[{"_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",6625553,"mediaKeyId","2756739-b061bc3b707cddcec165aa3760202015","parentId",2756739,"title","Council gives first passage to ordinance updating fire department ages, ranks and retirement language","audioSeconds",5557,"startMs",1791000,"endMs",7348000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2756739-b061bc3b707cddcec165aa3760202015&start=1791&end=7348","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2756739-b061bc3b707cddcec165aa3760202015/thumbnail_1791000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6625553/Warwick-City/Kent-County/Rhode-Island/Council-gives-first-passage-to-ordinance-updating-fire-department-ages-ranks-and-retirement-language","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6625553-6d04b92cb81c6d8176e702c83dfe758b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171338&Signature=X3pwpmX7P06-tBZLPfaqjxO86wX~l~plzYNU8Lj4IXaJLoPOlXyr9F7Dmw6rHzwIt38yzSyNYm4TnM2eSYXuu~FBA1wo0Rqy6fHH4v3I1hZuknNcWOKN2V1TShwg1VrDhnfBoHIdbGIY9UMT1c76J8FjZM0zjUtJvCvInL7W91ippc~Ne7COXI4wWGCoAgva0B7G2q1jKfYFxgcpL1HsB22QuSEMmWIJhyhvew38JIGTVNcRzrgK4Yk-5ce8j2Uz1ND0LS2xGX1msodi1pFEYToSTJv7aX4QC1BlOYJnAmkfeXuSG8UXUqaQbhmFkF7kN5Lrs9ua-6B-h7jD27gqKQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Warwick","date","2025-03-25T01:21:10.057Z","article","The Warwick City Council on first passage approved PCO 9‑25, an ordinance presented by the administration to update several sections of the city code governing the fire department including composition language, applicant age limits, a title change for a communications position and mandatory retirement language.

Fire Chief Peter McMichael explained that changes were intended to modernize outdated references and align local code with current practice and state law. Among the changes, the minimum age to apply to the fire department would be lowered from 21 to 18 and the upper limit for applicants remains capped to preserve the department's pension structure. “18 is consistent with the other communities are doing around us,” McMichael said, noting the lower minimum is meant to expand the recruitment pool.

The ordinance also replaces an obsolete phrase (Bureau of Fire) with the Board of Public Safety, updates the superintendent of fire alarm title to deputy chief of communications to match collective bargaining language and revises mandatory retirement language to reflect state rules. The proposed definition of employee was expanded to cover any sworn member whether or not that person has been represented by the collective bargaining unit; councilors asked the city solicitor to clarify the intent of the phrase \"or has been\" in that definition before the ordinance returns for subsequent passage.

Councilman Lattice said he would vote in the affirmative on first passage but reserved the right to reverse his support pending the city solicitor’s explanation of the employee definition. After debate and questions about pension age and Social Security eligibility, the council recorded first passage with an affirmative roll call (eight yes votes recorded for first passage in the transcript).

The chief said disability pension and Social Security disability are covered in separate ordinance language and that PCO 9‑25 concerns ordinary retirement eligibility. The city solicitor had reviewed the language before the meeting, and the chief said the fire union and union attorney reviewed it as well; the council asked for one additional solicitor clarification for the next reading.

The ordinance received first passage; further council action (second passage and final adoption) will be required to enact the changes.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Warwick City Council Meeting - 3.24.25","oneSentenceSummary","The Warwick City Council gave first passage to an ordinance (PCO 9‑25) to modernize and align fire department code with current practice, including lowering minimum applicant age to 18 and updating job titles and retirement language.","taxTitle","Warwick City, Kent County, Rhode Island","taxId",4566,"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},6625564,"Finance committee forwards bid package; IT telephony spending authority increased and parks face‑painting contract clarified",317,799000,1116000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2756739-b061bc3b707cddcec165aa3760202015&start=799&end=1116","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2756739-b061bc3b707cddcec165aa3760202015/thumbnail_799000.jpg","/articles/6625564/Warwick-City/Kent-County/Rhode-Island/Finance-committee-forwards-bid-package-IT-telephony-spending-authority-increased-and-parks-facepainting-contract-clarified","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6625564-6dd59a666ecb400316fef755ceb65932/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171338&Signature=MNfaOQGyQG30J23G5IrcsBl2thnvdHgb8GYreFmqYxbQCyib7NKtEl9xwWBltv~wrpyBpsgcXt3YG1Bq-~ZgnBXUQqy6QtSsMHI-lfdUq04MMZB4Mjyf5mzbZ76ZBJBl4N4IQXQ22xxCPA9HzaYs4-7ri50hpHq22mt8ynibt5y~eG67loYW58a7vwRUjJrUnjgun~Q35bas9W3BBvoPyIgwvCkT2nolJ-YJH7Ej~VM36TiSicPvP~hj075zB2GHdBrhFaq7rLaqb7-1pfcMTCn0JVA7OavdwUR~kCon5OiTMyhZzDEVlIBls44urk6zuNhSrX7hAk0dVnqawyowCw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Warwick City Council Finance Committee on the evening’s bid package recommended favorable action on a group of contracts that included an IT telephony spending‑authority increase and Parks and Recreation contracts for face painters and balloon twisters.

