11.10.2026 Fall River City Council

The Fall River City Council met on November 10, 2026, conducting a series of public hearings, a Committee on Finance meeting, and a regular City Council meeting. During the public hearing and regular session, the Council discussed and ultimately adopted the FY2027 tax classification with a 1.75 tax shift, maintaining the city's policy of shifting the tax burden toward commercial properties to provide the maximum permissible relief for residential taxpayers. City Assessor Dan Lane and Board of Assessors Chairman Richard Gonsalves reviewed valuation changes, an estimated $2.3 million in new growth, and statutory exemptions for seniors and disabled veterans. The Council approved the tax factor orders by an 8-1 vote, with Councilor Christopher M. Peckham, Sr. dissenting.

In the Committee on Finance, councilors took up a resolution sponsored by Councilor Michael G. Canuel regarding the creation of a public financial transparency portal modeled after systems like Open Checkbook. IT Director Tyler Antea and Director of Financial Services Emily Arpke presented an in-house app prototype being developed at no additional software subscription cost, contrasting it with commercial solutions such as OpenGov or Tyler Technologies' Open Finance that cost upwards of $34,000 to $45,000 annually. Councilors debated the merits of saving municipal funds versus ensuring long-term institutional continuity and automated data integration, agreeing to review the prototype in early 2027.

During the regular council meeting, members confirmed the appointment of Grace Sharon to the Library Board of Trustees and adopted orders accepting a $425,000 state Parkland Acquisitions and Renovations for Communities (PARC) grant alongside an appropriation of over $1 million for the construction of Mace Playground. The Council also voted 9-0 to publish and refer a $2.5 million loan order for Phase 25 water system improvements, approved increasing the police cruiser revolving fund spending limit to $110,000, referred matters involving the Pearl Street and Third Street parking garages to subcommittees, and advanced several traffic and personnel ordinances through first reading.

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