CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS
CITY COUNCIL MEETING & WORKSHOP
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
MAY 24, 1996
A CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND WORKSHOP WAS HELD ON THE ABOVE DATE IN THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT 6:10 P.M.
COUNCILMAN FARRELL
COUNCILMAN FERRI
COUNCILMAN WEBER
COUNCILMAN AUNCHMAN
COUNCILMAN CANAVAN
QUORUM PRESENT.
CITY COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN PRESIDED AND LED THE ASSEMBLY IN THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
JOHN J. LOPEZ AND ROBERTO GUIRAL
D/B/A PANADERIA EL ANTOJO
789 DEXTER ST. C.F.
MOTION TO APPROVE WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN WEBER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FARRELL.
| COUNCILMAN FARRELL | YES |
| COUNCILMAN FERRI | YES |
| COUNCILMAN WEBER | YES |
| COUNCILMAN AUNCHMAN | YES |
| COUNCILMAN CANAVAN | YES |
MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO O ABSENT.
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
8. AN ORDINANCE TRANSFERRING CERTAIN FUNDS IN THE 1995/96 BUDGET
COUNCILMAN WEBER MOVED TO COLLECTIVELY APPROVE FOR FIRST PASSAGE
COUNCILMAN FERRI AND COUNCILMAN FARRELL SECONDED THE MOTION.
| COUNCILMAN FARRELL | YES |
| COUNCILMAN FERRI | YES |
| COUNCILMAN WEBER | YES |
| COUNCILMAN AUNCHMAN | NO |
| COUNCILMAN CANAVAN | YES |
MOTION CARRIED 4 YES 1 NO O ABSENT.
NO COMMENTS.
NONE
MAYOR MATTHEWS ADDRESSED THE COUNCIL AND THE ASSEMBLY ABOUT THE COMMUNITY CENTER. HE STATED THAT HE CERTAINLY DOES NOT WANT TO SEE THE CENTER CLOSE BUT THERE IS A VERY SERIOUS FINANCIAL PROBLEM AT THE CENTER WHICH HAS ABOUT $74,000 IN OUTSTANDING BILLS WITH A PROPOSED BUDGET ALREADY $66,000 DEFICIT FOR A TOTAL OF APPROXIMATELY $135,000 NEED TO FUND THE CENTER AND ANY LESS IS A BANDAGE AND WILL NOT HELP TO CONTINUE THE CENTER. HE SAID THAT THE MEETING HELD LAST NIGHT WAS PROBABLY THE MOST PRODUCTIVE THAT HE'S BEEN TO AND THAT THIS DID NOT HAPPEN OVERNIGHT. HE COMMENTED ON SOME OF THE MEMBERS RECOMMENDATIONS AND A NEW FOCUS. HE SAID THE CENTER NEEDS TO MAKE SOME SACRIFICES, THE CITY IS WILLING TO HELP IT OUT AND THAT THERE ARE PROPOSALS MADE BY THE CITY AND NOW IT IS TIME TO SEE WHAT THE CENTER WILL PROPOSE. HE SAID NO ONE WANTS TO SEE THE FACILITY CLOSE.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN STATED THAT HE WAS CONTACTED BY MEMBER OF YMCA WHO DID OFFER THEIR SERVICES TO ASSIST THE BOARD IN SHORT TERM SOLUTIONS AND LONG TERM SUGGESTIONS. HE COMMENTED ON THEIR SUCCESS IN PERFORMING AS A NON PROFIT ORGANIZATION. HE SAID THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE THE YMCA BOARD OF DIRECTORS BE AN ADVISOR TO THE COMMUNITY CENTER BOARD, HE DOES NOT SUGGEST THAT THE COMMUNITY CENTER BOARD IS NOT CAPABLE BUT RATHER THAT THIS BOARD IS IN NEED OF SOME EXPERTISE IN THE MATTER OF OVERSEEING THE PROPER FUNCTIONS OF
THE CENTER.
COUNCILMAN WEBER STATED THAT HE SPENT THE BEST PART OF THE DAY FINDING WAYS TO KEEP THE CENTER FROM CLOSING NOT EVEN FOR ONE DAY. HE DEFERRED TO COUNCILMAN FARRELL WHO HAS PREPARED AN ORDINANCE TO BE PRESENTED ON WEDNESDAY FOR INTRODUCTION.
COUNCILMAN FARRELL DRAFTED A LETTER TO CONGRESSMAN KENNEDY, COMMENTED ON CDGB-MONEY AND OF A WAIVER FROM FEDERAL GRANT MONEY TO USE TO BAIL OUT THE COMMUNITY CENTER. HE ALSO COMMENTED ON $50,000.00 LUMP SUM FEE WITH THE DIFFERENCE TO BE MADE UP BY GRANT WRITING. HOWEVER, THE DEBT WOULD STILL REMAIN BUT WOULD KNOW HAVE THE SUPPORT OF THE COMMUNITY HE SAID HE THINKS THEY CAN GET FEDERAL DOLLARS.
COUNCILMAN FERRI ASKED HOW FAR WOULD THEY BE ALLOWED TO BALANCE BUDGET AND MOVE FORWARD TOWARD GRANT WRITING AND HOW SOON CAN WE LOCK THIS IN AND GET THE WAIVER.
JUDY LAMBERT DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY CENTER STATED THAT THE CURRENT DEBT TO BE PAID AND THE FUNDS HAS TO COME FROM SOMEWHERE OR THE CENTER IS CLOSING. SHE COMMENTED ON THE RHODE ISLAND FOUNDATION AND FUNDING.
