Seal

City of Central Falls

Council Meeting

Central Falls City Hall

580 Broad St.

Central Falls, RI 02863

Monday June 16, 2014

6:00 p.m.

Meeting Minutes

Meeting was called to order by Council President Bob Ferri at 6:03pm.

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 and Tia Ristaino-Siegel. Councilwoman Ann Racquier was absent.

2. Pledge of Allegiance

Pledge of allegiance was led by Councilman Ferri.

Councilman Ferri read letter Holy Spirit

3. Public Comment

Thomas Lazieh; 1072 Lonsdale Avenue: requested report from finance committee. Proposed eliminating budget increases for non-classified salaries and new positions. Requested tax decrease.

Al Romanowicz; 303Central Street: concerned with lack of job reviews and feedback for employees

4.      Consideration of petition for event permit
            Progreso Latino
            626 Broad St.
            Central Falls, RI 02863
            June 22, 2014

Motion to approve the application of Progreso Latino was made by Councilwoman Gonzalez, seconded by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel. Motion carried 6-0.

5. Consideration of meeting minutes

April 23, 2014- tabled on June 9, 2014

Motion to approve meeting minutes 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 Ristaino-Siegel: yes. Motion carried 6-0.

6. Resolution Approving the Purchase of a Property (Gonzalez)

Motion to approve the resolution was made by Councilwoman Gonzalez, seconded by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel.

Mr. Steve Larrick, Director of Planning and Economic Development spoke on the matter and explained that the resolution will allow the City to purchase the property for which renovation grant funds have been secured.

Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel asked about the grant.

Director Larrick described the grant funds and how they are separate from the City’s CDBG grant.

Motion carried 6-0.

7. Resolution Authorizing the Application for 2015 Community Development Block Grant Funds (Ferri)

Motion to approve the resolution was made by Councilwoman Gonzalez, seconded by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel.

Mr. Steve Larrick spoke on the components of the CDBG grant application, including a home repair program, installation of broadband at Jenks Park , and funding support to local human service agencies. Mr. Larrick also explained that the Pawtucket Community Development Corporation will, after a merger with REACH, retain those functions in the city.

Councilman Figueroa asked about the home repair program.

Direct Larrick explained that Central Falls will partner with Providence and Pawtucket.

Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel asked about the cost for administration.

Director Larrick explained that, as in past years, that amount covers staff salaries.

Motion carried 6-0

8. Ordinance Amending Chapter 4, Article II, Division 2 of the Revised Ordinances (Ristaino-Siegel)- Introduction

Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel explained purpose of ordinance

Ordinance was introduced.

9. Consideration of Memorandum of Agreement between the City of Central Falls and the International Association of Fire Fighters, Local 1485, AFL-CIO

Motion to approve the memorandum of agreement was made by Councilwoman Gonzalez, seconded by Councilman Figueroa.

Mr. Matt Jerzyk, City Solicitor, explained that this change mirrors the change made with Council 94 and is the only change made to date.

Motion carried 6-0.

10. Consideration of Memorandum of Agreement between the City of Central Falls and the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 2

Motion to approve the memorandum of agreement was made by Councilwoman Gonzalez, seconded by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel. Motion carried 6-0.

City Clerk, Sonia Grace, read the titles of items 11-15 for consideration. Councilwoman Stephanie Gonzalez lead the discussion.

11. Annual Operating Budget Ordinance-General Fund- Second Reading/Consideration (Ferri)

12. Fiscal Year 2015 Annual Operating Budget- Second Reading/Consideration (Ferri)

13. Ordinance Pertaining to the Salaries of Department Heads and Others in Unclassified Service- Second Reading/Consideration (Ferri)

14. Ordinance Amending the Wage Schedule Generally- Second Reading/Consideration (Ferri)

15. The Capital Program and Capital Budget Ordinance- Second Reading/Consideration (Ferri)

Councilwoman Gonzalez introduced and described Substitute B of Annual Operating Budget Ordinance-General Fund.

