City Council, August 10, 2016

 

A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council is held Wednesday, August 10, 2016, at 7:35 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI. 

 

Present – President Moran, Councilors Barry, Bray, Cano, Hodge, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault and Wildenhain

 

Absent – 0.

 

President Moran presides.

 

 

The reading of the records of July 24, 2016 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:

 

 

028		A.    Resolution from the Newport City Council commemorating the 226th Anniversary Celebration of “Hope Day: Birth of Our Nation”
7		B.     Various Forms and Statements from Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank
589		C.     Communication from Elena Vasquez, to Mayor Donald R. Grebien and John Ward, Chair of the Juvenile Hearing Board, submitting her resignation from the Juvenile Hearing Board.
589		D.    Communication from Wilder Arboleda, to Mayor Donald R. Grebien, submitting his resignation from the Juvenile Hearing Board.
589		E.     Communication from Olga Torres, to Mayor Donald R. Grebien, submitting her resignation from the Pawtucket Housing Authority.
625		F.      Communication from Antonio J. Pires, Director of Public Safety, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Newport Avenue Fire Station)
611		G.    Communication from Joanna L’Heureux, Finance Director, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Fitch’s Bond Rating and Rating Outlook Update)
		H.    Communication from Joseph F. Cardona, Pastor/President, Igelsia Pentecostal Nueva Vida En Cristo, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, requesting tax exempt status for the Pawtucket-Central Falls Railroad Station, Plat43B Lot 604 located at 309 Broad Street is REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
623		I.       Communication from Don Zimmerman, Director of Human Resources, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Pay Plan Pawtucket Lodge No. 4 Fraternal Order of Police July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017)
		J.       Contract between the City of Pawtucket and the Pawtucket Lodge No. 4 Fraternal Order of Police for the period July 1, 2016 through June 30, 2017 – IS REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
		K.    Memorandum of Understanding between the City of Pawtucket and the Pawtucket Lodge No. 4 Fraternal Order of Police allowing a Window Agreement Regarding Retirement of Police Officers – IS REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
	L.     AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A PAY PLAN FOR THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET FOR UNIFORM MEMBERS OF THE POLICE AND REPEALING CHAPTER 3103 IN ITS ENTIRETY July 1, 2016-June 30, 2017 – IS LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
	M.   Petition of 211 Columbus Avenue Associates LLC and Rhode Island Textile Company, by Douglas A. Giron, Esq. to the Pawtucket City Council.  (Requesting to add a Mill Building Reuse Building District (MBRD) overlay to the property at 211 Columbus Avenue, AP33 L796 (a/k/a AP71 L606), 804 & 727) is READ AND ORDERED FILED AND REFERRED TO THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE.
	N.    AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 410 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET 1996, ENTITLED “ZONING” Text and Official Maps – Mill Building Reuse District (211 Columbus Avenue) – IS LAID ON THE TABLE, REFERRED TO THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE, AND A PUBLIC HEARING TO BE SET FOR SEPTEMBER 21, 2016.
	O.    THE FOLLOWING CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY IS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS: Valecio Estrela - $687.06 David Pepin – Pending Estimates Norma Scott, by John Coughlin, Esq. – No Amount Specified Jessie Washington, by Louise Herman Esq. - $50,000

 

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN.

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to John Blais, Recreation Director, requesting a status report on a used flag receptacle for the parks.

 

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN.

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Paul King, Chief of Police, requesting that action be taken on a couple of concerns expressed by residents of Burns Manor.

 

First, the council is requesting that a traffic detail be placed at and around the intersection of Japonica Street and Carnation Street to check for speeding and drivers going through stop signs.  They would like the traffic trailer to be used at that intersection.

 

Second, the council is requesting that officers watch for and site people who walk their dogs on Park Street without scooping their dog’s waste.

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MERCER.

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to the Pawtucket General Assembly Delegation requesting that legislation be introduced next session to allow for single-breed animal control ordinances in Pawtucket.

 

 

 

Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, submitting the following reappointment as a member of the Riverfront Commission, for confirmation:

 

RIVERFRONT COMMISSION

 

589   Jim Hoyt, 1 Moeller Place, Pawtucket, RI  02860.   Term expires the first Monday in June, 2019 is READ AND ORDERED FILED

 

 

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, Bray, Cano, Hodge, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault and Wildenhain.

 

NOES - 0.

RIVERFRONT COMMISSION

 

Jim Hoyt, 1 Moeller Place, Pawtucket, RI  02860.   Term expires the first Monday in June, 2019

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR TETREAULT.

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Don Zimmerman, Director of Human Resources, requesting to know when the report on the consolidation of the city and school department HR departments will be issued.

 

 

 

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

 

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Barry, Bray, Cano, Hodge, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault and Wildenhain.

 

NOES - 0.

 

588   RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING THE BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB OF PAWTUCKET RBI JUNIOR DIVISION TEAM FOR WINNING THE REGIONAL JUNIOR RBI TITLE.

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS, THE FOLLOWING CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY IS APPROVED FOR PAYMENT ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Barry, Bray, Cano, Hodge, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault and Wildenhain.

 

NOES - 0.

 

Donna Boury - $150.87

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS, THE FOLLOWING CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY IS DENIED AND REFERRED TO THE PAWTUCKET WATER SUPPLY BOARD, ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Barry, Bray, Cano, Hodge, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault and Wildenhain.

 

NOES - 0.

 

Frank McBride - $300.00

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS, THE FOLLOWING CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY IS REFERRED TO THE PAWTUCKET SCHOOL DEPARTMENT, ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Barry, Bray, Cano, Hodge, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault and Wildenhain.

 

NOES - 0.

 

Trinity Rosario by Charles Vucci, Gemma Law Associates - $100,000.00

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS, THE FOLLOWING CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY IS DENIED AND REFERRED TO CARDI CORPORATION, ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Barry, Bray, Cano, Hodge, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault and Wildenhain.

 

NOES - 0.

 

Idilia Lopes - $2,863.68

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS, THE FOLLOWING CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY IS DENIED, ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Barry, Bray, Cano, Hodge, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault and Wildenhain.

 

NOES - 0.

 

Bennie Cole and Drarun Barron by John Osei, Esq. – No Amount Specified

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BARRY.

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Dylan Zelazo, Chief of Staff, requesting that the Public Works Department contact the Providence-Worcester Railroad to coordinate efforts to clean-up a strip of grass-land located between a fence and the railroad tracks on the George Bennett Highway, at the intersection with Broadway (right behind 715 Broadway).  The Council is also requesting that the City and the railroad coordinate on a plan to maintain the land after it is cleaned.

 

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BARRY.

 

With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Barry, on behalf of Council President Moran, 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 that he look into ways to improve the traffic flow onto the George Bennett Highway, at the intersection with Broadway.  President Moran noted that signs are often downed after being hit by vehicles at that intersection and he believes that vehicle drivers moving onto the Bennett Highway from Broadway sometimes get confused and end up on the railroad tracks.  Based on this, the council is requesting that a study be done of this intersection to determine if there is anything the City can do to reduce the confusion and improve the flow of traffic onto the highway.

 

 

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 Bray, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Dylan Zelazo, Chief of Staff, and Michael Burns, Traffic Engineering Supervisor, requesting that they look at whether additional lighting is needed on Cottage Street, at Pole 93.

 

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR HODGE. 

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to prepare an ordinance to repeal Section § 351-62 of the Pawtucket Code of Ordinances, to be referred to the ordinance committee.

 

 

 

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Hodge, the meeting is adjourned at 8:02 p.m. in memory of James Robbins.