Pawtucket council adopts municipal court technology surcharge fund on 7-0 vote; approves festival and liquor licenses and corporate name change

The Pawtucket City Council on Aug. 20, 2025, voted 7-0 to adopt an ordinance amending chapters 26 and 40 of the city code to establish a municipal court technology surcharge fund, and during the same meeting approved multiple entertainment and liquor licenses, accepted a corporate name-change request, and filed a petition for conduit installation pending Public Works approval.

The ordinance amendment, described by the agenda as "an amendment of chapter 26 and 40 of the Code of Ordinances, City of Pawtucket (1996) regarding municipal court and the establishment of a technology surcharge fund," passed on second passage on a roll-call vote. The clerk recorded the vote as: President Araujo, yes; Councilor Cordero, yes; Councilor Gregor, yes; Councilor Moreno, yes; Councilor Rubio, yes; Councilor Kobiak, yes; Councilor Odenay, yes (7-0).

Separately, the council approved several license petitions and consent-agenda items brought before the board of licenses and the council. Approved items included:

- An entertainment license (license ID recorded as EVT-2564) for a one-day outdoor event at 50 Alden Street submitted by Philip Marks, scheduled Sunday, Aug. 24, 2025, 12 p.m.–4 p.m.

- A waste-hauler license for Goolin Trucking Company, 28 Graham Avenue, Warwick, R.I. (license WST24-13).

- A one-day expansion of premises and entertainment license for a festival at 682 Roosevelt Avenue parking lot submitted as a petition (listed in the minutes as petition by "Filos de Jabrada"), Saturday, Sept. 13, 2025, 3 p.m.–10 p.m. (license EVT-25-65). The council approved two stipulations attached to that approval: no glass is to be used outside (plastic only), and the outside area must be cleaned up by 10 a.m. the following day.

- An entertainment and Class F-1 full-privilege license for Mangoes Princess Investment LLC on behalf of the City of Pawtucket to serve alcoholic beverages at the city's Empanada Fest at the intersection of Main Street, East Avenue and High Street, Sunday, Aug. 31, 2025, 12 p.m.–9 p.m. (license EVT-25-67).

- A corporate name-change filing and approval request from Richard Colon, owner of BTS Tire and Service Store at 580 Pawtucket Avenue, requesting a corporate name change from BTS Company Incorporated to (as recorded) "1 13 Broadway LLC." The council voted to file and approve the communication.

The council also filed (approved for filing) a communication from Christopher Montalto, identified in the minutes as supervisor, distribution design, of Rhode Island Energy, submitting a petition for the installation of conduits at Taft Street. The council action recorded that the filing/approval is "pending approval from the director of public works." The clerk and council confirmed the item would proceed to the director of public works for final authorization.

Most consent-agenda votes and license approvals were taken by voice vote with the minutes recording unanimous "Aye" votes or noting the motion carried. The minutes indicate there was no public input during the meeting's public-comment calls. The council completed its business and adjourned after the ordinance passage and the listed approvals.

Votes at a glance

- Ordinance (amendment of chapters 26 and 40; municipal court technology surcharge fund) — passed on second passage; roll-call recorded as 7-0 in favor.

- Entertainment license EVT-2564 (Philip Marks, 50 Alden Street, outdoor event Aug. 24, 2025) — approved (voice vote; motion carried).

- Waste-hauler license WST24-13 (Goolin Trucking Company, 28 Graham Ave., Warwick, R.I.) — approved (voice vote; motion carried).

- Festival license EVT-25-65 (petition listed as "Filos de Jabrada," 682 Roosevelt Ave. parking lot, Sept. 13, 2025) — approved with stipulations: no glass outside (plastic only) and cleanup by 10 a.m. the next day (voice vote; motion carried).

- Empanada Fest license EVT-25-67 (Mangoes Princess Investment LLC on behalf of City of Pawtucket, Main/East/High intersection, Aug. 31, 2025) — approved (voice vote; motion carried).

- Corporate name-change filing for BTS Tire and Service Store (580 Pawtucket Ave.) — filed and approved (voice vote; motion carried). The minutes record the requested new corporate name as "1 13 Broadway LLC."

- Petition from Rhode Island Energy (Christopher Montalto) for installation of conduits at Taft Street — filed/approved pending director of public works approval (voice vote; motion carried).

Speakers quoted and recorded in the minutes were primarily council members and the clerk; there were no extended public comments reported.

Background/Why it matters

The municipal court technology surcharge fund is structured in the ordinance amendment as a dedicated fund tied to municipal court operations; the council's second-passage approval finalizes the local legislative step recorded in the minutes. The festival and event licenses authorize outdoor alcohol service at specified locations and dates subject to the council's standard stipulations (public safety and cleanup requirements). The conduit petition will proceed to the Department of Public Works for technical approval before work can begin.

What the minutes do not specify

The minutes do not provide the ordinance text or the surcharge amount / rate (the ordinance is described by chapter and purpose only). The corporate name requested in the minutes is recorded as "1 13 Broadway LLC" without further detail; the minutes do not provide a company registration number or the effective date of the name change. The conduit filing is expressly conditional on director-of-public-works approval; no timeline or construction schedule was recorded in the minutes.

Next steps

The ordinance having passed second reading is entered as adopted in the council minutes. The conduit petition will await the director of public works' sign-off. The approved event licenses include the stipulated conditions; enforcement or permit follow-up is not detailed in the minutes.