PAWTUCKET CITY COUNCIL

PAWTUCKET MUNICIPAL ANNEX, 100 FREIGHT STREET

2^nd FLOOR – TEMPORARY COUNCIL CHAMBERS

ENTER PARKING LOT AT 75 SABIN STREET

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11, 2026

 

A regular session of the Pawtucket City Council was held on Wednesday, March 11, 2026, at 11:11 p.m., in the Temporary City Council Chambers, 2^nd Floor, 100 Freight St., Pawtucket, RI.

 

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

 

Absent – 0.

 

President Mercer presided.

 

 

PRESIDENT MERCER CALLED FOR A VOTE TO CONTINUE IN SESSION PAST 11:00 PM, ON A ROLL CALL VOTE, AS FOLLOWS:

 

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

 

NOES – Councilor Gregor.

 

THE CITY COUNCIL CONTINUED IN SESSION.

 

 

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

 

            *THE FOLLOWING COMMUNICATIONS WERE READ AND ORDERED FILED

           

1. Resolution from the Hopkinton Town Council in Support of Municipalities Collaborating in Reviewing, Analyzing and Responding to the 2025 Affordable Housing Laws

 

2. Resolution from the Town of Tiverton in Support of Municipalities Collaborating in Reviewing, Analyzing and Responding to the 2025 Affordable Housing Laws

 

3. Resolution from the Town of Tiverton in Support of H-7123, H-7124, H-7125, H-7294, H-7296, and H-7297 Relating to Low and Moderate Income Housing, Comprehensive Permits, Parking, and Development Timelines in Tiverton

 

4. Resolution from the Town of Tiverton in Support of H-7292, H-7293, and H-7372 Relating to Land Use, Housing, and Zoning in Tiverton

 

5. Resolution from the Town of Portsmouth in Support of RI House Bill H-7224 (2026 – An Act Relating to Towns and Cities – Award of Municipal Contracts)

 

6. Resolution from the Town of Portsmouth Requesting Continued Funding of the Rhoderestore Program in the State Budget

 

7. Resolution from the Town of Portsmouth Requesting Legislative Action to Clarify and Reaffirm State Responsibility for Public Boating Access Infrastructure

 

8. Communication from the Michael C. Wood, Town Manager, Town of Burrillville, to the Honorable Daniel J. McKee, Rhode Island Governor, in Support of the Blue Ribbon Commission’s Report “Equalizing Opportunity: Creating a Fair and Transparent Funding System for Rhode Island’s Public Schools”

 

9. Communication from Robert Burns, Tax Assessor, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Revaluation)

 

10. Communication from Robert Burns, Tax Assessor, to the Honorable Mark Wildenhain, Chair, Finance Committee (Tax Stabilization Agreement for 125 Goff Avenue) – WAS REFERRED TO THE FINANCE COMMITTEE

 

11. Communication from YPR Properties LLC by attorneys John Shekarchi, Esq., and Jake V. D’Amico Esq., to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council (Petition to Rezone Land Located at 264 Weeden Street, AP45A, L455) – WAS REFERRED TO THE CITY PLANNING COMMISSION AND ORDINANCE COMMITTEE.

 

12. AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 410 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996, ENTITLED “ZONING.” CHANGE IN OFFICIAL ZONING MAP FOR 264 WEEDEN STREET (AP45, L455) FROM RESIDENTIAL MULTI FAMILY (RM) TO CONANT THREAD (CT) DISTRICT – WAS LAID ON THE TABLE AND REFERRED TO THE ORDINANCE COMMITTEE AND TO SET A PUBLIC HEARING FOR APRIL 8, 2026

 

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

Randy Wunschel – $180.13 (Manhole)

Howard James Baskins – $269.00 (Pothole)

Patrick Kapsner – $173.25 (Pothole)

 

 

2.      Communication from His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, to the Honorable Members of the Pawtucket City Council, submitting the following appointment as a Democratic alternate member of the Board of Canvassers, FOR CONFIRMATION:

 

BOARD OF CANVASSERS

 

Marilee Arsenault, 7 Belgrade Ave.

Pawtucket, RI 02861.

Term Expires the 1^st Monday in January, 2027

WAS READ AND ORDERED FILED.

 

The following nomination submitted by His Honor, Mayor Donald R. Grebien, for confirmation, was CONFIRMED on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

BOARD OF CANVASSERS

 

Marilee Arsenault, 7 Belgrade Ave., Pawtucket, RI 02861. Term Expires the 1^st Monday in January, 2027

 

 

3.      UPON RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE, 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.

 

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A GROUND LEASE WITH PENNROSE, LLC FOR THE PROPERTY LOCATED ON SCHOOL STREET AND AS FURTHER DESCRIBED IN THE EXHIBIT TO THE GROUND LEASE AGREEMENT

 

4.      UPON RECOMMENDATION FROM THE CITY PROPERTY COMMITTEE, 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.

 

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE A 5-YEAR EXTENSION OF THE LEASE BETWEEN THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET AND LEN’S HOT DOG HAVEN, INC. FOR THE CONCESSIONS AREAS AT SLATER MEMORIAL PARK

 

 

5.      The following ordinance was read for the SECOND time and APPROVED on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

AN ORDINANCE REPEALING AND REPLACING THE SCHEDULE OF PAY RATES FOR UNIFORM MEMBERS OF THE POLICE DEPARTMENT IN SECTION §88-12 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996 (July 1, 2024 – June 30, 2027)

 

 

6.      The following ordinance was read for the SECOND time and APPROVED on a roll call vote, as follows:

 

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

 

NOES – 0.

 

AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 347 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET 1996, ENTITLED “SOLID WASTE”

 

 

THE CHAIR RECOGNIZED COUNCILOR MORAN

 

7.      Upon motion made by Councilor Moran, seconded by Councilor Rubio, the following matters were POSTPONED to the March 25, 2026 City Council meeting, on a unanimous voice vote:

 

AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 210 OF THE CODE OF ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF PAWTUCKET, 1996, ENTITLED “FIRE PREVENTION CODE”.  (Outdoor Burning and Cooking)

 

8.      CLAIMS FOR DAMAGES AGAINST THE CITY

Penny Feldman – $96.29 (Property Damage)

Raymond Munoz Tabares – $74.00 (Pothole)

Kyle McCarthy – $1,692.00 (Pothole)

Duane Fortes – $1,551.49, $2,056.35 (Pothole)

Ashley Diane Pociadlo – $1,007.50 (Fire Vehicle)

Janeen Smith – $144.87 (Vehicle Towed)

 

 

With no further business to take up, the meeting was adjourned by President Mercer at 11:24 PM.