3.10.2026 Fall River City Council

Take your seats, please.

Hey hey hey.

This forever city council committee on finance meeting will now be called to order. Madame clerk, councelor Scadim here.

Camarra here.

Canuel here.

Dion here.

Hart here.

Peekom here.

Carrera here.

Raposo here.

President Ponti here. Pursuant to the open meeting law, any person may make an audio or video recording of this 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.

First item on our committee on finance agenda is citizens input. One person signed up to speak. Marcel Riley, 582 Hick Street, regarding the playground.

Welcome. Three minutes, please.

Hey, Marcel.

Good, thanks.

Fine.

So, uh, thanks for your time this evening.

Excuse me. If you can just move the microphone close to you so we can hear you.

All right. How's it?

Uh, thank you for your time this evening, guys. Um, I'm just here to uh let everybody know about a fundraiser we're having April 11th at the Elks Club. I would like to invite everybody, especially the people in my city, Fall River. We um this is a great event. It's going to be for uh adults and children alike. We're going to have a sentry room set up for the autism community. We're

going to have uh uh characters and great food and um a lot of great guests that that uh pledge to to come out for this event. And um I'm asking my city to come out and support us here. This is uh we got a great foundation with the leadership from Mike Dion on this project and um Jasmine Pereira the grant right at city hall. They have uh give us the foundation we needed here with our

uh CPC grant to get something really special in the city and this fundraiser is the first part of that. It's um I'm I implore my city to come together to support something special. And um if you can volunteer your time, if there's a restaurant out there that wants to help out, if anybody wants to um donate anything and you really want to see where your um time and your efforts are

going to, I implore you to walk by this park when it's built. And I promise you, you'll get food for your soul. You'll get um a great feeling that you helped accomplish something great in the city.

And I'm asking my uh fellow residents of the city to come out on that day and uh support us, support something really special for the city.

Thank you. Councelor in seats uh councelor in seat 7. Council Pereira, I just want to know, Marcel, I think councelor uh Camarra is right about Speaking of the microphone, I can't hear you.

Thank you.

Is it on?

Yep.

I just want to know, you said it's April 11th and it's going to be at the Elks.

What time, how much, and how do people uh tickets are $20 a piece. Uh the the event is going to be from 4 to 8 and um you can get them on mazeplayground.org, which is our play our website, or our Facebook page. Um, we I also got some flyers that I'm going to be passing out that have a QR link to it. Okay. And it's um, but mostly if you just went on

mazeplayground.org, you can get the link to the tickets right there.

Thank you. Just so that everybody listening.

Thank you, M. Thank you.

Can you leave a file with the clerk, please?

Yes. Yes, that I'll leave that in trifold. A couple trifolds.

Thank you.

Thank you, guys. Thank you.

Thank you.

No other individuals sent up to speak.

If I can ask the council um just due to the discussion if we can take item three out of order uh for the opioid stabilization fund to opioid settlement revolving account motion has been made by council vice president Dion seconded by councelor reposer discussion on the motion hearing none. All those in favor?

Opposed? The eyes have it. Madam clerk, item three.

The committee on finance is pull that up. You guys can come on down if you can, please. I'll introduce that. Sorry.

Um the item that's before the committee on finance is uh finances order appropriating $750,000 from the opioid stabilization fund to the opioid settlement revolving fund.

This item was referred to the committee on finance on February 10th. Miss Arkkey and those who are here please state your name and enter it to for the record in your position please.

Emily Arkkey CFO Tess Curran director of health and human services. Cara Hum opioid coordinator.

Thank you. Council Lady Council repos.

Thank you, Mr. President. Ladies, good evening. Um, I had sent a few questions um that you were able to give some detailed responses to. Uh, if you ladies could allude on to the questions and some of the answers, that would be appreciated, and I'll yield to them, please.

Sure. Um, first of all, just want to apologize for any confusion that Miss Curran and I's absence caused um the council last meeting. Um, so we're hoping that by answering these questions and being here tonight, um, this will make more sense. Um, so just would you like us to just go through this? Sure.

Um, so the first question that councelor Raposo had was regarding the federal funding being cut and how much does it cost to run the fast team um, as it is today. So we had met um, or I had met a couple months ago with Miss Fontaine and Mr. on from um CDA regarding just to try to ascertain this. And so the breakdown before you um it would they're saying that it would take $492,200

per year. Um I I mean I feel like this is pretty self-explanatory the way I've broken it down. Um the the loss of federal funding obviously has been impactful. And so they had um originally had a CARA grant that was a four-year grant. So every year they would be renewed for up to four years. Um and that grant totaled the 1.9 million and change. Um so they did apply for a new SAMA grant which we

were sort of waiting on. We thought we were going to hear I think it was November and then December. Um and eventually that was not awarded. Um and so they do have um the Department of Justice Protect and Connect grant um which is a three-year grant and that will total 550,000.

Oh, sorry. So the car Yeah, you can jump in at any So the CAR grant actually replaced the Protect and Connect grant. Um, but there was um there was a requirement for the CAR grant to have a a match, that $240,000 match, which is where some of that opioid settlement fund um money came into into play.

And so they're still waiting to hear um about the they've applied for a $350,000 um grant through the Department of Mental Health um through the state of Massachusetts. But what I would just note is that so during the course of the fast team we made normally this is opioid um settlement like any grant we do it as a reimbursement and so we do that reimbursement quarterly and so what

was happening with um with the exception of the fast team because of the need to be paid because they have so many people on payroll. And so we transfer we did a transfer to CDA to um be able to directly pay as they do their other employees out of that fund funding source because they were losing all of this other grant that usually kept them afloat until we could reimburse. Um and

so excuse me. So just um just so you understand that we only have we still have $176,000 and change that of a balance with CDA.

So what we're trying to do is draw down on that and extend before we have sort of approved a greater amount of money.

We want to try to draw that and stretch that into year two as much as we can.

And then we built in that cushion which was the you know I I felt like when I watched the meeting you know I know there was a sense of obscuring information and I apologize if my letter did that. That was not my intention. It was really just to have this balance of funds like we did this past year where when we ha when fast team had these emerging needs that are unexpected

because of the type of street outreach work that they do there's just things that come up and to be have to come down here all the time to do that um and peace meal like so I'm trying I was trying to kind of wait for like a bigger request um and that was my intention so I just wanted to explain that. Uh so then um so about um so it's so the

amount going to the fast team um is actually not the 71,958.

It was actually 7 when we broke it down it was actually 72,178 and 73 cent to be specific. Um so I apologize for that. Um and then through the opioid funds in general what does this funding support? And so I think an important part to understand is that nothing in this transfer request of $750,000 is not is nothing that is nothing new in the sense of the budgets increased in two projects which I'll explain. But all

of this is stuff that was approved these grants were approved by the advisory committee and then approved by prior council. Um and so we didn't take it upon us to say, you know, to go out for another RFP or to create any other new funding opportunities. These are all things that we felt you very much supported um and were important and that they showed the data to support them.

Again, um and a lot of this was done in Tessa, like Tessa's absence when she was on maternity leave. I started meeting kind of with these people to collect this data and to figure out you know where they stood at the year one end and so um and so what's so enhancement without encampment we had used um so I think all of these are pretty self-explan started at 100,000

um it was increased to 200 um that is the remaining balance I have two invoices that I will be paying shortly and that will be that will wrap up enhancement without encampment. Um the Fall River public school health education curriculum that was the only one that has actually fully ex expended theirs um at the end of year one. The advocacy fund we extended their um theirs um into the next year to just

expend um their remaining balance. um the star rapid access to care um they have I mean the numbers are here before you they've extend extended 369,593 of 4675 that program um was not renewed um at this time just because we didn't have we don't have I mean we have the funds in the stabilization fund but we didn't feel like right now this was something that we could support with the um

changes in the federal funding to us. We felt like a lot of that had to be internally used and utilized by the FAST team. Um the Fall River trail program um had only spent a small portion of theirs, so we extended them another year with no new um budget. The Fall River um the FAST team um started with um the 92,000 which as you can see was because they were getting these this four-year

CARE grant which was funding them. Um, and when we saw that started to trickle off, um, we increased that amount. Um, and then, as I said, the transfer to community development, but they still have the 176,000, and we're really hoping to stretch that out as much as we can. Um, the opioid 7 was one that we um had. So, let me just explain, step back for a second. And um so for continuity

of programming, we really did need to to when I was meeting with them, we needed to say, hey, you know, yes, we will support this, but we do need to make a formal funding request to the council.

And so, um for instance, that program, there was a personnel Sarah Le Point, who is an intricral part of Steph Perry's team. And without her um without us saying yes, we will fund this, her job and position would have been lost.

And so I waited as long as I could to say yes, we will fund this because we thought that was going to her role was going to become part of the SAMHA grant that we had um we had we were waiting for. And so South Coast, we would not have renewed that if the SAMA grant had come through because we would have funded Sarah through missile point through that. Um and then lastly, the um

Fall River Public School Pass program.

That was a program that originally was the 238,780.

um they still have only expended 136 and but we said that so that they could prepare for their next year that we would fund the 211,000.

Um they are an organization that has um they've they're showing a lot of sustainability. So they've brought in two other schools um uh Atlantis Charter and is it I always pronounce it wrong but is it Argus? Okay. Um I've spoken with um Atlantis Charter School and like they're very happy with participating in this program and she's hoping to then sort of start bringing in like maybe

other communities who will pay. So this is to us this is something that if we could give them a little bit more funding, they're really showing sustainability on their own moving forward. And so um that would wrap up that question. I'm sorry this is long longer than I thought. um what other services are being funded? So um this transfer is going to will um account for that increase um during the

year from the 100,000 to the 200,000 for the enhancement without encampment and um the fast teams increases that were necessary during the year. Um, I think you you the council does have this full response to your emails and I think you've highlighted it pretty well uh to council and seedate's point. Are you satisfied with the overview, counselor?

I am. And my only follow-up question was what I asked a few weeks ago was that there should be no concern of the fast team not being funded at this time. We good. Excuse me.

Yes. If Yes.

Okay. I yield. Thank you.

Thank you. Councelor C1. Councelor Ladine.

Thank you. So my two questions. So, first I fully support this, but all the programs that you stated obviously meet the guidelines that are required for the opioid settlement stuff. Yes.

Right. Perfect. Okay. Uh and then so my only other question is just the the revolving account and and maybe Emily, you might have said this last week, but can you remind me why is there a deficit in the opioid revolving fund? Because it sounds like there's money in CDA. So, yeah. So, because we transferred it technically into that other fund. So what you're seeing in that fund was that

it's been expended um at that point in time. It's it's considered expended even though we just kind of transferred it into the other fund. The other reason is that um we had made a transfer to um something that I think right before she got to it. We hadn't funded any administration of this program and of this funding um in prior requests to fund it. So when her salary was port a

portion of her salary was added into it, it is what actually put the fund into a deficit. So, we let the programs continue as they were and as we had funding in there for them, but because we hadn't factored in and it was done, you know, with a an entry being made, it kind of immediately put it into a deficit at that point in time. And that was only done in 26.

It was done at the end of October. Uh, yeah, the end of October 20 25.

So, this fiscal year, so it wasn't a carryover from No, not at all. 26.

Not at all. And it wasn't from any of these programs. All of the programs kind of were expected and planned. It was really just that administration piece that put it over. Um, I caught that when I was actually doing my like federal reporting. I was noticing that they were drawing down. So I just So it actually should have started in June of 2024 when I So I guess are are you looking for So

does the 750 still cover you in terms of what you were looking for to give you enough cushion for the programs or should we add um, you know, I guess roughly 26 I mean 46,000 to cover the deficit and then additional administrative costs. I think what we'll what we'll have left after we draw down on everything is the 72,178 and I think at this time that is it includes the administration and the salary portion.

Yeah, I think that is fine. I do think that was asked of us I think by you. Do we have enough? Um I I think it's all it's always nice to have more but I think that I know the council we want you guys want that transparency and that ability for us to come down and say hey do you guys support this? And I so I feel very comfortable that this is enough for right now.

Yeah. No, that's that's perfect. And I also just don't want to have a situation where you know there's a need that arises that we can cover this as opposed to waiting for us to come down that you you have that flexibility with the funding. So it's the only reason. So either way if you want to come down later if you need additional money then you know I as one counselor I would support that. So thank you.

Um and thank you for all the work. I know it's a lot going into this. So thank you. I yield.

Thank you councelor C2. Councelor Camra.

Just real quick when you say car we have enough for right now. What does that mean? This week, next week?

No, I mean like for we believe for year two. Okay. You know, I think that finish words in your mouth, but um I mean I I think that with 176,000 still in the fast team and um with the fast team with CDA, I mean I've spoken with Mike Dion several times and he believes that that's going to carry them throughout the year. Yep. And then with the 72,000 I and I don't, you know, we've already

we've extended these other grants.

That's fine. I just didn't know I want to make sure I know what right now means.

Yeah, as long as there's no big snowstorm coming that like is going to put us off another, you know. So, yeah, we're good. I think we're good.

Thank you. Appreciate that. I Thank you. Anything further from the council? Council on seat for council vice president Dion.

