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City Council, July 21, 2021
A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council is held Wednesday, July 21, 2021, at 12:16 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, Gregor, Mercer, Vasquez and Wildenhain.
Absent – Councilors Rudd and Schuette.
President Moran presides.
The reading of the records of the July 7, 2021 Claims and Pending Suits 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, Gregor, Mercer, Vasquez 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, DaRosa, Gregor, Mercer, Vasquez and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
*THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE READ AND ORDERED FILED:
589 A. Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Appointment of Robert Ricci to the Housing Authority – Term to expire July 14, 2026)
1 B. Communication from Detective Lieutenant Timothy Graham to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (2021 Justice Assistance Grant (JAG))
028 C. Communication from John Mullen, supervising Environmental Health Food Specialist, Center for Food Protection, RI Department of Health, to Richard J. Goldstein, MMC, City Clerk. (Response – Smoking Bars)
028 D. Communication from Troy Campopiano, Deputy Town Clerk, Town of North Providence, to Michelle R. Hardy, CMC, Deputy City Clerk. (Response – Speed Bumps)
614 E. Communication from David Clemente, Public Works Director, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Response – Speed Bumps)
590 F. Communications between Elizabeth D. Moreira, MHA, Public Health & Equity Leader and Diane Dufresne, Prevention Coalition Coordinator. (Response – Naloxbox at Payne Park)
**625 H. Communication from Dylan Zelazo, Director of Administration, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Response – Rat Issues)
1 I. Communication from Sergeant Peter Spetelunas, to Tina Goncalves, Chief of Police. (Response – Traffic Concerns Anthony Avenue)
1 J. Communication from Tina Goncalves, Chief of Police, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Response – Public Safety Events)
L. THE FOLLOWING CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY IS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS:
Lisa St. Germain - $500.00
Shonda Ledo - $187.21
** TAKEN OFF CONSENT AGENDA FOR COMMENTS ONLY, NO OTHER ACTION TAKEN.
590 G. Communication from Kassandra Florez, Constituent Liaison, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Response – Workforce Development Plans) 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 Vasquez, is PASSED on a roll call vote, as follows:
AYES – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, DaRosa, Gregor, Mercer, Vasquez and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Kassandra Florez, Constituent Liaison, requesting more specific information regarding Workforce Development Assistance programs being offered or funded by the city for people over 18 years of age.
614 K. Communication from David Clemente, Public Works Director, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Response – 4-Way Stop and Tree Trimming at Whitman and Randall Streets) 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 Gregor, is PASSED on a roll call vote, as follows:
AYES – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, DaRosa, Gregor, Mercer, Vasquez and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to David Clemente, Public Works Director, and Michael E. Burns, Traffic Engineering Supervisor, requesting that they look into adding a “No Parking to corner” sign on Whitman Street, at that intersection with Randall Street, to improve the visibility of oncoming traffic on Whitman Street for people at the stop sign on Randall Street.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DAROSA.
With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor DaRosa, seconded by Councilor Araujo, is PASSED on a roll call vote, as follows:
AYES – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, DaRosa, Gregor, Mercer, Vasquez and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Tina Goncalves, Chief of Police, regarding enforcement of the new stop sign at the intersection of Whitman Street and Randall Street. The council is requesting that the Community Neighborhood Response Team come up with a creative way of letting residents know about the new stop sign at that intersection.
609 Communication from Christopher Montalto, National Grid and Daryl Crossman, Verizon New England Inc., to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, requesting approval to install a new Pole at 76 School Street for service to Nassau Street IS APPROVED PENDING THE APPROVAL OF THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:
AYES – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, DaRosa, Gregor, Mercer, Vasquez and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, submitting the following appointment as a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals, FOR CONFIRMATION:
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
589 Nathan T. Luciano, 289 Orient Avenue, Pawtucket, RI. Term to expire the 1st Monday in January, 2023. (To fill the unexpired term of George Shabo) is READ AND ORDERED FILED.
