Mayor Frank Picozzi has a full slate of objectives following the resounding voter mandate returning him to office. An independent, Picozzi won nearly 73% of the vote in a three-way race with Democratic candidate Leah Hazelwood and independent Patrick Maloney.

Simply put, Picozzi is looking to win one of the battles he fought and lost during his current term and “stay the course” to complete ongoing projects. In a half-hour interview last week, Picozzi didn’t mention any new initiatives and sidestepped what is fast becoming a major issue: the planned construction of two new high schools and how to fund that project, which appears can’t be completed with the $350-million bond approved by voters in 2022.

“We’re in a holding pattern,” Picozzi said of the schools. The school administration and its project management firm, LeftField, are going through cost estimates and looking for ways to bring them in line with available funding. Additionally, the mayor is seeking legislative support to accelerate state reimbursements that would reduce city borrowing costs. According to School Committee Chairman Shaun Galligan, other sources of funding are also being explored.

Picozzi opposes holding another referendum on the new schools as being proposed by Ward 5 Councilman Ed Ladouceur.

“You don’t take a Mulligan,” the mayor said. Further, he ventured a guess that only about 5% of registered voters would vote in a special election, which would be unrepresentative of the population.

Looking for seat on RIAC board

Topping Picozzi’s list as the General Assembly prepares for another session is legislation giving the city a seat on the Rhode Island Airport Corporation board of directors. Picozzi expects Rep. Joseph McNamara to resubmit legislation that failed to pass in the closing hours of the last session in June.

“We’re going to do everything we can to get it,” he said. Picozzi called on the public to lobby their state representatives and senators for a bill allowing the mayor to name a single member of the board that oversees operation of Rhode Island TF Green International Airport and the state’s five general aviation airports. Such a measure had the support of the House and seemingly would sail though the Senate until Gov. Dan McKee, after a Senate hearing, raised questions about how the legislation could affect the appointment of other state agency boards. House Speaker K. Joseph Shekarchi sought a compromise giving the governor the power to select a member from a list of three candidates provided by the mayor. Picozzi is looking for the right to select a member of the board.

For teams, a place to play

Picozzi sees the rejuvenation of Mickey Stevens Sports Complex a priority now that the Department of Environmental Management has given the green light to renovating the property that was once the site of an incinerator. The administration is in the process of developing and advertising a request for proposals for the complex. In 2016 voters approved a $7-million bond for the complex. It is not clear whether the administration would seek to use those funds in addition to grants for the work.

At Monday’s meeting, the City Council authorized design services for the Mickey Stevens Sports Complex, a first step to the upgrade.

Picozzi is anxious to have at least one field at Mickey Stevens available for play since existing high school ballfields have become sites for the new schools.

Good relationships with Democrats

Although city Democrats and the state delegation rallied behind Hazelwood during the campaign, Picozzi sees them putting aside politics when it comes to working together for the benefit of the city. He said both Sen. Jack Reed and Rep. Seth Magaziner called to congratulate him after polls closed. He is also hopeful of a good working relationship with the City Council, which may now be fully Democratic. Although Democrat Anthony DeLuise won the most votes in the Ward 4 contest, independent JoAnne Miller is contesting how the party picked him as the candidate soon after Michael Penta withdrew since he is moving out of the ward.

Picozzi expects no issues working with Ward 8 Councilman Anthony Sinapi, whom fellow Democrats elected council president last week. “I’ll get along with anyone working for the betterment of the city,” he said.

Citing how his administration invested federal ARPA funds in capital projects and equipment and not in expenditures in order to balance the budget, Picozzi said the city is in a good financial position. He points out that between federal, state and city funding, Warwick has repaved scores of roads including the four-lane Jefferson Boulevard. His one regret is Kilvert Street, where work was delayed because of nearby construction and the need to realign the road  near a solar farm to accommodate sidewalks.

He made a point of saying the city won’t leave a dime of ARPA federal funds on the table when applications for the money expire. This includes $100,000 of the $200,000 the administration set aside for Ward 2 projects. Unlike other council members, Jeremy Rix did not come up with a list of projects totaling $200,000. The money will now be allocated by the administration wherever it sees fit.

Keeping the pipes clear

Considering other elements of the city’s infrastructure, Picozzi was complementary of the Sewer Authority and its director, Betty Anne Rogers. He said the authority is on top of replacing or renovating aging and failing infrastructure. He said the same needs to happen in the Water Division, which he will be addressing.