City Council, May 11, 2016

 

A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council is held Wednesday, May 11, 2016, at 7:43 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI. 

 

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

 

Absent – President Moran and Councilor Cano.

 

President Pro-Tempore Hodge presides.

 

 

The reading of the records of April 12 and 20, 2016 is dispensed with and the records are APPROVED as prepared by the Clerk.

 

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

 

*THE FOLLOWING COMMUNICATIONS ARE READ AND ORDERED FILED:

 

028	A.    Resolution from the Smithfield School Committee Regarding Gun Free Schools.
028	B.     Resolution from the Town of East Greenwich Opposing S 2263 and H 8080 Relating to Elections and School Closings.
7	C.     Various Forms and Statements from Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank
028	D.    Communication from Emma E. Miniati, to All Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Objection to Closing Fire Station 3 at McCoy Stadium)
592	E.     Communication from Barney S. Heath, Director, Planning & Redevelopment, and Robert W. Burns, Tax Assessor, to Steve Eddleston, RISMA-NMS Fitness LLC d/b/a Planet Fitness.  (Tangible Equipment Five Year Tax Stabilization Approval)
590	F.      Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Tiger Grant Application and Blackstone Valley Revitalization Act)
	G.    Communication from Janu Memon, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, requesting to change the zone from RM to CG for the property at 361-367 Fountain Street/373 Fountain Street and 7-9 Gooding Street.  (AP7 L1 & 452) IS REFERRED TO THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE AND A PUBLIC HEARING IS SET FOR JUNE 8, 2016
623	H.    Communication from Don Zimmerman, Human Resources Director, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Animal Shelter Reorganization)
	I.       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.  (Animal Shelter Reorganization) – IS LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
590	J.       Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, submitting the FY17 Budget.
	K.    ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET ORDINANCE 2016-2017 – IS LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND A PUBLIC HEARING IS FOR MAY 25, 2016
	L.     CAPITAL BUDGET ORDINANCE 2016-2017 – IS LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
	M.   CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM ORDINANCE 2017-2021 – IS LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
	N.    AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 88 OF THE REVISED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996, ENTITLED “SALARIES AND COMPENSATION” (BOARDS AND COMMISSIONS) – IS LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
	O.    AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 50 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996, ENTITLED “OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES” (DUTIES OF THE ZONING DIRECTOR) – IS LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.
	P.      THE FOLLOWING CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY IS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS: Jean Bandiaky - $148.65 Henry Corcoran, by Thomas E. Sparks, Esq. – No Amount Specified Lisa Corcoran, by Thomas E. Sparks, Esq. – No Amount Specified Davy A. Houn, by Kevin S. Cotter, Esq. - $100,000 Richard Fernandes - $631.67 Paul Jutras - $677.54/$695.53 Ricardo Romero, by Progressive Northern Insurance - $6,380.90 Justin Salisbury - $162.56

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR RUDD.

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Frank J. Milos, Jr., Esq., City Solicitor, requesting that he provide the council with a legal opinion and also seek an opinion from the Ethics Commission on whether there is any conflict of interest with the city’s assistant city solicitor having her personal office located in a non-profit building that receives CDBG money approved by the city’s administration, seeing that the assistant solicitor works under the umbrella of the administration and receives a city pay check.

 

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

 

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

 

NOES - 0.

 

588      RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING JOHN BENROS FOR HIS OUTSTANDING ACHIEVEMENT IN THE BOSTON MARATHON

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MERCER.

 

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

 

590      Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Columbus Avenue Fire Station)

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Barry, the following communication is READ AND ORDERED FILED:

 

Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Columbus Avenue Fire Station)

 

591      PRESIDENT PRO-TEMPORE HODGE APPOINTS COUNCILORS MERCER AND BARRY TO WORK WITH THE ADMINISTRATION REGARDING THE COLUMBUS AVENUE FIRE STATION.

 

 

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

 

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

 

NOES - 0.

 

588      RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING MAY 21, 2016, TO BE “21 HEROES DAY” IN MEMORY OF THE BRAVE YOUNG PAWTUCKET MEN WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES DURING THE VIETNAM WAR AS WELL AS VETERANS WHO PUT THEIR LIVES ON THE LINE DURING THE VIETNAM WAR.

 

 

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

 

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

 

NOES - 0.

 

588      RESOLUTION DESIGNATING THE SECOND FULL WEEK IN MAY TO BE “WOMEN’S LUNG HEALTH WEEK”

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN.

 

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

 

591      Communication from Sandra Cano, Councilor-At-Large, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, requesting that the council ask the planning department to hold a public hearing regarding RIPTA’s Pawtucket Transit Hub relocation.

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by Councilor Mercer, the following communication is READ AND ORDERED FILED AND FORWARDED TO BARNEY HEATH:

 

Communication from Sandra Cano, Councilor-At-Large, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, requesting that the council ask the planning department to hold a public hearing regarding RIPTA’s Pawtucket Transit Hub relocation.

 

 

592      Communication from Susan Mara, Assistant Director, Planning & Redevelopment, to the Pawtucket City Council.  (Applications for RIDEM Grants) is READ AND ORDERED FILED.

 

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

 

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

 

NOES - 0.

 

588      RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SUBMISSION OF SEVEN APPLICATIONS TO THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT FOR 2016 RHODE ISLAND RECREATION ACQUISITION & DEVELOPMENT GRANTS.

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IS POSTPONED ON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE:

 

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE PAWTUCKET REVIVAL SQUAD TO USE THE CITY-OWNED PLOT OF LAND ABUTTING THE RIVER SIDE OF TAFT STREET (AP54 L827) FOR A COMMUNITY GARDEN.

 

 

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, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault and Wildenhain.

 

NOES - 0.

 

330      AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 3046 OF THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET ESTABLISHING A PAY PLAN FOR UNIFORM MEMBERS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT July 1, 2013-June 30, 2016.

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BARRY.

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to the administration, the Pawtucket Water Supply Board and the Narragansett Bay Commission regarding promotional pieces from American Water Resources regarding sewer and water line protection.   He assumed that this company was doing this in association with the city’s water and sewer companies, but found out that they are not.  He is seeking assistance to find the best way to notify users that this company is not being recommended by the water and sewer companies, so that they will not be confused into buying something that they otherwise would not.  One suggestion he made was to put a letter in the water and sewer bills notifying the users that these promotions are not being done in conjunction with or with the support of the NBC or the PWSB.

 

 

 

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, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault and Wildenhain.

 

NOES - 0.

 

Earl Dunlap - $180.02

Ezequiel Goncalves (First claim) - $150.65

Jerel Rodrigues - $147.33

Jennifer Marques - $130.00

Ezequiel Goncalves (Second claim) - $150.65

 

 

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:

 

Lindsey Cotoia - $115.71

 

 

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:

 

Carlton Vose, Esq. - $100,000.00

Exoduc Construction LLC by Mark T. Romano, Esq. for Selective Insurance - $11,198.73

Kenneth Desantis, Jr. – Estimate $20,000.00

 

 

 

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, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault and Wildenhain.

 

NOES - 0.

 

Susan L. Lopes by Thomas E. Sparks – No Amount Specified

Carolyn/Robert Palo - $213.70

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MERCER.

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, requesting that the administration put out an RFP to get official estimates on the cost of repairing Fire Station 3 on Columbus Avenue. 

 

 

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Bray, seconded by the Councilor Rudd, the meeting is adjourned at 8:05 p.m.