MINUTES OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE CUMBERLAND TOWN COUNCIL

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 2, 2021 AT 7:30 P.M.

JOSEPH MCCOURT MIDDLE SCHOOL, 45 HIGHLAND AVENUE

IN PERSON & VIRTUAL - OPEN SESSION

 

The regular meeting was called to order at 7:44pm with a roll call of members.

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:

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

Present via Zoom: Councilor Bradley

 

Also present— Mayor Jeffrey Mutter; Community Outreach Coordinator Sarah King; Town Clerk Sandra M. Giovanelli; Town Solicitor Kelley Morris Salvatore; Public Works Director Robert Anderson; Director of Public Works Bob Anderson; Water Superintendent Bill Descoteaux

 

School Superintendent Robert Mitchell; Assistant Superintendent Antonio DiManna; IT Director Mike Chandler, Business Manager Alex Prignano, Director of Human Resources Katie Duncanson, Director of Special Education Dr. Rachel Santa; School Committee Chair Karen Freedman

 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

 

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS

Councilor Shaw expressed his pleasure that the Council was able to conduct this evening’s meeting in person; and thanked the School Department for conducting the Distinguished Scholars event.

 

President Kinch reminded everyone that the first vote on the operating budgets would take place this evening. The last budget hearing and final vote will take place via Zoom , on Monday, June 7, 2021 at 6:30pm.

 

UNANIMOUS CONSENT ITEMS

 

CONSENT AGENDA

A.  Acceptance of Minutes of the Regular meeting of May 19, 2021 and the Special Meeting of May 24, 2021.

 

B.  COMMUNICATIONS

1. C-21-33 – A proclamation from the Town of Bristol declaring the first Friday in June to be National Gun Violence Awareness Day

 

2. C-21-34 – A resolution from the Town of Bristol denouncing hate crimes and declaring that “Love Has A Home in Bristol”

 

3.  C-21-35 – A resolution from the Town of Hopkinton request to waive the local maintenance of effort (MOE) requirement for schools

 

4.  C-21-36 – DEM Notice of Violation on Plat 21, Lot 148

 

5.  C-21-37 – A resolution from the North Smithfield School Committee requesting the General Assembly support any and all legislative proposals disallowing non-law enforcement to carry concealed firearms onto school grounds.

 

6.  C-21-38 – A resolution from the North Smithfield School Committee requesting the General Assembly support the moratorium on the expansion of charter schools

 

7.  C-21-39 – A resolution from the City of Woonsocket School Committee supporting a moratorium on the expansion of charter schools and urging the Rhode Island General Assembly to support this moratorium.

 

8.  C-21-40 – A resolution from the City of Woonsocket School Committee requesting the General Assembly to support the reimbursement to the school committees for the costs of providing student transportation services to public and private school pupils.

 

9.  C-21-41 – A resolution from the City of Woonsocket School Committee requesting the General Assembly to support any and all legislative proposals that would disallow non-law enforcement to carry concealed firearms onto school grounds.

 

C.  MUNICIPAL MOBILE FOOD ESTABLISHMENT

      1.  Joe’s Snack Shack   

      2.  Binge BBQ

 

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 the Cumberland Beagle Club located at 425 Nate Whipple Highway for Laylas’s Dream Fundraiser/Bike Run, on June 26, 2021 from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

 

President Kinch noted that this license was pending final tent inspection by Building and Fire, if applicable.

 

Applicant Fred Lemire was present to speak to the application. Mr. Lemire noted that there would be no tent, no inspection would be necessary.

 

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

 

 2.  An application for a Special Event Entertainment License from the Cumberland Youth Activities Council for Cumberland Fest being held at Diamond Hill Park from August 6, 2021 to August 8, 2021.

 

Jerry Schimmel spoke to improvements to create an even, now in its 30^th year. There will be no charge this year for the event.

 

The Council engaged in discussion with Mr. Schimmel on the structure of the event.

 

Mayor Mutter remarked that the town had budgeted to pick up the cost of the fireworks under the Recreation line item.

 

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 none to report.

 

OLD BUSINESS

A. ORDINANCES

1.  #21-11 – An ordinance establishing the operating budget for the Town of Cumberland’s General Fund for fiscal year 2021-2022

 

Public hearing opened at 8:05pm

 

President Kinch read the revenue and expense totals.

 

Mayor Mutter gave an overview of the budget, illustrated with a Powerpoint presentation. The Federal COVID relief package was discussed. The Mayor indicated that a committee would be set up to monitor those funds, with Council input.

 

Superintendent Mitchell and Assistant Superintendent Antonio DiManna showed their budget presentation and stressed the need to fill several positions. Cumberland will be getting a significant amount of ESSER 2 money (Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief Fund) that can be used to address some of these issues. Mr. DiManna spoke to the ranking/prioritization of the desired positions and programs and the inherent dangers of making temporary jobs as opposed to permanent jobs. The School Department has built a quality school system, the rankings are an outcome, but more importantly, do we want to stay a top-ranking school without things collapsing?

