[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6570401,"mediaKeyId","3194691-4d059957fb531e3d96b238da49095a74","parentId",3194691,"title","Votes at a glance: licenses, poll location, easement tabled and routine resolutions","audioSeconds",8146,"startMs",184000,"endMs",8330000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3194691-4d059957fb531e3d96b238da49095a74&start=184&end=8330","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3194691-4d059957fb531e3d96b238da49095a74/thumbnail_184000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6570401/Woonsocket-City/Providence-County/Rhode-Island/Votes-at-a-glance-licenses-poll-location-easement-tabled-and-routine-resolutions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6570401-b3c426090f59ca4c000ae6817dd9220b/orig.mp4?Expires=1770928716&Signature=d30AMaohGDukwnnHliftCuc2TE5wCU2k1Cfl5lqoj6zW6CQh-~Au1c~2533AEOBa6z6xBVuCNfZqOVWN8bhyuui9WAPj~jTgyfJLZiHElc~6XbTRyReVksyZHMD2AuhMxtMZgglrenIsLhuKheieJ0v~VyzU8rF8Z5qgTR861~2Jh6YD6sts0HI~ndIwpygCnTI2LXNqQx4EqSwEvwW24GDeW2D4UdI1T21twkALcJ0YQXElTFxeQ0tuU2YgBiB70WdmjVr9NUx5qnURz1XjXxDDRlffly3-KW4MhMFMSjBXOzBLkk4yR7yp7IA-lqc5pi1h~ccTeFbNl8S0yq6PYQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Woonsocket, RI","date","2025-05-06T01:37:14Z","article","The Woonsocket City Council took a series of routine and semi-routine actions on May 5 alongside the larger homelessness debate.

Licenses and public hearings
- First-class victualling license (25 LC 17) — Woonsocket Subs Inc., doing business as Subway, 200 Diamond Hill Road: Approved 7 to 0 on the condition that the business obtain a certificate of occupancy and resolve a failed plumbing inspection. The director told the council staff had learned the business was operating without a certificate of occupancy and with a failed plumbing inspection; the clerk and solicitor confirmed licenses are typically conditional on meeting such requirements.
- Secondhand dealers merchandise license (25 LC 18) — MCA Cargo LLC, doing business as Alba Appliances, 218 Arnold Street: Approved 7 to 0.
- Licenses and renewals (25 LC 19): Approved 7 to 0.

Other ordinances and resolutions
- Ordinance 25 O 22 — New poll location for Rhode Island Energy for AMF Radio Network on Crawford Street: Approved unanimously, 7 to 0.
- Ordinance 25 O 25 — Authorization of an easement to Narragansett Electric Company on Smithfield Road: Motion to table passed; item tabled indefinitely at the administration’s request.
- Resolution 25 R 72 — Support for a $300,000 hazard mitigation grant application by the River Island Condominium Association: Tabled at the planning director’s request pending review of potential city liabilities.
- Resolution 25 R 73 — Permission to use city property: Approved 7 to 0 (an amendment referencing a bouncy house had been withdrawn prior to the vote).
- Resolution 25 R 74 — Cancellation/abatement of certain taxes (total $2,405.12 for incorrect classification/over-assessments): Approved 7 to 0.

Procedural items
- The council amended minutes of the April 21 meeting to correct recorded first‑passage votes on Ordinance 25 O 21 (two council members had been recorded incorrectly); the amended minutes were approved unanimously.
- Two public hearings (25 VEIL C 17 and 25 VEIL C 18) were opened and closed with no public opposition; the clerk recorded closures and related approvals.

The council approved the consent agenda and adjourned at approximately 9:20 p.m.

Votes listed above were recorded on the council floor and roll calls were read into the record.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Special Meeting - May 5th, 2025 cont'd","oneSentenceSummary","At its May 5 meeting the Woonsocket City Council approved several licenses and resolutions, authorized a poll location, tabled an easement and a grant resolution, and approved routine items; one business license approval was made conditional on issuance of a certificate of occupancy.","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},6570405,"Council approves lease for 50‑bed Open Doors shelter at 181 Cumberland Street, 7-0",440,7826000,8266000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3194691-4d059957fb531e3d96b238da49095a74&start=7826&end=8266","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3194691-4d059957fb531e3d96b238da49095a74/thumbnail_7826000.jpg","/articles/6570405/Woonsocket-City/Providence-County/Rhode-Island/Council-approves-lease-for-50bed-Open-Doors-shelter-at-181-Cumberland-Street-7-0","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6570405-c5058a469146e0ff8f41a262e79a12a7/orig.mp4?Expires=1770928716&Signature=TEQl2XOR2QwRahqtECOMWQnEIS0i2s-a-1oW03AWECap0tDJVze7GpLKbNPDxvUgfkePaDUTNA1PLzNYsv~BiHmpLH9kbfiHiunUfmdYtVbx-4q4-CFn-DElRL6bzNi3LERDrr1oh1Yb2nmBguiv0f8f77QaEKc-RZvs4Zhs8PuJNJ7wxKrJGYFW7TwRAG2Bq1OQDCC2sEk4vCf3-uhQPOhTswJjuiiB9TOVwIR28TC19cLljjYFiCeLAaOJFUb~GWoLYD4365CJj7h-qQO7JxJEC3oOzvRX-lDC3sLQ6eBiGHjiBu5jnRjd3tKBMYCbVtHomw6Bop1mH4NLfzWERw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Woonsocket City Council unanimously approved Ordinance 25 O 24 on May 5, authorizing the mayor to execute a lease with Open Doors to operate a 50‑bed shelter at 181 Cumberland Street.

The motion passed 7 to 0. Council members said the City is providing the facility under lease but will not fund the construction or improvement costs; Open Doors will take the site “as is” and is responsible for preparing the facility for use.

