City Council, August 7, 2019

 

A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council is held Wednesday, August 7, 2019, at 7:06     p.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI. 

 

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

 

Absent – 0.

 

President Moran presides.

 

The reading of the records of the July 09, 2019 Workshop Session – Joint Ordinance Committee and Ad Hoc Economic Development and Neighborhood Improvement Committee and the July 24, 2019 City Council meeting is dispensed with and the records are APPROVED as prepared by the Clerk.

 

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

 

 

*THE FOLLOWING COMMUNICATIONS ARE READ AND ORDERED FILED:

 

028      A.     Communication from Senator Elizabeth A. Crowley, Central Falls/Pawtucket, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Dexter Street Showers)

           

614      B.     Communication from Eric J. Earls, PE, Director of Public Works, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Citywide Street Light Conversion to LED – Implementation)

           

614      C.     Communication from Eric J. Earls, PE, Director of Public Works, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Response – Streetlight Repair)

           

614      D.     Communication from Eric J. Earls, PE, Director of Public Works, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Response – Graffiti on Cedar Street)

           

**028  E.      Communication from Angelo Calcagni, Operations Manager, Waste Connections, to Richard J. Goldstein, MMC, City Clerk. (Response – Grotto Avenue Transfer Station)

           

            F.      Communication from Jay Rosa, Assistant Director, Planning and Redevelopment, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Vehicle Repair Shop Licenses) - IS REFERRED TO THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE

           

623      G.     Communication from Sara Miranda, Human Resources Coordinator, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Delete: Clerk I – Recreation Division; Create: Recreation Programming Assistant)

           

            H.     AN ORDINANCE REPEALING AND REPLACING THE SCHEDULE OF PAY RATES FOR LOCAL 1012 IN §88-12 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996, (Create: Recreation Program Assistant; Delete: Clerk I) IS LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE

           

            I.       Communication from Michael Leshinsky, Nexus Lofts, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, requesting a Ten (10) Year Tax Stabilization Agreement for 49 North Union Street - IS REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE

           

            J.      RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A TWENTY (20) YEAR TAX STABILIZATION AGREEMENT FOR FREIGHT REALTY, LLC (AP8 L415 AND 399) SUBMITTED BY THE FINANCE COMMITTEE WITH A RECOMMENDATION OF A PUBLIC HEARING SET ON SEPTEMBER 11, 2019

           

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

Marie Gorton by William E. Devane, Esq. - No Amount Specified

Thomas A. Spencer – No Amount Specified

           

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

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR RUDD.

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a summons to Punto Final Hookah Bar & Lounge, 31 Summer Street, Pawtucket, RI, to appear before the Pawtucket City Council, sitting as the Pawtucket Board of License Commissioners, for an informal hearing on September 11, 2019, to discuss issues with entertainment at the establishment without the proper license.

 

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR RUDD.

 

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

 

028   Communication from Matthew Mega, General Manager, MTG Disposal, to Richard J. Goldstein, MMC, City Clerk, regarding City trash dumped at the Pawtucket Transfer Station.

 

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

 

Communication from Matthew Mega, General Manager, MTG Disposal, to Richard J. Goldstein, MMC, City Clerk, regarding City trash dumped at the Pawtucket Transfer Station.

 

 

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 Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves, regarding two police matters:

 

·       First, the council is requesting that the police set up a patrol for a couple of weeks on West Avenue, especially between 10 p.m. and 11 p.m., to check for drag racing.  Councilor Kallman noted that this issue comes and goes and is picking up at this time. 

 

·       Second, Councilor Kallman has received calls from constituents stating that young boys are harassing girls at Payne Park, especially between 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. The council is requesting that the police watch out for any issues with this.

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR RUDD.

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves, requesting the schedule of where and when the bike patrols will be working through the summer. 

 

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN.

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves, requesting that bike patrols be scheduled to work the Slater Park / Daggett Ave. bike path and that the police enforce the city’s law against camping on city property along the paths.  If the bike paths are on state property, the council is requesting that the chief contact the state to enforce the prohibition.   

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN.

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Eric J. Earls, PE, Director of Public Works and Susan Mara, Director of Planning and Redevelopment, requesting that they look into installing curb cuts for people with disabilities on Daggett Avenue sidewalks, with the possibility of using CDBG funds to help pay for the job.

 

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN.

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to set up a Property Committee meeting on September 11, 2019, regarding problems with the roof at the animal shelter.  The clerk is instructed to invite the city’s property maintenance manager to this meeting.

 

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE IS READ FOR THE FIRST TIME AND PASSED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 363 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996, ENTITLED “TAXATION.”  (Fifteen (15) and Twenty (20) Year Tax Stabilization Program)

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE IS READ FOR THE FIRST TIME AND PASSED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

 

AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 302 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996, ENTITLED “PEDDLING AND SOLICITING”.  (MOBILE FOOD ESTABLISHMENTS)

 

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE IS READ FOR THE FIRST TIME AND PASSED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 108 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996, ENTITLED “ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES” (Consumption in Public – Exceptions)

 

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS, THE FOLLOWING CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY IS APPROVED FOR PAYMENT ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

Roger Renzi - $10.00

 

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS, THE FOLLOWING CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY IS DENIED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

Arnold & Susan Bennett - $317.00

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS, THE FOLLOWING CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY IS DENIED AND REFERRED TO THE CONTRACTOR, ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

Dorothy R. Walker - $3,700/$3,900/$4,000

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS, THE FOLLOWING CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY ARE REFERRED TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND THE RI INTERLOCAL TRUST FOR FURTHER REVIEW, ON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE:

 

Leila Encarnacao by Christopher E. Fay, Esq. – No Amount Specified

Bienvenida A. Morel Liriano by Robert J. Levine, Esq. – No Amount Specified

Noemia DeAlmeida - $14,520.00/$3,593.89/$4,165.40

 

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR VITALI.

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Dylan Zelazo, Director of Administration, requesting if there is any money available to purchase and install emergency call boxes along the Slater Park / Daggett Avenue bike path.    

 

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR VITALI.

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Pawtucket Police Chief Tina Goncalves, William Vieira, Acting Director of Zoning & Code Enforcement and Dylan Zelazo, Director of Administration, regarding Mike’s Truck & Trailer Repair on York Ave.   Councilor Vitali noted that there is a continuous problem with Mike’s trucks being illegally parked in a city lot at the intersection of York and Columbus Avenues.  The council requested that the trucks be towed and fined for illegal parking.  Councilor Mercer noted that RIGL Section 39-12.1-12 “Private Trespass Towing” may be used as the authorization for towing the vehicles.

 

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by Councilor Vitali, the meeting is adjourned at 7:38 p.m., in memory of Bertha E. Contois.