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City Council, September 24, 2014
A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council is held Wednesday, September 24, 2014, at 7:03 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.
Present – President Moran, Councilors Barros, Barry, Hodge, Rudd, Vitali and Wildenhain
Absent – Councilors Mercer and Tetreault.
President Moran presides.
The reading of the records of September 10, 2014, is dispensed with and the records are APPROVED as prepared by the Clerk.
Upon motion made by Councilor Hodge, seconded by Councilor Barros, 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 Barney S. Heath, Director, Planning & Redevelopment, to the Pawtucket City Council. (Purchase of Field at 1135 Roosevelt Avenue – former Red Farm Studio) |
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| | D. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FUNDING OF THE FY15 LEASE PURCHASE EQUIPMENT LIST AS PART OF A TWO-YEAR LEASE PURCHASE PROGRAM WITH MUNICIPAL LEASING CONSULTANTS. – IS REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. |
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| | E. Communication from Robert W. Burns, Tax Assessor, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Tax Abatements for April, May, and June, 2014) |
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| | F. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ABATEMENT FOR TAXES ON AUTOMOBILES, REAL ESTATE, AND TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $161,014.48 FOR APRIL, MAY, JUNE, 2014. – IS REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE. |
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| | G. THE FOLLOWING CLAIMS ARE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS: Marie DaSilva - $710.00 Gabriel Diaz, by Edward Manning, Esq. – No Amount Specified Darilyn Iannotti - $107.00 Brian Vincent - $2,281.80/$2,560.67 |
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| ** | TAKEN OFF CONSENT AGENDA FOR COMMENTS ONLY, NO OTHER ACTION TAKEN. |
| | A. Communication from Robert H. Miniati, to the Pawtucket City Council. (Communication to Shaun Logue, Director of Zoning & Code Enforcement re: 125 Sharon Avenue Garage/Grupo Amigos) is READ AND ORDERED FILED. |
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BARRY.
With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Barry, seconded by Councilors Barros and Hodge, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:
The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Shaun Logue, Director of Zoning & Code Enforcement, requesting clarification on his response to Mr. Miniati’s letter. The Council is confused about why there would be a need to interpret the zoning ordinance to determine if Grupo Amigos should be cited, when you acknowledge that there are violations of the Special Conditions in Decision 14-12. If there are violations, why wouldn’t Grupo Amigos be cited for the violations?
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN.
Upon motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by Councilor Hodge, the agenda is amended to include the following communication:
Communication from Shaun Logue, Director of Zoning & Code Enforcement, to Robert H. Miniati (Response Re: 125 Sharon Avenue Garage/Grupo Amigos)
Upon motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by Councilor Hodge, this communication is READ AND ORDERED FILED:
Communication from Shaun Logue, Director of Zoning & Code Enforcement, to Robert H. Miniati (Response Re: 125 Sharon Avenue Garage/Grupo Amigos)
| | C. Communication from Joanna L’Heureux, Finance Director, to the Pawtucket City Council. (FY15 Equipment Lease Request) is READ AND ORDERED FILED. |
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN.
With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by Councilor Hodge, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:
The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Joanna L’Heureux, Finance Director, requesting that she provide the Finance Committee information in preparation of the committee’s review of the FY 15 Equipment Lease Request. Specifically, for those departments requesting new vehicles, the committee would like an inventory of all current vehicles that will be replaced and all similar vehicles in the department. The inventory should include the age and mileage for each vehicle. For example, Public Works is seeking to purchase three 6-wheel dump trucks. The committee wants to know the age and mileage of the dump trucks that will be replaced and of similar trucks the department will continue to use. They want to be sure that it is necessary to replace the old trucks this year. The Council is requesting a response prior to the Finance Committee taking up the matter.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN.
With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, 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 Shaun R. Logue, Director, Zoning and Code Enforcement, requesting that he inspect the property where the former Red Farms Studios building is at 1135 Roosevelt Avenue and take whatever action is required to have the property cleaned up.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR RUDD.
With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Rudd, seconded by Councilor Barros, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:
The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Paul King, Chief of Police, and Joanna L’Heureux, Finance Director, thanking them for following through with the request to provide police recruits with their test score results. Councilor Rudd stated that the recruits are very pleased to get that information and the Council is also pleased that this information was provided. The Council is grateful for a job well done.
The following resolution is read and PASSED on a roll call vote, as follows:
AYES – President Moran, Councilors Barros, Barry, Hodge, Rudd, Vitali and Wildenhain.
NOES - 0.
UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE PUBLIC WORKS/CEMETERY COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IS READ AND PASSED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:
AYES – President Moran, Councilors Barros, Barry, Hodge, Rudd, 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 Barros, Barry, Hodge, Rudd, 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. (Payroll Specialist and Payroll Assistant)
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR VITALI.
Upon motion made by Councilor Vitali, seconded by Councilor Rudd, the agenda is amended to include the following ordinance on a unanimous voice vote:
AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 351 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996, ENTITLED “STREETS AND SIDEWALKS – ARTICLE XI, PEDESTRIANS” (ESTABLISHING GUIDELINES FOR SOLICITING DONATIONS)
Upon motion made by Councilor Vitali, seconded by Councilor Rudd, the following ordinance is LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE, on a unanimous voice vote:
AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 351 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996, ENTITLED “STREETS AND SIDEWALKS – ARTICLE XI, PEDESTRIANS” (ESTABLISHING GUIDELINES FOR SOLICITING DONATIONS)
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR VITALI.
With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Vitali, seconded by Councilors Hodge and Rudd, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:
The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to John Blais, Recreation Manager, requesting that the debris along the fence lines at the McKinnon-Alves Soccer Complex be cleaned up. This request is in response to complaints Councilor Vitali has received from abutters of the complex, especially on McAloon Street and Monticello Road.
It was noted that the trash is coming from users of the complex. Therefore, the Council is requesting that Mr. Blais forward a copy of this e-mail to all of the leagues who use the complex and to request that they do a better job of keeping the complex clean.
UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE IS READ FOR THE FIRST TIME AND PASSED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:
AYES – President Moran, Councilors Barros, Barry, Hodge, Rudd, Vitali and Wildenhain.
NOES - 0.
AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A GUN BUY-BACK FUND.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR VITALI.
With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Vitali, seconded by Councilors Hodge and Rudd, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:
The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, and Lance Hill, PE, Director of Public Works, requesting answers to questions about the City Hall Tower:
1. How much did the study done in 2012 regarding the tower cost the city?
2. How much are you expecting the new study you intend to have done going to cost?
3. What is the difference between the last study and the new study which makes this new study necessary?
4. Who will pay the cost of the new study and the cost of any work done on the tower? Will the taxpayers have to pay it?
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR HODGE.
With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Hodge, seconded by Councilors Vitali and Rudd, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:
The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Frank J. Milos, Jr., Esq., City Solicitor, regarding the repairs done to the city hall tower several years ago. The Council finds it hard to believe that the city could not take action against the contractor because we could not locate the contract to determine their liability.
The Council is requesting that you look into this matter further to try to find the contract and to determine if there is any action the city can take at this time against the contractor. The Council suggested contacting prior city officials who were involved with the project to try to locate the contract.
Upon motion made by Councilor Hodge, seconded by Councilor Barry, the meeting is adjourned at 7:30 p.m.