City Council, May 8, 2024

A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council was held Wednesday, May 8, 2024, at 7:09 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.

Present – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moran, Moreno and Rubio.

Absent – Councilors Stachowiak and Wildenhain.

President Mercer presided.

The reading of the records of the April 24, 2024 Finance Committee meeting and City Council meeting was dispensed with and the records were APPROVED as prepared by the Clerk.

His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, gave his annual Budget Address.

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.     Resolution from the Town of Burrillville in Opposition of 2024 H-8109, Legislation Relating to Taxation – Statewide Tangible Property Tax Exemption

028      B.     Various Forms and Statements from RI Infrastructure Bank

061      C.     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 February 29, 2024)

061      D.     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 March 31, 2024)

            F.      Communication from Anthony J. Bucci, Jr., Esq., to Richard J. Goldstein, MMC, City Clerk. (Petition to abandon a portion of School Street and all of Nassau Street, Bishop Street and Berry Spring Street) RETURNED BY THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING FOR JUNE 5, 2024

            G.     CAPITAL BUDGET ORDINANCE 2024-2025 – WAS LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

            H.     CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PROGRAM ORDINANCE 2025-2029 – WAS LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE.

            I.       ANNUAL OPERATING BUDGET ORDINANCE 2024-2025 – WAS LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND A PUBLIC HEARING SET FOR MAY 22, 2024.

            J.      THE FOLLOWING CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY WAS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS:

Karen Tager – $760.01 (Pothole)

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

Domingos Silva by Nationwide – $7,397.41 (Police Cruiser)

617      E.      Communication from Lexis Galvao, Department of Transportation, to Richard J. Goldstein, MMC, City Clerk (Response – Traffic Lanes on Newport Ave. and Cottage St.) WAS READ AND ORDERED FILED

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZED COUNCILOR MORAN

With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Moran, seconded by Councilor Araujo, was PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:

The Clerk was instructed to send a communication to Lexis Galvao, RI Department of Transportation, and Chris Crawley, Acting Director of Public Works, requesting that they look into installing a digital speed sign right after the bridge coming from Attleboro on Route 1A South and near the Cottage Street intersection on Route 1A North.  The council is requesting that they get together to determine whether the state or the city is responsible for, or able to place the digital speed signs on Newport Avenue.     

COUNCILOR CODERRE LEFT THE CHAMBERS AT 7:23 PM.

590      L.      Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Terrence E. Mercer, City Council President (Recent Personnel Social Media Issue) WAS READ AND ORDERED FILED

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZED COUNCILOR GREGOR

With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Gregor, seconded by the entire City Council, was PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:

The Clerk was instructed to send a communication to His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, and Chris Crawley, Acting Director of Public Works, requesting a list of all projects Joseph Morais has been involved with over the past three years.

609      Communication from Christopher Montalto, Supervisor, Distribution Design, RI Energy, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, submitting the following joint pole installation and removal for Weeden Street WAS APPROVED PENDING THE APPROVAL OF THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS.

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.

NOES – 0.

330      AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 116-4 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996, ENTITLED “IMPOUNDMENT FEES”

COUNCILOR CODERRE RETURNED AT 7:29 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, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio.

NOES – 0.

330      AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 202 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996, ENTITLED “FEES” (Returned Checks)

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:

AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio.

NOES – 0.

Jeffrey Mellor – $196.90 (Pothole)

Verizon by Claims Management Resources Inc. – $1,192.48 (Wire Damage)

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS, THE FOLLOWING CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY WAS DENIED AND REFERRED TO RI ENERGY ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio.

NOES – 0.

Luke Dasilveira – $400.00 (Pothole)

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS, THE FOLLOWING CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY WAS DENIED AND REFERRED TO THE NARRAGANSETT BAY COMMISSION ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio.

NOES – 0.

Yazmin Santiago – $527.39 (Pothole)

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS, THE FOLLOWING CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY WAS DENIED AND REFERRED TO THE RI DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio.

NOES – 0.

Juan Henao – $1,046.17, $1,070.00 (Vehicle Damage)

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS, THE FOLLOWING CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY WAS POSTPONED PENDING AN UPDATE FROM THE INSURANCE COMPANY ON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE:

Juan F. Lopez – $2,089.59, $2,453.75 (Firetruck)

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

AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio.

NOES – 0.

588      RESOLUTION DENOUNCING DISPARAGING PUBLIC STATEMENTS

Upon motion made by Councilor Araujo, seconded by Councilor Moreno, the meeting was adjourned at 7:44 PM.