North Providence council approves several licenses, passes business‑regulation ordinance and refers parking issues to committees

The North Providence Town Council on Sept. 2, 2025 approved multiple licensing requests, confirmed several appointments, passed an amended business‑regulation ordinance and sent two parking matters to committee.

Among votes taken: the council approved acceptance of meeting minutes for Aug. 6 and Aug. 20, 2025; granted victualling and holiday‑sales licenses to Cumberland Farms; approved a victualling license for Crazy Wings and Things; agreed to several Class F‑1 liquor licenses for single events; and reappointed two town board members and named a new tree warden.

Why it matters: the votes clear routine business for local merchants and residents while the ordinance change and committee referrals set the stage for later policy decisions on local business regulation and neighborhood parking.

Key outcomes and motions recorded at the meeting:

- Acceptance of minutes (Aug. 6 and Aug. 20, 2025): Motion to approve made by Councilman Bacala, seconded by Councilman Pollock; outcome: approved.

- Zone change application (Connolly Law and Associates / zoning ordinance article 5 section 409e): Motion to continue the hearing to the October council meeting; outcome: continued (Councilman Bacala moved; Councilman Pollock seconded). Councilman Martin recused from the vote.

- Cumberland Farms (Middle Spring Avenue) — victualling license and holiday‑sales license: Joe Baxter spoke for the applicant; motions to approve were made by Councilman Martone, seconded by Councilman DiLorenzo; outcomes: both approved.

- Crazy Wings and Things (victualling license): Applicant David Thomas appeared; motion to approve by Councilman DiLorenzo, seconded by Councilman Bacala; outcome: approved.

- Cider and Spice (mobile food truck peddler vendor license): Motion by Councilman LaPorteo to remove the item from the agenda, seconded by Councilman DiLorenzo; outcome: removed from the agenda.

- Class F‑1 liquor licenses for Camp Meehan events (Oct. 31 and Oct. 10): Motions to approve carried unanimously.

- Dana's Sports Lounge (opening after flood): Applicant representative John Manny requested more time; council moved the matter to the October meeting and allowed the license holder to open earlier if all requirements are met; outcome: continued to October (motion passed).

- Entertainment license for Alex Jackson (360 Venue): Item removed from the agenda following council email; later referred to an upcoming special meeting for follow up.

- Parking agreement request (Anthony Costanzo, Costanzo Holding): Costanzo asked the council to revisit a past agreement that allowed town use of his adjacent parking; he said a prior agreement charged roughly $400 per month and suggested a contemporary range of $800–$1,000. The council voted to refer the matter to the finance committee for review (motion by Councilman Bacala, seconded by Councilman LaPorteo; outcome: referred to finance committee).

- Pittman Street parking: After resident testimony and photographic evidence, the council voted to send the matter to the ordinance committee and asked the lieutenant to survey the street and report back (motion made and seconded; outcome: referred to ordinance committee).

- Board appointments: Reappointment of Kenneth Cody to the Tax Board of Review and Elizabeth Vichon to the Juvenile Hearing Board were approved (motion by Councilman Bacala, seconded by Councilman Pollock; outcomes: approved). Timothy Thorpe was appointed tree warden after introducing himself and noting he is a licensed arborist (motion to appoint carried).

- Our Lady of Fatima Hospital sale: Councilman Martone moved to continue the matter to the October meeting; motion seconded by Councilman DiLorenzo and approved.

- Tax addenda: The council reviewed a list from the tax assessor showing addenda totaling $1,812,906.57 for real estate and $1,629,346.11 for tangibles. A motion to act on the addenda was discussed; council members deferred a final vote to obtain clarification and further explanation from the mayor and staff (action: held/tabled for follow up).

- Tax abatements under $1,000 (total $2,593.77 across real estate and tangibles): Motion to approve carried.

- Tax abatements over $1,000 (motor vehicle abatements totaling $3,178.81): Motion to send to finance committee carried.

- Ordinance 25‑009 (amending town code sections 6‑1 to 6‑5 related to business regulation): Council considered an amendment to the ordinance's effective date and then voted to pass the ordinance with the amended effective date (motion to approve carried).

- Claims committee and finance committee reports: Council accepted the claims committee report and approved the finance committee's supplemental report and actions on pending abatements.

Ending: Several routine licensing and administrative items were concluded; neighborhood parking and the Costanzo parking agreement were referred to committees for more detailed review. The council also scheduled follow‑up on tax addenda for additional clarification from the mayor's office.