June 1, 1994 - Special City Council Meeting

CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS

SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING

CENTRAL FALLS JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 1, 1994

AT 8:15 P.M.

A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CENTRAL FALLS CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD ON THE ABOVE DATE AT THE CENTRAL FALLS JR/SR HIGH SCHOOL AT 8:15 P.M.

ROLL CALL

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS

COUNCILMAN GOES

COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU

COUNCILMAN CANAVAN

QUORUM PRESENT.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT ROBERT CANAVAN PRESIDED.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN LED THE ASSEMBLY IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

PEDDLERS LICENSE

FARANI NOVELTY

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

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

PUBLIC HEARING/FINAL PASSAGE

MAYOR LAZIEH MADE PRESENTATION OF THE BUDGET. HE STATED THAT THIS IS LESS THAN WHAT WAS APPROVED LAST YEAR.

EDNA POULIN, FINANCE DIRECTOR, COMMENTED ON THE PROPOSED BUDGET. SHE THE GAVE A BRIEF BREAKDOWN OF THE BUDGET. SHE STATED THAT THE CITY IS STILL IN NEGOTIATIONS WITH POLICE AND FIRE WHICH EXPLAINS THE REASON FOR NO NUMBERS IN THE SALARY ORDINANCE. SOLID WASTE DECREASED TO $32 A TON VERSUS $37 ANTICIPATED FROM LAST YEAR.

REFINANCE OF BONDS DECREASED THE COST TO CITY. FIRE TRUCK LEASE PAID OFF WITH SURPLUS. INCREASE IN JOHN HANCOCK PENSION PLAN POLICE AND FIRE. 1% PENSION PLAN INCREASED ALSO THIS IS A DIRECT COST TO CITY.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN EXPLAINED THE GROUND RULES FOR PUBLIC COMMENTS ON THE BUDGET HE STATED THAT THERE WILL BE NO NAME CALLING ETC. AND ASKED THAT EVERYONE BE AS POLITE AS POSSIBLE.

PUBLIC HEARING OPENED.

LIONEL BONILLA

45 FALES ST.

VICE PRESIDENT OF HISPANIC POLITICAL COMMITTEE IN BLACKSTONE VALLEY.

FORMALLY PETITIONED THE ADMINISTRATION FOR A HISPANIC AFFAIRS COORDINATOR. HE STATED THAT OVER 50% OF THE CITY'S POPULATION IS HISPANIC. HE STATED THAT THIS IS NOT AN EXPENSE BUT RATHER AN INVESTMENT IN THE CITIZENS OF THE CITY. HE SUBMITTED A PETITION OF 230 LETTERS IN FAVOR OF THIS REQUEST.

JULIE ALLARD

555 BROAD ST.

ALLARDS AUTO SUPPLY ON BROAD ST. CENTRAL FALLS.

OBJECTED TO DIFFERENT TAX RATE FOR COMMERCIAL AND RESIDENTIAL ETC. SHE STATED THAT THIS IS TOO HIGH FOR BUSINESS.

RICARDO PATINO

7 DARLING ST.

QUESTIONED INCREASE OF MAYOR'S SALARY.

DISPATCHERS FOR POLICE AND FIRE AND THE LEGAL SECRETARY'S POSITION.

EDNA POULIN RESPONDED THAT THIS SALARY WAS DETERMINED LAST YEAR.

MR.PATINO STATED THE NEED FOR A FULL TIME HISPANIC COORDINATOR.

EDNA POULIN RELATED THE EXTRA EXPENSE INVOLVED FOR THIS POSITION.

PETER DEMEULE

855 BROAD ST.

COMMENTED ON BOND REFINANCING.

EDNA POULIN RESPONDED.

MR. DEMEULE COMMENTED ON THE 1987 TAX SYNCHRONIZATION FOR 6 MILLION DOLLARS.

$ 9.9 MILLION SCHOOL BOND DISCUSSED.

EDNA POULIN ANSWERED.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN WARNED MR. DEMEULE OF THE FIVE MINUTE RULE.

MR. DEMEULE CONTINUED.

MS. POULIN RESPONDED.

