CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE
RHODE ISLAND
JOURNAL OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY,
8:00 P.M.
The City Council meets in the Council Chamber on Tuesday, September 2, 1997, and is called to order at 8:00 P.M. by Mayor Rolland R. Grant.
Present: Mayor Rolland R. Grant ) Council Members
Joseph S. Larisa, Jr. )
Peter F. Midgley )
Norman J. Miranda )
Paul E. Lemont ) City Manager
William J. Conley, Jr. ) City Solicitor
Valerie A. Perry ) City Clerk
Gerald R. Lynch ) Council Member
(Carole Malaga, 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 Mayor Rolland R. Grant.
Mayor Grant announces that Mr. Lynch is absent due to illness.
APPROVAL OF COUNCIL JOURNALS
Regular Meeting - August 12, 1997
Closed Session - Negotiations - August 12, 1997
Town of Exeter - RESOLUTION - Support for the Quonset Access Road and Third Rail Improvement Program.
APPROVAL OF THE CONSENT CALENDAR
Mr. Larisa requests that the Minutes of the August 12 Closed Session be removed from the Consent Calendar, and makes a motion, which is seconded by Mr. Miranda and unanimously passed on a roll call vote to approve the Consent Calendar as amended.
Motion is made by Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Miranda, to approve the August 12, 1997 Closed Session minutes regarding Negotiations and to keep them closed. Motion passes unanimously on a roll call vote.
Secondhand/Antiques - Transfer From - Shaffie Pillay –
To - Edward J. Karr dba
Antique Refinishing, 337 A North Broadway
Edward J. Karr, 458 Wickenden Street, Providence, R.I. is present and sworn. Motion to approve, subject to approveals from the Chief of Police and Building Inspector, is made by Mr. Miranda, seconded by Mr. Larisa, and unanimously approved on a roll call vote.
Sunday/Holiday Sales - Sal Perisano dba - The Big Party, 1925 Pawtucket Avenue
Jennifer Pacheco, 505 Washington Street, Coventry, Rhode Island is present and sworn.
Motion to approve, subject to approvals from the Chief of Police and Building Inspector, is made by Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Miranda, and so VOTED.
LICENSING COMMISSIONERS RESUME SITTING AS CITY
COUNCIL PUBLIC HEARING
(Given first passage August 12, 1997) Advertised - Providence Journal - August 15, 1997
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: Sec I. Article IX entitled "Stop Intersections.", Subsec 18-269 entitled "Stop and yield intersections
designated; when stops required.", adding:
CRESCENT AVENUE (Southbound traffic), at LINCOLN AVENUE.
CHAPTER NO. 449 (Requested by: Director of Public Works)
There are no persons wishing to be heard on said ordinance.
Motion to approve for Final Passage is made by Mr. Miranda, seconded by Mr. Larisa, and unanimously VOTED on a roll call vote.
Request for Executive Session regarding Negotiations
Motion is made by Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Miranda, and carried to move Mr. Lemont's request for Executive Session to the end of the docket.
Mr. Lemont speaks on an issue regarding piers built by the East Providence Yacht Club, which appear to be in the waters of City owned land. He requests that the matter be referred to the Planning Board, because it is now a Corps of Engineers matter, to have them look at the entire arrangement from the viewpoint that the City would probably never build a pier there and whether it would be permissible for the East Providence Yacht Club to continue maintaining the piers. Motion is made by Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Miranda, and carried to refer the matter to the Planning Board.
Re: Wireless Telecommunications Towers and Antennas Draft Ordinance
Mr. Conley states that he has prepared a draft ordinance regarding wireless telecommunications towers and antennas, and asks that the ordinance be referred to the Planning Board. Motion is made by Mr. Miranda, seconded by Mr. Larisa, and unanimously VOTED on a roll call vote to refer to the Planning Board.
East Providence School Department Lease with Digital Financial Services Motion to approve is made by Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Miranda, and carried.
Purchase of City Property, 79 White Avenue, Map 313, Block 9, Parcel 5 Motion to offer to Mr. Rutko at the assessed value of $2100 is made by Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Midgley, and unanimously VOTED on a roll call vote.
Planning Board recommending approval of request from the Town of Seekonk for Drainage Easements on City-Owned Property Located at Brook St. and Newman Avenue in Seekonk Mr. Lemont reports that the square footage of one of the easements was changed. At Mr. Lemont's recommendation, motion to refer the matter back to the Planning Board is made by Mr. Miranda, seconded by Mr. Midgley, and carried.
CLAIMS COMMITTEE
Motion to accept as presented is made by Mr. Miranda, seconded by Mr. Larisa, and unanimously VOTED on a roll call vote.
