City of Central Falls
City Council Meeting
Board of License Commissioners
Central Falls City Hall
580 Broad St. Central Falls, RI 02863
Monday, April 10, 2017
6:00 p.m.
Council President Bob Ferri called the meeting to order at the Central Falls City Council Chambers at 6:04 pm.
I. Roll Call
Sonia Grace, City Clerk, conducted the roll call. Present were Councilman Bob Ferri, Councilman Jonathon Acosta, Councilman Hugo Figueroa, Councilwoman Carlene Fonseca, Councilman Thomas Lazieh, Councilwoman Maria Rivera, and Councilman Franklin Solano. Quorum was present.
II. Pledge of Allegiance
Council President Ferri led the reciting of the pledge of allegiance.
Moment of Silence was observed on behalf of former Council President and lifelong city resident Bill Benson who passed away on April 4, 2017.
III. Public Comment
Mr. Donald Cardin, president of the Central Falls Retirees Association spoke about the police and fire pension. He made a request to have the city restore their pension to 100%.
Mr. John Garvey expressed his concerns regarding the pension.
State Representative James McLaughlin spoke regarding the pensions of Central Falls police and fire retirees.
Mr. Michael Brule expressed his concern regarding the motto the “Come Back City” and the illegal drug use in the city.
Mr. Joe Moran expressed his concern regarding the city pensions and its effects on the retirees.
Ms. Jean Morris spoke in support of the animal clinic and raised concerns regard the reduction in food stamps for Central Falls families.
IV. Approval of Records
A. Consideration of meeting minutes of March 13, 2017
Councilman Lazieh objected to the minutes and asked that they be tabled.
Motion to table the meeting minutes was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion failed 1-6. Motion to approve was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilwoman Rivera. Motion carried 6-1.
V. Executive Communications
A. Executive order 2017-0002, Code Red Emergency Notification
Chief of Staff Joshua Giraldo, Chief Robert Bradley, and Colonel James Mendonca answered questions the Council regarding the program and provided information the ways residents sign up and are notified.
B. Department Financial Reports
i. Finance Department- February 2017 Revenue, February 2017 Expense, February 2017 Capital Improvement Fund.
Received.
Cynthia DeJesus, Director of the Finance Department, answered questions from the Council.
VI. Schedule of Bills- Hearing and/or consideration
A. An Ordinance Amending the Non-utilization Tax Ordinance- Introduction; matter continued from March 13, 2017 (Fonseca)
Councilwoman Fonseca provided an overview of the ordinance and explained how it would bring the city to conformity with State law and allow for greater flexibility in pursuing taxes on abandoned properties.
Introduced
B. An Ordinance Amending The Economic Expansion Incentive Program-Introduction (Rivera)
Introduced
C. An Ordinance Creating The Pawtucket Central Falls Station District Joint Planning Commission-First Reading (Figueroa)
PUBLIC HEARING
Motion to approve the ordinance was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Figueroa.
Thomas Deller, Special Projects Coordinator, department of Planning and Economic Development, gave a brief overview of the overview of the ordinance and answered questions from the Council.
Roll Call Vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilman Lazieh: yes; Councilwoman Rivera: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 7-0
D. A Resolution on Gun Free Schools (Figueroa)
Motion to approve the resolution made by Councilman Acosta, seconded by Councilman Figueroa.
Assistant City Solicitor Robert Weber and Colonel James Mendonca, Chief of Police, answered questions from the Council. Motion carried 6-1.
E. A Resolution in Support of Application to RIDE Stage I (Ferri)
Councilwoman Fonseca and Councilman Figueroa recused from the discussion and left the Council Chambers.
Superintendent Victor Capellan gave a presentation highlighting the needs of the schools and how the application to RIDE would assist Central Falls School District in attaining its goals.
Superintendent Capellan answered questions from the Council about the application and the work to be completed.
Motion to approve the resolution made by Councilwoman Rivera, seconded by Councilman Solano and Councilman Acosta. Motion carried 5-0.
F. A Resolution Approving Ground Leasing Agreement Between the City of Central Falls and Tai-O Landing, LLC for 1420 Broad Street, Assessors Plat 3 lot 62 (Fonseca)
Thomas Deller provided an overview of the agreement between the City and Tai-O and answered questions from the Council regarding the timeframe and the financial implications of the agreement.
Motion to approve the resolution was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion Carried 7-0.
G. A Resolution of Central Falls City Council in Condolences and Congratulations
i. Resolution of Congratulations
a. Providence County Wrestling Club (Acosta)
Councilman Acosta introduced the Providence Wrestling Club and acknowledged the members and their accomplishments. Motion to approve the resolution was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion carried 7-0.
b. Sister Lorraine E. MacPherson (Ferri)
Councilman Ferri spoke in acknowledgement of Sister Lorraine’s 90th birthday. Motion to approve the resolution was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Lazieh. Motion carried 7-0.
VII. New Business
A. FY2016 Audit Review by James Prescott, Partner of Marcum, LLC
Councilman Thomas Lazieh raised objection to the process of the audit because he did not have enough time to review.
Len Morganis, Administration and Finance Officer, addressed the council and Councilman Lazieh’s objection by stating that the audit was made available to all council members on Friday, March 17th.
Mr. Prescott gave an overview of the results of the audit and congratulated the City for implementing changes recommended during the last audit.
