by Billy Kepner | May 16, 2019 | Ward-11, Ward-12, Ward-15, Ward-4, Ward-6, Ward-8
The Providence City Council passed a resolution sponsored by Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia (Ward 6), recognizing the week of May 19 through May 25, 2019 as National Public Works Week.
National Public Works Week is observed as a way to pay tribute to the public works professionals, engineers, managers and employees who make substantial contributions to protect our national health, safety, and quality of life.
“Every day as I travel my ward, and across the city, I see the men and women of the Department of Public Works laboring away,” stated City Council Pro Tempore Michael Correia, Ward 6. “As the Chairman of the Committee on Public Works, I know first-hand the professionalism, the dedication, and the motivation that every employee at the DPW has for their work. It’s because of the ingenuity of a crew member of the DPW that the fountain in DePasquale Square was fixed before the start of the summer season. It’s because of the men and women of the DPW that Councilors like myself can hold community clean-ups and mattress pick-ups. Their work matters and they don’t always get the appreciation they deserve. It’s my privilege and honor to acknowledge our Public Works employees not just this week, but every week.”
The resolution, proposed by Council President Pro Tempore Correia and co-sponsored by Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15), Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. (Ward 4), Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11), Councilwoman Katherine Kerwin (Ward 12), and Councilman James E. Taylor (Ward 8), motivates the residents of Providence to become interested and engaged in the importance of publicly funded construction in their respective communities throughout the City.
National Public Works Week will consist of a series of events and ceremonies that pay tribute to the significant work done by public works professionals, and all citizens are encouraged to participate. 2019 is the 59th year that National Public Works Week has been recognized under the sponsorship of the American Public Works Association.
by Billy Kepner | Apr 11, 2019 | Community Engagement, Council News, Press Release, Ward-1, Ward-10, Ward-11, Ward-12, Ward-13, Ward-14, Ward-15, Ward-2, Ward-3, Ward-4, Ward-5, Ward-6, Ward-7, Ward-8, Ward-9
What You Need to Know
The City of Providence announced on March 29, 2019 that the state-mandated full real estate property revaluation is complete and real estate property value assessment notices will be mailed on April 15, 2019. At this time, the following 2018 real estate revaluation procedures have been executed: Data Collection of Building Data, Building Permit Inspections, Review Analysis of Sales, Cost and Land Analysis, Income & Expense Review, Commercial Market Rate Analysis, and Table Calculations.
Providence property owners will soon receive a notice (after April 15) advising them of the new appraised value of their real estate property prior to when the new value will officially be added to the tax roll.
What You Will Receive
How To Request A Review
The notice that contains the new appraised value will also explain how to arrange for a personal informal hearing to review the proposed assessment if they so choose. Recipients are asked to follow the instructions on your notice to book an appointment with Vision Government Solutions, Inc. for a hearing on any parcel. Please bring any information to support your request for a change; hearings are by appointment only. You can make an appointment online at www.vgsi.com/schedules or by phone by calling Vision Government Solutions at 1-888-844-4300.
Hearings will begin on April 23, 2019 and end on May 17, 2019 and will be held at either the Fox Point Boys and Girls Club located at 90 Ives Street or the Neutaconkanut Recreation Center located at 675 Plainfield Street.
The Hearing Schedule is as follows:
- Monday-Thursday from 10 AM to 6 PM
- Friday from 10 AM to 4:30 PM
- Saturday, April 27 and May 11 from 10 AM to 4 PM
The notices providing the results of the informal hearing will be mailed no later than May 31, 2019 with final values delivered on June 3, 2019.
Per RI General Law 44-5-11.6, cities and towns are required to perform a statistical update every third and sixth year and a full property revaluation every nine years. Vision Government Solutions uses recent sales and market data to inform their findings.
Property owners should not use the current tax rates when estimating their 2019 tax bill. Once the notices have been mailed, property owners may view their 2018 Data on the Vision Government Solutions website.
Learn more by visiting the City of Providence Tax Assessors website.
by Billy Kepner | Mar 13, 2019 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-11
On Wednesday, March 13, 2019 a group of seventh graders from Providence’s Community Preparatory School visited City Hall to view the Black History Month exhibit titled “South Side: Where Providence Begins.” A curated tour was led by City Council Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris and City Archivist Caleb Horton, who spoke with students about the South Side’s long history of diversity.
Community Preparatory School teachers Cauley Greene and Yajaida DeJesùs were happy to see the students engaged in the exhibit. Greene acknowledged that this year’s exhibit featured “recent and recognizable” history that the students found relatable. Greene was pleased that the seventh graders at Community Preparatory School were exposed to both modern and local history so they could see the progress that has been made in recent years.
