City of Central Falls

Special City Council Meeting

Monday June 2, 2025

Second Floor Council Chambers

580 Broad Street,

Central Falls, RI 02863

6:00 p.m.

 

Date Posted: May 28^th, 2025

Time Poste:  

Notes

 

 

I.       Roll Call

 

Council President Pro Tempore Alberto Rivas-Lugo called the meeting to order at 6:01pm. City Clerk Alberto de Burgo, conducted the roll call, present were Councilperson Tatiana Baena, Councilperson Kevin Kazarian, Councilperson Rafael Peguero, Councilperson Laurilim Rosado-Martinez arrived at 6;07 pm.  Council President Ferri was absent from the meeting. The meeting had a quorum

 

II.     Pledge of Allegiance

Council President Pro temp Alberto Rivas-Lugo led the Council in the Pledge of Allegiance.

 

III.    Public Comment

None

 

IV.    Approval of Records

a.       Meeting minutes of May 12, 2025, Council Meeting

b.      Meeting minutes of May 12, 2025, Special Council Meeting

c.       Meeting minutes of May 19, 2025, Special Council Meeting

d.      Meeting minutes of May 28, 2025, Special Council Meeting

The Council may vote on this item

 

Councilperson Peguero made a motion to approve the meeting minutes collectively, which was seconded by Councilperson Baena. The motion passed unanimously with a vote of 5-0.

 

V.     New Business

e.       City Council sitting as Board of License Commissioners

                                                        i.      Hearing and Consideration of Petition of License

Licenses Type		Business Name
Class C- Variety New		Lysc Mini Mart Inc. D/B/A Lysc Mini martes 791 Lonsdale Ave Unit A Applicant: Lilbel Tavarez Property Owner: Deepak Wadhwa
The business owner, Ms. Lilbel Tavarez, was not present. A motion to continue the matter was made by Councilperson Baena and seconded by Councilperson Kazarian. The motion passed with a vote of 4-0.		City Clerk Alberto de Burgo called for Ms. Lilbel Tavarez, but she was not present. City Solicitor Jerzyk requested a continuation to allow the Council an opportunity to ask the business owner questions about the business.
Ms. Tavarez arrived at the meeting approximately 6:10 pm, and a motion to reconvene was made by Councilperson Baena and seconded by Councilperson Rosado-Martinez. The motion passed unanimously, 5–0. Following the discussion, a motion to approve was made by Councilperson Baena and seconded by Councilperson Rosado-Martinez. The motion also passed unanimously, 5–0.		Ms. Tavarez appeared before the Council and responded to several questions regarding her business, including inquiries related to tobacco sales. Solicitor Jerzyk posed additional questions and conveyed the City’s concerns about the sale of tobacco products in close proximity to the new high school.
F& F1 ; Entertainment New		Mundialito 127 Perry St. Applicant: Karol Serpa
A motion to approve was made by Councilperson Kazarian and Seconded by Councilperson Peguero.  The motion passed 4-0		Nicole Wolfur, a representative and board member of Mundialito, addressed the Council and provided an overview of the program and its goals..
Private Detective License Renewal		William B. Connors Jr. 800Hingjham Street Suite 100 South Rockland, Ma
A motion to approve was made by Councilperson Rosado-Martinez and Seconded by Councilperson Peguero. The Motion passed 5-0
Private Detective License Renewal		Augusto Mantilla-Serrano 19 Stop River Rd. Norfolk, MA
A motion to approve was made by Councilperson Rosado-Martinez and Seconded by Councilperson Kazarian. The Motion passed 5-0

  The Council May vote on this item

 

 

f.        Petition of Narragansett Electric & Verizon New England Inc. for Joint or Identical Pole Location Washington Street: Petition to midspan P18 about 52” from P19

The Council may vote on this item

 

A motion to approve was made by Councilperson Kazarian and Seconded by Councilperson Rosado-Martinez.  Under discussion Councilperson Baen asked for information on the work being performed. The motion passed 5-0.

 

VI.    Schedule of Bills-Hearing and/or Consideration

g.       FY 2026 Annual Operating Budget Ordinance-General Fund (Ferri, by request)-First Reading

The City Council may vote on this item

Council President Pro Tempore Rivas-Lugo opened the public hearing. As no one had signed up to speak, the hearing was closed.

A motion to approve was made by Councilperson Rosado-Martinez and seconded by Councilperson Peguero. The motion passed unanimously, 5–0.

h.      Ordinance Pertaining to the Salaries of Department Heads and Others in Unclassified Service (Ferri by request)-First Reading

The City Council may vote on this item

Council President Pro Tempore Rivas-Lugo opened the public hearing. With no one signed up to speak, the hearing was closed.

Councilperson Kazarian made a motion to approve, which was seconded by Councilperson Peguero. The motion passed with a vote of 5–0.

 

i.        Ordinance Amending the Wage Schedule Generally (Ferri, by request)-First Reading

The City Council may vote on this item

Council President Pro Tempore Rivas-Lugo opened the public hearing. As there were no speakers signed up, the hearing was closed.

