Paul Moura

Manny Barrows

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EAST PROVIDENCE  — The June meeting of the East Providence Waterfront Commission began and ended with members saluting the efforts of departing peer Paul Moura, who recently opted to step away from his position on the body he has held since its inception in 2006.

Mr. Moura, who will be replaced by Manny Barrows, told his colleagues “it’s been an honor and a privilege to serve with you.”

A former state representative in the General Assembly when he lived in Providence, Mr. Moura, long since a city resident, reminded his peers he was involved during the conception of the enabling legislation at the General Assembly creating the Waterfront Commission and which was modeled on the Capital Commission overseeing the revitalization of downtown Providence.

“This commission has just continued to carry out the intent of the enabling legislation…It’s been a model of what the legislation was intended to be,” Mr. Moura said, lauding the efforts of his cohorts.

He continued about the negative comments the commission has received over the years, “The critics are always going to criticize. They always have…the keyboard clowns…But I can honestly say this is one of the best boards I’ve ever sat on.”

Mr. Moura concluded, “It was just time for me to go…I just want to thank you all for what you do.”

Mr. Barrows, who also lives in city, was recommended for appointment to the commission by City Council President and Ward 1 member Bob Britto. A banker with expertise in lending for community and commercial development, the Rumford resident was unanimously approved by the full council to replace Mr. Moura.

“Manny Barrows is an outstanding individual,” Mr. Moura said, noting his successor will be the first person of color and Cape Verdean descent to sit on the commission. “It was a fantastic choice by Councilman Britto.”

At the conclusion of the June proceedings, Mr. Moura was given the honor of making one final motion to end the meeting, providing body chair Bill Fazioli the opportunity to say, “Let’s adjourn recognizing Paul for all his great service.”

Budget news
Commission Executive Director Chris Martin led the body through some budgetary matters, including a review of the recently closed third quarter of the current fiscal year and the proposed budget for FY2021-22.

Mr. Martin said despite the COVID-19 pandemic revenue for the commission is “pretty close” to projections. Income stood at $87,000 through quarter three, off by only $2,000 from what was anticipated.

As for fiscal year 21-22, which unlike that of the city does follow the state July-June calendar, the director said all indications are the commission will receive $50,000 in funding from R.I. Commerce through the General Assembly. Mr. Martin said those monies are critical because it allows the commission to hire paid interns, whom he said “have done amazing work for us over the last year.”

The projected revenue for next fiscal year, he continued, is $118,000, which comes from such things as fees, programs, rental income along with government funding. Expenses have been pegged at $116,000, including the likes of pay roll, legal fees, insurance and advertising.

Questioned by commissioner Rick Lawson about a couple of the expenditures, Mr. Martin said there was a need to move some funding between line items because of expected “big applications” for the East Point development at Phillipsdale Landing and the former Getty Oil tank farm on Massasoit Avenue. Each, the director said, will require “peer reviews and extra staff time.”

On the topic of advertising, Mr. Lawson wondered if the $750 figure included the budget was enough considering the anticipated action in the district. Mr. Martin said most of the costs for legal ads and notices are covered in applications submitted by developers.

Mr. Lawson accepted the explanations, adding, “I just wanted to make sure we’re covered because we know this year is going to be a lot busier than last year.”

Staff report
Mr. Martin delivered some unwelcome news to the commission during his staff report as aquaculture firm Fish Head Farms, headquartered in city but with systems in nearby Attleboro, had withdrawn its application to move its entire operation to a vacant building in Phillipsdale Landing.

The commission, at a special hearing earlier in June, had only just granted Fish Head Farms condition approval to move its manufacturing, bottling, storage and distribution to the Landing, where it would make its organic plant fertilizer. But the company cited “internal issues,” according to Mr. Martin, in declining to proceed at this time.

The director explained, though, the decision lasts for two years with the possibility of an additional three one-year extensions. He said Fish Head Farms has a “cushion” if it has a change of heart and wants to move forward under the same approval and application.

“It’s kind of a bummer that they’re not doing it, but they did assure me that they’re still looking to bring all of their operations to East Providence,” Mr. Martin added. “So maybe they’ll pop up somewhere else.”

At the conclusion of the staff report, Mr. Fazioli noted representatives from Dexter Road Associates, which owns the former Getty Oil terminal on Massasoit Avenue, had met staffers to discuss proposed future subdivisions and concepts for the rest of the property with the idea of formally presenting their initial ideas to the respective overseers sometime soon.

In a related item also from June, the city’s Economic Development Commission approved a loan for local chef and restauranteur Nick Rabar, owner of “Avenue N” at Rumford Center, for use in converting the old gas station on the Getty land into a southern-style eatery, “Honeybird Kitchen and Cocktails.” Mr. Fazioli said the aim is for the restaurant to be open by sometime this fall.