by Michael Florio | May 3, 2018 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-14
Tonight, the City Council passed a resolution naming next week (May 6-12, 2018) Municipal Clerks Week. The International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC), a professional non-profit association with 14,500 members comprised of City, Town, Township, Village, Borough, Deputy and County Clerks throughout the United States, Canada and 15 other countries has been honoring the work of municipal clerks during the first full week of May since 1969.
The City Council is proud to honor the work of the Department of the City Clerk through a resolution and an exhibit entitled Clerks: The Evolution of Recorded History of City Government from 1636 to the Present, in partnership with Providence City Archives, on display in the Third Floor Gallery of City Hall through the end of May.
“The work that my team and I do on a daily basis is vital to our community,” stated Providence City Clerk Lori L. Hagen. “The City Clerks department does more than take notes at Council meetings – we are the keepers of all historical records related to the democratic process in the city of Providence. Over the past decade, we’ve led the way in digitizing our records to ensure their longevity and that anyone can access them on the city’s Open Meeting Portal. Thus, continuing the long tradition of ensuring transparency in local government.”
Council President David A. Salvatore stated that “the Clerks are the backbone of our municipal democracy, and serve as a resource for historians and constituents alike on the goings on of our municipality. Lori Hagen, Providence City Clerk, and her team continue to do a remarkable job in making sure that the community has access to meeting minutes, notes and recordings of city meetings and I’m delighted to be able to highlight their important work with this resolution and exhibit.”
About the Exhibit:
Clerks: The Evolution of Recorded History of City Government from 1636 to the Present will take visitors on a journey through the history of Providence, going back to our first Clerk, Roger Williams. The exhibit will feature several artifacts from the long and storied history of our municipal government including ledgers, town records, various recording instruments and much more.
About the City Clerk Department:
The City Clerk operates under the auspices of the City Council. This department is responsible for maintaining and recording all votes, orders, resolutions, and ordinances made and passed by the City Council as well as those of its subcommittees, and meetings of the retirement board. Furthermore, the City Clerk furnishes the heads of departments and the chairmen of all committees of the City Council with certified copies of such votes or resolutions as they relate to their respective departments or committees.
They are the official repository for all ordinances, resolutions and official documents related to the government of the City of Providence and responsible for the authenticity of all legal documents. In addition, the City Clerk collects and presents to the City Council all petitions concerning abandonments and easements, personal injury and automobile or property damage, as well as certificates of Assumed Business Name and Going Out of Business.
The department also oversees the Providence City Archives and its staff.
About the City Archives:
A formal archival program for the City of Providence was established in 1978 as part of a year-long centennial observance marking the dedication of City Hall. The archives, located on the 5th floor of City hall, houses extensive collections of manuscripts, printed material, maps, blueprints, and photographic images that span the period from the colony’s founding in 1636 to present day.
The nearly 40,000 cubic feet of records detail all aspects of the development and operation of municipal government. Highlights of the holdings include vital and probate records, house and city directories. Local census data, deed books, as well as collections of maps and atlases. These collections offer researchers a unique opportunity to trace the history of New England’s second largest city from its settlement as a coastal village, through its transformation into a national industrial powerhouse in the nineteenth century.
What’s on the Open Meeting Portal:
Committees Completed on the Portal (Agendas, Minutes, Exhibits & Audio)
- City Council Meetings – 1993 to Present
- Board of Investment Commissioners – 1995 to Present
- City Council as a Whole – 1986 to Present
- Special Committee on Ways & Means – 2012 to 2014
- Commissioners of Dexter Donation – 1990 to Present
- Special Committee on Education – 2012 to 2014
Committees in Progress on the Portal:
- Board of Contract and Supply – Back to 1995
- Retirement Board – Back to 1970
- Retirement Board Medical Sub-Committee – Back to 1996
- Committee on Finance – Back to 1941
- Committee on Ordinances – Back to 1977
- Committee on City Property – Back to 1994
- Committee on Claims and Pending Suits – Back to 1992
- Committee on Urban Redevelopment, Renewal & Planning – Back to 1986
- Committee on Public Works – Back to 1994
- Environmental Sustainability Task Force – Back to 2005
So far the Clerks Department has uploaded nearly 5,000 meetings to the Open Meetings Portal which can be accessed here: http://bit.ly/openmeetingsportal
by Billy Kepner | Apr 24, 2018 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-14
Tonight I welcomed Mayor Elorza into the Council Chambers to offer his proposed budget for the City of Providence. I look forward to working with the Mayor and my colleagues on the Council to ensure a budget that is both fiscally responsible and addresses some of the most critical issues facing our city.
The City Council is looking forward to deliberating the budget and hearing from City departments.
Affordable Housing — The housing market is strong, but we need more affordable housing in Providence. It has been suggested that our city will need roughly 20,000 units within the next ten years to meet demand. With housing costs continuing to rise, our housing market is pricing out first-time home buyers, especially Millennials who are facing higher student debt. The City Council looks forward to working with the newly-created Special Commission to Study Affordable Housing and Mayor Elorza to create solutions to the challenges we face.
