CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE
RHODE ISLAND
JOURNAL OF SPECIAL COUNCIL MEETING
THURSDAY,
7:30 P.M.
The City Council meets in the Council Chamber on Thursday, October
19, 1995 and is called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Rolland R. Grant.
Present: Rolland R. Grant, Mayor
Joseph S. Larisa, Jr. ] (Not present at beginning of meeting)
Gerald R. Lynch ] (Not present at beginning of meeting)
Norman J. Miranda Council Members
Robert D. Sullivan
Paul E. Lemont City Manager
Valerie A. Perry City Clerk
William J. Conley, Jr. City Solicitor
Absent: Joseph S. Larisa, Jr. Council Members
Gerald R. Lynch
Mayor Grant states that three items are on the agenda: 1) Tax Incentives; 2) Police and Fire Negotiations; and 3) Solid Waste Management Contract.
On motion of Mr. Miranda, seconded by Mr. Sullivan and on a roll-call vote, with Mr. Larisa and Mr. Lynch noted absent, the regular order of business is suspended and the Solid Waste Management Contract has been moved to the first item on the agenda.
1. Mr. Lemont reports to the Council on the contract. He says it is a two year agreement and the City would receive in the course of each quarter, somewhere between $35,000-$40,000. He says he, along with Steve Mutter, Recycling
Coordinator, Julia Forgue, Director of Public Works, and William Conley, City Solicitor, are recommending the contract.
Steve Mutter addresses the Council. He says the contract will freeze disposal fees at $32 per ton.
Mr. Larisa is now present at 7:43 p.m.
Mr. Conley says that if the contract is signed within the month, the city will get the credit retroactively to the first of the month.
After further discussion, motion is made by Mr. Miranda, seconded by Mr. Sullivan to support the recommendation. Motion passes 4-0 on a roll call vote, with Mr. Lynch noted as being absent.
2. Mr. Lemont reports on the proposed tax incentive ordinance. He says it is the best way to attract businesses into the City and believes an inventory tax cut is not in the best interest of the City at this time.
Mr. Lynch is now present.
Jim Moran, Planner, makes a presentation on the proposed ordinance to the Council.
Mr. Lynch comments on the 15 employee base and the non-property owner. He questions whether an inventory tax will be included for small businesses employing less than 15 people.
Mr. Moran states that the ordinance does not assure that the business owner will pass along the credit to a lessee.
Mr. Lynch suggests that the ordinance substitute an inventory tax cut for the tax incentive to businesses who do not qualify for the tax incentive.
Discussion is held on the residency issue. Mr. Lemont states that it is the belief of the drafters of the ordinance that bringing in businesses and new employees will help the City's economy.
The meeting recesses at 8:55 p.m. and reconvenes at 9:05 p.m.
Mr. Sullivan states that the tax incentive will lure manufacturing into East Providence.
After further discussion, Mr. Lemont suggests moving forward by putting the ordinance for First Passage at the next meeting.
Mr. Larisa requests information from some other cities and towns that have done this and how it has worked.
3. Motion is made by Mr. Lynch, seconded by Mr. Larisa, and unanimously voted on a roll call vote to go into Executive Session to discuss Police and Fire negotiations.
The meeting recesses to Executive Session at 9:20 p.m.
The meeting reconvenes to Open Session at 10:00 p.m. and adjourns at 10:00 p.m. on a motion by Mr. Miranda, seconded by Mr. Lynch.
Attest:
Valerie A. Perry, CMC
City Clerk
Approved: October 17, 1995