City Council, February 22, 2017

 

 

A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council is held Wednesday, February 22, 2017, at 7:16 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI. 

 

Present – President Moran, Councilors Barry, Kallman, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault, Vitali and Wildenhain

 

Absent – Councilor Cano.

 

President Moran presides.

 

The reading of the records of February 8, 2017 is dispensed with and the records are APPROVED as prepared by the Clerk.

 

THE COUNCIL RECESSES AT 7:18 P.M. TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE:

 

AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE 2017 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND REPEALING CHAPTER 2958 OF THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET AND ANY AMENDMENTS THERETO IN THEIR ENTIRETY

 

THE COUNCIL RECONVENES AT 7:24 P.M.

 

COUNCILOR CANO ARRIVES AT 7:24 P.M.

 

 

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

 

*THE FOLLOWING COMMUNICATIONS ARE READ AND ORDERED FILED:

 

7	A.    Various Forms & Statements from Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank.
611	B.     Communication from Jeannine S. Bourski, Deputy Finance Director, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (FY17 Medical Fund Report)
652	C.     Communication from Kenneth R. McGill, Board of Canvassers Registrar, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Election Task Force Meetings)
028	E.     Communication from Cheryl A. Fernstrom, CMC, Jamestown Town Clerk, to the Burrillville Town Council. (Opposition to the Siting of the Clear River Energy Center Power Plant in Burrillville, RI)
589	F.      Communication from Joshua Choiniere, to the Honorable Mayor Donald R. Grebien. (Resignation from the Pawtucket Library Board of Trustees)
028	G.    Resolution from the Town of Westerly in Opposition of the Federal Railroad Administration’s Proposal for an Alternative Route for the Northeast Corridor
** 1	H.    Communication from Police Chief Paul King, to the Honorable David P. Moran. (Response - Procedures for Dealing with Adults with Psychological Disabilities)
** 2	I.       Communication from Fire Chief William J. Sisson, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Response - Procedures for Dealing with Adults with Psychological Disabilities)
** 28	K.    Communication from Jan Brodie, Executive Director, Pawtucket Foundation, to Richard J. Goldstein, MMC, City Clerk. (Response - Restaurant Week)
** 590	L.     Communication from the Honorable Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Response – Restaurant Week)
611	O.    Communication from Jeannine S. Bourski, Deputy Finance Director, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (FY17 Equipment Lease List Authorization)
	P.      Resolution Authorizing the Director of Finance to Seek a Lease Purchase Agreement for the FY17 Equipment Lease List. IS REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
	Q.    Communication from Richard J. Goldstein, MMC, City Clerk, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Public Safety Director Job Description) IS REFEREED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE AD HOC COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY
	R.     Communication from the Honorable Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable David P. Moran. (Public Safety Director) IS REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND AD HOC COMMITTEE ON PUBLIC SAFETY
	S.      THE FOLLOWING CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY IS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS: Bruce Burns by Allstate Insurance - $9,195.26 Vanessa Kromah (Eabiekromah) – Pending Estimates Sidney Rodrigues - $130.00 Jeffrey Robbins – Pending Estimates Kristel Threats by Orabona Law Offices - $1,000,000.00

 

 

**	TAKEN OFF CONSENT AGENDA FOR COMMENTS ONLY, NO OTHER ACTION TAKEN.

 

 

 

590	D.    Communication from the Honorable Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Pawtucket Marijuana Task Force) 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 Councilors Vitali and Mercer, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to the Pawtucket Board of Appeals regarding three requests for special use permits for the growing of marijuana to be heard by the board on February 27.  In light of the mayor’s forming a new Pawtucket Marijuana Task Force, the city council requested that the board postpone any decisions on these applications for at least 30 days to give the new task force some time to come up with recommendations on this matter.

 

 

651	J.       Communication from Shaun W. Strobel, Treasurer, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Response – Mitigation Revenue Reporting) is READ AND ORDERED FILED.

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MERCER.

 

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

 

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Shaun Strobel, Treasurer, requesting that he get from the Dawson Group a breakdown of all mitigation fees billed and all revenues collected over the past fiscal year.  In addition, going forward the council is requesting that the rescue revenue that is reported quarterly be broken down to show the mitigation portion of the revenues separately from the rescue revenues.    

 

 

 

 

614	M.   Communication from William Ankner, Public Works Director, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (GPS Update) is READ AND ORDERED FILED.

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR RUDD.

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Mayor Donald R. Grebien, requesting to know how many vehicles are currently being taken home and who has them.  They also want to know the date when the GPS pilot program will begin.

 

 

 

59590

N.                Communication from the Honorable Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Bishop Keough School) is READ AND ORDERED FILED.

 

Councilor Rudd is requesting a communication be sent to Mayor Donald R. Grebien requesting to know when the walkthrough at the Bishop Keough School will be held.

 

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR RUDD.

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to the Rhode Island Department of Transportation, requesting that graffiti on a sign leading up to Exit 26 on Rte. 95N be removed.

 

 

 

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

 

PARKS COMMISSION

 

589      Bjarke Carstensen, 98 Blodgett Avenue, Pawtucket, RI 02860. Term expires the first Monday in August, 2020, 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, Cano, Kallman, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault, Vitali and Wildenhain.

 

NOES - 0.

 

 

PARKS COMMISSION

 

Bjarke Carstensen, 98 Blodgett Avenue, Pawtucket, RI 02860. Term expires the first Monday in August, 2020.

 

 

 

 

 

THE FOLLOWING PETITIONS TO BE ELECTED WEIGHERS OF MERCHANDISE (2 Year Terms) ARE APPROVED ON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE:

 

Adam Sinel

Charles R. Sinel

Samuel S. Sinel

 

 

609      Communication from Christopher Montalto, Engineering Supervisor, Distribution Design, National Grid, to the Pawtucket City Council, requesting a new pole at Columbus Avenue, IS APPROVED PENDING THE APPROVAL OF THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT.

 

 

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

 

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Barry, Cano, Kallman, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault, Vitali and Wildenhain.

 

NOES - 0.

 

588      RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING MARCH 2017 AND EACH SUCCESSIVE MARCH TO BE: WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH IN THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND

 

 

 

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

 

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Barry, Cano, Kallman, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault, Vitali and Wildenhain.

 

NOES - 0.

 

330      AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 40 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996, ENTITLED “FUNDS” (Repeal of Discontinued Funds)

 

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MERCER.

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Barry, the following ordinance is POSTPONED, on a unanimous voice vote:

 

AN ORDINANCE ADOPTING THE 2017 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN AND REPEALING CHAPTER 2958 OF THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET AND ANY AMENDMENTS THERETO IN THEIR ENTIRETY

 

 

 

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Barry, the meeting is adjourned at 8:17 p.m., in memory of Francisco Luis Espinoza, Robert K. Neill, Sr. and Steve Kapalka.