“Making the Sausage” in Cranston Continues. City Council Meeting (VIDEO). Council to Meet Again.

May 16, 2026/RINewsToday

A second Special City Council meeting was held last night, May 16, and can be viewed below. The meeting lasted approximately 2 hours and 45 minutes, compared to the previous night’s session, which extended beyond four hours.

In sharp contrast to the prior evening, attendance was sparse and only a few people testified.

Another meeting is scheduled for Monday, May 18, as part of the regular full City Council meeting agenda. The Council President is also scheduled to discuss the budget process during Monday’s meeting. Councilman Andujar is expected to raise the “Status of Economic Development grants.”

Resolutions discussed — though at times confusing in their detail — would approve a legislature-required tax levy increase of up to 4.9%, with the stated goal of never actually reaching that amount and instead remaining within the level already proposed by the city. The approval was described as a “backstop” in the event an urgent financial need arises while the budget is being finalized. A 4.6% tax levy increase can be adopted without going to the legislature, and was voted on.

Council members also discussed extending the deadline for final budget decisions to June 1, noting that any required legislative action must occur before that date.

Calling Out the Media for Disclosing Facts, Comments Made by Officials

Discussion continued over how Council members are learning information during the budget process, with several comments referencing details first heard “in the media” or “on the radio.”

RINewsToday has repeatedly asked Council President Dan Wall for clarification on several issues and, to date, has received no response. Wall’s call for improved communication did not address the Council’s responsibility to clarify developments in the budget process when questions are posed directly by the media. In prior comments, he has said it is “not something to respond to” when misinformation is reported or discussed publicly.

Wall also challenged statements by the Mayor suggesting additional funds had been “found” to save the Senior Center, saying, “No money was found — it was not found until it was allocated by the Council.” He added that he was hearing information he himself did not know through “The Dan Yorke Show” and by reading “the paper.”

Nicole Renzulli, the City’s communications director, noted that the Mayor had participated in five interviews regarding the budget in an effort to fully respond to media inquiries and inform the public on the process. However, no direct comment was made regarding the Council’s own responsibility to provide information to the media when requested. Wall later suggested that perhaps the Mayor was “tired and misspoke” when describing the funds as having been “found.” He also praised Renzulli for her work handling communications during the budget process.

Councilman Ritz remarked, “We could cure cancer, but if we put people out of work, we’d be called out on that.”

Council members outlined various budget adjustments and reallocations that restored some funding, including portions of the Senior Center budget. An approximate $2 million was also divided roughly evenly between the Senior Center and the School Department. While public outcry has largely focused on the Senior Center, Council members repeatedly acknowledged the significant needs facing the schools, with Councilman Traficante raising the issue several times.

Minutes of the Cranston City Council

City Council minutes have not been posted in the required public area on the Secretary of State’s website since March 4, 2026. At the May 18 meeting, minutes from meetings held April 15, 16, 20, and 29 are all scheduled for approval.

The most recent Finance Committee minutes currently posted are from April 18 and were uploaded on May 6.

Revenue Generation, Fee Increases, and New Ideas Requested

While most of the budget debate has centered on cuts and eliminations — including possible impacts to the Department of Economic Development — comparatively little discussion has focused on generating new revenue.

At last night’s meeting, several fee increases were approved as a means of bringing in additional income.

Council President Wall also encouraged fellow Council members to propose additional revenue ideas, saying, “If there are any other fees to increase revenue…” they should bring them forward.

Among the ideas discussed was the possible use of speed cameras, particularly in neighborhoods and school zones such as Garden City, where speeding has been a concern. Wall noted that some communities have generated between $1 million and $2 million annually through speed camera enforcement.

Another proposal discussed was creating a tiered commercial tax structure that would distinguish between smaller businesses and larger commercial entities, similar to systems used in other municipalities.

Several members congratulated the Council for working so cooperatively to solve the city’s financial crisis.

Here is the full video of the meeting: