June 30, 1994 - Special City Council Meeting

CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS

THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 1994

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

ROLL CALL

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS

COUNCILMAN GOES

COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU

COUNCILMAN CANAVAN

QUORUM PRESENT.

CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT ROBERT CANAVAN PRESIDED.

CORRESPONDENCE

LETTER FROM MAYOR

LETTER FROM J. RODRIGUES

MOTION TO ACCEPT COLLECTIVELY AND PLACE ON FILE WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE AND SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU.

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN RELATED HIS CONVERSATION WITH THE MAYOR RELATIVE TO THE BOBCAT.

MAYOR FEELS THIS WAS AN EMERGENCY PURCHASE.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN STATED HE DIDN'T FEEL THIS WAS SO.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN ASKED THAT THE CITY SOLICITOR ACQUIRE ALL RELATIVE DOCUMENTS PERTAINING TO THIS PURCHASE.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN COMMENTED ON THE COLLECTION OF TRASH AT CERTAIN BUSINESSES.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU REPORTED ON A VIDEO TAPE TAKEN OF CERTAIN MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT RECEIVING TRASH FROM A COMMERCIAL BUSINESS. SHE REPORTED THAT SHE INVESTIGATED TO PERSONALLY SEE IF THIS WAS BEING DONE. SHE RELATED AS TO WHAT SHE WITNESSED IN LENGTH.

ORDINANCE

PUBLIC HEARING OPENED AT 7:20 P.M.

CODIFICATION

MOTION TO TABLE THE SECTION ON ZONING AND APPROVE THE REMAINING SECTIONS OF THE ORDINANCE WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE.

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION

PUBLIC HEARING OPENED.

ROBERT ZUBA ASKED FOR CLARIFICATION.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT COMMENTED ON 2 BUILDING ON ONE LOT. RELATIVE TO LEGISLATION TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM.

ALBERT LAROCHE QUESTIONED IF THERE ARE FORMS BEFORE THE PAYMENT OF TAXES.

WILL NOT BE DONE ON THE 1994 TAX BILL.

WHAT WILL BE THE QUALIFYING PIECES OF IDENTIFICATION.

MR. HARRAKA RESPONDED.

PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS COMMENTED ON TAX BILL VIA THE MAIL.

MR. HARRAKA RESPONDED.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS QUESTIONED THE AMOUNT OF PROPERTY VALUE THIS EXEMPTION REPRESENTS.

4 MILLION IN VALUE- 121 THOUSAND TAX DOLLARS.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS FURTHER QUESTIONED THE ASSESSOR.

PERSONALLY MUST PRESENT LICENSE. ETC.

WHO EVER PAID THE TAXES WILL BE REIMBURSED.

FINANCE DIRECTOR RESPONDED.

SHE STATED THAT THIS TAX COLLECTION WILL BE THOUGHT.

SIMILAR TO ELDERLY AND VETERANS EXEMPTIONS.

COUNCILMAN CANAVAN STATED ALL OTHER EXEMPTION WILL REMAIN IN EFFECT.

COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE COMMENTED ON LAST YEAR'S BUDGET AND TAX RATE.

33.40 WOULD BE THE TAX RATE WITH OLD BUDGET.

WOULD LIKE TO RECEIVE THE VERIFICATIONS BY DECEMBER 31, 1994 FOR THIS TAX BILL.

CANAVAN ASKED HOW WILL EVERYONE KNOW ABOUT THE EXEMPTION.

IF THE TAX BILL IS PAID BY THE BANK WHO GETS THE NOTIFICATION.

CAN THESE PEOPLE RECEIVE A NOTICE FOR THIS EXEMPTION.

FINANCE DIRECTOR POULIN STATED THAT SHE WILL NOTIFY THE RESIDENTS WHEN POSSIBLE WILL ALSO NOTIFY THE BANK.

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

SECTION 4

ANY LOT THAT CONTAINS MORE THAN ONE BUILDING SHALL BE ELIGIBLE TO APPLY FOR THE EXEMPTION AFTER JAN. 1, 1995 IF THE PERSON'S PRIMARY RESIDENCE IS LISTED AND VERIFIED TO BE AT SAID LOT.

SEC. 5 THIS ORDINANCE SHALL TAKE EFFECT.

COUNCILMAN LAROCHE COMMENTED.

ROBERT ZUBA COMMENTED

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

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

RESOLUTION/INTRODUCTION

REALLOCATION TO CERTAIN SUMS IN BUDGET.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN COMMENTED.

RESOLUTION PUBLIC HEARING RELATED TO TAX RATE.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN STATED THAT HE TALKED WITH THE CHAIRMAN OF THE REVIEW COMMISSION WHO RELATED HIS DISPLEASURE WITH THE MAYOR OVER HIS ACTIONS WITH THE BUDGET. THE BUDGET CANNOT BE CHANGED.

PUBLIC HEARING OPENED.

WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE 1 BUILDING WITH 2 APARTMENTS AND ONE BUSINESS VERSUS 3 APARTMENTS.

