June 2, 1997 - Regular City Council Meeting

CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS

CITY COUNCIL MEETING

CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS

MONDAY, JUNE 2, 1997

A MEETING OF THE CENTRAL FALLS CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD ON THE ABOVE DATE IN THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT 8:02 P.M.

ROLL CALL

COUNCILMAN NOURY

COUNCILMAN FERRI

COUNCILMAN CANAVAN

COUNCILMAN WEBER

COUNCILMAN AUNCHMAN

QUORUM PRESENT.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

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

EXECUTIVE SESSION

PERSONNEL RELATED MATTERS AS PROVIDED FOR IN EXEMPTION #1 OF THE OPEN MEETINGS LAW.

MOTION TO RECESS TO EXECUTIVE SESSION WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN WEBER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN AUNCHMAN.

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

MEETING RECESSED AT 8:04 P.M.

MEETING RECONVENED AT 9:42 P.M.

MOTION TO SEAL MINUTES OF EXECUTIVE SESSION WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN WEBER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN AUNCHMAN.

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

CORRESPONDENCES

CONCERNED CITIZENS: RE: COWDEN STREET PLAYGROUND AREA

READ BY CLERK.

COUNCILMAN WEBER STATED THAT HE SPOKE WITH CHIEF MOFFATT ON THESE CONCERNS AND HE WILL SET UP A MEETING BETWEEN THE CHIEF AND THESE RESIDENTS.

ELIZABETH CROWLEY RE: LETTER TO JUDGE COONEY

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.

ABATEMENTS

SEE LIST

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

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

APPOINTMENTS

PLANNING COMMISSION

ERNEST CABRAL

BAGLEY ST.

TERM TO EXPIRE JAN. 2002

RE-APPOINTMENT REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY

KEVIN MARCHAND

64 PERRY ST.

TERM TO EXPIRE APR. 1999

ELIZABETH LARAMEE

57 AETNA ST.

TERM TO EXPIRE APR. 2002

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

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

LICENSES

GENERAL MERCHANDISE

ARCLIS MEZA

D/B/A ARCLIS PARTY CREATIONS

716 DEXTER ST.

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

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

CLASS C (RENEWAL)

FELICIANO MERCADO & JOSE MELLA

D/B/A FELIX SUPERMARKET

635 DEXTER ST. C.F.

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

SUBJECT TO CORRECTING MINIMUM HOUSING CONCERNS.

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

PRIVATE DETECTIVE (RENEWAL)

WILLIAM BENSON, JR.

CENTRAL SECURITY AGENCY

P.O. BOX 298

CENTRAL FALLS, R.I.

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

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

CONSTABLE LICENSE (NEW POLICE DISPATCHER)

SANDY M. GRAIKO

CENTRAL FALLS POLICE DISPATCHER

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

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

PUBLIC COMMENTS AND CONCERNS

COUNCILMAN WEBER COMMENTED ON TIMES REPORT REGARDING THE RAISING OF FUNDS FOR THE THERMAL DEVICE. HE STATED THAT HE WANTED TO SET THE RECORD STRAIGHT, THE CITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN INVOLVED WITH THIS EFFORT SINCE DAY ONE. HE SAID THAT A GROUP OF CONCERNED CITIZENS WANTED TO DO THIS PROJECT THEMSELVES WITHOUT USING TAX DOLLARS. HE RELATED THAT THE CITY COUNCIL HAS BEEN QUIETLY INVOLVED IN THIS CAUSE AND IN FACT DONATED THE PROCEEDS, ALONG WITH THE MAYOR, FROM THE INAUGURAL BALL HELD LAST YEAR WHICH AMOUNTED TO OVER $700.00.

COUNCILMAN FERRI CRITICIZED THE TIMES AND JOURNAL FOR THE LACK OF PUBLISHING THE CHILD SAFETY TIPS GATHERED AT THE CHILD SAFETY PROGRAM HELD ON MAY 12TH.

PETER DEMEULE STATED THAT HE SYMPATHIZES WITH THE COUNCIL'S CONCERN'S BUT NO ONE APPROACHED THE 4 D'S FOR A DONATION.

