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CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE
RHODE ISLAND
JOURNAL OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
May 3, 2016
Council Chambers, City Hall, 145 Taunton Avenue, East Providence, RI 02914
7:30 P.M. Open Session
Mayor Rose calls the meeting to order at 7:35PM
A. Letters
1. Resolution Town of East Greenwich opposing S2263 and H8080 regarding elections and school closings.
B. Alcoholic Beverage – Class F
1. Philips Street Hall Feast, May 13, 14 & 15
2. Trinity Club Feast, May 20, 21 & 22
3. Sacred Heart Feast, June 3, 4 & 5 (no alcohol served)
4. St. Francis Feast, June 17, 18 & 19
5. Braga Club Feast, July 8, 9 & 10
6. Brightridge Club Feast, July 15, 16 & 17
7. Santa Maria Club Feast July 29, 30 & 31
8. East Providence Heritage Days, Inc. Pierce Field (02914), July 23 & 24
C. Carnival
1. East Providence Heritage Days, Inc. Pierce Field (02914), July 23 & 24
D. Council Journals
1. Regular Council Meeting April 5, 2016
2. Regular Council Meeting April 19, 2016
A motion to approve the Consent Calendar is made by Assistant Mayor Cunha, seconded by Councilman Britto and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.
A. Dan Gordon and Izilda Teves, Hennessey Playground Pasta Dinner Tickets
B. Dan Landry, Rescue Rumford
A. Traffic Control (by Mayor Rose)
Nadine Andrade, 43 Wannisett Avenue (02915)
A motion to approve the Appointment is made by Councilwoman Capobianco, seconded by Assistant Mayor Cunha and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.
B. Traffic Control (by Councilman Britto)
Al Maynard, 235 Don Avenue (02916)
A motion to approve the Appointment is made by Assistant Mayor Cunha, seconded by Councilwoman Capobianco and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.
A. Carnival *** May 21, 2016
The Gordon School, 45 Maxfield Avenue (02914), Karen E. Kemp, 93 Alfred Drown Road, Barrington (02806)
A motion to approve the License is made by Councilwoman Capobianco, seconded by Councilman Britto and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.
A. Second Hand Autos & Trucks
R. Sandoval, LLC DBA RS Auto Sales & Rental, 750 Taunton Avenue (02914), Rafael S. Sandoval, 26 Lillian Avenue, Apt. 2, Providence (02905)
A motion to approve the License is made by Assistant Mayor Cunha, seconded by Councilwoman Capobianco and on a roll call vote it is unanimous
A. CDBG Funding July 1,2016 – June 30, 2017
David Bachrach came to the podium and explained that he was here to represent the recommendations in a public hearing format and is looking for feedback from the community. This is for the CDBG funds which are an annual allocation to the City from the Federal government for housing, public services, infrastructure and economic development and these funds are required to relate to low and moderate neighborhoods and individuals in East Providence. Following the presentation, a 30 day comment period begins and those interested in commenting should contact his office and/or City officials to make comments, suggestions and recommendations over those 30 days. David added that he has to weigh those suggestions against the 5 year plan and towards realizing the goals already approved by the Council and City. The one year context of the 5 year general obligation and in order to the achieve goals through this funding source. He then summarized the changes. The Council diverted $20,000 from the rental improvement program and $10,000 of that is going to support the single family home owners and prioritize to owner occupant landlords on the rest of those funds. The other shift is $10,000 has gone now into various public service programs. He is asking the Council to endorse the recommendations to move forward to the 30 day comment period. For the audience, he has supplied copies of these changes and they are on the table in the back of the room, for those watching on streaming and local television, these changes will be posted on City's website as of tomorrow afternoon.
Councilwoman Capobianco asked if David could explain one more time the first time homebuyer program, education and training for East Providence in particular.
David stated the goal is to provide for those interested in pursuing their first home and confirming that these new homebuyers are stable. It really is a housing initiative.
Councilman Conley stated he has concerns that this organization is involved only in development and management in Pawtucket and Central Falls since 1990. They are not in East Providence. He notes he finds it inconceivable that an East Providence agency couldn't do this.
David stated the City would need to reinvent this in East Providence and why do that when there is a company with decades of experience and he asked for the Council’s confidence in him that he is leveraging the resources. They are seasoned experts and a professional resource.
