City Council, September 23, 2020

 

 

A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council is held Wednesday, September 23, 2020, at 7:30 p.m., via videoconference on ZOOM during the COVID-19 pandemic, per Governor’s orders up to and including 20-75.

 

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

 

Absent – Councilor Rudd.

 

President Moran presides.

 

 

 

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

 

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)

 

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)

 

THE COUNCIL RECONVENES AT 7:49 P.M.

 

 

The reading of the records of the September 9, 2020, City Council meeting, Committee on Claims and Pending Suits meeting, and City Property 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, Vasquez, Vitali and Wildenhain.

 

NOES – 0.

 

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Wildenhain, 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:

 

590      A.     Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Tidewater Landing Project)

           

590      B.     Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Payment Plan for Liquor Licenses)

           

028      D.     Resolution from the Town of Charlestown relating to State Assistance during the COVID 19 Emergency.

           

028      E.      Resolutions from the Town of Barrington relating to State Assistance during the COVID 19 Emergency and the Establishment of a Grant Program for Small Businesses Impacted by COVID 19

           

028      F.      Resolution from the Town of Warren relating to State Assistance during the COVID 19 Emergency

           

7          G.     Various Forms and Statements from Rhode Island Infrastructure Bank.

           

**

614      H.     Communication from Eric J. Earls, PE, Director of Public Works, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Response – Street Sign Ballston Ave and Crosswalks at Daggett Ave)

           

614      I.       Communication from Eric J. Earls, PE, Director of Public Works, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Response – Replacing of Trees)

           

622      J.      Communication from William Vieira, Acting Director, Zoning & Code Enforcement, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Response – No Evidence of Rodents near Varieur School)

           

625      K.     Communication from Dylan Zelazo, Director of Administration, to Councilor Barry and the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Response – Emergency Purchase Order for a Pest Control Vendor)

           

611      L.      Communication from Joanna L’Heureux, Finance Director, to Council President David P. Moran.  (Police and Fire Investment Portfolio Diversification)

           

            M.    RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MOVEMENT OF FUNDS WITHIN THE POLICE AND FIRE PENSION PLAN OF $2 MILLION OUT OF GRANITE INVESTMENT ADVISORS AND INTO ALKEON, $2 MILLION OUT OF CONGRESS ASSET MANAGEMENT AND INTO LOCUS WOOD, AND $1 MILLION OUT OF HARDING LOEVNER AND INTO CENTRAL PARK GROUP. – IS LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

           

**028  N.     Communication from Donna M. Nesselbush, Chief Judge of the Pawtucket Municipal Court, to Councilor John J. Barry, III.  (Change of Name – Municipal Court Ordinance)

           

            O.     AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 26 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996, ENTITLED “POLICE MUNICIPAL COURT” – IS LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE.

           

            P.      THE FOLLOWING CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY IS REFERRED TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND RI INTERLOCAL TRUST:

Nana Kwame Afriyie - $30,314.88

 

           

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

Jennifer Cipriano - $1,180.00/$2,500.00

           

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

 

           

1          C.     Communication from Tina Goncalves, Chief of Police and Acting Public Safety Director, to Council President David P. Moran. (Police Online Technology) is READ AND ORDERED FILED.

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MERCER

 

With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Mercer, on behalf of Council President Moran, seconded by Councilor Barry, is PASSED on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Tina Goncalves, Chief of Police, regarding her letter to the Council regarding on-line statistical crime information.

 

First, President Moran noted that council members used to get information on their phones about crime happening in their districts.  He also noted that they haven’t gotten that information for several months or a year.   They would like the Chief to look into providing that information once again.

 

Second, in her letter it was noted that the 2019 annual report is on-line.  The council wants to know if that is the latest report that was due to the council at the first meeting in September of this year.  If not, they want to know when the latest report will be available.

 

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by Councilor Mercer, the agenda is amended to include the following:

 

Communication from Jeremy B. Savage, Esq., to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Tidewater Ground Lease Agreement)

 

Ground Lease Agreement between the City of Pawtucket and Fortuitous Partners and Fortuitous Tidewater OZ LLC, for the properties located on Division Street and Taft Street AP23, L672, 673, and 599 and AP54 L827.

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by Councilor Mercer, the following are LAID ON THE TABLE and REFERRED TO THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

Communication from Jeremy B. Savage, Esq., to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Tidewater Ground Lease Agreement)

 

Ground Lease Agreement between the City of Pawtucket and Fortuitous Partners and Fortuitous Tidewater OZ LLC, for the properties located on Division Street and Taft Street AP23, L672, 673, and 599 and AP54 L827.

 

 

 

COUNCIL PRESIDENT MORAN REQUESTS THAT KELLY COATES OF CARPIONATO GROUP ATTEND A PRE-COUNCIL MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL ON OCTOBER 7, 2020, TO PROVIDE THE COUNCIL AN UPDATE ON THE NARRAGANSETT PARK PLAZA PROJECT OFF NEWPORT AVENUE IN PAWTUCKET AND EAST PROVIDENCE

 

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN

 

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

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Tina Goncalves, Chief of Police, regarding two traffic matters relating to the intersection of Cottage Street and Grand Ave.

 

First, drivers are going through the 4-way stop sign at that intersection without stopping, especially drivers on Cottage Street.

 

Second, between 3:00 p.m. and 6:00 p.m., drivers on Cottage Street cut down Grand Avenue, going the wrong way on the one-way street, to avoid the traffic jam at Newport Avenue.

 

The Council is requesting that the Chief place a detail officer at that intersection between those hours to curb the violations.

 

 

 

THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE RETURNS THE FOLLOWING REQUEST WITH THE RECOMMENDATION TO BE DENIED:

 

028      Communication from Carolina Garcia, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Request to purchase lot at 185 Mulberry Street)

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN

 

The motion by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by Councilor Barry, to DENY the following application is APPROVED on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

Communication from Carolina Garcia, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Request to purchase lot at 185 Mulberry Street)

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

588   RESOLUTION PROCLAIMING THE MONTH FROM SEPTEMBER 15, 2020 TO OCTOBER 15, 2020 “HISPANIC HERITAGE MONTH 2020”

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

330   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)

 

 

 

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, Barry, Kallman, Mercer, 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” CHANGE IN OFFICIAL ZONING MAP (Addition of 104 Glenwood Ave AP66 L919 to 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, Barry, Kallman, Mercer, 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” CHANGE IN OFFICIAL ZONING MAP (Change of 30 India Street (AP26 L650) from RT Residential Two-Family to Industrial Open MO Zone)

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR BARRY.

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Barry, seconded by Councilors Wildenhain, the agenda is amended to include the following:

 

590      Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (PILOT re: Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island)

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Barry, seconded by Councilors Araujo, Mercer and Vitali, the following communication is READ AND ORDERED FILED on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

 

Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (PILOT re: Memorial Hospital of Rhode Island)

 

 

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by the entire City Council the meeting is adjourned at 8:11 p.m., in memory of former City Councilor Raymond “Chip” Hoyas, Nancy Gendron, former State Representative Harvey Goulet and Mary Lou Goulet.