EAST PROVIDENCE — A healthy crowd filled the Council Chamber Monday evening, Oct. 16, at City Hall for an introductory public forum on a proposed "Cultural Center" to be placed on the grounds at Hunts Mills off Pleasant Street in Rumford.

By any measure, the conversation was both insightful and respectful, with expressions for and against the proposition.

Mayor Bob DaSilva led the presentation on the proposed center, which if the new building is constructed would become a hub of activity for minority communities within the city and also join the East Providence Historical Society as being headquartered at the historic Hunts Mills property.

"This was a great first public meeting and it was wonderful to see so many members of the community present to offer their feedback and provide us with suggestions," DaSilva said in a statement issued after the forum. "We are taking all of the input that was provided and plan to modify the initial design and bring it back to our residents in order to continue this discussion."

Admittedly just an opening salvo, the presentation was a bit light on such details as proposed funding sources. The aim, it appears, is to follow a similar track as the proposed Community/Rec Center, which the administration is attempting to fund predominantly through federal and state grants/appropriations.

Reached for comment as well after the meeting, Councilor Frank Rego, in whose Ward 1 district Hunts Mills is located, said in a statement, among other things, "Preserving and educating the history of East Providence is extremely important...there was not enough information presented regarding impact of location and cost to really have a clear opinion. It was a good start towards preserving history and creating a place to celebrate and honor the people of East Providence."