When does year two end?

So, was it November? I think it's November.

Yes. So, there um a number of the contracts kind of started at at at varying times. Um, but I believe it was most of them were November with a few in Janu starting in January.

So there's so there's two like the EWE um sorry OPD1 that was an earlier contract than um the than the trial program. So a trail program. So it's either a November start date or a January one start date.

Okay, that's it. Thank you. I yield.

Thank you. Councilman C3 council Canuel.

Is there a date that funds have to be expended by similar to opera? No.

No. Nope.

Do we have longerterm plans for the remainder of the balance, the 1.1 million?

So, we it's actually it's 1.8 right now in the stabilization fund. And I just believe we just got word today that we're getting um more like not substantial, but still like a couple dispersements of $50,000. It's creating and building an interest in that stabilization account as well. Um, so I mean we haven't t you can Yeah. And so essentially we're we're we will be receiving over through 2038 um 8

million. So that's what we're anticipating to receive in total as a community. Um so we what we had done at the kind of earlier stages of this was doing a strategic plan um a public hearing with community buyin as well as a community survey to try and see what the greatest needs were here in the community and then allocating those dollars through the RFP process to target the um the you know most most um

where where the greatest need was in the community. So that's kind of where we've been at right now. Um trying to again hit those programs that we we found were going to be most impactful for the community. So prevention um you know improving treatment and recovery options. Um and so I think as as the landscape shifts and our targets will have to shift shift and we'll have to re-evaluate that with more community

input, more strategic planning and things like that as we as we go on throughout the process. right now, you know, certainly with the change in landscape of of federal funding and of grant funding throughout the the Commonwealth, we're trying to keep um some of these funds to support the city um city, you know, departments such as the FAST team. So, it's going to look different. you know, what we what we

were forecasting, you know, even in the fall looks a lot different now just because of grant dollars being so tight and us wanting to really make um you know, evidence-based and dedicated um dedicating these funds to to things that are really impactful, which as we all know is the fast team is really making an impact in terms of boots on the ground and and the work that they're doing is just changing lives every day.

Thank you. Thank you.

Anything further from the council on this item?

Motion council council. I just want to make one statement. I just want to thank you for coming down. Um, basically that that's what we were looking for. I mean, there was nothing uh nefarious or anything. It was just I don't know what it is. I don't understand it. I need somebody to help me out and tell me that that's all it was. And I really appreciate that you both came down and uh clarified it as

well as you did. Thank you.

Thank you for Thank you, council vice president. A motion to refer to full counsel by councelor Raposo, seconded by councelor Peekham. Is there any discussion on that? Hearing not. All those in favor? I opposed. The eyes have it. Thank you very much.

Thank you. Have a good night.

Nice to see you.

Next item on our agenda is a 5-year financial forecast. That item was referred to this committee on uh February 10th, 2026. The council's had this in their possession for a little bit now. Um Mr. RP, very brief overview if you can please before I acknowledge our council.

Um so the five-year financial forecast is submitted each year um as required by ordinance. The annual submission is to help ensure that council has regular visibility of the long the city's long-term financial outlook and assumptions that support all of our financial planning because it relies on broad assumptions about revenues and expenditures. The economic conditions um in economic conditions several years

into the future. It's intentionally high level and somewhat generalized when viewed on its own. As with any multi-year projection, the goal is not to project exact amounts um that will be five-year outcomes, but to show what the city's likely financial trajectory is under current assumptions so that potential challenges can be addressed and identified early. The purpose of the forecast is to help ensure that

decisions made today are considered in the context of the long-term financial position. it becomes most meaningful when it is considered alongside specific policy decisions or items such as a capital improvement plan and the annual operating budget. So, the five-year financial forecast was intended to be kind of heard the same night as the capital improvement plan um and kind of

talked about in conjunction with it, but that will now be at the next meeting. Um so, next month I will also come down to talk about the five-year um about the financial um condition for the FY27 budget that will also be supported by this document at that point in time. Um going forward, the goal would be to update this forecast at least twice a year, once in the fall to support um an updated 5-year

financial um capital improvement plan, I mean, and then once in the spring as we prepare for each budget season. Um, I'm happy to answer any questions tonight about the forecast, the assumptions behind it, um, or how you'd like to see it utilized or presented moving forward, but I don't necessarily have, um, a very specific presentation to review the document on its own tonight.

Thank you. And just to be clear, you're talking at a future meeting, the five-year financial forecast.

So, yeah. So, next meeting we we have the five or the five-year capital improvement plan. And so, this document kind of is part of how that's built. it is got those same assumptions kind of baked into it and and looking at that five-year forecast in conjunction with those items impacting it and and how it's feasible or why it is or not feasible is what makes this tool this document kind of make sense. Um the same

thing with looking at the budget each year um and how those impacts change as actuals kind of adjust. So looking at it on its own, it's just kind of very high level and um you know a zoomed out view to say you know that we obviously we all know that we have a harder um you know financial conditions as things have kind of changed as health insurance has increased as we get a new trash contract

as we've you know been adding on employees um got it in the fire department. So it shows that you know at this point in time it's doable. Well, it's it's a tight budget, but it's it's doable going forward for the next five years, but um without kind of having a specific topic to look at it with, it's a very general overview.

Thank you. Council in seat 4, council vice president.

Good evening.

So, when I look at this capital improvement plan, um it's supposed to be a forecast of the future, correct?

The five-year financial forecast or the capital plan, sorry. Well, the cap capital improvement plan is is also a forecast.

Correct. Well, it's a plan.

It's a plan.

It's not a forecast. It's it's supposed to be a plan.

Okay.

So, what I don't understand is why 2026 is even in this. Um, and the reason and the reasons being most of 2026 is behind us, not in front of us.

Um, a lot some of these projects are either ongoing, already funded. Um, it's not funding that's going to come down the road in our in our financial forecast. Um, so why why wouldn't that just be in in something separate of of um of projects that are ongoing, which is was should be to me totally separate from this.

So, I'm sorry. Um, so in in speaking about the capital plan and why it's included, it's because it is a plan and it and it's supposed to show what we're doing, what we're planning to do next.

And so I think having the current year of where it's at, you're right, some of it is already funded, which is why it's included to show that this is what we're doing now. Because I know that some of the conversation of, well, why is this for next year? Why isn't this a priority or what's the plan for this? It's kind of showing how we're taking it on now versus and and explaining why some of

the things are planned for the following year because we've already done what we could this year. So it was it is still 5 years going out. It is still 27 through 31 in that 5year sense for the capital plan, but 26 is included just to kind of also show where we're at at that point in time. When you're talking about the financial forecast that's in front of you for tonight, we have the 26 numbers

in there because all of these projections going forward for the next five years are based on what's happening today. So those numbers are included in here not as a year of forecast, but as a year of basis that we're kind of building on moving forward.

Okay. So, let me ask you um because a lot of a substantial amount of money in here um is from opera funding.

So, which is has to be fully expended by December of 2026. Some of these items have to be expended by September of 2026. It doesn't go all the way to December depending on the category they're in. Um, so I look at page seven in this book, capital needs.

Councelor, if I if I may interject for a moment, we're talking about two completely separate things and maybe I said it wrong. We have a capital improvement plan that's be that we have in our binder and then we have a financial forecast. The financial forecast is the only item that's before us tonight.

Oh, my item that's before us, the capital will be discussed at the next meeting.

My but I mean if it's a if it's a question regarding the financial aspect of it, I I think it's a valid question.

But I just want I don't want there to be confusion. Um because we have two packets on our desk, but tonight is the financial forecast.

All right, I'll wait. I'll wait till we get to that. I mean, it is relevant, but yeah, you're right. It's off track. So, okay, I'll yield.

Thank you. Councelor in seat 8.

Councelor Rapos, I yield. I'm all set.

Councilman in Cat 3, Council Canuel.

Mine, one quick question for you. uh in the FY27 projected the local receipts uh drop by a little over $4 million compared to the last couple years and continue on around that trek for the next few years. I just wanted to understand better the what the what's driving that over.

So that's that's being driven by um the investment income. We have had uh very large numbers of investment income um since FY24 starting in FY24 and in 25 and what we're on track for in 26. um we know that those interest rates are coming down, those are not typical and sustained um interest rates. So, while we still have a decent amount of cash that we will be earning interest on, um

it won't be at the five plus percent that we've been earning it at. So, um and it's the most of all of the local receipts, it's the most volatile and least amount, you know, that we have any sort of control and say over. So, we kind of jump back to be super conservative. um as each year approaches, you know, we could be a little bit more aggressive when we're setting the budget and planning for it

at that point, but forecasting out um we have to kind of go at the what the historic rate has been that we've been able to receive on interest and it's it's nowhere near 5%.

Okay. And then the only other question I had was around state aid. It seemed like we were making a really big assumption.

Maybe you guys have like early indicators um that the state aid education from FY26 to 27 would increase by 20 million but then in subsequent years it's only about 5 million per year each.

Yep. So that is um we do actually have for FY27 the um first budgeted proposed budgeted numbers are out from the state.

Um the numbers that are included in this forecast are just from the governor's budget. So at that point in time, those are the numbers straight from that budget proposal. Um the reality is that will probably be different by the time we submit budget. Um but then in projected in 2018, specifically speaking to education and it dropping off the um net school spending uh the student

opportunity act is I'm going to say the increase is dropping off by that fiscal year. So we expect that the funding will match in that sense of it will stop increasing at an extremely high rate that it has been for the last I think 10 years now. So it's just going to normalize but so will the expenses at that point in time. Obviously if that changes um that specifically that state

aid education if it goes up you know a high amount so does the expense line and if that goes down a high amount typically the expense line will not go down but it'll match in that sense.

Okay, thank you. There you go.

Council seate councelor reposo.

Yeah, just a quick question on the expenditures. Um, what do you have for negotiations in front of you coming forward?

Everything.

So, we have settled ask me as you guys have known you guys vote on you voted on that contract, but otherwise we um are still in negotiations for teamsters, for police, for fire, both police unions um patrol and um superior. We still have the fire one open. We still have um the local for I'm sorry the custodian one.

So we still have essentially all of them except for ask me open at this time. So um we kind of just have in there the increase based on what ask me settled at for every Yeah, it it's just what we have at this point in time.

That's something that again will change as soon as contracts are settled. We will be able to put for those three years those set amounts in there. Um but that's why this this document again is it's intended as a tool not its own presentation because every day that one of those items changes this document would change and support the next decision that you know we have. So I would like to be able to move towards

this document being submitted to you guys regularly but in conjunction with another financial item that's being presented to you at that time.

I yield. Thank you.

Thank you. Just a point of information.

How much are you projecting for new growth in the next couple of fiscal years?

Um I have that right here. So, new growth, um, it's actually more of a dollar amount rather than an actual percentage increase. So, it's about 1.5 to 2 million based on the historic. So, we know that we've had several years of of good new growth, um, being up to, you know, $3.2 million, $3.5 million. But the reality is the when you pull out some of those high averages, we come in

at about $2 million a year. So this is factoring in um I think it's about 1.8 million with about a 1% increase each year because obviously the cost of you know goods and the values go up each year. So that base amount will continue to grow a little bit but it probably won't be sustained at the three plus million it's been.

Okay. And and lastly how is it that uh under the debt service you're only anticipating that going up from a minimal basis of several hundred,000 from fiscal year to fiscal year because of the debt that's dropping off each year. Um, we're at a point where because especially because we haven't been taking on debt the last several years, we have such uh a significant amount of debt dropping off that the

amount coming on it essentially starts to wash out.

All right, for our next quarterly update, can you give us a debt schedule in terms of debt that is retiring off in the next three fiscal years? I think that'd be helpful to the city council.

Yes, absolutely.

Thank you. uh councelor in seat uh seven councelor pray I would just like to add I know that we're talking about the new growth and we all have all these buildings going up around the community around the city um so obviously we see that there is new growth but also with the new growth especially with housing we have to look at the fact that now you're going to have more housing more people more

student increase in police increase in fire increase in the school department it's kind of a balance You know what I mean? Correct.

So, your new growth isn't really going to be all new growth because you're going to be spending it to take care of the individuals that are moving into the city.

Correct. We we do have I mean increased costs every year factored in as well.

All of the expenses, nothing is going down in the sense of the expenses um between personnel and actual expenses.

So, all of that is also continuing to grow up at um actually a greater rate than what that um new growth is going up at. So, the new growth like I mentioned, it's about 1.8 8 million with a 1.25% increase on that. All of the expenses are going up, you know, 2 to 3% each year. The salaries are going up anywhere from 2 and a half to 4% each year. So,

we are, you know, expecting all of that to increase at a greater rate than the new growth is.

And I know community development throws in and helps this city out a lot along the way. Do we know how much the feds are cutting from community development?

We don't we don't necessarily have that yet. So something you can't even make a projection or do anything.

Well, so part of that we're factoring in by taking on some of the, you know, capital that they've been supporting with the sense of the fire trucks, you know, that is baked into the capital improvement plan now not being funded by CDA, which is also factored into these numbers. So we are trying to make some of those changes as we kind of know what's happening. But again, that's, you

know, some of that predicting exactly what will change with that and how it'll impact the general fund is is a hard game right now. So as we know more information it will be factored into you know documents like this and and as that information comes in and we speak to you on it we could be updating you know this forecast to present during those conversations.

