| | CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE RHODE ISLAND JOURNAL OF SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING OCTOBER 24, 2008 | |
The City Council meets in the Council Chambers on Friday, October 24, 2008 and Mayor Isadore S. Ramos reconvenes the meeting of October 21, 2008 at 5:11 P.M
Meredith Potter from Allied Court Reporting is present to record the proceedings of the public hearing.
| Present: | Mayor Isadore S. Ramos | | |
| | Robert E. Cusack | ) | Council Members |
| | Bruce DiTraglia | ) | |
| | Valerie A. Perry | ) | |
| | Bryan P. Silva | ) | |
| | Richard M. Brown | ) | City Manager |
| | William J. Conley, Jr. | ) | City Solicitor |
| | Virginia B. Nunes | ) | City Clerk |
Mayor Ramos asks if anyone has not spoken at the last meeting who wishes to speak please do so.
Louis Giraitis was sworn in by City Solicitor.
Mr. Giraitis states it was quoted in the East Providence Post that you the city have over 50,000 residents but according to the Census in 2007 it was just over 48,000 and we currently have more police and firefighters than we did during the 1970’s when we had approximately 50,000 people. How do you figure we have so many for the payroll and Mr. Brown states the number if in fact I used 50,000 was a rounding number the number supplied to us by the State is excess of 49,000 the number of fire fighters that we have is determined by contract, the number is a manning required for the stations we have. Mr. Giraitis states most of your calls are rescue and Mr. Brown states that is correct. We have fewer fires because of better prevention activities on the part of home owners and business owners, increased building codes, increase inspection activities come out of the fire service. Mr. Giraitis asks if the city was getting reimbursements by other cities and towns for responding to rescue calls out of the city. Mr. Brown states we have mutual aid with a number of communities, couple of years ago we determined that there was a slight imbalance in that area and that has been corrected.
Dennis Roy, 40 Walter Street, Barrington was sworn in by City Solicitor.
Dennis Roy, Chief Executive Officer of East Bay Community Action Program our main headquarters in Riverside, RI. I want to thank the city for many years of solid support for our organization. There are women services, health and dental and provides a wide variety of services to community residents. The city has provided us total $30,000 in the municipal budget for the last 20 years and also supplied support with the community block grant program. We have supplied health and dental for the year totaling $4,800,789.92.
Tom West, 49 Terrace Avenue (02915) was sworn in by City Solicitor.
Mr. West states you talked about the decrease of $2.1 needed in the budget of $144 million dollars to arrive at a zero dollar tax increase. That seems a small amount I feel every department can cut their budget 1.5% I have properties in Riverside which qualify for the commercial rate, about three years ago went up about 125% of normal residential rate, so all of the four families who live in my four buildings received a substantial increase in their rent. There are twenty families and now those families pay $120 a month more that’s about 17% of the rent goes for taxes. These people are being bleed they don’t have any more money to rent. What can I do, I can fail to raise the rent as costs go up I have to pass it along. I looked at the Police Department budget up 6%, Planning Department up 3%, Public Buildings up 6% and Parks Department up 7% we have a culture of adding on. We’re at a 46% increase in five years. I can’t believe you can’t cut budget 1.5%.
Arthur Langlois, Mauran Avenue (02914) was sworn in by City Solicitor.
Mr. Langlois states I’m confused with this Caruolo Act we always had a plan in place for passing a budget at a certain time, more than half of the budget is going to court. How can you pass this budget?
Mr. Conley states this budget that’s before the Council this evening will take effect November 1, 2008 the action filed by the school committee to appeal their appropriation is not even related to this budget. That appeal is related to last year’s budget. Our Charter provides that if the Council does not adopt a budget by twelve o’clock this evening the City Manager’s budget as presented goes into effect November 1, 1008.
Mr. Langlois states Councilman Cusack asked for financial summit and I think that was a good idea years ago department heads spoke on the department’s budget. Too many times we hear the Mayor referring to the City Manager to check into something, we didn’t elect him we elected you folks, we want you folks to do it. Mayor Ramos states it’s the City Manager’s job to develop the budget, it’s his job to run the City, it’s our job to set policy.
