May 13, 1996 - Regular City Council Meeting

DR. MAUREEN CHEVRETTE SUPERINTENDENT OF SCHOOLS PRESENTED A BRIEF OUTLINE OF THE RENOVATION AND CONSTRUCTION FOR THE CENTRAL FALLS SCHOOL DEPT. SHE TOLD OF THE CAPACITY OF EACH SCHOOL AND THE EXTREME

OVERCROWDING OF THE HIGH SCHOOL. SHE SPOKE OF THE NEED FOR A MIDDLE SCHOOL 6,7,8 AND THE NEED TO MOVE THE JUNIOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS OUT OF THE HIGH SCHOOL AND INTO CALCUTT SCHOOL. SHE SPOKE OF REIMBURSEMENT FROM THE STATE AND THE COST OF THE BOND TO THE CITY.

COUNCILMAN FERRI COMMENTED ON CALCUTT SCHOOL AND STATED HIS CONCERNS ON SPENDING FOR ALL SCHOOLS. HE SAID THAT PERHAPS WE SHOULD LOOK AT A NEW BUILDING AND IS THERE ANYWHERE IN THE CITY THAT WOULD MEET THE NEEDS OF A NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL.

MS. CHEVRETTE SAID THAT THERE IS NO PLACE IN THE CITY WITH LAND OF APPROXIMATELY 3 ACRES TO BUILD A NEW SCHOOL SHE ALSO SPOKE ON THE NEED FOR ELEVATORS TO MAKE SCHOOLS HANDICAPPED ACCESSIBLE. THE PRESENT BUILDINGS DO NOT MEET THESE CODES.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN RESPONDED ON THE CITY'S FINANCIAL DUTY TO THE SCHOOL BUDGET.

REP. FARIA AND SEN. ISSA WERE PRESENT AND COMMENTED THAT MANY COMMUNITIES IN THE STATE ARE EXPERIENCING EXTREME BUDGET CONSTRAINTS.

MS. CHEVRETTE ALSO COMMENTED ON BOARD OF REGENTS AND THE COMMISSIONER. SHE SAID THE STATE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO RENOVATE IMPROVEMENTS TO BUILDINGS. THE STATE'S SHARE ON HOUSING AID HAD NEVER CHANGED. IS THE CITY ON A YEAR TO YEAR WITH THE STATE'S SUPPORT OF THE SCHOOLS. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY GIVETH AND THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY CAN

TAKE AWAY. NEW LEGISLATION WOULD HAVE TO BE ENACTED TO REMOVE THE AID TO THE CITY. SHE SAID THAT THE CITY IS IN NEED OF A SCHOOL AT 1 X ½ TIMES THE SIZE OF THE PRESENT VETERANS SCHOOL WHICH WAS BONDED IN 1990 WITH 2 MILLION GOING TOWARD SCHOOL RENOVATION AND THE REMAINED OF THE 9.9 MILLION USED TO BUILD VETS. THE EARLY TO MID 70'S WAS THE LAST TIME THE SCHOOLS RECEIVED ANY RENOVATIONS AND BY 1997/1998 PROBABLY DOUBLE SESSIONS AT THE HIGH SCHOOL WITH 250 IN STUDENTS IN THE 9^TH GRADE. SHE SAID THE CHILDREN ARE STAYING IN SCHOOL THEY ARE NOT DROPPING OUT. OTHER LOCATIONS TO BUILD LIKE HIGGINSON AVENUE HAD SERIOUS PROBLEM WITH THE WETLANDS, FOR BUILDING A SCHOOL.

COUNCILMAN WEBER SPOKE OF ATTENDANCE OF HIS CHILDREN AND THE OVERCROWDING. HE SPOKE OF THE BOARD OF REGENTS ATTENDANCE AT THE SCHOOL, HE SPOKE OF THE GOOD WORK DONE BY THE TEACHERS AND THE CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH THEY TEACH.

COUNCILMAN FARRELL COMMENTED.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN SPOKE OF THE REASONS FOR THE NEED NOW TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. HE ASKED THE COUNCIL TO STRONGLY CONSIDER THE PASSAGE OF THIS RESOLUTION. HE SAID THAT IT CLEARLY SENDS A MESSAGE TO THE STATE THAT THE CITY IS WILLING TO ADDRESS THE SCHOOLS AND THAT IT DOESN'T BENEFIT ANYONE BUT THE CHILDREN.

