Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Authorization of new tax bills passes after tepid support from Woonsocket reps.
The House Finance Committee approved the legislation authorizing the city to issue supplemental tax bills following the tepid support of Reps. Jon D. Brien (Democrat - District 50, Woonsocket) and Lisa Baldelli-Hunt (Democrat - District 49, Woonsocket) this afternoon. Both representatives said their support for the bill stemmed from their courtesy to local officials rather than their affinity for the legislation or their belief that it would work. Their testimony was delivered before the Finance Committee at 3 p.m. in Room 35 on the basement level of the State House. "I believe that significant and immediate structural reforms are needed to avert a fiscal crisis in our city and we respectfully suggest that as a first priority, our city …
Members decide to wait for General Assembly's decision on supplemental tax.
Councilman Dan Gendron announced a change of heart Monday night, moving that the Woonsocket City Council table the proposal that they ask for a budget commission. Most of the rest of the council voted to put the request on a back burner. The only holdout was Councilman Albert Brien. He was in favor of a vote on the issue, he said, but only so he could vote 'No'. "I am against a budget commission at any time," Brien said. Gendron and the other members of the council were not as fervent in their reluctance to ask for state intervention, but most were wary of asking for the state to step in if it wasn't as a last resort. "We do not have the option of asking them to leave," Gendron said, and a budget commission could end up running the city'…
42.00287
-71.51371
Woonsocket City Hall
169 Main St, Woonsocket, RI
/articles/city-council-tables-request-for-budget-commission
505492
/locations/7070346
Thursday, May 17, 2012
Bill was held till Woonsocket delegation weighed in with their support.
After hearing the Woonsocket delegation's support for the supplemental tax bill, the House Finance Committee has scheduled a vote on the measure Tuesday. The bill, which would authorize Woonsocket to levy an additional tax on property and motor vehicles to raise up to $6.6 million, was tabled by the Committee on Tuesday, May 15. Larry Berman, communications director for the Speaker, said bill was tabled because nobody from the Woonsocket delegation testified on the bill, which left their position on the measure in doubt. "The House leadership was waiting for them to weigh in on this," Berman said. He said members of the city's delegation have since stated they're in favor of the bill. The vote on the bill (2012-S 2872A), sponsored by …
Ward told members of joint Council, School Committee working session that bill could get second shot.
City Council President John Ward told members of the Council and School Committee Wednesday that the act authorizing the city to issue new tax bills could get another chance May 22. Ward spoke during a Council working session at Town Hall last night, with School Committee Chair Anita Forcier-Mcguire, School Committee Vice Chair Vimala Phongsavanh and Superintendent Giovanna Donoyan present. He said he'd spoken with Rep. Jon Brien (Dist. 50, Woonsocket) earlier Wednesday and had learned the Finance Committee might be considering the act again as early as next Tuesday. The Finance Committee tabled the authorizing legislation Tuesday, May 15. "It usually means that the bill is killed," when a committee tables a bill for further study, said …
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Mayor, Council President answer questions about need for supplemental tax bill.
The House Finance Committee has tabled the act authorizing a supplemental tax bill after hearing city and state officials speak for it and two citizens opposing the measure. The act, S2872, would authorize officials to raise as much as $6.6 million for the financially strapped city. Without it, Woonsocket will be out of money by the end of the month. A hearing on the matter aired today during a Capitol TV broadcast. After the Committee heard from and questioned Woonsocket Mayor Leo Fontaine and Woonsocket City Council President John Ward, the cause for the supplemental tax got support from the state, but testimony from two Woonsocket citizens ended the hearing on a note of opposition. Susan Greschner, chief of municipal finance for the …
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Superintendent considers closing Fifth Avenue School, converting Bernon Heights to a middle school.
Parents are questioning the wisdom of a proposal to close Fifth Avenue Elementary and convert Bernon Heights to a middle school for fifth and sixth-graders. The changes are a possible part of Superintendent Giovanna Donoyan's new budget plan for the Woosocket Education Department. The Valley Breeze reports parents and teachers are organizing to oppose the proposed changes. City Council President John Ward said it makes sense to draw up additional budget options. During the April 17 City Council meeting, Ward noted his own children, who are now grown, attended Bernon Heights, and he sympathizes with the community's desire to maintain the schools as neighborhood schools. Given the opposition to the proposals, he said, it makes sense for …
41.99451
-71.503729
Bernon Heights Elementary
657 Logee St, Woonsocket, RI
/articles/parents-question-proposed-fifth-avenue-bernon-heights-changes
1718834
/locations/6876108
41.99946
-71.52898
Fifth Avenue Elementary
65 5th Ave, Woonsocket, RI
/articles/parents-question-proposed-fifth-avenue-bernon-heights-changes
1718831
/locations/6876109
42.00287
-71.51371
Woonsocket City Hall
169 Main St, Woonsocket, RI
/articles/parents-question-proposed-fifth-avenue-bernon-heights-changes
505492
/locations/6876110
42.00346
-71.51508
City of Woonsocket Department of Education
108 High St, Woonsocket, RI
/articles/parents-question-proposed-fifth-avenue-bernon-heights-changes
505279
/locations/6876111
taxed2death
5:20 am on Thursday, May 24, 2012
well thiers two more I don't have to vote for if I still in RI. the outlook for woonsocket could be foreclosure,bankruptcy,walk aways, tax liens, more ›