ALBERT O. LAROCHE

347 CENTRAL ST.

QUESTIONED COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL RATES AND STATED THAT HE SUPPORTS THE HOMESTEAD EXCEPTION. COMMENTED ON INCOME FROM SIX UNITS IS NOT ENJOYED BY SINGLE FAMILY. EXPENSES TO CITY ARE HIGHER FOR TRASH PICK UP, POLICE,

MINIMUM HOUSING, ETC. THIS MAY HELP ELIMINATE ABSENTEE LANDLORDS IN THE CITY.

ED SILVA

536 LONSDALE AVE..

REALTOR AND APPRAISER.

QUESTIONED THE BUSINESS RATE AND SAID HE WAS NOT HAPPY WITH NEW BUSINESS RATE.

CONSTANCE SULLIVAN

143 SUMMER ST.

QUESTIONED THE AVAILABILITY OF COPIES.

CLERK ISSA TOLD HER COPIES OF THE ENTIRE ORDINANCES HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE AND POSTED AT CITY HALL. ALSO THAT HE PROVIDED COPIES OF THE BUDGET AT NO CHARGE IF ASKED.

JOSIE MCLAUGHLIN

23 MADISON AVE..

ASKED WHY BOBCAT WASN'T IN BUDGET.

EDNA POULIN EXPLAINED THAT THIS IS THE 94-95 BUDGET AND THAT THE BOBCAT WAS LAST YEAR. QUESTIONED THE DETENTION CENTER REVENUE FOR LAST YEAR.

POULIN EXPLAINED THAT DETENTION CENTER WAS NOT OPERATING AT THAT TIME.

FURTHER QUESTIONS ON THE REVENUE.

MRS. MCLAUGHLIN CLAIMED THAT MR. DOYLE FROM DETENTION CENTER STATED THAT $813,000 WAS PAID TO CITY.

EDNA POULIN REPLIED THAT THE CITY DID NOT RECEIVE THAT AMOUNT, AND ANSWERED OTHER QUESTIONS.

ROBERT FERRI

7 SAMOSET AVE.

SPOKE AGAINST A NEW CAR FOR THE MAYOR.

MS. POULIN ANSWERED OTHER QUESTIONS.

MAYOR LAZIEH RESPONDED TO QUESTIONS.

SEALER QUESTIONED.

CELEBRATION QUESTIONED AND RESPONDED.

CHAIR ASKED IF ANYONE ELSE WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK.

LIST EXHAUSTED.

LOUIS AZAR

WASHINGTON ST.

REVENUE SIDE OF BUDGET QUESTIONED. INTEREST ACCOUNT QUESTIONED.

POULIN RESPONDED.

DETENTION CENTER REVENUE QUESTIONED.

POULIN RESPONDED.

POLICE VEHICLES DISCUSSED.

MAYOR RESPONDED.

POSSIBLE USED VEHICLE FOR MAYOR.

SEALER OF WEIGHTS AND MEASURES DISCUSSED.

POULIN RESPONDED.

GOES RESPONDED.

CHAIR ASKED AUDIENCE

PAUL HARKNESS

BROAD ST.

ASKED MAYOR IF THIS IS A FAIR THING FOR THE BUSINESS PEOPLE.

MAYOR STATED A REDUCTION IN BUDGET AND TAXES FOR THE CITY. HE FURTHER EXPLAINED THAT RATES ARE ACCORDING TO LAW ACCORDING TO THE REFERENDUM. VALUATION IS WHAT CHANGED HIS TAXES, ACCORDING TO STATE LAW AND RULES.

SOME PROPERTIES WENT UP AND DOWN.

MAYOR RESPONDED HE FELT IT IS A FAIR BUDGET.

JULIE ALLARD SPOKE AGAIN. QUESTIONED IF THE TAX RATE ADVERTISED IS THE ONE TO BE IN FORCE.

CANAVAN EXPLAINED PROCESS. SHE QUESTIONED THE MAYOR.

MAYOR RESPONDED THAT THIS IS THE REFERENDUM RESULT. IT TAKES EFFECT UPON REVALUATION. DRASTIC CHANGE BETWEEN GROUPS.

POULIN EXPLAINED THAT BUDGET IS LESS THAN LAST YEAR. CLASSIFICATION CHANGES PROPORTIONS. PROPOSAL WILL EQUALIZE BURDEN. SOME WENT UP SOME WENT DOWN. ASSESSMENT LAST TIME MAY NOT HAVE BEEN ACCURATE. POSSIBLY LOW. PERCENTAGES DISCUSSED.

