CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE
RHODE ISLAND
JOURNAL OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
The City Council meets in the Council Chamber on Tuesday, September 21, 1999 and is called to order at 7:35 P.M. by Mayor Joseph S. Larisa, Jr.
Present:
Mayor Joseph S. Larisa, Jr. ) Council Members
Rolland R. Grant
Peter F. Midgley )
Norman J. Miranda )
Patrick A. Rogers )
William J. Conley, Jr. ) City Solicitor
Mary Gadouas ) Deputy City Clerk
The Invocation is led by Councilman Rogers.
The Salute to the Flag is led by Councilman Grant.
Lori Merolla, Merandi Reporting, is present to record the proceedings of the public hearings.
1. Approval of Council Journals
Regular Meeting - September 7, 1999
Closed Session - September 7, 1999 re: Personnel/Contract Negotiations
2. August 31, 1999 - Letter of Resignation - Henry Caparco Library Board of Trustees
3. Alcoholic Beverage License - Cl F - October 2, 1999
Recreation Dept. - Oktoberfest - to be held at 610 Waterman Avenue
The minutes of the September 7, 1999 Closed Session are removed from the Consent Calendar.
On motion of Mr. Grant, seconded by Mr. Midgley, and on a roll call vote, it is unanimously VOTED to approve the Consent Calendar as amended.
On motion of Mr. Grant, seconded by Mr. Midgley, and on a roll call vote, it is unanimously VOTED to keep the minutes of the Closed Session closed.
1999 HUD Best Practice Award
Commendation - Firefighter Thomas Pereira
On motion of Mr. Grant, seconded by Mr. Rogers, it is unanimously VOTED to change the order of business and to defer the budget hearing pending the rest of the calendar.
(The following ordinances were given first passage September 7, 1999) - Advertised - Providence Journal - September 10, 1999
AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 18 OF THE REVISED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, 1998, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED "VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC", which amends SEC. I. Sec. 18-269 entitled "Stop and yield intersections designated; when stops required." by adding thereto the following:
WEEDEN AVENUE (northbound and southbound traffic) at Deer Street.
DEER STREET (eastbound) at Weeden Avenue.
DON AVENUE (westbound) at Weeden Avenue.
(Requested by Director of Public Works) CHAPTER NO. 86
On motion of Mr. Miranda, seconded by Mr. Grant, and on a roll call vote, it is unanimously VOTED to approve for Final Passage.
AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 18 OF THE REVISED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, 1998, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED "VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC.", which amends SECTION I. "Stopping, Standing and Parking. Subsection 18-307 entitled "Parking prohibited at all times." by deleting therefrom the following:
PURCHASE STREET (east side), from Grove Avenue south for 100 feet.
SECTION II. Subsection 18-307 entitled "Parking prohibited at all times." is amended by adding thereto the following:
PURCHASE STREET (east side), from Grove Avenue south for 161 feet
(Requested by Director of Public Works) CHAPTER NO. 87
On motion of Mr. Miranda, seconded by Mr. Grant, and on a roll call vote, it is unanimously VOTED to approve for Final Passage.
Disposition of City owned land at the intersection of Narragansett Ave. and Sherman St.
Linda James, 220 Narragansett Avenue, East Providence, R.I. is present and sworn.
On motion of Mr. Midgley, seconded by Mr. Miranda, it is unanimously VOTED to approve.
On motion of Mr. Miranda, seconded by Mr. Midgley, and on a roll call vote, it is unanimously VOTED to defer the request for Executive Session to discuss Negotiations to the end of the open meeting.
Requesting approval to award contract for dental services for City employees.
On motion of Mr. Miranda, seconded by Mr. Grant, and on a roll call vote, it is unanimously VOTED to approve.
(By William J. Conley, Jr., City Solicitor)
Cozzens Avenue Sewer Project Easements
On motion of Mr. Midgley, seconded by Mr. Miranda, and on a roll call vote, it us unanimously VOTED to accept the easement and to send a letter of thanks to Louise Sorterup, Geraldine L. Machado, and Carolyn A. Nystrom.
