| | CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE RHODE ISLAND JOURNAL OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING JANUARY 9, 2002 (Rescheduled from January 2, 2002) | |
The City Council meets in the Council Chamber on Wednesday, January 9, 2002 and is called to order at 7:53 p.m. by Mayor Joseph S. Larisa, Jr.
Present: Mayor Joseph S. Larisa, Jr. )
Rolland R. Grant )
Peter F. Midgley ) Council Members
Norman J. Miranda )
Patrick A. Rogers )
Paul E. Lemont ) City Manager
William J. Conley, Jr. ) City Solicitor
Valerie A. Perry ) City Clerk
The Invocation is led by Mayor Larisa. The Salute to the Flag is led by Councilman Miranda.
CONSENT CALENDAR
1. Approval of Council Journals
Regular Meeting -December 18, 2001
2. Correction of Council Minutes of June 19, 2001 as follows:
Add to the Consent Calendar:
Cancellation/Abatement, Albert S. Ereio, Assessor
Year Amount
2001 $30,214.18
2000 9,534.06
1999 822.54
1998 1,185.18
Total $41,755.96
3. Cancellations/Abatements - City Assessor requesting cancellation of taxes as follows:
Year Amount
2001 $467.40
Cancellations/Abatements - Tax Board of Review requesting cancellation of taxes as follows:
Year Amount
2001 $1,386.30
CITY COUNCIL SITTING AS LICENSING COMMISSIONERS
LICENSES REQUIRING PUBLIC HEARING
Alcoholic Beverage Class B Full Privilege - Transfer from Class D
(Advertised East Providence Post - Dec. 13 & Dec. 20, 2001)
Holy Ghost Brotherhood of Charity - 59 Brightridge Avenue
The President of the Holy Ghost Brotherhood of Charity is present and sworn.
Mr. Conley explains that this is the same kind of transfer as other clubs have gone through in the past few months, due to State Liquor Control regulations.
There is no one from the public wishing to be heard.
On motion of Mr. Grant, seconded by Mr. Miranda, and on a roll call vote, it is unanimously voted to approve, subject to approvals from the Police Chief, Building Inspector, and Health Inspector.
LICENSING COMMISSIONERS RESUME SITTING AS CITY COUNCIL
PUBLIC HEARINGS
ORDINANCES - FINAL PASSAGE (Given first passage December 18, 2001)
Advertised - Providence Journal - December 21, 2001
1. 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. 18-269 entitled "Stop and yield intersections designated; when stops required." by adding thereto the following: CROSS ST. (eastbound and westbound traffic) at Summit Street.
(Requested by Director of Public Works) CHAPTER NO. 195
There is no one from the public wishing to be heard.
On motion of Mr. Miranda, seconded by Mr. Grant, and on a roll call vote, it is unanimously voted to approve for Final Passage.
2. 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. 18-269 entitled "Stop and yield intersections designated; when stops required." by adding thereto the following: BAYVIEW AVENUE (westbound traffic) at Progress Avenue.
(Requested by Director of Public Works) CHAPTER NO. 196
There is no one from the public wishing to be heard.
On motion of Mr. Grant, seconded by Mr. Miranda, and on a roll call vote, it is unanimously voted to approve for Final Passage.
NEW BUSINESS
CITY MANAGER
City Manager's Report - None
REPORTS OF OTHER CITY OFFICIALS
(By William J. Conley, Jr., City Solicitor)
Claims and Litigation Committee Report
Hamel, Navigius, Claim No. 01-96 Approved
Daniels, Terry, Claim No. 01-97 Approved
O'Donnell, Meredith, Claim No. 01-99 Denied
O'Hara, June, Claim No. 01-100 Approved
DeOliveira, Mario, Claim No. 01-90 Approved
Hadsell, Jr., Benjamin, Claim No. 01-57 Denied
City of East Providence & United Steelworkers of America Approved to appeal decision
Municipal Court Clerk Teller(s) Court Administrator of State Labor Relations Bd.
Decision and Order
On motion of Mr. Rogers, seconded by Mr. Midgley, and on a roll call vote, it is unanimously voted to accept as presented.
COUNCIL MEMBERS
(By Mayor Joseph S. Larisa, Jr.)
Council Appointees Job Performance Review (Deferred from December 18, 2001)
On motion of Mr. Rogers, seconded by Mr. Midgley, it is unanimously voted to make this item last on the docket and to change the order of business to hear Resolutions next.
RESOLUTIONS
Rose Larisa Memorial Park (Deferred from December 18, 2001)
(Requested by Councilmen Peter F. Midgley and Patrick A. Rogers)
WHEREAS, the Crescent Park Looff Carousel is a national historic treasurer and the most famous landmark in the City of East Providence, and
WHEREAS, from the time of the dissolution of Crescent Park in the 1970s to her untimely death on March 18, 1999, Rose Larisa dedicated countless hours and heroic efforts to the preservation of the Crescent Park Looff Carousel; and
WHEREAS, Rose Larisa was instrumental in saving the land and beach adjacent to the Crescent Park Looff Carousel (Said land shown on Exhibit A attached hereto and incorporated herein), which overlooks Narragansett Bay, from a planned condominium and housing development; and
WHEREAS, her efforts to acquire, preserve and develop the beach and park land for present and future generations of East Providence residents to enjoy have been continued under the leadership of her son, Mayor Joseph Larisa; and
WHEREAS, the City of East Providence now owns all 10.6 acres of park land including a 1,280 foot stretch of public beach acquired with the assistance from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Natural Heritage Preservation Loan Program and a grant from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Open Space Shoreline Bond along with the cooperation of Picerne Properties; and
WHEREAS, the United States Congress has recognized the importance of preservation of this property by directing that $600,000 of U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Economic Development grant money be provided to the City to develop the subject site for recreation and public enjoyment; and
WHEREAS, the State of Rhode Island has likewise recognized the importance of the project by ranking it as the top large scale open space development project in the State in 2001 and providing to the City from the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management Recreation and Open Space Development bond issue a grant of $300,000 to complete recreational development of the subject site; and;
WHEREAS, sufficient funds are now available to commence and complete passive development of the subject site into a beautiful public park and beach for present and future generations; and
WHEREAS, the City Council wishes to honor and memorialize the efforts of one of its finest citizens in making the dream of open space preservation of this spectacular site a reality;
NOW, THEREFORE, It is hereby decreed by the City Council of the City of East Providence that this land be named and known forevermore as:
ROSE LARISA MEMORIAL PARK
The Clerk reads the Resolution into the record. Councilman Rogers speaks on behalf of the Resolution. He speaks of Rose Larisa and the public service she gave to the City.
