City Council, September 11, 2019

 

A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council is held Wednesday, September 11, 2019, at 7:30 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 COUNCIL RECESSES IMMEDIATELY TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FOLLOWING:

 

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A TWENTY (20) YEAR TAX STABILIZATION AGREEMENT FOR FREIGHT REALTY, LLC (AP8 L415 & 399)

 

THE COUNCIL RECONVENES AT 8:22 P.M.

 

 

Upon unanimous consent of the Council, the following resolution is taken up at this time:

 

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A TWENTY (20) YEAR TAX STABILIZATION AGREEMENT FOR FREIGHT REALTY, LLC (AP8 L415 & 399)

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IS APPROVED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

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

 

NOES – Councilor Kallman.

 

588      RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A TWENTY (20) YEAR TAX STABILIZATION

636      AGREEMENT FOR FREIGHT REALTY, LLC (AP8 L415 & 399)

 

 

 

The reading of the records of the August 21, 2019 Ad Hoc Committee on Economic Development and Neighborhood Improvement 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 Barry and Vitali, the *Consent Agenda is APPROVED, on a unanimous voice vote.

 

 

*THE FOLLOWING COMMUNICATIONS ARE READ AND ORDERED FILED:

 

590      A.     Communication from Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Michael Fine, MD as the City of Pawtucket’s Health Liaison)

           

592      B.     Communication from Jay Rosa, Assistant Director of Planning & Redevelopment, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Department of Housing & Urban Development (HUD) 2020-2025 Five-Year Consolidated Plan Community Stakeholder Workshops)

           

**1      C.     Communication from Tina Goncalves, Chief of Police/Acting Public Safety Director, to Councilor Timothy Rudd.  (Jump Bikes)

           

630      D.     Communication from Robert W. Burns, Tax Assessor, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Tax Abatements for April, May, and June, 2019)

           

            E.      RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ABATEMENT OF TAXES FOR MOTOR VEHICLES, REAL ESTATE AND TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY FOR APRIL, MAY AND JUNE 2019 IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $142,242.41 – IS REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

           

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

Patricia Larocque by Charles J. Vucci, Esq. - $100,000.00

Joshua Meadows – No Amount Specified

           

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

 

            F.      Communication from Gerard Charbonneau, Chair, Pawtucket School Committee, to Council President, David P. Moran, Council President.  (Interest in Purchasing of St. Leo’s Church) – IS REFERRED TO THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE AND THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

 

COUNCIL PRESIDENT MORAN APPOINTS COUNCILOR MARK J. WILDENHAIN TO SERVE ON THE SUB COMMITTEE TO DETERMINE THE FEASIBILITY OF PURCHASING ST. LEO’S CHURCH.

 

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR RUDD.

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Michael Burns, Traffic Engineer, requesting that DPW put up signs on all streets adjacent to schools in the city that say “School Zone” and show the speed limit.  These signs should be on both sides of the street. The signs should be put up whether or not there is a school zone camera on the street. 

 

 

 

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 Eric J. Earls, PE, Director of Public Works, requesting that the next update on the transfer station, which is due on September 30, 2019, be sent to the council immediately upon its completion and that it be placed on the next council docket and not given to the council on the night of a council meeting to be introduced from the floor. 

 

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR RUDD.

 

Councilor Rudd informs the Council that he would be sending a letter to the Clerk to be forwarded to Eric Earls, Public Works Director, expressing his position that precludes further action on the plan to build a new transfer station in Fairlawn.

 

 

 

591   COUNCIL PRESIDENT MORAN APPOINTS COUNCILOR MEGHAN KALLMAN TO SERVE ON THE PAWTUCKET COMPLETE COUNT CENSUS COMMITTEE.

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BARRY.

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Barry, seconded by Councilors Wildenhain and Araujo, the agenda is amended to include the following communication on a unanimous voice vote:

 

590   Communication from Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, regarding Fire Station 3 on Columbus Avenue and a Fourth Rescue Service Vehicle.

 

Upon motion made by councilor Barry, seconded by Councilors Wildenhain and Araujo, the following communication is READ AND ORDERED FILED.

 

Communication from Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, regarding Fire Station 3 on Columbus Avenue and a Fourth Rescue Service Vehicle.

 

 

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

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

588   RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL AUTHORIZING THE PURCHASE OF STREET LIGHTS, THE CONVERSION OF FIXTURES TO LIGHT-EMITTING DIODE ("LED") TECHNOLOGY, AND THE FINANCING THEREOF THROUGH A LEASE PURCHASE AGREEMENT OR OTHER APPROPRIATION OBLIGATION AND DETERMINING OTHER MATTERS IN CONNECTION THEREWITH

 

 

THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION, WHICH WAS POSTPONED AT THE MEETING HELD ON AUGUST 21, 2019 AND IS AGAIN TAKEN UP IS READ AND PASSED ON A ROLL CAL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

588   RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF A ROUTE FOR THE BLACKSTONE RIVER BIKEWAY IN THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR VITALI.

 

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

 

1       Communication from Tina Goncalves, Pawtucket Police Chief and Acting Public Safety Director, regarding Speed Enforcement Camera Program and Red Light Camera Program.

 

Upon motion made by councilor Vitali, seconded by Councilor Vasquez, the following communication is READ AND ORDERED FILED.

 

Communication from Tina Goncalves, Pawtucket Police Chief and Acting Public Safety Director, regarding Speed Enforcement Camera Program and Red Light Camera Program.

 

 

634   Communication from Richard J. Goldstein, MMC, City Clerk, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, requesting a change of date for the November 20, 2019 Council meeting 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, Kallman, Mercer, Rudd, Vasquez, Vitali and Wildenhain.

 

NOES – 0.

 

588   RESOLUTION CHANGING THE DATE OF THE CITY COUNCIL AND BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS MEETINGS ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR NOVEMBER 20, 2019 TO NOVEMBER 18, 2019

 

 

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 Eric J. Earls, PE, Director of Public Works, requesting that a number of street lights which are reportedly not functioning properly be fixed.  The lights are as follows: Pole #2 on Bedford Road; Pole #2 on Cambria Court.; Pole #3 on Kenilworth Way; Pole in front of 58 Sayles Avenue (Pole # unknown); All lights on Warren Avenue; All lights on Anthony Avenue.

 

 

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.

 

Thomas A. Spencer – $237.98

 

 

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:

 

Lawrence Muhammad - $4,060.97

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

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR VITALI.

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Tina Goncalves, Chief of Police and Acting Director Public Safety requesting a meeting with the police department, Councilors Vitali and Rudd and a resident who is concerned about speeding on Lockbridge Street.  The purpose of the meeting is to look for ways to eliminate the speeding problem on the street.

 

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR VITALI.

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Tina Goncalves, Chief of Police and Acting Director Public Safety and Dylan Zelazo, Director of Administration requesting that the traffic trailer be placed on Vine Street at the intersection with Grand Avenue to check on vehicles using Vine Street as a way to avoid the speed cameras on Newport Avenue.  Before seeking any corrective action, they want to know how serious a problem it is becoming.  They are requesting a report of your findings when you have gathered enough information.

 

In addition, the Council is requesting that the traffic trailer be placed on Walcott Street, from Ashton Street to North Bend Street, to check for speeding.  A report of your findings is requested for this request also.

 

 

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Vitali, seconded by entire City Council, the meeting is adjourned at 9:09 p.m., in memory of those who lost their lives or loved ones on 9/11/2001.