Mr. Langlois states I was brought up in the Great Depression and the Great Depression lasted for ten years. My family didn’t get bailed out until the start of WWII that was when my father was able to get a job. We just got into this mess that we’re in now this global deterioration of finances, the contracts are being written up 0% of raises for this year and they’re going to get pay raises for the next two years. Does that mean that this mess we’re in right now is going to be gone next year? I don’t think so the last one took ten years is this one going to be gone in six months, no. So to make up a budget where you’re going to give someone a pay raise and we could be conceivably worst next year and the year after than we are right now. The only way this is going to turn around is if people start getting back to work. It isn’t the lowering of gasoline, it isn’t the banks loaning out more money it’s the poor Joe getting back to work.
Mr. Langlois states I paid my house tax this year it was 25% of my gross Social Security check. It hurts, but what hurts even more than that is when you waste it. When there are people riding around in this City and I’m paying for their car and gas and so on, that kind of thing should stop. Use our money that we need very badly, but use it wisely and there won’t be any complaints. I don’t want to see any more of our students coming up to this microphone with books that are tattered and torn they don’t have the supplies to get a decent education, it’s being intercepted and going into the teachers pockets before the students get it. A good education costs money, we’re paying like hell for an education right now and it’s a lousy education. The kids don’t have the materials to get a decent education, it isn’t because the taxpayers of East Providence have never failed our students and they never will because that’s the kind of people who live here in this city, but unfortunately we are being hamstrung because the money we want to go to our kids can’t reach them it’s being intercepted first.
Mayor Ramos states that ends the public comments and asks Mr. McDonald what is deferred compensation and Mr. McDonald states there are two bargaining groups, professional and department heads it’s paid into a 457 plan the deferred compensation plan for their retirement.
Mayor Ramos states page 68 $10,209 and Mr. McDonald states 3 or 4 people. Mayor Ramos states that bothers me, Page 48 $8,898 all get it and Mr. McDonald states yes. Mayor Ramos states page 50 $174,250 and Mr. McDonald states 50 to 70 people. Mayor Ramos states physically fit page 56 $775.00 does everybody participate, then clothing, I can understand if someone is cutting trees or dog pound you have to get clothing but I don’t know why someone who sits in an office you have to buy them clothes.
Councilman DiTraglia states page 124 why are we paying school crossing guards coming out of our city side its $111,000 and Mr. Brown states I believe several years ago the schools were paying for that and then as part of the cost savings activity they determined that they were not paying for it at all and that left us with the option to continue to fund it or place those children at risk without have school crossing guards there, but you’re absolutely right that is an expense we are funding thru our departments on behalf of the schools the other one is the school resource officers and Chief Paquette states when that program started there was grant funding and then there was an agreement with the school department that they would pay half, when the budget was presented by the Superintendent he was informed to cut his budget and when he did so he cut the funding for that. Mr. Brown states so in essence that’s a transfer of a cost. Councilman DiTraglia states page 125 outside services $25,000 now $67,000 it’s a $42,000 increase. Mr. Brown states outside service was an intense object of discussion at the last year’s budget meetings so we look at those very carefully this year I know the Police Department depends a lot on computer technology for example fingerprint systems linking with State and Federal data bases and it requires support to maintain them. Councilman DiTraglia questioned the salary of the switchboard operator at the Police it was $30,000 now $39,000. Chief Paquette states the individual that we have now is a city employee who got hurt on the job and instead of him passing out leaf bags he was transferred to our department and he is entitled to his pay at what he was working at as a laborer. Mr. Brown states it’s viewed as a savings because we’re employing this individual in the position more productively, and during the next year you will be seeing more frequently in the city. We zeroed out part time and temporary salaries and we’re still maintaining the functions of some of those activities and the way we plan to do it is to accommodate those individuals who are on workers compensation or some sort of injured status and move them to that position on a temporary basis. We believe two things one is that if you’re receiving a paycheck you ought to be working and there should not be an incentive to stay home. Councilman DiTraglia states page 130 Fire Department overtime $197,205 increase, how can we predict overtime. Mr. Brown states the Fire Chief is not here, we do have a minimum staffing requirement, we know there’s going to be a certain amount of vacation that’s allowed and sick time. Mr. Brown states the NFPA 1710 it involves the amount of firefighters that are necessary to fight a 2000 square foot structure fire with no basement. In addition it specifies what your turn out time should be, the amount of time to answer calls and the total run time. There is a very strong division between the IAFF and those of us arguing on the other side of this issue. If those numbers that the IAFF pushing prevail it means the pressure to hire people to man fire equipment on a day to day basis at the same time suppression services are going down and start talking about run times inability to meet run times by arbitrarily shorting them. There could be pressure to build additional fire stations, building the fire station is one thing staffing those positions 24 hours a day, 7 days a week involves millions of dollars. Councilman