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Special City Council Meeting
Monday, November 27, 2023
6:00 p.m.
Second Floor Council Chambers
580 Broad Street, Central Falls, RI 02863
Agenda
Council President Robert Ferri opened the Central falls City Council meeting at 6:00 pm
I. Roll Call
City Clerk, Alberto de Burgo conducted the roll call. Present were Councilperson Kevin Kazarian; Councilperson Meaghan Levasseur; Council President Pro Temp Franklin Solano; Councilperson Raphael Peguero and Council President Robert Ferri. Absent from the meeting were Councilperson Laurilim Rosado-Martinez, and Councilperson Tatiana Baena. The meeting had a quorum.
II. Pledge of Allegiance
Council President Ferri Led the Council in the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag
III. Public Comment
Chief Scott Mello, 150 Illinois St., of the Central Falls Fire and Emergency Services Department (CFFD) brought up a crucial point before the Council. He requested the provision of a representative who could address the Council upon request, highlighting the challenge of ensuring representation at every meeting due to staffing shortages. Councilperson Levasseur responded to Chief Mello's plea, underlining the Council's necessity to stay informed about significant incidents in the city, particularly those involving fires or medical emergencies related to opioids.
IV. Approval of Records
Meeting minutes from November 13, 2023, Council Meeting
A motion to approve was made by Councilperson Levasseur; Seconded by Councilperson Peguero. The motion passed unanimously 5/0.
V. Executive Communications
a. Proclamation proclaiming the Month of November 2023, as Family Court Awareness Month for 2023.
Received
VI. New Business
A. Presentation by Derek Collamati, City of Central Falls Fund Developer
i. Recreation Development and Acquisition Grant Program 2024
Mr. Derek Collamati, Fund Developer for the City of Central Falls, presented comprehensive information to the Council regarding the Recreation Development and Acquisition Grant Program. During his presentation, Mr. Collamati addressed inquiries from Council members.
Additionally, Mr. Collamati provided an overview of upcoming projects and highlighted grant commitments that have been extended to the City of Central Falls.
After careful consideration of Mr. Collamati's presentation and the outlined projects, the Council expressed unanimous support for the Recreation Development and Acquisition Grant Program.
Matthew Jerzyk, the City Solicitor for Central Falls, addressed the Council and suggested the indefinite tabling of the review and consideration of the lease agreement between the City of Central Falls and Faria Meat Market LLC d/b/a International Meat Market for the land, property and building located at 756 and 770 Lonsdale Avenue for One Dollar ($1). In response to this proposal, Councilperson Kazarian moved to table the item indefinitely, a motion that was seconded by Councilperson Solano. The motion garnered unanimous support, resulting in a 5/0 vote in favor of indefinitely tabling the item.
C. City Council sitting as Board of License Commissioners
a. Consideration of petition of License
| | License Type | | Business Name |
| i. | Class B Liquor Renewal tabled 11/13/2023 | | Tio Pepe, Inc. D/B/A Tio Pepe’s Cantina 508 Dexter Street Owner: Alicia Lopez |
| | Councilperson Solano proposed a motion to approve, suggesting a six-month review of the business by the council. Councilperson Kazarian seconded the motion, Roll Call Vote: Councilperson Kevin Kazarian: yes; Councilperson Meaghan Levasseur: yes; Council President Pro Temp Franklin Solano: yes; Councilperson Raphael Peguero: yes, and Council President Robert Ferri: yes. The motion passed 5-unanimously with a vote of 5/0. | | Ms. Alicia Lopez, the proprietor of Tio Pepe’s Cantina, responded to inquiries from the Council and tackled some of their concerns regarding the business. City Solicitor Matthew Jerzyk also addressed certain concerns raised by the CFPD with the owner. Council President Robert Ferri entered an email from Major John Carrol of the CFPD into the record. The email detailed recommendations from the CFPD regarding Tio Pepe’s license. |
| | Class B Liquor Renewal tabled 11/13/2023 | | Restaurant Montecristo, LLC D/B/A Restaurant Monticristo 804 Broad Street Jose Martinez |
| | Councilperson Kazarian proposed a motion to approve, suggesting a six-month review of the business by the council. Councilperson Peguero seconded the motion. Roll Call Vote: Councilperson Kevin Kazarian: yes; Councilperson Meaghan Levasseur: yes; Council President Pro Temp Franklin Solano: yes; Councilperson Raphael Peguero: yes, and Council President Robert Ferri: yes. The motion passed unanimously with a vote of 5/0. | | Mr. Jose Martinez, owner of Restaurant Montecristo, provided feedback in response to the Council's questions regarding police calls to his establishment. City Solicitor Matthew Jerzyk also discussed complaints with the owner, including patrons possibly drinking in the parking lot and leaving empty bottles on the premises. Council President Robert Ferri documented an email from Major John Carrol of the CFPD, which outlined recommendations from the department concerning Restaurant Montecristo's license. |
