Council Roundup

Highlights of the decisions made, and items discussed, at the Johnston Town Council Meeting on Monday, July 10. District 4 Councilman Robert Russo was on vacation.

STATUS ON PUBLIC HEARINGS

Ordinance 2017-9 and 2017-10, which seek to amend the Johnston Code of Ordinances regarding the Police Pension List and Police Funding Improvement Plan were passed off the agenda due to ongoing negotiations.

LICENSES

A. Tutalo Realty, located at 9 Frances Ave. was granted a business operating license, phone calls only, as a real estate broker.

D. Feole Masonry was approved for a renewed business license pending payment of outstanding taxes and business license fees by the end of the week.

S & G Assembly and Packaging, located at 39 Greenville Ave., was granted a business-operating license for packaging of finished health products.

Strings Bar and Grill, LLC, doing business as Strings Bar and Grill, located at 183 George Waterman Road, was granted a restaurant license transfer, holiday sales, an entertainment license, as well as a BV full liquor license transfer from Gianfranco’s. Stipulations were placed for no street parking, and for no music/noise to be heard outside the establishment.

Located at 587 Central Ave., The Fairies Cleaners was permitted a business operating license for phone calls only.

A business operating license change of address was granted to Atmed Treatment Center, Inc. which moved from 1526 to 1524 Atwood Ave., Suite 122.

A business-operating license for the parking of a mobile truck crane was approved for JAB Equipment Co., Inc. located at 23 Green Hill Road.

PEZ Construction, doing business as Reliable Woodworking, was granted a phone calls only business operating license for residential construction at 39A Morgan Ave.

A phone calls only business operating license for ordering and shipping of wigs and hair products was granted for Par-X-Salon’ce at 61 Victor Ave.

LIQUOR LICENSING COMMISSION

A three-month review of Ciara Restaurant and Lounge, located at 678 Killingly St., found that required security details at the restaurant were no longer necessary as there had been no complaints of on street parking, or in the adjacent school parking lot.

A 60-day review of Ferrara’s Hometown Bar & Grill, located at 560 Killingly St., full liquor license also had security requirements lifted.

CONSTITUENT REQUESTS

District 1 Councilman Richard DelFino III requested that the curb on Heritage Circle be repaired, that patchwork be completed at the bottom of River Drive, and brush cutting on Peck Hill Road. He also recognized Thornton Elementary school for outstanding work during the last school year.

District 3 Councilman David Santilli asked for brush clearing on Dante Street, and for a traffic study on Waveland Street for a stop sign.

District 5 Councilman Robert Civetti addressed construction times on Boulder Road to ensure that crews do not start too early.

Council President Anthony Verardo asked about street cleaning, and was told by DPW director Arnold Vecchione that it should be completed in September. He also addressed recent Open Meetings Act complaints against the council through the Attorney General, stating that the council was not found to have any violations.

NEW BUSINESS

A resolution authorizing change requests #5 and #7 for the agreement between the town and Joe Casali Engineering for the River Drive and Morgan Estates sewer pump improvement project was approved.

Resolution 2017-29, awarding a bid for a water metering system upgrade was approved.

The council authorized a resolution for the mayor to enter an agreement between the State of Rhode Island and the town for the installation of a water line on a portion of Hartford Avenue.

With the mayor’s backing, a resolution opposing House Bill 6172, pertaining to amendments to the “Right to Farm Law,” was approved.

The council approved a resolution awarding a bid and authorizing the mayor to enter into an agreement for the purchase and installation of new fleet and fuel management hardware and software for the Police Department and DPW fuel depot.

While the mayor and two councilmen had reservations about a resolution to refer a petition to the Planning Department on behalf of Elaine Enterprises, Inc. to amend the zoning map to construct six two-unit condominiums across from Brown Avenue School, the council agreed to approve the measure to allow the process to proceed.

PUBLIC HEARING

FOR ORDINANCES

With no questions or concerns from constituents, an ordinance amending the Code of Ordinances entitled “Compassion Centers & Section 340-8 Table of Use Regulations,” which amends provisions for entities involved with medical marijuana, was approved.

The council approved Ordinance 2017-8, which authorizes the borrowing of $2,435,000 for athletic facility improvements, the installation of new water lines and upgraded meters was approved.

Approval was given by the council for the town to abandon the street known as Commerce Road, the main entranceway to the Stop and Shop plaza off of Atwood Avenue. The plaza’s developer plans to construct a new entranceway further south with new stop signs and lights.

CONSTITUENT CONCERNS

Jean Lynch addressed the council about last month’s proposal by veterans to increase the tax exemption for 100 percent disabled veterans. She stated that she wished the council would consider approving the measure.

Thomas Kimberly brought up concerns about a four year old resolution concerning a 10-foot buffer, fence and guardrails at the Citgo Gas. He also brought up concerns of construction crews parking on town owned lots nearby to the Greenville Avenue sewer and water line extension project. He was told by Mayor Polisena that verbal authorization was given by him for crews to park at the Belknap School.