CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE

RHODE ISLAND

JOURNAL CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION

 

May 17, 2017

 

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

 

Absent at beginning of meeting:  Commissioners Conley and Fazioli

 

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.        

 

PUBLIC COMMENT & COMMUNICATIONS

 

None

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

Approval of Minutes:

 

1.      Charter Review Commission Meeting April 27, 2017

2.      Charter Review Commission Meeting May 4, 2017

3.      Charter Review Commission Meeting May 11, 2017

 

A motion made by Mr. Desrosiers, seconded by Mr. Faria, to defer the minutes to the next meeting, passed unanimously on a voice vote.  

 

Announcements

Chairman Russo announces that the webpage will have the updates soon.

 

Chairman Russo states he would like to take a couple of items out of order, out of respect to Mr. Fazioli.

 

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

 

1.      Fund Balance Policy (by Mr. Fazioli)

2.      Capital Appropriation (by Mr. Fazioli)

3.      Budget Reserve Fund – Section 5-15 – proposed amendment (by Mr. Desrosiers)

4.      Expenditures – Section 5-8 – proposed amendments (by Mr. Lawson and Mr. Desrosiers)

5.      Revenues – Section 5-5 – proposed amendment (by Mr. Desrosiers)

6.      Tax Cap – Section 5-14 – additional language (by Mr. Desrosiers)

7.      TSAs – proposed amendment (by Mr. Desrosiers)

8.      Bonds – Section 4-24 – proposed amendment (by Mr. Desrosiers)

9.      Emergency Appropriations – proposed amendment (by Mr. Desrosiers)

10.  School Balanced Budget – proposed amendment (by Mr. Desrosiers)

11.  Financial Reports

a.          Sections 2-9 (6), 2-21, 3-5 (4), (5) (by Mr. Fazioli)

b.       Audit – proposed amendment (by Mr. Desrosiers)

c.        Section 4-4 (5) – proposed amendment (by Mr. Lawson)

d.       Budget Presentation – proposed amendment (by Mr. Desrosiers)

12.  Finance Director – Powers and Duties – Section 4-4 (11) – proposed amendment (by Mr. Desrosiers)

13.  Organizational Details – proposed amendment (by Mr. Desrosiers)

14.  Review and Discussion of these issues may include the proposal and or passage of amendments.

 

A motion made by Mr. Desrosiers, seconded by Mr. Scienzo, to take a couple of agenda items out of order, passed unanimously on a voice vote.

 

(It is noted for the record that Commissioner Conley is now present.)

 

A discussion is held on a proposed amendment by Mr. Lawson, pertaining to Article XI – ELECTIONS PROCEDURE, Sections 11-4 and 11-5.

 

Mr. Lawson’s amendment added the word “Mayor” and combined the sections.

 

A motion made by Mr. Lawson, seconded by Mr. Kennedy, to approve the amendment to section 11-4 as written and add it to the Technical Amendment, passed unanimously on a voice vote.

 

A motion made by Mr. Desrosiers, seconded by Mr. Scienzo, to take agenda item E (4) - Inauguration Day by Mr. Kennedy, out of order, passed unanimously on a voice vote.

 

Mr. Kennedy explains his reason for the amendment, and states that most cities and towns have the inauguration day of a new council in January, and says that with the new form of government in East Providence, it would make more sense to give extra time for the transition.

 

(It is noted for the record that Commissioner Fazioli is now present.)

 

After further discussion, a motion made by Mr. Kennedy, seconded by Mr. Faria, to move the inauguration of the Mayor, Council, and School Committee to the first Tuesday after the first Monday in January, passed unanimously on a voice vote.

 

The meeting returns to the regular order of business.

 

Mr. Fazioli speaks on the Fund Balance Policy. 

 

Following Mr. Fazioli’s presentation and discussion, a motion made by Mr. Faria, seconded by Mr. Desrosiers, to defer the financial information (agenda items C 1,2,3) to the next meeting, passed unanimously on a voice vote.

