January 23, 1995 - Special City Council Meeting

CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS

SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING

CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS

MONDAY, JANUARY 23, 1995

AT 7:00 P.M.

A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CENTRAL FALLS CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD ON THE ABOVE DATE IN THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT 7:09 P.M.

ROLL CALL

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS

COUNCILMAN GOES

COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU

COUNCILMAN CANAVAN

QUORUM IS PRESENT.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

COUNCIL PRESIDENT ROBERT CANAVAN PRESIDED AND LED THE ASSEMBLY IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.

CORRESPONDENCES

RHODE ISLAND ETHICS COMMISSION: RE: HEARING DATE TO REVIEW THE CODE.

ELIZABETH A. CROWLEY, DEPUTY CLERK; RE: CONFIRMATION OF EDNA POULIN TO DEPARTMENT OF LABOR.

DANIEL J. ISSA CITY CLERK; RE: LETTER TO CHARTER REVISION COMMITTEE.

SENATOR DANIEL J. ISSA; RE: SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION TO EXEMPT IMPROVEMENTS UNTIL NEXT REVALUATION.

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

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

RESOLUTION

RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF LEGISLATION GRANTING A CITY TAX EXEMPTION FOR THE BLACKSTONE VALLEY EMERGENCY FOOD CENTER.

RESOLUTION READ BY THE CITY CLERK.

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

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

RESOLUTION TO SUPPORT LEGISLATION TO EXEMPT IMPROVEMENTS UNTIL THE NEXT REVALUATION.

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

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE PERIOD IN WHICH OWNER OCCUPIED HOMEOWNERS CAN APPLY FOR THE HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

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

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

DISCUSSION

REACH/REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY

THIS DISCUSSION WAS MADE AT THE REQUEST OF COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN.

MAYOR LAZIEH AND THE REDEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR WERE INVITED TO THIS MEETING.

REDEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR JOHN MCALMONT SENT A LETTER RELATING THAT HE IS UNABLE TO ATTEND THIS MEETING.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN ASKED FOR AN EXPLANATION OF THE EVENTS PERTAINING TO THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND REACH PROGRAM.

WILLIAM SIEMERS, DIRECTOR OR REACH, EXPLAINED THE TWO WAYS THAT THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ACQUIRES ITS FUNDS. HE STATED THAT ONE WAY IS THROUGH LOAN REPAYMENTS TO THE AGENCY. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY IS REQUIRED TO HAVE ITS OWN ATTORNEY.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN QUESTIONED KEN CASTLE, CHAIRMAN OF THE  REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD.

MR. CASTLE RELATED THE EVENTS THAT LED TO THE ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY TO THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY. HE EXPLAINED THAT APPLICATION TO RI HOUSING WAS PUT TOGETHER BY THE CITY AND WAS SIGNED BY THE MAYOR. THE PROPERTY WAS THEN DONATED FOR $1.00 TO REACH. HE FURTHER STATED THAT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY IS NOT A CITY BOARD, BUT A SEPARATE AGENCY. HE STATED THAT THE MAYOR WHO HAS QUESTIONED THE CONTRACT, THE AGENCY'S ATTORNEY, ETC. DOES NOT HAVE THE AUTHORITY.

THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY HAS THE AUTHORITY TO DEMOLISH BUILDINGS.

REACH A SEPARATE AGENCY CAN ONLY DEVELOP PROPERTIES.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN QUESTIONED IF CITY TAXES ARE PAID BY REACH OR REDEVELOPMENT.

MR. CASTLE RESPONDED THAT THE AGENCY PAYS THE TAXES.

DISCUSSION AND QUESTIONS ENSUED.

MR. SIEMERS GAVE PROGRESS REPORT ON THE REACH PROPERTIES WHICH WILL BE GOING OUT TO BID IN TWO WEEKS FOR THEIR REHABILITATION.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS ASKED IF MR. CASTLE WOULD PROVIDE THE COUNCIL WITH COPIES OF THE MINUTES FROM THE LAST MEETING.