A motion to approve was made by Councilperson Rosado-Martinez and seconded by Councilperson Peguero. The motion passed unanimously, 5–0.

 

j.        Annual Capital Program and Capital Budget Ordinance (Ferri, by request)-First Reading

The City Council may vote on this item

Council President Pro Tempore Rivas-Lugo opened the public hearing. As no one had registered to speak, the hearing was promptly closed.

A motion to approve was made by Councilperson Baena and seconded by Councilperson Rosado-Martinez. The motion carried with a vote of 5–0.

 

k.      Ordinance Updating Tax Classification System (Ferri by Request)-First Reading

The City Council may vote on this item

Finance Director Mary Signer appeared before the Council to provide an overview of the proposed ordinance and to respond to questions from Councilmembers regarding its content and fiscal impact. Following the discussion, Council President Pro Tempore Rivas-Lugo opened the public hearing to allow for community input. However, as no members of the public had signed up to speak, the hearing was formally closed.

 

Councilperson Kazarian then made a motion to approve the ordinance, which was seconded by Councilperson Peguero. The motion was adopted unanimously, with all five members voting in favor (5–0).

 

l.        Ordinance Creating a Youth Opportunities Council (Baena) -First Reading

The Council May vote on this item

Councilperson Baena spoke to the Council about the ordinance she was sponsoring, highlighting its significance and purpose. She also responded to questions from fellow Councilmembers to provide further clarity and context.

 

Council President Pro Tempore Rivas-Lugo then opened the public hearing to invite public comment. As no individuals had signed up to speak, the hearing was promptly closed.

 

A motion to approve the ordinance was made by Councilperson Rosado-Martinez and seconded by Councilperson Peguero. The motion passed unanimously with a vote of 5–0.

 

m.    Ordinance Creating the Central Falls Combined Planning and Zoning Board (Ferri by Request) -First Reading

The Council May vote on this item

Josh Magnon, Principal Deputy Director, provided the Council with an overview of the ordinance, explaining its purpose and significance. He also addressed questions from Councilmembers. Robert "RJ" Kermes, Chief of Staff to Mayor Maria Rivera, offered additional context to support the discussion.

 

Following the presentations, Council President Pro Tempore Rivas-Lugo opened the public hearing. As no members of the public signed up to speak, the hearing was closed.

 

A motion to approve the ordinance was made by Councilperson Kazarian and seconded by Councilperson Rosado-Martinez. The motion passed unanimously, 5–0.

 

n.      Ordinance amending Appendix A of the Code of Ordinances Titled “Zoning” adopted February 10, 2025, to comply with State Legislation and to Include Updates Throughout as Needed from Time to Time (SUB-A) (Ferri by Request) -First Reading

The Council May vote on this item

Josh Magnon addressed the Council to present and discuss the proposed ordinance, outlining the key changes and intended impacts. He provided a detailed explanation of the revisions and the rationale behind them. Following his presentation, Mr. Magnon responded to questions from members of the Council, as well as from City Solicitor Matthew Jerzyk, offering further clarification on the legal and administrative implications of the ordinance.

 

Council President Pro Tempore Rivas then opened the public hearing to allow for community input. As no individuals had signed up to speak, the hearing was formally closed.

 

Councilperson Kazarian made a motion to approve the ordinance, which was seconded by Councilperson Rosado-Martinez. The motion was adopted unanimously, with all five Councilmembers voting in favor (5–0).

 

o.      Ordinance Creating Greater Enforcement for Parking Ticket Violations (SUB-A) (Ferri)- Second Reading

The Council May vote on this item

Council President Pro Tempore Rivas-Lugo opened the public hearing to invite community input on the proposed ordinance. As no members of the public had signed up to speak, the hearing was subsequently closed.

 

During the discussion, City Solicitor Matthew Jerzyk addressed several concerns raised by Councilmembers, providing legal context and insight into the potential impact of the ordinance on the community.

 

Following the discussion, a motion to approve the ordinance was made by Councilperson Baena and seconded by Councilperson Rosado-Martinez. The motion passed unanimously, 5–0.

 

p.      Ordinance Creating the Central Falls Arts, Culture and Tourism Commission (Rivas-Lugo)-Second Reading

The Council May vote on this item

Council President Pro Tempore Rivas-Lugo addressed the Council, providing a comprehensive overview of the proposed ordinance, its objectives, and the anticipated benefits for the community.  

 

Following her remarks, Council President Pro Tempore Rivas-Lugo opened the public hearing to invite input from community members regarding the ordinance. However, as no members of the public had signed up to speak, the hearing was promptly closed.

 

Subsequently, Councilperson Rosado-Martinez made a motion to approve the ordinance, which was seconded by Councilperson Baena. The motion carried unanimously, with all five Councilmembers voting in favor (5–0).

 

VII.  Adjournment

A motion to adjourn was made by Councilperson Baena and Seconded by Councilperson Peguero.  Meeting adjourned at 6:56pm

 

 

 

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 Council: June 9, 2025 Council Meeting

Alberto de Burgo

City Clerk