February 27, 1996 - Special City Council Meeting

CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS

SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING

CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 27,1996

7:30 P.M.

A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CENTRAL FALLS CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD ON THE ABOVE DATE AT 7:30 P.M.

ROLL CALL

COUNCILMAN FARRELL

COUNCILMAN FERRI

COUNCILMAN WEBER

COUNCILMAN AUNCHMAN

COUNCILMAN CANAVAN

QUORUM PRESENT.

EXECUTIVE SESSION

RECESSED TO EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER OPENING MEETING LAW RELATED TO PERSONNEL MATTERS. COUNCIL WILL RECONVENE AT APPROXIMATELY 8:15 P.M.

CORRESPONDENCES

MAYOR MATTHEWS REGARDING A PROPOSED ZONING ORDINANCE AMENDMENTS.(TO FOLLOW)

NEWPORT ST. PATRICK PARADE MARCH 17, 1996.

MOTION TO ACCEPT COLLECTIVELY AND PLACE ON FILE WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN WEBER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN AUNCHMAN.

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO O ABSENT.

CONFIRMATION OF MAYOR'S APPOINTMENTS

PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR

PETER P. GRANIERI

ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER

THOMAS LAMOUREUX

MAYOR MATTHEWS INTRODUCED THE APPOINTEES FOR THE POSITION OF PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR AND ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER. HE ASKED FOR THE COUNCIL'S APPROVAL.

APPOINTMENTS TO THE ZONING BOARD OF REVIEW (TO FOLLOW) WILL NOT BE PLACING ANY APPOINTMENTS BEFORE THE COUNCIL THIS EVENING. HE COMMENTED ON THE DETENTION FACILITY BOARD AND OF HIS TENTATIVE APPOINTMENTS.

COUNCIL MEMBERS QUESTIONED THE MAYOR.

MOTION TO APPROVE COLLECTIVELY WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN FERRI AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WEBER.

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO O ABSENT.

MOTION TO EXECUTIVE FOR PERSONNEL RELATED MATTERS WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN AUNCHMAN AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WEBER.

TIME 7:39 P.M.

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

COUNCILMANIC APPOINTMENTS

MILK INSPECTOR LOUIS PAQUETTE

ELECTRICAL INSPECTOR ROBERT ZUBA

PLUMBING INSPECTOR ROBERT E. MARTEL

TREE WARDEN DOUGLAS PENDERGASS

CITY SERGEANT RAYMOND PAINE

CAMERA OPERATOR LEONARD NADEAU

MOTION TO APPROVE COLLECTIVELY WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN FERRI AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WEBER & COUNCILMAN FARRELL EFFECTIVE MARCH 1, 1996.

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

COUNCILMAN WEBER NOTED THAT ALL APPOINTMENTS ARE CITY RESIDENTS.

PROBATE JUDGE BRUCE SAWYER TO BECOME EFFECTIVE APRIL 1, 1996.

MOTION TO APPROVE WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN FERRI AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN AUNCHMAN.

MOTION CARRIED 4 YES 0 NO 1 ABSTENTION.

MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE EFFECTIVE MARCH 1, 1996 (LATER CHANGED TO APRIL 1, 1996.)

MOTION WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN WEBER TO APPROVE THE APPOINTMENT OF RAYMOND COONEY SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FARRELL.

COUNCILMAN FERRI RECOMMENDED THAT THE COUNCIL REAPPOINT ERNEST PRATT.

COUNCILMAN WEBER STATED THAT THE CHARTER INSTRUCTS THE COUNCIL TO GIVE PREFERENCE TO A CITY RESIDENT. COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN ALSO CONFIRMED THE INTENT OF THE CITY CHARTER HE SAID THAT MR. PRATT HAS DONE AN OUTSTANDING JOB BUT CENTRAL FALLS RESIDENTS SHOULD BE GIVEN PREFERENCE.

MOTION CARRIED 3 YES 2 NO 0 ABSENT.

SEALER OF WEIGHTS & MEASURES- STATE TO CONTINUE TO SUPPLY NO APPOINTMENT

THE CLERK WAS ASKED TO SEND LETTERS TO THE NEW APPOINTMENTS AND SEND THANKS TO PERSONS WHO HAVE TAKEN THE TIME TO APPLY.

PUBLIC INPUT/COMMENTS ON ANY CONCERNS

COUNCILMAN AUNCHMAN COMMENTED ON SOME EVENTS IN THE CITY RELATIVE TO SCHOOL BUSES.

PETITION TO ADDRESS THE COUNCIL

WOMEN'S DEVELOPMENT CORP. REGARDING RESOLUTION FOR THE PURCHASE OF PROPERTIES. (SEE LETTER)

MICHAEL PRESCOTT REPRESENTING COGGSWELL HOMES SEEKING COUNCIL APPROVAL TO PURCHASE PROPERTIES, HE EXPLAINED THE VENTURE.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN ASKED HOW MANY LOW OR AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS THIS WOULD CREATE.

