CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
TUESDAY, MARCH 1, 1994
AT 7:30 P.M.
A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CENTRAL FALLS CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD IN THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS ON THE ABOVE DATE AT 8:00 P.M.
| COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS | YES |
| COUNCILMAN GOES | YES |
| COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE | YES |
| COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU | YES |
| COUNCILMAN CANAVAN | YES |
QUORUM PRESENT.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT ROBERT CANAVAN PRESIDED.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN LED THE ASSEMBLY IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
UNANIMOUS CONSENT
FIVE TO ZERO MOTION CARRIES ON RESOLUTION.
DANIEL J. ISSA TO MARCH 1, 1994 INVITES FOR INVESTIGATION HEARING.
MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU TO ACCEPT AND PLACE ON FILE.
SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE.
| COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS | YES |
| COUNCILMAN GOES | YES |
| COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE | YES |
| COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU | YES |
| COUNCILMAN CANAVAN | YES |
MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.
AN ORDINANCE CLARIFYING THE STATUS OF THE CHIEF OF THE CENTRAL FALLS POLICE DIVISION RELATIVE TO HIS REMOVAL FROM THE COLLECTIVE BARGAINING UNIT AS A RESULT OF THE ARBITRATION DECISION BETWEEN THE CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS AND CENTRAL FALLS LODGE #2 F.O.P.
CITY CLERK ISSA READ THE ORDINANCE.
MOTION TO APPROVE WAS MADE BY COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE.
| COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS | YES |
| COUNCILMAN GOES | YES |
| COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE | YES |
| COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU | YES |
| COUNCILMAN CANAVAN | YES |
MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO O ABSENT.
AN ORDINANCE GRANTING PETITION OF THE CENTRAL FALLS FIELD NATURALISTS SOCIETY FOR ABANDONMENT OF A PORTION OF OAKLAND STREET.
CITY CLERK ISSA READ ORDINANCE.
MOTION TO APPROVE WAS MADE BY COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE.
| COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS | YES |
| COUNCILMAN GOES | YES |
| COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE | YES |
| COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU | YES |
| COUNCILMAN CANAVAN | YES |
MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.
CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN THANKED A. VENTUTULO, W. BRODY, AND M. DOYLE FOR ATTENDING.
MR. DOYLE DISTRIBUTED INFORMATION PACKETS TO COUNCIL MEMBERS. HE CHIDED THE TIMES FOR LYING. HE QUOTED THE TITLE FROM THE NEWSPAPER. THE PAPER DID NOT RECEIVE THE ENTIRE FAX, THEY RAN OUT OF PAPER AND THEY DID NOT CORRECT THE STORY. THE STORY WAS BOGUS, INCOMPLETE. NEVER CORRECTED.
COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS QUESTIONED MR. DOYLE.
MR. DOYLE RELATED THE HISTORY OF NEED FOR THE PROJECT. RFQ IN COMMERCE DAILY FOR 220 BED FACILITY.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN QUESTIONED MR. DOYLE.
MR. DOYLE RELATED THAT THE ORIGINAL RFP WAS MADE AVAILABLE TO COUNCIL THREE CLASSES OF THE PRISONERS WERE INDICATED BUREAU OF PRISONS, INS, AND CUSTOMS. SIX FIRMS WERE QUALIFIED. ALL CITY BOARDS AFFECTED REVIEWED.
PROPER PUBLIC HEARING HELD.
UNANIMOUS VOTE OF ZONING BOARD. FOUR TO ONE VOTE OF COUNCIL.
DETAILS OF FURTHER HISTORY GIVEN. OVER $160,000. OF THEIR MONEY INVESTED. PROJECT AWARDED TO PLYMOUTH. PLYMOUTH PROJECT FOLDED BECAUSE OF THE FINANCES. BECAUSE OF SUCCESSES OF THE CORNELL COX ON PLYMOUTH PLAN, THEY WERE CONTACTED AND MADE PART OF THE PROJECT.
