October News Briefs

Mayor's proposed community center rendering

Patricia Resende

Posted Thursday, October 5, 2023 10:02 am

with contributions from Bob Rodericks

Council, Mayor Differ on Community Recreation Center
The mayor calls it a “Multi-Purpose Community Center,” the city council calls it a “Recreational Center,” and the often-discussed proposal remains a source of confusion and debate throughout the city. Local voters twice approved a $5 million bond issue to build a Recreation Center at Pierce Field in 2002 and again in 2004, but city councils and administration at that time refused to codify the process needed to release funding for the project. The cost of a recreation center in 2023 has increased significantly since 2002. The original plan in 2002 called for the relocation of the Rec Center from the old Riverside Junior High on Bullocks Point Avenue to Pierce Field. A committee of residents and city employees pushed for a new facility to be more centrally located. East Bay Community Action Program (EBCAP) bought the building from the city in 2003. They intended to expand the many social services that they provided. The 1930 built building had proved obsolete and way too expensive to renovate as a current recreation center. There is very little parking and it is in a congested area. The old school building was full of steep stairways, exposed steam heat plumbing and generally not conducive to modern recreation needs. Nothing moved forward after those public votes of 2002 and 2004.

After voters overwhelmingly approved a new form of government in 2017, Mayor Bob DaSilva (East Providence’s first elected mayor) again addressed the need for a city recreation center. DaSilva moved some of the recreation department programs from the old school building, which was now being partially rented by the city, to shared space with the senior center on Waterman Avenue.

In February of 2023, DaSilva presented a plan to the City Council for a $45 million 60,000 square foot building on the grounds of the Senior Center at Waterman and Pawtucket Avenues. The two-story building would house a large gym, elevated walking track, 350 seat auditorium and an eight-lane Olympic size pool. After the Council balked at the original $45 million price tag, DaSilva revised his plan to scaled down options costing some $14 to $20 million.

In a social media post requesting community input in an unofficial survey, Mayor DaSilva said, “as a reminder to our residents: The former recreation center in Riverside was located in the EBCAP building. When I first took office, I inspected the facility and found it woefully inadequate. The basketball court was unusable due to the construction and expansion needs of our host EBCAP. The city was paying rent of $60+ thousand annually. We ended the relationship and moved the recreation program into the lower half of the senior center temporarily with the hopes of eventually building a community center for our residents. Well, here we are today with the opportunity to use once in a lifetime funding to build our community a multipurpose community center to enhance all of our residents’ lives. A center that will support workforce development, educational attainment, health care monitoring and recreational opportunities.”

The other difference at this point remains location. The Council seems to prefer the Pierce Field location while the mayor wants a center built at the Senior Center site. At the September 26^th council meeting, members of the council made it clear that they preferred a basic recreation center with a gym, fitness room and a few classrooms. City planner Domenic Leonardo presented a timeline in which the city administration detailed a plan that has been “in the works for 2 ½ years. “The grants and state funding received for this proposal was written for the Senior Center location at Waterman Avenue.” When Rodericks asked Finance Director Malcome Moore how much money was left in ARPA funds after the council’s recent allocations, his answer was, “not much at all.” The council deferred a formal vote on the mayor’s proposal for more options.

Council Overrides Most Mayor ARPA Vetoes
At its September 12^th meeting, the City Council voted to override most of the recent mayoral vetoes of council approved American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) projects. Earlier the Council voted to support projects like: $1million for the former Oldham School building, $550,000 to replace the walking track at Pierce Field football stadium, $5 million for needed improvements to the infrastructure of sewers and drains citywide, $550,000 for placemaking throughout the city, $50,000 for a citywide utility box art project and $200,000 for a splash pad in Riverside. A super majority vote (4-1) of the Council is required to override a Mayoral veto. All but one of the vetoes was overridden by a 4-1 vote. Council President Bob Rodericks said that “I can’t support the spending of millions of dollars without proposal bids or without specific plans. I think we support all of these projects, but most have no spending plans or bids,” he said. “I’m going to listen to our professional engineers and staff that we all say we trust and listen to. In some cases, these projects are already underway. Are we duplicating spending?” Rodericks did support moving ahead with a splash pad in Riverside. “We have a plan for this already,” referring to the two previous splash pads built in the city. Ward One councilman Frank Rego joined with Rodericks in opposing the plan to allocate $450,000 for more work at Townie Pride Park of Jones Pond behind Pierce Stadium. DaSilva told the council repeatedly that “you are tying up these funds which we may not be able to use as required.” DaSilva did not veto ARPA funding council allotments for up to $1million for the Crescent Park Concession stand project, $450,000 to update road and access to the Bold Point Park and John Lewis Waterfront Park, $400,000 to the planning department for the storefront improvement and $500,000 for adaptive playground equipment. Rodericks reiterated that all of these items were “up to the approved amounts, and hopefully we won’t need every dollar suggested.”

