CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MONDAY, JULY 29, 1991
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
A Special Meeting of the Central Falls City Council was held in the City Hall Council Chambers at 8:00 P.M.
Councilman Brousseau
Councilman Charbonneau
Councilman Laroche
Councilwoman Moreau
Councilman Vaudreuil
Quorum present.
City Council President Albert O. Laroche presided.
Councilman Brousseau commented on the position of Animal Control officer and the need for this position to be full time. He also stated that this was the only Community where the Dog Officer was part time. He presented the following for this position.
1. Full time position with a salary of $326.92 per week with the usual benefits.
2. Work (on call) 40 Hours per week reporting to Chief of Police.
(a) when not involved in Animal Control duties he/she would be used by Chief where needed. (example meter tags.)
3. Overtime at time and one half (1 1/2).
4. Clothing Allowance $400.00.
5. Evaluation URI testing center for purposes of carrying gun.
6. Position to remain non-union appointed by the City Council with reappointment every two years as current practice.
Chief Sasso commented and felt that this is a full time position and would be governed by the rules of the police Department.
Councilwoman Moreau questioned the expense involved with overtime.
Chief Sasso commented that this could be worked out by a 32 hour week which would also call for a seven day work week, he also explained that overtime could amount to a % of base salary.
Councilman Charbonneau asked why there was a need to pay overtime when this position calls for a 24 hour on call duty.
Chief Sasso commented that this was according to federal labor laws.
Councilwoman Moreau commented that a % rate on a salary of $15,000. per year with a maximum of $1,000 for overtime cost could be set in the guidelines for this position.
Councilman Brousseau commented that the details could be worked on and asked permission to take this request to the Review Commission.
Motion was made by Councilman Brousseau and seconded by Councilman Charbonneau to propose to the Central Falls Review Commission that the position of the Dog Officer be made a full time position.
Roll Call:
| Councilman Brousseau | yes |
| Councilman Charbonneau | yes |
| Councilman Laroche | yes |
| Councilwoman Moreau | yes |
| Councilman Vaudreuil | yes |
Motion carries 5 yes 0 no 0 absent.
Meeting was opened for public comments by Council President Laroche at 8:30 P.M.
Mary Phillips read from a prepared statement and commented on the treatment centers and enforcement of this problem. She also commented on a recent article in the newspaper regarding Chief Sasso's comments.
Chief Sasso commented on the newspaper article and the many problems of enforcement related to prostitution. He stated that the biggest problem was drugs and their addiction to them. He stated that the real need was to get rid of the drug dealers.
Pete Demeule suggested that the hookers and liquor seem to go together and stated that closing local pubs earlier would help solve some of these problems.
Richard Muggle commented on the problem and congratulated the Council on taking steps to correct the problem. He stated that he wished that there was less media involvement in this meeting.
Council President Laroche commented.
Richard Muggle recommended that the City Council amend charter on the number of police officers in the Police Department and allocate funds to help fight this problem with more police and money.
Council President Laroche commented on the Budget and Ordinances.
Eugene Primeau talked about the problem with prostitution in his neighborhood and the many johns from different states seen on his street cruising for these hookers. He asked what he could do about this both as a resident and taxpayer.
James Meunier a former Central Falls Police Officer commented on the work of the Central Falls Police Department and commended them for their hard work. He commented on the work of Chief Sasso and stated that there wasn't a more dedicated Chief.
Tony Garcia spoke on the problem of prostitution and that this is not a new problem to any community. He stated that the Drug Problem had to be dealt with first and that laws need to be made stronger to deal with drugs and prostitution.
Harry Thornley stated that this problem was not just on Dexter and Broad Streets but also on Pine St. He said the Police Department is doing a splendid job and that they needed more help.
Ann Bruen owner of City Limits stated that she takes offense to the comment that prostitution and liquor businesses go hand in hand. She stated that if such a business is not run properly then there are means available to deal with this problem.
Officer Bruce Ogni of the Central Falls Police Department stated that the Police do everything possible to control this problem. He stated that there aren't enough Officers and money available to the job. He also commented that fines are not enough to deal with this problem but that prison time and rehab time must be enforced. He also stated that more enforcement on johns should be implemented. He stated that Drugs are destroying America.
Gert Dumont commented that this problem has been going on for years.
Terry Barczykowski urged that law enforcement should do whatever it takes to solve this problem.
Len Leskowicz asked if any of the prostitutes tested HIV positive.
Chief Sasso said there were several. He also stated that as long as he is chief he would do everything possible to deal with drugs and prostitution.
Councilman Charbonneau commented on the Municipal Court. He also asked if johns go before the City's Municipal Court.
Chief Sasso stated there is nothing on the books that allows johns to go before the Municipal Court.
Councilman Charbonneau asked if Rep. Faria would introduce enabling legislation for the purpose of allowing johns to go before the Municipal Court.
Rep. Faria stated that he would.
Councilwoman Moreau commented on Neighborhood meetings, legislation on prostitutes who test HIV positive.
