City of Central Falls

Special Council Meeting

Ella Risk Elementary School

949 Dexter St. Central Falls, RI 02863

Tuesday, June 12, 2018

6:00 p.m.

 

Minutes

 

Council President Bob Ferri called the meeting to order at the Central Falls Council chambers at 6:07pm.

 

 

 

1.       Roll Call

Sonia Grace, City Clerk, conducted the roll call. Present were Councilman Robert Ferri, Councilman Hugo Figueroa, Councilman Thomas Lazieh, Councilwoman Maria Rivera and Councilman Franklin Solano. Councilwoman Carlene Fonseca and Councilman Jonothan Acosta were absent.

 

2.      Pledge of Allegiance

Councilman Ferri led the reciting of the pledge of allegiance.

 

Councilman Lazieh objected to the meeting by reading the attached statement.

 

Councilman Acosta entered at 6:06pm.

 

City Solicitor, Matthew Jerzyk, responded to Councilman Lazieh’s complaint. According to Solicitor Jerzyk, the complaints made by the Councilman Lazieh had with no merit. Mr. Jerzyk also answered questions from the Council regarding the Open Meetings Law and the Council Rules

Mr. Jerzyk stated that all Council meetings were posted correctly and did not violate state law.

 

3.      Public Hearing and Consideration of Fiscal Year 2019 City Budget

PUBLIC HEARING: Council President Ferri opened the public hearing.

Lorraine Savard, 76 Emmett St- objected to the proposed budget, especially the salaries of department heads. Ms. Savard also complained about the amount of taxes she pays and spoke about the city’s debt.

 

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

Motion to table the ordinance was made by Councilman Lazieh. Motion was not seconded. Motion died.

Motion to approve the ordinance was made by Councilwoman Rivera, seconded by Councilman Figueroa and Councilman Solano. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilman Lazieh: did not vote; Councilwoman Rivera: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 5-0.

 

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

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

 

Motion to amend the salaries as follows was made by Councilman Lazieh:

Business Outreach and Public Relations Coordinator- $40,000

Chief of Staff- $55,000

Community Health Coach- $40,000

Deputy Director, City Clerk- $55,000

Deputy Director, DPW/Code Enforcement-$40,000

Deputy Director, Finance- $64,000

Deputy Director, Planning /Economic Development- $55,000

Director, DPW/Code Enforcement- $84,000

Director, Planning /Economic Development- $67,000

Inspector, Electric- $6,000

Inspector, Plumbing- $6,000

Principal Planner- $50,000

Special Projects Consultant- $40,000

Motion was not seconded. Motion died.

 

Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilman Lazieh: no; Councilwoman Rivera: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 5-1.

 

c.   An Ordinance Amending the Wage Schedule Generally-Second Reading (Ferri)

Motion to table the ordinance was made by Councilman Lazieh. Motion was not seconded. Motion died.

Motion to approve the ordinance was made by Councilwoman Rivera, seconded by Councilman Solano. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilman Lazieh: no; Councilwoman Rivera: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 5-1.

 

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

Motion amend to add a new section 2 with language: “any expenditure of any monies in FY19 from any funds, accounts or sources, either federal, state, local or private spent for any capital program or capital budget expense must be requested of the Central Falls City Council through the normal city charter and revised ordinances budgetary requirements prior to being expended” was made by Councilman Lazieh. Motion was not seconded. Motion died.

 

Motion to amend ordinance with Substitute A was made by Councilman Acosta, seconded by Councilman Figueroa and Councilman Solano. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilman Lazieh: no; Councilwoman Rivera: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 5-1.

 

Motion to approve ordinance as amended was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilwoman Rivera. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilman Lazieh: no; Councilwoman Rivera: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 5-1.

 

4.      Adjournment

Motion to adjourn was made by Councilwoman Rivera, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Meeting adjourned at 6:39pm.

 

Sonia Grace

City Clerk

 

Approved June 25, 2018