City Council, August 9, 2023

 

 

A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council was held Wednesday, August 9, 2023, at 8:12 p.m., in the City Council Chambers, City Hall, 137 Roosevelt Avenue, Pawtucket, RI. 

 

Present – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak and Wildenhain.

 

Absent – Councilor Coderre.

 

President Mercer presided.

 

 

The reading of the records of the July 19, 2023 City Council meeting was dispensed with and the records were APPROVED as prepared by the Clerk.

 

COUNCILOR CODERRE ARRIVED AT 8:14 PM

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZED COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by Councilor Moran, the agenda was amended to include the following communication, on a unanimous voice vote:

 

Communication from Daniel J. Kroeber, Director of Development, Fortuitous Partners, to Council President Terrence E. Mercer.  (Update meeting with Fortuitous re: Tidewater Project rescheduled to September 6, 2023)

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by Councilor Moran, the following communication is TO BE PLACED ON THE AUGUST 23, 2023 DOCKET, on a unanimous voice vote.

 

Communication from Daniel J. Kroeber, Director of Development, Fortuitous Partners, to Council President Terrence E. Mercer.  (Update meeting with Fortuitous re: Tidewater Project rescheduled to September 6, 2023)

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Araujo, seconded by Councilor Moran, the *Consent Agenda was APPROVED on a unanimous voice vote:

 

*THE FOLLOWING COMMUNICATIONS WERE READ AND ORDERED FILED

           

**591  A.     Communication from Mark J. Wildenhain, 2nd District Councilor, to His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien and Tina Goncalves, Chief of Police (Speeding signs)

           

15        C.     Communication from Heidi Gilkenson, Public Library Board Chair, to Michelle Hardy, Deputy City Clerk (Updated rules regarding public input)

           

            D.     Communication from James T. Chellel, Jr., Chairperson, Pawtucket School Committee, to Terrence E. Mercer, City Council President (Contract with Pawtucket Teachers’ Alliance, Local 930, A.F.T., A.F.L-C.I.O), WAS REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

           

            E.      Contract between the Pawtucket School Committee and the Pawtucket Teachers’ Alliance, Local 930, A.F.T. ,A.F.L.-C.I.O,, for the period beginning September 1, 2023 through August 31, 2026, WAS REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE AND THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE

           

            F.      AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 251 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996, ENTITLED “SECONDHAND SHOPS, JUNKYARDS, JUNK DEALERS AND METAL RECYCLERS” (Class C Licenses) WAS REFERRED TO THE LICENSE COMMITTEE

           

            G.     THE FOLLOWING CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY WERE REFERRED TO THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS:

Christine Reiff – $2,259.80 (Flood)

Leila Hurst – $220.00 (Pothole)

           

            H.     THE FOLLOWING CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY WERE REFERRED TO THE LAW DEPARTMENT AND RI INTERLOCAL TRUST:

Lynn Farinelli – $50,000 (Claim of Relief)

Oscar Carrillo – $27,384.00 (Flood)

Ivo & Suzete De Pina – $9,500.00 (Flood)

Eusebio De Fontes – $4,411,25, pending additional amounts (Flood)

Lusa Machado – 3,777.84 (Flood)

Joao O. Martins – $3,009.06 / $3,193.17 (Police Vehicle)

           

**        TAKEN OFF CONSENT AGENDA FOR COMMENTS ONLY, NO OTHER ACTION TAKEN.

 

591      B.     Communication from Clovis Gregor, 5th District Councilor, to the RI Department of Environmental Management (Public Health/Safety & Environmental Concerns Regarding 1 Moshassuck St)

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZED COUNCILOR GREGOR

 

With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Gregor, seconded by the entire City Council, was PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:

 

The Clerk was instructed to send communications to the Zoning Department and to the RI Department of Environmental Management regarding the conditions at 1 Moshassuck Street to express concerns regarding keeping the premise secured and the need for covering and removal of contaminated debris.

 

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZED COUNCILOR WILDENHAIN

 

With majority consent of the Council, the following motion made by Councilor Wildenhain, seconded by Councilor Gregor, was PASSED on a unanimous voice vote:

 

The Clerk was instructed to send a communication to JK Equities reminding them to comply in a timely manner with all federal, state and local laws, regulations and agreements relating to the property at 1 Moshassuck Street, specifically related to coverage over the contaminated dirt and the removal of contaminated debris. The Council also requested that they ensure the entire perimeter is secured.

 

In addition, they asked for an update on the project at 1 Moshassuck Street in time for their meeting on August 23, 2023.

 

 

 

609      Communication from Christopher Montalto, RI Energy, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, requesting approval to install a joint pole on Sayles Ave & West Ave WAS APPROVED PENDING THE APPROVAL OF THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC WORKS

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE FINANCE COMMITTEE, THE FOLLOWING EMPLOYMENT AGREEMENT WAS RATIFIED ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak and Wildenhain

 

NOES – 0.

 

Drawer8          Employment Agreement between the Pawtucket Water Supply Board and James L. DeCelles, P.E., Chief Engineer

 

 

The following resolution was APPROVED on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak and Wildenhain

 

NOES – 0.

 

588      RESOLUTION CELEBRATING THE 70^th ANNIVERSARY OF THE US SMALL BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION

 

 

The following resolution was APPROVED on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak and Wildenhain

 

NOES – 0.

 

588      RESOLUTION DEDICATING THE PASSIVE PARK LOCATED ON SUMMIT ST, IN PAWTUCKET, AS SUNSET PARK

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS, THE FOLLOWING CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY WERE APPROVED FOR PAYMENT ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak and Wildenhain

 

NOES – 0.

 

Joseph Heeps – $269.00 (Windshield)

 

Jilberto Gallo – $990.35 (City Vehicle)

 

 

UPON RECOMMENDATION OF THE COMMITTEE ON CLAIMS AND PENDING SUITS, THE FOLLOWING CLAIM FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY WAS DENIED AND REFERRED TO THE PROVIDENCE AND WORCESTER RAILROAD COMPANY, ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

AYES – President Mercer, Councilors Araujo, Coderre, Gregor, Moran, Moreno, Rubio, Stachowiak and Wildenhain

 

NOES – 0.

 

Shawn Wright – $883.75 (Railroad)

 

 

Upon motion made by Councilor Araujo, the meeting was adjourned at 8:51 PM.