City of Central Falls

City Council Meeting

Board of License Commissioners Meeting

Central Falls City Hall

580 Broad St., Central Falls, RI 02863

Monday, September 10, 2018

6:00 p.m.

 

Meeting Minutes

City Council President Robert Ferri called the meeting to order in the Central Falls City Council Chambers 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, Councilwoman Maria Rivera and Councilman Frank Solano. Councilwoman Carlene Fonseca, was absent.

 

                II.         Pledge of Allegiance

Councilman Ferri led the pledge of allegiance.

 

             III.         Public Comment

Edna Poulin, 68 Notre Dame St- shared her concerned that the appointment of Mr.

 

Wilder Arboleda to the Wyatt Facility may constitute a conflict of interest because of his position as a City employee.

 

Thomas Lazieh, 1172 Lonsdale Ave.- shared his concern regarding the appointment of Mr. Arboleda. Mr. Lazieh also objected to the minutes and the items that, according to him, have not been placed on the agenda.

 

Councilwoman Carlene Fonseca entered at 6:08pm.

 

Jonathon Acosta, 535 Roosevelt Ave- Mr. Acosta read a prepared statement in which he spoke about the manner in which the meetings of the City Council have been held, and shared his concern that meetings, agendas and discussions have been addressed openly and following the rules.

 

Lorraine Savard, 76 Emmett St.- asked about the public hearing for the bonds, asked questions about the public hearing on the agenda and shared her concern regarding the timeline of the community meetings.

 

              IV.         Approval of Records-Meeting minutes

1.       June 25, 2018 (tabled July 23, 2018)

2.      July 23, 2018

3.      July 30, 2018

4.      August 2, 2018

No action was taken on this item

 

                 V.         Executive Communications

A.     Consideration of appointment by Mayor James Diossa

1.       Mr. Wilder Arboleda, of 197 Bucklin St., Pawtucket, to the Wyatt Detention Facility board with a term to expire on September 1, 2020.

Motion to approve the appointment of Mr. Arboleda was made by Councilman Solano, seconded Councilwoman Rivera.

 

Mr. Joshua Giraldo, Chief of Staff, spoke on behalf of the appointment.

 

Attorney Matthew Jezyk answered questions from the Council regarding possible conflict of interest for Mr. Arboleda. He also explained the role of the board and the legal relationship with the City.

 

Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: present; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilman Lazieh: yes; Councilwoman Rivera: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 6-0.

 

B.     Department Financial Reports

1.       City Clerk Department- July 2018

2.      Department of Code Enforcement- July 2018

3.      Finance Department: June 2018 Revenue, Expense, Capital; July 2018: Revenue, Expense; FY18 Unaudited Financial Summary

4.      Fire Department- July 2018

5.      Police Department- July 2018

 

Mr. Len Morganis, Finance Director, answered questions from the Council regarding the financial report, reserves and tax rates.

 

Chief Robert Bradley of the Fire Department answered questions about the grant funds received for the purchase and maintenance of gear and equipment.

 

City Clerk Sonia Grace answered questions regarding the IT services received by the City.

 

Colonel James Mendonca of the Police Department answered questions about the monthly report related to the fines collected and the number of arrests.

 

C.     Executive Orders

1.       2018-0006: Acting Director of Parks, Recreation and Community Service

Joshua Giraldo, Chief of Staff, spoke on behalf of the appointment of Ms. Tracey Giron.

 

              VI.         Schedule of Bills- Hearing and/or consideration

A.     Ordinance amending Chapter 12, “Businesses,” Article 1 “In General”, Section 12-4 “Chronic Nuisance Properties”- First Reading (Rivera)

Motion to approve the ordinance was made by Councilman Acosta, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca.

Motion to amend the ordinance, by deleting section 3 (A)(ii) of the proposed ordinance, was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilman Solano. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes; Councilman Lazieh: yes; Councilwoman Rivera: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 6-0.

Councilwoman Fonseca was not present during roll call.

 

Motion to approve the ordinance as amended was made by Councilman Acosta, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. 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 6-0.

 

B.     Ordinance amending Chapter 30, “Solid Waste,” Article I “In General,”- First Reading (Rivera)

Motion to approve the ordinance was made by Councilman Acosta, seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca. Roll call vote: Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilwoman Fonseca: yes; Councilman Lazieh: yes; Councilwoman Rivera: yes; Councilman Solano: yes. Motion carried 6-0.

 

Councilman Figueroa was not present during roll call.

 

C.     Ordinance Amending the Central Falls Comprehensive Plan (Pawtucket / Central Falls Transit Oriented Development Area)- First Reading (Ferri)

No action was taken on this item.

 

D.     Ordinance Permitting a Proration of the Homestead Exemption- First Reading (Acosta)

No action was taken on this item.

 

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

No action was taken on this item.

 

F.      Ordinance Creating the Wage Theft Prevention and Reduction Act- Introduction (Solano)

No action was taken on this item.

 

G.     Resolution of the City Council Approving the 2018 Pawtucket-Central Falls Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan (Rivera)

No action was taken on this item.

