Council Roundup

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Highlights of the decisions made, and items discussed, at the Johnston Town Council Meeting on Monday, Sept. 11 and a special meeting held on Sept. 12.  

SPECIAL MEETING

An hour-long special council meeting held on Tuesday evening was at times contentious as members of the council, Mayor Joseph Polisena, and Town Solicitor William Connelly reviewed a previously approved Laborers International Union of North America, Local 808 collective bargaining agreement. An apparent clerical error in the agreement led to confusion and questions about the arrangement and what the council ultimately authorized earlier this year. The error omitted two portions of the contract, which was explained during the session, and had been corrected. After sometimes-tense discussions, questions were answered and an understanding between all parties was achieved.

Resolution 2017-40, an agreement between the town and Deputy Police Chief Joseph P. Razza for a five-year contract was approved by the council after the body entered into Executive Session.

STATUS ON PUBLIC HEARINGS

Two ordinances, 2017-9 and 2017-10, which sought to amend the Johnston Code of Ordinances pertaining to the Police Pension List and Police Funding Improvement Plan, respectively, were withdrawn as both ordinances were addressed through the 5-year collective bargaining agreement reached between the town of Johnston and the International Brotherhood of Police Officer Local 307.  

LICENSES

The Sweets Plug, located at 2842B Hartford Ave., was granted a business operating license for a bakery.

A business operating license for a clinical hypnosis office was granted to Thomas Robert at 1200 Hartford Avenue.

Located at 560 Killingly Street, Ferrara’s Hometown Bar and Grill was granted an entertainment license for acoustic music at the restaurant.

Ovation Entertainment, located at 1200 Hartford Avenue, was approved for a business operating license-phone calls only, for an event management operation.

LIQUOR LICENSING COMMISSION

A special Class F liquor license for beer and wine was granted to the Friends of Johnston Senior Center, located at 1291 Hartford Ave., for their annual Sentimental Swing Dance to be held on Sept. 25.

CONSTITUENT REQUESTS

District 1 Councilman Richard DelFino III requested a traffic study for a stop sign at John and Zanfanga Streets. He requested a replacement of a No Through Trucking sign at the corner of John and Pezzullo Streets as the current sign is damaged.

District 4 Councilman Robert Russo requested that the DPW clear brush in the area of Lafayette Street, as well as in the area of the pumping station on Sweet Hill Drive. Councilman Russo also requested a traffic study for a four way stop sign at Tabor and Colony Drives, Tabor and Teakwood, and Milton Street and Colony Drive. He also addressed items placed around 95 George Waterman and asked that a notice be sent for items placed too close to the curb.

Councilman Robert Civetti of District 5 requested information about a combined database that would allow for the quick exchange of information between departments.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

A petition submitted by Joseph Santagata, trustee of the Thomas Santagata Family Trust, for the acceptance by the town of a private road – Santa Circle – was still pending for a Planning Board advisory opinion. NEW BUSINESS

A resolution ratifying a mutual aid agreement between the Johnston Police Department and the North Providence Police Department for reciprocal police services was approved.

PUBLIC HEARING FOR ORDINANCES

After considerable discussion, two ordinances – 2017-14 and 2017-5 – which sought to amend the town’s Comprehensive Community Plan for Plat 50, Lot 66 off of Greenville Avenue on behalf of Greenville Holdings, LLC from an R-40 zone to a medium density R-7 zone to accommodate the development of 52 unit, 55-year-old plus housing project was approved. Approval was granted on the condition that the property reverts back to R-40 zoning should the project fall through.

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