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City Council, October 25, 2023
A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council was held Wednesday, October 25, 2023, at 7:53 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI. 
Absent – 0.
President Mercer presided.
The reading of the records of the October 11, 2023 City Council meeting, Finance Committee meeting, Joint Finance Committee/Ordinance Committee meeting, Joint Finance Committee/City Property Committee meeting, and Committee on Claims and Pending Suits meeting was dispensed with and the records were APPROVED as prepared by the Clerk.
Upon motion made by Councilor Araujo, seconded by Councilor Coderre, the *Consent Agenda was APPROVED on a unanimous voice vote:
*THE FOLLOWING COMMUNICATIONS WERE READ AND ORDERED FILED
652 A. Communication from the Pawtucket Board of Canvassers to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Public Input By-Laws)
7 B. Communication from the Pawtucket Water Supply Board to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Public Input By-Laws)
589 C. Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Appointment of Members to the Mayor’s Community Board)
**613 D. Communication from Frank J. Milos, Jr., Esq., City Solicitor, to Gay Vietzke, NPS Director (Land and Water Conservation Fund Funded Parks and Recreational Spaces)
**591 E. Communication from Clovis Gregor, 5th District Councilor, to James T. Chellel, Jr., School Committee Chair (McCoy Stadium Annex)
15 F. Communication from Susan Reed, Library Director, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Library Quarterly Report)
**592 G. Communication from Bianca M. Policastro, Director of Planning & Redevelopment, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Update regarding the Environmental Testing and Remediation Plan for Morley Field)
611 H. Communication from Mark Stankiewicz, Finance Director, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Annual Report of Vehicle Assignments and Usages)
** J. Communication from Wilson A. Soto, Princess Investment LLC, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Extended Operating Hours for Class B Licensed Establishments) WAS REFERRED TO THE LICENSE COMMITTEE
K. Communication from David Farrell, Chair, Pawtucket Parks Commission, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Slater Park & Sunset Park Safety) WAS REFERRED TO THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE AND THE RECREATION COMMITTEE
L. THE FOLLOWING CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY WAS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS:
Miguel Ramirez – $1,795.23, pending further estimates (Property Damage)
M. THE FOLLOWING CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY WAS REFERRED TO THE LAW DEPARTMENT AND RI INTERLOCAL TRUST:
Julie Kulacz by Farmers Insurance – $4,433.15 (Sewer Overflow)
** TAKEN OFF CONSENT AGENDA FOR COMMENTS ONLY, NO FURTHER ACTION WAS TAKEN ON THIS MATTER
591I. Communication from Terrence E. Mercer, Pawtucket City Council President, to the Honorable Members of the East Providence City Council. (Proposed Homeless Shelter in Narragansett Park Plaza) WAS READ AND ORDERED FILED
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZED COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN
With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by Councilors Coderre and Moreno, was PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:
The Clerk was instructed to send a communication to The Pawtucket Delegation to the General Assembly requesting that the delegation work with Secretary Pryor, the Office of Housing and Community Development and other individuals/organizations dealing with the issues of homelessness in Rhode Island, to develop a holistic, statewide solution to the issues of homelessness and the need for homeless shelters.
It was noted at the meeting that while the problems are statewide, it seems that most of the suggested “remedies” are targeted to the high-density urban core cities, particularly in Pawtucket.
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 Advisory Commission on Arts and Culture, FOR CONFIRMATION:
ADVISORY COMMISSION ON ARTS AND CULTURE
589 Sam Shorr, 22 Montgomery St., Pawtucket, RI 02860. Term expires on the 1st Monday in October 2024 (To Fill the Unexpired Term of Jan Brodie) WAS READ AND ORDERED FILED
AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
ADVISORY COMMISSION ON ARTS AND CULTURE
Sam Shorr, 22 Montgomery St., Pawtucket, RI 02860. Term expires on the 1st Monday in October 2024.
