CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE
RHODE ISLAND
JOURNAL OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY,
The City Council meets in the Council Chamber on August 20, 1996, and is called to order at 8:00 P.M. by Mayor Rolland R. Grant.
Present: Rolland R. Grant ) Mayor
Joseph S. Larisa, Jr. ) Council Members
Gerald R. Lynch )
Norman J. Miranda )
Robert D. Sullivan )
Paul E. Lemont ) City Manager
William J. Conley, Jr. ) City Solicitor
Valerie A. Perry ) City Clerk
(Claudia Merandi, Merandi Reporting, is present to record the proceedings of the public hearings)
Invocation is given by Councilman Norman J. Miranda.
Salute to the Flag is led by Councilman Joseph S. Larisa, Jr.
TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR
Motion made by Mr. Sullivan, seconded by Mr. Larisa, and unanimously approved to remove CRMC File No. M96-7-58 from the Consent Calendar.
Motion to approve the Consent Calendar as amended is made by Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Lynch on a unanimous roll-call vote with all Council members present and voting.
Mr. Sullivan speaks on the renovation of Carousel Bayside Park, and says a bandstand had been discussed at an earlier meeting. He asks Mr. Lemont for a report on the cost. Mr. Lemont states that he does not have a dollar figure at this time, but will get the requested information.
Motion to approve the Consent Calendar item is made by Mr. Miranda, seconded by Mr. Larisa, and unanimously voted.
APPROVAL OF COUNCIL JOURNALS
Special Meeting - Joint Meeting With School Committee - July 16, 1996
Regular Meeting - July 16, 1996
Special Meeting - Block Party - Wendell Street/Firglade Avenue - July 22, 1996
Coastal Resources Management Council – ASSENT File No. B96-4-41
Assent to: Phase II Part A of "East Bay Pipeline." includes work northward from Barrington, through East Providence and into Providence, where the connection to the existing water supply will be made. (BCWA)
File No.96-6-93 - RESIDENTIAL ASSENT
Assent to: Construct a 10'x24' deck attached to dwelling, construct a bank walkover structure as per the approved plans, place loam, (approx 5 yrds) grade and seed, install plantings: located at 27 Jackson Avenue, Map 311, Block 18, Parcel 4. (Michael Durette)
File No. 96-7-52 - RESIDENTIAL ASSENT
Requesting to demolish/dispose of existing dwelling; construct new dwelling to be served by municipal water/sewers, located at Plat 20, Map 414, Lot 1, 206 Riverside Drive. (William & Marjorie Derlien)
File No. M96-7-58 - FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
Requesting to install underground sprinkler system as per the approved plan, located at Map 313, Block 12, Parcel 001.00, Carousel Bayside Park, Bullocks Point Avenue. (City of East Providence)
File No. 96-8-3 - FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
Requesting c/m a 6'x25' deck and install replacement windows, located at 46 Beach Point Drive, Plat 513, Block 36, Parcel 7. (Antonio Cotta)
File No. 96-8-9 - FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
Requesting to construct a 4' fence installed along ROW adjacent to 129 Terrace Avenue; construct stairway to shoreline within ROW between 181 and 273 Terrace Avenue, location between 181 and 273 Terrace Avenue and 129 Terrace Avenue. (City of East Providence)
File No. M96-8-11 - FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
Requesting to do maintenance repairs to Wilkes-Barre Pier, North Berth, located at Map 7,Block 1.1, Wilkes-Barre Pier. (P&WRR)
File No. 96-8-18
Requesting to strip and reshingle side walls and roof, replace rusting shed. (Doris Brown)
File No. M96-7-67
Requesting to replace fence with a 2' high timber retaining wall landward of the top of the coastal bank, replace bank walkover structure to previous dimensions--located at Map 312, Block 33, Parcel 010.00, 7 Bluff Street. (Susan Shore)
File No. 96-7-89 - FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT
Requesting to construct a 16' x 20' two story addition as per the approved plans; located at 5 Nassau Street, Plat Map 201, Block 05, Parcel 005.00. (David McLaughlin)
DEM File No. 96-0221 - INSIGNIFICANT ALTERATION
Along Hayward Place,from its intersection with Greenwood Avenue extending southwest approximately 320 feet. Utility Pole No. 7, (Greenwood Avenue), Map 504, Block 01, Parcel l08. (City of East Providence)
Alcoholic Beverage - Class F-1 - 19 hours beginning at 6:00 A.M. on August 23, 1996
Applicant - Carousel Commission
- Carole-Ann Medeiros, Chairperson
Location - Carousel, Bullocks Point Avenue
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE - Class B-Limited (Victualer) – Renewal
Applicant - Jo-Petro, Inc.
