TOWN OF WEST WARWICK

TOWN COUNCIL MEETING

TUESDAY, JUNE 16, 2020

TIME: IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING SEWER COMMISSION MEETING

 

MINUTES

 

A.         Meeting called to Order by the Town Council

 

The meeting was called to order by Council President Gosselin at 9:23 p.m.

 

B.         Roll Call taken by Town Council Clerk

 

Members Present:

Councilman Licciardi

Councilman Messier

Councilwoman Williamson

Council Vice President D'Amico

Council President Gosselin

 

Members Absent: None

 

C.         Quorum on Record Declared by Town Council Clerk

 

The Town Council Clerk declared a quorum for the record

 

D.         Discussion/Action/Vote of Town Council

 

E.         Any matter on this portion of the agenda may be acted upon by way of topic discussion and action

by the Town Council with a vote on the record to approve, amend, deny or table the agenda item.

 

1. Discussion regarding actions and planning pertaining to addressing COVID-19 Virus and the impact on town operations.

 

Town Manager Zmyslinski reported that the Town Hall remains closed to the public but a plan is being finalized for re-opening while adhering to safety and social distancing guidelines. Plexiglass barriers are being built.  All government agencies will be required to have a re-opening plan for each Town building. West Warwick Senior Center is closed to the public but providing food and other services. The West Warwick Public Library is closed to the public but has set up a book lending program until they re-open. Endeavoring to get the Town facilities, recreation and playgrounds ready for re-opening as guidance comes.

  

2. Ordinance 2020-7 – (second reading) (sponsored by Council President Gosselin) –

An Ordinance amending Section 5 Use Regulations 5.3 table of Use Regulations, Non Residential Districts, J. Other Business Uses 1. Hotels & Motels, Transient of the Zoning Code of the Code of Ordinances of the Town of West Warwick.

 

5.3 Table of use regulations.                                                                NONRESIDENTIAL

                                                                                                            DISTRICTS

                                                                                                            B          CI         BP            VC

J. Other Business Uses

    1. Hotels and motels, transient                                                         Y          X          S S

 

 

3. Ordinance 2020-8-(second reading) (sponsored by Council President Gosselin) – >

An Ordinance amending Appendix C Traffic Ordinances of the Code of Ordinances of the Town of West Warwick.

 

Location: Cross Street                Sign: No Parking               Description: No parking sign on East & West sides of

                                                                                                   Cross Street from intersection with East Main Street

                                                                                                   To intersection with Branch Ave.

 

Councilman Messier moved the item, seconded by Councilwoman Williamson.

 

Roll Call Vote:

Councilman Licciardi                  Yes

Councilman Messier                  Yes

Councilwoman Williamson         Yes 

Council VP D'Amico                  Yes

Council Pres Gosselin                Yes

The vote was unanimous.

 

4. Resolution for Fees & Charges of the Town of West Warwick

(previously tabled)(Waste Water Treatment Facility) (sponsored by Councilman Licciardi)

 

EXHIBIT A

 

            PURPOSE                                                                       FEE

 

            Drainlaying

Permit Application and Annual Fee Insurance Requirements:    Property damage & Bodily Injury Liability      Drainlayer’s Bond

$250.00   $500,000.00 for each occurrence $1,000,000.00 Aggregate $10,000.00

 

            Septage Haulers

Annual Fee Disposal Fee Rhode Island Uniform Septage Disposal Fee

$250.00 $7.50 per hundred gallons $1.00 per hundred gallons (or fee as set by RIDEM)

 

            Connection to Town Sewer System

DOMESTIC USERS Permit Application Fee Connection Costs

$200.00 per unit To be paid by owner

 

COMMERCIAL USERS Permit Application Fee Connection Costs

$300.00 per unit To be paid by owner

           

SIGNIFICANT INDUSTRIAL USERS Permit Application Fee Connection Costs

$500.00 per unit To be paid by owner

 