MARSHALS SERVICE SAID THERE WAS A CRISIS. MARSHALS SERVICE PUT OUT THE RFP. MONEY WAS SPENT ON THAT BASIS. RFP WAS QUOTED.
NO LOCAL OR STATE PRISONERS WERE QUOTED FROM RFP. INTENT WAS NEVER THERE.
MARSHALS SERVICE DID NOT WANT THE STATE INMATES. DOCUMENTS WERE THERE THAT SAID NO STATE INMATES.
COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS QUESTIONED MR. DOYLE.
MR. DOYLE RESPONDED. NEED FOR CELLS WAS FURTHER EXPANDED BY MR. DOYLE. PRESS HAD COPIES OF THE RFP. PROJECT DIED, PLYMOUTH AWARDED PROJECT.
MAYOR ANNOUNCED THE ATTEMPT FOR GETTING THE PROJECT GOING AGAIN.
IGA CAME. ONLY MEANS FOR PROJECT. CITY PROJECT, AT THIS POINT.
MAYOR HAD STARTED. LETTERS QUOTED FROM HISTORY OF PROJECT. MEAD FROM MARSHALS OFFICE REPEATED NEED. AGAIN, IN LETTER TO FRANK FLAHERTY, NEED WAS REPEATED. MARSHALS SERVICE REAFFIRMED NATIONAL EMERGENCY FOR NEED.
CORNELL COX PAID FOR STUDY TO REAFFIRM NEED AS REPORTED IN THE ANDERSEN REPORT.
COPIES OF THE ANDERSEN REPORT WAS DISTRIBUTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION BETWEEN MR. DOYLE AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN CONTINUED.
PAGES OF THE REPORT WERE MISSING.
COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU HAD DISCUSSION WITH MR. DOYLE.
MR. DOYLE RESPONDED THAT THE ANDERSON REPORT SAID NO STATE INMATES WERE TO BE IN THIS FACILITY.
MR. DOYLE STATED THAT THERE WAS NO ADVANCE NOTICE OF THE COUNCIL'S REQUEST TO APPEAR AT THE LAST MEETING. HE STATED THAT THE PAWTUCKET TIMES DID NOT PRINT THE REASON FOR THEM NOT BEING HERE. BUT INFERRED NEGATIVELY. NO EVIDENCE WAS EVER PRESENTED TO CHALLENGE THE INMATE TYPE. ALL THOUGHT THAT THE CENTER WOULD BE PACKED. THERE WAS NO EVIDENCE AT THE TIME TO INDICATE ANYTHING OTHER THAN FEDERAL DETAINEES. ORIGINAL IDEA HAD OVER 10 MEETINGS ON IGA.
8-5-91 PROVIDENCE JOURNAL HELD AN ARTICLE ON SPECIFIC QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS ON THE IGA. COPIES OF THE ARTICLE PROVIDED. RISKS WERE DISCLOSED. NEVER PLANNED TO HOUSE STATE INMATES, BUT WAS FOR FEDERAL DETAINEES. HEARINGS AT HIGH SCHOOL, ON TWO OCCASIONS EXPLAINED THE IGA, BY DONALD WYATT. COPIES OF THAT ARTICLE ALSO IN PACKET.
WYATT QUOTED ON COMMUNICATIONS WITH MEAD. MS ALSO HAD INPUT ON DESIGN OF THE DETENTION CENTER IN CENTRAL FALLS. PRIOR TO APPROVAL, PROJECT WAS REVIEWED, CONGRESSIONAL DELEGATION, PLANING COMMISSION, ZONING BOARD, PORT AUTHORITY, ETC. OVER 180 PUBLIC OFFICIALS REVIEWED AND APPROVED.
