City of Central Falls
City Council Meeting
Board of License Commissioners
Central Falls City Hall
580 Broad St. Central Falls, RI 02863
Monday, March 14, 2016
6:00 p.m.
Council President Robert Ferri called the meeting to order at 6: 07pm
1. Roll Call
City Clerk, Sonia Grace, conducted the roll call. Present were Council President Robert Ferri, Councilman Hugo Figueroa, Councilwoman Carlene Fonseca, Councilwoman Stephanie Gonzalez, Councilwoman Ann Racquier, Councilwoman Tia Ristaino-Siegel and Councilman Ken Vaudreuil.
2. Pledge of Allegiance
3. FY2015 Audit Review by James Prescott, Partner of Marcum, LLC
Council President introduced the speaker, Mr. Prescott and announced that the audit is on the City’s website, in the Finance Department’s page.
Mr. Prescott reviewed the results of the audit and answered questions
4. Public Comment
Rob Sayre-McCord, Director of Parks & Recreations- announced two events: celebration of the City’s birthday on Friday, March 18, 2016 at 5pm and an Easter egg hunt on March 26 at 1pm.
Tom Lazieh, of 1072 Lonsdale Ave.- spoke about the audit, and traffic near two local schools.
5. Consideration of appointment by Mayor James Diossa to the Central Falls Redevelopment Agency
a. Mr. Andrew Meadows
555 Roosevelt Ave.
Central Falls, RI 02863
Term to expire December 31, 2016
Mr Joshua Giraldo, Chief of Staff and Mr. Peter Friedrichs, Director of Planning and Economic Development, spoke on behalf of Mr. Meadows, who was unable to attend the meeting.
Motion to approve the appointment was made by Councilwoman Gonzalez, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca and Councilman Vaudreuil. Motion carried 7-0.
6. Consideration of Meeting Minutes
a. February 10, 2016
Motion to approve the meeting minutes of February 10, 2016 was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilwoman Gonzalez. Councilwoman Racquier abstained from voting. Motion carried 6-0.
b. February 22, 2016
Motion to approve the meeting minutes of February 22, 2016 was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Councilwoman Gonzalez, Councilwoman Racquier and Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel abstained from voting. Motion carried 4-0.
7. Receipt of Department Financial Reports
a. City Clerk Department- Report for month of February 2016: Distribution Report
b. Department of Code Enforcement- Report for month of February 2016: Building Division Permits Issued, Complaints Report
c. Finance Department- January 2015 Revenue, February 2016 Expense, February 2016 Capital Improvement Fund
d. Fire Department- Report for month of February 2016
e. Police Department- Report for month of February 2016
Ms. Cynthia DeJesus answered questions from Council regarding the financial statements.
Chief Robert Bradley answered questions from Council regarding the department’s monthly report.
Motion to approve the reports was made by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel, seconded by Councilwoman Racquier. Motion carried 7-0.
8. Consideration of Tax Abatements Submitted by Tax Assessor
| Property Owner | Tax Year | Property Information |
| Altman, Trevor J | 2015 | MV: 1998 InfinityI30; Reg#560370 |
| Joneso Design and Consulting Inc. | 2013 | PP: @ 555 Broad St |
| Memorial Hospital of RI | 2014 | RE: @ 1002 Broad St; 4-221A-2 |
| Memorial Hospital of RI | 2015 | RE: @ 1002 Broad St; 4-221A-2 |
| Youn, Kpleoh & Peters, Janet | 2015 | RE: @ 98 Perry St; 4-158 |
Mr. Bob Battey, Tax Assessor, was present to speak on the abatements being proposed and answer questions from the Council.
Motion to approve the abatements was made by Councilwoman Gonzalez, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried 7-0.
9. City Council sitting as the Board of License Commissioners
a. Consideration of Petition for License
|
| Class of License | Owner | Business Information |
| i. | Personal Service Transfer- New Owner | Juan De Los Santos David Baker | Upper Cuts Barbershop 521 Dexter St. |
| ii. | Class C- Variety | Garden Meat Market | Garden Meat Market 156 Washington St. |
Mr. De Los Santos was present to speak on his application. Motion to approve the license application of Upper Cuts Barbershop was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded Councilwoman Racquier. Motion carried 7-0.
Mr. ***** was present to speak on the application of Garden Meat Market. Motion to approve was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel. Motion carried 7-0.
b. Advertised Hearing and Consideration of new license. Alcoholic Beverages Class B (Victualling) for the following applicant
JEK’s Pub
d/b/a JEK’s Pub
137 Central St.
Central Falls, RI 02863
Attorney Joe Raheb was present to speak on behalf of his client and answered questions from the Council.
