1.       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.

2.      Pledge of Allegiance

City Council President Ferri led the pledge of allegiance.

City Solicitor, Matthew Jerzyk, conducted the swearing in of City Council President, Robert Ferri.

City Solicitor, Matthew Jerzyk, conducted the swearing in of City Council President Pro Tempore, Carlene Fonseca.

3.      Public Comment

Tia Ristaino-Siegel, 14 Worth St-concerns regarding the traffic circle on the corner of Charles St. and Roosevelt Ave., concerns regarding, congratulations to newly elected officials;

Edna Poulin, 68 Notre Dame St- concerns regarding the traffic circle on corner of Charles St. and Roosevelt Ave. and the ordinance being considered.

Al Romanowiz, 303 Central St- concerns about the traffic circle, advised council to work as a team

Jean Morris, 30 Washington St- congratulated new council; concerns about the quality of the sidewalks. Expressed her desire that the City build a new animal shelter and a senior citizen center.

4.      Briefing by Colonel James Mendonca regarding recent events at the Wyatt Detention Facility

Colonel Mendonca provided a timeline and overview of the events regarding the escaping of an inmate from the Wyatt Detention Facility on December 31, 2016.

Colonel Mendonca also answered questions from the Council describing the events and the investigation still ongoing.

5.      Consideration of meeting minutes

7.      City Council sitting as the Board of License Commissioners

a.      Consideration of Petition for License

Motion table the application of Mr. Samuel Lones was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilman Acosta. Motion carried 6-1.

8.      Consideration of Appointment of Tree Warden

a.         Matthew C. Largess

Re-appointment; Term to expire 1/1/2018

Motion to approve the appointment of Mr. Largess was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilwoman Rivera. Motion carried 7-0.

10.   Consideration of Appointments to the Municipal Court

17.   Consideration of Rules of the Central Falls City Council

Motion to amend Rule 2 to include City Council meetings on the 2^nd and 4^th Monday of the month was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilwoman Rivera. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: no; Councilman Acosta: no; Councilman Figueroa: no; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilman Lazieh: no; Councilwoman Rivera: yes; Councilman Solano: np. Motion failed 2-5.

Motion to amend Rule 3 to read “Upon the request of the Mayor, the President of the City Council, or, in his or her absence, the City Council President Pro Tempore, or two members of the City Council, the City Clerk shall call a special meeting of the City Council” was made by Councilman Lazieh, 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.

Motion to amend Rule 16(b) by replacing the word “Thursday” with the word “Monday” was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion was withdrawn by Councilwoman Fonseca.

Motion to amend Rule 16(c) by replacing the words “at least 48 hours” with the words “at least seven (7) days” was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, 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.

Motion to amend Rule 14 to include Pledge of Allegiance and Good and Welfare was made by Councilman Lazieh, 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.

City Council recessed at 7:45pm.

City Council returned at 7:59pm.

Motion to amend Rules 17, 19 and 27 was made by Councilman Lazieh seconded by Councilman Acosta. Motion was withdrawn by Councilman Lazieh.

Motion to amend Rules 17 and 19 to include the sentence “A public hearing shall be required at the first reading and second reading of every ordinance” was made by Councilman Lazieh, 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.

Motion to amend Rule 16(b) to read “the last Thursday of the month” was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Lazieh. Motion was withdrawn by Councilwoman Fonseca.

Motion to amend Rule 16(b) to state: “no later than the Thursday before the seven (7) day deadline of Rule 16(d) at 12:00 o’clock p.m.” 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.

Motion to amend Rule 27 to read “(a)The City Clerk shall make reasonable and best efforts to ensure that all City Council meetings are televised and made available on-demand, in video form, and on the City’s website. (b) The City Clerk shall ensure that all agenda items and documents contained within each City Council agenda are available to the public during normal business hours in the office of the City Clerk as well as on the city website.” was made by Councilman Lazieh, 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.

Motion to adopt the City Council rules as amended was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. 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.

18.   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.      Amber Edwards, in the amount of $45,000 for alleged personal injuries

b.      Possible Consideration of Claim (a)(i.)

City Solicitor, Matthew Jerzyk, recommended that, after consultation with the RI Interlocal Trust, the City Council should deny the claim of Amber Edwards. Per Mr. Jerzyk, Ms. Edwards’ attorney was not aware that the Central Falls School District is not under control of the City of Central Falls.

Motion to deny the claim was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by 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.

19.   Correspondence from Mayor James Diossa

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

Councilman Ferri announced the next meeting of the City Council on January 23, 2017

21.   Adjournment

Motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca. Meeting adjourned at 8:40pm.

Approved January 23, 2017