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City Council, March 5, 2018

A special session of the Pawtucket City Council is held Monday, March 5, 2018, at 6:46 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.

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

Absent – 0.

President Moran presides.

591 Communication from Council President Pro-Tempore, Terrence E. Mercer, calling a Special Session of the City Council at the request of at least one-third of the City Council members, on Monday, March 5, 2018, at 6:30 p.m. is READ AND ORDERED FILED.

590 Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Operation of Grotto Avenue Transfer Station) IS READ AND ORDERED FILED.

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR RUDD.

Upon motion made by Councilor Rudd, seconded by Councilor Mercer, the agenda is amended to include the following communication on a unanimous voice vote:

028 Communication from Patricia St. Germain, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Grotto Avenue Transfer Station)

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

Communication from Patricia St. Germain, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Grotto Avenue Transfer Station)

The following resolution is taken up:

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN EXTENSION OF THE OPERATIONAL LEASE WITH LINK ENVIRONMENTAL FOR THE TRANSFER STATION AT GROTTO AVENUE.

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MERCER.

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Vitali, the following amendment to the above resolution is introduced on a unanimous voice vote:

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE PAWTUCKET CITY COUNCIL DOES HEREBY AUTHORIZE THE CITY TO ENTER INTO A ~~ONE-YEAR~~ SIX-MONTH EXTENSION OF THE OPERATING LEASE WITH LINK ENVIRONMENTAL – TO RUN RETROACTIVELY FROM MARCH 1, 2018 THROUGH AUGUST 31, 2018 - WHICH REMOVES THE REQUIRED OBLIGATIONS FOR THE MONTHLY COMMITMENT PAYMENT TO THE CITY AND WAIVES THE OPERATOR’S QUARTERLY HOST PAYMENTS FOR THE FIRST 350 TONS PER DAY OF NON-CITY WASTE TAKEN INTO THE FACILITY. ~~, EFFECTIVE MARCH 1, 2018~~

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT THE COUNCIL URGES THE MAYOR’S OFFICE TO ISSUE A “REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS” FOR QUALIFIED BIDDERS TO OPERATE THE FACILITY UNDER AN INITIAL 12-MONTH LEASE COMMENCING SEPTEMBER 1, 2018.

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR KALLMAN.

Upon motion made by Councilor Kallman, seconded by Councilors Barry, Cano, and Vitali, the following amendment to the above amendment on the floor is introduced and APPROVED on a roll call vote, as follows:

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

NOES – Councilors Mercer, Tetreault, and Wildenhain.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE PAWTUCKET CITY COUNCIL DOES HEREBY AUTHORIZE THE CITY TO ENTER INTO A ~~ONE-YEAR~~ ~~SIX~~ THREE-MONTH EXTENSION OF THE OPERATING LEASE WITH LINK ENVIRONMENTAL – TO RUN RETROACTIVELY FROM MARCH 1, 2018 THROUGH ~~AUGUST 31, 2018~~ MAY 31, 2018- WHICH REMOVES THE REQUIRED OBLIGATIONS FOR THE MONTHLY COMMITMENT PAYMENT TO THE CITY AND WAIVES THE OPERATOR’S QUARTERLY HOST PAYMENTS FOR THE FIRST 350 TONS PER DAY OF NON-CITY WASTE TAKEN INTO THE FACILITY. ~~, EFFECTIVE MARCH 1, 2018~~

THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENT TO THE RESOLUTION ENTITLED “RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN EXTENSION OF THE OPERATIONAL LEASE WITH LINK ENVIRONMENTAL FOR THE TRANSFER STATION AT GROTTO AVENUE” IS APPROVED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

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

NOES – Councilor Rudd.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, THAT THE PAWTUCKET CITY COUNCIL DOES HEREBY AUTHORIZE THE CITY TO ENTER INTO A ~~ONE-YEAR~~ THREE-MONTH EXTENSION OF THE OPERATING LEASE WITH LINK ENVIRONMENTAL – TO RUN RETROACTIVELY FROM MARCH 1, 2018 THROUGH MAY 31, 2018- WHICH REMOVES THE REQUIRED OBLIGATIONS FOR THE MONTHLY COMMITMENT PAYMENT TO THE CITY AND WAIVES THE OPERATOR’S QUARTERLY HOST PAYMENTS FOR THE FIRST 350 TONS PER DAY OF NON-CITY WASTE TAKEN INTO THE FACILITY. ~~, EFFECTIVE MARCH 1, 2018~~

THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IS READ AND PASSED, AS AMENDED, ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

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

NOES – Councilor Rudd.

588 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN EXTENSION OF THE OPERATIONAL LEASE WITH LINK ENVIRONMENTAL FOR THE TRANSFER STATION AT GROTTO AVENUE, AS AMENDED.

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 MTG Disposal, LLC and to the City administration, asking that they send representatives to attend a Pre-Council Session on March 21, 2018, to discuss where the $25,000 in costs comes and other questions from the council. They are also looking for copies of contracts for trash and recycling pick-up from Pawtucket and other RI cities and towns.

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR CANO.

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

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Dylan Zelazo, Deputy Director of Administration, and William Vieira, Assistant Public Works Director/Operations Manager, requesting the administration’s plan for trash removal after the 3-month extension for Link Environmental, which expires on May 31, is over. Specifically, if an RFP results in no acceptable proposals, what are the alternatives? What would be required and what would it cost to get out of the trash business altogether? What would it take and cost for the city to take over running the transfer station or for taking over running both the transfer station and picking up the trash/recyclables? What would it take and cost to get involved with renewable energy opportunities at the transfer station? How would the various alternatives affect the FY 2019 budget?

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by the entire City Council, the meeting is adjourned at 8:10 p.m., in memory of Donald H. Grebien, Mayor Grebien’s father.