TOWN OF WEST WARWICK RHODE ISLAND 1170 Main Street West Warwick, RI  02893 (401) 822-9200 www.westwarwickri.org

 

WEST WARWICK TOWN COUNCIL

Regular Town Council Meeting

April 6, 2021

7:00 P.M.

 

PURSUANT TO EXECUTIVE ORDER 20-05 EXECUTED BY GOVERNOR GINA RAIMONDO ON MARCH 16, 2020, THIS MEETING WILL BE TELECONFERENCED VIA ZOOM:

 

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M I N U T E S

 

*Please Note:  Any matter listed on this agenda may be acted upon by the Town Council*

 

A.         Meeting called to order at 7:00 P.M. by the Town Council President D. Gosselin.

 

A moment of silence was observed in honor of Matthew Beltrami

 

B.         Prayer led by Councilman Messier.

 

C.         The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag was recited by the body.

 

D.        Roll Call taken by Town Clerk

Present:

Councilman J. Messier

Councilman J. Licciardi

Council Vice President M. Williamson

Council President D. Gosselin

 

Absent: 

Councilman J. D’Amico

 

Also present:  Town Manager Mark Knott, Town Solicitor Timothy Williamson, Town Solicitor Al Difiore, Finance Director Kristen Benoit, Fire Chief Jeffrey Verone, Public Works Director Don Ouellette, and Town Clerk Sarah Rapose

 

E.         Quorum on Record Declared by Town Clerk

 

F.         Consent Agenda

01        Approval of the minutes from the March 9, 2021 Town Council Workshop

02        Approval of the minutes from the March 16, 2021 Town Council Executive Session

 

MOTION made by J. Licciardi, second by J. Messier for approval of the minutes from the March 9, 2021 Town Council Workshop and the March 16, 2021 Town Council Executive Session.   

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

Councilman Licciardi – Yes

Councilman Messier – Yes

Council Vice President Williamson – Yes

Council President Gosselin – Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

 

03        Approval of tax cancellations as requested by the Tax Collector

 

MOTION made by J. Licciardi, second by J. Messier for approval of tax cancellations as requested by the Tax Collector.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

Councilman Licciardi – Yes

Councilman Messier – Yes

Council Vice President Williamson – Yes

Council President Gosselin – Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

 

G.        Business Licenses

01        Request from Pizza Nomad LLC dba The Pizza Nomad for Victualing House License for premises located at 291 Providence Street

02        Request from David Fabrizio dba Azo’s Pizza for renewal of Victualing House License for premises located at 250 Cowesett Avenue Unit One

03        Request from Robert Donahue Pizza Inc. dba Donahues Pizza for renewal of Victualing House License for premises located at 1207 Main Street

04        Request from Daniel Galaviz for renewal of Kennel License for premises located at 11 Payan Street

05        Request from Ivonne Rivas for Private Detective License

06        Request from Pamela Hay for renewal of Private Detective License

07        Request from Juan R. Navarro for renewal of Private Detective License

08        Request from Samantha Brotman dba Be Beautiful by Samantha Brotman for renewal of business license for premises located at 586 Providence Street

09        Request from Rasni Hul & Sreynoch Kim dba Perfect Nails and Spa of Rhode Island for renewal of business license for premises located at 289 Cowesett Avenue

 

J. Messier recuses himself.

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by J. Licciardi for approval of business license 01-09.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

Councilman Licciardi – Yes

Councilman Messier – Recused himself

Council Vice President Williamson – Yes

Council President Gosselin – Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

 

H.        Appointments and Resignations

01  Resignation of John D’Amico as Town Council Representative for Ward Five

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, second by M. Williamson to accept the resignation of J. D’Amico as Town Council Representative for Ward Five, with regret.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

Councilman Licciardi – Yes

Councilman Messier – No

Council Vice President Williamson – Yes

Council President Gosselin – Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

 

D. Gosselin wishes J. D’Amico and his family the best of luck.

 

J. Messier thanks J. D’Amico for the time he put in with the Council. 

 

02  Appointment of Norman L. Landroche Jr. as Town Moderator

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by J. Licciardi for appointment of Norman L. Landroche Jr. as Town Moderator.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

Councilman Licciardi – Yes

Councilman Messier – Yes

Council Vice President Williamson – Yes

Council President Gosselin – Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

 

03  Appointment of Adam J. Satchell to the Board of Directors of Westbay Community Action

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, second by M. Williamson for appointment of Adam J. Satchell to the Board of Directors of Westbay Community Action.

 

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

Councilman Licciardi – Yes

Councilman Messier – Yes

Council Vice President Williamson – Yes

Council President Gosselin – Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

 

04  Re-Appointment of Patricia Lally to the Board of Assessment and Review for term ending March 2024

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, second by J. Licciardi for re-appointment of Patricia Lally to the Board of Assessment and Review for term ending March 2024.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

Councilman Licciardi – Yes

Councilman Messier – Yes

Council Vice President Williamson – Yes

Council President Gosselin – Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

           

I.          Unfinished Business

01        Authorization to award contract for LED lighting upgrade to Rise Engineering and National Grid

 

This item was not considered.  Council requested to keep this item tabled. 

 

J.          New Business

01  Discussion of Town operations impacted by the Covid-19 Virus

 

M. Knott updates the body on Town operations impacted by the Covid-19 virus.  He reports that one member of DPW and two fire fighters are currently out.  Town Hall is close to be being back to normal.  They are operating under slightly reduced hours. 

 

Chief Varone reports that they have successfully vaccinated the 75 plus community. 