With that I yield.

Thank you councelor. Anything further on this item hearing none. Thank you very much. Next item on our agenda is item number four transfers and appropriations.

Um okay pull that up here for a moment.

No referral is going to be needed on it, but the transfers and appropriations are where?

Number 11.

Number 11. Just number 11. Thank you.

Councilman C1, uh the in accordance with provisions of chapter 44, section 32, the Massachusetts general laws, mayor's recommending appropriations to this council by the sum of $221,000 being the same hereby appropriated to EMS salaries from EMS retained earnings.

That's item 11 on the full council agenda. Thank you councel in seat one for that. Any questions on this item?

No.

Council in seat seven. Councelor Pereira.

I really don't have a question on this but I think for people to think that um this was done on purpose I guess by the EMS. The retained earnings is this the extra money for the the salaries?

No miss ary. Uh so retained earnings is is the um enterprise fund version of free cash each year. So that's what that is. So when we have, you know, excess revenues over expenses um and no um liabilities that need to be covered, we have a certified free cash number.

That's nothing new. We're just transferring from that to cover um this one-time payment um that needs to be made right now for those wages.

Mr. Malini, onetime payment for what?

Mr. Molini can answer that.

Yeah. uh Nick Mleini, director of human resources. So essentially, I tried to put as much in the letter as possible to the council or to the mayor that came down to council. Uh I may have oversimplified it a little bit, but based on the EMS schedule, um EMS is averaging 42 hours per week that they're worked, um the Department of Labor contacted us back in September to say that the average hours over the 40 weeks

that EMS is not exempt from overtime like police and fire are. So these are wages that we're obligated to pay. They did the period was uh September 1st 23 through August 31st of 25 that they've come back and said that they should have received overtime for those hours that we are legally obligated to pay those hours of overtime.

I understand that. But my concern is that and I just want the public to know it wasn't you know an error. This has been going on I don't know uh Chief F you've been here 30 plus years. this was always paid this way.

And then when somebody filed um with, you know, with the state and said, "Hey, this is wrong. We're not paid the same as police and fire. We're not exempt from that." And that came to your attention. But this was something that had been done all along. So now that it came to intention, and I give whoever that person was that called the state to say, "Hey, I think we're not getting the overtime we should be

getting." God bless them. If they find there's something, you've got to be fair to everybody. But this wasn't done on purpose because when these contracts were done with EMS, the city, the unions, they negotiated. They all agreed with the wages and how everything was set up. So, it wasn't that this was done or, you know, that somebody wasn't watching the ball or it's been done for

a long time. And I'm happy that somebody did mention it and that we can fix it.

Uh because New Bedford had the same thing happen and they paid a lot more than us. I don't know how we locked out.

I know it's a lot of money, but we locked out with paying a little bit less than I thought. And I don't know if you or Chief F or anybody negotiated.

Well, no. This has been since the 90s with the 1014 schedule and then it made no change with the 24-hour schedule. It made no change with the split from fire.

it just they're not doing um suppression or prevention. I will tell you that Chief Fontce and her staff went through all of the documents that um the WHD provided and was able to work through compare payroll records and show they used vacation time this this day, sick time this day, personal time this day, which does not apply to that 40hour to going over the 40 hours for overtime.

So, she was able to do um a significant amount of work to reduce the amount of back wages that we have to pay. Chief funds, how much did you get reduced by all the paperwork you had to do?

She went from 317 to 221.

317 to 220 221.

Well, thank you, Chief. You're welcome.

You We did due diligence. We saved a little bit of money, but I just didn't want people to think that this was like an error that we did something wrong.

It's been going on and nobody ever picked up on it. So I think from my reading if it was proven Can you speak into the mic a little bit?

Your I think in my reading and I think that um human direct I think Nick can probably attest is that if they found that it was intentional then the they could have increased the fine and they could have increased increased the years that we were accountable for. So by them just by the letter that we got in the demand that we got it proved that it was not intentional or that you know we did

it on purpose. It was failing negotiated with the city. It was failing negotiated with the union. It just wasn't done the right way.

Well and I just think it's important for the public to know that because everybody always thinks, you know, that all politicians get money put in their pocket. I've been here 25 years. I've never put a penny in my pocket and I don't think any of my colleagues have either. So, you know, it's just a perception sometimes that they get that's totally wrong and I wanted to make sure that it was out there that it

was nothing intentional. And again, thank you both. Thank you, Nick. With that, I yield.

Thank you. Anything further on this item?

Thank you very much.

That's the only item uh for transfers and appropriations which was item 11.

Council Mad, correct?

Yes.

Is there a motion to adjourn the committee on finance made by councelor Reposo, seconded by councelor Hart. All those in favor? The eyes have it. Got to keep rolling. 7 o'clock on the dot.

Couldn't have been any more perfect.

This is a weird one.

Oh,

for a city council meeting will now be called to order. Madam clerk, council scadin here.

Tamara here.

Canuel here.

Dion here.

Hart here.

Peekom here. Pereira here.

Reposo here.

President Ponti here. Everybody in the chamber can please rise for a moment of silent prayer.

Thank you. And a salute to the flag.

To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all. 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.

Council uh council Pereira.

Okay.

Mafia, we could come down to

Is this on?

Good evening. How is retirement, Mr.

Lavasia?

I highly recommend it.

um in recognition for your 40 years of service to the city of Fall River 1985 you started imagine and also as a consultant for Walden uh forestries. Uh we thank you. I know that in dealing with lots of people up in the forest and the reservation area, I know that many of the neighbors up there really admire the work that you've done. And no one better than have Sarah, who deals with

that whole division up there, to say a few words on behalf of what the neighborhood up there feels about all your work.

Sarah, should I do this?

Mike, when Linda asked me to represent the neighbors to acknowledge your legacy, I was honored. I met you along with Everett Castro right after our first big cleanup off Belro Rock Road in 2005.

I was an idealistic 25-year-old looking for my place and my purpose and you were working with the trustees of reservations advocating for conservation even then, and you surely made an impression.

For those don't who don't remember what the forest looked like then, it was an endless sea of tires, mattresses, and construction debris. Now, thanks to your tireless work, it's a one-of-a-kind destination that Fall River and the state of Massachusetts can be proud to offer. You played a big part in the formation of the Southeastern Massachusetts Bio Reserve, establishing conservation restrictions which would

protect it in perpetuity. You managed and expanded that resource creatively with CPG grant funding, growing the footprint of our city's greatest resource, including the purchase of Aderandac Farms, the future site for a bio reserve education center. You've preserved vital Fall River history and built bioreserve partners to carry a legacy, ensuring a long-term plan for protected wetlands, clean water, and

sustainable environmental welfare for the next generation. You have served your community well and the neighbors appreciate appreciate you and your many years of service for your partnership.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Uh it is so in this is an official resolution um from the city council um for your dedication to the Fall River community for over 40 years for your service and the improvement of the quality of life for all from 1985 to 200 206.

Thank you so very much. I don't know if um they have put anyone in your position yet. Uh but I hope that if they do, if they can fill half of your shoe, we'll be very lucky. You have been outstanding. So from all the city council, thank you so much.

Appreciate it. Could my reward be two minutes?

Absolutely. We're going to allow you to You have three minutes if you like.

Three minutes. Yeah. Citizen puts three minutes.

Um Mr. president and council. Yeah, thank you so much. Um I could never trust myself to to uh stay on track if I didn't do this, but it was an it's been an honor and a privilege of course being the next person up filling the role at the Watuper reservation uh as the forester. Um the Watuper reservation was born nearly 90 years before I began to have my part there in

the 80s. Uh, the city gave me an opportunity to develop a joyful relationship with what is arguably one of the city's most valuable and remarkable assets. And I'm going to steal Sarah stole a lot of my thunder, but it's almost cliche how we lift up our city forefathers for their wisdom in acquiring the Northwoods upper pond uh and their good sense in protecting the land surrounding it. And we're delighted

to tell anybody who will listen that the city is half water and forest uh and and protected forever. That's that's so important. Um and we're delighted. Oh, I said that. Um but when you when you steep in this beautiful area as Sarah has for year after year, uh you begin to feel that this land and this awesome responsibility is so much bigger than you can really express. In fact, it's

it's so big you want to share it. And um the city has been blessed to have reservation caretakers working alongside us who get that and have demonstrated through their hard work and dedication that we are stewards of a precious resource and we are simply passing it forward. I want to thank the water department administrator past uh past and present administrators um and the water board for their trust and

support over the years as well. I believe my arching my marching order from day one was simple. do what is best for the water supply, for the reservation forest, and for the residents of Fall River, and do it efficiently and in a way that is not a burden to the rateayers. That's that's really been so true. Um, that's all I strove to do, and I believe my replacement, Jim Smith, who's who's in

the in the cheap seats, uh, feels the same way. So, um, so we passed the baton to Jim. Um, but I also want to hold the mirror to you and and to the city council. Um, and thank you for your long-standing support, um, which may sometimes go unrecognized. As a body, you have supported so many key actions that made an impact on protecting this irreplaceable resource. Um, you voted yes to create the Southeastern

Massachusetts Bio Reserve, which protected over 3,000 acres of Fall River land and more than doubled protection of the Copa Reservoir. you accepted the Community Preservation Act, which um while an effective historic preservation tool, also helped protect hundreds more acres of watershed land. Um, you regularly approve the water department's grant applications that secure outside funds to secure conservation land

protection. And very importantly, you you have become well-versed in approving conservation restrictions which ensure that these lands remain protected forever for all generations to come. Um and and then finally and so it's a short list and it's and it's and it's uh it's not complete but finally you you approved and supported our acquisition for Aderond Farm which will be the environmental education and um um center

and also the bio reserve gateway. It will be a place to welcome visitors, tell the story of Fall River's n natural treasure, and nurture a sentiment toward stewarding Fall River's natural resources. So again, I thank you for your consistent trust and support in the water department's mission in this realm. And u please continue to support the completion of the Bio Reserve Discovery Center. With that, I yield.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

Well, you'll be coming around, I'm sure.

I'll be a bad sh

Absolutely.

No, no, you can set.

Okay, this comes a little odd. Usually, we don't present citations to people who um are deceased. However, this is Tom and Tom Bullya. Am I pronouncing it correctly?

Perfect.

Perfect. Um, and I know many of you remember Kathy Castro. This is Kathy Castro's brother.

And he called and said, "Gee, my sister did a lot for this community and this area. Would love to be able to get a citation." So I said, "I agree with you." She passed away on February 9th of 2024 and lifelong resident of for river and she graduated from Sacred Hearts Academy as I did and she got an associates degree at Bryant University her masters in UMass. She works for New Bedford

school department. She was the owner and publisher of NAL. She was a member of the Fall River and the New Bedford Rotary Clubs. She received the Paul Harris Fellowship Award, recipient of the woman of the year award presented by the Four River Business and Professional Women's Club. She was a member of the Friends of the Public Library, the Four River Historical Society, the Warsa

Club, the Quickers Club, and a member of Little Theater where she produced and directed many plays. And she also was a talk show host on WSAr.

and she was lastly appointed by Governor Mora Healey to the Massachusetts Cultural Council. So for all that she's done, the city council would like to present to you Tom a citation um for your sister on behalf of your sister. Um it's funny, I would meet a lot with Kathy and for some reason our meeting spot was always Newport Crearyy for coffee and tea and she would fill me in on everything. So

on behalf of the city council of four river a citation in honor of your sister Kathleen Castro and I just recited all the things that she did um for our community. So I thank you so much.

It's unfortunate we should have thought of this when she was here to receive it.

She's received nothing more important and precious to her would be exactly she was a renaissance woman renaissance woman she was nothing she was into you're a renaissance woman as well and you know what that's like a renaissance man and as a renaissance woman renaissance woman has to work a little harder to become oh honey I know that it's it's not easy and it wasn't easy for her but with the paper with the um

why don't I give you the microphone And you can say if you would if you feel sitting down is more comfortable for you that's fine.

Yeah, it might be. Yeah, it it uh you know when she had the oan paper she 42 years it's still in existence. It's still written in the Heloo Lva a young lady she took under her wing and really helped along through college and everything else. still rights for that paper and the publication, you know, helped put a lot of people in office here. I got to tell you, you know, from from mayors to city councils to

everybody else and to you going further into the state stuff with representatives and senators. Uh her house on High Street, 909 High Street was a haven for people. She was very friendly with with numerous people and and and Joe Rapo, Jill Santos, uh Cardinal Medeiros would be I said master when he was a cur at sacred heart academy. Um it goes on and on with what she did. She had that people of the year

award she gave penis the mile every year and the and and drew huge crowds of people and and those were a lot of luminaries. Joe Rapo Santos was there all of them no end to all of them. and and and then she she got a an award woman of the year and Bonnie Frank sponsored for it was businesswoman of the year for the paper and it was a it

was a Venus de Milo. You want that? It was a Venus de Milo and he said she was the heartbeat of the Portuguese community in Fall River. She gave gave of herself completely. If there were any issues, she had him on speed dial. She'd call him right up. This is going on in Fall River. I'd like some help with it.

