East Providence Council reviews Zoning composition, talks amending appointment process

Considers streamlining posting period, ditching one board-only service

By Mike Rego
Posted 3/25/19

EAST PROVIDENCE — Continuing its ongoing review of the city’s boards and commissions, City Clerk Samantha Burnett led the council at its March 19 meeting through an update on the status and …

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East Providence Council reviews Zoning composition, talks amending appointment process

Considers streamlining posting period, ditching one board-only service

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — Continuing its ongoing review of the city’s boards and commissions, City Clerk Samantha Burnett led the council at its March 19 meeting through an update on the status and composition of the Zoning Board.

Mrs. Burnett explained the zoning members receive five-year appointments. The main members of the five-member body are selected by the council, with a person representing each of the four wards and an At-Large spot.

The current Zoning Board is made of Eugene Saveory, Ward 4, Chairman; Michael Beauparlant, Ward 1,Vice-Chairman, John Braga, Ward 2; Pier-Mari Toledo, Ward 3; Antonio H. Cunha, At-Large. Ms. Toledo, as noted by Mrs. Burnett, is the lone female voting member.

Richard Croke Sr. is the First Alternate on the board and Gary Pascoa is the Second Alternate. Mrs. Burnett made the council aware the terms of Messrs. Braga and Croke have expired. A replacement for Mr. Braga would be recommended by Ward 2 Councilor Anna Sousa while Mayor Bob DaSilva holds the appointment of Mr. Croke.

When asked by Ward 4 Councilor Ricardo Mourato to clarify the process, City Solicitor Michael Marcello observed according to City Charter the council has “statutory authority over appointments.” Mayoral appointments are “alternates only,” according to Mr. Marcello. He added, a member continues to serve until a “qualified person” is put in his or her place.

In addition, calling the action “a little odd,” the solicitor informed the council any time a new member is appointed or a current member is reappointed, it has the right to change the chair.

Mr. Marcello, in lauding the city’s current zoning group, later opined, “It’s a very important board…It’s one of the best zoning boards in the state of Rhode Island as far as their knowledge of the law and how they run their meetings. From a lawyer’s perspective, I will say my job is pretty easy when I go to their meetings.”

No action was taken on the matter.

On a similar topic, Mr. Mourato led a discussion on how the council goes about making its appointments to said boards and commissions.

In discussing Revised Ordinances, Chapter 2, Section 2-37: Appointment of members to boards and commissions, Mr. Mourato said, “It’s an OK ordinance, but I think we can do better.”

Mrs. Burnett, at his request, cited a statistic of 152 positions currently open on the city’s 25 boards and commissions. The council coalesced around some initial potential changes to the law, including the number of days the position must be posted to general public, the application process and timeframe and the amount of boards or commission upon which a person can be seated.

Ward 3 Councilor Nate Cahoon noted it is “not easy to find willing or have the skills necessary to carry it off.” He continued, it’s not “outlandish” that one person could be capable of serving on two boards. However, he wanted to find a “balance” between offering someone a “fair” opportunity to those who want to serve.

Currently, the ordinance reads a person can only sit on one board. Openings must be posted for 90 days. And the application period is open for 10 business days.

At-Large Councilor Bob Rodericks said he agreed with much of what Mr. Cahoon said. He suggested the posting should be “a month or two months, tops.” On the topic of serving on two bodies, he added, “as long they’re doing it for the right reasons and others are afforded the opportunity for other people to come aboard.”

Mr. Britto proposed changing the application process from 10 to five days. Referring to the 125 openings, he said, “people aren’t exactly flocking to these boards and commissions.”

He continued, “Let’s try to simplify the application process as much as possible to get more people involved,” adding as well potential appointees do not necessarily need “expertise” to sit on certain boards, though he did say others require the “experience and background” to do so.

Circling back to Mr. Mourato, he concurred with the suggestion allowing people to serve on two boards, asking rhetorically, “What if we can’t fill the vacancies?” He also signaled his agreement with the notion of reducing the posting period to either 30 or 60 days, saying the current 90-day window could be viewed as “extreme.”

The matter is expected to be on the docket of the next council meeting scheduled for Tuesday, April 2, for further discussion and potentially for the measure to gain the first of two necessary approvals to be implemented.

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