Woonsocket City Council reauthorizes mayor to award Casa Park contract, then enters executive session on property acquisition

The Woonsocket City Council voted 5-0 on Monday, Sept. 29, 2025, to approve Resolution 25 R 1 15, reauthorizing the mayor and administration to award bid number 6316 and enter into a contract with Tower Construction Corp for construction of the Casa Park Community Center building.

Councilman Kenoyer said the measure follows an earlier resolution that required written confirmation from the state of its contribution; he said the state would not provide that written commitment and that the current reauthorization reflects assumptions based on discussions the administration has had with the state and the “PRO office.” Kenoyer said, as discussed at the meeting, “the worst case scenario is, 876,000.”

The mayor told the council the city expects to cover part of that gap with a grant routed through Senator Reid’s office, estimating roughly $450,000 to $480,000 from that source, and said the city would use most of the remaining accrued interest to cover the rest if necessary. The mayor also said the bid summary lists a not-to-exceed total of $6,000,004.38 and that the city will deduct the cost to carry builder’s-risk insurance, which he identified as $19,500; he added that $40,000 had already been deducted from the total.

Councilman Kenoyer moved the resolution; Councilwoman Fox seconded. After brief discussion and no further questions, President Gendron called for a vote; the resolution passed on a 5-0 voice/roll-call vote.

Immediately following the vote, the council considered a motion to go into executive session under Rhode Island General Laws 42-46-5(a)(5) for "discussions or considerations related to the acquisition or lease of real property." Councilman DuBois moved the motion; Councilwoman Sierra seconded. The clerk conducted a roll call; Councilman Kenoyer, Councilman DuBois, Councilwoman Fox, Councilwoman Sierra and President Gendron all voted in the affirmative. The council recessed into executive session.

The public record at the end of the open meeting did not include further public action on the Casa Park contract beyond passage of Resolution 25 R 1 15, nor any public outcome from the executive session (the Rhode Island statute cited authorizes nonpublic discussion of real-estate acquisition or lease matters).