mark the three page to health Salvador to me? I'll take that exhibit one. So moved. Second.

Helen Anthony

26:27 - 26:31

Motion made by councilor Taylor, seconded by councilor Anderson. All in favor?

Unknown

26:31 - 26:32

Aye. Aye.