City Council, June 8, 2016

 

 

A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council is held Wednesday, June 8, 2016, at 7:10 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI. 

 

Present – President Pro-Tempore Hodge, Councilors Barry, Bray, Cano, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault and Wildenhain.

 

Absent – President Moran.

 

President Pro-Tempore Hodge presides.

 

 

THE COUNCIL RECESSES IMMEDIATELY TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FOLLOWING:

 

AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 2958 OF THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND, AMENDING THE 2011 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.  (Amendment from Residential Multifamily (RM) to Commercial General (CG) for 361-367 Fountain Street/373 Fountain Street and 7-9 Gooding Street (Assessor’s Plat 7 Lots 1 and 452)

 

AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 410 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET 1996, ENTITLED “ZONING” (Amendment from Residential Multifamily (RM) to Commercial General (CG) for 361-367 Fountain Street/373 Fountain Street and 7-9 Gooding Street (Assessor’s Plat 7 Lots 1 and 452)

 

THE COUNCIL RECONVENES AT 7:28 P.M.

 

 

The reading of the records of May 25, 2016 and June 1, 2016 is dispensed with and the records are APPROVED as prepared by the Clerk.

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Barry, seconded by Councilor Rudd, the *Consent Agenda is APPROVED, on a unanimous voice vote.

 

 

*THE FOLLOWING COMMUNICATIONS ARE READ AND ORDERED FILED:

 

 

061		Communication from Joanna L’Heureux, Finance Director, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Statement of Estimated, Realized and Unrealized Revenues for the Fiscal Period July 1, 2015 through April 30, 2016)
028		Various Forms and Statements from RI Infrastructure Bank.
611		Communication from Jeannine S. Bourski, Deputy Finance Director, to His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien.  (Uniform Overtime FY16)
590		Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Reappointment of Robert Ricci to the Pawtucket Housing Authority – Term expires July 14, 2021)
028		Resolution from Exeter-West Greenwich School Committee in support of Gun Free Schools.
028		Communication from Lynn M. Hawkins, Town of Exeter, to the Honorable Gina M. Raimondo, Governor, State of Rhode Island.  (Exeter Town Council Resolution No. 2016-07 – Extending the Time between Revaluations)
590		Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Response – Fire Station 3)
2		Communication from William Sisson, Fire Chief, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Response – Tanker Cars along Concord Street)
611		Communication from Joanna L’Heureux, Finance Director, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (St. Leo’s School)
		RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FINANCE DIRECTOR TO USE $100,000 OF THE FY2016 SURPLUS TO PAY THE FY2017 PAYMENT FOR THE PURCHASE OF ST. LEO’S SCHOOL. – IS REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
		RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET APPROVING THE FINANCING OF THE ACQUISITION, CONSTRUCTION, EQUIPPING, AND INSTALLATION OF ENERGY EFFICIENCY IMPROVEMENTS IN MUNICIPAL BUILDINGS AND LED OUTDOOR LIGHTING AND ALL ATTENDANT EXPENSES, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO ENGINEERING COSTS AND APPROVING THE FINANCING THEREOF THROUGH THE ISSUANCE OF GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS AND/OR NOTES IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $4,100,000 – IS REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
		RESOLUTION DESIGNATING THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET AS A PACE MUNICIPALITY AND APPROVING THE C-PACE AGREEMENT – IS REFERRED TO THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE.
		AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 2958 OF THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND, AMENDING TO THE 2011 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN (Amendment from Manufacturing/Industrial Open (MO) to Commercial Downtown (CD) Zoning District:  280 Pine Street, Assessors Plat 44 Lot 559) – IS LAID ON THE TABLE AND A PUBLIC HEARING IS SET FOR JUNE 22, 2016.
		AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 410 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET 1996, ENTITLED “ZONING” (Amendment from Manufacturing/Industrial Open (MO) to Commercial Downtown (CD) Zoning District:  280 Pine Street, Assessors Plat 44 Lot 559) – IS LAID ON THE TABLE AND A PUBLIC HEARING IS SET FOR JUNE 22, 2016.
		THE FOLLOWING CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY TO BE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS: Donna Boury - $150.87/$175.00 Susan d’Oliveira - $400.00 Valerie Thomas, by Progressive Insurance - $3,783.32
	Communication from Rob Roy, Recycling and Sustainability Administrator, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Energy Efficiency Bond with RI Infrastructure Bank) IS READ AND ORDERED FILED AND REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

 

 

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 Robert Roy, Recycling and Sustainability Administrator, requesting that he provide the Council with parameters of the new small business recycling pick-up program, which was described in the Mayor’s newsletter.  Specifically, the Council wants to know:

What constitutes an eligible small business under this program?

What assurances are there that no non-recyclables will be included in the materials left out for pick-up by the businesses?

What are the costs to and offsets for the city for this program?

 

 

Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, submitting the following appointment to the Advisory Commission on Arts and Culture, for CONFIRMATION:

 

ADVISORY COMMISSION ON ARTS AND CULTURE

 

589      Rich Watrous, 250 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI.  Term expires the first Monday in October, 2016.  (To fill the unexpired term of Michelle Cruz) 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 Pro-Tempore Hodge, Councilors Barry, Bray, Cano, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault and Wildenhain.

 

NOES - 0.

 

ADVISORY COMMISSION ON ARTS AND CULTURE

 

Rich Watrous, 250 Main Street, Pawtucket, RI.  Term expires the first Monday in October, 2016.  (To fill the unexpired term of Michelle Cruz)

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IS READ AND PASSED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

AYES – President Pro-Tempore Hodge, Councilors Barry, Bray, Cano, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault and Wildenhain.

 

NOES - 0.

