CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE

DOCKET–REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2019

CALL TO ORDER: 6:30 P.M.

Council May Call Executive Session in Room 101

 OPEN SESSION: 7:00 P.M

145 TAUNTON AVENUE – CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND

 

City Council:

Council President, Robert Britto – Ward 1

Council Vice-President: Bob Rodericks – At Large

Councilwoman Anna Sousa – Ward 2

Councilman Nate Cahoon – Ward 3

Councilman Ricardo Mourato – Ward 4

 

I.          CALL TO ORDER

Council President Britto called the meeting to order.

 

II.         INVOCATION OF EXECUTIVE SESSION – FOR VOTE

The City Council of East Providence may meet in Executive Session pursuant to Rhode Island General Laws §42-46-5 (a) (2)

 

a)      Litigation

 

1.      Joshua J. Moniz-John v. COEP (RICHR NO 17 ERA 080) – Status Update

2.      Darrell J. Robins v. COEP (RICHR NO. 18ERA 133) – Status Update

 

b)      Claims  – FOR VOTE

1.)    Albert E. Musard

2.)    Gayle Ribeiro

 

c)      Sewer Abatements – FOR VOTE

3.)    Patricia Clark-Chanthavong

4.)    Double R. Five, LLC (Charles Dunn)

5.)    Leonel E. Medeiros

6.)    Dorothy Nsiah

7.)    Rosemary S. Rotelli

8.)    Arthur and Diane R. Vincent

 

III.        OPEN SESSION

IV.        PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - Led by School Committee member, Tony Ferriera.

V.         APPROVAL OF CONSENT CALENDAR – FOR VOTE

1.)    Council Journals – Regular Session, August 20, 2019, Special Session September 12, 2019.

Motion to approve by: Council Vice President Rodericks

Motion seconded by: Councilman Cahoon

Motion passes unanimously.

 

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 members so requests, in which event the item will be removed from said Consent Calendar and will be considered in its normal sequence in the docket.

 

VI.        LICENSES NOT REQUIRING PUBLIC HEARING – FOR VOTE

 

a)      Application for Special Event – Alcoholic Beverage

Silvestre Cardoso

Date of Event: 09/15/2019

(READ IN)

Motion to approve by: Council Vice President Rodericks

Motion seconded by: Councilman Cahoon

Motion passes unanimously.

 

b)     Application for Victualing License

Jeffrey Stafford

Jeff’s Wood Fired Pizza

127 Waterman Avenue, 02914

Applicant was present for any questions from the Council.

Motion to approve by: Council Vice President Rodericks

Motion seconded by: Councilwoman Sousa

Motion passes unanimously.

 

c)      Application for License to Solicit

William Francis

Financial Services/Investment Options

Applicant was present for any questions from the Council. He is with the company, Edward Jones.

Motion to approve by: Council Vice President Rodericks

Motion seconded by: Councilman Cahoon

Motion passes unanimously.

 

PUBLIC COMMENT

All persons wishing to make public comment shall sign a public comment sheet stating their name, address and the subject of their docket related item to speak on. This 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 by the City Clerk to the presiding officer no earlier than five (5) minutes before the call to order of the meeting. Each speaker will be limited to three (3) minutes. The order of the speakers will be on a first come, first serve basis and the maximum time for public comment shall be limited to thirty (30) minutes per meeting.

1. Connie Medieros spoke on house/wall.

2. Superintendent Crowley spoke on a concern regarding the budget the Mayor is going to present.

 

VII.       COUNCIL MEMBER COMMUNICATIONS

 

1.      Harborview Housing Update –Council Vice President Rodericks

Council Vice President Rodericks addressed the Council regarding the power outage due to a wiring problem under the ground. The update Council Vice President Rodericks shared was a positive conclusion.

2.      Community Meeting – Ward 2 (Rockaway to State Street) – Councilwoman Sousa

Councilwoman made the announcement of the community meeting scheduled at Lucky's Restaurant on Saturday at 4:00 p.m. regarding ideas and concerns surrounding this area regarding flooding.

 

VIII.      ORDINANCES

 

1.      PUBLIC HEARING, SECOND PASSAGE  – FOR VOTE

 

a)      AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO FINANCE THE ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING OF A NEW HIGH SCHOOL AND ALL EXPENSES INCIDENT THERETO, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, COSTS OF DESIGN, DEMOLITION, ATHLETIC FIELDS, LANDSCAPING AND PARKING BY THE ISSUANCE OF NOT MORE THAN $189,500,000 BONDS, NOTES AND/OR OTHER EVIDENCES OF INDEBTEDNESS THEREFOR, SUBJECT TO APPROVAL OF STATE HOUSING AID AT A REIMBURSEMENT RATE OR STATE SHARE RATIO OF NOT LESS THAN 50% FOR EXPENDITURES ELIGIBLE FOR STATE AID AND PROVIDED THAT THE AUTHORIZATION SHALL BE REDUCED BY ANY GRANT RECEIVED FROM THE SCHOOL BUILDING AUTHORITY CAPITAL FUND

Sponsored by: Councilman Cahoon

Introduced by: Councilman Cahoon

Public Hearing offered.

