Council approves on-floor resolution to cover hot-water-tank repairs at 444 Westminster

The Providence City Council voted to pass a resolution on the floor to finalize repairs to a hot-water system serving 444 Westminster, a property the city leases from Joseph Palino.

Councilwoman Anthony urged the council to approve the measure immediately, saying, "I'm asking that the council pass this on the floor because it's an urgent math matter." She told colleagues the building is served by two hot-water tanks, one of which was already out of service, and that delaying repairs risked a broader failure.

Clerk notes attached to the item record that the original contract price was $19,400 and that the contractor requested an additional $5,650 after discovering an improper expansion tank during installation. Because the change order exceeded 20% of the original contract, the matter was placed before the council rather than handled administratively.

A motion was made to waive the reading of the item and pass it on a voice vote; the motion carried. The item was also noted to be referred back to the Board of Contract and Supply for final administrative processing as recorded by the clerk.

The council did not provide a detailed line-item funding breakdown on the floor; the clerk recorded the procedural referral to the Board of Contract and Supply but documents with the contract file and final accounting were not presented during the meeting.

The next procedural step recorded in the meeting was referral back to the Board of Contract and Supply for final handling of the change order and contract paperwork.