CITY OF CENTRAL FALLS
CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS & WORKSHOPS
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
WEDNESDAY, MAY 27, 1998
AT 6:30 PM
A MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL WAS HELD ON THE ABOVE DATE IN THE CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS AT 6:40 P.M.
COUNCILMAN NOURY (arrived later in the meeting)
COUNCILMAN FERRI
COUNCILMAN WEBER
COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU
COUNCILMAN CANAVAN
QUORUM PRESENT.
LUBELIA VALEVA
D/B/A NATURAL HEALTH FOOD STORE
858 BROAD ST
MOTION TO APPROVE WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN WEBER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU AND COUNCILMAN FERRI.
| COUNCILMAN FERRI | YES |
| COUNCILMAN WEBER | YES |
| COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU | YES |
| COUNCILMAN CANAVAN | YES |
MOTION CARRIED 4 YES 0 NO 1 ABSENT.
PROGRESSO LATINO/MAY 30, 1998 10 AM -4 PM BOOTHS, MUSIC/ SPRING HEALTH FAIR CONTACT PERSON PATRICIA MARTINEZ.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN QUESTIONED THE AMPLIFICATION OF THE MUSIC. HE ASKED THEM TO KEEP THE MUSIC DOWN. RAIN DATE FOR THIS EVENT TO BE JUNE 6.
MOTION TO APPROVE WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN FERRI AND SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU.
| COUNCILMAN NOURY | YES |
| COUNCILMAN FERRI | YES |
| COUNCILMAN WEBER | YES |
| COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU | YES |
| COUNCILMAN CANAVAN | YES |
MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO MAKE APPLICATION FOR THE R I NATURAL HERITAGE PRESERVATION COMMISSION OPEN SPACE GRANT PROGRAM
PUBLIC HEARING OPENED. NO COMMENTS. PUBLIC HEARING CLOSED.
MOTION TO APPROVE WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN WEBER AND SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU AND COUNCILMAN FERRI.
| COUNCILMAN NOURY | YES |
| COUNCILMAN FERRI | YES |
| COUNCILMAN WEBER | YES |
| COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU | YES |
| COUNCILMAN CANAVAN | YES |
MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.
AMENDING CHAPTER 4 SECTION 4 OF THE REVISED ORDINANCES ENTITLED "MAXIMUM NUMB ER OF LICENSES FIXED"
MOTION TO APPROVE WAS MADE BY COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WEBER.
| COUNCILMAN NOURY | YES |
| COUNCILMAN FERRI | YES |
| COUNCILMAN WEBER | YES |
| COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU | YES |
| COUNCILMAN CANAVAN | YES |
MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.
BRADFORD SOUTHWORTH/PERSONNEL RE: RETIREMENT OF LT. PAUL ST. GEORGE, CFFD AND CAPTAIN DOUGLAS MCDIARMID, CFPD.
MOTION TO ACCEPT AND PLACE ON FILE WAS MADE BY COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FERRI. ALL AGREED. SO VOTED.
CORRESPONDENCE FROM EDMOND MINOR, CHAIRMAN PENSIONS & RETIREMENT LT.
PAUL ST. GEORGE, (FIRE DEPT.) AND CAPTAIN DOUGLAS MCDIARMID, ARE BOTH SEEKING DISABILITY PENSIONS.
MOTION TO APPROVE THE RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE BOARD OF PENSIONS AND RETIREMENT COLLECTIVELY WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN FERRI AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN WEBER AND COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU.
| COUNCILMAN NOURY | YES |
| COUNCILMAN FERRI | YES |
| COUNCILMAN WEBER | YES |
| COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU | YES |
| COUNCILMAN CANAVAN | YES |
MOTION CARRIED 5 YES 0 NO 0 ABSENT.
COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU COMMENDED BOTH FOR THEIR DEDICATED CITY SERVICE.
COUNCILMAN WEBER STATED THAT THESE TWO GENTLEMEN TRULY SERVED THEIR DEPARTMENTS AND THE CITY WITH A TRUE SENSE OF DUTY.
COUNCILMAN FERRI WISHED EACH EVERY FUTURE SUCCESS.
COUNCILMAN WEBER DUE TO A FAMILY THEN LEFT THE MEETING.
MAYOR MATTHEWS READ HIS BUDGET MESSAGE.
INTRODUCTION OF THE BUDGET ORDINANCES SO INTRODUCED BY THE COUNCIL PRESIDENT.
