[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-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",[32,75,86],{"_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",6577473,"mediaKeyId","3141297-66e1b2a80c64560272d8f5dcda248b59","parentId",3141297,"title","Resident questions $950,000 splash pad and council asks Public Works to review","audioSeconds",187,"startMs",2274000,"endMs",2461000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3141297-66e1b2a80c64560272d8f5dcda248b59&start=2274&end=2461","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3141297-66e1b2a80c64560272d8f5dcda248b59/thumbnail_2274000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6577473/Cranston-City/Providence-County/Rhode-Island/Resident-questions-950000-splash-pad-and-council-asks-Public-Works-to-review","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6577473-891178e2dd15f2bbcf2574a4f1a3587d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169544&Signature=fKK50-3cXwZ~~ajGQxgi0tCNxRBcrVXJaNGIncgM1wpodACPzPQGoBcvQKQ6kt4Beeep48KbeatRnN7ef23IiQYs8L8Ho0fwFmhdvQywSRt7LxrBSRt~f-2wwwDvz~88184aX9P8xqCaaFdePWFniL4fvuy2TfT5zEoruGDkioVA3ABd99JMHSVEE1S0q9YVDb3TZ51bIAI5pebScOjC57QHSBCql6ywCdfnFKwxt8jzEGEyxbDR3VtqeoonkVRY62JbMKrcNm-ItMrWkM~5Zg62wDNOcdhfL45s4MshYekkVF7kiod0W1ld3rv26y7TrvZtlQYaMay0JcJhW-Nicw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author"," City of Cranston","date","2025-04-29T00:00:00Z","article","Robert Ferry, a Cranston resident, raised an undocketed public‑comment concern on April 28 about local pool planning and a proposed splash pad. Ferry, who gave his address as 2426 Cranston Street, said a Herald article reported Budlong Pool would not open this summer and that a splash pad on Doric Avenue was proposed at a cost of about $950,000. “I was told that it wasn't a misprint…there is a splash pad being considered on Doric Avenue for $950,000,” Ferry said, and asked the council to “look into this, put a stop to it if necessary.”

Council President Marino responded that the matter would be placed on the Public Works committee agenda. He asked Councilwoman Graziano to add the splash pad as an item for the committee to review at its next meeting.

Why it matters: Ferry framed the splash pad as a major expenditure in contrast with other local needs he said lacked funding such as sidewalks, tree trimming and school repairs. The council did not make any funding decisions at the April 28 meeting; instead it directed staff and the Public Works committee to examine the matter.

Ending: No formal city action or vote on the splash pad funding occurred at the meeting; the council asked Public Works leadership to add the topic to its agenda for committee review.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","April 28, 2025, City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","A Cranston resident told the council a local newspaper reported the city plans a nearly $950,000 splash pad on Doric Avenue; Council President Marino asked Councilwoman Graziano to place the item on the Public Works committee agenda for further review.","taxTitle","Cranston City, Providence County, Rhode Island","taxId",4549,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6577476,"Votes at a glance: Cranston City Council approves labor contracts, appointments and budget adjustments",0,1778000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3141297-66e1b2a80c64560272d8f5dcda248b59&start=1778&end=1778","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3141297-66e1b2a80c64560272d8f5dcda248b59/thumbnail_1778000.jpg","/articles/6577476/Cranston-City/Providence-County/Rhode-Island/Votes-at-a-glance-Cranston-City-Council-approves-labor-contracts-appointments-and-budget-adjustments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6577476-661eaba2f251bffec26d9f71042abce1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169544&Signature=CBcuJoI-uq63ynquxVIEs74TVQ2tMdk42vCNZD1NZjTUbALsuZZIrAjtaTKdwih4~0y~vujYn176nmnJETPKiIY6sIxDtTTpWKY1l2~uV2BGtkES1EmUW1wwQ2pGV3Eq-3cgJ1y4FAM6dlZISCNLiqVLBO750SeYughFiLj6jEWXeJXDPVGL5qj1DAcU5Ijga-gB1ayBCTbijzQXamkBLkAnvuX14mK345dCbhCb1tbDNkwb-EpDo4Z0eoUC2k-gon5UW3XozT0ySNGzA9Ff2CuCoPL76d6K70-Wta-L~lAemUFX3vpoNZMdlvXwY9yfVkpnT1VGTXVyCc4liTfxDA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Cranston City Council on April 28 approved a slate of measures including two collective bargaining agreements, personnel appointments and several finance-related resolutions. Most votes were taken by roll call and passed unanimously, and a licensing case was continued for lack of a required Division of Taxation letter.

