Providence City Council Meeting | July 7th, 2025 | Special Council Meeting

July 07, 2025

Official record

From the minutes filed with the RI Secretary of State on July 25, 2025.

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Attendance

13 present · 2 absent

Present

Council President Miller
Councilor AnderBois
Councilwoman Anthony
Councilman Espinal
Councilman Goncalves
Councilwoman Graves
Councilwoman Harris
Councilwoman Peterson
Councilor Pichardo
Councilwoman Ryan
Councilor Sanchez
Councilman Taylor
Councilman Vargas

Absent

Councilor Roias
Councilwoman Vargas

Also present: Tina L. Mastroianni (City Clerk), Sheri A. Petronio (First Deputy City Clerk), Lauren Gutierrez (Assistant Clerk), Napoleon Askie (City Sergeant), Kenneth Chiavarini (Deputy City Solicitor)

Recorded votes (11)

An Ordinance Approving Improvements to the Providence Water Supply Board Distribution System and financing thereof

READ/PASSED SECOND TIME [UNANIMOUS]

Moved by Councilman Espinal · Seconded by Councilwoman Harris

Aye (13)

Council President Miller , Councilor AnderBois , Councilwoman Anthony , Councilman Espinal , Councilman Goncalves , Councilwoman Graves , Councilwoman Harris , Councilwoman Peterson , Councilor Pichardo , Councilwoman Ryan , Councilor Sanchez , Councilman Taylor , Councilman Vargas

Ordinances Relating to Article IV, Chapter 17, Section 17-189(f) of the Code of Ordinances (Disability Waiver Requests)

REFERRED

Referred to Committee on Finance

An Ordinance Approving the Financing of the "Mile of History Project"

LAID ON TABLE [UNANIMOUS]

Moved by Councilman Espinal · Seconded by Councilwoman Harris

Aye (13)

An Ordinance Providing for the Assessment and Collection of 2025 Taxes and Amending Section 21-182

READ/PASSED FOR THE FIRST TIME [10 TO 3]

Moved by Councilman Espinal · Seconded by Councilwoman Harris

Aye (10)

Nay (3)

Councilwoman Peterson , Councilor Pichardo , Councilman Vargas

An Ordinance in Amendment of Chapter 2024-36, No. 321, making an Appropriation for the Fiscal Year Ending June 30, 2025

READ/PASSED FOR THE FIRST TIME [11 TO 2]

Moved by Councilman Espinal · Seconded by Councilwoman Harris

Aye (11)

Council President Miller , Councilor AnderBois , Councilwoman Anthony , Councilman Espinal , Councilman Goncalves , Councilwoman Graves , Councilwoman Harris , Councilor Pichardo , Councilwoman Ryan , Councilor Sanchez , Councilman Taylor

Nay (2)

Councilwoman Peterson , Councilman Vargas

An Ordinance Establishing a Compensation Plan for the City of Providence and Repealing Ordinance Chapter 2024-37, No. 322

READ/PASSED (AS AMENDED) 1X [UNANIMOUS]

Moved by Councilman Espinal · Seconded by Councilwoman Harris

Aye (13)

An Ordinance Establishing the Classes of Positions, the Maximum Number of Employees, and the Number of Employees

READ/PASSED FOR THE FIRST TIME [UNANIMOUS]

Moved by Councilman Espinal · Seconded by Councilwoman Harris

Aye (13)

Petitions for Compensation for Injuries and Damages

REFERRED

Referred to Committee on Claims and Pending Suits

Communication from Glen Ahlborg submitting Raze Building Permit RAZE-25-39 for 160 Bucklin Street

RECEIVED

Resolution Extending Congratulations

PASSED [UNANIMOUS]

Moved by Councilman Espinal · Seconded by Councilwoman Harris

Aye (13)

Resolution Extending Sympathy

PASSED [UNANIMOUS]

Moved by Councilman Espinal · Seconded by Councilwoman Harris

Aye (13)

Unknown

04:13 - 04:21

Good evening, everyone. Welcome to the Providence City Council meeting on Monday, 07/07/2025. Madam clerk, please call the roll.

Unknown

04:21 - 04:27

Council president Miller? Present. Deputy majority whip Vanderbois? Present. Councilwoman Anthony?

Unknown

04:27 - 04:28

Present.

Unknown

04:28 - 04:30

Majority leader Espinal?

Unknown

04:30 - 04:31

Present.

Unknown

04:31 - 04:39

Senior deputy majority leader Gonsalves? Present. Councilwoman Graves? Present. Deputy majority leader Harris?

Unknown

04:39 - 04:45

Present. Councilwoman Peterson? Present. Council president Pro Tempur Pichardo?

Unknown

04:46 - 04:47

Present.

Unknown

04:47 - 04:56

Council Arroyas is absent. Councilwoman Ryan? Present. Majority Whip Sanchez? Councilman Taylor?

Unknown

04:58 - 05:06

Councilwoman Anna Vargas is absent. Councilman Oscar Vargas? Present. You have 13 present and two absent. You have a quorum.

Unknown

05:06 - 05:14

Thank you, madam clerk. This evening, the invocation will be given by councilman James e Taylor. Will everyone please rise, including our guests for the invocation?

