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TOWN OF WEST WARWICK
TOWN COUNCIL MEETING
TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2021
7:00 P.M.
Minutes
The meeting called to order by Town Council President Gosselin at 7:02 p.m.
Vice President D’Amico led the body in prayer
Councilman Licciardi led the body in the Pledge of Allegiance
Members Present:
Councilman Licciardi
Councilman Messier
Councilman Williamson
Council Vice President D’Amico
Council President Gosselin
Others Present: Town Solicitor Williamson
The Interim Town Manager Knott reported:
· Employees: (9) nine positive cases, (4) four quarantine and (1) one in long term recovery overall everyone is doing well.
· Employees are back to full staff with safety precautious in place.
· We are still following Governor’s orders and next meeting there will be the updated executive order.
· Councilwoman asked the question regarding vaccine training and who’s inline and also when is it getting under way. Chief Varone replied by theres no date as of yet. We are vaccinating first responders police, fire and home care workers and there is a regional pod in East Greenwich. Chief Varone stated he is in the process of increasing the capabilities of opening a mass vaccination clinic at the West Warwick Civic Center but no date as of now. Councilwoman Williamson stated she had spoken to the people who set up the pod in East Greenwich and were saying that the Town of West Warwick were very cooperative and helpful.
· Councilman Messier asked the Chief Varone if someone who had tested positive for covid how long do they have to wait to get the vaccine. Chief Varone stated ten days after as long they have no systems.
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.
Moved by Council Vice President D’Amico, seconded by Councilwoman Williamson and approved by a roll call vote:
Councilman Licciardi – Yes
Councilman Messier - Yes
Councilwoman Williamson – Yes
Council Vice President D’Amico – Yes
Council President Gosselin - Yes
a. West Warwick Veterans Council In the amount of $1500.00
Approval of minutes of the December 1, 2020 Town Council Meeting, December 8, 2020 Town Council Workshop and December 15, 2020 Executive Session.
Moved by Councilwoman Williamson, seconded by Councilman Messier and approved by a roll call
Vote:
Councilman Licciardi – Yes
Councilman Messier - Yes
Councilwoman Williamson – Yes
Council Vice President D’Amico – Yes
Council President Gosselin - Yes
a. (New) Business License – Samuel Andres dba Sam’s Service – 49 Gough Ave.
b. (Renewal) Business License – Steven Medeiros dba 401 Storage Inc. – 225 Cowesett Ave.
c. (Renewal) Business License – Guill Tool & Engineering Co., Inc. dba Guill Tool & Engineering Co., Inc. – 10 Pine Street
d. (Renewal) Victualing House License – Lil Rhody Catering/John Ferreira dba Lil Rhody Catering- 1670 Main Street
e. (New) Victualing House License – Wise Guys Deli House dba Wise Guys West Warwick (fast food) – 289 Cowesett Ave., Unit 6
f. Recycling Bin – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island – Father Felming, St. John’s Baptist Church – 20 Washington Street
g. (Renewal) Donation Collection Recycling Bin – Charity Services dba Upcycling Collaborative – Papa Gino’s of America Inc. – 700 East Greenwich Ave.
h. (Renewal) Donation Collection Recycling Bin – Charity Services dba Upcycling Collaborative – Pep Boys Inc. (Spirit Master Funding LLC) – 375 Quaker Lane
i. (Renewal) Donation Collection Recycling Bin – Charity Services dba Upcycling Collaborative – Kesstone Montessri - 245 Legris Ave.
j. (Renewal) Donation Collection Recycling Bin – Charity Services dba Upcycling Collaborative – Brockton Pharmacy Property Development/Walgreens Inc. – 1 Cowesett Ave.
