CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS
CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
AUGUST 7, 1995
A REGULAR MEETING OF THE CENTRAL FALLS CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD ON THE ABOVE DATE IN THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT 7:20 P.M.
COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS
COUNCILMAN GOES
COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE
COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU
COUNCILMAN CANAVAN
COUNCIL PRESIDENT ROBERT CANAVAN PRESIDED AND LED THE ASSEMBLY IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
CONCERT FEATURING THE ARTHUR MEDEIROS BAND UNDER THE BROAD STREET UMBRELLA IN JENKS PARK; WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 16, 1995 AT 6:30 P.M.
SOAP BOX DERBY FULLER AVENUE HILL ON SATURDAY, AUGUST 19, 1995, AT HIGH NOON.
CHILDREN'S FESTIVAL FEATURING STORYTELLER LEN CABRAL ALSO MAGIC ACTS, THE ROGER WILLIAMS MOBILE ZOO AND THE CHILDREN'S MUSEUM ON WHEELS; SUNDAY AUGUST 27, 1995 FROM 10AM-3PM IN JENKS PARK.
JOHN LEFRANCOIS GAVE AN UPDATE ON THE SEPTEMBER 24, 1995 PARADE AND OTHER SEPTEMBER CENTENNIAL EVENTS. HE RELATED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS WOULD WALK IN THE FRONT OF THE PARADE WITH OTHER OFFICIAL AND WILL REVIEW THE REMAINDER OF THE PARADE FROM THE REVIEWING STAND WHICH WILL BE PLACED AT QUINN SQUARE. HE STATED THAT THERE WOULD BE SOME FUNDRAISERS, SUCH AS A HORSESHOE TOURNAMENT, DART TOURNAMENT AND A POOL TOURNAMENT, TO HELP FINANCE THE REMAINING CENTENNIAL EVENTS. HE THANKED NORMAN MENARD, ROBERT TIERNEY, ROBERT BRADLEY AND ELIZABETH CROWLEY FOR THEIR COUNTLESS HOURS OF WORK WITH THE PARADE AND ALL THE CENTENNIAL EVENTS THAT HAVE TAKEN PLACE TO DATE. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE JULY 2, 1995 PICNIC AND FIREWORKS TOOK PLACE WITHOUT INCIDENT AND WAS AN UNQUALIFIED SUCCESS. HE THANKED THE MANY VOLUNTEERS FOR THE HOURS OF PREPARATION FOR THIS EVENT. HE ALSO COMMENTED ON THE CAR SHOW FOR THE WEEKEND OF SEPT. 16 & 17 AND A CIRCUS ON SEPT. 30, 1995.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN PRAISED JOHN LEFRANCOIS ON HIS EFFORTS WITH THE CENTENNIAL AND ALL THE VOLUNTEERS WHO HAVE GIVEN THEIR TIME TO MAKE THESE EVENTS A SUCCESS.
MAYOR LAZIEH ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL RELATIVE TO SEVERAL MATTERS THAT ARE BEFORE THE COUNCIL. HE SPOKE IN FAVOR OF A RESOLUTION WHICH WOULD NAME THE SOCCER FIELD AT HIGGINSON AVE. THE CORPORAL IVAN D. PEREZ SOCCER FILED IN MEMORY OF THIS CENTRAL FALLS HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE WHO GAVE HIS LIFE IN THE MILITARY ACTION WHICH TOOK PLACE IN PANAMA. HE STATED THAT THE HIGHEST HONOR THAT A PERSON CAN BRING TO A COMMUNITY IS TO GIVE HIS LIFE FOR THE IDEALS OF HIS COUNTRY BY SERVING IN THE MILITARY.
MAYOR LAZIEH URGED PASSAGE OF THIS RESOLUTION.
MAYOR LAZIEH ALSO URGED PASSAGE FOR A RESOLUTION NAMING THE HIGGINSON AVENUE SPORTS COMPLEX IN HONOR OF FRANCIS L. CORRIGAN. HE GAVE A BRIEF HISTORY ON THE NAMING OF THE FIELD WHICH WAS PRESENTED TO THE COUNCIL BY THE FORMER MAYOR GARVEY DURING HIS ADMINISTRATION.
