EAST PROVIDENCE — The current incarnation of the City Council, seated at the November 2018 election, made the most of its final meeting in its latest form held Tuesday night, Dec. 20, by passing a few key remaining items before ending its term.

The four members of the body in attendance unanimously supported four resolutions of varying importance.

A measure authorizing the administration of Mayor Bob DaSilva to enter into a change order for the railing installation related to the repair of the seawall located at Rose Larisa Park in Riverside. The measure lets the remaining $151k of the original allocation of $2.5 million for the overall project to be used on the railing component.

Allowing the mayor to enter into a contract with Image Trend, Inc. to purchase the Electronic Patient Care Reporting (EPCR) software for the East Providence Fire Department. EPCR is an all-encompassing software suite utilized by Emergency Medical Services for both treatment and billing. The four-year pact comes at a cost of $126,459.20 spread out in differing sums over the duration of the deal. The city is paying for the program through proceeds of the federal COVID-19 American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).

Giving the administration the ability to contract with Corrtech, Inc. for cathodic protection system upgrades to the city’s singular ample water source, a submerged supply line coming from Cranston through the Narragansett Bay/Providence River. The cost of the work comes in at just $113,475.

Department of Public Works Director Dan Borges provided some details on the topic, reminding of the city’s 30-inch steal supply pipe that draws water from the Scituate Reservoir through the pumping station in the Budlong section of Cranston.

Borges said the cathodic protection system helps offset the impact of any salt water penetration. The monies are being used to replace existing components of the electronic system that the director said “have failed.”

And finally, the council formally signed off on the sale in the amount of $225,000 to One Neighborhood Builders of the property officially designated as 336 Bullocks Point Ave. (Map 312, Block 12, Parcels 20, 21 & 22), though identified more commonly as the former VAMCO property also in Riverside.

Late in 2020, the city, via the council, accepted the Request for Proposal submission by One Neighborhood, which earlier that same year completed the purchase of and eventual refurbishing the “Sutton Place” complex on Sutton Avenue in city.

According to the developers, “The Residences at Riverside Square” will create a total of 16 affordable rental apartments for extremely low-to moderate-income households. Three of the units will be reserved for youth aging out of foster care in partnership with Foster Forward, an East Providence-based nonprofit. Also, the redevelopment “will revitalize a long-vacant and blighted property adjacent to the East Bay Bike Path.”

The complex will include six one and two bedroom flats on either end over three floors with four two-story townhouses in between. One of the apartments will be Americans with Disabilities Act compliant while another will be an audio/visual accessible unit. At the edges, the highest point of the structure will be 32-feet tall.

Water notes
In a corresponding move to the water supply line resolution, the council supported for the mandatory second time two ordinances allowing the self-supporting water department the ability to seek revenue bonds upwards of $31 million.

The ordinances were defined in two distinct quantities, for use towards the continued effort to construct, replace and repair the city’s sewer lines as well as its sewage collection and treatment system ($4,850,000) along with completion of the construction of infrastructure improvements to the water system ($26,100,000.)

School bonds
In addition, the body likewise voted for a second and last time to allow the administration to seek bonds totaling no more than $148 million towards the renovation of city schools, specifically the near-complete remodeling of Martin Middle School and the significant upgrades at Waddington Elementary School.

The move comes after residents once again overwhelmingly approved a referendum item on the November 2022 ballot, similar to what they did four years ago in supporting a $189.5 million referendum to construct a new high school.

More meeting notes
DaSilva, himself last month returned to office for second four-year term as the city’s initial duly-elected mayor, presented keepsakes to the out-going members of the council: Ward 1/body president Bob Britto, Ward 3 Councilor Nate Cahoon and Ward 4 Councilor Ricardo Mourato.

Britto is departing after serving eight years on the body after seeking and winning the November 22 election to become the State Senator from District 18, East Providence/Pawtucket. He’ll join the General Assembly at the New Year.

Cahoon and Mourato were upset in their attempts to earn second, four-year terms. Cahoon, who previously served as a School Committee member, was edged out of his seat by 141 votes by Frank Fogarty, while Mourato lost to Rick Lawson by 318. Mourato was not in attendance for last week’s final meeting of the current council.

On a related topic, the mayor announced inauguration for himself, the incoming council and school committee will take place Tuesday, Jan. 3, in East Providence High School Arthur Elmasian Auditorium at 6 p.m. with refreshments served after in the James T. Kanelos Cafeteria. The public is invited to attend. Doors open at 5:30 p.m.

At-Large member Bob Rodericks and Ward 2 member Anna Sousa were re-elected to second and third-terms, respectively on the council. Fogarty and Lawson are joined by Ward 1 councilor-elect Frank Rego, who defeated Ed Wencis by 1,631 votes last month, as newcomers to the body.

Lastly from the December 20 meeting, DaSilva formalized the appointment of Miles Bonalewicz to the East Providence Housing Authority as a replacement for Richard Smith, who opted not to seek another term. Bonalewicz, who lost a bid to serve on the School Committee in the At-Large seat last month, will serve a five-year term running from Jan. 4, 2023-Jan. 3, 2028.