City of Central Falls City Council Meeting Monday, April 12, 2021

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), Detailed meeting invitation is found on page 3

 

Minutes

 

I.   Roll Call

President Vega called the meeting to order at 6:00pm.  Jahaira Rodriguez, City Clerk, conducted the roll call. Present were Council President Jessica Vega, Councilman Franklin Solano, Councilwoman Glendaliz Colon, Councilman Hugo Figueroa, Councilwoman Adamaris Villar and Councilwoman Meaghan Levasseur. The board

had quorum. Councilwoman Baena entered the meeting at 6:05pm.

 

II.   Pledge of Allegiance

Councilman Solano led the Council in reciting the pledge of Alligence

 

III.      Public Comment

Tia Ristaino-Siegal, 14 Worth St, Central Falls, made comment that she wants to see yearly calendar on the city website.

 

IV.      Approval of Records-Meeting minutes of March 8, 2021.

Motion to approve the meeting minutes of March 8, 2021 was made by

Councilwoman Colon, seconded by Coucilman Solano. Motion carried 7, 0

 

Motion to move sub-section F, from Section V=New Business (Presentation on audit by Ernest Almonte, Director of Finance, up from the agenda without objection was made by Council President Vega.

 

Director Almonte answered questions and briefed the Council on Audit.

 

 

V.   Executive Communications

 

A.  Departmental financial reports: City Clerk, Fire Department, Police Department, Department of Public Work received

 

B.  Hearing and/or Consideration of appointment to the Donald J. Wyatt Central Falls Detention Facility Corporation: Anthony Goes, of 24 Samoset Avenue, VICE Wilder Arboleda; term to expire April 12, 2026. Motion to continue this appointment until the next council meeting once the Council has received his resume/cover letter was made by Councilwoman Baena, seconded by Councilwoman Levasseur. Motion carried 7, 0

 

C.   Hearing and/or Consideration of appointment to Juvenile Hearing Board: Annette Martinez of 59 Fales Street, VICE Stephany Restrepo; term to expire April 12, 2024. Motion to approve this appointment was made by Councilwoman Colon, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion carried 7, 0

 

D.  Hearing and/or Consideration of appointment to Juvenile Hearing Board: Glendaliz Colon, of 873 Dexter Street, VICE Jonathon Acosta: term to expire April 12, 2024. Motion to approve this appointment was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilwoman Villar and Councilwoman Levasseur. Motion carried 7, 0.

 

E.  Hearing and/or Consideration of appointment to Juvenile Hearing Board: Alberto Flores, of 70 Cleveland Street, VICE Joseph Godin: term to expire April 12, 2024. Motion to approve this appointment was made by Councilman Solano and Councilman Figueroa, seconded by Councilwoman Colon. Motion carried 7, 0.

 

F.   Mayoral Proclamations:

(a) Proclaiming the Month of April 2021 as Arab American Heritage month in the city of Central Falls.

(b) Proclaiming the Month of March 2021 as the 19th Annual March for Meals month

 

Motion to move sub-section E, from Section V=New Business (Presentation on upcoming projects by Thomas Dellar, Director of Planning, up from the agenda without objection was made by Council President Vega

 

Thomas Dellar gave answered questions and gave presentation to the Council

 

VI.   New Business

A.    Schedule of bills

 

i.   Resolution Urging the General assembly to Pass SB-576 and HB-5714 Relating to the Health Care of Immigrant Children (Villar)

Motion to approve this resolution was made by Councilwoman Colon and Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried 7, 0

 

ii.   Resolution Urging the General Assembly to Pass SB-579 and HB-5692 relating to Central Falls’ Sewer System (Solano)

Motion to approve this resolution was made by Councilwoman Colon, seconded by Councilwoman Levasseur. Motion carried 7, 0

 

iii.   Resolution Urging the General Assembly to Pass Legislation to Lower Prescription Drug Prices (Vega)

Motion to amend this resolution to add language that reads “lowering hospital bills” this resolution was made by Councilwoman Levasseur, seconded by Councilwoman Colon. Motion carried 7, 0

 

iv.   Resolution Urging the General Assembly to Pass SB-258 and HB-5633 relating to Municipal Licensing of Tobacco (Vega)

Motion to approve this resolution was made by Councilwoman Colon, seconded by Councilwoman Levasseur. Motion carried 7, 0

 

v.   Resolution Urging the General Assembly to Pass HB-5307 Relating to theExpungement of Marijuana Convictions (Vega)

Motion to approve this resolution was made by Councilwoman Baena, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion carried 6, 1

 

vi.   Ordinance Creating a Quarterly Grant Reporting Requirement (Vega)- Introduction

 

vii.   Ordinance Amending Chapter 28 “Parks and Recreation” (Vega)-Introduction

 

 

B.  City Council Sitting as Board of License Commissioners

 

i.   Consideration of petition of license

 

BV Liquor (new)           Adriana Enterprice, Inc.

d/b/a El Antojo Resturant Bar

494 Dexter Street,

 

Motion  to  approve  the  BV  liquor  license  to  Adriana  Enterprice  was  made  by Councilwoman Baena, seconded by Councilman Solano is approved. Motion carried 7, 0.

