City Council, December 9, 2020

 

A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council is held Wednesday, December 9, 2020, at 8:19 p.m., via videoconference on ZOOM during the COVID-19 pandemic, per Governor’s Executive Orders up to and including 20-103.

 

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

 

Absent – 0.

 

President Moran presides.

 

 

THE COUNCIL RECESSES IMMEDIATELY TO CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE FOLLOWING:

 

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A 10-YEAR TAX STABILIZATION AGREEMENT FOR BOND ST LLC FOR THE PROPERTY AT 173 WEEDEN STREET (PLAT 44 LOTS 433, 581, 601, AND 612)

 

AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTERS 1810, 1845, 1853, 1899, 1933, 1971, 1995, 2007, 2037, 2114, 2262, 2496, 2511, 2547, 2864, 3169 AND 3221 OF THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, APPROVING AMENDMENT NO. 17 TO THE PAWTUCKET REDEVELOPMENT PLAN, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED “DOWNTOWN GATEWAY PROJECT.”

 

THE COUNCIL RECONVENES AT 8:33 P.M.

 

 

The reading of the records of the November 24, 2020 City Council meeting, Finance Committee meeting and Joint Finance/Ordinance Committee 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, Kallman, Mercer, Rudd, Vasquez, Vitali and Wildenhain.

 

NOES – 0.

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

 

*THE FOLLOWING COMMUNICATIONS ARE READ AND ORDERED FILED:

 

028      A.     Resolution of the Cranston City Council Urging the Governor to Release $150 Million Dollars from the “Cares Act” to our Small Business Community and Resolution Urging the Governor to Place a Moratorium on Evictions.

           

**590  B.     Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Police Annual Report)

           

625      C.     Communication from Dylan Zelazo, Director of Administration, to Council President David P. Moran.  (Response to Council Input on Cost Savings from COVID)

           

614      D.     Communication from Eric J. Earls, PE, Director of Public Works, to His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, and the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.   (Items Placed on City Sidewalks for Collection)

           

            G.     Communication from Robert W. Burns, Tax Assessor, to David P. Moran, City Council President.  (Request for Extension of Tax Treaty for Richmond Motor Sales Inc.) IS REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

           

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

Michael Regan - $241.98

 

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

 

 

 

E.         Communication from Tina Goncalves, Chief of Police and Acting Public Safety Director, to  the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Response – Speed Cameras)

 

 

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 roll call vote, as follows:

 

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

 

NOES – Councilor Mercer.

 

The clerk is instructed to send a communication to Frank J. Milos, Jr., Esq., City Solicitor, asking if the state law relating to the hours of operation of school zone speed cameras says “shall” or “may.”  This request relates to Chief Goncalves’ response to the council’s November 24 request to consider ending the use of the cameras each day at 3:00 p.m. during the COVID crisis because there are no after school activities at this time. 

 

 

F.         Communication from Eric J. Earls, PE, Director of Public Works, to the Honorable
Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Transfer Station Lease) – IS REFERRED TO THE CITY
PROPERTY COMMITTEE.

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR RUDD

 

Councilor Rudd moves, seconded by Councilor Kallman, that the proposed transfer station lease with Waste Connections of Rhode Island, Inc., be sent to Attorney Joel Votolato to be reviewed and returned to the council within 48 hours.

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MERCER

 

Upon motion by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Vitali, the question to send the transfer station lease to Attorney Votolato is called on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

 

 

The motion by Councilor Rudd, seconded by Councilor Kallman, that the proposed transfer station lease with Waste Connections of Rhode Island, Inc., be sent to Attorney Joel Votolato to be reviewed and returned to the council within 48 hours, is DEFEATED on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

AYES – Councilors Barry, Kallman and Rudd.

 

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

 

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, 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 – Councilors Kallman and Rudd

 

636 & 588   RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A 10-YEAR TAX STABILIZATION AGREEMENT FOR BOND ST LLC FOR THE PROPERTY AT 173 WEEDEN STREET (PLAT 44 LOTS 433, 581, 601, AND 612)

 

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, 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      INDUCEMENT RESOLUTION RELATING TO THE DEXTER STREET COMMONS PROJECT PROPOSED BY PEYSER REAL ESTATE GROUP AND SUPPORTING REVENUE BONDS OF THE PAWTUCKET REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY TO FINANCE PUBLIC PORTIONS OF THE PROJECT

 

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE, 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 DEDICATING THE CORNER OF GOFF AVENUE AND PINE STREET IN HONOR AND MEMORY OF ARMANDO NIEVES AS “ARMANDO’S CORNER”

 

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE, 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 AUTHORIZING AN EASEMENT WITH OLD SLATER MILL ASSOCIATION FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 67 ROOSEVELT AVENUE (AP43 L566, 565, 564)

 

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE, 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 AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE A FIRST AMENDMENT TO LEASE WITH OPTION AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET AND T-MOBILE NORTHEAST LLC FOR AN ANTENNA SITE AT THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 240 GROTTO AVE.

 

 

 

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 URGING THE GOVERNOR TO ISSUE AN ORDER PLACING A MORATORIUM ON EVICTIONS AND TO RELEASE ADDITIONAL FEDERAL STIMULUS MONEY FOR EMERGENCY RENTAL AND MORTGAGE ASSISTANCE.

 

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE AND ORDINANCE COMMITTEES, 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 CHAPTERS 1810, 1845, 1853, 1899, 1933, 1971, 1995, 2007, 2037, 2114, 2262, 2496, 2511, 2547, 2864, 3169 AND 3221 OF THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, APPROVING AMENDMENT NO. 17 TO THE PAWTUCKET REDEVELOPMENT PLAN, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED “DOWNTOWN GATEWAY PROJECT.”

 

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

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

Jared Fitzgerald - $475 + ($200-$700)

 

Elena and Taylor Kell - $247.19/$272.73

 

 

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Vitali, the meeting is adjourned at 9:40 p.m.