COMMENTS WERE MADE ON RESIDENCY.

COUNCILMAN AUNCHMAN QUESTIONED.

COUNCILMAN FERRI AGAIN QUESTIONED THE BUILDING OF A NEW MIDDLE SCHOOL. THE SCHOOL POPULATION HAS EXCEEDED EXPECTATIONS OF THE STATE, CITY AND NATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS.

SENATOR ISSA COMMENTED BRIEFLY. TIME CONSTRAINTS DISCUSSED. AND THE NEED TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION AS QUICKLY AS POSSIBLE SO THAT IT CAN BE PLACE BEFORE THE VOTERS IN NOVEMBER.

MAYOR MATTHEWS STATED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION HAS BEEN IN STRONG COMMUNICATION WITH THE SCHOOL DEPT. TO UNDERSTAND THEIR NEEDS. HE SPOKE OF THE FINANCE DIRECTOR'S NEED TO UNDERSTAND BECAUSE OF HIS PREPARATION OF THE BUDGET. HE STATED THAT THE ADMINISTRATION COULD NOT COMMENT FOR OR AGAINST THE PROJECT. HE HAS SEVERAL QUESTIONS AND CONCERNS, THERE ARE QUESTIONS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED. HE SPOKE OF THE NEED TO KNOW AND ASKED IF THE COUNCIL KNOWS ENOUGH TO MAKE THIS DECISION. HE ASKED WHAT WILL HAPPEN IF THE STATE CHANGES ITS

AID FORMULA AND WHERE WILL THE CITY GET THE ADDITIONAL MONEY TO PAY FOR THE CITY'S PORTION OF THIS NEED. HE SAID HE WOULD RATHER DO OUR HOMEWORK BEFORE PLACING IT BEFORE THE VOTERS WITHOUT THE PROPER LEG WORK. HE SAID "THE CITY'S RESPONSIBILITY OF THE SCHOOL GOES WITHOUT QUESTION. HOWEVER, THESE ARE THE CITY'S BUILDINGS AND THIS IS A PROPOSAL FROM THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT, NOT FROM THE CITY. WE NEED TO MAKE THE RIGHT DECISION."

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN ASKED WHEN IS THE FINAL DATE IN ORDER FOR THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO ACT ON THIS LEGISLATION AND PLACE THIS BEFORE THE VOTERS.

REP. FARIA STATED THAT IT MUST GO TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE BECAUSE THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY WILL ADJOURN SOON.

THE MAYOR CANNOT EMPHASIS ENOUGH THE COMMUNICATION BETWEEN THE SCHOOL DEPT AND THE MAYOR'S OFFICE.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT COMMENTED AND SUGGESTED THAT THE CITY AND SCHOOL DEPT. GO OVER THE PROPOSAL. HE SAID THAT ALL ARE IN AGREEMENT THAT SOMETHING HAS TO BE DONE. ITS NOT ONLY THE ADMINISTRATION'S RESPONSIBILITY BUT ALSO THE COUNCIL'S AND THAT EACH SHOULD BE INVOLVED.

DISCUSSION ENSUED BETWEEN THE MAYOR AND COUNCIL PRESIDENT ON THE SCHOOL HOUSING AID FORMULA.

REP. FARIA REMINDED THE COUNCIL THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY MAY BE OUT OF SESSION NEXT MONTH.

SENATOR ISSA STATED THAT THERE NEEDS TO BE A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ISSUE. HE STATED THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY IS NEAR ITS CONCLUSION.

THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT INTRODUCED THE RESOLUTION.

MOTION TO APPROVE THE RESOLUTION FOR FIRST PASSAGE WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN WEBER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FARRELL.

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO O ABSENT.

PUBLIC HEARING OPENED. NO COMMENTS. PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED.

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

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES O NO O ABSENT.

RESOLUTION "NATIONAL PUBLIC WORKS WEEK MAY 19-MAY 25 1996.

