CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 27, 1994
A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CENTRAL FALLS CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD ON THE ABOVE DATE IN THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT 8:45 PM.
COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS
COUNCILMAN GOES
COUNCILMAN CANAVAN
COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE
COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU
QUORUM PRESENT.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT ROBERT CANAVAN PRESIDED AND LED THE ASSEMBLY IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
CITY COUNCIL TO: THOMAS LAZIEH, PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR
EDNA POULIN, FINANCE DIRECTOR
DANIEL J. ISSA, PURCHASING AGENT
ROBERT SASSO, CHIEF OF POLICE
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN READ CORRESPONDENCE FROM MAYOR LAZIEH RE: ATTENDANCE AT THIS MEETING.
MOTION TO PLACE ON FILE COLLECTIVELY WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN GOES AND COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU.
POLICE CHIEF SASSO WAS PRESENT.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN ASKED CITY SOLICITOR MUKSIAN FOR ADVICE.
CITY SOLICITOR MUKSIAN BRIEFED THE COUNCIL ON BUDGET ITEM REGARDING THESE VEHICLES. HE STATED THAT THERE ARE TWO SEPARATE LINE ITEMS IN BUDGET.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN QUESTIONED THE PURCHASING AGENT FOR INFORMATION REGARDING THE POLICE CARS HE PRESENTED COPIES OF THE ADS AND BIDS TO THE COUNCIL. HE RELATED THAT THE CLERK AND DIRECTOR OF FINANCE DO NOT HAVE INVOICES ON THE VEHICLES.
POLICE CHIEF SASSO SAID HE GOT THEM TODAY. HE WILL FORWARD THEM TO THE COUNCIL.
CITY SOLICITOR GEORGE MUKSIAN EXPLAINED THE BIDS AND BUDGETED ARTICLES.
COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS QUESTIONED THE SOLICITOR REGARDING SPECIFICATIONS.
CITY CLERK ISSA PROVIDED THE SOLICITOR WITH A COPY OF POLICE CAR SPECIFICATIONS.
POLICE CHIEF SASSO RELATED THAT HE IS PRESENTLY INVOLVED IN A LARGE OPERATION NOT RELATED TO THIS PROJECT AND ASKED THE COUNCIL IF THEY COULD ASK WHATEVER QUESTIONS THEY HAD OF HIM PERTAINING CARS SO THAT HE CAN RETURN TO THE STATION WHERE 24 PEOPLE WERE BEING DETAINED. HE THEN EXPLAINED THE PROCESS OF PROCURING THE CARS STARTING WITH A SUGGESTION MADE BY THE CITY'S MECHANIC. HE REVIEWED THE CONDITION OF THE PRESENT FLEET, INCLUDING THE USE OF THE MAYOR'S CAR AS A SUPERVISOR'S VEHICLE, ALONG WITH USE OF THE CHIEF'S PRESENT CAR.
CHIEF SASSO RELATED THAT HE SPOKE TO THE MAYOR, WHO AUTHORIZED HIM TO SPEAK WITH AMI. TWO USED ADMINISTRATIVE CARS, TWO PATROL CARS. THEY COULD HAVE WAITED FOR 95'S, BUT WOULD COST $4,000,00 MORE, OUT OF BUDGET. THE TOTAL COST CAME TO $ 64,130 FOR TWO USED ADMINISTRATIVE AND PATROL CARS.
CHIEF SASSO RELATED THAT HE UPGRADED THE EQUIPMENT ON THE CARS WHICH ARE COMPLETELY EQUIPPED, IN PAST THEY HAD GONE TO THREE DIFFERENT VENDORS WHICH CREATED PROBLEMS WHEN REPAIRS WERE NEEDED. THE CHIEF STATED THAT NOW IF A PROBLEM OCCURS THE DEPARTMENT JUST HAS TO DEAL WITH AMI. HE INVITED THE COUNCIL TO SEE THE CARS.