Councilwoman Gonzalez introduced and explained Substitute A for ordinance Fiscal Year 2015 Annual Operating Budget, and Substitute A for Ordinance Pertaining to the Salaries of Department Heads and Others in Unclassified Service. Councilwoman Gonzalez explained that the changes resulted from discussion with colleagues on the Council. Decreases in salary line item will revert to the reserve funds.

Motion to amend Fiscal Year 2015 Annual Operating Budget, and Ordinance Pertaining to the Salaries of Department Heads and Others in Unclassified Service was made by Councilman Figueroa, seconded by Councilwoman Maldonado.

Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel asked about changes to the salary of the personnel director.

Mr. Len Morganis, AFO, explained the work hours, the changes in the position during FY2014 and the proposed changes to FY 2015.

Councilwoman Johnson asked for clarification on the salary hours and rate for the personnel director. Mayor James Diossa described the proposed employment package.

Councilwoman Gonzalez requested that the record show that she requested that all amendments to the budget ordinances be done through her. To date, she did not hear from all Councilors and amendments are introduced at the meeting because of the amount of work it took to get it done.

Councilwoman Johnson requested clarification of role of the finance committee. Solicitor Jerzyk explained that the Council sits as the finance committee.

Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel asked for clarification of the origin of funds for the salaries of the directors of Parks & Recreation and Planning. Mayor Diossa explained that there is a possibility for grants funds to cover the cost but the budget does not assume their receipt.

Ms. Leslie Jacobo, Human Resources Director, answered Councilwoman Maldonado’s request for clarification of her employment and salary timeline.

Councilors discussed options pertaining to salaries impacted by Substitute A of Fiscal Year 2015 Annual Operating Budget, and Ordinance Pertaining to the Salaries of Department Heads and Others in Unclassified Service.

Motion to retain salary of Human Resource Director at $59,000 was made by Councilwoman Gonzalez.

Council recessed at 8:26pm

Council reconvened at 8:40pm

Motion to amend ordinance Annual Operating Budget Ordinance-General Fund with Substitute B was made by Councilwoman Gonzalez, seconded by Councilman Ferri.

Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Gonzalez: yes; Councilwoman Johnson: yes; Councilwoman Maldonado: yes; Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel: yes. Motion carried 6-0.

Motion to approve ordinance Annual Operating Budget Ordinance-General Fund as amended was made by Councilwoman Gonzalez, seconded by Councilwoman Maldonado.

Motion to amend ordinance Fiscal Year 2015 Annual Operating Budget with Substitute A was made by Councilwoman Gonzalez, seconded by Councilman Figueroa.

Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Gonzalez: yes; Councilwoman Johnson: no; Councilwoman Maldonado: yes; Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel: no. Motion carried 4-2.

Motion to approve ordinance Fiscal Year 2015 Annual Operating Budget as amended was made by Councilwoman Gonzalez, seconded by Councilwoman Maldonado.

Motion to amend Ordinance Pertaining to the Salaries of Department Heads and Others in Unclassified Service with Substitute A was made by Councilwoman Gonzalez, seconded by Councilman Figueroa.

Motion to approve Ordinance Pertaining to the Salaries of Department Heads and Others in Unclassified Service as amended was made by Councilwoman Gonzalez, seconded by Councilwoman Maldonado.

Motion to approve Ordinance Amending the Wage Schedule Generally was made by Councilwoman Gonzalez, seconded by Councilman Figueroa.

Motion to approve The Capital Program and Capital Budget Ordinance was made by Councilwoman Gonzalez, seconded by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel.

16. Good & Welfare from City Councilors- updates, announcements, reports from councilors in regards to community liaisons and events.

Councilman Ferri thanked everyone involved in the budget. Councilman Ferri would like to make a new child safety video to be shown in time for beginning of school year

17. Adjournment

Motion to adjourn was made by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel, seconded by Councilwoman Gonzalez. Meeting adjourned at 8:57pm.

Submitted for consideration July 14 2014

Approved July 14, 2014

Sonia Grace
City Clerk

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