City Council, July 9, 2014
A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council is held Wednesday, July 9, 2014, at 7:53 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.
Present – President Moran, Councilors Barros, Hodge, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault, Vitali and Wildenhain.
Absent – Councilor Barry.
President Moran presides.
The reading of the records of June 17, 2014 and June 25, 2014, is dispensed with and the records are APPROVED as prepared by the Clerk.
Upon motion made by Councilor Hodge, seconded by Councilor Rudd, the *Consent Agenda is APPROVED, on a unanimous voice vote.
*THE FOLLOWING COMMUNICATIONS ARE READ AND ORDERED FILED:
| ** | A. Communication from Mayor Donald R. Grebien to the Honorable Pawtucket City Council (Press Release and Letters of Congratulations Regarding Improving School Scores) |
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| | B. Communication from Mayor Donald R. Grebien to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Confirmation of the reappointment of Lewis Soares to the Riverfront Commission) |
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| | C. Communication from Joanna L’Heureux, Finance Director, to David P. Moran, Council President (Police and Fire Investment Portfolio Change Regarding Anchor) |
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| | D. Communication from Barney S. Health, Director of Planning and Redevelopment, to the Pawtucket City Council (Division Street Waterfront Development Opportunity RFP Update) |
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| | E. Communication from Rob Roy to Joyce Rabbitt, Secretary, Juvenile Hearing Board (Resignation from the Juvenile Hearing Board) |
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| | F. Communication from Frank J. Milos, Jr., Esq., to Richard J. Goldstein, MMC, City Clerk (City of Pawtucket v. First Students, Inc. (C.A.No.: PA12-0439) IS REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE |
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| | G. Communication from Benjamin Ricci, 1135 Roosevelt LLC, to John J. Barry, III, Finance Committee Chairman (1135 Roosevelt Avenue Field) IS REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE |
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| | H. Communication from Dylan M. Zelazo, Director of Constituent Services and Communications, to the Pawtucket City Council Members (State Income Tax Offset Program) IS REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE |
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| | I. THE FOLLOWING CLAIMS ARE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS: Lewry Lopez by Warren R. Wolf, Esq. - $50,000.000 Estelle Williams - $516.91 |
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| ** | TAKEN OFF CONSENT AGENDA FOR COMMENTS ONLY, NO OTHER ACTION TAKEN. |
COUNCILOR BARROS LEAVES THE CHAMBERS AT 8:00 P.M.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR HODGE.
With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Hodge, seconded by Councilor Tetreault, is PASSED on a roll call vote, as follows:
AYES – Councilors Hodge, Mercer, Rudd and Tetreault.
NOES – President Moran, Councilors Vitali and Wildenhain.
The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, requesting that he indefinitely postpone the project to turn that portion of Broadway between Kossuth Street and Exchange Street into a two-way road. It was suggested that the money for this project be used on other projects, such as finishing the project to turn a portion of East Avenue into a two-way street, or reversing the one-way portion of Main Street or the Cottage Street project.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MERCER.
With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by the Entire City Council, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:
The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Paul King, Chief of Police, regarding illegal fireworks in the city. The Council noted that several illegal displays of fireworks have been going off around the city, causing disturbances to the neighbors and fire hazards to people’s property. The Council is requesting that the police department strictly enforce the laws and ordinances on illegal fireworks, with offenders to be penalized for violations.
They also suggest looking into the feasibility of adding overtime into the budget to pay for extra officers on duty around the 4th of July to enforce fireworks laws.
The Council is also requesting that a list of the current penalties and fines for fireworks violations be included in the Chief’s response.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR TETREAULT.
With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Tetreault, on behalf of Council President Moran, seconded by Councilor Rudd, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:
The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, requesting that he provide the Council with a timetable for selecting a new member and chairperson for the Board of Canvassers. The Council hopes that the new member will be in place prior to the primary election on September 9, 2014. They believe having a three-member board is important to ensuring a smooth election season.
UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING CONTRACT IS RATIFIED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:
AYES – President Moran, Councilors Hodge, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault, Vitali and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN.
Upon motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by Councilor Vitali, the agenda is amended to include the following communications:
Communication from Judith Ventura Enright, Principal, CPA, LGC&D, to Council President David P. Moran; Members of the City Council; Mayor Donald R. Grebien; Antonio J. Pires, Director of Administration; and Joanna L’Heureux, Finance Director. (Introduction)
Communication from Judith Ventura Enright, Principal, CPA, LGC&D, to Council President David P. Moran; Members of the City Council; Mayor Donald R. Grebien; Antonio J. Pires, Director of Administration; and Joanna L’Heureux, Finance Director. (Objective and Scope of the Audit of the Basic Financial Statements)
Communication from Judith Ventura Enright, Principal, CPA, LGC&D, to Council President David P. Moran; Members of the City Council; Mayor Donald R. Grebien; Joanna 028
Communication from Judith Ventura Enright, Principal, CPA, LGC&D, to Council President David P. Moran; Members of the City Council; Mayor Donald R. Grebien; Joanna L’Heureux, Finance Director; William Masuck, Chair, PWSB; Members of the PWSB; James Decelles, Chief Engineer, PWSB; and Robert Benson, CFO, PWSB. (Objective and Scope of the Audit of the Basic Financial Statements)
Upon motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by Councilor Vitali, the following communications are READ AND ORDERED FILED:
UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IS READ AND PASSED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:
AYES – President Moran, Councilors Hodge, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault, Vitali and Wildenhain.
NOES - 0.
UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE IS READ FOR THE FIRST TIME AND PASSED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:
AYES – President Moran, Councilors Hodge, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault, Vitali and Wildenhain.
NOES - 0.
AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 2997 OF THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET ESTABLISHING A PAY PLAN FOR THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET FOR LOCAL 1012. (Reclassification of Tax Reconciliation Clerk from an R29 to an R35)
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 Hodge, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault, Vitali and Wildenhain.
NOES - 0.
Maria Filipe - $160.74
Melissa Thurber - $108.00
Francisco and Maria Santos - $190.00
Donna Scudieri - $500.00
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:
Armstrong Transfer and Storage by Travelers Insurance - $25,744.19
Upon motion made by Councilor Hodge, seconded by the Councilors Tetreault and Vitali, the meeting is adjourned at 8:35 p.m.