 

02  Discussion of correspondence relative to the tax assessment of the Med Recycler facility located at 1600 Division Road

 

D. Gosselin asked for this to be placed on this agenda.  Alan Palazzo had asked some questions relative to the Med Recycler facility.  D. Gosselin wanted the correspondence attached to the agenda for the public to see.

 

03  Request from Angels in Action RI for grant in the amount of $1500 (sponsored by Councilman Licciardi)

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, second by J. Licciardi for approval of request from Angels in Action RI for grant in the amount of $1500.

 

D. Roffo was in attendance on behalf of Angels in Action.  She explained that this past year the organization was not able to fundraise due to Covid-19.  They have used up all of their funds and they need to pay their rent. 

 

M. Williamson has concerns with other organizations asking for help if they do this for Angels in Action.

 

D. Gosselin asks how much money is left in the budget under Town Council for this type of funding. 

 

K. Benoit answers $2500. 

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:
J. Licciardi – Yes

J. Messier – Yes

M. Williamson – No

D. Gosselin – No

 

MOTION FAILS

 

04  Update from DPW Director regarding Factory Street Playground

 

D. Ouellette states that almost all of the mulch has been removed.  The fencing caps will be installed next week.  He has ordered the gravel.  The DEM inspector has verified that they do not need an ADA compliant walkway from the sidewalk on Factory Street to the playground.  They are planning on completing the parking lot in the next two weeks. 

 

M. Knott met with M. Williamson and some partners at the playground.  He will soon have a recommendation to go with the poured surface with some potential funding mechanisms.  He currently has two quotes but a RFP may be needed.  He should have something for the next Town Council meeting.

 

D. Gosselin asks when the playground will be functional.

 

D. Ouellette believes it will be ready in 6-8 weeks. 

 

05  Authorization to purchase one (1) new 2021 Ford Transit Connect XL and 2021 Ford F250 Pickup truck in an amount not to exceed $54,027.00

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, second by M. Williamson for authorization to purchase one (1) new 2021 Ford Transit Connect XL and 2021 Ford F250 Pickup truck in an amount not to exceed $54,027.00.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

Councilman Licciardi – Yes

Councilman Messier – Yes

Council Vice President Williamson – Yes

Council President Gosselin – Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

 

06  First reading of Ordinance #2021-06 Authorizing the Town of West Warwick to finance the design, construction, repair, rehabilitation and improvement of streets and sidewalks in the Town, Including but not limited to paving, drainage, traffic control devices, safety improvements, and landscaping by the issuance of not more than $7,000,000 bonds and/or notes therefor

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, second by J. Licciardi for first reading of Ordinance #2021-06 Authorizing the Town of West Warwick to finance the design, construction, repair, rehabilitation and improvement of streets and sidewalks in the Town, including but not limited to paving, drainage, traffic control devices, safety improvements, and landscaping by the issuance of not more than $7,000,000 bonds and/or notes therefore.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

Councilman Licciardi – Yes

Councilman Messier – Yes

Council Vice President Williamson – Yes

Council President Gosselin – Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

 

K.         Upcoming Appointments

01        Sewer Use Board of Review: (1) Alternate member vacancy with a term to expire on 10/2021, and (2) vacancies with a term to expire 10/2023

02        Pension Committee: (2) vacancies with terms to expire on 11/18/2022 and 11/18/2021

03        Recreation Committee – (1) vacancy

04        Tree Warden

05        West Bay Community Action Board (West Warwick representative) – (1) Vacancy

06        Board of Assessment and Review – (1) term to expire 3/2024

07        West Warwick Public Library Trustees – (1) with a term to expire on 2/2024

08        Pawtuxet River Authority – (1) term to expire on 6/30/2021

09        Planning Board- (2) with a term to expire 7/2021

10        Zoning Board of Review- (2) with term to expire on 7/2021

 

 

L.         Public Forum

 

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)).

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

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 the meeting are neither adopted nor endorsed by this body but heard as requested.

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.

 

M.        Executive Session – Council may vote to move to Executive Session pursuant to R.I. General Law 42-46-5 (a)(2)– Collective Bargaining or Litigation

01        Royal Mill s v. Saccoccio: KC 2019-0206

02        Quaker West Corp v. Saccoccio KC 2021-0030; KC 2020-0078 and KC 2019-0186

03        Moriarty v. WW: KC 2014-0267

04        Local 1104 International Association of Fire Fighters

05        Local 312 International Brotherhood of Police Officers

06        RI Council 94, AFSCME, AFL-CIO

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, second by M. Williamson to move to Executive Session.

ROLL CALL VOTE:

Councilman Licciardi – Yes

Councilman Messier – Yes

Council Vice President Williamson – Yes

Council President Gosselin – Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

 

MOTION made by J. Licciardi, second by J. Messier to return to open session.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

Councilman Licciardi – Yes

Councilman Messier – Yes

Council Vice President Williamson – Yes

Council President Gosselin – Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

 

MOTION made by M. Williamson, J. Licciardi to seal the minutes of Executive Session.

 

ROLL CALL VOTE:

Councilman Licciardi – Yes

Councilman Messier – Yes

Council Vice President Williamson – Yes

Council President Gosselin – Yes

 

MOTION PASSES

 

N.        Adjournment

 

MOTION made by J. Messier, second by M. Williamson to adjourn at 9:14 P.M.             All Ayes

 

 

 

 

 

Approved as written on April 20, 2021,

 

 

______________________________

Sarah S. Rapose, Town Clerk