James T. Higgins, At Large
Council President
Antonio J. Albuquerque, District 1	Jason B. Kirkpatrick, District 4
Council Member	Finance Subcommittee Chair
E. Craig Dwyer, District 2	Mia A. Ackerman, District 5
Council Member	Board of Licensing, Vice-Chair
*Kelley Morris District 3*	Bruce A. Lemois, At-Large
Council President, Pro Tem Ordinance Subcommittee Chair	Board of Licensing Chair Council Member

MINUTES OF THE CUMBERLAND TOWN COUNCIL

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2009

EVERETT “MOE” BONNER, JR. COUNCIL CHAMBERS

45 BROAD STREET, CUMBERLAND, RHODE ISLAND

REGULAR SESSION

The meeting was called to order at 7:47p.m. by Council President Higgins.

The meeting opened with the pledge of allegiance to the flag.

MEMBERS PRESENT:

Council President Higgins, Councilors Dwyer, Lemois, Albuquerque and Kirkpatrick

Also present Mayor Daniel J. McKee and Sandra M. Giovanelli, Town Clerk

MEMBERS ABSENT:

Councilor Ackerman and Morris

GENERAL ANNOUNCEMENTS:

UNANIMOUS CONSENT ITEMS

CONSENT AGENDA

A. Acceptance of Minutes of the Regular Town Council Meeting of February 4, 2009

B. DEPARTMENT REPORTS:

Police Department

Building Official

Animal Control

Parks and Recreation Department

Tax Assessor

Rescue Department

C. COMMUNICATIONS:

1. C-09-02 – A letter from the Town of Burrillville seeking support for a resolution that they adopted on January 28, 2009, supporting the FY2009 Supplemental Budget’s Articles 5, 7, 21, 31 32, 44, 45 and 48

2. C-09-03 – A letter from the Town of Burrillville seeking support for a resolution that they adopted on January 28, 2009, supporting the FY2009 Supplemental Budget’s Articles 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 22, 23, 25, 26, 27, 40, 41, 42 43, 46 and 47

3. C-09-04 – A letter from the Town of Burrillville seeking support for a resolution that they adopted on January 28, 2009, supporting legislation requiring utilities to pay for relocation of infrastructure

4. C-09-05 – A letter from the City of East Providence seeking support for a resolution that they adopted on January 23, 2009, supporting necessary municipal tools contained in the FY 2009 Supplement Budget Proposal

MOTION BY COUNCILOR ALBUQUERQUE, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR LEMOIS AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE. VOTE 5/0.

LICENSES-

A. VICTUALLING HOUSE LICENSE-PUBLIC HEARING:

1. An application for a new Victualling House License from Ehab Khalil of Portabella’s Pizza & Seafood Inc d/b/a Portabella’s Pizza & Seafood of 2000 Mendon Road

Public Hearing opened at 7:49p.m.

Public Hearing closed at 7:50p.m.

Ehab Khalil, the owner of the business was present. He explained that they will be providing Italian cuisine.

Councilor Lemois asked if this is his first business.

Mr. Khalil explained that this is actually his first location in Rhode Island but he owns six establishments through Massachusetts.

Councilor Lemois asked when they would be open for business.

Mr. Khalil replied that they plan to open next week.

MOTION BY COUNCILOR ALBUQUERQUE, SECONDED BY COUNCILOR DWYER AND IT IS UNANIMOUSLY VOTED TO APPROVE. VOTE 5/0.

FINANCE REPORT:

1. General Fund Report as of 1/31/09 for the current FY 2008-2009 period.

Thomas Bruce, the Finance Director, explained that seven months into the fiscal year, there were three particular revenues, taxes, building permits, meal tax, and recordings are performing very weakly. He added that they are $260,000 down in terms of his projection by the end of the year below budget, building permits will be $80,000 below budgeted revenue, meal tax $110,000 and recordings $70,000. He stated that in regards to any of the other major revenue besides taxes the town is doing fine. He mentioned that it is limited to only these three areas mentioned our budget amendment can manage this small area because we are not hurting across the board. He continued to say that before January 31, 2009 tax collection of the year before lagged behind the last seven years. His report shows that tax payers who rarely never had problems in the past are having problems now and that is contributed toward the differential of at least three percentage points, behind the average on that levy is about $700,000 to $800,000. He pointed out that he is meeting with real estate tax payers on a daily basis and encouraging them to come in to make arrangements. Mr. Bruce mentioned that a couple of months ago he decided to have two taxes sales, one in April and another in August and the April tax list still has 400 people listed but that list has already come down significantly. He again encourages real estate tax payers to make an appointment to arrange for payment plans in order to keep their name off the tax sales in August. He informed that payrolls and other expenses in departments are doing fine and he does not have any concerns with department heads spending right now and the spending patterns are down significantly compared to prior years. He stated that they are planning on having purchase orders reviewed by the Mayor‘s Office and the Finance Department in order to tighten up as we head into June 30^th. He explained that in terms of the governor’s proposed supplemental budget, they are still waiting on the General Assembly to reduce cuts.

OLD BUSINESS:

A. ORDINANCES FOR PUBLIC HEARING:

1. #09-01 – An Ordinance Related to Sewer Lot Development Fee (Presented by Council President Higgins on behalf of the Administration)