City of Central Falls
City Council Meeting
Central Falls City Hall
580 Broad St.
Central Falls, RI 02863
Monday, December 8, 2014
6:45 p.m.
Council President Robert Ferri called the Central Falls City Council meeting to order at 6:45 pm at the Central Falls Council Chambers.
1. Roll Call
Roll call was conducted by City Clerk, Sonia Grace. Present were Councilors Robert Ferri, Hugo Figueroa, Tammi Johnson, Shelby Maldonado, Ann Racquier, and Tia Ristaino-Siegel. Councilwoman Stephanie Gonzalez was excused.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
Pledge of Allegiance was dispensed with due its occurrence during the meeting of the Board of License Commissioners at 6pm.
3. Public Comment
Ms. Edna Poulin, 68 Notre Dame St.- thanked Director Elaine Partridge for following up on request pertaining to trash bin; congratulated City Solicitor Matthew Jerzyk and Councilwoman Shelby Maldonado for their new positions; requested information on the Fy2014 audit.
Mr. Thomas Lazieh, 1072 Lonsdale Ave.- asked several questions of the council pertaining to licenses on the Council meeting agenda and tax delinquency rate in the city. He also congratulated Councilwoman Maldonado.
4. Consideration of Tax Abatements- Submitted by Tax Assessor
| Property Owner | Tax Year | Property Information |
| Ab Enterprises LLC | 2014 | RE @ 583 Broad St; AP 1, Lot 146 |
| Ab Enterprises LLC | 2014 | RE @ 85 Cross St; AP 1, Lot 268 |
| Ab Enterprises LLC | 2014 | RE @ 85 Hawes St; AP 5, Lot 51 |
| Cardoso, Julio | 2014 | RE @ 871 Broad St; AP 2, Lot 14 |
| Dubois, Michael | 2014 | RE @ 112 Bagley St; AP 10, Lot 98 |
| Global Technology Incubators | 2014 | RE: 817 Dexter St; AP 6, Lot 295 |
| Vieira, Vital | 2014 | MV: 2001 Volvo PGX; Reg #422186 |
Motion to approve the tax abatements was made by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel, seconded by Councilman Figueroa and Councilwoman Racquier. Motion carried 6-0.
5. Receipt of department reports
a. City Clerk Department- Report for month of November 2014: Distribution Report
b. Department of Code Enforcement- Report for month of November 2014:Building Division Permits Issued, Complaints Report
c. Department of Planning & Economic Development- Report for the month of November 2014
d. Department of Public Works- Report for month of November 2014: Department Activity Report
e. Finance Department- November 2014 Expenditure Report
f. Human Resources Department- Report for the month of November 2014
g. Law Department- Report for month of November 2014: Monthly Council Report
h. Parks & Recreation- Report for the month of November 2014
i. Police Department- Report for month of November 2014: Monthly Council Report
Councilors asked questions of several department directors pertaining to their monthly reports.
Motion to receive reports and place on file was made by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel, seconded by Councilwoman Johnson. Motion carried 6-0.
6. Consideration of Petition for License
|
| Class of License | Owner | Business Information |
| a. | Second Hand | Mayra Blanco | MC Appliance 437 Dexter Ave. |
| b. | General Service | Jimmy Estrada | GPS Electronics 48 Conduit St. |
| c. | General Service | Rafal Kania Henry Karakula | PS Art Frames & Mirrors 174 Cross St. |
| d. | General Services | Great Shipping & Postal Service LLC
| Great Shipping & Postal Service 871 Dexter St. |
| e. | C Variety | Shahid J. Hashmi | Broad Street Gas 957 Broad St. |
| f. | C Variety Transfer (new owner) | Three Ten International, Inc. | 7-Eleven Store #35008 603 Hunt St. |
a. Motion to approve the application of MC Appliance was made by Councilwoman Johnson and Councilwoman Maldonado, seconded by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel. Motion carried 6-0.
b. Motion to approve the application of GPS Electronics was made by Councilwoman Racquier, seconded by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel and Councilwoman Maldonado. Motion carried 6-0.
c. Motion to approve the application of PS Art Frames & Mirrors was made by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel, seconded by Councilwoman Maldonado and Councilwoman Racquier. Motion carried 6-0.
d. Motion to approve the application of Great Shipping & Postal Service was made by Councilwoman Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried 6-0.
e. Cynthia DeJesus, Director of the Finance Department spoke on the application of Broad Street Gas. She explained that there were concerns regarding taxes owed on that property and requested that the Council table the application until matter could be further evaluated.
