JOURNAL OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY,
8:00 P. M.
The City Council meets in the Council Chamber on Tuesday, November 19, 1996, and is called to order at 8:05 P.M. by Mayor Rolland R. Grant.
Mayor Grant announces that Mr. Lemont will not be at the meeting due to the water emergency in the City. He also says that the City will be receiving its own water effective at midnight tonight. He says the City will be in line for FEMA money.
Present: Rolland R. Grant ) Mayor
Joseph S. Larisa, Jr. ) Council Members
Gerald R. Lynch
Norman J. Miranda
Robert D. Sullivan
William J. Conley, Jr. ) City Solicitor
Valerie A. Perry, CMC ) City Clerk
Absent: Paul E. Lemont ) City Manager
(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 Robert D. Sullivan.
TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR
On motion of Mr. Lynch, seconded by Mr. Larisa, and on a unanimous roll-call vote with all Council members present and voting the Consent Calendar is approved.
Class F Alcoholic Beverage-License - November 23, 1996
Sacred Heart Church, 118 Taunton Avenue
Subject to approval from Chief of Police
All CC items are voted and passed on one vote.
SHOW CAUSE, HEARING
ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGE LICENSE RENEWAL
E&E Restaurant, Inc., dba 133 Club, 29 Warren Avenue
Attorney Jeffrey Regan, representing Antonio Pereira and Joseph Faria, is present and sworn. Mr. Conley says that under the State Law, the Council can approve the license subject to the withdrawal of the license.
Earl F. Perry, 29 D Swan Court, North Providence, Rhode Island is present and sworn. Mr. Perry, owner of the 133 Club, testifies that Mr. Pereira was employed at the 133 Club and did many jobs, including snow plowing. He says he never received a bill from Mr. Pereira and was never notified by Mr. Pereira that he expected to be paid. He says there was never an oral contract and never heard about any claim until after Mr. Faria left employment.
Antonio Pereira, 5 Jacob Street, Seekonk, MA is present and sworn. Mr. Miranda questions Mr. Pereira. Mr. Pereira says Mr. Perry said he would pay him but never did.
After further testimony, it is the consensus of the Council that this matter is not a matter that should be before the Council and the proper course should be for the complaining party to bring a court action or to settle the matter.
Motion to approve the renewal of the Alcoholic Beverage License of the 133 Club is made by Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Lynch, and unanimously voted on a roll-call vote with all Council members present and voting.
Victualing/Not over 25
Applicant - Nasir Abbasi
Dba - Stop Mart
Location - 548 Willett Avenue
Approved Chief of Police
Subject to approval from: Building Inspector
Sunday/Holiday Sales
Applicant - Nasir Abbasi
Dba - Stop Mart
Location - 548 Willett Avenue
Approved Chief of Police
Subject to approval from: Building Inspector
The applicant is not present for the second time for the above two licenses. Mr. Larisa asks the City Clerk to call the applicant directly and let him know that he must show up at the next regular meeting on December 17, 1996.
Motion to defer is made by Mr. Lynch, seconded by Mr. Sullivan, and voted 5-0.
LICENSING COMMISSIONERS RESUME SITTING AS CITY COUNCIL
(William J. Conley, Jr., City Solicitor)
Re: Narragansett Bay Commission's Surplus Property
Mr. Conley says that Mr. Lemont indicated he was not in favor of the City purchasing property from Narragansett Bay Commission. Mr. Larisa makes a motion to accept the City Manager's recommendation not to accept the property. Motion is seconded by Mr. Lynch, and voted 5-0.
(James F. McDonald, Director of Finance)
Re: Approval of Dental Contract for 1996-1997 year.
Mr. Lynch makes a motion, seconded by Mr. Miranda, to defer the matter to the next meeting. Motion passes 5-0. Mr. McDonald tells the Council that Mr. Lemont will recuse himself of all discussion of this matter.
CLAIMS COMMITTEE
The Claims Committee Report is unanimously accepted on a roll-call vote on motion of Mr. Lynch, seconded by Mr. Miranda.
(By Mayor Rolland R. Grant)
Council Inauguration
Mayor Grant speaks on the plans for the Council Inauguration and recommends that the Council and School Committee members be sworn in at 12:00 noon on December 2, 1996, with a ceremony held in the evening for the public. Mr. Miranda asks Mr. Conley if it would be legal for the Council to be sworn in at 5:00 P.M., and suggests holding the festivities at the High School. Mr. Conley says the Special Election Laws, which apply only to East Providence and which supersede the old language of the Charter, specify that the Council shall enter their terms of office upon the first secular day of the month next following their election to office ....... He says as long as it is on that day, there is no reason the Council cannot plan it at a time other than noon time.
Mr. Larisa agrees with the comments made and makes a motion, seconded by Mr. Miranda to hold the Council Inauguration on December 2, 1996 at 6:00 P.M. with a party immediately following. Motion passes 5-0.
(If given First Passage, will be referred to December 17, 1996 City Council meeting for Public Hearing and Final Passage)
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.", Section I. Article X entitled "Stopping, Standing and Parking", Subsection 18-314 (a) entitled "Reserved parking designated." is amended to read as follows:
(a) There shall be reserved, and the public given notice thereof by appropriate signs or other means, parking spaces as shown on that plan entitled "Municipal Parking Lot Layout Adjoining City hall and No. 31 Grove Avenue, East Providence, Rhode Island, June 1982," and listed as follows:
City Hall No. 31 Grove Avenue
1 space mayor 5 spaces city-owned vehicles
1 space city manager 35 spaces city hall employees
1 space director public works
2 spaces councilmen
3 spaces handicapped persons, one
of which is van accessible
9 spaces city hall visitors
10 spaces city-owned vehicles
30 spaces city hall employees
The above-entitled ordinance is called for introduction by unanimous consent.
Discussion is held on the ordinance regarding parking spaces at City Hall. Mr. Miranda and Mayor Grant discuss the necessity of so many spaces for City vehicles and employees. Mr. Lynch says the Mayor and City Council spaces are not necessary. He suggests sending the ordinance back to the City Manager to do it over once and for all. He makes a motion, seconded by Mr. Larisa, to refer the ordinance back to the City Manager. Motion passes unanimously on a roll-call vote with all Council members present and voting.
+ ADDENDUM
RESOLUTION REQUESTING A TRAFFIC SIGNAL LIGHT AT THE INTERSECTION OF WAMPANOAG TRAIL, AND FORBES STREET AND THE OPENING OF THE FIRST WAMPANOAG TRAIL TURNAROUND SOUTH OF FORBES STREET. (Requested by Councilman Robert D. Sullivan)
RESOLVE NO. 34
The above-entitled Resolution is introduced.
Councilman Sullivan speaks on the proposed resolution.
Motion to approve is made by Mr. Sullivan, seconded by Mr. Lynch, and unanimously voted on a roll-call vote with all Council members present and voting.
Mr. Lynch receives Unanimous Consent and asks for a Point of Personal Privilege and thanks Mr. Lemont and Governor Almond for the job done during the water crisis.
Mr. Lynch personally thanks Councilman Sullivan for the job well done during the past four years, and says he will miss him. The Council applauds Mr. Sullivan.
Mr. Sullivan congratulates his opponent and thanks the residents of Ward 4 for electing him to two terms on the Council.
Mr. Miranda and Mayor Grant thank Mr. Sullivan for his dedication.
The meeting adjourns at 9:15 P.M.
Attest:
Valerie A. Perry, CMC
City Clerk
Approved: December 17, 1996