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A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council was held Wednesday, June 5, 2024, at 8:28 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI. 
Present – President Mercer; Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.
Absent – 0.
President Mercer presided.
THE COUNCIL RECESSED IMMEDIATELY TO CONDUCT PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE FOLLOWING:
AMENDMENTS TO THE MUNICIPAL BUDGET
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ABANDONMENT OF A PORTION OF SCHOOL STREET, AND ALL OF NASSAU STREET, BISHOP STREET AND BERRY SPRING STREET
THE COUNCIL RECONVENED AT 8:35 PM.
The reading of the records of the May 22, 2024 Committee of the Whole meeting, Finance Committee meeting, City Council meeting, and Joint Finance Committee/Committee of the Whole 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
061 A. Communication from Jeannine S. Bourski, Deputy Finance Director, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Statement of Estimated, Realized and Unrealized Revenues for the fiscal period July 1, 2023, through April 30, 2024)
**611 D. Communication from Mark Stankiewicz, Finance Director, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Audit Report for Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2023)
**611 E. Annual Financial Report for the City of Pawtucket by Hague, Sahady & Co. P.C. Fiscal Year Ended June 30, 2023
F. THE FOLLOWING CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY WAS REFERRED TO THE LAW DEPARTMENT AND RI INTERLOCAL TRUST:
Balbino Ramos by Progressive Subrogation – $10,374.51 (Police Cruiser)
Rachel Lapointe by Progressive Subrogation – $22,848.11 (Fire Vehicle)
**590 H. Communication from Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable K. Joseph Shekarchi, Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Honorable Dominick J. Ruggerio, President of Senate. (Thank for the FY25 Budget, As Amended)
** TAKEN OFF CONSENT AGENDA FOR COMMENTS ONLY, NO FURTHER ACTION WAS TAKEN
B. Communication from the Honorable Neicy Coderre, 4th District Councilor, Marlena Martins Stachowiak, 6th District Councilor, and Yesenia Rubio, Councilor At Large, to William Keegan, Interim Human Resources Director (Pension Eligibility for Municipal Court Judges) WAS POSTPONED UNTIL THE JUNE 18, 2024 CITY COUNCIL MEETING
G. Communication from Judge Donna M. Nesselbush, to Council President Terrence E. Mercer. (Letters previously sent regarding Job Description) WAS POSTPONED UNTIL THE JUNE 18, 2024 CITY COUNCIL MEETING
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZED COUNCILOR ARAUJO
With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Araujo, seconded by Councilor Moran, was PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:
The Clerk was instructed to send a communication to Frank J. Milos, Jr, Esq., City Solicitor, concerning two letters which were on the June 5th council docket regarding the municipal court judge’s position. The council noted that this issue may result in litigation and may be a personnel matter. Because of that, they want his opinion on whether or not it’s appropriate to discuss the matter. If it is appropriate, should they discuss it in executive session or in open session?
1 C. Communication from Tina Goncalves, Police Chief, to the Honorable Terrence E. Mercer, City Council President (Response to Councilor Gregor’s Comments Regarding the Pawtucket Police Department) WAS READ AND ORDERED FILED.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZED COUNCILOR GREGOR
With majority consent of the Council, Councilor Gregor made a point of personal privilege. He expressed, for the record, his surprise at the Chief Goncalves's letter dated 05/30/2024. He further expressed his disappointment that Chief Goncalves, in her command position as Chief of Police and Public Safety Director for the City of Pawtucket, would choose to respond in such a manner especially since he had attempted to reach out to the Chief to discuss his concerns with the May 2, 2024 incident referenced in her letter. He questioned her allegations as to what "disparaging comments" he is alleged to have made against the Pawtucket Police Department at any time. He stated that neither his May 8, 2024 comments nor his May 2, 2024 health and welfare check at the police station, of the subject 83-year old elderly veteran constituent, were in any way a "politically motivated attack" as alleged by the Chief. He was, similarly, disappointed that his ethics were questioned and that his comments were characterized as "false narrative and misleading statements to the public".