MR. DOYLE QUOTED THE TIMES ARTICLE ON THE APPROVAL OF THE PROJECT. PROVIDENCE JOURNAL ALSO ENDORSED PROJECT IN FIVE EDITORIALS. WE HONORED THE PROMISES. STATE INMATES WAS NOT OUR DECISION, NOR DID WE APPROVE. TONY WILL EXPLAIN AFTER ME. US DEPT. OF JUSTICE IS STILL BEING LOBBIED TO GET ONLY FEDERAL DETAINEES. THIS WAS A TOUGH
DECISION OF THE BOARD. THERE WAS NO ALTERNATIVE. WHEN BOND IS PAID OFF, POTENTIAL OF THREE MILLION DOLLARS FOR THE CITY. I HAVE NEVER MISSED A PUBLIC HEARING.
COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU COMMENTED AND QUESTIONED MR. DOYLE.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN SAID THAT HEADLINES AND TIMES ARTICLE WAS MISLEADING.
MR. DOYLE AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN DISCUSSED JOURNAL ARTICLES.
MR. BRODY CORRECTED DISCUSSION, STATING THAT THE TWO PROJECTS WERE GETTING CONFUSED.
IGA PROPOSED THREE CLASSES OF SENTENCED FEDERAL INMATES.
ANTHONY VENTUTULO JOINED THE DISCUSSION TO EXPLAIN.
COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS QUESTIONED MR. DOYLE.
MR. DOYLE RESPONDED THAT THE MARSHALS SERVICE HAS NOT HONORED THE AGREEMENT. THERE ARE OVER 200 FEDERAL INMATES IN MASS.
COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU QUESTIONED MR. DOYLE.
ANTHONY VENTUTULO COMMENTED ON THE AGREEMENT WITH NORTH CAROLINA WHICH HAS A 90 DAYS TERMINATION NOTICE. THIS WILL BE TO MAKE SPACE FOR THE FEDERAL DETAINEES. THEY WANT TO KEEP THE FEDERAL NUMBERS UP. HE ALSO SAID THAT OVER 10 PUBLIC HEARINGS WERE HELD ON THE PROJECT. THEY HAVE ALL ATTENDED THE PUBLIC HEARINGS, ANSWERED ANY QUESTIONS. TIMES ARTICLES AND HEADLINES WERE MISLEADING. THEY STATED THAT THE PROBE WAS SHUNNED BY THEM. HE STATED THAT THIS WAS NOT THE CASE AND THAT "THE YELLOW RAG" HAS MISLED THE READER. HE STATED THAT THE PROJECT CO-COORDINATORS PROMISED THE FOLLOWING SIX ITEMS.
1. THIS WOULD BE A STATE OF THE ART MAXIMUM FACILITY. THIS WAS DELIVERED.
2. BE DELIVERED ON TIME AND WITHIN BUDGET.
3. IT WOULD MEET ALL ACA STANDARDS.
4. PROPERTY VALUES WOULD NOT BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED. STUDY DONE BY THE OUTSIDE CONSULTANT. PROPERTY VALUES INCREASED, THE DUMP THAT WAS THERE IS GONE, IT WAS A HANGOUT FOR VANDALS, DRUG DEALS. NOW THERE IS A NEW, MODERN BUILDING. THE PRESIDENT OF FULLER BOX, A NEW CITY BUSINESS SAID HE MOVED HERE BECAUSE OF THE SECURITY OF THE DETENTION CENTER. PROPERTY VALUES HAVE INCREASES. CONSTRUCTION JOBS,
FACILITY HAS OVER 60 EMPLOYEES, ONE THIRD CITY RESIDENTS, EIGHT MORE HIRES PLANNED.
MORE FROM CENTRAL FALLS PLANNED.