CHIEF SASSO RELATED HE WOULD NOT TAKE A CAR IF HE FELT THEY WERE NOT GOOD DRIVING CARS. HE STATED THAT HE DID WHAT HE THOUGHT WAS IN THE BEST INTEREST OF THE HIS MEN, THE TAXPAYERS AND THE CITY. HE STATED THAT THE CARS WERE A GOOD DEAL.
CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN COMMENTED. HE STATED THAT HE DID NOT DISPUTE THE DEAL THE CITY RECEIVED FROM THIS PURCHASE, RATHER HIS CONCERN WAS WITH THE BUDGET.
CHIEF SASSO STATED THAT ALL FOUR CARS ARE POLICE VEHICLES. TWO ARE NOT MARKED.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN ASKED IF THE CHIEF HAD MET PRIOR TO BUDGET.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN QUESTIONED THE CHIEF REGARDING TIMING OF MECHANIC SURVEY.
CHIEF SASSO RESPONDED THAT THE MAYOR IS HIS BOSS. DISCUSSIONS WERE WITH HIS BOSS, NOT THE COUNCIL. MONEY WAS BUDGETED. HE STATED THAT EVENTUALLY BOTH ADMINISTRATIVE CARS WILL BE IN PATROL FLEET. HE DOES NOT KNOW WHY HE IS EVEN HERE. FOR WHAT WAS PAID, CITY GOT A GOOD DEAL.
BUDGET WAS NOT CHANGED.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN SAID PRICE FOR ADMINISTRATIVE CAR WAS NOT CHANGED.
CHIEF SASSO TOOK OFFENSE AT INFERENCE THAT IMPROPRIETIES OCCURRED.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN SAID THAT MAY NOT BE THE CASE.
CHIEF SASSO STATED THAT THE CITY HAS A CAR DEAL, WITH EXCESS OF EQUIPMENT, PAID FOR EQUIPMENT OUT OF CAR ACCOUNT.
CHIEF SAID HE SHOULD NOT BE HERE, THAT WE ALL HAVE MORE IMPORTANT THINGS TO DO. HE DID WHAT HE WAS ASKED, AND WAS ALLOWED TO NEGOTIATE.
COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU SAID PURCHASE FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT WAS EXACTLY WHAT HE SAID, THE AMOUNT, AND SPECS WERE MET. SHE STATED THAT THE PROBLEM IS NOT WITH HIM BUT WITH THE MAYOR. THREE VEHICLES, PACKAGE COMPLETE, WERE PURCHASED WITHIN BUDGET. SHE CONTINUED THAT MAYOR'S CAR IS WHAT WAS EXCEEDED. $64,000 IS WHAT WAS EXPENDED. DID NOT ALLOT FOR EXTRA CAR.
COUNCIL MEMBERS CONTINUED DISCUSSION ON THE BUDGET.
CHIEF STATED THAT SPECIAL CONSOLE WAS INSTALLED. COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS STATED THAT HE AGREES WITH EVERY WORD THE CHIEF SAID, THAT AMOUNT FOR CARS WAS VERY GOOD. USED CARS WERE LIKE NEW. HE STATE THAT HE WAS DISAPPOINTED THAT CHIEF SAID ONE THING AND DID ANOTHER. HE STATED THAT HE IS IN DISAGREEMENT THAT MAYOR NEEDS A NEW CAR. HE COMMENDED EVERYONE INVOLVED IN THE PURCHASE, STATING THAT THIS WAS A GOOD PRICE.
COUNCILMAN GOES STATED THAT THE CHIEF DID A GOOD JOB AND GOT A GOOD PRICE FOR CARS, HE SAID THAT THE FLEET IN THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS THE BEST IT HAS BEEN AND HE HAS COME IN UNDER BUDGET.
COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE SAID HE WANTED THREE POLICE CARS. HE PUSHED FOR THREE NEW CARS THAT SHOULD BE ON THE STREET. HE RELATED THAT THE MECHANIC SUGGESTED THAT THE DETECTIVES COULD USE CHIEF'S OLD CAR.
