Energy Consortium Needs Certain Powers

New legislation to create the quasi-public East Bay Energy Consortium needs some clarification, including an explanation of proposed eminent domain power and issuing of bonds.

The East Bay Energy Consortium (EBEC), made up of the nine East Bay communities, has submitted a bill to the Legislature to enable the creation of a quasi-public agency. New legislation creates a need to clarify issues and to inform the public. Background: EBEC was formed in late 2009 to use renewable energy and energy efficiencies to save taxpayer money by reducing the amount of energy our municipalities pay for. (Schools, streetlights, water treatment, and municipal buildings require a lot of energy.)  Each city and town joined through council resolution and a cash contribution or in-kind payment, and each city and town council appointed one representative and alternates to attend meetings and report back to the municipality. Entity: …

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Govstench

8:21 am on Monday, May 14, 2012

The Portsmouth Turbine has had a very bad history with engineering challenges with the PUC over its rates. It has already replaced the battery system to keep it on standby. All of these parts, and probably the transmission, are made in Europe. Shipping delays will be long and the costs associalted with replacing that transmission set will be big. Do we see a cash revenue problem here? This energy…   more ›

Letter: Budget Commission 'Has Put an End to Our Food Pantry'

This letter was submitted by school committee member Chrissy Rossi.

Editor's note: During Tuesday night's council meeting, Chrissy Rossi, a member of the East Providence School Committee, asked members of the budget commission why the city hall food pantry was allowed to be dismantled by the budget commission. According to City Manager Peter Graczykowski, the decision was born from financial motives. Affirmative Action Officer Elmer Pina's time should be allocated toward other areas, he said, adding there are many food pantries operated by churches and agencies throughout the city. Those who retrieve food from city hall could be referred to those organizations. Rossi said she was disappointed; others could have volunteered their services to keep the city hall's pantry operational. This letter was written …

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JJD

1:13 am on Saturday, May 5, 2012

TAPIN in Barrington also served EP residents as well. It does seem like Mr. O'Keefe likes to target the poor and children, but in this particular case I can understand why this service wasn't needed.   more ›

Tell It Like It Is! Blog On East Providence Patch

We know you have something to say, so join the conversation on Patch and share it!

About this time last year, Patch rolled out a new platform for members of the community to be heard. Now, we're making it even easier to get involved in Bristol-Warren Patch's Local Voices. At Patch, we're devoted to finding ways to make your life as ridiculously easy as possible. So we've changed the way blogging works to make it easier for you to start blogging right away. All you have to do to get started is visit our blogging page and click "Post on Patch." From there, let your typing fingers run rampant (but coherently, please) and when you're done writing and have saved your work, hit submit! Patch is more than a news site. It is a free place to post upcoming events. It's an online conversation about the community. But to keep the …

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Letter from Hail Family: 'Help is Contagious'

This letter was submitted by Andy and Cindy Hail, parents of Alec Hail, a freshman who needed a wheelchair conversation van.

To the editor, Andy, Alec, Alaina and myself thank [the community] from the bottom of our hearts for being so supportive of us and Alec’s need for transportation. We also cannot possibly thank enough my dear sister/friend, Julie Friend, who is the founder, chairperson and adviser for Al’s Wheels. Also our many thanks to Mike Silva, Daniel LaBrie and all of the Townie Volunteer Corps for taking on our cause. They did it with such eagerness and were so generous with their time in making this fundraiser such a success. They have been faithfully working on Al’s Wheels for the past six weeks. This fundraiser tonight would not have happened without all of their help. We also want to thank Cathy Conley for her much appreciated advice in setting …

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Letter: Residents 'Can Breathe a Huge Sigh of Relief' After Coyote Removal

This letter was submitted by Meghan Haskell.

To the editor, I would like to thank the East Providence Animal Control, East Providence Police Department, and Environmental Police for their hard work and diligence in resolving part of the coyote problem here in the city. Over the past several months, we have had one mangy coyote living and feeding on private property in the community putting many seniors, children, and pets in serious danger. Although coyotes are generally afraid of any interaction with humans, when they are fed, they have a tendency to attack. It is advised that people not approach or chase these animals, as they are not domesticated, but with curiousity, people tend to be drawn to the animals and this is when accidents occur. Environmental Police were able to safely …

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Letter: We Need to Find the 'Courage to Rebuild Our Economy'

This letter was submitted by Rep. David Cicilline (D-RI).