k. (New) Private License – Stephen M. McGrath – 15 Ames Rd. Foxboro, MA
l. (Renewal) Constable License – Paul Andrade – 3 Lancelotta Street
m. (Renewal) Mechanical Amusement - Crompton Veterans Organization – 37 Hepburn Street
n. (Renewal) Bowling Alley License – Roger E. Lacroix dba Mac’s Bowlaway - 890 Main Street
o. (Renewal) Pool Table License - Portuguese Instructional Recreational Club dba PIC – 918 Main Street (New) Victualing House License – Wise Guys Deli House dba Wise Guys West Warwick (ice cream & milk shakes ) – 289 Cowesett Ave., Unit 5
p. (Renewal) Donation Collection Recycling Bin – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Rhode Island – Father Felming, St. Mary’s Church – 70 Church Street
q. (Renewal) Donation Collection
r. (Renewal) Pool Table License - Crompton Veterans Organization – 37 Hepburn Street
s. (Renewal) Pool Table License – Portuguese American Citizens Club – 97 East Main Street
t. (Renewal) Pool Table License – Portuguese Holy Ghost Society – 11 Ventura Street
u. (Renewal) Pool Table License – Pasca R Senerchia Post 74 Bld. Ass. Inc. dba Pasca R. Senerchia Post 74 – 681 Providence Street
v. (Renewal) Pool Table License – WW FOP Lodge # 6 -1520 Main Street
Moved by Council Vice President D’Amico, seconded by Councilwoman Williamson and approved as amended (Item K add the word detective) approved by a roll call vote:
Let the record show that Councilman Messier recused himself from item 3 consent agendas.
Councilman Licciardi – Yes
Councilwoman Williamson – Yes
Council Vice President D’Amico – Yes
Council President Gosselin - Yes
a. Northeast Revaluation Group $358, 000
b. VGSI $383,000
Moved by Council Vice President D’Amico, to award the bid to Northeast Revaluation Group
in the amount of $358,000, seconded by Councilman Messier and approved by
a roll call Vote:
Councilman Licciardi – Yes
Councilman Messier - Yes
Councilwoman Williamson – Yes
Council Vice President D’Amico – Yes
Council President Gosselin - Yes
a. 2020 RP Tax Roll – Brown Linda – 11 Tiogue Ave. – Appeals 2020 value approved by Assessor- $1,444.40
b. 2020 RP Tax Roll – Hanson Sharon Bradshaw – 76 Governors – Appeal value approved by Assessor - $439.30
c. 2020 RP- Tax Roll Leonard Tyler C – 43 Douglas – Appeal 2020 value approved by Assessor - $681.49
d. 2020 RP Tax Roll – Natick School House LLC – 819 Providence Street - $3,735.94
e. 2020 Tng Tax Roll – Gaspee Real estate Partners - Gaspee Real Estate Partners – Equipment disposed of 11/25/2019 - $1,371.60
f. 2020MV Tax Roll- Ackerman Steven P -2016 Sprin CMP 77321 – 2016 Sprint CMP on wrong acct/s/b 51-0044-87 - $39.86
g. 2012 MV Tax Roll Young Donna C – 2010 Jee Lib 964965 – registered in CA - $491.82
h. 2013- MV Tax Roll – Young Donna C - Jee Lib 964965 – registered in CA - $435.85
Total amount of cancellation: $8,640.26
Moved by Councilwoman Williamson, seconded by Council Vice President D’Amico and approved by a roll call vote:
Let the record show that Council Vice President D’Amico recused himself from Item #5 Cancellation of Taxes.
Councilman Licciardi – Yes
Councilman Messier - Yes
Councilwoman Williamson – Yes
Council President Gosselin - Yes
This is to lease two 5-6 yard dump trucks with plows for three months in the amount of $21, 580.12. The is emergency procurement – (sponsored by Council President Gosselin)
The Interim Town Manager Knott, asked the Town Council to take no action on this item for the reason that the business withdrew for the reason that the equipment is not available.
for $60,000 to $73,095.94 to remove and dispose of debris behind Cal Ripkin Field in West Warwick; the estimated cost is $109,950 – (sponsored by Council President Gosselin)
Moved by Council Vice President D’Amico, seconded by Councilwoman Williamson for discussion.