CHIEF UNDERSTANDS THAT SOME COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE DISAPPOINTED. HE DID THE BEST HE COULD, AND SUGGESTED THAT THEY BUY TWO A YEAR. PROBLEMS CAME IN WHEN THEY DID NOT. OTHER POLICE DEPARTMENTS ENVY OUR CARS. DECISIONS WERE MADE WITH MECHANIC, RENE WOULD NOT HAVE MADE SUGGESTIONS IF THEY WERE NOT IN BEST INTEREST OF THE CITY.
COUNCILMAN GOES QUESTIONED CHIEF SASSO.
CHIEF SASSO STATED THAT IN HIS 20 YEARS HE HAS NOT SEEN A BETTER FLEET.
COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE SAID THANKS TO THIS ADMINISTRATION AND COUNCIL. HE ASKED THE CHIEF WHO ACTUALLY MADE THE PURCHASE. INVOICES MAY HAVE COME IN FRIDAY, AND HE WAS OFF MONDAY. HE OPENED TODAY AND SIGNED. THEY ARE ON THE WAY TO SOLICITOR AND FINANCE OFFICE.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN RECOGNIZED MAYOR LAZIEH, WHO HAD A CHANGE IN SCHEDULE. HEARINGS THIS YEAR.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN QUESTIONED MAYOR ON LINE ITEMS IN BUDGET.
MAYOR RESPONDED THAT THERE IS $52,000 AND $12,500.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN STATED THAT THERE IS $17,500 FOR EACH OF THREE CARS.
FINANCE DIRECTOR SAID $52,500.
MAYOR INDICATED THAT MOST ECONOMICAL AND FEASIBLE MANNER WAS INSTITUTED. HE COMMENTED ON SOME PURCHASES IN A PREVIOUS BUDGET. THIS HAS BEEN DONE BEFORE.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN ASKED THE MAYOR TO SHOW HIM WHERE THIS IS IN THE BUDGET.
MAYOR LAZIEH RESPONDED PART OF THE $52000 IS ASSIGNED TO POLICE DEPARTMENT. THIS HAS BEEN THE PRACTICE. CHIEF WAS INFORMED THAT HE HAD 64,500, 12,500 FOR ADMINISTRATIVE CAR. MAYOR SAID HE DIRECTED CHIEF.
PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR, PUBLIC WORKS MECHANIC, CHIEF OF POLICE, MAYOR, WERE AT THE MEETING. FOUR CARS ARE THROUGH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. ONE IS FOR PUBLIC SAFETY. BUDGET WAS LATE, SO CASH FLOW PROBLEM DELAYED THE PURCHASE. IN FUTURE, THE MAYOR WILL LUMP SUM THE CARS IF COUNCIL PREFERS.
ASSIGNMENT OF THE CARS WAS BY CHIEF, FOUR CARS.
AFTER VEHICLE ASSESSMENT, PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTORS CAR TO GO TO SUPERVISOR IN POLICE DEPARTMENT. FOUR CAR PACKAGE, INCLUDING THE CHIEF AND MAYOR'S CAR.
COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU SAID $65,000 TOTAL INCLUDED ROLL RACKS AND EQUIPMENT.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN EXPLAINED.
MAYOR LAZIEH SAID THAT THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE CITY PURCHASED THE LIGHT BARS, CONSOLES, CAGE, GUN RACK, ETC. AS A PACKAGE THROUGH THE DEALER.
COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU AGREED. SHE SAID PACKAGE OR STRIPPED. FULLY LOADED WITH EQUIPMENT WAS ABOUT $15 OR $17,500. $69,900 TOTAL.
MAYOR LAZIEH INDICATED THAT WE WENT OUT TO BID TWICE.
ONLY TWO BIDS WERE RECEIVED, CHEVY'S AND CROWN VICTORIAS.
REMAINING EQUIPMENT WAS ADDITIONAL PURCHASE, AS IN PAST, BY CHIEF OF POLICE. IN PAST, OUR MECHANICS HAD TO TRANSFER, PURCHASE, INSTALL EQUIPMENT TO THE NEW CARS. CARE FUNDS WERE USED PROPERLY. CITY IS IN BETTER SHAPE NOW THAT IT HAS EVER BEEN, UNDER BUDGET.
COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU RESPONDED $3,000 DOLLARS WAS USED. CARE ACCOUNT MONEY WAS USED TO PURCHASE EQUIPMENT, NOT THE VEHICLE INDICATED MAYOR.
MAYOR INDICATED THAT HE HAS A DIFFERENCE OF OPINION.
COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU ASKED MAYOR IF HIS CAR COST $12,500.
MAYOR INDICATED THAT PACKAGE BID COME IN UNDER BUDGET.
COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU INDICATED THAT COUNCIL PASSED BUDGET FOR THREE FULLY EQUIPPED POLICE CARS.
MAYOR LAZIEH RESPONDED THAT CHIEF SHOULD BE COMPLIMENTED ON THE GOOD JOB HE DID.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN QUESTIONED THE MAYOR RE: BUDGET AMOUNTS.
MAYOR LAZIEH GAVE A HISTORY OF THE FOUR CARS HE HAS HAD AS MAYOR. EACH CAR ENDED UP IN POLICE DEPARTMENT.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN ELABORATED.
MAYOR LAZIEH RESPONDED.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN QUESTIONED THE MAYOR.
MAYOR LAZIEH INDICTED THAT HE AUTHORIZED THE CHIEF OF POLICE TO PURCHASE FOUR VEHICLES NOT TO EXCEED $65,000.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN ASKED WHO GAVE THE AUTHORITY.
MAYOR STATED THAT HE DID.
COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS STATED THAT THE COUNCIL CAN QUESTION ANY OVER EXPENDITURE IN THE BUDGET. HE ALSO SAID THE CITY GOT A GOOD DEAL. CITY DOES NEED SOME FLEXIBILITY TO GET BEST BUY. FOUR VEHICLES FOR ALLOTMENT OF $65,000. IT CAME IN UNDER BUDGET. HE ASKED WHERE IS COUNCIL HEADED? HE STATED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION DID A GOOD JOB ON THIS PURCHASE. HE ASKED THE MAYOR TO RECONSIDER HIS USE OF ONE OF THE POLICE CARS.
MAYOR LAZIEH STATED THAT HE APPRECIATED HIS OPINION. HE HAS OFFERED IN THE PAST TO MEET INDIVIDUALLY WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS. HIS DOOR IS OPEN AND HAS BEEN. HE ADMITTED THAT HIS TIME IS MORE RESTRICTED AT NIGHT DUE TO SCHEDULES. HE WOULD STOP BY THEIR HOUSES, OR THEY COULD STOP BY HIS. HE WANTS TO PUT THIS TO REST. HE IS ON A VACATION, BUT SPENT TIME AT POLICE DEPARTMENT WITH EVENTS OF TODAY. HE HAD TO PUT COMMITMENTS AWAY TO BE HERE TONIGHT. HE STATED THAT ANY TIME THE COUNCIL HAS QUESTIONS TO CALL HIS OFFICE.
COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE SAID FROM INCEPTION OF BUDGET, ONE ADMINISTRATIVE CAR AND PATROL CARS WAS ANTICIPATED IN THE BUDGET. HE GAVE A HISTORY OF THE COUNCIL'S ACTION ON THE CARS. HE WANTED THEM TOTALLY EQUIPPED. ADMINISTRATIVE CAR WAS CUT TO $15,500. HIS CAR WAS CUT TO $12,500. MONEY WAS THERE AND FELL INTO LINE, EXCEPT FOR MAYOR'S ADMINISTRATIVE CAR.
MAYOR LAZIEH WAS THANKED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN FOR HIS ATTENDANCE THIS EVENING. HE SAID THE ONLY PROBLEM WITH MEETING AT HOUSES IS THAT PUBLIC IS LEFT OUT.
MAYOR LAZIEH RESPONDED.
EDNA POULIN WAS PRESENT AND DISCUSSED FIGURES.
THE CITY SOLICITOR WAS QUESTIONED.
