CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND
JOURNAL OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY,
The City Council meets in the Council Chamber on Tuesday, December 16, 1997, and is called to order at 8:00 P.M. by Mayor Rolland R. Grant.
Present: Mayor Rolland R. Grant ) Council Members
Joseph S. Larisa, Jr. )
Gerald R. Lynch
Peter F. Midgley )
Norman J. Miranda )
Paul E. Lemont ) City Manager
William J. Conley, Jr. ) City Solicitor
Valerie A. Perry ) City Clerk
Invocation is given by Councilman Norman J. Miranda.
The Salute to the Flag is led by members of Boy Scout Troop 88 of Rumford.
(Claudia Merandi, Merandi Reporting, is present to record the proceedings of the public hearings)
1. Approval of Council Journals
November 18, 1997 - Regular Meeting
December 2, 1997 - Regular Meeting
December 2, 1997 - Closed Session - Negotiations
December 3, 1997 - Special Meeting - School Committee and Gen. Assembly Delegation
December 8, 1997 - Special Meeting - Negotiations
December 8, 1997 - Closed Session – Negotiations
2. Resolution: EDUCATION FINANCIAL SUPPORT - Towns of Glocester and Exeter
3. Alcoholic Beverage - Class F - St. Martha's Church, 2595 Pawtucket Ave
4. Cancellation/Abatements - City Assessor requesting cancellation of taxes as follows:
Year - 1997 Amount $5,073.76
5. Assessment Board of Review - Requesting adjustments for Hardship and Residential, Tax Board
of Review: Year - 1997 Amount - $27,941.44
6. Coastal Resources Mgmnt Council - FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT - File No. 97-11-61 - Requesting to replace existing sills, windows, doors, siding, foundation, raise roof install 10' dormer to southern side of dwelling, construct 2 decks at rear of dwelling, construct stairs from top of bank to beach, located; 39 Bluff St, Plat 312, Lot 3. (Thomas Fleming)
7. File No. 97-11-70 - FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT - Requesting to replace roof shingles and associated work at 175 Riverside Dr., Plat 414, Lot 7, Parcel 7 (Charles O'Malley)
8. File No. 97-11-35 - FINDING OF NO SIGNIFICANT IMPACT - Requesting to construct timber retaining wall/planting bed, install plants, loam and seed, located; Map 414, Block 14, Parcel 3; 73 Terrace Ave. (Steven Kalandiak)
On motion of Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Lynch, and on unanimous roll call vote, it is VOTED to remove the minutes of the December 2 and December 8, 1997 Closed Sessions regarding negotiations, and to approve the Consent Calendar as amended.
On motion of Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Lynch, and on unanimous roll call vote, it is VOTED to keep the minutes of the December 2 and December 8, 1997 Closed Sessions closed.
Mark Selley is given a proclamation marking December 16, 1997 as Mark Selley Day, and he is presented with a plaque from the Conservation Commission.
East Providence High School Football Coach Sandy Gorham and members of the team accept a proclamation marking December 17, 1997 East Providence High School Football Team Day for their undefeated season and for winning the 1997 Division I Superbowl. Football team members Brian Amaral, Steve Evans, Andre Nembhard and Justin Rocha are presented with citations by Mr. Miranda for their selection to the All-State Football Team.
John White, 16 Stonegate Drive, Coventry, Rhode Island is present and sworn.
On motion of Mr. Miranda, seconded by Mr. Lynch, it is unanimously VOTED to approve the transfer of Employment Agency, Capitol Personnel, Inc. to Stone Gate Enterprise, Inc., dba Capitol Personnel, 850 Waterman Avenue, subject to approvals from the Chief of Police and Building Inspector.
LICENSING COMMISSIONERS RESUME SITTING AS CITY COUNCIL
Advertised - Prov. Journal - Dec. 3, 10, and 15, 1997
AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 19 OF THE REVISED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE., Sec I. Article IV entitled "Supplementary District Regulations", of Chapter 19 of the revised ordinances of the City of East Providence, Rhode Island, 1987, as amended, entitled "Zoning" is amended by adding: DIVISION 15. Wireless Telephone Communication Towers and Antennas. Sec. 19-347. Purpose and objectives. Sec 19-348. Definitions Sec 19-349. Applicability Sec 19-350. General Requirements. Sec 19-351 Permitted Uses Sec 19-352. Administrative Approved Uses. Sec 19-353. Special Use Permits Sec 19-354 Building or Other Equipment Storage Sec 19-355. Removal of Abandoned Antennas and Towers . Sec 19-356. Nonconforming Uses Sec II. Sec 19-98. Entitled "Schedule of use regulations.", is amended as follows: The classification of Radio and television tower under the INDUSTRIAL section shall be amended to read as follows: Radio, television or wireless telecommunications towers and antennas.