PRIVATELY-OWNED PUMP STATIONS Permit Application Fee Annual Inspection Fee

$1,000.00 $1,000.00

 

SEWER EXTENSION Permit Application Fee

$200.00

 

INSPECTION FEE Sewers installed within the Regional Wastewater Service Area

$2.00 per linear foot

 

REPAIRS TO SERVICE CONNECTIONS Permit Application Fee

$50.00

 

            Pretreatment Program Charges

SIGNIFICANT INDUSTRIAL USERS Annual Permit Fee Classes 1 through 3 Class 4

$6,000.00 $1,500.00 To be billed with use charges

 

ANY AND ALL COMMERCIAL USERS Pretreatment Application

$300.00

 

GREASE INTERCEPTOR Permit Application Fee Annual Inspection Fee Installation Costs

$400.00 $400.00 To be paid by owner

 

GAS STATIONS (GRIT TRAPS) Permit Application Fee Annual Inspection Fee Installation Costs

$300.00 $250.00 To be paid by owner

 

PHOTO FINISHING Annual Inspection Fee

(See Commercial Application) $200.00

 

LAUNDROMATS / CLEANERS Annual Inspection Fee

$200.00

 

SILVER USERS Annual Program Administration Charge

$100.00

 

            Annual Use Charges

Domestic and Commercial Users West Warwick & Regional Reserves

$3.55 per hundred cubic feet based on 80% of the actual water meter reading with a 4,000 cubic foot minimum charge per unit, set annually by Resolution of the West Warwick Sewer Commission

 

WELL USERS                                                               $355.00 per year based on average

West Warwick & Regional Users                                     consumption of 10,000 cubic feet, set annually by Resolution of the West Warwick Sewer Commission

 

           

INDUSTRIAL USERS

$3.55 per hundred cubic feet based on actual metered water or wastewater flows; also $0.90 per pound of BOD over the design strength of 250 mg/l and $0.97 per pound of total suspended solids over the design strength of 250 mg/l, $0.72 per pound of Total Nitrogen over the design strength of 40 mg/l, and $2.74 per pound of Total Phosphorus over the design strength of 7 mg/l.

 

 

BONDS REPAYMENT

$135.00 per dwelling unit (or EDU)

 

QUAKER LANE PUMP STATION UPGRADE FEE Facilities larger than a duplex

$1.17 per gallon of wastewater to be discharged to this pump station (based on average daily flow)

 

BROOKFIELD PUMP STATION UPGRADE FEE

$3,000 per residential unit connecting to the sewer system upstream of this pump station

 

OUT OF TOWN CONNECTIONS Lien Processing Fee Line Recording Fee

$50.00 As set by City or Town where facility is located

 

DYE TESTS

$50.00 (reimbursable if testing determines property is not connected to the sewer system)

 

CHARGES FOR COPIES

Costs for copies of documents deemed public records shall be as set forth by 38-2-4 of the Rhode Island General Laws, as may be amended.

 

CHECKS WRITTEN/INSUFFICIENT FUNDS

$25.00 processing fee following a second unsuccessful attempt to re- deposit the check

           

SEWER ASSESSMENT FEES Residential Single family units and condominium units

Assessment of $6,000.00 payable over 20 years and a rate of 7% interest on the entire unpaid balance charged yearly after the first year

 

 

Multi-Family Units (up to and including 2-5 units) Multi-Family Units (additional units over 5)

$5,000.00 per unit $4,000.00 per additional unit

 

COMMERCIAL

$45.00 per thousand for the first one hundred thousand dollars of assessed value and, thereafter, at a rate of $25.00 per thousand on the remaining assessed value, as established by the Assessor of the Town of West Warwick or the community where the property is located, at a rate of 7% interest for a period of 20 years, and which assessment amount shall be based on the date of assessment

 

Councilwoman Williamson moved to take the item off the table, seconded by Councilman Messier. The vote was unanimous.

