MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CUMBERLAND TOWN COUNCIL

THURSDAY, JUNE 11, 2020 AT 6:30 P.M.

VIRTUAL - OPEN SESSION

 

 

The special meeting was called to order at 6:30pm.   

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

President Dwyer, Councilors Gemski, Kinch, Shaw, Bradley, Beaulieu and Schmitt

 

Also present— Mayor Jeffrey Mutter; Chief of Staff Linda Teel; Town Clerk Sandra M. Giovanelli; Town Solicitor Kelley Morris Salvatore; Finance Director Ray Chauvin.

 

President Dwyer read the following:

 

“To protect the health and well-being of our citizens, and in accordance with Governor’s Raimondo’s Executive Order 20-25 (relaxing the Open Meetings Act requirements) this meeting will be available to the public by video or telephone conference.  All members of the Town Council will be participating remotely. Members of the public can listen and/or participate in the meeting as required by clicking on the link posted on the agenda or by calling one of the phone numbers.

 

Comments can be emailed to publiccomments@cumberlandri.org including your name, address,
and statement. Only comments including all required information will be read into the record.

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

President Dwyer announced the schedule of budget hearings:

Special Town Council meeting: Thursday, June 11, 2020 at 6:30pm. (presentation and permission to advertise)

Finance Sub-Committee public hearing: Thursday, June 18, 2020 at 6:00pm.

First public hearing: Tuesday, June 23, 2020 at 6:30pm.

Second public hearing and first vote: Thursday, June 25, 2020 at 6:30pm.

Final vote: Tuesday, June 30, 2020 at 6:30pm.

 

These will all be virtual meetings via Zoom.

 

UNANIMOUS CONSENT ITEMS

 

CONSENT AGENDA

A.  APPROVED PERMITS FOR TEMPORARY OUTDOOR SEATING

     1.  Jerry’s Friendly Tap, 1225 Mendon Road

 

     2.  Eggs Up, 2378 Mendon Road

 

A.    APPROVED PERMITS MUNICIPAL MOBILE FOOD ESTABLISHMENT

       1. Sarcastic Sweets LLC    

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR SHAW, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE BY A ROLL CALL VOTE.  VOTE 7/0.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

President Dwyer paused at 6:34pm to allow for any callers or emails and resumed at 6:35pm. There were none.

 

NEW BUSINESS 

A.  RESOLUTIONS:    

1.  R-20-82 – A resolution authorizing Mayor Jeffrey J. Mutter to purchase six (6) computers from DELL, Inc. in an amount not to exceed eight thousand dollars ($8,000.00)

 

Public hearing opened at 6:35pm.

 

Finance Director Ray Chauvin stated that the Finance and Collections Departments were purchasing these computers so his staff could safely and securely work at home, from one town machine to another. These “precision” models are referred to as “work station” laptops. Because of the State MPA, the town enjoys significant discounts with Dell. These laptops are likely good for five years. The town’s outsourced tech company, Retrofit, would set up the computers. The work would be covered under the current contract with Retrofit.

 

The Council asked about the staggered personnel schedule, if other departments should be acquiring laptops so that employees were not having to use their personal home computers, the potential for Covid 19 relief in the form of reimbursement, Governor Raimondo’s support for people working from home.

 

Mayor Murray stated that each department head was managing the rotating schedule for their own staff. The town hall is currently open to the public on modified schedule. Some members of the senior center are also working at town hall while the center is closed. The number of staff in the building varies at any given time. Over this period of time we have not had any personnel test positive for Covid 19; the jobs are getting done and the staff has been protected as well.

 

President Dwyer advocated purchasing more laptops for additional departments.

 

Public hearing closed at 7:00 pm.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR SHAW, AND IT IS VOTED TO APPROVE BY A ROLL CALL VOTE.  VOTE 5/2.

Nay: Councilors Beaulieu and Bradley

 

 

B.  ORDINANCES FOR PRESENTATION AND PERMISSION TO ADVERTISE

1.  #20-12 – An ordinance establishing the operating budget for the Town of Cumberland’s General Fund for Fiscal Year 2020-2021Referred to the Finance Sub Committee Meeting on June 18, 2020 at 6:00pm.

 

2.  #20-13 – An ordinance establishing the operating budget for the Town of Cumberland’s Water Department for fiscal year 2020-2021 Referred to the Finance Sub Committee Meeting on June 18, 2020 at 6:00pm.

 

3.  #20-14 – An ordinance establishing the operating budget for the Town of Cumberland’s Sewer Department for fiscal year 2020-2021 Referred to the Finance Sub Committee Meeting on June 18, 2020 at 6:00pm.

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

President Dwyer paused at 7:07pm and resumed at 7:08pm to allow for any callers or emails. There were none.

The President also re-read the schedule of budget meetings and added that there was also a regular Council meeting scheduled for June 17, 2020 at 7:30pm.

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SHAW, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR KINCH, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN AT 7:08P.M.  VOTE 7/0

 

 

 

____________________________________

Sandra M. Giovanelli, Town Clerk

 

 

 

FOR A FULL ACCOUNT OF THIS MEETING PLEASE REFER TO THE VIDEO RECORDING ACCESSIBLE ON THE TOWN’S WEBSITE, www.cumberlandri.org.

ADDITIONALLY, THE DVD OF THE ENTIRE MEETING IS AVAILABLE AT THE EDWARD J. HAYDEN LIBRARY.