November 4, 1992 - Special City Council Meeting

CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS

SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 1992

CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS

A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CENTRAL FALLS CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD IN THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON THE ABOVE DATE AT 7:15 P.M.

ROLL CALL:

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS

COUNCILMAN FERRI

COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU

COUNCILMAN CANAVAN

QUORUM PRESENT.

CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ROBERT CANAVAN PRESIDED.

ROBERT MOREAU, CITY ASSESSOR HAD REQUESTED PERMISSION TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL RELATIVE TO RHODE ISLAND HOUSING MORTGAGE FINANCE CORP. AND THEIR TAX STATUS. HE PRESENTED THE REQUEST FOR A TAX ABATEMENT AND STATED THAT THIS WOULD BE FORWARDED TO THE COUNCIL. HE ALSO DISCUSSED TWO OPTIONS RELATIVE TO THIS MATTER WITH THE COUNCIL.

ROBERT MOREAU FURTHER STATED THAT THE CITY PRESENTLY HAS 12 EXEMPTION CATEGORIES NOW WITHOUT ADDING 2 MORE.

HE STATED NO ONE ELSE IS GRANTED THIS EXEMPTION. HE COMMENTED THAT THIS SHOULD NOT BE GRANTED AND THAT THE MAYOR AGREES THAT THE CITY CAN'T AFFORD THIS EXEMPTION.

MR. MOREAU ALSO COMMENTED THAT HE SPOKE WITH THE MAYOR AND COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU WITH REGARDS TO THE REVALUATION. HE STATED THAT IT WOULD TAKE AT LEAST A YEAR TO IMPLEMENT. HE STATED THAT HE NEEDED TO OUT TO BID ON THIS AND THAT THE CITY HAS NO CHOICE ABOUT THE REVALUATION AS IT IS STATE MANDATED. HE STATED THAT THE LEGISLATURE EXTENDED THIS FOR ONE YEAR AND THAT IT IS REQUIRED FOR THE 1994 PAYABLE. MR. MOREAU STATED THAT HE WOULD HAVE TO GO TO BID ON THIS PROJECT.

CITY PURCHASING AGENT DANIEL ISSA REQUESTED A COPY OF THE PROPOSED SPECS SO THAT HE COULD RUN A BID AD AND BRING THIS BEFORE THE PURCHASING BOARD.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU QUESTIONED MR. MOREAU.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS QUESTIONED MR. MOREAU REGARDING NECESSARY STEPS FOR THIS PROCESS.

COUNCILMAN FERRI COMMENTED.

WITH NO OBJECTION THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT MOVED ITEM #5 UP ON THE AGENDA.

COUNCILMAN FERRI QUESTIONED MR. MOREAU ON THE TRAILERS ON HIGH ST.

MR. MOREAU RESPONDED.

THE CITY COUNCIL DIRECTED MR. MOREAU TO SEND A TAX BILL FOR THE TRAILERS TO THE OWNER OF THE PROPERTY.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN COMMENTED AND QUESTIONED THE VENDING MACHINES AT G.T.E. MR.MOREAU RESPONDED AND STATED THAT HE WOULD CHECK MACHINES.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU QUESTIONED MR. MOREAU ON THE STATUS OF HIS SECRETARY.

APPOINTMENT OF ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER AND REGIONALIZATION OF SERVICES.

CITY CLERK DANIEL ISSA READ CORRESPONDENCE FROM MAYOR LAZIEH REGARDING REGIONALIZATION OF ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN COMMENTED.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU COMMENTED.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN COMMENTED IN FAVOR OF REGIONALIZATION STATING THAT THERE WOULD BE NO UNIFORM ALLOWANCE TO PAY, NO LAY OFF FEES AND IT WOULD BE EASY TO GET OUT OF IF THE PROJECT DIDN'T WORK.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU QUESTIONED THE PROPOSAL STATING THAT IT WASN'T IN WRITING, HAS THE PROPOSAL BEEN ACCEPTED BY THE TOWN OF CUMBERLAND AND WHAT IS THE LIABILITY TO THE CITY WITH REGARDS TO THE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER AND WOULD IT BE A CUMBERLAND ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER OR A CENTRAL FALLS RESIDENT.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN STATED THAT FOUR COUNCIL MEMBERS WERE PRESENT AT A MEETING WHEN MAYOR LAZIEH COVERED THIS ITEM.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU STATED SHE HAD A PROBLEM WITH THIS PROPOSAL SINCE ITS NOT IN WRITING.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS STATED THAT IT WAS HIS UNDERSTANDING THAT THE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER WOULD STILL BE PAID WITH CENTRAL FALLS FUNDS AND WHEN THE ALLOTMENT WAS GONE THE CITY MUST ALLOCATE FUNDS AND SUPPLY EQUIPMENT AND THE LIABILITY TO THE CITY WOULD BE THE SAME.

