City Council, March 23, 2022

 

A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council is held Wednesday, March 23, 2022, at 7:31 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 reading of the records of the March 9, 2022 Claims and Pending Suits Committee meeting and City Council meeting is dispensed with and the records are APPROVED as prepared by the Clerk.

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR MERCER.

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Wildenhain, the agenda is amended to include the following ordinances on a unanimous voice vote:

 

AN ORDINANCE REDISTRICTING THE COUNCILMANIC DISTRICTS IN THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET (Plan A)

 

AN ORDINANCE REDISTRICTING THE COUNCILMANIC DISTRICTS IN THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET (Plan B)

 

AN ORDINANCE REDISTRICTING THE COUNCILMANIC DISTRICTS IN THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET (Plan C)

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Mercer, seconded by Councilor Wildenhain, the ordinances above are LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE AD HOC REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE on a unanimous voice vote.

 

 

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

 

028      A.     Resolution from the City of Woonsocket in Opposition to Senate Bill S-2244 and House Bill H-7198 Municipal Employees” Arbitration

           

028      B.     Resolution from the Town of Middletown in Support of Municipal Learning Centers in the Proposed State Budget

           

028      C.     Resolution from the Town of Charlestown in Support of Legislation to Control Blasting

           

611      F.      Communication from Joanna L’Heureux, Finance Director, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Audit Report for Fiscal Year Ended July 30, 2021)

           

017      G.     Audit Report for Fiscal Year Ended July 30, 2021 Prepared by Hague & Sahady

           

            I.       Petition from JK Equities LLC and the City of Pawtucket to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Request to Rezone Land and Amend Comprehensive Plan Located at 94 Moshassuck Street and 0 Grenville Street. (AP62 L291 & 309) IS REFERRED TO THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE.

           

            J.      AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 3124 OF THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, RHODE ISLAND, AMENDING THE 2017 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN. CHANGE IN THE OFFICIAL ZONING MAP LAND USE MAP AND FUTURE LAND USE MAP FOR 94 MOSHASSUCK STREET AND 0 GRENVILLE STREET FROM PUBLIC OPEN (PO) ZONE TO INDUSTRIAL OPEN (MO) ZONE (AP62, L291 & 309 - MORLEY FIELD) - IS LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE AND PUBLIC HEARING SET FOR APRIL 20, 2022.

           

            K.     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 94 MOSHASSUCK STREET AND 0 GRENVILLE STREET FROM PUBLIC OPEN (PO) ZONE TO INDUSTRIAL OPEN (MO) ZONE (AP62, L291 & 309 - MORLEY FIELD) - IS LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE AND A PUBLIC HEARING SET FOR APRIL 20, 2022

           

            L.      Petition of Blackstone Distribution Center LLC to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Request to Convey Sewer Easement to City of Pawtucket at 1 Moshassuck Street AP62 L295) IS REFERRED TO THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE

           

            M.    RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING A SEWER EASEMENT WITH BLACKSTONE DISTRIBUTION CENTER LLC FOR UTILITY ACCESS AND MAINTENANCE FOR PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1 MOSHASSUCK STREET (AP62, L295) - IS REFERRED TO THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE.

           

            N.     Petition of Blackstone Distribution Center LLC to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Request to Convey Property to the City at 1 Moshassuck Street AP62 L337) IS REFERRED TO THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE.

           

            O.     RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET TO EXPAND THE CITY RIGHT OF WAY AT THE SOUTH-WEST CORNER OF THE MOSHASSUCK/MAIN STREET INTERSECTION (AP62 L337) IN ORDER TO EXECUTE ROADWAY IMPROVEMENTS - IS REFERRED TO THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE.

           

            P.      THE FOLLOWING CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY IS REFERRED TO THE LEGAL DEPARTMENT AND RI INTERLOCAL TRUST:

Leyda Tavera by W.G. Grande & E. Vaziri Law Office – No Amount Specified (Accident with Fire Vehicle)

           

            Q.     THE FOLLOWING CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY ARE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CLAMS AND PENDING SUITS:

Dana Howland - $188.80 (Pothole)

Leivi Uceta - $763.96 (Pothole)

Well M. Pile - $297.26 (Pothole)

 

            D.     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, 2/9/2022 and 2/23/2022

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR GREGOR.

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Gregor, seconded by Councilor Mercer, the communication above is POSTPONED until April 6, 2022 and the Clerk is instructed to include the initial correspondence with this communication, on a unanimous voice vote.

 

625      D.     Communication from Dylan Zelazo, Director of Administration to Richard J. Goldstein, MMC, City Clerk.  (Response – ARPA and Website) is READ AND ORDERED FILED

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR SCHUETTE.

 

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

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Dylan Zelazo, Director of Administration, requesting that he attend a pre-council session on Wednesday, April 20, 2022, at approximately 6:30 p.m., to discuss the administration of the city website. 

 

            F.      Communication from Bianca M. Policastro, Planning Director, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Purchase of 305 Owen Avenue and 160 Beechwood Avenue)

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR ARAUJO.

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Araujo, seconded by Councilor Mercer, the communication above is INDEFINITELY POSTPONED due to an error in the metric for 160 Beechwood Avenue on the 2^nd page, on a unanimous voice vote.

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Araujo, seconded by Councilor Mercer, the agenda is amended to include the following corrected communication on a unanimous voice vote:

 

Corrected communication from Bianca M. Policastro, Planning Director, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Purchase of 305 Owen Avenue and 160 Beechwood Avenue)

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Araujo, seconded by Councilor Stachowiak, the corrected communication above is READ AND ORDERED FILED and REFERRED TO THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE, on a unanimous voice vote.

 

 

Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, Requesting Confirmation of the Following Appointees to the Pawtucket Charter Review Commission, for CONFIRMATION: 

 

PAWTUCKET CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION

 

 

Matilda D. Rodrigues

Philip J. Shea, Jr.

 

IS READ AND ORDERED FILED.

 

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

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

 

PAWTUCKET CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION

        

 

Matilda D. Rodrigues

Philip J. Shea, Jr.

 

 

 

PRESIDENT MORAN APPOINTMENTS THE FOLLOWING MEMBERS OF THE AD HOC REDISTRICTING COMMITTEE:

 

President David P. Moran

Councilor Terrence Mercer

Councilor Marlena Stachowiak (Replacing Councilor Wildenhain)

 

 

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR DAROSA.

 

Upon motion made by Councilor DaRosa, seconded by Councilor Mercer, the agenda is amended to allow for a point of personal privilege on a unanimous voice vote.

 

Councilor DaRosa states her frustration with the lack of response that she is getting from the police department.

 

 

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 IN STRONG OPPOSITION OF HOUSE BILL 6638 AND SENATE BILL 2340 RELATING TO SINGLE FAMILY RESIDENTIAL ZONING PROHIBITION.

 

 

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by the Entire City Council, the meeting is adjourned at 8:07 p.m. in memory of retired Police Detective Robert J. Brown.