Key outcomes at a glance:

- Ratified Teamsters Local 251 collective bargaining agreement (Ordinance 032501), covering July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027; approval was made subject to scrivener’s errors being corrected as identified by the solicitor. Director Favicchio and the administration said the contract is budgeted for and affordable. (Passed by roll call.)

- Ratified Local Union 1322 collective bargaining agreement (Ordinance 032502), July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027. Administration reported the agreement is budgeted. (Passed by roll call.)

- Approved an ordinance amendment to the city code (Administration and Personnel) as recommended by the Ordinance Committee (committee vote reported 04/17/2025). (Passed by roll call.)

- Approved budget amendment 04/1951 amending the FY2024–25 municipal budget to adjust the director of public works salary. (Passed by roll call.)

- Finance committee items: real estate tax abatement resolution and tax interest waiver approvals for March 2025 were recommended in committee and approved by the full council. (Passed by roll call.)

- Confirmed mayoral appointment of Frank Correio as Director of Public Works (advice and consent). The administration urged passage and said the position and salary are budgeted. (Passed by roll call.)

- Appointments and reappointments: Anthony Mastentuono to the Board of Canvassers (unanimous approval); Louis Petrucci Jr. reappointed to Building Appeals Board (unanimous); Christina Brown and Amy Reynon reappointments to the Affordable Housing Commission were noted (Brown is a majority-party appointment and Reynon was moved and seconded). (Passed/recorded as noted.)

- Continued: Safety Services & Licensing matter regarding Merlino Pizzeria’s over‑cap license pending receipt of a letter of good standing from the Rhode Island Division of Taxation. Director Paulino reported the applicant expected the letter the following day; the council voted to continue the matter to the next meeting or a special session. (Motion to continue approved.)

- Other routine actions approved by block vote: approval of minutes and routine motions listed in the agenda packet.

Why it matters: The labor agreements and budget adjustment affect municipal personnel costs and operations; the public‑works appointment fills a department leadership role; the licensing continuation underscores legal requirements (Division of Taxation letter) for business licensing. The Merlino Pizzeria matter remains open pending required documentation.

Ending: Council members repeatedly confirmed to staff that fiscal notes are included in the meeting packet and that the administration represented these items as budgeted for the coming fiscal year. No contested roll-call defeats were recorded on April 28.","At its April 28 meeting the council approved two collective bargaining agreements, multiple appointments and several budget and tax-related measures. A licensing matter for Merlino Pizzeria was continued pending a Rhode Island Division of Taxation letter.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6577481,"Cranston elections official warns SAVE Act and presidential order could cut federal election funding and complicate voter registration",815,2713000,3528000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3141297-66e1b2a80c64560272d8f5dcda248b59&start=2713&end=3528","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3141297-66e1b2a80c64560272d8f5dcda248b59/thumbnail_2713000.jpg","/articles/6577481/Cranston-City/Providence-County/Rhode-Island/Cranston-elections-official-warns-SAVE-Act-and-presidential-order-could-cut-federal-election-funding-and-complicate-voter-registration","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6577481-9360e86405728a5644f47ed3e7e791d7/orig.mp4?Expires=1771169544&Signature=REbZSPfHyhhmLozoxjdd~VzDExYH2THh0kgKSPBTrE9XBRyVaEDTKbu2EzrfJIpXzH4wLD~PkKjiAIQ8G-6mF58IGberQJcOjMul3-eVCSckm1sbSKJ2Pg~2DMx-iQKOgvK~H8byRUeP7cFJ2Oq8GEuFk18y1efHgOEyGyqgzvr4wIrCN3rTztiXp5JFz7E7nDBQINbxmZk-Ozd6st47svwJzsTb5SVg31fnRIlBjj37PuF1XUbQKyFEaQWrDSIfrZl0yx2Y06Mkjs1w0ebbCecqqcNxSjcsVULbtiITg1ybgpzQQVkCFS5XkMThZjb-x4QtLlAbKf3LzEynQe0hcQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Nick Lima, Registrar and Director of Elections for the City of Cranston, told the City Council on April 28 that a recent presidential executive order and the federal SAVE Act would, if upheld, threaten federal funding for elections and could make voter registration and ballot access more difficult for many residents.

