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CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE

JOURNAL/MINUTES DOCKET-REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

TUESDAY, December 21, 2021

CALL TO ORDER: 6:30 P.M.

145 TAUNTON AVENUE-CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND

EXECUTIVE SESSION: CONFERENCE ROOM A

OPEN SESSION WILL IMMEDIATELY FOLLOW EXECUTIVE SESSION

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

City Solicitor, Michael J. Marcello

Deputy City Clerk, Leah Stoddard

I. CALL TO ORDER

Roll Call

Cahoon__X___ Mourato__X___ Rodericks__X___ Sousa __X___ Britto__X___

II. II. SALUTE TO THE FLAG

- Salute to the flag led by Council President Britto

III. EXECUTIVE SESSION

- Motion made by Councilman Cahoon to enter into executive session. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sousa. Motion passes 5-0.

The City Council of East Providence may meet in Executive Session,

pursuant to RIGL §42-46-5 (a)(2)

Member	Aye	Nay
Cahoon	X
Mourato	X
Rodericks	X
Sousa	X
Britto	X

A. New Claims & Litigation

1. Albert Perry

B. 10 Tripps Holdings, LLC vs. City, C.A. No. PC-2021-01018 & PC-2020-06665- Update and possible vote to approve proposed tax assessment settlement.

C. Discussion related to exploration of potential litigation the specifics of disclosure at this juncture would be detrimental to the City interests.

IV. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION

Cahoon__X___ Mourato__X___ Rodericks__X___ Sousa _X____ Britto__X___

V. MOTION TO SEAL EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES

- Motion made by Council President Rodericks to seal executive session minutes. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sousa. Motion passes 5-0.

Member	Aye	Nay
Cahoon	X
Mourato	X
Rodericks	X
Sousa	X
Britto	X

- Moved up item C resolutions 1 and 2 under XV new business

VI. CONSENT CALENDAR

A. COUNCIL JOURNALS:

1. Regular meeting and Executive session minutes December 7, 2021

- Motion made by Councilwoman Sousa to approve the consent calendar and tax abatements. Motion seconded by Councilman Cahoon. Motion passes 5-0.

Member	Aye	Nay
Cahoon	X
Mourato	X
Rodericks	X
Sousa	X
Britto	X

VII. LICENSES s

A. NON-PUBLIC HEARING

1. Road Race

Applicant: Karen Zyons, Friends of Pomham Rocks Lighthouse

Location: Start & Finish at Rose Larisa Park

Date & Time of Event: April 23, 2022, starts at 8:00am and concludes at 10:00am

- Motion to approve made by Councilman Cahoon. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sousa. Motion passes 5-0.

Member	Aye	Nay
Cahoon	X
Mourato	X
Rodericks	X
Sousa	X
Britto	X

2. Application for Auto Body Repair Shop – New

Applicant: Freidy El Khoury

Business Name: El Khoury Brothers Invest 1 Inc. dba Showcase Auto and Truck Collision

Business Address: 2258 Pawtucket Avenue, 02914

- Motion to approve made by Councilwoman Sousa. Motion seconded by Councilman Cahoon. Motion passes 5-0.

Member	Aye	Nay
Cahoon	X
Mourato	X
Rodericks	X
Sousa	X
Britto	X

3. Application for Holiday Sales – New

Applicant: Hamdan Ahmad

Business Name: Grab and Go Mini Mart Inc dba Grab and Go

Business Address: 350 North Broadway, 02914

- Motion to approve subject to all of legal permitting requirements and inspections being concluded successfully made by Council Vice President Rodericks. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sousa. Motion passes 5-0.

Member	Aye	Nay
Cahoon	X
Mourato	X
Rodericks	X
Sousa	X
Britto	X

4. Application for Victualling License – Class 3 - New

Applicant: Hamdan Ahmad

Business Name: Grab and Go Mini Mart LLC dba Grab and Go

Business Address: 350 North Broadway

- Motion to approve contingent upon approval of the other legal requirements and inspections made by Councilman Cahoon. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sousa. Motion passes 5-0.

Member	Aye	Nay
Cahoon
Mourato
Rodericks
Sousa
Britto

B. PUBLIC HEARING - None

VIII. PROCLAMATIONS & PRESENTATIONS

1. Presentation on the City of East Providence’s plan to update the hazard mitigation plan in 2022 – City of East Providence Planning Department

- William Fazioli, Dominic Leonardo and Wayne Barnes present the hazard mitigation plan.

- Candy Seel speaks to the hazard mitigation plan

- Heather Andrade speaks to the hazard mitigation plan

- Jenn Tierney speaks to the hazard mitigation plan

- Linda Leite speaks to the hazard mitigation plan

IX. COMMUNICATIONS

Any person who submits a communication to the Council and wishes to speak on it must indicate this in writing no later than 12:00 p.m. the Thursday prior to the next regularly scheduled Council meeting. A person who lists more than one topic on their communication will be allowed to speak on the first one listed.

