I.      Roll Call

City Clerk, Jahaira Rodriguez conducted the roll call. Present were Councilperson Robert Ferri, Councilperson Meaghan Levasseur, Councilperson Kevin Kazarian, and Council President Jessica Vega. Councilperson Glendaliz Colon entered the meeting at 6:03pm. Councilpersons Tatiana Baena and Franklin Solano were not present.

               II.      Pledge of Allegiance

Council President lead the Council in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.

            III.      Public Comment

Senator Jonathon Acosta, 100 Illinois Street, Central Falls, RI congratulated Council President and wished her well.

             IV.      Approval of records

a.  Meeting minutes of November 14, 2022

Motion to approve the meeting minutes of November 14, 2022 was made by Councilperson Ferri, seconded by Councilperson Levasseur. Motion carried 5,0.

                V.      Executive Communications

                                      i.      Department Financial reports-(November 2022) City Clerk, Fire, Police, Code Enforcement:

             VI.      New Business

A.  City Council Sitting as Board of License Commissioners

                                      i.      Consideration of petition of license  

Motion to deny the laundromat license for Pick-up Laundromat was made by Councilperson Ferri, seconded by Councilperson Levasseur. Motion carried 5,0.

Motion to approve the Class B license for Grated Mix was made by Councilperson Ferri, seconded by Councilperson Colon. Motion carried 5,0.

Business owner, Natalia spoke to the Council regarding her plans for the restaurant and answered questions of the Council. The restaurant will open at 11am and plan to serve breakfast in the future.

                                    ii.      Hearing and consideration of 2022-2023 liquor license renewals- late renewals

Motion to approve Petencito Restaurant was made by Councilperson Ferri, seconded by Councilperson Colon. Motion carried 4,1. Councilperson Levasseur votes to deny this application.

Business owner, Yubitza spoke to Council regarding the violations and concerns of the DOH and of the Council. She indicated that she has since fired the manager and is addressing the bodily functions in the parking lots. She is healthy again to take care of the restaurant.

Motion to approve Restaurant Montecristo was made by Councilperson Colon, seconded by Councilperson Levasseur. Motion carried 5,0.

Motion to approve Tropicana Nightclub license with a three-month probation period was made by Councilperson Ferri, seconded by Councilperson Colon. Motion carried 5,0.

Business owner, Gioconda spoke to the Council regarding the history of the establishment. CFPD has received around 350 calls. The police made reference of the multiple issues stemming from this business.

                                  iii.      Consideration of the 2022-2023 license renewals- late renewals

Motion to approve these petitions collectively except La Marqueta del Pueblo was made by Councilperson Kazarian, seconded by Councilperson Levasseur. Motion carried 5,0.

Fire Deputy Dyman and DPW Inspector, Annette Martinez addressed the Council regarding their findings of this business. She explained that RI Energy called to inform us that electrical wires in this business had been tempered with. The electricity had been shut off since August 2022 but the store was using electricity from the neighbor’s panel. Deputy Dyman spoke about the many fire hazzards Mr. Diaz had all over the business and basement. The basement looked as if people were living there, having space heaters and bags of clothing all over the place. Mr. Diaz denied all wrongdoing.

Motion to deny La Marqueta del Pueblo was made by Councilperson Levasseur, seconded by Councilperson Colon. Motion carreid 5,0.

                                   iv.      Consideration of Tax Abatement submitted by the Tax Assessor

Property Owner                      Tax Year                     Property Information

Chicondi Café, LLC                2018                            590 Dexter Street

Chicondi Café, LLC                2019                            590 Dexter Street

Hydro Punc Café                    2018                            712 Broad Street

Motion to approve the abatements was made by Councilperson Colon, seconded by Councilperson Ferri. Motion carried 5,0.

