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

City Council President Ferri led the pledge of allegiance

             III.         Consideration of appointment by Mayor James A. Diossa to the Central Falls Detention Facility:

-Leonard Morganis, 3 Adams Court, Uxbridge, MA

City Solicitor Matthew Jerzyk provided a legal opinion that the appointment of Mr. Morganis conforms to applicable laws.

Motion to approve was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca. Motion carried 6-1.

              IV.         Public Hearing and Consideration of Fiscal Year 2018 City Budget

Public Hearing:

Liza Aponte, 253 Butler Ave- spoke in support of Mayor Diossa’s budget.

Michael Andrews, IAFF Local 1485- spoke in support of the FY2018 budget and the investments that the City has made in the fire department, such as the new radio system.

Tia Ristaino-Siegel, *** Worth St- spoke in opposition of the budget, specifically the tax increase and different staff decisions.

Lorraine Savard, 76 Emmett- spoke in opposition of the budget and expressed her objection to the budget process

Michael Brule, *******-

Edna Poulin, 68 Notre Dame St- expressed her opposition to the budget, asked questions about salaries and the surplus.

Albert Romanowicz, 303 Central St.- spoke about the S&P  report and expressed his concerns about the budget.

Representative James McLaughlin- spoke about legislation being considered by the RI General Assembly.

Leonard Morganis, Administrative & Finance Officer-

A.     Annual Operating Budget Ordinance-General Fund, Sub A- Second Reading (Ferri)

B.     An Ordinance Pertaining to the Salaries of Department Heads and Others in Unclassified Service, Sub A- Second Reading (Ferri)

C.     An Ordinance Amending the Wage Schedule Generally, Sub A- Second Reading (Ferri)

D.     The Capital Program and Capital Budget Ordinance- Second Reading (Ferri)

E.     An Ordinance Creating the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2017- Second Reading (Ferri

                 V.         Resolution in support of legislation H6279 (Maldonado)-An Act Relating To Taxation- Levy and Assessment of Local Taxes (Ferri, by request)

              VI.         Resolution in support of the action of the Second Continental Congress

           VII.         Adjournment

Sonia Grace

City Clerk

Approved July 10, 2017