You got to do this. You got to do that.

always for the small guy. She figured the big guy was well taken care of. He didn't need any help, but the small guy did need it. She her life was just be one time she called me. She said, "You know where I am, Tom?" I said, "I have no idea where you are. I'd have a you know, I would have known where Matt Lawa was easier than where she was. But she

told me, she said, I I'm at a convention. I'm at Fisherman's W in San Francisco. And guess who I bumped into on the elevator? John Wayne, right? And he talked to her. He talked to her about plays and and she became friendly with him and they contacted each other. I was amazed by it. What about me? I'm like, "Wow, you know, I'd like his autograph or something, you know." So So it went

on and on. Two two uh Marine Corps pilots came together one time. They picked her up at the house. They went up to uh Logan Airport and they flew down to the seat of common of the Marine Corps. And uh you're familiar with that, Paul. Your dad Your dad was my commanding officer. Oh, okay. Yeah.

Yeah. You know what I mean? You when he was a wonderful guy, too.

Oh, thank you very much.

And a halfway decent basketball player on his time, too. I remember that.

You're only a little guy.

But yeah, I'm thinking to myself, how come I'm not going here to Ace and I?

How come I'm not going to see all this stuff, the Marine Corp Memorial and all?

But she got to do these things and always with Fall River, always about Fall River. Always wanted something to do with Fall River, you know, loved the city, loved it. She was a great ambassador for Fall River. So, she got all this recognition and then, you know, I'm thinking to myself, gee, it'd be nice if she had something from the city she loves so much, which tonight is being granted. And I appreciate all of

you so much like she would have and love you. You know, you're wonderful people.

Um, so so just a few other things. Um, you know, I I know that you did that the the brain can only absorb, but the rear end will allow it to. So, I'm not going to get into too much stuff, but um she was good friends with Anthony Quinn.

Now, Anthony Anthony Quinn would be here to I never who when I went in her house, I never knew who was going to be there.

Could be Paul Saluchi, could be Governor Wel, it could be anybody, you know, and you know, I was just amazed by all of it, you know. A life lived like that is just beyond belief, you know. Um I'm trying to see what else I've got here.

Um okay, I got that. Got that. Yeah, she directed a lot of plays at the little theater here and at our theater the theater in New Bedford and uh one of the plays was quite pregnant. It was was our town by Thornton Wilder. So, it's in a cemetery, you know, and she did a wonderful she did better as she went along. She did a few good men. She I

could I could extol her and go on and on for hours. Like I say, I don't want to do it, but she was just a wonderful ambassador here in Florida. Um, yeah, she was president of kind kind of Linda kind of stole my thunder here because I got all the stuff written down that she did, you know, and you've already heard all of it and it's hard to believe she

had quite a life for herself. She was a world traveler, went all over the place.

Um, I never knew where she was going to be. She meant that everybody, anybody that needed anything, this small guy was a specialty. And she didn't do it for financial enumeration. She did it because she loved life. She loved people and she wanted to help them. And I'll tell you, the only thing in life that matters in the end when you get almost 80 years old and I'll be 80 in the fall.

The only thing that matters is these small things that you do for people to enrich their life. That's what counts in life. Nothing else matters when you hit the grass. Believe me, that's it. And and and to live a life like that, I mean I I couldn't do it like I I just, you know, I mean, she just her whole heart and soul went out to everybody. Um, she met with Bill Clinton in the White House

and discussed and and when he came here to speak at South Park, she met with him and talked about issues always about issues. Nothing about here, nothing she wanted, but about the Portuguese community in the city and our lineage is French and Irish. My mother was all Irish. I had a grandmother that lived with me that had an Irish Grove. And my parents are all buried. The French pot is up at Notre Dame and the Irish

potters at St. Patrick's. and and and we lived out. I went to Sacred Heart School, got slapped around by the nuns.

That wasn't enough. I didn't I hadn't had enough. So, I I went to stay and got slapped around a little more. And then I studied at Providence College, you know.

So, that was me, you know, just uh an old guy that you know, the world's spinning too fast for me now. Spinning much too fast. And uh I don't know if I've got anything else. Like I say, Linda did it all. Um Oh, she came to speak. She was appointed to the arts and arts and cultural council by uh Governor Baker and then she became then uh she spoke out here for the when they had the

the uh uh the tin uh what was it?

I'm losing myself here. When they had that tin sculpture, there it is. When they had the tin tin sculpture, she came and spoke to that when that was put up.

So, okay. So, uh let me see.

Okay, I think that's pretty much it.

Port. Yeah, I think that's pretty much it. But a bright light was certainly put out when when she passed. Uh I think the I think the thing that's most important is not when you met Kathy. It's when she left and made you feel better than you were when you first met her. She empowered you. But thank you so much, Tom, for coming down. I appreciate it.

And you can go around to the council.

Use the microphone. Linda in Fall River like 14 of them and of course they eventually get solved a lot.

Joe Donnelly solved a lot of them. I worked with them on different things.

When I was in the state police, I was on the on the uh security team of Frank Sergeant when he was the governor. Kathy came to see me one time. I made the mistake of saying to her, "How are things in the Old West?"

And she told me, "Don't ever say anything like that to me again." Which and when she told you something like that, you kind of believed her. I never mentioned far over again in any kind of a dark light. Believe me, that was it for me. Having been, you know, been brought up in the city and all the rest of it. I was proud of me. She said, she told me, "It's your city. You've got,

you know, recognize it. There's wonderful people here. It's a wonderful place." And so anyway, that's it.

Thank you so much. I'm finished. You know, thank I I I hope I haven't taken too much of your time.

Thank you so much.

Thank you guys. I really appreciate all

Thank you very much.

Thank you so much.

Thank you.

Florida.

Yeah, she goes down every now and

copies of the speech.

He left the speech. Do you have copies?

Can you He came to see it.

It's the exact same one.

Thanks.

Thank you so much.

Ready to retire.

Thank you. There's Cliffs over there.

Yeah.

Bye.

Madame Clerk. Good evening.

Good evening, Mr. President. The first item before you is a communication from the mayor requesting the reappoint of Ricky P. Hardy to the zoning board of appeals to adopt.

Motion to confirm the appointment has been made by councelor Camarra, seconded by councelor Hart. Discussion hearing none. All those in favor?

Opposed? The eyes have it.

Item two is also request for the mayor from the mayor for the confirmation of the appointment of Sharon Jusome to the council on aging.

Motion to adopt has been made by councelor Hart, seconded by councel Pekkham. Is there discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor? Opposed? The eyes have it. Item three is also a request for the confirmation of the appointment of James Cusk to the conservation commission.

Motion to adopt.

Motion to confirm the appointment has been made by councel Camarra, seconded by councelor Canuel. Is there discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor? Opposed? The eyes have it.

Item four is a request for the appointment of John Brandt to the conservation commission.

Motion to confirm.

Motion to confirm the appointment has been made by councelor Raposo, seconded by councelor Pekkham. Discussion hearing none. All those in favor? I opposed. The eyes have it.

Item five is communication from the mayor requesting to deliver the state of the city address this evening.

A motion to accept the item and place it on file has been made by councelor Camarra, seconded by councelor Pereira.

Discussion hearing none. All those in favor? Opposed? The eyes have it.

And item six is a request from the mayor for a joint meeting of the city council and the school committee to be held on April 14th, 2026 regarding the development of the FY27 budget.

Motion accept. place on file.

Motion to accept and place on file has been made by councelor Raposo, seconded by councel Pekkham. Discussion hearing none. All those in favor? Opposed? BI have it.

Item seven is a communication from the mayor and a proposed ordinance for the salary amendment of the director of health and human services.

Motion to refer to committee on ordinances.

Motion to refer to the committee on ordinances and legislation has been made by councelor Camara, seconded by councelor Raposo. Is there discussion?

Hearing none. All those in favor?

Opposed? The eyes have it.

Item eight is a communication from the mayor and a request for the approval of the termination of Kyle Kleti as constable. We did receive Mr. Kleti's um resignation um late in the day today. So the council's action would be either grant leave to withdraw or to accept and place on fire.

Motion to give the item leave to withdraw has been made by councelor Camar, seconded by councelor Hart. All those in favor opposed. The eyes have it.

Okay. Item nine is a communication from the mayor and a request from the purchasing agent for the city council to approve a public online auction for surplus property.

Motion to approve.

Motion to approve has been made by councelor Camarra, seconded by councelor Raposo. Discussion councelor in seat seven. Councelor Pereira. The only issue I have with this is before when we had um you know things that we had to auction off or surplus, they did it somewhere where people could actually go see it and they had an auction. The online auctions, I think we lost money.

The stoves that we had that they sold for $400, those things are worth like two grand. And I don't agree that it should just be all online. You couldn't even go online to find out where this auction was. I had about four people had the hardest time. Um, so you want to go online, go online, but I'm I'm opposed to online. So I'd request a roll call.

Thank you. Councelor, you yield.

I yield.

Councilman C3. Councelor Canuel.

Yes. Under the charter uh section 2972 um the surplus property shall be sold or disposed of under terms and conditions dictated by the city council. The terms put out by uh Mr. Kwell the purchasing agent says that these funds will go back to the general fund and I would like to see something different happen u particularly with respect to the public safety items. Uh we have nine police

department vehicles and 13 lots of other equipment. On the fire side, we have 13 lots for center street and 26 HQ lots.

Uh be my preference that we would say that anything being sold by the police department goes back to the police department in terms of those funds and anything from the fire department items go back to the fire department. I feel like um these this is money that was given to them at some point. they fought for the you know uh to get those that equipment and it could be further

reinvested for them. Um so that I would prefer it to be that way. With that I yield.

Thank you. Councilman C1 council.

Uh thank you. I don't I don't necessarily disagree with my colleague.

I will just say that you know the funds depending on how they were spent could come from a number of re you know revenue funds or sources if you will whether it's free cash or um you know local receipts that come in. The only thing is is that if it's not going to be specified into a special revenue account or ving account, it's got to go into the general fund. So I I don't know and I

guess I'd leave it up to uh the CFO if if the fire has a special revenue account or ving account. I'm not quite sure. But if that's the intent of my colleague, we would just have to state that. So because if not, it's got to go back into the general funds.

We I'm not sure if this item is pressing. If you want to refer to the committee on finance, we could certainly have the discussion in in in finance at the time, councelor. It's totally up to you. The motion on the floor is to adopt it right now, but sorry.

Sorry, you have the floor. Sorry.

No, I yield. I just want to clarify that.

Constant C2, Council Camar.

Yeah. No, I agree with my colleagues as well. Um, especially with council Pereira. Um, there's no reason that we can't have an auction at one location and do online also. That's how most auctions are done where people can go visit and look at the product themselves and view it and then also do online. I don't know. She's right. We used to do it in the past. It was strictly at one

site, get all the stuff there. It takes a little bit of work, but I think you should have both options available.

With that, I yield. Thank you.

Thank you. There's a motion on the floor uh at this point to approve it um as as currently presented by the mayor. Is that still the will? Uh or do you want to refer this item to refer to finance?

Motion to refer the item to the committee on finance has been made by councel. Seconded by councelor Pereira.

Discussion on the referral which will take precedence over the the approval motion. Uh hearing no further discussion. Motion has been made by councel. Seconded by councel Pereira.

All those in favor?

Opposed. The eyes have it. Motion item has been referred to the committee on finance.

Item 10 is a communication from the mayor and a grant order from Borderland Partners LLC in the amount of 5,910,000 for the completion of a community stroke risk factor and symptom awareness project in collaboration with Brown University Health at St. An St. An's Hospital.

Motion to adopt.

Second.

Motion to adopt has been made by councelor Raposo, seconded by councelor Hart. Is there discussion? Hearing none.

All those in favor? Opposed?

See to abstain. Council in seat two abstained hearing. No further discussion. The eyes have it.

Item 11 is a communication from the mayor and an appropriation of $221,41323 from the EMS retained earnings to EMS salaries.

Motion to adopt.

Motion to adopt has been made by councelor Raposo, seconded by councelor Hart. Is there discussion on the adoption? Hearing none. All those in favor? Opposed? The eyes have it. Item 12 is a communication from the administrator of community utilities requesting the postponement of the submission date of the FY27 water and sewer enterprise fund budgets due to rescheduling of what's up waterboard and sewer commission

meetings.

Motion to accept place on file.

Motion to accept and place on files made by councelor Raposo. Seconded by councel Pekkham. Is there discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor opposed. The eyes have it.

Item 13 is the number of recommendations from the traffic committee on ordinances.

Motion to refer the item to the committee on ordinances and legislation has been made by councelor Raposo seconded by councelar. Is there discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor opposed. The eyes have it.

The committee on ordinances and legislation at a meeting held on March 3rd, 2026 voted unanimously to recommend the accompanying proposed ordinance accompanied by an emergency preamble be passed through first reading, second reading pass to be enrolled and passed to be ordained. This is a proposed ordinance for handicapped parking.

Motion to adopt emergency preamble.

