City Council, March 10, 2021

 

 

A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council is held Wednesday, March 10, 2021, at 7:14 p.m., via videoconference on ZOOM during the COVID-19 pandemic, per Governor’s Executive Orders up to and including 21-21.

 

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

 

Absent – 0.

 

President Moran presides.

 

 

THE COUNCIL RECESSES IMMEDIATELY TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET ORDINANCE 2020-2021, AS AMENDED AND TO CONDUCT A MEETING OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

 

THE COUNCIL RECONVENES AT 7:37 P.M.

 

 

The reading of the records of the February 24, 2021 City Council meeting, Animal Control Committee meeting and Committee on Claims and Pending Suits 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 Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Wildenhain, 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:

 

028      A.     Resolution from the Town of Burrillville regarding the Disposition of Zambarano Hospital.

           

028      B.     Resolution from the City of East Providence requesting Allocation of $8 million of the New Stimulus Money to Afterschool and Summer Programs.

           

028      C.     Resolution from the Town of Coventry in Support of Approving an Amendment to RIGL 44-5-2 Regarding the Maximum Tax Levy.

           

028      D.     Communication from John K. Welch, Pawtucket Resident, to David P. Moran, President, Pawtucket City Council.  (Development Ideas)

           

589      E.      Communication from R. Thomas Magill, to His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien. (Resignation from the Zoning Board of Appeals)

           

590      F.      Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Mayor’s Community Board)

           

590      G.     Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to Cheryl McWilliams, Ed.D, Superintendent of Schools.   (Consolidated Human Resources Management)

           

**590  H.     Communication from Elizabeth D. Moreira, MHA, Public Health & Equity Leader, City of Pawtucket, to Thomas McCarthy, Executive Director of COVID Response, RI Department of Health.  (Additional Vaccines Needed)

           

            I.       Communication from Robert W. Burns, Tax Assessor, to David P. Moran, Council President and Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, submitting a 10-year Tax Stabilization Request for 593 Mineral Spring Avenue Associates LLC for the Property at 593 Mineral Spring Avenue. IS REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

           

            J.      Communication from David Bass, Agent to T-Mobile, to the Pawtucket City Council.  (Second Amendment to Lease for T-Mobile for the Grotto Avenue site) IS REFERRED TO THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE.

           

            K.     Communication from Susan L. Reed, Library Director, to Richard J. Goldstein, MMC, City Clerk.  (Lease Extension on Summer Street for Library Parking) IS REFERRED TO THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE.

           

            L.      THE FOLLOWING CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY IS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS:

Drew Anderson - $287.98

Charlene Gagnon - $486.35

Florence Nachbar - $251.81/$324.35

 

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

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DAROSA.

 

Upon motion made by Councilor DaRosa, seconded by Councilor Wildenhain., 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.

 

1       Communication from Tina Goncalves, Chief of Police and Acting Public Safety Director, to Council President David P. Moran and the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Response – Percentage of Police Officers who are Pawtucket residents)

 

 

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

 

Paula A. McAloon, 39 Ruth Street, Pawtucket, RI. Term expires the first Monday in January, 2022 is READ AND ORDERED FILED.

 

 

The following nomination submitted by His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, for confirmation is CONFIRMED on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS

 

589   Paula A. McAloon, 39 Ruth Street, Pawtucket, RI. Term expires the first Monday in January, 2022.

 

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR ARAUJO

 

With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Araujo, seconded by Councilor Schuette, 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 the Massachusetts Bay Transit Authority (MBTA) requesting that they include the Council as a recipient whenever they send out an update or status report on the work at the South Attleboro train station.

 

Also, the Council is asking if there is a rebate or refund for people who bought annual passes for the MBTA trains but cannot use them because they cannot get to another train stop while the South Attleboro station is closed.

 

 

 

UPON THE RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION 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   RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE A LICENSE AGREEMENT WITH TAFT STREET COMMUNITY GARDEN ORGANIZATION TO USE A PORTION OF CITY OWNED LAND AT VARIEUR SCHOOL ABUTTING BOWLES COURT FOR A COMMUNITY GARDEN.

 

 

 

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 PROCLAIMING MARCH 2021 AND EACH SUCCESSIVE MARCH TO BE WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH IN THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET.

 

 

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 SUPPORTING LEGISLATION AUTHORIZING THE PAWTUCKET BOARD OF LICENSE COMMISSIONERS TO ISSUE LIQUOR LICENSES WITHIN 200 FEET OF A SCHOOL OR PLACE OF WORSHIP. (TIDEWATER LANDING)

 

THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE IS TAKEN UP:

 

ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET ORDINANCE 2020-2021, AS AMENDED

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN.

 

With majority consent of the Council and upon recommendation of the Finance Committee, Councilor Wildenhain introduces the following amendment:

 

 

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by Councilors Araujo and DaRosa, the following amendment is APPROVED on a roll call vote, as follows

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

 

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE IS READ FOR THE FIRST TIME, AS FURTHER AMENDED, AND PASSED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

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

 

NOES – Councilor Schuette.

 

ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET ORDINANCE 2020-2021, AS AMENDED, AS FURTHER AMENDED

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS, THE FOLLOWING CLAIM IS DENIED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

Jeanne Langford by WILBER - $1,249.59

 

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Araujo, seconded by the entire City Council, the meeting is adjourned at 8:20 p.m., in memory of Wendy Ames.