Tuesday, September 5, 2017
At a regular meeting of the City Council, in the City of Woonsocket, County of Providence, State of Rhode Island in Harris Hall on Tuesday, September 5, 2017 at 7 P.M.
Six members are present. Councilwoman Sierra is absent.
The prayer is read by the Clerk. The Pledge of Allegiance is given by the assembly.
The following persons addressed the council under citizens good and welfare: Lee Kohn, Bill Schneck, Charles Lemoine, Edward Tupper, Susan Kirwan, Joe Brillon and John Reynolds, Jr.
Upon motion of Councilwoman Murray seconded by Councilman Beauchamp it is voted that the minutes of the regular meeting held August 7th and special meeting held August 22nd be approved as submitted, a voice vote on same being unanimous.
Upon motion of Councilman Beauchamp seconded by Councilman Cournoyer it is voted that the consent agenda be approved as submitted, a voice vote on same being unanimous.
The following items were listed on the consent agenda:
17 CO 54 A communication from Public Works Director regarding solid waste division vehicle.
17 CO 55 A communication from Planning & Development Director regarding Ayotte Field.
17 CO 56 A communication from Planning & Development Director regarding proposed ordinances 17 O 57 and 17 O 58.
17 CO 57 A communication from City Clerk submitting status update on new tobacco vendor licenses.
17 CO 58 A communication from Planning & Development Director regarding proposed ordinances 17 O 59, 17 O 60, 17 O 61and resolutions 17 R 93 and 17 R 94.
17 CO 59 Opinion of City Solicitor regarding claim of Derick Vann.
17 LC 35 Upon motion of Councilwoman Murray seconded by Councilmen Beauchamp and Cournoyer it is voted that the following licenses be granted, a voice vote on same being unanimous: 1 application for Class F and entertainment license, 1 application for Class F1 license, 1 application for daily entertainment license, 2 applications for holiday license, 1 application for street vendor license, 2 applications for tobacco license, 5 applications for renewal of quarterly entertainment license and 1 application for renewal of tattoo license
Upon motion of Councilman Beauchamp seconded by Councilors Fagnant & Cournoyer it is voted that 1 application for Class F and entertainment license for Museum of Work and Culture be granted, a voice vote on same being unanimous. President Gendron recused himself from this vote.
Upon motion of Councilman Cournoyer seconded by Councilwoman Murray it is voted that 1 application for daily entertainment license for St. Ann’s Arts & Cultural Center be granted, a voice vote on same being unanimous. President Gendron recused himself from this vote.
17 CP 46 A request of Albert G. Brien to address the city council regarding staffing within the City Clerk’s office, WTP 17-O-56 and $90,000,0000 police pension bond-St. Joseph’s Health.
17 CP 47 A request of Councilman Fagnant to address the following items: Council approval of gun range on River Street Ordinance 17-O-09, Woonsocket Municipal Housing Court, senior tax relief program passed in 2013, property taxes paid by Woonsocket Neighborhood Development Corporation, update on sale of Ayotte Field, notice of hearing on September 11, 2017 combined preliminary plat and final plan review, Lajoie baseball field and City boards and how citizens can serve their city.
Upon motion of Councilman Beauchamp seconded by Councilwoman Murray it is voted to dispense with the regular order of business and take up the following resolution:
17 R 99 A resolution appointing Matthew Wilson as a member of the Personnel Board of the City of Woonsocket is read by title, and
Upon motion of Councilwoman Murray seconded by Councilman Beauchamp it is voted that the resolution be passed, however this motion is defeated on a 3-3 roll call vote with Councilors Beauchamp, Fagnant and Murray voting yes.
The following remarks are made under good and welfare:
Councilman Beauchamp congratulated Councilwoman Murray and Garrett Mancieri and all those involved with dinner on the bridge.
Councilman Cournoyer passed.
Councilman Fagnant congratulated Public Works Department for job done on Worrall Street. He addressed sales people going door to door. He spoke about state deficit.
Councilwoman Murray thanked everyone, DWC and volunteers for dinner on the bridge. She spoke about soliciting.
President Gendron passed.
Councilman Brien thanked Councilwoman Murray for a great job and excellent band at the dinner on the bridge. He recognized Tappas and Pappas for their last minute fill in. He spoke about fewer calls to Synagro and their incoming call system. He spoke about voter ID initiative/fraud.
17 O 56 An ordinance approving the financing of the acquisition, construction and equipping of a new drinking water treatment plant and other improvements to the water supply system of the City and all attendant expenses and approving the issuance of water revenue bonds and notes therefore in an amount not to exceed $65,000,000 which was passed for the first time on August 7th, is read by title, and
Upon motion of Councilwoman Murray seconded by Councilman Cournoyer it is voted that the ordinance be passed, a roll call vote on same being unanimous.
Upon motion of Councilman Cournoyer seconded by Councilman Fagnant it is voted that the following two ordinances be tabled, a voice vote on same being unanimous:
17 O 57 An ordinance in amendment of Code of Ordinances, Appendix C entitled “Zoning” regarding various technical changes.
17 O 58 An ordinance amending Chapter 12 entitled “Housing” Article XII entitled “Rooming Houses” and 13.37 of the Code of Ordinances, entitled “Licensing of Rooming Houses”.