 

588      RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO ENTER INTO AGREEMENTS WITH NATIONAL GRID PERTAINING TO MAX READ FIELD (Easement agreement, Surplus Soil Access Agreement, and Drainage Access Agreement)

 

 

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

 

AYES – President Pro-Tempore Hodge, Councilors Barry, Bray, Cano, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault and Wildenhain.

 

NOES - 0.

 

588      RESOLUTION DESIGNATING JUNE, 2016 AS IMMIGRANT HERITAGE MONTH.

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MERCER.

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Dylan Zelazo, Chief of Staff, requesting that the Department of Public Works looks into ensuring that the city has accurate and up-to-date records of all veterans’ memorials on the streets corners and throughout Pawtucket.  The council believes there should be a single list of all these memorials/plaques with all the names and locations listed.

 

 

The following ordinance is read for the SECOND TIME and PASSED on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

AYES – President Pro-Tempore Hodge, Councilors Barry, Bray, Cano, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault and Wildenhain.

 

NOES - 0.

 

330      AN ORDINANCE ESTABLISHING A PAY PLAN FOR THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET FOR UNIFORM MEMBERS OF THE POLICE AND REPEALING CHAPTER 3080 IN ITS ENTIRETY July 1, 2014-June 30, 2016

 

 

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, requesting that he stop people going door to door without a permit from the Council.

 

There are several people going door-to-door on behalf of an electric company trying to convince people to replace National Grid as their supplier of electricity.  While it is legal to offer an alternative source of electricity, it is a violation of our ordinances for a company to send people door-to-door without first getting a permit from the city.  Once a company is permitted, those individuals authorized to sell on their behalf will get an ID card from the city clerk’s office.  Unless specifically exempted by our city ordinance, no one may go door-to-door without a city ID card. 

 

 

The following ordinance is read for the SECOND TIME and PASSED on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

AYES – President Pro-Tempore Hodge, Councilors Barry, Bray, Cano, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault and Wildenhain.

 

NOES - 0.

 

330      AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 3059 OF THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET ESTABLISHING A PAY PLAN FOR THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET FOR LOCAL 1012 (Water Finance Assistant)

 

 

The following ordinance is read for the SECOND TIME and PASSED on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

AYES – President Pro-Tempore Hodge, Councilors Barry, Bray, Cano, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault and Wildenhain.

 

NOES - 0.

 

 

330      AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 88 OF THE REVISED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996, ENTITLED “SALARIES AND COMPENSATION” (BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS)

 

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 Pro-Tempore Hodge, Councilors Barry, Bray, Cano, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault and Wildenhain.

 

NOES - 0.

 

AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 2583 OF THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, ADJUSTING THE SALARIES OF MEMBERS OF BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS, WHICH ARE ALREADY PAID, BY 50% OF THE AVERAGE OF THE CONSUMER PRICE INDEX INCREASE BEGINNING JANUARY, 2017 AND EVERY TWO YEARS THEREAFTER.

 

 

THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCES ARE TAKEN UP:

 

AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 2958 OF THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND, AMENDING THE 2011 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.  (Amendment from Residential Multifamily (RM) to Commercial General (CG) for 361-367 Fountain Street/373 Fountain Street and 7-9 Gooding Street (Assessor’s Plat 7 Lots 1 and 452)

 

AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 410 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET 1996, ENTITLED “ZONING” (Amendment from Residential Multifamily (RM) to Commercial General (CG) for 361-367 Fountain Street/373 Fountain Street and 7-9 Gooding Street (Assessor’s Plat 7 Lots 1 and 452)

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR RUDD.

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Rudd, seconded by the Entire City Council, these ordinances are POSTPONED on a unanimous voice vote.

 

 

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 Pro-Tempore Hodge, Councilors Barry, Bray, Cano, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault and Wildenhain.

 

NOES - 0.

 

Paul Jutras $300.00

Beverly Valentine - $125.00

 

 

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:

 

Robert Goff by Amica Insurance - $740.67

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS, THE FOLLOWING CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY ARE REFERRED TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT/RHODE ISLAND INTERLOCAL TRUST FOR FURTHER REVIEW, ON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE:

 

Paul Charette by Brian Goldberg, Esq. - No Amount Specified

Henry Corcoran by Thomas E. Sparks, Esq. – No Amount Specified

Lisa Corcoran by Thomas E. Sparks, Esq. – No Amount Specified

Sean J. Gannon by Joel J. Votolato, Esq. – No Amount Specified

Davy A. Houn by Kevin S. Cotter, Esq. - $100,000.00

 

 

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

 

AYES – President Pro-Tempore Hodge, Councilors Barry, Bray, Cano, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault and Wildenhain.

 

NOES - 0.

 

 

Jean Bandiaky - $148.65

Carlos Arias - $1,750.00/$1,9090.00

Lindsey Cotoia - $115.71

Ricardo Romero by Progressive Northern Insurance Company - $6,380.90

 

 

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

 

AYES – President Pro-Tempore Hodge, Councilors Barry, Bray, Cano, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault and Wildenhain.

 

NOES - 0.

 

 

Bernadette Tavares - $225.33/$272.75

Richard Fernandes - $631.67

Justin Salisbury - $162.56

 

 

THE FOLLOWING CLAIM IS WITHDRAWN BY THE CLAIMANT:

 

Janice Rooney - $5,521.84

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BARRY.

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Barry, seconded by Councilor Wildenhain, the agenda is amended to include the following communication:

 

Communication from Robert Roy, Recycling and Sustainability Administrator, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (LED Lighting)

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Barry, seconded by Councilor Wildenhain, the following communication is READ AND ORDERED FILED and REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE on a unanimous voice vote:

 

Communication from Robert Roy, Recycling and Sustainability Administrator, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (LED Lighting)

 

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Barry, seconded by Councilor Wildenhain, the meeting is adjourned at 8:01 p.m.