Motion to table application was made by Councilwoman Johnson, seconded by Councilwoman Maldonado. Motion carried 6-0.
f. Item was removed from agenda per request of City Clerk. No objections were noted.
7. Consideration of petition of Mr. Eugenio Gibau, d/b/a Tropical Restaurant, 857 Broad St. to extended closing hours on January 1, 2015.
Captain Dorian Rave of the Central Falls Police Department spoke on the matter and expressed concerns about this request.
Mr. Domingos Correia spoke on behalf of Tropical Restaurant.
Motion to deny petition of extended hours was made by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel, seconded by Councilwoman Racquier.
Roll call vote: Councilman Robert Ferri: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Tammi Johnson: yes; Councilwoman Shelby Maldonado: yes; Councilwoman Ann Racquier: yes; Councilwoman Tia Ristaino-Siegel: yes. Motion carried 6-0.
8. Consideration of petition of Mr. Michael Karow, d/b/a Palm Tree Spa, 753 Broad St, to revise business hours.
Mr. Michael Karow spoke on behalf of Palm Tree Spa and explained petition for extended hours.
Captain Dorian Rave of the Central Falls Police Department spoke on the matter and expressed concerns about this request.
Mr. Karow answered questions from the Council and City Solicitor Jerzyk.
Motion to place pictures and website print outs on file was made by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel, seconded by Councilwoman Racquier. Motion carried 6-0.
Motion to deny petition was made by Councilwoman Johnson, seconded by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel. Roll call vote: Councilman Robert Ferri: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Tammi Johnson: yes; Councilwoman Shelby Maldonado: yes; Councilwoman Ann Racquier: yes; Councilwoman Tia Ristaino-Siegel: yes. Motion carried 6-0.
9. Election of Special Constable pursuant to RIGL 45-16-8.
30 Washington St
Central Falls, RI 02863
Tabled on July 14, 2014
260 Farmington Ave.
Cranston, RI 02920
Motion to elect special constables collectively was made by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel, seconded by Councilman Figueroa and Councilwoman Racquier. Motion carried 6-0.
10. Consideration of petition by The National Grid for permission to relocate Pole P41.
Motion to approve petition was made by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel, seconded by Councilwoman Racquier. Motion carried 6-0.
11. Consideration of the 2015 City Council Meeting Calendar
Motion to approve the 2015 City Council Meeting Calendar was made by Councilwoman Johnson, seconded by Councilwoman Racquier. Motion carried 5-0. Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel abstained from voting.
12. Receipt and consideration of claims
a. Tiandra Kerrigan for alleged injuries and damages sustained on Fletcher Street on November 3, 2014.
Motion to refer claim to the RI Interlocal Trust was made by Councilwoman Johnson, seconded collectively. Motion carried 6-0.
b. Sonia Grace, of 1117 Lonsdale Avenue, Central Falls, for alleged damages to personal vehicle on November 4, 2014.
Motion to refer claim to the claims committee was made by Councilwoman Racquier, seconded by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel. Motion carried 6-0.
13. Citation of the Central Falls City Council congratulating Councilwoman Shelby Maldonado for her service as councilwoman. (Ferri)
Councilman Ferri spoke on the matter and presented Councilwoman Maldonado with the citation.
14. Consideration of meeting minutes.
a. November 10, 2014
b. November 24, 2014
Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel requested two amendments to the minutes of November 24, 2014.
Motion to approve minutes with amendments was made by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel, seconded by Councilwoman Racquier. Motion carried 6-0.
15. Good & Welfare from City Councilors- updates, announcements, reports from councilors in regards to community liaisons and events.
Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel announced the Holiday Express events beginning on December 19, 2014 and the Central Falls Community Collaborative Christmas party on Friday December 12 at Navigant Credit Union.
Councilman Ferri thank everyone for their commitment to the city and wished the Council and residents happy holidays.
16. Adjournment
Motion to adjourn was made by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Meeting adjourned at 8:14pm.
Submitted for approval on January 12, 2015
Approved January 12, 2015
Sonia Grace
City Clerk