City Council, April 12, 2016
A special session of the Pawtucket City Council is held Tuesday, April 12, 2016, at 7:07 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.
Present – President Moran, Councilors Barry, Cano, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault and Wildenhain.
Absent – Councilors Bray and Hodge.
President Moran presides.
591 Communication from Council President David P. Moran, calling a Special Session of the City Council on Tuesday, April 12, 2016 at 7:00 p.m., is READ AND ORDERED FILED.
THE COUNCIL TAKES UP DISCUSSION REGARDING THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION:
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF AN APPLICATION FOR FUNDS UNDER THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM.
Barney S. Heath, Director, Planning & Redevelopment, is present and available for questions regarding the application.
Councilor Wildenhain thanks the Administration for the information on the Senior Center.
Councilor Rudd asks how much was allocated last year for the Senior Center.
Mr. Heath responds that it was $180,000.
Councilor Rudd expresses concerns about money going to organizations based outside the City.
COUNCILOR BRAY ARRIVES AT 7:10 P.M.
Councilor Rudd has a problem cutting funds to the Senior Center.
Mr. Heath states that with the Public Service funding down, eventually all money will go to the Senior Center if they continue to rely on CDBG.
Councilor Rudd asks if any other Pawtucket organizations did not get the funding that they requested, while money went to outside organizations.
Mr. Heath states that most organizations did not get what they requested.
President Moran asks if the Council could get the information books earlier so that they can review them.
Councilor Wildenhain would like to get the information earlier, also. He states that getting information last minute causes frustrations.
President Moran admits that he never asked for the information before, but he hopes to get it going forward.
Councilor Mercer states that more notification would be better.
Mr. Heath states that the information is being presented this year in the same manner as any other year. However, he states that he is open to discussing changes if the Council wishes.
Councilor Mercer states that last year the Council said that they wanted full funding for the Senior Center through CDBG. He asks if the City has to show HUD outside agencies serving Pawtucket Residents.
Mr. Heath states, yes.
Councilor Bray questions how a Providence based agency provides services to Pawtucket residents.
Mr. Heath states that some organizations come here to provide services and some residents go to the organizations.
Councilor Bray asks how the Senior Center will make up for the lost CDBG funds, and will it be on the City’s side of the budget.
Mr. Heath states that it will be discussed during the budget process.
Councilor Barry states that the crux of the matter is that the Council wanted the Senior Center to be a priority. He states that if the Senior Center doesn’t get City budget funds then the Senior Center will have a big hole. The taxpayers will have to fund more.
Mr. Heath states that the City lost about $70,000 in CDBG funding this year.
Councilor Bray asks if HUD would look unfavorably if the most money is given to the Senior Center.
Mr. Heath states that he does not have a direct answer to that. He states that they give small amounts of money to organizations that help leverage ten times that amount of money from other sources. He states that there is not much overlap on services.
Councilor Barry wanted the City to fully fund the Senior Center through CDBG funds.
Councilor Rudd states that HUD doesn’t care who gets the money as long as the process is followed.
Councilor Rudd asks if these funds are dispersed as a reimbursement or is the money dispersed up front.
Mr. Heath states that it is generally a reimbursement.
Councilor Wildenhain asks about the Streetscape Projects.
Mr. Heath states that the City’s money is a match for the funds that are being received from the RI Department of Transportation. He states that the less of a match the City has, the less money will be received from RI Department of Transportation.
Councilor Rudd believes that more Streetscape money should go into the neighborhoods and less for downtown.
Councilor Wildenhain speaks on the 50/50 sidewalk program. He states that they should look at loan programs and the use of CDBG funds to help residents pay their share.
The first public speakers are Karen Feldman and Stephanie Tavares from Young Voices.
Ms. Feldman states that they have a virtual office in Providence. She states that their Pawtucket Program is only for Pawtucket residents. They have been in Tolman for 3-years and are partly funded by COASI.