 

Roll Call Vote:

Councilman Licciardi      Yes

Councilman Messier              Yes

Councilwoman Williamson    Yes 

Council VP D'Amico      Yes

Council Pres Gosselin           Yes

The vote was unanimous.

 

Council Vice President D’Amico moved the item, seconded by Councilman Messier.

 

Attorney Al DiFiore requested that this item be tabled so that he could amend the resolution with the corrected language that he will submit to the Town Council.

 

Councilwoman Williamson moved to table this item, seconded by Councilman Messier. The vote was unanimous.

 

5. Rhode Island Small Cities Community Development Block Grant Program.

The Town is applying for $1,643,780 for program year 2019 and the activities are listed below.

 

2019 CDBG APPLICATION

 

·        Housing Rehabilitation                                                          Funds awarded on a case by case basis

This activity provides funding for owner occupied properties of four units or less for Window Replacement, Vinyl Siding, Roofing, Gutters & Downspouts, Insulation, Furnace Replacement and Lead Safe Status.  Funding is a maximum of $17,500 per structure unless unsafe conditions require additional funds.

 

·        Phenix Infrastructure        / Brayton Street Drainage Project, Phase II                                $750,000

Funding for drainage upgrades/improvements on Brayton Street.

 

·        Tanglewood Neighborhood / Roadway Improvements/Curbing/Sidewalks        $500,000

Funding for roadway improvements in the Tanglewood Neighborhood.

 

·        Phenix Infrastructure / Potter Avenue Roadway Improvements                      $260,000

Funding for roadway improvements on Potter Avenue

 

·        Cornerstone Adult Services     (Regional Funding)                                          $45,000

Funding to assist with services provided to West Warwick residents as well as those living in other targeted communities in which low income individuals are receiving these services.

 

·        Human Services/Senior Center Program Operations                                       $20,000

The Human Services component provides funds for programs administered by the West Warwick Senior Center.  Programs include emergency food available on a daily basis, meals on wheels distribution site, free medical equipment, recreational programs such as bingo, yoga and line dancing and pharmaceutical assistance.

 

• West Warwick Senior Center COVID Expenses $8,780                                                                                                                    

Reimbursement for COVID related expenses such as PPE, Plexiglas Protectors for reception area and professional cleaning services.

 

• St. Elizabeth Home COVID Expenses (Regional Funding)                                     $60,000

Reimbursement for COVID related expenses such as PPE, additional staffing, purchase of ipads for residents to have access to communicate with family members.

 

 

TOTAL APPLICATION REQUEST                                                                     $1,643,780

Council Vice President D’Amico moved the item, seconded by Councilman Messier.

 

Roll Call Vote:

Councilman Licciardi                              Yes

Councilman Messier                              Yes

Councilwoman Williamson                     Yes 

Council VP D'Amico                              Yes

Council Pres Gosselin                            Yes

The vote was unanimous.

 

Councilman Messier made a motion to move Item #13 up, seconded by Councilman Licciardi. The vote was unanimous.

 

6. Consent Agendas:

      

 A.  License Applications:

 