Mayor Rose stated what is happening here is the fact that it's Pawtucket and Central Falls Development and it is not East Providence and not geared towards East Providence. He adds if he is a new homebuyer, he would go to this organization and think they are not affiliated in East Providence.
Several Council members note this course is already required by law and that RI Housing offers the courses right on line already.
David notes he would rather not make comments about the on line course or those who contact him with their logistical problems regarding it.
Mayor Rose asked about the Mohawks request.
David noted that he spoke to the head of the organization regarding the theater aspect and that if they were only provided $8,000 they would be able to provide real services.
Councilwoman Capobianco asked again if the head of the organization said they could run the theater program with $8,000 and David replied yes.
Councilman Conley asked what were the priorities David mentioned in housing statistically with the rental and first time home buying choices? The Public Service priority goes all the way to homeless folk and it's hard with the little bit the City receives supply this.
David noted that infrastructure has a caveat to it due to the decreases in funding it notes that unless it's a small, high impact project block grant funds aren't appropriate where bonding is.
Councilman Britto stated during last week's hearing representatives from Rumford Towers requested money to repair the existing shuttle and that number wasn't increased before last week's meeting.
David replies he did have a discussion with them and they indicated it would be enough to keep the bus operational. Additionally, they are looking at better usage of buses to share like the RIDE model. They coordinate one bus and can solve a lot of problems throughout the day. Councilman Britto added let’s keep the bus operational and look at other models via national resources.
Councilman Conley brought up the rental assistance and stated that potentially an owner could be cited by minimum housing and then receive these funds. It is more important to the Mohawks or the soup kitchen for the homeless. Why does David feel it is more important to give the money to the landlords who don't take care of their properties?
David stated its housing and urban development so in other words if looking at public service funds those are appropriate but CDBG is capped so that it is not solely meant for these.
Councilman Conley stated the tenants are paying rent and if not they would be evicted. If they are paying their rent then they deserve the expectation the landlord will fix repairs.
David stated the problem is where do you draw the line? What about the people who need public services, what about the homeowners, shouldn't they be just as responsible? The Federal Government is providing these tools for this stabilization.
Councilman Conley stated he would like it to go to a person who is out of work, who ran out of unemployment and can’t make a mortgage payment.
Assistant Mayor Cunha stated the Council can sit here and paint 1000 variations but what do they want to do?
Councilman Conley stated he cannot support the recommendations made.
Under Public Comment:
Tom Riley, 3620 Pawtucket Avenue (02915) stated that he is amazed at some of the things Mr. Conley has said. Rental business does not run smoothly. What do you do when tenants are out of work throw them out? What do you do when you don’t get rent for months? You can find yourself in a position where no money is coming in. He notes that he went to see David four times but there were no funds.
Councilwoman Capobianco stated that if, as stated, someone is a Section 8 landlord they are definitely getting their money.
Mr. Riley stated that when you are talking about a roof it's a large amount of money but if he understands the program the landlord has to pay it back.
David states it is a loan at 3%.
Councilman Conley states it is only designed for minimum housing standard codes.
David added that just to couch this conversation HUD has indicated to the City that rental housing stock in the City and single family houses are an issue for these funds. If you have a philosophical debate, then meet and talk about entitlement programs, they will question our validity and then the City will have to make an argument as to why we are not addressing the housing with these funds. If we don't allocate enough then I cannot meet the goals for the five years.
Councilman Conley asked how are they going to say they have concerns regarding low interest loans to not supporting housing initiatives?
David asks would the Council be agreeable to lowering the allocation to $70,000? Then he will need to communicate to HUD how he is going to meet the five year plan.
Assistant Mayor Cunha asked if they are agreeing on $55,000 ?
Councilman Conley stated then you have to address the other recommendations.
Mayor Rose asks if there is unanimous consent regarding $55,000 for rental.
There is unanimous consent for $55,000 for rental, $5,000 for Rumford Towers bus, $2000 more for Foster Grandparents, and $2000 more for Mohawks, then let the City public decide and come back to the Council in 30 days and if there are no changes it goes forward. If there is an overwhelming support from the community for rental then so be it.