 

The next item agenda item dealing with a proposed amendment regarding emergency appropriations proposed by Mr. Desrosiers, is opened for discussion.  Mr. Kennedy recuses from the discussion because his business partner is a city employee who would be affected by this item.  Mr. Rock also recuses himself because his sister is a police officer.

 

Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Rock leave the table.

 

A motion made by Mr. Faria, seconded by Mr. Desrosiers, to defer the proposed amendments to Expenditures – Section 5-8, proposed by Mr. Lawson and Mr. Desrosiers, passed unanimously on a voice vote.  (Mr. Rock and Mr. Kennedy absent for the vote).

 

Mr. Rock and Mr. Kennedy return. 

 

Mr. Desrosiers speaks on his proposed amendment to Section 5-5 (Revenues). 

Mr. Scienzo speaks on the budget document and suggests a budget that is more user friendly.  Mr. Fazioli says he thinks it is a great idea, but questions whether it should be a charter requirement. 

 

After further discussion, a motion made by Mr. Desrosiers, seconded by Mr. Scienzo, to adopt Section 5-5 (Revenues) as written, passed unanimously on a roll call vote.

 

Ayes – 11:  Conley, Desrosiers, Dias, Faria, Kennedy, Lawson, Rock, Scienzo, Perry, Fazioli, Russo

Nays – 0

 

Further discussion is held regarding a residents’ budget.  Following discussion, a motion made by Mr. Desrosiers, seconded by Mr. Scienzo to recommend the City Council establish an ordinance requiring a residents’ budget, motion failed on a 7-4 roll call vote.

 

Ayes – 4:  Desrosiers, Dias, Rock, Scienzo

Nays – 7:  Conley, Faria, Kennedy, Lawson, Perry, Fazioli, Russo

 

A motion made by Mr. Desrosiers, seconded by Mr. Faria, to defer agenda item C (6) – Tax Cap – Section 5-14 – additional language by Mr. Desrosiers, passed unanimously on a voice vote.

 

Mr. Desrosiers withdraws Agenda item 7.

 

A motion made by Mr. Desrosiers, seconded by Mr. Kennedy, to pass Section 4-24 – Bonds, as written, passed unanimously on a voice vote.

 

Mr. Desrosiers speaks on the next agenda item, which amends language in Section 4-33 regarding public sale of bonds. 

 

A motion made by Mr. Conley, seconded by Mr. Desrosiers, to approve section 4-33 as amended, passed unanimously on a voice vote.

 

A motion made by Mr. Desrosiers, seconded by Mr. Faria, to defer agenda item C (9) – Emergency appropriations), passed unanimously on a voice vote.

 

A motion made by Mr. Desrosiers, seconded by Mr. Faria, to defer to the next meeting agenda item C (11.b) – Audit, passed unanimously on a voice vote.

 

A motion made by Mr. Lawson, seconded by Mr. Scienzo, to defer agenda item C (11.c) Section 4-4 (5) passed unanimously on a voice vote.

 

A motion made by Mr. Desrosiers, seconded by Mr. Conley, to strike Section 4-4 (11) in its entirety, passed unanimously on a voice vote.

 

A motion made by Mr. Desrosiers, seconded by Mr. Rock, to take agenda item D (11.2) out of order, passed unanimously on a unanimous vote.

 

Mrs. Perry states that after thinking about the partisan vs. non-partisan issue, she would be in favor of a partisan election for Mayor and Council, but not for School Committee.

 

After further discussion, a motion made by Mrs. Perry, seconded by Mr. Faria, to hold partisan elections for Mayor and Council, failed on a 6-5 roll call vote.

 

Ayes: - Conley, Faria, Lawson, Perry, Russo

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

 

A motion by Mr. Desrosiers, seconded by Mr. Faria, to defer the rest of the agenda to the next meeting, passed unanimously on a voice vote.

 

A motion by Mr. Dias, seconded by Mr. Kennedy, to adjourn, passed unanimously.

 

Valerie A. Perry

Secretary