City of Central Falls
City Council Meeting
Board of License Commissioners Meeting
Central Falls City Hall
Monday, January 8, 2018
6:00 p.m.
Minutes
Council President Bob Ferri called the meeting to order at the Central Falls City Council Chambers at 6:00 pm.
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. Councilwoman Fonseca was absent. Quorum was present.
II. Pledge of Allegiance
Councilman Ferri lead the reciting of the pledge of allegiance.
Motion to move item IV. to after item VII.B. was made by COUNCILMAN SOLANO, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried 6-0.
III. Public Comment
Lorraine Savard, 76 Emmet St- requested that the Council consider a resolution in opposition to the transfer station being proposed in the Fairlawn section of Pawtucket.
IV. Approval of Records
A. Meeting minutes December 11, 2017
Motion to deny approval of the meeting minutes was made by Councilman Lazieh. Motion was not seconded. Motion died.
Motion to approve the meeting minutes with amendment in section B. Board of License Commissioners to reflect vote 5-1-1 was made by Councilwoman Fonseca. Motion was seconded by Councilman Acosta. Motion carried 7-0.
B. Meeting minutes December 18, 2017
Motion to approve was made by Councilwoman Fonseca. Councilwoman Fonseca withdrew her motion.
Motion to table the minutes was made by Councilman Lazieh. Motion was not seconded. Motion died.
Motion to reject the minutes was made by Councilman Lazieh. Motion was not seconded. Motion died.
Motion to approve the minutes was made Councilwoman Rivera, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried 6-1.
V. Executive Communications
A. Consideration of appointment by Mayor James A. Diossa of Juan Pablo Restrepo of 115 Cross St., to the Central Falls Board of Canvassers and Registration
Motion to approve the appointment was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion carried 6-0.
Councilwoman Fonseca entered the meeting at 6:13pm
B. Department Financial Reports
i. City Clerk Department- November 2017
ii. Department of Code Enforcement-November 2017
iii. Fire Department-November 2017
iv. Police Department: November 2017
v. Finance Department: July 2017 Revenue, August 2017 Expense
Received
Irina Gorman, Acting Finance Director, and Sonia Grace, City Clerk, answered questions related to the reports.
VI. Schedule of Bills- Hearing and/or consideration
A. Ordinance creating The Vacant or Abandoned Commercial Storefronts Act- Second Reading (Ferri)
Public Hearing: No one signed up to speak
Motion to approve the ordinance was made by Councilman Acosta, 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.
B. Ordinance creating The Central Falls Green and Complete Streets Initiative- Second Reading (Acosta)
Sarah Mitchell, RI Bicycle Association—spoke in support of passage of the ordinance
Motion to approve was made by Councilwoman Rivera, seconded by Councilman Solano and Councilwoman Fonseca.
Motion to amend the section 32-313 to add “with notice given to the City Council within two business days” was made by Councilman Acosta, 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.
Motion to approve the ordinance as amended was made by Councilwoman Rivera, seconded by Councilman Solano 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.
C. Ordinance Amending Chapter 30, “Solid Waste,” Article I “In General,”- Introduction (Ferri)
Introduced.
D. Resolution Opposing the FCC's Decision on Net Neutrality and Calling for a Congressional Resolution to Overturn the Decision (Acosta)
Motion to approve the resolution was made by Councilwoman Fonseca , seconded by Councilwoman Rivera. Motion carried 7-0.
E. Resolution of Central Falls City Council in Condolences and Congratulations
Motion to approve resolution of congratulations to the following individuals, introduced by Councilman Lazieh, was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion carried 7-0.
Gary Furtado, CEO of Navigant Credit Union on being a member since 1978 and President/CEO since 1987
Norma Jean Barbour on her 75th birthday
Eleanor (Ayoub) Thomas on her 89th birthday
Central Falls Police Chief James Mendonca on his installation as president of the Rhode Island Police Chief’s Association on January 20th 2018
Mary (Gouveia) Goes on her 97th birthday
Diane Lazieh on her 60th birthday
Mary Massiwer on her 90th birthday
Rose Marie (Benoit) Bennett on her 79th birthday
Resolution of condolences to the family of Albert Kishfy who passed away on December 26, 2017, introduced by Councilman Lazieh.
