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Hi neighbors,
The City Council meets on Monday, October 5 at 5:00 PM at Warwick City Hall. Here are the four items I think are most worth your attention.
1. A new tax on vacant and abandoned properties (PCO-8-26)
This ordinance, sponsored by Council President Sinapi, would use authority the General Assembly already gave cities to tax long-term vacant and abandoned properties. Starting in 2027, a property would be taxed at $10 per $100 of assessed value if it was abandoned for the entire year. For buildings, that means being designated vacant by the Minimum Housing division, or cited for health and safety violations, for the whole year. For lots, it means being littered with trash and obviously abandoned. That works out to 10% of the assessed value every year, on top of regular property taxes. The goal is to push owners to fix up or sell blighted properties instead of letting them sit.
There are exemptions for neighbors who own abutting property, new owners, and nonprofit housing groups that submit a funded redevelopment plan with a reasonable timeline. There are also exemptions for properties tied to certain RI Housing programs. Owners can appeal if they can show the property was actively marketed for sale or lease or was occupied for much of the year.
It’s worth noting that this ordinance has appeared on our agenda for several months but hasn’t been ready for discussion. I’m not sure it will be ready Monday, but it is eligible to be taken up.
2. Changes to the cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for municipal retirees (PCO-33-26)
Submitted on behalf of the Mayor, this ordinance changes how annual COLAs are calculated for retirees in the Municipal Employees’ Pension Fund. The current formula is tied to a complicated asset-surplus test and to negotiated raises. The new formula ties the COLA directly to how the pension fund’s investments actually perform. Retirees would get half of whatever the fund’s five-year average annual return exceeds 5%, with a minimum of 0% and a maximum of 2% in any year.
For example, if the fund averages 8% over five years, retirees would get a 1.5% COLA. If it averages 5% or less, there’s no increase that year. This is a meaningful change for retirees and for the long-term health of the fund, so I’ll be looking closely at the actuarial impact.
3. Asking the State for a traffic study at Toll Gate Road and Commonwealth Avenue (PCR-94-26)
Robert Shapiro Way is the main access road for Winman Junior High and Toll Gate High School, and there’s currently no safe way for pedestrians to cross Toll Gate Road (Route 115) near Commonwealth Avenue. Because Route 115 is a state road, the City can’t simply paint a crosswalk. This resolution formally asks RIDOT and the State Traffic Commission to study the intersection and consider safety measures, including a crosswalk. This one comes through the Intergovernmental Committee, which I chair.
Unrelated, but worth noting for anyone who travels Robert Shapiro Way: a few large potholes have opened up. I originally sent them to the City to patch, but have since learned the School Department owns this road, so patching is their responsibility. I’ve raised it with the Superintendent, and it’s being addressed.
4. Bid awards (PCR-106-26)
The Council will vote on about $617,000 in contract awards and increases to existing contracts. The largest are:
– $220,000 over two years for OEM parts for police vehicles (Tasca Auto Group)
– $150,000 for Microsoft Office 365 licensing and support (Dell)
– $75,000 added to the rescue service billing contract (Comstar)
The rest cover items like VMware maintenance, new dumpsters, tree removal, police equipment, snowplow parts, and fire station sprinkler inspections.
One more thing: a possible school budget deficit
School Committee Chair Shaun Galligan notified the City Council that the School Department is at risk of a deficit. So far we have only that notice, with no details on its size or cause, so the picture is still unclear. My understanding is that the School Committee will discuss the deficit and may ask to present its findings to the Council once it has more information.
School budgets are a moving target. Enrollment can shift at any point in the year, and some costs that come with it can’t be controlled. That said, the School Department had planned a set of cost-saving measures, and the Council will need to know where those stand. I’ll share more as soon as we have real numbers.
As always, if you have questions or thoughts on any of these, reply to this email or give me a call. I’d rather hear from you before the vote than after. For all of our upcoming agendas, you can visit the City Council page on the City of Warwick website: https://www.warwickri.gov/AgendaCenter/City-Council-Legislative-Department-2
Thanks,
Vinny Gebhart
Ward 9 City Councilman |