COUNCILOR STACHOWIAK LEFT THE CHAMBERS AT 8:57 PM
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 Pawtucket Redevelopment Agency, FOR CONFIRMATION:
PAWTUCKET REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
589 Ineida Anderson Rocha, 65 Woodbury Street, Pawtucket, RI 02861. Term expires September 12, 2026 (To fill the unexpired term of Moriah Garcia Nelson), WAS READ AND ORDERED FILED.
AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
PAWTUCKET REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
Ineida Anderson Rocha, 65 Woodbury Street, Pawtucket, RI 02861. Term expires September 12, 2026 (To fill the unexpired term of Moriah Garcia Nelson).
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 Historic District Commission, FOR CONFIRMATION:
589 Thomas Perry, 112 Walcott Street, Pawtucket, RI 02860. Term expires the 1st Monday in February 2027, 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 and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
HISTORIC DISTRICT COMMISSION
Thomas Perry, 112 Walcott Street, Pawtucket, RI 02860. Term expires the 1st Monday in February 2027
COUNCILOR STACHOWIAK RETURNED AT 9:01 PM
AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio Stachowiak and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
Drawer 8 Window Agreement by and between the City of Pawtucket (the “City”) and Fraternal Order of Police Pawtucket Lodge No. 4 (the “FOP”) Regarding the Retirement of Police Officers
UPON RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING APPLICATION WAS APPROVED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:
AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio Stachowiak and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
614 Beneficial Use Determination (BUD) Application on the Closure of the Grotto Ave Landfill
The following resolution was APPROVED on a roll call vote, as follows:
NOES – 0.
588 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET TO ISSUE NOT TO EXCEED $110,000,000 GENERAL OBLIGATION BONDS, NOTES AND OTHER EVIDENCES OF INDEBTEDNESS TO FINANCE THE ACQUISTION, CONSTRUCTION, IMPROVEMENT, FURNISHING AND EQUIPPING OF A NEW HIGH SCHOOL AND SCHOOL FACILITIES AND ALL EXPENSES INCIDENT THERETO, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO COSTS OF DESIGN, DEMOLITION, ATHLETIC FIELDS, LANDSCAPING AND PARKING, SUBJECT TO APPROVAL OF STATE HOUSING AID AT A REIMBURSEMENT RATE OR STATE SHARE RATIO OF NOT LESS THAN 83.7% FOR EXPENDITURES ELIGIBLE FOR STATE AID AND PROVIDED THAT THE AUTHORIZATION SHALL BE REDUCED BY ANY GRANT RECEIVED FROM THE SCHOOL BUILDING AUTHORITY CAPITAL FUND.
UPON RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CITY PROPERTY 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 ABANDONMENT OF A PORTION OF SCHOOL STREET, AND ALL OF NASSAU STREET, BISHOP STREET AND BERRY SPRING STREET
592 Communication from Bianca M. Policastro, Director of Planning & Redevelopment, and Mark Goudreau, CD Program Manager, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council. (Supporting Materials for the 2024-2025 Annual Action Plan for the use of funding from the CDBG, HOME and ESG Programs)
Activity Applications Home Applications Public Service Applications
WAS READ AND ORDERED FILED
The following resolution was APPROVED on a roll call vote, as follows:
NOES – 0.
588 RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE FILING OF AN APPLICATION FOR FUNDS UNDER THE 2024-2025 COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT BLOCK GRANT PROGRAM
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 CAPITAL BUDGET ORDINANCE 2024-2025.
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 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM ORDINANCE 2025-2029.
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 ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET ORDINANCE 2024-2025, AS AMENDED
UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS, THE FOLLOWING CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY WERE APPROVED FOR PAYMENT ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:
Lisa Jones – $300.00 (Pothole)
Karen Tager – $300.00 (Pothole)
Juan F. Lopez – $2,089.59 (Firetruck)
Upon motion made by Councilor Araujo, seconded by Councilor Rubio, the meeting was adjourned at 9:37 PM.