CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE

RHODE ISLAND

JOURNAL OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

January 6, 2015

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

 

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) (1)(2).

 

A.    New Claims

1. Joseph Correira

2. Richard Dusva

3. Patrick Lowell

4. Diane Mayer

5. Fernando Melo

 

B.     Sewer Charge Abatements

1. Jason Capuano

2. Debra Cawley

3. Eleanor Foeri

4. Frederick Goff

5. Robert Kashow

6. Maria Lacerda

7. Joann MacDonald

8. Orlando Machado

9. Catherine Travers

 

C.    Job Performance Review

1. City Solicitor and Assistant City Solicitors

 

II.                CALL TO ORDER

 

Mayor Rose calls the meeting to order at7:36PM.

           

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.    Letters

1.      Notice of New Property Number, 222 Grosvenor Avenue, Map306, Block 20, Parcel 002.00, Zoning R4, Eileene Osborne

 

B.     Alcoholic Beverage Class F-1

1.      St. Francis Xavier Church, 160 Orchard Street, Portuguese Learning Center Annual Dinner, Saturday, January 17, 2015, Maryann Marques, 81 North Carpenter Street (02914)

2.      Our Lady of Loreto Church, 346 Waterman Avenue (02914), Brazilian Feast, January 24, 2015, Erika Alves, 44 Job Street, Providence (02908)

C. Council Journals

1.      Regular Council Meeting – December 10, 2014

2.      Regular Council Meeting – December 16, 2014

     

A motion to approve the Consent Calendar is made by Councilwoman Capobianco, seconded by Assistant Mayor Cunha and on a roll call vote it is unanimous. 

                                               

V.                PUBLIC COMMENT

A.    Jo Ann Durfee – 14 Omega Way

B.     Corliss Blanchard – Violations

 

VI.             APPOINTMENTS

 

A.    Beautification Commission (by Councilman Conley)

Melissa Faria, 44 Lunn Street (02915)

A motion to approve the Appointment is made by Councilman Conley, seconded by Councilman Britto and on a roll call vote it is unanimous. 

 

B.     Traffic Control (by Councilman Conley)

Sara McEntee, 965 Bullocks Point Avenue (02915)

A motion to approve the Appointment is made by Councilman Conley, seconded by Councilwoman Capobianco and on a roll call vote it is unanimous. 

 

VII.          LICENSES REQUIRING PUBIC HEARING

 

A.    B-Full Privilege Victualer – Transfer

Transfer from:  The Town Pub, Inc. to the 311 Holdings Corp. DBA The Town Pub, 311 Taunton Avenue (02914), Francis R. Harnedy, II, 26 Indian Road, Little Compton (02837)

A motion to approve the License Transfer is made by Councilwoman Capobianco, seconded by Assistant Mayor Cunha and on a roll call vote it is unanimous. 

 

B.     B-Full Privilege Victualer

Albertino Milho DBA Al’s Place, 28 Water Street (02914), Albertino Milho, 130 Brightridge Avenue (02914)

A motion to approve the License for the first floor only is made by Councilwoman Capobianco, seconded by Assistant Mayor Cunha and on a roll call vote it is unanimous. 

 

C.    Dance/Entertainment

Albertino Milho DBA Al’s Place, 28 Water Street (02914), Albertino Milho, 130 Brightridge Avenue (02914)

                                               

A motion to approve the License for the first floor only is made by Councilwoman Capobianco, seconded by Assistant Mayor Cunha and on a roll call vote it is unanimous. 

 

VIII.       LICENSES NOT REQUIRING PUBLIC HEARING

 

A.    Vict/Not Over 50 – Transfer

Transfer from:  The Town Pub, Inc. to the 311 Holdings Corp. DBA The Town Pub, 311 Taunton Avenue (02914), Francis R. Harnedy, II, 26 Indian Road, Little Compton (02837)

A motion to approve the License Transfer is made by Councilwoman Capobianco, seconded by Councilman Britto and on a roll call vote it is unanimous. 

 

B.     Pool Table – Transfer

Transfer from:  The Town Pub, Inc. to the 311 Holdings Corp. DBA The Town Pub, 311 Taunton Avenue (02914), Francis R. Harnedy, II, 26 Indian Road, Little Compton (02837)

A motion to approve the License Transfer is made by Councilman Britto, seconded by Councilwoman Capobianco and on a roll call vote it is unanimous. 

 

C.    Pool Table Sunday – Transfer

Transfer from:  The Town Pub, Inc. to the 311 Holdings Corp. DBA The Town Pub, 311 Taunton Avenue (02914), Francis R. Harnedy, II, 26 Indian Road, Little Compton (02837)

A motion to approve the License Transfer is made by Assistant Mayor Cunha, seconded by Councilwoman Capobianco and on a roll call vote it is unanimous. 

