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City Council, August 10, 2022

A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council is held Wednesday, August 10, 2022, at 8:32 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.

Present – President Moran, Councilors Araujo, DaRosa, Mercer, Schuette, Stachowiak and Vasquez.

Absent – Councilors Gregor and Wildenhain.

President Moran presides.

THE COUNCIL RECESSES IMMEDIATELY TO CONDUCT A PUBLIC HEARING ON THE FOLLOWING:

AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 410 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996, ENTITLED “ZONING” CHANGE IN OFFICIAL ZONING MAP FOR 120 WEBSTER STREET (AP9 L570) FROM RT TO CG ZONE

THE COUNCIL RECONVENES AT 8:38 P.M.

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MERCER.

Upon motion by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Araujo, the Council takes up the following item on the docket at this time, on a unanimous voice vote:

The following ordinance, which is returned by the ordinance committee without a recommendation, is read and PASSED for the FIRST time on a roll call vote, as follows:

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

NOES – 0.

The reading of the records of the July 20, 2022 City Council meeting is dispensed with and the records are APPROVED as prepared by the Clerk.

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Vasquez, the *Consent Agenda is APPROVED on a unanimous voice vote:

028 A. Resolution from the Town of Tiverton requesting a Ballot Question Related to Licensure of “Cannabis Related Licenses”

**589 B. Communication from Douglas McKinnon to His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, (Resignation from the Zoning Board of Appeals)

589 C. Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien to the Honorable

Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Confirmation of John J. Barry’s reappointment to the Riverfront Commission)

**590 D. Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Continuing Improvement on Roadway Infrastructure)

** F. Communication from Sandra Cano, Commerce Director, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Update on the progress of the Tidewater Landing Development project) IS REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

** G. Communication from Sandra Cano, Commerce Director to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Tax Stabilization Agreement, 1 Moshassuck Street) IS REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

H. Communication from Robert Burns, Tax Assessor, to the Honorable Members of the City Council submitting the application of Blackstone Distribution Center for a 20-year Tax Stabilization Agreement IS REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

I. Communication from Robert Burns, Tax Assessor, to the Honorable Members of the City Council regarding a waiver of tax interest for Dibco, LLC for property at 560 Mineral Spring Avenue (Plat 51 Lot 236) IS REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE

J. AN ORDINANCE REPEALING AND REPLACING THE SCHEDULE OF PAY RATES FOR LOCAL 251 IN SECTION §88-12 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996 (Teamsters) – IS LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

K. THE FOLLOWING CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY ARE REFERRED TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND RI INTERLOCAL TRUST:

Georgina Castillo by Joseph J. Voccola & Associates - $50,000.00 (Accident with

Police Vehicle)

Yasuell Baez by Orabona Law Offices - $1,000,000.00 (Accident with Fire Truck)

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

1 A. Communication from Tina Goncalves, Police Chief and Acting Public Safety Director, to Dr. Peter Alviti, Jr., Director at the Department of Public Transportation (Public Safety Along I-95) 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 Mercer, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Tina Goncalves, Police Chief and Acting Public Safety Director, regarding her letter to Peter Alviti, Jr., regarding homeless encampments along the highway. The council wants to know:

1. Does she and the administration agree with the letter from Robert Rocchio, P.E., from RIDOT, on this subject, which was attached to the letter to Mr. Alviti?

2. If they do not agree with Mr. Rocchio’s letter and if Director Alviti concurs with it when he responds to her letter, do they plan to reach out to the state police and the governor’s office for assistance on this matter?

3. Regardless of any assistance received from RIDOT, is there a plan for assisting the homeless and dealing with homeless encampments as the weather gets colder in the months ahead? What agencies are they working with to assist with this issue?

609 Communication from Christopher Montalto, Distribution Design Supervisor of RI Energy to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council requesting permission to install a new sole pole at Dartmouth Street is READ AND ORDERED FILED and APPROVED PENDING THE APPROVAL OF THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, on a unanimous voice vote.

609 Communication from Christopher Montalto, Distribution Design Supervisor of RI Energy to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council requesting permission to install concrete encased conduits at 137 Roosevelt Avenue is READ AND ORDERED FILED and APPROVED PENDING THE APPROVAL OF THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS, on a unanimous voice vote.

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, Schuette, Stachowiak and Vasquez.

NOES – 0.

Linda Ayotte - $229.15 (Water Main Break)

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by the entire City Council, the Council adjourns at 9:06 p.m.