City Council, August 6, 2014
A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council is held Wednesday, August 6, 2014, at 8:05 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.
Present – President Moran, Councilors Barry, Hodge, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault, Vitali and Wildenhain
Absent – Councilor Barros.
President Moran presides.
The reading of the records of July 23, 2014, is dispensed with and the records are APPROVED as prepared by the Clerk.
Upon motion made by Councilor Hodge, seconded by Councilor Mercer, the *Consent Agenda is APPROVED, on a unanimous voice vote.
*THE FOLLOWING COMMUNICATIONS ARE READ AND ORDERED FILED:
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| | B. Communication from Lance Hill, Director of Public Works, to Mayor Donald R. Grebien. (Fall Paving 2014) |
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| | C. Communication from Lance Hill, Director of Public Works, to Mayor Donald R. Grebien. (FY2014 Recycling Figures) |
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| ** | D. Communication from Lance Hill, Director of Public Works, to Mayor Donald R. Grebien. (2014 Free Tree Program) |
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| | E. Communication from Frank J. Milos, Jr., Esq., City Solicitor, to Council President David P. Moran. (Agreement – 1R Highway Safety Improvements to Dexter Street) IS REFERRED TO THE PUBLIC WORKS/CEMETERY COMMITTEE. |
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| | F. Communication from Joanna L’Heureux, Finance Director, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Consolidation of the City and School Personnel Departments – Memorandum of Understanding & Pay Plan for Director of Personnel) |
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| | G. Memorandum of Understanding for Consolidated Human Resource Services Agreement between the City of Pawtucket and the Pawtucket School Committee – IS REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. |
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| | H. AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 3008 OF THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET ESTABLISHING A PAY PLAN FOR THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET FOR CLASSIFIED NON-UNION EMPLOYEES. (Director of Personnel) – IS LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. |
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| | I. Communication from Joanna L’Heureux, Finance Director, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Joining Rhode Island Municipal Insurance Corporation – RIMIC) |
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| | J. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH THE RHODE ISLAND MUNICIPAL INSURANCE CORPORATION FOR JOINT NEGOTIATION AND PURCHASE OF HEATH COVERAGE – IS LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. |
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| | K. THE FOLLOWING CLAIMS ARE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS: Kelly Adams - $73.11 Benjamin Colaj - $595.89 Paul T. Conti by Hamel Waxler Allen & Collins - $95,000.00 Danny’s Appliance - $120.00 D’ercole Construction $1,580.00 D’ercole Construction - $3,160.00 Susana Miranda - $523.00 Danielle Richardson by Bottaro Law Firm LLC – No Amount Specified |
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| ** | TAKEN OFF CONSENT AGENDA FOR COMMENTS ONLY, NO OTHER ACTION TAKEN. |
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR RUDD.
With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Rudd, seconded by Councilor Barry, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:
The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Vincent Ceglie, Executive Director, Blackstone Valley Community Action Program, regarding the Laurel Hill Playground. While the grass is cut, the debris in this area needs to be cleaned up again and this property needs to be checked on a regular basis.
| | A. Communication from Jeannine S. Bourski, Deputy Finance Director, to Mayor Donald R. Grebien. (Uniform Overtime FY14), is READ AND ORDERED FILED. |
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR HODGE.
With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Hodge, on behalf of Council President Moran, seconded by Councilor Barry, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:
The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Joanna L’Heureux, Finance Director, regarding the reported $216,000 over expenditure in the Fire Department’s overtime line item. The Council is asking about the Safer grant, which they understand is supposed to lower overtime in the department. They want to know what effect the grant has had on overtime. If the Safer grant did not help as expected, why not? What will happen to overtime next year when the Safer grant is done?
The Council also understands that the concessions the city got in the firefighters’ contract regarding minimum manning are supposed to help with overtime. They want to know the impact these concessions are having on overtime?
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR HODGE.
With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Hodge, seconded by Councilor Mercer, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:
The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Michael Araujo, Chair, Pawtucket School Committee, as well as the Wellness Sub Committee Members, requesting that they attend a Pre-Council session on September 10, 2014, to discuss the Sodexho contract. The Council is also requesting the minutes of the Wellness Sub Committee and School Committee minutes regarding this matter.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN.
With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by Councilor Barry, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:
The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Michael E. Burns, Traffic Engineering Supervisor, requesting that a traffic study be done at the intersection of Sweet Ave. and Grand Ave. to determine if a stop sign is appropriate at this intersection.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN.
