City of Central Falls
Special City Council Meeting
Board of License Commissioners
Central Falls City Hall
580 Broad St. Central Falls, RI 02863
Monday, January 23, 2017
6:00 p.m.
Council President Bob Ferri called the meeting to order at the Central Falls City Council Chambers at 6:03 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
Councilwoman Fonseca led the pledge of allegiance.
III. Public Comment
Al Romanowicz, 303 Central St.- commented on the traffic circle on Roosevelt Ave., shared his concerns about the ordinance being introduced pertaining to the Redevelopment Agency; commended high school student who was quoted in the newspaper and shared other various concerns.
Tia Ristaino-Siegel, 14 Worth St.- asked questions regarding the budget ordinance, the traffic circle and the resolution being considered.
Edna Poulin, 68 Notre Dame St- shared her concerns about the traffic circle and many other issues.
Judith Jorge, 88 Bagley St- shared concerns regarding her rights as a tenant and the trash pick-up.
IV. Approval of Records
A. Consideration of meeting minutes of January 9, 2017
Motion to amend the minutes to reflect a point of order was made by Councilman Lazieh. Motion was not seconded.
Motion to amend the minutes to reflect a correction of the record of the vote was made by Councilwoman Fonseca. Seconded by Councilman Acosta. Motion carried 7-0.
Motion to approve the meeting minutes as amended was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried 6-1.
V. Executive Communications
There were none
VI. Schedule of Bills
A. An Ordinance Pertaining to the Salaries of Department Heads & Others in Unclassified Service- First Reading, Public Hearing, Consideration (Fonseca)
Motion to dispense with the reading was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried 5-2.
Public Hearing:
Edna Poulin: asked questions about the ordinance and shared her concern the ordinance. Expressed her opposition to the ordinance
Representative James McLaughlin: gave an overview of the work of the state legislature as it pertains to the City of Central Falls.
Motion to approve the first reading of the ordinance was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilwoman Rivera.
Motion to table the ordinance was made by Councilman Lazieh. Motion was not seconded.
Roll call vote on Councilwoman Fonseca’s motion to approve the ordinance: 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.
B. An Ordinance Amending Chapter 12 “Businesses”- First Reading, Public Hearing, Consideration (Fonseca)
Motion to dispense with the reading of the ordinance was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilwoman Rivera. Motion carried
Public Hearing:
Ms. Vernia Carter introduced Mr. Anthony Solano, a representative of the youth group who presented information about the research conducted related to tobacco retail environment in Central Falls and tobacco use reduction programs.
Councilman Solano left the room at 7:14 and returned at 7:16
Representative McLaughlin
Ms. Vernia Carter, accompanied by Ms. Benvinda Santos and Ms. Elsa Larson of the RI Department of Health, answered questions from the Council regarding successful strategies to decrease tobacco use.
Ms. Edna Poulin expressed support for the ordinance.
Colonel Mendonca answered questions from the Council about the enforcement efforts of the City.
Motion to approve the first reading of the ordinance was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Solano. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: present; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilman Lazieh: present; Councilwoman Rivera: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 5-0-2.
C. Ordinance Creating Chapter 40, The Central Falls Redevelopment Agency, Redevelopment Area, And Redevelopment Plan- Introduction (Figueroa)
Introduced
VII. Continued Business
A. Consideration of license
| | Class of License | Applicant | Business Information |
| i. | Entertainment tabled on 1/9/2016 | Samuel Lones | Restaurant Montecristo 804 Broad St. |
Motion to approve the entertainment license of Restaurant Montecristo 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.
City Council recessed at 8:16pm and returned at 8:22pm
VIII. New Business
A. Briefing by Mr. Peter Friedrichs, Director of the Department of Planning and Economic Development, regarding the traffic circle on Roosevelt Avenue
Mr. Peter Friedrichs presented a packet of information that included a video on the history of the traffic circle on Roosevelt Avenue. Mr. Friedrichs also described the planning of the circle and provided an overview of the quality improvement efforts of his and other city departments.
B. Consideration of the 2017 City Council Meeting Schedule
Motion to approve the 2017 City Council Meeting Schedule as amended was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried 7-0.
C. Resolution of the Central Falls City Council in support of the Central Falls School District Necessity of School Construction Application (Rivera)
Councilwoman Fonseca, and Councilman Figueroa recused from discussion and left the chambers.
Mr. Victor Capellan, Superintendent of the Central Falls School District, was present to describe the work of the Central Falls School Building Committee, the grant proposal and to request the support of the City Council. Mr. Capellan also answered questions from the Council.
Motion to table the resolution was made by Councilman Acosta, seconded by Councilman Lazieh. Motion was withdrawn by Councilman Acosta.
Motion to approve the resolution was made by Councilman Acosta, seconded by Councilman Solano. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Lazieh: no; Councilwoman Rivera: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 4-1.
D. Resolution of the Central Falls City Council extending condolences to the family of the late Joan (Toomey) Azar (Lazieh)
Councilman Lazieh spoke about Ms. Azar. Motion to approve the resolution 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.
E. Resolution of the Central Falls City Council extending condolences to the family of the late Dr. Ghanem Hana (Lazieh)
Councilman Lazieh spoke about Dr. Hana. Motion to approve the resolution 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.
IX. Good & Welfare
Councilwoman Fonseca: announce several events such as The RI League of Cities and Towns Annual Conference; Training hosted by Common Cause of RI; the meeting about the Community Center; documentary at Central Falls High School, and several other community events.
Councilman Ferri announced that he will be on the radio WNRI with Colonel James Mendonca discussing Central Falls Police Department. Councilman Ferri provided an overview on the Veterans Study Commission.
Councilman Lazieh requested that he be invited to city events and inquired about the Central Falls City Flag of the Council Chambers
Councilman Acosta commented on the need for more background information on some items being discussed at the meeting.
X. Adjournment
Motion to adjourn was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Solano. Meeting adjourned at 9:13pm
Approved February 13 2017