 

Discussion ensued with the Council and School Department on maintaining the schools’ ranking, unfunded mandates, sourcing funding for the future after the ESSER funds are gone, expressing optimism for finding a way forward.

 

President Kinch asked if anyone from the public wished to speak in favor or against. There was no one

 

Councilor Bradley moved to zero out the solicitor’s office position and move it to outside legal fees.

 

Mayor Mutter stated that procedurally the amendment would have to be in a dollar amount and that amount reallocated to another specific line item. The overall budgeted amount would not change.

 

There was no second to Councilor Bradley’s motion. Motion failed.

 

Councilor Bradley asked if the impact fee study was ever completed; and was anything done with job numbers for highway, sewer, and water, regarding charge backs for work done for one department by another?

 

Mayor Mutter responded that it was his opinion that in order to have the charge backs occur, the Council would have to create legislation.

 

Councilor Bradley said for the record that when the highway department is doing water department work, it’s being charged to all taxpayers and not just water rate users; as well as the sewer department - when they’re doing work for the sewer department, that’s being charged to all taxpayers, not just those taxpayers using the specific sewer service.

 

Public hearing closed at 9:29pm

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS VOTED TO APPROVE #21-11, BY A ROLL CALL. VOTE 6/1

Nay: Councilor Bradley

 

2.  #21-12 – An ordinance establishing the operating budget for the Town of Cumberland’s Water Department for fiscal year 2021-2022

 

Public hearing opened at 9:33pm

 

President Kinch read the revenue and expenses totals.

 

Mayor Mutter stated that this was the same budget as 2021 and will be amended before June 30. He asked to approve this budget as a place holder to keep the departments running.

 

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

 

Public hearing closed at 9:36pm

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS VOTED TO APPROVE #21-12 WITH THE INTENTION OF A FORTHCOMING AMENDMENT PRIOR TO JUNE 30, BY A ROLL CALL. VOTE 6/1

Nay: Councilor Bradley

 

3.  #21-13 – An ordinance establishing the operating budget for the Town of Cumberland’s Sewer Department for fiscal year 2021-2022

 

Public hearing opened at 9:37pm

 

Mayor Mutter commented that after twenty years there would no longer be a deficit in the sewer budget in FY2022.

 

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

 

Public hearing closed at 9:39pm

 

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR MAGILL, AND IT IS VOTED TO APPROVE #21-13, BY A ROLL CALL. VOTE 6/1

Nay: Councilor Bradley

 

NEW BUSINESS

A.    CLAIMS

      1.  Marketa Carroll

Referred to the Finance Sub-Committee

 

      2.  Amelia Canto

Referred to the Finance Sub-Committee

Water Superintendent Bill Descoteaux confirmed that the damage was indeed under the purview of the town and explained the remedial process that would occur.

 

B.  RESOLUTIONS

1.  R-21-39 – A resolution authorizing and empowering Mayor Jeffrey J. Mutter to purchase an Aquatech Model B6/870 combination catch basin cleaner/jetter truck from Tri-County Contractors Supply Inc. Corporation in an amount not to exceed two hundred and ninety-nine thousand eight hundred and thirty-four dollars and fifty-one cents ($299,834.51)

 

Mayor Mutter spoke about the funding source, which may require a budget amendment, or may be covered with an increase of grant funds.

 

DPW Director Bob Anderson and Acting Highway Director Denis Vadenais gave details on the importance of the vehicle and its uses.

 

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

 

2.  R-21-40 – Authorizing Mayor Jeffrey J. Mutter to enter into a contract with Woodard & Curran Inc. for the Design, Bidding, and Award for the replacement of the 6-inch water main located in Meadowbrook Drive in an amount not to exceed Forty-One Thousand, Seven Hundred Eighty-Three Dollars ($41,783.00)

 

Mayor Mutter gave a brief overview.

 

Water Superintendent Descoteaux and DPW Director Anderson spoke to the existing situation with the degraded water main and the housing development being nearby.

 

Councilor Bradley asked if the Hunting Hill Development has their own service but is connected to this water main, and inquired about any payments to the town.

 

Bill Descoteaux stated there was a $760 tie-in fee; there is also a meter service fee and the water consumption is charged. The pipe size is increasing from 6” to 8”.

 

Further discussion ensued regarding logistics and funding source.

 

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

 

ORDINANCES FOR PRESENTATION AND PERMISSION TO ADVERTISE

1.  #21-14 – An ordinance codifying the placement of stop signs at various intersections throughout the Town of Cumberland

 

PUBLIC COMMENTS

There were none.

 

President Kinch thanked videographer Art Chandler, Town Clerk Sandra Giovanelli and Outreach Coordinator Sarah King for making this in-person meeting possible.

 

 

ADJOURNMENT

MOTION BY COUNCILOR SCHMITT, SECONDED BY MAGILL, AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO ADJOURN AT 10:08P.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.