[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6633030,"mediaKeyId","2666219-d1f2abd537b0ecd48a2f3010d4b16dde","parentId",2666219,"title","Woonsocket council: key votes and outcomes from the March 17 meeting","audioSeconds",6645,"startMs",125000,"endMs",6770000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2666219-d1f2abd537b0ecd48a2f3010d4b16dde&start=125&end=6770","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2666219-d1f2abd537b0ecd48a2f3010d4b16dde/thumbnail_125000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6633030/Woonsocket-City/Providence-County/Rhode-Island/Woonsocket-council-key-votes-and-outcomes-from-the-March-17-meeting","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6633030-f8a16ce444d1278e70ed8670a9a9155a/orig.mp4?Expires=1770929219&Signature=k4Pv2ltJPkrvZ4ThRpcJkoYuiIXPghHvtf0ODQROR0VVf8Y~9yUtBl6Q3VnVYoAdG~Znq2v3zzKSAXie9~o5APc~2ivLQv~mFx2wc2CQKHzxYoVBWVGuSJ1OoKiU1mhzxZJY8Y4x5GtYhz7CoIqMiTEvLvbmLYqAqPyODHrchW-73~~sExR1PFFFELTKPb4tfhK~k9Nz~3tnt26hFo8aC8PhZ8UxOofr5xcRSP73eEvsdl5rHld0dbyjOg7ZRZ010kHRg6NPJkCXaB71iu0rb5HFzLFinUjPFLnOevFVBeiURb8NJl4pNAwHsYDgXQiJYHT29CROusEp5SWMbD~C0w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Woonsocket, RI","date","2025-03-18T01:21:32.71Z","article","The Woonsocket City Council on March 17 considered and voted on a number of items. Below are the principal actions approved and pending; tallies reflect votes recorded at the meeting.

Votes approved (selected):
- 25LC9 — Transfer application of Class A liquor license (Thornton Enterprises Inc., Providence Street Liquors, stock transfer at 800 Providence Street): approved, 7–0 (motion by Councilman Kenoyer; second by Councilwoman Fox).
- 25LC10 — Licenses and renewals (various types including automobile junkyard, pawn broker, secondhand dealers, mobile food and tobacco): approved, 7–0 (motion by Councilwoman Gonzales; seconded by Councilwoman Sierra and Councilwoman Harmon).
- 25 0009 — Ordinance (appendix C zoning: filing fees for zoning board of review): second passage approved, 7–0.
- 25 016 — Ordinance (zoning compliance with state legislation): tabled and forwarded to the planning board for recommendation, 7–0.
- 25 017 — Ordinance transferring funds from finance to controls: approved, 7–0.
- 25R46 — Resolution supporting Rhode Island League of Cities and Towns 2025 legislative priorities: approved, 7–0.
- 25R47 — Resolution requesting restoration of general revenue sharing from the state: approved, 7–0.
- 25R48 — Resolution authorizing continued engagement of CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) for temporary internal assistance to finance department: approved, 7–0.
- 25R50 — Settlement authorization: Walden Hill Holdings LLC tax dispute settlement approved; council amended the resolution to require an appropriation ordinance be submitted for council approval at the first regular meeting in April to appropriate funds necessary to pay the FY25 payment; final vote approving the settlement as amended: 7–0.
- 25R51 — Resolution inviting bids for official newspaper for legal notices: approved, 7–0.
- 25R52 — Granting permission to use city property for the Georgian City walk/run (Memorial Day): approved, 7–0.
- 25R54 — Resolution authorizing cancellation/abatement of certain old motor vehicle taxes: approved, 7–0.
- 25R55 — Resolution declaring May as Foster Care Awareness Month: approved, 7–0.

Items tabled or sent for further work:
- 25R49 — Resolution requesting law department contact private property owners about encampments: tabled and referred back to the homelessness subcommittee for drafting of a proposed letter to owners (motion to table carried).
- 25R53 — Resolution to implement an incentive program to encourage cleaning of homeless encampments (pilot using municipal homeless grant funds to buy small gift cards for site residents who participate): tabled on a 5–2 vote; council requested clearer operational rules, safety thresholds and coordination with Human Services before reintroduction.

