June 5, 1996 - Special City Council Meeting

CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS

REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING

CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 5, 1996

A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CENTRAL FALLS CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD ON THE ABOVE DATE IN THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT 7:12 P.M.

ROLL CALL PRESENT.

COUNCILMAN FARRELL

COUNCILMAN FERRI

COUNCILMAN CANAVAN

COUNCILMAN WEBER

COUNCILMAN AUNCHMAN

QUORUM PRESENT.

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

CORRESPONDENCES

CHIEF RENE COUTU RE A-1 USED TIRE CO. 1190 BROAD ST. C.F. (STORAGE OF TIRES)

ELIZABETH A. CROWLEY, ACTING CITY CLERK RE: LETTER TO GENERAL ASSEMBLY MEMBERS IN OPPOSITION OF AN ACT RELATING TO ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE RETAIL LICENSES.

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

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

AUDIT REPORT FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30, 1995.

MOTION TO ACCEPT AND PLACE ON FILE WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN FARRELL AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FERRI.

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

ZONING ORDINANCE PROPOSED AMENDMENTS

"CITY COUNCIL DECISION TO MOVE FORWARD REGARDING THE PROPOSED ZONING AMENDMENTS TO THE CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS ZONING ORDINANCE.:

MOTION TO MOVED FORWARD WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN AUNCHMAN AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WEBER.

COUNCILMAN FERRI COMMENTED ON THE PROPOSALS.

COUNCILMAN FARRELL STATED THAT HE WOULD HOLD A WORKSHOP ON THE ISSUE IN THE COMING WEEK.

COUNCILMAN WEBER COMMENTED ON THE WORKSHOP.

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

PUBLIC COMMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS

THERE WERE NO COMMENTS AT THIS TIME.

LICENSES

GENERAL MERCHANDISE

EVA S. ESCALERIA

D/B/A DORIS BEAUTY SALON

34 CROSSMAN ST. CF.

COUNCILMAN AUNCHMAN QUESTIONED THE APPLICANT ABOUT PARKING AND ASKED HER TO TELL HER CUSTOMERS TO PARK IN THE REAR OF THE ESTABLISHMENT ESPECIALLY ON THURSDAY AND FRIDAY EVENINGS WHEN DEXTER CREDIT UNION IS OPEN TO ALLEVIATE THE PARKING AND TRAFFIC CONGESTION IN THE AREA.

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

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

PARADE & FESTIVAL

GRUPO AMIGOS DA TERCEIRA INC.

D/B/A BUG CLUB-BROOK ST.

SEPT. 5, 6,7,8 1996.

THE APPLICANTS DETAILED THE PARADE ROUTE AND RELATED THAT THE POLICE CHIEF HAS BEEN INFORMED OF THE ROUTE. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THE PARADE AND DETAILS WOULD BE COORDINATED WITH THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.

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

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

OUTDOOR BARBECUE AND DANCE

GARFIELD SOCIAL CLUB

11 HUNT ST. C.F.

MOTION TO TABLE TO JUNE 10TH WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN FARRELL AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FERRI.

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

PRIVATE INVESTIGATOR LICENSE

RENEWAL

WILLIAM BENSON, JR.

D/B/A CENTRAL SECURITY AGENCY

PO BOX 298 C.F.

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

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

NEW

CRAIG E. TREMBLAY

23 CHESTNUT ST. C.F.

MOTION TO APPROVE WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN WEBER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FARRELL.

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

PEDDLER LICENSE (RENEWALS)

SEE LIST

THE ACTING CLERK RELATED THE PROBLEMS WITH THE LICENSE HOLDERS AND ASKED THAT THE COUNCIL TABLE THESE RENEWALS UNTIL THE JUNE 10TH MEETING.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN REQUESTED THE CLERK TO SEND A LETTER TO THE CHIEF ASKING THAT HE HAVE THE OFFICERS CHECK THE ICE CREAM PEDDLERS FOR LICENSES AND SAFETY LIGHTS ON THEIR VEHICLES.

MOTION TO TABLE WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN WEBER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FERRI.

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN ASKED THE CITY CLERK TO CONTACT THE APPLICANTS AND ASK THEM TO APPEAR AT THE REGULAR MEETING ON JUNE 10TH AT 9:00 P.M.

SECOND HAND LICENSES 1996

SEE LIST

THE CLERK INFORMED THE COUNCIL THAT THE LIST WAS STILL IN THE PREPARATION PROCESS AND ASK THAT THIS BE TABLED UNTIL THE NEXT MEETING OF THE COUNCIL.

MOTION TO TABLE WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN WEBER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FERRI.

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO O ABSENT.