CITY SOLICITOR MUKSIAN STATED THAT THE DOCUMENTS HAVE LOST SIGNIFICANCE HE SAID SINCE BEGINNING OF MEETING. HE FURTHER STATED THAT WHO AUTHORIZED CHIEF TO NEGOTIATE, AND IT WAS THE MAYOR. NO QUESTIONS.
SOLICITOR HAS NOT SEEN CONTRACT. MAYOR GOT INVOLVED WHEN HE SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN. WHAT WAS BOUGHT FOR HOW MUCH? HE NEEDS A BREAKDOWN TO TELL. SHOULD BE ABLE TO TRACE ADMINISTRATIVE CAR WITH INVOICE. THEN ASSIGN A VALUE OR COST.
COUNCILMAN GOES COMMENTED.
COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU SAID MAYOR WAS WITH CHIEF WHEN NEGOTIATING FOR CARS.
COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS ASKED IF BUDGET WAS EXCEEDED ON MAYOR'S CAR, WHAT LAW WAS BROKEN.
MAYOR SAID CHIEF INITIATED THE DEAL. CHIEF NEGOTIATED. MAYOR WAS THERE ON OTHER OCCASIONS TO LOOK AT EQUIPMENT.
COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS QUESTIONED.
CITY SOLICITOR MUKSIAN SAID LAW OF CONTRACTS POSSIBLY. IF PROVISIONS OF THE CHARTER. IS CONTRACT VOID? OR VALID?
COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS ASKED IF THE MAYOR EXCEEDED 12,500 BUDGETED WHAT WOULD HAPPEN?
CITY SOLICITOR MUKSIAN SAID CARS WOULD RETURN TO DEALER IF....
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN INDICATED THAT HE WANTS AN ANSWER.
CITY SOLICITOR MUKSIAN RESPONDED.
MAYOR LAZIEH GOT INVOLVED UNNECESSARILY, STATED CITY SOLICITOR MUKSIAN. HE DOES HAVE AN INTEREST AS PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR.
PURCHASING AGENT ISSA INDICATED THAT IT IS NORMAL FOR DEPARTMENT HEADS TO GET INVOLVED BECAUSE HE IS VERY BUSY. HE WELCOMES THE INVOLVEMENT. LINCOLN HAS A FULL TIME PURCHASING AGENT, PAWTUCKET HAS A FULL TIMER AND THREE SECRETARIES. HE HAS A FULL SCHEDULE.
FINANCE DIRECTOR EDNA SPOKE REGARDING BID OPENING.
COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE ASKED NUMEROUS QUESTIONS.
FINANCE DIRECTOR POULIN COMMENTED REGARDING NORMAL PROCEDURES. SHE INDICATED THAT NEW SYSTEM WILL BE DIFFERENT, APPROVAL FIRST.
COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE ASKED IF PROPERTY MANAGER GETS INVOLVED.
CITY CLERK ISSA STATED THAT DEPARTMENT HEADS ARE GREATLY INVOLVED. PURCHASES ARE MADE SUBJECT TO THE AVAILABILITY OF FUNDS.
COUNCILMAN GOES COMMENTED REGARDING OUTSTANDING FINES FROM COURT, REVENUE FROM DETENTION CENTER, AS WELL AS RESCUE SERVICES. WHY THEN IS THE COUNCIL ASKING ABOUT $3,500?
COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU RESPONDED THAT COUNCIL HAS TO DO WHAT IT HAS TO DO.
COUNCILMAN GOES SAID THERE IS A CHANCE FOR EXTRA REVENUE. HE AGREES THAT MAYOR STRETCHED IT.
COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE SAID THERE IS MONEY IN BUDGET FOR WARRANT SQUAD.
EDNA POULIN COMMENTED ON HER UPCOMING APPOINTMENT WITH THE STATE. SHE STATED THAT HERE EXPERIENCES IN THE FINANCE OFFICE HAS TAUGHT HER A LOT AND WISHES COUNCIL A GREAT 1995.
MOTION TO ADJOURN WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN GOES AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS.
MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 10:35 P.M.
________________________________
Daniel J. Issa
City Clerk