Proposed Budget Goes Before City Council

The East Providence City Council will hear a presentation on the proposed fiscal year 2013-2014 municipal budget on Tuesday evening, Sept. 17.

The second meeting in September starts at 7:30 pm in the Council Chambers in City Hall.

Finance Director Malcolm Moore will make the presentation on behalf of City Manager Peter Graczykowski. It is expected to be in alignment with the five-year budget approved for the city by the former East Providence Budget Commission. 

The City Council also will hold public hearings on several ordinances, including one on claims made for leaking underground water or sewer pipes that caused excessive consumption for property owners and one that would designate donations for middle school sports as separate financial entities – not part of the general fund. 

Here is the complete docket for Tuesday’s meeting: 

EAST PROVIDENCE CITY COUNCIL

DOCKET OF REGULAR MEETING

September 17, 2013

Council Chambers, City Hall, 145 Taunton Avenue

7:30 P.M. Open Session

I.                  CALL TO ORDER 

II.                  SALUTE TO THE FLAG

III.                  TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR

A. Letters Received

1. Coastal Resources Management September 2013 Calendar.2. Notice of New Property Number, 7 Winter Harbor Avenue, Map 513, Block 34, Parcel 003.00, Zoning R4, Megan Correia, 12 N. Shore Drive (02915). 

3. Notice of New Property Number, vacant lot from demolished home at 55 Hazelwood Drive, Map 307, Block 15, Parcel 001.00, Zoning R4, new number 216 S. Spruce Street, Map 307, Block 15, Parcel 001.00, Zoning R4, Joseph and Estrella Cavaco, 55 Hazelwood Drive (02914). 

B. Alcoholic Beverage License Class F-1

1. St. Francis Xavier Church, 160 Orchard Street (02914), St. Francis Xavier Band Anniversary Dinner, Saturday, October 5, 2013. 

2. St. Francis Xavier Church, 160 Orchard Street (02914), 30 Week Club Dinner, October 26, 2013. 

C. Council Journals

1. Special Council Meeting July 29, 2013

2. Regular Council Meeting September 3, 2013 

IV.                  PUBLIC COMMENT 

V.                  LICENSES NOT REQUIRING PUBLIC HEARING

Licenses are granted subject to all required approvals from State and City departments.

A.                  Hawker – 90 Day Lamo Group, LLC, 160 Rounds Avenue, Apt. 3, Providence (02907), Larry E. Gailloux, 160 Rounds Avenue, Apt. 3, Providence (02907). 

VII. PUBLIC HEARING ORDINANCES FINAL PASSAGE

A. An ordinance regarding sewer consumption charge.

AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 17 OF THE REVISED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, 1998, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED “UTILITIES.” 

SECTION I. Section 17-183 entitled “Charges to be based upon water consumption; rate” of Chapter 17 of the ordinances of the City of East Providence, Rhode Island, 1998, as amended, entitled “Utilities” is amended by adding thereto the following:

(g) Upon written request of the property owner, a one time adjustment of an excessive sewer consumption charge may be approved by the Claims Committee with a review and recommendation by the Director of Public Works, if the request meets all of the following conditions:                 

(1) The property has not received a previous abatement for sewer consumption charges within the past ten years, regardless of property ownership.

(2) The excessive consumption must exceed the prior year same period consumption at the property by thirty-three (33) percent.

(3) Excessive use cannot be caused by change in use, i.e., added living units or conversion from residential to commercial.

(4) The adjustment to the sewer consumption charge will be computed in accordance with the following formula: Total billed consumption, minus prior year same period consumption, equals excessive consumption. Excessive consumption divided by two (2), plus normal consumption, equals the total adjusted consumption upon which the adjusted sewer consumption charge will be calculated. The calculation will be made using the sewer charges in effect for the billing period in question.

(5) The adjusted amount will be deducted from the amount owed if the bill is unpaid or credited to the account if the bill has been paid.  There will be no adjustment of interest charges unless the written request had been received prior to the due date of the bill.

SECTION II. This ordinance shall take effect upon its second passage and all ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.

