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City of Central Falls
City Council Meeting
Board of License Commissioners Meeting
Central Falls City Hall
580 Broad St., Central Falls, RI 02863
Wednesday, October 16, 2019
6:00 p.m.
Meeting Minutes
Council President Maria Rivera called the meeting to order at 6:02pm.
I. Roll Call
Sonia Grace, City Clerk, conducted the roll call. Present were Council President Maria Rivera, Councilman Robert Ferri, Councilman Hugo Figueroa, Councilman Franklin Solano, Councilwoman Jessica Vega. Councilman Jonathon Acosta and Councilman Gus Silva were absent. Quorum was present.
II. Pledge of Allegiance
Council President Rivera led the reciting of the pledge of allegiance
III. Public Comment
No one signed up to provide comment
IV. Approval of Records- Meeting minutes
Motion to approve the meeting minutes of September 23, 2019 was made by Councilman Ferri, seconded by Councilwoman Vega. Motion carried 5-0.
Motion to approve the meeting minutes of September 30, 2019 was made by Councilman Ferri, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion carried 5-0.
V. Executive Communications
A. Department Financial Reports- City Clerk, Code Enforcement, Fire Department: August & September 2019; Police: July & August 2019
Received
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 Transfer (location) | Sergio A. Peñate d/b/a Salud Es Riqueza 578 Broad St. |
Mr. Sergio Peñate was present to speak on the petition and answered questions from the Council
Motion to approve the application was made by Councilwoman Vega, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried 5-0.
B. Hearing and consideration of petition of Jose Dos Santos of JD’s Bar, Inc. d/b/a JD’s Bar, 137 Central Street, for extension of time by which petitioner may claim Alcoholic Beverages Class B License
Mr. Jose dos Santos was present to request the extension and answered questions from the Council. Mr. dos Santos explained that he has met the requirements of the license.
Motion to approve the extension was made by Councilman Ferri, seconded Councilman Solano. Motion carried 5-0.
C. Hearing and consideration of petition of JFN & Son, LLC d/b/a Benjamin’s III, 722 Broad Street, for extension of time by which petitioner may claim Alcoholic Beverages Class B License
Attorney Roger Ross, counsel for JFN & Son, was present to request an extension until November 12, 2019. Attorney Ross explained that the delay is related to difficulties in accessing the building to attain a certificate of occupancy.
Motion to grant an extension until November 12, 2019 was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried 5-0.
D. Hearing and consideration of petition of Calderon Events, LLC d/b/a Grated Mix- Glamour Events, 644 Dexter Street, for extension of time by which petitioner may claim Alcoholic Beverages Class B License
Mr. Julio Calderon was present to request an 180-day extension. Mr. Calderon explained that the delays are related to construction needed in the property.
Motion to approve the extension was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilwoman Vega and Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried 5-0.
E. Consideration of Tax Abatement submitted by Tax Assessor
| Property Owner | Tax Year | Property Information |
| Patrick Szlashta Jr. Living Trust | 2019 | RE: 390 Dexter Street |
| Faria, Francisco & Carmen | 2019 | RE: 105 Foundry Street |
| Kozlowski, Krystyna | 2019 | RE: 567 High Street |
| Desautel, Scott | 2019 | MV: 2018 Harley FLT |
| Pine Street Realty | 2019 | RE: 385 Dexter Street |
| Tavares, Oliveiro D | 2019 | RE: 20 Chapel Street |
| Calderon Brothers, LLC | 2019 | RE: 664 Dexter Street |
| Broad Street Gas, LLC | 2019 | PP: 957 Broad Street |
| Giraldo, Michael | 2019 | MV: 2012 Mercedes CLS |
| Gazaille Family Trust with Paulette M. Barden | 2019 | RE: 293 Illinois Street |
| Beadle, Robert J | 2019 | RE: 65 Henry Street |
| Leon, Said & Emilce | 2019 | RE: 14 Madison Avenue |
| Rosa, Oscar | 2019 | RE: 168 Cross Street |
| Jimenez, Ely | 2019 | RE: 476 High Street |
| Semi Sweet | 2019 | PP: 744 Broad Street |
| Sabogal, Julieta | 2019 | RE: 27 Tiffany Street Unit 2 |
Motion to approve the abatements as presented by the Tax Assessor was made by Councilman Ferri, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion carried 5-0.