dba - Minerva Restaurant
Location - 1022 South Broadway
Subject to approvals from: Chief of Police, Building Inspector, Health Inspector
Attorney Orlando Andreoni, speaks on behalf of the applicant for the license renewal. He says they have been operating under the old license with the understanding that the license would be renewed. Mr. Miranda questions Police Chief Gary Dias, who states that there have been no problems at the establishment.
Motion to approve the license renewal subject to all approvals, is made by Mr. Miranda, seconded by Mr. Lynch, and unanimously voted on a roll-call vote with all Council members present and voting.
Victualling License
Applicant - Jo-Petro, Inc
dba - Minerva Restaurant
Location - 1022 South Broadway
Subject to approvals from: Chief of Police, Building Inspector, Health Inspector
Motion to approve the Victualling license subject to all approvals, is made by Mr. Lynch, seconded by Mr. Miranda, and unanimously voted on a roll-call vote with all Council members present and voting.
Victualling/Not over 25 – Transfer
From - Bakewell Bakery, Inc
dba - Morning Star Bakery
To - F A, Inc.
dba - Morning Star Bakery
Location - 1106 South Broadway
Subject to approvals from: Chief of Police, Building Inspector, Health Inspector
Mr. Miranda speaks on behalf of the applicant, who is not present.
Motion to approve the license transfer subject to all approvals, is made by Mr. Lynch, seconded by Mr. Miranda, and unanimously voted.
Sunday/Holiday Sales – Transfer
From - Bakewell Bakery, Inc.
dba - Morning Star Bakery
To - F A, Inc.
dba - Morning Star Bakery
Location -1106 South Broadway
Approved: Chief of Police
On motion of Mr. Miranda, seconded by Mr. Larisa, it is unanimously voted to grant the license.
(Continued from July 16, 1996)
Victualling/Not over 25 – Transfer
From - Terry's Corner
To - Lucille Obenchain & John Chaves
dba - The Corner Restaurant
Location - 447 Willett Avenue
Approved: Chief of Police
Subject to approvals from: Building Inspector, Health Inspector
John Chaves, 136 Mohawk Drive, Seekonk, MA is present and sworn.
Motion to approve subject to all approvals, is made by Mr. Sullivan, seconded by Mr. Larisa and unanimously voted.
Gatherer
Applicant - Dennis Hurley, 97 Viola Avenue
Approved: Chief of Police
Subject to approval from: Building Inspector
(Stipulation: Between 6AM - 9PM)
Mr. Sullivan says Mr. Hurley cannot attend the meeting because of a new job. Motion to grant the license is made by Mr. Sullivan, seconded by Mr. Lynch and unanimously voted.
Finance
1) By James F. McDonald, Finance Director
Re: Requesting to address the Council on pre-qualification approval for Blue Cross Dental and Delta Dental, in order that they may submit proposals to provide dental services as required by the City.
Motion to approve is made by Mr. Lynch, seconded by Mr. Sullivan, and unanimously voted.
2) Requesting to address the Council on pre-qualification approval for Contractors in order that they may submit bid proposals for the re-roofing of the East Providence High School.
Motion to approve is made by Mr. Lynch, seconded by Mr. Miranda, and unanimously voted.
3) Presentation of annual financial report for the year ending October 31, 1995.
Mr. McDonald introduces the City's auditor, Jim Wilkinson of Cayer Prescott, Clune and Chatellier. Mr. Wilkinson reviews the audit for the Council and states that East Providence rates very high. Discussion is held on the School Department audit and on the School Department's proposal for changing over to a double entry accounting system. Mr. Lynch speaks on the consolidation of the City and School Department and says the School Department audit findings indicate one of the reasons that the City and School Department should have one Finance Department.