 

D.    Vict/Over 50

Albertino Milho DBA Al’s Place, 28 Water Street (02914), Albertino Milho, 130 Brightridge Avenue (02914)

A motion to approve the License for the first floor only is made by Councilwoman Capobianco, seconded by Councilman Cunha and on a roll call vote it is unanimous. 

 

E.     Holiday Sales

Wild Orchid, LLC, 2312 Pawtucket Avenue (02914), Dawn M. Widrig Chabot, 57 Albert Avenue, Cranston (02910)

 

A motion to approve the License is made by Assistant Mayor Cunha, seconded by Councilman Britto and on a roll call vote it is unanimous. 

 

F.     Holiday Sales

E C Barton & Co. DBA Grossman’s Bargain Outlet, 80 Newport Avenue (02916), Adam R. Phaneuf, 45 River Road, Lincoln (02865)

A motion to approve the License is made by Councilwoman Capobianco, seconded by Councilman Conley and on a roll call vote it is unanimous. 

 

G.    Holiday Sales

Rumford Food Mart, Inc., 1246 Pawtucket Avenue (02916), Antoine E. Houeiss, 9 Calvin Avenue, Somerset, MA (02726)

 

A motion to approve the License is made by Councilwoman Capobianco, seconded by Assistant Mayor Cunha and on a roll call vote it is unanimous. 

 

H.    Peddler/Hot Dogs

Andrew Cordeiro DBA Championship Melt, 121 Prescott Avenue (02915), Andrew Cordeiro, 121 Prescott Drive (02915)

 

A motion to approve the License is made by Councilwoman Capobianco, seconded by Assistant Mayor Cunha and on a roll call vote it is unanimous. 

 

IX.             PUBLIC HEARING – ORDINANCES FINAL PASSAGE

 

A.    An ordinance regarding a One Way Street on Blanche Avenue (eastbound) from Orlo Avenue to Irving Avenue during the hours of 8am-9am and 2pm-3pm on School Days.

A motion to dispense with the reading of the ordinance is made by Councilwoman Capobianco, seconded by Councilman Britto and it is unanimous. 

REVISED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, 1998, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED “VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC”

SECTION I.  Section 18-247 entitled “Designation of one-way streets” of Article VIII entitled “One-Way Streets” of Chapter 18 entitled “Vehicles and Traffic” is amended by adding thereto the following:

Blanche Avenue (eastbound) from Orlo Avenue to Irving Avenue during the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. on school days.

SECTION II.  This ordinance shall take effect upon second passage and all ordinances and parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.

Requested by:  Councilwoman Capobianco

A motion to approve the ordinance for final passage is made by Councilwoman Capobianco, seconded by Councilman Britto and on a roll call vote it is unanimous. 

 

X.                NEW BUSINESS

 

A.    City Managers Report (by Acting City Manager, Paul Lemont)

1.      RFP Revaluation of Taxable Real Property

Councilman Conley asks for more details regarding the RFP.

Tax Assessor Steve Hazard is called to the podium and states that Vision is the current software vendor and the City is picking up the software maintenance for 3 years which totals $30,000.  The second adjustment on the sheet was if using another firm they would need to use their software and they would need to acquire addition terminals and software seats totaling $20,000.  If Vision does this there are no additional costs.  Once this was calculated Vision was the low bidder.

Councilman Cunha asked if this was mandatory.  The City Manager stated it was but that the money has already been allocated and split over a 3 year period.

 

A motion to approve the RFP for the real estate appraisal of $482,000 is made by Assistant Mayor Cunha, seconded by Councilman Conley and on a roll call vote it is unanimous. 

 

A motion to approve the RFP for the tangible property appraisal of $68,158 is made by Councilwoman Capobianco, seconded by Assistant Mayor Cunha and on a roll call vote it is unanimous. 

 

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 Councilman Britto, seconded by Councilwoman Capobianco and on a roll call vote it is unanimous with Councilwoman Capobianco noting that her vote does not include the recusal she submitted during the Claims Committee Meeting. 

 

C.    Council Members

 

1.      RhodeMapRI (by Mayor Rose)

2.      Business Friendly (by Mayor Rose)

3.      Parking Ordinance and Guidelines for Businesses (by Mayor Rose)

Mayor Rose combined items 2 and 3 and asked the City Manager via Zoning to adjust the parking ordinance as it is archaic and the guidelines are very limited due to these being created years ago.  Other cities and towns are making this adjustment and also adjusting the use schedules as well to be more business friendly.

 

4.      Pond View (by Mayor Rose)

Mayor Rose stated that he also received calls and complaints on New Years and Christmas from residents in the area of loud noises.  This needs to be looked into.   A contact with DEM needs to be made and a resolution needs to happen it’s been ongoing for many years and other Council members received calls as well.

 

5.      United Water (by Mayor Rose)

The Mayor stated the City needs to get back to when this was first approved which was before all of their tenure. The contract was put together and he doesn’t think it was well thought out.  He would like to set up a meeting with United Water to discuss the cost to the constituents from the time this contract was created.  He would like to know where has the money gone and the schedule of all of this as he understands the City is tied in for 5 more years. He adds that it was a bad decision but the City needs to work forward.  The City Manager stated he would arrange this meeting.