School Infrastructure — Our school buildings have been ignored for too long and our kids deserve better. I am looking forward to seeing the details surrounding the $20 Million investment Mayor Elorza has proposed.
Increasing our Tax Base — We need to expand our tax base to keep pace with the momentum of development in our city – without raising taxes. We will achieve this by creating new opportunities for business development, jobs, and generating more pathways to homeownership. We also need to make it easier for businesses to interact with our local government.
Public Safety — My colleagues and I believe that we must continue to increase the number of new recruits to our Fire and Police Academies. I commend the Mayor and our public safety departments for their commitment to making Providence a safer city.
Continued Collaboration — I am appreciative of Mayor Elorza’s recognition of the City Council’s commitment to our City’s youth. I am proud of my colleagues on the City Council for their dedication to creating recreational opportunities for the people of Providence and their commitment to making access to open spaces a priority in our City. We look forward to continuing our partnership with Mayor Elorza and his administration to continue this important work.
Delivering an On-Time Budget — During my first term of the City Council we were faced with what economists have called the “Great Recession,” and we learned that in order for us to grow to where we are today, we had to focus on fiscal responsibility. Every budget faces challenges, and I look forward to following through on that commitment in collaboration with Mayor Elorza.
Rhode Island’s capital city leads the way for the rest of our state, and I am committed to working closely with Mayor Elorza and my colleagues on the Council to lead Providence into the future.
by Billy Kepner | Apr 19, 2018 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-1, Ward-14
Councilman Seth Yurdin’s resolution to establish the Special Commission to Study Affordable Housing in Providence was passed by the full council at tonight’s City Council meeting.
“Adequate housing is a human right. And key to that is affordable housing. Affordable housing is critical for the well-being of adults, families and children, and it helps make our neighborhoods better places to live,” stated Councilman Seth Yurdin, Ward One. “Bringing together a commission of experts and stakeholders to advise our community on how to tackle this crisis will hopefully help address this serious issue.”
Yurdin was joined by the full council in co-sponsoring the resolution.
City Council President David Salvatore stated, “Just this week I met two amazing women; both were once homeless, but through different pathways they found a place to call home. Although they are no longer homeless, each shared their concerns about the rising cost of housing and their fears of returning to the streets.”
Salvatore added, “We are reaching a critical point in the struggle for adequate and affordable housing in Providence. I feel strongly that by bringing together this group of housing experts we will be able to find solutions to some of the most pressing housing challenges that we are facing today.”
Affordability, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, is when housing costs for a family do not exceed 30 percent of their household income. In 2014 the National Housing Conference reported that nearly one-quarter of renters in the Providence metro area spent at least half of their income on housing – which makes them severely “housing cost burdened,” and means they have less disposable income to spend on basic needs. Additionally, the need for affordable housing continues to grow, while stock is diminishing. It’s projected that Rhode Island will need between 34,000 to 40,000 NEW housing units over the next 10 years to keep pace with the demand. Yet, despite this growing need for housing, Rhode Island had the lowest per capita spending on housing in New England in both 2015 and 2016.
Affordable housing can allow households more resources to pay for healthcare and healthy food, and high-quality housing limits exposure to environmental toxins such as lead.
The Special Commission to Study Affordable Housing will be composed of:
- Brenda Clement, Director, Housing WorksRI
- Barbara Fields, Executive Director, Rhode Island Housing
- Sally Hersey, President, Greater Providence Board of Realtors
- Melina Lodge, Executive Director, Housing Network of Rhode Island
- John Marcantonio, Executive Director, Rhode Island Builders Association
- Melissa Sanzaro, Executive Director, Providence Housing Authority
- Michael Tondra, Executive Director, Rhode Island Office of Housing & Community Development
The special commission will issue a report with findings and recommendations to the full City Council by November 1, 2018.
by Michael Florio | Mar 9, 2018 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-14
Council President David A. Salvatore, joined by all members of the City Council, will introduce a resolution calling for a full review of the city’s portable speed enforcement camera program.
“We have heard from our constituents regarding their valid concerns related to aggressive driving throughout our city. The goal of the portable speed enforcement camera program is to make Providence safer, and I fully support its intended use as a traffic-calming measure and to deter speeding in school zones. However, this should not be construed as a money-making operation for the city,” said Council President David A. Salvatore. “We have a responsibility to our residents and visitors that public safety measures are implemented fairly, openly and without causing unreasonable hardship.”
Council President Salvatore and members of the City Council will review the portable speed enforcement camera program as well as its related components, including but not limited to the notification process and schedule of fines, fine amount, speed camera hours of operation, signage, and education rollout.
by Michael Florio | Feb 28, 2018 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-14
Mayor Jorge O. Elorza and City Council President David A. Salvatore are pleased to announce the opening of The Robert F. Kennedy Recreation Center (RFK Rec Center). The new recreation center is located at 195 Nelson Street in Providence (inside the Robert F. Kennedy Elementary School). A Grand Opening celebration will take place on Friday, March 2, 2018, at 1:00 pm.
