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CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE
RHODE ISLAND
JOURNAL OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
November 5, 2014
Council Chambers, City Hall, 145 Taunton Avenue, East Providence, RI 02914
7:00 P.M. Executive Session, Room 101
7:30 P.M. Open Session
· Note Councilwoman Rossi is absent.
I. EXECUTIVE SESSION
The City Council of the City of East Providence will meet in Executive Session pursuant to RI General Laws § 42-46-5 (a) (2).
A. New Claims
1. Joseph D. Correia, IV
2. Alberto Delgado, Megan Link, Holly Link
3. Frederick Rybka
4. Susan Sokoloski
B. Sewer Charge Abatements
1. 317 North Broadway Realty, LLC
2. Elliot Lefaiver
3. AletheaSchenck
II. CALL TO ORDER
Mayor Briden calls the meeting to order at 7:35PM
III. SALUTE TO THE FLAG
IV. TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR
All items under “CONSENT CALENDAR” are considered to be of a routine and noncontroversial nature by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion on these items unless a Council member so requests, in which event, the item will be removed from the “CONSENT CALENDAR” and will be considered in its normal sequence on the docket.
A. Council Journals
1. Regular Council Meeting October 7, 2014
B. Alcoholic Beverage Class F
1. Maryann Marques, 81 North Carpenter Street (02914), Saint Francis Xavier Church, 160 Orchard Street (02914), Saint Francis Xavier Band Fundraiser, November 29, 2014.
C. Cancellation/Abatements
| Year | Amount |
| 2011 | $324.26 |
| 2012 | $167.32 |
| 2013 Homestead Appeals | $6,509.07 |
| 2014 | $40,941.32 |
|
|
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| Total | $47,941.97 |
A motion to approve the Consent Calendar is made by Councilman Cunha, seconded by Councilwoman Capobianco and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.
V. PUBLIC COMMENT
All persons wishing to make public comment shall sign a public comment sheet stating their name, address, and the subject of their comments. Said comments should pertain to topics listed on the public Council docket. Said public comment sheet shall be available on a desk at the entrance of the City Hall Chambers no later than forty-five (45) minutes before the call to order of any regularly scheduled council meeting and shall be delivered to the presiding officer no earlier than five (5) minutes before the call to order of the meeting.
A. Maryann Callahan – Gatherers License
B. Eloise Pickett – Gatherers License
VI. PROCLAMATIONS AND PRESENTATIONS
A. Video Highlighting East Providence High School – by Councilwoman Capobianco
VII. APPOINTMENTS
A. Beautification Commission (by Councilwoman Capobicano)
Melissa Beliveau, 44 Tab Avenue (02914)
A motion to approve the Appointment is made by Councilman Cunha, seconded by Assistant Mayor Rose and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.
VIII. LICENSES NOT REQUIRING PUBLIC HEARING
A. Annual Renewal of Miscellaneous Licenses Authorization Granting to Renew Subject Licenses, Excluding Alcoholic Beverage Licenses, for Year Commencing December 1, 2014 Upon Application by Licensee and Approval by Chief of Police And, as Required, by Health Inspector and Other City Officials.
Assistant Mayor Rose recuses on voting on the Towing Licenses.
A motion to approve the Annual Renewal of Miscellaneous Licenses excluding the Towing Licenses, DL Enterprises and Perfect Puppy which will remain in effect until their court cases are settled, Milho’s Waterfront Banquet Hall and Restaurant until both Fire and Building Inspections are satisfied is made Assistant Mayor Rose, seconded by Councilwoman Capobianco and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.
A motion to approve the Towing License Renewals is made by Councilman Cunha, seconded by Councilwoman Capobianco and on a roll call vote it is unanimous with Assistant Mayor Rose recusing.
B. Gatherer
1. Robert Tewksbury, 69 Hope Street (02916)
Both licenses were discussed. Robert Tewksbury was present. 5 Neighbors were present from the Hope Street address. Two spoke.
1. Maryann Callahan
2. Eloise Pickett
Photos of the property Mr. Tewksbury owns on Moody Street were passed out to the Council as well as photos of the current property on Hope Street. Mr. Tewksbury stated that he has no violations at either property from any City officials. The Building Inspector and Zoning Officer have both come to Hope Street and the property is neat and in order.