RESOLUTION

PASSAGE

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY TAX COLLECTOR TO GRANT FORBEARANCE OF INTEREST PENALTIES ON PRIOR YEAR AUTOMOBILE TAXES AND TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY TAXES DURING THE PERIOD BEGINNING JUNE 1, 1996 THROUGH JUNE 30, 1996 IF ALL SUCH TAXES DUE AND PAYABLE ARE PAID IN FULL.

CITY SOLICITOR JAMES BRIDEN EXPLAINED THAT PASSAGE OF THIS RESOLUTION IS IN CONFLICT WITH THE PROVISION OF THE CHARTER WHICH EXPRESSLY GIVES THIS AUTHORITY TO THE FINANCE DIRECTOR AND AT HIS DISCRETION HE MAY WAIVE INTEREST PENALTIES AS THE SITUATION WARRANTS. HE STATED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS NO SUCH AUTHORITY

AS PROVIDED FOR BY THE CITY CHARTER.

JOHN KUZMISKI RELATED SEVERAL CONCERNS HE HAS WITH THE RESOLUTION, HE ALSO COMMENTED ON THE LACK OF INCENTIVE FOR TAXPAYERS TO PAY THEIR TAXES IN A TIMELY MANNER WHEN THEY CAN ANTICIPATE THIS RESOLUTION IN THE FUTURE AND NOT PAY AN INTEREST PENALTY. HE STATED THAT TAXPAYERS WHO DO PAY THEIR TAXES ON TIME SHOULD NOT PAY FOR THOSE WHO DON'T. HE SAID THAT ANY BENEFIT THE RESOLUTION MAY PRODUCE IS MINUSCULE.

COUNCILMAN FARRELL STATED THAT HE HAD NO INTENTION OF INTRODUCING THIS TYPE OF RESOLUTION IN THE FUTURE, BUT ASKS THE COUNCIL FOR THEIR SUPPORT AT THIS TIME ON THIS ISSUE.

MOTION TO APPROVE WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN FARRELL AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WEBER.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN STATED THAT THIS RESOLUTION IS UNFAIR TO SOMEONE WHO PAID THEIR TAXES LAST WEEK WITH INTEREST.

MOTION CARRIED 3 YES 2 NO 0 ABSENT.

COUNCILMAN AUNCHMAN STATED THAT HE WILL BE OUT OF TOWN ON JUNE 10TH AND ASKED THAT THE COUNCIL HAVE FINAL PASSAGE ON THE BOND RESOLUTION AND THE BUDGET ORDINANCES AT A LATER DATE.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN STATED THAT THE MEETING OF JUNE 10^TH WOULD BE CONDUCTED AS SCHEDULED BECAUSE OF THE ADVERTISING THAT IS REQUIRED ON THE BUDGET, HOWEVER, HE STATED THAT THE JUNE 10TH MEETING WOULD BE CONTINUED TO JUNE 13, 1996 AT 7:30 P.M.

RESOLUTION ENDORSING A TWELVE (12) MILLION DOLLAR CONSTRUCTION PROJECT FOR SCHOOL ADDITIONS AND RENOVATIONS.

ORDINANCE (PUBLIC HEARING/FINAL PASSAGE)

AN ORDINANCE TRANSFERRING CERTAIN FUNDS IN THE 1995/1996 BUDGET.

ORDINANCES PUBLIC INPUT AND COMMENTS

1. THE ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET ORDINANCE

2. THE ANNUAL CAPITAL BUDGET ORDINANCE

3. THE ANNUAL CAPITAL PROGRAM ORDINANCE

4. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SALARIES FOR FIREMEN & POLICEMEN

5. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE WAGE SCHEDULE GENERALLY

6. AN ORDINANCE PERTAINING TO SALARIES OF DEPARTMENT HEADS AND OTHERS IN UNCLASSIFIED SERVICE

7. ESTABLISHING THE CLASSES OF POSITIONS, THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES AND THE NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES IN CERTAIN CLASSES IN THE CITY DEPARTMENTS .

DISCUSSION WAS OPENED TO THE PUBLIC BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN.

JOHN KUZMISKI STATED THAT THE AMOUNT RECEIVED FROM THE DETENTION CENTER TO DATE WAS $177,808.30 AND BASED ON THIS INFORMATION HE ESTIMATED NEXT YEAR'S REVENUE TO BE ABOUT $210,000.00.

JOSEPHINE MCLAUGHLIN QUESTIONED THE MEDICAL INSURANCE AND WHETHER THE CITY COVERED PART TIME PERSONNEL. SHE ALSO ASKED WHY PERSONNEL AND BOARD MEMBERS AT THE COMMUNITY CENTER RECEIVE MEDICAL BENEFITS.

