City Council, January 20, 2021

 

A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council is held Wednesday, January 20, 2021, at 7:41 p.m., via videoconference on ZOOM during the COVID-19 pandemic, per Governor’s Executive Orders up to and including 21-01.

 

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 January 4, 2021 City Council Outgoing and City Council Organizational meeting and January 6, 2021 City Council 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.

 

 

Upon motion made by Council Mercer, seconded by Council Rudd, 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:

 

7          A.     Various Forms and Statements from RI Infrastructure Bank.

           

15        B.     Communication from Susan L. Reed, Library Director, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Library 2nd Quarter Report)

           

028      C.     Communication from Isaac Amponsah, City Sergeant, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.   (Resignation as City Sergeant effective January 4, 2021)

 

590      D.     Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to Cheryl McWilliams, Ed.D, Superintendent, Pawtucket School Department.  (In-Person Learning for Pawtucket Students)

           

**613  E.      Communication from Frank J. Milos, Jr., Esq., City Solicitor, to Council President David P. Moran.  (Response – RIDEM Approval of Transfer Station)

           

**028  F.      Communication from Joel J. Votolato, Esq., City Council Attorney, to Council President David P. Moran.  (Response – RIDEM Approval of Transfer Station)

           

**        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 Araujo, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:

 

The Clerk instructed to send a communication to William Vieira, Director of Zoning and Code Enforcement, requested that you do a spot check on the Concord Street property once a month regarding reports of trucks from a company called CWT being parked on the lot overnight while full of trash.  The council is requesting a report at the second meeting of each month regarding your findings.

 

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR RUDD.

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Angelo Calcagni, Waste Connection, regarding if trucks from a company called CWT is hauling trash out of 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 Councilor DaRosa, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Mark Dennen, RIDEM, requesting an interpretation of the language in RIGL Sec. 23-18.9-8(B) and what role DEM expects to play in the construction of the new facility at the Grotto Avenue Transfer Station in Pawtucket.

 

 

 

THE COUNCIL TAKES UP THE FOLLOWING:

 

ELECTION OF CITY OFFICERS:

 

        CITY SERGEANT (2-YEAR TERM)

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MERCER.

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Araujo, the name of ALFRED HERVIEUX is placed in nomination to serve as the City Sergeant.

 

With no other nominations offered, ALFRED HERVIEUX IS ELECTED CITY SERGEANT (Two Year Term) on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

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

 

NOES - 0.

 

 

 

THE ELECTION OF A COUNCIL MEMBER TO SERVE ON THE PURCHASING BOARD. Term expires the first Monday in January 2023 IS TAKEN UP:

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR ARAUJO.

 

 

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Araujo, seconded by Councilor Schuette, the name of COUNCILOR MARK WILDENHAIN is placed in nomination as the Council member to serve on the Purchasing Board.

 

Upon motion made by Councilor DaRosa, seconded by Councilor Amponsah, the nominations for Council member to serve on the Purchasing Board are closed, on a unanimous voice vote.

 

COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN IS ELECTED AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER TO SERVE ON THE PURCHASING BOARD - Term expires the first Monday in January 2023, on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

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

 

 

NOES – 0.

 

 

 

THE ELECTION OF A COUNCIL MEMBER TO SERVE ON THE PAWTUCKET WATER SUPPLY BOARD.  Term expires the first Monday in January 2023, IS TAKEN UP:

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR VASQUEZ.

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Vasquez, seconded by Councilor Schuette, the name of COUNCILOR MICHAEL ARAUJO is placed in nomination as the Council member to serve on the Water Supply Board.

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Wildenhain, the nominations for a Council member to serve on the Pawtucket Water Supply Board are closed, on a unanimous voice vote.

 

COUNCILOR ARAUJO IS ELECTED AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER TO SERVE ON THE WATER SUPPLY BOARD - Term expires the first Monday in January 2023, on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

 

 

COUNCIL PRESIDENT MORAN APPOINTS COUNCILOR VASQUEZ AS THE COUNCIL MEMBER TO SERVE ON THE ARTS PANEL REVIEW COMMITTEE.  Term Expires June 1, 2022

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

588   RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING SHEA HIGH SCHOOL GIRLS SOCCER TEAM FOR WINNING THE DIVISION IV STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN.

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by Councilor Mercer, the agenda is amended to include the following communication and this communication is READ AND ORDERED FILED, on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

611   Communication from Joanna L’Heureux, Finance Director, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Update on Current Budgetary Issues)

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MERCER.

 

With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Araujo, 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 Chairman Gerard Charbonneau, Superintendent Cheryl McWilliams, Melissa Devine, Chief Financial Officer, Pawtucket School Department, and to William Conley, Esq., School Committee’s legal counsel, sending the communication from Joanna L’Heureux, regarding the financial condition of the city through the end of the fiscal year, which states that the City is expecting a $2.6 million deficit.  The communication states that the City is looking at three means of reducing the deficit: one is a supplemental property tax increase; second is using the reserve fund; and third is getting financial assistance from the school department, which is looking at a $2 million surplus. 

 

The City Council notes that the School Department has about a $7 million medical reserve fund surplus, and so the Council is asking for the School Department to put their heads together to find a mechanism to return some of the revenues back to the city to help offset the deficit and help the taxpayers.  The City Council notes that the City has been there for the School Department over the last 10 years, with bond money to build new schools.   The Council further noted also noted that we are living through a once in a century crisis and they hope that the school department can help find a once in a century solution.

 

 

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

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

588   RESOLUTION EXTENDING THE GRACE PERIOD TO PAY MOTOR VEHICLE TAXES IN FULL FOR FY 2021 WITHOUT INCURRING INTEREST PENALTIES UNTIL JUNE 30, 2021.

 

 

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Wildenhain, the meeting is adjourned at 8:24 p.m., in memory of Fran Slade, long time employee of the City and fondly known as Mrs. Clause.