Lima said the order would require documentary proof of citizenship — for example, a passport or certified birth certificate — on federal voter registration forms and tie future federal funding to state compliance. “The passport requirement is new and that's concerning because over half of Americans don't have a passport,” Lima said, and warned the change could disenfranchise overseas and military voters who use the federal postcard application process.

The registrar summarized three separate but related threats: the executive order; the SAVE Act (pending in Congress); and reductions in federal election-security support. He emphasized the Help America Vote Act (HAVA) and the role of the U.S. Election Assistance Commission (EAC) in setting voluntary voting system guidelines and distributing federal funding. “Rhode Island has received over $22 million in HAVA funding” since 2004, Lima said; Cranston alone has received more than $115,000 since 2019, he added.

Why it matters: federal funding and voluntary standards enable municipalities to buy certified voting equipment and to maintain security and training. Lima said the executive order seeks changes to voluntary voting system guidelines on a timeline he called infeasible and that, if implemented, could render some currently used systems noncompliant before replacements are available. He described the executive order’s documentary-proof requirement as effectively a “show your papers” mandate that could require in‑person document presentation and increase the administrative burden on local offices.

Lima also described the SAVE Act — which passed the U.S. House and is pending in the Senate — as a broader statutory change that would require documentary proof of citizenship for every new registration and for many subsequent registration updates. He told the council that the Board of Canvassers voted unanimously, 3–0, on March 19 to oppose the SAVE Act as drafted, and estimated the city would need two to three additional full‑time staff to comply if the law were enacted as currently written.

On election security, Lima said federal partners that previously provided intelligence, cybersecurity coordination, training and information sharing have been defunded or reassigned, reducing federal support available to local jurisdictions. He described concrete local upgrades that used HAVA funds — improved scanners, network changes, staff training and obtaining a .gov domain — and warned that future investments could be jeopardized if federal funding were withheld.

Council President Marino and Council Vice President Wall thanked Lima for the presentation. Lima said the matter is likely to see extended litigation and could reach the U.S. Supreme Court; he urged councils and officials to track developments and to use committee processes to gather facts where public reporting raises questions.

Ending: The city council heard the presentation and asked questions; no city action was taken at the April 28 meeting. Lima said Cranston will hold a tabletop exercise in June with police, fire and IT to plan for security scenarios and recommended council members review the meeting materials and federal reporting he included in the agenda packet.","Nick Lima, Cranston’s registrar and director of elections, told the City Council the president’s recent executive order and the federal SAVE Act could jeopardize HAVA funding, require documentary proof of citizenship for many registrants and create operational and legal burdens for local election offices.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Resident questions $950,000 splash pad and council asks Public Works to review

Votes at a glance: Cranston City Council approves labor contracts, appointments and budget adjustments

Cranston elections official warns SAVE Act and presidential order could cut federal election funding and complicate voter registration