1. Change of Name/Business License: Rachael Santiago dba Rising Tide Tattoo - 1527 Main Street

2. Renewal Business License: Jeremy Lima dba Lima’s Barbershop – 594 Providence Street

3. Renewal Antique Secondhand Dealer, Keeper of Shop Licenses:

A. April Showers – 2 Highland Street

B. Budget Stretchers thrift Store – 3 Bridal Ave. Unit CM-2E

C. Lori Riley dba Deco Décor – 1686 Main Street

D. Phoenix Past & Present   - 10 Highland Street

4. Renewal Junk Dealer License: Richard Ruggieri dba Ruggieri Auto Parts  - 5 Greenhill Ave.

5. Renewal Holiday Licenses:

A. US Nail dba Chunhua Chen – 88 West Warwick Ave.

B. Family Dollar Stores Inc. dba Family Dollar #23538 – 1745 Main Street

C. Better Valu Supermarkets, Inc. dba Jerry’s Supermarket – 25 Providence Street

D. Dolgen Rhode Island, LLC dba Dollar General Store #18664- 1029 Main Street

E. Kaldip Corp dba Breads N Stuff - 1669 Main Street

F. Pep Boys - Manny Moe & Jack of Delaware Inc.  – 375 Quaker Lane

G. Cumberland Farms Inc. dba Cumberland Farms #1276 – 244 Washington Street

H. Cumberland Farms Inc. dba Cumberland Farms #1205 – 704 Main Street

I. Cumberland Farms Inc. dba Cumberland Farms #1127 – 295 Legris Street

J. Cumberland Farms Inc. dba Cumberland Farms #1104 – 278 Cowesett Street

6. Renewal Filling Stations License:

A. Shahid 3 LLC - 139 Legris Ave.

B. Providence Street Shell LLC dba Providence Street - 6 Providence Street

C. Jignesh Patel dba Main Street Gas Station – 888 Main Street

D. Zaheer Arbar dba Sams Store  - 119 Main Street

E. Speedway llc dba Speedway #2819 – 346 Providence Street

7.  Renewal Pistol & Revolver License – Heritage Gun and Voin Co Inc. – 250 Cowesett Ave.

8. Renewal of Flea Market License:

A. Church of Christ the King dba Grandma’s Attic-126 Legris Ave.

B. Riverpoint Congregational Church dba Martha & Mary’s Thrift Shop – 75 Providence Street

 

Council Vice President D’Amico moved the item, seconded by Councilwoman Williamson.

 

Roll Call Vote:

Councilman Licciardi                              Yes

Councilwoman Williamson                     Yes 

Council VP D'Amico                              Yes

Council Pres Gosselin                            Yes

Councilman Messier recused himself. The motion passed.

 

7.  Minutes of Previous Meetings – approval of minutes of the May 26, 2020 & June 2, 2020 Town Council Meetings.

 

Councilwoman Williamson moved the item, seconded by Councilman Messier.

 

Roll Call Vote:

Councilman Licciardi                              Yes

Councilman Messier                              Yes

Councilwoman Williamson                     Yes 

Council VP D'Amico                              Yes

Council Pres Gosselin                            Yes

The vote was unanimous.

 

8.  Claim:

 

The Town Council hereby approves or denies the following pothole claim on Church Street.

 

A. Robert Volno:  In the amount of $285.99

 

Council Vice President D’Amico moved the item, seconded by Councilman Messier.

 

Roll Call Vote:

Councilman Licciardi                              Yes

Councilman Messier                              Yes

Councilwoman Williamson                     Yes 

Council VP D'Amico                              Yes

Council Pres Gosselin                            Yes

The vote was unanimous.

 

9.  Finance Director’s Report: The Finance Director will review the expense and revenue reports as of May 31, 2020 for the Town’s General Fund and Civic Center Enterprise Fund.

 

Finance Director Benoit reported that, as of 5/31/2020, the tax collection rate is $63,903,774.88 or 98.54% of the budget. Prior year tax collections are $1,028,234.03 or 68.55% of the budgeted amount. This amount usually increases after the Tax Sale but due to COVID-19, the Tax Sale, originally scheduled for May 7, 2020 has been postponed until August 27, 2020 and will be held at the Civic Center. Revenues are at 92.99% which is higher than expected and are expected to come in under budget for FY20. Overall expenditures are at 82.53%, which is lower than expected11 months into the fiscal year. As of May 31, 2020 all operating budgets are trending on or below the 91.67% expected to be expended. Cash flow continues to improve with the successful implementation of lockbox. The General Fund balance as of 6/8/22020 was $11,007,029.

