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City Council, August 19, 2020

A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council is held Wednesday, August 19, 2020, at 12:18 p.m., via videoconference on ZOOM during the COVID-19 pandemic, per Governor’s order 20-25, 20-46, 20-53 and 20-63.

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

Absent – Councilor Kallman.

President Moran presides.

The reading of the records of the August 5, 2020 Committee on Claims and Pending Suits meeting, Finance Committee meeting, Ordinance Committee meeting and City Council meeting is dispensed with and the records are APPROVED as prepared by the Clerk on a roll call vote, as follows:

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

NOES – 0.

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Rudd, the *Consent Agenda is APPROVED on a roll call vote, as follows:

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

NOES – 0.

*THE FOLLOWING COMMUNICATIONS ARE READ AND ORDERED FILED:

A. Resolution from the Town of North Smithfield urging an Emergency Exemption in the Computation of the Maintenance of Effort Requirements Established by RIGL 16-7-23

B. Resolution from the City of Newport opposing any State Legislation or State Budget Provisions that would transfer RITBA Revenue and Management Authority to RIDOT.

C. Communication from Jeanne Boyle, Commerce Director, to Jesse Saglio, President, RI Commerce Corporation. (Support – UFA Domestic PPE Factory)

E. Communication from Eric J. Earls, PE, Director of Public Works, to Richard J. Goldstein, MMC, City Clerk. (Response – Rodent Infestation Concern)

F. Communication from Eric J. Earls, PE, Director of Public Works, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Response – Stop Sign at Capwell Avenue and Progress Street)

H. Communication from Michael F. Horan, Esq., to Michelle R. Hardy, CMC, Deputy City Clerk, requesting to rezone 30 India Street (AP26 L650) from RT Residential Two-Family to Industrial Open MO Zone.

I. 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 (Change of 30 India Street (AP26 L650) from RT Residential Two-Family to Industrial Open MO Zone) – TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE.

J. Communication from Jay Rosa, Assistant Director of Planning & Redevelopment, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Historic District Commission’s Recommendation for 104 Glenwood Ave to be added to the Historic District)

K. 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 104 Glenwood Ave AP66 L919 to the Historic District) – TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE.

** L. AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 347 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996, ENTITLED “SOLID WASTE” (Dumpsters) - TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE.

M. Communication from Erica and Nick Barros to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, requesting to purchase a vacant lot on Merrick Street AP52 L23 – TO BE REFERRED TO THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE.

N. AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 388 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996, ENTITLED “Vehicles and Traffic” (4-Way Stop Sign at the Intersection of Columbia Avenue and Fairview Avenue) – SUBMITTED BY THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE WITH THE RECOMMENDATION TO BE LAID ON THE TABLE.

O. THE FOLLOWING CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY TO BE REFERRED TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND RI INTERLOCAL TRUST:

Billie-Jo Gallagher – Pending Estimates (Over $2,500.00)

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

D. Communication James DeCelles, PE, Chief Engineer, to Mayor Donald R. Grebien and Council President David P. Moran. (PWSB Tax Sale Process) is READ AND ORDERED FILED.

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR VASQUEZ.

With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Vasquez, seconded by Councilors Araujo and Barry, is PASSED on a roll call vote, as follows:

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

NOES – 0.

The clerk is instructed to send a communication to James DeCelles, Chief Engineer of the Pawtucket Water Supply Board, requesting that when the PWSB sends out tax sale notices, they send them in Spanish, Portuguese and Cape Verdean Creole, as well as in English.

It is also requested that prior to a tax sale by the PWSB, they send a list of all properties up for tax sale to the city council.

G. Communication from Eric J. Earls, PE, Director of Public Works, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Response – Old Trash Barrel Disposal) is READ AND ORDERED FILED.

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BARRY.

With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Barry, seconded by Councilors Araujo, Mercer and Vitali, is PASSED on a roll call vote, as follows:

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

NOES – 0.

The clerk is instructed to send a communication to Eric Earls, PE, Director of Public Works, requesting that DPW prepare and implement a plan to pick up residents’ old trash cans, rather than requiring them to be dropped off by the residents.

Councilor Barry noted that an elderly lady in her eighties had trouble getting her old barrel in her vehicle to take to one of the drop-off sites and doesn’t think the residents should have to do it.

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BARRY.

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

Communication from Gerard Charbonneau, chairperson, Pawtucket School Committee, to the Pawtucket City Council. (Pawtucket School Committee/ Pawtucket Teachers Alliance, Local 930, A.F.T., A.F.L.-C.I.O.)

Tentative Agreement between the Pawtucket Teachers’ Alliance, Local 930, and the Pawtucket School Department. (September 1, 2020 – August 31, 2023)

Upon motion made by Councilor Barry, seconded by Councilors Araujo, Mercer and Vitali, the following are LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE on a roll call vote, as follows:

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

NOES – 0.

Tentative Agreement between the Pawtucket Teachers’ Alliance, Local 930, and the Pawtucket School Department. (September 1, 2020 – August 31, 2023)

COUNCILOR BARRY LEAVES AT 12:38 P.M.

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN.

With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, on behalf of Council President Moran, seconded by Councilors Araujo and Vitali, is PASSED on a roll call vote, as follows:

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

NOES – 0.

The clerk is instructed to send a communication to Eric Earls, PE, Director of Public Works; and Michael Burns, Traffic Engineer, requesting that DPW place a 4-Way Stop Sign at the intersection of Welden Street and Rice Street. President Moran also suggests additional signage noting that the 4-way stop sign is ahead or other signage that may slow traffic at that intersection. President Moran noted speeding through that intersection as the reason for this request.

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Wildenhain, the meeting is adjourned at 12:42 p.m.