 

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

Dr. Adib M. Mechrefe	7/30
Rhoda C. (Salhany) Michael	8/1
Barbara Valerie Fager	8/5
Donna Marie Maurice	8/15
Austin Owen Tague	8/16
Raymond Christiansen	8/19
Mary Bedrosian	8/22
Doris Turrenne	8/23
Florenzio Lugo	8/25

 

           VII.         New Business

A.     Consideration of Tax Abatement submitted by Tax Assessor

Property Owner	Tax Year	Property Information
Wells Fargo Vendor Financial Services	2018	PP: Leased
Neves, Celeste D	2018	RE: A. Plat 3, Lot 148 @ 61 Jenks Avenue
Valentin, Isaac	2017	MV: 2004 FRHT; Reg #028125
SPOK, Inc	2018	PP: Leased
Anad, Amit	2017	RE: A. Plat 10; Lot 4A on Cleveland Street
Anad, Amit	2018	RE: A. Plat 10; Lot 4A on Cleveland Street
Raquel's Beauty Salon LLC	2018	PP: @ 106 Sacred Heart Avenue
Kazarian, Kevin	2018	RE:  A. Plat 6, Lot 49 @ 329 Central Street
USB Leasing LT Corp	2018	MV: 2018 Dodge DUR; Reg# SM810
Mayer Family Revocable Living Trust	2018	RE: A. Plat 3, Lot 140 @ 6 Lewis Street
Mayer Family Revocable Living Trust	2018	RE: A. Plat 5, Lot 356 @ 366 Central Street
Mayer Family Revocable Living Trust	2018	RE: A. Plat 5, Lot 446 @ 108 Cross Street
Mayer Family Revocable Living Trust	2018	RE: A. Plat 5, Lot 58 @ 69 Clay Street
Bennett, Helen	2018	RE: A. Plat 6, Lot 233 @ 346 Cowden Street
Reyna Diaz, Eridia B	2016	MV : Multiple vehicles
Toyota Industries Commercial Finance	2018	PP: 2017 Hino: Reg #071977
Wagdi, Safa & Wagdi, Nadia	2018	RE: 4-221A-5 at 1002 Broad Street
Wagdi, Safa	2018	RE: 4-221A-8 at 1002 Broad Street
Wagdi, Safa	2018	RE: 4-221-7 at 1002 Broad Street
Cruise Carpets Inc.	2018	PP: @ 736 Dexter St

 

Mr. Bob Battey, Tax Assessor, explained the reason for the abatements and answered questions from the Council.

 

Motion to approve the abatements was made by Councilman Lazieh, seconded by Councilman Acosta. Motion carried 6-0.

           

B.     Petition by Jose Henriquez on behalf of Iglesia Pentecostal Unida Hispana de RI for the waiver of special use permit application fees

Motion to waive the fees for Iglesia Pentecostal Unida Hispana de RI, with the exception of any application fees was made by Councilman Lazieh seconded by Councilwoman Fonseca. Motion carried 7-0.

 

C.     City Council Sitting as Board of License Commissioners

                                      i.      Consideration of petition of license

Class of License	Applicant Information
Pigeon New	Joao G. Gomes 44 Notre Dame St.
Pigeon New	José Burgo 637 Pine St.
Bakery New	Semisweet LLC 744 Broad St.
Catering New	Semisweet LLC 744 Broad St.
Peddler	Saijem LLC 11 Anderton Ave., North Providence

 

Mr. Gomes was present to speak on his application and answered questions from the Council about his application. Motion to approve the application was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion carried 7-0.

 

Mr. Burgo was present to speak on his application and answered questions from the Council about his application. Motion to approve the application was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried 7-0.

 

Ms. Koon was present to speak on her application and answered questions from the Council.  Motion to approve the applications of Semisweet LLC was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion carried 7-0.

 

Motion to approve the application of Saijem LLC was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion carried 7-0.

 

D.     Public Hearing pertaining to Central Falls Police Department 2018 application for JAG/Byrne Grant funds

 

Mr. Jerzyk answered questions from the Council about the current litigation and the legal requirements of the proposal.

 

Public Hearing:

Edna Poulin, 68 Notre Dame St- asked about the amount requested in the proposal

Lorraine Savard, 76 Emmett St- expressed her support for the JAG/Byrne application

 

Colonel Mendonca answered questions from the Council about the application.

 

E.     Public Hearing pertaining to Adoption of the 2018 Pawtucket-Central Falls Multi-Jurisdictional Hazard Mitigation Plan

Mr. Thom Deller, Director of the Department of Planning and Economic Development reviewed the plan. Mr. Deller answered questions about details of the plan.

 

Public Hearing- no one signed up to speak

 

F.      Presentation by Department of Planning and Economic Development and Department of Parks & Recreation and Community Service on efforts to improve the city’s fields (tabled July 23, 2018)

Mr. Thom Deller and Ms. Tracey Giron spoke about the work planned to remediate and improve the city’s parks. Both Mr. Deller and Ms. Giron answered questions from the Council about the use of the parks and the timeline to regain full use by the community.

 

Councilman Solano exited the meeting at 9:01pm and returned at 9:04pm

Councilman Figueroa exited the meeting at 9:05pm and returned at 9:08pm

 

G.     Hearing and/or Consideration of Permanent Easement Agreement between the City of Central Falls and the Narragansett Bay Commission for Plat 9, Lot 50 at Higginson and Lonsdale Avenues

Mr. Thom Deller presented the details of the easement and answered question from the Council and from the public.

Public Hearing:

Edna Poulin, 68 Notre Dame- asked questions about parking at the fields

Tia Ristaino-Siegel, 14 Worth St- asked about the timeline and the location of the work

Carlos Ocampo- supported the work of the city of fix the fields but asked that the work be completed with expediency so as to minimize the impact on the community.

 

Councilwoman Rivera exited the meeting at 9:28pm and returned at 9:31pm

 

Motion to approve the agreement between the City of Central Falls and the Narragansett Bay Commission was made by Councilman Lazieh, 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.

 

        VIII.         Good & Welfare

No action was taken on this item.

 

              IX.         Adjournment

Motion to adjourn was made by Councilwoman Fonseca, seconded by Councilwoman Rivera. Meeting adjourned at 10:00pm

 

Sonia Grace, City Clerk

Approved October 10, 2018