City Council, October 5, 2022

 

 

A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council is held Wednesday, October 5, 2022, at 7:40 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.

 

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

 

Absent – 0.

 

President Moran presides.

 

 

The reading of the records of the September 19, 2022 City Council meeting, the September 21, 2022 City Council meeting and Finance Committee meeting are dispensed with and the records are APPROVED as prepared by the Clerk.

 

 

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

 

**        F.      THE FOLLOWING CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY IS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS.

Sindy Reyes - $170.02 (Pothole)

           

**        G.     THE FOLLOWING CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY IS REFERRED TO THE LAW DEPARTMENT AND THE RI INTERLOCAL TRUST.

Nelinda Edwards-Alves – No amount specified (Personal Injury)

           

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

1          A.     Communication from Chief Tina Goncalves, Chief of Police, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, regarding the homeless encampments along Rte. I-95 POSTPONED ON 9/7/2022 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, Chief of Police, asking questions about how the Police Department plans to help the homeless population this winter:

 

1.      Is there a safety plan in place for the homeless this winter? What plans does the city have to help them?

2.     Who are the city’s partners for helping the homeless?  If a council member is approached for homelessness assistance, to whom should the council members refer them?

3.     Who is the Police Department partnering with, outside of the DOT and Governor’s Office, on the encampment issue?

 

 

 

 

1          B.     Communication from Sergeant Peter Spetelunas, Police Department, to Tina Goncalves, Chief of Police (Response - List of scheduled locations for speed trailers) 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 Councilors Gregor and Vasquez, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Tina Goncalves, Chief of Police and Sergeant Peter Spetelunas, Police Department, requesting copies of all the reports from the speed trailer for the streets listed in Sergeant Spetelunas’s communication, which is on the docket.

 

 

616      C.     Communication from Michael Burns, Traffic Engineer, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Response – Traffic studies on Moore Park, Jefferson Ave., Randall St. and West Ave.) 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 Councilors Gregor and Vasquez, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Bianca Policastro, Planning Director; and Christopher Crawley, Acting Public Works Director, requesting ideas or plans for how to beautify Moore Field. The Council suggests putting in a park bench, flowers, shrubs and trash barrels.

 

625      D.     Communication from Dylan Zelazo, Director of Administration, to Richard J. Goldstein, MMC, City Clerk (Response – ARPA funds) 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 Councilors Schuette and Gregor, is PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:

 

The Clerk is instructed to send a communication to Dylan Zelazo, Director of Administration, requesting answers to the Council’s questions regarding Pawtucket’s ARPA Funds:

 

1.      How much in ARPA funds has the city received so far?

2.     How much has been spent so far?  On what has it been spent?

3.     What are the results of the latest public survey regarding ARPA?  What plans or initiatives have the public suggested for the use of these funds?

4.     What future plans or initiatives does the administration have as of now for additional ARPA fund spending?

5.     Will any ARPA funds be spent on plans or initiatives to assist the homeless this winter?

6.     What are the rules or protocols for the administration and/or spending of ARPA funds?

 

 

            E.      Communication from Diane Dufresne, Director of the Pawtucket Prevention Coalition, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, requesting up to $1,000 annually from the Alcohol Awareness Fund to continue to offer Alcohol Server Training Programs to Pawtucket license holders at no charge READ AND ORDERED FILED AND REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE

 

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 Diane Dufresne, Director of the Pawtucket Prevention Coalition, to ask for ideas as to how the city may promote additional alcohol training or awareness to try to reduce liquor violations in the city.  Are there any kind of promotions, additional classes or other ideas that might be helpful on this issue?

 

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR ARAUJO

 

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

 

Communication from Dylan Zelazo, Director of Administration, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Purchase and Sales Agreement – 94 Moshassuck Street).

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Araujo, seconded by Councilor DaRosa, the following communication is READ AND ORDERED FILED AND REFERRED TO THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE, on a unanimous voice vote:

 

Communication from Dylan Zelazo, Director of Administration, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council.  (Purchase and Sales Agreement – 94 Moshassuck Street).

 

 

UPON UNANIMOUS CONSENT OF THE COUNCIL, THE AGENDA IS AMENDED TO TAKE UP THE FOLLOWING MATTER AT THIS TIME, ON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE:

 

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET AND THE RIVERSIDE BURIAL SOCIETY OF PAWTUCKET A/K/A RIVERSIDE CEMETERY TO PURSUE ACQUISITION ON 9.49 ACRES OF UNDEVELOPED LAND GENERALLY LOCATED AT 724 PLEASANT STREET; ASSESSOR’S PLAT 67, LOTS 02, 03, 08 AND NORTHERNMOST PORTION OF LOT 15.  (SUBSTITUTE A)

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZES COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN

 

Councilor Wildenhain introduces the following AMENDMENT to the above resolution

 

Amendment:

 

To strike all references to 94 Moshassuck Street from the above resolution

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by Councilor DaRosa, the following amendment is DEFEATED on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

AYES – Councilors DaRosa and Wildenhain

 

NOES – Council President Moran, Councilors Araujo, Gregor, Mercer, Schuette, Stachowiak and Vasquez.

