I.      Roll Call

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

II.      Pledge of Allegiance

Council President Vega asked Councilperson Solano to lead the Council in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

III.      Public Comment

No one signed up for public comment

IV.      Approval of Records

A.  Meeting Minutes of September 29, 2021

Motion to approve the meeting minutes of September 29, 2021, was made by Councilperson Figueroa, seconded by Councilperson Levasseur. Motion carried 5, 0. Councilperson Solano did not vote as he was not present.

B.   Meeting Minutes of October 13, 2021

Motion to approve the meeting minutes of October 13, 2021, was made by Councilperson Villar, seconded by Councilperson Baena. Motion carried 6,0.

V.      Executive Communications

A.  Department Financial Reports-September 2021: Clerk’s Office, Fire Department, Police Department, Department of Public Works

B.  FY 2021 Grant Activity Reporting January 2021-September 2021.

VI.      New Business

A.  City Council Sitting as Board of License Commissioners i. Consideration of petition of license

Class of License                                      Business Information

Class A-Rest                                            El Carriel Antioqueño, Inc.

New                                                           d/b/a El Carriel Antioqueño

428 Dexter Street

Contact: Adriana Zuleta

Motion to approve this license was made by Councilperson Solano, seconded by

Councilperson Baena. Motion carried 6, 0.

Owner, Adriana answered questions of the Council. Council President asked Mrs. Zuleta if she was current with her taxes to which she answered yes. Adriana admitted that she was behind on her taxes because she didn’t understand the process. Councilman Solano asked what were the challenges? City Clerk

answered the questions for the Council and explained the process of obtaining a license in the City and the challenges that small business owners were facing during a middle of a pandemic.

Automotive Repair                                 United Express Mechanix & Towing, LLC Transfer                                                    d/b/a United Express Mechanix & Towing

1190 Broad Street

Contact: Diana Moreno

Previously: Botelho’s Service Station

Motion to approve this license was made by Councilperson Figueroa, seconded by Councilperson Solano. Motion carried 6, 0.

Council President asked questions of the owner including the hours and days of operation. Ms. Moreno indicated that normal business hours are M-Saturday with Sundays closed.

Class C-Variety                                       Erasmo Convenience Market, LLC Class A-Rest                                            d/b/a La Marqueta del Pueblo-P.D. New                                                           156 Washington Street

Owner: Pedro Diaz

Motion to approve this license contingent on applicant picking up the license before December 13, 2021, was made by Councilperson Baena, seconded by Councilperson Solano. Motion carried 6,0.

Council President spoke to Pedro about his business and the status of the operation of the business and his lack of respect to the City by ignoring to follow

the rules/law. CF Fire Department was present to speak about the multiple fire violations in the building/business.

B.  Advertise hearing and consideration of 2021-2022 liquor license renewals

Motion to approve these licenses collectively was made by Councilperson Solano, seconded by Councilperson Figueroa. Motion carried 6,0.

C.  Consideration of 2021-2022 Business License Renewals

Motion to approve these licenses collectively was made by Councilperson Villar, seconded by Councilperson Solano. Motion carried 6,0.

D.  Consideration of Tax Abatement submitted by the Tax Assessor

A motion to approve the tax abatement of the above properties except 280 Rand Street, was made by Councilperson Figueroa, seconded by Councilperson Solano. Motion carried 6, 0. 280 Rand Street will be continued to December 13, 2021, Council meeting.

VII.     Schedule of Bills-Hearing and/or consideration

A.  Resolution Supporting the Affordable Housing Development Project of Pawtucket Central Falls Development at 44 Central Street and Scattered sites in Central Falls- (Solano, Figueroa)

Motion to approve this resolution was made by Concilperson Villar, seconded by Councilperson Baena. Motion carried 5,0. Councilperson Levasseur recused from voting as she is on the Board. Councilperson Solano is pleased to sponsor this resolution because it’s an opportunity to build more housing around the City. Councilperson Figueroa stated that we need more housing opportunities in the City. Council President is excited about this project.

