by Billy Kepner | Apr 27, 2019 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-8
City Council Honors Legacy of Kenny and Steve Arlan with Commemorative Street Renaming
City Councilman James Taylor, (Ward 8) hosted a ceremony on Saturday, April 27, 2019 for the commemorative street renaming of Access Road in honor of the legacy of Kenny and Steve Arlan who have been coaching with the Elmwood Little League for over thirty-four years. This event was hosted at the J.T. Owens Field where the Elmwood Little League has been playing baseball since 1951. Two commemorative signs were placed, with one at the corner of Access Road and Niantic Ave; and another at the corner of Park Lane and Access Road.
“It is a pleasure to recognize the Arlan Family for their dedication and commitment to the Elmwood Little League,” stated City Councilman James Taylor. “Kenny and Steve Arlan have helped transform the league into the thriving organization it is today. Their work has made an impact on the lives of hundreds of families by inspiring the next generation of young athletes to stay healthy, active and motivated. I want to thank the many old-time players, coaches, the District Administrator and the board members that showed up to this joyous ceremony.”
Elmwood Little League is a non-profit organization in South Providence offering baseball and softball programs for boys and girls ages 5 – 16, who live or attend school in the Elmwood, West End, Upper & Lower South Providence, and Reservoir neighborhoods. The Elmwood Little League was founded in 1951. The organization is completely volunteer run by parents and community members. The Elmwood Little League serves over 500 children and is comprised of 22 teams.
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 8, 2019 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-6, Ward-8
City Council President Pro Tempore Correia and Councilman Taylor
Introduce Ordinance Calling for Emergency Snow Parking Ban Guidelines
City Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia, Ward Six introduced an ordinance at tonight’s Council Meeting that calls for implementing an emergency parking ban if the expected snowfall is four inches or more.
“The current system is not efficient and is failing to ensure the safety of our constituents during and after snowstorms,” stated Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia. “These bans are not being properly enforced resulting in hundreds of vehicles interrupting the plow trucks from clearing the streets. The Director of Public Works should call parking bans based on the severe weather report and not at the discretion of the Mayor’s Office. It is time to step up and deal with these issues that have been putting our constituents at risk.”
This ordinance would allow the City to determine a course of action based on the predictions from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA). The Director of Public Works would act in accordance with the severe weather report to implement a parking ban that would begin two hours before expected snowfall and end four hours after the snowfall has ceased.
“Currently, we have no set guidelines for when a parking ban is to be implemented,” stated City Councilman James Taylor, Ward 8. “Residents should not be left wondering if their street will be plowed curb to curb. When snow accumulation is expected to be heavy, cars need to be off the streets so that the Department of Public Works can properly carry out their duty.”
The ordinance has been sent to the Committee on Ordinances for further review and comment.
by Billy Kepner | Feb 13, 2019 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-11, Ward-13, Ward-4, Ward-6, Ward-8
Council President Sabina Matos has created a special committee to examine public safety in municipal-owned buildings and has tapped Councilman James Taylor to lead the effort.
“After much discussion with my colleagues I decided to create a special committee to explore public safety in our city-owned facilities,” stated City Council President Sabina Matos. “City Hall and other municipal buildings are used for public meetings, and although we have security protocols in place, there is always more we can do to ensure the safety of all that visit and work in our facilities.”
The Special Committee on Public Safety will include:
- Councilman James E. Taylor, Chair
- Council President Pro Tempore Michael J. Correia, Vice-Chair
- Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr.
- Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris
- Councilwoman Rachel M. Miller
Councilman James E. Taylor stated, “Public safety is only discussed during the budget season, and we need to be proactive instead of reactive. I believe that this committee can address some of these public safety issues that we face. In addition to looking at the security and safety of public buildings, we will be addressing the current challenges of having our E911 CAD system upgraded to receive ANI (Automatic Number Identification) and ALI (Automatic Location Identifier) to make Police and Fire Dispatch more efficient. The Committee will also address why the Providence Fire Department, the Country’s second oldest paid Fire Department, does not currently have a dedicated Chief and hasn’t for the past four years. We live in turbulent times, and as a life-long public safety officer I believe in preparedness, and that’s my goal for this committee.”
The Special Committee on Public Safety will meet regularly and will work closely with all stakeholders, including public safety officials in the city and the state.
by Billy Kepner | Feb 1, 2019 | Council News, Ward-11, Ward-13, Ward-2, Ward-5, Ward-6, Ward-8
Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris reminds us all to be the best street sweepers we can be at Providence’s 16th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Awards & Hall of Fame Ceremony hosted by Mayor Jorge O. Elorza.
In 1967, Dr. King in a speech to a group of middle school students in Philadelphia stated: “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as a Michaelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.’”
Congratulations to Shawndell Burney-Speaks, Detective Anthony Roberson, and to the family of the late Laura Rodriguez who live, and lived, in service to others. They each were the best street sweepers Providence has to offer.
by Billy Kepner | Jan 27, 2019 | Council News, Ward-6, Ward-8
United States Congressman Jim Langevin, City Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia, and friends.
Many thanks to all the sponsors that helped to make the Meeting Street Telethon a success!
Councilman James Taylor and Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia.
Councilman James Taylor, Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea, and Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia.
The Cardi Brothers and please notice Congressman James Langevin and R.I. Treasurer Seth Magaziner in the back helping answer the phones!
