City Council, January 6, 2021

 

A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council is held Wednesday, January 6, 2021, at 7:30 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 Amponsah, Araujo, DaRosa, Mercer, Rudd, Schuette, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

 

Absent – 0.

 

President Moran presides.

 

 

The reading of the records of the December 21, 2020 City Council meeting and Finance 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 Amponsah, Araujo, DaRosa, Mercer, Rudd, Schuette, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

 

NOES – 0.

 

 

The *Consent Agenda is APPROVED on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

*THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE READ AND ORDERED FILED:

 

**

592      A.     Communication from Jay Rosa, Assistant Director, Planning & Redevelopment, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Pawtucket Zoning Ordinance & Comprehensive Plan Amendment – Riverfront Tidewater District)

           

**        B.     AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 410 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996, ENTITLED “ZONING” ESTABLISHMENT OF THE RIVERFRONT TIDEWATER (RTW) ZONING DISTRICT. – IS LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE AND A PUBLIC HEARING IS SET FOR FEBRUARY 10, 2021.

           

**        C.     AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 3124 OF THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET AMENDING THE 2017 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN.  (CHANGE IN THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP, LAND USE MAP, AND FUTURE LAND USE MAP – CHANGE FROM RIVERFRONT MIXED USE (RD3) TO RIVERFRONT TIDEWATER (RTW) FOR 45 DIVISION STREET (AP23A, L599) 0 SCHOOL STREET (AP23A L672), 0 TAFT STREET (AP54B L826) AND 200 TAFT STREET (AP65B L662) AND CHANGE FROM RIVERFRONT PUBLIC OPEN (RD1) TO RIVERFRONT TIDE WATER (RTW) FOR 0 SCHOOL STREET (AP23A L673) AND 0 TAFT STREET (AP54B L827) – IS LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE AND A PUBLIC HEARING IS SET FOR FEBRUARY 10, 2021.

           

**        D.     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 FROM RIVERFRONT MIXED USE (RD3) TO RIVERFRONT TIDEWATER (RTW) FOR 45 DIVISION STREET (AP23A, L599) 0 SCHOOL STREET (AP23A L672), 0 TAFT STREET (AP54B L826) AND 200 TAFT STREET (AP65B L662) AND CHANGE FROM RIVERFRONT PUBLIC OPEN (RD1) TO RIVERFRONT TIDE WATER (RTW) FOR 0 SCHOOL STREET (AP23A L673) AND 0 TAFT STREET (AP54B L827) – IS LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE AND A PUBLIC HEARING IS SET FOR FEBRUARY 10, 2021.

           

            E.      THE FOLLOWING CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY ARE REFERRED LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND RI INTERLOCAL TRUST:

Eunice DeSousa, by Shannah Kurland, Esq. – No Amount Specified

RIPTA – No Amount Specified

Walter Waite, by Thomas E. Sparks - $100,000.00

  

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

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR RUDD.

 

With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Rudd, seconded by Councilor DaRosa, is PASSED on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Frank J. Milos, Jr., Esq., City Solicitor and Joel Votolato, Esq., City Council Attorney, requesting that with passage of 2018 – S 2026, otherwise known as Public Law 2018, Chapter 061, does RI DEM have to approve the construction and lease of any new facilities built at the Grotto Avenue Transfer Station.

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR RUDD.

 

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

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Tina Goncalves, Chief of Police, asking if there are incentives for Pawtucket residents during the application process for new Pawtucket police officers.  For example, are there homestead exemptions for Pawtucket residents who apply to become police officers?  Are there points given to Pawtucket residents on the written test?  If an applicant who is a renter buys a house in Pawtucket, are there mortgage incentives for the home buyer?  Council Rudd states that these types of incentives are given in other cities and towns.

 

Also, the Council, is requesting the breakdown of the metrics for the various reasons applicants get points and how many points they get for the different reasons.  Also, are points awarded for bilingual applicants.

The Council is also requesting to learn how many Pawtucket police officers currently live in Pawtucket.

 

 

 

PRESIDENT MORAN APPOINTS THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEES FOR 2021-2022:

 

 

ANIMAL CONTROL                                                ORDINANCE

 

Chair   Mark J. Wildenhain                                        Chair   Terrence E. Mercer

            Ama M. Amponsah                                                     Timothy P. Rudd, Jr.

            Alexis C. Schuette                                                      Elena Vasquez

 

CITY PROPERTY                                                      PUBLIC WORKS/CEMETERY

 

Chair   Michael A. Araujo                                          Chair   Timothy P. Rudd, Jr.

            Terrence E. Mercer                                                    Melissa L. DaRosa

            Alexis C. Schuette                                                      Mark J. Wildenhain

 

 

CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS                              RECREATION

 

Chair   Elena Vasquez                                                            Chair   Timothy P. Rudd, Jr.

            Michael A. Araujo                                                      Melissa L. DaRosa

            Melissa L. DaRosa                                                     Alexis C. Schuette

 

 

FINANCE                                                                   SNOW REMOVAL

 

Chair   Mark J. Wildenhain                                        Chair   Terrence E. Mercer

            Ama M. Amponsah                                                     Alexis C. Schuette

            Michael A. Araujo                                                      Mark J. Wildenhain

 

 

LICENSE                                                                    SUBSTANCE ABUSE/NON-VIOLENCE

 

Chair   Elena Vasquez                                                            Chair   Michael A. Araujo

            Ama M. Amponsah                                                     Ama M. Amponsah

            Melissa L. DaRosa                                                     Elena Vasquez

 

 

AD HOC COMMITTEE ON                                     

ECONOMIC   DEVELOPMENT                               AD HOC COMMITTEE ON

& NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT                               PUBLIC SAFETY

 

Chair   Terrence E. Mercer                                        Chair   Timothy P. Rudd, Jr.

            Ama M. Amponsah                                                     Michael A. Araujo

            Mark J. Wildenhain                                                    Melissa L. DaRosa

 

 

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilors DaRosa and Schuette, the meeting is adjourned at 7:53 p.m.