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 Advisory Commission on Arts and Culture, FOR CONFIRMATION:
ADVISORY COMMISSION ON ARTS AND CULTURE
589 Maria Cecilia Cano, 37 Sisson St., Pawtucket, RI 02860. Term expires on the 1st Monday in October 2024 (To fill the Unexpired Term of Eveline Luppi) WAS READ AND ORDERED FILED
AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
ADVISORY COMMISSION ON ARTS AND CULTURE
Maria Cecilia Cano, 37 Sisson St., Pawtucket, RI 02860. Term expires on the 1st Monday in October 2024 (To fill the Unexpired Term of Eveline Luppi)
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZED COUNCILOR CODERRE
Upon motion made by Councilor Coderre, seconded by Councilor Moran, the following communication WAS READ AND ORDERED FILED and THE APPOINTMENT WAS INDEFINITELY POSTPONED AT THE REQUEST OF THE NOMINEE, on a unanimous voice vote:
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 Advisory Commission on Arts and Culture, FOR CONFIRMATION:
ADVISORY COMMISSION ON ARTS AND CULTURE
589 Stephanie Fortunado, 78 Fowler Ave., Pawtucket, RI 02860. Term Expires on the 1st Monday in October 2026.
Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, submitting the following reappointment as a member of the Zoning Board of Appeals, FOR CONFIRMATION:
589 Agueda Del Borgo, 153 Walcott St., Pawtucket, RI 02860. Term Expires on the 1st Monday in January 2029 WAS READ AND ORDERED FILED.
The following nomination submitted by His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, for confirmation was CONFIRMED on a roll call vote, as follows:
AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
ZONING BOARD OF APPEALS
Agueda Del Borgo, 153 Walcott St., Pawtucket, RI 02860. Term Expires on the 1st Monday in January 2029.
UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING COLLECTIVE BARGAINING AGREEMENT WAS RATIFIED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:
NOES – 0.
Drawer8 Collective Bargaining Agreement by and Between Teamsters Local 251 and the Pawtucket Water Supply Board for the Period July 1, 2023 to June 30, 2026
The following resolution was APPROVED on a roll call vote, as follows:
AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
588 RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CITY’S PLANNING DEPARTMENT TO SUBMIT AN APPLICATION TO THE RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT FOR LOCAL OPEN SPACE CONSERVATION & ACQUISITION GRANT FOR THE POTENTIAL ACQUISITION OF ADDITIONAL LAND OWNED BY THE RIVERSIDE BURIAL SOCIETY OF PAWTUCKET A/K/A RIVERSIDE CEMETERY.
UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS APPROVED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:
AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
588 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO SEEK AN AMENDED LEASE PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR THE FY2023 EQUIPMENT LEASE AGREEMENT
UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS APPROVED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:
AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
588 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE DIRECTOR OF FINANCE TO SEEK A LEASE PURCHASE AGREEMENT FOR THE FY2024 EQUIPMENT LEASE AGREEMENT
UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS APPROVED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:
NOES – 0.
588 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTION AND DELIVERY OF AN EQUIPMENT LEASE /PURCHASE AGREEMENT, AND RELATED INSTRUMENTS, FUNDING OF THE FY2024 LEASE PURCHASE EQUIPMENT LIST PLUS RELATED EXPENSES
UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS APPROVED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:
AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.
NOES – Councilor Gregor.
588 RESOLUTION PROVIDING SITE CONTROL TO THE PAWTUCKET SCHOOL COMMITTEE FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW UNIFIED HIGH SCHOOL IN THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZED COUNCILOR STACHOWIAK
With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Stachowiak, seconded by Councilor Moreno, was PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:
The Clerk was instructed to send a communication to the Law Department requesting that they seek a declaratory ruling from the RI Department of Education regarding the authority of local school building committees. Are they strictly advisory or more than that? What other authority or responsibilities does a school building committee have?
The Council also requested that the Law Department oversees the development of a metes and bounds description for the new school property.
The following ordinance was read for the SECOND time and PASSED on a roll call vote, as follows:
AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
330 AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 3266 OF THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, APPROVING MODIFICATION NO. 1 TO AMENDMENT NO. 18 TO THE PAWTUCKET REDEVELOPMENT PLAN RELATING TO THE “TIDEWATER LANDING PROJECT”
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZED COUNCILOR MORENO
With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Moreno, seconded by Councilors Wildenhain and Moran, was PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:
The Clerk was instructed to send a communication to Karen Grande, Bond Counsel, to verify the Council’s understanding that the city will not be held liable for the repayment of the TIF bonds in support of the soccer complex project at Town Landing in Pawtucket.
UPON RECOMMENDATION FROM THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE WAS READ AND PASSED FOR THE FIRST TIME ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:
AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
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)
With no further business to discuss, Council President Mercer adjourned the meeting in memory of former Emergency Management Agency Director Humberto “Al” Araujo and Elaine H. Baker, at 9:24 PM.