X. PUBLIC COMMENT s

All persons wishing to make public comment shall sign a public comment sheet stating their name, address and the subject of their comments. Each speaker will be limited to three (3) minutes. The order of speakers will be on a first come, first serve basis and the maximum time for public comment shall by limited to thirty (30) minutes per meeting.

- Chris Costa addresses the Council with his concerns of the lights being turned off early in the fall and winter months at the skate park.

XI. APPOINTMENTS - None

XII. COUNCIL MEMBERS

1. Sale of lot 3 ExxonMobil. Including the Riverside Little League Field; Plat 610, Block 1, Lot 001 – Councilman Mourato – Discussion only

- Councilman Mourato discussed the potential of the City being able to purchase the Riverside Little Field.

2. Response to former City Clerk, Samantha Burnett’s public communications – Council Vice President Rodericks – Discussion only

- Council Vice President Rodericks briefly spoke about the comments made about him on social media by former City Clerk Samantha Burnett.

3. Discussion and information regarding traffic light cameras, implementation and cost – Councilwoman Sousa - Discussion Only

- Councilwoman Sousa asked Chief Francesconi and DPW Director Dan Borges questions about the traffic light cameras.

4. Traffic calming measures/road safety and status of allocation of Capital Funds for the same – Councilwoman Sousa - Discussion only

- This was discussed with item number 3

XIII. PUBLIC HEARINGS – Ordinance for second passage

XIV. CONTINUED BUSINESS – None

XV. NEW BUSINESS s

A. MAYOR COMMUNICATIONS

1. Appointment requiring Council confirmation

a. John Barone, appointment to the Canvassing Board, Term 03/16/2018-03/01/2024

- Motion to approve made by Councilwoman Sousa. Motion seconded by Councilman Cahoon. Motion passes 5-0.

Member	Aye	Nay
Cahoon	X
Mourato	X
Rodericks	X
Sousa	X
Britto	X

2. Appointment not requiring Council confirmation

b. Ron Nawrocki, East Providence Tree Warden, annual appointment made by the Mayor and subject to approval by the Dept. of Environmental Management. Term 01/01/2022-12/31/2022

c. Joe Gibson, appointment to the Tree Commission, appointment to Seat 4 (Vacant), Term 01/01/2019-12/31/2022

- Director Gonsalves read the appointments

3. Items for announcement/discussion

a. City held the unveiling of the sign of the recently renamed East Providence Senior Center to the Robert E. Rock Senior Center. Robert Rock and his family, federal, state and local officials and members of the East Providence Police Dept. were in attendance.

- Director Gonsalves read the announcement

b. The City will be hiring a licensed independent clinical social worker to work with victims of crimes and domestic violence. The independent social worker will also be available to provide counseling to members of the city’s public safety departments.

- Direct Gonsalves read announcement. Chief Francesconi answered Councilman Mourato’s questions

B. REPORTS OF OTHER CITY OFFICIALS

1. Report of the City Solicitor

a. Claims Committee Report

- Solicitor Marcello reads claim report

C. RESOLUTIONS

1. Resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into an agreement with the Bristol Water Authority for the transfer of the Pawtucket Avenue Pump Station

Sponsor: Council Vice President Rodericks & Councilman Cahoon

- Motion to approve made by Councilman Cahoon. Motion seconded by Council Vice President Rodericks. Motion passes 5-0.

Member	Aye	Nay
Cahoon	X
Mourato	X
Rodericks	X
Sousa	X
Britto	X

2. Resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into an engineering services cost sharing agreement with the Bristol County Water Authority for phase II of the Pawtucket Pipeline Connection Project

Sponsor: Council Vice President Rodericks & Councilman Cahoon

- Motion to approve as amended as read by Councilman Cahoon. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sousa. Motion passes 5-0.

Member	Aye	Nay
Cahoon	X
Mourato	X
Rodericks	X
Sousa	X
Britto	X

- Motion to approve as amended by Councilman Cahoon. Motion seconded by Council Vice President Rodericks. Motion passes 5-0.

Member	Aye	Nay
Cahoon	X
Mourato	X
Rodericks	X
Sousa	X
Britto	X

3. Resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into a contract with AM Electric, LLC for the installation of lighting at the George S. Lima, Sr. Memorial Park at Hull Street Playground

Sponsor: Council Vice President Rodericks, Councilman Cahoon & Councilwoman Sousa

- Motion to approve made by Council Vice President Rodericks. Motion seconded by Councilman Cahoon. Motion passes 5-0.

Member	Aye	Nay
Cahoon	X
Mourato	X
Rodericks	X
Sousa	X
Britto	X

D. INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES – None

XVI. ADJOURNMENT