Rehabilitation for prostitutes was discussed and funding was discussed through police fines.
Edna Poulin explained the fines collected and how much of each fine is placed in certain accounts or paid to the state.
Comments were made about Ordinances related to Rehabilitation Programs for prostitutes, stiffer fines for johns and HIV testing.
Discussion ensued.
Councilman Brousseau commented on taking out an ad when johns are arrested.
A representative from the Barton St. Association commented.
Council President Laroche formed a Citizens Committee and asked members of the City Council to volunteer for this Committee.
Carnival sponsored by McDonalds Aug. 10, 1991 11am-6pm Motion to approve as made by Councilman Charbonneau and seconded by Councilman Brousseau.
Roll Call:
| Councilman Brousseau | yes |
| Councilman Charbonneau | yes |
| Councilman Laroche | yes |
| Councilwoman Moreau | yes |
| Councilman Vaudreuil | yes |
Motion carries 5 yes 0 no 0 absent.
James Meunier d/b/a New England Lemonade
Motion to approve subject to rules and no bells after 9:00 p.m. was made by Councilman Charbonneau and seconded by Councilman Brousseau.
Roll Call:
| Councilman Brousseau | yes |
| Councilman Charbonneau | yes |
| Councilman Laroche | yes |
| Councilwoman Moreau | yes |
| Councilman Vaudreuil | yes |
Motion carries 5 yes 0 no 0 absent.
Councilman Brousseau read the letter from City Solicitor George Muksian regarding the MMC contract where the City Council asked if personal responsibility could be assessed to individuals with regards to this contract.
Councilman Brousseau then commented on the following:
MMC contract was signed by Mayor Lazieh and Tax Assessor, Roland Bouvier on March 29, 1990.
Mr. Bouvier was tax assessor for twenty years.
That the purpose of the contract was for the Mayor's Classification Program.
That the Classification Bill did not pass General Assembly until July 1990, after contract was awarded.
Referendum passed in November of 1990.
Numbers had to be revised in 1991 because of the economic situation at that time.
City Council was not apprised nor did the City Council approve the awarding of this contract.
No bids were sent out for this contract even though at the meeting for the market study the Mayor stated that bids were sought and later restated that the bid was awarded to the lowest responsible bidder.
The Department of Administration found that the market study could not be used and called for a full and fair revaluation.
City Solicitor stated that the impact notices were useless.
Tax Assessor stated that he never published a request for bid for this type of contract.
Councilman Brousseau then distributed copies of the Pawtucket Times which contained articles dated July 13, 1983 which is captioned "Revaluation beginning soon."
Councilman Brousseau began to read from this article which addressed the firms interviewed for the revaluation. He also read from an article dated Aug. 4, 1983 which detailed the examination of a firm selected for revaluation.
Councilman Brousseau questioned City Solicitor on looking back on the 1983 articles and noting that the Tax Assessor Roland Bouvier and City Clerk Thomas Lazieh were the same players then as they are now and that the articles indicate that the City did indeed go out to bid for the 1983 revaluation.
City Solicitor Muksian explained that the Articles placed in the paper does not indicate that the City went out to bid, but rather, that the paper used the word bid to indicate that the City did seek the best possible price for the revaluation. He then explained the bid process as called for in the charter, which states that a call to bid must be advertised in a paper of local distribution, in this case the Evening Times. He then stated that the articles cannot be used as a basis for indicating that the bid process was used and that the evidence of this would be based on hearsay as based upon the historical comments of the writer of the article.
Councilman Brousseau asked the City Solicitor if this would require the actual bid which would be found in the legal section of the paper.
City Solicitor Muksian responded yes. He further commented that he could not find any evidence that this was done and that the Purchasing Board minutes would also show if there was such a bid. He indicated that this process taken did not show any malicious or wrongdoing on the part of the participants of that time. He also indicated that if such evidence could be found that this may very well change his opinion.
Councilman Brousseau asked how the information on the companies could be obtained if no bid process was followed.
City Solicitor Muksian replied that Mr. Bouvier would have to be asked for the information.
Councilman Brousseau asked if City Solicitor Muksian could obtain the information from Mr. Bouvier for the next meeting.
City Solicitor Muksian responded that he would.
Councilman Brousseau asked if this could be withdrawn because the Governor has vetoed this bill.
Motion was made by Councilman Brousseau and seconded by Councilman Charbonneau to asked the City's Representatives and Senators to resubmit this bill in their next session.
Roll Call:
| Councilman Brousseau | yes |
| Councilman Charbonneau | yes |
| Councilman Laroche | yes |
| Councilwoman Moreau | yes |
| Councilman Vaudreuil | yes |
Motion carries 5 yes 0 no 0 absent.
Motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Charbonneau and seconded by Councilman Brousseau. All Agreed. So Voted. Time 10:50 P.M.
ELIZABETH A. CROWLEY
DEPUTY CITY CLERK