COUNCILMAN FERRI ASKED COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS IF CUMBERLAND WOULD TRAIN THE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS RESPONDED.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN COMMENTED THAT THE INFORMATION FROM CUMBERLAND DIFFERS FROM MAYOR LAZIEH'S PROPOSAL.

COUNCILMAN FERRI STATED THAT HE DID NOT SEE THE ADVANTAGE OF SO CALLED REGIONALIZATION WHEN THE CITY IS ALREADY SPENDING FOR EQUIPMENT AND LIABILITY.

COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE STATED THAT IT WILL LEAVE CONTROL WITH CUMBERLAND. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THE MAYOR ASKED THE CITY COUNCIL TO DELAY A DECISION. HE STATED THAT THE MAYOR HAD A CONFLICT AS TO FROM WHAT

ACCOUNT THE COST WOULD BE PAID FROM.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU QUESTIONED THE MAYOR'S ABSENCE RELATIVE TO THE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER AND TRAILER PROBLEM. SHE STATED THAT THE CITY SOLICITOR SHOULD BE HERE FOR GUIDANCE. SHE COMMENTED THAT SHE WAS TIRED OF DEPARTMENT HEADS NOT ATTENDING MEETINGS AND THAT SHE IS EXTREMELY UPSET AND THAT IT WAS NOT PROPER FOR THESE PEOPLE NOT TO BE AT SOME MEETINGS.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN STATED THAT HE WOULD CHECK THE CHARTER TO SEE ABOUT THE COUNCIL'S SUMMONS POWER RELATIVE TO THE MAYOR AND DEPARTMENT HEADS.

COUNCILMAN FERRI STATED THAT SINCE THERE IS NOTHING IN WRITING RELATIVE TO THE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER AND REGIONALIZATION HE COULD NOT APPROVE OF THE PLAN. HE STATED THAT HE IS PREPARED TO PRESENT A NAME FOR THE POSITION.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU COMMENTED.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN COMMENTED.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS COMMENTED.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU STATED THAT SHE WANTED TO AMEND THE ORDINANCE RELATIVE TO THE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER AS TO WHOM THE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER IS TO REPORT TO AND TRAINING.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS COMMENTED ON A PROPOSED AMENDMENT TO THE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER ORDINANCE.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU COMMENTED.

MOTION TO DEFER THE APPOINTMENT OF THE ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER TO NO LATER THAN NOVEMBER 16, 1992 WAS MADE BY COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU.

NO SECOND.

COUNCILMAN FERRI COMMENTED THAT TIME WAS IMPORTANT.

MOTION BY COUNCILMAN FERRI TO PLACE IN NOMINATION THE NAME OF MARIA NEVES AS ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU SECONDED.

ROLL CALL:

MOTION DIES 3 NO 2 YES 0 ABSENT.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU MOVED TO APPOINT WILLIAM BENSON ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER. SECOND BY COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE.

ROLL CALL:

MOTION CARRIED 3 YES 2 NO O ABSENT.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU MOTIONED TO TABLE THE DETENTION CENTER MATTER. SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE.

ROLL CALL:

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

MINIMUM HOUSING DEPARTMENT.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU QUESTIONED MR. RODRIGUES ROLE WITH REGARDS TO THE MINIMUM HOUSING DEPARTMENT.

CHARLES PYTEL, MINIMUM HOUSING DIRECTOR STATED THAT THE DECISION WAS MADE BY MAYOR LAZIEH RELATIVE TO THE MATTER.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU ASKED IF A FULL TIME CLERK HAS BEEN HIRED FOR THE DEPARTMENT.

MR. PYTEL RESPONDED NO.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU ASKED IF AN EXPLANATION WAS GIVEN AS TO WHY ONE HASN'T BEEN HIRED.

MR. PYTEL RESPONDED NO AND STATED THAT JUST A DIRECTIVE WAS GIVEN.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU STATED THAT THE HOUSING DIRECTOR HAS BEEN RELIEVED OF HALF HIS DUTIES.

MR. PYTEL STATED THAT HE ASKED THAT THIS BE PUT IN WRITING BUT THAT THAT HAS NOT BEEN DONE. HE ASKED WHAT DOES HE DO WHEN COMMERCIAL IS ON THE FIRST FLOOR AND RESIDENTIAL IS ON THE SECOND.

COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE QUESTIONED MR. PYTEL'S CORRESPONDENCE TO THE STATE BUILDING COMMISSION REQUESTING THAT THEY ACT ON THE DETENTION CENTER PROJECT AND ASKED MR. PYTEL TO EXPLAIN THIS REQUEST.

MR. PYTEL STATED THAT IS WAS IN HIS BEST INTEREST AND THE CITY'S BEST INTEREST BECAUSE OF THE STATE'S EXPERIENCE RELATIVE TO THIS TYPE OF PROJECT.

