Thursday, May 17, 2012
The head of the state's Economic Development Corporation has stepped down following the controversy of Curt Schilling's 38 Studios.
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Update: Curt Shilling's company pays missed loan payment, according to WHDH Boston. Keith Stokes has stepped down as the head of the Rhode Island Economic Development Corporation amid the controversy surrounding Curt Schilling’s videogame company 38 Studios, according to the Providence Journal. The company, headed by the former Red Sox pitcher, defaulted on a $1.125-million payment to the state on May 1. On Wednesday, Schilling and members of 38 Studios met with state and EDC officials in an emergency meeting that was closed to the public. In 2010, EDC approved a $75-million guaranteed loan to the videogame company following 38 Studios’ promise to bring 450 jobs to the state by the end of 2012 and moved its business from Massachusetts to …
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
The legislation would relieve the poorest municipalities of state mandates such as cost of living adjustments applied to pension plans and affect collective bargaining agreements.
Governor Lincoln Chafee urged city councilors to support proposed legislation that will give municipalities fiscal relief if they qualify as a "highly distressed community" during Tuesday night's meeting. Following in the footsteps of other communities such as Woonsocket and Warwick, councilors unanimously approved the resolution. "What I'm proposing is to help these communities across the state," he said, adding the legislation would relieve the poorest municipalities of state mandates such as cost of living adjustments applied to pension plans and affect collective bargaining agreements. East Providence does not qualify as a highly distressed community, said the governor. While there are issues to address, the budget commission has been …
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East Providence City Hall
145 Taunton Ave, East Providence, RI
/articles/council-backs-governor-s-proposal-to-lift-state-mandates-for-highly-distressed-communities
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Topics included resident outcry regarding alleged inaction from the zoning officer to inspect TLA/Pond View, proposed charter amendments and more.
During Tuesday night's city council meeting, members reviewed city business, including municipal relief legislation. Governor Lincoln Chafee made a stop at city hall to ask councilors to back the legislation. Other topics included resident outcry regarding alleged inaction from the zoning officer to inspect TLA/Pond View, proposed charter amendments to allow for a rainy day fund and change in fiscal year, and the granting of peddler's licenses to business owners. Scroll through the CoverItLive app to follow meeting actions.
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Barrington Republican Fred Diel, who calls himself the 'Real Diel', officially launches his campaign for the District 66 House seat in Barrington and Riverside.
Republican Fred Diel made it official early last evening – he is running for the District 66 State House seat that represents part of Barrington and Riverside. Diel launched his campaign in front of a gathering of leading Republicans at Billy’s restaurant in Barrington. Among those wishing him well were former gubernatorial candidate John Robitaille, Barrington state Sen. David Bates and RI Republican Party Chair Mark Zaccaria. Standing not far from the podium were Diel’s wife, Kimberly, and 9-year-old daughter, Katrina. He mentioned his daughter as a principal reason why he is running for the General Assembly. “When my daughter graduates from college, I want her to have a good job and stay in Rhode Island,” he said, emphasizing the last …
Monday, May 14, 2012
The budget commission approved ordinances that phase out pre-pay tax discounts.
Proposed phase-outs of the pre-pay property tax program and the Homestead Exemption officially became city ordinances when the East Providence Budget Commission unanimously approved both measures at its meeting last Thursday, according to reports from East Bay Newspapers. The pre-pay tax discount will be discontinued over a period of three years, dropping in percentage from two to 1.5 and one before phasing out by fiscal year 2015, reads the report. The Homestead Exemption is scheduled to phased out over a 15-year period beginning this fiscal year, eventually ending completely by FY2026, reads the report. Click here to read public documents provided by the budget commission.
Friday, May 11, 2012
The lifelong conservative Republican to officially declare on Monday his candidacy for the District 66 House seat that serves Riverside and Barrington residents.