Cusack asks NFPA what authority enforces their recommendations. Mr. Brown states their authority has force if you adopt their regulations, a number jurisdictions adopt a NFPA standards generally in building codes. The danger incurs even if it’s not adopted it is out there and known and that we should have known that we were at risk and had done something. Councilman Cusack states there’s an element of extortion when a group makes these recommendations for higher and higher staffing levels. Councilman Cusack doesn’t know who this group is but in Cranston a few years ago there was a big fight about the staffing levels on each truck, Mayor Lafferty won, the Cranston staffing levels were far greater than the average across the Country. Scammed, the threat with the lack of safety, homeland this and that we’re never going to be perfectly safe, now the NFPA is it dominated by former or current union members, is it considered to be pro union or does it have city management and employer people there, or does it report to be a totally independent fire expert entity. Mr. Brown states it reports to be fairly independent. Councilman Cusack states I don’t want to hear that NFPA standards are likely to get more stringent that doesn’t make me think that this budget for fire is good, moderate or in any way that we’re lucky, not after I heard early this week that the guys wouldn’t chip in and same they wanted to work a 52 hour week in a different scheduling because of a life style change when there’s been a life style change for every member of this entire community. People having to do with less, we can save $2 million bucks in this budget by having a schedule change and they won’t go along with it. Could we lay some people off, we can save $2 million bucks by laying off twenty guys, oh no because of minimum staffing. In the same breath you say it’s not fire suppression any way it’s really ambulance services. I respect the work they do, there tremendous guys this has to do with what we have to do as a community as a society can afford. They have a very powerful union group that advocates very effectively for them. $2 million bucks would mean a zero tax increase and they wouldn’t make any less, they would make the same salaries and benefits. Councilman Cusack states regarding the police I would like to see intensive management of the entity, very important public safety functions, and great people but are we really managing that as effectively as we can with $11 million bucks or could be getting the same degree of public safety for less. Mr. Brown states there are a couple of studies being done on public safety. Councilman Cusack states we have had a vote of no confidence by the Union and the Chief. I have received anonymous emails and phone calls with all kind of suggestions for savings and I passed on to you, but some of these are subsequent criticisms with respect to vehicle usage, gross abuses of vehicles of an individual employee of ours and they have not private but uses his city owned vehicle for 100% of his transportation needs. Mr. Brown states the information you forwarded to me I looked into the concern that you mentioned was not true, the numbers on the vehicles didn’t add up to it. Councilman DiTraglia states page 134 change in recreation director $46,926 and the acting director $70,400. Mr. Brown states that is not the case that number is what was revised by what was actually spent that position vacated during the year. We are not filling the director position we are allowing the assistant director to serve as the acting director that saves us a fair amount of money, she is being paid at the entry level but we’re not filling the assistant position. We dropped a position there and one at the senior center, which was the recreation worker and brought that person back to recreation and the senior center will do senior recreation and recreation department will do youth and adult recreation Councilman DiTraglia states outside services $50,000. Mr. Brown states that was lowered a portion goes to Heritage Days Festival and programs, fireworks and concerts.
Councilwoman Perry states the reports that the council gets of expenditures operating costs not salaries and the only budget that I saw that were increased from last year was the library $10,000 and the animal control $1000 and that money was in gas and oil. The Police was up considerably but the most were for uniforms and maintenance of the automobiles. Fire was up $825. Every other budget was at the bottom line some of the budgets cut considerably, IT was $39,821 less, Highway, Central Garage, and Public Works all the operating budgets have been cut so I don’t see where there any gains. Services will be leveled out or reduced. The City Clerks budget was cut advertising; I don’t see any fat in this budget as far as the operating costs. The increase we’re talking about $2.1 million seems like a big amount of money but Mr. McDonald said an average of $134 per taxpayer that equates to $11.50 a month and add on the sewer and water fee and we’re talking $17.80 a month more for the increase in the budget. Mr. Brown states Public Works Director said the sand and salt costs are doubling and we were successful in renegotiating REAP contract, we were able to save substantially compared to the standard offer and it’s probably about 20% below that, we have this contract for three years, that’s good news, the bad news is we have been operating for the last ten or more years under a contract that was so favorable that even with the reduction that we’re getting our electrical costs are up about 80%. Standard offer now is about nine and change and we’re paying five cents for kilowatt hour. Those are things we have to factor in. We received a bill from National Grid we thought we were doing well on electrical rates and they sent a demand payment for back charges and I found out they’re doing this in a number of jurisdictions and we are forced to argue with people who are sending us a bill when the account numbers and locations don’t make sense. The Governor froze Municipal Aid, well they froze it at the lower number after they reduced us mid-year and we fully expect as the Rhode Island economy worsens that we are going to be reduced further.
