CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND
JOURNAL OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY,
The City Council meets in the Council Chamber on Tuesday, January 6, 1998, 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. )
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 Councilman Norman J. Miranda.
The Salute to the Flag is led by Councilman Gerald R. Lynch.
1. Approval of Council Journals
Closed Session - November 18, 1997 - Negotiations
Regular Meeting - January 6, 1998
2. (Permission to advt) - Transfer of Ownership
Alcoholic Beverage - Class B Limited From: Tedmar Corporation dba - Theo's Pizza Restaurant,
1175 Warren Avenue To: - Lexir Inc. dba Theo's Pizza Restaurant
3. East Providence Historical Society - Gift agreement for top of old water tower
On motion of Mr. Miranda, seconded by Mr. Midgley, with a friendly amendment by Mr. Larisa, and on
unanimously roll call vote, it is VOTED to remove the Closed Session of November 18, 1997 from the
Consent Calendar and approve as amended.
On motion of Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Lynch, and on unanimous roll call vote, it is VOTED to approve
the Closed Session of November 18, 1997 and to keep the minutes closed.
Mr. Conley presents a draft agreement on city towers. Mr. Larisa proposes two changes: #1 on the regulations regarding towers taking junk vehicles, change the wording from "may" to "shall." Also, #6 on the agreement - fill in the blank with $10.00 (the amount the City shall charge for each tow).
Mr. Larisa asks that upon making the changes, they be sent to the towers and a public hearing be set for the next Council meeting to afford the towers the opportunity to register their comments. Mr. Lynch asks the Chief of Police to look into what other cities and towns are doing in this regard. He suggests a meeting or workshop with the towers to hear their ideas on the subject.
Mr. Miranda comments that he is not opposed to the idea but agrees that a workshop should be held.
After further discussion, the following motion is made by Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Lynch, and on a unanimously roll call vote, is VOTED to approve:
The agreement presented by the Solicitor and the Regulations for Wreckers and Towers be amended in the two ways mentioned earlier, namely a draft that says $10.00 and the requirement to remove junked or abandoned vehicles, that a copy of the amended document be sent to all towers on the list, as well as the Chief of Police, and that the matter be put on for a hearing at the next regularly scheduled Council meeting.
1. Mr. Lemont speaks on a request from Mark Jansen he previously sent the Council which regards a piece of land, the majority of which is in Barrington, with a small section in East Providence. Mr. Jansen is requesting to tie into the East Providence sewer system. Mr. Lemont says there are at the present time some 30 or more direct tie-ins, and Mr. Jansen cannot get a building permit from Barrington until he is given approval by the City of East Providence. Mr. Lemont asks the Council for an affirmative vote.
Mr. Lemont says he will be putting on the next Council meeting docket the arrangement the City has with the Town of Barrington, which is about to expire.
Discussion ensues regarding the cost, with Mr. Lemont saying the cost is $200, which was set many years ago. Mayor Grant says he is not enthused about this request and thinks he should hook up to Barrington. Mr. Lemont tells the Mayor that that option is not possible.
After further discussion, Mr. Lynch makes a motion to approve, which is seconded by Mr. Miranda. Roll
call vote follows:
Mr. Larisa Aye
Mr. Lynch Aye
Mr. Midgley Nay
Mr. Miranda Aye
Mayor Grant Nay
The motion passes 3-2.
2. Mr. Lemont requests approval to award the Waste Hauling Contract to Sanitary Services Corporation of Connecticut, who came in with the low bid of $944,942. On motion of Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Lych, and on unanimous roll call vote, it is VOTED to approve.
Mr. Larisa makes a motion to reconsider the Direct Tie-In vote that the City Manager requested. Mr. Midgley seconds the motion. Mr. Larisa says he was unaware that was going to be a 3-2 vote when he voted, and it appears that the Mayor and Mr. Midgley want to wait until a draft of a negotiated contract regarding that issue.
Discussion is held. Mr. Lemont says that in essence, Barrington thinks they can renew the contract as is, but in reality, there are some important issues that have to be worked out, and the Town of Manager of Barrington is prepared to sit down and negotiate the contract. Mr. Lemont says he doesn't want to hold Mr. Jansen hostage because of the contract with Barrington.
Mayor Grant says he would like to see a report on all 35 Barrington residents who are tied into the system before making a decision.
Mr. Larisa asks Mr. Conley what discretion does the Council have at all to deny this request. He asks that Mr. Conley be prepared to answer the question at the next Council meeting.
Roll call vote is held on the motion to reconsider:
Mr. Larisa Aye
Mr. Lynch Nay
Mr. Midgley Aye
Mr. Miranda Nay
Mayor Grant Aye
The motion passes 3-2.
Motion is made by Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Midgley, to put this matter on the docket of the next regularly scheduled Council meeting and get a memo from the Solicitor as to what the Council's discretion is legally to deny, and a memo from the City Manager detailing why the Council should go forward. Roll call vote is taken on the motion:
Mr. Larisa Aye
Mr. Lynch Nay
Mr. Midgley Aye
Mr. Miranda Nay
Mayor Grant Aye
Motion passes 3-2.
Councilman Larisa speaks on the public vote on new terms and wards for School Committee. He says regardless of what is done at the legislature, and unless the Council changes its mind, this question will go before the voters in November. He says the proposal has nothing to do with Council control, but control by the people.
Mr. Conley recommends to the Council that if the intent is to put the question on the ballot in November, that the Council pass an additional Resolution to get the question on the ballot as a Charter amendment provision. He also says the Council can submit ballot questions up to the middle of August.
Mr. Lynch suggests the Council might want to consider two additional questions on the ballot, which he will discuss in the future.
On motion of Mr. Lynch, seconded by Mr. Midgley, it is unanimously VOTED to approve Mr. Lynch's reappointment of Barbara Pagano, 140 Wilson Avenue, to the Library Board of Trustees.
Mr. Lynch receives unanimous consent to make an appointment. On motion of Mr. Lynch, seconded by Mr. Miranda, it is unanimously VOTED to appoint Julieta Travers, 55 Deer Street, as a School Crossing Guard.
Mayor Grant receives Unanimous Consent to discuss the Football Jackets for the Championship team. On motion of Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Miranda, it is unanimously VOTED to allocate $2500 towards the cost of the jackets.
The meeting adjourns at 7:20 p.m.
Attest:
Valerie A. Perry, CMC
City Clerk Approved:_____________________