CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS
COUNCIL ORDINANCE COMMITTEE WORKSHOP
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
THURSDAY, DECEMBER 4, 1997
AT 6:30 P.M.
A MEETING OF THE COUNCIL ORDINANCE COMMITTEE WAS HELD ON THE ABOVE DATE IN THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT 6:35 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT:
COUNCILMAN FERRI
COUNCILMAN WEBER
COUNCILMAN WEBER CHAIRED THE MEETING.
ALSO PRESENT:
A. BALDERA, JHB
L. PAQUETTE, JHB
J. BRIDEN, CITY SOLICITOR
E. CROWLEY, ACTING CITY CLERK
BISHOP LALIBERTE
AN ORDINANCE REGARDING DAYTIME RESTRICTIONS FOR MINORS
CHAIRMAN WEBER COMMENTED ON THE MEETING WITH CHIEF JUSTICE OF THE FAMILY COURT JEREMIAH, WHO EXPRESSED THAT HE IS IN FAVOR OF THE EFFORTS OF THE COUNCIL WITH REGARDS TO TRUANCY.
JAMES BRIDEN, CITY SOLICITOR EXPLAINED WHAT THE CURRENT SYSTEM DOES WITH REGARDS TO TRUANCY CASES. THE JUDGE WAS VERY SUPPORTIVE OF THE IDEA OF THIS TYPE OF MATTER BEING HANDLED ON THE LOCAL LEVEL. HE EXPLAINED THAT THERE ARE TWO APPROACHES THAT CAN BE TAKEN. HE EXPLAINED THE LIMITATIONS AND GOOD POINTS OF KEEPING THE CURRENT LEGISLATION WHICH WOULD NOT ALLOW THE PROSECUTION OF ADULTS. HE STATED THAT THE OTHER APPROACH WOULD BE TO CHANGE THE WHOLE SYSTEM SO THAT THIS PROBLEM COULD BE HANDLED AT THE LOCAL LEVEL FOR BOTH THE CHILD AND THE PARENT. THE TRUANT WOULD BE HANDLED BY THE JUVENILE HEARING BOARD AND THE ADULT AT THE MUNICIPAL COURT. THIS WOULD BE DONE LOCALLY AND QUICKLY. THE FAMILY COURT SYSTEM RELATIVE TO TRUANCY TAKES MONTHS.
THE JUDGE SUGGESTED THAT THE COUNCIL SEEK AN AMENDMENT IN THE STATE LAW TO ENABLE THE TRUANT TO BE HANDLED BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES.
JAMES BRIDEN EXPLAINED IN GREATER DETAIL ALL THE ASPECTS OF CHANGING THE LAW AND ENABLING LEGISLATION TO AMEND THE MUNICIPAL COURT AND JUVENILE HEARING BOARD DUTIES.
CHAIRMAN WEBER THANKED ALL WHO PARTICIPATED IN THIS DISCUSSION AND STATED HE WOULD UPDATE THE CITY COUNCIL ON THE FINDING OF THIS COMMITTEE.
MEETING ADJOURNED AT 7:05 P.M.
_____________________________________
ELIZABETH A. CROWLEY, CMC
ACTING CITY CLERK