Motion to approve the application was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Vaudreuil. Motion carried 7-0.
c. Hearing, Consideration and Possible Action regarding the following license and license holders (90-day review)
Mr. Luis Perez & Mr. Jaime Yepes
D/B/A La Milonga Bar, Inc.
674 Dexter St.
Central Falls, RI 02863
Colonel James Mendonca, Chief of Police, presented an overview of the timeline of sanction. Colonel Mendonca recommended that continue to operate with a police detail every Friday and Saturday, with a 6-month review.
Attorney Al Cardona, along with his clients Mr. Luis Perez and Mr. Jaime Yepes, were present to speak. Mr. Cardona requested that , given the financial impact on the business, the business be allowed to contract with a security company as opposed police detail.
Motion to continue police detail alternating with a private security company beginning April 1, 2016, 3 month review. If there are no incidents within that time, the current schedule will remain in affect
d. Hearing, consideration and possible action regarding the following license and license holders (90-day review)
Maria Almeida
D/B/A Benjamin’s III
722 Broad St.
Central Falls, RI 02863
Colonel Mendonca provided an overview of the incidents that lead to the sanction and recommended that the business be released from any further sanctions.
Motion to release Benjamin’s III from further sanction was made by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried 7-0.
e. Hearing, consideration and possible action regarding the following license and license holders
Jose Payamps
D/B/A Payamps Liquor Store
551 Dexter Street
Central Falls, RI 02863
Colonel James Mendonca, Chief of Police, introduced the officers of the Community Service Unit- Officers Paul Savoie, Nick Di Carlo, William Orellana.
Officer Savoie presented facts of the incident that was the catalyst for the referral to the Board of License Commissioners. Officers Di Carlo and Orellana also spoke.
Colonel Mendonca recommended a one day suspension to be held on April 1, 2016.
City Solicitor, Matthew Jerzyk, spoke about memo submitted by Assistant City Solicitor Robert Weber regarding a hearing at the Nuisance Task Force on Monday, March 14, 2016. Mr. Jerzyk explained that there is a tentative agreement with the property owner.
Attorney Jabour spoke on behalf of his client, Mr. Payamps. Attorney Jabour presented facts in defense of his client in opposition to those presented by the Police Department.
Councilmembers asked questions of Mr. Payamps.
Motion to suspend the license of Payamps Liquors on April 1, 2016 with a 60-day review was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilwoman Gonzalez.
Council engaged in discussion with Colonel Mendonca and Attorney Jabour.
Chief Robert Bradley of the Central Falls Fire Department, spoke about the issues at this business from the perspective of the EMS department.
City Solicitor spoke about the legal implications of the sanction.
Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilwoman Gonzalez: yes; Councilwoman Racquier: yes; Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel: yes; Councilman Vaudreuil: yes. Motion carried 7-0.
10. Hearing and/or Consideration of Claims
a. Executive Session pursuant to R.I.G.L § 42-46-5 (a)(2), pertaining to litigation or work sessions pertaining to litigation.
i. Michelle St. Pierre, in the amount of $250,000 for alleged injuries and damages suffered on February 7, 2016 on Dexter Street.
b. Possible Consideration of Claims (a)(i).
Motion to refer the claim of Michelle St. Pierre to the Interlocal Trust was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel. Motion carried 7-0.
11. Resolution of the Central Falls City Council in support of the Pawtucket/Central Falls Commuter Rail Station (Figueroa)
Mr. Peter Friedrichs spoke on behalf the resolution and provided an overview of the project.
Motion to approve the resolution was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel. Motion carried 7-0.
12. Ordinance amending Chapter 14 “Courts” – Second Reading, Public Hearing, Consideration (Racquier)
Public Hearing: no one spoke.
Motion to approve the ordinance was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilwoman Gonzalez: yes; Councilwoman Racquier: yes; Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel: yes; Councilman Vaudreuil: yes. Motion carried 7-0.
13. Good & Welfare from City Councilors updates, announcements, reports from councilors in regards to community liaisons and events
Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel announced a dinner to benefit the Holiday Express on Saturday, March 26, 2016 from 4-7pm.
14. Adjournment
Motion to adjourn was made by Councilwoman Ristaino-Siegel. Meeting adjourned at 8:04pm.
Approved April 11, 2016