City of Central Falls

City Council Meeting

Monday, January 11, 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),

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81243965606?pwd=VFBPRDFhanU0Q2NGUFU0dzlLK2tQdz09

Detailed meeting invitation is found on page 3

 

Minutes

 

I.      Roll Call

Jahaira Rodriguez, City Clerk, conducted the roll call. Present were Councilwoman Jessica Vega, Councilman Franklin Solano, Councilwoman Tatiana Baena, Councilman Hugo Figueroa, Councilwoman Glendalize Colon, Councilwoman Adamaris Villar and Councilwoman Meaghan Levasseur.

 

II.    Pledge of Allegiance

Councilwoman Villar led the Council in reciting the pledge of Alligence

 

III.   Public Comment

None

 

IV.   Approval of Records

A.   Meeting minutes of December 14, 2020.

The City Solicitor Matt Jerzyk advised the Council regarding the archiving of the mnutes. Motion to archive made by Councilman Figueroa , Seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion Carried 7,0

 

B.   Meeting minutes of December 17, 2020

Motion to archive made by Councilman Figueroa , Seconded by Councilman Solano. Motion Carried 7,0

 

C.   Meeting Minutes of January 4, 2021

Motion to Approve was made by Councilman Solano, Seconded by Councilwoman Villar, Councilwoman Levasseur, and Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried 7,0.

 

V.     Executive Communication

A.   Department Financial Reports: City Clerk, Finance Department, Fire Department, Code Enforcement, Police Department

Received

 

B.   Executive Order 2021-0012 Central Falls Nuisance Properties Task Force

Received

 

C.   Hearing and/or Consideration of appointment to the Central Falls Purchasing Board: Kayla Lubo, of 247 Washington Street, VICE Harllen Rodriguez; term to expire January 11, 2023.

Councilwoman Baena stated to the Council her support of the purchasing board appointees. Motion to approve was made by Councilwoman Solano, and Councilman Figueroa; Seconded by Councilwoman Baena Motion carried 7, 0.

 

D.  Hearing and/or Consideration of appointment to the Central Falls Purchasing Board: Andre Prado, of 5 Washington Street, VICE Donald T. Godin; term to expire January 11, 2023. Motion to approve was made Councilwoman Baena; Seconded by Councilman Solano Motion carried 7,0

 

E.   Hearing and/or Consideration of appointment to the Central Falls Purchasing Board: Evelyn Diaz, of 256 Cowden Street, VICE Jannet Sanchez; term to expire January 11, 2023 Motion to approve was made by Councilman Solano, Seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Motion carried 7, 0

Councilwoman Baena made a the recommendation of board trainings for all new board members. Chief of Staff Zuleyma Gomez addressed Councilwoman Baena’s recommendation for training.

 

VI.   New Business – Hearing and/or consideration

A.   Resolution creating the City Council Finance Committee and making appointments thereto (Council President Vega)

Motion to approve was made by Councilman Figueroa, Seconded by Councilwoman Colon. Motion to approve carried 7,0

 

B.   Resolution creating the City Council Education Committee and making appointments thereto (Council President Vega)

Motion to Approve was mad by Councilman Solano, Seconded by Councilwoman Levasseur. Motion to approve carried 7, 0.

 

C.   Resolution creating a Working Group on the best Practices of Civilian Oversight of the Police (Council President Vega)

Under discussion Councilwoman Levasseur commented her support of the Resolution; Councilwoman Baena also commented on the resolution. Councilwoman Baena, Councilwoman Levasseur, Councilman Solano and Councilwoman Colon asked questions concerning the committee.

Motion to approve was nade by Councilwoman Baena, Seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Motion to approve carried 7,0.

 

D.  Resolution condemning those who Provoked and Participated in the Illegal Invasion of the United States Capitol and calling for Cabinet Members to invoke the 25th Amendment and remove Donald J. Trump from the Presidency (Council President Vega)

Motion to approve was made by Councilman Figueroa, Seconded by Councilman Solano; Councilman Figueroa led the Council in a moment of silence in honor of the victims. Council President Vega, Councilman Solano and Councilwoman Baena addressed the City Council stating their support of the Resolution. Motion to approve carried 7,0

 

E.   Resolution thanking Black Voters for their tremendous Turnout and Impact in Electing Joseph R. Biden as President and in Electing Two Democratic Senators in the State of Georgia (Council President Vega)

Motion to approve was made by Councilwoman Villar, Seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Motion to approve carried 7,0

 

