The Fall River Commission on Disability convened on Wednesday, October 8th, 2025. The meeting commenced with the reading of the open meeting law and a roll call, confirming a quorum with Chairman Dennis Pelli, Vice Chair Debbie Pico, Commissioner Ann O'Neal Souza, Commissioner Dan Robelard, and Commissioner Katie Driscoll present, while Commissioner Lisa Silva was absent. Following a period for public input, which saw no comments, the commission unanimously approved the minutes from their September 17, 2025 meeting.
AI-generated summary. May contain errors. Watch the video to verify.
City Officials
Public / Other
This is a meeting of the Fall River Commission on Disability for Wednesday, October 8th, 2025.
0:08Um, and I will read the open meeting law.
0:18Okay. Pursuant to the open meeting law, any person may make an may make an audio.
0:28Let me start this again. Pursuant to the open meeting law, any person may make an audio or video recording of this public meeting or may transmit the meeting through any medium. Attendees are therefore advised that such recordings or transmissions are being made whether perceived or unpersceived by those present and are deemed acknowledged and permissible.
1:03Okay. So we will start with roll call.
1:10Oh okay. Uh chairman Dennis Pelli. Yep.
1:13Here sir.
1:14Vice Chair Debbie Pico here.
1:18Commissioner Ann O'Neal Souza.
1:21Present.
1:24Commissioner Lisa Silva is absent. Commissioner Dan Robel here.
1:32Commissioner Katie Driscoll here.
1:35I believe we have a quorum.
1:36Thank you. Thank you very much.
1:40Next we have public input and I will ask three times if there's any public input.
1:45So are is there any public input?
1:51Is there any public input?
1:56Is there any public input?
1:59Okay. Hearing none, um I will move on to the approval of the minutes for the meeting of September 17, 2025. And I will entertain a motion.
2:09Motion to accept the minutes of September 17th, 2025 of the Forum and Disability Commission.
2:17Okay. Are there any questions? Oh, I'm sorry. I I didn't mean to. That was Annne O'Neal Suzu who seconded. Okay.
2:24Are there any questions, comments, or corrections?
2:32Okay. Hearing none, I will entertain a roll call.
2:35Jam and Dennis Belli. Yes.
2:38Woman Debbie Pachico.
2:41Commissioner Dan Boelog.
2:43Yes.
2:45Commissioner Katie Driscoll.
2:47Yes.
2:48Commissioner Ann O'Neal Suda.
2:51Yes.
2:52Okay.
2:53Okay. Workg groupoup updates.
2:56The only thing I have under ADA is is Jeff Dugan and I talked last week and we will be sponsoring a virtual community access monitor in June of 2026. He will be nailing the date will be nailed down in December. So we will be doing it on Zoom or you know by what whatever is easier or by phone whatever is easier for but it will be on it will be available on
3:26Zoom because that's how the Mass Office of Disability does it and it we'll have a date nailed down in December. They're putting together the 2026 calendar but we we agreed that June would be a good month for um the Fall River Commission and and it will be opened up to other communities as well. Um and it will be virtual and it will be done not two days in a row. It will be one day one week
3:52and one day another week.
3:55Um so are there any questions about that?
4:01Okay. Policies. Any policies update from Vice Chair Debbie Pico?
4:07Um at this time I have um no updates. I believe the um commission was updated last month. the meeting I was not at in regards to um our updates on in pol regarding the policy for the scholarship and for the um policy regarding um providing personal support for um consumers. So I don't know if anyone has any questions. Are we all set with all of that at this time?
4:32Okay, I I think we're all set with that at this time and thank you very very much. Thank you.
4:38Finance, you should all have gotten the budget report for September. Um, if you by chance don't get it, please let me know. But I try to make sure I get everybody. I know a couple of times I've forgotten a commissioner or two.
4:54Um, but if you if if you didn't get it, please let me know, but I did I did email them. I try to do it as soon as I get them. So, um, scholarships, we're pretty much set for 2025. think we can pretty much, you know, close the books on 2025.
5:13Excellent.
5:14And um before I start writing to principles and guidance counselors, I got an actual confirmation from McGovern's restaurant that we are all set for May 16th. This is not a Memorial Day weekend. The Memorial Day weekend is the weekend after. It's the 23rd this year with Memorial Day being May 25th. So, we're all set for May 16th. I got that confirmed. So, we're all set this year for that. I will be reaching
5:46out to the schools in the next couple of weeks or so and they will get a copy of the policy as they did last year. Um and um the deadline will be April 1st and in our April meeting we will make a determination as to how much the scholarship will be for 2026.
6:08Are there any questions about that?
6:14Okay, we're up to old business. Um, I just want to announce because I forgot to do it at the last meeting when we elected officers for the 2025 2026 year.
6:25Um, that I am reappointing Dan Robelard, Commissioner Dan Robelard as our treasurer. This does not a chair appointments do not require a vote, but I neglected to announce it at the last meeting.
6:39Um, I've already spoken to Commissioner Robelard and I I believe I'm pretty sure he has agreed to do to continue and if I'm misspeaking, please let me know.
6:50Absolutely, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for your uh your uh con continued uh confidence and support. I look forward to working with you and the entire commission. Thank you.
7:02Okay. um uh under new business. Um I just want to tell you that October's October is a plethora of disability awareness, education, what have you month. So let me start with employment of people with disabilities month.
7:21That's in October.
7:23uh white cane safety month, white cane safety day is October 15th uh for the blind community and um a new thing called blindness awareness month which is to educate people about the abilities.
7:38I think it's kind of surrounding the white the whole white cane safety month.
7:42I know that there's a big gathering um at the state house which will be broadcast on radio reading services on October 24th um at the state house. So I have in the past provided materials for our local FRGTV and um I will do it in conjunction with this meeting. Um, it's basically some fact sheets on white cane safety and stuff like that that they can they can kind of publish post on the
8:14bottom of the screen. So, so there's a lot going on in terms of disability education uh in the month of October.
8:23So, are there any questions about those?
8:30Okay. And our next meeting will be Wednesday, November 12th.
8:36Um, same time, 3:00.
8:39Um, and hearing, is there any other new business?
8:47Okay. Hearing no other new business, I will entertain a motion to adjurnn.
8:53Motion to adjurnn.
8:56Second.
8:57All right. Roll call.
9:01Commissioner Dennis Belli.
9:04Yes.
9:06Mr. Debbie Patico. Yes. Commissioner Dan Robel.
9:10Yes.
9:12Commissioner Katie Driscoll.
9:14Yes.
9:15Commissioner Annne O'Neal Sudo.
9:18Yes.
9:19All right. Meeting is adjourned. Uh 3:15.
9:24Thank you.
9:24All set. Thank you everyone. Happy day and thank you for helping us with the roll call.
9:30Absolutely. My pleasure. Thank you.