CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE
RHODE ISLAND
JOURNAL OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY,
The City Council meets in the Council Chamber on Tuesday, March 3, 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 )
Invocation is given by Councilman Norman J. Miranda.
The Salute to the Flag is led by Laura Silveira, Troop 512, Rumford Girl Scouts of America
Claudia Merandi, Merandi Reporting, is present to record the proceedings of the public hearings.
1. Approval of Council Journals
Regular Meeting - February 17, 1998
2. Town of Exeter - Requesting support of Resolution Relating to Realty Stamp Tax
3. Town of Westerly - Requesting support of Resolution Relating to Realty Stamp Tax
4. Town of Narragansett - Requesting support of Resolution Relating to Realty Stamp Tax
On motion of Mr. Lynch, seconded by Mr. Miranda, and on unanimous roll call vote, it is VOTED to approve the Consent Calendar.
Girl Scout Week - Week of March 7-13, 1998
UNANIMOUS CONSENT
Mayor Grant receives Unanimous Consent for the following announcements:
Mayor Grant announces the resignation of Jim Vincent, an employee of the City who has left for another position with the RIHMFC.
Mayor Grant speaks on the layoff at Monet and says that jobs have been found for some of the people affected.
Mayor Grant speaks on the Meningitis clinics scheduled in the City next weekend and asks for volunteers.
Secondhand Dealer - John Andrew Paon dba - AJ Appliance, 190A Newport Avenue
John Andrew Paon, 76 Rhode Island Avenue, Pawtucket, Rhode Island is present and sworn.
There are no persons wishing to be heard on said license.
On motion of Mr. Lynch, seconded by Mr. Larisa, the license is approved subject to all necessary approvals.
Carnival - May 9, 1998 - Gordon School, 45 Maxfield Avenue
Devin Barry, 116 Congdon Street, Providence, Rhode Island is present and sworn.
On motion of Mr. Miranda, seconded by Mr. Larisa, it is unanimously VOTED to approve, subject to approvals from the Chief of Police, Fire Marshall, Building Inspector, and Electrical Inspector.
Peddler/Lemonade & Ice Cream - Raymond J. Peloquin dba - Ray's Ice Cream & Lemonade
Raymond J. Peloquin, 430 Carter Avenue, Pawtucket, Rhode Island is present and sworn.
On motion of Mr. Lynch, seconded by Mr. Larisa, is unanimously VOTED to approve, subject to the Police Chief's approval.
Sunday/Holiday Sales - Goodwill Industries of Rhode Island, Inc. dba Goodwill Retail Store, 376 Newport Avenue
Carl Johnson, 4 Richmond Street, Pawcatuck, Connecticut, is present and sworn.
On motion of Mr. Lynch, seconded by Mr. Miranda, it is unanimously VOTED to approve the license, subject to approvals from the Chief of Police and Building Inspector.
Victualing/Cl 3 Under 25 - John Brucker dba Cream N' Wings, 292 Bullocks Point Avenue
Stephanie Boyce, 64 Holland Street, East Providence, Rhode Island is present and sworn.
On motion of Mr. Miranda, seconded by Midgley, it is unanimously VOTED to approve the license, subject to approvals from Chief of Police, Building Inspector, and Health Inspector.
LICENSING COMMISSIONERS RESUME SITTING AS CITY COUNCIL
ORDINANCES - FINAL PASSAGE (Given first passage February 3, 1998) Advertised - Providence Journal - February 13, 1998
AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 9 OF THE REVISED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, 1987, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED "MISCELLANEOUS OFFENSES.", which amends Section I. adding thereto the following: Section 9-17. Loam Piles Prohibited
(Requested by Councilman Norman J. Miranda)
There are no persons wishing to be heard.
On motion of Mr. Miranda, seconded by Mr. Lynch, and on unanimous roll call vote, it is VOTED to approve the ordinance for Final Passage.
