2020 -- H 8007

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LC005292

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     STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2020

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J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

RELATING TO A LEASE AGREEMENT FOR LEASED EXHIBITION, OFFICE AND

VAULT STORAGE SPACE

     Introduced By: Representatives Abney, Shekarchi, and Edwards

     Date Introduced: March 13, 2020

     Referred To: House Finance

     (by request)

     SECTION 1. This Joint Resolution is submitted pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws §

37-6-2 authorizing a lease agreement for exhibition, office and vault storage space for the

Department of State.

     SECTION 2. Department of State, 33 Broad Street, Providence.

     WHEREAS, The Department of State currently holds a lease agreement with Paolino

Properties, LP for approximately 8,000 square feet of office and storage space located at 337

Westminster Street in the City of Providence; and

     WHEREAS, The leased premises are occupied by the Division of State Archives and

houses permanent government records dating back to the founding years of the colony in the

1630s. Included in the State’s collection are irreplaceable documents, such as the Declaration of

Independence, Bill of Rights and the HMS Gaspee Commission Documents; and

     WHEREAS, The State of Rhode Island, acting by and through the Department of State,

attests to the fact it was notified that this lease will not be extended beyond May 31, 2020; and

     WHEREAS, The Department of State advertised a Request for Proposals in an effort to

secure new space to accommodate exhibition, office, and vault storage space for its Archives

Division; and

     WHEREAS, Upon completing an evaluation of the submitted lease proposals, the

Department of State has selected a site and negotiated the terms of a new ten-year lease for

approximately 11,234 square feet of space located at 33 Broad Street in the City of Providence;

and

     WHEREAS, The proposed leased premises will provide a location from which the

Department of State can better fulfill its mission to engage and empower all Rhode Islanders by

making government more accessible and transparent and encouraging civic pride; and

     WHEREAS, The leased premises will include vault space to properly preserve historical

documents. This will address several issues raised in a report commissioned by the Secretary of

State by archival experts that provided an assessment of the collection; and

     WHEREAS, The leased premises also will allow for a larger exhibition space, public

meeting space, and a more appropriate research space; and

     WHEREAS, The leased premises are in a desirable location because of its visibility as

well as on a public bus route providing easy access to the general public; and

     WHEREAS, The rent in the agreement in the current fiscal year, ending June 30, 2020 is

$160,000; and

     WHEREAS, The annual rent of the new lease agreement for the ten-year term is not to

exceed $280,288.30 which comprises the base rent, landlord’s build-out of the leased premises,

including archival vault storage space; and

     WHEREAS, The State Properties Committee now respectfully requests the approval of

the House of Representatives and the Senate for the lease agreement between the Department of

State and Paolino Properties, LP, for the space located at 33 Broad Street in the City of

Providence; now therefore be it

     RESOLVED, That this General Assembly hereby approves the lease agreement, for a

term not to exceed ten (10) years and at a total aggregate rent not to exceed $2,802,883; and it be

further

     RESOLVED, That this Joint Resolution shall take effect upon passage by the General

Assembly; and it be further

     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State is hereby authorized and directed to transmit

duly certified copies of this resolution to the Governor, the Office of Secretary of State, the

Director of Administration, the State Budget Officer, and the Chair of the State Properties

Committee.

     SECTION 3. This Joint Resolution shall take effect upon passage.

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EXPLANATION

BY THE LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL

OF

J O I N T   R E S O L U T I O N

RELATING TO A LEASE AGREEMENT FOR LEASED EXHIBITION, OFFICE AND

VAULT STORAGE SPACE

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     This Joint Resolution would authorize a lease agreement for exhibition, office and vault

storage space for the Department of State.

     This Joint Resolution would take effect upon passage.

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