Cranston City Hall is the nucleus of the city's government and where the city is officially run and managed. It's also where residents go to get copies of vital records, pay their taxes or handle their building or zoning permit requests.
Cranston, with a population of about 80,000, is presided over by Mayor Alan Fung and represents a microcosm of the United States, combining rural farmlands in the west, dense urban life in the east and several tightly-knit suburban communities that range from postwar suburban developments like Garden City and historic villages with colonial roots, like Pawtuxet Village and Oak Lawn.
The offices of the board of canvassers, the personnel department, information technology and tax assessor can be found on the first floor. On the second floor, the city auditor, tax collector, city clerk and finance and purchasing departments are located. The third floor holds the offices of mayor, planning department and economic development as well as the city council chambers, which is where city council meetings and Probate Court hearings are convened.
City Hall was constructed with Works Progress Administration funds in 1936. The building was designed by Howe and Church and ended up located on Park Avenue after a political battle between the Republican party, which was the dominant political force, and the Democrats, who preferred city hall to remain in Knightsville. The decision to locate City Hall in Auburn was made against the advice of the City Plan Commission, but it solidified Auburn as the center of civic life in Cranston.
A directory of city departments and phone numbers is available at the city's website or by calling the main number.