Mr. Conley speaks on the ordinance and says it resulted in changes in Federal regulations regarding local communities' ability to regulate cellular towers. He discusses the Planning Board recommendations for the ordinance, and gives the Council their options for adoption. He also reminds the Council that this is a Zoning ordinance, which varies from other ordinances, in that it does not require another hearing, that this constitutes Final Passage if approved.
There are no persons wishing to be heard on the ordinance.
On motion of Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Miranda, and on a unanimous roll call vote, it is VOTED to approve the ordinance for Final Passage with the Planning Board recommendations numbers 1 and 2, and further recommendations will be brought back to the Council at a future time.
Mr. Lemont requests approval for prequalification of contractors for the "Collection of Municipal and School Department Solid Waste and Recyclables." He states that the contract with Valco will expire early next year. He points out that Curtis Lane will be included in the specs, but the removal of condo trash will not be part of the package. He says commercial contractors cannot pick up condo trash at the same rate the City pays. Julie Forgue, Public Works Director, and Steve Mutter, Recycling Coordinator, explain why the City cannot do this.
Mr. Midgley speaks on the subject and suggests asking the contractors during the bid process if they will remove condo trash for the same rate as the City pays.
After further discussion, motion to approve prequalification of contractors is made by Mr. Lynch and seconded by Mr. Miranda. Roll call vote follows:
Mr. Larisa Nay
Mr. Lynch Aye
Mr. Midgley Nay
Mr. Miranda Aye
Mayor Grant Aye
Motion passes 3-2.
Julia Forgue reports that the new Recycle Program will begin May 4, 1998.
Unanimous Consent is given to Mr. Lemont to allow Steve Mutter to speak on a Furniture Recycling Program. He says the furniture pickup costs the City $32 a ton, and he makes a suggests renovating part of Bentley Street Garage for a furniture recycling depot, which has a potential savings to the City of $15,000 to $20,000 per year in disposal costs. Renovations to the building that are proposed included new electrical system, new lighting and new overhead doors, which will be paid for by a grant from the R.I. Solid Waste Management Corporation, at no cost to the City.
Mr. Miranda asks for the Council to take this under advisement and says that he wants the opportunity to notify the neighbors in the area. Motion is made by Mr. Miranda, seconded by Mr. Larisa, and unanimously to defer the matter.
Mr. Conley says there is no report.
1. City Towers
Mr. Larisa speaks on City Towers and speaks about the possibility of towers paying the City a fee for each tow. Major Wayne Gallagher, Deputy Police Chief, says he would like to see at least four towers, if not five. Mr. Larisa asks that the City Solicitor be directed to look into the legality of charging towers for each tow. Mr. Lynch requests a report of what the major cities do regarding towers.
2. Analysis of Recently Finalized Fire Department Contract
Mr. Larisa says his comments are not about the Fire Department but about the Council and what the City can and cannot afford. He says the Fire Department contract which was recently approved by the Council will cost the taxpayers in East Providence 12.8% over the next three years. He says the City should fight arbitration for the Police and Fire Departments. He also says he has no faith that this Council could do any better with the School Department contracts.
Mr. Lynch speaks on the subject and says the negotiating team tried to come up with a fair settlement, and kept in mind the costs of arbitration and what other cities and towns have gotten.
3. Unanimous Consent - Mr. Miranda
Motion made by Mr. Larisa, seconded by Mr. Lynch, and unanimously voted to approve a Cl F1 Alcoholic Beverage License for St. Francis Xavier Church for December 31, 1997
1. On motion of Mr. Lynch, seconded by Mr. Miranda, it is unanimously VOTED to approve Mayor Grant's appointment of Frank Parella, Jr., 168 Wampanoag Trail, as School Crossing Guard.
2. On motion of Mr. Miranda, seconded by Mr. Midgley, it is unanimously VOTED to approve Mr. Lynch's appointment of Karen Abbott, 1 Farrell Place, as School Crossing Guard.
3. On motion of Mr. Miranda, seconded by Mr. Larisa, it is unanimously VOTED to approve Mr. Midgley's appointment of Cheryl Andrews, 11 Sachem Road, as School Crossing Guard.
4. On motion of Mr. Midgley, seconded by Mr. Larisa, it is unanimously VOTED to approve Mr. Midgley's appointment of Anthony Leonardo, 1279 Wampanoag Trail, to the Ancient Little Neck Cemetery Commission. Mr. Midgley speaks about the late Charles Buchanan and the many services he performed as a member of the Ancient Little Neck Cemetery Commission.
5. Mr. Larisa appoints Dylan, Colleen, and Brady Conley to the Holiday Display Committee.
The meeting adjourns at 9:45 p.m.
Attest:
__________________________
Valerie A. Perry, CMC
City Clerk Approved: January 6, 1998