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CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE
JOURNAL/MINUTES DOCKET-REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, January 18, 2022
CALL TO ORDER: 6:30 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
City Solicitor, Michael J. Marcello
Deputy City Clerk, Leah Stoddard
As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, this meeting will be both in person and virtually,
on an application called, "Zoom".
IN ORDER TO PARTICIPATE VIRTUALLY, USE THE FOLLOWING OPTIONS:
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Call the toll free number: 1-877-853-5247 (audio only) and enter the following information:
MEETING ID: 885-6717-1685
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Enter the following information when prompted
MEETING ID: 885-6717-1685
If you wish to participate in public comment via zoom, you must use the “raise hand” function via zoom no later than 6:45 p.m. to be recognized by the moderator of the meeting.
I. CALL TO ORDER
Roll Call
Cahoon__X___ Mourato__X___ Rodericks__X___ Sousa _X____ Britto__X___
II. SALUTE TO THE FLAG
- Salute to the flag led by Council President Britto
III. EXECUTIVE SESSION - None
IV. RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION - None
V. MOTION TO SEAL EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES - None
VI. CONSENT CALENDAR
A. COUNCIL JOURNALS:
1. Regular meeting minutes and Executive Session minutes December 21, 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 | |
2. Tax Abatements
| Year | Amount |
| 2017 | $55.95 |
| 2018 | $45.04 |
| 2021 | $1,209.78 |
| Total | $1,310.77 |
VII. LICENSES
A. NON-PUBLIC HEARING
1. Application for Victualling License – Class 3 - New
Applicant: Jared Houlihan
Business Name: The Hookah Trap
Business Address: 259 Waterman Avenue, 02914
- Motion to approve made by Councilman Mourato. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sousa. Motion passes 5-0.
| Member | Aye | Nay |
| Cahoon | X | |
| Mourato | X | |
| Rodericks | X | |
| Sousa | X | |
| Britto | X | |
2. Class F1 Application for Special Event – Alcoholic Beverage
Applicant: St. Francis Xavier Church
Location: 81 N. Carpenter Street, 02914
Date & Time of Event: January 29, 2022, 6:00pm
Type of Event: Parish Anniversary Dinner
- Motion to approve made by Councilwoman Sousa. Motion seconded by Councilman Mourato. Motion passes 5-0.
| Member | Aye | Nay |
| Cahoon | X | |
| Mourato | X | |
| Rodericks | X | |
| Sousa | X | |
| Britto | X | |
B. PUBLIC HEARING
1. BV License – New
Applicant: Jong Hun Lee
Business Name: Sun & Moon
Business Address: 95-99 Warren Ave 02914
- Letter from William Damion of 12 Fourth Street in favor of the liquor license was read into the record
- 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 | |
VIII. PROCLAMATIONS & PRESENTATIONS - None
IX. COMMUNICATIONS - None
Any person who submits a communication to the Council and wishes to speak on it must indicate this in writing no later than 4:00 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
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.
If you wish to participate in public comment via zoom, you must use the “raise hand” function via zoom no later than 6:45 p.m. to be recognized by the moderator of the meeting.
XI. APPOINTMENTS – None
XII. COUNCIL MEMBERS
1. Community meeting regarding the Flock Group Inc. automatic license plate detection cameras. Meeting will be held at the American Legion at 830 Willet Avenue on February 2, 2022 at 6pm. – Councilman Mourato – Discussion Only
- Councilman Mourato stated the description is the statement he wished to make
2. Procedure for review and consideration of city clerk applications/timeline – Council President Britto – Discussion with possible vote
- Council President Britto spoke briefly about this item and stated the deadline is 1/19/2022. No vote was taken
| Member | Aye | Nay |
| Cahoon | | |
| Mourato | | |
| Rodericks | | |
| Sousa | | |
| Britto | | |
XIII. PUBLIC HEARINGS – Ordinance for second passage - None
XIV. CONTINUED BUSINESS - None
XV. NEW BUSINESS
A. MAYOR COMMUNICATIONS
1. Appointment requiring Council confirmation
a. Maria Luci Stoddard, reappointment to Board of Assessment Review, Term 12/17/2019-12/16/2025
- Motion to approve made by Councilman Cahoon. Motion seconded by Council Vice President Rodericks. Motion passes 3-2.
| Member | Aye | Nay |
| Cahoon | X | |
| Mourato | | X |
| Rodericks | X | |
| Sousa | | X |
| Britto | X | |
2. Appointment not requiring Council confirmation
a. John Faria, reappointment to East Providence Housing Authority, Term 12/20/2021-12/19/2024
- Director Gonsalves read the appointment
3. Items for announcement/discussion
a. State of RI opens new COVID-19 testing site at Fuller Learning Center, 60 Dover Ave. The site will be open seven days per week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., beginning Wednesday, January 12, 2022
- Director Gonsalves read the announcement
b. No more fines. The City of East Providence, together with the East Providence Public Library Board of Trustees, has announced that the East Providence Public Library will no longer be charging fines on overdue library materials. The elimination of overdue fines will be effective, January 7, 2022. The elimination of overdue fines is now being extended to all materials, including adult books, audiobooks, magazines, and DVD’s. Eliminating fines ensures that everyone in the community has equal access to library books, materials, and services.
