2.27.2024 City Council - Human Services, Housing, Youth, Elder & Veterans Affairs

over hey hey

hey the committee on Human Service housing youth Elder and Veterans Affairs will convene clerk call the RO coun here coun here here 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 are being transmitted and are being made whether perceived or

UNP perceived by those pursuant present and deemed acknowledged and permissible anybody no citizens input okay can I have a motion to approve the minutes second all in favor I I need a motion to lift motion tot three items from the table item number three second it I'm sorry it three okay the resolution to discuss the American Disabilities oh can I uh vote on the lift can we get a vote on the lift all

in favor I okay thank you all right you GNA have to do that a couple of times tonight all right um the resolution uh reads um whereas upgrades are being made to Government Center to address barriers and accessibility and whereas the city of fall Riv received um Municipal ada8 Improvement Grants to fund these Capital Improvements and whereas more improvements are needed throughout the

city of Fall River now therefore be it resolved that the committee on Human Service housing youth Elder and veterans has convene with the chair and the commission of disability to discuss upgrades and improvements that are needed throughout the city and therefore be resolved that the city council president consider improving the council liaison for the commission on disability so um can we have come down um

okay and Mr Peli is on the line as well I'm here okay um can you just state your name in for the record Mr pelli yep my name is Dennis pelli I'm the chair of the Fall River Commission on disability do you need my address too no that's okay and all right ala director of City operations okay and is there any updates that you want to give us on what's going on

there's I know there's some grants happening in September we app IED for a an ADA Grant um some of the items that I'm going to show you were part of that Grant uh we were awarded um a $775,000 grant and a $30,000 Grant um and I can share some of these U items that we have with you uh part of this slide is from a slide um that I presented last time I

was here and I just took the key parts of the uh the upgrades that we're going to make so these are the completed Ada counters and that's what a an ADA counter technically looks like this is just an example of what what we before and afters oh wow y I can go back um this is what it used to look like an ancient 72 uh building and then this is more of a visibility with a storefront

idea not completed as part of the uh counters were six items um and this application was completed in September 2023 so if I just back up a little bit some of the things that we're going to do we uh we received 30,000 for these counters uh so what we'll do is we'll probably be the uh uh general contractor and sub this out to some work or if we have some staffing time then we'll we'll

initiate this this work in house the next Grant this was items that were completed with a different Grant uh this ramp this is probably the third time this ramp has been completed this now has the correct pitch and V various other other items so this is the $75,000 item that we that we asked for uh when you have a ramp that uh has a a severe pitch we need to make

sure that um no can run into that um so we need to utilize a cane detection component um we'll just enclose that and make some storage underneath the uh the ramp um there's $1,000 for various types of signage uh there'll be uh women's restroom uh near the main lobby faucets Plumbing exposed uh unisex uh unisex uh bathroom just some flush controls and U toilet paper not compliant it's just the

the the way the the room is is o o oblong uh that we that we're running into problems with that but we'll make the adjustments with this uh woman's toilet near the main lobby the rear door does not have a p push pad at the ramp so we'll add that um rear decking we're going to change that instead of a PT to TRX or equivalent then in the back

there's a um we have a picnic table that we're going to utilize a walkway for the veterans to uh congregate um then we'll have a pad as as well going from uh the picnic site U and then we'll have a ramp that we're going to reinforce to go straight to the picnic site so there'll be a nice little location for veterans to gather and um it'll be all Ada accessible at that point and that's the

original work yes um incl did that include all the areas that you showed being completed and not completed correct so there's still money left over from the original Grant to complete it or you exhausted that money and will need some of the new grant funding to complete it we did we exhausted what we had as far as that Grant uh we took we took what we could uh we triaged what uh

what was necessary and what we could afford with that $50,000 so to complete the last six projects you need the funding that you just received correct okay thank you with that I yield you um I know Stephanie from traffic do you want do you have anything to add do you want to add anything I don't want you to come for nothing so I was here in regards to the traffic signals um so that's the signal division

