City of Central Falls
Regular City Council Meeting
City Hall Council Chambers
Monday, September 17, 2001
at 6:00 p.m.
A meeting of the Central Falls City Council was held on the above date in the City Hall Council Chambers at 6:15pm.
Councilman Lazieh --Present
Councilman Robichaud-- absent
Councilman Leger--Present
Councilman Noury--Present
Quorum present.
2(A) Moment of Silence in Prayer, Remembrance & Healing for the Victims, Family & the United States in the tragic and horrendous terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City, the Pentagon in Washington DC and the plane crash in Pittsburg.
Council President Noury presided and led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Councilman Noury asked if there were no objections from the Council he would like to go directly to item #3.
Motion made by Councilman by Mr. Leger , seconded by Councilwoman Canavan and Councilman Lazieh to go into executive Session.
Roll call: 4-0 All agreed. So voted.
6:20 pm Council went into Executive Session
A) Pursuant to 42-46-5.4 investigative proceeding regarding allegation of civil or criminal misconduct relative to Municipal Court employee.
B) Pursuant to 42-46-5.1 discussion of health related issues pertaining to the disability retirement of Fire Department Captain John R. Beaulieu.
7:06 PM Council re-convened.
Motion to seal the Executive Session Minutes made by Councilman Leger and seconded by Councilwoman Canavan. All agreed. Motion carries 4-0.
A) Petition to address the Council-
Mr. Erani Schleiffer
Ronzio Pizza
1291 Broad St.
Regarding Broad Street Parking
Mr. Schleiffer was present and spoke of the problems of parking in and around his business establishment.
Councilman Leger and Councilwoman Canavan agreed to work with Mr. Schleiffer and the Warde Robe to resolve this situation.
Mr. Douglas Pendagrass commented on conditions in the city, referring to rubbish removal. He also complained about the services provided by the Law Department.
Special Meeting May 30, 2001
Special Meeting June 4, 2001
Workshop June 4, 2001
Special Meeting June 6, 2001
Workshop June 6, 2001 Tabled August 20, 2001
Special Meeting June 8, 2001
Regular Meeting June 11, 2001
Special Meeting June 13, 2001
Workshop June 13, 2001
Special Meeting June 18, 2001
Council Workshop May 30, 2001
Special Meeting June 4, 2001
Council Workshop June 4, 2001
Special Meeting May 30, 2001 Tabled July 18, 2001
Special Meeting June 6, 2001
Council Workshop June 6, 2001
Special Meeting June 28, 2001
Special City Council Meeting July 18, 2001
Regular City Council Meeting August 20, 2001
A motion to approve minutes was made by Councilman Leger collectively, seconded by Councilwoman Canavan.
4-0 Motion carries.
A) Councilman Thomas Lazieh to City Solicitor Briden re: Correspondences regarding legal opinions.
B) Councilman Lazieh to Mayor Matthews, James Briden & Merrick Cook regarding 969 Lonsdale Ave.
C) Commission on Reapportionment re: Schedule of Public Meetings.
D) City Clerk Elizabeth Crowley to Captain Beaulieu, Muriel Lanfredi, Esq, Luis Auto Repair, K B Motors, M & M Auto Repair, Mr. Brian Auto Repair.
A motion to accept all correspondence and place on file was made by Councilman Leger seconded by Councilwoman Canavan.
4-0 Motion carries.
A) Board of Pension & Retirements re: Disability Retirement Captain John R. Beaulieu.
Motion to approve a disability retirement for Captain John R. Beaulieu made by Councilman Leger, seconded by Councilwoman Canavan, based on opinion of retirement board and personnel specialist.
All agreed. 4-0 Motion carries.
A) Code Enforcement- July 2001
B) Police Report-August 2001
A motion to accept the reports and place on file was made by Councilman Leger seconded by Councilwoman Canavan.
All agreed. Approved 4-0 Motion carries.
William Haslam
D/b/a Ace Detective Agency
773 Lonsdale Avenue
Motion to approve made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilwoman Canavan.
All agreed. Motion Carried. 4-0
Marie A. Twohey, Deputy City Clerk
35 Forestdale Ave.
Cumberland, R.I.
Motion to approve made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilman Leger.
All agreed. Motion carried. 4-0
Luis M. Irizarry
126 Summer St.
Central Falls R.I. (peddle new clothes & accessories)
Motion to table until the applicant is present made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilman Leger.
All agreed. Motion carried 4 -0
Waterfalls Car Wash Inc.
1325 Broad St.
Motion made by Councilman Lazieh to approve, seconded by Councilman Leger.
All agreed. Motion . 4-0
Sakhan Yin
d/b/a Nail Designs
1306 Broad St.
Motion to approve made by Councilman Leger , seconded by Councilwoman Canavan.
All approved.- So voted. 4-0
Jason Faria
d/b/a Galeria De Lorell
753-757 Broad St.
Motion to table until the applicant is present made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilman Leger.
All agreed. Motion carried 4-
Councilman Lazieh made a motion to remove from the table Electric bill issues back to the table, and had Mr. Beardsly present, Director of R I League of Cities and Towns and to let him give a presentation.
Councilman Noury asked to suspend the rest of the agenda until later on.
Mr. Beardsly was present
All approved. So voted. 4-0.
(A) Luis Auto Repair
Mr. Brian Auto Repair
M & M Auto Repair
96 Blackstone Street
All business owners were present for questioning.
All applicants were notified.
Mr. Leger stated that this issue has been at hand for a least the last year. Mr. George Dumont the Code Officer was present.
Mr. Leger stated that the problems that exist is car overflow, illegal parking, noise, amount of traffic created, kids that congregate over there under bridge.
