City of Central Falls
Special City Council Meeting
City Hall Council Chambers
Thursday, July 11, 2002
Following Liquor Board (6:00 p.m.)
A Special meeting of the Central Falls City Council was held on the above date in the City Hall Council chambers at 8:00 p.m.
Councilman Issa
Councilman Patino
Councilman Weber
Councilman Noury arrived later in the meeting.
Quorum present.
Council President Robert F. Weber, Jr. presided and led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.
City Clerk Elizabeth A. Crowley, CMC-to Municipal Court Judge Raymond P. Cooney Requesting attendance at July 9, 2002 Special Meeting.
Motion to accept and place on file was made by Councilman Patino and seconded by Councilman Issa.
All Agreed. So Voted.
Council President Weber explained that when Judge Cooney received the letter he immediately called and related to the Council President that he would be out of town and unavailable. The Council President stated that this would be postponed until early August.
Council President Weber opened the meeting to the public.
Councilman Patino stated that he is disturbed to learn that comments were made regarding the Municipal Court without the benefit of public input or notice. He stated that the business of the Council should remain in the Chambers in a public forum and that no one should take the leadership outside the Chambers.
Councilman Noury asked if Councilman Patino is referring to a call made to the Judge. He stated that since the Executive Session he was under the impression that the Court would remain status quo until such time as the Committee regarding the Court came back to the Council with recommendations. He stated that nothing should be done until that time and that the Council President has no authority or special powers as Council President.
Matthew Oliverio, Assistant Solicitor cautioned the Council not to referred to the Executive Session since the body has sealed the minutes and that information or discussion regarding should not be discussed in public.
Council President Weber responded that he took no authority as Council President when he spoke to Judge Cooney. He stated that he simply related or informed the Judge that public opinion and civic leaders and citizens stated their concerns to him relative to the issue of the Judge not issuing warrants and that he advised him to issue the warrants until such time as the committee came back with recommendations to the contrary.
Councilman Noury stated that the Council President had no authority to say or recommend this to the Judge and that he had a discussion with him regarding this issue. He stated that the Council President is not empowered with special powers and that the Council President overstepped his authority when he ordered the Judge to issue warrants.
Council President Weber responded that he did not order the Judge to issue warrants but simply recommended that he sign the warrants.
Councilman Patino stated that Councilman Noury is no longer City Council President and that if he had Comments to make that he should have called for a special meeting to allow all the members to meet and discuss the issue publicly. He stated that he did not want any further discussions until the Committee meets on the issue.
Councilman Noury repeated that no additional powers are bestowed on the president other than that he is the facilitator for meetings but that it is the will of the Council.
Council President Weber repeated that he did not pressure the Judge nor did he overstep his authority on anything.
Licenses
Retail Sales License
Lola Araujo
D/b/a Bladez Nutrition
726 Dexter St.
Motion to approve was made by Councilman Patino and seconded by Councilman Noury.
All Agreed. So Voted.
Joseph G. Miller, Esq. for his client Roxanna Morales a/k/a Alba Morales for injuries sustained on 9/10/97 while playing soccer for the CFHS Soccer Team at a game in Johnston, R.I. ($100,000)
Motion to refer to the Claims Committee was made by Councilman Noury and seconded by Councilman Issa. All Agreed. So Voted.
Matthew Oliverio stated that he would like to thank and recognize the City Clerk, Elizabeth Crowley on a job well down with regards to the Municipal Court Committee. He stated that she assembled a report of all the meetings and highlighted the issues relative to the Court for recommendation.
Councilman Noury asked the Solicitor regarding the ability of the Council to act on issues regarding the Judge.
Mr. Oliverio stated that the Committee will give a report soon and that they were scheduled to have one more meeting to finalize the recommendations to the Council. He stated that the Committee will send a complete package to the Council.
Motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Issa and seconded by Councilman Noury. All agreed.
So voted. Time 8:22 p.m.
_______________________________
Elizabeth A. Crowley CMC
City Clerk