Chris Hathaway um I've been in touch with him in regards to some of the locations that he has changed but there has been no update since November as far as locations perfect thank you anybody else have anything to do have onee okay good uh Mr pelli um is there anything that you have thought of that's not being covered at this point are there any anticipated um changes that you have any recommendations

for um the only thing I sorry the only thing I had a question about is um we were looking to have some kind of a uh we just they just did a whole transition plan of the whole city of Fall River buildings parks and so on in 2019 and I think the uh the other big issue is that our commission's been concerned about is streets and sidewalks and we're hoping at some point and maybe

that can be the subject of another Ada Improvement Grant um when the next cycle comes around that we could put in for um an evaluation of our streets and sidewalks um you know to make sure they're they're accept accessible and usable for wheelchair users and um people on crutches and um and people who use white canes as well okay now that would be in terms of entrances and exits from the sidewalks

or all aspects and curb cuts um Street Crossings make sure there's curb ramping on both sides of the street not just on one side of the street as there tend to be on some intersections of the city so be like curb cuts on curb ramps on both sides of the street okay thank you very much with that I yield just just a quick question uh thank you mad chairman but um Al is

there any what Mr pelli just said are there any areas in the city that need more attention as to what he was talking about that we're aware of I think Mr pelli hit it right on the dot one of the things that um um councelor asked was that we update this uh transition plan and what's been completed what still needs to be completed so that's something that we're still uh working on at this point uh

last time we were here we we already we had appli for the grant but so we'll need to find out what else in that transition plan still is um uh uh needs to be complet okay but we're so we're aware of certain areas in throughout the city that might need some might be more prioritized than than others right so you're talking streets SE Street sidewalks so that that's the engineering plan that they they're assessing at

point they have a good idea okay thank you thank you thank you to yield I yield you thank you um I went by Pine Street today that looks nice that the the ramp looks really good um I guess with you still have work to be done on some of these grants some new grants coming in so I would entertain a motion to table this until motion to table second all in favor I okay thank

you very much thank you thank you thank you Mr pelli they Ted the item so I'm going to let you go okay thank you Mr thank you take care byee

item number four is a discussion a resolution discussion of the Bristol County oper funding um that benefits individuals and Veterans uh I will read the resolution that was put in by Council reposa and councel Dion whereas veterans have risked their lives to serve the United States of America both at home and abro Brad and whereas the after their honorable service has been conducted many veterans struggle

with financial challenges that effect access to housing access to food and access to adequate Medical Care and whereas the Fall River City Council has always been an advocate for improving the quality of life for those who have self selfishly chosen to defend our nation and in need now therefore be it resolved that the administration the American Rescue plan act oper director and the veterans benefits agent conven

on Committee of Human Service Health youth Elder and Veterans Affairs to improve any information requested by the city of Fall River Council regarding the current application for Bristol County Opera funding that would benefit individual veterans who need urgent and vital support in the community and the country they sered so could I have come down um Michelle Hamilton the vso dawn

who tryan from the veterans kitchen and anyone else that you'd like to come with you

hello could you just um can everyone just clearly State their name for the record Michelle Hamilton director of veteran services for the city of PA River Don tryan president of the veteran kitchen Laris finance officer of the veterans Kitchen perfect so I um I guess we'll start with um Don we'll start with you um the Veterans for kitchen received $50,000 with the amazing work that you

guys are doing down there how is that that going it's actually going very well um with that extra funding that we have we actually can get higher quality meal you know food for our veterans instead of just the basic able to buy better equipment you know we're going to be moving soon so it's going to help out a lot more the um Mr devaris yeah we're um we are a 501c3 nonprofit organization whose

mission is to provide hot delicious meal homecooked meals thank you homecooked meals to Veterans and their families at no cost to them we do this in a safe non-judgmental environment where all are welcome we promote camaraderie friendship company and delicious nutrition during the warm months we organize outings for our veterans because we believe they benefit from the costree opportunities to

network and enjoy each other's company as for instance we took a bunch of veterans yeah last year to uh the Christmas display up at Gillette oh wow and then we took we had two bus trips we took and then when we were done with that we took everybody over to U Cracker Barrel Cracker Barrel okay um we are manned by a 100% volunteer staff who shop for prepare cook serve and clean up these meals each

week I want to first of all I'd like to thank our volunteers and I would would like to first startop by thanking councilman Samson and the entire Council for approving the $50,000 arpa award made to our kitchen now in our fifth year of continuous operation even even throughout Co we have ex historically been funded by donations and fundraisers and we are certainly thank our gracious donors who

have given us this generosity over the years the $50,000 upup Grant however has allowed us to do things that we would not have been able to do on our own devices we we serve approximately 100 meals every Wednesday consisting of both EA in folks as well as deliveries to shins I think the most notable benefit realized has been that we've been to elevate our qu quality of our meals we strive to serve nutritious and

delicious meals restaurant style serve to our veterans most of the time we don't do um you know know come and get it we have the the warmers and everything I'm going to say 90% of the time depending on the meal uh it served you on a plate people come around with platters and it includes everything from uh dessert to coffee tea soup and soup and everything else uh just to last