 

Entertainment (new)   Adriana Enterprice, Inc.

d/b/a El Antojo Resturant Bar

494 Dexter Street,

 

Motion to approve the entertainment license to Adriana Enterprice was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilwoman Colon. Motion carried 7, 0

 

 

 

Entertainment (new)   Azucena’s Bar & Restaurant, Inc.

1270 Broad St,

 

Motion to approve the entertainment license to Azucena’s Bar & Restaurant was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilman Figueroa and Councilwoman Colon. Motion carried 7, 0.

 

Entertainment (new)   Petencito Restaurant Bar & Grill, LLC

527 Dexter St,

 

Motion to approve the entertainment license to Petencito Restaurant Bar & Grill, LLC was made by Councilwoman Colon, seconded by Councilwoman Levasseur. Motion carried 7, 0.

 

C-Variety (new)             GMJ’s Convenience Store, LLC

791 Broad St

 

Motion to approve the C-Variety license to GMJ’s Convenience Store, LLC was made by Councilwoman Colon, seconded by Councilwoman Levasseur. Motion carried 7, 0

 

ii.   Show cause Hearing and or/consideration of license including, but not limited to monetary fine, suspension and/or termination:

 

BV Liquor                                 Vanderly Coffee Restaurant

765 Broad St

 

Motion to continue to matter until the next council meeting to monitor their progress was made by Councilwoman Colon, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Motion to carried 7, 0

 

C.   Consideration of Tax Abatement submitted by the tax assessor

 

Property Owner	Tax Year	Property Information
Joao Mendes Moreno	2019	Infinity Q50
Joao Mendes Moreno	2020	2014 Infinity Q50
Mad Joe (formerly Broad Street Gas)	2019	Broad St. Gas Station
Mad Joe (formerly Broad St. Gas)	2020	Broad St. Gas Station
Anne Associates	2020	558 Smithfield Ave, Pawtucket

 

Motion to approve the tax abatement of the above mentioned properties was made by Councilman Figueroa, seconded by Councilwoman Colon. Motion carried 7, 0.

 

D.  Election (Renewals) of Special Constable pursuant to RIGL 45-16-8

 

Dakota Jacobowitz, 24 Corliss St, Unit 6-241, Providence, RI 02904. Motion to renew the Constable license for Mr. Jacobowitz was made by Councilwoman Baena, seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion carried 7, 0

 

Charles Beaudoin, 30 Washington St, Central Falls, RI 02863. Motion to continue the renewal  of  the  Constable  license  was  made  by Colon,  seconded  by  Councilman Figueroa and Councilwoman Levasseur. Motion carried 7, 0.

 

VII.      Schedule of Bills

 

a.   Ordinance Amending the Municipal Court Ordinance with reforms Necessary for the Nuisance Task Force and Technical Corrections (Council President Vega)-Second reading.

Motion to approve the Municipal Court Ordinance with reforms Necessary for the Nuisance Task Force and Techinical Corrections was made by Councilwoman Colon, seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Roll call vote: Councilwoman Baena: yes, Councilwoman Colon: yes, Councilman Figueroa: yes, Councilwoman Levasseur: yes, Councilman Solano: yes, Councilwoman Villar: yes, Council President Vega: yes, Motion carried 7, 0.

 

b.   Ordinance Creating Open and Green Government (Councilwoman Colon)-second reading.

Motion  to  approve  the  Open  and  Green  Government  Ordinance  was  made  by Councilwoman Levasseur, seconded by Councilwoman Villar and Councilman Figueroa. Roll call vote: Councilwoman Baena: yes, Councilwoman Colon: yes, Councilman Figueroa: yes, Councilwoman Levasseur: yes, Councilman Solano: yes, Councilwoman Villar: yes, Council President Vega: yes, Motion carried 7, 0.

 

C.  Ordinance  Amending  the  Hiring  and  Process  of  Law  Enforcement  (Council President Vega)-Second reading Motion  to  approve  the  Ordinance  Amending  the  Hiring  and  Process  of  Law Enforcement was made by Councilman Figueroa, seconded by Councilwoman Colon. Roll call vote: Councilwoman Baena: yes, Councilwoman Colon: yes, Councilman Figueroa: yes, Councilwoman Levasseur: yes, Councilman Solano: yes, Councilwoman Villar: yes, Council President Vega: yes, Motion carried 7, 0.

 

VIII.      Continued Business

A.  City Council sitting as Board of License Commissioners

 

i. Show Cause Hearing, Review of Order 2019-001 and/or consideration of license including, but not limited to, monetary fine, suspension and/or termination (previously heard on December  14,  2020,  continued  from March 8, 2021 & March 30, 2021):

 

Class C Variety             Pizza R US/Convenience R Us

791 Lonsdale Avenue

Owner Tariq S. Khalil

 

Motion to accept a settlement of a monetary fine of $1250.00, and a 3-day closure if they get in trouble again with in a five month period was made by Councilman Solano, seconded by Councilwoman Colon. Motion carried 7, 0

 

IX.      Correspondence

 

Council members received copies of Resolution of the Barrington Town Council to Pass the Act on Climate Bills in the Rhode Island General Assembly  and Resolution of the Barrington Town Council to Prevent Discrimination Against Lawful Sources of Income

 

X.       Adjournment

 

Motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Figueroa, seconded by Councilman Solano and Councilwoman Levasseur. Meeting stands adjourned at 8:50pm.

 

Jahaira Rodriguez

City Clerk

 

Approved April 20, 2021