E.P. council seeks to clarify aspects of city’s boards and commissions

Wants to determine roles of members, activities of those bodies

By Mike Rego
Posted 2/20/19

EAST PROVIDENCE — The council will aggressively attempt to clarify the qualifications for and commitment of members to the dozens of boards and commissions in the city, the body determined at …

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E.P. council seeks to clarify aspects of city’s boards and commissions

Wants to determine roles of members, activities of those bodies

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — The council will aggressively attempt to clarify the qualifications for and commitment of members to the dozens of boards and commissions in the city, the body determined at its meeting last Tuesday night, Feb. 19.
The item, placed on the agenda by Ward 3 Councilman Nate Cahoon, calls for the council to work with the offices of City Clerk Samantha Burnett and City Solicitor Michael Marcello to complete the task.
“I’m kicking this off as a way of cleaning up the roster,” Mr. Cahoon said in his introductory comments. “We need to purge the rolls to find out if the members are no longer interested in serving or even if they still live in the city…I want to do this right way.”
Council President and Ward 1 member Bobby Britto suggested each member of the council pick a board or commission to discuss at an upcoming meeting, while coordinating with Mrs. Burnett and Mr. Marcello in deciphering the composition of those bodies.
“I understand it’s a big job,” Mr. Cahoon added.
To that end, Mr. Britto asked his peers to quickly adhere to a swift follow-up schedule. Mr. Cahoon will present at the next council meeting, March 5, indicating his preference to review the Waterfront Commission. Ward 2 Councilor Anna Sousa will highlight a board or commission at the March 19 followed by At-Large member Bobby Rodericks at the first April meeting, then Ward 3’s Ricardo Mourato at the second April forum with Mr. Britto taking his turn at the initial May gathering.
In supporting the proposal, Ms. Sousa, now in her second term, noted the previous council through the solicitor’s office had sought to update the length of terms and residences of the board and commission members with uneven results. She also said some members didn’t completely comply with the inquiries.
Mrs. Burnett said she and Mr. Marcello had begun the process of gathering the pertinent information for those who currently serve on the 25 bodies, adding not all of those groups are active at the moment.
Appointments issue
The council held a broader discussion on the subject of appointments while taking up a docket item listed by Mr. Rodericks on the status of the city sergeant.
As a result of the Charter Review Commission seated in 2017 and the special election held later that year, it appeared as though the council’s only remaining direct appointee was that of the city clerk. All others would be chosen by the new mayor’s office and only the zoning board needed approval of the council.
Mr. Marcello seemed to suggest the wording of the charter revisions left some room for ambiguity on the process of appointments in general.
“We’re tackling these as they come up,” Mr. Marcello said. “In the new charter there is no position for city sergeant.” He added, “all those appointments are gone…the term of the previous city sergeant has expired.”
“Generally speaking,” he continued, “the new charter gives appointing authority to the mayor.”
If the council deems it necessary to have a city sergeant, Mr. Marcello said it could write and approve a new ordinance reinstating the position.
Mr. Rodericks later asked for input from council to determine if the position was still viable, noting the presence of an active East Providence Police officer at meetings meant it might not. Ms. Sousa observed the officer is stationed at city hall for council meetings within their work day and does not receive any overtime or extra pay. Mr. Mourato said he was inclined to review the powers and duties of a city sergeant to decide how the council should address the issue going forward, a sentiment agreed up by the rest of his peers. The matter is likely to be reengaged at the March 5 council meeting.
New EPHS bill
The council approved a resolution authorizing the mayor to pay invoices for pre-construction expenses for the new East Providence High School.
As explained by Mr. Cahoon, who doubles as co-chairman of the new EPHS building committee with School Committee colleague Joel Monteiro, the district received its initial set of bills from the manager and architects of the project for approximately $800,000 worth of work.
City side Finance Director Malcolm Moore was included in the discussion, telling the council his office will soon be seeking Bond Anticipation Notes or “BANs” to help begin paying for the new high school. He added the city could also shortly start receiving reimbursement monies from the Rhode Island Department of Education, possibly around $12 million to start off-setting the costs of the planned $189.5 million project.
Mr. Cahoon, answering a query by Ms. Sousa, said the district is still awaiting to find out exactly at what percentage RIDE will reimburse the district. As of the moment, the state will definitely provide 54.5 percent of approximately $130 million of the new EPHS. Mr. Cahoon said it’s likely the district will get an additional 10 percent and possibly even up to a total 74.5 percent when the final figures are determined.

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