RESPONSE 20 NOW REDUCE TO 14 UNITS.

WDC IS A TOTAL PACKAGE BUT NONE HAVE BEEN DONE RIGHT NOW THERE WILL BE 14 WITH PLANS FOR A TOTAL OF 48 UNITS.

DISCUSSION CONTINUED.

ATTORNEY PRESCOTT STATED THAT HE WASN'T PRESENT TO ARGUE ANYTHING ELSE OTHER THAN SEEKING APPROVAL OF THESE AGREEMENTS.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN RESPONDED THAT HE UNDERSTANDS THAT "BUT IN ORDER TO MAKE WHAT I'M HOPING IS A RATIONAL DECISION, IS, HOW MANY UNITS IS THE CITY GOING TO END UP WITH STARTING WITH THESE? IS THERE A SATURATION POINT?"

ATTORNEY PRESCOTT RESPONDED "I'M SORRY I DIDN'T COME HERE TO DISCUSS THESE ISSUES."

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN RESPONDED "OK, ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS?"

COUNCILMAN FERRI ASKED MR. PRESCOTT WHO HE REPRESENTED.

MR. PRESCOTT RESPONDED;" COGGSWELL HOMES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP."

COUNCILMAN FERRI ASKED; "COGGSWELL LIKE THE TOWER?"

MR. PRESCOTT RESPONDED;" YES."

COUNCILMAN FERRI, " YOU MADE THE STATEMENT THAT THIS IS READY TO GO?'

MR. PRESCOTT RESPONDED;" YES."

COUNCILMAN FERRI, "FINANCING ALL IN PLACE?"

MR. PRESCOTT RESPONDED;" YES."

COUNCILMAN FERRI, " HOW IS ALL THAT FINANCING BEING DONE?"

MR. PRESCOTT, " THROUGH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT SPONSORS, I ONLY REPRESENT THE LIMITED PARTNERSHIP AND NOT THE FINANCING SYNDICATE. THE TOTAL AMOUNT IS $5.3 MILLION DOLLARS THROUGH A NUMBER OF DIFFERENT AGENCIES AND ENTITIES."

COUNCILMAN FERRI, "YOUR JUST NOT PREPARED TONIGHT?"

MR. PRESCOTT, "NO, I'M PREPARED TO ASK FOR THE BOARD'S APPROVAL OF THESE CONTRACTS, I'M SORRY."

COUNCILMAN FERRI, "I, UNDERSTAND, AT THIS TIME, I JUST DON'T KNOW IF YOUR GIVING US ENOUGH INFORMATION, YOUR SAYING A LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, YOUR NOT SURE OF THE FINANCING BUT YOUR COMING BEFORE US AND ASKING US TO TAKE A SHOT IN THE DARK HERE, CAN YOU ANSWER FURTHER.?"

MR. PRESCOTT FOR THE RECORD I'M GIVING 3 OPTION AGREEMENTS ENTERED INTO BETWEEN THE CITY AND WOMEN'S DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION EACH DATED MAY 15, 1995.

THE COUNCIL PAUSED TO REVIEW THE AGREEMENTS.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN; " AT THIS TIME IT WOULD BENEFIT THE COUNCIL IF YOU WOULDN'T MIND STEPPING DOWN FOR A MOMENT."

MR. PRESCOTT; "SURE."

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN; " PERHAPS THE MAYOR CAN SHED SOME LIGHT ON THIS."

MAYOR MATTHEWS COMMENTED. (NOT ABLE TO UNDERSTAND WHAT WAS SAID TAPE DID NOT RECORD.) TAKEN FROM THE CLERK'S NOTES:

