CITY OF CENTAL FALLS
REGULAR CITY COUNCIL MEETING
CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBERS
MONDAY, JANUARY 10, 2000
AT 7:00 P.M.
A meeting of the Central Falls City Council was held on the above date in the City Hall Council Chambers at 7:00 p.m.
Councilman Leger
Councilwoman Canavan
Councilman Lazieh
Councilman Robichaud
Councilman Noury
Quorum present.
Council President Gene R. Noury presided and led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Councilman Lazieh commented on the Rules of the Council and stated that the one provided is antiquated and in need of revision. He stated that the Council should adopt Roberts Rules with the provision that the Council President controls the chambers.
Motion to this was made by Councilman Lazieh and seconded by Councilman Leger.
Councilman Robichaud commented on the makeup of the Agenda.
Council President Noury commented on the issue.
Councilman Lazieh responded that the clerk is responsible for the minutes under the authority of the Charter and is the Official record keeper for the Council. The Council establishes the agenda and determines actions as ordained by the Council.
Councilwoman Canavan stated that the Council President conducts the meeting and she sees no problem with that but that she noted that the Mayor's Comments are in the beginning of the meeting but she hoped { that whenever she has questions of the Mayor he would be allowed to interject on discussions relative to issues.} Amended to: that anytime the Mayor wished to speak regarding the subject, on hand, he would be allowed the courtesy to be heard. (Charter Section 2-204).
Council President Noury stated that he would allow the Mayor to comment when necessary to the discussion.
Councilman Robichaud commented.
Council President Noury explained procedures.
Councilman Lazieh stated that there is ample opportunity for the Mayor to address any issue before the Council within the framework of the agenda. He stated that the Mayor could address during Public Comments, with a petition or in the form of a correspondence.
Council President Noury stated that the Mayor does have ample opportunity to address the Council.
Councilman Leger stated that the motion should also state that the Council President Controls the Chambers and sets the Agenda and moved to amend the motion. Councilman Lazieh seconded.
All agreed. So Voted to amend the motion as stated above. On the motion all agreed. So Voted.
Council President Noury instructed Council Members that he wishes that all agenda items be placed with the Clerk no later than noon on the Thursday before the meeting.
Councilman Lazieh asked about emergencies.
Council President Noury commented on Congratulatory Resolutions, City Officers reports and routine correspondences and license requests.
Organizational Meeting January 3, 2000
Motion was made by Councilwoman Canavan and seconded by Councilman Robichaud to accept and place on file. All Agreed. So Voted.
None
None
Councilman Leger stated that he was disappointed that the Mayor was not present at this time to address the Champlin Foundation grant.
(A) Town of Narragansett: Re: Resolution in support of a petition for stricter laws on drinking and Driving.
(B) Memo to Mayor Matthews:
1. Requesting as a Courtesy by Councilman Lazieh a list of Department Heads.
2. Requesting the Mayor to appear at the Council Meeting to give the status of the most recent Champlin Foundation Grant relative to Recreation.
(C) Mayor Lee M. Matthews: Re: Department Heads
(D) Residents of Clifton St. to Mayor Matthews: Re: New Business Licensing
Motion to accept collectively and place on file was made by Councilman Lazieh and seconded by Councilman Leger. All agreed. So Voted.
Councilwoman Canavan motioned and Councilman Leger & Robichaud seconded that the City Council signs the petition from the students for stricter drinking and driving laws.
Councilman Lazieh questioned the correspondence regarding the Clifton Street Residents.
Council President Noury read the letter.
Police Department Report; Municipal Court Report and the Monthly Expense & Revenue report.
Motion to accept collectively and place on file was made by Councilman Robichaud and seconded by Councilman Leger.
Councilman Lazieh asked that the Municipal Court Clerk adjust the report because it is cutting off some of the information.
Councilman Leger stated that he is alarmed that there are no fines for Minimum Housing Violations.
Councilwoman Canavan commented.
City Solicitor Briden stated that in prosecuting the Minimum Housing issues once served, all defendants effect repairs. He related that there were 103 cases and 89 were brought into compliance.
Luis F. Cardenas
D/b/a Luis Auto Repair
96 Blackstone St.
Applicant was not present.
Councilman Leger stated that he has some concerns relative to this license.
Motion to table was made by Councilman Leger. Seconded by Councilwoman Canavan. All Agreed. So voted.
Carmen D. Mota
D/b/a Uariedades Ebenezer
533 Broad St.
Motion to approve was made by Councilman Leger and seconded by Councilwoman Canavan. All Agreed. So Voted.
Kudirat Shode
D/b/a Nail & Design Co.
726 Dexter St.
Motion to approve was made by Councilman Leger and seconded by Councilwoman Canavan and Councilman Lazieh. All Agreed. So Voted.
