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.

                II.         Pledge of Allegiance

City Council President Ferri led the pledge of allegiance.

Councilwoman Carlene Fonseca entered at 6:09pm.

             III.         Public Comment

Robert Bradley, Chief of the Fire Department, 555 Hunt St.- spoke about summer fire safety tips related to using cooking grills in porches and placing air conditioners in windows that block the fire escapes.

Edna Poulin, 68 Notre Dame St- shared her opposition to the current budget being considered and recommend cuts.

Thomas Lazieh, 1072 Lonsdale Ave-shared his concerns with the budget process and recommended that another public hearing

Jean Morris, 30 Washington St- congratulated the and thanked the police and fire departments for recent events and assistance. Mr. Morris shared her concerns about the obstruction of the sidewalks by businesss and vehicles.

Lorraine Savard, 76 Emmett St.- concerned about the budget

              IV.         Approval of Records

A.     Consideration of meeting minutes

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

                                i.      May 8, 2017

Motion to approve the meeting minutes of May 8, 2017 was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilwoman Rivera. Motion carried 6-1.

                              ii.      May 15, 2017

Motion to approve the meeting minutes of May 15, 2017 was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Solano and Councilwoman Rivera. Motion carried 6-1.

                            iii.      May 22, 2017

Motion to approved the meeting minutes of May 22, 2017 was made by Councilman Figueroa, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca. Motion carried 5-2.

                            iv.      May 24, 2017

Motion to approve the meeting minutes of May 24, 2017 was made by Councilwoman Rivera, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried 4-2. Councilwoman Fonseca abstained.

                              v.      May 30, 2017

Motion to approve the meeting minutes of May 30, 2017 was made by Councilwoman Rivera, seconded by Councilman Solano. Moiton carried 4-2. Councilwoman Fonseca abstained.

                 V.         Executive Communications

A.     Immigrant Heritage Month Proclamation

Received

B.     Department Financial Reports

                                   i.      City Clerk- April, May 2017

                                 ii.      Department of Code Enforcement-  April, May 2017

                               iii.      Fire Department-April, May 2017

                               iv.      Police Department-  April, May 2017

Colonel James Mendonca answered questions from the Council

C.     Central Fall Police Department- 2016 Annual Report

Received

              VI.         Schedule of Bills- Hearing and/or consideration

A.     An Ordinance Amending the Non-utilization Tax Ordinance- Second Reading (Fonseca)

City Solicitor, Matthew Jerzyk reviewed the proposed amendments in the ordinance and provided an overview of some ways its implementation would impact properties.

Motion to approve the ordinance was made by Councilwoman Rivera, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca. 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.

B.     An Ordinance Amending The Economic Expansion Incentive Program-Second Reading (Rivera)

Motion to approve the ordinance was made Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilwoman Rivera.

Mr. Peter Friedrichs, Director of Planning and Economic Development and Mr. Matthew Jerzyk, City Solicitor provided an overview of the ordinance and answered questions from the Council. 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 Central Falls Nuisance Task Force And Amending City Ordinances Relative To Nuisance Properties- First Reading (Ferri, by request)

Motion to approve the ordinance was made by Councilwoman Rivera, seconded by Councilman Solano.

City Solicitor Jerzyk answered questions from the Council.

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.

D.     An Ordinance Amending Chapter 36, “Traffic And Vehicles”- Introduction (Ferri, by request)

Introduced

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

Introduced

F.      An Ordinance Pertaining to the Salaries of Department Heads and Others in Unclassified Service- First Reading, continued from June 5, 2017 (Ferri)

Motion to amend the ordinance was made by Councilwoman Rivera, seconded by Councilman Solano.

Councilwoman Rivera reviewed the changes proposed in the amendment.

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 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.

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

Councilman Figueroa presented a resolution of condolences for Ms. Alice Burke.

           VII.         New Business

A.     Consideration for Tax Abatements

                                      i.      Tax Assessor Abatements

Mr. Bob Battey, Tax Assessor reviewed the abatements considered for abatement.

Motion to approve the abatement was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilman Solano and Councilwoman Fonseca. Motion carried 7-0.

                                    ii.      City Solicitor Abatements

City Solicitor Jerzyk reviewed the abatements being considered and answered questions from the Council.

Motion to approve the abatements were made by Councilwoman Rivera, seconded by Councilman Acosta. Motion carried 6-1.

B.     City Council Sitting as Board of License Commissioners

                                      i.      Consideration of business license

Mr. Pineda was present to answer questions from the Council and speak about his business.

Motion to approve the petition for transfer was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion carried 7-0.

                                       ii.   Consideration of 2017-2018 business license renewal

Motion to approve the business license renewals was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilman Acosta. Motion carried 7-0.

            Council meeting was in recess from 7:53pm to 7:58 pm.

                                        iii.   Hearing and consideration of lease agreement between City of Central Falls and Fuerza Laboral.

Ms. Heiny Maldonado, of 92 Clay St. and executive director of Fuerza Laboral, was present to speak about the lease agreement and program. Ms. Maldonado also answered questions from the Council.

Motion to approve the lease agreement was made by Councilman Acosta, seconded Councilman Solano and Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried 7-0.

        VIII.         C.    Hearing and/or Consideration of Claims

i.    Executive Session pursuant to R.I.G.L § 42-46-5 (a)(2), pertaining to litigation or work sessions pertaining to litigation.

a.      Michael Raheb of 1 Jason Drive, Lincoln, RI, in the amount of $435, for alleged damage to personal property, located at  sustained on or about April 25, 2017.

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

Mr Raheb was present to speak about the claim and present information about the events that led to his request.

Colonel Mendonca presented facts and an overview of the incident.

Motion to pay the claim to Mr. Michael Raheb 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.

D.     Correspondence

                                               i.      Presentation by Roger Williams University School of Continuing Studies- Organizational Leadership, Management & Change in Community-Based Organizations: Improving Communication Within Central Falls Government

Received

                                             ii.      Memo from Burrillville Town Council President John Pacheco regarding  House Bill 2017-H6051 and Senate Bill 2017- S0769

Received

E.     FY18 City Budget discussion among City Council members

The Council engaged in discussion about possible changes to the FY18 budget. Councilors discussed homestead exemptions, salaries of unclassified personnel, the tax rate.

              IX.         Good & Welfare

Councilman Acosta- congratulated the recent graduates of Central Falls High School and the Segue Institute for Learning. Councilman Acosta also announced the upcoming ceremonies for Calcutt Middle School and Blackstone Valley Community Prep. and the beginning of the summer food program at the following school:

Robertson School: July 11- August 3, 8:00am- 9:00 and 11:30-12:30; Calcutt Middle School: June 30-August 11, 8:15am-9:15am and 11:30am-12:30; Learning Community: July 10-August 4, 8:o00am-9:00am and 11:30am-12:30.

                 X.         Adjournment

Motion to adjourn was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Meeting adjourned at 8:29pm.

Sonia Grace

City Clerk

Approved July 10, 2017