Council President Gosselin stated about six months ago the Town Council approved this item not to
exceed $100,000. The Department of Public Works Director, Don Ouellette, stated the original bid
was $109,000 per Town Manager at that time stated to place the item for $60,000 and come back
next year for the difference of $73,000 the job was completed. There’s a little bit of work left that I
can do in house which is loam and seed and also place hay bales. There’s also a little
erosion happening at the bottom of the roadway. The grass is growing in everything is coming along.
We kept the big rocks for protection around the factory street playground. We reused a lot of the
material and saved some money on dumping at the Johnston Landfill. Councilwoman Williamson
stated the Town Council did approve the $60,000, also asked if the DEM sign off on the project. Don
stated they are coming out in the spring to sign off. Councilwoman Williamson stated she would like
everything in written and have the file closed.
Approved by a roll call vote:
Councilman Licciardi – Yes
Councilman Messier - Yes
Councilwoman Williamson – Yes
Council Vice President D’Amico – Yes
Council President Gosselin - Yes
from Johnston RI. The bid amount was for $55,950
Moved by Council Vice President D’Amico, seconded by Councilman Licciardi for discussion.
Councilwoman Williamson stated this was approved the last time in the amount of $150,000 and this is the rest to complete the job. The DPW Director, Don Ouellette, stated that is incorrect. Don stated there was a separate contract also awarded to A.A.Wrecking to clear the surrounding debris which is asbestos and old shingles and fire installation once it’s removed and the upon Town Council approval tonight, I will give them notice to proceed tomorrow to remove the tower. The company had indicated it could begin the work in around two weeks. It will not take a long time to remove the tower. The smokestack at the town-owned site that currently poses the greatest safety hazard iscracking in parts and leans at an angle of around 6 or seven degrees. At any point in time that tower can fall. The town has property adjacent to it and you don’t know where the tower will fall. Don also stated that the engineer Jim Jeremiah has also deemed the smokestack structurally unsafe. The brick building that sits besides the smokestack will need to be addressed separately. Council President Gosselin stated that there are people interested in purchasing the property. Council President Gosselin stated that once the smokestack has been removed and is no longer is a safety concern and the sale of the property be placed on the ballot during the next budget referendum. Even if the land is sold it will save the town money. Council President also pointed out the effect that raisury the historic smokestack will have on the town. That’s part of the skyline and he was a photographer he would take pictures of the skyline.
Motion made by Councilwoman Williamson to approve A.A. Wrecking Company upon providing all documents along with the contract to the Interim Town Manager and Town Solicitor, seconded by Councilman Licciardi and approved by a roll call vote:
Councilman Licciardi – Yes
Councilman Messier - Yes
Councilwoman Williamson – Yes
Council Vice President D’Amico – Yes
Council President Gosselin - Yes
Town Council Hereby considers the purchase of a Tiger Roadside Mower (item # MOWERHPF – Flail -Arm Mower) for use by the Department of Public Works from HP Fairfield of New Hampshire. The purchase will be made through Sourcewell Master Price Agreement (Membership # 105063) and will be funded from the following source:
Capital Reserve Account to be Reimbursed through Lease Escrow Funds $ 125,392.90 Total Expenditure: $ 125,392.90 - (sponsored by Council President Gosselin)
Motion made by Council Vice President D’ Amico, seconded by Councilwoman Williamson for discussion.
Councilwoman Williamson stated she never thought that a flail-arm mower would ever cost $125,000 maybe in the $20,000 range and is the flail - arm mower what can that be used for besides the bike path. Director of Public Works, Don Ouellette stated it’s a very valuable piece of equipment. It will save money on man power, easy maintenance eliminate police detail. It cuts the trees and the chums up the debris and the $100,000 is for the John Deer Tracker and the $25,000 is for the flail-arm. This equipment will help with the drainage issues. Councilwoman asked if this can help with snow removal or this equipment is used just in the spring. The director stated it will not help with the snow removal it will be used all year around for tree removal. Councilwoman Williamson asked the questions would this equipment fit on the bike path and could this money be used somewhere else.
