CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE

DOCKET-REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING

TUESDAY, December 19, 2023

CALL TO ORDER: 6:30 P.M.

145 TAUNTON AVENUE-CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND

EXECUTIVE SESSION: CONFERENCE ROOM A

 

OPEN SESSION WILL IMMEDIATELY FOLLOW EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

Notice: The meeting will also be viewable live at: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC0YEW6s1RpjcKR47VMil1LA

 

City Council:

Council President, Bob Rodericks – At Large

Council Vice-President: Frank Rego – Ward 1

Councilwoman Anna Sousa - Ward 2

Councilman Frank Fogarty - Ward 3

Councilman Rick Lawson - Ward 4

 

City Solicitor, Michael J. Marcello

City Clerk, Jill Seppa

 

I.          CALL TO ORDER

            Roll Call

 

Fogarty_____ Lawson_____ Rego_____ Sousa _____ Rodericks_____

           

II.        SALUTE TO THE FLAG

 

III.       PROCLAMATIONS & PRESENTATIONS

1.      Mark Hayward, Director United States Small Business Association to discuss opportunities and programs for small businesses impacted by the I-195 bridge closure

 

IV.       EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

The City Council of East Providence may meet in Executive Session,

            pursuant to RIGL §42-46-5 (a)(2)

 

A.    New Claim / Sewer Abatement Reconsideration

1.      Sonya Gendron

 

V.        RECONVENE TO OPEN SESSION

 

Fogarty_____ Lawson_____ Rego_____ Sousa _____ Rodericks_____

 

VI.       MOTION TO SEAL EXECUTIVE SESSION MINUTES

 

Member	Aye	Nay
Councilman Fogarty
Councilman Lawson
Council Vice President Rego
Councilwoman Sousa
Council President Rodericks

 

VII.     CONSENT CALENDAR - For discussion and possible vote

 

A.    COUNCIL JOURNALS:

1.      Regular meeting minutes November 21, 2023

2.      Regular meeting minutes December 5, 2023

3.      Executive Session minutes December 5, 2023

4.      Regular meeting minutes December 12, 2023

 

VIII.    LICENSES - For discussion and possible vote

A. Motion to bundle licenses C1-C5

Member	Aye	Nay
Councilman Fogarty
Councilman Lawson
Council Vice President Rego
Councilwoman Sousa
Council President Rodericks

 

B. Motion to approve licenses C1-C5

Member	Aye	Nay
Councilman Fogarty
Councilman Lawson
Council Vice President Rego
Councilwoman Sousa
Council President Rodericks

 

C.    NON-PUBLIC HEARING

 

1.      Victualling License III- (not more than 25 ppl)

Applicant: Melanie Santos

Business: Subway

Business Location: 80A Newport Avenue

Member	Aye	Nay
Councilman Fogarty
Councilman Lawson
Council Vice President Rego
Councilwoman Sousa
Council President Rodericks

 

2.      Sunday & Holidays

Applicant: Zekayi Kucukkaya

Business: Dark Star Comics II

Business address: 85 Taunton Avenue

Member	Aye	Nay
Councilman Fogarty
Councilman Lawson
Council Vice President Rego
Councilwoman Sousa
Council President Rodericks

 

3.      Second Hand; miscellaneous-new

Applicant: Zekayi Kucukkaya

Business: Dark Star Comics II

Business address: 85 Taunton Avenue

Member	Aye	Nay
Councilman Fogarty
Councilman Lawson
Council Vice President Rego
Councilwoman Sousa
Council President Rodericks

 

4.      Sundays & Holidays

Applicant: Joseph Dourado

Business: Joe’s Snack Shack

Business Address: 481 Warren Avenue

Member	Aye	Nay
Councilman Fogarty
Councilman Lawson
Council Vice President Rego
Councilwoman Sousa
Council President Rodericks

 

5.      Victualing III

Applicant: Joseph Dourado

Business: Joe’s Snack Shack

Business Address: 481 Warren Avenue

Member	Aye	Nay
Councilman Fogarty
Councilman Lawson
Council Vice President Rego
Councilwoman Sousa
Council President Rodericks