- Director Gonsalves read the announcement
c. Closures. The City, through Executive Order 2021-018, closed the Senior and Recreation Centers and cancelled all programs until Jan. 14. The City, through Executive Order2022-001, cancelled Probate and Municipal Courts and cancelled all in-person boards and commissions meetings for the same period Jan. 1- Jan. 14. Closures were reevaluated on Jan. 14 and will be discussed before the Council during Mayor Communications.
- Director Gonsalves read the announcement
B. REPORTS OF OTHER CITY OFFICIALS – None
C. RESOLUTIONS
1. Resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into an agreement with CDM Smith, Inc. for Professional Services for the study and report services phase related to the inspection of the East Providence water Supply Main Project
Sponsor: Council Vice President Rodericks & Councilman Cahoon
- Motion to approve items C1-C3 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. Resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into an agreement with CDM Smith, Inc. for professional services for the study and report services phase related to the Pawtucket Water interconnection Project
Sponsor: Council Vice President Rodericks & Councilman Cahoon
| Member | Aye | Nay |
| Cahoon | X | |
| Mourato | X | |
| Rodericks | X | |
| Sousa | X | |
| Britto | X | |
3. Resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into an interconnection operation agreement with the Bristol County Water Authority
Sponsor: Council Vice President Rodericks & Councilman Cahoon
| Member | Aye | Nay |
| Cahoon | X | |
| Mourato | X | |
| Rodericks | X | |
| Sousa | X | |
| Britto | X | |
4. Resolution in support of Operation ZAP and encouraging East Providence residents to join the 50th anniversary of Operation ZAP
Sponsor: Council President Britto
- Motion to approve made by Councilwoman Sousa. Motion seconded by Councilman Mourato. Motion passes 5-0.
| Member | Aye | Nay |
| Cahoon | X | |
| Mourato | X | |
| Rodericks | X | |
| Sousa | X | |
| Britto | X | |
5. Resolution requesting the City of East Providence’s General Assembly Delegation to support the installation of a “Luso-Americans Veterans Monument” at the Rhode Island Veterans Memorial Cemetery
Sponsor: Councilman Mourato & Councilwoman Sousa
- Motion to approve made by Councilman Mourato. Motion seconded by Councilwoman Sousa. Motion passes 5-0.
| Member | Aye | Nay |
| Cahoon | X | |
| Mourato | X | |
| Rodericks | X | |
| Sousa | X | |
| Britto | X | |
D. INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES
1. An ordinance in amendment of Chapter 9 of the revised Ordinances of the City of East Providence, Rhode Island, 1998, as amended, entitled “Miscellaneous Offenses”
Summary: Change the age to purchase tobacco products in the form of cigarettes, cigars, pipe tobacco, chewing tobacco, snuff, electronic cigarettes or other forms of electronic nicotine delivery devices to 21 years of age.
Sponsor: Councilwoman Sousa
- Motion to table until the February 1, 2022 meeting made by Councilwoman Sousa. Motion seconded by Councilman Mourato. Motion passes 5-0.
| Member | Aye | Nay |
| Cahoon | X | |
| Mourato | X | |
| Rodericks | X | |
| Sousa | X | |
| Britto | X | |
2. An ordinance in amendment of Chapter 13 of the revised ordinances of the City of East Providence, Rhode Island, 1998, as amended, entitled “Public Places”
Summary: Addition of other forms of electronic nicotine delivery devices, or the use of combustible cannabis
Sponsor: Councilwoman Sousa
| Member | Aye | Nay |
| Cahoon | | |
| Mourato | | |
| Rodericks | | |
| Sousa | | |
| Britto | | |
XVII. ADJOURNMENT
- Motion to adjourn made by Councilwoman Sousa. Motion seconded by Councilman Mourato. Motion passes 5-0.
| Member | Aye | Nay |
| Cahoon | X | |
| Mourato | X | |
| Rodericks | X | |
| Sousa | X | |
| Britto | X | |
If communication assistance is needed or any other accommodations to ensure equal participation, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 401.435.7596 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting date.