2) Deferred from February 17, 1998 (Given first passage February 3, 1998 and referred to March 3, 1998 for final passage)
AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 13 OF THE REVISED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, 1987, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED "PUBLIC PLACES.", which amends SECTION I. Section 18-100.11 entitled "Fees."
(Requested by Councilman Peter F. Midgley)
Anthony Perry, Vice Chairman of the Harbor Management Commission, is present and sworn. Mr. Perry states that the only reason for this ordinance change is to comply with the guidelines set forth by the Army Corps of Engineers, in order for the cove to be dredged.
George Sarganis, 1 Peach Orchard Drive, East Providence, RI, is present and sworn. He says he and other mooring holders have not received any answers from the Harbor Management Commission on this issue, and their concern is that if this ordinance is passed the fees will skyrocket.
Mr. Lynch states that the City Council sets the fees and the budget process allows for comments and concerns at that time. He suggests Mr. Sarganis meet with the City Manager.
Mr. Sarganis asks the Council to deny the ordinance. Mr. Larisa says there are no answers on the fees at this time, but they will be decided before next year.
Lester Watson, 49 Forbes Street, Riverside, Rhode Island is present and sworn. Mr. Watson says if the wording is changed tonight, it still will not change the fee structure for this year and the City will not be in compliance. He says he would be in favor of tabling the issue until it all gets straightened out.
Claire Sarganis, 1 Peach Orchard Drive, Riverside, Rhode Island is present and sworn. She asks why Barrington has separate rates for residents and non-residents, yet their waters are part of the waters that will get dredged. She also asks why the City didn't comply earlier. She goes on to say that the reason the group is here tonight is because they felt they were not being heard. She also mentions the fact that the City Clerk's office only had minutes from three meetings in 1996. The City Clerk states that she will check into this tomorrow.
Fred Bieberbach, 40 Union Street, Riverside, Rhode Island. Mr. Bierbach asks that the ordinance be deferred until after a public hearing is held. He too says he asked for copies of the ordinance and was given minutes from two meetings in 1996 and one meeting in 1997.
Donna Quintal, 917 Longwood Drive, North Attleboro, Massachusetts is present and sworn.
She says no one is giving answers on why this needs to be done.
Mr. Lemont gives an overview of the Harbormaster Department and what led up to the present dredging issue.
Steve Clemens, 15 Terrace Avenue, Riverside, Rhode Island is present and sworn. Mr. Clemens talks about the dredging project.
Motion is made by Mr. Midgley, seconded by Mr. Larisa, to approve. There is one other person wishing to speak, therefore Mr. Midgley and Mr. Larisa withdraw their motion.
Gilbert Croome, 80 Francis Street, Rehoboth, Massachusetts, is present and sworn. Mr. Croome urges the Council to pass the ordinance.
Mr. Midgley speaks on the ordinance. He urges interested parties to keep a close watch on the issue and to attend all meetings and keep asking questions.
Mr. Miranda says he opposes any fee increase, and says he opposes changing the ordinance because the Army Corps of Engineers has not responded to the City Manager regarding the issue of resident/non-resident fees. He also says because of the bickering going on, it should be straightened out before the ordinance is adopted.
After further discussion, motion to approve is made by Mr. Midgley, seconded by Mr. Larisa. Roll Call vote is taken on the motion:
Mr. Larisa Aye
Mr. Lynch Aye
Mr. Midgley Aye
Mr. Miranda Nay
Mayor Grant Aye
Motion passes 4-1.
1. Mr. Lemont gives an update on the status of the Senior Center. He says there will be an official opening on April 20, 1998. He assures Mr. Miranda that the soccer fields will be completed and that there will be a soccer field at the site.
In response to a question from Mr. Larisa about a cost overrun, Jeanne Boyle states that the project is $50,000 over the original budget, but Sen. Reed was able to procure $80,000 from the Federal Government at no direct cost to the East Providence taxpayers, which will take care of some finishing touches on the building.