Administrative/consent actions:
- 25CO48 — Community-wide water metering system upgrade by Hydro Utilities: approved; installation is mandatory and will be performed by Hydro Utilities; customers to receive scheduling instructions by mail; installation estimated at 30 minutes and requires an adult 18+ to be present.

Why it matters: The meeting combined routine licensing and housekeeping matters with higher-profile decisions on municipal finance and a tax settlement. Two homelessness measures were tabled after extended debate. The council also signaled further work on zoning language and expects follow-up items at future meetings.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Hall Council Meeting - March 17th, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","The council approved a package of routine license renewals, ordinances and resolutions, moved several items to other bodies, and approved a tax-settlement payment; two homelessness resolutions were tabled.","taxTitle","Woonsocket City , Providence County, Rhode Island","taxId",52804,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6633034,"Council approves continued outside help on stalled FY23 audit as members express frustration",433,4228000,4661000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2666219-d1f2abd537b0ecd48a2f3010d4b16dde&start=4228&end=4661","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2666219-d1f2abd537b0ecd48a2f3010d4b16dde/thumbnail_4228000.jpg","/articles/6633034/Woonsocket-City/Providence-County/Rhode-Island/Council-approves-continued-outside-help-on-stalled-FY23-audit-as-members-express-frustration","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6633034-47d7a5ca740bf38ff97f8ac695e1ad46/orig.mp4?Expires=1770929219&Signature=Nh49wi3Ag1dTMrl7hQH3gf48-xz2udplFjZvbFRnwXwYO0TTm~XTUdIN-cIASkgISm~S3rC4cWpoVhzqP2GP7ZMWHh0wvz~KhKox8kRmxRR5h1Hxj-Edi2mYtN4uxsWgQ8IQWqDPNi3umP8mgrIAcEW90r3Vm-Z~lnI1-1nZ1kX-jeZgsUAR4aZCmGpqJHAN~ZGr8oZ7-~KVAJ1ewclFboJjP68JNwPjD-24mW7gfES4ArsQeHW1u9fA7JaHYBYA-ecHHOfAx~NULdVyJkpOLjDE0eBJy6jEbA2Qdby73lNbvcT7LxnuvRUXCiE1tVAUOixZd~1WlNmgZSolY7lkVQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Woonsocket City Council on March 17 voted unanimously to continue CliftonLarsonAllen’s temporary engagement to assist the finance department in completing the Fiscal Year 2023 and 2024 audits.

Council members asked for a timetable and pressed staff on why the audit work was delayed. A representative in the meeting said a draft was expected in March and that field work had begun late; staff and CLA were continuing exchanges through a secure portal with school and city personnel to resolve outstanding questions. Acting finance staff and CLA told the council they expected a draft audit in March and hoped to present a final audit in April.

Councilwoman Gonzales and others expressed frustration with the state of the city’s accounting records and said CLA’s internal work indicated gaps that the city should have addressed earlier. \"It feels like we don't have a finance department,\" Gonzales said during debate. City staff said CLA is limited to internal assistance (ethical rules prevent them from performing audit work they would later sign), and the audit itself is being conducted by CBIZ or the contracted auditor separate from CLA's internal work.

The council approved the resolution to continue CLA’s assistance and asked staff for a status update and a timeline for the draft and final audit. City staff also told the council they had notified the state auditor and rating agencies about the expected timeline.

Why it matters: Accurate, completed financial audits are essential for budget planning, bond ratings and long-term fiscal transparency. Councilors said they are concerned about delayed work that complicates planning for the municipal budget and noted the additional city expense of hiring outside contractors to perform internal reconciliation tasks.

