A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council is held Wednesday, March 28, 2018, at 7:55 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.  (RESCHEDULED FROM MARCH 21, 2018, DUE TO PREDICTED SNOW STORM)

 

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

 

Absent – 0.

 

President Moran presides.

 

The reading of the City Council records of March 5, 2018, and the reading of the City Council, the Committee on Claims and Pending Suits, City Property Committee and Finance Committee records of March 7, 2018, is dispensed with and the records are APPROVED as prepared by the Clerk.

 

 

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

 

*THE FOLLOWING COMMUNICATIONS ARE READ AND ORDERED FILED:

 

590 A.     Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to Her Excellency Gina M. Raimondo, Governor.  (Requesting that some Pawtucket’s Census Tracks be identified as Opportunity Zones)

 

590 B.     Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Opioid Lawsuit Agreement)

 

028 D.     Communication from Patricia St. Germain, FACT President, Stop the Dump Coalition Member, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Requesting an Ad Hoc Committee to Study the Transfer Station Issues)

 

**590      E.      Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to Patricia St. Germain.  (Future of Pawtucket’s Waste Transfer Needs)

 

**610      F.      Communication from James M. Vartanian, Director of Administration and Public Safety Director, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Firefighters Health and Safety Equipment)

      

028 G.     Communication from Beverly Hall, Warwick City Clerk’s Office, to RI City and Town Clerks.  (Resolution Supporting the Removal of the Sunset Provision in the Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Mediation Program)

      

028 H.     Resolution from the Smithfield School Committee, to RI City and Town Clerks, in Support of Article 5 of H-2018 7200 that would place a Referendum before the Voters for $250 Million for Renovation of Existing and Construction of New Public Schools.

      

028 I.       Communication from Amy Rose Weinreich, CMC, Charlestown Town Clerk, to RI City and Town Clerks.   (Resolution in Opposition to the Inclusion in the National Outer Continental Shelf Oil and Gas Leaking Program)

 

028 J.      Resolution from the Town of Exeter in Support of the Removal of the “Sunset” Provision Regarding Residential Foreclosure Mediation.

      

028 K.     Various Forms and Statements from Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank.

      

611 L.      Communication from Joanna L’Heureux, Finance Director, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Annual Report on Take Home Vehicles)

      

625 M.    Communication from Dylan M. Zelazo, Deputy Director of Administration, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Response – Purchase of National Grid Street Lights)

      

623 N.     Communication from Don Zimmerman, Director of Human Resources, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Play Plan Ordinance Changes for Local 3960)

      

       O.     AN ORDINANCE REPEALING AND REPLACING THE SCHEDULE OF PAY RATES FOR LOCAL 3960 IN §88-12 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996.  (Reclassify: Assistant Tax Collector, Chief of Project Development and Deputy Finance Director) – IS LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

      

       P.      THE FOLLOWING CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY ARE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS:

June Aronson – Pending Estimates

Christina Bento – No Amount Specified

Rose Ross Dickens - $154.00

Leonela Felix – No Amount Specified

Christopher LeFort - $335.85

Christopher LeFort - $264.50

Peter Medeiros - $50.00

Jesenia Melendez Pagan - $750.00

Maria Silva by Wayne G. Resmini, Esq. - $100,000.00

Shirley Thurber - $3,565.00/$3,690.00

Gabriel German Urena by Allstate Insurance – $1,091.13

Jody Wheeler - $341.67

Marialana Wilkinson – Pending Estimates

      

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

 

 

590 C.     Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to All Members of the Transfer Station Stakeholder Group.  (Suspension of the Hassenfeld Institute Process) 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 Mercer, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Dylan Zelazo, Deputy Director of Administration, requesting that the administration prepare three RFP’s regarding trash hauling in the city:

1.     An RFP for the demolition and clean-up of the Grotto Avenue site.

2.     An RFP on what MTG or another hauler would charge for curbside trash pick-up and taking it directly to Johnston.

3.     An RFP for a hauler to take the trash from the Grotto Ave transfer station to Johnston.  This would assume that MTG would continue to pick up the trash curbside and take it to the transfer station.  It would also assume that city employees would run the transfer station.   This RFP would determine what MTG or another hauler would charge to pick-up Pawtucket trash only (Nothing from other communities) and take it to Johnston.

 

The council is also requesting the estimated cost for the city to take over the operation of the transfer station, including the cost of personnel and needed equipment.

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN.  