2. Mr. Lemont asks that his request for Executive Session to discuss union negotiations be deferred to the next meeting, until information developed by him, Mr. McDonald and Councilman Larisa is available. On motion of Mr. Lynch, seconded by Mr. Miranda, it is unanimously VOTED to defer to the next meeting.
Mr. Larisa requests that Mr. McDonald provide the Council with fiscal impact statements for both the police and professional workers.
3. Mr. Lemont speaks about the demolition of the Riverside water tank. He informs the Council, since there were no objections raised, that he is prepared to notify the contractor to prepare the bill for the razing of the tank along with a station that's on the property, and the determination will be made as to what to do with the property. He says it will be an addition to the water tank contract, which is well within budget.
In response to a question from Mayor Grant, Mr. Lemont reports that the only dam in East Providence that would have any impact on the City residential units is the dam at Turner Reservoir, which the City spent more than $450,000 upgrading. He says he has no concerns about it.
Mr. Conley asks for the Council's permission to enter into agreements regarding the Bristol County Water Authority's pipeline, which have been reviewed and approved by Engineering.
On motion of Mr. Lynch, seconded by Mr. Miranda, it is unanimously VOTED to grant approval.
CLAIMS COMMITTEE
Shui Shankar Claim No. 98-11 Denied
General Accident Insurance Claim No. 98-10 Approved
Masswest Insurance Co. Claim No., 98-9(a) and Albert Hunt Claim No., 98-9(b) Referred to Law Department
Nancy Roberts Claim No. 98-8 Approved
Margaret Howard Claim No. 98-6 Approved
David Leamy Claim 98-1 Approved
U.S. Dept. Of Justice vs. City of East Providence re: Handicapped Accessibility of Pierce Field - Claims Committee received oral project that construction project being done by Omni Point has been approved by Justice Department with bids to be awarded Monday.
On motion of Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Lynch, it is unanimously VOTED to accept the report.
Mr. Larisa speaks on the claim of Margaret Howard and the reasons that it was approved.
(By Councilman Peter F. Midgley)
1) Water....Water....Wadda
Mr. Midgley speaks on the water problem in Riverside on Harold Street and says this has to be a primary project of a bond issue and asks for the Council to support it.
Mr. Larisa asks for a report from the City Manager and Public Works Director on the issue.
Julia Forgue, Public Works Director, says this has been an ongoing problem for many years and is submitted each year in the Capital Budget.
2) Specials and Not So Specials
Mr. Midgley speaks on the issue of Special Police Officers and says if there is a program in place then they should be given details. He says Councilman Miranda has asked for a workshop for many years, but nothing has been done to date.
Mr. Miranda comments and says he wants to see something happen, and a decision should be made one way or the other.
Police Chief Gary Dias states that there is a program in place and Specials are used for traffic detail and as School Crossing Guards.
Mr. Lynch states that this is a Council program and the Council will decide on whether there will be Specials or not.
After further discussion, motion is made by Mr. Miranda, seconded by Mr. Midgley, and unanimously VOTED to instruct the City Manager to meet with the Police Chief and report back to the Council on the issue.
1) Resolution requesting the construction of a "Flyover" to provide access to the Wampanoag Trail for motorists traveling north from Forbes Street.
(Requested by Councilman Peter F. Midgley)]
Mr. Midgley speaks on the proposed Resolution, which will have a cost of approximately $4 million, and states that there is a possibility of Federal funds paying for the entire project.
On motion of Mr. Midgley, seconded by Mr. Larisa, it is unanimously VOTED on a roll call vote to adopt the Resolution.
2) Resolution establishing regulations for Homestead Exemption.
Mr. Conley speaks on the proposed ordinance. He says this ordinance is a result of legislation passed to allow East Providence to implement a homestead exemption. This resolution establishes the regulations.
On motion of Mr. Lynch, seconded by Mr. Miranda, it is unanimously VOTED to adopt the resolution.
There being no further business, the meeting adjourns at 10:50 p.m.
Attest:
Valerie A. Perry, CMC
City Clerk Approved: March 24, 1998