City of Central Falls
City Council Meeting
Board of License Commissioners Meeting
Central Falls City Hall
Monday, December 11, 2017
6:00 p.m.
Minutes
I. Roll Call
Sonia Grace, City Clerk, conducted the roll call. Present were Councilman Bob Ferri, Councilman Jonathon Acosta, Councilman Hugo Figueroa, Councilman Thomas Lazieh, Councilwoman Maria Rivera, and Councilman Franklin Solano. Councilwoman Fonseca was absent. Quorum was present.
Without objection, Councilman Ferri changed the order of the agenda, moving the hearings ahead of all other items, following public comment.
II. Pledge of Allegiance
Councilman Ferri lead the pledge of allegiance.
Councilwoman Fonseca entered the meeting at 6:08pm.
III. Public Comment
Mr. Franklin Solano, 544 Hunt St.- requested that the Council hear items such as business licenses ahead of other items to minimize the time business owners wait at the Council meeting.
Ms. Jean Morris, 30 Washington St- expressed her concerns regarding the transportation for the elderly.
IV. Approval of Records
A. Meeting minutes November 13, 2017
B. Meeting minutes November 27, 2017
Motion to table the consideration of the meeting minutes was made by Councilman Lazieh. Motion was not seconded. Motion died.
Motion to approve the meeting minutes collectively was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilwoman Rivera. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilman Lazieh: no; Councilwoman Rivera: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 6-1.
V. Executive Communications
None
VI. Schedule of Bills- Hearing and/or consideration
A. Ordinance creating The Vacant or Abandoned Commercial Storefronts Act- First Reading (Ferri)
Public Hearing: no one signed up to speak.
Mr. Jerzyk answered questions from the Council regarding the changes proposed in the ordinance.
Motion to approve the ordinance was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Solano. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilman Lazieh: yes; Councilwoman Rivera: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 7-0.
B. Ordinance amending Chapter 22 “Law Enforcement” and Chapter 20 “Fire Prevention and Protection”- Second Reading (Solano)
Public Hearing: no one signed up to speak.
Motion to approve the ordinance was made by Councilman Acosta, seconded by Councilman Figueroa.
Mr. Jerzyk and Mr. Keith Sullivan, Deputy Fire Chief, answered questions from the Council .
Motion to approve the ordinance was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Solano. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilman Lazieh: yes; Councilwoman Rivera: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 7-0.
C. Ordinance creating The Central Falls Green And Complete Streets Initiative- First Reading (Acosta)
Peter Friedrichs, Director of Planning and Economic Development, presented on the concept of Green and Complete Streets.
Public Hearing:
Sarah Mitchell, RI Bicycle Coalition- spoke in support of increased bike lanes in Central Falls.
John Flaherty, Growth Smart- spoke in support of the ordinance
John Deignan, 114 Eleventh St., Providence- spoke in support, as a bicyclist, of the ordinance
Carrie Zaslow, Local Initiatives Support Coalition, RI (LISC)- spoke in support of the ordinance, explained the work of the health equity zones and the importance of the changes proposed in the ordinance.
David Veliz, Childhood Lead Action Project and Sierra Club of Rhode Island- spoke in support of the ordinance.
Sheila Dormady, Nature Conservancy of RI and Green Infrastructure Coalition- spoke in support of the ordinance
Mike Eng, 19 Talbot Manor, Cranston- spoke in support the ordinance and the increase of bike lanes.
Grace Lentini, on behalf of Central Falls Tree Warden Matthew Largess- spoke in support of the ordinance.
Motion to approve the ordinance was made by Councilman Figueroa, seconded by Councilman Solano.
Motion to amend Sec. 32-312 (b) to substitute the word “shall adhere” to “are encouraged to adhere” was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: no; Councilman Acosta: no; Councilman Figueroa: no; Councilwoman Fonseca: no; Councilman Lazieh: yes; Councilwoman Rivera: no; Councilman Solano: no. Motion failed 1-6.
Motion to amend Section 32-316 to add subsection “(g) the city council and each city council members of each affected ward or district shall be notified and provided with all documentation and information affecting their individual ward, district, neighborhood or city community. Motion was not seconded. Motion died.
Roll call on original motion made by Councilman Figueroa and seconded by Councilman Solano. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilman Lazieh: yes; Councilwoman Rivera: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 7-0.
D. Resolution of Central Falls City Council in Condolences and Congratulations
Councilman Lazieh object to the consideration of the resolutions of condolences and congratulations introduced by him.
Motion to approve the resolution of condolences for to the family of Anthony Kuffrey who died on 12/3/17 (Introduced by the Councilman Lazieh) was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion carried 7-0.
Motion to approve the resolution of congratulations for Thomas and Bernadette Cawley on their 67th Wedding Anniversary and Frederick Shwaery on his recognition of receiving The Meritorious Award from The Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese for his dedicated and faithful service to St. Mary’s Antiochian Orthodox Church (Introduced by the Councilman Lazieh) was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca. Motion carried 7-0.
VII. Continued Business
A. Consideration of lease agreement between the City of Central Falls and South Side Community Land Trust (tabled on November 13, 2017)
Robert Sayre-McCord, Director of Parks & Recreation and Mr. Rob Booz of the Southside Community Land Trust answered questions from the Council.
Motion to approve the lease agreement was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Figueroa and Councilman Solano. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilman Lazieh: yes; Councilwoman Rivera: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 7-0.
B. Consideration of Tax Abatements Submitted by City Solicitor (tabled on November 13, 2017)
| Property Owner | Tax Year | Property Information |
| Tai-o Associates LP | 2016 to present | 555Roosevelt Ave. |
Councilman Acosta and Councilwoman Fonseca recused from discussion and left the Council chambers.
Mr. Jerzyk, City Solicitor, spoke on the reasons for the abatement and answered questions from the Council.
Motion to approve the abatements was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilwoman Rivera. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Figueroa: no; Councilman Lazieh: yes; Councilwoman Rivera: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 4-1.
Meeting recessed at 8:21opm and returned at 8:27pm.
C. City Council Sitting as Board of License Commissioners
i. Hearing, Consideration and Possible Action regarding the following license and license holders (continued from November 27, 2017)
Maria Esquiaqui
D/B/A American Colombian Liquor
738 Broad Street, Central Falls, RI 02863
Class A Liquor License
Matthew Jerzyk, City Solicitor, explained the case and proposed, based on discussions with legal counsel of the licensee, a 2-day suspension to be held on January 2nd and 3rd, 2018.
Per request of the Council, Mr. Jerzyk read the police report.
Colonel James Mendonca spoke about the agreement and supported its consideration by the Council.
Council members asked questions pertaining to the case, the agreement being considered and about the business of Mr. Jerzyk, Colonel Mendonca and of the licensee’s legal counsel.
Motion to approve the 2-day sanction of American Colombian Liquor was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca.
Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilman Lazieh: yes; Councilwoman Rivera: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 7-0.
VIII. New Business
A. Consideration of Tax Abatements Submitted by Tax Assessor
| Property Owner | | Tax Year | Property Information |
| Wells Fargo Vendor Financial Serv. LLC | | 2017 | PP: Leased |
| Moncada, Adriana | | 2017 | RE/CR |
| Garcia, Mary C | | 2017 | pp: @ 773 Lonsdale Ave D/B/A Mary's Beauty Salon |
| Wagdi, Safa & Wagdi Nadia | | 2017 | RE/CR @ 1002 Broad St unit #5 |
| Wagdi, Safa | | 2017 | RE/CR @ 1002 Broad St unit #7 |
| Wagdi, Safa | | 2017 | RE/CR @ 1002 Broad St unit #8 |
| Rhode Island Foot Care Inc | | 2017 | PP @ 649 East Ave |
| Lease Services | | 2016 | PP @R & D Telecommunications |
| Lease Services | | 2017 | PP @ R&D Telecommunications |
Mr. Bob Battey was present to answer questions from the council.
Motion to approve the abatements was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilman Solano and Councilman Acosta. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilman Lazieh: yes; Councilwoman Rivera: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 7-0.
B. City Council Sitting as Board of License Commissioners
i. Hearing and Consideration on petition by La Herradura Taqueria Mexicana, LLC D/B/A La Herradura Taqueria Mexicana, 716 Dexter St., Central Falls, RI 02863 for extension of time by which Petitioner may claim Alcoholic Beverages Class BV Ltd (liquor) License
Mr. Jorge Benitez and Mr. Jairo Echeverry were present.
City Clerk Sonia Grace explained the reason for the extension and clarified that all requirements for the issuance of the license have been met.
Motion to approve the extension was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilman Solano and Councilman Acosta. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilman Lazieh: yes; Councilwoman Rivera: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 7-0.
Motion to add the license applications of Mad Joe LLC to the agenda was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion carried 7-0.
ii. Consideration of petition of license
| Class of License | Business Information |
| Class C- Variety Transfer | Mad Joe, LLC, D/B/A LR Broad St. Gas Station 355 Broad St. |
| Tobacco New | Mad Joe, LLC, D/B/A Broad St. Gas Station 355 Broad St. |
Motion to approve the license application of Mad Joe, LLC was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion and second were withdrawn by Councilman Lazieh and Councilman Solano, respectively.
Motion to approve the Class C- Variety application was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilman Solano. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilman Lazieh: yes; Councilwoman Rivera: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 7-0.
Motion to deny the tobacco license of Mad Joe, LLC was made by Councilwoman Rivera, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilman Lazieh: present; Councilwoman Rivera: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 7-0.
C. Presentation by Mr. Peter Friedrichs, Director of the Department of Planning and Economic Development regarding the City of Central Falls Comprehensive Plan.
Mr. Friedrichs presented, through a series of powerpoint slides, an overview and timeline of the Comprehensive Plan.
IX. Correspondence from the Central Falls Redevelopment Agency: Notice of Redevelopment Agency member interest in properties within the Redevelopment Area(s)
Received
X. Good & Welfare
Councilman Ferri announced 1)Holiday Express Breakfast at Veterans Elementary School on Saturday, December 16th at 9am; 2)Lighting of Christmas Tree at City Hall at 5:30pm on December 12th.
Councilwoman Rivera announced 1)the Walk in Support of Brain Cancer Awareness on December 12th, following the Tree Lighting Ceremony; 2)the Annual Breakfast of the Welcome Back Center on December 18th, 3)Annual Toys for Tacos at Gallo de Oro on December 14th and the Holiday Express Diner at the Central Falls High School on the same day.
Councilman Acosta: announced that the Calcutt and Blackstone Valley Prep wrestling teams will host their first home match on December 12th at Central Falls High School and 2) the department of Parks & Recreation will host a park build up on December 15th and the ribbon cutting
Councilwoman Fonseca: announced 1)a celebration in honor of Central Falls Unified Team on December 21st and 2)that Central Falls High School won Grassroots Change Award and the Calcutt the Collaboration and Diversity award at the Civics Day in State House.
Councilman Lazieh: asked for information on the next Council’s agenda.
XI. Adjournment
Motion to adjourn was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Solano. Meeting adjourned at 9:30pm.
Sonia Grace
City Clerk
Approved February 12, 2018