March 10, 1999 - Regular City Council Session

City Council, March 10, 1999

A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council is held Wednesday, March 10, 1999, at eight thirteen o’clock p.m. in the City Council Chambers, City Hall.  All the members are present except Councilor Wildenhain; President Barry presides.

The reading of the records of February 24, 1999, is dispensed with and the records are APPROVED as prepared by the Clerk.

The Council recesses immediately to conduct the meeting of the Pawtucket Board of License Commissioners.

The Council reconvenes at eight thirty o’clock p.m.

Upon motion made by Councilor Bray, seconded by Councilor Hodge, the *Consent Agenda is APPROVED, on a unanimous voice vote.

*THE FOLLOWING COMMUNICATIONS ARE READ AND ORDERED FILED:

590      A.  Communication from the Honorable, Mayor James E. Doyle, to President John J. Barry, III.  (Pawtucket 2020 Committee)

611      B.  Communication from Ronald L. Wunschel, Director of Finance, to John Barry, Council President.  (Tentative Forecast)

588      C.  Communication from Ronald L. Wunschel, Director of Finance, to John Barry, City Council President.  (Resolution authorizing the repealing of Chapter 109 of the Public Laws of 1989)

624      D.  Communication from J. Roque, Purchasing Agent, to the Honorable City Council. (Emergency Purchase Orders)

592      Communication from Michael D. Cassidy, Director of Planning and Redevelopment, requesting approval to solicit proposals or authorize discussions for renewal of lease at 24 Commerce Street, which is leased by the Department of Human Services, is READ AND ORDERED FILED.

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR HODGE.

With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Hodge, seconded by Councilor Bray, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Michael D. Cassidy, Director of Planning and Redevelopment, requesting that he prepare an RFP to solicit proposals for the property at 24 Commerce Street.

The Council is further requesting that a copy of the RFP be sent to the present leasee.

028      Communication from Jerry McCullah, Darlington Girl’s Softball League, to Bill Mulholland, Director of Parks and Recreation, requesting permission to name the new Instructional field in memory of John A. & Geraldine M. Bradley, is READ AND ORDERED FILED, and is REFERRED TO THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE.

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR HOYAS.

With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Hoyas, seconded by Councilor Hodge, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to John E. Carney, Director of Public Works, regarding the continuing pot hole problem, at the intersection of Division Street and York Avenue.

The Council is requesting that this intersection be given priority status and that corrective action be taken.

Communication from the Honorable, Mayor James E. Doyle, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, submitting the following appointment as a member of the Juvenile Hearing Board, (to fill the unexpired term of Sandra A. Reeves), FOR CONFIRMATION:

JUVENILE HEARING BOARD

589      James T. Chellel, Jr., 115 Prentice Avenue, Pawtucket, RI  02860.  Term expires the First Monday in December 2000, is READ AND ORDERED FILED.

The following nomination submitted by His Honor, Mayor James E. Doyle for confirmation is CONFIRMED on a roll call vote, as follows:

AYES – President Barry, Councilors Bray, Carr, Grebien, Hodge, Hoyas, and Moran.

NOES – 0.

JUVENILE HEARING BOARD

James T. Chellel, Jr., 115 Prentice Avenue, Pawtucket, RI  02860.  Term expires the First Monday in December 2000

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MORAN.

With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Moran, seconded by Councilor Hodge, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to His Honor, Mayor James E. Doyle, regarding the City’s Affirmative Action Plan.

Part of the plan calls for “Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Affirmative Action”, which the Council believes has not been appointed.  Therefore, the Council is requesting a response as to when this committee will be put in place.

A response is requested in time for the March 24, 1999, meeting of the Pawtucket City Council.

Communication from the Honorable, Mayor James E. Doyle, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, submitting the following appointment as a member of the Juvenile Hearing Board, (to fill the unexpired term of Denis K. Demopulos), FOR CONFIRMATION:

JUVENILE HEARING BOARD

589      Kevin A. LeBlanc, 62 Arland Drive, Pawtucket, RI  02861.  Term expires the First Monday in December 1999, is READ AND ORDERED FILED.