MOTION TO APPROVE WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN FERRI SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FARRELL.

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO O ABSENT.

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN RECESSED THE MEETING AT 9:30 P.M. AND RECONVENED 9:42 P.M.

2. THE ANNUAL CAPITAL BUDGET ORDINANCE 1996/97.

3. THE ANNUAL CAPITAL PROGRAM ORDINANCE.

4. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE SALARIES OF FIREMEN AND POLICEMEN.

5. AN ORDINANCE AMENDING THE WAGE SCHEDULE GENERALLY.

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

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

8. AN ORDINANCE TRANSFERRING CERTAIN FUNDS IN THE 1995/96 BUDGET.

SO INTRODUCED

MOTION TO APPROVE WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN FERRI SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FARRELL.

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

2. AN ORDINANCE RELATED TO SECTION 8-12 OF THE REVISED ORDINANCES ENTITLED DOMESTIC ANIMAL WASTE AND ITS REMOVAL.

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

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

3. AN ORDINANCE RELATED TO SECTION 8-37 OF THE REVISED ORDINANCES ENTITLED DOG LICENSE FEES.

MOTION TO AMEND AS READ WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN FERRI SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WEBER.

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES O NO O ABSENT.

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

PUBLIC HEARING OPENED: NO COMMENTS: PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED.

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

4. AN ORDINANCE RELATED TO SECTION 8-38 OF THE REVISED ORDINANCES ENTITLED: VACCINATIONS SECTIONS 8-38-1 REQUIRED FOR DOGS OVER SIX MONTHS OLD; SECTION 8-38-2 CERTIFICATION GENERALLY; SECTION 8-38-3 CERTIFICATE OF VACCINATION PREREQUISITE TO LICENSE.

MOTION TO AMEND TO 4 MONTHS WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN FERRI AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FARRELL.

TOM LAMOUREUX, ANIMAL CONTROL OFFICER, COMMENTED.

MOTION CARRIED 4 YES 1 NO 0 ABSENT.

MOTION TO APPROVE 8-38-1 AS AMENDED WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN FERRI AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FARRELL.

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO O ABSENT.

MOTION TO AMEND 8-38-2 TO READ VACCINE 2 YEARS WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN WEBER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FARRELL.

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO O ABSENT.

PUBLIC HEARING OPENED. NO COMMENTS. PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED.

MOTION TO APPROVE AS AMENDED 8-38-2.

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO O ABSENT.

5. AN ORDINANCE RELATED TO SECTION 8-39 OWNING UNVACCINATED DOG.

CHIEF MOFFATT COMMENTED ON THE PURPOSE OF PASSAGE FOR THE MATTER TO BE HEARD IN MUNICIPAL COURT VERSUS THE STATE OFFICE.

MAYOR MATTHEWS COMMENTED THAT HE WOULD ASK THAT THE COUNCIL INCLUDE CATS AND FERRETS.

COUNCILMAN FERRI STATED THAT THIS IS BEING WORKED ON.

COUNCILMAN FERRI ASKED THE COUNCIL TO BE PATIENT, ASK THAT THIS BE PASSED AS IS.

MOTION TO AMEND BY COUNCILMAN FARRELL AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN AUNCHMAN TO INCLUDE CATS AND FERRETS.

CITY SOLICITOR OLIVERIO COMMENTED.

5-0

PUBLIC HEARING OPENED. NO COMMENTS. PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED.

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

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

6. AN ORDINANCE RELATED TO SECTION 8-40 IMPOUNDING UNVACCINATED DOGS.

MOTION TO TABLE WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN FERRI AND SECONDED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN.

COUNCILMAN FERRI EXPLAINED.

MATT OLIVERIO EXPLAINED THE STATE LAW AND IMPOUNDMENT.

COUNCILMAN FERRI WITHDRAWS HIS MOTION, SECOND REMOVED BY COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN.

MOTION TO AMEND DOG 4 MONTHS NOT EXCEEDING 10 DAYS AT THE 10 DAYS WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN FERRI AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FARRELL.

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

PUBLIC HEARING OPENED. NO COMMENTS. PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED.

MOTION TO APPROVE AS AMENDED WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN FERRI AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FARRELL.

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.