City of Central Falls
City Council Meeting
Board of License Commissioners
Central Falls City Hall
580 Broad St. Central Falls, RI 02863
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
6:00 p.m.
Meeting Minutes
Council President Ferri called the meeting of the Central Falls City Council at 6:01pm
1. Roll Call
Sonia Grace, City Clerk, conducted the roll call. Present were Council President Ferri, Councilwoman Gonzalez, Councilwoman Racquier, Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel, and Councilman Vaudreuil. Councilman Figueroa and Councilwoman Fonseca were absent.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Public Comment
Joshua Giraldo spoke about the basketball summer league. Mr. Giraldo also spoke about the YMCA program that is coming to an end, and last about the mobile unit they have been utilizing to delivery summer lunches to the youth.
Michael Andrews, President of the Firefighters association spoke in support of ordinance on the agenda that will revive the hiring process for firefighters.
4. Consideration of appointments by Mayor James Diossa to the Central Falls Redevelopment Agency
a. Patsy Peterson of 535 Roosevelt Ave. #201 with a Term to Expire December 31, 2015
b. Timothy Grace of 1117 Lonsdale Ave. with a Term to Expire December 31, 2015
c. Silva Rosa of 495 Pine Street with a Term to Expire December 31, 2015
d. Sergio Tabares of 106 Foundry St. with a Term to Expire December 31, 2015
e. Al Romanowicz of 303 Central Street as an alternate with a Term to Expire December 31, 2015
Councilwoman Fonseca entered at 6:08pm.
Motion to approve the appointments was made by Councilwoman Racquier, seconded by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel. Motion was carried 6-0.
5. Receipt of Department Financial Reports
a. City Clerk Department- Report for month of July 2015: Distribution Report
b. Department of Code Enforcement- Report for month of July 2015:Building Division Permits Issued, Complaints Report
c. Finance Department- May 2015 Revenue, June 2015 Expense, Capital Improvement Fund
d. Fire Department – Report for month of July 2015
e. Police Department- Report for month of July 2015
Motion to approve the reports was made by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel, seconded by Councilwoman Racquier and Councilwoman Fonseca. Motion was carried 6-0.
6. Consideration of Tax Abatements-
a. Abatements Submitted by Tax Assessor
| Property Owner | Tax Year | Property Information |
| Appiah, Kwasi A. | 2014 | MV: 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee; Reg#542054 |
| Appiah, Kwasi A. | 2015 | MV: 2005 Jeep Grand Cherokee; Reg#542054 |
| Baptista, Adilson J | 2015 | MV: 1995 Toyota; Reg#606431 |
| Catchpole, Alfred | 2015 | MV: 2010 HMT UTL; Reg#065961 |
| Cherry, Constance | 2015 | MV: 1994 Toyota; reg#455914 |
| Cisco Systems Capital Corp | 2015 | PP: Leased; billed for Assets for 2014 |
| Constantineau, Denis A | 2015 | MV: 2001 Toyota; Reg#DC 274 |
| Courtemanche, Brunilda | 2015 | MV: 2003 Toyota; Reg#: WS-906 |
| Depina, Margarida L | 2014 | MV: 2004 NISSAN; REG#570617 |
| Depina, Margarida L | 2015 | MV: 2004 NISSAN; REG#570617 |
| Depina, Vanessa | 2015 | MV: 2012 YAMAHA; REG#025024 |
| Ferreira, Ricardo L | 2015 | MV: 2012 TOYOTA; REG# ZZ-463 |
| Hoyas, John F | 2015 | MV: 2005 CHR 3TR; REG#099505 |
| Kelly, Jonathan P | 2015 | PP: @ 150 Jenks Ave CF RI |
| Mac-Gray Services Inc. | 2015 | PP: leased-M&E |
| Medina, Megan E | 2012 | MV: 2003 VOLVO XC9; REG# 877266 |
| Medina, Megan E | 2013 | MV: 2003 VOLVO XC9; REG# 877266 |
| Obrien, Alice Et Al | 2015 | RE: 1-36; @ 63 Foundry St |
| Pulaski, Casmir (Mutual Aid Society) | 2015 | RE: 1-92; @ 518 Roosevelt Av |
| Reyes, Juliana | 2015 | MV: 2005 NISSAN ASR; REG# 475584 |
| Vinagre, Maria A | 2015 | MV: 1997 Toyota Camry; Reg# CV 513 |
b. Abatements Submitted by City Solicitor
| Property Owner | Tax Year | Property Information |
| 725 Dexter Street LLC | 2015 | Real Property: 6-487 @ 725 Dexter Street |
6a. Motion to table abatement for Baptista, Adilson J.
Motion to approve the abatements was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel. Motion carried 6-0.
6b. City solicitor Matt Jerzyk described the abatement.
Motion to approve was made by Councilwoman Racquier, Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel.
Motion carried 6-0.
a. Correspondence from Mayor James A. Diossa regarding the Appointment of Mr. Peter Friedrichs as Director of Planning
b. Consideration of Appointment of Mr. Peter Friedrichs as Director of Planning
Motion to approve appointment of Mr. Peter Friedrichs was made by Councilwoman Gonzalez, seconded by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel and Councilwoman Fonseca.
Motion carried 6-0.
- Consideration of petitions for event permit
a. Francisco Gregorio
Mexico Celebration & Parade: September 12, 2015: 5:00pm-1:00am
Motion to approve the application was made by Councilwoman Gonzalez, seconded by Councilwoman Racquier. Motion carried 6-0.
b. Calcutt Middle School
Block Party/Solar electric go kart race: August 14, 2015: 12:00-3:00pm
Motion to approve the application was made by Councilwoman Gonzalez, seconded by Councilman Vaudreuil. Motion carried 6-0.