UNANIMOUS CONSENT WAS GIVEN TO CHANGE THE ORDER OF THE AGENDA AN ACT UPON THE RESOLUTIONS AS OUTLINED BY MAYOR LAZIEH.
RESOLUTION NAMING THE CORPORAL IVAN PEREZ SOCCER FIELD AT HIGGINSON AVENUE SPORTS COMPLEX. SUBMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF MAYOR THOMAS LAZIEH.
RESOLUTION NAMING THE HIGGINSON AVENUE SPORTS COMPLEX THE FRANCIS L. CORRIGAN PARK. SUBMITTED AT THE REQUEST OF FORMER MAYOR FRANCIS X. GARVEY AND MAYOR THOMAS LAZIEH.
MOTION FOR INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE COLLECTIVELY WAS MADE BY COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE.
COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE THANKED MAYOR LAZIEH FOR NAMING THE SOCCER FIELD AFTER CORPORAL PEREZ AND THE ENTIRE COMPLEX FOR FRANCIS CORRIGAN.
COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU STATED THAT SHE IS PLEASED WITH THE NAMING OF THE SOCCER FIELD FOR IVAN PEREZ.
COUNCILMAN GOES STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE HARDBALL FIELD AT MACOMBER FIELD NAMED FOR JOSEPH KRAKOWSKI WHILE HE IS STILL LIVING AND URGED THE MAYOR TO PRESENT A RESOLUTION TO THE COUNCIL.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN THAT HE IS IN FAVOR OF THESE RESOLUTIONS.
| COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS | YES |
| COUNCILMAN GOES | YES |
| COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE | YES |
| COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU | YES |
| COUNCILMAN CANAVAN | YES |
MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.
MAYOR LAZIEH ASKED THE COUNCIL TO ALLOW THE CITY SOLICITOR TO REVIEW A PROPOSED REVISION TO AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION. HE STATED THAT HE IS IN FAVOR OF THE ORDINANCE, BUT WOULD LIKE TO HAVE
THIS AMENDMENT REVIEWED BEFORE PASSAGE.
STANLEY PIETRASZKA DISTRIBUTED A MAP TO COUNCIL MEMBERS SHOWING THE SEWER PIPE LAYOUT FOR PERSON IN THIS AREA. HE ASKED THE COUNCIL TO NOTE THAT THE COURTLAND AND CROWN STREET HOMEOWNERS ARE NOT IN THE SEWER SYSTEM. HE STATED THAT THE BLACKSTONE VALLEY SEWER DISTRICT COMMISSION RAN THESE LINES IN 1954. HE THEN GAVE A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE HOUSES IN THE CROWN AND COURTLAND STREET AREA. HE SPOKE OF THE NUMBER OF GENERATIONS OF THE SAME FAMILIES LIVING IN THE SAME HOUSES IN QUESTION. HE STATED THAT IN 1988 THE PROPERTY OWNERS WHO WERE NOT
CONNECTED TO THE SEWER SYSTEM RECEIVED NOTICES FROM DEM FOR DUMPING RAW SEWERAGE INTO THE BLACKSTONE RIVER AND ALL WERE THREATENED WITH FINES AND THE LOSS OF THEIR HOMES. HE CONTINUED TO SPEAK ABOUT THE PROBLEMS AND THE MEETINGS THAT TOOK PLACE SINCE THAT TIME. HE STATED THAT SUPERIOR COURT ACTIONS TAKEN BY DEM. HE RELATED THAT THE CITY SPENT $6,000.00 TO STUDY THE PROBLEM AND A SOLUTION WOULD HAVE AN ESTIMATED COST OF $94,000.00 OF WHICH THE CITY THROUGH GRANTS WOULD FINANCE APPROXIMATELY $75,000.00. THE REMAINING COST WOULD BE BORN BY
THE PROPERTY OWNER. MR. PIETRASZKA THEN DIRECTED THE COUNCIL TO ANOTHER PAPER WHICH GIVES AN OUTLAY OF A GRINDER PUMP SYSTEM. HE EXPLAINED THE PROBLEMS OF THE SYSTEM AND STATED THAT THE PROPERTY OWNERS ARE OPPOSED TO THE INSTALLATION OF THIS SYSTEM. HE EXPLAINED THE PUMPING SYSTEM USED BY THE TOWN OF LINCOLN AND OF OTHER
COMMUNITIES FOR LOW LYING PROPERTIES AND SPOKE IN SUPPORT OF THE INSTALLATION OF THIS TYPE OF SYSTEM. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE CITY SHOULD BE RESPONSIBLE FOR DISPOSING OF THE WASTE THROUGH THE CITY'S SYSTEM.
