December 22, 1993 - Special City Council Meeting

CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS

SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING

WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1993

CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS

AT 7:00 P.M.

THE MEETING BEGAN AT 7:08 PM

ROLL CALL

A QUORUM IS PRESENT

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

NOT ON AGENDA UNANIMOUS CONSENT GRANTED FOR:

CORRESPONDENCE

CITY CLERK ISSA READ INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF ELECTRICAL INSPECTORS

RE: WAIVER OF FEES FOR HOLY TRINITY CHURCH

MOTION TO ACCEPT AND PLACE N FILE PAQUETTE SECOND MOREAU

FIVE TO ZERO, MOTION CARRIES

MOTION TO GRANT REQUEST TO WAIVER FEES AND PERMITS FEES SECOND MOREAU

FIVE TO ZERO, MOTION CARRIES

ATTORNEY GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE RE:AAC PROSECUTIONS

PAQUETTE MOVED TO ACCEPT AND PLACE ON FILE SECONDED MOREAU

MOTION TO ACCEPT AND PLACE ON FILE SECOND

FIVE TO ZERO, MOTION CARRIES

RESOLUTION (PASSAGE)

EDNA POULIN SPOKE AT REQUEST OF CANAVAN

QUESTION ON WHO ELSE WILL BID ON BONDS. POULIN SAID RESOLUTION WOULD ALLOW OTHER BIDDERS, BUT TO CLARIFY THE RESOLUTION.

SECTION 4: CHANGE TO DIRECTOR OF FINANCE AND MAYOR ...EXECUTE ...AND OTHER MEMBERS OF THE UNDERWRITING SYNDICATE, IF ANY RELATING TO THE PURCHASE OF THE BONDS."

COPY PROVIDED TO THE CLERK AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT.

MATTHEWS COMMENTED.

CITY CLERK ISSA READ THE RESOLUTION AS AMENDED.

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION REFUNDING BONDS OF THE CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS.

MATTHEWS MOVES TO AMEND THE RESOLUTION

SECONDED BY PAQUETTE

ROLL CALL:

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS

COUNCILMAN FERRI

COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU

COUNCILMAN CANAVAN

FIVE TO ZERO, MOTION TO AMEND CARRIES

PUBLIC HEARING OPENED ON RESOLUTION ON GENERAL OBLIGATION NOTES REFUNDING.

NONE FROM PUBLIC.

MOTION TO APPROVE PAQUETTE AS AMENDED SECONDED BY MOREAU

FIVE TO ZERO, MOTION CARRIES.

RESOLUTION (PUBLIC HEARING)/FINAL PASSAGE DEFERRED FROM 12/20/93 IN RESPONSE TO THE ACTIONS OF THE CENTRAL FALLS

DETENTION FACILITY CORPORATION (HEREINAFTER "CORPORATION") TO PROMOTE THE COMMITMENT OF INMATES SERVING TERMS OF IMPRISONMENT AT THE DONALD W. WYATT DETENTION CENTER.

CANAVAN SPOKE ON THE ACTIVITIES IN WASHINGTON DC TODAY.

SOME OF THE INFORMATION IS CONFIDENTIAL AT PRESENT, AND COUNCIL WILL BE INFORMED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION, UNDER NEGOTIATIONS BY MATTHEWS.

MOTION TO GO TO EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER NEGOTIATIONS AND LITIGATION CHAIR SECONDS

MATTHEWS

FERRI

PAQUETTE

MOREAU                               ABSTAINS

CANAVAN

FOUR YES, ONE ABSTENTION

7:20 CLOSED TO EXECUTIVE MEETING

7:25 RESUMED MEETING

CANAVAN AND PAQUETTE WENT AT OWN EXPENSE TO WASHINGTON DC. WITH STATE AND FEDERAL OFFICIALS, BRIEFED COUNCIL ON THE ACTIVITIES.

US DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE OFFICIALS. SECOND IN COMMAND SPOKEN TO. HE IS CONVINCED THAT 13 MONTHS AGO, THIS FACILITY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN BIG ENOUGH. PRISON POPULATION FOR MARSHALLS SERVICE HAS DROPPED OFF DUE TO NUMEROUS REASON, IE. THE ATTORNEYS GENERAL HAVE NOT BEEN REPLACED. IGA IS NOT A GUARANTEE. CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION IS ON BOARD AT MEETING-ALL REPRESENTED. NY AND OTHER FEDERAL DETAINEES ARE BEING TRANSFERRED THERE. IN THE NEXT TWO WEEKS, 100 TO 110 DETAINEES UNDER MARSHALLS OFFICE THERE. EVERY EFFORT THAT CAN BE MADE IS BEING MADE. OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES ARE BEING NEGOTIATED WITH. HE IS CONVINCED THAT IN TIME, THE FACILITY WILL BE FILLED WITH FEDERAL INMATES. THIS COUNCIL PUSHED THEM, AND CANAVAN FEELS THAT THIS IS ONE OF THE REASON THINGS ARE IMPROVING. NORTH CAROLINA INMATES HAVE NO BEARING ON THE MARSHALLS.