Councilman Conley asked to give the recommendation for the 30 day period as this is not the appropriate way to handle this.
Under Public Comment:
Izilda Teves and Dan Gordon regarding the Hennessey School Playground, $58,000 is just structure, the total cost $75,000. The School Committee has given $25,000 and they have raised $27,000. They need $23,000 to finish.
Councilwoman Capobianco stated that $5,000 more is needed for the van for Rumford Towers and $2,000 more for the Foster Grandparents, $7,000 for the Mohawks, $7,000 for the playground, leaving a $4,000 balance taken from the rental funds which she is willing to put back to rental with the $10,000 shifted from first time home buyer program.
David stated he is a little surprised why out of 5 members he only heard from 2 and he is concerned about the 5 year plan through HUD and his responsibilities.
Councilwoman Capobianco stated the entire Council can't respond in an email like that due to open meetings violations.
Councilman Conley stated he sent his email and only included David for this reason.
Mayor Rose stated he would endorse David’s budget with the recommendations stated tonight and to go out for the 30 day period. He restates all the changes and then adds the rental total is now $69,000.
Under discussion Councilman Conley states he can’t support the recommendations as an organization he zero funded is still receiving funding. He adds he is a former member of the Board of the Boys and Girls Club and they are a good organization that does a lot for the children however they were allowed to come up and do a lot more than they said they would and other organizations didn't have that same opportunity and he felt that it should go to the soup kitchen. It was unfair and he doesn’t want his name on it. They were given an unfair advantage. They were supposed to sing 3 songs and they brought up 12 people and went from A-Z on their programs. Other organizations were not given that opportunity.
Councilman Britto stated he didn’t look at it as it affected his decision.
Councilman Conley stated absolutely but they were given a forum over other organizations.
Councilwoman Capobianco stated but they are allowed to speak as part of the public hearing.
Councilman Conley stated right but others didn’t bring their organization up to present. While you can say it is creative it is over aggressive and he didn't like it.
David noted it was after the fact of his recommendations and presentation and therefore he had already selected them. He added he has to ignore all those personalities and focus on what service value exists and what resources are available. If it is a viable service he ignores the director and all the board members and even if he has to the City Council based on his practitioners perspective. That is why the Council’s input is so important because it is different than his own.
Councilman Conley stated he is fine with the recommendation if that is what Council is voting on.
A motion to approve the CDBG Funding as read, not as presented, is made by Councilman Britto, seconded by Councilwoman Capobianco and on a roll call vote the motion passes 4-1 with Councilman Conley voting Nay.
A. City Manager’s Report (by City Manager, Richard Kirby)
1. Recognition of Catherine Damiani on receiving the American Library Association Award
The City Manager called Ms. Damiani to the podium and she explained she is the digital services librarian at Weaver and Riverside. She manages the technology and social medial sites as well as reference and also works in the Children’s Department.
2. 2016 Proposed Paving Program
Director Coutu is called to the podium. He explains this is the annual submission of streets by the Department of Public Works.
Councilman Britto asked if this information would be posted for the public.
Director Coutu stated after tonight’s approval it will be placed on the City’s website and once projects are completed the schedule will be updated.
Assistant Mayor Cunha asked how much it costs the City to have areas repaired where work has been done, for example to cut for pipe, does National Grid come back and pay for this?
Director Coutu explained the City tried to work with National Grid as part of the 5 year repaving plan so that work is done on streets already scheduled to be repaved. By doing this, following the work, the whole street can be completed.
Assistant Mayor Cunha asked when they need to come out for a gas leak and leave a patch repair can the City request that they instead pave curb to curb?
Director Coutu explained they do have patches down for now but the City tries to have a whole lane of travel patched, however they cannot get the curb to curb without more funding. While the City has reached out to the State regarding more funding the response has been that all funding is currently going to bridge repair not paving.
Councilwoman Capobianco asked if Dover is set to be paved.
Director Coutu stated the area near the Water Tank work will be completed in late summer and then they will pave.
Councilwoman Capobianco asked about paving Pawtucket Avenue.
