MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CUMBERLAND TOWN COUNCIL

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2021 AT 7:30 P.M.

VIRTUAL - OPEN SESSION

 

 

The regular meeting was called to order at 7:32pm with a roll call of members.   

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

President Kinch, Councilors Bradley, Metivier, Shaw, Magill, Beaulieu and Schmitt.

 

Also present— Mayor Jeffrey Mutter; Community Outreach Coordinator Sarah King; Town Clerk Sandra M. Giovanelli; Town Solicitor Kelley Morris Salvatore; Recreation Director Mike Crawley; EMS Director John Pliakas

 

President Kinch stated that 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 by clicking on the link posted on the agenda, or by calling any of the numbers listed on the agenda. This meeting will also be livestreamed on Clerk base by clicking on the link on the town website.

 

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

 

UNANIMOUS CONSENT ITEMS

 

CONSENT AGENDA

A.  Acceptance of Minutes of the Special and Regular Meetings of January 20, 2021.

 

B.  COMMUNICATIONS

1.  C-21-01 – A resolution from the City of Cranston requesting the Governor and the General Assembly adjust public health guidelines and executive orders that are harming Rhode Island’s small business community

 

2.  C-21-02 – A resolution from the City of Cranston requesting the Governor and the General Assembly to allocate $8 million of the new stimulus money to afterschool and summer programs

 

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

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

President Kinch paused for public comments. There were none.

 

LICENSES

A.  ENTERTAINMENT LICENSE

1.  An application for a Special Event Entertainment License from Director of Parks and Recreation Michael Crawley for Music in the Park/Food Truck Event to be held at Diamond Hill Park from March to October.

 

Recreation Director Mike Crawley was present to speak to the application.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR METIVIER, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE, PENDING FIRE AND EMS, BY A ROLL CALL. VOTE 7/0. 

 

B.  VICTUALLING HOUSE LICENSE

1.  An application for a third-class victualling house license from Under the Willow Bakery located at 3383 Mendon Road

 

Michelle Lizotte was present to answer any questions about her application.

 

The Town Clerk confirmed everything was in order for this license.

 

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

 

C.  HOLIDAY LICENSE

1.  An application for a holiday license from Under the Willow Bakery located at 3383 Mendon Road

 

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

 

REPORTS/COMMUNICATIONS

A.  Report of Executive Session vote(s), as may be necessary.

      There were no votes to report.

 

B.  Application from Trinity Beer Works, Inc. d/b/a Trinity Brewhouse, requesting permission to serve beer at Diamond Hill Park for Food Truck events; in accordance with Cumberland Code Sect. 28-11; for action and/or vote.

 

Recreation Director Mike Crawley stated that this application is in conjunction with his entertainment license application for the Park/Food Truck Event. Trinity Brewhouse was present at the previous year’s event and is currently the only brewery that is a state-licensed caterer. The Town Clerk confirmed for the record that the dates on this application match those on Mr. Crawley’s entertainment license.

 

Councilor Schmitt stated he would be voting “no” simply because he does not feel alcohol is necessary at a family event.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR METIVIER, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS VOTED TO APPROVE, BY A ROLL CALL. VOTE 6/1.

Nay: Councilor Schmitt

 

C.  Update on the distribution of the coronavirus vaccine

 

Mayor Mutter began by commenting that the initial rollout has been a challenge and spoke about distribution channels. He apologized to residents for any confusion and thanked all those employees who pitched in with assisting the many residents calling with vaccine inquiries.

 

EMS Director John Pliakas spoke to the initial number of doses received by the town and the anticipated delivery schedule and quantity of vaccine doses to the town going forward. Vaccine availability is a challenge. Mr. Pliakas addressed upcoming clinics, how the statewide computer program will track vaccine recipients in order to monitor first and second doses, and appointment scheduling.

 

OLD BUSINESS

A.  ORDINANCES FOR PUBLIC HEARING:

1.  #20-30 – An ordinance relating to Secondhand Goods and Fees (Presented by the Council President on behalf of the Administration; tabled from January 6, 2021)

 

Public hearing opened at 8:08pm

 

Councilor Schmitt reported that the Ordinance Sub-Committee had heard this on January 26, 2021. This ordinance brings the town code into compliance with state law. The sub-committee had voted 2-0 to recommend full passage to the Council.

 

President Kinch asked if anyone wished to speak in favor or against.

 

Public hearing closed at 8:09pm

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE.  VOTE 7/0. 

 

2.  #21-01 – An ordinance relating to accessory family dwelling units (Presented by the Council President on behalf of the Administration)

 

Public hearing opened at 8:10pm.

 

Councilor Schmitt commented that on line 45 of this ordinance, the word “family” had been left out.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO AMEND LINE 45 TO ADD THE WORD “FAMILY”, READING “ACCESSORY FAMILY DWELLING UNITS”, BY A ROLL CALL. VOTE 7/0.

