City Council, July 10, 2024

 

A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council was held Wednesday, July 10, 2024, at 8:19 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.

 

Present – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moreno, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.

 

Absent – Councilors Moran and Rubio.

 

President Mercer presided.

 

 

The reading of the records of the June 11, 2024 Joint Finance Committee/Committee of the Whole meeting, the June 13, 2024 City Council meeting, the June 18, 2024 Public Works/Cemetery Committee meeting, City Property Committee meeting, and City Council meeting was dispensed with and the records were APPROVED as prepared by the Clerk.

 

THE COUNCIL TOOK UP THE FOLLOWING:

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Araujo, seconded by Councilor Wildenhain, the minutes from the June 5, 2024 City Council meeting were APPROVED AS AMENDED on a unanimous voice vote.

 

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

 

            *THE FOLLOWING COMMUNICATIONS WERE READ AND ORDERED FILED

           

028      A.     Petition from Pawtucket Residents to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Support of Policing Methods)

           

651      B.     Communication from Ashley Tashian, Assistant Treasurer, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Tax Write-offs for 2013)

           

**652  C.     Communication from Edward Catone, Jr., Clerk, Board of Canvassers, to His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien (Resignation from the Board of Canvassers)

           

            E.      AN ORDINANCE REPEALING AND REPLACING THE SCHEDULE OF PAY RATES FOR UNCLASSIFIED NON-UNION POSITIONS INCLUDING HEADS OF DEPARTMENTS AND APPOINTED OFFICIALS IN SECTION §88-12 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996 - WAS LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE

           

            F.      AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 410 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET 1996, ENTITLED “ZONING”. (Riverfront Development Districts) – WAS LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE AND A PUBLIC HEARING SET FOR SEPTEMBER 11, 2024.

           

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

Juan Hernandez – $367.50 (Pothole)

Amilcar DaRosa – $350.00 – $450.00 (Manhole)

           

            H.     THE FOLLOWING CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY TO BE REFERRED TO THE LAW DEPARTMENT AND RI INTERLOCAL TRUST:

Augusto Rocha & Maria Silva by Bottaro Law Firm – No amount specified (Firetruck)

           

**        TAKEN OFF CONSENT AGENDA FOR COMMENTS ONLY, NO FURTHER ACTION WAS TAKEN ON THIS MATTER

623      D.     Communication from William G. Keegan, Jr., Acting Human Resources Director, to the Honorable Terrence E. Mercer, City Council President (Request for Amendments to the Schedule of Annual Pay Rates for Unclassified Non-Union Positions; Including Heads of Departments and Appointed Positions) WAS READ AND ORDERED FILED

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZED COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN:

 

The Clerk was asked to notify the administration that the Finance Committee is requesting that they provide the committee with comparisons with other cities and towns on the salaries of the four positions for which salary ranges are being amended in the Pay Plan Ordinance for unclassified non-union positions including heads of departments and appointed officials.

 

 

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

 

AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moreno, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.

 

NOES – 0.

 

Drawer 8      Contract Between the City of Pawtucket and Council 94 AFSCME, AFL-CIO, Local 3960 (Professional and Technical Employees) and the City of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2027

 

 

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

 

AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moreno, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.

 

NOES – 0.

 

Drawer 8      Contract Between the City of Pawtucket and Council 94 AFSCME, AFL-CIO, Local 1012 and the City of Pawtucket, Rhode Island, July 1, 2024 to June 30, 2027

 

 

The following resolution was APPROVED on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moreno, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.

 

NOES – 0.

 

588      RESOLUTION IN SUPPORT OF GOVERNOR DANIEL J. MCKEE’S LITTER FREE RHODE ISLAND CAMPAIGN

 

 

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

 

AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Moreno, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.

 

NOES – Councilors Coderre and Gregor.

 

588      RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET TO ENTER INTO A TEN-YEAR LEASE AGREEMENT WITH HOPE ARTISTE RESIDENTIAL PROPRIETOR, LLC, FOR THE USE OF THE LESSOR’S PROPERTY LOCATED AT OR ABOUT 205 ESTEN AVENUE (AP 62, LOTS 229, 311 AND 312) AS A DOG PARK

 

 

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, Moreno, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.

 

NOES – 0.

 

330      AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 88 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996, ENTITLED “SALARIES AND COMPENSATION” (SALARY FOR THE CHAIRPERSON AND SCHOOL COMMITTEE MEMBERS)

 

 

COUNCILOR GREGOR LEAVES AT 8:40 PM.

 

 

The following ordinance was read for the SECOND time and PASSED on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Moreno, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.

 

NOES – 0.

 

330      AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 11 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996, ENTITLED “BIPARTISAN BOARD OF CANVASSERS AND REGISTRATION” (Alternate Board Members)

 

 

THE COUNCIL TOOK UP THE FOLLOWING:

 

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, 2024, to June 30, 2027)

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZED COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by Councilor Stachowiak, the following AMENDMENT to the above entitled ordinance was taken up:

 

Amend the following:

 

In Section 2 of the Pay Plan Ordinance for Local 3960, the pay grades for all 35 hour per week employees during the period July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027 shall be amended as follows:

 

Pay Grades from 01T through 20T shall be amended to read T01 through T20, respectively.

 

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by Councilor Stachowiak, the following amendment was PASSED on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Moreno, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.

 

NOES – 0.

 

Amend the following:

 

In Section 2 of the Pay Plan Ordinance for Local 3960, the pay grades for all 35 hour per week employees during the period July 1, 2024 through June 30, 2027 shall be amended as follows:

 

Pay Grades from 01T through 20T shall be amended to read T01 through T20, respectively.

 

 

The following ordinance was READ FOR THE FIRST TIME, AS AMENDED, AND PASSED, on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Moreno, Stachowiak 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, 2024, to June 30, 2027) AS AMENDED.

 

 

THE COUNCIL TOOK UP THE FOLLOWING:

 

AN ORDINANCE REPEALING AND REPLACING THE SCHEDULE OF PAY RATES FOR LOCAL 1012 IN SECTION §88-12 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996. (July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2027)

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZED COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by Councilor Moreno, the following AMENDMENT to the above entitled ordinance was taken up:

 

Amend the following:

 

Replace Section 3 in its entirety to include all positions in Local 1012 in the ordinance.

 

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by Councilor Stachowiak, the following amendment was PASSED on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Moreno, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.

 

NOES – 0.

 

Amend the following:

 

Replace Section 3 in its entirety to include all positions in Local 1012 in the ordinance.

 

 

The following ordinance was READ FOR THE FIRST TIME, AS AMENDED, AND PASSED, on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Moreno, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.

 

NOES – 0.

 

AN ORDINANCE REPEALING AND REPLACING THE SCHEDULE OF PAY RATES FOR LOCAL 1012 IN SECTION §88-12 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996. (July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2027) AS AMENDED.

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE 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, Moreno, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.

 

NOES – 0.

 

AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF THE SCHEDULE OF PAY RATES FOR CLASSIFIED NON-UNION POSITIONS IN § 88-12 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996. (Add: Bilingual Program Coordinator)

 

 

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Araujo, seconded by Councilor Wildenhain, the meeting was adjourned at 8:55 PM.