School Department Freezes End of Year Spending
The school department reported that it has enacted a spending freeze through the end of this fiscal year on October 31st. “As we approach the end of the school year, the current budget has been impacted by an increase in student enrollment and students with special needs and programs,” said school finance director Craig Enos at a September school board meeting. Enos said 8 new out of district placements and a residential placement have impacted the budget. One special needs placement can cost the district $100,000 or more. “It can be impossible to budget for these unknowns.”

“We have also been dealing with plumbing and heating issues we have been fixing all of the past year. As a precaution we implemented a freeze on all purchase orders for the remainder of this fiscal year, except for medical supplies. We haven’t had to do this in three or four years but we want to end the year in a good place. We need to be cautious over the next several weeks and I will provide an update in October,” said Enos.

Responding to a question from Ward Two member Max Brandle, Enos said that “$250,000 had been budgeted for speech therapists but the district had to spend $435,000.” Enos also said that there was a $130,000 increase since school started for new placements. The district also had to purchase additional chrome books that were not reimbursed by grants.

“Our enrollment numbers are up and hard to look at. There is nothing we can do, we have to educate our students,” said Ward Four member Jessica Beauchaine. Superintendent Forand described an increasing student enrollment. “Today we have 1720 high school students and in May of 2022 we had 1636,” said Forand. “We have room, but we are still pretty full. The numbers will adjust as we enroll new students almost every day. This could mean that we should see an increase in student aid though.” Forand said that East Providence is one of only 5 school districts in the state who has seen an increase in student enrollment. “We can’t control the number of out of district placements,” added Forand. “Currently we have 89 out of district with costs ranging from $30,000 to $100,000 each.

School Officials and RIDOT Have Differing Views of Pawt. Ave. Project
A misunderstanding of sorts has developed between school officials and the Rhode Island Department of Transportation. The issue is a delayed project to replace water pipes below Pawtucket Avenue in front of East Providence High School. The project entails shrinking the four lanes in the area to two (one each way) and was supposed to begin on the opening week of school. City officials asked the state to wait a bit and that was evidently agreed to. School officials told the school committee that neither the School Department or City Hall had a say in the project. School officials maintained that jersey barriers will be put in place limiting traffic to the two lanes. “This will impact traffic and bussing throughout the system,” said Superintendent Forand. “I am concerned.” Forand said notices will be sent home to parents and school officials “are working with the bus company and police department to come up with the best plan” for the anticipated 3-4 week project.

School facility manager Chris Murphy stated that “this is a state project that we have no control over. They (state) were nice enough to not start the project during the first week of school,” Murphy added. However, after published reports described the issue, the RIDOT said they were not significantly involved in the project. The state is not dictating or causing delays in the project. The DOT said they were only involved in issuing a utility permit because Pawtucket Avenue is a state road. The DOT further said that this is a city project. For its part, school officials walked back their earlier comments somewhat by now saying the “work is a city project,” but with significant state oversight.

City awarded $200K grant for new incubator space at Oldham building
The City released a press statement saying East Providence has been awarded a U.S. Economic Development Administration (USEDA) Adjustment Assistant Program planning grant.

“East Providence has been awarded $200,000 to be used toward its East Providence Small Business and Blue Economy Incubator Project,” exclaimed City Hall officials.

Specifically, the grant, which requires a $100,000 match, will be used for the development of a feasibility study. The feasibility study, which includes market research, potential competition and analysis of startup and development costs, is the first step in the city transforming the former Oldham Elementary School into a multi-use small business incubator. The study will also assist in the development of a plan of action for the space.

