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A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council was held Wednesday, April 24, 2024, at 7:28 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.
Present – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.
Absent – Councilor Coderre.
President Mercer presided.
The reading of the records of the April 10, 2024 Animal Control Committee meeting, Finance Committee meeting, City Property Committee meeting, Committee on Claims and Pending Suits meeting and City Council meeting was dispensed with and the records were APPROVED as prepared by the Clerk.
Upon motion made by Councilor Araujo, seconded by Councilor Moreno, the *Consent Agenda was APPROVED on a unanimous voice vote:
*THE FOLLOWING COMMUNICATIONS WERE READ AND ORDERED FILED
028 A. Various Resolutions from the Town of Burrillville
028 B. Resolution from the Town of Burrillville School Department (Funding Formula – Education Proficiency Benchmarks)
028 C. Resolution from the Town of Westerly Urging the RI State Legislature to Support Allocating Funding for Permanent Safety Barriers on Rhode Island’s Bridges Over Narragansett Bay
611 D. Communication from Jeannine Bourski, Deputy Finance Director, to Patricia Royal, Ed.S, Superintendent of Schools (FY 2025 School Department Budget)
3 E. Communication from Angelo Garcia, Executive Director, Segue Institute for Learning, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Segue Legacy High School Report)
**7 F. Communication from Katie Peters, Executive Project Manager, PWSB, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (April 2024 Bill Stuffer – Water Meter Replacement Project
15 G. Communication from Susan Reed, Library Director, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Library Quarterly Report)
**1 H. Communication from the Pawtucket Animal Shelter (Quarterly Report)
**126 I. Communication from John Blais, Recreational Manager, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Pawtucket Parks Commission Annual Report for 2023) PLACED BACK ON THE DOCKET FROM APRIL 10, 2024
**591 J. Communication from the Honorable Clovis C. Gregor, 5th District City Councilor, to the RI Department of Environmental Management and National Park Service (Suspension and Rescission of the Conversion of Morley Field, McCoy Stadium Annex and Dunnell Park)
589 K. Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Appointment to the Mayor’s Community Board)
630 M. Communication from Robert Burns, Tax Assessor, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Abatement Recommendations for January, February and March 2024)
N. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ABATEMENT OF TAXES FOR MOTOR VEHICLES, REAL ESTATE AND TANGIBLES FOR JANUARY, FEBRUARY AND MARCH 2024, IN THE AMOUNT OF $85,286.65 WAS REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
O. THE FOLLOWING CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY WAS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS:
Yazmin Santiago – $527.39 (Pothole)
** TAKEN OFF CONSENT AGENDA FOR COMMENTS ONLY, NO FURTHER ACTION WAS TAKEN
617 L. Communication from Lexis Galvao, Department of Transportation, to Richard J. Goldstein, MMC, City Clerk (Response – Traffic Light on Newport Ave. and Cottage St.)
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZED COUNCILOR MORAN
With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Moran, seconded by Councilor Moreno, was PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:
The Clerk was instructed to send a communication to Lexis Galvao, Department of Transportation, asking if any consideration is being given to widening lanes and adding left-hand turn lanes, as well as checking on the status on repaving Newport Avenue from Columbus Avenue to the East Providence line.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZED COUNCILOR MORAN
With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Moran, seconded by Councilor Moreno, was PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:
The Clerk was instructed to send a communication to Chris Crawley, Acting Director of Public Works, requesting that Public Works prepare a plan to relieve traffic congestion for the side streets including Mill Street, Garrity Street, and Cedarbrook Rd., which are being used as a passthrough to avoid the Newport Avenue / Cottage Street intersection A response was requested by May 22, 2024.
589 Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Terrence E. Mercer, Council President, submitting the following appointments as members of the Charter Review Commission, FOR CONFIRMATION:
| John J. Barry, III | Jose M. DaMoura | Brenda Clement |
| Maribel Echeverry McLaughlin | Matilda Rodrigues | Phillip J. Shea, Jr. |
| Tyler McFeeters | Elaine Cruz | Jacqueline Ash |
| | John Baxter | |
WAS READ AND ORDERED FILED
The following nominations submitted by His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, for confirmation were CONFIRMED on a roll call vote, as follows:
AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
CHARTER REVIEW COMMISSION
| John J. Barry, III | Jose M. DaMoura | Brenda Clement |
| Maribel Echeverry McLaughlin | Matilda Rodrigues | Phillip J. Shea, Jr. |
| Tyler McFeeters | Elaine Cruz | Jacqueline Ash |
| | John Baxter | |
UPON RECOMMENDATION FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS APPROVED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:
AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
588 RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF BOND LEGISLATION IN THE AMOUNT OF TWENTY-MILLION DOLLARS ($20,000,000) FOR VARIOUS ENVIRONMENTAL INFRASTRUCTURE IMPROVEMENTS FOR THE FISCAL YEARS 2026 & 2027
UPON RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS APPROVED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:
AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
588 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE A SUBLEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET AND SLEEP IN HEAVENLY PEACE, INC. FOR A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 100 MAIN STREET (PLAT 23, LOT 553)
The following ordinance was read for the SECOND time and PASSED on a roll call vote, as follows:
AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.
NOES – Councilor Gregor.
330 AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF ARTICLE XXIII OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996, ENTITLED “PUBLIC ART FUND”
The following ordinance was read for the SECOND time and PASSED on a roll call vote, as follows:
AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
330 AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF 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. (ADD: Human Resources Director; DELETE: Consolidated Director of Human Resources) AS AMENDED
AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 116-4 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996, ENTITLED “IMPOUNDMENT FEES”
UPON RECOMMENDATION FROM THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE WAS READ AND PASSED FOR THE FIRST TIME ON ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:
AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 202 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996, ENTITLED “FEES” (Returned Checks)
Upon motion made by Councilor Araujo, seconded by Councilor Moreno, the meeting was adjourned at 8:05 PM.