Council amends award and selects Rhode Island Tax Titles after conflict concerns in tax‑sale procurement

A contentious discussion over the city’s procurement of tax‑sale services ended with the Woonsocket City Council amending a resolution and voting 7–0 to award the contract to Rhode Island Tax Titles LLC.

Council members raised concerns during debate that a law firm affiliated with the city solicitor had submitted the low bid. Councilman Kenoyer and Councilwoman Sierra said the arrangement raised an appearance‑of‑conflict question because the solicitor’s office has duties at tax sales and the procurement documents require that contractors not be employees or have direct or indirect interests tied to city officials. Kenoyer pointed specifically to bid‑package math and to requirements in the solicitation about references and independence.

Mayor Christopher Beauchamp said he had called references and understood the firm identified in the bid performs tax‑title work for other municipalities; the mayor asked the council to consider the city’s need to proceed with the tax sale after multiple delays. After debate Kenoyer moved to amend the resolution to award to Rhode Island Tax Titles LLC of Lincoln, Rhode Island; the council approved the amendment and then the main motion as amended.

Council members noted they would expect the finance department to execute the contract and to confirm details of unit pricing and the number of parcels before the tax sale is run. The resolution, as amended, passed unanimously. Council members also recorded that the solicitor and another council‑related attorney filed conflict disclosures and briefly left the room while the council discussed the item.

The procurement discussion included a review of estimated per‑unit fees and a projected sample parcel universe; the finance director explained the fee estimates are based on prior tax‑sale experience and that final numbers will depend on how many accounts ultimately proceed to sale.