The incubator will be centered on the creation of jobs through business startups and will provide a network of business resources to small businesses that will ensure a greater level of long-term success.

“Mayor DaSilva and the City of East Providence have been very active when it comes to economic development and finding innovative ways to repurpose old properties to revitalize neighborhoods and improve economic opportunity. This new federal investment will support East Providence's plans to create a new hub for local small business growth and development,” said U.S. Senator Jack Reed.

“This federal funding will help jumpstart the City of East Providence’s effort to create jobs and attract more startup talent. I want to thank Mayor DaSilva for his strong partnership in anchoring Rhode Island’s Blue Economy and other promising sectors in the East Bay,” said Senator Whitehouse.

“We can create good-paying jobs by building on Rhode Island’s Blue Economy strengths,” said Rep. Seth Magaziner. “This federal funding will be used to help transform a former school into a bustling incubator that will create jobs and support small businesses in Rhode Island.”

“We are thankful for the leadership, understanding and support of our federal leaders and thank Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse and Congressman Seth Magaziner on their involvement in supporting innovative spaces that will help bolster our small business and blue economy,” Mayor Bob DaSilva said. “The City envisions a thriving space involving several sectors of the local economy as well as an educational component, integrating students from the high school career and technical center.”

The former Oldham School, which was constructed in 1952 and ceased to operate as a school in 2013, had been used as a storage facility for the school district for the last decade.

“Now, under the direction of the city, we will breathe new life into the prominent landmark and give it a pulse again,” Mayor DaSilva added. “Once completed, the project will help boost job creation and diversify and strengthen the regional economy.”

Areas of focus for the space include, but are not limited to, food production (specifically baking and gluten-free production), technology, sustainability/renewable energy, the arts, and the intersection of these areas. The space will fill several gaps in the local economy and provide opportunities for our local entrepreneurs, many of whom are of low-moderate income. The concept of the space evolved from feedback received through the city’s partnership with Roger Williams University. RWU students worked with the City’s Administration and Planning & Economic Development planners to develop the Riverside Square Revitalization Assessment and Recommendations plan.

City Gets Matching Grant to Buy Solar Trash Bins
The City has been awarded a $33,232 grant by the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC) to purchase the recycling portion of eight BigBelly double station kiosks for East Providence’s recreation facilities. The smart waste and recycling system has gained a global following and represents the next generation of waste collection in urban and rural environments. The trash and recycle station combines one smart, solar-powered, compacting waste station along with a standard capacity station. Both units are equipped with sensors that monitor and report on fullness levels, along with various alerts such as the door has been left open or if the hopper has jammed. The double Station harvests solar power to compact waste and communicate its real-time status. The enclosed hoppers ensure total waste containment.

“I want to acknowledge and thank our Public Works Program Coordinator Donna McMahon for her commitment to recycling in our city and work on this grant,” Mayor Bob DaSilva said. “It is because of people like her and others in city government that we are able to move the needle on proper recycling.”

“The city continues to impress Resource Recovery with their dedication to recycling right,” RIRRC Executive Director Joe Reposa said. “We are thrilled to support this grant to increase public space recycling and promote recycling right with the use of Rhode Island’s standardized mixed recycling labels.”

Because RIRRC's grant awards for public space recycling is for 100 percent of the recycling portion of the unit, the City's matching funds will provide funding for the trash portion of the kiosks.

“We are excited to introduce these barrels throughout East Providence to help educate the community on appropriate and proper recycling and trash disposal,” Dept. of Public Works Director Dan Borges said. “These barrels will also provide the city consistent and uniform recycling throughout our parks and public spaces while helping to reduce wind-blown litter as well as vehicle fuel consumption with fewer required collections.” This is not the City’s first grant from RIRRC. Most recently, the East Providence’s grant funds allowed for the printing of the annual recycling calendar including corresponding advertisements in the local media, curbside enforcement efforts and containers to expand the drop-off program. Grant funding allowed the city to increase proper recycling, divert items from the landfill and ultimately assisted East Providence in maintaining its diversion rate (over the state’s required 50).

Solar-powered, automatic compaction promises to: