PAWTUCKET CITY COUNCIL

CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL

137 ROOSEVELT AVENUE, PAWTUCKET, RI

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WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 6, 2024

7:00 PM

 

 

A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council was held Wednesday, November 6, 2024, at 7:00 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 Pro Tempore Araujo presided.

 

 

1.      The reading of the records of the October 23, 2024 City Council meeting was dispensed with and the records were APPROVED as prepared by the Clerk.

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZED COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by Councilors Gregor and Rubio, the Council requested that the Director of Human Resources appear at a Pre-Council session at the November 20, 2024 City Council meeting to answer questions about positions not in a pay plan, including those positions in the communications the Council sent on September 25, 2024 and October 9, 2024, as well as the following positions:

 

·         Urban Resiliency Manager

·         Bilingual Coordinator

·         Assistant Commerce Director

·         Cultural Affairs Program Coordinator

·         Economic Development Specialist

 

 

 

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

*THE FOLLOWING COMMUNICATION WAS READ AND ORDERED FILED
           

A. 017 - Communication from Vanessa E. Rossitto, CPA, Clifton Larson Allen LLP, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Audit)

B. Communication from Jordan Karlik, Blackstone Distribution Center, LLC, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (1 Moshassuck St. Q3 2024 Construction Update) WAS POSTPONED UNTIL THE NOVEMBER 20, 2024 CITY COUNCIL MEETING         

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZED COUNCILOR RUBIO

 

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

 

The Clerk was instructed to send a communication to Jordan Karlik, Blackstone Distribution Center, LLC, regarding the 1 Moshassuck St. Q3 2024 Construction Update.  The council  requested an approximate date for closure on the loan that was mentioned in Mr. Karlik’s update.

 

C. 028 - Petition to Make Pinecrest Drive Safe 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 Wildenhain, was PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:

 

The Clerk was instructed to send a communication to His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, Chris Crawley, Acting Director of Public Works, and Tina Goncalves, Pawtucket Police Chief, forwarding to them the Make Pinecrest Drive Safe petition and asking for recommendations for improving safety on Pinecrest Drive. Councilor Moran suggested adding two or three STOP signs at strategic locations on the street.  Councilor Wildenhain stated that if Pinecrest Drive is close enough to a school, it may be eligible for a school speeding camera.

 

D. 591 - Communication from David P. Moran, 1st District Councilor, to His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Traffic Department Supervisor and to the Public Works Department Director (Traffic issues on Newport Ave. and Cottage St.) WAS TAKEN UP AT THE SEPTEMBER 20, 2023 CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND WASS AGAIN TAKEN UP, AND 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 Moreno, was PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:

 

The Clerk was instructed to send a communication to Chris Crawley, Acting Director of Public Works, to find out if a study was conducted regarding the traffic congestion at the intersection of Newport Ave. and Cottage St.  Councilor Moran requested a copy of the study be sent to the Council if completed, or an estimate as to when it will be completed if it is not. Councilor Moran asked for recommendations for reducing traffic congestion in that area.

 

The council requested responses to the last two communications in time for the December 11, 2024 meeting of the City Council.

 

 

 

3.      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 Pawtucket Redevelopment Agency, FOR CONFIRMATION:

 

PAWTUCKET REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY

 

Brian Murtha, 59 Ferris Street, Pawtucket, RI 02861
Term expires September 12, 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.

 

Brian Murtha, 59 Ferris Street, Pawtucket, RI 02861

Term expires September 12, 2029

 

4.      The following ordinance was read for the SECOND time and APPROVED 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 1012 IN §88-12 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996. (CORRECTIVE CHANGES-SUBSTITUTE A)

 

 

5.      330 - UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE MOTION TO DENY THE FOLLOWING ORDINANCE WAS APPROVED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

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

 

NOES – Councilors Coderre, Rubio and Stachowiak.

 

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.

 

 

6.      UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS, THE MOTION TO DENY AND REFER TO RI ENERGY THE FOLLOWING CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY WAS APPROVED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

Domingas G. Dacosta – $239.62 (Pothole)

 

John Duffy – $1,445.83 (Pothole)

 

 

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by the entire City Council, the meeting was adjourned with well wishes for former Councilor Jim Chadwick at 7:31 PM.