 

6.      Question Regarding Water Bonds (by Assistant Mayor Cunha)

Assistant Mayor Cunha calls Director Moore to podium.

Councilman Cunha asks if the $19 million bonds were pooled and if the sewer bonds were pooled as well.

Director Moore states they were via Clean Water Action.

Assistant Mayor Cunha asks if this is common.

Director Moore replies it is.  They try to get the communities more involved and get a better rate. The City went to bond with them so the City pays them.

Assistant Mayor Cunha requested a copy of the loan agreement between the City and the agency for water and sewer and asked if there was any chance of mitigating the big spike prior to it happening.

Director Moore stated when this was all done in 2009 when they did the sewer bonds the City needed $50 million in upgrades. Instead of doing one $50 million bond they would phase it in approximately $10 million each year.  They put together an increase of 11 percent each year for a $3 million revenue anticipation note.

Assistant Mayor Cunha asked why the bond structured for 22 years instead of 25 or 30.

Director Moore stated that almost all the bonds are 20 years some are actually shorter.

Assistant Mayor Cunha asked if that is typical and Director Moore stated it was but the Council could receive a more detailed answer from the bond attorney.  

 

7.      Business Holiday Display Awards (by Councilwoman Capobianco)

8.      Consolidation of City Services (by Councilman Conley)

 

Councilman Conley stated his previous 2 years serving on the School Committee caused frustration with regards to facilities and information technology.   It was a mandate of the Budget Commission to save money by consolidation but he would argue these two areas have not saved money.  There are constant delays and poor customer service which have had an adverse affect on education quality.  At a minimum, the City needs a position in facilities solely dedicated to the School Department and one in technology dedicated to supporting the technical needs of schools and the School Department. He is asking the City Manager to look at resources and what options the City has because what it has now is dysfunctional and not best practices.

 

The City Manager stated he can't give the Council the date but in the last week or so he had 2 meetings with the Superintendent and Steve Coutu discussing the results of the Budget Commission’s combined facilities position.  The workload on the incumbent Buildings Facilities Manager is beyond what a human being can do.  At this point, he does not wish to go back to the consolidated position.  The City Manager added he has been afraid the man would have a heart attack when he returns.  Meetings will continue to take place with the Superintendent to discuss what the School Department needs.  The City Manager stated he also plans to have a meeting with the IT Director.  He has heard that in many cases the School Department is not getting enough service from IT.  They have just added one more person dedicated to the School Department.

 

Councilman Conley requested when they have these conversations that the City will not look at a part time manager from a firm as he is not in favor of this because it has not worked in the past. 

 

The City Manager stated there is no question that the School Department is going to need a lot of work on the school buildings and will need to have someone full time.

 

D.    Report of School Committee Liaison

School Committee Member Tony Ferreira is present and discusses Ed Catelli, the Facilities Manager and asks the City Manager if they move Ed back to the City only the School will still need to go to him for a while. 

The City Manager replied yes while there is transition.

School Committee Member Ferreira stated the School Department is looking for a full time manager from a company.  He also stated the Whitenect roof is about 97% completed and they have capped the chimney. There is a new path at the Riverside Middle School a local company did the work.  They are starting the new ADA compliant ramps outside of the side door which is being done by another local company and a wheelchair lift is being installed at Waddington School.  The panels at the Riverside Middle School Auditorium are going to be removed and replaced during February vacation week. They are hoping the shop drawings for the new door project for three schools will be done so that work can take place during February vacation as well.

 

E.     Introduction To Ordinances

1. An ordinance regarding a stop sign on Elder Avenue (northbound traffic) at Ivan Avenue.

A motion to dispense with the reading of the ordinance is made by Councilwoman Capobianco, seconded by Councilman Conley and on a roll call vote it is unanimous. 

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”

SECTION I.  Subsection (b) of Sec. 18-269 entitled “Stop and yield intersections designated; when stops required” is amended by adding thereto the following:

Elder Avenue (northbound traffic) at Ivan Avenue

SECTION II.  This ordinance shall take effect upon second passage and all ordinances and parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.

Requested By:  Mayor Rose

A motion to approve the ordinance for first passage is made by Councilwoman Capobianco, seconded by Councilman Britto and on a roll call vote it is unanimous. 

A motion is made by Councilwoman Capobianco, seconded by Councilman Britto to go back into Executive Session to discuss Item C, discussion regarding Solicitor Chapman and Assistant Solicitor Dias who were noticed and on a roll call vote it is unanimous. 

Unanimous Consent is given to return to open session. 

 

XI.             ADJOURNMENT

A motion to adjourn is made by Councilman Britto, seconded by Councilwoman Capobianco and on a roll call vote it is unanimous. 

 

Approved By Council:  February 25, 2015

Attest:  __________________

                  City Clerk