                                     v.      Application of Private Detective License

Name                                                  Address

Douglas E. Belknap                            93 Summer Street

(new)                                                  Central Falls, RI

Motion to approve this petition was made by Councilperson Ferri, seconded by Councilperson Colon. Motion carried 5,0.

Mr. Belknap has been an investigator for insurance fraud for over 20+ years.

                                   vi.      Hearing and/or Consideration of Claims  

a)      Claim by Mario Gomes, 400 East Street, Walpole, MA 02081, for alleged damages to personal property located at 77 Sylvian Street, Central Falls, RI sustained on October/November 2021 (Already referred to the RI Interlocal Trust per City Solicitor)

Motion to refer this claim to the RI Interlocal Trust was made by Councilperson Ferri, seconded by Councilperson Colon. Motion carried 5,0.

City Solicitor spoke about the RI Interlocal Trust having the expertise to investigate and mitigate this situation.

b)      Claim by Gary Perry, of Lincoln, RI, for alleged damages to personal property sustained on March 20, 2022 (Already referred to the RI Interlocal Trust per City Solicitor)

Motion to refer this claim to the RI Interlocal Trust was made by Councilperson Colon, seconded by Councilperson Ferri. Motion carried 5,0.

                                vii.      Hearing and/or Consideration of Petition to the City Council  

Name                                                  Address

La Taberna Club Inc.                         695 Lonsdale Avenue

                                                            Contact: Carlos Ramirez

Motion to approve this petition with the condition that drinks stopped being served at 1:45am, was made by Councilperson Ferri, seconded by Councilperson Colon. Motion carried 5,0.

765 Taqueria & Lounge, LLC             765 Broad Street

                                                            Contact: Jose Mendes

Motion to approve this petition with the condition that drinks stopped being served at 1:45am, was made by Councilperson Kazarian, seconded by Councilperson Ferri. Motion carried 5,0.

             viii.     Hearing and/or consideration of License

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

Class of License                                              Business Information

BV-Liquor                                                      Azucena’s Bar & Restaurant

                                                                        1270 Broad Street

                                                                                                Contact: Jose Figueroa

Motion to approve this petition with a three-month probationary period was made by Councilperson Colon, seconded by Councilperson Levasseur. Motion carried 5,0.

          VII.      Schedule of Bills- Hearing and/or Consideration

a.       Resolution in Support to Pawtucket Central Falls Development Plans for 16 & 23 Central Street, Central Falls, RI 02863-(Kazarian, Levasseur)

Motion to substitute Councilperson Kazarian and Levasseur from sponsoring the resolution without objection and add Councilperson Colon was made by Councilperson Ferri, seconded by Councilperson Colon. Motion carried 3,0.

Motion to approve this resolution was made by Councilperson Ferri, seconded by Councilperson Colon. Motion carried 3,0. Both Councilperson Kazarian and Levasseur recuse from voting as they are members of the PCFD Board.

b.      Resolution in Support to Pawtucket Central Falls Development on their Development Plan for 44 Central Street, Central Falls, RI 02863-(Kazarian, Levasseur)

Motion to substitute Councilperson Kazarian and Levasseur from sponsoring the resolution without objection and add Councilperson Colon was made by Councilperson Ferri, seconded by Councilperson Colon. Motion carried 3,0.

Motion to approve this resolution was made by Councilperson Ferri, seconded by Councilperson Colon. Motion carried 3,0. Both Councilperson Kazarian and Levasseur recuse from voting as they are members of the PCFD Board.

      VIII.      Good & Welfare

Council President address the Council and called them amazing champions who did the right thing for four years with the best intent for the resident of Central  Falls. She appreciates each and everyone of you and wishes the Council success in the future.

Councilperson Colon addressed the Council and explained that this was bittersweet but that she will be around to continue to help the community in any way she can.

Councilperson Kazarian thanked the President for her leadership and mentorship.

             IX.      Adjournment

Motion to adjourn was made by Councilperson Colon. Meeting stands adjourned at 7:56pm.