Wednesday we had what we had clam cakes clam Chow clam chowa baked fish baked hattic macaroni and cheese and COA Coast law and for dessert we had homemade rice pudd in how big are the plates yeah uh right now right now how big are the plat oh that's great um any we have served 100 hot meals every Wednesday in in eat enss and deliveries or shuttin I think the most benefit realize that has been able to

elevate the quality of our meals we strive to serve nutritious and delicious meals restaurant style serve to our veterans and these Opa dollars have allowed us to choose a higher quality of food to serve as well as offering multiple cses to our meal we offer appetizer main course dessert and beverage as a result of having more linear grocery budget we've been able to purchase necessary equipment with these

Opa dollars to include warming trays and warming ovens since we mostly rely on the hospitality of others currently father Rob of Blessed Trinity Parish to host our meals we do a fair share for our host by paying utility bills electricity and gas increase with our o OCC occupancy as a results we are able to cover these utility bills without sacrificing the quality of meals thanks to these Opa

dollars and again we thank the city council very much yeah hi how are you have you been able to increase the number of days that you feed veterans are you still on the same schedule still on the same schedule yes uh we are we just signed a contract with uh the Liberal Club and we're going to be moving down there and we're going to be spending quite a bit of money to move down there

and also for uh equipment because some of the equipment they they have uh we need to update it and it'll all be our equip equipment what we're going to do anything that we bring in we're going to give them a copy of this the manufacturer and the serial number that way come someday God willing when we have our own building all that stuff will be written down they'll have a copy of it we'll

have a copy so nobody says oh gez wait a minute that refrigerator that's been sitting there for years I think that's ours Well here here's the numbers MH now that makes sense that's yeah that's a good that's a good plan there's no doubt about that um now on Wednesdays you feed lunch and supper or just supper or just lunch just lunch just lunch yes and it's the only day that you serve yes

it is now when you go to the liberal will you be able to increase the number of days uh right now right now I'm going to say we've got it set up for Wednesdays we have we have to see along with the board of directors at the Liberal Club if we further down the road can open it up to another day and if we can get the the volunteers also that's that's another

problem I mean obviously what you're doing is a great thing without our volunteers we're lost right and anything you can do to help obviously is you know and we also have uh other things where we give out uh we give food out to the veterans um coats winter coats um where I live I live in a 55 or over community and they knit hats year round and the lady that runs it is a

personal friend of mine and she gives me a couple of bags of hats all all knitted I mean these hats would probably go in a store for $25 M um and we give them out down there and whatever's left over I give to Michelle yeah for people that come to her okay very good thank you very much that I you thank you this is breaking news you mov into Liberal Club

congratulations that you got a new spot that's exciting news yep yep we uh we figure it's it's time to uh we told father Rob we you know he's not he is not pushing us out the door or anything uh uh it's just that we uh we had told him we're going to be there for a little while and we don't want to overstay our welcome yeah and like he um he said to

me he says Lenny he says you guys are are always welcome here yeah um he has all the equipment right in his kitchen whereas the kitchen will go into at the Liberal Club does not have so we're going to have to go out and this this money is going to come in very handy for that because we um we have to have some uh electrical work done and we have we have to buy what

what else table we have buy stain we have to buy stainless steel tables convection uh electric convection oven to make you know to make it easier for us uh then also going there we're going there too is storage they have ample storage space for us where at father Rob's storage space was very liit very limited very limited but uh you know it this oper money has helped us with our insurance because we have

insurance uh we play we pay Blessed Trinity Church uh so much money a month and that's where all this is coming from National Grid Liberty gas uh for River water and sewer department and I I want to say that it's you guys it's an amazing thing that you guys I wish I was able to be there more I have patients that I see on Wednesday so I can't always get down there what

but when I'm able to go it it really is a remarkable thing that you're doing it for veterans and their families and the camaraderie and and the level of food that you serve you have like five star chefs down there and it's all volunteer based it's a wonderful thing that you're doing to the community I believe you've been your yourself and um it's just I encourage anyone to get down there to