THE FINANCE DIRECTOR STATED THAT NO PART TIME EMPLOYEES UNDER 19 HOURS RECEIVE MEDICAL BENEFITS. HE ALSO STATED THAT THERE ARE SOME BOARD MEMBERS WHO ARE EMPLOYEES OF THE CITY AND IN THAT CASE ARE RECEIVING MEDICAL BENEFITS.

SENATOR ISSA QUESTIONED THE PROPOSED OVERTIME FOR NEXT YEAR'S BUDGET AND ASKED IF THERE WAS A REASON IT WAS DOUBLED OVER LAST YEAR'S ESTIMATES.

THE FINANCE DIRECTOR RESPONDED THAT IN HIS OPINION $ 35,000 WAS A REASONABLE ANTICIPATION OF AN EXPENDITURE THAT WAS $87,000 LAST YEAR WHEN THERE WAS A SEVERE WINTER. HE STATED THAT HE FEELS THAT IT IS PRUDENT TO PLAN ACCORDINGLY.

SENATOR ISSA QUESTIONED THE GPA ACCOUNT AND POLICE AND FIRE OVERTIME AND ASKED IF THERE WAS A PROBLEM WITH OVERTIME IN THOSE DEPARTMENTS.

CHIEF COUTU RESPONDED THAT THE CONTRACT IN THE FIRE DEPARTMENT CALLS FOR MINIMUM MANNING WHICH IS 8 MEN PER SHIFT. HE STATED THAT HE HAS HAD BETWEEN 4 TO 6 MEN OUT AT A GIVEN TIME BECAUSE OF INJURY. HE SAID THAT A PLATOON CONSIST OF 9 MEN.

SENATOR ISSA REFERRING TO PAGE 11 OF THE BUDGET WORKSHEET QUESTIONED THE INCREASE OF $211,153.00 AND ASKED IF THIS IS FUNDED FROM SURPLUS.

JOHN KUZMISKI STATED THAT THIS IS REVENUE FROM THE FUND BALANCE. HE ALSO COMMENTED ON THE AUDIT REPORT WHICH ONLY SPEAKS OF THE AUDIT COMPLETED ON JUNE 30, 1995. HE ALSO COMMENTED ON FY 1996/97 BUDGET.

DISCUSSION CONTINUED BETWEEN THE FINANCE DIRECTOR AND SENATOR ISSA.

MAYOR MATTHEWS EXPLAINED THE GENERAL CONTINGENCIES AND WHAT IT CONSIST OF.

SENATOR ISSA COMMENTED ON THE UNFUNDED LIABILITIES AND QUESTIONED THE MAYOR.

MAYOR MATTHEWS RESPONDED THAT AN ACTUARIAL STUDY HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED BUT IT WAS ESTIMATED THAT THE TOTAL UNFUNDED LIABILITY IS APPROXIMATELY $30 MILLION DOLLARS.

JOHN KUZMISKI STATED THAT THE ACTUARIAL STUDY HAS NOT BEEN COMPLETED AT THIS POINT HOWEVER NUMEROUS DISCUSSIONS HAVE TAKEN PLACE WITH THE ANGELL GROUP DOING THE STUDY.

SENATOR ISSA COMMENTED ON PAGE 3 OF THE WORKSHEET ACCOUNT 54033.

AT THE REQUEST OF COUNCILMAN WEBER THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT RECESSED THE MEETING AT 8:35 P.M.

MEETING RECONVENED AT 8:50 P.M.

THOMAS LAZIEH OF LONSDALE AVENUE COMPLIMENTED THE NEW FINANCE DIRECTOR AND SUBMITTED A WRITTEN SUMMARY OF HIS QUESTIONS AND SUGGESTIONS TO THE CLERK.

THE FINANCE DIRECTOR RESPONDED TO MANY OF THE FORMER MAYOR'S QUESTIONS. SUCH AS TRAFFIC TICKETS AND ESTIMATED REVENUES TO JUNE 30TH 1996 ARE $85,000 WHICH IS WELL BELOW THE ESTIMATED REVENUES AS PROPOSED IN LAST YEAR'S BUDGET.

QUESTIONS ALSO CENTERED AROUND STATE REVENUES, THE MUNIS SYSTEM AND THE GOVERNOR'S BUDGET.

MR. LAZIEH QUESTIONED THE RECYCLING REIMBURSEMENT.

THE FINANCE DIRECTOR RESPONDED THAT THIS IS NOT PRESENTLY IN THE BUDGET.

MAYOR LAZIEH QUESTIONED LEGAL CONTINGENCIES.

DISCUSSION CONTINUED.

