Click 
to view the entire meeting or click any video icon below to jump to that section of the meeting.
City of Central Falls
City Council Meeting
Board of License Commissioners Meeting
Central Falls City Hall
580 Broad St., Central Falls, RI 02863
Wednesday, October 12, 2022
6:00 p.m.
Minutes
I. Roll Call
City Clerk, Jahaira Rodriguez, conducted the roll call. Present were Councilperson Robert Ferri, Councilperson Levasseur, Councilperson Kevin Kazarian, Councilperson Franklin Solano and Council President Jessica Vega. Note that Councilperson Tatiana Baena entered the meeting at 6:05pm and Councilperson Glendaliz Colon was not present.
II. Pledge of Allegiance
Council President asked Councilperson Kazarian to lead the Council in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance.
III. Public Comment
Angelo Marin, 81 Rand Street, Central Falls expressed his concerns regarding violations and fines. Expected calls from someone in the City but claims that no one returned his calls. Other towns give warnings before the violation. Violations were paid on time and is asking to revisit the process of giving out violations to homeowners in the City. Director of DPW asked the City Solicitor’s approval to dismiss the lien on the property and solicitor approved the request.
Lorraine Savard, 76 Emmett Street, Central Falls wanted to make some clarifications on the record. She wanted the Council to know that the City of Pawtucket does not have a cannabis center but that they have a cultivation place that doesn’t sell but only cultivates. She also wanted to clarify that the City will receive a 3% tax on the recreational cannabis business once it opens. She wants to know why the new high school will be built on polluted grounds.
IV. Approval of Records
A. Meeting Minutes September 12, 2022
Motion to approve the meeting minutes of September 12, 2022, was made by Councilperson Ferri, seconded by Councilperson Levasseur. Motion carried 6,0.
V. Executive Communications
A. Department Financial Reports-September 2022: Clerk’s Office, Fire Department, Police Department, Department of Public Works
-received
VI. New Business
City Council Sitting as Board of License Commissioners
i. Consideration of petition of license
A. Class A-Restaurant KFI, LLC
(new) d/b/a California Taco Shop
428 Dexter Street
Contact: Kelvin Perez
Owners of California Taco spoke regarding their business, the hours of operation and the menu. The Council congratulated them on choosing Central Falls as their place of business.
Motion to approve this license was made by Councilperson Solano, seconded by Councilperson Ferri. Motion carried 6,0.
B. Pawn Broker Fall River Financial RI, LLC
(new) d/b/a Fall River Pawn Brokers
400 Dexter Street
Contact: Paul Bryant
Owner of Fall River Pawn Brokers spoke regarding his business. Owns multiple stores and chose Central Falls as their place of business. Has been in business for 30 plus years.
Motion to approve this license was made by Councilperson Kazarian, seconded by Councilperson Levasseur. Motion carried 6,0.
C. Consideration of Tax Abatement submitted by the Tax Assessor
Property Owner Tax Year Property Information
Ronald LaFlamme 2022 46 Washington Street
Carlos Berrios 2022 49 Crossman Street
Ronald LaFlamme 2022 7 Chapel Street
G & H Realty, LLC 2022 585 Hunt Street
MGM Realty Corp. 2022 1361 Broad Street
LRA Group, LLC 2022 1361 Broad Street
Motion to approve the tax abatements was made by Councilperson Ferri, seconded by Councilperson Solano. Motion carried 6,0.
D. Hearing and/or consideration of Petition to the City Council by JD’s Bar to extend hours of operation
Representative from JD’s bar spoke about the request to stay open an extra hour. City Solicitor clarified the Ordinance and explained the discretional power that the Council has, to make these amendments.
Motion to approve this petition was made by Councilperson Baena, seconded by Councilperson Solano. Motion carried 6,0.
VII. Schedule of Bills-Hearing and/or consideration
A. Resolution Authorizing Mayor and City to sell 499-511 Broad Street (Plat 1, Lot 3 and Plat 1, Lot 119) and 542 Broad Street (Plat 5, Lot 149) in the City of Central Falls to the Central Falls Redevelopment Authority and/or One Neighborhood Builders for the Purpose of Developing Affordable Housing-(Vega)
Council President spoke on the resolution and explained that One Neighborhood is a nonprofit organization. They acquire lots to build properties to address the housing crisis. City Solicitor spoke on the pot of money that the state has to fund project for affordable housing. Possible 40 units of affordable houses between two sites.
Motion to approve this resolution was made by Councilperson Ferri, seconded by Councilpersons Kazarian and Solano. Motion carried 6,0.
B. Resolution Authorizing Collaboration with Nonadjacent Rhode Island Municipalities and Police Departments Pursuant to the Statewide Mutual Aid Agreement-(Vega)
Council President spoke on the resolution and explained the process of mutual aid between the departments across some of the Cities in the State. The police departments will provide aid and work together.
Motion to approve this resolution was made by Councilperson Solano, seconded by Councilpersons Baena and Ferri. Motion carried 6,0.
C. Ordinance Amending Various Sections of Appendix A-Zoning of the Ordinances of the City of Central Falls Regarding Affordable Housing-(Vega)-1st Reading
-PUBLIC HEARING
Council President opened for public hearing.
No one signed up for public hearing.
Council President and City Solicitor spoke on the Ordinance. Motion to approve this Ordinance was made by Councilperson Ferri, seconded by Councilperson Levasseur. Roll call vote: Councilperson Baena: Yes, Councilperson Ferri: Yes, Councilperson Levasseur: Yes, Councilperson Kazarian: Yes, Councilperson Solano: Yes, Councilperson Vega: Yes.
Motion carried 6,0.
D. Ordinance Creating the Transparency in Receivership Ordinance-(Vega)-1st Reading
-PUBLIC HEARING
Council President opened for public hearing.
No one signed up for public hearing
Council President spoke regarding the receivership process. City Solicitor spoke on the modernization of court efforts to be more transparent. Motion to approve this Ordinance was made by Councilperson Baena, seconded by Councilperson Ferri. Roll call vote: Councilperson Baena: Yes, Councilperson Ferri: Yes, Councilperson Levasseur: Yes, Councilperson Kazarian: Yes, Councilperson Solano: Yes, Councilperson Vega: Yes.
Motion carried 6,0
VIII. Adjournment
Motion to adjourn was made by Councilperson Ferri. Meeting stood adjourned at 6:55pm.
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