Providence City Council Meeting | Dec 17th, 2025 | Special Council Meeting

December 17, 2025

Call to Order and Roll Call

05:55 - 06:47

Council President Miller called the special city council meeting to order, and the clerk called the roll to establish a quorum. Eleven council members were present, and four were absent.

Invocation

06:47 - 10:01

Reverend DL Helfer delivered the invocation, offering solace and inspiration during challenging times. He expressed gratitude for the council's service and offered support to the community and first responders.

Pledge of Allegiance

10:01 - 10:27

Councilman Goncalves led the council and attendees in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

Items 1 through 3

10:27 - 10:49

The Majority Leader moved to waive the reading of items 1, 2, and 3, which was seconded and approved. The items were noted as received by the clerk.

Item 4: Swearing in of Councilor-elect Jill S. Davidson

10:49 - 14:27

Councilor-elect Jill S. Davidson of Ward 2 was sworn in by Judge Martinelli and Chairman Mantini. Council President Miller congratulated her and welcomed her to the Providence City Council.

Item 5: Nomination of Judge of the Probate Court

14:27 - 15:31

Majority Leader Espinal nominated John E. Martinelli to serve as Judge of the Providence Probate Court. The nomination was seconded and approved, and the clerk cast one ballot for his appointment.

Item 6: Nomination of Clerk of the Probate Court

15:31 - 16:09

Majority Leader Espinal nominated Paul V. Jabbour as Clerk of the Probate Court. The nomination was seconded and approved, and the clerk cast one ballot for his appointment.

Item 7: Election of Members to the Providence External Review Authority

16:09 - 16:58

Majority Leader Espinal nominated Shana Kerlan, Denise Afahi, Ray Watson, Nancy Siong, Kenya Vasquez, and Bernard George to PERA. The nominations were seconded and approved, and the clerk cast one ballot for their election.

Items 8 through 19: Board and Committee Appointments

16:58 - 18:37

The council approved a motion to waive the reading of items 8 through 19 and substitute item 19. Councilman Sanchez recognized the appointees present, and the items were received, referred, or amended as noted.

Item 20: Roll Call Vote

18:37 - 19:53

The council voted to waive the reading of item 20 and pass it for the second time on a roll call vote. The motion carried with eight ayes, three nays, and four absent.

Items 21 and 22: Voice Vote

19:53 - 20:57

The council approved a motion to waive the reading of items 21 and 22 and pass them on a voice vote. The motion passed with eleven ayes and four absent.

Personal Expression and Memorial Remarks

20:57 - 25:30

Councilman Goncalves and Council President Miller shared remarks honoring the lives of Ella Cook and Muqamid Aziz Amorzikov. They expressed condolences, called for justice, and urged community unity and support for the investigation.

Item 23

25:30 - 25:48

The council approved a motion to waive the reading of item 23. The motion passed, and the item was noted as received.

Adjournment

25:48 - 26:32

The council approved a motion to adjourn the meeting with a unanimous rising vote in memory of Ella Cook and Muqamid Aziz Amorzikov. The meeting was officially adjourned.

Speaker 0

05:55 - 06:01

Special City Council meeting on this Wednesday, December 17. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.

Speaker 1

06:01 - 06:09

Council president Miller? Present. Deputy majority whip Vanderbois? Present. Councilor elect Davidson?

Speaker 1

06:10 - 06:13

Present. Majority leader Espinal?

Speaker 2

06:13 - 06:13

Present.

Speaker 1

06:14 - 06:16

Senior deputy majority leader Gonzales?

Speaker 3

06:16 - 06:17

Present.

Speaker 1

06:17 - 06:24

Councilwoman Graves is absent. Deputy Majority Leader Harris? Present. Councilwoman Peterson? Present.

Speaker 1

06:25 - 06:33

Council President Pro Tempur Pichardo? Present. Councilor Royas is absent. Councilwoman Ryan?

Speaker 4

06:33 - 06:33

Present.

Speaker 1

06:34 - 06:42

Majority Whip Sanchez? Present. Councilman Taylor is absent. Councilwoman Anna Vargas is absent. Councilman Oscar Vargas?

Speaker 5

06:42 - 06:43

Present.

Speaker 1

06:43 - 06:47

You have 11 present and four absent. You have a quorum.

Speaker 0

06:47 - 07:04

Thank you, madam clerk. I'd also like to recognize that we have several special well, many special guests here tonight, including Councilman Anthony and Senator Zurier. Thank you for joining us. And this evening, the invocation will be led by Reverend Helfer. Reverend, please join me.

Speaker 0

07:05 - 07:07

I'm sorry. Will everyone please rise?

