City of Central Falls
City Council Meeting
City Hall Council Chambers
MONDAY, February 26, 2007
6:00 p.m.
Swearing in of New City Council Members
Councilor-elect Eunice DeLaHoz and Councilor-elect Richard Aubin, Jr. were duly sworn into Office by Probate Judge Bruce Sawyer. Senator Issa and Mayor Moreau presented the newly sworn Council Members with Citations from the House and Senate.
Councilor De La Hoz
Councilor Aubin
Councilor Gil
Councilor Benson
Councilor Patino
Quorum Present.
Council President Pro Tempore Ricardo Patino led the Assembly in the Pledge of Allegiance.
Council President Pro Tempore Ricardo Patino stated that he is stepping down from the Pro Tempore position and has asked the City Clerk to Chair the meeting and to re-organize the Council.
City Clerk Elizabeth Crowley assumed the chair and opened the floor for nominations for City Council President.
Councilor Gil nominated Councilor Patino. Councilor Patino seconded the nomination.
Chairwoman Crowley called for other nominations.
Councilor De La Hoz nominated Councilor Benson. Councilor Aubin seconded the nomination.
Chairwoman Crowley called for other nominations. After three calls for nominations the Chair declared the nominations closed and called for a voted.
| Councilor De La Hoz | Councilor Benson |
| Councilor Gil | Councilor Patino |
| Councilor Aubin | Councilor Benson |
| Councilor Patino | Councilor Patino |
| Councilor Benson | Councilor Benson |
The Chair announced that Councilor Benson won the vote for Council President 3-2 and turned the Chair to the newly elected Council President Benson.
Council President Benson opened the floor for President Pro Tempore.
Councilor Aubin nominated Councilor Patino. Councilor Gil seconded the nomination.
Council President Benson, after three calls for nominations closed the nominations and asked the Clerk to cast one vote for Councilor Patino for President Pro Tempore.
Council President Benson congratulated Councilor Patino on his election as President Pro Tempore and on behalf of the Council thanked Councilor Patino for doing a fine job and President Pro Tempore since taking over the President’s position since former President Jason Leger left the Council.
Council President Benson recessed the meeting at 6:35 p.m. on motion by Councilor Aubin and seconded by Councilor De La Hoz.
Meeting reconvened at 6:40 p.m.
Mayor Moreau congratulated the newly elected members of the Council and the newly elected City Council President. He asked to be heard since he has another meeting that he must be at.
He gave a brief overview of what’s happening in the City. He spoke on the preparations for the new construction to be started at the Community Center and the DPW. He also related that the fire alarm and sprinklers projects for City Buildings and schools are nearly complete and he stated that the City’s school children are much safer because of these improvements thanks to the voters who approved the bond. He stated that the City is on the verge of selling the water pipes for $1.1 million and that the
Pawtucket/Central Falls train station site, as a result of talks between the City of Pawtucket and the City of Central Falls and CVS, will see a new CVS on the site. He stated that there was a $300,000 surplus in the 2005/2006 Budget. He said that the City has provided more services, put more Central Falls residents to work, and have done so with a budget surplus. He said that he takes issue with the comments that the City can afford to pay $1million dollars towards the School expenses. He said the taxpayers cannot afford to add any additional expenses to its budget and that the City does support its Schools to the tune of at least $4 million dollars per year in the form of Police Support, Fire Support as well as in the maintenance of the School buildings and that the City, with the approval of Governor Sundlun, have an agreement and the City will stick to that agreement. He stated that Senator Issa should not be calling for the City to add any more money to the School Budget. He asked the residents of the City to support his decisions in this matter.
Motion to draft a Resolution requesting the General Assembly not to support the Governor’s call to require the City of Central Falls to pay $1 million to the School Department’s Budget was made by Councilor DeLaHoz and seconded by Councilor Aubin. All Agreed. So Voted.
Seque Institute for Learning Charter School
Angelo Garcia and members of his staff gave a brief presentation on a proposed Charter School for middle school aged students. He stated that the City’s middle school is 40% overpopulated and that although he supports the City’s schools he is looking to assist parents in looking for alternatives in education for their children.
Motion to draft a Resolution in support of the Segue Charter School was made by Councilor Aubin and seconded by Councilor DeLaHoz. All Agreed. So Voted.
Liz Colon gave a brief overview on Lead Hazard classes.
Council President Benson recessed the meeting at 7:10 p.m. to the License Committee.
Meeting reconvened at 7:30 p.m.
A) Minutes
August 28, 2006; September 18, 2006; October 16, 2006; November 20, 2006; December 4, 2006
December 11, 2006 LC; December 11, 2006; December 18, 2006;December 29, 2006; January 8, 2007
B) Correspondences
A) Town of South Kingstown Resolution pertaining to School Housing Project Costs & Group.
B) Town of South Kingstown Resolution pertaining to Group Home Educational Funding.
C) Rhode Island Housing re: Reverse Mortgages
D) Central Falls Board of Canvassers re: February 13, 2007 Special Election results.
E) Elizabeth A. Crowley, MMC to Honorable Mayor James Doyle re: Resolution terminating the Pending relationship between the City Of Pawtucket Redevelopment Agency as it relates to Developing the site of the Pawtucket/Central Falls Train Station.
