July 21, 1993 - Special City Council Meeting

CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS

SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING

WEDNESDAY JULY 21, 1993

VETERANS MEMORIAL SCHOOL AUDITORIUM

FULLER AVENUE AT 6:30 P.M.

A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD ON THE ABOVE DATE AT THE VETERANS MEMORIAL SCHOOL AT 6:40 P.M.

ROLL CALL:

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS

COUNCILMAN FERRI

COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU

COUNCILMAN CANAVAN

QUORUM PRESENT.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN PRESIDED.

ORDINANCE (INTRODUCTION)

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 14 ENTITLED LICENSES

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 3, SECTION 3-4 ENTITLED ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE MAXIMUM NUMBER.

SO INTRODUCED.

ORDINANCE FIRST PASSAGE

AN ORDINANCE RELATED TO CLASS T LEGITIMATE THEATER LICENSE.

MOTION TO APPROVE WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE AND SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU.

ROLL CALL:

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

ORDINANCE PUBLIC HEARING

JUVENILE QUIET TIME ORDINANCE

MAYOR LAZIEH ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL RELATIVE TO THE ORDINANCE. HE COMMENTED THAT ACTION BE TAKE FOR A "QUIET

TIME" FOR ALL CITY RESIDENTS OF THE CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS. HE SPOKE OF LAWS WHICH GOVERN ADULTS BUT ARE LIMITED ON JUVENILES. HE EXPLAINED THAT POLICE DEPARTMENTS AROUND THE COUNTRY ARE TAXED TO THEIR LIMITS AND THAT THIS TOOL AND OTHERS ARE NECESSARY TO ENSURE AND AID POLICE IN KEEPING THE PEACE. HE COMMENTED THAT THE PAST 18 MONTHS HAS BEEN SPENT ON DISCUSSION BY A SPECIAL COMMITTEE APPOINTED BY THE COUNCIL TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS REGARDING THE ORDINANCE. HE SPOKE OF GRANTS AND THE ALLOCATIONS OF FUNDS TO ASSIST IN PROGRAMS FOR THE YOUTH OF THE CITY. HE STATED THAT THE CITY HAD TO ADDRESS THE NEED TO QUELL LATE NIGHT

DISTURBANCES BY JUVENILES AND THE DESTRUCTION OF PROPERTY ETC.

CITY SOLICITOR MUKSIAN ADDRESSED THE LEGAL ASPECTS OF THE ORDINANCE. HE STATED THAT EXPANDED PROGRAMS FOR CITY YOUTH DOES NOT CORRECT LATE NIGHT CRIME, WHAT IS ADDRESSED IN THE ORDINANCE IS TO MAKE PARENTS MORE ACCOUNTABLE FOR THEIR CHILDREN.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN OPENED THE MEETING TO A PUBLIC HEARING AT 7:10 P.M.

ANN BRUEN OF CITY LIMITS READ FROM A PREPARED STATEMENT IN FAVOR OF THE ORDINANCE. SHE ASKED THE COUNCIL TO BE OPEN MINDED ETC. AND STATED THAT THERE IS NOTHING WRONG BY SETTING LIMITS FOR THE CITY'S YOUTH.

GLEN MEDEIROS OF PUBLIC TELEVISION CABLE NETWORK COMMENTED IN FAVOR OF THE ORDINANCE ELABORATING ON TEENAGE PROSTITUTION, DRUGS AND STREET GANGS. HE STATED THAT MINORS SHOULD BE AT HOME AND WHEN PARENTS DON'T ACT AS PARENTS THEN THE CITY COUNCIL MUST BE THE PARENT. HE THEN STATED THAT THE ABOUT MATTER RELATIVE TO THE PAWTUCKET CITY COUNCIL.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU COMMENTED THAT WHAT THE CITY COUNCIL IN PAWTUCKET THINKS OR DOES WAS NOT A MATTER FOR DISCUSSION WITH THE CITY COUNCIL IN CENTRAL FALLS.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN COMMENTED.

COUNCILMAN FERRI COMMENTED THAT THIS IS NOT THE COUNCIL'S ORDINANCE THAT IT IS THE MAYOR'S ORDINANCE.

COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE COMMENTED ON HIS ACTIVITIES RELATIVE TO YOUTH GROUPS, AND STATED THAT THIS IS AN AREA THAT MUST BE EXPLORED IN CENTRAL FALLS AND THAT PROVIDING MORE RECREATIONAL, EDUCATIONAL AND ADULT SUPERVISED PROGRAMS FOR YOUTHS IN THE CITY THERE WOULD BE LESS A NEED FOR THIS ORDINANCE. HE ALSO STATED THAT HE THOUGHT THAT THE COUNCIL SHOULD NOT PLAY PARENT AND HAVE THIS TYPE OF RESPONSIBILITY.

