I.        Roll Call

City Clerk, Alberto de Burgo conducted the roll call.  Present were; Councilperson Meaghan Levasseur; Council President Pro Temp Franklin Solano; Councilperson Raphael Peguero, Councilperson Tatiana Baena (arrived at 6:04pm) and Council President Robert Ferri.  Absent from the meeting were Councilperson Laurilim Rosado-Martinez and Councilperson Kevin Kazarian.  The meeting had a quorum.

II.       Pledge of Allegiance

Council president Ferri led the Council in the pledge of Allegiance.

III.     Public Comment

None

IV.      Approval of Records

a.       Meeting minutes from November 27, 2023, Council Meeting

Councilperson Levasseur moved to approve the minutes from November 7, seconded by Councilperson Solano. The motion passed with a 4-0 vote, with Councilperson Baena abstaining due to her absence at the November 7 Council Meeting.

V.       Executive Communications

2. Department Financial Reports-November 2023: City Clerk’s Office, Fire Department, Department of Public Works, Police Department.

Received

VI.      New Business

A.     City Council sitting as Board of License Commissioners

a.       Consideration of petition of License

b.      Consideration of 2023-2024 Business License Renewals

Alberto de Burgo, the City Clerk, asked Council President Ferri if they could skip individually reading all the names and instead vote collectively. Council President Ferri agreed to forgo the individual name reading and called for a motion. Councilperson Baena suggested a motion to collectively approve all renewal business licenses, which was seconded by Councilperson Levasseur. The motion received unanimous approval with a 5/0 vote.

B.     Petition to the Council

a.       Renewal license extension request

                                                                          i.      Jose Lima, 59-61 Central St. Central Falls, RI 02863, D/B/A Lima’s Place 499 High St., Central Falls, RI 02863

Mr. Lima requested the Council grant him a six-month extension for his liquor license renewal to accommodate ongoing renovations at his establishment. He addressed inquiries from the Council regarding both the renovation progress and the extension request. A motion to approve was made by Councilperson Solano; Seconded by Councilperson Levasseur.  The motion passed 5/0.

b.      Extended Hours for New Years

                                                                          i.      Jose Mendes, 159 Warren Ave., Pawtucket, D/B/A 765 Taqueria Lounge, 765 Broad St. Central Falls, RI 02863

                                                                        ii.      Julian Segura, 57 Vicksbury St. Providence, RI, D/B/A La Cantina Bar & Restaurant, 664 Dexter St. Central Falls, RI 02863

                                                                      iii.      Jose Dos Santos, 67 webster Street, Pawtucket, RI 02860. D/B/A JD’s Bar, 137 Central Street, Central Falls, RI 02863.

                                                                       iv.      Carlos Ramirez, 695 Lonsdale Ave. Central Falls, RI 02863. D/B/A La Taberna Night Club, 695 Lonsdale Ave., Central Falls, RI 02863.

Alberto de Burgo, the City Clerk, and Council President Ferri explored the idea of collectively addressing requests instead of dealing with each one individually. Council President Ferri agreed to abandon individual addresses, opting to address the requesters as a group. The meeting had only two attendees, Mr. Jose Dos Santos of JD’s Bar and Mr. Carlos Ramirez of La Taberna Night Club. In response, Councilperson Baena proposed a motion to approve requests exclusively for establishments represented at the Council meeting (JD’s Bar and La Taberna). The approval, however, was contingent on these establishments meeting with both the Fire Department and Police Department to formulate a strategic plan. Councilperson Levasseur seconded the motion. Chief Scott Mello of the Central Falls Fire Department expressed concerns during the discussion, particularly regarding the extension of operating hours for restaurants and bars on New Year's. Similarly, Major John Caroll of the Central Falls Police Department also voiced reservations.

In the roll call vote, Councilperson Levasseur voted yes, Councilperson Solano abstained, Councilperson Ferri voted no, Councilperson Peguero voted no, and Councilperson Baena voted yes. The motion did not pass with a vote of 2/2.

VII.    Schedule of Bills-Hearing and/or consideration

c.       Resolution honoring Lisette Gomes, Esq. for her ten years of remarkable and distinguished service to the residents of Central Falls as Prosecutor in the Municipal Housing Court. (Ferri, Solano, Levasseur, Baena, Rosado-Martinez, Peguero and Kazarian)

Approved unanimously 5/0

d.      An Ordinance Amending the Redevelopment Agency Ordinance. (Ferri by Request)- Introduction

Introduced

VIII.   Adjournment

Meeting adjourned at 6:48pm

Approved by City Council: January 8, 2024

Alberto de Burgo

City Clerk

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)