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Resident raises Budlong Pool transparency concerns; administration says HUD approval, audit deadline on track
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Summary
A resident raised concerns about Budlong Pool change orders and public-records responses; the administration said HUD’s Section 106 process was in its final notification step and auditors expect to meet the Dec. 31 audit deadline.
A resident told the Cranston City Council on Dec. 16 she believes the city’s documentation about Budlong Pool is incomplete and raised questions about change order amounts and the public-records process. The administration responded that final federal and historic-preservation steps were underway and that the city expects HUD approval and the ability to begin construction soon, while the city’s audit process remained on schedule.
Susan Blake of 173 Grand Avenue addressed the council during public comment, saying there was a fourth change order with Secochio & Associates for a Phase I environmental site assessment for about $20,542 and asking whether the project was close to exhausting contingency funds. Blake also said a public-records appeal filed by a local resident resulted in an Attorney General finding in favor of the requester and criticized the administration’s prior public-records response. "The lie about the leaking is the only reason that we still don't have a pool," Blake said, referring to the pool’s status.
Director Moretti later told the council the project was waiting on a final advertising period required under Section 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act; if no objections were filed the administration expected HUD to release funds and construction to begin "as early as next week or the week after," weather permitting. Moretti said the pool work would be within the previously discussed project estimate — the transcript records the administration's remark that the figure is in the roughly $4,000,007 to $4,000,007.50 range.
Separately, the council heard from a finance representative that the city's audit process was proceeding: draft basic financials are in hand, the city needs to file a transparency report, and independent auditors were in an internal review. Council members were told the city remained on schedule to meet the Dec. 31 filing deadline and that the auditor would distribute the full, bound report to council members when the process finishes.
No formal action on Budlong Pool was taken at the meeting. Blake's public comment and the administration’s update were entered into the record; the council did not announce any additional steps or votes related to the pool during the meeting.
