CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE
RHODE ISLAND
JOURNAL CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION
September 20, 2023
City Council Chambers, City Hall, 145 Taunton Avenue, East Providence, RI 02914
Chairman Furtado called the meeting to order at 6:34 P.M.
Present: Commissioners John Faria, David Luiz, Valerie Perry, Bruce Rogers, Julie Silva, Michael Sullo, Joseph Tavares, Manuel Vinhateiro, Chairman Marc Furtado.
Also in Attendance: Assistant City Solicitor Dylan Conley
PUBLIC COMMENT & COMMUNICATIONS
None
NEW BUSINESS
A. Approval of Minutes
August 16, 2023
A motion to approve the minutes of August 16, 2023, was made by Mr. Vinhateiro, seconded by Mr. Sullo, and unanimously passed on a roll call vote.
Solicitor Conley explained the process going forward. Mr. Conley stated that he has all the recommendations from the Commission and a good portion of them already have some draft language. Once that is completed, he will present all the redlines to the Commission, The Commission will then go through to see what works and what does not and decide what needs to be redrafted. Then there will be another meeting with a final set of language. There will be two goals at that meeting 1) to approve the final set of language and 2) how they will be grouped for ballot questions. Once that is completed, it will be presented to the Council in the form of draft resolutions.
B. Articles VI, VII, VIII Departments of Public Works, Police, and Fire
Mr. Rogers opened a discussion on 6-1 which states that the Public Works Director shall be, or shall be appointed by, the mayor.
A motion to change the language in 6-1 to read “the Public Works Director shall be appointed by the mayor” was made by Mr. Rogers, seconded by Mr. Vinhateiro (for discussion)
Following discussion, the question was moved by Mr. Faria and a roll call vote was taken.
Ayes: Rogers,
Nays: Faria, Luiz, Perry, Silva, Sullo, Tavares, Vinhateiro, Furtado
The motion failed.
.
In response to a question from Ms. Silva, Solicitor Conley refers to Sec. 3-4 which states that the Mayor shall be responsible for the administration and management of all departments.
No change in Police and Fire
C. Article IX Personnel
A motion to eliminate Sec. 9-3 was made by Mr. Vinhateiro, seconded by Mr. Sullo, and unanimously passed on a voice vote.
D. Article X Public Schools
Chairman Furtado recuses himself and Vice Chair Vinhateiro assumes the Chair.
A motion to change the School Committee terms from 2 to 4 years was made by Mr. Rogers, seconded by Ms. Silva. A friendly amendment to have 4-year staggered terms was made by Mr. Vinhateiro and seconded by Ms. Silva. Mr. Rogers accepted the friendly amendment.
Ayes: Faria, Luiz, Perry, Rogers, Silva, Sullo, Tavares, Vinhateiro
Recusal: Chairman Furtado
Chairman Furtado returns to the Chair.
E. Article XI Election Procedure
Chairman Furtado said most of the language will need to be cleaned up because of the vote for partisan elections.
F. Article XII Wards
No change
G. Article XIII General Provisions
No change
H. Article XIV Courts
No change
Chairman Furtado mentions that the October and November meetings will be posted but there will be no meeting until the Solicitor can submit the draft language.
A motion to adjourn was made by Mr. Faria, seconded by Mr. Vinhateiro, and unanimously passed. The meeting was adjourned at 8:10 P.M.
Attest:
Valerie A. Perry, Secretary