Director Coutu explained while the road is awful, it is a State road and while the City has been trying to get it paved the problem of funding still exists. The City has been requesting full paving and sidewalks be done but right now the State is saying there is no funding for road paving and sidewalks. National Grid has been doing a lot of work on the road and there are many patches. National Grid has let the City know they will be back to restore the trenched areas.
3. Request for Qualifications Streetlight Management Services
Director Coutu is called to the podium. He states the National Grid program for communities is in effect throughout the State of Rhode Island to replace street lights with energy efficient LED lights.
Director Coutu notes Assistant Mayor Cunha has sat in on a couple of meetings and the City went out to RFQ but the City is constrained because despite trying to get the numbers from
National Grid it still hasn’t happened. To be more proactive, the City put the RFQ out and is seeking Council approval to get quotes from pre qualified firms.
A motion to approve is made by Assistant Mayor Cunha, seconded by Councilman Britto and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.
B. Council Members
1. Tax Sale (by Mayor Rose)
Mayor Rose deferred this item.
2. Bringing Kids to Work Day (by Assistant Mayor Cunha)
Mayor Cunha stated all the Council members have children and they come here every Tuesday and it would be nice for their kids who ask where they are going, to have them come and sit with us and participate on a couple of motions. He asked if anyone had any objections to doing this at the second meeting in May. Everyone agreed this would be a good date.
3. City Sidewalks and Trees (by Assistant Mayor Cunha)
Director Coutu is called to the podium. Assistant Mayor Cunha lets him know there are areas where the trees are ripping up the sidewalks and that stone walls are getting ruined. He asked if the City could come up with a program that when a tree root is causing problems there is no sense in patching it, remove the tree and replant another one.
Director Coutu states the City takes down a lot more trees than it puts up. Unfortunately, the City used to replace a lot more sidewalks under CDBG funds in the past however his request this year was zeroed out. It is an on-going issue but if the tree is causing damage to the property the City will take it down.
Assistant Mayor Cunha stated he took two calls this week regarding problem situations.
Director Coutu stated they do have trees which are more appropriate than the large ones planted 60-70 years ago and to have the residents contact him or the City Manager.
4. Fire Department Apparatus Usage (by Assistant Mayor Cunha)
Assistant Mayor Cunha asked about the use of ambulances going out to certain calls, such as box alarms.
Chief Elmasian stated they have added a response with rescues. This gives the proper number of people at the scene within the 8 minute time span.
Assistant Mayor Cunha asked if there were no other apparatus.
Chief Elmasian stated they are utilizing the rescue to do rescue work at the alarm, in case it is needed and also to get the proper number of people on the scene as required by the Standard. It was a proactive move. The Fire Department always had done it in the past but it was discontinued when he became Chief because they were using old rescues and it was discontinued to keep the longevity of the vehicles until the new vehicles were delivered and at that point they started the service again. They send three engines, two ladders, a chief and a rescue for a total of 16 members on the scene. So one alarm has a total of three apparatus and once on the scene they establish what the correct call is and whether or not one or two companies can handle it. The practice was to call for the companies when they needed them and buildings burnt down. Now if it is needed they are there in time. There are a number of tasks which have to be carried out in a certain amount of time and we were not meeting it otherwise.
Assistant Mayor Cunha stated that Boston and New York don’t operate this way they send a smaller number of vehicles.
Chief Elmasian stated that it is operated via the hospitals not the Fire Department. We meet and beat and do the best in the State, if we don't continue to we will compromise the treatment. He noted he understands Mr. Landry's concerns and they are at the point where they are going to need a 4th rescue, 12-14 years ago they arbitrated to take certain members for a 3rd rescue. They have all the numbers and are willing to put a power point presentation together to explain the delivery system and are pretty sure once they see the presentation, they will be convinced the way the Fire Department operates, with the people they have, is the best they can do.
C. Reports of Other City Officials
1. Claims Committee Report (by City Solicitor Timothy Chapman)
There were no Claims this meeting.
D. Report of School Committee Liaison
There was no report this meeting.
Councilwoman Capobianco asked for unanimous consent and wished all teachers a Happy Teacher Appreciation Day.
A motion to Adjourn at 9:37PM is made by Councilwoman Capobianco, seconded by Assistant Mayor Cunha and on a roll call vote it is unanimous.
Approved By Council: May 17, 2016
Attest: _______________
City Clerk