| CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE RHODE ISLAND JOURNAL OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING |
The City Council meets in the Council Chamber on Tuesday, February 6, 2001 and is called to order at 7:39 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 )
Paul E. Lemont ) City Manager
Gregory S. Dias ) Assistant City Solicitor
Valerie A. Perry ) City Clerk
The Invocation is led by Mr. Rogers. The Salute to the Flag is led by Mr. Midgley.
1. Cancellations/Abatements - City Assessor requesting cancellation of taxes as follows:
Year Amount
2000 $6,622.90
1999 180.57
Total $6,803.47
2. Cancellations/Abatements - City Assessor requesting cancellation of taxes as follows:
Year Amount
2000 $5,726.45
3. Alcoholic Beverage - Cl B Ltd (Permission to Advertise)
Beef Hearth Inc., dba Chelo's - 63 Newport Avenue, East Providence, RI
4. Antique Show - March 17, 2001 - 2117 Pawtucket Avenue
Southeastern New England Antique Dealers - c/o Kenneth MacDonald
5. Alcoholic Beverage - Class F1 - February 3, 2001
St. Brendan's School - 55 Turner Avenue
6. Alcoholic Beverage - Class F1 - April 27, 2001
St. Mary's Academy-Bay View - 3070 Pawtucket Ave., East Providence, RI
7. Appointment - Tree Warden - Gregory Gammell - Flat River Rd., Coventry, R.I.
On motion of Mr. Grant, seconded by Mr. Midgley, and on a roll call vote, it is unanimously voted to approve.
LICENSES NOT REQUIRING PUBLIC HEARING
1. Gatherer - Clifford E. Barratt, 58 Bluff Street, East Providence, RI
The applicant is present and sworn.
On motion of Mr. Grant, seconded by Mr. Midgley, it is unanimously voted to approve, subject to approvals from the Police Chief and Building Inspector.
2. Victualing - N/Over 50 - Transfer
From Andrey Gurvich to Leonides Gialelis, dba Rhodes Pizza - 3736 Pawtucket Avenue
The applicant is present and sworn.
On motion of Mr. Midgley, seconded by Mr. Miranda, it is unanimously voted to approve, subject to approvals from the Police Chief, Building Inspector and Health Inspector.
3. Victualing - N/Over 25
RML Corp., dba Savers Mart - 181 Willett Ave., Unit C
Mohamad Jamaleddin, 3 Burr Avenue, Barrington, Rhode Island is present and sworn.
On motion of Mr. Midgley, seconded by Mr. Grant, it is unanimously voted to approve, subject to approvals from the Police Chief, Building Inspector, and Health Inspector.
4. Sunday/Holiday Sales
RML Corp., dba Savers Mart - 181 Willett Ave., Unit C
On motion of Mr. Midgley, seconded by Mr. Grant, it is unanimously voted to approve, subject to approvals from the Police Chief, Building Inspector, and Health Inspector.
5. Secondhand/Autos & Trucks - Transfer
From Auto Placement Center, Inc., To Automotive Recovery Services, Inc.,
dba Auto Placement Center, Inc. - 160 Amaral Street
John Lyons, 21 Central Avenue, Barrington, Rhode Island, is present and sworn.
On motion of Mr. Grant, seconded by Mr. Midgley, it is unanimously voted to approve, subject to approvals from the Police Chief, Building Inspector, and Health Inspector.
CITY MANAGER
1. Request for Executive Session - Negotiations
At Mr. Lemont's request, the item is deferred to the end of the meeting.
2. Status of Water Infrastructure Projects and Roadway Improvement Program
Mr. Lemont speaks on the aging water infrastructure in the City. He says that when the program was first discussed, it was felt that it would be a $2 million per year program. But in the interim, several factors have contributed to a rise in cost, which will result in a delay of many of the projects.
Deputy Public Works Director Steve Coutu speaks on the project to upgrade the water mains within the district network. He also says that there will not be enough money at this time to replace the pipes and repave all the roads for several years.
Mr. Miranda says that it does not make sense to put in brand new streets then to go back and put in the water infrastructure. He says the Council needs to take a hard look at the situation.
Mr. Rogers says that the Council should go back and revisit the list and prioritize the streets that need to be repaved ward by ward. He says it is unfair to the people who live in the areas of the bad roads to have to wait several years before the roads are repaired.
Mayor Larisa explains that the reason the City has only $1 million rather than $2 million is because the water rates were not increased to the rate suggested by the City Manager when he prepared the current budget. The rates were increased 45 cents, half of what was proposed.
Mr. Rogers suggests moving Wilson Avenue to the bottom of the water improvement list to the top of the roadway improvements.
Mr. Miranda says that Walnut Street was one of the highest priorities in the City for water infrastructure improvements. He says the City should go in and replace the pipes and repave at the same time.
Mayor Larisa says the next step should be to ask the City professionals to look at all the ** roads and ask the following questions: 1) what do they consider to be a reasonable length of time between road repavement and pipe replacement, such that it becomes fiscally acceptable to repave a road in year x and re-pipe it and again repave it in year y. 2) Determine the condition of the pipes. He says some pipes may need to be replaced immediately, then get repaved. He says the ward Councilmen will have to make the decisions once the list is prioritized.
After further discussion, motion is made by Mr. Miranda, seconded by Mr. Grant, and unanimously voted to approve the recommendation.
City Manager's Report
REPORTS OF OTHER CITY OFFICIALS
By William J. Conley, Jr., City Solicitor)
Claims Committee Report
Municipal Court Administrator before Dept. of Labor
Municipal Court Clerk/Tellers before Dept. of Labor
On motion of Mr. Grant, seconded by Mr. Miranda, and on a roll call vote, it is unanimously voted to accept the report as presented.
