City of Central Falls
City Council Meeting
Board of License Commissioners Meeting
Central Falls City Hall
Monday, November 13, 2017
6:00 p.m.
Agenda
Council President Robert Ferri called the meeting to order at 6:05pm at the Central Falls City Council chambers.
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, and Councilman Franklin Solano. Councilwoman Maria Rivera and Councilwoman Carlene Fonseca were absent. Quorum was present.
II. Pledge of Allegiance
III. Public Comment
Edna Poulin, 68 Notre Dame St.- shared her concerns about the use of the street sweeper during rainy days and about the scheduling of the sweeper’s.
Lorraine Savard, 76 Emmett St.- shared her concerns about the use of the street sweeper multiple times in same week.
Dan Klotz, 111 Tremont St.- introduced a bike sharing program and suggested that the city consider implementing the program.
Councilwoman Fonseca entered the meeting at 6:15pm.
IV. Approval of Records
A. Meeting minutes September 18, 2017
Motion to table the minutes of September 18 was made by Councilman Lazieh. Motion was not seconded. Motion died.
Councilman Lazieh objected to the minutes and referred to item K.
Motion to amend the meeting minutes of September 18 to replace the vote record of item K from 7-1 to 6-1 was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion carried 6-0.
Motion to table the meeting minutes of September 18 as amended was made by Councilman Lazieh. Motion was not seconded. Motion died.
Motion to approve the meeting minutes of September 18 and October 11 collectively was made by Councilwoman Fonseca. Motion was withdrawn.
Motion to approve the meeting minutes was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Solano and Councilman Figueroa. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilman Lazieh: no; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 5-1.
B. Meeting minutes October 11, 2017
Motion to approve the meeting minutes of October 11 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: abstained; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 5-0.
C. Meeting minutes October 18, 2017
Motion to approve the meeting minutes of October 18 was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilman Acosta. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: present; Councilman Lazieh: abstained; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 5-0.
IV. Executive Communications
A. Consideration of appointments by Mayor James A. Diossa of Stephany Restrepo, 115 Cross St, to the Central Falls Juvenile Hearing Board
Motion to approve the appointment of Ms. Restrepo was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried 6-0.
B. Department Financial Reports
i. City Clerk Department- September, October 2017: Distribution Report
ii. Department of Code Enforcement-September, October 2017: Building Division Permits Issued, Complaints Report
iii. Fire Department-September, October 2017
iv. Police Department: September, October 2017
v. Finance Department: July 2017 Revenue, August 2017 Expense
Irina Gorman, Acting Finance Director answered about the status of the monthly financial reports.
Chief Robert Bradley, Central Falls Fire Department, answered questions from the council about the status of city’s use of Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island.
V. Schedule of Bills- Hearing and/or consideration
A. Ordinance creating The Vacant or Abandoned Commercial Storefronts Act- Introduction (Ferri)
Motion to table the ordinance to the December meeting was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Solano and Councilman Lazieh. Motion carried 6-0.
B. Ordinance amending Chapter 22 “Law Enforcement” and Chapter 20 “Fire Prevention and Protection”- Introduction (Solano)
Introduced
C. Ordinance creating The Central Falls Green And Complete Streets Initiative- Introduction (Acosta)
Introduced
D. Resolution in support of the City of Central Falls’ Application for Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Acquisition Grant (Ferri)
Derek Collamatti, Grant Writer, presented details of grant application and answered questions from the Council.
Joshua Giraldo, Chief of Staff, and Matthew Jerzyk, City Solicitor, explained issues affecting the sites being considered, explained the project details and answered questions from the Council.
Motion to approve the resolution was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilman Acosta. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: no; Councilman Lazieh: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 5-1.
E. Resolution in support of the City of Central Falls application to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Outdoor Recreation Grant (Ferri)
Motion to table the consideration of the resolution to the next Council meeting was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Lazieh. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: no; Councilman Acosta: no; Councilman Figueroa: no; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilman Lazieh: yes; Councilman Solano: no. Motion failed 2-4.
Motion to approve the resolution was made by Councilman Acosta, seconded by Councilman Solano. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: no; Councilman Lazieh: no; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 4-2.
F. Resolution in support of the City of Central Falls application to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Small Recreation Grant (Ferri)
Motion to approve the resolution was made by Councilman Acosta, seconded by Councilman Solano and Councilman Figueroa.
Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: no; Councilman Lazieh: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 5-1.