Seventh graders William and Nate enjoyed the exhibit’s focus on the South Side as the place where Providence began, and appreciated seeing the history behind the neighborhood where they grew up. After the tour students were able to walk around and look more closely at the exhibits. Edwin, another Community Preparatory School student was fascinated by the wide array of immigrant groups who have called the South Side home.
Deputy Majority Leader Harris engaged with the students asking them if they recognized various people and places featured in the exhibit such as famous baseball player, Davey Lopes. As the Chairwoman of the Black History Committee, Harris recognizes the importance of keeping young people involved in learning about Providence’s history as a cultural melting pot.
“South Side: Where Providence Begins” will remain open until April 12, 2019. Curated tours will be every Thursday starting at noon on the third floor of City Hall. Tours will also be available upon request by calling the Providence City Council Office at (401) 521-7477.
by Billy Kepner | Mar 8, 2019 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-11, Ward-13, Ward-15
City Council Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11) and the majority female-led Council, unanimously voted to recognize March 8th as International Women’s Day at a Council meeting last month. The Council will be hosting an event tomorrow, Friday, March 8, beginning at 6:00 PM on the third floor of City Hall in celebration of International Women’s Day, whos 2019 theme is #BalanceforBetter.
This is Harris’ second annual event to honor Women in Service, and it will begin with brief welcome remarks from Senator Jack Reed, Mayor Jorge O. Elorza, and City Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15).
Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris said, “I’m thrilled to be partnering with SistaFireRI once again to bring the community together to celebrate International Women’s Day. It is our goal to bring both women and men together for a discussion on how we can better build a gender-balanced world. I hope that by sharing stories of our achievements and our failures, as women and men, we can all learn from our unique experiences.”
“I’m honored to serve with my colleagues who understand how important International Women’s Day is,” stated City Council President Sabina Matos. “Regardless of gender, it is important for each of us to understand how gender-balance can make stronger bonds and stronger communities.”
Councilwoman Rachel Miller, who helped plan this year’s event stated, “International Women’s Day is an opportunity to honor and celebrate all who identify as women in our community, but it’s also a call to action. We recognize that even in the conversation about gender equity, some communities face bigger barriers than others. Women of color and trans women face social and economic violence- like the attack on a trans couple in my neighborhood earlier this year. We can advocate for gender-balance by demanding a world that respects the integrity, safety, and health of all women in our community.”
The City Council’s International Women’s Day Celebration will take place on the third floor of City Hall, and will incorporate group discussions, and direct dialogue on how we can create a better balance not just in the workplace, but in all aspects of our society. It has been planned in conjunction with community groups including SistaFireRI, Alliance of Rhode Island Southeast Asians for Education (ARISE), and the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence, and is free and open to the public.
About International Women’s Day:
International Women’s Day (March 8) is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity.
No one government, NGO, charity, corporation, academic institution, women’s network or media hub is solely responsible for International Women’s Day. Many organizations declare an annual IWD theme that supports their specific agenda or cause, and some of these are adopted more widely with relevance than others. International Women’s Day is a collective day of global celebration and a call for gender parity.
International Women’s Day is all about unity, celebration, reflection, advocacy, and action – whatever that looks like globally at a local level. But one thing is for sure, International Women’s Day has been occurring for well over a century – and continues to grow from strength to strength. Learn about the values that guide IWD’s ethos.
![Providence City Council Elects Shawn Selleck as City Clerk]()
by Billy Kepner | Feb 21, 2019 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-11, Ward-15, Ward-2, Ward-5, Ward-6
(L to R) Katia Lugo, Sheri Petronio, Tina Mastroianni, Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris, Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan, Council President Sabina Matos, City Clerk Shawn Selleck, Antonieta Falconi, Councilwoman Helen Anthony, and Council President Pro Tempore Michael J. Correia
Selleck, a Resident of the West End of Providence,
Was Elected to Serve a Four-Year Term
At tonight’s City Council meeting, Shawn Selleck of Providence was elected to serve as Providence’s City Clerk for the 2019-2022 term.
Selleck previously worked for the Clerk’s Department, as he served there as the open government and civic innovation consultant from 2013 until 2014. During his tenure, he was instrumental in launching the City’s first Open Meetings Portal, and he worked with the City Council to purchase laptop computers so that the legislative body could go as “paperless” as possible. He also implemented a paperless pre-procurement process which resulted in the elimination of thousands of pages of documentation monthly, by utilizing digital approval and workflow technology. Currently, he serves as a project manager in the Department of Information Technology for the State of Rhode Island.