1. THE ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET ORDINANCE - GENERAL FUND
2. THE ANNUAL CAPITAL BUDGET
3. THE ANNUAL CAPITAL PROGRAM
4. SALARIES FOR POLICE OFFICERS AND FIREFIGHTERS
5. AMENDING WAGE SCHEDULE GENERALLY
6. 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, AS AMENDED
8. TRANSFERRING CERTAIN FUNDS IN THE FY 1997-1998 BUDGET - COLLECTIVE BARGAINING
9. TRANSFERRING CERTAIN FUNDS IN THE FY 1997-1998 BUDGET- GENERALLY
IN HIS BUDGET MESSAGE THE MAYOR STATED THAT THE CURRENT REVENUES ARE IN EXCESS OF EXPENDITURES IN THIS BUDGET. HE ALSO REPORTED THAT THERE WILL BE NO TAX RATE INCREASE AND TAXES WILL REMAIN THE SAME.
COUNCIL MEMBERS BEGAN THEIR QUESTIONS RELATIVE TO THE NEW BUDGET EXPENDITURES.
COUNCILMAN NOURY SUGGESTED THAT THE COUNCIL WORK FROM THE WORKSHEET ON PAGE 15 AND COMMENTED ON CONTINGENCIES FOR NEXT YEAR. MORE SPECIFICALLY LEGAL CONTINGENCIES IN THE AMOUNT OF $245,000. HE SUGGESTED AN EXECUTIVE SESSION. ALSO QUESTIONED WERE MAJOR PURCHASES ON PAGE 16. THE FINANCE DIRECTOR EXPLAINED THE EXPENSES IN DETAIL.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN EXPRESSED THE NEED FOR AIR CONDITIONING THE CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS. HE STATED THAT HE WOULD LIKE TO SEE SCHOOL RESERVES INCREASED BY $100,000.00
MOTION TO RECESS TO EXECUTIVE SESSION UNDER EXEMPTION #2 LITIGATION WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN NOURY AND SECONDED BY COUNCILWOMAN MOREAU. TIME 7:15P.M.
DOUG HADDEN, TIMES REPORTED OBJECTED FOR THE RECORD.
PENDING SUITS UPDATED
PAWTUCKET WATER SUPPLY
WDC
FIRE ARBITRATION
BESSETTE ETALS
MEETING RECONVENED AT 7:30 P.M.
COUNCILMAN NOURY FOR THE RECORD STATED THAT WHAT WAS DISCUSSED IN EXECUTIVE SESSION COULD HURT THE CITY IF DISCUSSED OPENLY ALSO THE CHAIR NOTED MR. HADDEN'S OBJECTION BUT STATED THAT HE BELIEVE'S THE COUNCIL CAN MOVE TO EXECUTIVE SESSION AT ANY TIME IT CHOOSES.
COUNCILMAN NOURY QUESTIONED THE FINANCE DIRECTOR ON THE TAX COLLECTION RATES. THE FINANCE DIRECTOR RESPONDED THAT THE RATE CHANGES EVERY YEAR. HE FURTHER EXPLAINED HOW HE DERIVED AT THIS YEAR'S FIGURES. HE ALSO EXPLAINED SOME OF THE METHODS USED TO INCREASE THE TAX REVENUES.
COUNCILMAN NOURY QUESTIONED INVESTMENT INTEREST. THE FINANCE DIRECTOR EXPLAINED INTEREST RATE INCREASES AND THE PRESENT ECONOMIC TREND.
COUNCIL PRESIDENT CANAVAN QUESTIONED BONDS FOR SCHOOLS.
COUNCILMAN NOURY STATED THAT THIS IS A 150% INCREASE OVER LAST BUDGET.
MAYOR MATTHEWS STATED THAT HE IS COMFORTABLE WITH THE NUMBERS AND THE BELIEF THAT THINGS WOULD REMAIN STEADY.
DISCUSSION ENSUED ON BONDS AND INTEREST.
COUNCIL MEMBERS QUESTIONED BUILDING PERMIT & ELECTRICAL FEES FOR THE SCHOOL PROJECT. THEY ASKED IF THE FEES ARE GOING TO BE WAIVED.
MAYOR MATTHEWS STATED THAT NO DISCUSSION WAS MADE TO THAT EFFECT.
THE FINANCE DIRECTOR FURTHER EXPLAINED THE EXPECTED REVENUES.
COUNCIL MEMBERS FURTHER QUESTIONED REVENUES.
MOTION TO ADJOURN WAS MADE BY COUNCILMAN NOURY AND SECONDED BY COUNCILMAN FERRI. ALL AGREED. SO VOTED. TIME 9:00 P.M.
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MARIE TWOHEY, ACTING DEPUTY CLERK