City Council, September 12, 2017
A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council is held Wednesday, September 12, 2017, at 6:30 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.
Present – President Moran, Councilors Barry, Kallman, Mercer, Tetreault, Vitali and Wildenhain
Absent – Councilors Cano and Rudd.
President Moran presides.
Communication from Council President, David P. Moran, calling a Special Session of the City Council on Tuesday, September 12, 2017, at 6:00 p.m., is READ AND ORDERED FILED.
COUNCILOR RUDD ARRIVES AT 6:32 P.M.
643 Communication from Elizabeth A. Del Padre, Legal Council, RI Ethics Advisory Panel, to Joel J. Votolato, Esq. (Ethics Advisory Panel Opinion No. 2017-04, Request No. 1051 – Legal Counsel to City Council) is READ AND ORDERED FILED.
The following agreement is APPROVED on a roll call vote, as follows:
AYES – President Moran, Councilors Barry, Mercer, Rudd, Tetreault, and Wildenhain.
NOES – Councilors Kallman and Vitali.
Consent Agreement and Waiver between Joel J. Votolato, Esq. and the Pawtucket City Council.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MERCER.
Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Barry, the agenda is amended to include the following communications on a unanimous voice vote:
028 Communication from Patricia St. Germain, to Council President David P. Moran. (Support of a Public Safety Director)
028 Communication from Steven G. O’Donnell, Retired Superintendent, RI State Police, Commissioner of the RI Department of Public Safety, to the Pawtucket City Council. (Support of a Public Safety Director)
Communication from Peter T. Gaynor, Director, RI EMA, to the Pawtucket City Council. (Support of a Public Safety Director)
Communication from PJ Fox II, Executive Director, Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence, to the Pawtucket City Council. (Support of a Public Safety Director)
Communication from Joseph Asermely, to the Pawtucket City Council. (Support of a Public Safety Director)
Communication from Larry Halloway, to the Pawtucket City Council. (Support of a Public Safety Director)
Communication from Arthur Plitt, to Council President David P. Moran. (Support of a Public Safety Director)
Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Barry, the following communications are READ AND ORDERED FILED:
028 Communication from Patricia St. Germain, to Council President David P. Moran. (Support of a Public Safety Director)
028 Communication from Steven G. O’Donnell, Retired Superintendent, RI State Police, Commissioner of the RI Department of Public Safety, to the Pawtucket City Council. (Support of a Public Safety Director)
028 Communication from Peter T. Gaynor, Director, RI EMA, to the Pawtucket City Council. (Support of a Public Safety Director)
028 Communication from PJ Fox II, Executive Director, Institute for the Study and Practice of Nonviolence, to the Pawtucket City Council. (Support of a Public Safety Director)
028 Communication from Joseph Asermely, to the Pawtucket City Council. (Support of a Public Safety Director)
028 Communication from Larry Halloway, to the Pawtucket City Council. (Support of a Public Safety Director)
028 Communication from Arthur Plitt, to Council President David P. Moran. (Support of a Public Safety Director)
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MERCER.
Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Barry, the agenda is amended to include the following communication, which the clerk reads into the record, on a unanimous voice vote:
Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien and the Honorable David P. Moran, Council President (Compromise regarding Public Safety Director Position)
Dear Honorable Members:
We write to you today to inform you that we have reached the framework of an understanding regarding the ongoing debate surrounding the creation of a full-time Public Safety Director position. We believe this compromise laid out herein addresses both the City Council's concerns regarding the idea of a standalone position and achieves the increased and specialized focus on improving public safety sought by the Administration. We believe this compromise is in the best interest of the taxpayers of Pawtucket.
Both of us served together on the Council and remember the day the Council and Administration were at odds over the water treatment facility. When all was said and done, the legal costs exceeded $50,000 before a compromise was reached. Neither of us wants to force the taxpayers to foot a large bill for legal expenses, and we hope you will agree that the more prudent course of action is to work together in the spirit of cooperation to improve the administration of our Public Safety Department and save taxpayer money over the proposed structure. Instead of seeking to create a standalone public safety director, we will propose to the full Council that the position of Director of Administration continue to undertake the duties of Public Safety Director with a salary level commensurate with that director's experience, required skills, and level of responsibility. This role will be filled by Col. James Vartanian (U.S. Army, Ret.), who will be formally introduced to the city this Thursday after an extensive search process. We agree that additional focus is needed on public safety, both on the streets and in our administrative offices. Accordingly, in order to free up Director Vartanian to devote an increased amount of attention to public safety issues, more focus on the day-to-day operations of the City will need to fall to a proposed new position - Deputy Director of Administration.
In addition to an increased focus on public safety services, the Administration and-the City Council have broad agreement that we need to do more in the realm of community-based policing. To this end, we will cooperatively seek additional ways to better engage with our diverse community and are grateful to have experienced individuals like Fire Chief Sisson and Police Chief Goncalves.
This proposed reorganization framework is just that, a framework, and we respectfully ask for the full Council's consideration of that framework and for your help firming up the final details in the coming weeks. In the spirit of cooperation, with this proposed compromise on the table, we ask that you not vote to initiate the legal challenge you are scheduled to consider at this Tuesday's special meeting. We would like to thank Councilor Mercer for his assistance in reaching this proposed compromise. We look forward to continued cooperation by both the Administration and the Council on behalf of our neighbors and in the best interest of the community we represent.
Sincerely,
Donald R. Grebien, Mayor and David P. Moran, Council President
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR VITALI.
Upon motion made by Councilor Vitali, seconded by Councilor Barry, the following communication is READ AND ORDERED FILED, on a unanimous voice vote:
590 Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien and the Honorable David P. Moran, Council President (Compromise regarding Public Safety Director Position)
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MERCER.
A motion made by Councilor Mercer to enter into Executive Session pursuant to § 42-46-4 and § 42-46-5 (A)(2) of the General Laws of the State of Rhode Island regarding pending/potential litigation and legal challenge in relation to the compensation of a Director of Public Safety, is taken up.
Discussion ensues regarding whether it is necessary to enter into Executive Session at this time.
Councilor Mercer withdraws his motion.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MERCER.
Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Vitali, the following matter is POSTPONED INDEFINITELY on a unanimous voice vote:
Discussion of potential litigation and legal challenge in relation to the compensation of a Director of Public Safety.
THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IS TAKEN UP:
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY COUNCIL’S ATTORNEY TO INITIATE A LEGAL CHALLENGE IN RELATION TO THE COMPENSATION OF A DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MERCER.
Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilors Barry, Vitali, and Kallman, the following resolution is POSTPONED INDEFINITELY on a unanimous voice vote:
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY COUNCIL’S ATTORNEY TO INITIATE A LEGAL CHALLENGE IN RELATION TO THE COMPENSATION OF A DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY
Upon motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by the Entire City Council, the meeting is adjourned at 7:08 p.m. in memory of David W. Boisclair.