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PAWTUCKET CITY COUNCIL
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS, CITY HALL
137 ROOSEVELT AVENUE, PAWTUCKET, RI
https://clerkshq.com/Pawtucket-ri
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 22, 2025
7:00 PM
A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council was held Wednesday, January 22, 2025, at 8:16 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI.
Present – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.
Absent – Councilor Coderre.
President Mercer presided.
1. The reading of the records of the January 6, 2025 Outgoing City Council meeting and Inauguration City Council meeting, and the January 8, 2025 City Council meeting was dispensed with and the records were APPROVED as prepared by the Clerk.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZED COUNCILOR ARAUJO
Upon motion made by Councilor Araujo, seconded by Councilor Rubio, the agenda was amended to include the following communication, on a unanimous voice vote:
Communication from the Honorable Michael A. Araujo, Councilor-At-Large, to the Honorable Terrence E. Mercer, City Council President (Missed Trash Pickups on Whipple Street)
Upon motion made by Councilor Araujo, seconded by Councilor Stachowiak, the following communication was REFERRED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS, on a unanimous voice vote:
Communication from the Honorable Michael A. Araujo, Councilor-At-Large, to the Honorable Terrence E. Mercer, City Council President (Missed Trash Pickups on Whipple Street)
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
C. Communication from Ryan Holt, Chief of Staff, to the Honorable Terrence E. Mercer, Pawtucket City Council President (Response – American Rescue Plan Act Funds Utilization) WAS POSTPONED UNTIL THE JANUARY 22, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MEETING – WAS, AGAIN, POSTPONED UNTIL THE FEBRUARY 5, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MEETING
061 - E. 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, 2024, through October 31, 2024)
061 - F. 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, 2024, through November 30, 2024)
061 - G. 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, 2024, through December 31, 2024)
H. Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Reappointment of Beth Roberge to the Pawtucket Housing Authority) WAS POSTPONED UNTIL THE FEBRUARY 5, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MEETING
589 - I. Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Confirmation of Arthur Marcello to the Riverfront Commission)
589 - J. Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Appointment of Jason M. Pezzullo as Director of Commerce)
650 - K. Communication from Eric Hammerschlag, City Engineer, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Response – Traffic Issues at Cottage Street & Newport Avenue Intersection)
630 - L. Communication from Robert Burns, Tax Assessor, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Abatement Recommendations for October, November and December 2024)
M. RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ABATEMENT OF TAXES FOR MOTOR VEHICLES, REAL ESTATE AND TANGIBLES FOR OCTOBER, NOVEMBER AND DECEMBER 2024, IN THE AMOUNT OF $65,573.40 – WAS REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
3 - N. Communication from Gerard Charbonneau, Chair, Pawtucket School Committee, to the Honorable Terrence E. Mercer, City Council President (Collective Bargaining Agreement Between the School Committee and RI Council 94, Local 1352)
** O. Agreement Between the Pawtucket School Committee and RI Council 94, AFSCME, AFL-CIO Local 1352 July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2027 – WAS REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE
P. THE FOLLOWING CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY WAS REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND
PENDING SUITS:
Gloria Robledo – $1,746.91, $2,285.56 (Vehicle Damage)
Konrad Kondras – $2,348.00 (Tow)
Q. THE FOLLOWING CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY WAS REFERRED TO THE LAW DEPARTMENT AND RI INTERLOCAL TRUST:
Rogerio Gomes – $3,200.00, $3,240.00 (Firetruck)
Julian Ducas by Bottaro Law Firm – No amount specified (Personal Injury)
** TAKEN OFF CONSENT AGENDA FOR COMMENTS ONLY, NO OTHER ACTION TAKEN.
590 - A. Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, et al., to David A. Bergantino, CPA, DFE, Auditor General (Extension Request for the Fiscal Year 2024 Audit) WAS POSTPONED AT THE JANUARY 8, 2025 CITY COUNCIL MEETING – WAS READ AND ORDERED FILED
611 - B. Communication from Mark Stankiewicz, Finance Director, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Response – Extension Request for the Fiscal Year 2024 Audit) – WAS READ AND ORDERED FILED.
Mark Stankiewicz, Finance Director and Tracey Giron, Director of Administration discussed the above communication.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZED COUNCILOR STACHOWIAK
With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Stachowiak, seconded by Councilor Gregor, was PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:
The Clerk was instructed to forward the communication from Mark Stankiewicz, Finance Director, regarding the extension request for the Fiscal Year 2024 audit, to Patricia Royal, School Superintendent and the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket School Committee to make them aware that this matter was being discussed by the City Council.
THE CHAIR RECOGNIZED COUNCILOR GREGOR
With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Gregor, seconded by Councilors Rubio and Araujo, was PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:
The Clerk was instructed to send a communication to Dale McGhee, CFO, Pawtucket School Department. requesting a copy of the School Department’s response to the City’s letter from Mayor Grebien, et al., seeking an extension to the Fiscal Year 2024 audit.
126 - D. Communication from John Blais, Recreation Manager, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Pawtucket Parks Commission Annual Report for 2024) 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 Rubio, was PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:
The Clerk was instructed to send a communication to John Blais, Recreation Manager; and David Farrell, Parks Commission Chair; requesting a more comprehensive annual report on the state of parks and open spaces in the City of Pawtucket.
3. 589 - 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 Riverfront Commission, FOR CONFIRMATION:
RIVERFRONT COMMISSION
Sen. Lori Urso, 273 Kenyon Ave., Pawtucket, RI 02861. Term Expires the 1st Monday in June 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, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak and Wildenhain
NOES – 0.
RIVERFRONT COMMISSION
Sen. Lori Urso, 273 Kenyon Ave., Pawtucket, RI 02861. Term Expires the 1st Monday in June 2027.
4. 588 - UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTION WAS APPROVED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:
AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE A SUBLEASE AGREEMENT BETWEEN THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET AND PROJECT HEALTH CV INC., FOR A PORTION OF THE PROPERTY LOCATED AT 100 MAIN STREET (PLAT 23, LOT 553)
COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN LEAVES AT 9:17 PM.
The following resolution was APPROVED on a roll call vote, as follows:
AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio and Stachowiak.
NOES – 0.
5. 588 - RESOLUTION COMMITTING TO WORK WITH HASBRO AND OTHERS TO MEET HASBRO’S NEEDS FOR A CORPORATE HEADQUARTERS IN THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET.
COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN RETURNS AT 9:20 PM.
6. UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS, THE MOTION TO PAY THE FOLLOWING CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY WAS APPROVED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:
AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
Domingas G. Dacosta – $239.62 (Pothole)
Sharlene Goyette – $50.49 (Pothole)
German E. Santos – $975.00 (Tree)
Brian Cote – $300.00 (Tree)
Marina Cardoso – $2,000.00 (Zoning Violation)
UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS, THE MOTION TO DENY AND REFER TO RI ENERGY THE FOLLOWING CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY WAS APPROVED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:
AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.
NOES – 0.
Monica Guzman – $901.10 (Pothole)
UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS, THE MOTION TO POSTPONE FOR FURTHER QUESTIONS THE FOLLOWING CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY WAS APPROVED ON A UNANIMOUS VOICE VOTE.
John Fortes – $1,949.13, $2,437.54 (Tree)
THE FOLLOWING CLAIM WAS WITHDRAWN BY THE CLAIMANT:
Ann Allen – $1,170.00 (Water Damage)
Upon motion made by Councilor Araujo, seconded by the Councilor Moreno, the meeting was adjourned at 9:24 PM.