B.  Resolution Approving the Financing of the Construction, Renovation, Improvement, Alteration, Repair, Furnishing and Equipment of Schools in the City-(Vega)

Motion to approve this resolution was made by Councilperson Solano, seconded by Councilperson Figueroa. Motion carried 6,0.

Council President spoke on this resolution which authorizes the bond for the construction of a high school and repairs to other school buildings.

C.  Resolution Honoring and Celebrating the Central Falls High School Volleyball Team on their Regular Season Championship-(Vega)

Motion to approve this resolution was made by Councilperson Baena, seconded by Councilperson Figueroa and Solano. Motion carried 6,0. Council President Vega spoke on this resolution and congratulated the team on their championship.

D.  Ordinance Amending the Ordinance Pertaining to Motorized Devices and Recreational Off-Road Vehicles-(Vega)-Introduction.

Council President made acknowledgement of the Ordinance by accepting it.

E.  Ordinance Amending the Participatory Budgeting Ordinance-2nd Reading-(Vega) Council President opened for Public Hearing: No one signed up

A motion to approve the 2nd reading of this Ordinance was made by Councilperson Villar, seconded by Councilperson Solano. Roll call vote: Tatiana Baena: Yes, Hugo Figueroa: Yes, Meaghan Levasseur: Yes, Franklin Solano: Yes, Adamaris Villar: Yes, Jessica Vega: Yes. Motion carried 6, 0.

F.  Ordinance Amending the Solid Waste Ordinance-2nd Reading- (Baena, Villar) Council President Vega opened for Public Hearing: No one signed up

A motion to approve the second reading of this Ordinance was made by Councilperson Solano, seconded by Councilperson Figueroa. Roll call vote: Tatiana Baena: Yes, Hugo Figueroa: Yes, Meaghan Levasseur: Yes, Franklin Solano: Yes, Adamaris Villar: Yes, Jessica Vega: Yes. Motion carried 6, 0.

Motion to amend to add Councilperson Colon as co-sponsor of this Ordinance was made by Councilperson Baena, seconded by Councilperson Levasseur, Figueroa. Motion carried 6,0.

Councilperson Baena spoke on the Ordinance and Councilperson Villar wants to keep the City clean and avoid rodents problems.

G. Ordinance Amending the Co-operative Purchasing Ordinance-2nd Reading (Vega) Council President Vega opened for Public Hearing: No one signed up

A motion to approve the 2nd reading of this Ordinance was made by Councilperson

Baena, seconded by Councilperson Villar. Roll call vote: Tatiana Baena: Yes, Hugo Figueroa: Yes, Meaghan Levasseur: Yes, Franklin Solano: Yes, Adamaris Villar: Yes, Jessica Vega: Yes. Motion carried 6, 0.

H. Ordinance Adopting the 2021 Central Falls Vacant or Blighted Property

Redevelopment Plan-2nd reading.

Council President opened for Public Hearing: No one signed up

A motion to table this Ordinance to the December 13, 2021 Council meeting as 1st reading was made by Councilperson Solano, seconded by Councilperson Villar. Motion carried

6,0.

I.  Ordinance Amending the Zoning Ordinance Relative to Dumpsters and Enforcement-

2nd reading (Colon)

Council President opened for Public Hearing: No one signed up

A motion to table this Ordinance to the December 13, 2021 Council meeting as 1st reading was made by Councilperson Baena, seconded by Councilperson Solano. Motion carried 6,0.

Motion to amend to add Councilperson Villar and Councilperson Baena as co-sponsors of the Ordinance was made by Councilperson Baena, seconded by Councilperson Levasseur. Motion carried 6,0.

VIII.   Adjournment

Motion to adjourned was made by Councilperson Solano, seconded by Councilperson Figueroa. Meeting adjourned at 7:55pm

Jahaira Rodriguez

City Clerk

Approved December 13, 2021

Pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws § 42-46-4, the City Council reserves the right to convene in executive session on any of the aforementioned items for one or more of the purposes listed in Rhode Island General Laws § 42-46-5(1)-(10)

To view an electronic version of the agenda with supporting documentation, click on link: