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City Council, February 23, 2022

A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council is held Wednesday, February 23, 2022, at 7:02 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.

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

Absent – 0.

President Moran presides.

THE COUNCIL RECESSES IMMEDIATELY TO CONVENE PUBLIC HEARINGS 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 (ADDITION OF 539 EAST AVENUE, AP64 L806 TO THE PAWTUCKET HISTORIC DISTRICT)

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 (Change 318 Lafayette Street, AP63 L655, from RT Zone to CG Zone)

THE CITY COUNCIL RECONVENES AT 7:08 P.M.

The reading of the records of the February 9, 2022 Committee on Clams and Pending Suits meeting, Finance Committee meeting, City Property Committee meeting and City Council meeting is dispensed with and the records are APPROVED as prepared by the Clerk.

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

028 A. Various Forms and Statements from RI Infrastructure Bank

589 B. Communication from Robert Coderre, to His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien. (Resignation from the Parks Commission)

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

Susan Ventura by John M. Cicilline, Esq. -$10,000 +

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

Christopher Concepcion - $780.00

Dennis Hall - $111.65

Tyler Polk - $159.00

C. Communication from Dylan Zelazo, Director of Administration, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Response – Angelica Textile Property) POSTPONED ON 1/5/2022, 1/19/2022 AND 2/9/2022 is POSTPONED UNTIL MARCH 23, 2022.

589 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 Parks Commission, FOR CONFIRMATION:

PARKS COMMISSION

Mary Healey, 85 Armistice Boulevard, Pawtucket, RI. Term expires the 1^st Monday in August, 2022. (To Fill the Unexpired Term of Fred Kent), 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, Schuette, Stachowiak, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

NOES – 0.

PARKS COMMISSION

Mary Healey, 85 Armistice Boulevard, Pawtucket, RI. Term expires the 1^st Monday in August, 2022. (To Fill the Unexpired Term of Fred Kent)

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

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

NOES – 0.

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

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

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

NOES – 0.

588 RESOLUTION REQUESTING THAT THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY APPROVE GOVERNOR MCKEE’S FY23 BUDGET PROPOSAL TO FULLY FUND RI SCHOOL DISTRICTS AT FY22 LEVELS.

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING CONTRACT IS RATIFIED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

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

NOES – 0.

Drawer 8 Contract between the City of Pawtucket and Council 94 AFSCME, AFL-CIO, Local 3960 for July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2024

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 Araujo, DaRosa, Gregor, Mercer, Schuette, Stachowiak, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

NOES – 0.

AN ORDINANCE REPEALING AND REPLACING THE SCHEDULE OF PAY RATES FOR LOCAL 3960 IN SECTION §88-12 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996. (July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2024)

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 Araujo, DaRosa, Gregor, Mercer, Schuette, Stachowiak, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

NOES – 0.

AN ORDINANCE REPEALING AND REPLACING THE SCHEDULE OF PAY RATES FOR CLASSIFIED NON-UNION POSITIONS IN SECTION §88-12 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996.

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR VASQUEZ.

With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Vasquez, seconded by Councilor Schuette, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Melissa Devine, CFO, Pawtucket School Department, requesting that she contact Finance Director Joanna L’Heureux and Public Works Director David Clemente about providing feminine hygiene products in School Department buildings. The City Council is interested in providing these in City buildings, as well.

The Council is requesting that she provide them with pricing information to ensure best pricing and the name of the vendor that the School Department is using. The Council is further asking what source of funds is being used.

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 Araujo, DaRosa, Gregor, Mercer, Schuette, Stachowiak, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

NOES – 0.

AN ORDINANCE REPEALING AND REPLACING THE SCHEDULE OF PAY RATES FOR UNCLASSIFIED NON-UNION POSITIONS IN SECTION §88-12 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996.

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

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

NOES – 0.

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

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

NOES – 0.

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR GREGOR.

With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Gregor, seconded by Councilor Mercer is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Dylan Zelazo, Director of Administration, regarding community input and involvement into the best use of the city's ARPA Funds to improve our community. Regarding the city survey on the use of the funds, the council wants to know:

1. Is this Pawtucket's official community input tool regarding the use of ARPA funds?

2. What, if any, other plans are there to engage Pawtucket residents in the planning and decision-making process?

3. How, where, and when was this survey tool distributed?

4. Given that the tool asks for personal information, what measures are being taken to protect privacy? Who will review the results of the survey and what influence will it have on future decisions?

5. Generally, how is the city being transparent/communicating with community members about planning, decisions, and outcomes?

6. Lastly, what decisions have been made thus far regarding the use of Pawtucket's ARPA funds?

Upon motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by the Entire City Council, the meeting is adjourned at 7:27 p.m. in honor of William Sisson, Fire Chief, who recently retired after 35 years of outstanding service to the city of Pawtucket.