City Council, March 24, 2021

 

 

A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council is held Wednesday, March 24, 2021, at 7:39 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, Schuette, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

 

Absent – Councilor Rudd.

 

President Moran presides.

 

 

THE COUNCIL RECESSES IMMEDIATELY TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE AMENDMENTS TO THE ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET ORDINANCE 2020-2021, AS AMENDED.

 

THE COUNCIL RECONVENES AT 7:43 P.M.

           

 

The reading of the records of the March 4, 2021 Finance Committee meeting, and the March 10, 2021 City Council meeting, Committee on Claims and Pending Suits meeting, Finance Committee (6:20 p.m.) meeting, and Finance Committee (Budget Amendment) 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, Schuette, Vasquez 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 Amponsah, Araujo, DaRosa, Mercer, Schuette, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

 

NOES – 0.

 

 

*THE FOLLOWING ITEMS ARE READ AND ORDERED FILED:

 

028      A.     Resolution from the Town of Portsmouth in Support of Senate Bill S-0115 and House Bill H-5407 Regarding Municipal Taxation of Real Estate; and in Support of an Act Related to Miniature Alcoholic Beverage Container Deposit Recycling; and Senate Bill S-0078 and House Bill H-5445 regarding Climate Bills.

           

028      B.     Resolutions from the Town of Burrillville in Opposition to RI 2021 Gun Control Legislation; and in Opposition to House Bill H-5269 regarding Tax Sale Legislation.

           

028/     C.     Resolution from the Town of Charlestown in Support of House Bill H-5028 regarding Civics Literacy.

           

1          D.     Communication from Detective James Baino, President, Pawtucket FOP, to Michelle R. Hardy, CMC, Deputy City Clerk.  (Reappointment of Mark Ramos to the Pension Board to serve as the Active Police Representative)

           

1          E.      Communication from Sergeant Peter Spetelunas, to Tina Goncalves, Chief of Police.  (Response – Motor Vehicle Violations on Pleasant Street)

 

Communication from Sergeant Kenneth Dolan, Vice President, Pawtucket FOP, to Michelle R. Hardy, CMC, Deputy City Clerk, Submitting the Following Appointment as the Retired Police Representative on the Pension Board, for CONFIRMATION:

 

PENSION BOARD

 

589      Retired Detective James Baino.  Term expires the first Monday in January 2023 is READ AND ORDERED FILED.

 

The following nomination submitted by Sergeant Kenneth Dolan, Vice President, Pawtucket FOP, for confirmation is CONFIRMED on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

PENSION BOARD

 

Retired Detective James Baino.  Term expires the first Monday in January, 2023.

 

 

609   Communication from Christopher Montalto, Distribution Design, National Grid, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, submitting a petition for a joint pole at the intersection of Armistice Boulevard and Benjamin Street, IS APPROVED PENDING THE APPROVAL OF THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

 

609   Communication from Christopher Montalto, Distribution Design, National Grid, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, submitting a petition for a joint pole at the intersection of Armistice Boulevard and Grove Street, IS APPROVED PENDING THE APPROVAL OF THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

 

609   Communication from Christopher Montalto, Distribution Design, National Grid, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, submitting a petition for a joint pole at the intersection of Armistice Boulevard and Mendon Avenue, IS APPROVED PENDING THE APPROVAL OF THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

 

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

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

588   RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET TO ENTER INTO A ONE-YEAR LEASE EXTENSION AGREEMENT WITH NEXUS PROPERTY MANAGE-MENT LLC FOR USE OF THE PARKING LOT ON SUMMER STREET AT 49 NORTH UNION STREET (AP43 L629) FOR THE PAWTUCKET PUBLIC LIBRARY.

 

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN.

 

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

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to the Pawtucket General Assembly Delegation regarding 2021-H 6119 and S 0654, entitled, AN ACT RELATING TO TOWNS AND CITIES -- SMALL BUSINESSES--ZONING ORDINANCES.  These bills will impose a one-year moratorium on enforcement of municipal ordinances or zoning requirements that penalize owners of food service establishments/bars for modifications/alternations to their premises in response to an emergency declaration.

 

 

The following ordinance is read for the SECOND time and passed on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

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

 

 

 

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

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

AN ORDINANCE REPEALING AND REPLACING THE SCHEDULE OF PAY RATES FOR LOCAL 1012 IN §88-12 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996.  (Reclassification of: Police Clerk II)

 

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES MERCER.

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Araujo, the agenda is amended to include the following communication:

 

1          Communication from Tina Goncalves, Chief of Police, to Council President David P. Moran. (School Zone Speed Camera Revenues)

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Araujo, the following communication is READ AND ORDERED FILED.

 

Communication from Tina Goncalves, Chief of Police, to Council President David P. Moran. (School Zone Speed Camera Revenues)

 

 

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by Councilor Araujo, the meeting is adjourned at 8:04 p.m., in memory of Margaret Ramos, City Clerk employee, and all of the Colorado shooting victims.