City of Central Falls
Special City Council Meeting
Board of License Commissioners
Central Falls City Hall
580 Broad St. Central Falls, RI 02863
Monday, September 28, 2015
6:00 p.m.
Meeting Minutes
Council President Ferri called the meeting of the Central Falls City Council at 6:05pm
1. Roll Call
Sonia Grace, City Clerk, conducted the roll call. Present were Council President Ferri, Councilwoman Gonzalez, Councilwoman Racquier, Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel, Councilman Vaudreuil. Councilwoman Fonseca was absent. Councilman Figueroa was not present. Quorum was present.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. Public Comment
Thomas Lazieh, of 1072 Lonsdale Ave: spoke about Mayor’s announcement to welcome refugees from Syria.
4. Consideration of appointments by Mayor James A. Diossa
a. Purchasing Board
Jannet Sanchez of 254 Shawmut Ave., for a term to expire December 31, 2015
Motion to approve the appointment of Ms. Jannet Sachez to the Purchasing Board was made by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel, seconded byCouncilwoman Racquier. Motion carried 6-0
b. Planning Board
Leslie Moore of 670 Broad St. for a term to expire December 31, 2015
Ms. Moore was present and spoke about her commitment to support and contribute to the City.
Motion to approve the appointment of Ms. Leslie Moore to the Planning Board was made by Councilwoman Gonzalez, seconded by Councilwoman Racquier. Motion carried 6-0
5. City Council sitting as the Board of License Commissioners
a. Consideration of Petition for License
| Class of License | Owner | Business Information |
| General Service | Silva Soulage | Silva’s Eyebrow Threading 991 Lonsdale Avenue |
| Retail Sales | Waldina E. Hernandez | Waldi’s Party Store 883-887 Dexter St |
Motion to approve the application of Ms. Silva Soulage was made by Councilman Vaudreuil, seconded by Councilwoman Racquier. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Gonzalez: no; Councilwoman Racquier: yes; Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel: yes; Councilman Vaudreuil: yes; Motion carried 6-1
Motion to approve the application of Ms. Waldina Hernandez was made by Councilwoman Racquier, seconded by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Gonzalez: yes; Councilwoman Racquier: yes; Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel: yes; Councilman Vaudreuil: yes. Motion carried 7-0.
b. Hearing, Consideration and Possible Action regarding the following license and license holders
Mr. Luis Perez
D/B/A La Milonga Bar, Inc.
674 Dexter St.
Central Falls, RI 02863
Mr. Jaime Yepes
D/B/A La Milonga Bar, Inc.
674 Dexter St.
Central Falls, RI 02863
Colonel James Mendonca of the Central Falls Police Department reviewed and read aloud the memo dated September 15, 2015 describing a series of calls for service.
Members of the City Council asked questions of Colonel Mendonca.
Attorney Al Cardona, present on behalf of license holders, answered questions from the Council. Mr. Jamie Yepes, license holders, also answered questions from the Council.
Motion to follow the recommendation of the Central Falls Police Department to require detail police on weekends for one year with a six-month review period was made by Councilman Vaudreuil, seconded by Councilwoman Racquier.
Discussion of the Council on motion on the table.
Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: no; Councilwoman Fonseca: no; Councilman Figueroa: no; Councilwoman Gonzalez: no; Councilwoman Racquier: no; Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel: no; Councilman Vaudreuil: yes. Motion failed 1-6.
Per suggestion of City Solicitor Matt Jerzyk, Council entered into executive session.
Motion to enter into executive session was made by Councilman Vaudreuil, seconded by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Gonzalez: yes; Councilwoman Racquier: yes; Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel: yes; Councilman Vaudreuil: yes. Motion carried 6-0.
Councilwoman Gonzalez made a motion that in October, for five (5) consecutive Saturdays the liquor license will be suspended and the establishment is to be closed at 10pm; also on Fridays in October the business will be required to have a police detail. Beginning in November the business will have to have police details on the weekend (Friday & Saturday) with a six (6) month review of progress. Councilwoman Racquier seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Gonzalez: yes; Councilwoman Racquier: yes; Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel: yes; Councilman Vaudreuil: yes. Motion carried 6-0.
c. Hearing, Consideration and Possible Action regarding the following license and license holders
Maria Esquiaqui
D/B/A American Colombian Liquor
738 Broad Street
Central Falls, RI 02863
Colonel James Mendoca introduced Detective Lt. John Carroll.
Lt. Carroll provided overview of compliance check that led to police report.
Ms. Elizabeth Esquiaqui, daughter of Ms. Maria Esquiaqui, spoke on behalf of her mother.
Ms. Esquiaqui answered questions from the council.
Motion to suspend the license of Colombian American Liquor for one day, on October 2, 2015 was made by Councilwoman Gonzalez, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Gonzalez: yes; Councilwoman Racquier: yes; Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel: yes; Councilman Vaudreuil: yes. Motion carried 6-0.
d. Hearing, Consideration and Possible Action regarding the following license and license holders
Sangita Patel
D/B/A Central Warehouse Liquor
1060 Broad Street
Central Falls, RI 02863
Colonel James Mendoca introduced Detective Lt. John Carroll.
Lt. Carroll provided overview of compliance check that led to police report.
Sangita Patel was present and answered questions from the Council.
Motion to suspend the license of Central Warehouse Liquor for one day, on October 2, 2015 was made by Councilwoman Gonzalez, seconded by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Gonzalez: yes; Councilwoman Racquier: yes; Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel: yes; Councilman Vaudreuil: yes. Motion carried 6-0.
6. Ordinance amending Chapter 22 “Law Enforcement” and Chapter 20 “Fire Prevention and Protection”- Second Reading, Public Hearing and Consideration (Gonzalez)
Public Hearing:
Al Romanowicz of 303 Central St.: Spoke on the ordinance and felt the way it was written was discriminative towards a certain ethnicity.
Thomas Lazieh of 1072 Lonsdale Ave.: Spoke on the ordinance and states it is geared towards minority people.
Councilwoman Gonzalez motioned to replace the word minority with the word underrepresented, seconded by Councilwoman Racquier. Discussion with Colonel Mendonca and City Solicitor Matthew Jerzyk.
Councilwoman Gonzalez motioned to amend previous motion to replace the word minority with the word demographically underrepresented, seconded by Councilwoman Racquier. Motion passed 6-0
Motion to pass ordinance was made by Councilwoman Racquier, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Gonzalez: yes; Councilwoman Racquier: yes; Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel: yes; Councilman Vaudreuil: yes. Motion carried 6-0.
7. Resolution Authorizing the Application for 2016 Community Development Block Grant Funds (Ferri)
Planning Director Peter Friedrichs explained the Community Development Block Grant application and the program.
Motion to approve was made by Councilwoman Gonzalez, seconded by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Gonzalez: yes; Councilwoman Racquier: yes; Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel: yes; Councilman Vaudreuil: yes. Motion carried 6-0.
8. Citation of the City Council Congratulating Theresa Lila Agonia for winning the Miss Rhode Island 2016 Competition
Motion to table was made by Councilman Vaudreuil, seconded by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Gonzalez: yes; Councilwoman Racquier: yes; Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel: yes; Councilman Vaudreuil: yes. Motion carried 6-0.
9. Good & Welfare from City Councilors- updates, announcements, reports from councilors in regards to community liaisons and events
Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel: Thanked everyone who participated in the 2nd annual Central Falls Lions Warpath on September 26, 2015
Councilman Ferri congratulated all the organizers of the Car show.
10. Adjournment
Motion to adjourn was made by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel, seconded by Councilwoman Racquier.
Time 9:12pm
Approved December 14, 2015