Seal

City of Central Falls

City Council Meeting

Board of License Commissioners Meeting

Ella Risk Elementary School

949 Dexter St. Central Falls, RI 02863

Monday, June 25, 2018

6:00 p.m.

Minutes

Council President Bob Ferri called the meeting to order at Ella Risk Elementary School at 6:02pm

I. Roll Call

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

II. Pledge of Allegiance

Council President lead the reciting of the pledge of allegiance.

III. Public Comment

Vernia Carter, 52 Earle St- spoke on the tobacco licenses being considered tonight

David Veliz, 525 Broad, Policy Advocate at Progreso Latino- spoke about the tobacco licenses being considered at tonight’s council meeting.

Jean Morris, 30 Washington St- thanked the council and everyone who sent her well wishes and flowers after she was struck by a vehicle.

Councilwoman Fonseca entered at 6:09pm.

IV. Approval of Records-Meeting minutes

i. June 5, 2018

ii. June 11, 2018

iii. June 12, 2018

Councilman Lazieh objected to the minutes.

Motion to approve the minutes of June 5, 2018 was made by Councilman Acosta, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried 5-0. Councilman Lazieh did not vote.

Motion to approve the meeting minutes collectively was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilman Acosta. Motion carried 5-0. Councilman Lazieh did not vote.

V. Executive Communications

A. Appointment by Mayor James Diossa to the Central Falls Board of Canvassers and Registration: Bryant Estrada, 12 Madison Ave., Central Falls; term to expire on June 25, 2021

Sonia Grace, City Clerk, explained that Mr. Estrada was not able to be present because of a previous commitment. Ms. Grace also explained the work that Mr. Estrada will be undertaking.

Motion to approve the appointment of Ms. Estrada was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried 6-0.

B. Department Financial Reports

i. City Clerk Department- May 2018

ii. Department of Code Enforcement-May 2018

iii. Finance Department: April 2018 Revenue, Expense, Capital

iv. Fire Department- May 2018

v. Police Department- May 2018

Mr. Leonard Morganis, Acting Finance Director answered questions regarding the city’s revenue and expenses

Received

C. Executive Orders

i. 2018-0002: Acting Finance Director

ii. 2018-0003: Swearing in of Mr. Kevin Roca

Received

VI. Schedule of Bills- Hearing and/or consideration

A. Ordinance Amending Chapter 14, “Courts,” Article II “Municipal Court,” Division I “Generally”- Second Reading (Ferri)

PUBLIC HEARING: no one signed up to speak

Motion to approve the ordinance was made by Councilman Acosta, seconded Councilman Solano and Councilman Figueroa. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilman Lazieh: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried unanimously.

B. Ordinance Amending Chapter 8, “Animals,” Article V “Dogs,” Division I “Generally”-Second Reading (Rivera)

PUBLIC HEARING:

Edna Poulin, 68 Notre Dame St- requested that the words “seeing-eye dog” be replace with “service dog” to allow other animals to support residents.

Motion to amend the ordinance by replacing the words “seeing eye dog” with “service dog” was made by Councilman Acosta, seconded by Councilman Solano and Councilman Lazieh. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilman Lazieh: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion to approve the ordinance as amended was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilman Lazieh: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried unanimously.

C. Ordinance Creating the Central Falls Participatory Budgeting Committee- First Reading (Acosta)

PUBLIC HEARING:

Edna Poulin, 68 Notre Dame St.- expressed her concerns about the list of committee members as presented in the ordinance

Vernia Carter, 52 Earle St.- suggested that the board include more residents. Ms. Carter also expressed her concerns about not being able to participate in the budget process.

Lorraine Savard, 78 Emmett St.- expressed her concern about the composition of the committee.

Motion to approve the ordinance 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: no; Councilman Lazieh: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 5-1.

D. Resolution of the Central Falls City Council supporting the action of the Second Continental Congress (Ferri)

Motion to approve the resolution was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried 6-0.

E. Resolution in support of legislation H8243, an act relating to towns and cities- Central Falls retiree pension benefits (Lazieh)

Representative James McLaughlin provided an update of initiatives and work of the RI General Assembly and spoke on the resolutions

Motion to approve the resolution was made by Councilman Lazieh. Motion was not seconded. Motion died.

F. Resolution in support of legislation H8244, an act relating to towns and cities- retirement of municipal employees (Lazieh)

Motion to approve the resolution was made by Councilman Lazieh. Motion was not seconded. Motion died.

G. Resolution of Central Falls City Council in Condolences and Congratulations

Motion to approve the resolution of condolences to the families of the following individuals was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca. Motion carried 6-0.

Introduced by Councilman Lazieh:

Caren Deeb Kouri who passed away on 6/2/18

Raymond M. Dumont who passed away on 6/3/18

Doris M. Chagnon who passed away on 6/16/18

VII. New Business

A. City Council Sitting as Board of License Commissioners

i. Consideration of petition of license

Class of License

Business Information

Entertainment- Per Diem

New

La Casona Restaurant

768 Broad St.

Entertainment

Sidewalk Cafe

New

A&M Bakery, LLC D/B/A La Sorpresa Restaurant

723 Broad St.

Tobacco

New

Edwin Villafana D/B/A NY Dely and Minimarket

528 Dexter St

Tobacco

New

Walgreen Eastern Co, Inc. D/B/A Rite Aid #10230

1114 Broad St.

Entertainment

New

Latinos en Accion de Waltham

11 Carter St, Waltham, MA

Ms. Cecilia Rodriguez, representative of Latinos en Accion de Waltham was present to answer questions. Motion to approve the application for the F1 and entertainment licenses was made by Councilman Figueroa, seconded by Councilman Solano and 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 unanimously.

Representative from Walgreens was present to speak on the application.

Motion to table the application of NY Dely and Minimarket and Rite Aid #10230 to gather a 3-year history 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: no; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 5-1.

Motion to approve the application of La Casona was made by Councilman Acosta, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca. Motion carried 6-0.

Motion to approve the application of La Sorpresa was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried 6-0.

B. Consideration of petition for use of Jenks Park

Ministerio International Bethel

June 29, July 13, July 27, August 10, August 24, September 7, 2018; 5:00-7:30pm

Motion to approve the petition was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion carried 6-0.

C. 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

Motion to enter into executive session was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca. Motion carried 6-0.

Motion to seal the minutes was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion carried 6-0.

ii. Frank Rodriguez, of 160 Illinois, Central Falls, for alleged damages to personal property sustained on April 16, 2018 (tabled June 11, 2018)

Motion to approve the claim of Mr. Rodriguez in full was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilwoman Rivera: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried unanimously.

D. Presentation by Department of Planning and Economic Development and Department of Parks & Recreation and Community Service on efforts to improve the city’s fields

Motion to table the presentation was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried 6-0.

VIII. Good & Welfare

There was none

IX. Adjournment

Motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilman Acosta. Meeting adjourned at 8:19pm.

Sonia Grace, City Clerk

Approved October 10, 2018