City Council, January 4, 2021

 

Mayor-elect Donald R. Grebien, the City Council-elect and the School Committee-elect of the City of Pawtucket assemble for the 2021-2023 inaugural activities taking place on Monday, January 4, 2021, at 6:00 p.m. via videoconference on ZOOM during the COVID-19 pandemic, per Governor’s Executive Orders up to and including 20-103.

 

INAUGURAL VIDEO IS DISPLAYED, featuring the following:

 

 

Welcome is offered by David Clemente, Master of Ceremonies.

 

Invocation is offered by Reverend David Thurber, of the Saint Teresa of the Child Jesus Church.

 

Pledge of Allegiance is led by John Gallo, President, Pawtucket Veterans Council.

 

 

The National Anthem is sung by Le’Asia Souza from Shea High School, under the direction of Anne Lagace; Fay Bullard from the Jacqueline M. Walsh School for the Performing and Visual Arts, under the direction of Scott Beauregard; and Zachary Rodriguez from Tolman High School, under the direction of Michael Raymond.

 

Greetings of the United States Congress are offered by Senator Jack Reed, Senator Sheldon Whitehouse, and Congressman David Cicilline.  Greetings of the State of Rhode Island are offered by Attorney General Peter Neronha, and Treasurer Seth Magaziner.

 

 

Richard J. Goldstein, MMC, City Clerk reads the Certificate of Election of Mayor-elect Donald R. Grebien.

 

The Oath of Office is administered to Mayor-elect Donald R. Grebien by Richard J. Goldstein, MMC, City Clerk.

 

 

Richard J. Goldstein, MMC, City Clerk, reads the Certificates of Election of the Council members-elect:

 

Councilor-At-Large-Elect	Michael A. Araujo
Councilor-At-Large-Elect	Melissa L. DaRosa
Councilor-At-Large-Elect	Elena Vasquez
Councilor-Elect 1st District	David P. Moran
Councilor-Elect 2nd District	Mark J. Wildenhain
Councilor-Elect 3rd District	Terrence E. Mercer
Councilor-Elect 4th District	Alexis C. Schuette
Councilor-Elect 5th District	Ama M. Amponsah
Councilor-Elect 6th District	Timothy P. Rudd, Jr.

           

The Oath of Office is administered by Mayor Donald R. Grebien to the following members of the City Council₇

 

Councilor-At-Large-Elect	Michael A. Araujo
Councilor-At-Large-Elect	Melissa L. DaRosa
Councilor-At-Large-Elect	Elena Vasquez
Councilor-Elect 1st District	David P. Moran
Councilor-Elect 2nd District	Mark J. Wildenhain
Councilor Elect 3rd District	Terrence E. Mercer
Councilor-Elect 4th District	Alexis C. Schuette
Councilor-Elect 5th District	Ama M. Amponsah
Councilor-Elect 6th District	Timothy P. Rudd, Jr.

 

Richard J. Goldstein, MMC, City Clerk, reads the Certificate of Election of the members-elect of the School Committee:

 

Joanne M. Bonollo

Gerard A. Charbonneau

Erin Dube

Kimberly A. Grant

Joseph C. Knight

Stephen O. Larbi

Roberto H. Moreno

 

 

The Oath of Office is administered by Mayor Donald R. Grebien to the following members of the School Committee:

 

Joanne M. Bonollo

Gerard A. Charbonneau

Erin Dube

Kimberly A. Grant

Joseph C. Knight

Stephen O. Larbi

Roberto H. Moreno

 

 

Mayor Donald R. Grebien gives his Inaugural Address.

 

Benediction is offered by Reverend Shane Lima, of the Ambassadors Church of the Nazarene.

 

THE ORGANIZATIONAL MEETING OF THE PAWTUCKET CITY COUNCIL 2021-¬2023 IS CONVENED AT 6:37 P.M.

 

The roll of the members of the City Council is called by Richard J. Goldstein, MMC, City Clerk.

 

Present on ZOOM – Councilors Amponsah, Araujo, DaRosa, Mercer, Moran, Rudd, Schuette, Vasquez, and Wildenhain.

 

Absent – 0.

 

Richard J. Goldstein, MMC, City Clerk, Presides.

 

 

Mr. Goldstein reads a letter from Lt. Governor Daniel J. McKee, congratulating the newly elected Mayor Donald R. Grebien, the newly elected members of the City Council and the newly elected members of the School Committee.

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MERCER.

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Rudd, the name of Councilor David P. Moran is placed in nomination for City Council President.

 

With no other nominations being named, City Clerk Goldstein closes the nominations.

 

COUNCILOR DAVID P. MORAN IS ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE 2021 - 2023 TERM on a roll call vote, as follows: z

 

AYES – Councilors Amponsah, Araujo, Mercer, Moran, Rudd, Schuette, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

 

NOES – Councilor DaRosa.

 

 

PRESIDENT MORAN PRESIDES.

 

 

President Moran gives his acceptance speech.

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN.

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by Councilor Araujo, the name of Councilor Terrence E. Mercer is placed in nomination for City Council President Pro Tempore.

 

With no other nominations being named, President Moran closes the nominations.

 

COUNCILOR TERRENCE E. MERCER IS ELECTED PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR THE 2021-2023 TERM on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Amponsah, Araujo, DaRosa, Mercer, Rudd, Schuette, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

 

NOES -0.

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR VASQUEZ.

 

COUNCILOR VASQUEZ PRESENTS THE RESOLUTION ADOPTING THE RULES OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR 2021-2023 FOR CONSIDERATION.

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR SCHUETTE.

 

COUNCILOR SCHUETTE PRESENTS THE FOLLOWING AMENDMENT:

 

Eliminate Rule 24, as follows and renumber accordingly:

 

24.       Every word in these Rules importing the masculine gender only, may be construed to extend to and to include females as well as males.

 

 

Edit the Rules by eliminating all “his/her” and other single pronouns and replacing them with the appropriate noun, being referred to by the pronouns.

 

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Schuette, seconded by Councilor Mercer, the amendment presented to the Rules of the City Council for 2021-2023, is APPROVED on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Amponsah, Araujo, DaRosa, Mercer, Rudd, Schuette, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

 

NOES – 0.

 

 

588      Upon motion made by Councilor Vasquez, seconded by Councilors DaRosa and Araujo, the RULES OF THE CITY COUNCIL FOR 2021-2023 are ADOPTED AS AMENDED on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

AYES – President Moran, Councilors Amponsah, Araujo, DaRosa, Mercer, Rudd, Schuette, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

 

 

NOES -0.

 

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by the Entire City Council, the organizational meeting is adjourned at 6:57 p.m. in memory of Charlotte Tavares.