SHAWN MOREAU OF 1103 LONSDALE AVENUE SPOKE AGAINST THE CURFEW.

CHRISTOPHER CORBITT OF THE ACLU ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL AGAINST THE ORDINANCE GIVING THE FOLLOWING REASONS:

1. IT BARS THE RIGHT OF ASSOCIATION

2. IT PROHIBITS A DEMOCRATIC FREEDOM AND HAS NO PLACE IN A DEMOCRATIC SOCIETY.

3. ENFORCEABILITY WOULD BE DIFFICULT AND IT WOULD BE ARBITRARY AND DISCRIMINATORY ETC.

RICARDO PATINO SPOKE AGAINST THE ORDINANCE FOR REASONS THAT THERE ARE NOT ENOUGH POLICE OFFICERS TO ENFORCE THE ORDINANCE AND THAT THE CITY SHOULD FOCUS MORE ON YOUTH ACTIVITY AND PROGRAMS.

MR. A. GRUDGEN STATED THAT THE ORDINANCE WOULD PLACE ON THE BOOKS ANOTHER USELESS ORDINANCE THAT WILL NOT BE ENFORCED AND WHY JUST PICK ON CHILDREN. HE STATED THAT THERE IS A NOISE ORDINANCE IN EFFECT BUT THAT LOUD MUSIC IS STILL HERE, SPEEDING IS AGAINST THE LAW, BUT SPEEDING STILL EXISTS. HE RECOMMENDED THAT SOMETHING TO TEACH PARENTING TO PARENTS WOULD HAVE A BETTER EFFECT.

JOHN COEN OF PROJECT HOPE SPOKE AGAINST THE ORDINANCE STATING THE THERE IS A LACK OF ENFORCEABILITY IN THE ORDNANCE BECAUSE OF THE MANPOWER AND ENFORCEMENT WOULD BE A NIGHTMARE. HE STATED THAT THE CITY HAD ENOUGH OF A NEGATIVE IMAGE AND THIS WOULD ADD TO IT.

JODY BENNETT OF WASHINGTON ST. SPOKE IN FAVOR OF THE CURFEW STATED THAT THIS WAS A GOOD STARTING POINT IN ADDRESSING A SERIOUS PROBLEM BUT THAT THE CITY MUST ADDRESS THE GREATER PROBLEMS OF GOOD PARENTING, EDUCATION AND RECREATIONAL FACILITIES FOR THE CITY'S YOUNG PEOPLE.

TOM SHANNAHAN, LIBRARIAN OF THE CENTRAL FALLS LIBRARY SPOKE IN FAVOR OF THE ORDINANCE, HE COMMENTED THAT THE LIBRARY PROVIDES YOUTH ACTIVITIES SUCH AS ARTS AND CRAFTS, SHOWS ETC. AND THAT HE HAD TO CALL PEOPLE TO COME TO THE LIBRARY TO AND PARTICIPATE IN THE PROGRAMS.

PATRICIA MARTINEZ OF PROGRESSO LATINO SPOKE AGAINST THE CURFEW AND RECOMMENDED THAT A TASK FORCE BE SET UP TO STUDY OTHER AVENUES RELATIVE TO THE PROBLEM. SHE STATE THAT PARENTS ARE LOOSING CONTROL OF THEIR CHILDREN AND THEIR ACTIVITIES.

MAUREEN CHEVRETTE, SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS STATED THAT THE QUIET TIME WILL NOT HAVE A GOOD EFFECT ON THE CITY AND THE CITY NEEDS TO HAVE RESOURCES TO HAVE MORE PARENTAL TRAINING PROGRAMS. SHE RECOMMENDED THAT THE COUNCIL PASS THE JUVENILE HEARING BOARD WHICH WILL HELP AND SHE STATED THAT 99% OF THE CITY'S CHILDREN ARE GOOD.

JOSE RODRIGUES COMMENTED ON THE ORDINANCE AND THE MANY THINGS THAT CHILDREN IN THE CITY ARE DOING.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN COMMENTED.

MAYOR LAZIEH CONCLUDED THAT THERE ARE CURFEWS IN THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND SUCH AS MIDDLETOWN AND NEWPORT AND CENTRAL FALLS WOULD NOT BE THE FIRST TO ENACT THIS TYPE OF ORDINANCE. HE CLOSED BY STATING THAT THE ORDINANCE IS SETTING A COMMUNITY STANDARD AND IS ONE WAY TO PROVIDE FOR THE PEACE AND TRANQUILITY OF ALL RESIDENTS.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS QUESTIONED ON POLICE ENFORCEMENT.

PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED AT 8:05 P.M.

MEETING OPENED TO COUNCIL FOR DISCUSSION.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU GAVE THE FOLLOWING ON JUVENILE CRIME STATICS FOR THE PAST 3 YEARS IN CENTRAL FALLS ACCORDING TO THE CITY POLICE DEPARTMENT.

SHE ASKED THE COUNCIL TO NOTE THE STEADY DECREASE IN ADULT ARREST AND THE INCREASE OF ADULT ARREST. SHE ASKED THE COUNCIL HOW THIS CURFEW WOULD STOP THE STEADY INCREASE IN ADULT CRIME. SHE STATED THAT WE HAVE A SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH ADULT CRIME AND THAT THIS SHOULD BE ADDRESSED NOT JUVENILE CRIME WHICH IS DECLINING.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU COMMENTED ON THE ENFORCEMENT ISSUE AND STATED THAT SHE ASKED THE MAYOR SEVERAL TIMES TO INCREASE THE POLICE MANPOWER ON THE 4 TO MIDNIGHT SHIFT AND TO ESTABLISH A NEIGHBORHOOD WATCH OR AUXILIARY POLICE FORCE TO ASSIST IN THIS PROBLEM.

COUNCILMAN FERRI STATED THAT THERE IS AN OBVIOUS NEED TO CURB CRIME IN THE CITY AND THAT MOST LAWS ARE ENFORCEABLE NOW AND THAT HE DOESN'T SEE THE NEED FOR OVERGOVERNING.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS STATED THAT ALL WOULD AGREE THAT THERE IS A PROPER TIME FOR ALL JUVENILES TO BE HOME BUT THAT THE ISSUE IS CRIME AND FEAR ON CITY STREETS AND THAT THERE IS NO PROOF THAT THIS IS BEING DONE BY JUVENILES, RATHER, ADULT CRIME IS RAMPANT. HE ASKED HOW THE CITY WOULD IMPLEMENT THIS ORDINANCE BECAUSE OF MANPOWER AND WHAT LIABILITY AND COST TO THE CITY WOULD THIS ORDINANCE CREATE. HE STATED THAT HE WAS LOOKING INTO A SPECIAL POLICE FORCE SIMILAR TO THE CITY OF PROVIDENCE AND OTHER METHODS THE CITY COULD USE TO TAKE CARE OF HIGH CRIME IN ALL AREAS.

COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE STATED THAT TWO MAJOR ISSUES HAVE BEEN DISCUSSED

1. THAT THERE IS A NEED FOR MORE YOUTH ACTIVITIES. THE CITY CLOSES DOWN AT 9:00 P.M. AND THAT THERE ARE NO PROGRAMS AFTER 6 O'CLOCK.

2. THERE IS A SERIOUS NEED FOR MORE POLICE OFFICERS ON THE NIGHT SHIFT AND HE SUGGESTED AN AUXILIARY POLICE FORCE TO PATROL THE STREETS.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN STATED THAT IT ISN'T JUVENILES BUT RATHER PARENTS WHO SHOULD BE PUNISHED FOR NOT TENDING TO THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AS A PARENT. HE COMMENTED ON ENFORCEMENT AND THE MANPOWER NEEDS. HE ADDRESSED THE MAYOR/PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR ON IMPLEMENTING SOME OF THE SUGGESTIONS MADE AT THIS MEETING AS AN ALTERNATIVE TO THE CURFEW ORDINANCE. HE STATED THAT THERE IS A DESIRE IN THE CITY TO MAKE CENTRAL FALLS A BETTER PLACE TO LIVE ALL THAT IS NEEDED IS A LEADER. IN CLOSING THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT COMMENTED THAT YOU CAN

TELL A CITY BY HOW IT TREATS ITS YOUTH AND ITS ELDERLY, IN CENTRAL FALLS, THE ELDERLY ARE TREATED VERY WELL, BUT THE CITY CANNOT SAY THE SAME FOR ITS CHILDREN.

DISCUSSION ON POLICE MANPOWER AND RECREATIONAL PROGRAMS ENSUED.

MOTION TO DEFEAT ORDINANCE WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN FERRI AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS.

ROLL CALL:

MOTION CARRIED ORDINANCE DEFEATED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

MOTION TO ADJOURN WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FERRI. ALL AGREED. SO VOTED.

TIME 8:45 P.M.

ELIZABETH A. CROWLEY

DEPUTY CITY CLERK