EAST PROVIDENCE - The city council met Tuesday to discuss issues surrounding land use, sales, equipment purchases, retirement reform . . . and 'boob boxes.' 'Boob boxes,' a term coined by Councilman Peter F. Midgley, refers to the loud sound systems young people put in their cars, the noise from which is driving Mr. Midgley and his neighbors crazy, he said.

"They spend hundreds, thousands of dollars on these sound systems," Mr. Midgley said. When the radios are played "full blast," as Mr. Midgley said they often are, the result is annoying.

"We've got a fine," he said.

"Make them understand they've got to pay. If I'm going to get calls (complaints from people in his ward over the noise), then the police department is going to get the calls."

Dog days

Councilman Midgley also said the city would consider banning dogs from city parks if owners did not start making sure to clean up their animals' waste, or "land mines." He said children at play were at risk from the waste and that it was "inconsiderate" of the owners not to clean up. He urged people to call and report anyone not cleaning up after their dog.

"It's a health problem," said Parks and Recreation Director Joe Crook.

"We just invested $900,000. That's a lot of money for a dog toilet," he added, referring to the council's approval of money to develop the Glen Lyon Park Project in Rumford, which would include a regulation soccer field, tennis courts, a repair to the baseball field and repair of the playground.

Bid business

The council also agreed to include in the bid reports being prepared for seven potential contractors the cost of repairing the soccer field at Rose Garden in Riverside. The soccer field is having irrigation and drainage problems, and is perfectly flat, instead of having a mound in the center. The project would address these issues at a cost of approximately $185,000.

The council also approved a Master Lease bid award for a line of credit of approximately $1.7 million to finance the purchase of several city vehicles and other capital improvements. The company, SunTrust Leasing from Maryland, represented an interest rate of approximately 3.6 percent, though exact numbers cannot be known until a few days before the loan is finalized. The loan would be paid off with the sale of several surplus city properties around East Providence.

The mayor expressed his concern that tying the purchase of the capital improvements to the loan and the sale of surplus properties could paint the town into a corner if a grant became available for some of the intended purchases. The council agreed to change the wording of the proposal to say the intent would be to pay back the purchases from the property sales if no other monetary option became available.

Some council members also expressed an interest in allowing neighbors who abut the properties in question to have the option to purchase the land. This was especially true for the lot off Harding Road, which neighbors have been using for parking, as Harding Road is very narrow.

Yard sales and pricey purchases

The council approved the purchase of 10 new police cruisers at a cost of just over $300,000, and the purchase of a salt shed at a bid price just under $300,000, with a $40,000 grant from the Department of Environmental Management, and approved the pre-qualification of four companies to submit bids for road re-paving. The town's budget for that project is $1.4 million.

In another topic, Councilwoman Valeria A. Perry said that "yard sale season" was fast approaching and wanted to remind residents that a permit, costing $5, was required for all yard sales and that signs may be posted no more than two days in advance of the sale, and must be taken down within 12 hours of the sale's close.

In other permit matters, the council delayed a decision on a petition from Wanda L. Roderick until April 19. The Providence resident is seeking a hawker's license to sell flowers on Warren Avenue. The council wanted to look into how many permits already existed and expressed concern over the amount of people selling flowers this past Easter. Councilman Norman J. Miranda said he was reluctant to issue a permit for flower sales, feeling it was unfair to flower shop owners who paid taxes in the city.

School finance

In school news, the council approved the first reading of a proposed ordinance that would require the East Providence School Committee to provide the council with a fiscal impact analysis statement for any new bargaining agreements or contract changes, and approved a resolution that seeks support for pension reforms described by Councilman Midgley as "pro-worker" solution that ensured money was there for teacher retirees down the road. The change would save an estimated $1 million in avoidance costs.

BY KIMBERLY HARPER

kharper@eastbaynewspapers.com