City of Central Falls

City Council Meeting

Monday June 9, 2025

Second Floor Council Chambers

580 Broad Street,

Central Falls, RI 02863

6:00 p.m.

 

Date Posted: June 5, 2025

Time Poste: 1:05 pm

Minutes

 

 

I.       Roll Call

Council President Ferri called the Council meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. City Clerk Alberto de Burgo conducted the roll call. Councilmembers Baena, Kazarian, Peguero, Rivas-Lugo, Rosado Martinez, and Ferri were present, establishing 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 of June 2, 2025, Council Meeting

The Council may vote on this item

Councilperson Baena requested an amendment to the minutes, noting that her name was misspelled in one section and that a recusal from a vote was incorrectly recorded. A motion to amend the minutes was made by Councilperson Baena and seconded by Councilperson Rivas-Lugo. The motion passed unanimously, 6-0.

 

Following the amendment, a motion to approve the minutes as amended was made by Councilperson Baena and seconded by Councilmembers Rosado Martinez and Peguero. The motion also passed unanimously, 6-0.

 

V.      Executive Communications

a.       Department Financial Reports- January 2025

                                                        i.      City Clerk’s Office

                                                      ii.      Department of Public Works & Code Enforcement.

                                                    iii.      Fire Department

                                                     iv.      Police Department

A motion to approve the departmental financial records was made by Councilperson Rivas-Lugo and seconded by Councilperson Peguero. The motion passed unanimously, 6-0.

 

VI.    New Business

License Type		Business Name
Entertainment License Per Diem		Iglesia Pent. Santidad Uncion y Fuego 101 Higginson Ave, Unit 107 Lincoln, RI 02865 Contact: Elvira Diaz Location property Owner: Yesenia Tavera

The Council may vote on this item

Ms. Diaz addressed the Council and responded to questions regarding her event. A motion to approve the event was made by Councilperson Rivas-Lugo and seconded by Councilperson Baena. The motion passed unanimously, 6-0.

 

VII.   Schedule of Bills-Hearing and/or Consideration

 

b.      A Resolution Approving the Central Falls Safe Streets and Roads for All Safety Action Plan (Rivas-Lugo, by request)

The City Council may vote on this item

Jim Vandermillen, Director of Planning and Economic Development, addressed the Council to provide insight into the goals of the resolution. He also responded to questions from Council members. A motion to approve the resolution was made by Councilperson Kazarian and seconded by Councilperson Rosado-Martinez. The motion passed unanimously, 6-0.

 

c.       FY 2026 Annual Operating Budget Ordinance (SUB A)-General Fund (Ferri, by request)-Second Reading

The City Council may vote on this item

Council President Ferri opened the public hearing and, seeing that no one had signed up to speak, closed it shortly thereafter. City Solicitor Matthew Jerzyk raised a point of order regarding Sub A and clarified the procedural steps for introducing it. A motion to substitute the original ordinance with Sub A was made by Councilperson Rivas-Lugo and seconded by Councilperson Peguero. The motion passed, 4-0 with two recusals.

 

Chief of Staff Robert "RJ" Kermes then provided the Council with a detailed explanation of the proposed changes in Sub A. A motion to approve Sub A and its changes was made by Councilperson Kazarian and seconded by Councilperson Peguero.  Council President Ferri called for a roll call vote: Councilperson Baena – Yes; Councilperson Kazarian – Yes; Councilperson Peguero – Recused Councilperson Rivas-Lugo – Yes; Councilperson Rosado-Martinez – Recused; Council President Ferri – Yes. The motion passed 4-0, with two recusals.

 

d.      Ordinance Pertaining to the Salaries of Department Heads and Others in Unclassified Service (SUB A) (Ferri by request)-Second Reading

The City Council may vote on this item

Council President Ferri opened the public hearing and, as no one had signed up to speak, promptly closed it. A motion to substitute the original ordinance with Sub A was made by Councilperson Rivas-Lugo and seconded by Councilperson Rosado-Martinez. The motion passed 4-0, with two recusals.