COUNCIL MEMBERS
(By Mayor Joseph S. Larisa, Jr.)
1. School Garage
Mayor Larisa states that the School Committee has agreed to turn the School Department Maintenance building over to the City to be sold to developers. He says the money from the sale of the property will be given to the School Department to put towards the cost of another building.
2.Vote on Crescent Beach RFP
Mayor Larisa says the project will cost a great deal of money, and little or none of it will come from City tax dollars. He says the proposed RFP can take three options: 1) a $600,000 option, $900,000 option, and a $1.2 million option. He says the $600,000 option is the Federal Grant which Senator Lincoln Chaffee was instrumental in getting for the City. The $900,000 and $1.2 million options are out there in case other grants come in from private entities or the State DEM.
On motion of Mr. Midgley, seconded by Mr. Miranda, it is unanimously voted to authorize the issuance of an RFP to get engineers to give options of what can be built for the price.
3. Mayor's "State of the City Address" - Feb. 20, 2001
Mayor Larisa states that he will deliver the State of the City Address on February 20, 2001.
4. Agenda Items: Reasonable Notice & Descriptions and
5. Re-adoption of Council Rules of Procedure
Mayor Larisa speaks on the agenda items and states that they are supposed to have descriptions. He says the Council has the right to put whatever they want on the agenda, but the press and public should know in advance what the Council will talk about. He says the Council could run the risk of violating the Open Meetings Law without the specificity of what will be discussed.
He says that the Rules of Procedure of the City Council require that the Council not get into personalities. He says that tonight's docketed item under Council Business, "If the Truth Be Known - in Answer to Davey and Joey" is an example of getting into personalities. He says in the future he will use his authority as Mayor to make sure there will be no issue on personalities. He asks the Council to look over the Rules of Procedure, which were last adopted in April 1998 and to have them on the next docket for re-adoption. Mr. Grant asks that the matter be put over to the first meeting in March, as he will not be at the next meeting.
(By Councilman Rolland R. Grant)
If the Truth be Known - in Answer to Davey and Joey
Councilman Grant says both David Howard and Joseph Larisa made a grievous error, and one put it in print. He says there was no intention of himself or of Councilman Midgley to jeopardize the Mutual Aid to Barrington. He says on Mutual Aid the City does not collect from Barrington. He says we may get 5 to 10 percent and that is it. He also says he never said the Mayor should use his influence to get things done in East Providence.
Mayor Larisa replies. He says the City of East Providence gets $600,000 per year from emergency rescue services. He requests that the Fire Chief prepare for the next meeting the following information from Lighthouse Management: Of the $600,000 per year net, how much of that money comes from services provided to East Providence residents, and how much comes from Barrington and Pawtucket in mutual aid?
Unanimous Consent - Councilman Miranda
At the request of Councilman Miranda, the City Clerk states that the Charity Ball, set for the following Saturday, has been sold out, and anyone wishing to make a donation can contact her.
(By Councilman Patrick A. Rogers)
Turner Reservoir Protection
(Mr. Rogers congratulates Mayor Larisa on his new position as Chief of Staff to the Governor).
Mr. Rogers asks the Police Chief to renew the effort this spring regarding the motor bikes and all terrain vehicles around the Turner Reservoir area. He says a memo was recently from the Conservation Commission that there are ongoing problems surrounding the Turner Reservoir. He says that he has spoken to the Council person from Pawtucket about having that City's police department take care of their areas as well. Chief Dias states that there are so many entrances to the area and it is almost impossible to have police cover the entire area. He says there could be problems if the police are put on dirt bikes and have to chase the violators. He also says that many of the riders come from places such as South Attleboro and ride their bikes from their destination. He says the property on Dexter Road was easy to control, but this area is difficult. Mr. Rogers asks Chief Dias to come back to the Council with recommendations.
(By Councilman Patrick A. Rogers)
Board of Assessment Review
Frank Rego 21 Vermont Avenue 02916
On motion of Mr. Rogers, seconded by Mr. Grant, it is unanimously voted to approve.
The City Clerk will send a letter to Eugene Amaral thanking him for his 18 years of service.
(By Mayor Joseph S. Larisa, Jr.)
Canvassing Authority
Thomas C. Riley 3620 Pawtucket Avenue 02915
On motion of Mr. Grant, seconded by Mr. Rogers, it is unanimously voted to approve.
Housing Authority
Anthony Palumbo - 99 Goldsmith Avenue 02914
Edward Sutton - 3663 Pawtucket Avenue 02915
On motion of Mr. Grant, seconded by Mr. Rogers, it is unanimously voted to approve.
On motion of Mr. Rogers, seconded by Mr. Midgley, and on a roll call vote, it is unanimously voted to go into Closed Session for the purpose of discussing Collective Bargaining.
The meeting recesses at 9:00 p.m. and goes into Closed Session.
The City Council goes back into open session at 10:01 p.m.
The following motions are reported on the record:
Councilman Rogers makes a motion to amend the collective bargaining agreement consistent with Proposal #2. The motion is seconded by Councilman Grant and on a roll call vote, Councilman Grant votes Aye, Councilman Miranda votes Nay, Councilman Midgley votes Nay, Councilman Rogers votes Aye, and Mayor Larisa votes Nay. (The motion was defeated on a 3-2 vote).
A motion is made by Councilman Midgley and seconded by Councilman Miranda not to amend the collective bargaining agreement. On a roll call vote, Councilman Grant votes Nay, Councilman Miranda votes Aye, Councilman Midgley votes Aye, Councilman Rogers votes Aye, and Mayor Larisa votes Aye.
The meeting is adjourned at 10:03 p.m.
Attest:
Valerie A. Perry, CMC
City Clerk Approved: February 20, 2001