Motion to adopt the emergency preamble has been made by councelor Raposo, seconded by councelor Camarra. Roll call on adopting the emergency preamble.

Council Scadm, yes.

Camarra, yes.

Canuel, yes.

Dion, yes.

Hart, yes.

Yes.

Yes. My apologies.

Carrera, yes.

Yes.

President Ponti.

Yes. Motion to pass through. Motion to pass the item through all readings has been made by councelor Camarra, seconded by councelor Raposo. Discussion hearing none. All those in favor? Opposed? The eyes have it.

Item 15 is a committee report from the committee on ordinances and legislation at a meeting held on March 3rd, 2026.

Voted unanimously to recommend that the accompanying proposed ordinance be passed through first reading. This is a proposed ordinance for miscellaneous traffic.

Motion to pass through first reading.

Second.

Motion to pass the item through first reading has been made by councelor Raposo, seconded by councelor Pekkham.

Discussion hearing none. All those in favor? Opposed? The eyes have it. The committee on ordinances and legislation at a meeting held on March 3rd, 2026 voted unanimously to recommend that the accompanying proposed ordinance be passed through first reading as amended.

This is a an amendment to the commissioner of municipal buildings and code enforcement inspector of buildings.

Motion pass first reading as amended.

Motion to pass the item to first reading as amended. Has been made by councelor Camra.

Second. Seconded by councelor Pereira.

Discussion hearing none. All those in favor? Opposed? The eyes have it.

The committee on ordinances and legislation at a meeting held on March 3rd, 2026 voted unanimously to recommend that the accompanying resolution be granted leave to withdraw. This is regarding the requirements for assisted living facility.

Motion to grant leave to withdraw.

Motion to grant the item leave to withdraw has been made by council, seconded by councel Pekkham. Discussion hearing none. All those in favor?

Opposed? The eyes have Whereas in 2001, the city of Fall River and the Fall River Office of Economic Development commissioned a waterfront master plan by land design research. And whereas the report recommended pursuing state and federal support to enhance the waterfront area, including street ca street streetscape improvements along Deval Water and Anowan streets, revitalization of the for city pier,

restoration of commuter rail service with a waterfront terminal, removal of the route 195 spaghetti ramps, and removal of the elevated Route 79 highway to support housing, commercial, and service sector development.

And whereas the city of Fall River has actively pursued these recommendations by securing state and federal funding to improve waterfront access and redevelopment opportunities.

And whereas the Fall River Redevelopment Authority commissioned the Devol Street Corridor master plan in January 2024, which after public input proposes approximately 2 million square ft of development, including 1,480 residential units, 61,000 square feet of retail, restaurant, and commercial space, 2,200 parking spaces, and an estimated $1 billion in private investment. And whereas Massachusetts

bill House number 471 authorizes the conveyance of land formally used for highway purposes to the Fall River Redevelopment Authority for economic development uses including residential, retail, and commercial development. And whereas the conveyance requires the forever redevelopment authority to remit 50% of the fair market value of each parcel sold or leased over a 10-year period to the

Commonwealth. And whereas the Fore River Redevelopment Authority will reinvest all their proceeds from the sale or lease of each parcel over the same 10-year period into the waterfront transit oriented district and elsewhere in the city to support economic development. Now therefore be a resolved that the city council urges Paul Mayor Paul E. Coogan, Senator Michael J. Rodri and the entire Florida state legislative

delegation to work collaboratively and proactively to advance and approve the terms and conditions set forth in House 4071, enabling the city of Fall River to revitalize the full residential, commercial and economic development potential of its waterfront and to generate significant new economic development revenues, property tax revenues and housing opportunities.

Motion to adopt. Motion to adopt has been made by councelor Raposo, seconded by councel Kadim. Discussion councelor co-sponsor of the resolution council C1.

Councel Kadim.

Thank you, Mr. President. So, I'm just going to ask my colleagues to support this. I think the uh resolution speaks for itself. Um the redevelopment authority again commissioned the master plan that was going down um that the actual the state's going to be using.

So, as we all know, the federal government gave money along with the state for that property. Uh all I'm essentially looking for is that the sale of that property that we receive uh 50 cents on the dollar that goes back to the redevelopment authority to actually be reinvested um in that corridor so that we know that there's going to be additional uh development going down there. I know the state came before us.

We were having a good conversation and was back and forth as to whether or not who was going to take ownership of that land. Um, I think as long as the master plan is followed, I think the most important thing is if we can get a portion of the proceeds from the sale of that property back into the city through the redevelopment authority, not necessarily through the the city itself, but the redevelopment authority to

ensure that we will have additional investment down in the corridor because there's a lot more investment that needs to take place um in that corridor when we look at the 79 corridor. So, uh, from my standpoint, there's already a bill out there. Um, so we're just really urging the uh the delegation to be able to support this and move this forward.

Uh, so if it is adopted, I would just ask that a letter be sent uh to the uh president of the Senate, uh, the speaker of the house and um our delegation as well. So Senator Rodri and and the state delegation noted councelor. Thank you. You yield.

I do.

Thank you. Councelor in seat uh three council.

Thank you. I do want to say that there's this bill 4071. There's been a prevailing bill, House number 4973, uh that was reported uh to the joint committee of state administration and regulatory oversight on January 22nd. It was reported favorably favorably out of that committee. It's moved now to ways and means. Uh the language of which is in 4973 has changed some of the language

in 4071 which I don't fully support. Um so with that, I won't be supporting this. I yield.

Thank you. Council in seat seven.

Councelor Pereira, I think that with this bill, with the property that we have on down by the waterfront, I think council Kim's right.

The feds have given what 70 80% the state has given money. Um, the one thing, so I think I'd like to see a collaboration of everybody working together, but the bottom line is I don't care who comes and develops this project, Fall River still is going to be the ones doing the permitting and the zoning. So there's something that um we have a hold of, but from what I'm hearing that will be such a good

development that they have a lot of national developers that are interested in it. Um if it's just for a certain percentage of money to go to redevelopment, um I I just don't think that um I don't think the state's going to be in favor.

Um I've heard the Senator Rodri's on the radio um speaking against it. Now whether it's against just having redevelopment authority take over that whole area and develop it. Um because I was in the car and I had to get out of the car and I didn't finish here in the rest of um I also brought it to send a letter because you're only going to send a letter and let's see what happens from

the letter and if let's see what the response is. But I don't think we're going to get a positive response. I'm just throwing it out there. But at least we've got zoning and permitting that we can hold on to. With that, I yield.

Thank you, councelor. Any further discussion? Councilman C2, councelor Camra.

Yeah, I'm also struggling to support it because I mean the state has invested so much and in good faith working with them. When the two gentlemen came down here from the state and Mr. Fel was down here, it seemed like everyone could work together collaboratively. Now we're saying we're going to have portion go to redevelopment authority. I think the state and the federal government are

both going to want to get, you know, some of the rec some of their money back and and invest as well and they can we can work coop cooperatively with both entities in there and I um I think it should just stay that way.

What did I I wish council sew one council kadine.

No, no, I appreciate everybody's uh opinion on this matter from from my standpoint. It's it's a letter requesting us to support House Bill uh 4071. If we don't send the letter, we don't ask, we're not getting any money, right? So worst case scenario is it's a no. Uh best case scenario we get 5050 50 cents on the dollar which we can then reinvest in the uh in that location. So well just point of clarification if I

may. The city doesn't get the money redevelopment authority.

Right. Right. So which is a quasi governmental agency for the for y. So I'm just asking my colleagues to support the letter to you know urge the support at the uh at the state house and uh if it's a positive outcome then we've done our our due diligence to try to get additional money back into the the city to get reinvested. So with that, I yield.

Thank you. Consent C2, Council Kamar.

Yeah. No, and I understand my colleague's point. I respect the resolution and and both co-sponsors of it, but I just think I don't want to get too greedy with the state and the federal government. They've given us an awful lot of investment up there.

They've given us an awful lot overall.

Um, so I just think that everyone should be getting that ideal.

Thank you. I'm going to be supporting it just for whatever it's worth. I I I I always have a concern with how our president, if I may, if you're going to take your position on the stand, you have to come down and speak. If you want to make a comment without telling your position, that's one thing.

Yeah. I'm going to just make it a point of information that you can't say you're going to support an act or not as a chair up there. You just have to come down and speak whether if you're supportive or against an item.

Okay. Well, I'm supporting the the item.

I'm not going to go down and tell you anything further.

Roll call.

Thank you. Motion has been made.

Is that why you co-sponsored it? Because you're supporting it, right? Just just a point of information.

I mean you you we we've all done it before councelor. I know I I've never stated in support for or against. So that's my only point.

Motion has been made in second. Hearing no further discussion roll complaint.

I don't adopting the resolution.

Councelor Scadine.

Yes.

Camar.

No.

Can no.

Dion.

No.

Hart.

Yes.

Peekom.

Yes. Pereira, yes.

Raposo, yes.

President Ponty, yes.

Item passes. Next order of business.

Thank you.

64 54.

Whereas the Community Preservation Act, MGL, Chapter 44B, provides a dedicated funding source to support community housing, open space, historic preservation, and recreation projects.

And whereas the city council and the community preservation committee each play important and complimentary roles in the review, prioritization and appropriation of CPA funded projects.

And whereas coordination between the CPC and the city council is beneficial to ensure shared understanding of funding opportunities, project readiness, and long-term fiscal planning. Now therefore be a resolve that the committee on finance and the community preservation committee hold a joint meeting with the administration to discuss upcoming priorities for community preservation act funding categories and potential

projects.

Motion to adopt.

Motion to adopt has been made by councelor reposo seconded by councelom discussion councelor who sponsored the resolution. Councelor in seat one councel kadine. Thank you, Mr.

President. Again, I resolution speaks for itself, but I I think the intent of this resolution is really just to open the lines of communication with the uh CPC. Um I for one think that the CPA act is is a a a benefit to us. It's a it's a tool that we can use to uh preserve and use additional funding uh for a number of projects. But I I think what tends to

happen is that we never really have a good dialogue between the uh the CPC and the and the city council. The only time we really have any type of conver conversation is when the projects are already being uh recommended to us. So I I think part part of the conversation should be just having a joint um understanding of what our goals and objectives would be for the various categories that we have in in the uh CPC

or CPA bucket. Uh because it's open space, housing um you know the other categories that's just went out out of my brain so I can't remember them all.

Uh but there are four categories. So, we we just need to to start having those conversations. A lot of the projects that we've seen in the past have been private property uh projects.

Um some some of the things that we have talked about as a council is leveraging these dollars uh to get some more public projects going on. So, I I think that's important as well. So, I think this will if if approved uh having the CPC come back before us to have a good dialogue in terms of what we want to see moving forward. With that, I yield.

Thank you, Councilman C2. Council Camara.

Yeah, I'm going to support the resolution as well. It's just a little tricky though because they get requests regularly and then I'm not sure how they're going to maybe they should be letting us know of the request they're getting. So see what I mean they have coming down but there is a timeline that they have to from when they get the request to what they have to approve. So

it's going to be a little tricky but I do agree with the resolution the intent of it and I can support it because it is something that we probably should know what they're looking to do well before they bring it to us in the form of either you vote it up or vote it down.

So I agree with that with that yield.

Thank you.

Thank you councelor in seat seven councelor prayer. Well, one of the things the um the CP the CPA has uh a person in Boston that I believe they pay like $4,000 money a year that that person kind of helps them guide through the laws and that but if I know his first name is Stuart and I can't for the life of me think of his last name, but maybe that would be someone to contact

prior to scheduling a meeting to see if we can do that or maybe if that person could be present as well. Absolutely.

because I I have had concerns with some things that are um that money's given to certain things and other things aren't or they think they're going to get the money and then it gets pulled. Um there's been some concerns. I'd like to know how that's all working. With that, I yield. Thank you.

Thank you, Council. Madam Clerk, if you could just note that for the record, if you can invite that individual that our colleague just spoke about when we uh have this item, that'd be great.

Hearing no further discussion on the adoption. Motion has been made and seconded. All those in favor? Opposed?

The eyes have it.

Whereas organizations such as the Fall River Arts and Cultural Commission, Creative Arts Network, Inc., and various other community groups host various types of events, festivals, and celebrations. And whereas these events are attended by residents, visitors, and business owners of the city of Fall River and help with economic development and tourism revenue within the community. And whereas neighborhood

engagement has a positive impact on the greater Fall River area and the efforts of these organizations should be admired and supported. Now therefore be a resolve that the committee on economic development and tourism convene with the administration's event resource coordinator, representatives of the Fall River Arts and Cultural Commission, and representatives from the Creative Arts

Network, Inc. to discuss upcoming events that are scheduled in the city of Fall River for the upcoming calendar year.

Is there a motion?

Motion to adopt has been made by councelor Camara, seconded by councel Pereira. Discussion the sponsor of the resolution council sele I think it's self-explanatory. Just trying to get all these organizations to work together to come together. I I really dislike when I hear people say there's nothing to do in for River when in fact there is a lot to do but we don't know about it. So we're trying to

figure out a way to get people to know of what is going on in the community.

With that I yield. Thank you.

