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Warwick RIAC Seat Bill Dies in Senate

The Rhode Island State House is located at 82 Smith St. Providence. The FBI warns of armed protests planned at the RI Capitol at all state capitols.
The Rhode Island State House is located at 82 Smith St. Providence. The FBI warns of armed protests planned at the RI Capitol at all state capitols.
The Rhode Island State House is located at 82 Smith St. Providence.  A bill that would have granted a Warwick RIAC seat died in the Senate without a vote last week.

CORRECTION: An earlier version of this  story reported the  bill to restore a $500,000 payment to Warwick for airport services  from RIAC, ended by the FAA, died in the senate. It was in fact incorporated into the state budget. Warwick Post  regrets, and has corrected, the error.

STATE HOUSE — Rep. Joseph M. McNamara (D-Dist. 19, Warwick, Cranston)’s second stab at a Warwick RIAC seat and a city voice on the Rhode Island Airport Corporation Board of Directors died in the Senate last week.

“Well Warwick, we’ve been denied in our attempt to have a voice on the RI Airport Corporation board,” Mayor Frank Picozzi wrote to Facebook followers Monday.

McNamara’s bill, resubmitted following its first unsuccessful run through the General Assembly, began the legislative session with bright fortunes. The bill (2024-H 7069) would’ve required that one of the seven directors of the Rhode Island Airport Corporation be appointed by the mayor of Warwick with the advice and consent of the Rhode Island Senate.

It passed the House June 4. The measure moved to the Senate, where similar legislation (2024-S 2886) was introduced by Sen. Mark P. McKenney (D-Dist. 30, Warwick). Speaker of the House K. Joseph Shekarchi (D-Dist. 23, Warwick) had also co-sponsored the House version.

“The city of Warwick has been a patient and understanding host of the airport for more than 90 years,” Shekarchi said at the time, noting the RIAC annual payments in lieu of taxes (PILOT) to Warwick to compensate or services provided to the airport don’t adequately compensate the city. The bill, he said, would ensure Warwick’s interests are considered by the board.

But the measure did not survive the Senate, where it was amended then never voted on.

“The Senate then amended it to state that the Mayor would submit a list of three names and the Governor would give the list “due consideration”. I looked at it as not much, but at least a glimmer of hope. Last Thursday was the last day the Senate would meet this year. The RIAC Appointment bill was on the schedule for a vote. During the course of the evening it was taken off the schedule. My source said that the “powers that be” killed the bill. The Senators did not get a chance to vote on it,” Picozzi wrote.

RIAC PILOT Payments Bill added to budget

During a series of arguments the RIAC ended its $500,000 annual PILOT to the city this year, acting on an FAA audit of the payment Picozzi noted was curiously timed.

Shekarchi’s bill re-establishing the PILOT payments under state law was  later enacted in the state’s  budget in early June.

 

Rob Borkowski
Author: Rob Borkowski

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 [email protected] with tips, press releases, advertising inquiries, and concerns.

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