Manfred "Fred" Diel says: “It’s all about the economy. If you fix it, all of the other things will come around.” And the Barrington resident believes that the turn-around will start by bringing manufacturing jobs back to Rhode Island. “Then the manufacturers will hire full-time employees, which automatically brings in tax revenue with payroll taxes and decreases the state’s unemployment rate,” he said. Diel, a Republican, is running for the District 66 seat in the state House, which represents parts of Barrington and Riverside. He will officially kick off his campaign for the seat held right now by Joy Hearn of Barrington on Monday, May 14. He has scheduled a 5 pm kickoff event at Billy’s restaurant on Maple Avenue. “It is time for a new …
Thursday, May 10, 2012
Moody's Investors Services reports the city's financial outlook as 'stable.'
Moody's Investors Service recently confirmed East Providence has a "stable' financial rating, taking the city off a credit watch. School committee members announced the good news during Tuesday night's meeting. Interim Superintendent Edward Daft said he was hopeful bonds to fund schoolwide renovation projects would finally be issued. City bonds are secured by a general obligation unlimited tax pledge, according to the report. "Concurrently, Moody's has also confirmed the Baa2 rating on the Rhode Island Health and Education Building Corporation Bond Issue," according to the report. The city is currently saddled with approximately $28.7 million in outstanding debt. The report also provided a summary of the city's financial strengths and …
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Project supporters are hopeful the legislation is passed by early June and wind turbines will be spinning soon after.
In a 4-0 vote during Tuesday's meeting, East Providence City Council members approved supporting a resolution that urges the General Assembly to enact legislation that establishes the East Bay Energy Consortium (EBEC). Nine communities have agreed join in on the green project that would erect wind turbines to cut energy costs. Project supporters are hopeful the legislation will be approved by May or early June, according to East Providence Planning Director Jeanne Boyle. A potential site has been targeted in Tiverton. It is an industrial area, she said. It's still unknown how energy dividends would be split among the involved communities. Eric Bush, project manager of the project attended the meeting to answer questions councilors may …
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East Providence City Hall
145 Taunton Ave, East Providence, RI
/articles/council-supports-east-bay-energy-consortium-legislation
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Wednesday, May 2, 2012
Read along with updates posted live from Tuesday night's city council meeting.
During Tuesday night's city council meeting, members discussed agenda items including economic development initiatives, the Forbes Street Solar Project and upcoming negotiations with East Providence union representatives. Multiple members of social service non-profits asks councilors to support Community Development Block Grants (CDBG). Presently, a draft budget is up for review; many of the non-profits will not receive the same amounts they received in prior years. Members also unanimously agreed to send legislation to the State House that will make East Providence part of the East Bay Energy Consortium. According to Planning Director Jeanne Boyle, a potential site to install wind turnines has been located in a Tiverton industrial space…
Tuesday, May 1, 2012
A state legislator's bill to ban people under 21 years of age from entering alcohol-serving nightclubs is up for a hearing tonight — do you think it will work?
Saying that allowing people under age 21 to go to nightclubs that serve alcohol is "a breeding ground for trouble," State Rep. Joy Hearn (D-Barrington, East Providence) has introduced a bill to stop the practice. Hearn's bill is scheduled for a hearing by the House Judiciary Committee this afternoon. "I’ve introduced this bill before, but never has this been a more critical problem than it is today with all of the violence happening at our nightclubs," Hearn said in a press release. Hearn noted the recent violence at a downtown Providence clubs, including an early-morning riot outside Level 2 reported on Easter Sunday by WPRI.com. "The legal drinking age is 21 because that is an age when individuals are generally mature enough to handle …
JJD
7:15 pm on Wednesday, May 16, 2012
To be honest, I'm a little bored too, I thought they were in receivership anyway. Why isn't the DEM all over this? I understand the issue with the zoning officer not doing his job, but why must 20 people point that out in succession at every meeting. And to me, relying on the zoning officer is like taking an eight year old little leaguer to bat against Roger Clemens. more ›