September 6, 1995 - Special City Council Meeting

CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS

SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING

CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS

WEDNESDAY, SEPT. 6 , 1995

A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CENTRAL FALLS CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD ON THE ABOVE DATE IN THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT 7:16 P.M.

ROLL CALL

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS

COUNCILMAN GOES

COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU

COUNCILMAN CANAVAN

QUORUM PRESENT.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

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

PUBLIC COMMENT ON AGENDA ITEMS

CHIEF MOFFATT GAVE A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE CURFEW ORDINANCE. HE TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT SINCE HIS VISITS WITH RESIDENTS, CIVIC ORGANIZATIONS AND THE MANY BUSINESSES IN THE CITY HE HAS BEEN TOLD THAT THEIR MAIN CONCERNS HIS OFFICERS HAVE BEEN INVOLVED WITH ARRESTS FOR STREET PROSTITUTION, DRUG ARREST, UNLICENSED BUSINESSES, MODIFIED

BUILDING WITH PERMITS AND YOUTHS ON THE STREET LATE AT NIGHT. HE TOLD THE COUNCIL THAT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS IN NEED OF THIS ORDINANCE IN ORDER TO BRING YOUNG CHILDREN 12 AND UNDER INTO THE STATION AND HAVE THEIR  PARENTS PICK THEM UP AND THAT THIS IN NO WAY IS SIMILAR TO THE CURFEW ORDINANCE INTRODUCED IN THE PAST RELATING TO TEENS.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN ASKED FOR UNANIMOUS CONSENT FROM THE COUNCIL TO LISTEN TO A GROUP OF TEACHERS, THE PRINCIPAL, AND THE SUPERINTENDENT ABOUT A PROBLEM AT THE ELLA RISK SCHOOL THAT TOOK PLACE OVER THE WEEKEND. THE MATTER WAS HEARD WITHOUT OBJECTION.

LAURA COSTA, PRINCIPAL OF ELLA RISK SCHOOL, TOLD THE COUNCIL OF HER CONCERNS RELATIVE TO SCHOOL YARD IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL AND THE GAP IN THE FENCE MAKING A LESS SECURE YARD FOR THE CHILDREN TO PLAY.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN ASKED IF THE TEACHERS HAD NEED FOR MORE PARKING AT THE SCHOOL AND COMMENTED ON THE BUSES IN THE BACK OF THE BUILDING.

MS. COSTA STATED THAT THE TEACHERS HAVE ASSIGNED PARKING AND SHE HAS MADE NO REQUEST FOR ADDITIONAL PARKING.

COUNCILMAN GOES STATED THAT TAKING AWAY THE RECREATIONAL AREA FROM THE SCHOOL WOULD BE HARMFUL.

MAUREEN CHEVRETTE, SCHOOL SUPERINTENDENT COMMENTED ABOUT HER CONCERNS OF MAKING ALTERATIONS TO SCHOOL BUILDINGS AND PROPERTY WITHOUT THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE SCHOOL DEPT. SHE ASKED IF THE CITY HAS THE LEGAL RIGHT TO DO THIS. SHE RELATED THAT THERE IS A GREAT CONCERN FOR THE SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN IN THIS AREA AND THAT THE FRONT YARD IS THE ONLY AREA FOR THE CHILDREN TO HAVE RECESS AND GYM. SHE ALSO ASKED IF THERE WAS ANYTHING THE  COUNCIL COULD DO IN THE FUTURE TO PREVENT THIS FROM HAPPENING IN THE FUTURE.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN ASKED DR. CHEVRETTE IF SHE HAD CORRESPONDENCES REGARDING THE DEXTER CREDIT UNION EXITING ON DEXTER STREET. SHE REMINDED THE COUNCIL THAT THE SCHOOL HAS VERY YOUNG CHILDREN ATTENDING AND THEIR SAFETY IS HER CONCERN.

COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU AGREES THAT THE PLAYGROUND IN THE FRONT OF THE BUILDING IS THE SAFER AREA FOR THE CHILDREN.

BOB WEBBER PARENT AND MEMBER OF THE SCHOOL ADVISORY BOARD COMMENTED ON THE 15 TO 20 PARKING SPACES ON SCHOOL STREET AND STATED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION TOTALLY IGNORED THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT WITH REGARD TO THIS INCIDENT. HE STATED THAT THE COUNCIL NEEDS TO TAKE ACTION TO PREVENT THIS IN THE FUTURE.

DR. JANICE BAKER, DEPUTY COMMISSION EDUCATION, AND SPECIAL ADMINISTRATOR FOR C.F. STATED THAT SHE RECEIVED CALL FROM DR. CHEVRETTE ON THIS PROJECT BUT WOULD NOT OTHERWISE HAVE BEEN AWARE OF THE SITUATION AS SHE RECEIVED NO COMMUNICATION FROM THE CITY. SHE GAVE A BRIEF DETAIL OF HER DUTIES RELATIVE TO THE CENTRAL FALLS SCHOOLS AND RELATED THAT SHE TRIES TO BE SUPPORTIVE, HER ROLES AND DUTIES ARE LIKE THE SCHOOL COMMITTEE AND SHE IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE CARE OF THE SCHOOL BUILDINGS .SHE COMMENTED ON THE GAP IN THE FENCE AND SPOKE OF HER CONCERNS FOR THE SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN. SHE SAID THAT IT IS NOT ACCEPTABLE TO TAKE AWAY FROM THE YARD AREA OF THIS FACILITY. SHE SAID THE MAYOR AND STATE WILL TALK ON ANY FUTURE ALTERATIONS TO SCHOOL BUILDING AND THAT FOR NOW HER CONCERNS ARE FOR SAFETY OF THE CHILDREN. SHE RELATED THAT THE MAYOR HAS APOLOGIES FOR THIS AND WILL

REPAIR THE FENCE.