G. Resolution of Central Falls City Council in Condolences and Congratulations
None
VI. New Business
A. Citation of the Central Falls City Council to Joshua Cassidy, Israel Rivera and Officer Scott Weitchmann in recognition of their courageous and selfless act on August 23, 2017
Chief Robert Bradley, of the Central Falls Fire Department, read a letter written by Lt. Christopher Gray describing the incidents of August 23, 2017. Letter was entered into the record.
Citation was presented to Officer Weitchmann and Mr. Cassidy by council President Ferri.
B. Consideration of Appointment of Donald Godin to the position of City Sergeant
Council President Ferri explained the role of city sergeant and described the tasks with which Mr. Godin will assist the City.
Motion to approve the appointment of Mr. Donald Godin was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca and Councilman Solano. Motion carried 6-0.
C. Presentation by Georgia Lowe regarding Census 2020
Ms. Georgia Lowe presented on the work taking place in preparation for the Census 2020 and the test taking place in 2018 in Providence County.
Ms. Lowe asked for the Council’s support in communicating with the community about the availability of employment with the Census.
Ms. Lowe answered questions from the Council about the work to be conducted by census workers, clarification about recruitment and specific questions in the census forms.
D. Consideration of lease agreement between the City of Central Falls and South Side Community Land Trust
Jenny Boone, Grants and Outreach Manager, spoke about the work of the South Side Community Land Trust in Providence, and specifically, the work to take place in Central Falls.
Mr. Peter Friedrichs, Director of Planning of Economic Development, described the lot being used for the community garden.
Ms. Boone and Mr. Friedrichs answered questions from the Council.
Motion to table the resolution until the December meeting was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Lazieh. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: no; Councilman Figueroa: no; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilman Lazieh: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 4-2.
E. Consideration of waiver of special use permit fee for welcome sign for Whittet-Higgins Company at 33 Higginson Ave.
Mr. Peter Friedrichs, Director of Planning of Economic Development, explained the reason the request is being considered and answered questions from the council.
Motion to grant the waiver was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca and Councilman Solano.
Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilman Lazieh: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 6-0.
F. Consideration of Tax Abatements Submitted by City Solicitor
| Property Owner | Tax Year | Property Information |
| Tai-o Associates LP | 2016 to present | 555 Roosevelt Ave. |
Motion to table the consideration of the abatements until the December meeting was made by Councilwoman Fonseca and seconded by Councilman Lazieh. Motion carried 6-0.
G. City Council Sitting as Board of License Commissioners
i. Consideration of petition of license
| Class of License | Business Information |
| Class C- Variety New | LRK, LLC, D/B/A LR Food Market 355 Broad St. |
| Class A- Restaurant New | La Herradura Taqueria Mexicana, LLC D/B/A La Herradura Taqueria Mexicana 716 Dexter St. |
Motion to approve the petition for license for LRK, subject to the submittal of all state, federal and local licenses, 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; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 6-0.
Motion to approve the petition for license by La Herradura Taqueria Mexicana 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; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 6-0.
ii. Advertised hearing and consideration of petition of Alcoholic Beverages Class B (Victualling) license for Rafael Ruano D/B/A La Colombiana Bar & Grill, 477 Dexter St., Central Falls
Mr. Ruano was present to speak about his business plan and answer questions from the Council.
Motion to approve the license application was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Acosta and Councilman Solano. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilman Lazieh: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 6-0.
iii. Advertised hearing and consideration of 2017-2018 liquor license renewals
Motion to accept the additions and amend the list of liquor license renewals and business license renewals was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion carried 6-0.
Mr. Jerzyk, on behalf of the Central Falls Police Department requested that Council continue the consideration of the renewal of American Colombian Liquors pending the review of a police report and a hearing with the licensee.
Motion to approve the renewals collectively was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion was withdrawn.
Motion to approve the list of liquor license renewals, with the exception of American Colombian Liquors, 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; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 6-0.
iv. Consideration of 2017-2018 business license renewals
Motion to approve the business license renewals, as amended, 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; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 6-0.
VII. Correspondence
None
VIII. Good & Welfare
Councilman Ferri: asked for a moment of silence for Mr. Melvin Medina who passed away after being hit by a car. Councilman Ferri also thanked everyone who attended the opening of the Veterans Park on November 11.
Councilman Lazieh: requested a report on the items discussed during executive session and the opportunity to discuss financial data.
Councilwoman Fonseca: described the events being hosted by the Holiday Express to celebrate Christmas and ensure children in Central Falls received a gift.
Councilman Acosta: Recognized Councilwoman Rivera who went to Puerto Rico to assist in hurricane recovery and commended the city for appointment of a city sergeant.
IX. Adjournment
Motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Meeting adjourned at 9:24pm
Sonia Grace, City Clerk
Approved December 11, 2017