This Week In City Government

City Council Meeting

The city council will be holding their regularly scheduled meeting tonight at Harris Hall at 7 p.m.

The agenda includes a revision to the ordinance (10-39) governing trash collection by Public Works Director Sheila McGauvran which would allow the city to refuse trash collection for residents with outstanding trash fees. The ordinance would also allow the Solid Waste Department to refuse to issue stickers for "Bulk Items," "White Goods," and "Yard Waste" for any property that is not current with assessed fees.

The council will also vote on a resolution to amend the terms on the city's settlement with ON radio. The proposed terms include a 10% interest rate with a late payment interest rate of 15%. For more on this issue, read our story .

Communication will also be presented by McGauvran recommending support for Extended Producer Legislation, which would require producers to pay for the cost of recycling their products. Thirty three countries and more than half the US states currently have the legislation which, according to RIDEM will reduce costs for cities and increase the volume of recycled products. In Rhode Island, Providence and Jamestown have adopted the legislation and Newport and Central Falls are currently in the process of adopting it.

The council will also vote on a resolution for payment of a $1.5 million to the School Department to retire a liability that has developed over the past twenty years. The move, according to Finance Director Thomas Bruce will provide the department cash flow while strengthening the city's financial position.

Amendments to the zoning ordinance expected to pass this evening governing compassion care centers for legal distribution of medical marijuana in the city include limits on the hours such centers could be open, lighting requirements, and several additional limitations. 

Additional items on the council's agenda can be viewed on the attached pdf.  

Charter Review Commission

The city's new Charter Review Commission, tasked with identifying proposed changes to the city's charter to be voted on in the November 2011 elections, will meet at 7 p.m. in Second Floor Conference Room on Tuesday night. The group will discuss their purpose and charge, and decide on locations and format of future meetings. For more information on the Charter Review Commission see the article  

School Committee Meeting

The School Committee will meet in closed session at 6 p.m. Wednesday night, followed by a regularly scheduled public meeting at 7 p.m. In addition to budget discussions, the committee will discuss bids, non-union February vacation days, and school committee involvement in the hiring process. See the full agenda in the attached pdf.