MRS. DUNN A MEMBER OF THE ADVISORY BOARD COMMENTED THAT DEXTER STREET IS DANGEROUS ENOUGH ON DEXTER AND SCHOOL STREETS WITH ALL THE TRAFFIC THAT TRAVELS THE AREA AND SHE IS AGAINST PLACING ANY PARKING IN FRONT OF THE SCHOOL.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN COMMENTED THAT THE MAYOR HAS APOLOGIZED AND WILL REPLACE THE FENCE, HE HOPES THIS WILL BE TIMELY. HE STATED THAT HE WAS INFORMED BY BUSINESS MANAGER MR. MARTIN OF THE INCIDENT AND HAD THE SCHOOL BUS PLACED IN THE WAY TO STOP ANY FURTHER ACTION OR ATTEMPTS.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN CONTINUED TO EXPLAIN HIS ROLE IN THE EPISODE. HE ALSO COMMENTED ON THE FUMES OF THE BUSES TO NEIGHBORING HOMES AND STATED THAT HE IS IN CONTACT WITH MR. BROWN ABOUT PROPERTY ON HIGGINSON AVE. WHERE PERHAPS A LEASE FOR A SECTION OF HIS PROPERTY COULD BE NEGOTIATED BETWEEN THEM AND THE BUSES WOULD BE PLACE THERE INSTEAD OF ON HUNT STREET.

COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS STATED THAT ALL TO OFTEN DECISIONS ARE MADE AS IF THE CITY IS A KINGDOM AND NO THOUGHT IS GIVEN TO OTHERS CONCERNS. THE PEOPLE OF THE CITY AND THE CHILDREN. HE ALSO COMMENTED ON A LAWSUIT AND SPENDING OF CITY FUNDS. HE SAID RESIDENTS ARE SUFFERING BECAUSE THE FUMES. NEED TO LOOK AT ALTERNATIVE PLANS.

COUNCILMAN GOES ASKED WHY IT WAS DONE ON A SATURDAY AT TIME AND ONE HALF LOT OF TAX PAYERS FUNDS BEING SPENT.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN THANKED THE PARTICIPATION OF THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT.

RESOLUTION/FINAL PASSAGE

MORATORIUM ON THE POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE CENTRAL FALLS HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION.

MEETING OPENED MEETING TO THE PUBLIC.

MR. LUSSIER OF RAND STREET WHO SPOKE IN FAVOR, CITY COUNCIL IS GOVERNING BODY, HE STATED THAT HIS INFORMATION COMES FROM TWO JUDGES HE SPOKE WITH.

MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN MATTHEWS AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE.

MOTION CARRIED 3 YES 2 NO 0 ABSENT.

ORDINANCES

INTRODUCTION

A PROPOSAL REPEALING SECTION 600 OF THE ZONING ORDINANCE.

SO INTRODUCED

AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A CHILDREN'S CURFEW.

CHIEF MOFFATT STATED THAT ORDINANCE WILL BE AMENDED FOR CHILDREN UNDER 13, CHILDREN OUT AT NIGHT, NEEDS A VEHICLE DOES NOT WANT TO DEAL WITH THE ISSUE OF TEENAGERS.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN SPOKE OF THE PAST CURFEW ORDINANCE AND WHY IT WAS NOT PASSED...GAVE THE CHIEF A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ORDINANCE...CHIEF IS TALKING ABOUT YOUTHS GATHERED AT LATE HOURS. IT THE CHILDREN

WHOSE PARENTS HAVE AN OBLIGATION TO BRING. HE NEEDS THIS VEHICLE AND TOOL SPOKE OF SUMMER ST. ETC. CAN BE REFERRED TO DCF IF PICKED UP AFTER SEVERAL TIMES. WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE CHILDREN ARE PICKED UP AND PARENTS ARE NOT AVAILABLE. NONE CRIMINAL ACT, CANNOT BE LOCKED UP WITHOUT CONFINEMENT OR CUSTODY.

CHIEF MOFFATT CONTINUED.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN CONTINUED HIS COMMENTS, OTHER LAWS ON THE BOOKS NOT ENFORCED. HE GAVE SEVERAL INSTANCES.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN SUGGESTED THAT HE WILL APPOINT A SUBCOMMITTEE OF 2 COUNCIL MEMBERS, SCHOOL DEPT., CLERGY, SCHOOL ADVISORY BOARD AND WITH THE CHIEF.

CHIEF STATED THAT HE WANTS PARENTS TO BE RESPONSIBLE TO TAKE THEIR CHILDREN OFF THE STREET AT 11:00 PM.

CHIEF SPOKE OF THE PROGRAMS AND PROBLEMS AND HOW THE CHIEF PLANS TO ADDRESS THESE CONCERNS.

COUNCILMAN GOES COMPLIMENTED THE CHIEF AND HIS STAFF FOR THE POLICING OF THE NEW HAVEN AREA. CHIEF IS IMPRESSED WITH THE CITY'S OFFICERS.

CORRESPONDENCE FROM CHANNEL ONE, MAYOR LAZIEH & LEO LECLERC.

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

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

NEXT REGULAR MEETING 18TH OF SEPTEMBER NOT 11TH OF SEPT.

FIRST PASSAGE

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE ZONING ORDINANCE SECTION 601.3 B-C.

ADJOURN

MOTION TO ADJOURN WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN GOES AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN PAQUETTE. ALL AGREED. SO VOTED. TIME 8:23 P.M.

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ELIZABETH A. CROWLEY, DEPUTY CLERK