 

Councilor Schmitt stated that the Ordinance Sub-Committee had voted to move this to the Council without recommendation. This ordinance will bring the town into compliance with state law. However, Councilors Beaulieu and Magill had expressed concern with line 71 in the ordinance draft, as to where the extra dwelling unit might be located; in an existing dwelling or in an outbuilding.  As the Planning Board has just heard this ordinance as well, Councilor Schmitt asked to table this until the Ordinance Sub-Committee could hold another meeting with Planning Director Jonathan Stevens and Town Planner Glenn Modica in attendance.

 

Public hearing closed at 8:16pm.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO TABLE TO THE MARCH 3, 2021 COUNCIL MEETING, BY A ROLL CALL. VOTE 7/0.

 

3.  #21-03 -  An ordinance amending the salaries of the Executive Staff and Other Positions (Presented by the Council President on behalf of the Administration)

 

Public hearing opened at 8:16pm.

 

Councilor Magill stated that the Finance Sub-Committee had heard this and sent it on to the Council.

 

Mayor Mutter spoke to the personnel infrastructure and explained his rationale in any salary increases.

 

Public hearing closed at 8:27pm.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR BEAULIEU, AND IT IS VOTED TO APPROVE, BY A ROLL CALL. VOTE 6/1. 

Nay: Councilor Bradley

  B.  APPOINTMENTS

        EXECUTIVE STAFF

      

Animal Control Officer	Jason Stacki
Building Official	Brad Ward
Building Inspector	Kevin Joyce
Electrical Inspector	Edward Skwirz
Plumbing and Mechanical Inspector	Larry Giorgi
Deputy Finance Director	Melinda Brouillard
Director of Human Resources	Christina Boyan
Senior Accountant	Alyson Johnson
Payroll Administrator	Amber Claire
Community Outreach Coordinator	Sarah F. King
Planning and Community Dev. Director	Jonathan Stevens
Town Planner	Glenn Modica
Director of Public Works	Robert Anderson
Zoning Inspector/Recycling Coordinator	John Kissik
Assistant Engineer	James N’Tow
Assistant Water Superintendent	Thomas Peck
Administrative Asst. to Water Superintendent	Kim Berard
Police Chief	John R. Desmarais
Confidential Secretary to Police Chief	Patricia Tweedie
Admin Asst. to Asst. EMA Director	Patricia Tweedie
Chief of Emergency Medical Services	John Pliakas
Recreation Director/ Sr. Director	Michael Crawley
Senior Services Social Director	Karen Kane
Assistant to EMA Director	Anthony Silva
Tax Assessor	Albert Wylie
Deputy Tax Assessor	Richard Arpin
Town Clerk	Sandra Giovanelli
Deputy Town Clerk	Jane Christopher
Town Solicitor	Kelley Morris Salvatore
Assistant Solicitor	Peter Skwirz
Legal Assistant	Celeste Beauparlant
Probate Judge	Joseph Roszkowski
Municipal Court Judge	Scott Partington
Municipal Court/Probate Clerk	Janice McCormick
Director of Children, Youth, and Learning	Liz Lemire
Program Coordinator OCYL	Jamie Droste
Program Assistant III - OCYL	Christine Domen

 

Mayor Mutter thanked everyone listed here. In response to a question from Councilor Schmitt, Mayor Mutter stated there will be a new Chief of Staff to come, and outgoing Finance Director Ray Chauvin will stay on until a replacement can be found.

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, SECONDED BY COUNCILORS BEAULIEU AND SCHMITT, AND IT IS VOTED TO APPROVE, BY A ROLL CALL. VOTE 6/1. 

Nay: Councilor Bradley

NEW BUSINESS

A.  CLAIMS

  1.  Kenneth Henneberry

 

Referred to the solicitor’s office.

   

B.  ORDINANCES FOR PRESENTATION & PERMISSION TO ADVERTISE

1.  #21-04 – An ordinance amending the employee handbook relating to severance (Presented by Council President on behalf of the Administration)

 

Referred to the Ordinance Sub-Committee

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

Ted Vecchio, Cottage Street, Pawtucket, asked if anyone had reached out to National Grid regarding the numerous power outtages.

 

Mayor Mutter responded that he had been informed that many of them were due to “animal contact”. The Mayor commented that he would ask National Grid if they could make it policy to automatically contact the town informing of them of any reason behind outages rather than wait to be contacted by the town.

 

Councilor Schmitt asked to reschedule an Ordinance Sub Committee meeting to February 23, 2021 at 6:00p.m., which would require the solicitor’s and Town Planner’s presence.

 

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILORS METIVIER & MAGILL, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN AT 8:37P.M.  BY A ROLL CALL. 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.