 

D.    PUBLIC HEARING –

1.      Class B – Full Liquor

Applicant: Monique Oliveira

Business: Union Square Bistro

Business address: 326 Bullocks Point Avenue

Member	Aye	Nay
Councilman Fogarty
Councilman Lawson
Council Vice President Rego
Councilwoman Sousa
Council President Rodericks

 

2.      Dance & Entertainment License

Applicant: Monique Oliveira

Business: Union Square Bistro

Business address: 326 Bullocks Point Avenue

Member	Aye	Nay
Councilman Fogarty
Councilman Lawson
Council Vice President Rego
Councilwoman Sousa
Council President Rodericks

 

3.      Dance & Entertainment License

Applicant: Robert Baptista III

Business: A Positive Atmosphere

Business Location: 65 Valley St

Member	Aye	Nay
Councilman Fogarty
Councilman Lawson
Council Vice President Rego
Councilwoman Sousa
Council President Rodericks

           

IX.       COMMUNICATIONS - none

            Any person who submits a communication to the Council and wishes to speak on it must indicate this in writing no later than 4:00 p.m. the Thursday prior to the next regularly scheduled Council meeting.  A person who lists more than one topic on their communication will be allowed to speak on the first one listed.

 

X.        PUBLIC COMMENT

            All persons wishing to make public comment shall sign a public comment sheet stating their name, address and the subject of their comments.  Each speaker will be limited to three (3) minutes.  The order of speakers will be on a first come, first serve basis and the maximum time for public comment shall by limited to thirty (30) minutes per meeting.

 

XI.       APPOINTMENTS - none

         

XII.     COUNCIL MEMBERS –

1.      Discussion and consideration of effect of I-195 bridge closure on the City of East Providence residents, businesses, emergency services (fire, rescue, police), Department of Public Works and related actions taken by the City – City Council

2.      Veteran Advisory Committee recipient of tax donation on next year’s tax bill - discussion – Councilman Lawson

3.      Adopt Annual 2024 Meeting Schedule-vote- City Council

Tuesday January 9, 2024	Tuesday August 6, 2024
Tuesday January 23, 2024	Tuesday August 20, 2024-Mayors Budget
Tuesday February 6, 2024	Tuesday September 3, 2024
Tuesday February 20, 2024	Tuesday September 10, 2024 budget workshop
Tuesday March 5, 2024	Tuesday September 17, 2024
Tuesday March 19, 2024	Tuesday September 24, 2024 budget workshop
Tuesday April 2, 2024	Tuesday October 1, 2024 regular/budget hearing
Tuesday April 16, 2024	Tuesday October 15, 2024 budget hearing
Tuesday May 7, 2024	Tuesday October 22, 2024
Tuesday May 21, 2024	Tuesday November 5, 2024
Tuesday June 4, 2024	Tuesday November 19, 2024
Tuesday June 18, 2024	December 3, 2024
Tuesday July 2, 2024	Tuesday December 17, 2024

 

Member	Aye	Nay
Councilman Fogarty
Councilman Lawson
Council Vice President Rego
Councilwoman Sousa
Council President Rodericks

 

XIII.    PUBLIC HEARINGS – Ordinance for first and final passage and second passage - For discussion and possible vote

 

1.      An ordinance in amendment of Chapter 19 of the Revised Ordinances of the City of East Providence, Rhode Island, 1998, as amended, entitled “Zoning”

 

Summary: Chapter 19 Amendments of East Providence Zoning Ordinance as attached hereto in their entirety; mandatory changes as required by state law and other changes related to outdoor dining and lot coverage for open space of education institutions

 

Member	Aye	Nay
Councilman Fogarty
Councilman Lawson
Council Vice President Rego
Councilwoman Sousa
Council President Rodericks

 

XIV.    CONTINUED BUSINESS

1.      Update on schedule of Rumford Motel 100 Newport Avenue Show Cause Hearing- President Rodericks, Vice President Rego