The committee recommended increasing spending authority on bid 2025‑085 for telephony services under “city ordinance 6 12” by $13,000, taking the contract ceiling from $120,600 to $133,600, IT Director Phil Carlucci told the committee. Carlucci said invoices have run about $10,004.30 per month, that the department had processed charges through February and that about $29,000 in authority remained before the increase. “These invoices come in half months… I anticipate for half of March, April, May, June, it’s probably gonna come in around 37,000,” Carlucci said, adding the increase is intended to cover variability such as moves, adds and conference phones.

The committee also discussed Parks and Recreation’s request for spending authority to contract face‑painting artists and balloon twisters for summer events. Beverly Wiley, director of Parks and Recreation, said Parks previously relied on volunteers or tip‑based vendors and placed the services out to bid to ensure reliable, professional coverage for events such as the marketplace and Rocky Point gatherings. The department requested $4,200 in spending authority to cover seven events. Wiley said the vendors offer two pricing options: $150 per hour for events of one to four hours, or a flat $500 fee for a five‑hour event, and that the $500/hour line in the original paperwork was a typo and should read $500 for a five‑hour event.

Committee members questioned how cancellations and rescheduling would be handled. Wiley said vendors submit invoices after events and are paid only when they perform; if weather forces a postponement and a vendor cannot reschedule, the city would not pay. The committee also discussed a modest contingency in the Parks request so staff would not return to council for a small additional amount should an extra event be added or a postponement require payment for an extra date.

A representative from Compass IT Compliance attended and identified a bid submission for IT security services (bid 2025‑389). City staff told the attendee that the bid was not yet on the committee calendar and encouraged public comment at the designated public comment period.

After the questions, the committee moved the bid package for favorable action. At full council later in the evening the consent calendar containing these items was approved on a roll call.

The Finance Committee record shows the items were discussed at the committee meeting and forwarded; the full council roll call for the consent calendar appears later in the transcript and recorded affirmative votes.","The Warwick City Council Finance Committee on the evening’s bid package recommended favorable action on a group of contracts that included an IT telephony spending‑authority increase and Parks and Recreation contracts for face painters and balloon twisters.",{"_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},6625548,"Council reaffirms support for state civil‑rights enforcement changes, asks General Assembly to consider amendments",550,7461000,8011000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2756739-b061bc3b707cddcec165aa3760202015&start=7461&end=8011","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2756739-b061bc3b707cddcec165aa3760202015/thumbnail_7461000.jpg","/articles/6625548/Warwick-City/Kent-County/Rhode-Island/Council-reaffirms-support-for-state-civilrights-enforcement-changes-asks-General-Assembly-to-consider-amendments","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6625548-9347afbd8e39adb66ca75ca2675fcc02/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171338&Signature=NBfkK6HpId4QeADsnPfI~9bfLV7yoNR5rCmipM-3duiRkZooWEv8KUYBnGFirBGS2xeoqt9rgW2Hfz1Aho0JG4fdoWXlM5IzInlDeIC~~iuFzAeWhvp2ZTLziRUADH2R3RhwtNA8sOelPRzM-KOTy7RO43qAnSxaSycb1j-FYII4oU~CMD8W6F23VoNjP9-6EwLhPVczmP9cHJ2HTHZcshtqp6F72BVHyYE0Sp67IbAx46Bt2vNegun9QrAC2-THPHkt3d35Erhs82zFAp8hGkAk4tAMIZi7RDhv~i1Anv-DBiqn~Im-E0~VYdCx0C8xFOvojcXpRyIgMbJk5aebLw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Warwick City Council approved PCR 37‑25, a resolution requesting that the Rhode Island General Assembly adopt legislation to create a remedy for violations of rights under the Rhode Island Constitution and related state laws.

Council President Sinappe (transcript shows the floor speaker) explained the measure had been supported previously but contains two substantive changes this session: expanding coverage to governmental entities and adding state laws to the list of enforceable rights alongside the state constitution. Sinappe described the change as intended to allow enforcement of state constitutional rights—and related state law rights such as reproductive freedom and marriage equality—that otherwise lack a private enforcement mechanism. \"Currently, as a private citizen, you have no remedy for violations of your rights under the Rhode Island State Constitution,\" the speaker said, adding the proposal tracks federal Section 1983 precedent to provide a limited, well‑defined enforcement path.