Upon motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by Councilor Barry, the agenda is amended to include the following communication, on a unanimous voice vote:
Communication from Paul King, Chief of Police, to Antonio J. Pires, Public Safety Director. (Initiatives to Address Larcenies from Unlocked Cars)
Upon motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by Councilor Barry, this communication is READ AND ORDERED FILED:
Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, submitting the following appointment to the Juvenile Hearing Board, FOR CONFIRMATION:
JUVENILE HEARING BOARD
The following nomination submitted by His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, for confirmation is CONFIRMED on a roll call vote, as follows:
AYES – President Moran, Councilors Barry, Hodge, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault, Vitali and Wildenhain.
NOES - 0.
JUVENILE HEARING BOARD
Silas Cooper, 896 Newport Avenue, Pawtucket, RI 02861. Term expires the first Monday in December, 2015. (To fill the unexpired term of Gail M. Jenard)
THE FOLLOWING MATTER WAS POSTPONED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND IS POSTPONED BY THE COUNCIL ON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE:
City of Pawtucket v. First Student, Inc. et al – C.A. No. PC12-0439
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR VITALI.
With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Vitali, seconded by Councilor Rudd, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:
The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Lance Hill, PE, Director of Public Works, requesting that he look into restoring water to the shed in the Mineral Spring Avenue Cemetery for the rest room. The council would like to know what the cost would be to get the restroom up and running and how long it would take to do the project if it is decided to be done. They also want to know where the supplies are that Mr. Postle has been waiting for over the past eight weeks.
The following resolution is read and PASSED on a roll call vote, as follows:
AYES – President Moran, Councilors Barry, Hodge, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault, Vitali and Wildenhain.
NOES - 0.
UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS, THE FOLLOWING CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY ARE APPROVED FOR PAYMENT ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:
AYES – President Moran, Councilors Barry, Hodge, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault, Vitali and Wildenhain.
NOES - 0.
Sarina Sebastiao - $300.00
Estelle Williams - $300.00
UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS, THE FOLLOWING CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY IS POSTPONED ON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE:
Julio Semedo - $3,000.00-$3,780.00
UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS, THE MOTION TO DENY THE FOLLOWING CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY IS APPROVED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:
AYES – President Moran, Councilors Barry, Hodge, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault, Vitali and Wildenhain.
NOES - 0.
Manuel Percy by Jules J. D’Alessandro, Esq. – No Amount Specified
UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS, THE FOLLOWING CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY IS REFERRED TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT/RHODE ISLAND INTERLOCAL TRUST FOR FURTHER REVIEW, ON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE:
Lewry Lopez by Warren R. Wolf, Esq. - $50,000.00
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR HODGE.
With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Hodge, on behalf of Council President Moran, seconded by Councilor Tetreault, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:
The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Paul King, Chief of Police, requesting a radar patrol be set-up on Peckham Street, in the morning between the hours of 6:00-8:30 a.m. and in the evening between 4:00-7:00 p.m., for one week.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR HODGE.
With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Hodge, on behalf of Council President Moran, seconded by Councilor Tetreault, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:
The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Lance Hill, PE, Director of Public Works, requesting that he take a look at the condition of Peckham Street, especially on the end near the bank, to determine what repairs are necessary on that road. While the Council understands that this street is not on the list to be repaved, they believe that some type of repairs is needed on the street.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR HODGE.
Upon motion made by Councilor Hodge, seconded by Councilor Tetreault, the agenda is amended to include the following communication on a unanimous voice vote:
Communication from Jocelyn A. O’Brien, to Council President David P. Moran, regarding senior tax exempt status.
Upon motion made by Councilor Hodge, on behalf of Council President Moran, seconded by Councilor Tetreault, the following communication is READ AND ORDERED FILED and a copy is to be sent to Dylan M. Zelazo, Director, Constituent Services and Communications and Robert W. Burns, Tax Assessor. The council asks that they respond to Ms. O’Brien’s letter, with a copy of the response going to President Moran:
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR VITALI.
With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Vitali, seconded by Councilor Hodge, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:
The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Michael E. Burns, Traffic Engineering Supervisor, requesting an update on putting a traffic control device, such as a rubber cone with a “Stop for Pedestrians” sign, on the Broadway crosswalk near Kennedy Manor.
Upon motion made by Councilor Hodge, seconded by the entire City Council, the meeting is adjourned at 8:53 p.m., in memory of John DeGoes former City Councilor-at-Large.