City of Central Falls
City Council Meeting
Central Falls City Hall
580 Broad St. Central Falls, RI 02863
Monday, March 23, 2015
7:00 p.m.
Council President Robert Ferri called the Central Falls City Council meeting to order at 7:04pm pm at the Central Falls Council Chambers
1. Roll Call
Roll call was conducted by City Clerk, Sonia Grace. Present were Council President Bob Ferri, Councilman Hugo Figueroa, Councilwoman Fonseca, Councilwoman Ann Racquier, and Councilman Ken Vaudreuil. Councilwoman Stephanie Gonzalez and Councilwoman Tia Ristaino-Siegel were absent.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
Councilman Ferri led the reciting of the Pledge of Allegiance.
3. Public Comment
No one signed up for Public Comment.
- Consideration of petitions for event permit
a. Holy Spirit Parish
1030 Dexter St.
1. Spring Festival May 15 & 16, 2014
2. 30 Week Club Dinner Dance September 26, 2015
3. Fall Bazaar November 6 & 7, 2015
Colonel James Mendonca of the Central Falls Police Department and Chief Robert Bradley of the Central Falls Fire Department confirmed that there have not be issues at these events in the past. Motion to approve the event permit was made by Councilman Vaudreuil, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca. Motion carried 5-0.
b. November Criminal Production, LLC
Closing of street for film shoot on Crossman Street April 2, 2015
Mr. Oliver Amerigan was present to describe the event and the street closing.
Colonel James Mendonca described the approval process and the work done to support this application.
Motion to approve was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Vaudreuil. Motion carried 5-0.
5. Resolution of the Central Falls City Council supporting legislation (S-474-Crowley and H-5558 Maldonado) providing that a city or town in receivership or bankruptcy may have the costs associated with the receivership or bankruptcy that are owed to the state reduced by (20%) for each year that the municipality is in conformity with the bankruptcy plan.
Representative Jim McLaughlin was present to describe the legislation in question and to answer questions from the Council.
Motion to approve the resolution was made by Councilman Vaudreuil, seconded by Councilwoman Racquier. Motion carried 5-0.
6. Resolution of the Central Falls City Council supporting legislation (H-5674 Maldonado) that prohibits employers from discriminating against employees due to pregnancy or medical conditions related to pregnancy or childbirth.
Motion to approve the resolution was made by Councilwoman Racquier, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Roll call vote:
7. Resolution of the Central Falls City Council supporting legislation (H-5836 Maldonado) that increases the state's share to support local public library services in distressed communities, by an amount equal to the amount paid by the distressed city or town into the ocean state libraries (OSL) annual assessment charges.
City Solicitor, Matthew Jerzyk provided background information on this legislation and explained how it would affect the City of Central Falls.
Motion to approve the resolution was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Vaudreuil. Motion carried 5-0.
8. Resolution of the Central Falls City Council supporting legislation (H-5434 Regunberg) that expands the powers of the Health and Educational Building Corporation in regard to the financing and granting of approval for school facility projects.
9. Resolution of the Central Falls City Council supporting legislation (S-100 Pearson) that expands the powers of the Health and Educational Building Corporation in regard to the financing and granting of approval for school facility projects and also provides for a seventy million dollar appropriation.
Motion to table items 8 and 9 until April 13, 2015 and to invite Senator Pearson to attend the next council meeting was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilwoman Racquier. Motion carried 5-0.
10. Resolution of the Central Falls City Council supporting legislation (H-5086 Maldonado, S-122 Pearson) that creates the Stay Invested in RI Tax Credit authorizing a tax credit against state personal income tax for up to ten (10) years after graduation from an institution of higher education, for graduates who reside and work in Rhode Island.
Motion to approve the resolution was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilwoman Racquier. Motion carried 5-0.
11. Office of Planning and Economic Development communication to the City Council regarding a new grant-funded "Community Development Manager/Principal Planner Position”.
Motion to place communication was file was made by Councilwoman Racquier, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried 5-0.
12. 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
Motion to enter into executive session was made by cf, seconded by
b. Alejandro and Raquel Hernandez, of 106 Sacred Heart Avenue, Central Falls, for alleged damages to personal property on January 15, 2015
c. Joseph M Goes of 173 Hunt St., Central Falls, for alleged damages to personal vehicle on March 2, 2015
d. Lira Dye of 52 Humphrey St, East Providence, for alleged damages to personal vehicle on March 20, 2015
13. Ordinance creating the Central Falls Tree Ordinance-Second Reading, Public Hearing and Consideration (Ferri)
14. Ordinance amending Chapter 14, “Courts,” Article II “Municipal Court”- Second Reading, Public Hearing and Consideration (Ferri by request)
15. Ordinance amending Article II “City Council,” of Chapter 2 “Administration”- First Reading and Consideration (Ferri, by request)
16. Receipt of 2014 Annual Report, Central Falls Police Department
17. Good & Welfare from City Councilors- updates, announcements, reports from councilors in regards to community liaisons and events
18. Adjournment
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)
The City of Central Falls is an equal opportunity employer ADA/EOE.
TDD/TTY 401-727-7450.
This notice is posted in City Hall, Police Department, Department of Public Works, on www.centralfallsri.us and with the Office of the Secretary of State pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws.
To review Notice of Citizen’s Rights visit the Attorney General’s webpage at www.riag.ri.gov