Thank you. Councilman C4 council vice president.

Yeah. Um just for clarification who is arts and the arts and culture commission.

Um they're from s uh Tracy Babosa.

Frack.

She's part of that. Frack.

Okay. Frack. Okay. I understand it as frack. Yeah. Um there are other organizations also though that do put on events I believe. Um is this open to all of them?

Open to everyone.

Okay. Because it seemed to be specific.

So um I wasn't sure. Um no if it included anybody that wanted to We'll open to everyone but we have to start with somewhere and branch out to people that know other people that are in involved in this and try to bring them together.

All right. Thank you. With that I yield.

Anything further? Harry? None. Roll call on adopting the resolution. Councelor Scadin, yes.

Camarra, yes.

Canuel, yes.

Dion, yes.

Hart, yes.

Peekom, yes.

Yes.

Reposo, yes.

President Ponty, yes.

Whereas it has been observed that street lighting throughout the city, particularly in the downtown district, is extremely low and inadequate. And whereas insufficient street lighting creates significant safety hazards for pedestrians and vehicular traffic by reducing visibility and increasing the risk of accidents. And whereas such conditions also contribute to an unsafe environment for residents, businesses,

and visitors in the affected areas, potentially deterring economic activity and diminishing the overall quality of life in the downtown district. Now therefore be a resolved that the committee on public safety convene with the administration, the director of city operations, and a representative of the Fall River Police Department to discuss improving street lighting to enhance public safety and promote a secure

environment in the downtown district and throughout the city.

Motion to adopt.

Motion to adopt the resolution as made by councelor Raposo, seconded by councel Pekham. Discussion the sponsor of the resolution, counselor in seat 6, councel Pekkham. Um, I filed this resolution, council president. Um, South Main Street. So, two big things to cities are public safety and economic development.

I go down to South Main Street now. It's it's dark. Um, I know they're working on North Main Street. Chris Hathaway reached out to me a couple of days ago.

Um, he did say that he would like to uh increase the wattage or whatever it is on the lighting. Um, but he will work to work with us on this resolution. Um, when you go down there and it's dark, we're trying to bring businesses in, if you can't see and it's unsafe, it just doesn't make sense. We're starting off on the wrong foot. So, I think elevating the lighting down there would help us

out tremendously in both aspects, public safety and economic development. That I yield. Thank you.

Thank you, Councilman Cat 3, Council Canuel.

Thank you. Uh, I'm certainly not opposed to this. I just want to bring to uh the council's attention that the FY27 uh capital plan had a line item $200,000 for decorative lighting. I didn't know if that might address this or is planned to address this and whether or not we'd still need the discussion given that um item coming up without you.

Thank you. Cutency 7 council Pereira.

Um just you know in talking about lighting when uh John Perry was here and Chris Gallagher we had Amaresco that did all the lightings around the city. You'd go down Bedford Street, Pleasant Street.

The lights were really dim. Amaresco came. I think they contracted with Brian Bishop and they had to redo the transmitters inside the lights and all of a sudden now those lights, those LED lights are not really working all over the city. When they put them on, you go down Beth Street, it was like you're at Logan Airport on the runway. It was bright and now I see them going lower. I

think there needs to be more of a study on these lights, what kind of lights we're using and what's going on because it's through the whole city. So I just wanted to add that.

Thank thank you. Yield with that I yield.

Council if you can note that in your meeting.

Absolutely council president.

Councilman Cateor Repos.

Yeah. And through you Mr. President to the chairman of public safety. I think too another area that should be noted is our waterfront area especially the walkway from the veterans area all the way down to Point Gloria. That particular section for whatever reason those poles are hot mess and some of them haven't been fixed yet. Um so at night if you ever walk the boardwalk you're walking in pitch darkness because

those lights are unoperational. So through you to the chairman if uh we could also address that as well be great.

Thank you Mr. Chair of public safety you could take care of that for us too.

Thank you. Councilman see 2 council.

Yeah it's a very good resolution. I'm going to support it and council seat 7 is right. Emma Resco came down and it was cost cutting measures. They were going to save us a lot of money and now we know why they save us a lot of money because we're not using a lot of electricity in the streets. It it's a lot darker. Um so it's a good resolution. And I'm looking forward to

hearing what we can do about it to get up. I don't just think you can up the wattage. I think you might have to do some infrastructure improvements in there, but it's all throughout the city.

Bedford Street, North Main, South Main.

It's it's true.

With that, I yield. Thank you.

Thank you, councelor. Any further discussion on it? Hearing none. Motion to adopt has been made and seconded. All those in favor? Opposed? The eyes have it.

Whereas the mayor and city council requested through a home rule petition that the general corps of the commonwealth of Massachusetts enact legislation entitled an act relative to the appointment of the police chief in the city of Fall River. And whereas notification was received that this act was signed into law by the governor on January 29th, 2026. Now therefore be resolved that the city council send a

letter to the mayor requesting that a proposed ordinance making the necessary changes in the code of the city of Fall River for compliance in implementation of this new act be submitted for consideration by the committee on ordinances and legislation and be a further resolve that said letter also request that a chief of police be appointed under these new regulations by September 30th 2026.

Motion to adopt. Motion to adopt has been made by councelor Raposo, seconded by councel Pekkham. Discussion the sponsor of the resolution, councelor in seat for council, vice president Dion.

Yeah, I wrote this resolution because way back um before this went through and we voted for the new chief. Um my whole thing then was having a process. Um we haven't had a process for years in terms of hiring a chief. Um and that's when the conversation came about to go back to civil service. The mayor agreed that um that he would send that we could do it through the home petition to go back

to civil service. So for me, we now have the process and I'd like to see the process move forward. I'd like to see us um finish following through. Um, I put a date of September 30th, 2026, not because it's a concrete date, but I think we're we're all aware of um when the contract, the present contract expires, but I think we're also cognizant of the fact that we're not

going to get a chief on board next week.

It's going to be a process. It's going to take months. You're going to have to go through an assessment uh center.

there's going to have to be a committee to choose.

So, there's still steps. So, that's why I put September as a target date um so that we can just get from point A, get to point B um and just follow through with the process and hopefully be on board. If it takes a little longer, fine. If it happens sooner, that's fine, too. That was just a random uh date to allow time. With that, I yield.

Thank you. Councilman seat six. Council Peko, I think it's an excellent resolution um to give the time frame. Is it possible for us to find out if they've started this process at all? Because I know that they're going to have to take a new chief's test. The MPTC is going to have to be notified that we're going that route. So, can we check with the mayor to see if he's taken a step in this

direction at all?

Point of information, conscency 4. So, at our ordinance meeting, um the director of human resources mentioned that he had had a conversation with the mayor and the mayor was prepared to um ask for a test.

Okay.

Well, can we find out if he did or what his plan is as to asking for that test?

Because I just don't want to push it.

Like council Dion said, this is a process. once we go to look for the chief. I want to make sure the uh the groundwork that's set up is actually in motion prior.

Uh madame clerk, if you can please get that information uh to councelor Pekham and then share it with the full body uh as soon as available that'd be great.

Thank you. With that, I yield council.

Anything further on this item? Hearing none. Motion to adopt has been made and seconded. All those in favor?

Opposed?

The eyes have it.

Whereas the response to any state of emergency within the city of Fall River should be guided by a clear, written, and directive plan to ensure coordinated and effective action. And whereas, as witnessed during the blizzard of 2026, the absence of a comprehensive strategic emergency response plan contributed to miscommunication and confusion among department heads, resulting in delays in

responding to emergency situations.

And whereas congregating all relevant department heads and key personnel in one centralized location during a declared state of emergency promotes faster decision making, improved coordination and a more productive and timely response to emergencies. Now therefore be a resolve that the committee on public safety convene with the administration the chiefs of the police department, fire department,

emergency medical services department and emergency med excuse me emergency management agency along with the administrator of community utilities, the interim director of the department of community maintenance, the director of city operations and the director of traffic and parking to discuss, develop and recommend a strategic emergency response plan for implementation and be a further resolved that set plan

shall include provisions for advancements and updates to the current centralized emergency operations center located at 140 Commerce Drive where all listed department heads and key personnel are required to assemble and coordinate during any declared state of emergency. and be a further resolve that the committee on public safety shall report back to the full council with its findings, recommendations, and a

proposed timeline for implementation of the strategic emergency response plan no later than 90 days after the adoption of this resolution.

Motion to adopt.

Motion to adopt the resolution has been made by councelor Raposo, seconded by councelor Pekkham. Discussion the sponsor of the resolution, councelor in seat 6, councelor Pekkham.

Thank you, council president. Um so with any tough situation or experience you always critique after and you learn from them.

Um 41 inches of snow as the mayor said earlier is a it's an astronomical it's a large amount. Um so to be perfectly prepared for something you can't expect that. What I did um noticed during the storm was the lack of communication and the lack of emergency structure. With any emergency, there should be a checklist as to what you need to do. Um, especially in this situation to keep

lives safe. We just didn't have that. We had directors at home. We had directors in wherever they were. They just weren't all in one room. So, while they were trying to strategically plan for this blizzard, um, it was just constant phone calls to everywhere. Um, so I think in the event of a state of emergency to where it's called, all chiefs and pertinent department heads need to

respond to one location with the mayor and make decisions from that location.

Um, with the emergency operations center, I didn't even know we had one until the blizzard. A lot of people didn't because I asked. It's the classroom up at the fire headquarters.

It's got a smartboard on the wall. um for a city our size. I can tell you MIMA showed up and said that we need we need more. Um people from the National Guard said the same thing that we should have more than what we have for a city of our size. So that's why I follow the resolution that I yield. Thank you.

Thank you. Anything further on the item?

Motion to adopt has been made and seconded. All those in favor? Opposed?

The eyes have it.

Whereas the city of F River relies upon private snow and ice removal vendors to ensure the safe and timely clearing of public roadways, sidewalks, and municipal properties during winter weather events. And whereas the snow and ice removal account is one of the accounts legally permitted to operate under deficit spending authority due to the unpredictable nature and severity of winter storms. And whereas recent winter

storm events have created financial obligations to snow removal vendors that must be satisfied in a timely manner.

And whereas there were circumstances during prior storms in which vendors were not paid within an appropriate time frame creating hardship for local contractors and small businesses who rely upon timely municipal payment. Now therefore be it resolved that once invoices are reviewed, approved and processed through accounts payable, payment to snow and ice vendor shall be issued without delay and that the

administration shall take all necessary steps to ensure future snow and ice removal payments are made within 30 days of proper invoice submission and approval.

Motion to motion to adopt has been made by councelor Raposo, seconded by councelor Pek of discussion hearing. Councelor in C1, do you want to speak on the resolution? Yes, councelor and C1. Council Kadeim, I'm sorry.

Council Kade be the sponsor.

Uh, so I know council president had uh put this forward too, but I just think it's important and I know we we do turn around our invoices pretty quickly, but I I think with the concerns of um maintaining and and attracting new vendors uh to these snowstorms, I think it's important to get these uh invoices paid in a timely manner. uh especially with the amount of time and uh energy

and effort that was put into the storm um over 36 hours of work that was going in. Um I would like to amend it that it's 30 days from the storm as opposed to 30 days after the storm, so the beginning of the storm just so that we can get that moving a little bit quicker. Um but outside of that, it's just really trying to get these individuals paid in a timely manner. I

know we've got um a lot of the invoices or estimates that were submitted to MIMA for reimbursement, so that should be underway. So there should be no reason as to why there's any any real delay coming from the payment for for all these plow uh vendors coming forward.

So, um I know we have cash flow there's no cash flow issues. So, we've asked that question the last time around. So, there shouldn't be really any excuse as to why um we're not paying the vendors in a timely manner. So, with the exception of them not submitting invoices, that's something separate.

But, I just want to make sure that it takes a priority and is a is moved forward as quickly as possible.

Uh you have a motion, counselor, to amend this item to make it 30 days from the storm.

Yep. on the on the amendment on the amendment uh has been made by councelor Kadine to amend it 30 days seconded by councelor reposo discussion on the amendment councelor in C2 councelor kamar yeah I just reading the resolution I mentioned to my colleague that maybe we should do it instead of when they finally get to submit the bill paid 30 days from there then we should probably do it the day of the storm but

what we should do is just do it 30 days from when services were rendered that way there's no question as to when the storm was when it was someone's doing it and we should amend it to include the words from 30 days no later than 30 days from when services were rendered to the city. That way whoever has to put the pro the paperwork in place knows that he

has to do it soon enough so this person can get paid from 30 days from when the services were rendered whatever they did and make it a lot clearer. But I agree with the resolution. It's a good resolution and people do the work they deserve to get paid in a timely fashion.

So I going to wholeheartedly support it with that amendment.

Thank you. And just so we're clear, the amendment does read 30 days from services rendered to the city of Fall River.

That's the motion on the amendment.

Motion has the amendment. Council, do you yield?

I yield. Thank you.

Councelor in seat free. Councelor uh Canuel.