The following nomination, submitted by His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, is CONFIRMED on a roll call vote, as follows:
AYES – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, DaRosa, Gregor, Mercer, Vasquez and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
Nathan T. Luciano, 289 Orient Avenue, Pawtucket, RI. Term to expire the 1st Monday in January, 2023. (To fill the unexpired term of George Shabo)
Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, submitting the following reappointment as a member of the Parks Commission, FOR CONFIRMATION:
PARKS COMMISSION
589 Richard Tierney, 55 Stafford Street, Pawtucket, RI. Term to expire the 1st Monday in August, 2024 is READ AND ORDERED FILED.
The following nomination, submitted by His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, is CONFIRMED on a roll call vote, as follows:
AYES – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, DaRosa, Gregor, Mercer, Vasquez and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
PARKS COMMISSION
Richard Tierney, 55 Stafford Street, Pawtucket, RI. Term to expire the 1st Monday in August, 2024.
Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, submitting the following reappointment as a member of the Public Arts Committee, FOR CONFIRMATION:
PUBLIC ARTS COMMITTEE
589 Mimo Gordon Riley, 75 Montgomery Street, Pawtucket, RI. Term to expire the 1st Monday in June, 2024 is READ AND ORDERED FILED.
The following nomination, submitted by His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, is CONFIRMED on a roll call vote, as follows:
AYES – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, DaRosa, Gregor, Mercer, Vasquez and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
PUBLIC ARTS COMMITTEE
Mimo Gordon Riley, 75 Montgomery Street, Pawtucket, RI. Term to expire the 1st Monday in June, 2024.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DAROSA.
With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor DaRosa, seconded by Councilor Gregor, is PASSED on a roll call vote, as follows:
AYES – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, DaRosa, Gregor, Mercer, Vasquez and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Michael E. Burns, Traffic Engineering Supervisor, requesting that he do a study to determine the best way to make the intersection at Main Street, Lonsdale Avenue and Randall Street safer, whether it’s with new signage, making changes to the lanes, or by other means he believes would be effective. They also specifically requested a “Slow Children” or similar sign be put up on Randall Street.
Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, submitting the following reappointment as a member of the Public Arts Committee, FOR CONFIRMATION:
PUBLIC ARTS COMMITTEE
589 Joan Hausrath, 10 Exchange Court, Unit 504, Pawtucket, RI. Term to expire the 1st Monday in June, 2024 is READ AND ORDERED FILED.
The following nomination, submitted by His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, is CONFIRMED on a roll call vote, as follows:
AYES – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, DaRosa, Gregor, Mercer, Vasquez and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
PUBLIC ARTS COMMITTEE
Joan Hausrath, 10 Exchange Court, Unit 504, Pawtucket, RI. Term to expire the 1st Monday in June, 2024.
Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, submitting the following reappointment as a member of the Riverfront Commission, FOR CONFIRMATION:
RIVERFRONT COMMISSION
589 Marlena Martins Stachowiak, 22 Vivian Avenue, Pawtucket, RI. Term to expire the 1st Monday in June, 2024 is READ AND ORDERED FILED.
The following nomination, submitted by His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, is CONFIRMED on a roll call vote, as follows:
AYES – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, DaRosa, Gregor, Mercer, Vasquez and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
RIVERFRONT COMMISSION
Marlena Martins Stachowiak, 22 Vivian Avenue, Pawtucket, RI. Term to expire the 1st Monday in June, 2024
THE FOLLOWING COMMUNICATION IS TAKEN UP:
Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, submitting the following reappointment as a member of the Riverfront Commission, FOR CONFIRMATION:
RIVERFRONT COMMISSION
Eric Auger, 24 Walnut Street, Pawtucket, RI, Term to expire the 1st Monday in June, 2024
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR GREGOR.
Upon motion made by Councilor Gregor, seconded by Councilor Araujo, the following communication is POSTPONED INDEFINITELY on a roll call vote, as follows:
AYES – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, DaRosa, Gregor, Mercer, Vasquez and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
589 Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, submitting the following reappointment as a member of the Riverfront Commission, FOR CONFIRMATION:
RIVERFRONT COMMISSION
Eric Auger, 24 Walnut Street, Pawtucket, RI, Term to expire the 1st Monday in June, 2024
Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by the entire City Council, the meeting is adjourned at 12:47 p.m.