17 O 59 An ordinance amending Code of Ordinances Appendix C entitled “Zoning” to create a historic structures floating overlay district is read by title, and
Upon motion of Councilman Cournoyer seconded by Councilman Beauchamp it is voted that the ordinance be tabled, advertised for public hearing and referred to the Planning Board for advice and recommendation, a voice vote on same being unanimous.
17 O 60 An ordinance establishing a tax stabilization plan for Woonsocket Park Place for property located at 357 Park Place is read by title, and
Upon motion of Councilman Cournoyer seconded by Councilman Brien it is voted that the ordinance be tabled, a roll call vote on same being unanimous.
17 O 61 An ordinance establishing a maximum building permit fee for property located at 357 Park Place to be purchased and redeveloped by Woonsocket Park Place is read by title, and
Upon motion of Councilman Cournoyer seconded by Councilman Fagnant it is voted that the ordinance be passed for the first time, a roll call vote on same being unanimous.
17 O 62 An ordinance in amendment of Code of Ordinances, Appendix C entitled “Zoning” regulating micro-lofts, micro-apartments and studios is read by title, and
Upon motion of Councilwoman Murray seconded by Councilmen Cournoyer & Fagnant it is voted that the ordinance be tabled, a roll call vote on same being unanimous.
17 O 63 An ordinance transferring funds from contingency to finance department (Tax Assessing Division) is read by title, and
A motion is made by Councilman Cournoyer seconded by Councilman Brien that the ordinance be passed, however, before this is voted on
Upon motion of Councilman Fagnant seconded by Councilman Cournoyer it is voted to amend by reducing to $10,000 however this motion failed on a unanimous roll call vote. The motion to pass is then voted and passed on a 5-1 roll call vote with Councilman Fagnant voting no.
17 O 64 An ordinance authorizing the sale of property located 707 Park Avenue is read by title, and
A motion is made by Councilwoman Murray seconded by Councilmen Beauchamp and Cournoyer that the ordinance be passed, however, before this is voted on
Upon motion of Councilman Cournoyer seconded by Councilman Beauchamp it is voted that the ordinance be amended as follows: Delete Section 2 in its entirety and replace with “The City Council authorizes the Mayor and/or her designee to sell the property located at 707 Park Avenue, Woonsocket, Rhode Island for an amount not less than Fourteen Thousand Dollars ($14,000.00) and to execute any and all documents to perform the same including a deed that shall contain the following stipulations and restrictions: a) The subject parcel is to be administratively merged with the property located at 717 Park Avenue, Woonsocket, Rhode Island, and b) Any building constructed on the subject property shall be for an ancillary use only. For the avoidance of doubt, an ancillary use shall not include a residential dwelling unit, and c) The subject parcel shall in no way be used for residential construction nor shall the subject parcel be used in any manner to enhance or expand the otherwise allowable residential density of the lot to which it is merged”. This amendment is voted on and passed unanimously on a roll call vote. The ordinance, as amended, is then voted on and passed for the first time on a unanimous roll call vote.
17 R 91 A resolution authorizing the use of City funds to purchase a solid waste vehicle is read by title, and
A motion is made by Councilman Beauchamp seconded by Councilmen Cournoyer and Fagnant that that the resolution be passed, however before this is voted on
Upon motion of Councilman Cournoyer seconded by Councilman Brien it is voted that the resolution be amended as follows: At end of Section 1 add “, provided that the funding comes from account 1-010-06355-55574 Lease Purchase within Public Service”. This amendment is voted on and passed unanimously on a voice vote. The resolution is then voted on and passed unanimously as amended, on a voice vote.
17 R 92 A resolution granting permission to use city property is read by title, and
Upon motion of Councilwoman Murray seconded by Councilman Cournoyer it is voted that the resolution be passed, a voice vote on same being unanimous.
17 R 93 A resolution approving terms and conditions agreement by and between the City of Woonsocket and Woonsocket Park Place for the sale & redevelopment of the former Woonsocket Middle School is read by title, and
Upon motion of Councilman Cournoyer seconded by Councilman Beauchamp it is voted that the resolution be tabled, a voice vote on same being unanimous.
17 R 94 A resolution referring a request for designation of a Historic Structure Floating Overlay District for property designated as Plat 27, Lot 113 (former Woonsocket Middle School) to the Planning Board is read by title, and
Upon motion of Councilman Cournoyer seconded by Councilwoman Murray it is voted that the resolution be passed, a voice vote on same being unanimous.
17 R 95 A resolution authorizing the cancellation of certain taxes is read by title, and
Upon motion of Councilwoman Murray seconded by Councilman Beauchamp it is voted that the resolution be passed, a voice vote on same being unanimous.
17 R 96 A resolution authorizing the cancellation of certain taxes is read by title, and
Upon motion of Councilman Beauchamp seconded by Councilwoman Murray it is voted that the resolution be passed, a voice vote on same being unanimous.
17 R 97 A resolution accepting deed for property located at 117 East School Street is read by title, and
Upon motion of Councilman Beauchamp seconded by Councilman Fagnant it is voted that the resolution be passed, a voice vote on same being unanimous.
17 R 98 A resolution authorizing the use of City property is read by title, and
Upon motion of Councilwoman Murray seconded by Councilman Cournoyer it is voted that the resolution be passed, a voice vote on same being unanimous.
Upon motion of Councilman Fagnant seconded by Councilwoman Murray it is voted that the meeting be and it is hereby adjourned at 10:01P.M.
Attest: Christina Harmon-Duarte City Clerk