CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 7, 1990
A Special City Council Meeting was held in the City Hall Council Chambers on the above date at 8:00 P.M.
Roll Call present
Councilman Charbonneau
Councilman Laroche
Councilwoman Moreau
Councilman Sienkiewicz
Councilman Vaudreuil
Council President Albert O. Laroche presided.
An Ordinance Amending the Zoning Ordinance
Council President Laroche read the Zoning Ordinance.
Motion was made by Councilman Vaudreuil and seconded by Councilman Charbonneau to strike section 14. All Agreed So Voted.
Motion to approve as amended was made by Councilman Charbonneau and seconded by Councilman Sienkiewicz. All Agreed. So Voted.
An Ordinance Amending Chapter 14 Article VI entitled "Food Establishments".
Motion to approve was made by Councilman Sienkiewicz and seconded by Councilman Vaudreuil. All Agreed. So Voted.
An Ordinance Relating to Chapter 14 entitled Licenses Establishing Article XIII Entitled General Merchandise License.
Motion to approve was made by Councilman Charbonneau and seconded by Councilman Sienkiewicz. All Agreed. So Voted.
A Resolution Requesting an Audit of the City of Central Falls.
Motion to approve was made by Councilman Charbonneau and seconded by Councilwoman Moreau. All Agreed. So Voted.
Councilman Charbonneau commented and wants to change vote on Amending the Zoning Ordinance.
Councilman Charbonneau moved too have the Mayor sit elsewhere.
No second on motion.
Motion was made by Councilman Vaudreuil and seconded by Councilwoman Moreau to reconsider vote on Amending Zoning Ordinance. All Agreed. So voted.
An Ordinance Amending the Zoning Ordinance.
Motion was made by Councilman Vaudreuil and seconded by Councilwoman Moreau to strike section 14. All Agreed. So Voted.
Motion to approve as amended was made by Councilman Vaudreuil and seconded by Councilwoman Moreau. 4 yes 1 no. Motion carried.
Casimir Pulaski Mutual Aid Society - Raffle for Scholarship Fund.
Motion to approve was made by Councilman Sienkiewicz and seconded by Councilman Charbonneau. All Agreed. So Voted.
Holy Trinity School - 40 Week Club to begin on March 31, 1990.
Motion to approve was made by councilman Vaudreuil and seconded by Councilwoman Moreau. All Agreed. So Voted.
Central Falls Community Center Inc. - Softball Tournament April 7, 8th and 14 at Macomber Field. Motion to approve was made by Councilman Vaudreuil and
seconded by Councilwoman Moreau. All Agreed. So Voted.
Eugene T. Lefebvre Post - Annual Poppy Drive May 18, 19, 1990.
Motion to approve was made by Councilman Sienkeiwicz and seconded by Councilwoman Moreau. All Agreed. So Voted.
James Belanger by his Attorney Gerald J. Pouliot for injuries sustained on Dec. 18, 1989, Central Falls Police Department.
Motion to accept and place on file was made by Councilman Sienkiewicz and seconded by Councilwoman Moreau.
Motion to refer to Claims Committee was made by Councilman Sienkeiwcz and seconded by Councilwoman Moreau. All Agreed. So Voted.
Unanimous consent was given to consider the following application: G.A.M. Corp. d/b/a The Sportsman Club at 55 Sheridan St., C.F. request for extended hours for fundraiser event to raise funds for the Soccer Tram. Motion to approve was made by Councilman Sienkiewicz and seconded by Councilman Charbonneau, subject to the bar closing at 1:00 a.m. and two policemen to be on duty, the extended time would be 2:00 a.m. All Agreed. So Voted.
Mayor Lazieh addressed the City Council regarding the City's Budget and the finding of the Audit report. He related to the City Council that the 1988/1989 fiscal year was facing a major budget deficit which would affect this year's and the future budgets. The possible loss of the State's cut of $277,000 would cause an even greater concern. Mayor Lazieh stated that the City of Central Falls was not in the position that other communities had in which they could draw from a surplus but rather we are faced with accumulative deficit in excess of $2 million dollars. With this he has taken the following cost saving measures:
Reduction on Capital Spending and all but emergency spending will be allowed.
Eliminate 1 Police Patrolman position.
Reduction of all overtime in all department, except for emergencies.
Freeze in the hiring of 1 full time clerk and 1 part time clerk in the Library.
Eliminating all non essential part time positions.
Delay the Hiring of the Director of Minimum Housing.
Delay the Hiring of the Planning Director.
A general hiring freeze in all City Departments.
No new personnel or additional spending for the newly organized recycling program.
Reorganization of City Departments such as the Municipal Court by elimination of the Associate Judge: Planning and Minimum Housing and other areas of City Government.
Increasing of License and Permit Fees.
Better tracking of Claims against the City and an all out effort to seek reimbursement for damage to City Property.
Because the City is in an emergency situation, a 2% charge was added to the COBRA, which is an administrative cost or handling charge for Blue Cross.
Better utilization of the City's service contracts.
Temporary elimination of the heavy trash collections.
Possibly having a property tax revaluation.
All out effort to obtain grants and to continue to explore the revenue of the Detention Facility, Resource Recovery Facility and the Court in the former Health Tex complex.
The Mayor stated that the City must have a financial base established along the Service Industries rather that the Manufacturing Industries of the past. He also addressed the School Department's spending and informed the council that 58% of the budget went to Education. He spoke on the possibilities of regionalization of the schools in the future. "The road is long and bumpy, but there will be an end."
Senator Issa commented on the Fight for more State Aid.
Rep. Elaine Coderre commented.
Motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Charbonneau and seconded by Councilman Sienkiewicz. All Agreed. So Voted. Time 9:30 P.M.
Daniel J. Issa, City Clerk