 

Amendment:

 

To strike all references to 94 Moshassuck Street from the above resolution

 

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

 

AYES - President Moran, Councilors Araujo, Mercer, Stachowiak, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

 

NOES - Councilors DaRosa, Gregor and Schuette.

 

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET AND THE RIVERSIDE BURIAL SOCIETY OF PAWTUCKET A/K/A RIVERSIDE CEMETERY TO PURSUE ACQUISITION ON 9.49 ACRES OF UNDEVELOPED LAND GENERALLY LOCATED AT 724 PLEASANT STREET; ASSESSOR'S PLAT 67, LOTS 02, 03, 08 AND NORTHERNMOST PORTION OF LOT 15. (SUBSTITUTE A)

 

*** COUNCILOR GREGOR STATES FOR THE RECORD THAT HE OBJECTS TO THE VOTE JUST TAKEN ON THIS RESOLUTION, AS THE APPRAISAL WAS NOT ATTACHED, PURSUANT TO SECTION 76-2 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES.

*** Amendment to the minutes added on October 19, 2022

 

 

 

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

 

AYES - President Moran, Councilors Araujo, Mercer, Stachowiak, Vasquez and Wildenhain.

 

NOES – Councilors DaRosa, Gregor and Schuette.

 

588      RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET AND THE RIVERSIDE BURIAL SOCIETY OF PAWTUCKET A/K/A RIVERSIDE CEMETERY TO PURSUE ACQUISITION ON 9.49 ACRES OF UNDEVELOPED LAND GENERALLY LOCATED AT 724 PLEASANT STREET; ASSESSOR’S PLAT 67, LOTS 02, 03, 08 AND NORTHERNMOST PORTION OF LOT 15.  (SUBSTITUTE A)

 

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION IS INDEFINITELY POSTPONED ON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE:

 

023      RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION OF A PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET AND THE RIVERSIDE BURIAL SOCIETY OF PAWTUCKET A/K/A RIVERSIDE CEMETERY TO PURSUE ACQUISITION ON 9.49 ACRES OF UNDEVELOPED LAND GENERALLY LOCATED AT 724 PLEASANT STREET; ASSESSOR’S PLAT 67, LOTS 02, 03, 08 AND NORTHERNMOST PORTIONS OF LOT 15.

 

 

 

The following ordinance is read for the SECOND 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.

 

330      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 (DELETE Library Page and Library Senior Page, Add Library Aide).

 

 

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

Dianne Cardoso - $461.59 (Vehicle Damage)

 

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS, THE FOLLOWING CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY ARE DENIED FOR PAYMENT ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

Joseph Senna - $221.37 (Vehicle Damage)

Alfonso Matamoros - $1,500 (Vehicle Damage)

 

 

PRESIDENT MORAN UPDATES THE APPOINTMENTS FOR THE FOLLOWING COMMITTEES FOR 2021-2022.

 

ANIMAL CONTROL                                     ORDINANCE

 

Chair   Mark J. Wildenhain                            Chair   Terrence E. Mercer

            Clovis C. Gregor                                            Clovis C. Gregor

            Marlena Martins Stachowiak

 

CITY PROPERTY                                          PUBLIC WORKS/CEMETERY

 

Chair   Michael A. Araujo                              Chair   Mark J. Wildenhain

            Terrence E. Mercer                                        Melissa L. DaRosa

            Marlena Martins Stachowiak            

 

CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS                  RECREATION

 

Chair   Elena Vasquez                                    Chair   Terrence E. Mercer

            Michael A. Araujo                                          Melissa L. DaRosa

            Melissa L. DaRosa                            

 

FINANCE                                                       SNOW REMOVAL

 

Chair   Mark J. Wildenhain                            Chair   Mark J. Wildenhain

            Michael A. Araujo                                          Marlena Martins Stachowiak

            Elena Vasquez                                   

           

 

LICENSE                                                        SUBSTANCE USE/NON-VIOLENCE

 

Chair   Elena Vasquez                                    Chair   Michael A. Araujo

            Melissa L. DaRosa                                         Clovis C. Gregor

            Clovis C. Gregor                                            Elena Vasquez

 

AD HOC COMMITTEE ON                         

ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT                     AD HOC COMMITTEE ON

& NEIGHBORHOOD IMPROVEMENT       PUBLIC SAFETY

 

Chair   Terrence E. Mercer                            Chair   Michael A. Araujo

            Mark J. Wildenhain                                        Melissa L. DaRosa

            Clovis C. Gregor                                            Marlena Martins Stachowiak

 

 

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by the entire City Council, the Council adjourns in memory of Police Lieutenant Kenneth Ryan, at 9:31 p.m.