Back to Providence Special Committee on Ways and Means

Providence Special Committee on Ways and Means - Thursday, May 28th, 2026 - 5:30 P.M.

May 28, 2026

Call to Order and Roll Call

00:08 - 00:35

Chairman Miguel Sanchez called the special committee on ways and means to order. The clerk called the roll, noting that four members were present and one was absent.

Administrative Remarks and Swearing In

00:35 - 01:37

The Chairman recognized the policy staff, communications team, interns, clerk's office, and solicitor's office. He then requested that anyone planning to present before the committee stand and be sworn in.

Motion to Take Item 6 Out of Order

01:37 - 01:57

The committee voted to take Item 6, an appointment to the zoning board, out of order. The motion was made by Councilor Peterson, seconded by Councilor Davidson, and passed unanimously.

Item 6: Appointment of Mr. Scott to the Zoning Board

01:57 - 07:50

The committee interviewed Mr. Scott regarding his appointment to the Zoning Board, discussing his experience as a second alternate since 2019 and his background in education. Following the discussion, the committee voted unanimously to approve his appointment.

Motion to Waive Reading of Items 1 through 5

07:50 - 08:05

The committee entertained and approved a motion to waive the reading of agenda items one through five. The motion was made by Councilor Davidson, seconded by Councilor Graves, and passed unanimously.

Motion to Enter Exhibit 34 into the Records

08:05 - 08:24

The committee voted to enter Exhibit 34 into the official meeting records. The motion was made by Councilor Peterson, seconded by Councilor Davidson, and approved.

School Department Budget Presentation and Discussion

08:24 - 03:08:31

Representatives from the Providence Public School District presented their proposed budget, highlighting challenges such as declining enrollment and high fixed costs. The committee discussed various aspects of the budget, including charter school tuition payments, teacher layoffs, and the transition of students from the UCAF program.

Discussion on Homeless Students and Facilities

03:08:31 - 03:36:29

The school department presented data on students experiencing homelessness, highlighting the impacts of housing insecurity on attendance, discipline, and academic performance. The committee also discussed facilities issues, including the summer availability of the PCTA gymnasium and the need for deep cleaning at Hope High School.

Motion to Continue Items 1 through 5

03:36:29 - 03:36:52

The committee voted to continue agenda items one through five to a future meeting. The motion was made by Councilor Graves, seconded by Councilor Davidson, and approved.

Adjournment

03:36:52 - 03:37:20

The committee entertained a motion to adjourn the meeting. The motion was made by Councilor Davidson, seconded by Councilor Graves, and passed unanimously, officially adjourning the meeting.

Unknown

00:08 - 00:19

Hi. Good afternoon, everyone. My name is Miguel Sanchez. I'm calling to order the special committee on ways and means. The time is 05:37, Thursday, May 28.

Unknown

00:20 - 00:23

Madam Clerk, can we please call roll call, please?

Unknown

00:23 - 00:29

Chair Sanchez. Present. Vice Chairman Taylor is absent. Councilor Davidson. Present.

Unknown

00:29 - 00:30

Councilman Graves?

Unknown

00:30 - 00:31

Present.

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00:31 - 00:35

Councilwoman Peterson? Present. We have four present and one absent. We have four.

Unknown

00:35 - 01:35

Thank you. At this time, I wanna recognize our policy staff, our comms team, our interns, our clerk's office, Etsy from our solicitor's office. Thank you for joining us. At this time, anyone that plans on presenting before the committee, can you please stand up and get a sworn in, please? Thank you.

Unknown

01:37 - 01:48

So we're gonna take item six out of order. It is an appointment to the zoning board. This time, I'll entertain a motion to move item six out of order.

Unknown

01:48 - 01:49

So moved.

Unknown

01:49 - 01:57

Motion made by councilor Peterson, seconded by councilor Davis. All those in favor, aye. Any nays? Any abstentions? The ayes have it.

Unknown

01:57 - 01:58

Mister Scott?

Unknown

01:59 - 02:01

Chairman Sanchez, thank you. It's a pleasure to be here tonight.

Unknown

02:01 - 02:02

How are

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02:02 - 02:02

you today?

Unknown

02:02 - 02:03

Doing well. Yourself?

Unknown

02:03 - 02:10

Pretty good. I think everyone's pretty familiar with with who you are and the service that you have and continue to provide

Unknown

02:10 - 02:11

to the city of Providence.

Unknown

02:11 - 02:20

In a quick paragraph, could you just summarize on why you wanna be appointed? This is a new appointment, not a reappointment. Correct?

Unknown

02:20 - 02:44

So I I served as second alternate since 2019. Okay. Believe I took chairwoman Nancy's play former councilman Nancy's place, which she stepped into the council or somewhere between us in overlay. Service second alternate, though, I voted probably in most meetings because you do have absences and refusals, things like that. So I have a pretty robust voting record.

