Faria Responds to Botelho Call for Kirby Return

Faria asks Botelho to remove request for Kirby Reinstatement.

The ongoing saga of city management continues as the East Providence City Council leads up to a Tuesday, February 21st meeting at City Hall. Ward 3 councilman Joe Botelho has asked his council colleagues to re-instate former City Manager Richard Kirby. Kirby was fired by the previous council. "This city council should entertain the reinstatement of Mr. Kirby, as he has showed no ill toward the city regarding his ouster, and in fact, up to this point has not initiated legal action against the city. For this reason, I am placing an item on the next available council docket, for the re-instatement of Ricard Kirby as City Manager. I expect his reappointment to be confirmed, based on those current council members who rode the message of “Kirby’s Reinstatement” during their campaigns, and I am confident they will honor their campaign promises. This will emphatically indicate to the citizens of East Providence that it’s no longer “Business as Usual,” said Joe Botelho in an earlier statement.

Ward 4 councilman Brian Faria issued his own statement this weekend which would appear to differ with Botelho's request to immediately return Kirby as manager. However Faria does leave the door open for Kirby to apply for the job should the city advertise an opening.

Here is Councilman Faria's statement:

"It's very unfortunate that Councilman Botelho has chosen to turn the City of East Providence into his own personal media playground and I am not going devalue the process of a selecting a city manager by responding to a media circus or any political strong arming.

Just two days previous to his press announcements to reinstate Mr. Kirby I had actually contacted Joe and was willing to meet with him to openly discuss all his concerns regarding both the acting city manager and the fire testing. I also extended the same conversation telephonically to Councilman Britto. I couldn't have extended myself anymore to these Council members. They instead chose the road of theatrics.

I have not seen Richard Kirby since he was terminated. To just blindly reinstate him as City manager and ignore the entire hiring process would be acting in the most irresponsible manor as your Councilman. I would welcome Richard to apply when and if the Council does decide to advertise for the position.

This is not a slight to Richard Kirby, I like Richard and sympathized with his firing, as I'm sure most did. However, I've only just heard from Richard for the first time in five months the same day I contacted both Mr. Botelho and Mr.Britto, moreover extending myself to meet with him as well.

These individual meetings did not take place due their immediate intent to pressure me with media tactics. This was not the right approach and I would respectfully ask Councilman Botelho to remove this item if he truly cares about Richard Kirby and The City Of East Providence," - Brian Faria.

Asked about Botelho's comment that current council members made "campaign promises" to reinstate Kirby, Faria disagreed. "I did not campaign on the premise of bringing Richard Kirby back. I never campaigned I was going to bring the other 4 fired city managers either. I said that I didn't like the (Kirby) firing and that it was a travesty at the time. Don't stretch my campaign promises," added Faria.

Ward 1 councilman and Mayor James Briden declined to comment for this article.

Below is the full docket for tomorrow night's council meeting:

CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE
DOCKET OF REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING
February 21, 2017 7:00P.M.
Council Chambers, City Hall, 145 Taunton Avenue, East Providence, RI 02914

7:00P.M. Council May Call An Executive Session, Room 101
7:30 P.M. Open Session

I. EXECUTIVE SESSION
The City Council of the City of East Providence may meet in Executive Session pursuant to RI General Laws § 42-46-5 (a)(2).

Motion___By___2nd___
Botelho___Britto ___Faria___Sousa___Briden__

A. New Claims
1. Teresa D. Lebeau
2. Verizon

B. Claims for Reconsideration
1. Christine Shepherd

C. Sewer Charge Abatements
1. Julie Bailey
2. Jonathan Baptista
3. Maria Bicho
4. Edward Cox
5. Charlene DeMello
6. Charles Golden
7. Gary and Kathy McCusker
8. Dennis Patricio
9. Deborah J. Phillips
10. Clayton S. Scott

II. OPEN SESSION

III. CALL TO ORDER

IV. SALUTE TO THE FLAG

V. TO APPROVE THE CONSENT CALENDAR
All items under “CONSENT CALENDAR” are considered to be of a routine and noncontroversial nature by the City Council and will be enacted by one motion. There will be no separate discussion on these items unless a Council member so requests, in which event, the item will be removed from the “CONSENT CALENDAR” and will be considered in its normal sequence on the docket.

A. Letters
1. Jamestown Council letter of support for the Resolution in Opposition of the Siting of the Clear Rivers Energy Center Power Plant in Burrillville.
2. CRMC Letter of Public Notice for Proposed Rule-Making and Public Hearing.
3. Barrington Town Council Resolution in favor of a Bridge Replacement Projects pertaining to the East Bay Bike Path.
4. Westerly Town Council Resolution opposing the Federal Railroad Administrations Proposal for an alternate route for the Northeast Corridor.

B. Cancellation/Abatements
YearAmount
2016$21,638.51

Total$21,638.51

C. Council Journals
1. Council Journal Regular Meeting February 7, 2017
2. Council Journal Special Meeting February 13, 2017

Motion___By___2nd___
Botelho___Britto ___Faria___Sousa___Briden__

VI. PUBLIC COMMENT
All persons wishing to make public comment shall sign a public comment sheet stating their name, address, and the subject of their comments. . Said public comment sheet shall be available on a desk at the entrance of the City Hall Chambers no later than forty-five (45) minutes before the call to order of any regularly scheduled council meeting and shall be delivered to the presiding officer no earlier than five (5) minutes before the call to order of the meeting.