COUNCILMAN FERRI ASKED IF PERHAPS THE COMMUNITY CENTER SHOULD COME UNDER RECREATION DEPARTMENT WITH CHANNEL I, THE CRIMESTOPPERS, LITTLE LEAGUE ETC. ALL TO MAKE USE OF THE FACILITY.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT QUESTIONED MS. LAMBERT ABOUT A $2,000 SURPLUS AT TIME SHE TOOK OVER AS DIRECTOR.
MS. LAMBERT COMMENTED AND EXPLAINED THAT THE CENTER, IN ORDER TO RECEIVE GRANTS CANNOT RUN DEFICIT BEYOND 10 %.
COUNCILMAN AUNCHMAN ASKED MS. LAMBERT WHAT AMOUNT WAS NEEDED TO ALLOW THE CENTER TO CONTINUE? $40,000? WHAT IF YOU RECEIVE A CHECK $50,000 COULD WRITE GRANTS?
LOUIS PAQUETTE, VICE CHAIRMAN OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER BOARD ASKED IF THE MAYOR IS AGREEABLE TO REALLOCATING THAT MONEY HE ALSO COMMENTED ON CHANNEL ONE MOVING BACK TO THE CENTER. HE SPOKE OF THE MANY THINGS DONE AT THE CENTER. HE SAID THE BOARD WELCOMES AND IS WILLING TO DO ANYTHING THAT WILL KEEP THIS SERVICE TO THE CITY AND STATED THAT IT NEEDS THE SUPPORT OF THE COUNCIL AND THE MAYOR.
MAYOR MATTHEWS ASKED THE COUNCIL TO REMEMBER THAT THE CHECK BOOK IS VERY TIGHT AND THAT THIS IS AN INDEPENDENT BOARD AND HOW MUCH DO WE HAND OUT. HE SAID THAT WE ARE DOING OUR BEST. HE COMMENTED ON
CDGB MONIES, FEDERAL COURT WHICH THESE MONIES, THE VERY SAME MONIES FOR THE HOUSING PROGRAM THAT NEED TO BE THERE, IN CASE WE LOOSE THIS SUIT. HE SAID THE CENTER NEEDS $140,000 AND A BALANCED BUDGET, CUTS OR ANOTHER WAY GENERATE INCOME IS NEEDED. HE SAID THAT HE RECEIVED 1 PHONE CALL FROM SOMEONE WHO IS WILLING TO MATCH UP TO $10,000 IN DONATIONS THIS IS ONE WAY TO INCREASE REVENUE NOT JUST THE CITY PROPOSING FUNDS WHAT IS BEING PROPOSED BY THE BOARD?
SENATOR ISSA COMMENTED ON THE SENIOR CENTER AND COMMENDED
COUNCILMAN FARRELL. HE ASK THE COUNCIL TO GO A STEP FURTHER. HE SAID THE COUNCIL, IN THE LAST QUARTER OF ANY FISCAL YEAR HAS THE AUTHORITY TO TRANSFER FUNDS BETWEEN ACCOUNTS. HE SAID THE CURRENT YEAR BUDGET HAS AN ANTICIPATED SURPLUS. HE STATED THAT THE CITY CAN'T AFFORD TO ALLOW THE CENTER TO CLOSE FOR A DAY. THAT THEY
MUST KEEP IT OPEN. HE URGED THE COUNCIL TO ESTABLISH THE COMMISSION FOR THE SHORT TERM AND TO GIVE THE CENTER SOME MONEY.
KEVIN FARRELL-BOARD OF DIRECTORS- STATED THAT IS WOULD BE A LOT EASIER FOR THE COUNCIL TO HELP BY LOOKING AT THE $26,000 BLUE CROSS PAYMENTS AND THE WATER & SEWER BILL OF $22,000.00 WHICH IS ABOUT 66 O/O OF THE TOTAL DEFICIT.
COUNCILMAN FERRI ASKED IF THE BIGGEST CREDITOR IS THE BLUE CROSS PAYMENT TO THE CITY.
RAYMOND COONEY CHAIRMAN OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS STATED HE IS GRATIFIED THAT THE COUNCIL IS WORKING TO COME UP WITH SOME SOLUTION. HE SAID HE HEARD SEVERAL GOOD IDEAS AND THAT ITS DIFFICULT TO HEAR CRITICISM. HE SAID THE BOARD ACCEPTS AND IS IN FAVOR OF ANY KIND OF SUGGESTIONS AND IDEAS FOR FUNDRAISING ETC. BUT THAT THE TIME IS VERY SHORT AND THE JUNE FIRST DEADLINE IS AROUND THE CORNER.
AL ROMANOWITZ STATED THAT HE'S HEARD SEVERAL PEOPLE COMMENTED ON THE BLUE CROSS PAYMENT TO THE CITY AND THE MANY COMMENTS TO THE MAYOR ABOUT HIS NOT FORGIVING THE PAYMENT, HOWEVER THE $26,000 IS TAXPAYERS FUNDS AND TAX DOLLARS NEED TO BE WATCHED.
COUNCILMAN WEBER COMMENTED.
COUNCILMAN FARRELL COMMENTED.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN STATED THAT HE IS NOT DISPUTING WHAT THE MAYOR IS SAYING.
LOUIS PAQUETTE COMMENTED ON BUDGET TRANSFERS AND THAT THE BOARD HAS NEVER COME TO THE CITY BEFORE AND THE BOARD IS ASKING FOR THIS HELP NOW.
MOTION TO ADJOURN WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN WEBER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FERRI. ALL AGREED. SO VOTED. TIME 7:30 P.M.
_________________________________________
ELIZABETH A. CROWLEY, CMC
ACTING CITY CLERK