11.14.2023 Fall River City Council

Fall River Government TV Nov 14, 2023 YouTube Report Issue

The Fall River City Council convened on November 14, 2023, for a public hearing, a finance committee meeting, and a regular city council meeting. During the public hearing, the council heard petitions for new utility pole installations by Massachusetts Electric Company and Verizon New England Inc. on Airport Road and Laurel Street, a secondhand article store license for Laura Pico PhD (Laura's Vintage Attic), and several requests for curbing removal at 123 Alsop Street, 41 Crestwood Street, President Avenue and Dyer Street, and 106 Howland Street. Additionally, multiple streets were proposed for city acceptance, with Wayland Street generating discussion from both proponents and an opponent. A significant portion of the public hearing was dedicated to the FY2024 tax classification. The Board of Assessors, including Richard (likely the chair) and Tax Assessor Dan Lane, presented a report highlighting the city's growth, with total taxable property exceeding $9.7 billion, an increase of over $1 billion in one year. New growth for the year was reported at $2.9 million, primarily driven by housing, commercial properties, and a substantial $1.7 million from utility infrastructure development. The residential tax factor was later adopted at 1.75%. In the regular city council meeting, several orders were approved, including accepting grants totaling over $2.3 million for the police department for community policing services and de-escalation training equipment, and accepting a donated 2011 Nissan Altima for fire department extrication training. The council referred a request for $172,372.77 in ARPA funding for EMS medical equipment to the Finance Committee for further review. Three Tax Increment Exemption (TIE) agreements for Sanford Spinning Mills LLC, Derby Trust Limited Partnership, and 66 Troy Street LLC were adopted, with Councilor Dion opposing due to concerns about affordable housing and unit changes. The council also adopted a resolution to convene the Public Safety Committee with the fire chief to educate homeowners and landlords on updated smoke and carbon monoxide alarm systems.

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