MR. CASTLE SAID HE WOULD PROVIDE COPIES TO THE COUNCIL.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS ASKED MR. CASTLE IF HE IS A MEMBER OF REACH.

MR. CASTLE REPLIED THAT HE IS VICE CHAIRMAN AND SECRETARY.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS CONTINUED TO QUESTION MR. CASTLE.

MR. CASTLE RESPONDED THAT ROBERT BROUSSEAU IS LEGAL COUNSEL TO THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND IS PRESIDENT OF REACH.

MR. BROUSSEAU'S FEES DUE FROM THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY IS ABOUT SEVEN THOUSAND DOLLARS WHICH REPRESENTS CLOSING COSTS FOR THE PROPERTIES ACQUIRED BY THE AGENCY.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU QUESTIONED MR. CASTLE ABOUT REACH, THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND ATTORNEY BROUSSEAU WHO REPLACED MR. GAGNON ABOUT 1986 AS THE AGENCY'S ATTORNEY.

MR. SIEMERS RESPONDED TO COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU'S QUESTIONS AND RELATED HOW OTHER COMMUNITIES LIKE PROVIDENCE STRUCTURE DOZENS OF GROUPS FOR THE REDEVELOPMENT AND RENEWAL OF NEIGHBORHOODS.

MR. CASTLE COMMENTED THAT REACH REPRESENTS COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATIONS SUCH AS PROJECT HOPE (JOHN COHEN), TED BROWN  (ENTERPRISE ZONE), LOIS LYLE (BVCAP), PAT MARTINEZ (PROJECTO LATINO), MICHAEL BRAKE, (CCC), BOB PORIER BANKING.

MR. CASTLE ALSO RESPONDED TO THE LACK OF MEETINGS HELD BY THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY SINCE THEY MOVED INTO CITY HALL FOR LACK OF MEETING SPACE AND SCHEDULING WITH OTHER BOARD WHO USE THE COUNCIL CHAMBERS. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE BOARD HAS ONLY HAD FOUR MEMBERS, ONE HAS NEVER REPLACED, ANOTHER MEMBER COULD ONLY MEET TWICE A MONTH AND THE OTHER IS ON KIDNEY DIALYSIS, ANOTHER TRAVELS, AGENCY DROPPED FROM FOUR PEOPLE TO ONE, SOMETIMES TWO. JOHN MCALMONT, ACTING PLANNING DIRECTOR, HAS THREATENED LEGAL ACTION ALSO DID NOT HELP TO

HAVE MEETINGS. HE ASKED THE COUNCIL HOW COULD ANY BOARD OPERATE UNDER THOSE CONDITIONS.

MR. CASTLE RELATED THAT THERE ARE ONLY THREE NEWSPAPER ARTICLES REGARDING THE "CURE" PROGRAM THAT THE MAYOR HAS INSTITUTED HE STILL DOES NOT HAVE A PACKET WITH THE INFORMATION. HE RELATED THAT THE MEETING IS TO RESUME ON JANUARY 31TH. SUBJECT TO MEETING SPACE. MR. CASTLE RELATED THAT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY MEMBERS ARE PAID ABOUT TWO HUNDRED DOLLARS A YEAR, AND REACH BOARD MEMBERS ARE NOT PAID. HE ALSO STATED THAT NO MEMBER OF THE BOARD HAS ANY PERSONAL OR FINANCIAL INTEREST IN THE REDEVELOPMENT OR REACH PROPERTIES.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN THANKED MR. CASTLE AND MR. SIEMERS FOR THEIR VIEWS.

LOIS LYLE INDICATED THAT SHE IS THE DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL PROJECTS.

MILAD SHABO A MEMBER OF THE REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY BOARD COMMENTED.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU COMMENTED.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN RECESSED 7:55 PM

CHARTER REVISION

MEETING RESUMED AT 8:05 P.M.