MAYOR MATTHEWS COMMENTED ON THE PROJECT AND THE GOALS OF THE ADMINISTRATION AND THE CO-OPERATION WITH WDC. HE ALSO COMMENTED ON THE INCONSISTENCIES IN THE PROJECT.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN ASKED IF THE MAYOR RECOMMENDED THAT THIS BE TABLED. MAYOR RESPONDED YES.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN; "IF WE DO WE'LL GO BACK." THIS IS WHY HE WAS ASKED TO STAND DOWN FOR A MOMENT." " IN DEFENSE OF THE COUNCIL, OTHER THAN MYSELF, THE OTHER FOUR MEMBERS WERE NO INVOLVED, EVEN YOU BOB, I DON'T THINK (TAPE DOES NOT RECORD AT THIS POINT.) CONVERSATION RESUMES, COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN; " HAVE 4 NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS THIS BEING THROWN AT THEM FOR THE FIRST TIME AND I DON'T BELIEVE THEY EVEN KNOW THE FULL AMOUNT OF WHAT IS GOING ON, WHAT THEIR ROLE IS IN THIS PROCESS. IT WOULD BE EASY TO VOTE AND SAY YES AND CONTRACTUALLY PERHAPS WE HAVE TO, AND I'M NOT DISPUTING THAT AND WHEN AND IF PUSH COMES TO SHOVE WE'LL DO WHAT EVER IT IS WE'RE GOING TO DO. BUT AT THE MOMENT, AND YOU CAN TELL, YOU'VE JUST HANDED THEM SOMETHING TO KEEP THEM BUSY FOR A COUPLE OF HOURS JUST READING, NOT COUNTING THE PHONE CALLS THEY'LL HAVE TO MAKE TO FULLY UNDERSTAND WHAT THEIR VOTING ON. SO I WOULD ASK THEN, ESPECIALLY WITH THE MAYOR ASKING THE SAME THING, OUT OF RESPECT TO THE NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS THAT WE TABLE IT UNTIL NEXT MONTH AND I'D APPRECIATE A MOTION TO THAT

EFFECT, BUT BY ALL MEANS IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT THE MOMENT YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO."

COUNCILMAN FERRI; "BOB I'D LIKE TO ADD SOMETHING, I DON'T THINK THE NEWNESS OF COUNCILMEMBERS HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH THIS, I DON'T THINK AT THIS TIME, MR. PRESCOTT HAS GIVEN US ENOUGH INFORMATION EITHER TO YOU, OR ANY OF US, THIS HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH US BEING NEW COUNCIL MEMBERS."

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN STATED "IN DEFENSE OF MR. PRESCOTT HE CAME HERE AS A LAW FIRM REPRESENTING THEM AND THAT I, NORMALLY THE COUNCIL WOULD HAVE APPROVED THE PURCHASE BECAUSE THE CITY HAS ALREADY ENTERED INTO A CONTRACT TO DO THAT." HE WAS UNPREPARED TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS AS IT RELATES TO COGGSWELL, WHAT DO YOU CALL THEM?

COUNCILMAN FERRI; I JUST WANTED TO CLARIFY THIS ITS NOT BECAUSE WE HAVE NEW MEMBERS." IN ALL FAIRNESS TO THE NEW MEMBERS I JUST FEEL THAT THEIR END WAS NOT PREPARED NOT THE COUNCIL'S END."

COUNCILMAN AUNCHMAN; " I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION, $5.3 MILLION WHERE IS THAT TAKING PLACE? IN THESE THREE PROPERTIES?"( THE TAPE AGAIN DOES NOT PICK UP THE FULL RESPONSE) MR PRESCOTT;..."REHABILITATION OF THE 16

BUILDINGS, THE 48 UNITS."

COUNCILMAN AUNCHMAN: AND THIS ENTAILS THE PURCHASE PRICE TOO?"

MR. PRESCOTT;"YES, ACQUISITION, REHABILITATION, PART OF THAT IS THE FUNDING TO PAY FOR THE.. THE CITY IS SELLING THESE 3 PROPERTIES AT THEIR APPRAISED VALUES WHICH IS PART OF THE OPTION AGREEMENT."

COUNCILMAN WEBER; "HOW MANY PROPERTIES HAVE YOU BOUGHT ALREADY?"

MR. PRESCOTT; "I DON'T KNOW...ACTUALLY OF THIS PROJECT NONE, WE WERE PLANNING TO PACKAGE IT ALL TOGETHER, WAIT UNTIL WE HAD EVERYTHING IN PLACE TO GO FORWARD AND DO IT ALL AT ONCE."

COUNCILMAN WEBER; " YOUR ASKING FOR THESE 3 PROPERTIES....(TAPE DOES NOT RECORD THE REMAINDER OF THIS CONVERSATION.)

COUNCILMAN WEBER FURTHER QUESTIONED.

MR. PRESCOTT EXPLAINED THE FINANCING.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN COMMENTED ASKED THAT ALMA GREEN BE INVITED TO COME FORWARD AND EXPLAIN THE PROJECT.

MOTION TO TABLE WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN FERRI AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FARRELL & COUNCILMAN AUNCHMAN TO MARCH 11, 1996 MEETING.

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

RESOLUTIONS

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO MAKE APPLICATION FOR THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM.

ORDINANCES

AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 8, ARTICLE II (DOGS), SECTION 8-31 OF THE REVISED ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS ENTITLED "DEFINITIONS."

ADJOURN

MOTION TO ADJOURN WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN WEBER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FARRELL. ALL AGREED. SO VOTED. TIME 9:38 P.M.

ELIZABETH A. CROWLEY,CMC

ACTING CITY CLERK