[CREDIT: Rob Borklowski] Warwick City Hall on Post Road. The Warwick City Council approved a $50 million New High Schools Bond ask of the General Assembly. If approved, the new bond would be the subject of a special referendum vote later this year.WARWICK, RI — The Warwick City Council approved seeking a $50 million new high schools bond last week supplementing the $350 million bond for the project.
Council asks for New High Schools Bond Special Referendum vote
“The goal is to make sure the two high schools get done and we’re not left with any issues,” said Warwick City Council President Anthony Sinapi during the April 21 meeting’s finance committee discussion of the bond. The resolution also allows any remainder of the bond to be allocated toward other improvements in the city.
Councilman Brian Nappa said the city could use the balance to upgrade the facilities. However, he said, “This is absolutely not a nod from the City Council that our building committee, Left Field, and whoever else is involved in the construction to go ahead and spend $400 million dollars. In no way is that the intention.”
“We’re at a point currently, where we know the schools can’t be built with $350 million dollars,” said Mayor Frank Picozzi before the Council’s Finance Committee, referencing the original bond passes to fund the new high schools project.
“My belief is that when they begin building at Toll Gate there’s going to be huge cost overuns,” Picozzi said, however, “It’s certainly not an invitation to spend $50 million dollars. We’re going to have to keep our eyes on it.”
Lynne Prodger, city treasurer and interim finance director, noted the new bond may be paid over either a 20, 25 or 30 year term. The request to put the new bond on a special election ballot would go to the General Assembly, which, if approved, would then be scheduled for a special election later this year.
During public comment on the topic, Barry Cook said that if the money needed to pay for the complete project is $28 million, “Float $28 million dollars. Don’t float $50 million dollars and put 12, or 13 or $15 million and put it into the fields.” He also urged the Council to make sure the voters are on board with the new bond and to have a contingency plan for the school project in place if the additional funding doesn’t pan out.
Michelle Komar said the extra funding, bonded after the original $350 million ask of voters, when the state would have reimbursed some of the additional funds, is irresponsible timing.
“That’s on the taxpayer’s back a hundred percent,” she said.
David Champagne, Ernest Almonte and Angela Murray.
Councilman William Foley abstained from the vote on Champagne, noting his personal relationship with the nominee.
Darlene Netcoh, Warwick Teachers Union President and resident, asked when the Commission is going to meet, and how often, and how much it would cost the city. She did not receive an immediate answer to those questions.
“I want to renew my opposition to this commission. I went and testified against it at the State House. I don’t think it’s right, Netcoh said.
Netcoh also protested that while the city side got three appointees, the school only gets two. “That’s not cool,” Netcoh said.
“The public needs to know when this commission is meeting. It needs to be well publicized and the public needs to watch it in action. And we need the numbers,” Netcoh said.
Council supports increasing public records fees to $25 per hour
During discussion of the Council resolution supporting General Asssembly legislation to increase the fees on public records requests from $15 per hour to $25 per hour after the first hour of work to produce them, Councilman Bryan Nappa, who proposed supporting the increase, said there are about $3,000 worth of unpaid public records request fees currently.
Nappa said those are outstanding bills incurred by outside businesses requesting documents from the city. Those delinquent records requesters would be addressed by the part of the resolution requiring prior fees be paid before the city will perform additional records work, he said.
Councilman Sal DeLuice asked, “Why should they pay that $25 an hour fee if it’s only going to take a few minutes?
Nappa said there is no fee for the first hour, so such situations wouldn’t incur any charges.
“I happen to welcome the public records requests from our community activists,” saidd Councilman Ed Ladouceur, including Bob Cushman, Barry Cook, Komar, and Rob Cote. He said interested citizens like them are vital to keeping city business in check.
“To increase the burden, the financial burden, on the residents of Warwick who are looking to gather this information, who are willing to spend their time to do this, and of seniors who can’t afford to be paying those types of numbers for information that for the most part, should be readily available, is nothing I’m going to support.” Ladouceur said, adding, “They pay taxes. They’re entitled to receive answers to their questions and concerns.”
He also, noted that needing to pay up front before a subsequent request may not be fair, since sometimes the request delivery can be up to 30 days, which would mean they don’t have the opportunity to review the documents before deciding if they will make an followup within the 30 days.
Councilman Jeremy Rix said the increase was fair. “The proposed increase would not even keep up with the cost of inflation.”
The resolution passed 7-1 with Ladouceur voting against.
Rob has worked as reporter and editor for several publications, including The Kent County Daily Times and Coventry Courier, before working for Gatehouse in MA then moving home with Patch Media. Now he's publisher and editor of WarwickPost.com. Contact him at editor@warwickpost.com with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.
![[CREDIT: Rob Borklowski] Warwick City Hall on Post Road. The Warwick City Council's first meeting adjusts rules on meeting agendas, moving public comment one item later, and preserves a rule cited in a First Amendment Lawsuit against the Council.](https://e8dgfhu6pow.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Warwick-City-Hall.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
![[CREDIT: Rob Borklowski] Warwick City Hall on Post Road. The Warwick City Council approved a $50 million New High Schools Bond ask of the General Assembly. If approved, the new bond would be the subject of a special election later this year.](https://e8dgfhu6pow.exactdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Warwick-City-Hall-336x252.jpg?strip=all&lossy=1&ssl=1)
