City Council Preview: September 6, 2011

The Woonsocket City Council will convene at on Tuesday, Aug. 9 at 7 p.m. for their regularly scheduled meeting. The following is a summary of the major issues they are expected to address.

Birch Street as a One Way

Tonight's agenda includes communication from Mayor Leo Fontaine regarding the designation of Birch Street as a one-way street. Fontaine, through his authority as Public Safety Director, will authorize a temporary change, designating the area as "One Way" between the hours of 7:30 a.m. to 9:30 a.m., and 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. on school days. After 90 days, the action is expected to be altered, revoked or made permanent by an ordinance.

Ordinances addressing the Personnel Code for Police positions

Police Chief Thomas Carey has requested that legislation changing the examination procedures for police positions be withdrawn. The law would have capped the number of points awarded to any given  candidate at five rather than 10. According to communication from Carey on the docket for tonight's meeting, his decision is based on discussion of the matter at a workshop which took place last month.

The council is also expected to vote tonight on an amendment to the Personnel Code deleting the Radio Technician position and adding a Grant/ Accreditation position.

Odor in July

Veolia Water will deliver the odor report tonight for the month of July. According to communication from Veolia, there were two odor complaints during the month which were investigated in coordination with Synagro and no odors were found at the facility.

Addressing Wastewater and Assessment

Two potential candidates for the City Council in the 2011 municipal elections will address the council tonight regarding the Woonsocket Wastewater Treatment Plant and miscellaneous items related to the assessing division. James Cournoyer, who worked as head of the Water Advisory Board which provided the city with site recommendations for a new water treatment plant has requested the opportunity to address the council, as has former Rep. Albert Brien, another council candidate for 2011.

Second passage

Among items up for second passage at tonight's meeting are the to the home rule charter. Once passed, the changes will be placed on a ballot for the November elections.

Education budget error

An new ordinance for tonight's meeting proposed by Council President John Ward will address a discrepancy the city's adopted Municipal Budget Plan for 2012. The current budget does not reflect the reduction in state aid of $292,459 for the , which comes as a result of switching from an all day to half day kindergarten program. The adjustment will change the line item for "State Aid to Education" from $43,265,715 to $42,973,256.