CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE

RHODE ISLAND

JOURNAL CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION

City Council Chamber – City Hall 145 Taunton Ave., East Providence, RI

May 25, 2017

 

 

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

Absent:  Commissioners Conley, Faria, Lawson

Also in Attendance:  Mayor James Briden, Paul Luba, Malcolm Moore, Solicitor Gregory Dias,

 

Chairman Russo calls the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT & COMMUNICATIONS

None

 

NEW BUSINESS

 

         A.    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

4.      Charter Review Commission Meeting May 17, 2017

 

Motion made by Mrs. Perry, seconded by Mr. Desrosiers, to defer all minutes.  Motion passes unanimously on a voice vote.

 

         B.     Announcements

 

Web page has all amendments up to date

Chairman Russo says the last meeting will be reserved to discuss issues with the Law Department on issues pertaining to compliance with state law, etc.

 

C.    Amendments Update                  

1.     Terms

Chairman Russo says he added language to an amendment previously passed regarding terms of School Committee– Section 10-1.

Motion made by Mr. Kennedy, seconded by Mr. Scienzo, to approve the changes to 10-1 School Committee.  Motion passes unanimously on a voice vote.

2.   Competitive Bidding

3.   Tax Cap  

Motion made by Mr. Desrosiers, seconded by Mr. Scienzo, to defer items 2 and 3.  Motion passes unanimously on a voice vote.

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

 

1.      Fund Balance Policy, Budget Reserve Fund, Capital Appropriation

2.      Expenditures, Pension Funds

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

4.      Financial Reports

a.   Audit

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

5.      Organizational Details – proposed amendments (by Mr. Desrosiers and Mr. Lawson)

6.      Purchase Board (by Mr. Dias)

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

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

 

Mr. Moore and Mr. Luba answer questions from the Commission on budget details Chairman Russo states that he believes many of these issues are fiscal policy decisions and it is taking it out of the hands of the Mayor and Council by putting it in the Charter. 

 

            Organizational Details – proposed amendments (by Mr. Desrosiers and Mr. Lawson)

 

Mr. Desrosiers speaks on the proposed amendment.

 

Motion made by Mr. Desrosiers, seconded by Mr. Scienzo, to approve as written Article IV and refer to the Law Department for review.  Motion passes unanimously on a voice vote.

 Fund Balance Policy, Capital Appropriation

 

Motion made by Mr. Fazioli, seconded by Mr. Desrosiers, to place in the Charter a requirement that the annual budget shall include an appropriation equal to (1.75%) of the city’s general fund operating budget for capital projects (Section 5-15 (e).  Motion passed 7-1 on a roll call vote.

Ayes – 7:  Desrosiers, Dias, Kennedy, Rock, Scienzo, Perry, Fazioli

Nays – 1:  Russo

Chairman Russo says he is not opposed to this, but thinks it should be in an ordinance.

Expenditures, Pension Funds

Mr. Kennedy and Mr. Rock recuse themselves from the discussion.

No motion taken.

            Budget Reserve Fund

Mr. Fazioli speaks on his proposed amendment.  After discussion, motion made by Mr. Fazioli, seconded by Mr. Desrosiers, to defer Section 5-15 Budget Reserve Fund to next week.  Motion   passes unanimously on a voice vote.

 Financial Reports

Mr. Luber speaks on monthly reports, quarterly reports and an annual report, which is very important.  He suggests they be on the website as well.

 

Motion made by Mr. Desrosiers, seconded by Mr. Scienzo, to approve Mr. Luber’s suggestion of a monthly report and to amend the charter in Section 4-4 (13, 14, 15, 16, 17) page 1 of Mr. Luber’s Handout). 

 

Mr. Rock says he agrees with the reporting, but does not think this should be in the Charter, Mr. Russo agrees.

 

Roll call vote taken on the motion, which fails 7-2.

 

Ayes – 2:  Desrosiers, Scienzo

Nays – 6:  Dias, Kennedy, Rock, Perry, Fazioli, Russo

 

Mr. Desrosiers withdraws item D (3) Emergency Appropriations

 

Mr. Dias withdraws item D (6) Purchase Board

 

E. Review and Discussion of Article 10 – PUBLIC SCHOOLS - of the Charter of the City of East Providence

 

1.   Consolidation of Services (by Mr. Desrosiers)

2.   Synchronization of language on appointments of school department personnel with Title 16 (by Mr. Desrosiers and Mr. Lawson)

3.   School Building Commission (by Mr. Lawson)

 

School Building Commission (by Mr. Lawson)

Chairman Russo says Mr. Lawson indicated he wishes to withdraw item E (3) School Building Commission               

Motion made by Mr. Desrosiers, seconded by Mr. Rock, to defer item E (1) Consolidation of Services.  Motion passes unanimously on a voice vote.

Motion made by Mr. Desrosiers, seconded by Mrs. Perry, to defer item #2 Synchronization of language on appointments of school department personnel with Title 16.  Motion passes unanimously on a voice vote.

 

 

F. Review and Discussion of Article IX – PERSONNEL - of the Charter of the City of East Providence

 

1.   Appeal Rights – Section 9-1 (3) (by Mr. Desrosiers)

2.   Management Rights (by Mr. Fazioli)

3.   Equal Employment Opportunity Language (by Mr. Desrosiers)

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

 

Motion made by Mr. Desrosiers, seconded by Mr. Scienzo, to defer to next meeting item F (1) – Appeal Rights – Section 9.  Motion passes unanimously on a voice vote.

 

Motion made by Mr. Fazioli, seconded by Mr. Rock and Mr. Kennedy, to defer to next meeting item F (2) – Management Rights.  Motion passes unanimously on a voice vote.

 

Motion made by Mr. Desrosiers, seconded by Mr. Scienzo, to defer to next meeting item F (3) (Equal Employment Opportunity Language) to next meeting.  Motion passes unanimously on a voice vote.

 

G. Meeting Schedule and Agenda for next meeting

 

Next meeting June 1, 2017 at 7:00 p.m.

 

Chairman Russo thanks Mr. Moore for attending the meetings and giving important input, and thanks to Mr. Luber as well.

 

Motion to adjourn made by Mr. Kennedy, seconded by Mr. Rock, passes unanimously.

 

The meeting adjourns at 8:45 p.m.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

Valerie A. Perry, Secretary

East Providence Charter Commission