Mayor Ramos states in our City who does more work for the city and he has a staff of five people and that’s our legal counsel, Mr. Conley. His department for five people $434,748 that’s the City side and you have the School Department side who suppose to be negotiating contracts for $300,000 I have a problem with that.
Councilman Silva states I sat with Mr. McDonald, Mr. Brown, Mayor Ramos and Councilman DiTraglia separately for one or two hours but none of us could come up with some really hard number that to cut some money from this budget. Do we cut trash to every other week, winter won’t be bad but summer will be horrible. Without cutting your services there’s not a lot of fat in this budget, do we cut recreation then the kids will end up on the streets, tagging buildings, breaking windows and where are they going to end up in the Training School and who’s going to pay for it, us. You start laying off your employees, the President just extended all the benefits for the unemployment rate. You’re still going to pay for that unemployment rate, so you’re going to pay for a person to sit home. Do I feel the economic times, I absolutely do I’m living it right now, my mortgage just when up $50.00 for last year’s tax increase, my business went I know what it feels like. We say what do we do without to live, what do I cut without effecting the quality of life I use to enjoy. Mr. Brown states since we started this budget the State has taken additional action closing the transfer station to our vehicles at the landfill which means we have to spend time and wear and tear on our vehicles going to the top of the mountain to dispose of our rubbish. In most cases our vehicles were not designed for that, when we negotiated our agreements with the recourse recovery agency we were told that the transfer station would be available at the lower level that’s an increase in operating costs for us. The other thing that the legislation is entertaining is a bottle bill, so when you go into the store and get water, soda, beer and whatever you’re going to pay a deposit on. We’re going to be required to participate in that. Those deposit recyclables represent a significant amount of our recycling money, not only lose our recycling bonus but we pay penalties for violating it. Councilman Cusack states all the more reason we should spend less. Over 80% of the budget is personnel the way you cut is not today it’s when you act to vote on the contracts. What is the Blue Cross and Delta Dental number across the City total, what would 20% of that number be, what is the current co-share paid by our employees so I can calculate the difference.
Mr. McDonald asks for a three minute recess to get the numbers Councilman Cusack is asking.
Mr. McDonald states the number is a combination of Blue Cross and Delta Insurance $5.6 million dollars the co-pay the employees are contributing is approximately $300,000 that’s about 6 -7%. Councilman Cusack states so if we had 20% a little over a million dollars to defray our cost as a city, we would have $700,000 more. I don’t appreciate the illusion we’re going to be at the 20% by 2012. That’s just the new hires and single plans. I want clarity I appreciate honesty not spin.
Councilman Silva states we have a potential $75,000 savings if we amend this budget to eliminate for the next City Council to have Blue Cross although it’s $15,000 it is because there is only one person that takes it now, but if the Council changes next time there is a potential $75,000 bill right there, eliminating it for the Council which gets it free right now. Particular Council people happen to pick on the employees all the time let’s start with us first. Councilman Cusack asks how it is free we pay a co-share 10% I’d be pleased to raise it to 20% and I intend in the next Council to have that be the rate, I’m sure that it will be.
Councilman DiTraglia asks page 147 temporary salaries $17,280 and Mr. Coutu states are generally for some of the laborers to help maintain programs when long term employees do vacations some like that. Councilman DiTraglia asks about acting wages $3,800 and Mr. Coutu is a contractual item when a certain employee does another job.