B. Appointments by Mayor James A. Diossa to the Central Falls Redevelopment Agency
i. Silva Rosa, of 495 Pine Street with a term to expire April 10, 2020
ii. Barbara Silvis, 404 Roosevelt Ave with a term to expire April 10, 2019
iii. Tim Grace, 1117 Lonsdale Ave with a term to expire April 10, 2021
iv. Patsy Peterson, 535 Roosevelt Ave with term to expire April 10, 2022
v. Richard Oliveira, 116 Cross Street with term to expire April 10, 2018
Motion to approve the appointments was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried 7-0.
C. Consideration for Tax Abatements
i. City Solicitor Abatements
| Property Owner | Tax Year | Property Information |
| John Dorsey, Esq. Court Appointed Receiver on behalf of City of CF; formerly New England Diversified Holdings LLC | 2016 | RE @ 63 Fletcher St; A Plat 5, Lot 292 |
Assistant City Solicitor Robert Weber addressed the council regarding the property located on 63 Fletcher Street. Mr. Weber explained the history of the property and the efforts of the City to rehabilitate it.
Mr. Weber answered questions from the Council pertaining to the amount of taxes being abated and the history of the property owner.
Motion to approve the abatement was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilwoman Rivera. Motion carried 6-1.
ii. Tax Assessor Abatements
| Property Owner | Tax Year | Property Information |
| AD Multiservices II | 2016 | PP @ 580A Broad St |
| Tellier, Celeste J, Trustee | 2016 Supplemental | RE @ 903 Dexter St; A Plat 7, Lot 60 |
Bob Battey, Tax Assessor spoke on the two properties considered for tax abatements, provided background information and answered questions from the Council. Motion to approved the abatement was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca and Councilman Solano. Motion carried 7-0.
D. City Council Sitting as Board of License Commissioners
i. Consideration of business license
| Class of License | Applicant | Business Information |
| New | Mohamed Hassan | Sub Shop 518 Broad Street |
| Sidewalk Café New (continued from March 13, 2017) | Jairo A. Echeverry | Budare Grille Venezuelan Restaurant 716 Dexter Street |
Motion to approve the license application of Sub Shop was made by Councilman Lazieh seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca and Councilman Acosta. Motion carried 7-0.
Recess called at 8:18 pm. Meeting called back to order at 8:25pm.
Motion to continue the consideration of Sidewalk Café license of Budare Grill was made by Councilwoman Rivera, seconded by Councilman Fonseca. Motion carried 7-0.
ii. Advertised Hearing and Consideration of transfer of Alcoholic Beverages Class A License from Valley Liquors, LLC, D/B/A Valley Liquors, 1368 Broad Street., Central Falls to Leonard Brothers Corporation, Inc., D/B/A ABC Liquors, 390 Broad St., Central Falls.
Public Hearing:
Richard Olivera spoke in objection to the application of ABC Liquors.
Mr. Joseph Lamagne, attorney for the seller, explained that all objections submitted by suppliers will be satisfied prior to the transfer of the license.
Mr. Zhen (Larry) Jiang, applicant, and his attorney, Douglas Emanuel, were present and answered questions regarding the business plan and the reasons for the location transfer.
Colonel James Mendonca responded to the Council’s request for his opinion on the business location transfer. Colonel Mendonca stated that there were several incidents at that location over the years and that, upon the Council’s request, further information could be provided.
Motion to table consideration was made by Councilwoman Fonseca. Motion was not no seconded; motion died.
Motion to approve the application, subject all payments being made, was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilman Solano and Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried 6-1.
E. Hearing and consideration of Agreement Between the City of Central Falls and Local 1485, IAFF, AFL-CIO
Joshua Giraldo briefed the Council on the agreement reached between the City and the firefighter’s union. Mike Andrews, President of the Central Falls Firefighter’s Union and Len Morganis also spoke in support of the agreement. A motion to approve was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Lazieh and Councilman Solano; the Motion Carried 7-0.
F. Ethics Training for City Council Members
Per request of City Solicitor Matthew Jerzyk, who could not be present at the meeting, the training will be rescheduled to another day.
G. Correspondence:
i. From Town of Jamestown: resolution supporting House Bill 5515 “An Act Relating to Criminal Procedure-Immigration Detainees.”
ii. From Town of Jamestown: resolution on Gun Free Schools.
iii. From Town of Burrillville: resolution: Proposed Repeal of Motor Vehicle Tax.
iv. From Town of Charlestown: a resolution relative to the Regulation of Earth Removal, Extraction, Processing and Blasting
v. From the City of Warwick: a resolution to the General Assembly Requesting that Multi-Unit Rental Housing be Classified as Non-Smoking
vi. From the Armenian National Committee of Rhode Island: pertaining to “Armenian Genocide Remembrance Day”
Received
VIII. Good & Welfare
Councilwoman Rivera: announced a citizenship drive taking place on May 6, 2017 and May 16, 2017, sponsored by the RI Hispanic Bar Association.
Councilman Lazieh: requested some resolutions be placed in the agenda.
Councilman Acosta: thanked the Central Falls Police Department for their supervision of the Rockwell Amusements carnival that, once again, was a safe event.
Councilwoman Fonseca: thanked the Central Falls Police and Fire departments for continued commitment to the city and for helping the residents of Central Falls.
Colonel Mendonca made a request to the City Council to set up a meeting with the attorney General’s office to discuss the Legalization of Marijuana in Rhode Island.
IX. Adjournment
Motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Acosta, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca. Meeting adjourned at 9:05p.m.
Approved May 8, 2017