City Council, January 31, 2019

 

 

A special session of the Pawtucket City Council is held Wednesday, January 31, 2019, at 6:15 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI. 

 

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

 

Absent – Councilor Rudd.

 

President Moran presides.

 

 

Communication from Council President David P. Moran, calling a Special Session of the City Council on Thursday, January 31, 2019, at 6:00 p.m. is READ AND ORDERED FILED.

 

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Araujo, 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 the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Transfer Station Letter dated January 14, 2019)

           

625      B.     Communication from Dylan Zelazo, Director of Administration, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Transfer Station Cost Analysis Letter dated November 2, 2018)

           

**028  C.     Pawtucket Transfer Station Briefing Materials of September 5, 2018 including the Fuss and O’Neill Report of May 29, 2018.

           

591      D.     Communication from Timothy Rudd, Sixth District Councilor (Alternative Plans for Transfer Station)

           

590      E.      Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to Councilor Timothy P. Rudd, Jr. (Response – Transfer Station)

           

**611  F.      Communication Joanna L’Heureux, Finance Director, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (5-year Budget Forecast)

           

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

 

THE PRESENTATION/DISCUSSION REGARDING THE TRANSFER STATION, IS TAKEN UP:

 

Eric J. Earls, PE, Director of Public Works, Joanna L’Heureux, Finance Director, and Jeanne Boyle, Commerce Director, are present and conduct the following presentation, which is submitted for the record:

 

590   “Pawtucket Transfer Station Presentation, January 31, 2019”

 

In addition to what is in the prepared presentation:

 

Mr. Earls states that no other cities drop off trash at the Pawtucket Transfer Station. 

 

He notes that there is a penalty if the recycling loads going to Johnston are contaminated with non-recyclable materials. 

 

 

 

There are 13 communities that have a transfer station, one of which may be a regional transfer station.

 

He states that in order for the City to take over the hauling of trash again there would need to be a $1.1 million investment in capital needs, such as vehicles and it would cost about $500,000 per year for personnel, maintenance, and gas.

 

COUNCILOR RUDD ARRIVES AT 6:37 P.M.

 

Regarding the $2.5 million in improvements required by RI DEM to keep the transfer station open, the Council asks who is responsible for the repairs.  Is this repair all on the City or is the operating company semi-responsible.

 

Councilor Rudd mentions liquidated damages for not building the access road.

 

He states that the $4.5 million to cap and close the landfill is separate from the decision on the transfer station.

 

Frank J. Milos, Jr., Esq., City Solicitor states that to build the access road was difficult due to wetlands issues so that is when they started looking at moving the transfer station to a new site.  The City had decided not to assess the liquidated damages while working on moving. 

 

On the responsibility for upgrades to the transfer station, Mr. Milos states that nothing has been brought to his attention that allows for a suit on wear and tear at the transfer station, but he will research the matter further if the Council wishes.

 

The new access road was to allow for an increase to 2,000 tons of trash per day, but the maximum stayed at 450 tons because the road could not be constructed.

 

Councilor Kallman does not think that $4.5 million for the cap and close should be included in the transfer station discussion because it will happen whether they keep the transfer station open or not.   The cap and close cost is not relevant to the discussion.

 

Ms. L’Heureux states that the City could possibly bond the $2.5 million in DEM required improvements to the transfer station.  

 

She states that it costs the City nothing for a third-party vendor to operate the transfer station.  If the transfer station is kept open with a third-party vendor then it would eliminate the $11.3 million over 10 years for in-house operation costs.

 

Ms. Boyle states that she has a correction on the number of transfer stations in Rhode Island.  She states that there are actually 21 run by municipalities.

 

She states that the topography of the Grotto Avenue property makes it more expensive for redevelopment and there are also the wetlands issues.

 

 

Councilor Kallman states that the relationship with the current partner is in question.

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR KALLMAN.

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Frank J. Milos, Jr., Esq., City Solicitor, requesting that he check the current contract to review for culpability.

 

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Barry, seconded by the entire City Council, the meeting is adjourned at 8:12 p.m., in memory of Judge Joseph Keough.