3 MEMBERS OF CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION WERE IN ATTENDANCE.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN COMMENTED ON SEVERAL PARTS OF THE REVISION ON WHICH THE COUNCIL AND THE CHARTER COMMISSION DIFFERED.

THE 4 YEAR TERM OF OFFICE FOR MAYOR AND COUNCIL VERSUS A 2 YEAR TERM. THE COMMISSION RECOMMENDED A 4 YEAR TERM.

ELAINE PARTRIDGE, A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION, STATED THAT THE COMMISSION ALSO DIFFERED ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR AND MAYOR BEING THE SAME PERSON. ANOTHER ISSUE WAS THE RIGHT OF DEPARTMENT HEADS TO APPEAL TO THE

COUNCIL IF THEY ARE TERMINATED BY THE MAYOR. THE COUNCIL WANTED TO CREATE A PUBLIC SAFETY COMMISSION RATHER THAT A PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR. MRS. PARTRIDGE EXPLAINED THAT THE FOUR YEAR TERM WOULD ALSO HAVE A RECALL PROVISION IN THE CHARTER. SHE EXPLAINED THAT THE COMMISSION ONLY SUGGESTED THE FOUR YEAR TERM TO SAVE CITY ABOUT $4,000.00 A YEAR.

MILAD SHABO, A MEMBER OF THE COMMISSION, COMMENTED.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN COMMENTED ON THE PUBLIC SAFETY DIRECTOR POSITION AND THE QUALIFICATIONS OF THE POSITION, HE STATED THAT NO MAYOR IS QUALIFIED TO ADDRESS PUBLIC SAFETY ISSUES AND THAT A COMMISSION CONSISTING OF THE CHIEF OF POLICE AND THE CHIEF OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENTS ARE TWO WHO WOULD QUALIFY.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS QUESTIONED MR. ROBERT NEWMAN.

MR. NEWMAN COMMENTED ABOUT HIS EXPERIENCE AS ASSISTANT CITY SOLICITOR, AND THE CITY CHARTER REVISION. SOMEWHERE, HE FEELS, THAT CHARTER HAS TO BE ADDRESSED. NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS HAVE BEEN MADE IN PAST, AGREE ON

WHAT YOU CAN, LET THE COMMITTEE MEET AGAIN, THEN PASS WHAT YOU CAN AGREE ON. YOU CAN SAVE AT LEAST 10,000.00 A YEAR BY FOUR YEAR TERMS.

THE COMMITTEE RECOMMENDED WHAT THEY THOUGHT WOULD BRING THE CHARTER INTO THE 20TH CENTURY. THE PEOPLE ARE ENTITLED TO A NEW CHARTER.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS ASKED THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT TO CONTINUE CHARTER QUESTIONS IN A FEW MOMENTS SO THAT THEY CAN INTERVIEW THE TAX ASSESSOR.

RESOLUTION EXTENDING TIME FOR APPLICATION OF HOMESTEAD EXEMPTION.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS MOVED TO REMOVE RESOLUTION FROM THE TABLE SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN GOES AND COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU.

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS INDICATED THAT IT WAS HIS UNDERSTANDING THAT YOU MUST APPLY BY DECEMBER 31, 1994 FOR HOMEOWNER EXEMPTION. HE RELATED THAT THE ORDINANCE IS WRITTEN DEC. 31.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS RELATED THAT HE SPOKE WITH THE CITY CLERK AND LEGAL COUNSEL. HE ALSO STATED THAT COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU IS ALSO WORKING ON SAME ISSUE UNKNOWN TO EITHER.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS INDICATED THAT EVEN THE COURTS CONSIDER THE DEADLINE TO BE DEC. 31TH FOR ACCOUNTS. HOWEVER, A POLICY OF EXTENDING THE DEADLINE, MIGHT WORK UNLESS SOMEONE PROTESTED. HE RELATED THAT MARCH 15 IS THE DEADLINE FOR EVERY OTHER EXEMPTION.