Mayor Ramos asks page 16 Police Department 127 and Fire having 120 why is the overtime greater in the Fire Department and Mr. Brown states because of the requirements of minimum manning. Mayor Ramos asks how you would handle minimum manning if you talk about changing the shift. Mr. Brown states if we did the shift change we would still have the same minimum manning the difference would be that we would change from a 10 or 14 hour day to a 24 hour day and 48 hours off or some derivate of that. It allows you to operate with 3 platoons of the minimum manning rather than 4 platoons of that minimum manning; the contract now requires a 42 hour week in the situation that I outlined is generally on average a 56 hour week. One of the reasons they don’t like that schedule and they would sight public safety and safety of firefighters. The way their schedule works they work 42 hours and then if they work 56 or 60 the numbers pass those 42 are overtime. Under the revised schedule 24 on and 48 off, 56 or whatever as your schedule for fair labor standards act and for contract purposes you are paid straight time for your 0 to 56 so in fact in base salary it’s an increase but the way they’ve been traditionally compensated it’s a reduction. The northeast traditionally uses the schedule that we are on, the schedule that I’m talking about has been used in a lot of southern and mid-western communities, I managed a community that did that and I don’t believe fire services were compromised at all in fact those fire fighters wouldn’t want to change to anything different. Mayor Ramos states there’s a lot of overtime.
Councilman DiTraglia states page 99 $31,887 increase. Mr. McDonald states page 100 total budget is $639,000 and change last year $632,000 so it’s up $7,000. Councilman DiTraglia states he has $31 and Mr. McDonald states compared to the $606 which is actually two years ago. Councilman DiTraglia states page 95 let see it I did the same thing $47,357 and Mr. McDonald said yes you did. Mr. McDonald states most of these the two lines that are causing all of the increase are the pension contribution and the Blue Cross. Mr. Brown states GHGRI is investigating removing prescription from the Blue Cross agreement itself and having another vendor handle it.
Councilman DiTraglia asks how many employees in the city and Mr. McDonald states page 17, 489 authorized employees. Councilman DiTraglia if everyone took a 3% pay decrease what would it come to and Mr. McDonald said $600,000 ball park. Mr. Brown states there is a wage reopener I suggested a reduction partly as a reaction to a ridiculous demand for additional compensation and we will be in arbitration on that. The venue in which we judicator these cases is not favorable to us, they believe the worse is 0 raise but we could ask for 3% pay cut.
Mayor Ramos asks is there any place you feel you could cut.
Councilman DiTraglia we are not going to be able to afford this, it’s going to be a depression. The depression lasted ten years, maybe it won’t last ten years but it’s going to last four or five years. Even myself, I took a $50.00 cut every two weeks I’m fortunate to have a job. I don’t think it’s a good time to raise taxes now. People are losing their houses. It’s $17.80 a month some people that a lot of money it could be a prescription. We already shave $2 million off the budget and we’re asking for another $2 million to make the city run. How will this affect the bond rating? Mr. Donald states the paper today is calling them War Bonds I don’t think it will have any immediate effect; we have some due in six months we would have to see what happens. We’ve been conservative like car tax to go down less people buying new cars so the revenue for cars will be down.
Councilman Cusack states the General Treasurer expects on Monday to pay 3% for $350 million TANS that he’s going to sell so we have understated the cost of borrowing $25 million. Have we overstated the interest that we earned on money in our till? Mr. McDonald states we have been very conservative we reduced our interest revenue based upon the fact that short term money is bringing in almost nothing at this time.
Mayor Ramos states he hopes the City Manager looks at deferred payments $174,250 and I don’t think the taxpayers should take care of physical fitness. I understand that a physically fit person makes a better employee, but we can’t spend that kind of money but I know its contractual thing. This clothing arrangement I think if you’re in the same union of a guy out there needs their uniforms I don’t think a secretary should get it because their in the Steelworkers Union. Benefit tuitions page 125 $3,000 sometimes we have to stop. Mr. Brown states that’s mandatory training.
Councilman DiTraglia states we should have a job freeze but the manager took a hold on it.
1. The following is an ordinance appropriating $144,210,102 for the support of the City Government for the Fiscal year ending October 31, 2009. (Advertised Providence Journal–September 17, 2008)
AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING $144,210,102 FOR
THE SUPPORT OF THE CITY GOVERNMENT FOR THE
FISCAL YEAR ENDING OCTOBER 31, 2009
Mayor Ramos asks for a motion to accept the $144,210,102 budget.
On motion of Councilwoman Perry,
Mayor Ramos asks for a second hearing none Mayor Ramos leaves the Mayor chair and Assistant Mayor DiTraglia takes his seat.