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Tina Goncalves, Chief of Police, requesting that she instruct the patrol officers who cover Central Avenue to pay close attention to illegal parking in the “No Parking to Corner” area of the street intersecting with Downes Avenue by Central Avenue Bakery.  A report on the number of people ticketed for illegally parking at that location is requested after four weeks. 

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR VITALI.

 

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

 

591   Communication from Councilor Albert J. Vitali, Jr.; Jan Brodie, Executive Director, Pawtucket Foundation; Angelica Rivera, Navigant Credit Union; Robert Billington, Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, to His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien.  (Restaurant Week)

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Vitali, seconded by Councilor Kallman, the following communication is READ AND ORDERED FILED and REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, on a unanimous voice vote:

 

ABSTENTION – Councilor Cano.

 

619   Councilor Cano abstains based on her statement that she is supervisor of one of the signatories on the communication.  (Report Filed)

 

Communication from Councilor Albert J. Vitali, Jr.; Jan Brodie, Executive Director, Pawtucket Foundation; Angelica Rivera, Navigant Credit Union; Robert Billington, Blackstone Valley Tourism Council, to His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien.  (Restaurant Week)

 

 

590   Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Memorial Hospital Update) is READ AND ORDERED FILED.

 

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.

 

RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF 2018 S-2437 ENTITLED “AN ACT RELATING TO HEALTH AND SAFETY – THE HOSPITALS CONVERSIONS ACT” CREATING NEW REQUIREMENTS FOR HOSPITAL CLOSURES.

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR CANO.

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Dylan Zelazo, Deputy Director of Administration, requesting a status report on the energy efficiency projects for our buildings funded through the RR Infrastructure Bank and the status of the RFP that is out for energy efficiency projects for our buildings.

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR CANO.

 

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

 

028   Communication from Ross Cheit, Chair, RI Ethics Commission, to Sandra C. Cano.  (Advisory Opinion No. 2018-16 – Stadium Project – No Violation Found)

 

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

 

Communication from Ross Cheit, Chair, RI Ethics Commission, to Sandra C. Cano.  (Advisory Opinion No. 2018-16 – Stadium Project – No Violation Found)

 

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR CANO.

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Susan Mara, Director of Planning & Redevelopment, thanking Herb Weiss for his efforts on last year’s Restaurant Week and requesting a report on the results of the surveys that went out to all of the restaurants who participated in Restaurant Week.   The Council wants to know if it was successful, as well as, what went well and what should be changed.  The council also wants a breakdown by district of all the restaurants that participated in Restaurant Week.

 

 

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 IN SUPPORT OF 2018 H-7385 AND S-2270 ENTITLED “AN ACT RELATING TO PROPERTY – MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE AND SALE MEDIATION CONFERENCE” ELIMINATING THE “SUNSET” PROVISION FOR RESIDENTIAL MORTGAGE FORECLOSURE MEDIATION.

 

 

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 Angelo Calcagni, Manager, Link Environmental, requesting copies of the daily weight slips for the past six months.  The Council would like to get an idea of how much in tonnage Link is bringing in each day.

 

 

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 REQUESTING THAT THE GOVERNOR’S OFFICE AND GENERAL ASSEMBLY NOT TRANSFER THE MONEY FROM RI HOUSING TO ADDRESS THE DEFECTS IN THE FISCAL 2019 BUDGET AND SEEK ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS.

 

 

 

The following resolution is taken up:

 

RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE THREE-MONTH EXTENSION OF THE OPERATING LEASE WITH LINK ENVIRONMENTAL FOR AN ADDITIONAL THREE MONTHS THROUGH AUGUST 31, 2018.

 

 THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR KALLMAN

 

Upon motion by Councilor Kallman, seconded by Councilor Barry, the following resolution is POSTPONED on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

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

 

NOES – Councilors Mercer, Tetreault, Vitali and Wildenhain.

 

RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE THREE-MONTH EXTENSION OF THE OPERATING LEASE WITH LINK ENVIRONMENTAL FOR AN ADDITIONAL THREE MONTHS THROUGH AUGUST 31, 2018.

 

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE, 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 OF THE CITY COUNCIL CONVEYING AN EASEMENT OVER AND ACROSS CITY OWNED PROPERTY ON SMITHFIELD AVENUE (NATHANAEL GREENE SCHOOL) TO NARRAGANSETT ELECTRIC COMPANY

 

 

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Barry, seconded by the entire City Council, the meeting is adjourned at 9:01p.m. in memory of Eileen Rock and Anthony “Mo” Mulberry.