The RFK Rec Center continues a partnership with the Providence Schools in which the Recreation Department uses existing space in a school for programming. Because of this partnership, students who attend RFK Elementary will not need to be bussed to another location for programming, but will only need to walk down the hall, making the rec center experience more accessible to our students. The Recreation Department will offer both morning and afternoon recreation opportunities for students of RFK Elementary.
“I’m thrilled that our partners in the Recreation Department have made Ward 14 a priority,” stated City Council President David A. Salvatore. “The services that the Rec Center will provide the families of RFK Elementary are invaluable. With opportunities for students beginning before the first bell rings and long after dismissal, the recreation program will become an essential part of these students lives.”
“Recreation centers add to the vibrancy of our neighborhoods as places where the entire community can come together for family-friendly activities,” said Mayor Jorge O. Elorza. “Providence children deserve access to safe and inviting places where they can make friends, have fun and be active when they are out of the classroom. I’m pleased to have worked with my colleagues in the City Council to offer families in Ward 14 a center to enjoy.”
RFK Rec Center runs Monday-Friday, with morning recreation from 6:30 am until 9:00 am and afternoon recreation beginning at dismal until 5:30 pm for RFK students. Programming includes breakfast/dinner, sports, and homework help amongst other programs. The Rec Center is also open to other members of the Ward 14 community beginning at 6: 00 pm until 9:00 pm Monday-Friday, and 9:00 am until 2:00 pm on Saturdays with similar programming. The RFK Rec Center acting director is Michael Holland Sr.
by Michael Florio | Feb 26, 2018 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-14
In the wake of the recent school massacre in Parkland, Florida, Council President David A. Salvatore and colleagues on the City Council today announced the intention to request legislation that would enable municipalities to regulate firearms.
“It is a very sad day in our nation when our children are so fearful for their safety that they feel they need to march on their U.S. and state capitols. Our children have become the voices of reason in the debate over gun control, and they have every right to be outraged over the senseless deaths of their friends and peers. I stand with our youth in this fight for justice. Enough is enough,” said City Council President David A. Salvatore.
“We must do everything in our power to ensure that there is never another Columbine, Sandy Hook, or Stoneman Douglas High School,” continued Salvatore. “Our commander in chief’s solution to prevent another school massacre is to actually suggest arming teachers. Our schools are not prisons. Since it is clear we are not hearing reason from federal officials, we must create proactive solutions at the municipal level. This legislation would give us the tools to enact meaningful firearm laws that work for Providence, that fit the needs of our citizens, and that serve to keep us safer than we are today.”
Council Majority Leader John J. Igliozzi, Majority Whip Jo-Ann Ryan, President Pro Tempore Sabina Matos, Senior Deputy Majority Leader Terrence Hassett, Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr., Deputy Majority Leader Wilbur W. Jennings Jr., Councilwoman Carmen Castillo, Councilman Michael Correia, Councilwoman Mary Kay Harris, Councilwoman Nirva LaFortune, Councilman Bryan Principe, Councilman Seth Yurdin, and Councilman Samuel D. Zurier also voiced their support of the legislation, which will be sponsored by Senator Gayle L. Goldin (D-Dist. 3, Providence) and Representative Marcia Ranglin-Vassell (D-Dist. 5, Providence).
“Like thousands of parents in Rhode Island, I have sent my kids off to school every day since the Parkland massacre with fear and grief in my heart. It is unacceptable for us to wait any longer to change our gun laws. Since Congress won’t take action, we must. The people of our capital city have had enough with the NRA. It is time to repeal this absurd NRA-backed state law blocking municipalities, like Providence, that are willing to take on gun safety. Together, we can ensure that state, cities and towns move swiftly to give our citizens the protections from gun violence that they deserve,” said Senator Gayle L. Goldin.
“Gun violence has been a public health issue in this country and in the core urban areas of our state for a very long time,” said Representative Marcia Ranglin-Vassell. “We can fix it through sound intentional legislation, high paying sustainable jobs for young people and their families, and robust investment in small business development. I am a parent and a school teacher here in the capital city. Sadly, I have lost far too many of my own students who have been shot and killed. Almost every day, I speak with and mourn with mothers who have lost their children. Unfortunately, some of the murders are still unsolved. There is a push to arm teachers. My colleagues and I are teachers, not law enforcement officers, and we will not carry guns to school. Legislation like this is a win-win for all of us, and we cannot wait.”
The legislation would remove section 11-47-58 – The Firearms States Preemption clause – of the State’s Criminal Offense Code. Its removal would enable municipalities like Providence to enact regulations around firearms and their components. This will provide Providence with the necessary means to examine common sense gun policy in our state’s capital city.