(By Mayor Grant)
Police Laptop Computer Inquiry
Mayor Grant speaks on the issue of the laptop computers at the Police Department, and says it is up to the City Council to conduct an investigation into the matter. After discussion, motion is made by Mr. Midgley, seconded by Mr. Larisa, to conduct an investigation. Mr. Larisa suggests that if the City is going to pursue litigation on the matter, that all future discussion on the issue be done in closed session. Motion is passes unanimously on a roll call vote.
The meeting recesses at 8:30 p.m. and reconvenes at 8:35 p.m.
Proposal for combining City and School Finance Departments Mayor Grant proposes that the City Manager and School Superintendent meet to discuss the possibility of combining the City and School Finance Departments, in view of the fact that the School Department's Finance Director is leaving for another job. Mr. Midgley says this may be the time to look at combining other departments as well. Motion to authorize the City Manager to look into the feasibility of combining some Departments of the City and School Department is made by Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Miranda, and so carried.
(By Mr. Larisa)
Fee For Emergency Services
Discussion is held on the possibility of charging for emergency services, and Mr. Lemont says he would like to get beyond the budget and will look into the matter further and introduce the issue during the next fiscal year
No Cost Health Care Pricing Audit
Mr. Larisa suggests hiring a consultant on a contingency fee basis to look into the cost of health dare. After discussion, motion is made by Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Midgley and so carried on a roll call vote to authorize the City Manager to do an RFQ for a contingency fee arrangement.
School Committee Purpose and Budget
Mr. Larisa mentions that the Superintendent and School Committee members are present and says this might be a good time to do things differently regarding the budget. He says innovative ideas are needed to reduce the City and School spending, and suggests having the School Committee members elected for the same two-year terms as the Council, with the elections done by wards.
Recommending Show Cause Hearing for New England Towing
Mr. Larisa requests a Show Cause Hearing be scheduled for the next Council meeting, with notification to individuals involved in the recent incident involving the subject towing company. He asks that the Council be provided with a full report from the Police Department before the hearing. Motion is made by Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Miranda, and so VOTED to schedule a Show Cause Hearing for September 17, 1997 at 8:00 P.M.
AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 18 OF THE REVISED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, 1987, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED "MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC.", which amends Sec I. Article VIII entitled "One-Way Streets." Subsec 18-247 entitled "Designation of one-
way streets.", adding:
WANNAMOISETT ROAD (eastbound) from PAWTUCKET AVENUE to DOVER AVENUE during the hours of 8:00 A.M. to 9:00 A.M. and 2:30 P.M. to 3:30 P.M., school days;
HOWLAND AVENUE (westbound) from DOVER AVENUE to PAWTUCKET AVENUE during the hours of 8:00 A.M. to 9:00 A.M. and 2:30 P.M. to 3:30 P.M.,
PROGRESS STREET (southbound) from HEATH STREET to SILVER SPRING AVENUE during the hours of 8:00 A.M. to 9:00 A.M. and 2:15 P.M. to 3:15 P.M.;
SILVER SPRING AVENUE (westbound) from PROGRESS STREET to DODGE STREET during the hours of 8:00 A.M. to 9:00 A.M. and 2:15 P.M. to 3:15 P.M., school days;
DODGE STREET (northbound) from SILVER SPRING to HILLTOP ROAD during hours of 8:00 A.M. to 9:00 A.M. and 2:15 P.M. to 3:15 P.M., school days.
Motion to approve for First Passage is made by Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Miranda, and so VOTED on a roll call vote.
Discussion is held on the ordinance, and it is determined that the times may have to be changed because of the change of time in school hours. It is decided that the ordinance will be reintroduced at the next Council meeting.
Motion to reconsider First Passage for the purpose of withdrawal of the Ordinance and deferring to the next meeting is made by Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Miranda, and unanimously VOTED on a roll call vote.
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. Subsection (e) of Section 11-236 entitled "Requirements
for service retirement."
Motion to approve for First Passage is made by Mr. Miranda, seconded by Mr. Midgley, and unanimously VOTED on a roll call vote.
(By Councilman Joseph S. Larisa, Jr.)
On a motion by Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Midgley, it is unanimously VOTED to reappoint Nancy R. Stevens, 37 Beaumont Street, to the Senior Citizen Advisory Board
On a motion by Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Miranda, it is unanimously VOTED to reappoint Robert Cusack, 150 Greenwood Avenue, to the Historic Properties Designation and Study Commission.
Joseph R. Perroni, Account Executive of Delta Dental addresses the Council and says Delta Dental would welcome the scrutiny by consultants. He says he would make the request that Delta Dental be included in the health care audit.
Motion is made by Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Miranda, and unanimously VOTED on a roll call vote to go into Executive Session to discuss Collective Bargaining.
The meeting adjourns into Executive Session at 9:28 P.M.
The Open meeting reconvenes at 10:15 p.m. and adjourns at 10:15 p.m.
Attest:
Valerie A. Perry, CMC
City Clerk Approved:_________________________