City of Central Falls
Council Meeting
Central Falls City Hall
580 Broad St.
Central Falls, RI 02863
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
6:30 p.m.
Minutes
Council President Robert Ferri called the Central Falls City Council meeting to order at 6:36pm 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, Stephanie Gonzalez, Tammi Johnson, Shelby Maldonado, Ann Racquier, and Tia Ristaino-Siegel.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
Waived by fact that it was conducted during Liquor Board meeting, immediately preceding the Council meeting
3. Public Comment
a) Thomas Lazieh, 1072 Lonsdale Ave—Hopes the city resolves pothole issues; does not believe contract being considered for ratification appeared in front of council.
b) Edna Poulin- 68 Notre Dame St—Questioned where the funds for the position in the Planning department are coming from. Not opposed to use of funds if they do not come from city’s general funds.
4. Consideration of meeting minutes of February 10, 2014
Motion to approve meeting minutes of February 10 2014 was made by Councilwoman Gonzalez, seconded by Councilwoman Racquier. Motion passed 7-0.
5. Consideration of Permit Request
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| Class of License | Owner | Business Information |
| ||||
| a. | Personal Services New | Sylvia Martins | d/b/a La Bella Vita Salon 625 Roosevelt Ave. | ||||
| b. | Entertainment New | The Ideal Sport Café | 477 Dexter St. | ||||
a. Motion to approve the application of Sylvia Martins was made by Councilwoman Gonzalez, seconded by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Gonzalez: yes; Councilwoman Johnson: yes; Councilwoman Maldonado: yes; Councilwoman Racquier: yes; Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel: yes. Motion passed 7-0.
b. Motion to approve the application of Ideal Sports Cafe was made by Councilwoman Gonzalez, seconded by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel. Council questioned the hours of operation and the request for entertainment seven days per week. Councilors also suggested that business be responsive to neighbors and work with Police Department to minimize safety concerns. No representative was present.
Motion to table application until regular City Council meeting of March 10th 2014was made by Councilwoman Gonzalez, seconded by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel. Motion passed 7-0.
6. Claims to be referred to the Claims Committee
a. Keri Wujcik-Paquette, of 19 Sayles Ave., Lincoln, RI, for alleged damage to personal vehicle sustained on February 20th, 2014 while traveling on Hunt St.
Motion to refer claim to Claims Committee was made by Councilwoman Gonzalez, seconded by Councilwoman Johnson. Motion passed 7-0.
7. Ordinance Amending The Central Falls Zoning Ordinance, Article III, Section 304, to more fully comply with the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA).- First Reading and Consideration
Motion to approve the first reading of Ordinance Amending The Central Falls Zoning Ordinance, Article III, Section 304, to more fully comply with the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA) was made by Councilwoman Gonzalez, seconded by Councilman Figueroa.
Mr. Steve Larrick, director of Planning & Economic Development, spoke about the changes proposed in this ordinance. He explained that the goal is to equalize the treatment and consideration given to businesses in Central Falls. Case law requires that the City same type of businesses in like manner.
Motion passed 7-0.
Councilman Figueroa left meeting at 7:04pm.
8. Ordinance Amending The Central Falls Zoning Ordinance, Article III, Section 304, Table 1, footnote 1 to revise requirements for special use permits in a C2 and C-D Zone. – First Reading and Consideration
Motion to approve the first reading of Ordinance Amending The Central Falls Zoning Ordinance, Article III, Section 304, Table 1, footnote 1 to revise requirements for special use permits in a C2 and C-D Zone was made by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel, seconded by Councilwoman Racquier.
9. Ordinance Amending the Economic Expansion Incentive Program- First Reading and Consideration
Motion to approve the first reading of Ordinance Amending the Economic Expansion Incentive Program was made by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel, seconded by Councilwoman Racquier.
Mr. Larrick explained that the revision provides for the creation of guidelines, to be developed by the director of Planning & Economic Development, for the implementation of the ordinance. Motion passed 6-0.
10. Ordinance Creating the Gender Equity in the Workplace Act (Gonzalez)
Councilwoman Gonzalez explained that she worked with Women’s Fund to create an ordinance that provides protection and reasonable accommodation for pregnant women. Councilwoman Gonzalez expressed her understanding for how this might affect local businesses and invited them to attend the March meeting and to submit public comment.
Motion to approve introduction of Ordinance Creating the Gender Equity in the Workplace Act was made by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel, seconded by Councilwoman Gonzalez.
Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel asked about the commonalities between the Gender Equity ordinance and the Pregnancy Disability Act (PDA) of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC). Mr. Matt Jerzyk explained that there is no conflict between the two laws and that, unlike the PDA, this ordinance will not require a doctor’s determination of disability for accommodation due to pregnancy.
Councilwoman Gonzalez noted that Central Falls stands to be the first community in the state to address this issue.
Motion passed 6-0.
11. Resolution for approval of contract between City Central Falls, and Theresa Agonia.
Mr. Andy Andujar, Chief of Staff, stated that the approval of the City Council would provide an extension until March 7 while the department of Human Resources continues the process to interview and hire a new staff.
Councilors inquired about the duration of the extension and the total cost by which this contract has surpassed the $5000 limit. Mr. Andujar explained that, by March 7th, the contract will have exceeded the limit by approximately $3800.
Councilors asked for a description of the hiring process and questioned the current selection of staff. Mr. Larrick and Mr. Andujar spoke on the matter and informed the Council that they were not involved in the hiring of the department’s current staff person.
Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilwoman Gonzalez: yes; Councilwoman Johnson: no; Councilwoman Maldonado: yes; Councilwoman Racquier: yes; Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel: no. Motion passed 4-2.
12. Consideration of appointments by Mayor James Diossa
a. Zoning Board
Carlos Monzon
985 Lonsdale Ave.
Central Falls
Appointment; Term to expire 12/31/2015
Motion to approve the appointment of Mr. Monzon to the Zoning Board was made by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel, seconded by Councilwoman Gonzalez. Motion passed 6-0.
13. Good & Welfare from City Councilors- updates, announcements, reports from councilors in regards to community liaisons and events.
Councilman Ferri: The city has a severe pothole problem. Nineteen streets were paved by PWSB and temporary patch is not working well during winter. Contractors, as well as DPW staff, have been working diligently to fix problem.
Thank you to anyone who participated in the Coutu Memorial Park breakfast fundraiser on February 23rd.
Councilwoman Gonzalez: Reminder to councilors to identify one woman to be honored during the meeting of March 10th.
Councilwoman Johnson: Recreation update: Parks& Recreation received scholarship for $2000 for safety training and a grant from the RI DEA grant for field trip with the elderly; council was invited to chaperone.
There will be a 6-week pilot basketball program for students of Ella Risk and Veterans Elementary Schools.
Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel: Nuisance Properties Task Force met on February 26th and will meet twice per month. The meeting went very well and the Task Force is eager to work with homeowners in the city.
Ferri:
14. Adjournment
Motion to adjourn was made by Councilwoman Gonzalez, seconded by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel
Pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws § 42-46-4, the City Council reserves the right to convene in executive session on any of the aforementioned items for one or more of the purposes listed in Rhode Island General Laws § 42-46-5(1)-(10).
Respectfully submitted on March 5th 2014
Sonia Grace
City Clerk
Approved March 10, 2014
The City of Central Falls is an equal opportunity employer ADA/EOE.
TDD/TTY 401-727-7450. .
To review Notice of Citizen’s Rights visit the Attorney General’s webpage at www.riag.ri.gov