STANLEY PIETRASZKA COMMENTED THAT THE GROUP HAS TO DATE RAISED $22,000 FOR THE DEVICE.

MAYOR MATTHEWS STATED THAT THE COUNCIL AND MAYOR HAVE DONATED SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS TOWARDS THE PURCHASE OF THIS DEVICE. IN AN OTHER MATTER HE COMMENTED ON THE USE OF PUBLIC WORKS EMPLOYEES TO PERFORM SOME OF THE TASK RELATED TO THE MODULAR HOMES AND STATED THAT BY FAR IT IS LESS COSTLY THAN HIRING A CONTRACTOR.

SENATOR ISSA STATED HIS CONCERNS ABOUT THE USE OF PUBLIC EMPLOYEES FOR THIS PROJECT. HE ASKED ABOUT THE COST OF THESE HOMES TO THE CITY AND THE LOSS THE CITY WILL TAKE WHEN THE WORK IS COMPLETED. HE STATED THAT THIS IS

A DEBATABLE ISSUE.

MAYOR MATTHEWS AGREED AND HE STATED THAT HE LOOKED FORWARD TO A DEBATE ON THIS ISSUE. HE ALSO COMMENTED THAT THOSE WHO LIKE TO CRITICIZED SHOULD VOLUNTEER SOME TIME TOWARDS IMPROVING THE CITY.

ORDINANCES

ORDINANCE DOMESTIC ANIMAL WASTE AND ITS REMOVAL (INTRODUCTION

PUBLIC HEARING /FIRST PASSAGE

COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN OPENED THE MEETING FOR PUBLIC HEARING THE BUDGET ORDINANCES.

PETE DEMEULE QUESTIONED THE QUARTERLY REPORT ON RECYCLABLE FOR JUNE 95-JUNE 96.

JOHN KUZMISKI RESPONDED.

DISCUSSION CONTINUED ON SOLID WASTE AND ITS RELATED COSTS.

SENATOR ISSA SPOKE ON BUDGET AND QUESTIONED $177,000 FROM SPECIAL REVENUES. HE STATED THAT EVENTUALLY SURPLUS WILL BE GONE. HE COMMENTED ON THE $100,000 USED FOR THE HOUSING PROGRAM AND THE $155,000 THAT WILL COME FROM THE SALE OF THE TWO MODULAR HOMES AFTER JULY 1, 1997. HE STATED THAT HE DIDN'T LIKE SPENDING MONEY ON SOMETHING WE'RE LOOSING.

MAYOR MATTHEWS RESPONDED TO THE CITY'S CONTRIBUTION TO PENSION LIABILITY FUND.

JOHN KUZMISKI COMMENTED ON THE CAPITAL PROGRAM ORDINANCE AND ITS RELATED FUNDING.

SENATOR ISSA COMMENTED ON THE WDC LEGAL COSTS.

JOSEPHINE MCLAUGHLIN COMMENTED ON BLUE CROSS EXPENSES FOR PERSONS NO LONGER WORKING FOR THE CITY.

SENATOR ISSA COMMENTED ON CHARGING THE SCHOOL DEPARTMENT FOR WASTE DISPOSAL.

MAYOR MATTHEWS COMMENTED.

PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED.

1. THE ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET

COMMITTEE REPORTS

COUNCILMAN NOURY COMMENTED ON THE BIDS RECEIVED AND THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COUNCIL TO HIRE THE AUDITOR. HE RECOMMENDED THAT THE COUNCIL AWARD A ONE YEAR CONTRACT TO L.H. FOX & ASSOC. AND MADE A MOTION FOR THIS AWARD WHICH WAS SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN AUNCHMAN.

MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.

OLD BUSINESS

NONE

NEW BUSINESS

COUNCILMAN FERRI COMMENTED ON THE F.O.P AND THE OUTSTANDING JOB.

ADJOURN

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

ALL AGREED. SO VOTED. TIME 11:20 P.M.

_____________________________________

ELIZABETH A. CROWLEY, CMC

ACTING CITY CLERK

INTERPRETERS FOR THE HEARING IMPAIRED AVAILABLE UPON 72 HOUR NOTICE MADE AT THE OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK