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. Quorum was present.

Councilwoman Fonseca entered at 6:04 pm.

                II.         Pledge of Allegiance

City Council President Ferri led the pledge of allegiance.

Without objection, the Council moved items VII(A)(iii) and VII(A)(ii) to the beginning of the meeting prior Public Comment.

             III.         Public Comment

Albert Romanowicz, 303 Central St.- spoke about the veterans monument at the library and the improvements that have been and will be made to the library. Mr. Romanowicz explained that there are no plans to sell the library. Requested that monument bemoved to the new veterans cemetery on Hunt St.

Chief Bob Bradley, 555 Hunt St.- invited to swearing-in of three new fire department’s recruits on Wednesday, July 19 at 5:00 pm. Announced the Honor Flight trip to Washington, DC. for veterans.

Edna Poulin, 68 Notre Dame St- commented on the new K-9 Officer and the investment made by all the donors. Ms. Poulin suggested the city should increase the number of K-9 officers. Ms. Poulin asked questions about the resolution regarding the PACE program and spoke about the liquor hearing.

Tia Ristaino-Siegel, 14 Worth St- asked questions about the grants report and announced that the Central Falls Prevention Coalition offers TIPS certification to all city businesses.

Michael Brule, 84 Pacific St.- asked how to get something on the agenda

Bill Donnelly, VFW 1271- expressed his support for moving the monument on Central St to the new veterans park.

              IV.         Approval of Records

A.     Consideration of meeting minutes

                                i.      June 5, 2017

Motion to approve the minutes was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Solano.

Councilman Lazieh objected to the minutes.

Motion to table the meeting minutes was made by Councilman Lazieh. Motion was not seconded. Motion died

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.

                              ii.       June 12, 2017

Motion to approve minutes was made by Councilman Solano, seconded Councilwoman Fonseca.

Motion to amend the minutes was made by Councilman Lazieh. Motion was not seconded. Motion died.

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.

                            iii.      June 19, 2017

Motion to approve was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Acosta.

Councilman Lazieh objected to the minutes.

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.     An Ordinance Creating The Central Falls Nuisance Task Force And Amending City Ordinances Relative To Nuisance Properties- Second Reading (Ferri, by request)

Public Hearing: no one signed up for public comment.

Motion to amend section (m) on page 5 and (f) on page 6, to amend the section to say “30 days after appeal” was made by Councilman Lazieh.

City Solicitor Jerzyk explained the section of the ordinance and impact of this amendment.

Councilman Lazieh withdrew the motion.

Motion to amend Section 2, Sec18-20, (b) to include “tenant or business operator” was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilman Solano. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: no; Councilman Acosta: no; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: no; Councilman Lazieh: yes; Councilwoman Rivera: no; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion failed 4-3.

Councilman Lazieh requested clarification on the section regarding membership.

Motion to amend Section One, Sec. 12-4, (4) (a) (b) to remove the strike-through “two or more times” was made by Councilman Acosta, seconded by Councilman Lazieh.

City Solicitor Jerzyk and answered questions from the council about this section of the ordinance.

Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: no; Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: nos; Councilman Lazieh: yes; Councilwoman Rivera: no; Councilman Solano: no. Motion failed 4-3.

Motion to amend Sec. 2 at the bottom of page 2 to include “any  relevant tenant or business owner” was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilwoman Rivera. 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.

            Councilman Lazieh requested clarification by the City Solicitor regarding Sec. 10-38.

Motion to approve the ordinance as amended was made by Councilman Acosta, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca and Councilman Solano. 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 6-0; 1 present.

B.     An Ordinance Amending Chapter 36, “Traffic And Vehicles”- First Reading (Ferri, by request)

Motion to approve the 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.

C.     An Ordinance Creating The Road Paving and Utility Accountability Act of 2017- First Reading (Figueroa, by request)

Public Hearing:

Mr. Leonel Gonzalez, Intern at the office of the City Solicitor- presented information pertaining to the ordinance and explained the amendments contained in the ordinance.

Michael Brule: supported the City’s efforts to ensure that paving is done correctly and proposed that the city assign a person to check the quality of the paving.

Motion to amend the ordinance with Sub A 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.

Motion to approve the ordinance as amended was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilman Figueroa and 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.

D.     A Resolution of the Central Falls City Council to Designate the City of Central Falls  as a PACE Municipality and to Approve the C-Pace Agreement (Acosta)

Motion to approve the resolution 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: yes; Councilwoman Rivera: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 7-0.

E.     A Resolution of the Central Falls City Council Authorizing the Issuance

of General Obligation Refunding Bonds (Ferri, by request)

Mr. Len Morganis spoke on this resolution and of the impact of its passage on the City.

