City Council, July 7, 2021

 

 

A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council is held Wednesday, July 7, 2021, at 8:08 p.m., via videoconference on ZOOM during the COVID-19 pandemic, per Governor’s Executive Orders up to and including 21-72.

 

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

 

Absent – Councilor Vasquez.

 

President Moran presides.

 

 

The reading of the records of the June 23, 2021 City Property Committee meeting and 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 Araujo, DaRosa, Mercer, Rudd, Schuette, and Wildenhain.

 

NOES – 0.

 

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Araujo, the *Consent Agenda is APPROVED on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

 

*THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE READ AND ORDERED FILED:

 

028      A.     Communication from Jane Arnold, to Mayor Donald R. Grebien and the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Tidewater Landing)

           

592      B.     Communication from Jeanne Boyle, Commerce Director, to Jane Arnold. (Response – Tidewater Landing)

           

1          E.      Communication from Sergeant Peter Spetelunas, to Tina Goncalves, Chief of Police.  (Response – Traffic Concerns Carter Avenue)

           

630      H.     Communication from Robert W. Burns, Tax Assessor, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Tax Abatements for January, February and March, 2021)

           

            I.       RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ABATEMENT OF TAXES FOR MOTOR VEHICLES, REAL ESTATE AND TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY FOR JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND MARCH, 2021 IN THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF $69,984.59 – IS LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

 

616      C.     Communication from Mike Burns, Traffic Engineering, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Response - Usage of Speed Bumps/Humps) is READ AND ORDERED FILED.

 

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 roll call vote, as follows:

 

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Peter Wingate, Purchasing Director, requesting that he look into the cost of portable speed bumps for the city.

 

 

 

 

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 roll call vote, as follows:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

The Clerk is instructed to contact the Town of North Providence’s DPW Director and/or  Town Clerk requesting a copy of any speed bump policy that the town has on file, as well as any information regarding damage to vehicles in the town caused by speed bumps.

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DAROSA.

 

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

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to William Vieira, Director, Zoning & Code Enforcement, requesting a response to a previous communication regarding the policy on graffiti.

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DAROSA.

 

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

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Michael Burns, Traffic Engineering Supervisor, requesting an update regarding installing a 4-way stop sign at the corner of Whitman Street and Randall Street.  The Council is further requesting that a tree on Whitman Street, near that intersection, be cut back because it is blocking the line of sight of people stopped on Randall Street trying to see if traffic is coming on Whitman Street.

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DAROSA.

 

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

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Tina Goncalves, Chief of Police, requesting that the Council be informed of any public safety events scheduled by the city so that council members may participate or assist with the event.  Councilor DaRosa noted that the first time she heard about the latest gun buyback event was when she read about it in the newspaper.

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DAROSA.

 

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

 

AYES – Councilor DaRosa, Rudd, and Schuette.

 

NOES – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, Mercer, and Wildenhain.

 

The Clerk is requested to send a communication to Tina Goncalves, Chief of Police and Frank J. Milos, Jr., Esq., City Solicitor, requesting that if any Internal Investigation Reports are deemed public record, based on a recent opinion from the Attorney General regarding the Town of Narragansett, then if the city gets a public records request for a report, in addition to the person making the request, the report be sent to the Community Advisory Board and to the city council, as well.

 

 

622      F.      Communication from William Vieira, Director of Zoning and Code Enforcement, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Response - Pest Control) is READ AND ORDERED FILED.

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN.

 

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

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Dylan Zelazo, Director of Administration, requesting if there is a possibility to provide a property tax incentive to assist those residents who contracted with a private company to get rid of the rats on their property.

 

 

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 roll call vote, as follows:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Dylan Zelazo, Director of Administration, asking why it took so long to hire companies to bait the rat traps, as it is so far along into the summer.    The Council is also requesting that you have a list of all the bait boxes in the City sent to the companies hired by the city to help move the baiting along.

 

 

1          A.     Communication from Tina Goncalves, Chief of Police, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Response – Grant Writing) is READ AND ORDERED FILED.

 

028      F.      Communication from Annie Pease, Congressman Cicilline’s Office, to Richard J. Goldstein, MMC, City Clerk. (Response – Federal Funds and Grants) is READ AND ORDERED FILED.

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DAROSA.

 

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

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Cedric Huntley, Executive Director, Non-Violence Institute, and to Tina Goncalves, Chief of Police, providing a copy of the communication from Annie Pease of Congressman Cicilline’s Office regarding Federal funds and grants and ask what workforce development plans are there for young adults in Pawtucket.  Also, the council is asking what programs are to be implemented in the City, excluding the Streetworkers Program, and are they seeking Federal funds for these programs.

 

 

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 Wildenhain, the Clerk is instructed to send a communication to William Vieira, Director, Zoning & Code Enforcement; Dylan Zelazo, Director of Administration; and Tina Goncalves, Chief of Police, regarding the recent story in the Valley Breeze and on the new regarding the “Rise of the Moors.” 

 

The Council is requesting that Mr. Vieira provide information on who owns 339 Broadway and have him inspect this property to see if it’s up to code.   Also, if it is not owned by the Moors, they request that Mr. Vieira contact the owner to find out what the plans are for this property.

 

The Council is asking Mr. Zelazo if the Administration is aware of the various aspects of this situation as reported in the Breeze and what is the City’s response to it.

 

The Council is further asking Chief Goncalves what the Police interactions were with the Moors as mentioned in the Breeze and is the Police Department monitoring the situation.

 

 

 

UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IS APPROVED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

588      RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SALE OF PROPERTY LOCATED ON MENDON ROAD IN NORTH ATTLEBORO, MA (MAP 28, LOT 50)

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR ARAUJO.

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Araujo, seconded by Councilor Wildenhain, the agenda is amended to include the following items, which are READ AND ORDERED FILED AND REFERRED TO THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE, on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

Communication from Frank J. Milos, Jr., Esq., City Solicitor, to Council President David P. Moran, submitting a draft purchase and Sales Agreement between the City of Pawtucket and JK Equities, LLC for Morley Field, 94 Moshassuck Street (AP62, L291 & 309)

 

Communication from Jay Rosa, Assistant Director of Planning and Redevelopment, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Planning Commission’s recommendation regarding a petition to acquire Morley Field, 94 Moshassuck Street (AP62, L291 & 309))

 

 

 

The following resolution is READ AND PASSED on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

588      RESOLUTION CONGRATULATING THE SAINT RAPHAEL ACADEMY BOYS TENNIS TEAM FOR WINNING THE DIVISION IV STATE CHAMPIONSHIP.

 

 

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

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

Lisa St. Germain by Amica Insurance - $1,181.71

 

 

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

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

Viktoriia Khozhina - $576.93

 

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DAROSA.

 

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

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to William Vieira, Director, Zoning & Code Enforcement; and Tina Goncalves, Chief of Police, requesting that the area from the beginning of Magill Street to the 200 block of Magill Street be checked for trash and drug paraphernalia.   The Council is also concerned with loitering down by the liquor store at the beginning of Magill Street.

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DAROSA.

 

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

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Diane Dufresne, Pawtucket Prevention Coalition, requesting the consideration of a Narcan Kit placed in Payne Park, as there have been reports of fentanyl overdoses in the area.

 

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilors Araujo and Mercer, the meeting is adjourned at 9:13 p.m.