I.        Roll Call

City Clerk, Jahaira Rodriguez, conducted the roll call. Present were Councilwoman Tatiana Baena, Councilwoman Glendaliz Colon, Councilman Hugo Figueroa, Councilwoman Meaghan Levasseur, Councilwoman Adamaris Villar and Council President Jessica Vega. Councilman Franklin Solano was not present. There was quorum.

II.       Pledge of Allegiance

Council President Vega asked Councilperson Villar to lead the Council in reciting the pledge of allegiance.

III.     Public Comment

John Burns, Representative of Local Union 94, spoke about the vacant clerk position in the Clerk’s office and the importance of having that position filled.

Venuz Zayas, Chief Stuart of Council 94, Central Falls Department of Public Works Clerk, spoke about the need for the position to be filled by a Spanish speaking person because many of the residents speak Spanish only.

Candida Silva, Probate Clerk of the City of Central Falls spoke about the volume of work that the clerk’s office handles every day. She expressed her sentiments about her lack of knowledge in the Spanish language. She admits she helps as best as she can but is limited due to the language barrier. Would like to see the residents be able to be understood in one place.

IV.     Approval of Records-Meeting minutes of June 7, 2021

Motion to approve the meeting minutes of June 7, 2021, was made by Councilperson Baena, seconded by Councilperson Colon. Motion carried 6, 0.

V.       Executive Communication

a. Departmental Financial Reports for May 2021 were submitted to the Council.

b. Mayoral Proclamation declaring the month of June 2021 as Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) Awareness month in the City of Central Falls

VI.     New Business

A. City Council sitting as Board of License Commissioners i. consideration of petition of license

Motion to approve the license for Rockwell Amusement was made by Councilperson Colon, seconded by Councilperson Villar. Motion carried 6, 0.

B. Consideration of tax abatement submitted by the tax assessor

Motion to approve the tax abatement of the property was made by Councilperson Figueroa, seconded by Councilperson Villar. Motion carried 6, 0

C.  Hearing and/or consideration

i. Claim by Bradley Santos, 737 High St, Central Falls for alleged damages to personal property sustained on February 18, 2021.

Motion to refer this claim to the RI Interlocal Trust was made by Councilperson Villar, seconded by Councilperson Colon. Motion carried 6, 0 Councilperson Figueroa had questions of Mr. Santos, however Mr. Santos was not available. City Solicitor Matthew Jerzyk agrees that the sewer system leaves the city vulnerable.

ii. Claim by Felicidade Brasileiro, 253 Harris Road, Smithfield, RI 02917 for alleged personal injuries sustained on February 23, 2021.

Motion to table this claim was made by Councilperson Figueroa, seconded by Councilperson Baena. Motion carried 6, 0.

Councilpersons Figueroa and Vega would like to see these individuals on the call when they file claims to answer questions.

D. Appeal of Purchasing Board Bid number: 2021-0003 NFPA Self- Contained Breathing Apparatus

Motion to continue indefinitely was made by Councilperson Colon, seconded by Councilperson Figueroa. Motion carried 6, 0.

City Solicitor gave a brief description of the appeal and explained that the bid was cancelled.

E. Resolution supporting Legislation H-5680 and S-551 to create a Construction Workforce Training Account (Vega)

Motion to approve this resolution was made by Councilperson Baena, seconded by Councilperson Colon. Motion carried 6, 0.

Councilperson spoke about the resolution and thanked the Council President for supporting it.

F. Resolution supporting Legislation H-6408 and Senate LC 2998, Authorizing the City of Central Falls to issue Bonds in the amount not to exceed $5760,000 for the construction of a new High School and Repair other School Buildings (Vega).

Motion to approve this resolution was made by Councilpersons Colon and Baena, seconded by Councilperson Villar. Motion carried 4, 0. Councilperson Colon and Figueroa recused themselves. Councilperson Colon is very excited to work to get a new high school for the kids of Central Falls. Councilperson Villar agrees that it would be nice to have a new high school.

