Council Defines Assault Weapons, Limbers Tax Plan

In addition to the resolution opposing the ban, the Council also approved a resolution supporting a General Assembly bill limiting prescription costs, and approved first passage of Mayor Frank Picozzi’s new tax plan, up for second passage June 16. 

That plan, noted Tax Assessor Neal Dupuis during the May 5 City Council meeting, lets the City adjust residential and commercial tax rates according to total assessed value. Effectively, Dupuis said, this will allow the city flexibility to adjust tax rates to shift some of the tax burden off residential property owners.

The resolution, PCR-45-25,  asks the General Assembly to amend R.I.G.L §44-5-67.2 regarding property tax classification for the City of Warwick to better stabilize property tax payments. The measure passed unanimously with 8 “yes” votes May 5. 

Monday’s vote was also unanimous, setting the item up for a final second passage this month.

Assault weapons ban vote reconsidered

Shortly after the yellow t-shirt-clad gun rights advocates cleared the room, the Council adjourned for a brief recess, with members engaging in a series of one-on-one discussions between Councilman Ed Ladouceur, who proposed the resolution opposing the ban, Council President Anthony Sinapi, and Councilman Bryan Nappa.

When they reconvened, Sinapi had a revised version of Ladouceur’s resolution ready which addressed Nappa’s objections, already printed. Sinapi announced he had anticipated the definition question and had attempted his own.

The Council debated that update to Ladouceur’s resolution for about 30 minutes, ultimately arriving at agreed upon language:

WHEREAS, the broad definition of “Assault Weapon” in H 5436 and S 359 could be more narrowly tailored to address military style weapons and hardware, such as provided in S 734:

“Assault weapon” means any weapon which automatically shoots, is designed to shoot, or can be readily restored to shoot more than one shot without manual reloading by a single function of the trigger. This shall include the frame or receiver of any such weapon, any part designed and intended solely and exclusively, or combination of parts designed’and intended for use in converting a weapon into a machinegun, and any combination of parts from which a machinegun can be assembled if the parts are in the possession or under the control of an individual. 

“Machine gun” means any weapon as defined in § 11-47-2(10) and shall include any bump-stock device or similar device or attachment which allows a semi-automatic weapon to shoot more than one shot with a single pull of the trigger by harnessing the recoil energy of the semi automatic weapon to which it is affixed so that the trigger resets and continues firing without additional physical manipulation of the trigger by the shooter. 

The Council approved that language on a 6-3 vote, with Councilman Jeremy Rix, Vinny Gebhardt and Bill Foley voting against. 

Prescription bill vote

PCR 70-25, proposed by Council President Sinapi, is a resolution requesting the General Assembly to support the Defending Affordable Prescription Drug Cost Act. 

Some members of the council did not feel that this was the proper setting to be discussing this bill, and that it would be more effective to present it before the state legislature. Councilman Gebhart  was the first to voice the opinion, with Rix and Foley echoing the concern later in the meeting. Gebhart noted the assault weapons ban vote was also not within their influence and best left to the city’s state representatives to argue. He said there are matters before the City Council affecting Warwick more directly. “I think we need to be very cautious about the types of statewide issues that we weigh into,” he said.

A  motion to favorable action was moved by Councilman Ladouceur and was seconded by Councilman Muto.  The motion passed with seven yes votes, one no from Gebhart, and one recusal from Rix. 

Tax Plan vote

PCO-14-25, proposed by Council President Sinapi on behalf of Mayor Picozzi, was brought forward during Monday’s meeting. This is an ordinance amending Section 2-16 of the Code of Ordinances to codify the City of Warwick’s Tax Classification Plan provided in R.I.G.L. § 44-5-67.1 through § 44-5-67.3. 

In light of PCR-45-25 being passed unanimously during the meeting on May 5  and the Resolution being sent to the General Assembly requesting the City of Warwick be granted more flexibility in setting its commercial property tax rate, Council President Sinapi on behalf of Mayor Picozzi proposed PCO-14-25, which will allow Warwick to implement this flexibility. 

Councilman Nappa motioned to favorable action as a proposed amendment, which was seconded by Councilman Muto. 

The first passage was unanimous. The second passage will be voted on at the next meeting on June 16. 

Author: Natalie Ferland