Disagreements between Ward 5 Councilman Edgar Ladouceur and members of the City Council and city administration characterized a spicier-than-usual council meeting Monday.

The Council voted in favor of authorizing and supporting Mayor Frank Picozzi in acquiring the Warwick Neck Lighthouse in a 7-1 vote, with Councilman James McElroy not in attendance.

The dissenting vote was cast by Ladouceur- who represents Warwick Neck- on the basis of not knowing how much the project could cost taxpayers.

Ladouceur said that while this was not the final step taken before the city could acquire the lighthouse from the U.S. Coast Guard, it was the last step with any say from the council. In an interview Tuesday, Mayor Frank Picozzi reasoned the resolution enables the city to take the next step to acquiring the property and isn’t a guarantee that Warwick will get it. Denying the resolution, on the other hand, would remove all chances of the city controlling the future of the one-acre property with a view of Narragansett Bay and nearby Patience Island. 

“The Coast Guard is getting rid of all these lighthouses, and they’re getting rid of them because they’re too expensive to maintain,” Ladouceur said. “For this City Council, it is the final decision. You’re not getting another bite at the apple.”

Many councilmembers rebutted, saying that the city is not asking for any money at the moment, and that should it require money in the future, that would go before the City Council for approval.

“Whenever you buy property, there’s always way more information that you want that you’re not going to get,” Ward 8 Councilman Anthony Sinapi said. “That’s just how it works. It’s not ideal, it’s not preferred, but it’s reality. The good news here is we’re purchasing here from a government source as opposed to a private individual.”

The General Services Administration  solicited proposals for the lighthouse and will make a selection from those applications. There is no cost for the property, but in submitting its offer, the city received an estimate on restoring the light and the accompanying light keeper’s house. The city and the Warwick Neck Improvement Association collaborated on the application with the purpose of preserving the property, making it accessible to the public and an educational resource. Jonathan Knight, president of the association, said the group would partner in raising funds to maintain the property. Support was also voiced by Warwick Neck residents and the Warwick Neck Garden Club.

Principal Planner Sean Henry said the city plans to submit the  application later this week.

Paper versus no paper

Ladouceur  also met opposition when he moved to require the city’s Purchasing Division to provide paper copies of documents when requested by a member of the council.

Ladouceur had mentioned in previous meetings that he prefer that documents be printed out for him, as he felt he worked better with paper documents. He also said it was “interesting” that other members of the City Council, as well as the administration, were pushing back on the resolution, something that other council members construed as characterizing them as conspiring against him.

“I’ll have all these documents on my desk- I have identified miscalculations due to it,” Ladouceur said. “Since when does the City Council do the work of the administration? It’s the administration’s responsibility to provide us with the documents that we ask for- it makes it far more difficult for me as an elected official to do my job.”

Those in opposition, though, said that Ladouceur could get the documents printed out by the liaison’s office or by himself without having to bring the city administration into it. Picozzi’s Chief of Staff, Aaron Mackisey, said that the administration opposed the resolution as well, adding the administration “[was] not in the punishing business” in response to Ladouceur’s comments.

City Council President Stephen McAllister accused Ladouceur of bringing his personal business into the resolution, saying that he does not support taking that action and that this wasn’t the first time Ladouceur had taken a similar action.

“I believe that it is just a personal issue between this councilperson and this administration; no one is saying that he can’t get this information, they have given him multiple options, he can print it out himself if that’s what he wants,” McAllister said. “I do not support these types of resolutions. This happened in the past, with previous mayors, from the same councilperson. When he has a personal issue, he tries to put up these resolutions. It’s just not the place and time.”

The resolution failed, with only Ladouceur, Ward 6 Councilwoman Donna Travis and Ward 2 Councilman Jeremy Rix voting in favor.

The City Council also debated on the process of appointments, following a complaint from Travis about the appointment of Ward 7 resident Cheryl Cotter to the Library Board of Trustees due to her not being notified that a resident from Ward 6 was being replaced with someone not living in her ward.

A debate ensued as to whether it would be considered more political to consider ward residency in future appointments.

“I see this as something where having appointments spread throughout the city isn’t introducing politics to it, but rather keeping balance,” Rix said. “It prevents the introduction of politics, where it’s a small handful of wards getting all the appointments.”

In the end, Cotter was appointed unanimously, with Travis saying she was not opposed to her qualifications and Ward 9 Councilman Vincent Gebhart saying that the discussion on considering wards more in appointments should be revisited later. Amy Ottilige was also unanimously appointed to the city’s Wildlife and Conservation Commission.

In a first-of-its kind event, Warwick Public Schools gave a presentation in front of the council on happenings within the schools this year.

The council also unanimously passed a resolution to place a yield sign at the intersection of Birch Glen Ave and Gorton Lake Boulevard.