City of Central Falls

Special City Council Meeting

Monday, September 14, 2020

6:00 p.m.

 

Pursuant to Governor Gina M. Raimondo’s Executive Order 20-25 (April 15, 2020),

extended by Executive Orders 20-53 (July 10, 2020) and 20-63 (August 7, 2020),

the meeting of the City Council will be held using the platform Zoom-

https://zoom.us/j/93281340529?pwd=Y3Bqa1VQL2x4SFBha1FnL3lGejhKQT09

Detailed meeting invitation is found on page 3

 

Minutes

 

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 led the reciting of the pledge of allegiance.

 

III.    Public Comment

No one signed up for public comment.

 

IV.    Approval of records- meeting minutes of July 13, 2020

Motion to approve the meeting minutes of July 13, 2020 was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilman Ferri. Motion carried unanimously.

 

V.      Executive Communications

A.   Consideration of appointment to the Central Falls Housing Authority Board: Raymond Cooney, of 466 Hunt St, VICE Paul Charette; term to expire September 9, 2025

Motion to approve the appointment of Mr. Cooney was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilman Ferri. Motion carried unanimously.

 

B.   Department Financial reports- Code Enforcement, Fire: July 2020; City Clerk, Code Enforcement, Fire, Police: August 2020; Finance: FY20 through August 31, 2020 (unaudited) - Revenue and expense, Reserve Cash Balance and Capital Expenditure

Received.

The Council spoke the financial report submitted by the finance department and requested clarification on the capital expenses and the technology expenses.

 

VI.    New Business

A.   City Council Sitting as Board of License Commissioners

i.    Consideration of petition of license

Class of License	Business Information
Class C- Variety Transfer (New Owner)	Paula Duarte Polanco d/b/a Mi Pueblo Market 528 Dexter St.
Motion to approve the application Paula Duarte Polanco was made by Councilwoman Vega, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion carried unanimously.
Class A- Restaurant Transfer (New Owner)	JSC Management Group, LLC d/b/a Burger King 800 Lonsdale Ave.
Motion to approve the application of JSM Management Group was made by Councilwoman Vega, seconded by Councilman Acosta. Motion carried unanimously.
Pigeon New	Braulio Franco 211 Shawmut Ave.
Motion to approve the application of Braulio Franco was made by Councilwoman Vega, seconded by Councilman Acosta. Motion carried unanimously.
Class C- Variety New	Smooth Hookah & Electronic, LLC d/b/a Smooth Smoke Shop 850-A Broad St
Motion to approve the application of Smooth Hookah Electronic, LLC was made by Councilman Acosta, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried five in the affirmative, one in the negative.

 

ii.   Advertised hearing and consideration of petition for transfer of Alcoholic Beverage Class B (Victualling) license from El Gallo De Oro, Inc. D/B/A El Gallo, 1270 Broad St., Central Falls, RI to Azucenas Bar & Restaurant, Inc. D/B/A Azucenas Bar & Restaurant

Mr. Oscar Pozuelos, spoke and interpreted on behalf of businesses owners Maria Mejia Trigeros and Jose A. Figueroa and answered questions from the Council.

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

 

B.   Public Hearing pertaining to Central Falls Police Department 2020 application for JAG/Byrne Grant funds

Public Hearing: no one spoke

Colonel Daniel Barzykowski answered questions from the Council and provided an overview of the grant application.

Motion to support the application of the Central Falls Police Department for the 2020 JAG/Byrne Grant was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried unanimously.

 

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

The City Council did not enter into executive session

 

ii.   Claim by Manuel Santos of 34 Birch St, Pawtucket, RI 02860 for alleged damages to personal property sustained on July 2, 2020 (pothole claim).

Motion to refer the claim to the RI Interlocal Risk Management Trust was made by Councilwoman Vega, seconded by Councilman Ferri and Councilman Solano. Motion carried unanimously.

 

iii.  Claim by Andrew Campos, of 122 Valley St. for alleged damages to personal property sustained on August 4, 2020

 Motion to refer the claim to the RI Interlocal Risk Management Trust was made by Councilwoman Vega, seconded by Councilman Ferri. Motion carried unanimously.

 

VII.   Schedule of Bills- Hearing and/or Consideration

A.   Ordinance Amending Chapter 34 “Taxation,” Article III “Property Tax Exemptions” by adding sworn statements to ascertain and confirm legal residency in Central Falls- Second Reading (Solano)

Public Hearing: no one signed up to speak

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

 

B.   Ordinance Creating the Racial Justice & Equity in Central Falls Ordinance by amending Chapter 2 “Administration,” and Chapter 22 “Law Enforcement”- First Reading (Rivera, Acosta, Solano, Vega)

Public hearing: no one signed up to speak

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

 

C.   Resolution in Support of Applications to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management for the 2020 Brownfields Bond Reimbursement Grant for the High Street Ballfield (Rivera)

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

 

D.  Resolution in Support of Applications to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management for the 2020 Brownfields Bond Reimbursement Grant for The River Street Properties (Rivera)

Motion to approve the resolution was made by Councilman Acosta, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried unanimously.

 

E.   Resolution in Support of Applications to the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management for the 2020 Brownfields Bond Reimbursement Grant for the High Street Ballfield (Rivera)

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

 

F.   Resolution of condolences and congratulations

There were none.

 

VIII. Adjournment

Motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Ferri, seconded by Councilman Figueroa and Councilwoman Vega. Meeting adjourned at 6:50pm.

 

Sonia Grace

City Clerk

 

Approved October 14, 2020

 

To view an electronic version of the agenda with supporting documentation, click on link: https://clerkshq.com/default.ashx?clientsite=centralfalls-ri

 

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Central Falls City Council

 

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City of Central Falls is an equal opportunity employer ADA/EOE. TDD/TTY 401-727-7450. This notice is posted in City Hall, Police Department, Department of Public Works, on www.centralfallsri.us and with the Office of the Secretary of State pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws. To review Notice of Citizen’s Rights, visit the Attorney General’s webpage at www.riag.ri.gov