City Council, March 11, 2020

 

 

A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council is held Wednesday, March 11, 2020, at 7:30 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI. 

 

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

 

Absent – Councilor Barry.

 

President Moran presides.

 

 

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

 

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A 10-YEAR TAX STABILIZATION AGREEMENT FOR HCI CORP DBA CHANGE HEALTHCARE, FORMERLY DBA TUNSTALL AMAC, FOR TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY AT 100 FREIGHT STREET.

 

AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 410 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET 1996, ENTITLED “ZONING” (Amendment to Zoning Ordinance to regulate maximum fence height for corner lots)

 

THE COUNCIL RECONVENES AT 7:39 P.M.

 

 

The reading of the records of the February 19, 2019 Public Works/Cemetery Committee meeting, City Property Committee meeting, Finance Committee meeting and City Council meeting, and the March 3, 2020 City Council meeting are dispensed with and the records are APPROVED as prepared by the Clerk.

 

 

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

 

*THE FOLLOWING COMMUNICATIONS ARE READ AND ORDERED FILED:

 

028      A.     Resolution from the Town of Hopkinton in Support of Legislation that would move the Primary Date to Wednesday if held in the same week as Labor Day.

           

590      B.     Communication from His Honor Mayor Donald R. Grebien to the Honorable Members of the Senate Committee on Finance, requesting the restoration of the payment in lieu of taxes (PILOT) and Distressed Community Funds in the FY2021 Budget.

           

061      D.     Communication from Joanna L’Heureux, Finance Director, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Statement of Estimated, Realized, and Unrealized Revenues for the fiscal period July 1, 2019 through December 31, 2019)

           

611      E.      Communication from Jeannine S. Bourski, Deputy Finance Director, to Joanna L’Heureux, Finance Director.   (FY20 Medical Fund Report)

           

614      F.      Communication from Eric J. Earls, PE, Director of Public Works, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Response – Crosswalk Pawtucket Avenue and Sterling Street; Tree Removal on Waldo Street; Railroad Tracks Central Avenue and the George Bennett Highway)

           

3          G.     Communication from Cheryl McWilliams, Superintendent of Schools, and Melissa Devine, Chief Financial Officer, Pawtucket School Department, to Richard J. Goldstein, MMC, City Clerk.  (Response – Update on the Purchase of St. Leo’s Church and Rectory)

 

592      C.     Communication from Susan Mara, Director of Planning and Redevelopment, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Restaurant Week Annual Report) is READ AND ORDERED FILED.

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR KALLMAN.

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Mayor Donald Grebien, requesting that the administration add $3,000 to the City Council Marketing Line Item in the FY 2021 budget to promote the Crash Pawtucket events.  This would be in addition to the $10,000 in the line item this year to promote Pawtucket Restaurant Week.  

 

 

Communication from His Honor Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, submitting the following appointment to the Pawtucket Water Supply Board, FOR CONFIRMATION:

 

PAWTUCKET WATER SUPPLY BOARD

 

Mark Theroux (to fill the unexpired term of Robert P. Therriault). Term to Expire the First Monday in January, 2022 is READ AND ORDERED FILED.

 

The following nomination submitted by His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, for confirmation is CONFIRMED on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

PAWTUCKET WATER SUPPLY BOARD

 

Mark Theroux (to fill the unexpired term of Robert P. Therriault). Term to Expire the First Monday in January, 2022.

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN.

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Chief William Sisson, Pawtucket Fire Department, requesting that the firefighters who made a heroic effort to save the life of a person caught in the fire at 93 Summit Street on February 24, especially Lt. Wallace and FF Johnson, be recognized for their heroism on that occasion.

 

 

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

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

Collective Bargaining Agreements by and between the City of Pawtucket and Pawtucket Firefighters/International Association of Firefighters (IAFF) Local 1261 for the Years 2016-2019, 2019-2020, 2020-2023

 

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

588   RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING THE FLORA S. CURTIS ELEMENTARY SCHOOL FOR BEING HONORED AS A 2019 RECIPIENT OF THE NATIONAL BLUE RIBBON AWARD.

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

588   RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A 10-YEAR TAX STABILIZATION AGREEMENT FOR HCI CORP DBA CHANGE HEALTHCARE, FORMERLY DBA TUNSTALL AMAC, FOR TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY AT 100 FREIGHT STREET.

 

 

 

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, Kallman, Mercer, Rudd, Vasquez, Vitali and Wildenhain.