WILFRED DEMEULE ASKED IF COUNCIL HAS LEGISLATION REGARDING THE REVIEW COMMISSION. THE LAW IS A BUDGET AND REVIEW COMMISSION.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN STATED THAT THE COMMISSION IS STRICTLY ADVISORY RELATIVE TO THE BUDGET. THEY HAVE FULL CONTROL OVER STATE DOLLARS AS RELATED BY THE ATTORNEY'S FOR THE COMMISSION.

MR. DEMEULE RELATED THAT THE TAPE WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW BY THE GENERAL PUBLIC NEXT WEDNESDAY.

MR. LAROCHE STATED THAT WHEN THE COUNCIL APPROVED THE REVISED ORDINANCES, THE COUNCIL MISSED ONE.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU EXPLAINED THE 3 TIER TAX SYSTEM. 1/4 OF BUILDING AT COMMERCIAL RATE, THE REMAINDER WILL BE AT RESIDENTIAL RATES. SHE ALSO EXPLAINED THE TANGIBLE RATE. 25% COMMERCIAL 75% RESIDENTIAL AT 2 DIFFERENT RATES.

BOB WOOD COMMENTED THAT THIS IS SUCH A MESS, CANT' GET BETTER ONLY WORSE. NO ONE WILL GAIN ANYTHING BY THIS.

WHO CAN WE BLAME.

VOTERS OF CENTRAL FALLS VOTED ON THIS SYSTEM.

TERRY MCMICHAEL OWNER OF COMMERCIAL PROPERTY ON BROAD.

64,100 NOW 138,500 IN VALUE. 3,557.00 IN TAXES NEW RATE 5,900.00 67% INCREASE IN TAXES. NO MAKING IT AS IT IS, NOW ASKING ME TO PAY. HAVE TO SELL BUSINESS AND BUILDING CAN'T AFFORD ITS. HER MOTHER ON RESIDENTIAL 35,900 TO 84,400 WILL BE PAYING 300.00 MORE NOW THAN BEFORE. THIS IS THE DEATH KNOLL FOR HER BUSINESS IN THIS CITY. REALLY NEEDS  INVESTIGATION. ASKS THAT COUNCIL DENY THIS.

FIRST OFF WHO'S GOING TO BUY THIS BUILDING WHEN THEY LOOK AT THE TAX RATE.

THERE'S NO HOPE FOR ME OR BUSINESS IN GENERAL.

ROBERT ZUBA QUESTIONED REGISTERED HOME BUSINESS.

MR. HARRAKA TAXED ON ITS USE.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU ASKED MR. HARRAKA QUESTIONS RELATIVE TO THE CRITERIA OF BUSINESS.

LOUIS AZAR OF 230 WASHINGTON ST. QUESTIONED THE 53,000 TO BE CUT, WHERE WAS IT TO COME FROM...CAPITAL BUDGET...

TAKE FROM SURPLUS.

COUNCILMAN CANAVAN RESPONDED.

NO POLICE CARS HAVE NOT BEEN ORDERED.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU STATED THAT THEY ARE ON HOLD WITH AMI.

THE PURCHASING BOARD HAVE NOT APPROVED THIS AS OF YET.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU FURTHER COMMENTED.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN RESPONDED TO MS. MCMICHAEL STATED THAT HE CANNOT ANSWER HER CONCERNS. WILL ASK GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO SEPARATE COMMERCIAL FROM INDUSTRIAL. THE 5 MAJOR TAXPAYERS IN THE CITY WILL BE PAYING LESS THAN LAST YEAR. HE STATED THAT THE UNDERSTANDS THE BUSINESS' PLIGHT. 80% OF THE RESIDENTIAL PROPERTIES WILL SAVE MONEY. ANYTIME THERE IS A REVALUATION THERE ARE WINNERS AND THERE ARE LOSERS. THERE WILL BE ANOTHER AVENUE OF APPEAL.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN STATED HE WILL BE WITH EACH TAXPAYER IN HIS WARD WHO APPEALS.

REVIEW COMMISSION HAD EXTENSIVE DISCUSSION ON JUNE 6TH ON UNBALANCE IN CLASSIFICATION.

PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS STATED THAT THE COUNCIL HAS REPEATEDLY BEEN ASKED NOT TO PASS THIS FOR THE PAST SEVERAL WEEKS. HE RELATED THAT EVERYONE SHOULD PAY THE SAME INCLUDING THE MAJOR TAXPAYERS. HE COMMENTED ON THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, INSTEAD OF ASKING THE PEOPLE TO WAIT, WHY NOT ASK THE CITY TO WAIT. HE STATED THAT THE COUNCIL IS HEARING MORE AND MORE FROM PEOPLE THAT THEY ARE INDEED PAYING MORE IN TAXES. HE STATED THAT MOST PEOPLE FEEL THAT THEY WILL NOT BE HEARD. HE RECOMMENDED THAT THIS RESOLUTION NOT BE PASSED TONIGHT.

COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE STATED THAT IF THE COUNCIL DOES NOT APPROVE. THE BUDGET DOES NOT REVERT BACK TO THE OLD BUDGET. HE EXPLAINED. ETC.