Motion to approve 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.

F.      A Resolution of Central Falls City Council in Condolences and Congratulations

Motion to approve the resolution of condolences for following persons was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilman Acosta. Motion carried 7-0.

Gregory G. Nazarian, Louis J. Najjar, Sr., Noelia E. (Laborriere) Peltier, Arlene F. Peltier-Renaud, Daniel W. Varin, Kay Matook, Thomas Cerrone, Mary W. (Higgins) Aissis, Robert Hymers, Eva (Mardo) Robat, Rose Khoury, Rose Louise Bennett Lewis, Joseph Sharkey, Maria C. Asermely, Layla Charette, Gloria (Nassaney) Solomon, John Hajjar, Suzanne A. Mayben, Rev. Adrian George Dabash, OP, Joseph Rabbitt, Patricia (Salisbury) Quaglia, Louis Slemon, Dr. Ghanem Hana, Joan B. (Toomey) Azar, Lorice (Meketsy) Issa, Thomas J. “Tommy” Pearson, Rita (Matook) Karneeb-Sayegh, Paul J. Haddad.

           VII.         New Business

A.     City Council Sitting as Board of License Commissioners

                                      i.      Consideration of petition for business license

Ms. Rosa Freitas-Dias was present speak on her application. Motion to approve the license was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion carried 7-0.

Mr. Guo Jiang was present to speak on the application of Auli’s Panda. Motion to approve the license transfer was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried 7-0

Motion to approve the license application of Carlitos Auto Repair was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Lazieh. Motion carried 7-0.

                                    ii.      Consideration of petition for entertainment and F/F1 license

Motion to approve the application of St. Joseph Church was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilman Acosta. Motion carried.

Motion to approve the applications of Club Sport Uniao Madeirense was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca. Motion carried 7-0.

Motion to approve the application of Latino en Accion was made by Councilman Figueroa, seconded by Councilman Lazieh. Motion carried 7-0.

Motion to approve the application of Love in Action was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca. Motion carried 7-0.

Motion to approve the application of Colombian American Cultural Society was made by Councilman Acosta, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried 7-0.

Council recessed from 7:44 pm. to 7:48 pm.

                            iii.            Hearing, Consideration and Possible Action regarding the following license and license holders

James Salazar

d/b/a Tropicana Night Club and Restaurant

134 Cowden St., Central Falls, RI 02863

BV License

Officer Charles Walkup, of the Central Falls Police Department, was sworn in by City Solicitor and provided testimony of the events that occurred on May 21, 2017. Officer Walkup also answered questions from the Council.

Colonel James Mendonca, Chief of Police, spoke about the events and past events that have

City Solicitor Jerzy answered questions from the Council about the alleged violations committed by Tropicana Night Club.

Police Report #7-669 was entered into the record.

James Salazar, the owner of the business, was sworn in by City Solicitor Jerzyk, provided testimony about the events of May 21, 2017, and answered questions from Attorney Jerzyk.

Motion to require police detail on Friday and Saturday for three months and 1 night suspension was made by Councilwoman Fonseca. Seconded by Councilman Figueroa.

Motion to require the closing of business at 12:00 am for one  month, regular hours on the 2^nd month with alternating police detail, on 3^rd month present security was made by Councilman Acosta.

Councilwoman Fonseca amended her initial motion to include the submission of a security plan. Motion was seconded by Councilman Figueroa.

Councilwoman Fonseca amended her second motion to require police detail on Friday and Saturday for three months and submission of a security plan was made by Councilwoman Fonseca. Seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Roll call vote Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: present; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilman Lazieh: no; Councilwoman Rivera: no; Councilman Solano: no. Motion failed

Motion to require police detail one night per week for 3 months was made by Councilman Solano. Motion was not seconded. Motion died.

Motion to require police detail Friday and Saturday, 9:30pm-1:30 am, July 14 to September 9, return to Council for September meeting and the submission of a security plan at the Council’s September meeting 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.

        VIII.         Good & Welfare

Councilwoman Rivera:  congratulated the Capeverdean association for the event celebrating its independence and announced an event at the RI State House on July 23, 3-6pm to celebrate the Puerto Rican  Constitution.

Councilman Solano: congratulated Councilman Ferri on hosting the tour of Jenks Park and Cogswell Tower

Councilman Lazieh: commented that constituents complained the loud noise caused by fireworks and parking of the Blackstone Valley Charter School on Lonsdale Ave.

              IX.         Adjournment

Motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca. Meeting adjourned at 9:37 pm.

Sonia Grace

City Clerk

Approved September 18, 2017