The meeting is called to order, and the clerk conducts a roll call to establish a quorum. Ten council members are present, and five are absent.
Invocation and Pledge of Allegiance
11:01 - 11:59
Councilman Oscar Vargas leads the invocation, asking for guidance and wisdom for the council. Councilwoman Peterson then leads the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Items 1 and 2 Discussion and Vote
11:59 - 13:18
The council votes to waive the reading of Items 1 and 2 and receive them. Councilman Vargas expresses a point of personal privilege regarding the lack of introductory communication from appointees.
Item 3 Discussion and Vote
13:18 - 13:47
A motion is made and seconded to waive the reading of Item 3 and approve it. The motion passes unanimously on a voice vote.
Item 4 Discussion and Vote
13:47 - 17:24
The City Solicitor explains that voting on this resolution is a ministerial requirement to submit a proposed ordinance to voters via referendum. The council then votes to waive the reading of Item 4 and passes it on a voice vote.
Items 5 and 6 Roll Call Vote
17:24 - 18:50
The council considers Items 5 and 6, voting to waive the readings and approve them via a roll call vote. Item 5 passes unanimously, while Item 6 passes with one dissenting vote.
Memorial Remarks and Adjournment
18:50 - 20:12
The council adjourns in memory of several deceased individuals, including Fernando D. Valiente, Judy Crank, and former East Providence Mayor Isidore Ramos. The motion to adjourn is approved, and the meeting is concluded.
Unknown
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Check one two.
Rachel Miller
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Good evening counselors and welcome to this special council meeting on Thursday, July 30. Madam Clerk, please call the roll.
Tina L. Mastroianni
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Council President Miller, present. Deputy Majority Webb Vanderbois, Councillor Davidson, Majority Leader Espinal, Senior Deputy Majority Leader Gonsales,
Councilor Royas is absent. Councilwoman Ryan is absent. Majority with Sanchez.
Miguel Sanchez
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Present.
Tina L. Mastroianni
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Councilman Taylor is absent. Councilwoman Ana Vargas is absent. Councilman Oscar Vargas.
Oscar Vargas
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Present. You
Tina L. Mastroianni
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have 10 present and five absent. You have a quorum. Quorum.
Rachel Miller
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Thank you, madam clerk. This evening, the invocation will be led by councilman Oscar Vargas.
Oscar Vargas
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Thank you, madam president. The name of the father, the soul, and the holy spirit. Car, please give your vision and passion to get things done in our city and to think and good resolutions and ordinance for our people. And please give us clarifying decisions how we can do better and work with our departments. Amen.
Oscar Vargas
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Amen.
Rachel Miller
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Thank you, counselor. And the pledge of allegiance will be led by councilwoman Peterson.
Shelley Peterson
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I pledge 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.
Unknown
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Madam clerk, item one please. Madam President. Majority Leader. Motion to waive the reading of item one and two. Second, madam president.
Rachel Miller
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We have a motion and a second. Any discussion on items one or two? Hearing none, all in favor? Aye. Madam President.
Rachel Miller
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Okay. We'll finish the vote and then I'll call on you. Is that alright? I'm sorry? Any opposed?
Rachel Miller
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Any abstentions on item one and two? One. Madam president? Yes. Can you receive?
Rachel Miller
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Yes. We haven't voted yet, but yes. Any opposed, any abstentions? The motion passes. Madam clerk, please note one and two is received.
Rachel Miller
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So Councilman Vargas, sorry. Go go ahead. You have the floor, sir.
Oscar Vargas
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Yes. Thank you, madam president. It's It's about number one. I remember when I first started five years ago, we used to get a phone call from anybody who gets appointee to this, I don't know who Mr. Tomo Morgans is.
Oscar Vargas
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I would like to know the people when they appoint somebody. And at least a courtesy phone call to say, look, I'm I'm working on it and and and to introduce myself.
Rachel Miller
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Thank you. Counselor, I will note that as a point of personal expression. That's okay, and we're moving on to item three that takes this up in more detail. Item three please.
Unknown
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Madam President. Majority Leader.
Pedro Espinal
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Motion to waive the reader of item three and receive and approve.
Miguel Sanchez
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Second, madam president. We have a
Rachel Miller
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motion and a second. Any discussion on item three? Any further discussion? All in favor? Aye.
Rachel Miller
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Any opposed? Any abstentions? The motion passes. Madam Clerk, please note item three as received and approved. So noted.
Rachel Miller
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Item four. And before we move on to item four, I would like to turn the floor over to the city fulsiter to just do a brief introduction.
Unknown
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Thank you.
Jeffrey Dana
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Okay. So I think as you all are aware, the background of this from the memo that I provided you at yep. That I provided you at your request. I'll reiterate in general that the vote on this resolution is not in support nor in opposition of the actual ordinance that has been proposed by the petitioners. It's merely to submit it this proposed ordinance to the voters.
Jeffrey Dana
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I will read from the relevant portion of the charter, which is the reason why this is before you. Two zero nine c of the charter, states that in the event that the city council shall fail to enact such proposed ordinance without amendment, and upon receipt by the city clerk of a notarized referendum petition signed by an additional 5% of the qualified electors of the city, the city council shall submit such proposed ordinance to a vote of the people of the city at the next general election. Now as you know, this council received this proposed ordinance, did not enact it, and then subsequently, the city clerk did receive a notarized referendum petition, and the Board of Canvassers confirmed that there were an additional 5% of the qualified electors of the city that had signed on to it. Those were the ministerial requirements, the basic requirements under the law for this to go to the voters. The final piece pursuant to the charter, and it's not elective, but merely the charter says that the city council shall submit the proposed ordinance to the vote of the people.
Jeffrey Dana
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So as as I noted to you in our memo, they've satisfied the petitioners have satisfied the requirement of for the number of qualified signatures or signatures of qualified electors and have done so within the time required under state statute. So the final step is for the city council, again, pursuant to the city charter, to submit the ordinance to the the proposed ordinance to the vote of the people. And I'll reiterate that that is not by submitting it to the vote of the people, the council is not approving of the ordinance or registering opposition or support one way or the other. Thank
Rachel Miller
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you Mr. Solicitor. Madam Clerk, item four.
Pedro Espinal
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Madam President. Majority Leader. Motion to waive the reading of item four and pass on a voice vote.
Miguel Sanchez
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Second, madam president.
Oscar Vargas
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We have
Rachel Miller
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a motion and a second. Any discussion on item four? Hearing none. All in favor?
Juan M. Pichardo
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Aye.
Rachel Miller
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Any opposed? Any abstentions? The motion passes. Item five.
Pedro Espinal
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Madam President. Majority Leader.
Pedro Espinal
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Motion to waive the reader of item five and six and pass on a roll call vote.
Rachel Miller
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We have a motion and a second. Any discussion on items five or six?
Tina L. Mastroianni
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Hearing none, madam clerk, please call the roll. Council president Miller, aye. Deputy majority Webb Vanderbois, Councilor Davidson? Aye. Majority Leader Espinal?
Tina L. Mastroianni
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Aye. Senior Deputy Majority Leader Gonsal?
Oscar Vargas
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Aye.
Tina L. Mastroianni
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Councilwoman Graves is absent. Deputy Majority Leader Harris? Aye. Councilwoman Peterson? Aye on five and nay on six.