5. PROJECT WOULD BRING ECONOMIC IMPACT. OVER $3 MILLION TO LOCAL VENDORS:
ADAMSDALE CONCRETE, ROBINSON DISPOSAL, JABBOUR ELECTRIC, SMITHFIELD-PAINTING, CITY FENCE, JH LYNCH, DOMINION REBAR, CPA, FROM LINCOLN, JENNIES CATERING, CRISS CROSS DELI, ETC. ANOTHER $500,000 WILL BE SPENT EACH YEAR FOR THE NEXT FEW YEARS. $160,000. TO CITY FOR THE LAND ADDITION REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY,
443,000 THE CITY HAS REAPED TO THIS MOMENT. THIS GENERATED OVER 4% OF THE CITY'S BUDGET. BUILDING PERMITS FEES, ETC. THIS PROMISE WAS FULFILLED.
6. ONLY FEDERAL DETAINEES WAS PROMISED. THIS WAS NOT KEPT. EVERY PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION HE KNOWS, CRIMINAL JUSTICE, HAD PROJECTED FEDERAL PRISONERS OVER THE NEXT TEN YEARS. THERE WAS NO WAY FOR ANYONE TO PREDICT. THE CORPORATION HAD TO MAKE THE DECISION, TO ACCEPT OTHER STATE PRISONERS.
THE BOARD WAS EMPOWERED TO TAKE RESPONSIBLE ACTION. THEY DID THIS TO PREVENT THE CENTER FROM FOLDING. IT IS BEING OPERATED PROFESSIONALLY. LOCAL ELECTED OFFICIALS, PRESS, ETC. HAS MADE PROJECT TOUGHER TO OPERATE IN A CIRCUS LIKE ATMOSPHERE. IT IS ALMOST CRIMINAL FOR THE EMPLOYEES AND VISITORS TO HAVE TO TRY AND OPERATE. THIS ALL GETS CARRIED IN AND CAUSES PROBLEMS IN RUNNING THE FACILITY. REVENUE STREAM FOR FACILITY IS STILL THERE, WORKING HARD WITH GOVERNMENT. WE NEED YOUR COOPERATION, NOT CRITICISM TO GET THIS BACK ON TRACK.
COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS QUESTIONED MR. VENTUTULO ASKING WHERE THE IDEA WAS CONCEIVED AS TO WHERE TO ACQUIRE INMATES TO PAY BILLS UNTIL THE FACILITY COULD GET FEDERAL DETAINEES WAS DERIVED.
MR. DOYLE ANSWERED THAT CHRISTINE MARCY FROM MARSHALS SERVICE SUGGESTED THAT INMATES FROM OTHER JURISDICTIONS.
OPERATOR WAS TOLD NOT TO TALK TO OTHER STATES. TRY HARD TO GET FEDERAL DETAINEES FIRST. OCT. 93 WAS DATE OF MEETING.
MR. VENTUTULO RESPONDED TO QUESTIONS AND RELATED THAT THE DETENTION BOARD'S LEGAL COUNSEL ADVISED THAT STATE INMATES COULD LEGALLY FILL THE BILL ACCORDING TO STATE STATUTE.
MR. VENTUTULO EXPLAINED WHAT IS MEANT BY DESIGN BED CAPACITY.
MR. DOYLE QUOTED FROM THE TIMES REPORTER JIM BARON'S ARTICLE.
DISCUSSION ENSUED ON BED CAPACITY WITH COUNCIL MEMBERS, MR. DOYLE AND MR. VENTUTULO.
JULY 31, 1991 BARON'S ARTICLE INDICATED 260 BED CAPACITY. ORIGINALLY PROJECT WAS 220 BEDS. IT WAS PUBLICLY CHANGED WHEN THE PROJECT CHANGED HANDS. MINIMUM OF 10 % ABOVE. 296 IS PRESENTLY MAXIMUM CAPACITY. DORMITORY HOUSES 50 THAT WAS NOT PART OF ORIGINAL PROJECT. ANOTHER PART HOUSES 16. ABOUT 314 NOW. UNDER DCA PLAN, NOT THIS NUMBER.
MR. BRODY COMMENTED REGARDING PLANS. THEY WERE LAID OUT ON THE TABLE DURING ZONING MEETING. DESIGNATED DESIGN CAPACITY OF 220 ORIGINALLY. IT SAID (IGA) 290.
COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU QUESTIONED.
MR. BRODY STATED 296 LAST COUNT.
DESIGN CAPACITY DEFINED AND DISCUSSED.
INMATE TO GUARD RATIO DISCUSSED.
MR. VENTUTULO EXPLAINED SIX TO EIGHT ADDITIONAL STAFF PLANNED.
COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU COMMENTED.
COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS COMMENTED.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN QUESTIONED MR. VENTUTULO.
PROPERTY VALUES DISCUSSED. EXAMPLES OF CRANSTON GIVEN.
COUNCIL REQUESTED THAT THE FORMER COUNCIL SEPARATED THE BOARD FROM THE CITY COUNCIL-DOYLE.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN CONTINUED TO QUESTION MR. VENTUTULO. HE IS NOT BLAMING DCA.
COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU QUESTIONED MR. DOYLE.
MR. DOYLE RESPONDED THAT STATEMENTS WERE MADE THAT INFLAMED SITUATION IN THE FACILITY.
COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE ASKED FOR UPDATE OF THE MARSHALS SERVICE ON GETTING FEDERAL DETAINEES.
MR. VENTUTLO UPDATED COUNCIL.
80 OR 90 FEDERAL DETAINEES.
MASS. MARSHALS WAS SENT A LETTER ASKING FOR FEDERAL DETAINEES.
COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE FURTHER QUESTIONED.
NO INMATES TO BE RELEASED IN CENTRAL FALLS, KICKOUT CLAUSE IF THERE ARE ANY PROBLEMS, 90 DAY NOTICE OF SHIPBACK, IMMEDIATELY IF THERE IS A PROBLEM, ABILITY OF CENTER TO SCREEN INMATES FROM MENTAL HEALTH PROBLEMS, TROUBLE MAKERS, ETC.
NC HAS PROVIDED A REVENUE STREAM FOR THE CORPORATION.
FEDERAL DETAINEE MAY NOT HAVE A RECORD.
STATE INMATES DO.
WILLIAM BRODY AND COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS ENTERED A QUESTION AND ANSWER PERIOD.
MR. BRODY REPLIED TO COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS' QUESTIONS.
FEDERAL INMATES ONLY WERE DISCUSSED.
HE HELPED DRAFT THE STATE STATUTE.
COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS QUESTIONED MR. BRODY ON ZONING BOARD MEETING.
MR. BRODY AGREED THAT THERE WAS NEVER INTENTION TO HOUSE ANYTHING OTHER THAN FEDERAL DETAINEES.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN QUESTIONED MR. BRODY.
MR. BRODY RESPONDED THAT THE SECOND PROJECT WAS DIFFERENT IN THAT THE FIRST PLAN CALLED FOR RETROFIT OF THE EXISTING FACILITY WHILE THE SECOND CALLED FOR NEW BUILDING.
ALBERT O. LAROCHE, FORMER PRESIDENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL, SPOKE REGARDING THE NEEDS REPORT.
MR. DOYLE SPOKE REGARDING THE COUNCIL AND FACILITY. HE ASKED THAT COUNCIL AGREE TO WORK WITH THE FACILITY TO GET FEDERAL DETAINEES IN FACILITY.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN COMMENTED.
MR. BRODY REPLIED.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN APOLOGIZED TO EDNA POULIN AND JAMES STEPHEN FOR NOT GETTING TO THEIR TESTIMONY THIS EVENING AND INDICATED THAT THERE WILL BE A MEETING ON MONDAY AFTER LIQUOR BOARD.
MOTION TO ADJOURN WAS MADE BY COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE AND COUNCILMAN GOES. TIME 11:06 P.M.
| COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS | YES |
| COUNCILMAN GOES | YES |
| COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE | YES |
| COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU | YES |
| COUNCILMAN CANAVAN | YES |
MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.
________________________________________
DANIEL J. ISSA, CITY CLERK