Requested by: Department of Public Works

Stop Sign on Gerald Street. 

AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 18 OF THE REVISED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, 1998, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED “VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC”

SECTION I. Subsection (b) of Sec. 18-269 entitled “Stop and yield intersections designated; when stops required.” is amended by adding thereto the following: Gerald Street (northbound and southbound traffic) at its intersection with Robinson Street

SECTION II. This ordinance shall take effect upon second passage and all ordinances and parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed. 

Requested by: Councilwoman Rossi

C. An ordinance pertaining to donations for Middle School Sports.

AN ORDINANCE APPROPRIATING MONIES DONATED BY THE TAXPAYERS OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE FOR THE PURPOSE OF SUPPORTING MIDDLE SCHOOL SPORTS 

SECTION I. Any and all monies received by the City of East Providence in trust for the benefit of the Middle School Sports Program are monies donated for a specific purpose as designated by the donor pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 45-2-3(10). Any and all monies received in trust for the benefit of the Middle Schools Sports Program are not part of the “annual local contribution” as set forth in R.I. Gen. Laws § 16-7-23. 

SECTION II. Any and all monies received by the City of East Providence in trust for the benefit of the Middle School Sports Program are hereby appropriated for said purpose. Upon the presentation of vouchers signed by the Superintendent of Schools or her designee, the Director of Finance shall disburse the amounts set forth in the vouchers to the extent that there are sufficient monies held in trust by the Director of Finance.

SECTION III. This ordinance shall take effect upon its passage and all ordinances and parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.

Requested by: Director of Finance

VIII. NEW BUSINESS 

A. City Manager’s Report (by City Manager Peter Graczykowski)

1. Department Activity Report

2. EPBC Personnel Activity Report from 9/12/13

3. EPBC Staff Payroll Charges

4. Request to Award Contract for the East Providence Fire Department Uniforms 

5. Municipal Recycling Rebate

6. Non-Functioning Street Lights Credit

7. Street Maintenance

8. FY 2013-2014 Proposed Budget Presentation by Finance Director Malcolm A. Moore on behalf of City Manager Peter Graczykowski

9. Motion to schedule the first Public Hearing for the FY 2013-2014 Proposed Budget for the next Council meeting on October 1, 2013. 

B. Reports of Other City Officials 

1. Handicap Parking Request for 200 North County Street (by Director of Public Works, Steve Coutu) 

Council Members 

1. Parks (by Assistant Mayor Rose)

2. Police Vehicles and Equipment (by Assistant Rose) 

3. Community Event Announcements (by Councilwoman Rossi)

D. Report of School Committee Liaison 

E. Introduction of Ordinances 

1. An ordinance regarding restriction of certain trucks on Brentwood Drive, Don Avenue and from Pawtucket Avenue to Weeden Avenue. 

AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 18 OF THE REVISED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, 1998, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED “VEHICLES AND TRAFFIC” 

SECTION I. Section 18-224 entitled “Certain trucks restricted on certain streets” of Article VII entitled “Operation of Vehicles” of Chapter 18 of the Revised Ordinances of the City of East Providence, Rhode Island, 1998, as amended, entitled “Vehicles and Traffic.” Is amended by adding thereto the following: Brentwood Drive Don Avenue, from Pawtucket Avenue to Weeden Avenue

SECTION II. This ordinance shall take effect upon its second passage and all ordinances or parts of ordinances inconsistent herewith are hereby repealed.

Requested by: Public Works Director

Public Comment

1. Jared Cowgur, 9 Sheridan Avenue (02916) requesting to address the Council regarding a request to host a block party on October 26, 2013 from 6:00 PM-10:00 PM, Sheridan Avenue will need to be blocked on both ends, Roger Williams Avenue and Campbell Street. 

2. Ken Foley, 50 French Street, Rehoboth, MA/1 Dexter Road, East Providence requesting to address the Council regarding East Providence Police Report of 7/12/13 and the handling, reporting, update and latest Hummel Report. 

IX. ADJOURNMENT