9. City Council sitting as the Board of License Commissioners
a. Consideration of Petition for License
| Class of License | Owner | Business Information |
| Second Hand | A&J Furniture
| A&J Furniture 909 Broad St. |
| Second Hand | A-1 Tire & Auto Detailing | A-1 Tire & Auto Detailing 289 Broad St. |
| Palmistry | Theresa M Evans | Palm & Tarot Card Reading 907 Broad St. |
Motion to approve the application of A&J Furniture was made by Councilwoman Gonzalez, seconded by Councilwoman Racquier.
Motion carried 6-0.
Motion to approve the application of A-1 Tire & Auto Detailing was made by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel, seconded Councilwoman Fonseca and Councilwoman Gonzalez. Motion carried 6-0.
Motion to table Palm & Tarot Card Reading was made by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca.
Motion carried 5-1
b. Hearing, Consideration and Possible Action regarding the following license and license holders
Mr. Eugenio Gibau
d/b/a Tropical Restaurant
855 Broad St.
Central Falls, RI 02863
BV License
Major Daniel Barzykowski who was present, spoke about a few incidents that occurred during April 2015 thru July 2015.
May 2, 2015 1:00 AM Police Department conducted an area check and located patrons were still inside the establishment. The business was given a verbal warning.
June 13, 2015 1:25 AM 30-40 people inside the establishment having drinks, everyone was escorted out by police; Management was made aware of the business hours.
July 5th, 2015 1:12 AM Police Department conducted an area check and located patrons were still inside the establishment. The business was given a verbal warning.
July 18th, 2015 1:43 AM Police arrived and patrons were still being served drinks at the counter.
Police Department conducted an area check and located patrons were still inside the establishment. The business was given a verbal warning.
Motion to suspend business for one day either Friday or Saturday was made by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel, seconded by Councilwoman Racquier. Discussion on Motion is open.
Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel amended her motion to one day suspension of license within the two weeks either a Friday or Saturday, decided by city clerk and Police department and a 30 day review with business owner and police department. Motion was seconded by Councilwoman Racquier and Councilwoman Gonzalez. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilwoman Gonzalez: yes; Councilwoman Racquier: yes; Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel: yes; Councilman Vaudreuil: yes. Motion carried 6-0
10. Consideration of Claims
a. Executive Session pursuant to R.I.G.L § 42-46-5 (a)(2), pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation, or work sessions pertaining to collective bargaining or litigation
b. Leona L. Lafreniere of 15 Echo St. Central Falls, for alleged damages to personal property on November 17, 2014.
Motion to table the claims application of Ms. Lafreniere was made by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel, seconded by Councilwoman Gonzalez.
Motion carried 6-0.
11. Ordinance amending “Noise in Central Falls” – First Reading and Consideration (Ferri)
Councilman Ferri and Councilwoman Racquier, spoke in regards to the noise problem and also mentioned illegal fireworks.
City Solicitor Michael Jerzyk spoke about the state law and city law in regards this problem.
Major Daniel Barzykowski spoke in regards to how the police handle this problem.
Motion to table the ordinance was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, and seconded by Councilwoman Racquier and Councilwoman Gonzalez. Motion carried 5-0.
Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel left meeting at 9:40pm
12. Ordinance amending “Parking Ban in Central Falls” – First Reading and Consideration (Racquier)
Motion to approve the ordinance was made by Councilwoman Gonzalez, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca and Councilman Vaudreuil. Motion carried5-0
13. Ordinance amending “Flood Plain Management in Central Falls” – First Reading and Consideration (Racquier)
City Solicitor, Matthew Jerzyk described the changes proposed in this ordinance.
Motion to approve the ordinance was made by Councilwoman Racquier, seconded by Councilwoman Gonzalez and Councilwoman Fonseca. Motion carried 5-0.
14. Ordinance “Criminal Justice Reform in Central Falls” – First Reading and Consideration (Fonseca)
Councilwoman Fonseca spoke in regards to a new project for this ordinance.
Motion to approve the ordinance was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded Councilwoman Racquier and Councilwoman Gonzalez. Motion carried 5-0.
15. Ordinance amending Chapter 36 “Traffic and Vehicles” – First Reading and Consideration (Ferri)
Councilwoman Racquier questioned time limits.
Motion to approve the ordinance was made by Councilwoman Racquier, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca.
Motion carried 5-0.
16. Ordinance amending Chapter 12, “Businesses”- Introduction (Fonseca)
Ordinance was introduced.
17. Ordinance amending Chapter 22 “Law Enforcement” and Chapter 20 “Fire Prevention and Protection”- Introduction (Gonzalez)
Ordinance was introduced.
18. Good & Welfare from City Councilors- updates, announcements, reports from councilors in regards to community liaisons and events
Councilman Ferri congratulated Lt. Craig Horton for his valiant work to rescue a motorist that fell in a sink hole.
Councilwoman Racquier spoke in regards to the swimming program at the YMCA
Councilwoman Fonseca announced the First Annual Job Fair in Central Falls, September 16, 9am -12pm
Councilwoman Gonzalez spoke about a fundraiser being held for school scholarships, September 3, 2015 6:30-9pm
Councilwoman Gonzalez announced the open house of BVP middle school located at the old Elizabeth Seaton Academy, September 10, 2015
Councilman Ferri updated the Council on his work to organize the Child Safety Program
19. Adjournment
Motion to adjourn was made by Councilwoman Gonzalez, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca.
Meeting adjourned at 7:57pm.
Approved December 14, 2015