Council members and the solicitor clarified the city is not committing capital funds in the lease. Councilman Kenoyer asked whether the city would be providing funding; the solicitor and mayor confirmed the lease authorization does not include city funding for repairs or improvements and that the mayor will finalize lease details in substantially the same form as attached to the ordinance.

Supporters said the 50 additional beds supplement existing shelter capacity in Woonsocket. Council members noted the city and nonprofit partners already operate a number of services and said the lease expands emergency shelter capacity at a time some other shelter spaces will close seasonally.

Councilwoman Fox said she would vote yes and urged residents and advocates to continue pressing the council and city to expand services where possible. The lease passed on a roll call of all seven members present.

Implementation: Council discussion indicated Open Doors will operate and staff the facility; the city will finalize lease language and oversight provisions, but will not provide direct capital funding for improvements. Council members asked administration to coordinate with Open Doors and other providers to ensure referrals and outreach to people currently in encampments.","The City of Woonsocket authorized a lease with Open Doors for a 50‑bed shelter at 181 Cumberland Street (Ordinance 25 O 24). The lease was approved unanimously, with the council and mayor clarifying the city will not provide capital funding for the facility.",{"_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},6570410,"Woonsocket Council adopts ban on camping on public property after heated debate, 4-3",6882,901000,7783000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3194691-4d059957fb531e3d96b238da49095a74&start=901&end=7783","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3194691-4d059957fb531e3d96b238da49095a74/thumbnail_901000.jpg","/articles/6570410/Woonsocket-City/Providence-County/Rhode-Island/Woonsocket-Council-adopts-ban-on-camping-on-public-property-after-heated-debate-4-3","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6570410-52ad4904ccdccb552551ff1746007c4c/orig.mp4?Expires=1770928716&Signature=GLMG03FJP2yXOebdwf~yMhtGzFw~Ksl1EpBA5zAtwMg6n~NFuEK7ZIYZsxxMBbb4qBcZG0OWiyK8mb6tiFzrxOIxcR6rrbzmkCcod4fMPAcx6UWqzLza2MZ5gwvqv933vOvQ417jAnp3aKuj6uS~yWBEo9V~qE2aqP5y26P~GFahMcJcut1oQTr4U2tjIrK3WBP2pf5pEEqfG5UJMFySQKbupfknqqGvU2K7uooPuhpQa-2Zps6ShD-IJCGP3S~XOxdpFHYyFuKYoATsRAxbwypb5AE3kwdBk1~f6VlKCmDSPZqqeXcY~viDGxg0zHmUPiljv2QneuCxKUQxelwaXA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Woonsocket City Council voted 4 to 3 on May 5 to approve Ordinance 25 O 21, a second passage ordinance that prohibits camping on city-owned public property.

Supporters said the measure is needed to address public-safety and sanitation problems at encampment sites, while opponents — including residents, service providers and some council members — said the ordinance will criminalize people with nowhere to sleep and shift costs to courts and police without solving homelessness.

Councilman Kevin Dubois framed the safety argument during the council debate, saying the encampments had become dangerous and unsanitary: “the filth, the drugs, the needles are just overtaking the precious lands that they're camping on.” He and others also pointed to a recent police operation on Privilege Street that recovered drugs and weapons.

Councilwoman Fox, who voted against the ordinance, countered that evidence and national studies do not show bans reduce litter or homelessness and warned of downstream enforcement costs. Fox said there is “an ample body of evidence, data analysis, case studies…that illustrate this does not actually work.”

Councilwoman Sierra, who supported the ordinance, urged the city to balance compassion with action, saying the city has provided multiple services and “we have rolled out the carpet and helped the homelessness. Now it's time to help the Woonsocket taxpayers.” Councilwoman Harmon said anyone who wants encampments to remain open must commit to ongoing maintenance: “If you want those camps to remain open, you have to do it on a regular basis.”

Public comment before the vote ran for several hours and reflected a wide range of views. Some speakers urged the council to reject the ordinance as punitive and ineffective; others — including local business owners and residents — urged passage on safety and quality-of-life grounds. Several advocates and social-service providers urged investment in shelters, outreach and behavioral-health services as alternatives to criminal penalties.

Under the ordinance as described during debate, people cited at an encampment would receive at least 72 hours' notice to vacate; continued violations could lead to municipal court summonses and fines, with council discussion noting a possible penalty of up to $250 for subsequent offenses. Council members who supported the ordinance said the city will prioritize shelter placement for people living in encampments where beds are available.

Roll call on second passage recorded votes as follows: yes — Councilman Kenoyer, Councilman Dubois, Councilwoman Sierra and President Gendron; no — Councilwoman Fox, Councilwoman Gonzales and Councilwoman Harmon. The ordinance passed on second passage 4 to 3.

The council and administration also emphasized the measure is not a complete solution for homelessness; several members said the ordinance can be amended if problems arise after implementation. The council concurrently discussed expanding shelter capacity and other services at the same meeting.

Implementation details — including enforcement procedures, property storage or retrieval of personal belongings, and outreach protocols — were discussed but not finalized on the record. Several speakers and council members asked for clear operational guidance on how the city will handle follow-up, court processing, and connections to shelter providers.

The ordinance now moves to administrative steps for implementation; council members said they expect to revisit operational questions and potential amendments if needed.","The Woonsocket City Council passed Ordinance 25 O 21 prohibiting camping on public property on its second passage, 4 to 3, after hours of public comment and debate over public safety, homelessness policy and enforcement costs.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: licenses, poll location, easement tabled and routine resolutions

Council approves lease for 50‑bed Open Doors shelter at 181 Cumberland Street, 7-0

Woonsocket Council adopts ban on camping on public property after heated debate, 4-3