PAQUETTE: EVERY EFFORT IS BEING MADE, AND IT TAKES TIME. CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION IS SUPPORTING OUR EFFORTS, AS WELL AS GOVERNORS OFFICE TO GET DETAINEES INTO THE FACILITY.

FERRI: QUESTIONED

CANAVAN RESPONDED.

PUBLIC HEARING OPENED 7:43 PM

STANLEY PETRASKA SPOKE UPSET WITH INABILITY OF COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU TO ATTEND EXECUTIVE SESSION BECAUSE OF THE ETHICS COMMISSION STATEMENT.

ROSE MARIE CANAVAN: FIFTY PRISONERS TWO WEEKS AGO, NOW WE HAVE SIXTY MORE, WHAT IS THE CRISIS NOW? IF YOU FILL THE BEDS WITH NC PEOPLE, THEN WE WILL BE PUT ON BACK BURNER. DETENTION COMMITTEE FACED THE PROBLEM AND MAKE A DECISION. MOVE AGGRESSIVELY, DON'T STRAY FROM PATH.

WILFRED DEMEULE WANTED TO QUESTION MOREAU

HE CONFIRMED THAT CHRIS MORRISEY AGREED TO SEND DETAINEES HERE TO CF. NOWHERE NEAR 200 HE CLAIMS WAS SAID.

PIERRE BEAUCAGE, WAS AGAINST THE PROJECT FROM START. IT IS HERE, NOW WE MUST DEAL WITH IT. DETENTION CENTER IS A STUPID IDEA. BUT YOU MUST FOLLOW IT THROUGH, FOLLOW THROUGH ON THE PROJECT. FIND OUT WHY IT DID HAPPEN.

MRS. J. MCLAUGHLIN GET OFF THE POT, SHE CLAIMS 300 INMATES ARE COMING IN. SHE CLAIMED FRANK FLAHERTY SAID FIRST PAYMENT IS THERE. IF COUNCIL DOESN'T BLOCK THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG.

REP. JOSEPH FARIA: 112 CLAY STREET HE HAS HIRED A FIRM FROM WASHINGTON, THE LAW FIRM IS TO LOOK INTO DETENTION CENTER, THE BONDING, ZONING, AND ASKED THE COUNCIL TO HOLD OFF FOR ANOTHER WEEK UNTIL ANSWERS ARE IN.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT REBUKED DEMEULE FOR SPEAKING OUT.

CANAVAN SAID THE MARSHALLS SERVICE CLAIMED THE FACILITY IS SAFE AND SECURE. DETAINEES MAY BE MORE DIFFICULT TO HANDLE THAN SOMEONE WITH A TRACK RECORD. CITY MIGHT BE BETTER OF WITH INMATES WITH A TRACK RECORD.

P. BEAUCAGE QUESTIONED CHAIR.

MATTHEWS INDICATED THAT THE INMATE NUMBER IS 302.

CANAVAN READ 220 DETAINEES. 220 BEDS. 8-5-91 RESOLUTION APPROVED BY COUNCIL INDICATED 220 BED CAPACITY. 220 BEDS ALSO INDICATED ON OTHER FORMS. 220 BEDS ALSO INDICATED ON OTHER DOCUMENTS APPROVED 220 BEDS.

MATTHEWS INDICATED 285 INMATES NEEDED TO MAKE PROFIT. 302 BEDS THERE. THEREFORE, WHY BOTHER TO APPROVE?

MATTHEWS INDICATED THAT APPLICATION SAID 220 BEDS.

DEMEULE INDICATED THAT BRODIE 12-20-89. MENTIONED ED FORAN, AND LAZIEH SNEAKED THIS 290 BEDS IN. INDIVIDUALS ARE NOT BIDS. LAZIEH DID THIS.

ROSE MARIE CANAVAN: WHERE IS THE MAYOR? THIS IS A PUBLIC MEETING, WHERE IS HE? WE HAVE NO LEADER. BALL IS IN COUNCIL'S COURT, MAKE A DECISION TONIGHT, AND FOLLOW THROUGH WITH IT. FLEX YOUR MUSCLES. DON'T TABLE AGAIN.

BILL BENSON QUESTIONED RATES.

CANAVAN RESPONDED.

NORMAN ZACHARIE STATED THAT COUNCILMEMBERS WHO WENT TO DC OUGHT TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE TRIP.

THOMAS TINKHAM, TAXPAYER, WHO IS GOING TO PAY THE LEGAL FEES IF WE CHALLENGE THE NC PLAN? LEGAL FEES COULD REACH FIVE TO TEN MILLION DOLLARS. HAS COUNCIL READ THE CONTRACT WITH NORTH CAROLINA? 90 DAYS IS SIX MONTHS THEY WAY THEY HAVE BEEN LYING TO US.

CANAVAN RESPONDED TO QUESTIONS.

TINKHAM HAS NO POSITION ON THE RESOLUTION. COULD NOT STATE EITHER PRO OR CON RESOLUTION.

NO OTHER PUBLIC COMMENTS.

PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED.

COUNCIL DISCUSSION.