On motion of Councilwoman Perry, seconded by Dr. Isadore S. Ramos and a roll call vote is taken on the motion to approve.
| Councilman Cusack | Nay |
| Councilman DiTraglia | Nay |
| Councilwoman Perry | Aye |
| Councilman Silva | Aye |
| Mayor Ramos | Aye |
The motion passes on a 3-2 vote.
NEW BUSINESS
INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES (If given First Passage, can be referred to the next regular Council Meeting to be held on November 5, 2008 for a public hearing and consideration of final passage).
1. The following is 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 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.
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION I. That the City Council of the City of East Providence hereby orders the assessment and collection of a tax on ratable real estate, tangible personal property and an excise tax on registered motor vehicles and trailers in a sum not more than Eighty-five Million Four Hundred Twenty-five Thousand ($85,425,000) Dollars nor less than Eighty-four Million Three Hundred Twenty-five Thousand ($84,325,000) Dollars. Said tax is for ordinary expenses, for the payment of interest and indebtedness, in whole or in part, of said city, and for other purposes authorized by law.
The Tax Assessor shall assess and apportion said tax on the inhabitants and ratable property of said city as of the 31st day of December, 2008 at twelve o'clock Eastern Standard Time, according to law, and shall on completion of said assessment, date and sign same and shall make out and certify to the City Treasurer of the City of East Providence, who is charged with the duties for the collection of taxes, on or before the 15th day of June, 2009 complete list of the names of the persons taxed and of the total value of all the real estate assessed against each person, and also the amount of registered motor vehicles and trailers assessed against each person, and also the total amount assessed against each person on said real estate, personal estate and registered motor vehicles and trailers, opposite the name of the person or persons assessed. Upon receipt of the certified tax list by the City Treasurer, he shall proceed and collect said tax on the persons and estates liable thereof; said tax shall be due and payable on and between the 1st day of June 2009 and the 1st day of July, 2009 and provided further that if said tangible personal property and real estate taxes are paid in full on or before the 1st day of July, 2009, a discount of three per centum (3%) of the total taxes on said tangible personal property and real estate shall be granted, and all taxes remaining unpaid on the 1st day of July, 2009 shall carry until collected a penalty at the rate of twelve per centum (12%) per annum from the 1st day of June, 2009 upon said unpaid tax, however, said taxes may be paid in four installments; the first installment of twenty-five per centum (25%) on or before the 1st day of July, 2009, the second installment of twenty-five per centum (25%) on or before the 1st day of September, 2009, the third installment of twenty-five per centum (25%) on or before the 1st day of December, 2009 and the fourth installment of twenty-five per centum (25%) on or before the 1st day of March, 2010.
Each installment of taxes if paid on or before the last day of each installment period successively in order shall be free from any charge of interest.
If the first installment or any succeeding installment of taxes is not paid by the last date of the respective unpaid balance period or periods as they occur, then the whole tax or remaining unpaid balance of the taxes as the case may be shall immediately become due and payable and carry until collected a penalty at the rate of twelve per centum, (12%) per annum.
The City Treasurer shall, by advertisement in the public newspaper having circulation in the City of East Providence, notify all persons assessed to pay their respective taxes at his office on and between the said 1st day of June, and the 1st day of July, 2009 both days inclusive; said City Treasurer setting forth the hours during which his office shall remain open to receive said taxes.
SECTION II. That any of said taxes not paid on or before the 1st day of March, 2010 shall forthwith be collected by levy upon the sale of real estate upon which it is assessed and by that or other due process of law in case of assessment upon personal property.
SECTION III. This ordinance shall take effect upon its second passage and all ordinances and parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.
On motion of Councilwoman Perry, seconded by Councilman Silva, it is unanimously voted to dispense with the reading of the ordinance.
On motion of Councilman DiTraglia seconded by Councilwoman Perry and on a roll-call vote is taken on the motion to approve.
| Councilman Cusack | Nay |
| Councilman DiTraglia | Aye |
| Councilwoman Perry | Aye |
| Councilman Silva | Aye |
| Mayor Ramos | Aye |
The motion is passes on a 4-1 vote.
2. The following is an ordinance authorizing the Director of Finance to borrow funds in anticipation of taxes.
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO BORROW FUNDS IN ANTICIPATION OF TAXES.
