October 25, 2002 - Special City Council Meeting

City of Central Falls

Special City Council Meeting

City Hall Council Chambers

Friday, October 25, 2002 at 4:00 p.m.

A Special meeting of the Central Falls City Council was held on the above date in the City Hall Council Chambers at 4:02 p.m.

1. Roll Call

All members were present.

2. Pledge of Allegiance

Council President Robert F. Weber presided and led the assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.

3. License

Class C (new)

Marianela Nunez

            D/b/a Carlos Market

            874 Dexter St.

Motion to approve was made by Councilman Leger and Councilman Patino seconded by Councilman Issa.  All Approved. So Voted.

4. Correspondence

Board of Pensions & Retirements-Re: Pension Firefighter Private First Class Thomas Gamache.

Auditor General added to agenda by unanimous consent.

5. Executive Session

A) Pursuant to RIGL 42-46-5(a)(1) relative to a pension based on years of service for Firefighter Private First Class Thomas Gamache Health related issue.

The firefighters union requested that action be delayed on this issue.

Motion to table was made by Councilman Leger and seconded by Councilman Issa.  All Agreed. So Voted.

B) Pursuant to RIGL 42-45-2 pertaining to litigation-Central Falls Detention Facility Corporation.

6. Retirement

Private First Class Thomas Gamache.

Tabled per request of Union see Item 5a.

7. Resolution

A. Resolution In Support of Legal Action against the Central Falls Detention Facility Corporation.

Without objection Council President Weber moved the agenda to item number 9 to allow for public comments before voting on this Resolution.

8. License

General Service License (new)

Waterfalls Carwash Inc.

Edmund Shabo, President

D/b/a Waterfalls Carwash

1325 Broad St.

Motion to table to November 18, 2002 was made by Councilman Leger and seconded by Councilman Issa.  All Agreed. So Voted.

9. Public Comments

Mr. John Thomas of 366 High Street commented on the Resolution and stated as a matter of fact that the Wyatt sends a significant amount of money to City as well as being one of the largest employers in the City. He stated that the facility has been a good neighbor for the past 10 years. He said it supports the Community and has provided leadership.

Mr. Terry Higgins, Manager of Human Resources at the Facility commented on the Wyatt and the plans for expansion. He said it was a good opportunity to increase personnel as well as increase revenues to the City. He said that to pursue a lawsuit would hurt more than it would help.

Councilman Noury questioned Mr. Higgins.

Council President Weber stated that elected officials need to have input in the decision making process. He  invited the Board to come to a meeting in order to come to some agreement on this situation.

Mr. Anthony Johnson, an employee of the facility, commented on the Osram situation and how this will affect the City. He spoke of the Wyatt facility as being a business that has and will continue to contribute to the Community and what that means to the taxpayers of the City.

Al Romanowicz, Chairman of the Detention Facility Board commented on the pending negotiations with the Marshall service and the process that the Board has been through regarding this issue. He stated that speaking for himself he would have no problem giving the Council and Mayor as much information as they needed regarding this proposal.

Councilman Noury asked the Chairman not to proceed or move forward with this issue until the Council and Board could come together.

Chairman Romanowicz commented and invited the Council to a meeting of the Board on Tuesday at 6:30 at the Wyatt.

Councilman Noury questioned the per diem issue and the expansion issue.

Council President Weber closed the public comments.

Councilman Noury stated that the issues are different than the 1994 lawsuit. He said that the Council and the Administration has a need to know what it the responsibility of the City’s elected Officials in the matter of expansion and how broad are the responsibilities of the Quasi-Public Board.  He said that there are differing Attorney opinions regarding the issue and that the Council must protect the City in the future regarding other possible issues dealing with the facility.

Council President Weber stated that the day to day operation of the facility is not in question.  He said that Council must have an answer as to what responsibility the Elected Officials have regarding any expansion of the facility.

Councilman Patino stated that the Elected Officials must answer to the residents of the City and make their feeling known to the facility. He stated that if the Council and Administration have no voice in the issue then the residents have no voice. This is the question that must be answered.

Motion to approve the Resolution as presented, provided that no lawsuit is introduced before November 5, 2002 was made by Councilman Noury and seconded by Councilman Leger.

Motion carried 5 yes 0 no 0 absent.

Council President Weber stated that the City Council will meet and invited the members of the Detention Facility Board at a Special Meeting of the Council to be held on November 4, 2002 at 6:45 p.m.

10. Unfinished Business

None

11. New Business

None

12. Adjourn

Motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Leger and seconded by Councilman Issa.  All Agreed. So Voted.

Interpreters for the Hearing-Impaired available upon 72-hour request made at the Office of the City Clerk.

______________________________

Elizabeth A. Crowley, CMC

City Clerk