What happens next: Staff will report back on the draft audit timeline and provide an appropriation ordinance at the next regular meeting to fund any required FY25 payment tied to settlements or required adjustments, as discussed elsewhere in the meeting.","The City Council approved continued engagement of CliftonLarsonAllen (CLA) to assist the finance department with FY23 and FY24 audit work amid council concern over delays and gaps in in-house accounting work.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6633039,"Council tables two encampment measures after heated debate; subcommittee to draft notification letter",4254,2166000,6420000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2666219-d1f2abd537b0ecd48a2f3010d4b16dde&start=2166&end=6420","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2666219-d1f2abd537b0ecd48a2f3010d4b16dde/thumbnail_2166000.jpg","/articles/6633039/Woonsocket-City/Providence-County/Rhode-Island/Council-tables-two-encampment-measures-after-heated-debate-subcommittee-to-draft-notification-letter","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6633039-0eb89bf0d9ecb9f65b74cb556c435e17/orig.mp4?Expires=1770929219&Signature=eDw-QrbER4p0RPu~3FMpb0WEA21YbIHMb3pRfcPPODABaVi3ptaWfZTKM0zoljeD7VfzJwcX9eW2IysRWIsWXccTvzdfPtIjAKrx8IRdStt55OhnJxbd1PM0jiWg3atXqazEAkdb0GJKCnD5KtWqVxCeO6GI-IqMhocYcWtVGP3ZSIEvKZ01KFCRxE6dyAsbhfBqFmJl1rOJWDIUoGpDxLXzGq3BIxWKJl2AUWKRagEKLMsZ2XZqezi6DP4ckhWLAj6T9umbV7-M1heQWCoho2pu5htH~DiZzjVdeFZ0zSAGXHniLyKndlgQWcIs9XNRwXwFArIYazeJT1o9BHBvvw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Woonsocket City Council on March 17 voted to table two measures addressing homeless encampments after extended debate over property-owner liability, enforcement and the best way to help unhoused residents.

Councilwoman Sierra, chair of the city’s homelessness subcommittee, had presented a draft resolution asking the city law department to notify private and public property owners that encampments exist on their land and to outline possible risks and next steps. Sierra said the intent was to open communication with owners of the 14 encampments located on private property so the city could, after notice, discuss remediation plans or offer assistance. \"The thought is that once the property owners receive these letters ... it gives the ability for the city to reach out after 30 days and say, hey, what do you want to do about the encampment?\" she said.

Council members raised concerns about the city’s role and potential unintended effects. Councilwoman Harmon said landowners might be angered by a notice and attempt to remove encampment residents themselves, potentially creating dangerous confrontations. Councilwoman Fox and others asked that any property-notification letter also include human-services contact information and resources so landowners and neighbors know how to obtain assistance for the people living on those properties.

After discussion, the council voted to table the property-notification resolution and asked the homelessness subcommittee to draft a sample letter that would include available services and recommended next steps. The council president also noted the river and environmental risks from encampment debris as an additional reason for careful planning.

Separately, the council considered a subcommittee-backed pilot incentive program that would use an existing Department of Housing municipal homelessness grant to buy small gift cards (for food and basic necessities) as rewards to encampment residents who helped clean their sites. Councilwoman Sierra described the intent as a low-cost, non-city-labor way to encourage cleanup and build rapport: staff used grant funds to arrange dumpsters and case management, and councilors said some encampments had already begun self-cleanup.

The incentive resolution prompted sharp reactions. Some councilors — and at least one member of the public — called the idea \"abusive,\" saying it would in effect ask unhoused people to perform hazardous cleanup for a small payment. Others, including Councilman DuBois and Councilwoman Fox, argued the approach is pragmatic: third-party hazardous-removal contractors charge thousands of dollars to clear encampments and the grant funding could reduce municipal expense while providing immediate benefits to people living on-site.

The vote to table the incentive resolution passed 5–2. Councilors asked staff and the subcommittee to refine the program details — including eligibility, health-and-safety rules (no needles present when a site qualifies) and how human services and police will participate — and return the draft to council. Director Morris of Human Services said she would administer the operational details if the council adopted a program and said staff already conduct weekly visits to encampments.

