City of Central Falls

City Council Meeting

Board of License Commissioners Meeting

Central Falls City Hall

580 Broad St., Central Falls, RI 02863

Monday, May 9, 2022

6:00 p.m.

 

Minutes

 

Council President called the meeting to order at 6:02pm

 

I.      Roll Call

City Clerk, Jahaira Rodriguez, conducted the roll call. Present were Councilperson Glendaliz Colon, Councilperson Robert Ferri, Councilperson Meaghan Levasseur, Councilperson Kevin Kazarian, Councilperson Franklin Solano and Council President Jessica Vega. Not Present were Councilperson Tatiana Baena. Quorum was established.

 

II.    Pledge of Allegiance

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

 

III.   Public Comment

Representative James Mclaughlin 15 Garden Street, Cumberland, RI 02864, asked for a resolution to suspend the gas tax until September 31, 2022 to save tax payers millions.

Dan Izza, 1140 Lonsdale Avenue, Central Falls, RI spoke to neighbors and there are many concerns about hours, traffic and parking. Asking the Council to hold off from voting on the Ordinance until you have heard from the fire, police and planning department.

Thomas Laziah, 1072 Lonsdale Avenue, Central Falls, RI saw the Sub-A of the Ordinance which is better not perfect. Wants Council to hold back from making a decision. Wants a city-wide meeting from City Hall not the business owners.

 

IV.   Approval of Records

A.      Meeting Minutes of April 6, 2022

B.      Meeting Minutes of April 11, 2022

C.      Meeting Minutes of April 25, 2022

 

Motion to approve the minutes from April 6, April 11 and April 25 collectively was made by Councilperson Ferri, seconded by Councilperson Solano. Motion carried 5,0. Councilperson Colon is abstaining from voting as she was absent.

 

V.     Executive Communications

A.      Department Financial Reports-April 2022: Clerk’s Office, Fire Department, Police Department, Department of Public Works

 

B.  FY 2022 Quarterly Fund Expenditure-Budget to Actuals (unaudited)

 

VI.   New Business

City Council Sitting as Board of License Commissioners

i. Consideration of petition of license

 

A.  Entertainment                           Maria Helena Lopes

Permit (per diem)                           69 Henry Street, CF

 

Motion to approve this petition was made by Councilperson Colon, seconded by Councilperson Kazarian and Councilperson Solano. Motion carried 6,0.

Maria Helena spoke about the parade and her child. She wants to create awareness for her daughter’s condition. Wear purple because it symbolizes Cornelia de Lange Syndrome.

 

B.  Election of Special Constable pursuant to RIGL 45-16-8

Name                                               Address

Thomas Lazieh                    1072 Lonsdale Avenue, CF

(renewal)

 

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

 

C.  Hearing and/or consideration of claims

Name                                               Address

Henry Letendre                   71 Shawmut Avenue, CF

 

Motion to approve this claim was made by Councilperson Solano, seconded by Councilperson Levasseur. Motion carried 6,0.

 

D.  Hearing and/or consideration of agreement between the City of Central Falls and the Firefighters Local Union 1485

Council President opened public hearing: no signed up for public hearing

Charles Ruggiero, Labor Attorney for the City of Central Falls, presented the firefighters local union agreement between the union and the city. We are three fire fighters below the operational mandate.

Motion to approve the agreement was made by Councilperson Colon, seconded by Councilperson Solano. Motion carried 6,0.

 

E.  Petition to the Central Falls City Council by La Colombiana Bar & Grill, 477 Dexter Street, CF: contact: Rafael Ruano

Motion to approve petition of extension of license for three months was made by Councilperson Colon, seconded by Councilperson Solano. Motion carried 6,0.

 

F.  Presentation by the City Tax Assessor, Daniel Ducharme, Ph.d, regarding Revaluation Appeals

City Tax Assessor Daniel Ducharme gave the Council a presentation regarding appeals of the re-evaluations.

 

VII.  Schedule of Bills-Hearing and/or consideration

 

A.      Resolution Supporting and Urging Passage of Senate Bill 2631 and House Bill H7760, An Act Relating to State Affairs and Government, Restrictive Housing at Correctional Facilities Act-Vega

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

Council President Vega spoke on the resolution and the inhumane treatment of solitary confinement. In RI inmates in solitary confinement do not eat from 3pm until 7am the next day. We want lower time of solitary confinement. Councilperson Solano spoke about the resolution. He received a call from a resident that his son had got bit at the Wyatt Detention center by a rat at the facility and was not taken to the hospital.

 

B.      Ordinance Regarding the Business Hours of Regulated Cannabis Establishments in

Central Falls-(Solano)-Introduction

Motion to Substitute the Ordinance with Sub-A was made by Councilperson Solano, seconded by Councilperson Kazarian. Motion carried 5,1.

 

C.  Ordinance Amending the Hiring Procedures of the Fire Division-(Solano, Colon)-1st Reading

Council President opened public hearing: no signed up to speak

Public hearing closed:

Motion to approve this Ordinance was made by Councilperson Levasseur, seconded    by Councilperson Ferri. Roll call vote: Councilperson Colon: Yes, Councilperson Ferri: Yes, Councilperson Levasseur: Yes, Councilperson Solano: Yes and Council President Vega: Yes. Motion carried 6,0.

 

D.  Ordinance Amending the Hiring Procedures of the Police Division-(Vega, Levasseur)- 1st Reading

Council President opened public hearing: no signed up to speak

Public hearing closed:

Motion to approve this Ordinance was made by Councilperson Solano, seconded by Councilperson Colon. Roll call vote: Councilperson Colon: Yes, Councilperson Ferri: Yes, Councilperson Levasseur: Yes, Councilperson Solano: Yes and Council President Vega: Yes. Motion carried 6,0.

Council President Vega is excited about this ordinance because it attracts potential applicants to apply. Additionally, other departments only require a high school diploma.

 

VIII. Adjournment

Motion to adjourn was made by Councilperson Colon. Meeting stands     adjourn at 7:17pm.

 

 

 

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: https://clerkshq.com/default.ashx?clientsite=centralfalls-ri

 

City of Central Falls is an equal opportunity employer ADA/EOE. TDD/TTY 401-727-7450. This notice is posted in City Hall, Police Department, Department of Public Works, on www.centralfallsri.us and with the Office of the Secretary of State pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws. To review Notice of Citizen’s Rights, visit the Attorney General’s webpage at www.riag.ri.gov