F.   Resolution acknowledging the career and service of Police Chief Daniel J. Barzykowski (Councilwoman Baena)

Motion to Approve was made by Councilman Solano, Seconded by Councilman Figueroa; Councilwoman Baena, Councilman Solano, Council President Vega and Councilman Figueroa spoke in support of the Resolution Honoring Police Chief Barzykowski. Motion to approve carried 7,0

 

G.  Resolution acknowledging the career and service of Fire Chief Robert E. Bradley Jr. (Councilwoman Baena)

Motion to approve was made by Councilman Figueroa, Seconded by Councilman Solano. Councilwoman Baena, Councilman Solano, Council President Vega, Councilwoman Levasseur and Councilman Figueroa addressed the Council and thanked the chief for his support. Motion to approve carried 7,0

 

VII.  Schedule of Bills - Hearing and/or consideration

A.   Sub-A - FY 2021 Annual Operating Budget Ordinance - General Fund (Vega, by request) – First Reading

Motion to approve was made by Councilwoman Baena and Seconded by Councilwoman Colon.

Director Almonte, addressed the Council regarding the Budget and answered questions. Roll call vote: Council President Vega: yes, Councilwoman Levasseur: yes; Councilwoman Villar: yes; Councilman Figueroa; yes; Councilwoman Baena: yes; Councilwoman Colon: yes. Councilman Solano stepped out 7:00pm. Motion to approve carried 6,0

 

B.   Sub-A - Ordinance Pertaining to the Salaries of Department Heads & Others in Unclassified Service (Vega, by request) – First Reading

Motion to approve, was made by Councilman Figueroa, Seconded by Councilwoman Colon

Public Comment: Thomas Lazieh, 1072 Lonsdale Avenue, Central Falls, RI 02863 addressed the Council. Fiance Director Ernest Almonte, addressed the Council regarding the Budget and answered questions. Roll call vote: Council President Vega: yes; Councilwoman Levasseur: yes; Councilwoman Colon: yes; Councilwoman Villar: yes; Councilwoman Baena: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes. Motion to approve carried 6,0.

 

VIII. Continued Business

A.   Hearing and/or Consideration of City Council Rules (Continued from 1/4/21 Meeting)

Motion to approve was made by Councilwoman Baena, Seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Under discussion Council President Vega made a motion to amend rule #4 subsection 8. Seconded by Councilwoman Colon. The City solicitor explained rule four section 8 to the Council. If a Councilmember misses 3 consecutive meeting. The City Council has the right to censure that council member publicly. Councilmember Villar asked questions regarding the amendment and made a motion to amend the amendment to Rule #4 section 8

To read: if a member of the City Council has three unexcused absences from the City Council. Seconded by Councilwoman Baena. Roll Call vote: Council President Vega: yes; Councilwoman Levasseur: yes; Councilwoman Colon: yes; Councilwoman Villar: yes; Councilwoman Baena: yes; Councilman Figueroa; yes;. Motion Carried 6,0.

 

Roll call vote to amend the amendment to Rule #4, Section 8, as amended: Council President Vega: yes; Councilwoman Levasseur: yes; Councilwoman Colon: yes; Councilwoman Villar: yes; Councilwoman Baena: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes. Motion to approve carried 6, 0

 

Motion to amend all pronouns and make them consistent was made by Councilwoman Baena, Seconded by Councilwoman Villar.

Roll call vote: Council President Vega; yes; Councilwoman Levasseur: yes; Councilwoman Colon: yes; Councilwoman Villar: yes; Councilwoman Baena: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes. Motion Carried 6,0.

 

Motion to amend the language to Rule #2, Section A, to include video/virtual meeting after the word City Hall: was by made Councilwoman Colon, Seconded by Councilman Figueroa, and Councilwoman Levasseur. Roll call vote: Council Prsident Vega: yes; Councilwoman Levasseur: yes; Councilwoman Colon; yes; Councilwoman Villar: yes; Councilwoman Baena: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes. Motion to approve carried 6,0

Role Call vote to approve City Council rules: Council President Vega: yes; Councilwoman Levasseur; yes; Councilwoman Colon: yes; Councilwoman Villar: yes; Councilwoman Baena: yes; Councilman Figueroa: yes. Motion Carried 6,0.

 

IX.   Adjournment

Motion to adjourne was made by Councilwoman Baena, Seconded by Councilman Figueroa. Meeting adjourned at 8:01pm

 

Jahaira Rodriguez

City Clerk

 

Approved January 21, 2021

 

 

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