The following nomination submitted by His Honor, Mayor James E. Doyle for confirmation is CONFIRMED on a roll call vote, as follows:

AYES – President Barry, Councilors Bray, Carr, Hodge, Hoyas, and Moran.

NOES – 0.

619      COUNCILOR GREBIEN “ABSTAINS”, BASED ON HIS STATEMENT “THE APPOINTEE IS RELATED TO ME.”  STATEMENT ORDERED FILED.

JUVENILE HEARING BOARD

Kevin A. LeBlanc, 62 Arland Drive, Pawtucket, RI  02861.  Term expires the First Monday in December 1999.

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MORAN.

With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Moran, seconded by Councilor Hodge, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Andrew Cuomo, HUD Secretary, U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development, regarding the recent release of a PROCUREMENT REVIEW OF THE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM, ADMINISTERED BY THE PAWTUCKET HOUSING AUTHORITY.

The Council is requesting the details of the internal investigation of the Pawtucket Housing Authority, as a result of Roland Mousally’s “Whistle Blowing,” which may have involved information of wrongdoing by an employee accepting kickbacks, in return for awarding a lucrative contract for a private company.

The Council is further asking if any wrong doings will be addressed; what the report will indicate; and, what action will be taken?

Copies of this communication are to be sent to Rhode Island Congressional Delegation, Robert Paquin, Director, HUD; James J. Goff, Acting Director, Pawtucket Housing Authority and Pawtucket Housing Authority Members.

635 & 636       UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING TAX TREATY AGREEMENT, WHICH IS CONTAINED IN A LEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE PAWTUCKET REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY, AND THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, FOR SPACE IN THE CHESTER BUILDING AT 175 MAIN STREET, AMOUNTING TO 23.26 % OF THE TAX DUE ANNUALLY, IS APPROVED, ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

AYES – President Barry, Councilors Bray, Carr, Grebien, Hodge, Hoyas, and Moran.

NOES – 0.

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING IS APPROVED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE AS FOLLOWS:

611      EXPENDITURE OF $50,000, TO CONTINUE THE REVALUATION PROJECT, SUBMITTED BY COLE-LAYER-TRUMBLE COMPANY, IMPLEMENTING OPTION 1 “INSPECTION ATTEMPT BY APPOINTMENT SOLICITATION”, ON A ROLL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

AYES – President Barry, Councilors Bray, Grebien, Hodge, Hoyas, and Moran.

NOES – Councilor Carr.

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IS READ AND PASSED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

AYES – President Barry, Councilors Bray, Carr, Grebien, Hodge, Hoyas, and Moran.

NOES – 0.

335      RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF BONDING LEGISLATION FOR THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET.

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IS READ AND PASSED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

AYES – President Barry, Councilors Bray, Carr, Grebien, Hodge, Hoyas, and Moran.

NOES – 0.

635 & 636       RESOLUTION APPROVING THE INDENTURE OF LEASE BETWEEN THE PAWTUCKET REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY AND CITY OF PAWTUCKET FOR A PORTION OF THE BUILDING LOCATED AT 175 MAIN STREET, PAWTUCKET. (Visitors Center, 1^st Floor)

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IS REFERRED BACK TO THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE, ON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE:

RESOLUTION APPROVING THE INDENTURE OF LEASE BETWEEN PAGE FOUR REALTY CO., LLC., AND THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET FOR A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1135 ROOSEVELT AVENUE, PAWTUCKET. (Soccer Field)

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR CARR.

With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Carr, seconded by Councilor Hodge, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to George L. Kelley, III, Chief of Police,  regarding the law restricting the sale of tobacco products to minors. 

The Council is requesting the following information:

1.         Has your department conducted any spot checks to determine if stores selling tobacco products are in compliance with state law?  If there have been periodic checks, have there been any violators sited?

2.         Will your department be conducting future compliance checks, regarding this matter?

The Council urges that if there are violators to this statute that the maximum fine allowable by law be imposed and the laws strictly enforced.

A response is requested in time for the March 24, 1999, meeting of the Pawtucket City Council.

The following resolution is read and PASSED on a roll call vote, as follows:

AYES – President Barry, Councilors Bray, Carr, Grebien, Hodge, Hoyas, and Moran.

NOES – 0.