The Director stated if the council would like to delay this he had another option he stated that the DPW is $275,000 in the black and if maintained for the rest of the year it would be close to ½ million dollars and using the operating budget to look at used vehicle’s with Terry and pick up a couple of 550 plow trucks for $100,000 and the council agrees to use the personnel account that DPW has not used the first quarter of the year. Council President Gosselin stated that we cannot approved that till the third quarter or beginning of fourth quarter. Director stated you can not rent a flail mower.
Motion to table made by Councilwoman Williamson, seconded by Councilman Liccaridi and approved by a roll call vote:
Councilman Licciardi – Yes
Councilman Messier – Yes
Councilwoman Williamson – Yes
Council Vice President D’Amico – Yes
Councilman President Gosselin – Yes
a. Continued discussion of the feasibility of a new road bond in 2021- (sponsored by Council Vice President D’Amico)
Council Vice President D’Amico stated this item was brought up last year and would like to know what is the next stop. Finance Director, Kristen Benoit stated that it would have to go before the voters at the FTM for the road bond if it approved then the process would start.
b. Kent County Water Bills vs West Warwick Sewer Bills – (sponsored by Council President Gosselin)
Council President Gosselin stated that the new water meters and residents water bill double and what people are not talking about is the water usage. Council President Gosselin. would like Harrison and the Sewer Sub-Committee to start looking it to this matter before the sewer bills go out to prevent havoc.
c. Update on snow Removal Issues from 12/16-12/17- 2020- (sponsored by Councilman Messier)
Councilman Messier began by adding he received more calls during the storm than he has during any other winter since his 2016 election to the town council. The road cleanup took way too long. There was some plan that wasn’t in place, the roads were atrocious. Councilman Messier said that he wants to ensure moving forward that doesn’t happen again. Councilman Messier commended the tireless efforts of the crews that were out there working “tremendously hard” for at least 30 hours to clear the roads. Interim Town Manager, Knott stated the snow event tested us, and quickly overran the immediate capabilities of our Department of Public Works. We were overwhelmed and fell short of what I consider our usual exceptional response. Interim Town manager stated the most significant and obvious reason for the poor response was the amount of snowfall that we received in short duration adding that he heard from other communities that were also caught off guard by the heavy snowfall. The town biggest hurdle in getting the roads clean was its lack of equipment. Town old vehicles have yet been replaced and also the town has fewer private plow drivers that it has had in the past. Interim town manager is working with DPW Director, Ouellette to address the plow driver shortage. One way is to increase the pay rate to bring them in line with other similar communities and attract independent plow drivers back to West Warwick the town has lost at least four vendors. The town is also awaiting the arrival of two recently purchased vehicles, the large plow truck won’t arrive after he winter. Interim Town Manager stated there were four assigned areas of town. The hope was to send workers into those areas once their own roads were opened. Due to amount of snow fall that didn’t go as planned. Also, we have a lot of new employees who worked and are relatively new and perhaps aren’t familiar with the routes and haven’t had much experience plowing. Councilman Messier added that he’d like the council to be kept more informed of the status of future storm cleanups as they happen so they can be better prepared to respond to the residents complaints. Interim Town Manager stated the public works department will provide updates throughout snow events to Town Manager and the Town Council.
d. Discussion about ways to improve removal and efficiency for upcoming storm – (sponsored by Councilman Messier)
Councilman Messier stated all the questions were answered on Item C no further discussion.
e. The FEMA, Assistance to Firefighters Grant (AFG) has opened, and the Fire Department would like to apply for 2 grants applications. First is for new tower ladder. Our tower ladder is 23 years old and has had significant repair costs over the past 5 years. The cost for a new tower would be 1.3 million dollars striped. The submission would be for $675,000. The second submission would be to replace our aging portable radios with triband radios. Currently, we operate on VHF, Warwick and Cranston are on 800mhz and Coventry is on UHF. If awarded, this will improve communications between agencies. The match for an AFG award is 10%. (sponsored by Council President Gosselin)
Chief Varone, began by adding asking the Town Council approval to move forward with the grant. Which open on Monday and closing on Feb. 12, 2021. Council approved going forward with the grant.
