By DONNA KENNY KIRWAN

PAWTUCKET — The new City Council started off its first meeting of the year last Wednesday by addressing an old problem: the stalled hotel project on Division Street.

Councilor Albert Vitali, Jr. brought up the topic, saying that while he was on the campaign trail, one of the most frequently asked questions he received had to do with the status of the hotel that is supposed to be under development by Carpionato Properties Inc. Noting that the city is in dire need of additional tax dollars, he suggested that the council send a communication to the developers, the city’s Planning and Redevelopment Agency, and other principal parties requesting a meeting and update on the project’s status.
Saying that he “owes it to taxpayers,” Vitali said he thinks a “face to face” meeting is in order to get some solid answers on the project.
Council President Henry Kinch, Jr. assured Vitali that the rest of the council is also concerned about the matter, and said the Councilor David Moran had made a similar request for an update, but in writing, on the hotel’s status prior to the election.
Kinch added that since the council has already sent several letters to Carpionato without receiving satisfactory answers, he thinks a stronger tactic is now needed. He suggested sending a resolution, signed by all council members, to both Carpionato and Planning and Redevelopment Director Michael Cassidy requesting that an updated report be provided  to the council within two weeks.
Councilor David Moran, however, said he had been already told by Cassidy that a response was in the works and that he expected to a communication ready by the next council meeting scheduled for Jan. 21. Kinch then agreed to hold off on the resolution until the council gets the response from Cassidy.
Vitali, however, insisted that the council should still meet in person with the developers, Cassidy and other interested parties to discuss the hotel project. The council passed his motion to send a letter requesting that such a meeting take place.
In other matters, the council voted unanimously to appoint Maggi Burns Rogers, of 35 Spring St., to the city’s Parks Commission for a term that expires in August. She will fill the unexpired term of Raymond W. Noonan.
Burns Rogers is a longtime volunteer and local activist on causes ranging from school matters to humanitarian issues, and notably sparred with city officials last year over the longstanding practice by the city of allowing St. Raphael Academy and other private schools to use city-owned athletic fields for free.
Councilor John Barry III said he was “thrilled” to have the opportunity to appoint Burns Rogers to the Parks Commission. He noted her Burns Rogers’ involvement in the community, and said, with some degree of amusement, that while she can be “a thorn in our side at times,” he also recognizes “her tremendous gifts and abilities.”

The council also unanimously approved the appointment of Carl A Benson, Jr., a retired police captain, and Kenneth E. Noiseux, a retired fire captain, to the city’s Pension Board, for terms that expire in January, 2011.

Additionally, the board appointed Jason C. Bacon, of 143 Parkside Ave., to the Historic District Commission to a term that expires in Jan., 2010 (to fill the unexpired term of John Worsley) and James Kareemo, of 104 Power Rd., to the Board of Appeals to a term that expires in Jan., 2011 (to fill the unexpired term of Lorenzo C. Tetreault).