
City of Central Falls City Council Meeting Wednesday, October 11, 2023
6:00 p.m.
Second Floor Council Chambers
580 Broad Street, Central Falls, RI 02863
Minutes
At 6:00 pm, Council President Robert Ferri commenced the meeting and proceeded with the roll call. In attendance were Councilperson Levasseur, Councilperson Kazarian, Councilperson
Solano, and Councilperson Rosado Martinez. Councilperson Peguero and Councilperson Baena
were absent.
Council President Ferri led the Council in the Pledge of allegiance to the flag.
None
a. Meeting minutes from September 11, 2023, Council Meeting
A motion to approve the minutes from September 11,2023 was made by Councilperson Solano; Seconded by Councilperson Rosado Martinez. Motion passed 5,0.
a. Department Financial Reports-September 2023: City Clerk’s Office, Police
Department, Department of Public Works
The Council accepted the Department Financial Reports for September 2023
b. Department Financial Reports-August 2023 Police Department
The Council accepted the Central Falls Police Department Financial Reports for August 2023
c. Mayoral Proclamation from Mayor Maria Rivera
i. Declaring the month of October 2023 as “Domestic Violence Awareness Month.”
The Council accepted the Mayoral Proclamation from Mayor Maria Rivera declaring the month of October 2023 as domestic violence awareness month.
ii. Declaring the month of October 2023 as “Breast Cancer Awareness Month.”
The Council accepted the Mayoral Proclamation from Mayor Maria Rivera declaring the month of October 2023 as domestic violence awareness month.
A. City Council sitting as Board of License Commissioners i. Consideration of petition of License
| a. | Mobile Food Establishment New A motion to approve was made by Councilperson Solano: Seconded by Councilperson Levasseur. Motion passed 5/0 | Dolores Acevedo D/B/A Antojito Mama Rossy 502 Roosevelt Ave Owner: Dolores Acevedo Under Discussion: Ms. Acevedo answered questions from the Council pertaining to her business. |
| b. | Laundry Transfer from Suraj Patel/Shiva LLC to Kenneth Seller/On the Go Laundry, LLC A motion to approve was made by Councilperson Kazarian; Seconded by Councilperson Rosado-Martinez. Motion passed 5/0. | On the Go Laundry, LLC D/B/A On the Go Laundry Matt 306 Broad Street Owner: Kenneth Sellers Under Discussion: Mr. Seller addressed the councils’ questions and concerns pertaining to his business. |
| c. | Entertainment (Annual) New A motion to approve was made by Councilperson Solano; Seconded by Councilperson Levasseur. The motion passed 5/0. | El Paisa Restaurant Inc. D/B/A El Paisa Restaurant 598 Dexter St. Under Discussion: The Council moved to approve the license citing the many years the business has been in operation in Central Falls. |
B. Petition Presentation
a. Presentation by Heiny Maldonado to exempt the nonprofit organization Fuerza
Laboral, 6 Chace Lane from 2023 Taxes.
Ms. Heiny Maldonado presented her case to the council, urging them to dismiss the
2023 taxes for the nonprofit organization Fuerza Laboral at 6 Chace Lane, Central Falls. City Solicitor Mathew Jerzyk fielded questions from the Council, who recommended that Ms. Heiny file a petition with the City Assessors Office for a Tax abatement, which would
then be considered by the Council.
a. A Resolution authorizing the acquisition and sale of 649 Broad Street (Plat 1, Lot
96) and 115 Sacred Heart Ave (AP 1, Lot 308) (Ferri by Request)
Councilman Kazarian proposed the motion for approval, which was seconded by Councilpersons Solano and Rosado-Martinez. During the discussion, Derek Collamati provided the Council with background information on the proposed project for the two properties mentioned in the resolution and addressed any questions from the Council. The motion was successfully passed
with a unanimous 5/0 vote.
b. An Ordinance Amending Appendix A of the Code of Ordinance Title “Zoning.”
Regulating self-storage facilities -First reading (Ferri)
At 6:28 pm, Council President Ferri initiated the public hearing. James Vandermillen, Director of Planning and Economic Development, presented to the Council and addressed inquiries regarding the Planning Board's recommendations on the ordinance. Matthew Jerzyk, City Solicitor, fielded questions from the council concerning the proposed ordinance and its amendments. At 6:35 pm, Council President Ferri concluded the public hearing. Councilperson Kazarian proposed a motion to amend the ordinance, seconded by Councilperson Rosado- Martinez. Roll call vote: Councilperson Kazarian: yes; Councilperson Levasseur: yes; Councilperson Solano: yes; Councilperson Rosado-Martinez: yes; Council President Ferri: yes. The motion was unanimously approved with a 5/0 vote. Subsequently, Councilperson Kazarian moved to approve the amended ordinance, and Councilperson Rosado-Martinez seconded the motion. Roll call vote: Councilperson Kazarian: yes; Councilperson Levasseur: yes; Councilperson Solano: yes; Councilperson Rosado-Martinez: yes; Council President Ferri: yes. The motion was unanimously approved with a 5/0 vote.
c. Ordinance Requiring Human Pet Sales-First Reading (Levasseur)
City Solicitor Matthew Jerzyk addressed the Council regarding an error he noticed in the Ordinance and proposed that the Council amend the ordinance before approving. A motion to amend was made by Councilperson Kazarian; Seconded by Councilperson Rosado-Martinez. Roll call vote: Councilperson Kazarian: yes; Councilperson Levasseur: yes; Councilperson Solano: yes; Councilperson Rosado-Martinez: yes; Council President Ferri: yes. The motion was
unanimously approved with a 5/0 vote. A motion to approve the Ordinance as amended was made by Councilperson Solano; Seconded by Councilperson Rosado Martinez. Roll call vote: Councilperson Kazarian: yes; Councilperson Levasseur: yes; Councilperson Solano: yes; Councilperson Rosado-Martinez: yes; Council President Ferri: yes. The motion passed 5/0.
a. Schedule of Bills-Hearing and/or consideration
i. Ordinance Regarding the Business Hours of regulated Cannabis Establishments in Central Falls-Second Reading (Levasseur and Kazarian)
A motion to approve was made by Councilperson Levasseur; Seconded by Councilperson Solano. Under discussion City Solicitor Matthew Jerzyk answered inquiries from the council. Roll call vote: Councilperson Kazarian: yes; Councilperson Levasseur: yes; Councilperson Solano: yes; Councilperson Rosado-Martinez: yes; Council President Ferri: yes. The motion passed with 5 to 0 vote.
A motion to adjourn was made by Councilperson Solano; Seconded by Councilperson Rosado-Martinez. Meeting Adjourned at 6:43 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 City Council: November 13th, 2023
Alberto de Burgo
City Clerk