CITY CLERK ISSA INDICATED THAT IF THE DEADLINE IS INDEED MARCH 15, THAT THE STATE STATUTE INDICATES THAT THE DEADLINE FOR THE EXEMPTION IS THE SAME AS THE OTHER EXEMPTIONS. THEREFORE, THE DEADLINE FOR THE NEW EXEMPTION IS MARCH 15.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN COMMENTED ON HISTORY OF THE EXEMPTION. HE DOES NOT MIND THE DATE CHANGE, FEELS THAT INFORMATION SHOULD BE BETTER COMMUNICATED. DOESN'T FEEL THE TRI FOLD PAMPHLET WAS ADEQUATE.TAX ASSESSOR ANTHONY HARRAKA INDICATED THAT FINANCE PERSONNEL HAVE TRIED TO TELL TAXPAYERS ABOUT THIS EXEMPTION.

DISCUSSION ENSUED BETWEEN THAT ASSESSOR AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU COMMENTED THAT SEPARATE NOTICE SHOULD LIST EXEMPTIONS IN A FORMAT STYLE LETTER AND INCLUDED IN THE TAX BILL FOR NEXT YEAR.

ANTHONY HARRAKKA RESPONDED THERE IS ROOM ON THE BILL. THE FORM HAS A LITTLE SPACE. A COPY OF THE BILL COULD GO TO THE HOMEOWNER WITH A LETTER OF EXEMPTIONS LISTED.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS ASKED TO EXTEND DEADLINE FOR HOMEOWNER AND ALL EXEMPTIONS TO MARCH 15 AS A MATTER OF POLICY.

COUNCIL AGREED.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS ASKED THAT COUNCIL REAFFIRM THAT HOMEOWNERS NEED APPLY ONLY ONCE FOR OWNER OCCUPIED EXEMPTION. COUNCIL MEMBERS ALL AGREED.

NO ACTION TAKEN ON RESOLUTION.

CHARTER REVIEW DISCUSSION RESUMED.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN SPOKE REGARDING SECTIONS ABOUT CHARTER REVISION.

LINE ITEM VETO BROUGHT UP.

COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE RECALLED DR. CORNWALLS OPINION.

PACKET THAT WAS DISTRIBUTED WAS WHERE THE COUNCIL LEFT OFF.

1-100 NO QUESTIONS

1-101 "

1-102 "

2- "

2-106 EMPLOYMENT OF COUNSEL. SOME CLARIFICATION NEEDED.

COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE INDICATED HE WANTED TO INDICATE WHEN THIS WILL BE NEEDED.(I.E. WHEN SOLICITOR CANNOT SERVE)

MR. NEWMAN COMMENTED. COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN COMMENTED.

2-107 NO QUESTIONS.

DISCUSSION ON THE TEMPORARY DEPARTMENT HEADS-DEFINITION OF TEMPORARY.

ELIZABETH CROWLEY SPOKE REGARDING FINAL DRAFT.

ELAINE PARTRIDGE INDICATED SHE TOO, DID NOT REMEMBER THEM VOTING ON A FINAL DRAFT, APPROVED.

ELIZABETH CROWLEY SUGGESTED THAT THEY BE GIVEN TWO WEEKS TO RESEARCH IF A FINAL DRAFT WAS FINALIZED.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS COMMENTED.

CITY CLERK ISSA INDICATED THAT FURTHER RESEARCH IS NEEDED.

COPIES WILL BE MADE. HE ALSO RELATED THAT FEBRUARY 6 IS NEW MEETING DATE FOR COUNCIL AND LIQUOR BOARD.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS THANKED CAMERA CREW, FOR FIRST FILMED MEETING TONIGHT. HE STATED THAT THE COUNCIL WILL BE LIVE FROM THIS DATE FORWARD ON CABLE TV, ON CHANNEL 8.

COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE RELATED THAT THE COUNCIL IS LOOKING FOR CABLE READY MONITOR.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS IS LOOKING FOR VOLUNTEERS OF ALL AGES TO MAN THE CAMERA.

ADJOURN

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

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES O NO 0 ABSENT.

TIME: 9:08 PM

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DANIEL J. ISSA

CITY CLERK