City of Central Falls
City Council Meeting
Board of License Commissioners
Central Falls City Hall
580 Broad St. Central Falls, RI 02863
Monday, May 8, 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
Council President Bob Ferri led the pledge of allegiance.
III. Public Comment
Al Romanowicz, 303 Central St.- Spoke about moving the memorial monument from the library to the new park on Hunt St. He also commented on the nuisance task force ordinance.
Peter Friedrichs, Director of Planning and Economic Development, informed the council about several meetings his department assisted in facilitating:
· Public presentation with question and answer session pertaining to the purposed bicycle lane for Washington Street, Tuesday May 9, 2017 at 6pm in the Central Falls Library and High School.
· Public presentation on Green and Complete Streets, Wednesday May 10, 2017, 6pm at Navigant Credit Union.
Lorraine Savard, 76 Emmett Street-asked about the City Council meetings on TV. She requested that the City host a solar energy and requested a seminar.
Elizabeth Gutierrez, 101 Rand Street- addressed the council on a police raid made to her residence.
IV. Approval of Records
A. Consideration of meeting minutes of April 10, 2017
Motion to amend section VI was made by Councilman Lazieh. Motion not seconded. Motion died.
Motion to amend the New Business section VII of the minutes was made by Councilman Lazieh. Motion not seconded. Motion died.
Motion to approve the meeting minutes from April 10, 2017 was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion carried 6-1.
V. Executive Communications
A. Proclamation from Mayor James Diossa declaring May 10, 2017 as World Lupus Day
Received
B. Department Financial Reports
i. City Clerk- March 2017
ii. Department of Code Enforcement- March 2017
iii. Finance Department- March 2017: Revenue, Expense and Capital Improvement Fund
iv. Fire Department- March 2017
v. Police Department- March 2017
Colonel James Mendonca, Central Falls Police Chief and Len Morganis, Administration and Finance Officer, addressed the council regarding the financial reports.
Motion to accept the department financial reports made by Councilman Figueroa and seconded by Councilman Solano. Councilman Lazieh voted present. Motion Carried 6-0
VI. Schedule of Bills- Hearing and/or consideration
A. An Ordinance Amending the Non-Utilization Tax Ordinance- First Reading (Fonseca)
Motion to approve the ordinance amending the Non-Utilization Tax Ordinance was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, 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.
B. An Ordinance Amending the Economic Expansion Incentive Program-First Reading (Rivera)
Public Hearing: no one signed up to address the council.
Motion to amend the Economic Expansion Incentive Program Ordinance was made by Councilman Solano, second by Councilwoman Fonseca.
City Solicitor Matt Jerzyk provided an overview and answered questions pertaining to the ordinance.
Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilman Lazieh: abstained; Councilwoman Rivera: yes; Councilman Solano: yes, Motion carried 6-0.
Motion to approve the Economic Expansion Incentive Program Ordinance as amended 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: abstained; Councilwoman Rivera: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 6-0.
C. An Ordinance Creating the Pawtucket Central Falls Station District Joint Planning Commission-Second Reading (Figueroa)
Public Hearing: no one signed up to address the council.
Motion to approve the ordinance creating the Pawtucket Central Falls Station District Joint Planning Commission was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Figueroa and 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. An Ordinance Creating the Central Falls Nuisance Task Force and Amending City Ordinances Relative to Nuisance Properties- Introduction (Ferri, by request)
Introduced
E. A Resolution of the City Council supporting the Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center’s Victims of Crime Act grant application (Ferri)
Colonel Mendonca spoke about the VOCA grant and the impact made by the partnership with the RI Coalition Against Domestic Violence.
Motion to approve the resolution was made by Councilman Acosta, seconded by Councilman Fonseca and Councilman Solano. Motion Carried 7-0.
F. A Resolution in support of 2017-H 5700 and 2017-S 0619 entitled “An Act Relating to Elections – In-Person Early Voting” (Acosta)
Mr. Rob Rock, 400 Dover Avenue, East Providence, Director of Elections RI in the Office of the Secretary of State -explained the current issues with emergency voting and spoke about the changes being considered by the RI General Assembly. Mr. Rock described elements of the bill related to early in-person voting and the benefits of the new purposed bill.
Motion to approve the Resolution in support of In-person Early Voting Bill was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion Carried 7-0.