Why it matters: Encampments are a recurring, high-visibility public-safety and public-health concern that involve private-property rights, city liability and limited municipal resources. The council paused both measures to allow the subcommittee and staff to draft clearer procedures and notice language before the city sends communications to landowners or pilots an incentive program.","The council tabled two homelessness-related measures — a resolution asking the law department to notify private property owners of encampments and a subcommittee-backed incentive program to pay small gift cards for cleanup — and sent the property-notification measure back to the homelessness subcommittee to draft a notice.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6633044,"Woonsocket officials flag 23 permit violations by wastewater operator; executive session set",352,3761000,4113000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2666219-d1f2abd537b0ecd48a2f3010d4b16dde&start=3761&end=4113","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2666219-d1f2abd537b0ecd48a2f3010d4b16dde/thumbnail_3761000.jpg","/articles/6633044/Woonsocket-City/Providence-County/Rhode-Island/Woonsocket-officials-flag-23-permit-violations-by-wastewater-operator-executive-session-set","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6633044-754543173cb31306a317584f5d6b88b0/orig.mp4?Expires=1770929219&Signature=WhOPk~7oEvhuIbyT-4c4BkiPU9~Y6OYimc7kTSDN7zx4fYzwGaXfz7LX2h0dD6kt5yn7SBrJbK8mwquJ0ibuRoJacZG~oEN0om2kVql1cqovntfRtBdVcThdCTNM7qLtz8GJ1DSaOJn3PB~tRccE6OfoqszFWnOiP-rwP9WBvAjOBJ6iZoASAsCmYM3X4QFlao8Bz6bQIY5EPZ3O4WFEr2V4FOcbSKneGTG35u3J5EOi-r9nUQLVydu3lJSPJ7e8cIMBpDUr-ewcZucZpmrdY4yW6GCr0laCkcNK~MFv27q2KKKBw-knj7uLhyH-QoM6NqQn0jAP6186uIqNFJleQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Public Works Director D'Agostino told the Woonsocket City Council on March 17 that the private contractor operating the city’s wastewater treatment facility has recorded 23 permit violations between December 2023 and January 2025. D'Agostino said the violations are of the permit limits enforced by “DM,” and that the vendor — identified in the meeting as Jacobs Engineering (formerly CH2M Hill) — is not meeting obligations in the contract to operate the plant and meet those permit limits.

\"There are 23 permit violations with DM,\" D'Agostino said. \"That doesn't mean the plant is spewing into the river. It doesn't mean that at all. What it means is ... they're not doing that.\" He added that the city pays about \"$2,300,000 or so\" to the operator and called the issue \"a huge problem.\" He said legal and operational options will be discussed in a forthcoming executive session.

Mayor Chris Beauchamp and Council members were told that the solicitor and public works director will meet with principal parties and that an executive session is scheduled for the coming Monday to discuss the matter in private. D'Agostino warned the council that the contract and the permit compliance issues could expose the city to \"tens of millions of dollars\" in future costs if not addressed.

The council asked for briefings and said the solicitor would bring legal perspective; Solicitor Michael J. Lepazarra Jr. was named in the meeting record in connection with upcoming litigation and negotiation. The public works director also said the city planned additional meetings with vendors (including Synagro, which he said had offered to meet with the council) and that the situation will require continued council oversight.

Why it matters: The wastewater treatment plant is a core municipal service with environmental and fiscal consequences. Repeated permit violations can trigger fines, remediation costs and long-term infrastructure or operational changes. The council’s decision to handle the matter in executive session signals the city expects active negotiations or potential legal action against the contractor.

What happens next: The council scheduled an executive session for the following Monday to review the legal and contractual options with the solicitor and staff; the public works director said he would provide documents and updates to the council as the vendor discussions proceed.","The city’s public works director told the City Council that the contractor operating Woonsocket’s wastewater treatment plant has recorded 23 permit violations since December 2023; the city plans closed-door talks with the contractor and its solicitor about next steps.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Woonsocket council: key votes and outcomes from the March 17 meeting

Council approves continued outside help on stalled FY23 audit as members express frustration

Council tables two encampment measures after heated debate; subcommittee to draft notification letter

Woonsocket officials flag 23 permit violations by wastewater operator; executive session set