City Council, August 23, 2018

A special session of the Pawtucket City Council is held Thursday, August 23, 2018, at 5:08 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.

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

Absent – Councilor Vitali.

President Moran presides.

591 Communication from Council President David P. Moran, calling a Special Session of the City Council on Thursday, August 23, 2018, at 5:00 p.m., is READ AND ORDERED FILED.

The following resolution is taken up:

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO EXTEND THE OPERATING LEASE WITH WASTE CONNECTIONS US, INC., FOR THE TRANSFER STATION AT GROTTO AVENUE THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 2019.

Eric Earls, Public Works Director, and Angelo Calcagni, Waste Connections US, Inc. (WCI), discuss the resolution and the letter attached to the resolution.

Upon questioning from the Council, Mr. Earls states that WCI is looking to extend the transfer station lease for another six months. He reviews the letter stating what WCI needs to operate the facility.

He states that one of the retaining walls is leaning. It would cost $90,000 to repair or WCI has proposed renting an excavator for $8,200 per month for the six months.

Mr. Calcagni states that the $8,200 will pay for the rental and fuel for the excavator. He states that with the excavator, they will still be using the loader.

Mr. Earls states that they will also have to raise the loading area, even if they use the excavator.

As far as other repairs go, he states that they are awaiting a schedule of needed repairs from RIDEM. Until they get it, they don’t know what RIDEM will prioritize and when the work will need to be done.

The Council asks about paying fees over the next six months.

Mr. Calcagni responds that although WCI will not be paying fees to the city over that time, they are transporting trash to the Johnston landfill at no cost to the city.

Councilor Wildenhain expresses his concern about rodent control at the facility.

Councilor Rudd asks about paving the access road.

Mr. Earls states that there have been no negotiations about who will pay for the paving.

The Council asks about approving the resolution for the 6-month extension, but holding off on approving the expenses until the city gets the RIDEM timetable.

Mr. Calcagni responds that WCI is concerned about the health and safety of their employees. They need to pave a portion of the pit raised and ensure the condition of the wall.

Councilor Mercer asks if approving the $8,200 per month for six months for the excavator plus $29,800 to pave the pit is good for now.

Mr. Calcagni responds that it’s a solution.

Regarding rodent control, he states that they have an exterminator come every two weeks, but they can probably step that up.

Councilor Rudd wants the trash picked up every day.

Mr. Calcagni states that it could be a problem if the equipment breaks down around 5:00 p.m.

Councilor Rudd is concerned that the provisions of the contract are not being upheld.

Councilors Araujo and Kallman express their concerns about rodent control and want to have a plan in place.

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MERCER.

With majority consent of the Council, Councilor Mercer proposes the following amendment to the above resolution:

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE PAWTUCKET CITY COUNCIL DOES HEREBY AUTHORIZE THE EXPENDITURE OF UP TO ~~$250,000~~ $80,000 FOR SAFETY AND OPERATIONAL IMPROVEMENTS TO THE GROTTO AVENUE TRANSFER STATION ~~AND OTHER IMPROVEMENTS REQUIRED BY RIDEM AS PART OF THEIR LICENSING RENEWAL PROCESS~~

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT WASTE CONNECTIONS US, INC. AND THE DIVISION OF ZONING AND CODE ENFORCEMENT WILL WORK TOGETHER TO INITIATE A PLAN FOR WEEKLY RODENT CONTROL AT THE GROTTO AVENUE TRANSFER STATION; SAID PLAN TO BE PROVIDED TO THE CITY COUNCIL NO LATER THAN SEPTEMBER 5, 2018

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Barry, the following amendment is APPROVED, on a roll call vote, as follows:

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

NOES – 0.

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Araujo, the following resolution is READ AND PASSED, AS AMENDED, on a roll call vote, as follows:

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

NOES – 0.

588 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO EXTEND THE OPERATING LEASE WITH WASTE CONNECTIONS US, INC., FOR THE TRANSFER STATION AT GROTTO AVENUE THROUGH FEBRUARY 28, 2019, AS AMENDED

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR KALLMAN.

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

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Eric Earls, Director of Public Works and Dylan Zelazo, Deputy Director of Administration, requesting that they provide the council with estimates of what it would cost for the city to:

take over the operation of the transfer station
take over the operations of the transfer station and trash pick-up

Also, the council requests an update on the RFP for solar/clean energy services, which was put in this year's budget.

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN.

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

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Police Chief Tina Goncalves requesting that she instruct the patrol officers who cover Bucklin Street to pay close attention for speeding on the street. They did not ask for detail officers; they only want the patrol officers to watch for and tag speeders on and around that street. A report on the number of people ticketed for speeding at that location is requested after four weeks.

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Tetreault, the meeting is adjourned at 6:01 p.m.