DISCUSSION ENSUED BETWEEN COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE AND COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEW STATED HE IS TIRED OF BEING MISLED. HE SUGGESTED $33.24 ACROSS THE BOARD WITH THE PASSED BUDGET.

COUNCILMAN CANAVAN ASKED WHERE IS IT WRITTEN THAT THE NEW VALUATIONS MUST BE ENFORCED .

COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE REQUESTED A 5 MINUTE RECESS. TIME 8:50 P.M.

RECONVENED AT 9:15 P.M.

COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE STATED THAT IN DISCUSSION WITH THE TAX ASSESSOR THE FOLLOWING RATES WERE DISCUSSED.

COUNCILMAN CANAVAN STATED THAT IT WOULD NOT BE PRUDENT TO REVERT TO LAST YEAR'S BUDGET, HE WOULD ASK THAT THE COMMERCIAL PROPERTY OWNERS BEAR WITH THE COUNCIL UNTIL NEXT YEAR. HE FURTHER COMMENTED ON COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL AND RESIDENTIAL AND TANGIBLE TAXES. TO DELAY WOULD NOT BE FAIR TO TAXPAYER ON A WHOLE.

COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE COMMENTED ON THE PRESENT TAX RATE AND BUDGET.

COUNCILMAN CANAVAN COMMENTED ON THE TAX RATE.

COUNCIL WILL DO EVERYTHING IT CAN TO REDUCE THE COMMERCIAL. NO OTHER COUNCIL HAS HAD TO IMPLEMENT A 3 TIER TAX RATE.

MOTION TO AMEND TAX RATE WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN GOES.

26.25 RESIDENTIAL

41.50 COMM/COMMERCIAL/INDUSTRIAL.

54.65 TANG/MOTOR VEHICLE

MOTION CARRIED 3 YES 2 NO 0 ABSENT.

PUBLIC HEARING OPENED.

MR. WOODS QUESTIONED MOTOR VEHICLES NOT REGISTERED ETC.

MORE TENANTS THAN LANDLORDS.

PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED.

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

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU ASKED TO ENVISION BROAD & DEXTER ST. AS MUCH RESIDENTIAL AS COMMERCIAL. SHE SPOKE ON VALUATIONS.

MOTION CARRIED 3 YES 2 NO 0 ABSENT.

DISCUSSION ON DETENTION CENTER

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS COMMENTED ON LETTER RECEIVED FROM MAYOR'S OFFICE......RELATIVE TO DIRECTOR OF DETENTION CENTER.

MR. PONTE WAS NAMED IN A LAW SUIT WHILE HE WAS IN COMMAND OF A MASS. STATE PRISON. HE COMMENTED THAT SOME OF THE THINGS REPORTED WERE HORRENDOUS..WANTED TO MAKE PEOPLE AWARE OF WHO IS IN CHARGE OF THE CENTRAL FALLS FACILITY.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS STATED THAT HE IS NOT ASKING THE MAYOR TO FIRE ANYONE...HE IS MORE INTERESTED IN THE REACTION OF THE MAYOR.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU COMMENTED ON MAYOR'S LETTER.

COUNCILMAN CANAVAN COMMENTED.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU COMMENTED ON TIMES ARTICLE.

COUNCILMAN CANAVAN RELATED THAT THE COUNCIL HAS TALKED WITH A NUMBER OF ATTORNEYS RELATIVE TO THE DETENTION CENTER. THERE APPEARS TO BE NO WAY AROUND THE CHARTER IN THAT THE CITY SOLICITOR MUST BE UTILIZED IN ITS QUEST FOR THE DETENTION CENTER'S USE OF STATE PRISONERS. HE COMMENTED ON THE ETHICS COMMISSION REPORT.

HE HAS THE UTMOST CONFIDENCE IN GEORGE MUKSIAN. CONSTANT ROADBLOCKS IN THE WAY OF THE COUNCIL'S INVESTIGATION. HE COMMENTED ON THE REVIEW COMMISSION'S COMMENTS. COMMISSION'S POSITION DID NOT WANT TO GET INVOLVED WITH THE POLITICS OF IT IS NOT IN ANYONE'S BEST INTEREST TO HAVE THE MAYOR OR COUNCIL AT ODDS, THE COMMISSION WAS CONCERNED ABOUT THE EXPENSE OF IT. OBJECT TO ANY EXPENSES IN EXCESS OF 5,000 COMMISSION'S MEETING.

THE COUNCIL WILL PLAY BY THE RULES THE COUNCIL WILL NOT BREAK THE LAW, IT WILL FOLLOW THE LAW.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN WILL ASK THE CITY SOLICITOR TO TAKE THE CASE.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS STATED THAT HE WANTS TO GET GOING ON THIS ISSUE.

MOTION TO ADJOURN WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE AND SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU. ALL AGREED. SO VOTED. TIME 9:55 P.M.

_____________________________________

ELIZABETH A. CROWLEY

DEPUTY CITY CLERK