CONSTANCE SULLIVAN QUESTIONED RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY OWNERS.

RESPONDED 2,300.

QUESTIONED THE HOME OWNER EXEMPTION SHE IS AGAINST ANYONE GETTING MORE THAN THE THREE THOUSAND SHE IS GETTING.

CHAIR RECESSED THE PUBLIC HEARING PORTION. HE EXPLAINED THE PERCENTAGES EXCLUDING THE HOMESTEAD ACT, 43% OF

BUDGET WOULD BE TO LOWER COMMERCIAL RATE, WHAT WOULD BE RAISED TO COMPENSATE. LAST REVALUATION SOME OF THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTIES MIGHT HAVE BEEN LOW. IF COUNCIL LOWER TOTAL BUDGET BY 500,00.00 AND ALL MONEY WOULD BE

APPLIED TO COMMERCIAL RATE, LITTLE DIFFERENCE. TAX INCREASE WOULD BE NEEDED NEXT YEAR.

COUNCIL IS DOING ALL IT CAN TO TRY AND BALANCE OFF COMMERCIAL RATE. 5 LARGEST TAXPAYERS ARE PAYING LESS.

COMMERCIAL AND INDUSTRIAL RATE IS SAME. IF THEY REDUCE COMMERCIAL RATE, THEN INDUSTRIAL RATE DROPS.

PUBLIC HEARING REOPENED.

ANN BRUEN

BROAD ST.

SMALL BUSINESSES THAT ARE STRUGGLING WILL LEAVE THE CITY.

INDUSTRIAL GOT A BIG BREAK. TANGIBLE TAX HAS NEVER DROPPED. USED EQUIPMENT, SOME BROKEN, YET VALUE TRIPLED.

WOULD LIKE TO SIT DOWN WITH THE MAYOR AND TAX ASSESSOR.

MAYOR RESPONDED THAT CALCULATIONS MADE BY MMC, SAME CO. DONE IN 1983. CITY HAS NOT DONE INVESTIGATIONS.

MAYOR OFFERED TO SIT DOWN AND REVIEW.

PETER DEMEULE

855 BROAD ST.

VALUE FROM 80,000. TO 196,000.

CHANGES TO BUDGET.

CHAIR AGREED, THAT COUNCIL HAD MADE THE SUGGESTED CHANGES.

SCHOOL HOUSING AID QUESTIONED.

POULIN RESPONDED.

SHE EXPLAINED FULLY THE BONDS.

HE IS CONFUSED ABOUT BONDS FLOATED.

RICARDO PATINO

DARLING STREET

SPOKE ABOUT BUDGET CUTS. WHY DO WE NEED A SECURITY SYSTEM? OTHER ITEMS QUESTIONED.

HISPANIC COORDINATOR DISCUSSED WITH POULIN. HISPANICS IN FINANCE, LIBRARY, TWO IN FIRE DEPARTMENT, POLICE DEPARTMENT, HOUSING DEPARTMENT, AND MUNICIPAL COURT. QUESTIONED WELFARE AMOUNT OF $5,000.00 IF CITY SPENDS, STATE WILL REIMBURSE.

CHAIR ASKED FOR ANY MORE SPEAKERS.

ALBERT O. LAROCHE

QUESTIONED WHERE ORDINANCES ARE RIGHT NOW.

CANAVAN RESPONDED.

JOSIE MCLAUGHLIN

QUESTIONED REVENUE FROM DETENTION CENTER.

CHAIR ASKED FOR ANY MORE SPEAKERS.

NONE

CANAVAN COMMENTED ON REVIEW COMMISSION MEETING FRIDAY AT DEPT. OF ADMINISTRATION. COUNCIL COULD NOT PASS BUDGET.

PRIOR TO COUNCIL PASSING BUDGET ORDINANCE THERE WILL BE ANOTHER PUBLIC HEARING.

10:00 PM PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED.

FINAL PASSAGE

MOTION TO TABLE ORDINANCE #1 THROUGH 7 COLLECTIVELY WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN GOES AND SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU.

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

1. THE ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET ORDINANCE.

2. THE ANNUAL CAPITAL PROGRAM ORDINANCE

3. AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING THE CLASSES OF POSITIONS, THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES AND THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN CERTAIN CLASSES IN CITY DEPARTMENTS.

4. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 2-68 "SALARIES FOR FIREMEN AND POLICEMEN" AS AMENDED.

5. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 2, ARTICLE VII, SECTION 2-67 "WAGE SCHEDULE GENERALLY" OF THE REVISED ORDINANCES AS AMENDED.

6. AN ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO SALARIES OF DEPARTMENT HEADS AND OTHERS IN UNCLASSIFIED SERVICE.

7. THE CAPITAL PROGRAM ORDINANCE.

8. AN ORDINANCE CREATING THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS COMMENTED.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN OPENED THE MEETING FOR PUBLIC HEARING.

CITY CLERK ISSA READ THE ENTIRE ORDINANCE.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN SAID IT WAS AMENDED TO INCLUDE TWO FORMS OF IDENTIFICATION.

CONSTANCE SULLIVAN AGAINST THE EXEMPTIONS.

MAYOR LAZIEH EXPLAINED THE EXEMPTION.

ROBERT ZUBA QUESTIONED THE PROCEDURE.

PETER DEMEULE QUESTIONED EXEMPTION.

CONRAD'S MENTIONED BY DEMEULE.

ALBERT LAROCHE QUESTIONED ON PROCEDURES FOR EXEMPTION.

LOUIS AZAR QUESTIONED SECTION THREE REGARDING THE LEGAL OWNER ON DEC. 31 IS RESPONSIBLE FOR TAXES.

PETER DEMEULE HAD MORE QUESTIONS.

PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED.

MOTION TO TABLE WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN GOES AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS COMMENTED.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN COMMENTED.

MOTION CARRIE 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

9. AN ORDINANCE INCREASING THE ELDERLY EXEMPTION.

CITY CLERK ISSA READ ENTIRE ORDINANCE.

PUBLIC HEARING OPENED, NO COMMENTS. PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED.

MAYOR LAZIEH COMMENTED.

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

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

10. AN ORDINANCE INCREASING THE VETERANS EXEMPTION.

CITY CLERK ISSA READ ORDINANCE.

MAYOR LAZIEH COMMENTED.

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

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

11. CHAPTER 18 RECREATIONAL FACILITIES-PROHIBITED USES & ACTIVITIES.

CITY CLERK ISSA READ ORDINANCE IN FULL.

FINANCE DIRECTOR EDNA POULIN SPOKE AGAINST THE ORDINANCE STATING THAT DRILLS BY GUARDS WOULD RESULT IN REVENUE TO CITY. THIS ORDINANCE WOULD NOT ALLOW FOR THE DRILL AND WOULD THEREFORE CUT OFF ANY ADDITIONAL

INCOME THE CITY COULD DERIVE FROM THE DETENTION FACILITY.

PUBLIC HEARING WAS OPENED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN.

MAYOR LAZIEH COMMENTED. HE STATED THAT HE IS NOT IN SUPPORT OF THE ORDINANCE AS PRESENTED.

IT WOULD DETER FUNDS FROM CENTER TO THE CITY IF PASSED.

PETER DEMEULE SPOKE IN FAVOR OF ORDINANCE.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS COMMENTED ON AMENDMENTS THAT ARE NEEDED. HE RELATED THAT A SECTION HAS TO BE ADDED.

MAYOR LAZIEH COMMENTED.

PETER DEMEULE COMMENTED.

PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED.

MOTION TO TABLE WAS MADE BY COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS.

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

ORDINANCE FIRST PASSAGE

AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING REVISION AND CODIFICATION OF THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS, R.I. ENTITLED " THE REVISED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS, R.I." PROVIDING FOR THE REPEAL OF CERTAIN ORDINANCES NOT INCLUDED THEREIN, WITH CERTAIN EXCEPTIONS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES HEREINAFTER SET OUT.

CITY CLERK ISSA READ THE ORDINANCE.

MOTION TO APPROVE WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN GOES.

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN SET MONDAY AT THE CALCUTT SCHOOL AT 7:00 PM. FOR THE COUNCIL'S NEXT MEETING.

ADJOURN

MOTION TO ADJOURN WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE AND SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU. ALL AGREED. SO VOTED. TIME 10:44 P.M.

______________________________________

DANIEL J. ISSA, CITY CLERK