Speaker 6

07:10 - 07:51

Thank you for inviting me here to offer the invocation this evening. My name is Reverend DL Helfer, and I'm here at council president Rachel Miller's request to offer solace and inspiration in these troubling times. I invite you into a spirit of prayer, whatever that means for you. I begin with gratitude for each and every one of you, for the selfless and tireless service you do on behalf of Providence residents. I have been amazed, especially you, city council, at the brave and thoughtful decisions you've made, the work you've done to keep everyone safe, fed, and cared for.

Speaker 6

07:51 - 08:32

You have set a national standard for the powerful work that a city council can and this one does do. As a Unitarian Universalist minister, I don't necessarily look to God for the answers, but to the power of the people organized by shared purpose working every day to build a better world. You do that, and we are grateful beyond measure. And yet you, all of you working so hard, you're human yourselves. Without a doubt, you carry the same fears, the same worries, needs, hope, dreams, and wants as your constituents do.

Speaker 6

08:33 - 09:23

And I've watched you all on the news this week repeatedly offering solace and comfort, and I wondered what kept you going. Where is your fear being addressed? This is what I know. I know we need to lean into our own sources of strength as we continue to demonstrate love and care for the families and friends of Ella Cook, Macomade Aziz, Umerz Sakhov, the students in the hospital, first responders, everyone providing care, and honestly, everyone impacted, which in this small city means everyone because we all know that if you're in Providence, we touch each other in some way. I think of mister Rogers often and his exhortation to look for the helpers like you.

Speaker 6

09:24 - 09:57

But I know also as a social worker that helpers need support too. I hope you take time if you haven't already to let us support you, to look to your friends and beloveds to bring some solace. Thank you again for your inspired leadership. May you too be cared for, held, supported, and inspired as you do in these challenging and complex times. And may the love that holds us all be present in and among us, moving us ever closer to the beloved community that we dream of.

Speaker 6

09:57 - 09:57

Thank you.

Speaker 0

10:01 - 10:06

Thank you, reverend. This evening, the pledge of allegiance will be led by councilman Goncalves.

Speaker 3

10:07 - 10:23

I pledge of allegiance to the flag of The United States Of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation under god, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you.

Speaker 0

10:27 - 10:29

Madam Clerk, item one please.

Speaker 2

10:29 - 10:30

Madam President.

Speaker 0

10:30 - 10:31

Majority Leader.

Speaker 2

10:31 - 10:33

Motion to waive the reader of item one, two, three.

Speaker 0

10:33 - 10:39

Second, Madam President. We have a motion and a second. Any discussion? All in favor?

Speaker 2

10:39 - 10:40

Aye. Aye.

Speaker 0

10:40 - 10:48

Any opposed? The motion passes. Madam Clerk, please note one through three as received. So noted. Item four.

Speaker 1

10:49 - 10:57

Item four is the swearing in of counselor elect Jill s Davidson of Providence Ward 2.

Speaker 0

11:03 - 11:12

Will the judge please join us? Thank you, judge Martinelli. And councilwoman elect, please join us in the in the middle.

Speaker 5

11:16 - 11:36

You have all the three senior person, could you please raise your right hand? Yep. I'll speak loud. Could you please raise your right hand and repeat after me? I.

Speaker 4

11:38 - 11:39

Jill Davidson

Speaker 5

11:39 - 11:41

k. Do solemnly swear

Speaker 4

11:41 - 11:45

Do solemnly swear and affirm affirm

Speaker 5

11:45 - 11:49

that I will faithfully discharge my duties

Speaker 4

11:49 - 11:52

I will faithfully discharge my duties

Speaker 5

11:52 - 11:53

As a member

Speaker 4

11:54 - 11:55

As a member

Speaker 5

11:55 - 11:57

the Providence City Council

Speaker 4

11:58 - 11:59

of the Providence City Council

Speaker 5

12:00 - 12:04

and will support the constitution of The United States

Speaker 4

12:04 - 12:07

and will support the constitution of The United States

Speaker 5

12:07 - 12:11

The constitution and laws of the state of Rhode Island.

Speaker 4

12:11 - 12:14

The constitution and laws of the state of Rhode Island.

Speaker 5

12:15 - 12:23

And the rules and regulations of the Providence City Charter and all ordinance connected thereto.

Speaker 4

12:24 - 12:31

And the rules and regulations of the Providence City Charter and the rules and regulations connected thereto.

Speaker 5

12:33 - 12:40

And you do this in the form and manner provided by law to the best of my ability. I do this.

Speaker 4

12:40 - 12:44

I do this in the form and manner provided to the best of my ability.

Speaker 5

12:45 - 12:48

Congratulations. Thank you. Now a member of the province city council.

Speaker 4

12:48 - 12:48

Welcome.