Motion to accept the report is made by Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Lynch, and unanimously voted on a roll-call vote with all Council members present and voting.
Law Department
By William J. Conley, Jr., City Solicitor
Emergency Procurement Regulations
Motion to approve is made by Mr. Lynch, seconded by Mr. Larisa, and unanimously voted.
Mr. Conley says only one Claim was discussed at the Claims Committee meeting - the appeal of the School Department budget and the proposed settlement. He says that the City Council, acting as the Claims Committee, reviewed the proposed agreement which is in two parts. One is an agreement which addresses the accumulated deficit and a memorandum of agreement which addresses such issues as the use of the Bentley Street garage, the sale of the Warren Avenue property, the repair of the high school roof, and the use of the P.C.D. facility by the School Department.
Mr. Larisa speaks on the issue. He says the School Department proposed splitting the agreements up. The first part of the agreement has to do with the amount that the School Department had for a deficit. The number has been brought down to $605,000 because of a surplus which was found in the School Department budget.
He says the resolution that the Council is proposing is that the deficit be paid off in three installments of approximately $200,000 each from the School Department budget. Any surplus that the School Department generates will be used to pay off the deficit.
The other part of the agreement deals with some issues that will help to pay off the $605,000 deficit. One issue deals with the School Department moving out of Warren Avenue into the Bentley Street garage, and selling the Warren Avenue property for over $300,000; moving out of Platt School and into PCD, solving the school population problem, and solving the PCD problem with respect to finding new housing for the School Administration. He says the School Committee did not seemed inclined to committing to moving to PCD. Mr. Larisa says he is concerned with depleting the Surplus Property account by $190,000 to repair the high school roof if the School Committee does not want to commit to helping solve the problem of PCD. He says he suggested that the roof be repaired with funds from the School Department budget and the School Department does not have to commit to moving to PCD, but the Council will try to make that a goal. The way it works now is that the School Department would move out of Warren Avenue into Bentley Street, they would attempt to make the move from Platt school to PCD, but they would not be bound to do that, and the roof will be paid by taking the $110,000 that the School Department has set aside, and if any additional money were necessary it would have to be worked out, either in a bond issue or in an additional appropriation.
Mr. Sullivan speaks on the issue and says this is not the Council's deficit, it is the School Department's. He says the agreement is in the best interest of the citizens of East Providence.
After further comments by the Council, motion is made by Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Sullivan, to approve the two agreements as amended by Mr. Conley for a couple of typographical errors, and transmission to the School Department. Motion passes unanimously on a roll-call vote.
The meeting recesses at 9:05 P.M. and reconvenes at 9:12 P.M. with all Council members present.
(By Mayor Rolland R. Grant)
Boat Ramp at Bold Point
Mayor Grant speaks on the matter and says the State promised the boat ramp would be repaired by the Spring of 1996. He asks Mr. Lemont to make the project a priority. Mr. Lemont says he is aware of the problem and has been told by the State that funding will not be available until October 1, 1996 and the project will not be done until the Spring of 1997. He has been promised by the State that it will be the first priority in the new budget year. He mentions using the granite blocks which the State is storing in East Providence to build up the East Providence shoreline. Mr. Larisa suggests that the Planning Department put together a proposal for the project and send it to the State. Mr. Sullivan suggests working on the proposal with the Harbor Commission.
(By Councilman Joseph S. Larisa, Jr.)
1) Property Taxes - Assessment Options
Mr. Larisa speaks on future tax assessments after revaluation. He says there are many ways that cities and towns have dealt with revaluation and the problems of the elderly homeowner on a fixed income and single family owners who cannot afford property increases every year, especially with a revaluation. Even if the rates remain the same, the residential homeowner will be paying more taxes than the commercial taxpayer. He asks Mr. Lemont and Mr. McDonald to research the various options that the City can use to lessen the burden of taxes on homeowners and to get information as to the tax structures of other cities and towns.