To the editor: In 1972, a progressive New England Democrat, who had already established a reputation for working with Republicans, proposed an ambitious reform of federal education laws to help low-income families afford the cost of a college education. In a presidential election year, and with extensive media attention focused on the use of busing to desegregate schools, his proposal faced an uphill climb before it would become law. Yet, in spite of their differences, Republicans and Democrats in the Senate would work together to pass the Higher Education Act of 1972, a bill that President Nixon later noted was "the key which unlocks [the door to education]" for young Americans. Unfortunately, times have changed. In Washington, the …

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Govstench

9:06 pm on Monday, May 7, 2012

Davey boy just keeps cranking out the sausage........this guy needs to go. I am so sick of this clown being in our faces. I hope the 1st district wakes up and sees this guy for what he really is - a clown. You can take that other turkey Whitehouse out while your at it. What a waste he is.   more ›

Letter to the Editor

East Providence Business Owners Angered by New Registration Fee

This letter was submitted by Laura McNamara, executive director of the East Providence Area Chamber of Commerce.

To the editor, This week approximately 1,600 envelopes were mailed to East Providence businesses with a $25 invoice from the City of East Providence for a business registration fee. The business registration ordinance was recently approved by the city council on February 28. The fee and a notarized registration form must be returned to the City by April 1, 2012 with a fine of $25/day for each day that it is not returned by the deadline. The East Providence Area Chamber of Commerce phones started ringing as soon as the envelopes started arriving in the mail. Laura McNamara, the chamber’s executive director, said that members and non-members were calling to express their outrage at this “nuisance tax.”  “It isn’t the dollar amount that …

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Joe Botelho

7:13 pm on Sunday, April 8, 2012

Business entities in EP also have to pay an onerous tangible tax for every chair, pencil and piece of equipment they use for the privilege of up opening shop here. They also must pay a minimum of $500 to RI whether they make a profit or not, and if they do, they want a big chunk of that as well. There is a reason that if you look just to the north of us in Pawtucket and especially to our west in …   more ›

Letter to the Editor

Middle School Sports Buffers Against Bullying

This letter was submitted by Rep. Roberto DaSilva.

Dear Governor Chafee: Recently, the state budget commission appointed to the city of East Providence has decided to deprive our students and community of the ability to participate in middle school sports. Although I fully understand the difficult job the commission must undertake, I fear this move will have dire effects on our students’ educational experience and will serve to erode our sense ofcommunity. On Feb. 23, hundreds of East Providence residents joined with our youth to voice their objections to the elimination of middle school sports. It was touching to witness the confidence and conviction these students demonstrated when they stood up before a large crowd to testify to the benefits they have gained in their academic and social…

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Letter to the Editor

Senator DeVall Won't Seek Re-Election

Pension reform helped sway the politician's decision not to run in 2012, reads a letter to the editor.

To the citizens of East Providence, Senate District 18: I have been very proud to serve the city of East Providence for the last four years as your State Senator, so it is with great gratitude and a bit of sorrow that I will not be a candidate for re-election to the 2012 Rhode Island Senate. Through your efforts I was fortunate to serve two terms, representing District 18, with outstanding Senators throughout our State and a legislative staff at the State House we all should be proud of. Since my election in 2008, I have been working on behalf of myconstituents to improve conditions in the lives of those residing in our state. I am proud that legislation I proposed resulted in assisting workers laid off by the closing of the Colibri Group…

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Robert Gagnon

10:43 pm on Saturday, April 14, 2012

Abigail why have you allowed and excellent letter from Frank DeVall a man that has worked hard for the community, has taken time from his personal and professional life to serve in district 18 tirelessly and fairly working for everyone and not a select few to be so distracted by your inability to control or delete the obvious political stupidity that is being posted. You have allowed these posts …   more ›

Letter to the Editor

'Add Middle School Sports to the Basic Education Plan'

A letter to state representatives was written by Chrissy Rossi, a school committee member.

This letter was submitted to state representatives by Chrissy Rossi, a school committee member. Dear Representative Helio Melo, Representative Bob DaSilva, Representative Jack Savage, Senator Frank DeVall Jr. and Senator Daniel Da Ponte, I am writing to you on behalf of the children of East Providence who are about to lose their Middle School Sports Programs. The Budget Commission has line item cut Middle School Sports right out of our budget. Not only does this decision contradict Chapter 16-2-9 of the General Laws of The State of RI but, it will directly and adversely impact over 400 children in the City of East Providence. For a great many of these children, their participation in athletics is the only reason they keep their grades up. …

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