Elizabeth A. Crowley, MMC to Council President Mary Bray re: Resolution terminating the Pending relationship between the City Of Pawtucket Redevelopment Agency as it relates to Developing the site of the Pawtucket/Central Falls Train Station.
F) Town of Middletown re Resolution Arsenic in Soil.
G) Northern Rhode Island Conservation District
H) Rene R. Coutu, Chief CFFD re: Ordinance related to Specifications to enhance fire alarm
Communications and fire alarm systems in the older mill buildings.
C) City Officers Reports
a) Fire Department Reports November, December & January
b) Recreation Department January
c) Municipal Court Report December & January
d) General Fund Expenditures Report January
e) Police Department December & January
f) 2006 Annual Police Department
g) City Clerk Report (January)
D) Licenses
1. Tierras Mexicanas-500-502 Roosevelt Avenue
2. Village Pizza Inc.-650 Dexter St.
3. Elegancia Unisex II – 1101 Lonsdale Ave.
4. Nail Designs-1328 Broad St.
5. Curiocidades El Rey-777 Broad St.
6. Cabo Verde Na Top-844 Lonsdale Ave.
7. Kitchenguys Inc.-416 Roosevelt Ave.
E) Condolence Resolutions
To the Family of the Late Daniel J. Garvey
To the Family of the Late Thomas Martel
To the Family of the Late Ramonde Sackal
Motion to accept collectively and place on file was made by Councilor Aubin and seconded by Councilor Gil. All Agreed. So Voted.
Planning Commission
Len Ryszkiewicz
27 Clifton St.
Term to expire Jan. 2010
Mr. Rysckiewicz was present.
Motion to approve was made by Councilor Patino and seconded by Councilor Aubin.
All Agreed. So Voted.
Wayne D. Brown, City Assessor
See list
Motion to table the abatements related to the Charter School was made by Councilor Patino and seconded by Councilor Gil. All Agreed. So Voted.
Motion to approve the remainder of the abatements was made by Councilor Aubin and seconded by Councilor Gil. All Agreed. So Voted.
Prescott, Chatellier, Fontain, Wilkinson. LLP
Basic Financial Statements Ending June 30, 2006
Alliance Benefit Group
A) Police & Fire Pension Plan (John Hancock) 7/1/2006
B) Police & Fire Pension Plan (1% Pension Plan) 7/1/2006
Motion to accept and place on file for future meeting was made by Councilor Patino and seconded by Councilor DeLaHoz. All Agreed. So Voted.
Chief Moran commented on the Council Agenda deliveries.
Councilor Aubin stepped down from his seat to update the activities of the Boy Scouts.
Councilor Gil commented that in future perhaps Councilor Aubin could get another member to update the troop to update the Council.
A) Resolution Requesting the General Assembly ratify and validate the changes approved by the Voters to its Home Rule Charter.
Motion to approve was made by Councilor Patino and seconded by Councilor DeLaHoz and Councilor Gil. All Agreed. So Voted.
B) Resolution Charging the Cost of Acquiring Certain Equipment to the City’s Emergency Equipment Replacement Reservation Fund.
Motion to approve was made by Councilor Patino and seconded by Councilor Gil. All Agreed. So Voted.
C) Authorizing an Increase in monthly pension benefits to retired firefighters.
D) Authorizing a Deposit to the City’s Private Pension Plan in order to meet the required Minimum operating level in the immediate participation guarantee (IPG) Fund.
Motion to approve items C & D collectively was made by Councilor Patino and seconded by Councilor Gil. All Agreed. So Voted.
E) Resolution in recognition of the Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center 20 years of Service to The Community. Council President Pro Tempore Patino
Motion to approve was made by Councilor Patino and seconded by Councilor Gil and Councilor Aubin.
All Agreed. So Voted.
Constable Licenses
Paul F. Senra-Director of Code Enforcement
Eunice DeLaHoz-City Councilor
Richard Aubin-City Councilor
Motion to approve collectively was made by Councilor Patino and seconded by Councilor Gil.
Councilor Aubin recused himself from voting on Constable Licenses.
Councilor DeLaHoz abstained from voting on her license.
The licenses were approve by majority.
Private Detective License renewal
William H. Haslam
773 Lonsdale Ave.
Council President Benson noted for the record that he has held a PI License since 1984 and that there is no competition between his business and this license application and that despite the interest described above in RIGL 36-14-6(I) he can objectively and in the public interest act on the this matter.
Motion to approve was made by Councilor Aubin and seconded by Councilor DeLaHoz. All Agreed.
So voted.
Asociacion Libre Mexicana de Rhode Island
765 Broad St.
Parade – Celebrating Mexican Independence Day-September 15, 2007
(see attached Memo Chief Moran)
Motion to approve subject to 2 detail officers at the parade and 2 detail officers at the Knights of Columbus was made by Councilor Patino and seconded by Councilor Gil. All Agreed. So Voted.
Holy Spirit Catholic Community
30 week club – ending September 29, 2007
Motion to approve was made by Councilor Aubin and seconded by Councilor DeLaHoz. All Agreed. So Voted.
None
The City Council President made the following Committee appointments.
Claims Committee-Luis Gil
Finance Committee-Eunice DeLaHoz
Ordinance/License Committee-Richard Aubin
Public Safety Committee-William Benson
Motion to adjourn was made by Councilor Aubin and seconded by Councilor Gil. All Agreed. So Voted.
Elizabeth A. Crowley, MMC
City Clerk