Councilors asked clarifying questions about which governmental actors would be covered and whether existing liability under the federal constitution overlaps with the proposed state remedy. The solicitor and other councilors explained the measure is intended to mirror federal enforcement limitations so it would not permit duplicative damages but would allow Rhode Island citizens to seek redress under state law where applicable.

After discussion, the council approved the resolution on a roll call. The transcript indicates council members from multiple wards discussed the merits and asked for examples and clarifications before the vote.

The resolution, as described in the committee and council discussion, asks the General Assembly to consider codifying an enforcement mechanism for Rhode Island constitutional and statutory rights; the transcript records council support with limited reservations and an invitation for the solicitor’s input on technical language.

No court action or specific pending legislation outcome is recorded in the meeting transcript; councilors noted the bill remained in committee at the statehouse and that the local resolution is a policy statement requesting state action.","The council voted to send PCR 37‑25, a resolution urging the General Assembly to allow state constitutional and statutory rights to be enforceable, noting two substantive additions to the draft and asking members to consider them before endorsing in the prior session.",{"_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},6625558,"Residents describe repeated basement flooding and federal buyout funds; city match still unresolved",591,4955000,5546000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2756739-b061bc3b707cddcec165aa3760202015&start=4955&end=5546","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2756739-b061bc3b707cddcec165aa3760202015/thumbnail_4955000.jpg","/articles/6625558/Warwick-City/Kent-County/Rhode-Island/Residents-describe-repeated-basement-flooding-and-federal-buyout-funds-city-match-still-unresolved","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6625558-8559b8f4c54af9c7491f315484b1020e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771171338&Signature=FFeoQQLXyefrSCezZKmbSyX883nH5fn-c8sy3wRHTNq8zZ3J~UFRDALwqQFmUhum8e7EIh9hHLeqxSvr3IXPZTXopt2aVY9DxLlJI2vhrAXAswNFsSpb5m1RSFkg17HaAkAgCBePEzCZtFcOAOVZwyqCndSvKXBQCS4iIgWrIZ469vRrO44iNK7-kQEQMDwv2h1bb1x4Cle3-Wlz0dPqB83fJ9NUkgR33yjKK64ZWJfJuY2wJGSVwae6fHZxo-ltExp3f2VyBZQPSN-jdm79v89-njXG3Zaiga6mtAE6O72bcp3joncOF3tWz6XbLsTPERCi42G8IpOTmMf-NN5-hQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Several Warwick residents used the city council’s public comment period to describe recurring basement flooding in a corridor that drains to a 36‑inch culvert and to urge the city to complete a federally funded buyout and property demolition that they say would solve the problem.

Kevin McDonald, who described himself as a 52‑year resident and taxpayer, told the council that his house on Govan (Gobain/Gobin as transcribed) Drive flooded multiple times, including events that deposited “7 to 8 feet” of water in a basement in October 2024 and later storms that again inundated the property. McDonald said federal funds of $570,000 had been approved to purchase the property, and that the city’s share would be roughly $178,000. “Had the other 2 property owners accepted, the city would be looking at over a million dollars for a match to take possession of the 3 properties,” McDonald said. He said the city had applied for a conservation grant to fund its portion and that Rhode Island DEM had not yet responded to the city’s request.

Tammy Dickerman, a neighbor at 510 Gobin Drive, said the flooding is a long‑standing problem associated with development uphill of the neighborhood and an undersized culvert. She said prior homeowners had erected a concrete wall that was later removed by a house flipper and that new construction uphill has increased runoff. “This flooding issue is not related to climate change. This is a long standing issue that the city is aware of,” Dickerman said, adding that homeowners who sell must disclose the flooding history and that the homeowners fear they will eventually be uninsurable.

McDonald and Dickerman said Department of Agriculture engineers visited the site and recommended demolition and a retention pond; they said other owners had declined federal offers for buyouts. McDonald said he had contacted state officials including the House speaker and later received a city reply saying the administration was waiting on a response from Rhode Island DEM about the conservation grant.

Speakers asked the council to pursue the buyout funding and to follow through on the conservation grant application so earmarked federal funds do not lapse. Council members did not take formal action on the comments during the public comment period; the transcript shows the speakers’ time limits were enforced.

The comments were part of the public comment rule‑41 period; several attendees and other speakers also addressed council rules and related items during the same session.","Multiple Warwick residents described chronic flooding in a neighborhood that has flooded several times and said federal buyout funds of $570,000 have been earmarked but the city match (about $178,000) and related conservation grant remain unresolved.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council gives first passage to ordinance updating fire department ages, ranks and retirement language

Finance committee forwards bid package; IT telephony spending authority increased and parks face‑painting contract clarified

Council reaffirms support for state civil‑rights enforcement changes, asks General Assembly to consider amendments

Residents describe repeated basement flooding and federal buyout funds; city match still unresolved