 

Chief of Staff Robert “RJ” Kermes then provided the Council with a detailed explanation of the proposed changes included in Sub A. A motion to approve Sub A and its amendments was made by Councilperson Rivas-Lugo and seconded by Councilperson Peguero.  Council President Ferri called for a roll call vote: Councilperson Baena – Yes; Councilperson Kazarian – Yes; Councilperson Peguero – Recused; Councilperson Rivas-Lugo – Yes; Councilperson Rosado-Martinez – Recused; Council President Ferri – Yes. The motion passed 4-0, with two recusals.

 

e.       Ordinance Amending the Wage Schedule Generally (Ferri, by request)-Second Reading

The City Council may vote on this item

Council President Ferri opened the meeting and, after noting that no one had signed up to speak, closed the public comment. A motion to approve was made by Councilperson Rivas-Lugo and seconded by Councilperson Kazarian. During discussion, Councilperson Baena raised questions about the ordinance, which were answered by Robert “RJ” Kermes, Chief of Staff to Mayor Rivera. Council President Ferri then called for a roll call vote, with the following results: Councilperson Baena — Yes; Councilperson Kazarian — Yes; Councilperson Peguero — Recused; Councilperson Rivas-Lugo — Yes; Councilperson Rosado-Martinez — Recused; and Council President Ferri — Yes. The motion passed 4-0, with two recusals.

 

f.        Annual Capital Program and Capital Budget Ordinance (Ferri, by request)-Second Reading

The City Council may vote on this item

Council President Ferri opened the meeting and, after noting that no one had signed up to speak, closed the public comment. During discussion, he asked if any Councilmembers had questions; seeing and hearing none, he requested a motion to approve. The motion was made by Councilperson Baena and seconded by Councilperson Peguero. Council President Ferri then called for a roll call vote with the following results: Councilperson Baena — Yes; Councilperson Kazarian — Yes; Councilperson Peguero — Recused; Councilperson Rivas-Lugo — Yes; Councilperson Rosado-Martinez — Recused; and Council President Ferri — Yes. The motion passed 4-0, with two recusals.

 

g.       Ordinance Updating Tax Classification System (Ferri by Request)-Second Reading

The City Council may vote on this item

Council President Ferri opened the meeting and, after noting that no one had signed up to speak, closed the public comment. A motion to approve was made by Councilperson Rivas-Lugo and seconded by Councilperson Rosado-Martinez. Council President Ferri then called for a roll call vote with the following results: Councilperson Baena — Yes; Councilperson Kazarian — Yes; Councilperson Peguero — Yes; Councilperson Rivas-Lugo — Yes; Councilperson Rosado-Martinez — Yes; and Council President Ferri — Yes. The motion passed unanimously, 6-0.

 

h.      Ordinance Creating a Youth Opportunities Council (Baena) -Second Reading

The Council May vote on this item

Council President Ferri opened the public hearing, and with no one signed up to speak, promptly closed it. Councilperson Baena then provided an overview of the Ordinance and its impact on the community. Councilperson Rosado-Martinez moved to approve the Ordinance, seconded by Councilperson Peguero. Council President Ferri called for a roll call vote, which resulted as follows: Councilperson Baena — Yes; Councilperson Kazarian — Yes; Councilperson Peguero — Yes; Councilperson Rivas-Lugo — Yes; Councilperson Rosado-Martinez — Yes; and Council President Ferri — Yes. The motion passed unanimously, 6–0.

 

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

The Council May vote on this item

Council President Ferri opened the public hearing and, with no speakers signed up, closed it. Councilperson Baena provided comments on the Ordinance. With no questions from the Council, Council President Ferri called for a motion. Councilperson Kazarian moved to approve, seconded by Councilperson Rivas-Lugo. The motion passed unanimously 6-0.

 

j.        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) -Second Reading

The Council May vote on this item

Council President Ferri opened the public hearing and, with no speakers present, closed it. Councilperson Baena identified a correction to the ordinance and moved to amend it, seconded by Councilperson Rosado-Martinez; the amendment passed 6–0. Baena then moved to approve the amended ordinances, seconded by Councilperson Peguero, which also passed unanimously, 6–0.

 

VIII. Adjournment

A motion to adjourn was made by Councilperson Rosado Martinez seconded by Councilperson Baena the meeting adjourned at 6:37 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

 

 

 

Approve by Central Falls City Council: July 14, 2025, City Council Meeting

Alberto M. de Burgo

City Clerk