EAST PROVIDENCE — The City Council at its Tuesday, June 20, gathering authorized the administration of Mayor Bob DaSilva to buy 60 new Motorola portable radios for the East Providence Police Department at a total cost of $589,572.60.

The funding comes completely from the department's asset forfeiture accounts.

EPPD Chief Chris Francesconi called the "much-needed purchase." The department has been buying refurbished radios.

Also key, the chief continued, is the new radios "can seamlessly switch" from radio to cell service and are also WiFi capable.

"This addresses a safety issue that has been looming for quite a while, not just for the East Providence Police Department, but for many police departments," Francesconi said, noting, "These radios are my officer's lifeline in the field. These are the most technologically advanced radios on the market today."

Francesconi explained the radios are waterproof can transmit photos and have a voice-activation system similar to "Siri" or "Alexi" called "Vicky."

"They're much, much more than a radio...It's well beyond a simple radio. They're very, very rugged," the chief said, adding officers all rank and position who are in the field will be outfitted with an upgraded radio.

Also regarding the department, the Council granted the administration the authority to enter into a contract with JCJ Architecture in the amount of $110,000 to produce a study of the current layout of its headquarters on Waterman Avenue to "determine how to maximize the existing space of the building as well as the space created by moving the communication center off site."

JCJ, based out of Boston, will: conduct an existing conditions survey of the existing building and grounds; conduct stakeholder interviews to develop a space summary; develop up to three conceptual design options for proposed renovations/addition; develop estimates for the probable costs of each proposal; and also estimate the "probable life cycle cost analysis for operation and maintenance" of each proposal.

JCJ, will compose the architectural and interior design at a cost of $82,500. Odeh Engineers, of North Providence, will perform the structural analysis at $7,500. GGD Consulting Engineers, Inc., of Dartmouth, Mass., will review site, MEP/FP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing, and fire protection) and security requirements at $15,000. And the firm PM&C, of Hingham, Mass., will do the cost estimating for $5,000.