THE FINANCE DIRECTOR RESPONDED THAT IS WAS PRUDENT TO RECOGNIZE THE CITY'S LIABILITIES AND TO PLAN ACCORDINGLY. HE ALSO STATED THAT THE AMOUNTS ESTIMATED FOR THIS ACCOUNT COME FROM THE KNOWLEDGE OF THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT RELATIVE TO CLAIMS AND SUITS PRESENTLY BEFORE THE COURTS.

MAYOR MATTHEWS RESPONDED AND ELABORATED TO THE FORMER MAYOR'S QUESTIONS.

DISCUSSIONS CENTERED ON COMPENSATED ABSENCES AND BUDGETING FOR THESE EXPENDITURES.

THOMAS LAZIEH COMMENTED THAT HE FELT THAT SOME OF THESE FIGURES SEEM RATHER HIGH.

MAYOR MATTHEWS REPLIED TO MR. LAZIEH'S QUESTIONS AND THE NEED FOR FLEXIBILITY IN THE CONTINGENCY ACCOUNT.

THOMAS LAZIEH COMMENTED ON VACANCIES IN THE PRESENT ADMINISTRATION. HE ALSO SPOKE AND COMMENTED ON MAJOR PURCHASES, ADDITIONAL POLICE OFFICERS AND POLICE DISPATCHERS.

COUNCILMAN FARRELL REPLIED TO MR. LAZIEH'S QUESTIONS.

MAYOR MATTHEWS COMMENTED.

MR. LAZIEH REQUESTED A 1994/95 AUDIT REPORT MADE AT THE CITY CLERK'S OFFICE. HE ALSO COMMENTED ON FUNDS AVAILABLE IN SPECIAL ACCOUNTS.

THE FINANCE DIRECTOR COMMENTED ON THE UNRESERVED FUND BALANCE AND THE CUMULATIVE SURPLUS OF $1,793,514. WHICH INCLUDES THE RESTRICTED FUNDS. THE OPERATING SURPLUS OF THE UNAUDITED 1995/96 IS APPROXIMATELY $205,000.

THE FINANCE DIRECTOR STATED THAT THIS IS A REVENUE DRIVEN BUDGET AND THAT NO TAX RATE INCREASE IS INCLUDED IN THIS BUDGET.

THE FORMER MAYOR SUGGESTED THAT A TAX RATE REDUCTION BE GIVEN IN THE EVENT OF A SURPLUS.

MAYOR MATTHEWS AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN BOTH RESPONDED TO THE FORMER MAYOR'S QUESTIONS.

THOMAS SHANNAHAN, LIBRARIAN OF THE ADAMS LIBRARY EXPLAINED THE CLAN SERVICES AND THE PLACEMENT OF CERTAIN ITEMS IN HIS BUDGET FOR THE LIBRARY.

MAYOR MATTHEWS COMMENTED.

COUNCILMAN WEBER COMMENTED ON THE RECREATION BUDGET.

MAYOR MATTHEWS EXPLAINED THAT THERE ARE SOME CDGB FUNDS LEFT FROM 1994 REQUEST FOR RECREATION THAT HAS NOT BEEN EXPENDED IN THE AMOUNT OF 13,000, ALSO CAPITAL PROGRAMS 94/95

HE READ A LETTER FROM MR. HEROUX REGARDING THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT'S BUDGETARY REQUESTS.

COUNCILMAN WEBER QUESTIONED TEAM SUBSIDIES.

COUNCIL DISCUSSION ENSUED.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN CLOSED THE PUBLIC HEARING.

NEW BUSINESS.

COUNCILMAN FARRELL COMMENTED ON STREET SWEEPING AND COUNCILMAN FERRI SPOKE ON CHILD SAFETY WEEK .

COUNCILMAN AUNCHAMAN SPOKE ON CHILD FINGERPRINTING PROGRAM.

COUNCILMAN FARRELL COMMENTED ON COUNCIL INVITATIONS TO DARE GRADUATIONS AT VETERANS SCHOOL ON JUNE 20TH AND ST. ELIZABETH ANN SETON'S ON JUNE 13TH.

MOTION TO ADJOURN TO EXECUTIVE SESSION ON EXEMPTION #2 "LEGALITY" OF THE OPENED MEETINGS WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN FARRELL AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WEBER.

PUBLIC MEETING RECONVENED AT 11:02 P.M.

BUDGET MATTERS AND COUNCIL RECOMMENDATIONS WERE DISCUSSED.

MOTION TO ADJOURN WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN WEBER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FERRI. ALL AGREED. SO VOTED. AT 11:54 P.M.

_____________________________________________

ELIZABETH A. CROWLEY, CMC

ACTING CITY CLERK