City of Central Falls

City Council Meeting

Board of License Commissioners Meeting

Central Falls City Hall

580 Broad St., Central Falls, RI 02863

Monday, December 9, 2019

6:00 p.m.

 

Meeting Minutes

 

City Council President Maria Rivera called the meeting to order at 6:00pm

 

I.       Roll Call

Sonia Grace, City Clerk, conducted the roll call. Present were Council President Maria Rivera, Councilman Jonathon Acosta, Councilman Robert Ferri, Councilman Hugo Figueroa, Councilman Franklin Solano, and Councilwoman Jessica Vega. Councilman Gus Silva was absent Quorum was present.

 

II.     Pledge of Allegiance

Councilwoman Rivera lead the reciting of the pledge of allegiance

 

III.    Public Comment

Jasmine Rios, 30 Illinois St; Sharon Figueroa, 30 Crown St; Genesis Hungria, 210 Galego Court; Christian Pascual, 109 Valley St.; Matina Wright, 57 Earle St; Vernia Carter 52 Earle St.- spoke about their work in the city to decrease the use of tobacco products by youth. They also encourage the City Council to continue to support tobacco use measures.

Representative Jim McLaughlin- brought greetings from the General Assembly and offered to assist the City Council in its initiatives during the 2020 General Assembly session.

 

IV.    Approval of Records- meeting minutes of November 13, 2019

Motion to approve the meeting minutes was made by Councilman Ferri, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion carried 5-0. Council President Rivera abstained from voting.

 

V.      Executive Communications

A.   FY20, Quarter 1 unaudited financial report

Received

Ms. Barbara Addison, Director of Finance, was present and answered questions from the Council regarding the financial report.

 

VI.    New Business

A.   City Council Sitting as Board of License Commissioners

1.    Consideration of petition of license

Class of License	Business Information
Class A- Restaurant New	Mi Tierra Supermarket d/b/a Associate Supermarket 693 Dexter St.
Motion to approve the application of Mi Tierra Supermarket was made by Councilman Ferri, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Mr. Carlos Sanchez was present to speak on behalf on the business Motion carried 6-0.
Class C- Variety New	Idalvi M. Farez Guartatanga d/b/a Agustina’s Market & Multiservices 850 Broad St.
Motion to approve the application was made by Councilman Ferri, seconded by Councilman Solano. Ms. Guartatanga was present to answer questions from the Council Motion carried 6-0.
Private Detective New	James W. Smith III 195 McGregor Street, Manchester, NH 03102
Motion to approve the application of Mr. Smith was made by Councilman Figueroa, seconded by Councilman Acosta. Motion was withdrawn Motion to table the application pending a response from Mr. Smith, in writing, describing the reason for his application in Central Falls and detailing other communities to which he has applied, was made by Councilman Ferri, seconded by Councilwoman Vega. Motion carried 6-0.
Per Diem -Entertainment New	St. Joseph Church 391 High St. New Year’s Eve Party, December 31, 2019
Motion to amend the license requested by St. Joseph Church from Entertainment to F/F1 was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilman Acosta. Motion carried 6-0. Motion to waive the application fee was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilman Ferri, Motion carried 6-0.
Entertainment Amusement Pool table New	JFN & Son’s LLC d/b/a Benjamin’s III 722 Broad St.
Motion to approve the application of JFN & Son’s was made by Councilman Acosta, seconded by Councilwoman Vega and Councilman Solano. Motion carried 6-0. Mr. Jesus Santos was present to speak on behalf of his business

 

2.   Consideration of 2019-2020 business license renewals (late renewal)

 

3.   Advertised hearing and consideration of 2019-2020 liquor license renewals (late renewal)

 

B.   Consideration of Tax Abatement submitted by Tax Assessor

Property Owner	Tax Year	Property Information
Perry, Kendall W	2016	MV: 2010 Chev Mal
Perry, Kendall W	2015	MV: 2010 Chev Mal
Paniagua, Raquel & Ibanez, Mery	2019	RE: 53 Parker Street
City of Central Falls Redevelopment Agency	2017	RE: 663 Pine Street
Mitchell, Morgana C	2015	MV: 2009 Saturn
Mendoza, Galeano & Dolca	2019	RE: 22 Phillips Street
El Paso Restaurant, LLC	2019	PP: 1252 Broad Street
Guzman, Hendel	2019	RE: 17-19 Hendricks Street
Landry, Lucille B	2011	MV: 2004 Mer MGL
Landry, Lucille B	2012	MV: 2004 Mer MGL

 

Motion to approve the abatements was made by Councilman Ferri, seconded by Councilwoman Vega and Councilman Acosta. Motion carried

Mr. Bob Battey, Tax Assessor, answered questions from the Council concerning abatements.

Motion carried 6-0.

 

C.   Presentation by Dr. Stephanie Downey Toledo, Interim Superintendent of the Central Falls School District

Dr. Downey Toledo’s presentation was rescheduled to the January City Council meeting.

 

D.  Presentation by Yanine Castedo and David Veliz of the RI Immigration Coalition

Ms. Yanine Castedo and Mr. David Veliz presented results of a survey conducted in Central Falls that asked residents about their perceptions on security and safety in the city.

 

E.   Presentation by Dr. Michael Fine regarding “Care Before the Call” campaign

Dr. Michael Fine and Mr. Terrence Joyce of Stebbings Partners, presented the media campaign Care Before The Call that will be unveiled in Central Falls beginning in January to educate the community about proper medical settings with the hope of decreasing the number of 911 calls and increase the number of visits to the community health center

 

F.   Consideration of 2020 City Council meeting calendar

Motion to amend the calendar to reflect that the meeting on November 9, 2020 will be held on Monday not Wednesday was made by Councilman Acosta, seconded Councilman Solano. Motion carried 6-0.

