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PAWTUCKET CITY COUNCIL

CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL

137 ROOSEVELT AVENUE, PAWTUCKET, RI

SHOWN LIVE ONLINE

WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2024

7:00 PM

A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council was held Wednesday, November 20, 2024, at 7:20 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.

1. The reading of the records of the November 6, 2024 Finance 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.

2. 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

D. 590 - Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to The Honorable Terrence E. Mercer, Pawtucket City Council President (City Council Vote on Amendments to the Schedule of Annual Pay Rates for Unclassified Non-Union Positions, Including Heads of Departments and Appointed Positions)

E. 2 - Communication from Executive Board Officers, Local No. 1261, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Deputy Chief of EMS)

F. 650 - Communication from Eric Hammerschlag, City Engineer, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (RIDOT Municipal Road & Bridge Program) WAS REFERRED TO THE PUBLIC WORKS/CEMETERY COMMITTEE AND THE FINANCE COMMITTEE

G. THE FOLLOWING CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY WAS REFERRED TO THE LAW DEPARTMENT AND RI INTERLOCAL TRUST: Dianna Hashway – $2,338.25, $5,000.00 (Police Vehicle)
Jonathan T. Waters by Rob Levine & Associates – No amount specified (Personal Injury)
Steven Bachand – $25,000.00 (Sewer Backup)

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

A. 028 - 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 AT THE NOVEMBER 6, 2024 CITY COUNCIL MEETING AND WAS AGAIN TAKEN UP AND 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 Councilor Moreno, was PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:

The Clerk was instructed to send a communication to Bianca Policastro, Planning Director; Carl Johnson, Zoning Director; and Eric Hammerschlag, City Engineer, requesting:

• What permits have been issued for this property? • What is the current status of those permits?

• Are the requirements for development and construction being met? • Are any laws or regulations being violated?

• How much longer will the property be allowed to remain in its current condition?

B. 028 - Communication from Jordan Karlik, Blackstone Distribution Center, LLC, to Richard J. Goldstein, MMC, City Clerk (Response – 1 Moshassuck St. Loan Closing) WAS READ AND ORDERED FILED

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZED COUNCILOR ARAUJO

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

The Clerk was instructed to send a communication to Jordan Karlik, Blackstone Distribution Center, LLC, requesting that they increase their presence and efforts to be proactive rather than reactive at 1 Moshassuck Street, and seeking clarification on whether there is a plan to address potential delays and improve the property moving forward, as its current condition is negatively impacting the neighborhood and surrounding businesses.

C. 634 - Communication from Richard J. Goldstein, MMC, City Clerk, to Paul Gallagher, HR Director, requesting his attendance at a pre-council session on November 20, 2024, to answer questions about positions not in the pay plan WAS READ AND ORDERED FILED

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZED COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN:

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

The Clerk was instructed to send a communication to Paul Gallagher, Human Resources Director, requesting that he appear at the December 11, 2024 City Council meeting to answer the Council’s questions regarding procedures for job creation, funding of positions, filling of positions, payroll, pay scales, and the pay plan, including an explanation of the A00 pay grade.

3. 588- UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE 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.

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ABATEMENT OF TAXES FOR MOTOR VEHICLES, REAL ESTATE AND TANGIBLES FOR APRIL, MAY AND JUNE 2024, IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,899.92

4. 588 - UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE 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.

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ABATEMENT OF VEHICLES, REAL ESTATE AND TANGIBLES FOR SEPTEMBER 2024, IN THE AMOUNT OF $255,894.22

TAXES FOR MOTOR JULY, AUGUST AND

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.

5. 588 - RESOLUTION CHANGING THE DATE OF THE COUNCIL MEETING SCHEDULED FOR WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2024 (Christmas Day) TO WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 18, 2024, AT 6:00 P.M.

Upon motion made by Councilor Araujo, seconded by Councilor Moreno, the meeting was adjourned at 8:31 PM.