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Cranston council sends special‑meeting advertising ordinance back to committee after access debate
Summary
After extended debate over whether to replace print newspaper notices with online postings, Cranston City Council voted to send an ordinance revising special‑meeting advertising rules back to committee for clearer language and accessibility safeguards.
Cranston — The City Council on Nov. 17 voted to send an ordinance that would change how the city advertises special council meetings back to the Ordinance Committee after a lengthy debate about public access and legal clarity.
The proposed amendment would allow online posting of special‑meeting notices in lieu of mandatory print newspaper advertising. Council Vice President Heroyan said the change was prompted by a misreading of a charter amendment and intended to reduce cost and permit timely scheduling. Heroyan said online posting would ‘‘enable the council to schedule a special meeting when necessary and still give the public notice without worry about printing and deadline’’ while complying with the state open‑meetings requirement to post agendas at least 48 hours in advance.
Several council members and members of the public urged caution. Joy Fox, an advocacy speaker from Warwick, said the ordinance’s origin needed clarification and urged keeping a print option, arguing that some residents lack reliable internet access. Councilman Ritz and others urged flexibility — keeping print when time permits and considering the Providence Journal where feasible — while Councilwoman Graziano said she supported online posting but wanted strong, unambiguous language on when print should be used.
After a brief recess for legal consultation, council members concluded that substantive language changes (for example replacing vague phrasing such as "if time permits") required committee review. The council voted to send the ordinance back to committee so legal staff and members can craft explicit, enforceable wording that balances transparency, accessibility, and operational practicality.
The immediate effect is procedural: no change is in force until the ordinance returns to the full council. The council president said legal counsel and committee members will work on clear criteria for when a printed notice should accompany online posting and what constitutes sufficient public notice under state law.
