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.

4.      Consideration of petitions for event permit

a.      Holy Spirit Parish

1030 Dexter St.

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: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilwoman Racquier: yes; Councilman Vaudreuil: yes. Motion carried 5-0.

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.

City Solicitor, Matthew Jerzyk provided background information on this legislation and explained how it would affect the renovations of school buildings in the city.  Council spoke on some concerns on this legislation. 

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 Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Vaudreuil. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilwoman Racquier: yes; Councilman Vaudreuil: yes. Motion carried 5-0.

b.      Alejandro and Raquel Hernandez, of 106 Sacred Heart Avenue, Central Falls, for alleged damages to personal property on January 15, 2015

Alejandro and Raquel Hernandez was present and presented details of the incident that led to the claim.

Motion to deny the claim in the amount of $300 was made by Councilwoman Racquier, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca. Motion carried 5-0.

c.       Joseph M Goes of 173 Hunt St., Central Falls, for alleged damages to personal vehicle on March 2, 2015

Joseph M Goes was present and presented details of the incident that led to the claim.

Motion to approve the claim in the amount of $192.42 was made by Councilman Vaudreuil, seconded by Councilwoman Racquier. Motion carried 5-0.

d.      Lira Dye of 52 Humphrey St, East Providence, for alleged damages to personal vehicle on March 20, 2015 

Motion to table was made Councilwoman Racquier, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca. Motion carried 5-0

13.   Ordinance creating the Central Falls Tree Ordinance-Second Reading, Public Hearing and Consideration (Ferri)

Motion to approve the Central Falls Tree Ordinance was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilwoman Racquier: yes; Councilman Vaudreuil: yes. Motion carried 5-0.

14.   Ordinance amending Chapter 14, “Courts,” Article II “Municipal Court”- Second Reading, Public Hearing and Consideration (Ferri by request)

Motion to approve Ordinance amending Chapter 14 was made by Councilman Vaudreuil, seconded by Councilwoman Racquier. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilwoman Racquier: yes; Councilman Vaudreuil: yes.

Motion carried 5-0.

15.   Ordinance amending Article II “City Council,” of Chapter 2 “Administration”- First Reading and Consideration (Ferri, by request)

Motion to approve the first reading of the Ordinance amending Article II ”City Council,” of Chapter 2 “Administration” was made by Councilwoman Racquier, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca. Motion carried 5-0.

16.   Receipt of 2014 Annual Report, Central Falls Police Department

Motion to accept report was approved, Motion carried 5-0.

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

Councilman Ferri spoke on the conference of Councils.  Councilman Ferri would also like to invite the DOT to inspect city streets (Broad St. and Dexter St.) in regards to the potholes.  Council is concerned who handles these streets when claims are turned in.

Councilman Ferri also spoke on a Child Safety Video.

18.   Adjournment

Motion to adjourn was made by Councilwoman Racquier, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca. Meeting adjourned at 8:21pm.