Unknown

05:16 - 05:32

I pray for the city council meeting tonight. Give the council members wisdom and guidance as they deliberate on the items before them. May every decision be righteous in your sight for our benefit and for your glory. In the name of the father, the son, and the holy spirit. Amen.

Unknown

05:32 - 05:36

Thank you, counselor. Tonight, the pledge of allegiance will be led by councilman Oscar Vargas.

Unknown

05:37 - 05:51

Pledge allegiance to the flag, United States Of America, to the republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

Unknown

05:54 - 05:56

Madam president. Councilman Sanchez.

Unknown

05:56 - 06:28

Point of personal expression. Thank you. Before we kick off the meeting, I'd just like to say a few words regarding situation, incident that's in the public right now. Well, there's a couple, but the one I'm speaking about is to first and foremost thank our Providence Police leadership for the courage that they showed, especially commander O'Hara. And what I'm speaking about is the recent Leo Boer hearing regarding a past incident that happened over five years ago.

Unknown

06:30 - 07:05

The outcome of that Leo board hearing, in my opinion and a lot of people in our community's opinion, the mayor's opinion, the current Providence police chief, the ex Providence police chief opinion is that it's an unjust decision. As of a couple hours ago, the mayor announced that we are appealing that decision. And I'm speaking in broad terms here to not add any more flames to to the fire. But yeah. That officer I'm not even gonna say his name because he doesn't respect deserve that respect from me, truthfully.

Unknown

07:06 - 07:58

It doesn't deserve in my opinion to ever wear anything that says the city of providence. So I'm keeping hopeful that throughout this appeal process there is a different decision because putting someone of that nature that had those types of actions, those types of words to certain community members is just the complete opposite of what we should be doing as a city. So I just wanted to share those words. Like I said, much gratitude to the Providence Police leadership for coming out very strong against another Providence Police officer. That's something that you rarely see these days is accountability within their own departments and their own teams, could say.

Unknown

07:59 - 08:09

But yeah, it's caused a lot conversations in our community. So, hopefully, we will see better outcomes in the near future. Thank you, madam president.

Unknown

08:09 - 08:13

Thank you, councilor. Item three. Madam president. Majority leader.

Unknown

08:13 - 08:18

I wish to waive the reading of item three through seven and pass for the second time in a roll call vote.

Unknown

08:18 - 08:26

Second, madam president. Any discussion on items three through seven? Hearing none, madam clerk, please call the roll.

Unknown

08:26 - 08:33

Council president Miller. Aye. Deputy majority with Anderbois. Aye. Councilwoman Anthony.

Unknown

08:33 - 08:39

Aye. Majority Leader Espinal. Aye. Senior Deputy Majority Leader Gonsal. Aye.

Unknown

08:39 - 08:47

Councilwoman Graves. Deputy Majority Leader Harris. Aye. Councilwoman Peterson. Aye.

Unknown

08:47 - 08:56

Council president Pro Tempur Pichardo? Aye. Council Arroyas is absent. Councilwoman Ryan? Aye.

Unknown

08:56 - 09:00

Majority Whip Sanchez? Councilman Taylor?

Unknown

09:00 - 09:01

Aye.

Unknown

09:01 - 09:10

Councilwoman Anna Vargas is absent. Councilman Oscar Vargas? Aye. You have 13 ayes, two absent. The motion carries.

Unknown

09:10 - 09:13

The matters are passed for the second time on a roll call vote.

Unknown

09:14 - 09:17

Thank you. Item eight. Madam president. Majority leader.

Unknown

09:17 - 09:20

Motion to waive the read and write it eight through 12.

Unknown

09:20 - 09:31

Second, madam president. Any discussion items eight through 12? Hearing none, all in favor? Any Aye. Any opposed?

Unknown

09:31 - 09:41

Any abstentions? The motion passes. Bless you, pro tem. Madam clerk, please refer items eight through 12 to the committee on finance. So noted.

Unknown

09:41 - 09:42

Item 13.

Unknown

09:42 - 09:43

Madam president.

Unknown

09:43 - 09:44

Majority leader.

Unknown

09:44 - 09:46

Motion to waive the renewal of item 13 and lay on the table.

Unknown

09:47 - 09:58

Second, madam president. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion on item 13? Councilman, any discussion on item 13? Hearing none, all in favor?

Unknown

09:58 - 09:58

Aye.

Unknown

09:58 - 10:01

Any opposed? Any abstentions?

Unknown

10:03 - 10:10

Madam president, are we going to be working on this one to table it, or are we going to try to pass it today?

Unknown

10:11 - 10:21

We are laying this on the table. We are in the middle of the vote. We just called the I just called for nos or abstentions on laying it on the table for this moment right now.

Unknown

10:21 - 10:22

Alright. Thank you.

Unknown

10:25 - 10:32

The motion passes. Please, madam clerk, note item 13 is laid on the table. So noted. Item 14.

Unknown

10:32 - 10:33

Madam president.

Unknown

10:33 - 10:34

Majority leader.

Unknown

10:34 - 10:39

Motion to waive the reading of item fourteen and fifteen and pass for the first time on a roll call vote.

Unknown

10:39 - 10:40

Second, madam president.

Unknown

10:40 - 10:41

We have a