1. Appointment to the Library Board of Trustees
a. Matthew Silva
Motion made by Council Vice President to move the name of Matthew Silva, seconded by
Councilwoman Williamson approved by a roll call vote:
Councilman Licciardi – Yes
Councilman Messier – Yes
Councilwoman Williamson- Yes
Council Vice President D’Amico – Yes
Council President Gosselin – Yes
a. Sewer Use Board of Review: one (1) Alternate member vacancy with a term to expire on 10/2021, & (2) vacancy with a term to expire 10/2023
b. Pension Committee: three (3) vacancies with terms to expire in 2021, 2022 and 2023
c. Pawtuxet River Authority: one (1) vacancy with a term to expire 6/30/2023
d. West Warwick Public Library Trustees – two (2) term to expire 02/2021
e. Recreation Committee – one (1) vacancy
f. Juvenile Hearing Board – one (1) vacancy – term to expire 12/2024
g. Tree Warden
h. Westbay Community action Board (West Warwick representative) – one (1) vacancy
i. Board of Assessment & Review – (1) term to expire 03/2021
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. (For more detailed info. Refer to Via
Zoom)
· Council President Gosselin began by adding he would like to schedule executive session regarding Town Manager applications and also contract negations if the council could get back with dates.
· Jerry Leite - 172 Prospect Hill Ave. - began by adding the bid contract its up to the individual /vendor to submit the contract. The flail mower not sure if the town is going to rent, finance, or buy but how is this going to be housed to last 30 years. Road Bonds – the council needs to look at the town as a whole and focus on Arctic first and put some of the road bond money in the area.
· Councilwoman Williamson asked the question regarding the flail mower bid was dated back to September and how long is it good for. If the Director of DPW could look it to this.
· Pete Cotrell – 25 Nowicki Street, began by going back to snow removal and spoke with Councilman Messier regarding his neighbor was atrocious. The house behide him that’s a dead end and there is a child with special needs and the rescue is always there and the road was not plowed out since Monday.
How much money is going to River point park regarding dumping and going back to past directors should be held accountable and should be paying for that not the tax payers. DPW Director stated he will look at that matter regarding snow plowing at the dead end on West Street.
· Derek Read – 62 Andrews Ave. – asked the question where the DPW Director looking for trucks is that out of state or in state. It looks all the bids are coming from out of state. There’s trucks in state right now for sale. Derek asked the question how wide is the bike path. The flail mower is 102 inches wide without the flair on it. Its to big for the bike path that will take a fence down. Snow storms the residents like to hear people voices not machines and not receiving call backs. Derek suggest that there’s more employees at DPW they should have more then one person answering phones.
· Antonio Andrade – 17 Wilson Street – began by questioning the Town Council if the town is going to purchase trucks. Council President stated they are not available. Antonio stated that Derek said he can get them tomorrow so why doesn’t he go with Don and purchase them. Antonio stated listen to the complaints regarding how the snow removal was done so he knows how it was done & not done and what areas were done and not done he stated he knows because he was out there. Antonio stated that the Town Council President Gosselin stated that DPW were going to see the trucks and he wants to see the trucks.
· Jerry Leite - 172 Prospect Hill Drive – with all due respect I believe that the town should listen to the Reads. They Know what they are talking and also knows what equipment is needed for the parks.
· Derek Read – 62 Reads Ave. stated that he had to plow his road on Thursday when he came home from work. When Paul Thomas running this town the didn’t go home till everything is plowed curb to curb and all drains uncovered and etc. I can go with whom ever to go purchase the trucks and I don’t know everything.
· Antonio Andrade stated a lot of areas were not plowed due to not enough man power and not enough trucks. Regarding the comment Derek stated regarding employees going home and job is not completed a lot of the guys worked thirty hours plus.
· Councilwoman stated that everyone was working hard no one stating no one didn’t work hard. The Interim Town Manager and DPW Director will work on a plan.
Councilman Messier made the motion to adjourn, seconded by Councilwoman Williamson and approved by a voice vote.
Meeting adjourned at 9:32 p.m.