Claims Committee Report
Robert Lema No. 99-49 Denied
Eileen Benson No. 99-50 Referred to Cardi Corp. and City Insurance carrier
Frank Gonsalves, Jr. No. 99-51 Denied
On motion of Mr. Grant, seconded by Mr. Rogers, and on a roll call vote, it is unanimously VOTED to accept the report as presented.
(By Mayor Joseph S. Larisa, Jr.)
Riverside Pride and Grant Money (Deferred from September 7, 1999)
URI Elderly Study (Deferred from September 7, 1999)
(By Councilman Patrick A. Rogers)
Neighborhood Traffic Safety Program - Report on Safe Summer Initiative
Utilization of Bond Proceeds - Update
Mayor Larisa and Councilman Rogers agree to defer their Council business to the end of the docket.
AN ORDINANCE ORDERING THE ASSESSMENT AND COLLECTION OF PROPERTY TAX ON THE RATABLE REAL ESTATE, TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY AND AN EXCISE TAX ON REGISTERED MOTOR VEHICLES AND TRAILERS.
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO BORROW FUNDS IN ANTICIPATION OF TAXES.
(Both ordinances deferred to October 5, 1999)
AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 11 OF THE REVISED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, 1998, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED "PERSONNEL.", which amends: SEC I. In accordance with Sec 11-111 entitled "Adoption", of Chapter 11 of the Revised Ordinances of the City of East Providence, Rhode Island, 1998, as amended, entitled "Personnel.", the attached pay plans designated as Exhibit C is hereby adopted as the official pay plan for the International Association of Firefighters, Local 850 (AFL-CIO); and said exhibit shall be placed on file in the City Clerk's Office
On motion of Mr. Midgley, seconded by Mr. Miranda, and on a roll call vote, it is unanimously VOTED to approve for First Passage.
On motion of Mr. Grant, seconded by Mr. Miranda, and on a roll call vote, it is unanimously VOTED to approve Mr. Grant's appointment of Mary Smith, 28 Brookfield Road, to the Library Board of Trustees, to fill the unexpired term of Henry Caparco appointment, which expires on February 1, 2000.
On motion of Mr. Grant, seconded by Mr. Miranda, and on a roll call vote, it is unanimously VOTED to return to the regular order of business.
1999-2000 Proposed Budget
The City Manager presents a slide presentation regarding the proposed City budget for the upcoming fiscal year. He states that the budget will increase by 5.2 million dollars to 97.7 million dollars. He recommends a 50 cent reduction in the property tax rate, thus bringing the tax rate to $22.55 per $1,000.00 of assessed valuation. He also wants the City to increase the sewer use fee from $1.06 to $1.90 for every 100 cubic ft of water used over an exempted amount.
Dr. Herbowy, Superintendent of Schools and Dr. James Hilton, School Department Finance Director, discuss the proposed $53.3 million school budget. The budget provides for a $3.3 million dollar increase.
The following persons are present and sworn and speak on the proposed budget:
Tony Gouveia, Riverside, Rhode Island
Robin Munson, 52 Freeborn Avenue, East Providence, Rhode Island
John Conley, 115 Smith Street, East Providence, Rhode Island
After Council discussion, motion is made by Mr. Grant, seconded by Mr. Miranda, and unanimously VOTED on a roll call vote to continue the budget hearing to the next meeting.
Mayor Larisa asks for a motion to go into Executive Session for the purpose of discussing negotiations.
Motion is made by Mr. Miranda, seconded by Mr. Midgley, to continue this matter to the next Council meeting. After discussion, the motion is withdrawn.
On motion of Mr. Grant, seconded by Mr. Miranda, and on a roll call vote, it is unanimously VOTED to go into Executive Session to discuss negotiations.
The meeting recesses at 11:30 p.m. and goes into Executive Session.
The open meeting resumes at 11:37 p.m. and is adjourned at 11:37 p.m.
Attest:
Mary Gadouas
Deputy City Clerk Approved:__October 5, 1999