2) Boat Storage
Mr. Larisa speaks on the boat storage issue and says he gets complaints from Rumford residents every year. He says ordinances have been adopted for just a few people and says this issue should be resolved with an ordinance. He proposes referring the matter to the Harbor Management Commission.
After further comments from the Council, a motion is made by Mr. Lynch, seconded by Mr. Larisa, and unanimously voted to refer the matter to the Harbor Commission.
3) School Committee Negotiations
School Committee Negotiations - Discussed under Claims Committee.
(If given First Passage can be referred to the next regular Council meeting to be held September 3, 1996, for a public hearing and consideration of Final Passage)
1) AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 12 OF THE REVISED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, 1987, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED "POLICE.", which amends: Section I. Subsection (6) of Section 12-18 entitled "Qualifications for Appointments."
Section II. Section 12-18 entitled "Qualifications for Appointments.", adding thereto the following: (8) (9)
(Requested by City Manager)
The above-entitled ordinance is introduced.
At the request of the City Manager, the ordinance is deferred on a motion by Mr. Lynch, seconded by Mr. Miranda, and unanimously approved on a roll-call vote with all Council members present and voting.
2) AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 18 OF THE REVISED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, 1987, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED "VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC.", which amends Article IX entitled "Stop Intersections", Subsection 18-269 entitled "Stop and yield intersections designated; when stops required.", adding thereto the following:
BIRCHARD STREET (eastbound traffic), at South Spruce Street
(Requested by Director of Public Works)
The above-entitled ordinance is introduced and on motion of Mr. Miranda, seconded by Mr. Sullivan, and on a unanimous roll-call vote, is given first passage and referred to the next regular Council meeting to be held on September 3, 1996, for a public hearing and consideration of final passage.
Economic Development
Elizabeth Pegg 74 Sweetbriar Avenue 02915 (G)
Mayor Grant recommends Elizabeth Pegg to the above Board and on motion of Mr. Lynch, seconded by Mr. Miranda, is appointed.
(R) Carousel Commission
Rose Larisa 77 Argyle Avenue 02914 (S)
On motion of Mr. Sullivan, seconded by Mr. Miranda, it is unanimously voted to reappoint Rose Larisa to the above Board.
Special Police Officer
(R) Charles Hall, Jr 25 Catalpa Avenue 02915 (S)
On motion of Mr. Lynch, seconded by Mr. Miranda, it is unanimous voted to reappoint Charles Hall, Jr. as Special Police Officer for the term expiring December 1, 1996, subject to conformance with all the rules and regulations.
(R) David Reis 132 Freeborn Avenue 02914 (LY)
On motion of Mr. Sullivan, seconded by Mr. Lynch, it is unanimously voted to reappoint David Reis Special Police Officer for the term expiring December 1, 1996, subject to conformance with all the rules and regulations.
Michael R. Boyce - 9 Fletcher Street
Requesting any retirees or other interested parties be allowed to address the Council regarding "RETIREE ISSUE"
Matter is deferred at the request of Michael R. Boyce.
Henry J. Shelton - 79 Pawtuxet Avenue, Cranston, Rhode Island
Members of the Campaign to Eliminate Childhood Poverty requesting to address the Council re: Summer Food Program
Henry J. Shelton, 79 Pawtuxet Avenue, Cranston, Rhode Island is present and sworn. Mr. Shelton says he and members of the group met with the Recreation Director to get the Summer Food Program in place in East Providence. He says the Recreation Director said he did not have the staff to administer the program. Mr. Shelton argues that Self Help was willing to deliver and distribute the food, but it would have to be the City to administer the program. He goes on to say that the program would be fully funded, including the cost of food and the personnel used to administer the program.
Mr. Lynch speaks and says the program should be in East Providence to feed the children who qualify.
After Mr. Lemont comments on the program, motion is made by Mr. Sullivan, seconded by Mr. Larisa, to get a detailed report on the pros and cons for the program for next year. Motion passes unanimously.
The meeting adjourns at 10:25 P.M.
Attest:
Valerie A. Perry, CMC
City Clerk
Approved:____________________________