Thank you. Uh I certainly support this resolution. I just don't think it goes far enough. I think that when we have uh a shortage of truck drivers, there are other communities paying faster. And I think to attract more trucks, I think we need to lower this time frame uh from 30 days to half of that potentially. So I'd like to see, you know, this time frame shorter. I don't know the feasibility of

that, but I I think that other communities are paying. That's the feedback I've heard out there is that other communities are paying within maybe like a twoe time frame. I think we should challenge ourselves to go further than just average 30 days, particularly with a shortage if we want to attract more. With that, I yield.

Thank you. Consery 7 councelor Pereira I I just don't even think it should be from the time the services are rendered.

So there's a snowstorm today on Tuesday.

I render the services to the city. So I should get 30 get paid 30 days from today. It should be from when they submit an invoice. It should be 30 days from when you submit an invoice.

They don't submit invoices. People do the paperwork and submit the paperwork.

Where's the guys?

They still have to No, they still have to submit their bill with the hours that they have. That's what I was told. And as soon as they submit whatever it is, we had that problem with Brian Bishop.

Remember that there was a whole thing of when things were submitted on a timely basis.

Clarification.

Your point of clarification. Your point of clarification.

Yeah. Point of clarification. Uh at a meeting of the subcommittee on public works, it was told to us that the sector leaders are the ones submitting the hours for payment. They don't submit invoices to private vendors.

Thank you. I don't know how that makes any sense.

Well, because they council seat 7 has the floor.

No, I I'll yield to council in seat number two.

Thank you. Cons, council.

Right. So, the sector leaders hire the people to do the work. They know when they're going to do it. They tell them where to go. They submit the paperwork.

They put the paperwork in. so that people can get paid. They don't submit the regular vendors don't submit individual paperwork for what they're doing. They've already registered. We have all their information. The sector leaders know how many hours they're working. They document it and they submit it. Gets paid. My only the reasoning for when services were rendered is that what if the sector

leader takes too long to submit the paperwork? Now it's like 30 days from when the paperwork's submitted. That's the same. That's the original resolution. Yeah.

Right. So, let's just make it so that when you if I'm working on February 2nd, I ought to get paid on March 2nd, no later than that. 30 days is very reasonable. If we can, we can pay them sooner if we want to, but no later than 30 days, I think, is very reasonable for the municipality and the vendor. And that's common practice throughout the state. We can pay them in two weeks if

we wanted to or one day, but I think to make it fair for everybody, we should do it that way. With that, I yield.

Thank you, Councilman C7, Council Per. I just think I need some clarification on that because what I'm hearing is that the sector leader just goes around in a truck to make sure that the people that are plowing are plowing in good faith.

So they're not with that person all the time. I'm told that if I'm going to plow for the city, I have a plow. I'm plowing for the city. I come in, I'm on the road, where do I go? What section do I go? I have to submit to them. This is what I did. I worked from this time to this time. So, I think before we do anything with this, I I would just like

clarification on that and everybody seems to have a different opinion. I think it's a good resolution. People should get paid right away and because before people weren't getting paid and then we don't have we have people who don't want to plow for us. But I mean, I I'll support it, but I think we need to have I would just like some clarification on it. If you could check, Mr. President.

Sure. on the clarification and whatever it is, if it is that they submit it, then I think you should bring it back and it should be from the date that it's submitted. If not, and it's somebody else that's doing it, then the date of service is right.

Madam clerk, if you can note that for the record, we'll get back to our colleague tomorrow.

You Thank you. Councilman se one council.

Thank you. So, I was just going to say I would just hope the colleagues support this because if we push this off for another two weeks, then there's no way they're going to get paid within 30 days. So I think that's that's the part of it. But I I I think my council uh my colleague brings up a good point that in terms of just for the verification the invoices that are being submitted if we

can get clarification because just to have sector leaders submit um you know the I guess the work that was done. I I think you would have to have some type of invoice that's submitted from each vendor saying the the equipment that they use. I mean because they some vendors have four or five people working under them. Uh they've got loaders, they've got dump trucks, they've got pickup trucks. So there should be some

type of um checks and balance in terms of what's being submitted. So I would I would imagine that an invoice needs to be submitted to the city so that it can ve be verified that one they worked that many hours that they did actually have that equipment that was there because if not what you're going to have happen which has always been the concern in the past is is that you bring on privates

they plow there's no GPS right so you think they're out there plowing they they cut off their route they go plow this driveway they in this plaza they're doing this that then they come back and it's like okay well I worked the entire storm well did you so that I think there's got to be some verification in terms of that. So, I just want to make sure that invoices are being submitted

and that we do have the invoices to in case an audit needs to be done because if you recall the last time we were trying to look for audits, there wasn't enough documentation there to support whether or not uh vendors were actually in the routes that they were supposed to be with the equipment. We were hearing that people were put in additional equipment that were never even used by the city. So, I think from from an

auditing standpoint, we should just know exactly what the process is for for this. I I don't disagree with my colleague. I just I just think this resolution should move forward just to urge the administration to make sure that they're paying the vendors on a timely basis. That's all. And I don't disagree with my colleague in C3 that there are communities that are paying sooner. I think the soonest you'll see

that is is probably a twoe turnaround time or a week and a half, but like if we can strive to do that, then that's great. I think what we're trying to do is make sure that it doesn't extend past 30 days. So with that, I yield.

Thank you. Constant C4, Council Vice President Dion.

Yeah. So I think after listening to everybody um we could amend it to no later than 30 days after services are rendered. So that way that allows for the shorter time period but it still puts a cut off of 30 days.

Second motion to amend the amendment has been made by council Dion, seconded by councelor Kamar. discussion on the amendment of the amendment where it will read no later than 30 days from services rendered to the city of Fall River. Uh council seat 2, council kamar.

Yeah, I just I'm not going to discuss the amendment. I agree with it. I don't support it. I just want to make one note. My colleague in C3 is absolutely correct. At the meeting of transportation, they did tell us that the whether it's the sector leader, department, someone submits the hours that the people are working and it's not something that they submit invoices. So it was on the meeting. They said it.

He's not making it up. I heard it as well. So, we'll have to go back and see exactly what they said and what they meant by that.

With that, I yield. Thank you.

Thank you. Motion to adopt as amended would be appropriate.

Motion to adopt as amended has been made by councelor Dion, seconded by councelor Pekkham. Just to be clear, the amendment is no later than 30 days from services rendered to the city of Fall River.

Motion to adopt as amended. Any further discussion? Councilman C3, Council Canuel. I still would love to see us adopt language that references a target of 15 days, let's say, with a maximum of 30 days to so that we can uh put a stronger focus on paying these sooner.

That's what we're doing.

Is that in the form of an amendment council to amend?

I'll make a motion to motion to amend. Uh I'm just curious point of clarification.

How is that different than what we're supporting? Maximum 30 days.

He he just wants to see if it can be done within 15 days. You want to clarify that counselor? Yeah, I want to I want to see the finance team target to make these payments within two weeks with a maximum of 30 days, but I think I really want to see us move from a 30-day window to a 15-day window. And I think if we adopt it the way it's proposed, I think

they're just going to be looking at, oh, we have 30 days to do it. And I think we need to be better than that to attract more vendors. So your res your your amendment is to uh urge the administration to target a 15-day payment uh uh with a maximum of 30.

Correct.

There's a motion to amend has been made by councelor Canuel. Is there a second to that amendment?

Second.

Seconded by councelor Pereira. Is there discussion on the amendment?

Let's give them let's make it one week to do it.

Councelor in sew one council. All I want to say is is the two-e turnaround time is probably a standard turnaround time in terms of if you go through the actual process, right? You got to submit an invoice. It's got to be reviewed. It's got to be put into munis.

It goes through the auditor's office.

Then it gets put onto a warrant bill schedule. It gets signed by the mayor's office. So that typically is where you know a twoe turnaround time gets a week and a half, two weeks. That's that's what you would expect. So I guess if we want to say we want to add that, I guess I'm not opposed to it, but that that's the standard, right? And I I think the I

think we're all just like I don't know dissecting this way too much. Right? The intent of this was to make sure people are paid no later than 30 days, right?

So we are guaranteeing that they are not waiting 40, 45 days, 60, 90 days like they have been in the past, right, when we had cash flow issues so that the turnaround time is if they can do it in two days, God bless them. Let's let's walk it through. I I I don't care how fast they get paid. I just want to make sure that we're not later than three. So I'll support it. I

I I just think we're dissecting this way too much overthinking.

Totally agree. Thank you, councelor. Uh motion to adopt as amended. Uh on the amendment, rather. Is there any further discussion on the amendment by councel in seat three?

No.

Let's vote on that item. Motion to amend has been made and seconded. Hearing no further discussions on the amendment.

Great. Motion to adopt as amended.

Amended would be appropriate.

Has been made by councelor Raposo.

Seconded by councelor Canuel. Is there discussion on the amendment in the amendments? No.

Hearing none, all those in favor?

Opposed? The eyes have it. Thank you.

Don't ask me to co-sponsor another resolution with you.

Whereas the Massachusetts Assisted Living Residences Commission report, which was resubmitted to the state legislature on January 12th, 2026, reviewed and strengthened recommendations for safety regulations related to assisted living residences across the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

And whereas the Massachusetts Assisted Living Residences Commission issued comprehensive recommendations designed to improve informed decision making in relation to resident needs, provide more accessibility to public information and transparency, increase necessary staffing levels, and strengthen emergency preparedness and safety. And whereas the safety of assisted living residents, staff, and

all first responders, including the Fall River Fire Department, police department, emergency medical services and emergency medical agency, who serve these facilities in times of emergency and are of utmost importance to the city of Fall River. And whereas these recommendations must be presented and voted upon by the House of Representatives and Senate of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. Now

therefore, be it resolved that the city council submit a letter of support to the Massachusetts Senate and House of Representatives to urge the advancement and adoption of this legislation that will implement the recommendations within the Massachusetts Assisted Living Residences Commission report to ensure increased safety for assisted living facility residents, staff, and all first

responders throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts.

Motion to adopt.

Motion to adopt has been made by councelor Reposo, seconded by councelor Hart. discussion the chairman of the ordinance committee council cateo.

Thank you Mr. President. So just for the council's edification uh March 4th the report that was referenced in the committee on ordinances legislation meeting was emailed to all of us. So if you do get a minute to review it in detail uh it is a pretty good report outlining some particular recommendations that definitely are going to be at the state level. Um so if you have a moment to review those but

definitely uh I ask my colleagues to support this uh to get that letter of support to the uh state delegation those above us. I yield. Thank you. And just for the uh uh recollection of the public, this is a resolution that came from the body on the committee on ordinances and legislation. Right. Any discussion? Any further discussion?

Hearing none. Motion has been made and seconded. All those in favor? Opposed?

The eyes have it.

Whereas the redevelopment of the Route 79, the Ball Street corridor corridor is crucial to the economic growth of the city of Fall River. And whereas upgrades and renovations to several other locations throughout the city such as Pleasant Street and North Main Street will increase the financial incomes of small businesses, restaurants, and event spaces. And whereas most municipalities

have a standalone city planner to assist with the development of renovation, construction, and improvement plans throughout the community as well as programs for use of city-owned land and facilities. And whereas currently the tasks of both the engineering department and the planning division are assigned to one individual who performs the duties to the best of their ability but is limited with the ability to solely

work on development and improvement plans that would benefit the city of Fall River financially with tourism and investment. Now therefore be a resolved that the committee on economic development and tourism convene with the administration to discuss the potential financial benefits of increased development within the city of Fall River that would result from the creation of a separate city planner position.

Is there a motion?

Motion.

Motion to adopt has been made by councelor Pereira. Is there a second?

Second.

Seconded by councelor Hart. Discussion the sponsor of the resolution counselor in seat 7. Councelor Pereira. I mean, I just think we have so much development to do in Fall River, North Main Street, Pleasant Street. How long has that building been on Rodman and, you know, Columbia Street? It's ridiculous.

There's so many things going on. Do we have any literature on how many empty storefronts in the Flint? What's the square footage?

Do they have Wi-Fi? Do they have handicap bathrooms? We don't know. And I think it's unfair to have one individual do planning, do engineering, do conservation, and have traffic under their belt. If you look at all of the other communities in the Commonwealth, they have planning directors, planning groups, planning teams, they have deputy planners. I mean, it's just taking us too long to

get things done. The mayor talked about, you know, a lot of this development that's going on. Um, you know, things that are going on on Columbia Street.

Mike Dion's office is dealing with that.

You know, something a parking lot over here, somebody else's. I just think we need to give people more resources to do the job that they have to do. You can't expect one person to do everything and do it well. It It's not right. And and I think that you know through the years we've gotten rid of a position and put that person handling two positions handling it's not fair. Um and I just

think it needs to be discussed and I bring it to economic development and tourism and see what we can do in economic development about looking at that the person needs help. Let's get help. That's my only thing. With that I yield.

Thank you councilman sew one. Council kadine.

Thank you. I I appreciate my colleagues resolution. I just one can't support it.

