CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE

RHODE ISLAND

JOURNAL CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION

 

May 11, 2017

 

Present:  Commissioners Desrosiers, Dias, Faria, Kennedy, Lawson, Scienzo, Rock, Fazioli, Perry, Russo

 

Absent:           Commissioner Conley

Also in Attendance: Mayor Briden, Mr. Luba, Mr. Moore, and Assistant Solicitor Conley.

 

The Charter Review Commission meets in Room 306 at City Hall and is called to order at 7:00 p.m. by Chairman James M. Russo.        

 

At the request of Mr. Rock, a moment of silence is taken for East Providence Firefighter Scott Grace, who passed away last week.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT & COMMUNICATIONS

 

Rodrigo Pimental is present and addresses the Council regarding Tax Stabilization Agreements.  He suggests that the Commission consider charter language not allowing TSA’s without the consent of the electors, by election or special election.

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Approval of Minutes:

The minutes of April 27 and May 4 have not been submitted yet.

 

Announcements

Chairman Russo states that all amendments, except for those of April 6, are now up on Clerk Base on the Website.

 

Chairman Russo says he hopes to finish up by June 15, 2017.

 

Recall Amendment

 

Chairman Russo hands out an update of the amendment to Section 11-25 – Recall.  He thanks Mr. Rock for helping him with the changes, which are as follows:

1.      The recall petition should go directly to the Canvassing Authority rather than the City Clerk.

2.      The term Board of Canvassers was replaced with Canvassing Authority to bring it into conformance with current language.

3.      Changing the time for the Canvassing Authority to submit the petition to seven (7) days

4.      Put in the word forthwith to issue a recall petition

5.      Changed the presentation of said declaration to said issuance

6.      Added the word thereon to the sentence ending with no less than twenty percent (20%_ of the total signatures thereon may be from any one ward.

7.      Adding and printed name­ to the signatory requirement

8.      Deleted At such election the issue of removing said office holder and the grounds therefore shall be placed before the electors of the City, and added the grounds for removing said officer holder and

9.      Replaced board of elections with canvassing authority

10.  Changed the time in the sentence of the first paragraph from six (6) months to (9 months).

 

A motion made by Mr. Desrosiers, seconded by Mr. Lawson, to approve the changes just made is passed unanimously on a voice vote.

 

A motion made by Mr. Desrosiers, seconded by Mr. Scienzo, to approve the amendment to Section 11-25 with the changes just made, is passed unanimously on a roll call vote.

 

Ayes – 10:  Desrosiers, Dias, Faria, Kennedy, Lawson, Scienzo, Rock, Fazioli, Perry, Russo

Nays - 0

 

Review and Discussion of Article XI of the Charter of the City of East Providence

 

        1. Type of Elections – Partisan/Non-Partisan

     

A motion is made by Mr. Faria, seconded by Mr. Lawson, to approve partisan elections.

 

After discussion on the pros and cons of partisan vs. non-partisan elections, a roll call vote is held and the motion is defeated.

 

Ayes – 3:  Faria, Lawson, Russo

Nays -  7:  Desrosiers, Dias, Kennedy, Rock, Scienzo, Perry, Fazioli

 

Review and Discussion of Articles IV, V, II and III of the Charter of the City of East Providence

 

A motion made by Mr. Desrosiers, seconded by Mr. Kennedy, to discuss all finance items together, passes unanimously on a voice vote.

 

Malcolm Moore, Finance Director, is present and speaks on the proposed Charter amendments pertaining to Finance and answers questions from the Commissioners.  Chairman Russo thanks him on behalf of the Commission and says it was a tremendous help.

 

A motion made by Mr. Desrosiers, seconded by Mr. Faria, to strike $500 in line 1 of Section 4-16 (2) and insert by ordinance passes unanimously on a roll call vote.

Ayes – 10:  Desrosiers, Dias, Faria, Kennedy, Lawson, Rock, Scienzo, Perry, Fazioli, Russo

Nays – 0

A motion made by Mr. Desrosiers, seconded by Mr. Dias, to amend the $100,000 figure in Section 4-16 (2) to $50,000, passes unanimously on a roll call vote.

 

Ayes – 10:  Desrosiers, Dias, Faria, Kennedy, Lawson, Rock, Scienzo, Perry, Fazioli, Russo

Nays – 0

 

Mr. Desrosiers passes on the agenda item regarding Emergency appropriations.

 

(It is noted for the record that Mr. Faria and Mr. Dias have left the meeting)

 

A motion made by Mr. Desrosiers, seconded by Mr. Lawson, to delete section 5-14 in its entirety and replace with language drafted by the Law Department, passes unanimously on a roll call vote.

 

Ayes – 8:   Desrosiers, Kennedy, Lawson, Rock, Scienzo, Perry, Fazioli, Russo

   Nays – 0:                 

 

  A motion made by Mr. Lawson, seconded by Mr. Desrosiers and Mr. Scienzo, to accept Mr. Moore’s proposals as written and adopt the language in section 5-8 – 13-14) is withdrawn.

 

A motion to adjourn is made by Mr. Lawson, seconded by Mr. Scienzo, and passed unanimously.

 

The meeting adjourns at 9:35 p.m.

 

 

 

Valerie A. Perry, Secretary

East Providence Charter Review Commission