Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center seeks property tax exemption; finance committee asks for documentation, pauses decision

The Pawtucket Finance Committee met to consider communications from the Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center seeking property tax exemptions for 727 Central Avenue and 1202 Newport Avenue and decided to file the materials while asking the nonprofit and city staff for additional documentation before taking final action.

The committee filed both communications and then heard from Tony Marie Roderick, who described the Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center’s services and funding. "We provide services to victims of ... domestic violence," Roderick said, adding the agency "is the largest member agency of the Rhode Island Coalition Against Domestic Violence." She told the committee the organization moved into 727 Central Avenue in summer 2023 and that the site is used for confidential, appointment‑only office and case‑management…