G. A Resolution of the Central Falls City Council on Hotel Tax (Rivera)
Councilwoman Rivera explained the purpose of the resolution and the value of the hotel tax for Blackstone Valley tourism.
Motion to approve the resolution was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Figueroa and Councilman Solano. Motion carried 7-0.
H. A Resolution of Central Falls City Council in Condolences and Congratulations
i. Resolution of Condolence for Mr. Reinaldo “El Chancero” Perez (Ferri)
A moment of silence was observed in honor of Mr. Reinaldo Perez.
VII. New Business
A. Consideration for Tax Abatements
| Property Owner | Tax Year | Property Information |
| Royal Cab Inc. | 2016 | Tangible/PP: cab company |
Bob Battey, Tax Assessor, spoke about properties being considered for abatement.
A motion to approve tax abatements was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca. The motion carried 7-0.
ii. Board of Appeals Abatements
| Property Owner | Tax Year | Property Information |
| Azores Apartments LLC | 2016 | RE @ 39 Valley St; AP 4, Lot 440 |
| Mayer, Mark & Marie | 2016 | RE @ 366 Central St; AP 5, Lot 356 |
| Mayer, Mark & Marie | 2016 | RE @ 69 Clay St; AP 5, Lot 58 |
| Mayer, Mark & Marie | 2016 | RE @ 108 Cross St; AP 5, Lot 446 |
| Merow, Susan | 2016 | RE @ 13 Mowry St; AP 8, lot 66 |
A motion to approve the board of appeals abatements was made by Councilman Fonseca, seconded by Councilwoman Rivera. Motion carried 7-0.
B. City Council Sitting as Board of License Commissioners
i. Consideration of business license
| Class of License | Applicant | Business Information |
| Renewal | William Sanchez | Darling’s Cyber Café 663 Dexter Street |
| Renewal | Sergio Tabares | La Casona 768 Broad Street |
| New | Brenda E. Aleman | Super Ice Cream 112 Jenks Ave. |
| New (continued from April 10, 2017) | Jairo A. Echeverry | Budare Grille Venezuelan Restaurant 716 Dexter Street |
A motion to approve Sidewalk Café Renewals was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Solano and Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried 7-0.
Brenda Aleman, owner of Super Ice Cream answered questions from Council regarding her business. Motion to approve the application of Super Ice Cream was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Figueroa and Councilwoman Rivera. Motion carried 7-0.
A motion to table consideration of Sidewalk Café license of Budare Grille was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilman Acosta. Motion carried 7-0.
ii. Advertised Hearing and Consideration of petition for new Alcoholic Beverage Class B (Victualling) license for Restaurant Montecristo, LLC, 804 Broad Street, Central Falls, RI 02863
Samuel Lones Martinez, owner of Restaurant Montecristo, answered questions from the Council regarding his business plan and operations. Motion to approve the license application made by Councilman Lazieh. 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.
iii. Consideration of special permit for use of Jenks Park for Tabernaculo El Nuevo Pacto, 155 Moshassuck Street, Central Falls: June 24th, 2017; 3:00 pm-6:00 pm
Jessica Rivera Perez, a representative for Tabernaculo El Nuevo Pacto, spoke on their behalf and answered questions from the council. A motion to approve the application was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried 7-0.
C. Correspondence:
i. Town of East Greenwich Rhode Island Resolution in Opposition to H5475 and SO481, an Act Relating to Cities and Towns-Subdivision of Land.
Received
VIII. Good & Welfare
Councilman Lazieh spoke about items to be brought before the council and gave the council information about becoming a notary republic.
Councilwoman Fonseca announced several events taking place in the City;
· The City hosted a census job recruitment fair May 11, 2017.
· New Leaders Council of Rhode Island lunching on May 8, 2017.
· Roger Williams University presentation May 15, 2017.
· Honors Night for Central Falls High School May 31, 2017.
· The Cape Verdean Cultural Night at the High School June 2, 2017.
· Central Falls High School graduation, June 10, 2017.
Councilman Solano congratulated the School Department and Rob Sayer-McCord, Director of Parks and Rec for a successful earth day clean up event on April 22, 2017.
Councilman Acosta thanked the Lyons Club for successful hosting the Warrior Dash on April 29th, 2017.
IX. Adjournment
Motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Solano. Meeting adjourned at 7:55pm.
Sonia Grace, City Clerk