The Cranston City Council passed a resolution Monday night that offered the support to the Cranston West Alumni Association as it continues its efforts to renovate the school’s auditorium.

While the measure passed overwhelmingly, 8-1, there was some discussion on how to amend it. Ward 1 Councilman Steven Stycos, the lone dissenter, introduced an amendment to add to the resolution that “no city funds will be spent on the project without council approval.”

City Finance Director Robert Strom advised that this would not be necessary, since any money requested would have to come before the council through an ordinance regardless. The amendment was rejected, 7-2.

Council President Michael Farina and Citywide Councilman John Lanni, Jr., saw eye-to-eye on the subject. Farina said that the city would offer whatever it can, whether that be money for a chair or a laborer to perform some painting duties. Lanni saw no reason there couldn’t be some money given in support of the project.

“To say we’re going to paint the walls and do small things, nobody can tell me we can’t come up with some money, some cash to help the project go along,” Lanni said. “I’m sure there’s some money available in this budget.”

Ward 5 Councilman Christopher Paplauskas and Ward 4’s Trent Colford were among the many who voice their support as well.

“I, too, will be supporting this resolution,” Paplauskas said, speaking to CWAA President David DiMaio. “It’s been a long road and I thank you for everything you’ve done.”

“I have a whole lot of family members who are graduates of Cranston West,” Colford said. “The cost of doing this is a tremendous.”

Farina, the sponsor of the bill and a West graduate, said offering the city’s support was a no-brainer.

“I submitted this because I wholeheartedly support the Cranston West Alumni Association,” Farina said. “I have fond memories of that auditorium, and seeing the disrepair it’s fallen into, being there’s an outside organization that raised hundreds of thousands of dollars this is something we can get behind.”

In other news, the council unanimously passed an ordinance that allows a change of zone at 1315 Park Ave. The site was formerly home to a Shell, but there are plans to put a Dollar General on the property now, according to attorney Robert Murray.

While Stycos proposed an amendment to make it a C-2 zone rather than a C-3, which would prevent a drive-thru location from setting up on the site at any point in the future.

Director of Administration Rob Coupe said this would be ill-advised.

“This is a permanent zone change,” Coupe said. “It would ban a drive-thru at this location without data to prove it would be bad.”

The amendment fell, 6-3.

Stycos later received an update from Coupe on the status of his resolution to award an extra five points on applications to those who spoke Spanish or Khmer. Both Farina and Coupe agreed it would be a matter best suited for the new personnel director, whenever they are brought on board.

“I am thankful the council has finally seen the light to hire a full-time personnel director,” Coupe said of the vacant position that he has been filling along with his regular duties. “Decisions have to be made every day about how this city operates and filling vacant positions comes ahead.

Stycos was dissatisfied with the explanation, saying it shows a “lack of concern.”

“This is a Democrat problem, this is a Republican problem and instead we’ve had delays,” Stycos said. “It’s just not a priority and it should be.”