VII. APPOINTMENTS

A. City Manager – Richard Kirby, 85 Hoyt Avenue (02916) (by Councilman Botelho)

Motion___By___2nd___
Botelho___Britto ___Faria___Sousa___Briden__

B. Economic Development (by Mayor Briden)
Dominic Leonardo, 16 Prescott Avenue (02915)

Motion___By___2nd___
Botelho___Britto ___Faria___Sousa___Briden__

C. Council Liaison to the Carousel Park Commission

Motion___By___2nd___
Botelho___Britto ___Faria___Sousa___Briden__

D. Charter Review Commission – Replacement (by Assistant Mayor Britto)
To replace the previously appointed Sandra Barone, 12 Weeden Avenue (02916) with John Faria, 20 Rowley Street (02914)

Motion___By___2nd___
Botelho___Britto ___Faria___Sousa___Briden__

E. East Providence Police Tow List (by Councilwoman Sousa)
Jeremy Reis DBA All Mobile Towing, PO Box 14544 (02914)

Motion___By___2nd___
Botelho___Britto ___Faria___Sousa___Briden__

VIII. LICENSES NOT REQUIRING PUBLIC HEARING

A. Vict/Not Over 50
Ebraham Ghraieb DBA Papa Pasquale’s Pizzeria, 521 Bullocks Point Avenue (02914)

Motion___By___2nd___
Botelho___Britto ___Faria___Sousa___Briden__

IX. NEW BUSINESS

A. City Managers Report (by Acting City Manager Timothy Chapman)

1. 2017 East Providence Hazard Mitigation Plan Approval

Motion___By___2nd___
Botelho___Britto ___Faria___Sousa___Briden__

2. Water/Sewer Workshop – Request for New Date

3. February 9 and February 12 Snow Storms

4. Office Moves and Receptionist Status

5. Past-Due Water/Wastewater Collection and Shutoff Policy Implementation

B. Council Members

1. Charter Review Commission (by Mayor Briden)
2. Follow-up on the Fire Academy (by Assistant Mayor Britto)
3. Risho Avenue Extension (by Councilman Botelho)
4. Live Nation Update (by Councilman Faria)
5. Status of Revaluation Lawsuit (by Councilman Faria)

6. Status of Fire Test/Personnel Hearing Board Decision (Councilman Faria)

Motion___By___2nd___
Botelho___Britto ___Faria___Sousa___Briden__

7. Sewer Plant Update (by Councilman Faria)

C. Reports of Other City Officials

1. Report of Solicitor on Fire Fighters Test Issue (by City Solicitor Greg Dias)

2. Claims Committee Report (by City Solicitor Greg Dias)

Motion___By___2nd___
Botelho___Britto ___Faria___Sousa___Briden__

D. Report of School Committee Liaison
E. Resolutions
RESOLUTION RE-NAMING HONOR FLIGHT PARK TO TOWNIE PRIDE PARK

WHEREAS, the former Jones Pond is a renovated park located near Pierce Field in the center of East Providence; and

WHEREAS, the park was previously re-named Honor Flight Park, however, there is a consensus that the name Honor Flight Park would more aptly describe the Veterans Park at Sqantum Woods; and

WHEREAS, the park is located near a residential area adjacent to the Pierce Field recreational park and is a community area to be used by all City residents; and

WHEREAS, the pond could be used for winter ice skating by all City residents; and

WHEREAS, the area is ideal for picnics, family events, school outings, outdoor concerts and other community gatherings; and

WHEREAS, the renovation of this area reveals the townie pride of its students, residents and the whole East Providence community.

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council for the City of East Providence wishes to celebrate and acknowledge the pride of the residents of the City of East Providence and its heritage by renaming Honor Flight Park to Townie Pride Park.

This resolution shall become effective upon its passage.

Requested by: Councilwoman Sousa
Motion___By___2nd___
Botelho___Britto ___Faria___Sousa___Briden__

F. Introduction to Ordinances
AN ORDINANCE IN AMENDMENT OF CHAPTER 5 OF THE REVISED ORDINANCES OF THE CITY OF EAST PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND, 1998, AS AMENDED, ENTITLED “FIRE PREVENTION”
A motion to dispense with the reading of the Ordinance
Motion___By___2nd___
Botelho___Britto ___Faria___Sousa___Briden__

SECTION I. Article II entitled “Inspections, Compliance and Violations of Fire Safety Code” of Chapter 5 of the Revised Ordinances of the City of East Providence, Rhode Island, 1998, as amended, entitled “Fire Prevention” is amended by deleting therefrom the following:
Sec. 5-51. Zoning certificate required for smoke detector/carbon monoxide inspection appointment.
Prior to any homeowner, realtor, or seller requesting a smoke detector/carbon monoxide detector certificate appointment from the East Providence Fire Department pursuant to R.I.G.L. § 23-28.35-1 et seq., said homeowner, realtor or seller shall first obtain a zoning certificate from the East Providence zoning official and present said certificate to the East Providence Fire Department and any buyer of the subject property prior to or at the closing of the sale.
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: Councilman Botelho and Councilwoman Sousa
Motion___By___2nd___
Botelho___Britto ___Faria___Sousa___Briden__

X. ADJOURNMENT
Motion___By___2nd___
Botelho___Britto ___Faria___Sousa___Briden__

*If communications assistance is needed or any other accommodations to ensure equal participation please contact the City Clerk’s at 435-7590.