Unknown

02:44 - 02:57

I I I'm proud of some of the standards taken and proud that we've sometimes it had to occasionally vote against the recommendations of the party when something comes up in the in the hearing that, you know, wasn't presented

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02:57 - 02:57

to them.

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02:57 - 02:58

So it's in

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02:58 - 02:58

a way that we be

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02:58 - 03:06

a custodian city and protect our neighborhoods. I this term would be replacing chairman Greenfield. I would not

Unknown

03:06 - 03:07

be the chair. Ryan Bolton is

Unknown

03:07 - 03:48

the chair, but it would be a full term where I vote in every meeting. And I I feel at this point, I I don't need to find the front door. I've been doing this for close to seven years, and I've had an interest in context in neighborhoods having previously served as director of parks and recreation for Warwick, Working in PTSD with me, amazing friends back here, and especially superintendent Martinez where I got to ride shotgun and back in some of the facilities work, some great distribution work. I've been involved with the board and and overall enthusiasm about all things problems. So I'm glad to be here with all of you today.

Unknown

03:48 - 04:01

Awesome. Thank you. Your experience in the zoning board, what what have been some of your biggest challenges that that you've seen the the board have to work with?

Unknown

04:01 - 04:31

I think the it's it's interesting. Like, we we really just call balls and strikes based on the the state sets the ordinance that you write local ordinance. So I I don't think there's been a lot of challenge. I think since speaker Shikachi and and the council subsequently revised the ordinance and they have signed it, I feel it's a lot more streamlined. Like, it's it needs to go a little bit quicker, and it's a little more user friendly in the in the big criteria.

Unknown

04:32 - 04:51

You know, the a d the APU laws took a loss about going there by right now, and it should be. There's small lots in the city, so it's hard to do a ton of the use, but think it's a lot more streamlined now. You know, some of that's the councils would work on amending the ordinance.

Unknown

04:51 - 05:01

Appreciate that. Committee members, is there any questions for mister Scott? Comments? Councilor Peterson?

Unknown

05:01 - 05:02

Just a quick one.

Unknown

05:02 - 05:03

Thank you for your service. You've done a lot

Unknown

05:03 - 05:18

with the city for a long time. I know we've known you for quite some time now, and I appreciate the support that you've given not only in my neighborhood, but also the one flooding and then even yours. I know that you were just a couple of words over. So

Unknown

05:19 - 05:21

Ward 6 resident for the record.

Unknown

05:22 - 05:36

You I I guess this this is definitely a comment as a thank you, but I actually do have a quick question now that I'm thinking of it. Zoning is very different from the work that you do during the day. So tell me why you like zoning.

Unknown

05:37 - 06:00

I think it started as an offshoot when I was on Smithfield Community Development Corporation board, so which Althea Graves is familiar with, councilman Graves. And I you know, I've done that. I did that work. When I got on the board, the organization was struggling a little bit. I had it's, past its peak, but we're able to create keep it going and then create some new affordable units.

Unknown

06:01 - 06:31

And I think that was important. That that started when I I got on that board as principal assistant principal cesarean. And, you know, I saw some of my students struggle with health, and that really affects learning when you don't have adequate health. They discussed that many times. And that led to 2019, mayor of wars at the time, put my name forth for toothpaste held chairwoman Anthony, and that went on.

Unknown

06:31 - 07:01

And I you know, it was it was a learning curve because it's very different from what I do. But it's you know, after a few months, you really get the hang of it, and I feel like I get a good perspective to not so that type of work lends yourself to being a lawyer. So, like, we have, like, three lawyers in the board, which is good. They're all smart lawyers. And then being an educator, I look at differently and come from a different angle when I when I approach that work, but I I really enjoyed serving the city councilman.

Unknown

07:01 - 07:02

Thank you for

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07:02 - 07:03

asking the question. Absolutely.

Unknown

07:03 - 07:05

Thank you for again, your time.

Unknown

07:06 - 07:09

So any other questions, comments, councilor Graves?

Unknown

07:09 - 07:20

Just a comment. Thank you for all you did in Smithfield area. I think you're wherever you go, you're a nice.

Unknown

07:20 - 07:24

Thank you. I feel so much. You.

Unknown

07:24 - 07:25

Yep. Thank you

Unknown

07:25 - 07:26

for your

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07:26 - 07:27

instructions. We really appreciate it.

Unknown

07:27 - 07:29

Thank you, councilwoman.

Unknown

07:29 - 07:30

Awesome. Thank you.

Unknown

07:30 - 07:33

At this time, I will entertain a motion to approve item six.