MAYOR LAZIEH EXPLAINED THAT HE WAS UNAWARE THAT THIS WOULD BE ON TONIGHT AGENDA AND HE WOULD HAVE PREPARED ACCORDINGLY TO ANSWER QUESTIONS RELATIVE TO THIS MATTER. HE EXPLAINED THE PROCESS THE CITY HAS TAKEN WITH DEM AND HOW THE GRINDER PUMP SYSTEM WAS CHOSEN. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE PROPERTY OWNERS MET IN THE CITY HALL SEVERAL WEEKS BEFORE WITH THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO HAVE THIS SYSTEM EXPLAINED.
DISCUSSION BETWEEN MAYOR LAZIEH AND MR. PIETRASZKA CONTINUED. MR. PIETRASZKA READ AND QUOTED FROM VARIOUS ARTICLES DATING FROM 1991 ABOUT THE SAMOSET PLAT PROBLEM.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN ASKED THE CITY ADMINISTRATION TO INSTALL THE PUMPING STATIONS ON COURTLAND AND CROWN STREETS AS IS DONE BY THE TOWN OF LINCOLN.
MAYOR LAZIEH STATED THAT THE GRANTS THAT HAVE BEEN AWARDED ARE FOR THE GRINDER PUMPING SYSTEM. HE CONTINUED TO EXPLAIN THE METHODS TAKEN WITH THIS PROBLEM.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN STATED THAT A STRONGER EFFORT BY THE CITY SHOULD BE MADE TO RECTIFY THIS PROBLEM.
IN OTHER BUSINESS, WHILE THE MAYOR WAS STILL AVAILABLE TO ANSWER QUESTIONS, COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS COMMENTED ON A LETTER RECEIVED BY THE COUNCIL FROM THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, FRANK JUCHNIK, REGARDING THE 1993/1994 AUDIT REPORT. HE ASKED THE MAYOR WHEN COPIES OF THE REPORT WOULD BE AVAILABLE TO THE COUNCIL.
MAYOR LAZIEH STATED THAT HE WILL MEET WITH THE FINANCE DIRECTOR, THE CITY AUDITOR, AND COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE AT 2:00 P.M. ON TUESDAY TO DISCUSS THE AUDIT AND THAT AFTER THAT TIME THE AUDIT WILL BE MADE AVAILABLE TO THE COUNCIL AND THE PUBLIC.
THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT RECESSED THE MEETING FOR 5 MINUTES.
MEETING RECONVENED.
SPECIAL MEETING JUNE 5, 1995; REGULAR MEETING JUNE 12, 1995; SPECIAL MEETING JUNE 19, 1995; SPECIAL MEETING JUNE 27, 1995; SPECIAL MEETING JULY 6, 1995.
MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE AND SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU TO ACCEPT COLLECTIVELY AND PLACE ON FILE.
| COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS | YES |
| COUNCILMAN GOES | YES |
| COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE | YES |
| COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU | YES |
| COUNCILMAN CANAVAN | YES |
MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING TOWN OF CUMBERLAND ZONING ORDINANCE.
MOTION TO ACCEPT AND PLACE ON FILE WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN GOES AND SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU.
| COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS | YES |
| COUNCILMAN GOES | YES |
| COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE | YES |
| COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU | YES |
| COUNCILMAN CANAVAN | YES |
MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.
MINIMUM HOUSING; BUILDING PERMITS; PLUMBING PERMITS; MUNICIPAL COURT.
MOTION TO ACCEPT COLLECTIVELY AND PLACE ON FILE WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN GOES.
| COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS | YES |
| COUNCILMAN GOES | YES |
| COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE | YES |
| COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU | YES |
| COUNCILMAN CANAVAN | YES |
MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.