DISCUSSION ENSUED BETWEEN COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE AND MR. PYTEL.

COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE STATED THAT HE HAS ATTEMPTED TO REACH MR. RODRIGUES FOR THE PAST THREE WEEKS TO NO AVAIL. HE FURTHER STATED THAT THERE IS A PROBLEM WITH THE BUILDING PERMIT AND WHO SIGNS IT.

COUNCILMAN FERRI QUESTIONED MR. RODRIGUES' ROLE AS ALTERNATE BUILDING OFFICIAL AND ASKED WHERE HE OBTAINS THE PERMITS FROM.

MR. PYTEL RESPONDED. HE STATED THAT HE DOESN'T KNOW MR. RODRIGUES' SKILLS.

COUNCILMAN FERRI ASKED IF MR. RODRIGUES WORKED OUT OF THE MINIMUM HOUSING OFFICE.

MR. PYTEL RESPONDED NO.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS COMMENTED THAT HE HAD A PROBLEM WITH JOHN RODRIGUES DOING INSPECTION WORK. HE STATED THAT HE DID KNOW MR. RODRIGUES SKILL LEVELS IN THIS FIELD. HE STATED THAT THE PERCEPTION IS NOT GOOD.

MR. PYTEL STATED THAT PERSONAL INTEGRITY IS IN QUESTION AND WHO WOULD REMEMBER 5 YEARS DOWN THE LINE WHAT TOOK PLACE AT THIS TIME. HE STATED THAT HE PREFERRED THAT MR. LAMBERT DO THE WORK. HE FURTHER STATED THAT HE HAS NO CONTACT WITH MR. RODRIGUES. 

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS STATED THAT MR. PYTEL SHOULD BE INSPECTING THE LARGEST PROJECT SINCE G.T.E.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU STATED THAT MR. RODRIGUES JUST BECAME STATE CERTIFIED AND ANDRE LAMBERT IS SECOND.

DISCUSSION ENSUED BETWEEN COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU AND MR. PYTEL.

MR. PYTEL READ CORRESPONDENCE FROM MAYOR LAZIEH TO HIM.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU COMMENTED.

MR. PYTEL STATED THAT THIS MEMO WAS NOT NECESSARY.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU STATED THAT SHE FELT THE MAYOR WAS NOT CORRECT IN APPOINTING AN ASSOCIATE BUILDING OFFICIAL. SHE FURTHER STATED THAT MR. RODRIGUES IS ALREADY A DEPARTMENT HEAD.

COUNCILMAN FERRI ASKED IF MR. PYTEL HAD ANY RECOMMENDATIONS TO THE COUNCIL REGARDING THE PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR BEING ASSOCIATE BUILDING OFFICIAL.

MR. PYTEL STATED THAT HE WAS NOT HAPPY, BASED ON THE INFORMATION GIVEN, HE STATED THAT HE HAS NO CONTACT WITH MR. RODRIGUES AND HE ISSUED A BUILDING PERMIT THAT SHOULDN'T HAVE. HE STATED THAT HE WAS ORDERED BY HIS BOSS.

COUNCILMAN FERRI FURTHER QUESTIONED MR. PYTEL.

MR. PYTEL STATED THAT THE STATE SAYS MR. RODRIQUES IS QUALIFIED. MR. PYTEL STATED THAT HE DOESN'T FEEL HE IS.

COUNCILMAN FERRI REQUESTED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL TRY TO ARRANGE A MEETING WITH MR. RODRIGUES FOR THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN STATED THAT THE MAYOR'S ACTIONS WERE DONE WITHOUT THE COUNCIL'S KNOWLEDGE. HE STATED THAT CHARLES PYTEL SHOULD WRITE THE COUNCIL A LETTER IF A PERMIT WAS ISSUED THAT SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN. HE ALSO COMMENTED THAT NO ONE AGREES WITH THE MAYOR ON THIS ISSUE.

MR. PYTEL STATED THAT HE HAS TAKEN CARE OF THE SAFETY ISSUES ON THAT BUILDING PERMIT BUT THERE ARE STILL

VIOLATIONS. HE COMMENTED THAT HE WOULD SEND THE MAYOR THE LETTER FIRST AND THEN THE COUNCIL.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS STATED THAT THE COUNCIL WOULD FORM AN INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE MATTER.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU TOLD MR. PYTEL THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WAS 100% BEHIND HIM IN THIS MATTER.

INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCE AMENDING ARTICLE I SECTION II (B) ENTITLED MUNICIPAL COURT.

SO INTRODUCED.

MOTION TO ADJOURN WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FERRI. TIME 9:53 P.M.

_____________________________

DANIEL J. ISSA, CITY CLERK