City Council, October 23, 2019

 

 

A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council is held Wednesday, October 23, 2019, at 7:07 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI. 

 

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

 

Absent – Councilors Kallman and Rudd.

 

President Moran presides.

 

 

The reading of the records of the October 9, 2019 Claims and Pending Suits Committee meeting, Ordinance Committee meeting and City Council meeting are dispensed with and the records are APPROVED as prepared by the Clerk.

 

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

 

 

*THE FOLLOWING COMMUNICATIONS ARE READ AND ORDERED FILED:

 

7          A.     Various Forms and Statements from RI Infrastructure Bank

           

614      B.     Communication from Eric J. Earls, PE, Director of Public Works, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Response – Street Sweeping at Clean-up Events)

           

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

           

**028  D.     Communication from Andrea Niewiecki, Property Manager, Prospect Heights Apartments, to Councilor Albert J. Vitali, Jr.  (Response – Emergency Gate Abutting Wellesley Avenue/Notre Dame Avenue)

           

614      E.      Communication from Rick R. Karsulavitch, Public Works Business Manager, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Recycling Ordinance Update)

           

            F.      AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 347 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET 1996, ENTITLED “SOLID WASTE” (Recycling) – IS LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE.

           

592      G.     Communication from Jay Rosa, Assistant Director of Planning & Redevelopment, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Addition of 16 Kenilworth Way to the Historic District)

           

            H.     AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 410 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET 1996, ENTITLED “ZONING” – CHANGE IN OFFICIAL ZONING MAP (Addition of 16 Kenilworth Way, AP64 L617, to the Historic District) – IS LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE.

           

            I.       THE FOLLOWING CLAIMS ARE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS: 

Rachel Coleman by Thomas A. Madden, Esq. - $1,000,000.00

Carlos Fernandes by Progressive Insurance - $5,596.77

Mary Reynolds - $220.00

           

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

 

609   Communication from Christopher Montalto, Supervisor, Distribution Design, National Grid, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, submitting a petition for a Joint Pole to Connect Solar Service at 120 Webster Street, IS READ AND ORDERED FILED AND IS APPROVED PENDING THE APPROVAL OF THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR ARAUJO.

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Tina Goncalves, Chief of Police, requesting that the speed trailer be placed on Mendon Ave., between Central Ave. and Armistice Blvd, to check for speeders.

 

 

592   Communication from Susan Mara, Director of Planning and Redevelopment, to Council President David P. Moran. (RI DEM 2019 Pawtucket Open Space Grant Applications – Acquisition) is READ AND ORDERED FILED.

 

The following resolution is read and PASSED on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

RESOLUTION APPROVING THE SUBMISSION OF TWO APPLICATIONS TO THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT FOR 2019 RHODE ISLAND OPEN SPACE GRANTS.

 

 

The following resolution is read and PASSED on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

588   RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET PUBLIC ART STRATEGIC PLAN

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE AND FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IS READ AND PASSED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

ABSTENTION – Councilor Barry

 

619   Councilor Barry abstains based on his statement that he is an employee of the Diocese of Providence.  (Report Filed)

 

588   RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET TO ENTER INTO A PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT WITH THE DIOCESE OF PROVIDENCE FOR THE FORMER ST. LEO THE GREAT CHURCH AND RECTORY LOCATED ON CENTRAL AVENUE.

 

 

 

THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE, RETURNED BY THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION FOR APPROVAL, IS TAKEN UP:

 

AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 379 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996, ENTITLED “VEHICLE REPAIR SHOPS,” (MAXIMUM NUMBER OF LICENSES)

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MERCER:

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Vitali, the following amendment is introduced:

 

Amend the following:

 

§ 379-10.  Maximum number of licenses.

 

A.    The City Council of the City of Pawtucket, under the authority of the Rhode Island General Laws, does hereby fix a maximum number of automobile repair shop licenses in the City of Pawtucket at 58 60. Said maximum does not include those licenses for any new or used automobile dealership or for any establishment holding a secondhand shop license for the sale of used automobiles. 

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MERCER:

 

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

 

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, Mercer, Vasquez and Vitali.

 

NOES – Councilors Barry and Wildenhain.

 

Amend the following:

 

§ 379-10.  Maximum number of licenses.

 

A.    The City Council of the City of Pawtucket, under the authority of the Rhode Island General Laws, does hereby fix a maximum number of automobile repair shop licenses in the City of Pawtucket at 58 60. Said maximum does not include those licenses for any new or used automobile dealership or for any establishment holding a secondhand shop license for the sale of used automobiles. 

 

 

 

The following ordinance is read for the FIRST TIME, AS AMENDED, and PASSED on a roll call vote, as follows

 

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, Mercer, Vasquez and Vitali.

 

NOES – Councilors Barry and Wildenhain.

 

AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 379 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996, ENTITLED “VEHICLE REPAIR SHOPS,” (MAXIMUM NUMBER OF LICENSES) AS AMENDED

 

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR VITALI.

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Tina Goncalves, Chief of Police, requesting a radar patrol to check for speeding vehicles on Lockbridge Street.

 

 

 

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 Dylan Zelazo, Director of Administration, and Eric J. Earls, PE, Director of Public Works, regarding school speed camera revenues.  The Council is requesting that once the administration gets a handle on the amount of revenues expected from the speed camera violations that they consider earmarking a portion of those revenues for repair or replacement of worn street signs around the city. These signs would be both street name signs and traffic control signs.

 

 

 

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 Tina Goncalves, Chief of Police, asking how many tickets have been issued in 2019 for vehicles parked illegally in the city lot across from Mike’s Truck & Trailer Repair on York Ave.   

 

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN.

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to the Administration regarding school speed camera violations.

 

Councilor Wildenhain noted that when the representatives of Sensys Gatso came to the City Council, they stated that they could easily provide statistics regarding the speed camera violations to the Council.  Based on that, the Council is requesting the following information since the start of the program:

 

1.     At what speeds are the violation being recorded? 

2.     At what times during the day are the violations being recorded and how many at each time?

 

 

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by the entire City Council, the meeting is adjourned at 7:43 p.m., in memory of Evelyn Tetreault, sister of former Councilor Lourenzo Tetreault.