CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND
JOURNAL OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY,
Present: Mayor Rolland R. Grant ) Council Members
Joseph S. Larisa, Jr. )
Gerald R. Lynch
Peter F. Midgley )
Norman J. Miranda )
Paul E. Lemont ) City Manager
William J. Conley, Jr. ) City Solicitor
Valerie A. Perry ) City Clerk
Invocation is given by Mayor Rolland R. Grant. Mayor Grant asks for remembrance of Ret. Police Officers, Capt. William Benson and Martin Taber, and also an active member of the community, Charles Buchanan, all of whom passed away within the last week.
Salute to the Flag is led by Councilman Joseph S. Larisa, Jr.
1. Resignation - 10-29-97 - Letter of resignation received from Mark Selley resigning from Conservation Commission, Affirmative Action Committee and Tenants Affairs Board.
2. Resignation - 11-17-97 - Letter of resignation received from Joseph A. Pangborn, Jr. resigning from Economic Development Commission.
3. Resignation - 11-26-97 - Letter of resignation received from Leo Correia resigning from Minimum Property Standards Board of Review
4. Abatements/Cancellations - The City Assessor requesting the cancellation of taxes as follows:
Year: Amount:
1997 $5,651.01
5. Assessment Board of Review - Peter P. Calise, Chairman - Requested adjustments for Hardship and Residential, Tax Board of Review.
Year: Amount:
1997 $8,684.49
On motion by Mr. Miranda, seconded by Mr. Lynch, and on unanimous roll call vote, it is VOTED to approve the Consent Calendar.
Preservation Pride Awards are presented by Les Haworth, Chairman of the Historic Properties Commission to Mr. and Mrs. David Johnson for their property located at 261 Terrace Avenue, Mr. and Mrs. Arnold Rasmussen for their property located at 1490 So. Broadway, and Mr. and Mrs. Christopher Morra for their property located at 21 Morra Way.
Sunday/Holiday Sales - Oliveira Imports and Exports, 222 Warren Avenue
Alberto DeOliveira, 34 Willard Street, Pawtucket, Rhode Island is present and sworn.
On motion of Mr. Midgley, seconded by Mr. Lynch, it is unanimously VOTED on a roll call vote to approve the license, subject to approvals from the Chief of Police and Building Inspector.
1. Mr. Lemont recommends Delta Dental for the City's Dental Coverage. James McDonald, Finance Director, answers questions from the Council. He says the increase is 3% over last year. On motion of Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Lynch, it is unanimously VOTED to award the City's Dental Coverage Contract to Delta Dental.
2. On motion of Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Lynch, it is unanimously VOTED to defer Mr. Lemont's request for Executive Session to discuss negotiations to the end of the meeting.
On motion of Mr. Lynch, seconded by Mr. Larisa, it is unanimously VOTED to approve the 1998 City Council meeting dates as submitted by the City Clerk.
January 6, 1998
January 20, 1998
February 3, 1998
February 17, 1998
March 3, 1998
* March 24, 1998
April 7, 1998
April 21, 1998
May 5, 1998
May 19, 1998
June 2, 1998
June 16, 1998
July 14, 1998
August 11, 1998
September 1, 1998
September 15, 1998
October 6, 1998
October 20, 1998
** November 10, 1998
November 17, 1998
*** December 1, 1998
December 15, 1998
* March 24, 1998 - Meeting changed to 3rd Tuesday due to St. Patrick's Day
** November 10, 1998 - Meeting changed to 2nd Tuesday because of election day on first
Tuesday, November 3, 1998.
*** December 1, 1998 - Inauguration of newly elected City Council - 12:00 p.m. -
(City Charter Sec 2-7)
CLAIMS COMMITTEE
Ladisla Arruda Claim No. 97-67 Approved
Deborah Abatecola Claim No. 97-62 Deferred
RESOLUTION ESTABLISHING REFERENDUM AND REQUESTING LEGISLATION TO MODIFY
THE COMPOSITION AND ELECTION OF THE EAST PROVIDENCE SCHOOL COMMITTEE. RESOLVE NO. 16
(Requested by Councilman Joseph S. Larisa, Jr. and Councilman Peter F. Midgley)
Mr. Larisa says the purpose of this resolution is to try to effect a change in the election and composition of the school committee from a four year staggered term and election at-large to the same as the Council, a 2 year term elected by Wards and one at-large, effective in the year 2000. He says to make the change, a change in the state law is needed, as well as a Charter Amendment and vote of the people of the city. He speaks of the reasons why he believes the change is needed.
The remaining members of the Council all express their agreement with Mr. Larisa's proposal.
On motion of Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Midgley, and on a unanimous roll call vote, it is VOTED to adopt the resolution.
Unanimous consent is given by the Council to allow a member of the audience to speak.
Tony Gouveia, 12 Euclid Avenue, Riverside, Rhode Island, is present and sworn.
Mr. Gouveia states that he hopes the Council is not perpetuating a problem that has existed for the past few years between the Council and the School Committee. He questions the Council on how the change will help.
AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 11 OF THE REVISED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, 1987, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED "PERSONNEL, PENSIONS AND RETIREMENT.", which amends Section I. Article III. Entitled "Personnel Plan", adding thereto the following: Sec 11-75. Ratification of collective bargaining agreements.
(Requested by Mayor Rolland R. Grant and Councilman Joseph S. Larisa, Jr)
At the request of Mr. Lynch, a motion is made by Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Lynch, and unanimously VOTED on a roll call vote to defer the ordinance at this time.
On motion of Mr. Miranda, seconded by Mr. Lynch, it is unanimously VOTED to approve Mr. Miranda's appointment of Ruth Simoes, 1375 So. Broadway to the Senior Citizens' Advisory Board.
On motion of Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Lynch, it is unanimously VOTED to approve Mr. Larisa's appointment of John F. O'Connor, 151 Pavillion Avenue as School Crossing Guard.
On motion of Mr. Lynch, seconded by Mr. Miranda, it is VOTED 4-1 to approve Mr. Lynch's appointment of Thomas West, 149 Terrace Avenue, to the Minimum Property Standards Board of Review. Mr. Midgley votes Nay.
On motion of Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Lynch, it is unanimously VOTED on a roll call vote to go into Executive Session to discuss negotiations.
The open meeting recesses at 8:40 and goes into Executive Session.
(Closed Session - separate folder)
On motion of Mr. Lynch, seconded by Mr. Miranda, it is unanimously VOTED to return to open session at 10:30 p.m.
Motion is made by Mr. Miranda and seconded by Mr. Lynch, to ratify the Fire Contract. Roll call vote is taken on the motion:
Mr. Larisa Nay
Mr. Lynch Aye
Mr. Midgley Aye
Mr. Miranda Aye
Mayor Grant Aye
Motion passes 5-0.
The meeting adjourns at 10:15 p.m.
Attest:
___________________________________
Valerie A. Perry, CMC Approved:________________
City Clerk