 

XV.     NEW BUSINESS

 

1.      MAYOR COMMUNICATIONS-

             

1.       Appointment /Reappointment requiring Council Confirmation

John Braga, Zoning Board of Review, At Large Appointment, Term 6/6/23-6/5/28

Member	Aye	Nay
Councilman Fogarty
Councilman Lawson
Council Vice President Rego
Councilwoman Sousa
Council President Rodericks

 

2.       Items for announcement/discussion

·         Update on South Broadway Paving– DPW Dir. Dan Borges/DPW Deputy Dir. Erik Skadberg

·         Update on Lee Road – Riviera Apartments Runoff – DPW Dir. Dan Borges

·         2796 Pawtucket Avenue (the old Wampanoag Diner) – Planning Dept. reaching out to the owner Richard Palumbo of King Richard Auto

·         Empty lot at corner of Pawtucket Avenue and Howland (Map 308, Lot 13, Parcel 6) – reaching out to the owner, which is a corporation out of Indiana to inquire on the plans for that lot. We are seeking to work with property owner on deeding or selling the lot to the City to be used by Kent Heights School for pickup and drop off.

·         Update on 100 Wampanoag Trail Map 408, Block 10, Parcel 024-00

Wampanoag Trail under receivership.

·         Kent Field improvements – discussion and feasibility of concession stand/permanent bathroom

 

2.      REPORTS OF OTHER CITY OFFICIALS

a.       Report of City Solicitor

                                                              i.      Claims Committee Report  

 

3.      REPORT OF SCHOOL COMMITTEE LIAISON

a.       School committee meeting updates

 

4.      RESOLUTIONS - For discussion and possible vote.

 

1.      Resolution authorizing the Mayor to purchase a fourteen passenger bus for the Department of Senior Services

Sponsor: Council President Rodericks

Member	Aye	Nay
Councilman Fogarty
Councilman Lawson
Council Vice President Rego
Councilwoman Sousa
Council President Rodericks

 

2.      Resolution authorizing the mayor to purchase a plow truck with sander for the Department of Public Works; public building division

Sponsor: Council President Rodericks

Member	Aye	Nay
Councilman Fogarty
Councilman Lawson
Council Vice President Rego
Councilwoman Sousa
Council President Rodericks

 

3.      Resolution authorizing the mayor to purchase a utility truck and body for the Department of Public Works; water utility division

Sponsor: Council President Rodericks

Member	Aye	Nay
Councilman Fogarty
Councilman Lawson
Council Vice President Rego
Councilwoman Sousa
Council President Rodericks

 

5.      INTRODUCTION OF ORDINANCES - For discussion and possible vote

 

1.      An ordinance of the council of the City of East Providence amending ordinance Chapter 911 and reallocating and reappropriating up to $1,000,000 toward Kent Heights recreational facility improvement project and $1,000,000 toward improvements to the infrastructure of sewers and drains citywide

 

Summary: to be funded from Federal ARPA funds

 

Sponsor: Councilman Fogerty & Council Vice President Rego

Member	Aye	Nay
Councilman Fogarty
Councilman Lawson
Council Vice President Rego
Councilwoman Sousa
Council President Rodericks

2.      An Ordinance of the Council of the City of East Providence amending ordinance Chapter 894 appropriating up to $50,000 for a Citywide Utility Art Box Project

 

Summary: as funded by Federal ARPA funds, cross reference Resolution No. 73

 

Sponsor: Councilwoman Sousa

 

Member	Aye	Nay
Councilman Fogarty
Councilman Lawson
Council Vice President Rego
Councilwoman Sousa
Council President Rodericks

 

XVI.    ADJOURNMENT

 

Member	Aye	Nay
Councilman Fogarty
Councilman Lawson
Council Vice President Rego
Councilwoman Sousa
Council President Rodericks

 

If communication assistance is needed or any other accommodation to ensure equal participation, please contact the City Clerk’s Office at 401.435.7590 at least 48 hours prior to the meeting date.