G.  Resolution recognizing June as LGBTQ+ Pride Month (Baena)

Motion to approve this resolution was made by Councilperson Levasseur, seconded by Councilperson Villar. Motion carried 6, 0.

Councilperson Baena spoke on the resolution and the importance to recognize the LGBTQ+ community.

VII.    Schedule of Bills

i. Hearing and/or consideration

Council President Vega opened for Public Hearing regarding the Central Falls proposed budget.

No one signed up to speak during public hearing.

Acting Director Mary Signer clarified for the Council that there were no raised taxes.

Council President Vega thanked those who spoke for the Clerk’s position. Councilperson Figueroa had questions about the second clerk not being filled before. Deputy Clerk, Alberto DeBurgo spoke on the need of the purchasing clerk and spoke of all the duties of the office.

Councilperson Villar asked about the capital expenses and the difference of $5k. Wants clarification if it is $70k or $75k.

Motion to amend the typo from the planning department’s budget and correct it in the tax assessor line item was made by Councilperson Figueroa, seconded by Councilperson Baena. Motion to carried 6, 0. Motion to give the Acting Finance Director the ability to make corrections to the budget on the total budget cost bottom line was made by Councilperson Villar, seconded by Councilperson Levasseur and Councilperson Figueroa. Motion carried 6, 0.

Motion to amend the technical typo on the revised FY 2021 budget was made by Councilperson Baena, seconded by Councilpersons Figueroa and Colon. Motion carried 6, 0.

Motion to change the annual capital expenditure line in the Fire Department budget from $70k to $75K was made by Councilperson Villar, seconded by Councilperson Levasseur. Motion carried 6, 0.

Motion to give the Finance Director abilities to amend the total of $140k to $145k was made by Councilperson Villar, seconded by Councilperson Levasseur and Figueroa. Motion carried 6, 0.

Councilperson Villar asked about the $20k in the Park & Recreation Department budget and Council President Vega explained it was for participatory budget.

a)  FY 2022 Annual Operating Budget Ordinance-General Fund (Vega, by request)-second reading.

Motion to approve the second reading of this Ordinance was made by Councilperson Colon, seconded by Councilperson Villar. Roll call vote: Councilperson Baena: yes, Councilperson Colon: yes, Councilperson Figueroa: yes, Councilperson Levasseur: yes, Councilperson Villar: yes, Council President Vega: yes. Motion carried 6, 0.

b)  Ordinance Pertaining to the Salaries of Department Heads and Others in Unclassified Service (Vega, by request)-second reading.

Motion to approve the second reading of this Ordinance was made by Councilperson Figueroa, seconded by Councilperson Colon. Roll call vote: Councilperson Baena: yes, Councilperson Colon: yes, Councilperson Figueroa: yes, Councilperson Levasseur: yes, Councilperson Villar: yes, Council President Vega: yes. Motion carried 6, 0.

c)  Ordinance Amending the Wage Schedule Generally (Vega, by request)- second reading

Motion to approve the second reading of this Ordinance was made by Councilperson Colon, seconded by Councilperson Figueroa. Roll call vote: Councilperson Baena: yes, Councilperson Colon: yes, Councilperson Figueroa: yes, Councilperson Levasseur: yes, Councilperson Villar: yes, Council President Vega: yes. Motion carried 6, 0.

d)  Annual Capital Program and Capital Budget Ordinance (Vega, by request)-second reading

Motion to approve the second reading of this Ordinance was made by Councilperson Figueroa, seconded by Councilperson Colon. Roll call vote: Councilperson Baena: yes, Councilperson Colon: yes, Councilperson Figueroa: yes, Councilperson Levasseur: yes, Councilperson Villar: yes, Council President Vega: yes. Motion carried 6, 0.

VIII.  Adjournment

Motion to adjourn was made by Councilman Figueroa. Meeting adjourned at 7:34pm.

Jahaira Rodriguez

City Clerk

Approved: June 30, 2021