see it so thank you for what you're doing um if you get more Volunteers in a place of your own hopefully you can do this more than one day a week but I know it's it's TI that's what our goal is yeah that's what our goal is to have our you know our own place so we can open up more well we are grateful that we could have helped and we're glad to see that

the money is being used as we would hope and it's you know I I couldn't ask for it to be at a better spot so thank you for the work that you do thank you so much thank you thank you thank you uh Michelle you were a recipient of some funds too we sure have and can you uh tell us how that is is going so I think we started the program right around the

first of the year it took us a little while to get everything together um we have been able to help a homeless veteran a female veteran get out of being homeless and into an apartment we've had a family of 87 and 84 year old veterans who were really worried about their rent increase so um their rent went up $150 a month and they were really worried about that um we were able to give them the full

amount so that 10 months of their rent they don't have to worry about the extra $150 and who knows maybe next year we can help them a little bit more we've paid utilities we've paid Insurance um and should I talk about our new vehicle too yes we just purchased a um 2024 Kia Carnival which is just a perfect vehicle for our department it has a nice low step in uh dark colored seats because

we're going to use it a lot it's an eight passenger as opposed to a five passenger so we can have one driver and still help more people so um those funds have definitely helped us a lot we still have a lot more to do though you we still have a lot more to do um did you have did you have a question um I will speak don't mind yeah no go

ahead I I don't have any questions only because I I'm been following it and and aware of what's been happening um but I will say that Michelle is like an Energizer Bunny and something comes up she's on it and she doesn't stop till it's completed and I did get to meet one gentleman that was helped and I have to tell you I have never seen anybody more appreciative um it it they're so

grateful they get teary about it and and you talk to him and you listen to him and you're like ready to cry with himc it's just phenomenal um you know that when in our capacity where we when we can help somebody to that level that's why we're here in my world and uh Michelle I'll tell you she's just incredible so I want to make sure that she gets the credit she deserves

with that I yeld thank you I have to concur it's it's it's so it's a I want to say it's a breath of fresh a when you have a department he just does such an amazing job and really is passionate about the work that you do and it trickles down and you you are you are so energizing and you you you do amazing work and is there are your funds that

was um proposed in your resolution are they able to use for veterans mental health activities is that is at this point no and I did bring you guys a copy of the packet so that you could look at what those monies are able to be used for and what the financial guidelines are um so what what we're using the money for and what this specific resolution calls for is housing um Transportation uh utilities groceries so

it was very specific to those pieces um it wasn't anything to do with veterans mental health or anything like that there wasn't uh hey you can take the veterans out to the movies or whatever that wasn't a part of this at all this was really to help people eat have heat you know in the winter time they get behind on utilities so this this part of it really was for that do you find a

need in your department for funds for that for the mental health angle more and more we're seeing more homelessness we're seeing more uh dual diagnosis with addiction and you know PTSD or anxiety and depression we are definitely seeing more of that recently we had uh two veterans husband and wife veterans both homeless living in a car um definitely more than just homeless another piece to it so um you

know and and there's a lot more isolation within the veteran Community as well covid I think really accentuated that for a lot of families so there's that piece of it too where they've not intermingle a lot so the money cannot be used for like Outreach um this money is this money Cann is not used in that way um do you guys want um just a point of information this was modeled after um many other cities

that have done this yep because we wanted to to make sure that the money was being used appropriately at that time we know Opa has has mutated a million times but it's perfect Laura already has one I think yeah can can we show this is amazing can we can you talk about this for minut it was on my desk I'm so excited about this um so that's our very first issue our very first newsletter

it's uh Stars and Stripes Fall River um we highlighted the gold Star Family um we had never done an event for Gold Star Family Day so that's in there um we also gave a plug to the arpa monies that are available to the veterans and then put in for a couple of upcoming events uh Vietnam veterans recognition day and we're doing a movie night here in the city uh we had a veteran reach out to us

who wanted to donate pizza and then we were like well let's do a movie night so he's donating soda uh water and pizza and we're donating snacks and all kinds of stuff to do that movie night too so it's it's about building community and the more we can get the veterans engaged um the more we can find out what their needs are and how we can best help them thank

you do you have any more any more questions I don't thank you thank you thank you very much can't wait to see the motion to motion second all in favor I adjourned thank you