Board of Canvassers – Aug 4, 2026

What was decided

The board voted to approve four local ballot questions for the November 3, 2026 General Election. The questions cover term limits for the Mayor and City Council, compliance with ethics laws, and appointment of the Police Chief and Fire Chief.

Agenda

The meeting may certify the final form of four local ballot questions for the Nov. 3, 2026 General Election. The questions cover term limits for the Mayor and City Council, compliance with ethics laws, and appointment of the Police and Fire Chiefs.

Show the agenda's 5 items
  • Vote to certify four local ballot questions to the Secretary of State for the Nov. 3, 2026 General Election ballot
  • Question 1: Mayoral term limits. Would remove the consecutive-service loophole and set a 12-year lifetime limit for Mayor (Charter section 3-400)
  • Question 2: City Council term limits. Would remove the consecutive-service loophole and set a 12-year lifetime limit for Council members (Charter section 2-100)
  • Question 3: Compliance with ethics laws. Would require all elected and appointed officers to follow relevant city and state ethics laws, and update enforcement and penalty provisions (Charter sections 8-100, 300 and 301)
  • Question 4: Appointment of Police and Fire Chiefs. Would have the Mayor, with approval of a majority of council members, appoint the Police Chief and Fire Chief (Charter section 4-700)

Meeting details

Where
580 broad st., Central Falls, RI, 02863

Terms used here

ADA
Americans with Disabilities Act, the federal law on access for people with disabilities.

All the terms in the glossary

About this page

Summary written by AI from the minutes posted by Rhode Island Open Meetings portal (opens in new tab). Checked against an AI transcription. Both come from AI, so they can share a mistake. Check the original before relying on it. How summaries are checked

Read the full minutes

Transcribed by AI from the city's PDF. Check the original before relying on it.

City of Central Falls

Board of Canvassers Meeting

Central Falls City Hall

580 Broad St. Central Falls, RI 02863

Tuesday, August 4, 2026

3:00 am

Minutes

  1. Roll Call

The meeting was called to order at 3:18 pm by Chair Ryan Oldmixon. Roll call was conducted, and the following members were present: Ryan Oldmixon, Chair; Belmiro Bala, Member; John Marenzana, Member; Candida Silva, Deputy City Clerk; Alberto DeBurgo, City Clerk. A quorum was established

  1. Pledge of Allegance

Ryan Oldmixon led the board in the pledge of allegiance

  1. Items for Discussion, Vote, and/or other action (votes may be taken on all items)

The Board may vote to certify to the Secretary of State the final form of local ballot questions to be placed on Nov. 3, 2026, General Election ballot, The four local questions, in accordance with the R.I. Gen. Laws 17-19-7 are: (votes may be taken on all items)

Central Falls 2026 Local Ballot Questions
  1. CHARTER AMENDMENT REGARDING MAYORAL TERM LIMITS

Shall section 3-400 of the Charter be amended to remove the consecutive-service loophole that currently permits unlimited lifetime service by allowing a Mayor to serve 8 years, sit out a term, and run again indefinitely, and instead establish a 12-year lifetime limit for service as Mayor?

  1. CHARTER AMENDMENT REGARDING CITY COUNCIL TERM LIMITS

Shall section 2-100 of the Charter be amended to remove the consecutive-service loophole that currently permits unlimited lifetime service by allowing a City Council member to serve 8 years, sit out a term, and run again indefinitely, and instead establish a 12-year lifetime limit for service as a City Council member?

  1. CHARTER AMENDMENT REGARDING COMPLIANCE WITH ETHICS LAWS

Shall sections 8-100, 300 and 301 of the Charter be amended to remove ambiguity, clarify that all elected and appointed officers must comply with all relevant city and state ethics laws, and update related enforcement and penalty provisions accordingly?

  1. CHARTER AMENDMENT REGARDING APPOINTMENT OF POLICE AND FIRE CHIEFS

Shall section 4-700 of the Charter be amended to provide that the Mayor, with the approval of a majority of members of the council, shall appoint the Police Chief and the Fire Chief?

A motion to approve all the above 2026 General Election ballot questions was made by John Marenzana Board Member, seconded by Belmiro Bala, Member. Passed 3/0.

  1. Adjournment

Meeting called to adjournment at 3:20 pm. The motion was made by John Marenzana, Board Member, seconded by Belmiro Bala, Board Member. Passed 3/0.

The City of Central Falls is an equal opportunity employer ADA/EOE. TDD/TTY 401-727-7450. This notice is posted in City Hall, Police Department, Department of Public Works, on www.centralfallsri.us and with the Office of the Secretary of State pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws. To review Notice of Citizen's Rights visit the Attorney General's webpage at www.riag.ri.gov

Minutes posted on the Open Meetings portal (PDF, 98 KB). Saved copy (opens in new tab), saved .

Summary written by AI from the agenda posted by Rhode Island Open Meetings portal (opens in new tab). Checked against the city's PDF. Check the original before relying on it. How summaries are checked

The full text is in the city's PDF, linked below.

Agenda posted on the Open Meetings portal (PDF, 153 KB). Saved copy (opens in new tab), saved .

This meeting on the state's Open Meetings portal (opens in new tab), where every public body in the state files its notices and minutes. First recorded by Central Falls Publick on .

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