Cranston council sends proposed special‑meeting advertising rule back to committee after extended debate

The Cranston City Council on Nov. 17 decided to send an ordinance that would change how the city advertises special meetings back to committee after extended discussion and a brief legal recess.

Council members, residents and staff spent more than an hour debating proposed changes to ordinance 102503, an amendment to City code on advertising special meetings that would allow continued posting of notices online rather than require placement in the local weekly newspaper. Council vice president Heroyan urged support, saying the change arose from a clerical misreading of a home‑rule charter amendment and that online posting would preserve transparency while saving taxpayer advertising costs: "...this will enable the council to schedule a special meeting when necessary and still give the public notice without worry about printing and deadline..." (attorney's summary as read by the council vice president).

Opponents and several public commenters argued the proposal risked excluding residents who lack internet access or prefer printed notices. Joy Fox, who said she had followed the ordinance's committee history, urged retaining a print option, noting special meetings still require a 48‑hour notice: "...we should be increasing obligations for transparency among our elected officials and not rolling them back." Councilman Ritz and others suggested using the Providence Journal when possible or keeping print "if time permits" as a compromise.

Council members also debated the precise legal standard and wording. The council briefly recessed so legal staff could advise whether adding a phrase such as "if time permits" would be a substantive change requiring committee review. After consulting the solicitor's office, members concluded the proposal needed clearer, legally precise language and voted to send 102503 back to the ordinance committee for revision.

The vote was procedural and sent the measure to committee for redrafting rather than approving or rejecting the substance. Council members said the committee should return with language that protects access for residents who rely on printed notices while allowing timely, cost‑effective digital posting when appropriate.

Council members signaled several priorities for the rewrite: (1) specify time thresholds or hours rather than vague terms such as "if time permits," (2) identify which newspapers qualify as a paper of general circulation and whether online versions suffice, and (3) ensure compliance with Rhode Island's Open Meetings Act and related charter provisions.

Next steps: ordinance 102503 will go back to the ordinance committee for redrafting and a future committee and council vote.