Mr. Midgley speaks of the accomplishments of Mayor Larisa in this endeavor, and credits him with obtaining the funds for the project.
Mayor Larisa states that the name Crescent Beach will remain, and the name of Crescent Park Carousel will remain the same. Rose Larisa Memorial Park will be named for the area now known as Bayside Park. He says it is expected that construction will begin in the Spring.
Mayor Larisa has the Clerk read a letter from Gail Durfee to the Mayor, endorsing the name change.
With no objection from the Council, the public is invited to make comments regarding this matter.
Robert Cusack, 150 Greenwood Avenue, East Providence, Rhode Island is present and sworn.
Mr. Cusack, a member of the East Providence Historic Properties Commission, speaks with respect to historic preservation. He states that he supports the Resolution.
Mr. Miranda suggests recognizing the other five members who were involved in preserving the land. Mayor Larisa states that a plaque or something similar will be erected at the completion of the project.
Mr. Grant speaks and states that this should have been a public hearing. He asks Mayor Larisa to put the issue off until a public hearing can be held.
Mr. Rogers states that this matter has been on the docket several times in the past, and there has been sufficient notice that the item was coming up for discussion. He says the Providence Journal wrote a front page story inviting people to speak for or against it.
Following further discussion, motion is made by Mr. Rogers to adopt the Resolution. Mr. Midgley seconds the motion and speaks on the motion. Roll call vote follows:
Mr. Grant Nay
Mr. Midgley Aye
Mr. Miranda Aye
Mr. Rogers Aye
Mayor Larisa Aye
Motion passes 4-1.
On motion of Mr. Grant, seconded by Mr. Miranda, it is unanimously voted to return to the regular order of business.
(By Councilman Patrick A. Rogers)
Discussion of School Resource Officer Program (including comments from Police Department and School Committee Members) and potential vote re: same
Mr. Rogers speaks on the subject. He says that he is now in favor of the program and asks the City Manager to have the Police Chief report back to the City Council on the following:
1. Cost
2. Grants Available
3. Who would be the proper officer(s) to support the program?
Mayor Larisa says the Council needs to know if the teachers are in support of the program. Also, the Council needs to know how many officers will be involved, and what is the proposal?
Mr. Miranda speaks in favor of the program. He says that he will vote for the program, no matter what the cost.
Mr. Grant says he, too, is in favor of the program, but would like to see the cost factors.
Mr. Midgley speaks against the program, saying it is big brotherhood at its worst.
Mayor Larisa says he would also like to know what other community has adopted the program and if anyone has objected it.
On motion of Mr. Rogers, seconded by Mr. Miranda, it is voted 4-1 to gather the aforementioned information. Mr. Midgley votes "Nay."
APPOINTMENTS
Unanimous consent is given to make the following appointments:
(By Councilman Norman J. Miranda)
Traffic Control
Kevin Braga 84 No. County Street 02914
On motion of Mr. Grant, seconded by Mr. Miranda, it is unanimously voted to approve.
(By Councilman Rolland R. Grant)
Carousel Commission
David O'Connell 229 Brightridge Avenue 02914
On motion of Mr. Miranda, seconded by Mr. Grant, it is unanimously voted to approve.
(By Councilman Patrick A. Rogers)
Planning Board
John J. O'Brien, III 178 Wilson Avenue 02916
On motion of Mr. Rogers, seconded by Mr. Miranda, it is unanimously voted to approve.
On motion of Mr. Miranda, seconded by Mr. Grant, and on a roll call vote, it is unanimously voted to go into Executive Session in accordance with Section 42-46-5 of the "Exceptions" of Chapter 46 of the General Laws, pursuant to Section 42-46-5-(a)1)[Job Performance]. The motion passes unanimously on a roll call vote.
The meeting recesses at 9:05 and goes into Executive Session.
The Open Meeting resumes at 9:50 p.m. with all Council members present.
Mr. Conley reports the following:
The City Council met in Executive Session at 9:05 p.m. on January 9, 2002 to review the job performance of its appointees. After discussion, a motion was made by Councilman Miranda, seconded by Councilman Rogers, and unanimously voted to make the following changes in salary retroactive to November 1, 2001:
Probate Judge increase to $6,500
Deputy Probate Judge increase to $700
Municipal Court Judge increase to $12,500
Municipal Court Clerk Tellers 4% increase
Municipal Court Administrator 4% increase
City Sergeant 4% increase
City Solicitor 4% increase
Assistant City Solicitors 4% increase
City Clerk 4% increase
Canvassing Clerk 4% increase
There being no further business, the meeting adjourns at 9:51 p.m.
Attest:
__________________________
Valerie A. Perry, CMC
City Clerk Approved: ___________________