Superintendent Crowley announced that earlier this afternoon that the school department would be cut by $950,000. Superintendent Crowley shared her concerns over the operational deficit and the need to have a fair and equitable budget. Superintendent Crowley stated the needs of the school department in regards to the school buildings and request the Council for assistance with restoration of this money.

Motion to approve by: Councilman Cahoon

Motion seconded by: Councilwoman Sousa

Motion passes unanimously.

 

b)     AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 11 OF THE REVISED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, 1998, AS AMENDED ENTITLED "PERSONNEL”

Sponsored by: Council Vice President Rodericks

Introduced by: Council Vice President Rodericks

Public Hearing offered.

Human Resources Director, Victor Santos, exercised his right to

Speak in favor of "doing away" with the certifications of the Personnel Hearing Board.

No other members from the public came forward to speak on this ordinance.

Council Vice President Rodericks made the motion to table this ordinance and more information be forwarded to the City Solicitor.

Councilman Mourato seconds the motion.

Motion to table passes unanimously.

           

X.         NEW BUSINESS

 

a.      REPORTS OF OTHER CITY OFFICIALS

 

1.      Mayoral Communications

Mayor’s Budget Address for the 2019-2020 City of East Providence Budget, presented by Mayor Roberto L. DaSilva

Mayor DaSilva addressed the Council the budget through hard paper copy and also through OpenGov budget application. Finance Director, Malcolm Moore, also was present to answer any questions from the Council.

 

2.      Economic Development Update- Jim Moran, Planning Department

Presentation made by Jim Moran, of the Planning Department.

Council President Britto stated that he is sponsoring the Watchemoket Gateway Project Resolution on the docket and requested to vote on that item while this item is discussed.

 

3.      City Solicitor, Michael J. Marcello - Claims Committee Report

City Solicitor Marcello reviewed the Claims Committee Report.

 

IX.        RESOLUTIONS – FOR VOTE

 

a)      RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ALLOCATE THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT ACCOUNT FOR THE PURCHASE OF A NEW RESCUE VEHICLE, FIRST LEAST PAYMENT, AND COSTS AND REPAIRS FOR THE NEWLY PURCHASED LADDER TRUCK FOR THE FIRE DEPARTMENT

Sponsored by: Council President Britto

SEE ATTACHED FOR FULL RESOLUTION

To view complete resolutions go to: https://clerkshq.com/EastProvidence-ri

Introduced by Council President Britto.

Discussion

Motion to approve based on the revision to include the revised figure of $209,750.43 by Council Vice President Rodericks.

Motion seconded by: Council Cahoon.

Motion passes unanimously.

Motion to pass the resolution as recommended by Councilman Cahoon.

Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sousa.

Motion passes unanimously.

 

b)     RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO PAY INVOICES FOR PRECONSTRUCTION EXPENSES FOR THE NEW EAST PROVIDENCE HIGH SCHOOL

Sponsored by: Councilman Cahoon

SEE ATTACHED FOR FULL RESOLUTION

To view complete resolutions go to: https://clerkshq.com/EastProvidence-ri

Introduced by Councilman Cahoon to authorize payment of $2,595,801.01

Motion to approve made by: Councilwoman Sousa

Motion seconded by: Council Vice President Rodericks

Motion passes unanimously.

 

c)      RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF FUNDING FOR THE WATCHEMOKET/WATERFRONT GATEWAY PROJECT

Sponsored by: Council President Britto

SEE ATTACHED FOR FULL RESOLUTION

To view complete resolutions go to: https://clerkshq.com/EastProvidence-ri

Introduced by: Councilman President Britto

Motion to approve made by: Council Vice President Rodericks

Motion seconded by: Councilwoman Sousa

Motion passes unanimously.

 

 

d)     RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE DUTIES AND TIME OFF PROCEDURE FOR THE CITY CLERK FOR THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE

Sponsored by: Council President Britto, Council Vice President Rodericks,     Councilman Cahoon, Councilman Mourato and Councilwoman Sousa

 

SEE ATTACHED FOR FULL RESOLUTION

To view complete resolutions go to: https://clerkshq.com/EastProvidence-ri

Introduced by: Councilman President Britto

Motion to approve made by: Councilwoman Sousa

Motion seconded by: Councilman Mourato

Motion passes unanimously.

 

XIV.     Reconvene in Executive Session (if necessary) to Complete Items Under Section II, Executive Session

 

Councilman Cahoon and Council Vice President Rodericks expressed congratulations and thanks to the retired Fire Chief Elmasian. Councilwoman Sousa expressed congratulations and thanks to the retired Acting Planning Director, Diane Feather. Council President Britto echoed their sentiments.

 

XV.      ADJOURNMENT - FOR VOTE

Council Vice President Rodericks makes the motion to adjourn the meeting.

Councilwoman Sousa seconded the motion.

Motion passes unanimously. Meeting is adjourned.

 

If communication assistance is needed or any other accommodations to ensure equal participation, please contact the City Clerk, Samantha Burnett at 401.435.7596