 

As of May 31, 2020 the Civic Center is projecting that they will bring in $668,000 for FY20 which includes recording electricity payments, health and general liability. The year to date transactions for expenses is $511,009.14. As of May 31, 2020 revenues were $613,303.34 with a projected FY20 deficit of $54,759.82.

 

10. Road Bond Funds:

 

The Road bond fund currently has a fund balance of $328,448.28. These funds are broken out into numerous categories and are as follows:

 

Ward 1   $37,862.26

Ward 2   $34,036.93

Ward 3   $32,228.59

Ward 4   $148,535.51

 

Retainage not paid as of yet - $35,664.55

Excess funds from Senior Center Refi - $40,120.64

 

Transfer of surplus funds from the General Fund to the Capital Reserve Fund in the amount of $288,327.84 for road projects.  Excess road bond funds of $328,448.28 will be allocated to Fiscal Year 2020 debt service on the road bonds in order to spend the bond proceeds in the timeframe required by bond tax covenants.  This will result in an increased surplus in the General Fund. $288,327.84 of this increased surplus will then be transferred to the Capital Reserve fund. These transactions will have a positive effect on both the General fund and the Capital Reserve fund and will close the Road Bond Fund.

 

Council Vice President D’Amico moved the item, seconded by Councilwoman Williamson.

 

Roll Call Vote:

Councilman Licciardi                              Yes

Councilman Messier                              Yes

Councilwoman Williamson                     Yes 

Council VP D'Amico                              Yes

Council Pres Gosselin                            Yes

The vote was unanimous.

 

11. Resolution Authorizing the Finance Director to remit an additional $30,022 to the Pension Fund in accordance with Cost Projection dated 7/1/2019.

 

Council Vice President D’Amico moved the item, seconded by Councilman Messier.

 

Roll Call Vote:

Councilman Licciardi                              Yes

Councilman Messier                              Yes

Councilwoman Williamson                     Yes 

Council VP D'Amico                              Yes

Council Pres Gosselin                            Yes

 

12. Authorization for the DPW to dispose of excess property (vehicles).

 

Council Vice President D’Amico moved the item, seconded by Councilman Licciardi.

 

Roll Call Vote:

Councilman Licciardi                              Yes

Councilman Messier                              Yes

Councilwoman Williamson                     Yes 

Council VP D'Amico                              Yes

Council Pres Gosselin                            Yes

 

13. A Resolution of the Town Council of the Town of West Warwick extending and amending the Comprehensive Collection Services agreement dated July 29, 2015 with MTG Disposal LLC for the Collection of Solid Waste and Recycling to include collection of Yard Waste for a five-year period at a total cost of $6,789,030

 

This item was heard after Item #5.

 

Council Vice President D’Amico moved the item, seconded by Councilman Messier.

 

Roll Call Vote:

Councilman Licciardi                              Yes

Councilman Messier                              Yes

Councilwoman Williamson                     Yes 

Council VP D'Amico                              Yes

Council Pres Gosselin                            Yes

The vote was unanimous.

 

14. PUBLIC COMMENT:

 

1. Designated portion of Town Council’s open meeting for Citizens to address comments to the Town Council relating to matters affecting the public business. (RIGL 42-46-2 (3) and RIGL 42-46-2 (6)).

 

2. Comments will only be addressed to the Town Council who will take them under advisement.

 

3. When addressing the Town Council, please state your name and address; please conduct yourself in an orderly and respectful fashion. The comments of citizens accessing this portion of our meeting are neither adopted nor endorsed by this body but heard as requested.

 

4. Members of the Town Council, being the duly elected public body as identified in RIGL 42-46-2 (3) have no obligation to respond to the Public’s Comments.

 

15. ADJOURN   

 

Councilman Messier made a motion to adjourn, seconded by Councilwoman Williamson. The vote was unanimous.

 

The meeting adjourned at 10:37 p.m.

 

 

A TRUE COPY ATTEST

 

Marianne Kelly

______________________________

MARIANNE KELLY, CMC

TOWN COUNCIL CLERK