“First and foremost, Lori Hagen has been a tremendous leader and has been an astounding civil servant, and I cannot thank her enough for all the work she has done to keep Providence moving forward. During her tenure she has digitized thousands of documents, provided access to thousands of meetings and other important historical information on the Open Meetings Portal,” stated City Council President Sabina Matos. “As we started this new term, I have been thinking about the future of the City Council, and all its departments, and what that looks like in 2022 when several of us step off the Council and several long-time employees will likely retire. I want to ensure that our incoming Councilors and employees have a steady foundation to build upon, and there is not a ’brain-drain’ of important institutional knowledge. The vision that Shawn expressed to me to transform the Clerk’s Department to become more technologically focused resonated with me and my vision for the future of the departments that the Council oversees.”
The Department of the City Clerk is the official repository for all ordinances, resolutions and official documents related to the government of the City of Providence. The Clerk also is responsible for the authenticity of all legal documents and oversees the Providence City Archives. The Archives houses an extensive collection of manuscripts, printed material, maps, blueprints, and images that span the period from the Colony’s founding in 1636 to the present.
“I’m honored to be elected by the City Council to serve in this important role,” stated newly elected City Clerk Shawn Selleck. “Six years ago, I had the pleasure of working on behalf of the Providence City Council, the Office of the City Clerk and the Office of the Mayor to act on recommendations of the Open Providence Commission for Transparency and Accountability. By leading a modernization effort that included accomplishments with a wide range of complexity, from the simple replacement of cassette tape recorders with digital recording devices to the more challenging implementation of the City’s first Open Meetings Portal, our residents were provided better access to the records of City Hall. I am grateful for this new opportunity to continue that progress, serve the Council and my fellow residents and work with the staff in the Department of the City Clerk.”
Majority Leader Ryan stated, “I am proud of my colleagues on the Council. While change is difficult, it is important that the Clerk’s office keep abreast of state-of-the-art technology to increase transparency and public participation. Mr. Selleck brings a host of technology skills that will enhance the Clerk’s office operations and the Council’s goals for a more open government.” Leader Ryan continued, “The City Clerk’s office by City Charter is the keeper of the City’s Records and Archives. This office needs to communicate with legislators and residents regularly and inform the public of ongoing City-wide business all with the goal of encouraging robust public participation. I thank Ms. Hagen for her exemplary professionalism and her years of service to the City and wish her well.”
Lori Hagen has served the City of Providence for nearly 30 years and has been the City Clerk for the last two terms. Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. said, “It has been a pleasure to work with Lori for all these years. She has been a consummate professional, and I wish her well in all her future endeavors. I along with my colleagues welcome Shawn, and remind him that he has very big shoes to fill.”
“Shawn will be stepping into a very big role, and we have big plans for him and the future of the Clerk’s Department,” stated City Council President Pro Tempore Michael J. Correia. “I am looking forward to working with him to make the Clerk’s office more engaging and continue serving the people of Providence with a focus on customer service and accessibility. Everyone on this Council and in this office wishes Lori the best as she moves on from this role, and we thank her for her 30-years of service.”
Shawn Selleck lives in the West End neighborhood of Providence with his wife, Antonieta. He begins serving as City Clerk immediately.
by Billy Kepner | Feb 15, 2019 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-10, Ward-11
On Thursday, February 14, 2019 a new exhibit will open to the public on the day of Frederick Douglass’ believed date of birth. The exhibit shares the story of the African American Community in South Providence, commemorating a history full of both triumphs and struggles.
In honor of Black History Month, the Providence City Council and Providence City Archives partnered to create the exhibit “South Side: Where Providence Begins,” which will be showcased throughout the month of February until April 12, 2019. Located on the third floor of City Hall, the display showcases archival documents and historic information including maps, city documents, newspaper articles and biographies.
City Council Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris (Ward 11), the Chairwoman of the Black History Committee and Councilman Luis Aponte (Ward 10), Co-Chairman will host the official opening ceremony for the exhibit on Friday, February 22, 2019 at 12:00 p.m. “This year we are shinning the spotlight on South Providence as a whole,” stated Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris. “People of color came to this City with limited resources and transformed South Providence into the vibrant neighborhood that it is today. Through this exhibit we are highlighting this resilient community and how they have shaped the history of Providence.”
“South Side: Where Providence Begins” is an homage to a region, whom many consider, the cultural and ethnic melting pot of Rhode Island. The exhibit is narrated through the social and historical lens of the African American community. From the post-WWII era; through the Civil Rights, education, and the Fair Housing Movement of the 60s, 70s & 80s; to the present, this exhibit explores the diaspora, adversity, growth, and achievement of African Americans – and people of color – who inhabit Wards 9, 10, & 11 of Providence.
Curated tours will be every Thursday starting at noon on the third floor of City Hall. Tours will also be available upon request by calling the Providence City Council Office at (401) 521-7477.