F. Consideration of Additions submitted by the Tax Assessor
| Property Owner | Tax Year | Property Information |
| Navarro, Martha L & Navarro, Jay of The Navarro Family Revocable Trust | 2019 | RE: 392 Dexter Street |
| Lima, Jose D/B/A Lima's Place | 2019 | PP: 59 Central Street |
| Mad Joe, LLC Broad Street Gulf Station | 2019 | PP: 957 Broad Street |
| Great America Financial Services | 2019 | PP: Leasing company (No office) |
| Intermex Wire Transfer, LLC | 2019 | PP: Vendor (No office) |
Motion to approve the additions as presented by the tax assessor was made by Councilman Ferri, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion carried 5-0
G. Presentation by Mr. Carlos Figueroa, Partnership Specialist, US Census Bureau regarding Census 2020
Mr. Figueroa spoke on the US Census Bureau’s efforts to recruit field staff, described the role of the partnership specialist and explained partnerships with community-based organizations.
H. Presentation by the Human Resources Department on trainings related to sexual harassment, cultural sensitivity and awareness
Ms. Kathleen Taraian, Director of Human Resources spoke about the city’s policies, procedures and trainings pertaining to sexual harassment and cultural awareness.
Joshua Giraldo also spoke and answered questions from the Council.
Councilman Acosta entered the meeting at 6:34pm
I. Petition by National Grid and Verizon for the relocation of joint pole P-21 on Cowden Street
Motion to approve the petition was made by Councilman Ferri, seconded by Councilman Solano and Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried 6-0.
VII. Schedule of Bills- Hearing and/or consideration
A. Ordinance amending Appendix A of The Code of Ordinances of The City of Central Falls, Entitled “Zoning”. Establishment of The Conant Thread Zoning District (Rivera, by request)- Second Reading
Public Hearing:
Mr. Thomas Deller, Director of Planning and Economic Development, spoke about the proposed amendment and answered questions from the Council.
Motion to substitute the ordinance with Substitute A as presented was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilman Ferri. Motion carried 6-0.
Motion to approve the ordinance as amended was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilman Ferri. Motion carried 6-0.
B. Ordinance Amending Appendix A of The Code of Ordinances Titled "Zoning" Adopted October 15, 2007 by Adding Vocational Training Facility to Article III. Use and Dimensional Regulations and to Appendix A of The Zoning Ordinance (Rivera)- Second Reading
Public Hearing: no one signed up to speak
Motion to approve the ordinance was made by Councilman Ferri, seconded by Councilman Acosta. Motion carried 6-0.
C. 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)- Introduction
Introduced
VIII. Continued Business
None
IX. Good & Welfare
Councilman Acosta- announced that David Upegui, teacher at Central Falls High School, received the Presidential Award for Excellence in Mathematics and Science Teaching. Mr. Acosta also announced the annual Halloween in Park event for families on October 31 at Jenks Park.
Councilman Ferri: announced that Ms. Edna Poulin, city resident and former finance director has been ill and is currently in the hospital
Joshua Giraldo, Chief of Staff- announced that the City, in partnership with Progreso Latino and the Blackstone Valley Advocacy Center, will host an even at Navigant Credit Union on October 24 at 6pm. The event, called Hear Our Stories will be hosted in recognition of Domestic Violence Awareness Month.
X. Adjournment
Motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Ferri, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Meeting adjourned at 7:01pm
Sonia Grace
City Clerk
Approved November 13, 2019
To view recording of this meeting, click on https://clerkshq.com/default.ashx?clientsite=centralfalls-ri