MATTHEWS MORE DETAINEES ARE ON WAY DUE TO COUNCIL. THANKS TO PAQUETTE AND CANAVAN. THIS IS BECAUSE WE APPLIED PRESSURE. PASSING THE RESOLUTION KEEPS PRESSURE ON. CONVICTED INMATES 200-250 ARE TO BE HELD IN DETENTION CENTER, DESIGNED FOR DETAINEES. LACK OF RECREATION. NO WORK FOR THE INMATES TO DO, NO SHOPS. IN LESS THAN A MONTH THIS PLACE WILL BOIL. THERE IS NO RIOT SQUAD. TRAINING COURSE IS NOT LONG. CFPD HAD NOT BEEN TRAINED, STATE POLICE HAS NO PLAN. THERE IS NO QUESTION THERE WILL BE AN OUTBREAK, AND HOW WILL SAFETY BE HANDLED. RESERVE SET ASIDE FOR DETENTION FACILITY. FACILITY HAS ALREADY COST US MONEY YESTERDAY, POLICE AND PUBLIC WORKS.

FERRI ECHOED MATTHEWS COMMENTS. COMMENDS THE BOARD FOR THE WORK IT DID. QUICK FIX SOLUTION. FEDERAL DETAINEES WAS ORIGINAL INTENTION. NC WILL BE A PERMANENT SOLUTION.

PAQUETTE CITY CREATED BOARD, CITY SHOULD ALLOW THEM THE TIME TO WORK THIS OUT. IF WE FIND OUT THAT THEY ARE NOT GOING IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION, THEN WE CAN TAKE ACTION.

CANAVAN NC IS UNKNOWN. STATE POLICE HAS A PLAN ACCORDING TO THE LOCAL OFFICIALS. LOCAL POLICE ARE NOT PLANNED TO GO INTO THE PRISON. EFFORTS COUNCIL HAS MADE ARE PROGRESSIVE. EASY WAY OUT IS TO TRY AND BLOCK,

BUT NOT THE RIGHT WAY. COUNCIL WAS NOT INFORMED SOON ENOUGH. SUGGESTED TWO MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL ACT EX-OFFICIO TO DETENTION BOARD. WE WILL NOT STOP THEM THIS WAY. WORKING WITH THEM IS BETTER WAY.

FERRI RESPONDED.

MATTHEWS SPOKE. REFERRED TO ZONING BOARD DECISION ALLOWING THE CENTER. USE HAS CHANGED FROM WHAT WAS ALLOWED.

CANAVAN RESPONDED. EXPLAINED. RESOLUTION IS TOO BROAD.

DISCUSSION ON COUNCIL RETAINING AN ATTORNEY FOR THIS MATTER.

FERRI SPOKE SAID THAT BOARD RENEGED

BEAUCAGE SPOKE AGAIN

CANAVAN ZONING OFFICER IS RESPONSIBLE FOR MAKING A DECISION.

THURBER SPOKE

PUBLIC HEARING REOPENED.

AUDIENCE YELLED OUT VARIOUS COMMENTS.

CANAVAN SPOKE. ATTORNEY ADVICE IS PRO BONO RIGHT NOW. I WILL NOT TIP MY HAND WITH STRATEGY.

MCLAUGHLIN DON'T WAIT FOR MINIMUM HOUSING TO ACT.

TINKHAM ZONING IS APPOINTED BY MAYOR, THEN THEY WILL DO WHAT HE SAYS.

WOODS QUESTIONED ETHICS COMMISSION LETTER AGAINST THE NC PRISONERS.

CANAVAN RESPONDED.

ROSE MARIE CANAVAN SPOKE WANTS COUNCIL TO DO SOMETHING.

BEAUCAGE REMARKED ON GOVERNORS COMMENTS.

MATTHEWS REMARKED.

CANAVAN RESOLUTION AT THIS TIME IS TOO BROAD. TIMING IS IMPORTANT. LET THE ZONING OFFICIAL MAKE A DETERMINATION.

CHANGE THE RESOLUTION GO TO CODE ENFORCEMENT.

FERRI COMMENTED.

CANAVAN SPOKE TO QUESTION.

DIALOGUE.

MOTION FINAL PASSAGE ON RESOLUTION TO PASS FERRI

MATTHEWS QUESTIONED.

PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED 9:02

MOREAU CALLED ETHICS COMMISSION AGAIN, SAME ANSWER.

INTEREST AND DESIRE TO VOTE IS HERE.

PUBLIC COMMENTS

SECOND MATTHEWS

ROLL CALL:

MOTION IS TWO, TWO WITH ONE ABSTAIN, MOTION FAILS TO PASS RESOLUTION

MOTION PAQUETTE TO ADJOURN

SECOND MOREAU

MOTION DIES THREE TO TWO TO ADJOURN

ADJOURN

MOTION TO CONTINUE MEETING AT CALL OF CHAIR MATTHEWS

SECOND BY FERRI

FIVE TO ZERO, MEETING CONTINUED AT CALL OF CHAIR.

9:30 PM EST.

________________________

DANIEL J. ISSA

CITY CLERK