Motion of condolences to the family of Fred Doura who passed away on December 29, 2017, introduced by Councilman Ferri.
Motion to approve the resolutions was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Figueroa and Councilman Lazieh. Motion carried 7-0.
VII. New Business
A. Consideration of Tax Abatements Submitted by Tax Assessor
| Property Owner | Tax Year | Property Information |
| Markowski, Richard | 2014 | MV: 2000 NIS MGS |
| Markowski, Richard | 2015 | MV: 2000 NIS MGS |
| Markowski, Richard | 2016 | MV: 2000 NIS MGS |
| Pawtucket Central Falls Development Corp | 2017 | RE: 204 Broad street |
| Labayo, Rosa R | 2014 | MV: 2011 Toyota Sci |
| Labayo, Rosa R | 2015 | MV: 2011 Toyota Sci |
| Altongy, Gilbert J & Mimi | 2017 | Comm: 1002 Broad Street |
| Altongy, Gilbert J & Mimi | 2017 | Comm: 1002 Broad Street |
Mr. Bob Battey was present to speak on the abatements and answer questions from the Council.
Motion to approve the abatements was made by Councilman Figueroa, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion carried 7-0.
B. City Council Sitting as Board of License Commissioners
i. Consideration of petition of license
| Class of License | Business Information |
| Class A- Restaurant Transfer (New Owner) | El Rancho, LLC D/B/A El Rancho Restaurant 1252 Broad St. |
| Laundry Renewal | JKM Enterprise D/B/A Lighthouse Laundromat 900 Broad St. |
| Sunnyhill Farms Renewal | Thao Vo D/B/A Sunnyhill Farms 364 Dexter St. |
| Tobacco New | Dolgen Rhode Island, LLC, D/B/A Dollar General 400 Broad St. |
| Tobacco New | LR Food Mart, D/B/A LR Food Market 355oad St. |
Motion to approve the application of El Rancho was made by Councilman Acosta, 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.
Motion to approve the renewal of JKM Enterprise was made by Councilman Acosta, 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.
Motion to approve the renewal of Sunnyhill Farms 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.
Motion to approve the application of Dolgen Rhode Island was made by Councilman Acosta, 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.
Motion to table application of Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca. Motion carried 6-0-1.
C. Hearing and consideration of agreement between the City of Central Falls and the Fraternal Order of Police, Lodge 2
Motion to approve the agreement was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion carried 6-0.
D. 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
1. Cambridge Associates of Providence, Rhode Island for alleged damage to property on August 13, 2017
ii. Possible Consideration of Claim (a) (1)
Motion to table consideration of the claim was made by Councilman Acosta, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca. Motion carried 7-0.
E. Consideration of Appointment of Tree Warden- Matthew C. Largess
Re-appointment; Term to expire 1/1/2019
Motion to approve the appointment of Matthew Largess as Tree Warden was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca. Motion carried 7-0.
F. Consideration of petition by National Grid and Verizon for permission for a joint pole location on Higginson Avenue
Motion to approve the petition by National Grid was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded Councilman Solano. Motion carried 7-0.
G. Consideration of the 2018 City Council Meeting Schedule
Motion to amend the calendar by removing the asterisk following the February 26th meeting was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca. Motion carried.
Motion to approve the 2018 meeting calendar as amended was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion carried 7-0.
VIII. Good & Welfare
Councilman Solano congratulated Elaine Partridge and staff at the Department of Public Works for the work maintain the street clear during the last snow storm
Councilman Acosta announced the dates of matches by the Central Falls wrestling teams at Central Falls High School
Councilman Ferri: congratulated the Central Falls Unified sports teams for the recognition they received in December
IX. Adjournment
Motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Meeting adjourned at 7:12pm.
Sonia Grace
City Clerk
Approved February 12, 2018