| | Class A Restaurant Renewal tabled 11/13/2023 | | International Meat Market LLC D/B/A International Meat Market 756 Lonsdale Ave Jesse & Jason Faria |
| | Class C-Variety Renewal tabled 11/13/2023 | | International Meat Market LLC D/B/A International Meat Market 756 Lonsdale Ave Jesse & Jason Faria |
| | A motion to approve both the Class A and C Variety Licenses with an expiration date and time of March 1st, 2024, at 12:00 pm was made by Councilperson Kazarian and Seconded by Councilperson Solano. Roll Call Vote: Councilperson Kevin Kazarian: yes; Councilperson Meaghan Levasseur: yes; Council President Pro Temp Franklin Solano: yes; Councilperson Raphael Peguero: yes, and Council President Robert Ferri: yes. The motion passed 5-0. | | Alberto de Burgo, the City Clerk, urged the City Council to consider bundling the Class A Restaurant and Class C Variety Licenses for approval. Following this, City Solicitor Matthew Jerzyk addressed the Council, suggesting that if they approve the licenses, they should include an expiration time of 12:00 pm on March 1st, 2024. |
| | Sidewalk New | | El Paisa Restaurant Inc. D/B/A El Paisa Restaurant 598 Dexter St. Central Falls, RI 02863 |
| | Motion to approve was made by Councilperson Solano; Seconded by Councilperson Kazarian. The motion passed 5/0. | | Diana Rivera and Cesar Zuleta, co-owners of El Paisa petitioned the Council for approval of their Sidewalk Café License. |
b. Consideration of 2023-2024 Business License Renewals
| Business Name | Address | License Type |
| Great China Chinese Restaurant | 402 Dexter Street | Class A Restaurant |
| El Arca Store | 635 Dexter Street | Second Hand |
| Mi Tierra Supermarket | 693 Dexter Street | Class C-Variety |
| Mi Tierra Supermarket | 693 Dexter Street | Class A Restaurant |
| Samayoa’s Restaurant & Bakery | 801 Broad Street | Class A Restaurant |
| Samayoa’s Restaurant & Bakery | 801 Broad Street | Class D-Bakery |
| Broad Street Gulf Station | 957 Broad Street | Class C-Variety |
| Sunnyhill Farms | 364 Dexter Street | Class C-Variety |
| Dunkin Donuts 2 | 957 Broad Street | Class A Restaurant |
| Tikal Bakery & Market | 1368 Broad Street | Class C-Variety |
| Tikal Bakery & Market | 1368 Broad Street | Class D-Bakery |
| Pick up & Delivery Laundromat | 155 Washington St. | Laundry |
| 7-Eleven inc. #35008A | 603 Hunt St. | Class C-Variety |
City Clerk Alberto de Burgo requested the council to forgo reading each business individually and instead bundle them for a single vote. Councilperson Levasseur motioned to approve the renewal of businesses as a bundle, with Councilperson Peguero seconding the motion. The motion passed unanimously with a vote of 5/0.
D. Hearing and/or Consideration of Claims
| Name | | Address |
| Jill Bixby | | 2122 Warwick Ave, Apt 203 Warwick, RI 02889 |
| Councilperson Solano proposed referring the claim to RI Energy, a motion seconded by Councilperson Levasseur. The motion was approved unanimously with a vote of 5/0. | | Ms. Jill Bixby presented herself before the Council, recounting the events surrounding the damage to her car and fielding questions from the Council. The Director of Public Works, Jean Barros, clarified to the Council that the road work conducted on the day in question was carried out by RI Energy, not the city. |
| James Eubanks | | 121 Garfield St. Central Falls, RI 02863 |
| Councilperson Solano proposed referring Mr. Eubanks' claim to the RI Interlocal Trust, a motion seconded by Councilperson Levasseur. The motion received unanimous approval with a 5/0 vote. | | Mr. James Eubanks shared his perspective with the City Council regarding damage to two of his vehicles caused by DPW workers during the cleanup of Garfield Park. The Director of Public Works, Jean Barros, provided the Council with details of his interactions and transactions with Mr. Eubanks in an effort to address the claim. |
VII. Schedule of Bills-Hearing and/or consideration
a. An Ordinance Exempting 6 Chace’s Lane (Plat 2, Lot 180) from Property Taxes so Long as the Property is Owned by Fuerza Laboral-First Reading (Ferri)
Ms. Heiny Maldonado, Executive Director of Fuerza Laboral, appealed to the council for approval of the ordinance, citing the nonprofit work her organization carries out in the city. In response, the council expressed their apprehensions about passing the ordinance, highlighting the potential implications it could have on the city and its taxpayers.
A motion to deny the ordinance exempting 6 Chace’s Lane (Plat 2, Lot 180) from property taxes so Long as the property is owned by Fuerza Laboral was made by Councilperson Kazarian; seconded by Councilperson Peguero. Roll call vote to deny: Councilperson Kevin Kazarian: yes; Councilperson Meaghan Levasseur: yes; Council President Pro Temp Franklin Solano: yes; Councilperson Raphael Peguero: yes, and Council President Robert Ferri: yes. The motion passed 5-0.
VIII. Adjournment
The meeting adjourned at 7: 13 pm
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
Approved by the City Council: December 11, 2023
Alberto M. de Burgo
City Clerk