Ms. Feldman explains that they are instituting a program at Shea. All participants are low income. 100% of the students in the program graduate from high school, 88% of the students go to college, and 78% of the students graduate college in 4-years.
Ms. Feldman states that she appreciates the CDBG process in Pawtucket. She feels that it is open and highly transparent.
Ms. Tavares states that she is a junior at Tolman. She has been in Young Voices for a year and a half. Young Voices helps with leadership skills, public speaking, and standing up for one’s self.
Ms. Feldman states that they started in Providence, moved onto Central Falls, and then came to Tolman, when it was declared a low performing school. They have a model that includes students in the planning process to improve their schools.
The next speaker is Meghan Grady, YWCA of RI.
Ms. Grady states that they work to eliminate racism, stand-up for women, etc. The program is also focused on health planning for seniors. They have a Pawtucket/Central Falls campus and they bring services to seniors. They service 100% of Pawtucket residents with Pawtucket money. They help seniors with insurance needs and navigating the health care system.
Ms. Grady states that they received a grant from the Department of Health for $2,500 for multi-lingual outreach. They try to maximize every dollar they get each year.
The next speaker is Shandi Hanna, Launch Code.
Ms. Hanna states that just expanded into Rhode Island and have been here since January. They help people get tech jobs and they do an apprenticeship program. They have placed over 360 apprenticeships nationwide in the last 3-years.
Ms. Hanna states that 90% of apprenticeships become full-time jobs. The money that they requested is to build-out space in the Cape Verdean American Community Development (CACD) building. She states that apprenticeships pay $15 per hour for 3 months. The main goal of Launch Code is job placement, but also skills training.
Councilor Rudd states that this money really benefits CACD because it is their building.
Mr. Heath states that they do tenant improvement projects all the time.
Councilor Barry wants a list of all tenant improvement project grants given over the last 5-years and all money given for 120 High Street.
Councilor Bray wants a provision to ensure the building owner cannot kick-out tenants and use the space for more profitable purposes.
The next speaker is Rhonda Price, Man-Up Inc.
Ms. Prices states that Man-Up Inc. is located at URI Providence Campus and they get the space for free. She was the Executive Director for the Woodlawn CDC. They work with minority men with barriers to work. They work with partners on programs. They do job training and education. Their grant pays for three part-time staff (case managers) and they have found employment for 15 men. They are looking to add another case manager.
The next speakers are Sheryl Rennick and Joanne Palazzo of the Pawtucket Dog Park Committee.
Ms. Rennick states that she gets complaints about flooding and other issues, such as lack of shade. The Pawtucket Dog Park Committee is looking at renovating the space to fix the flood problems or move to another location in the park. They are looking at various locations. She states that the Committee is made up of six unpaid housewives who do all the volunteer work.
The next speaker is Lisa Tomasso of the Providence Center and Anchor Recovery Center.
Ms. Tomasso states that the CDBG process was quite thorough, comprehensive, and fair. She compliments the Mayor and his Administration on their interest on how they can support the City and the program.
The next speaker is Lori Urso, Old Slater Mill Association.
Ms. Urso states that Old Slater Mill services Pawtucket residents and they offer educational opportunities for 4th graders.
The next speaker is Khrystyne Bento, 159 Francis Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.
Ms. Bento states that she doesn’t understand how the money can go into the CACD building. She states that there are no programs for Cape Verdeans at CACD. The doors are closed 9-5. She opposes money being used for this building.
Councilor Cano asks if YWCA can be taken separately.
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IS TAKEN UP:
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF AN APPLICATION FOR FUNDS UNDER THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MERCER.
Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Barry, the following resolution is POSTPONED on a roll call vote, as follows:
AYES – President Moran, Councilors Barry, Bray, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault and Wildenhain.
NOES – Councilor Cano.
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF AN APPLICATION FOR FUNDS UNDER THE COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM.
Upon motion made by Councilor Barry, seconded by Councilor Rudd, the meeting is adjourned at 9:27 p.m.