Mr. Dumont was present and gave a report. He stated there were 47 vehicles on the lot, sometimes there is trouble getting through the tunnel. He is just doing a follow up started by Donald Houle.
Mr. Dumont recommended that they should be brought into compliance. He asked the owner to paint a line down between all the businesses. Based on the land they are allowed about 20 vehicles all together. Councilman Noury asked Mr. Dumont when was the last time they were in front of the council.
Mr. Dumont passed out a paper to show the current violations.
Councilman Leger asked if they were allowed to store unregistered vehicles. Mr. Dumont said no.
More discussion took place about the involvement of the Police Department.
More discussion took place on who belong to which cars.
Mr. Noury asked all three Licensees to come before them: M & M, Mr. Brian, Mr. Luis Auto.
There was a translator present.
Discussion took place on which the cars belong to.
In the lot outside the building, there are too many cars- not in compliance with the zoning decision.
Mr. Leger stated that he has been very patience with this situation. They all blamed the owner of the building that he was suppose to paint the dividing lines.
The City Solicitior stated the City had the right to fine each business owner could be fined on zoning violations of $500.00 per offense. The Licensing Board can revoke the license. They all need to learn to be good neighbors.
Mr. Leger also asked Mr. Dumont to take any zoning action he could enforce.
Mr. Lazieh the Building Official reviews the file to see what the special exceptions are and special exceptions are. Please explain to them what is allowed and what is not allowed. The owner of the property must take a more aggressive stand on what he is allowed to do. A zoning decision is granted to the property not to each person.
Mr. Leger stated that it is Mr. Dumont’s responsibility to oversee the entire property, not each individual business. It is up to each individual business to keep up their part of the property. Many complaints are being received about people parking under the underpass. The police and fire department could not get through in case of an emergency.
Councilman Noury asked all of the Businesses present to come back on October 22, 2001.
(B) Krikor Bedrosian
257 Hunt St.
Mr. Bedrosian was present.
Councilman Noury asked Mr. Dumont for a report on this business.
Mr. Dumont said he measured the property, and took some pictures dated 9/7/2001. The total amount of footage of 10,800 sq. feet, and he was very generous with that amount. He is allowed 25 vehicles, this day he counted 58, plus various parts thereof, not including what was inside. Also, he was cited for a retaining wall that was falling.
Mr. Leger confirmed the report of Mr. Dumont , and stated that was the type of complaints that he was receiving. Also, the over growth is a problem.
Mr. Noury asked Mr. Bedrosian what his response was.
Mr. Bedrosian stated that the entire summer they closed at 6:00pm. , they also cut some trees. He realizes that there is still some cleaning that needs to be done. He would like the opportunity to get an attorney.
Mr. Noury stated they must do weekly maintenance. A residential area surrounds them. He must be sensitive to that.
Mr. Leger stated there should be no cars on sidewalk.
Mr. Bedrosian stated he has been their 9 years.
More discussion took place about the wall.
Mr. Bedrosian said he would not be able to repair the wall in 30 days.
Mr. Lazieh discussed storage of vehicles with Mr. Bedrosian.
Mr. Dumont said that the wall is becoming undermined, and is dangerous and should be repaired.
Chairman Noury asked for a 5-minute recess.
Hector Solis
d/b/a Muffler’s Unlimited
759-769 High St.
He was notified by the Legal to appear and answer why his license should not be revoked. He is in violation of zoning and building code violations. He has not repaired wall. This was continued from a previous council hearing of September, of 2000. It was previous continued because his council had an injury.
Muriel Lanfretti, from Lovette & Lovette was present to represent Mr. Solis. She stated that they have been trying to sign a contract with a construction company. She stated that they have a contract. (she submitted a copy).
More discussion took place on Mr. Solis’s previous attempts to do repairs.
Councilman Noury questioned the Building Official Mr. Dumont on the conditions of the zoning decision.
Mr. Dumont named other items that were included in this decision. The primary concern was the wall and the fence. He also stated that until this date nothing to the wall has been done.
Mrs. Lanfretti said she was not prepared to respond to this.
Councilman Noury stated this has been going on for 3 years, one extension after another. This Council has been very patience with Mr. Solis.
Councilman Noury spoke of the abutters in this area has been constantly complaining.
Councilman Leger asked how much longer must the residents to wait for relief.
The City Council took a 3 minute recess.
Meeting reconvened .
Councilman Noury spoke of the stipulation of the Zoning decision. Items listed A through D.
Discussion took place on contract that was presented.
Matt Oliverio stated the contract was very vague.
Mr. Dumont stated he had not issued a permit for this wall, he is not sure it is in compliance with the building code until he receives some plans. He stated the entire wall must come down. The contractors will have to go on the abutting property to install the wall.
Councilman Noury turned the chair over to councilwoman Canavan.
Councilman Noury made a motion to revoke the license of Hector Solis d/b/a Mufflers Unlimited without prejudice. Seconded by Councilman Leger.
If he completes the work he can re-petition the council for a new license.
Councilman Lazieh asked if work is completed the Council could accommodate him with a Council meeting at the sooner possible date.
Councilman Noury stated that item C has been violated many times.
Motion carries 4-0 to revoke the license.
Councilman Leger commended Anthony Tager on Playground repairs.
Councilman Lazieh questioned the authorization of transfer of City Property with out the Council permission. Is it the Council’s Power. Law department agreed to research for next meeting.
Motion to adjourn made by Councilman Leger, seconded Councilman Lazieh, all agreed . So voted. 4-0
Interpreters for the Hearing-Impaired Available upon 72 hour request made at the Office of the City Clerk.
This Notice Posted in the City Hall and Library on: 1/30/02 10:13 AM
Sincerely,
_________________________________
Marie A. Twohey,Deputy City Clerk