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

 

G.  Consideration of Lease Agreement between the City of Central Falls and the Rhode Island Builder’s Association, Inc.

Ms. Betty Bernal of the RI Builder’s Association was present to answer the Council and to describe the work of the Association.

Motion to approve the lease agreement was made by Councilman Ferri, seconded by Councilwoman Vega. Motion carried 5-0.

 

VII.   Schedule of Bills- Hearing and/or consideration

A.   Ordinance amending Chapter 22, "Law Enforcement," Article II "Police Division," Division 1 "Generally," by adding Sec. 22-30. - Community Policing and Immigration of the Revised Ordinances, City of Central Falls, Rhode Island (Vega)- Second Reading

Public Hearing

David Veliz, 626 Broad St.- spoke in support of the ordinance and urged its passage.

Ms. Tatiana Baena, 206 Washington St.- spoke in support of the ordinance and urged its passage.

Ms. Catarina Lorenzo, 171 Rutterglen Ave. Providence- spoke in support of the ordinance and urged its passage.

Motion to approve the ordinance was made by Councilman Ferri, seconded by Councilwoman Vega and Councilman Solano. Roll call vote: Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Solano: yes; Councilwoman Vega: yes; Council President Rivera: yes. Motion carried unanimously.

 

B.   Ordinance amending Chapter 12, "Businesses," Article I "In General," by creating Sec. 12-10. - Retail Plastic Bag Reduction (Solano)- First Reading

Public Hearing:

David Veliz, 626 Broad St.- spoke in support of the ordinance, its impact on the environment and urged its passage.

Everett Pope, 2 Earl St.- spoke in support of the ordinance and shared in concern about the financial burden on some residents.

Tatiana Baena, 206 Washington St.- spoke in support of the ordinance and questioned the cost burden on residents and businesses.

Thomas Evans, 50 Ayr St.- spoke in support of the ordinance and shared his concern with the quality of reusable bags

Vernia Carter, 52 Earle St.- spoke about the possible benefits to the business owners who sell reusable bags.

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

Motion to replace the word Chief with the word Clerk on page 82 was made by Councilman Ferri, seconded by Councilman Acosta. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion to approve the ordinance as amended was made by Councilman Ferri, seconded by Councilman Acosta. Roll call vote: Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Solano: yes; Councilwoman Vega: yes; Council President Rivera: yes. Motion carried unanimously.

 

C.   Ordinance amending Chapter 22, “Law Enforcement,” by amending Sec. 22-125. “Payments by responsible party” (Solano)- First Reading

Reading

Public Hearing: no one signed up to speak

Motion to approve the ordinance was made by Councilman Acosta, seconded by Councilman Ferri. Roll call vote: Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Solano: yes; Councilwoman Vega: yes; Council President Rivera: yes. Motion carried unanimously.

 

D.  Ordinance amending Chapter 12, Business” and Chapter 6 “Amusements and Entertainment” (Rivera, by request)-Second Reading

Public Hearing: no one signed up to speak

Motion to strike the words “in time of war” on page 17 was made by Councilman Ferri, seconded by Councilwoman Vega. Roll call vote: Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Solano: yes; Councilwoman Vega: yes; Council President Rivera: yes. Motion carried unanimously.

Motion to approve the ordinance as amended was made by Councilman Ferri, seconded by Councilman Solano. Roll call vote: Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Solano: yes; Councilwoman Vega: yes; Council President Rivera: yes. Motion carried unanimously.

 

E.   Resolution in Support of Applications to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management for the Recreation Acquisition and Development Grant Program (Ferri, by request)

Ms. Tracey Giron, Director of Department of Parks & Recreation and Ms. Jillian Finkle, Principal Planner in the Department of Planning and Economic Development described the proposed projects to be funded by the RI DEM Grant and answered questions from the Council.

Motion to approve the resolution was made by Councilman Ferri, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion carried unanimously.

 

F.   Resolution calling on the Rhode Island Department of Education to adequately fund Public Education for Central Falls Public Schools (Acosta)

Motion to approve the resolution was made by Councilwoman Vega, seconded by Councilman Acosta and Councilman Solano. Motion carried unanimously.

 

VIII. Continued Business

A.   Hearing and/or Consideration of Claims

i.    The Council may seek to go into Executive Session for the following stated purposes: pertaining to litigation or work sessions pertaining to litigation pursuant to R.I.G.L § 42-46-5 (a)(2)

Motion to enter into executive session was made by Councilman Acosta, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion carried unanimously.

 

a)   UMB Bank v. City of Central Falls, et al.

b)   Motion to return to open session

Motion to return to open session was made by Councilman Acosta, seconded by Councilman Ferri. Motion carried unanimously.

 

ii.   Post Executive Session Actions and Announcements

a)   Motion to seal the minutes of the Executive Session held on September 30, 2019

Motion to seal the minutes was made by Councilman Acosta, seconded by Councilman Solano. Roll call vote: Councilman Acosta: yes; Councilman Ferri: yes; Councilman Solano: yes; Councilwoman Vega: yes; Council President Rivera: yes. Motion carried unanimously.

 

B)  Report on actions taken in Executive Session.

No report was made

 

IX.    Good & Welfare

Councilman Ferri: announced the Holiday Express Breakfast at Veterans Elementary School on December 21^st.

 

X.     Adjournment

Motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Ferri, seconded by Councilman Acosta and Councilman Solano. Meeting adjourned at 8:37pm.

 

 

Sonia Grace

City Clerk

 

Approved January 13, 2020