Choice's Beauty Supply & Gift Store
771 Dexter St.
Motion to approve was made by Councilwoman Canavan and seconded by Councilman Robichaud. All agreed. So Voted.
Idalina Martins
D/b/a Blackstone Fashions & Gifts
625 Roosevelt Ave.
Council Members questioned the applicant.
Councilwoman Canavan questioned parking.
Councilman Leger stated that the applicant should keep the area clean.
Motion to approve was made by Councilman Lazieh and seconded by Councilman Robichaud. All Agreed. So Voted.
Maria L. Tavares
D/b/a Child Paradise Day Care Center
56 Brook St.
The City Clerk explained that she received correspondence from the Department of Youth and Families who have withdrawn their approval of this site because of the active liquor license.
Council President Noury questioned the Legal Department on the issue.
Applicant withdraws request.
Resolution in Support of Legislation Related to Residential Properties. (Requested by Councilman Ronald A. Robichaud, Jr.)
Councilman Robichaud explained the Resolution in detail.
Council President Noury opened the meeting for a Public Hearing, a member of the Press Stated that the Council President could not conduct a Public Hearing on the issue since it is Not listed on the Agenda that one would be held on this issue.
Council President Noury asked for a Legal Opinion.
James Briden, City Solicitor stated that the Council President could open the meeting for Public comments on the issue.
Councilwoman Canavan stated that she believes that there should be some amendments to the language .
Councilman Robichaud explained the Resolution and stated that this is to create a tool for the Code Enforcement to work with and this is just to allow enabling legislation for the Council to enact an Ordinance.
Councilwoman Canavan stated that the Council's responsibility is to legislate.
Motion to approve was made by Councilman Robichaud and seconded by Councilwoman Canavan. All Agreed. So Voted.
The next two Resolutions were not listed on the Agenda by Title but were noted as Resolutions As requested by Councilman Lazieh.
Council President Noury stated that this would be allowed for this meeting but cautioned the
Council Members to make every effort to make and submit these types of things prior to the Submission of the Agenda.
Resolution regarding Mayor aRusso. (Requested by Councilman Thomas Lazieh)
Motion to approve was made by Councilman Lazieh and seconded by Councilman Leger. All Agreed. So Voted.
Resolution regarding the Annual Audit. (Requested by Councilman Thomas Lazieh)
Councilwoman Canavan stated that she is not comfortable with acting on this type of Resolution without having had the opportunity to read it and research it.
Councilman Lazieh stated that he didn't want to put any Council member on the spot Relative to this issue and would place this on the next Council Agenda.
An Ordinance Amending Chapter 8 entitled "Animals" (at the Introduction of Councilman Ronald A. Robichaud, Jr.) So Introduced.
Councilman Lazieh asked that he be allowed to place on the Agenda the Introduction of Ordinances.
Discussion ensued.
Council President Noury ruled that the Ordinances should be introduced at the next meeting and asked the City Solicitor to rule as to whether the Ordinance could also receive first passage at the same time.
Solicitor Briden advised that in his opinion the open meeting law call for the introduction to be placed on the Agenda and that even if this is in error it is best to err on the side of caution.
Councilman Lazieh requested a legal opinion from the Solicitor relative to the issue.
Council President Noury stated to the member of the Council that this Council sits for two years and would have ample opportunity to enact various legislation. He asked the Solicitor to have his opinion ready for the next meeting.
Councilman Robichaud asked the Council President if he asked members of the Council to submit their requests prior to the issuance of the Agenda each month. He stated that if this is so then there is no need for this and there is no sense to continue.
Discussion continued.
Councilwoman Canavan stated that all items should be on the agenda and in the packet and that the Council should take up the Ordinances at the next meeting.
Councilman Robichaud stated that the introductions should be on the next agenda.
Councilman Leger stated that the Ordinance should be on the Agenda and asked the Council President to control other persons from interrupting.
Council President Noury stated that the introductions of Councilman Lazieh's Ordinances should be placed on the next Council Agenda.
Finance Committee -Councilman Leger, Chair and Councilman Lazieh
Police & Fire-Councilwoman Canavan, Chair and Councilman Lazieh
Claims Committee- Councilman Robichaud, Chair and the remaining 4 members of the Council.
Public Works- Councilman Leger, Chair and Councilman Robichaud
Councilman Lazieh related to the members of the Council that he has requested certain information from several Department as he is now submitting to the Council and asked them To join in this request as a body.
Council President Noury asked the clerk to provide copies of the request to the members of the Council and to send a memo to the Department Heads as requested by Councilman Lazieh.
Motion to adjourn was made by Councilwoman Canavan and seconded by Councilman Robichaud. All agreed. So Voted. Time 8:45 p.m.
_____________________________
Elizabeth A. Crowley, CMC
City Clerk