DONALD KLEMANCHUCK D/B/A DOMENICK'S FROZEN LEMONADE VS. EMMANUEL ZAHARAKY D/B/A MANNY'S ICE CREAM.
MR. KLEMANCHUCK ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL ON THE INCIDENTS INVOLVING HIMSELF AND MR. ZAHARAKY. HE STATED THAT THE SITUATION IS BECOMING DANGEROUS FOR THE CHILDREN.
MR. ZAHARAKY ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL AND RESPONDED TO QUESTIONS REGARDING HIS RESIDENCY AND HIS INVOLVEMENT IN THE INCIDENT.
COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU COMMENTED ON THE SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN BEING SERVED BY THESE LICENSE HOLDERS AND STATED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL WOULD NOT ACT AS BABYSITTERS FOR PEDDLERS.
COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS STATED THAT HE WANTED THE CONFLICT BETWEEN THE TWO TO STOP AND HE ASKED THE LICENSEES TO AVOID EACH OTHER. HE STATED THAT WHEN ONE TRUCK IS ON A CERTAIN STREET THEN IT WOULD BE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE OTHER TO AVOID THAT STREET. HE ASKED THE TWO LICENSEES TO AGREE TO THIS ARRANGEMENT. BOTH PARTIES DID AS REQUESTED AND AGREED TO AVOID EACH OTHER.
ROBERT H. ALLARD, SR.
D/B/A COLEMAN TIRE
601 LONSDALE AVE. C.F.
MOTION TO TABLE WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE AND SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU.
COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS
COUNCILMAN GOES
COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE
COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU
COUNCILMAN CANAVAN
MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.
ANDRES ALMONTE
D/B/A BOTANICA SAN LAZARO
525 BROAD ST. C.F.
MOTION TO TABLE WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE AND SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU.
COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS
COUNCILMAN GOES
COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE
COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU
COUNCILMAN CANAVAN
MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.
GARFIELD SOCIAL CLUB - 25 WEEK CLUB RAFFLE
MOTION TO APPROVE WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN GOES AND SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU.
COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS
COUNCILMAN GOES
COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE
COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU
COUNCILMAN CANAVAN
MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.
BLACKSTONE VALLEY TOURISM COUNCIL CONCERT IN JENKS PARK ON AUG. 16, 1995 AND FAIR AUG. 19, 1995 IN JENKS PARK.
HOLY TRINITY PARISH ANNUAL PICNIC-HIGGINSON AVE. SPORTS COMPLEX AUG. 20, 1995.
ST. JOSEPH'S ANNUAL PARISH PICNIC-HIGH ST. SEPT. 9 & 10, 1995.
CENTRAL FALLS SCHOLARSHIP TRUST RAFFLE SEPT. 17, 1995.
IVAN D. PEREZ FESTIVAL AT HIGGINSON PARK 9AM-8PM SEPT. 4, 1995 (FROM ADDENDUM)
MOTION TO APPROVE COLLECTIVELY WAIVING ALL FEES WAS MADE BY COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE.
COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS
COUNCILMAN GOES
COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE
COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU
COUNCILMAN CANAVAN
MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.
AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION
SO INTRODUCED.
AN ORDINANCE RELATING TO PROPERTY TAX EXEMPTION
THE COUNCIL REVIEWED THE PROPOSED AMENDMENT AND THAT OF THE ORIGINAL VERSION. THEY CHOSE NOT TO ACT ON ANY AMENDMENTS.
THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT OPENED THE MEETING TO A PUBLIC HEARING.
NO COMMENTS.
PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED.
MOTION TO APPROVE WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN GOES.
COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS
COUNCILMAN GOES
COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE
COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU
COUNCILMAN CANAVAN
MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.
COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE REPORTED THAT HE WILL MAKE COPIES OF THE AUDIT AVAILABLE TO THE CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS RIGHT AFTER THE MEETING ON TUESDAY AFTERNOON.
COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS COMMENTED ON THE TIME ELEMENT IT TOOK TO PRODUCE THE AUDIT REPORT FOR 1993/94 AND STATED THAT HE WANTED THE REPORT FOR THE 1994/95 AUDIT BEFORE HE LEAVES OFFICE IN DECEMBER.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN STATED THAT AT THE LAST COUNCIL MEETING HE ASKED THE CITY SOLICITOR TO RESEARCH THE CITY COUNCIL'S ABILITY TO DISBAND HISTORIC DISTRICT ZONING.
MR. OLIVERIO REPORTED THAT IF THE CITY COUNCIL ELIMINATES THE HISTORIC DISTRICT, THE COUNCIL IS CHANGING THE ZONING AND THAT MUST COME FROM THE PLANNING AND ZONING DEPARTMENTS WITH THE PROPER PETITIONS AND NOTICES TO THE PROPERTY OWNERS AFFECTED BY THIS CHANGE MUCH IN THE SAME MANNER AS WHEN THE ZONING WAS CONCEIVED.
DISCUSSION BETWEEN THE CITY SOLICITOR AND THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT ENSUED.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN ASKED WHAT AUTHORITY THE COUNCIL WOULD HAVE IF THE PLANNING DEPARTMENT CHOSE NOT TO TAKE ACTION. HE THEN STATED THAT HE WILL PROPOSE A RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION BE MORE FLEXIBLE IN THE PERIMETERS OF VARIANCES IN THE HISTORIC DISTRICT. HE ALSO SAID THAT HE WILL CALL A SPECIAL MEETING FOR INTRODUCTION AND PASSAGE OF THIS RESOLUTION. HE ALSO COMMENTED THAT HE HAS HAD AN ENORMOUS NUMBER OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
MR. OLIVERIO STATED THAT THE RESOLUTION SHOULD SET FORTH THE REASONS FOR THIS REQUEST.
MR. ROBERT WOOD ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL ON THE HISTORIC DISTRICT.
COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS COMMENTED ON HOW HE FELT ABOUT THE HISTORIC DISTRICT ZONING SINCE ITS INCEPTION.
DISCUSSION ENSUED BETWEEN COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN.
NORMAN DIGILIO COMMENTED ON THE HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION PROCEDURES.
COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS COMMENTED ON THE CAMERA OPERATOR FOR THE CABLE TV SYSTEM. HE ASKED THE COUNCIL IF THE CITY CLERK OR PERSONNEL DIRECTOR SHOULD BE ASKED TO ADVERTISE THE POSITIONS.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN STATED THAT THE COUNCIL COULD SET THE GUIDELINES FOR THIS POSITION AT THE NEXT MEETING.
COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU ASKED THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE TO PROVIDE THE COUNCIL WITH A COPY OF THE BID AND CONTRACT FOR LIGHTHOUSE RESCUE BILLING SERVICES. SHE QUESTIONS WHY THE BILLING WAS RETROACTIVE TO NOVEMBER OF LAST YEAR, WHEN THE COUNCIL HAD NOT APPROVED THE RESOLUTION AT THAT TIME. SHE ASKED WHEN THE ACTUAL AGREEMENT WITH LIGHTHOUSE WAS SIGNED BY THE CITY.
MR. OLIVERIO STATED THAT HE HAD NOT REVIEWED THE CONTRACT AND HE WILL REQUEST A COPY.
COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU COMMENTED FURTHER ON THIS SUBJECT AND STATED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL DID NOT WANT BILLINGS SENT TO THE RESIDENTS OF THE CITY.
COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE STATED THAT THERE WAS ONE BID SUBMITTED FOR THIS SERVICE AND THE FINANCE DIRECTOR DID NOT HAVE THE CONTRACT. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE RESOLUTION PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL STATED THAT THIS WOULD BE A ONE YEAR CONTRACT.
DISCUSSION ENSUED.
MR. OLIVERIO STATED HE WOULD REVIEW THE CONTRACT AND REPORT BACK TO THE COUNCIL.
MOTION TO ADJOURN WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE AND SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU AND COUNCILMAN GOES. TIME 10:20 P.M.
_______________________________________
ELIZABETH A. CROWLEY, DEPUTY CITY CLERK