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION I. The Director of Finance is authorized to borrow during the fiscal year ending October 31, 2009 such sums of money in anticipation of the property taxes of the year as may be permitted by law for the purpose of meeting the current liabilities and expenses of the City and that the Director of Finance is authorized to issue the note or notes of the City therefore and to refund such note or notes and any tax anticipation notes of a prior year to the extent permitted by law.
SECTION II. This ordinance shall take effect upon its second passage and all ordinances and parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed. (Requested by: Director of Finance)
On motion of Councilwoman Perry, seconded by Councilman Cusack, it is unanimously voted to dispense with the reading of the ordinance.
On motion of Councilwoman Perry, seconded by Councilman DiTraglia, and on a roll call vote, it is unanimously voted to approve.
3. The following is an ordinance authorizing the Director of Finance to borrow funds in anticipation of revenue.
AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO BORROW FUNDS IN ANTICIPATION OF REVENUE.
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION I. The Director of Finance is authorized to borrow during the fiscal year ending October 31, 2009 such sums of money in anticipation of the sewer use fee revenue of the year as may be permitted by law for the purpose of meeting the current liabilities and expenses of the City and that the Director of Finance is authorized to issue the note or notes of the City therefore and to refund such note or notes and any revenue anticipation notes of a prior year to the extent permitted by law.
SECTION II. This ordinance shall take effect upon its second passage and all ordinances and parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed. (Requested by: Director of Finance)
On motion of Councilwoman Perry, seconded by Councilman Cusack, it is unanimously voted to dispense with the reading of the ordinance.
On motion of Councilwoman Perry, seconded by Councilman DiTraglia, and on a roll call vote, it is unanimously voted to approve.
4. The following is an ordinance amendment regarding Water Consumption Portion Sewer Charge.
AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 17 OF THE REVISED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, 1998, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED “UTILITIES.”
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION I. Subsection (c) of Sec. 17-183 entitled “Charges to be based upon water consumption; rate” of Chapter 17 of the ordinances of the City of East Providence, Rhode Island, 1998, as amended, entitled “Utilities” is amended to read as follows:
(c) The water consumption portion of the sewer charge shall be at a rate of $4.00 4.40 per hundred cubic feet of water used based upon the actual quarterly or monthly meter reading of water consumption less an annual exemption of 3,500 cubic feet. Such exemption shall be prorated quarterly or monthly for users of city water who are billed on a quarterly or monthly basis.
SECTION II. This ordinance shall take effect November 1, 2008 and all ordinances and parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed. (Requested by: Director of Finance)
On motion of Councilwoman Perry, seconded by Councilman Cusack, it is unanimously voted to dispense with the reading of the ordinance.
Councilman Cusack asks why a 10% increase is needed and Mr. McDonald states one is that we incurred a significant increase by Providence Water Board last year the rest of it is for infrastructure programs.
On motion of Councilman DiTraglia, seconded by Councilwoman Perry, and on a roll call vote, it is unanimously voted to approve.
5. The following is an ordinance amendment regarding Water Rates.
AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 17 OF THE REVISED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, 1998, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED “UTILITIES.”
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION I. Subsection (a) of Sec. 17-36 entitled “Water Rates.” of Article II entitled “Water” of Chapter 17 of the Revised Ordinances of the City of East Providence, Rhode Island, 1998, as amended, entitled “Utilities,” is amended to read as follows:
(a) The water rates for water furnished by the city to the consumer and measured by meter shall be billed at $2.45 2.85 per 100 cubic feet for all consumers.
SECTION II. This ordinance shall take effect upon its second passage and all ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed. (Requested by: Director of Finance)
On motion of Councilwoman Perry, seconded by Councilman Silva, it is unanimously voted to dispense with the reading of the ordinance.
Councilman Cusack asks what percentage increase is this one and Mr. Brown said we discussed early the water rate increase. That was largely because we have to budget the cost of DBO activity.
On motion of Councilwoman Perry, seconded by Councilman Silva, and on a roll call vote, it is unanimously voted to approve.
ADJOURNMENT
Mayor Ramos adjourns the meeting at 7:50 P.M. on a motion of Councilman DiTraglia, seconded by Councilman Silva.
Attest:
_________________________________
Virginia B. Nunes
City Clerk
Approved: November 18, 2008