 

NOES – 0.

 

588   RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CREATION OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET HEALTH REIMBURSEMENT ACCOUNT.

 

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, Kallman, Mercer, Rudd, Vasquez, Vitali and Wildenhain.

 

NOES – 0.

 

635   RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET TO ENTER INTO A ONE-YEAR LEASE EXTENSION AGREEMENT WITH NEXUS PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LLC FOR USE OF THE PARKING LOT ON SUMMER STREET AT 49 NORTH UNION STREET (AP43 L629) FOR THE PAWTUCKET PUBLIC LIBRARY.

 

 

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, Kallman, Mercer, Rudd, Vasquez, Vitali and Wildenhain.

 

NOES – 0.

 

588   RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH THE RESTORATION URBAN FARM OF NEW ENGLAND TO USE THE CITY OWNED PLOT OF LAND AT PAWTUCKET’S GIBSON ST. PARK PLAYGROUND ABUTTING SHERMAN ST. AS A COMMUNITY GARDEN.

 

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR KALLMAN.

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Chief Tina Goncalves, Pawtucket Police Department and Eric Earls, P.E., DPW Director, requesting that the Department of Public Works replace the “No Parking” signs on Carver Street, which are so faded that they cannot be read.   After they are replaced, the Council is asking the Police Department to enforce no parking on the street.

 

Also, on that portion of Carver Street, between Pawtucket Avenue and Main Street, near the Smug Brewery, Councilor Kallman noted that people are parking on the sidewalk.  Therefore, the Council requested that DPW put up “No Parking on the Sidewalk” signs on that portion of the street and that the Police Department enforce the prohibition.

 

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE PUBLIC WORKS/CEMETERY COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IS READ AND PASSED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

588   RESOLUTION ADOPTING NEW BURIAL RATES AND BURIAL LOT PRICES FOR OAK GROVE CEMETERY AND MINERAL SPRING CEMETERY

 

 

 

The following ordinance is read for the SECOND time and PASSED on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

330   AN ORDINANCE REPEALING AND REPLACING THE SCHEDULE OF PAY RATES FOR LOCAL 1012 IN §88-12 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996.  (Reclassify Chief Accountant from R49 to R53)

 

 

 

The following ordinance is read for the SECOND time and PASSED on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

330   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. (REMOVAL OF 120 PROGRESS STREET AP63 L141 FROM THE HISTORIC DISTRICT)

 

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE IS READ FOR THE FIRST TIME AND PASSED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 410 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET 1996, ENTITLED “ZONING” (Amendment to Zoning Ordinance to regulate maximum fence height for corner lots)

 

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE IS READ FOR THE FIRST TIME AND PASSED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

AN ORDINANCE REPEALING AND REPLACING THE SCHEDULE OF PAY RATES FOR UNIFORM MEMBERS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN §88-12 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996.  (July 1, 2016 – June 30, 2019)

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE IS READ FOR THE FIRST TIME AND PASSED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

AN ORDINANCE REPEALING AND REPLACING THE SCHEDULE OF PAY RATES FOR UNIFORM MEMBERS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN §88-12 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996.  (July 1, 2019 – June 30, 2020)

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE IS READ FOR THE FIRST TIME AND PASSED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

AN ORDINANCE REPEALING AND REPLACING THE SCHEDULE OF PAY RATES FOR UNIFORM MEMBERS OF THE FIRE DEPARTMENT IN §88-12 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996.  (July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2023)

 

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR VITALI.

 

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

 

Communication from Eric Earls, P.E. DPW Director to Dylan M. Zelazo, Director of Administration, (Update on Streetlight LED Conversion)

 

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

 

614   Communication from Eric Earls, P.E. DPW Director to Dylan M. Zelazo, Director of Administration, (Update on Streetlight LED Conversion)

 

 

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:

 

Tiqua Johnson, Guardian of TJ., minor by Shannah Kurland, Esq. - $100,000.00

 

Suzanne Silva – No Amount Specified

 

Grace Kwon, by J. Richard Ratcliffe, Esq. – No Amount Specified

 

Amanda Berganza by Progressive Insurance - $9,392.99

 

Brianna Forte by George L. Santopietro, Esq., - $100,000.00

 

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS, THE FOLLOWING CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY IS DENIED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

Amicle Oriol by Hartford Central Recovery Office - $2,035.26

 

 

 

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by the Entire City Council, the meeting is adjourned at 8:16 p.m., in memory of Janice McHale.