The neighbors had issue with temporary fencing he had put up to keep his dogs from running loose. Mr. Tewksbury stated that was only when he first moved in and that a new fence has since been installed.
The neighbors had issue with a pile of wood in his backyard that he has been storing to build a shed in the spring, they had issue with the fact that it has been there since last spring.
The neighbors stated that they were afraid the yard would start to look like the yard on Moody Street.
Mr. Tewksbury stated that the yard on Moody Street abuts another and that is not all his stuff. In addition, he states that he is moving and disposing of items and moving things and that is why it looks that way.
The Council expressed concern with the photos of the Moody Street property.
The Council stated that they didn’t want to affect Mr. Tewksbury’s livelihood and since he still owns the property on Moody Street and has a gatherer’s license for Moody Street he could continue to run his business out of that property but they were not inclined at this time to grant an additional license to Hope Street.
Assistant Mayor Rose stated the problem he has is in looking at the old picture and the current one they are very similar and over a year has passed.
Councilman Cunha stated that they don't want to stop his income but they want him to keep a clean property for the neighbors.
Councilwoman Capobianco stated that she was going to make a motion to reject the Hope Street license at this time. If Mr. Tewksbury cleans up the Moody Street home he can come back for the second license.
Mayor Briden stated that when looking at the Moody Street location and then seeing a photo taken over a year or more ago and the appearance is not acceptable and it’s in a residential neighborhood to approve an additional gatherers license would be a real concern.
A motion to deny the license is made by Councilwoman Capobianco, seconded by Assistant Mayor Rose and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.
C. Gatherer
1. Tammy Tewksbury, 69 Hope Street (02916)
A motion to deny the license is made by Councilwoman Capobianco, seconded by Assistant Mayor Rose and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.
IX. NEW BUSINESS
A. City Managers Report (by Acting City Manager, Paul Lemont)
1. East Providence One Year Later
The City Manager reported that it’s been almost a year and the changes have been an effort of all. He wanted to remind people of the changes which have taken place. The Fire Department now has a contract with a 3 year agreement with structural changes. The fire stations were in disarray and are now almost totally complete. The Police Department had been 2 years with no contract and they have just finalized things they have caught up on the 2 years and are adding a 3rd year on top of that with structural changes. The delinquent water and tax collections have brought in over $2 million. The bond rating went up 2 grades. The issues in the EPPD are resolved and the City has a new chief. The moral is gone up. The City is increasing the size of the police and fire and its going to be back to where the City was 10 years ago. The Council just passed the budget with a 0 percent tax increase, a $ 5,000 tangible tax reduction and an increase in surplus. The City has made a number of road and structure improvements. The Schools have been improved and accreditation has just been passed for the EPHS. There are new vehicles for EPPD and Public Works.
Assistant Mayor Rose stated for so many years there were issues and problems and there was a Budget Commission and the City has taken a huge turn in the right direction. Everyone worked hard to make it happen, the City Manager, Department Heads, City Council, Administration and Employees.
Mayor Briden thanked the City Manager for working very hard and added that he brought many years of experience with him.
B. Reports of Other City Officials
1. Claims Committee Report (by City Solicitor Timothy Chapman)
A motion to approve the Claims Committee Report is made by Councilwoman Capobianco, seconded by Councilman Cunha and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.
C. Council Members
1. Rhode Map RI (by Councilwoman Rossi)
Councilwoman Rossi was not present to discuss.
D. Report of School Committee Liaison
School Committee member Tony Ferreira stated that the roof at Whiteneckt Elementary School was almost done.
They have agreed to hold a monthly meeting for the Construction Bond Money they will be allocating over $2 million over the next 5 years. The plan on tracking the money very close and thanks to the City Council they will have the money and will do a better job tracking it. He added that he agrees with Councilwoman Capobianco regarding the EPHS video the goal is to see every school like that. They would like to work on putting some money away for the pool at EPHS even if it’s a 5-6 year plan.
X. ADJOURNMENT
A motion to adjourn at 8:47PM is made by Assistant Mayor Rose, seconded by Councilman Cunha and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.