Council Roundup

Highlights of the decisions made, and items discussed, at the Johnston Town Council Meeting on Monday, May 8.

STATUS ON PUBLIC HEARINGS

A petition for a zone change for referral to the Planning Board submitted by Drywater, LLC requesting to change the zone on Assessor’s Plat 44-4, Lot 26 located on Central Avenue, from the existing R-40 zone to a Planned District zone was moved to the June meeting pending Planning Board advisory opinion.

ORDINANCES TO BE READ

The following ordinances were introduced by the council, and will be voted on during June’s council meeting, during which time the public may pose questions.

Ordinance 2017-5 seeks to amend Article XX of chapter 340 of the Johnston Code of Ordinances entitled “Compassion Centers & Section 340-8 Table of Use Regulations.” The ordinance amends provisions involved with medical marijuana.

Ordinance 2017-7 seeks to amend Section 125-18 of Chapter 125 of the Johnston Code of Ordinances entitled “Manner of Sale of Tobacco and Drug Paraphernalia Regulated.”

BUSINESS LICENSES

Mayorga Enterprise, LLC, located at 111 Waveland St., was granted a business operating license for phone calls only for party planning, rentals, DJ services and photography.

JKS Vending was approved for a hawker/peddler license for a food and drink cart. The business was approved for Monday evening sales at Memorial Park from 5 p.m. to dark.

Ferrara’s Hometown Bar & Grill, located at 560 Killingly St. was granted a restaurant license for holiday and year round sales of breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Alien Ice Cream was permitted a town wide hawker/peddler license for a mobile ice cream truck from 11 a.m. until 8 p.m. A stipulation was made that the truck must not conduct sales at schools and parks.

Located at 620 Killingly St., Stage 2 Kids, a resale and consignment shop, was permitted a second hand license transfer with the condition that merchandise placed near sidewalks not block pedestrians right of way.

A business operating license transfer was granted to the new owners of The Bread Boss, LLC, located at 64 Putnam Pike, a bakery which will continue existed operations.

A special event license for an outdoor event on June 10, with DJ entertainment in the rear parking lot of Corner Pocket, located at 1428 Hartford Ave. was approved. The owner explained that the rear lot will be roped off with eight security guards and a police detail for the event. Parking, security, traffic and music volume concerns were addressed prior to approval.

Mohegan Johnston (JMSubs) LLC, doing business as Jersey Mike’s, a submarine sandwich and salad restaurant, was approved for a restaurant license with holiday sales at 1412 Atwood Ave. The restaurant hopes to open by the Fourth of July, possibly sooner.

The council approved 2017-CP-85, the renewal of all town business license for 2017-2018, with the exception of four businesses for outstanding taxes. Those businesses will be requested to appear before the council in June. LIQUOR LICENSING COMMISSION

Ferrara’s Hometown Bar & Grill, which had earlier been approved for a business license, was granted a temporary liquor license to accompany food service with alcoholic beverages was granted a 60-day approval of their request. The owner will need to reappear before the council in July to address potential concerns, including parking.

The Friends of the Johnston Senior Citizens Center, located at 1291 Hartford Ave., was approved for a special Class F liquor license for their June 3 annual Dinner Dance.

A three-month review of MMC, LLC, doing business as Al’s Music Man Café, full liquor license found that there had been no significant issues with traffic or parking at the establishment, however there may be an issue with unpaid taxes. They were requested to reappear at next month’s council meeting.

CONSTITUENT REQUESTS

District 1 Councilman Richard DelFino III requested that the Johnston Police Department set up speed enforcement on Taylor Drive. He requested a traffic study for a three way stop sign at Green Hill Road and Shun Pike. Brush cutting on Regina Drive and Filmore was also requested by the Department of Public Works.

District 5 Councilman Robert Civetti stated that he would work with the Department of Pubic Works regarding pothole complaints in several areas of the district.

Council President Anthony Verardo of District 2 requested a traffic study on Harding Avenue and Winfield Road due to speeding on the road. He also requested that the police department look into stop signs at the end of Winfield Road, as he believed there should be three stops signs there.

NEW BUSINESS

Denise Carpenter received approval for appointment to the Johnston Wastewater Management Board to fill the vacated term of George Lazzareschi, Jr.

Bernard Poirier, managing partner at Parmelee, Poirier & Associates, and Jo-Ann Newton, audit partner at the firm, discussed their audit results and findings, along with recommendations from their audit of the town’s financial statements for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2016.

A petition for a speed hump on Springfield Avenue submitted by Scott Cross was accepted, and a request for a traffic study by the police department was approved.

A resolution authorizing the Mayor to enter into an agreement for the printing and mailing of tax bills for the fiscal years 2018 to 2020 was approved.

PUBLIC HEARING ON ORDINANCES

The council adopted an ordinance amending the town’s code of ordinances entitled “Parking or Storage of Commercial Vehicles in Residence Districts.” The ordinance sets provisions for the parking or storage of trucks by weight limit in residence districts, and increases the gross vehicle weight of trucks from 2,000 to 10,000 pounds.