I I don't know where um the committee on economic development and tourism would have any real authority to have a conversation about the city planner and the engineer. Um I I think when we start looking at the city planner and engineer, the amount of money that we're that is being saved and I don't disagree. It's currently two separate positions now. So if the mayor decides that he wants to go fill the engineer's

position, he should fill the engineers position. But at the end of the day, Dan Aguar is getting paid seven extra hours a week to fulfill the engineers position. Um, and he's doing a phenomenal job in my mind. There's there's no backlog in plan review documentation. Um, when we start talking about economic development, I mean, the mayor just gave a city city of uh state of the city address tonight and he

talked about the urban renewal plan that's taking place on Pleasant Street that was uh overseen by Dan Aguar. They got roadway safety audits um that are being conducted by Serhead which is in the heart of Pleasant Street. Uh so that's being identified again led by Dan Aguar. Uh we have the Alden Street reconstruction project which is getting millions of dollars in and federal money uh that's going through um just

infrastructure and the roads and then also uh conversations with uh um Hathaway for um lighting and electric uh concerns that we have in that area. So when we start when we start talking about department heads, I mean you want you want to talk about economic development, there are there are department heads who are not delivering.

I can go down the list of things that Mr. Aguia has delivered on, right? There are department heads who are legitimately impacting and holding up economic development because they're not doing their job and we've had those conversations. So if we want to have a conversation about economic development and holding people accountable, I don't know that we go for the person that's that's providing the most uh

productivity, you know, for projects and economic development. I sit on uh SER commissioner and I'll tell you as a SER commissioner for SECONK, Dan Aguia advocates for more money coming out of SERD, okay? And there are a number of communities that are sitting there on a monthly basis looking listening to projects. And the projects that I constantly hear time and time again is what Forever is doing with money coming

from Serpent. And again, that's Dan Aguar. Dan Aguar is serving on the open uh space and recreational plan. I can tell you a department head who manages open space and recreation that is not serving on that on that committee.

Right. So I to me I just I just won't support. We want to talk about economic development, we want to talk about tourism, I'm all for that. I don't know that having a conversation about a planner and an engineer is is the conversation because that's not what's driving it. Um there there's a lot that's being done and if just a quarter of of our department heads would produce what Mr. Aguia has produced, then we

we'd be in good shape, right? So, I think that from an economic development standpoint, if that's what we want to talk about, let's really talk about economic development and what what we need to do because there are a number of projects that this council has talked about time and time again that still have not been completed, which, you know, being part of the real estate committee, I know we have a meeting

coming up, but we'll we'll get those projects back on on schedule. But, um, if we want to talk about trying to get additional resources, uh, for the Flint and and North Main Street, then I I'll support that every single day. And, um, you know, in terms of we want to talk about the tourism director and things of that nature. I'm I'm good with that. But I don't know how this ties in with the

city planner and engineer. I just I just don't see it, you know. And when we start talking about the building on Rodman Street, I think that's it's more tax title, right? That's that's tax title. And we can we can have conversations about why there's property that's just sitting there for quite some time that we could have been moving around. I mean, you know, I know uh the EMS director is coming down to have a

conversation about a potential tax title possible that they're looking to purchase, right? So th those are conversations I'm willing to have. I just I think it's just directed in the wrong uh to the wrong individual. Um I don't I don't disagree. if we feel like, you know, he needs the support and if he needs the support, then I'd support him in terms of getting the additional uh resources that he needs. I know he has

an assistant planner. Uh so he's mentoring assistant planner on top of it all. So there there are things that are getting done, but um I respect my coun my colleagues resolution. I just don't know that this is the the way to go about it. That's just my opinion. With that, I yield.

Council in seat 2, Council Kamar.

Thank you, Mr. President. So I agree with both my colleagues. Um I don't think this should go in the economic development committee. I think it should go in the finance committee. I agree with my colleagues saying that Mr. Aguia is doing a phen phenomenal job. My concern is I think we should discuss it because what happens if Mr. AA decides someone another committee is going to

pay him more money to do one of the jobs and he'll have less to do and make more money as other departments have up and left. Now what do we do? Are we going to be looking for two people at once? Three people. So we should be having as we always had a planner and an engineer and say listen what are what is what are we look how long are we going to have Mr.

Aaron around for I know he's probably too young to retire thank god but what if he just says someday hey I'm up and leaving now we're in a situation where well we took advantage of him per se for all these years that we were only paying him seven more hours of work to fill two positions. What if he decides tomorrow he wants to change that and make more money doing one of the jobs somewhere

else? Now, where are we at? We never had a discussion about what's going to happen when he leaves. So, I think we should have a committee on finance and I'll amend it to have the discussion committee on finance and let's see what the administration's idea is and what we're looking to do with this long term or or short term or whatever. But he does do a lot of good things for the

city and he does, you know, yman's work, which I appreciate, but I think it's not something that we shouldn't look at to see what's going to happen or what should happen. the city should have a system in place, not one individual that can do three or four jobs because he's been around and knows how to do them well. It it just we should just have the meeting to discuss what the plan for the

future is in case something does go wrong. Heaven forbid he gets hit by a bus like I've been told many times, you never know what's going to happen tomorrow, right? And so what do we do then? So I make a motion that I'll amend this, make a motion that it go to the committee on finance. I just think we need to talk about it. So, I make a motion that the resolution go to the

committee on finance.

Second.

Motion to uh amend the resolution for it to go to the committee on finance has been made by councelor Pereira, seconded by councelor Camra. Discussion on the amendment.

Roll call on the amendment councelor. You have a discuss discussion counselor?

Well, I you know if I agree that maybe it should go to finance, but I don't want people to think that it's anything about the way Dan Aguia uh is doing all of this. I think he's holding on and doing as much as he can, but I think it's too much for one person and and I'm just tired of seeing buildings that are empty and we're not motivated enough to do anything or storefronts and I just

want to know what we're doing and who's in charge of that and who we can call if there's somebody that wants a building.

I and I don't know. Um so that's the only reason and I would that's why I say fine, let it go to finance committee.

With that I yield on the amendment. Any further discussions on the amendment to the refer the item to committee on finance hearing? None. Roll call on the amendment only.

Council Kadim, no.

Camara, yes.

Can yes.

Dion, no.

Hart, yes.

Peekom, no.

Pereira, yes.

Raposo, no.

President Ponty, no. Motion fail.

What's the score?

Four yays, five nays. Motion fails.

Five nays. We're not going to talk about it in finance, so just let things continue the way they go.

Is there a motion to act on the resolution?

There's one on the floor, Mr. President.

Yep. Uh the motion on the motion to adopt has been made and seconded.

Hearing no further discussions. Roll call on the councelor and seat one on the motion.

So I agree with my colleagues. Like I said, I agree with both of them. I don't think we should do it in economic development terrorism. So I'm not going to support it. Although I think the discussion should be had and it's again no knock on any individual.

With that I yield. Thank you.

Thank you. Hearing no further discussion. Roll call on the adoption of the resolution.

Counselors Kadin.

No.

Camara.

No.

Canuel.

No.

Dion.

No.

Hart.

No.

Peekom.

No.

Pereira.

No.

Propos.

No.

President Ponty.

No.

so much economic development. It's all over.

You have the wrong tree.

Whereas there have been ongoing discussions regarding the school committee's intention to terminate the employment of Superintendent Tracy Curley, PhD of Fall River Public Schools without cause. And whereas the Foster Educators Association has recently gone on record in opposition to the superintendent's termination. Now therefore, be it resolved that the city council formally oppose the termination

of the superintendent of Far River public schools and encourage the school committee to allow for her continued tenure to benefit the well-being of the students, parents, and teachers.

Is there a motion?

Motion.

Motion to adopt has been made by councelor Hart. Is there a second?

Seconded by councelor Camarra.

Discussion. The sponsor of the resolution council seat 7 council Pereira. Oh, I just think um the doors been opened when this council I believe it was uh councelor Pekham and yourself and and councelor Kadim when we took a no confidence vote on uh superintendent Malone and at that time I thought stay in our lane but you open the door and I just think you know the cost of this and

you heard the mayor talk about the gains that the school department has made. I just think to send a letter, obviously the school department's going to vote the way they want, but I would hope that the city council would oppose the termination of the superintendent for no cause. Um, with that, I yield.

Thank you. Council in seat three, Council Lanual.

Yeah, I I I understand uh what council was saying about previous, but I I think we need to stay in our lane here. Um, just I'm not going to support this because I think this is a decision for the school committee that they should be making for themselves. Uh, they should be telling us what to do and I don't think we should be telling them what to do. Um, I'm not in a position to make an

evaluation of the superintendent and uh, with that I can't support this. I yield.

Thank you, Councilman Seat 8. Councelor Raposo.

I'll second my colleagues comments. um it's it's out of our lane and and honestly um I don't think it's appropriate for this. So I'm going to not going to support it either. I yield.

Thank you. Councelor in C6. Councel Pekkham.

So to comment on uh council Pereira's comments, the last superintendent situation and this situation are not similar. They're different. The last superintendent, I had constituents reaching out to me directly due to abuse of practice within the school department towards females. So that brought me within that purview instantly by them contacting me. So that's why that resolution was filed back then. This

situation, is there a council here that's received complaints?

I have received calls.

So but what were the calls in fa they were calling you in favor of Tracy Curley?

Yes.

Can I speak?

Let the counselor finish.

All right. So, they're just two totally We were here. I was there on the last council. These are two totally different situations. Um I don't think we should be speaking up now. Um with Tracy Gurley because it's a different situation than Matt Malone um in my opinion. So, I'm not going to support this either. With that, I yield. Thank you.

Thank you. Council C4, Councelor Dion.

Yeah. Um I'm not supporting this either.

Um again, it's true. um when it was Superintendent Malone um I have the article here that um the council's vote was mostly symbolic because we had no authority. We there wasn't anything that we legitimately could do. This resolution is calling for a formal formal opposition.

Um Matt uh Superintendent Malone uh made a formal statement. I have acknowledged that I must change my style and therefore I have committed to the work of being less forceful, less aggressive, and more sensitive to the feelings of others in my interactions.

Um he was reprimanded in his statement.

He said he deserved to be reprimanded.

I don't see that Superintendent Curley is being accused of the things that Superintendent Malone was. I don't know both sides of the story. I know they went into executive session. I don't know what went on in executive session.

To me, this is more of a personnel matter. The school committee has the authority to hire and fire.

The woman signed the contract she signed. Both sides are going to have their discussions. I don't know what they're doing. I can't make I can't stand for or against because I don't have the information. And I think um in in this particular situation, we are out of our lane and to form and to make it formal. Um I I I just don't feel it's right. And with that, I yield.

Thank you. Councilman C8, Councelor Reposo.

Yeah. My only comment's going to be I mean there's conversations of possible litigation between both sides. So again, I would caution our colleagues to even go further with this at this point and just call it a day. I yield. Anything further for discussion? Council C2, Council Camara.

Yeah, I um am not afraid to say that I wholeheartedly support Superintendent Curley. I don't know why the school committee is doing what they're doing. I was not here part of the Malone situation. Um we hear a lot of things from a lot of different people, but I know this individual. Um, and I think that we vote on their budget. Whether that matters or not doesn't doesn't matter in this state. All this

resolution is saying is formally or or not to oppose the termination. And I cannot sit here and say that I am in favor of her termination because I'm not. I oppose it. Everyone who's ever asked me what I think about her and the job she's doing and the improvements she's made, I support wholeheartedly.

And I am opposed to her termination. I have no problem voting for a resolution whether it's going to mean anything or not. my point of view. I support her wholeheartedly and I would support the resolution. With that, I yield. Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you, councelor. Anything further?

Councilman C7. Councelor Pereira.

Is there an opposition to the word formally? Can we just put a letter to that suggest that they not terminate her? It's going to cost us money, I would assume. Got to pay something.

But I personally think that she's doing a good job. And when councelor Peekham said, "Has anybody gotten calls?" Yes, I've gotten several calls. And people are wondering, you know, why are they doing this? Why are they doing this? You had the DOE at the last meeting just because of the way meetings are run.

Come on. And we're going to sit here and, you know, bury our heads in the sand. We have nothing. That's fine. Do a roll call vote. Whoever votes for it votes for it. Whoever doesn't doesn't.

But I know in my heart and soul I I'm making the best decision that I can make. Making my feelings known on this.

That's I yield.

Thank you. Councelor Councel C1.

Councelor Kim.

Thank you. So, I don't I don't think anybody's burying their head in the sands. I I I do think I'm going to reiterate what was said. There's two different discussions with Matt Malone.

I mean, there was sexual harassment claims, bullying claims, there was uh significant lawsuits that were coming in and quite frankly, the school committee was doing nothing about it. Nothing. And talk about a number of conflict of interests with the uh the membership of that that committee at that time was just running rampant. Right. So, we took a stance because there was no other

choice. Here we've got a situation which I listen I I don't disagree. the the from a from a public standpoint, it it's not a good look, right? I But again, we're not on the school committee, right? We don't have at least I I I'm going to speak for myself. I'm not on the school committee. I don't know the interactions. I I don't know Tracy personally. I don't have enough information to say whether or not she's

doing a good job or not doing a good job. But my cons my colleague did did state something that's important. The the school committees, one of the school committee's main authorities is to hire and fire a superintendent. There's a a contract that's put forward. Um, in there there's a clause to uh terminate for no cause. Now, whether or not they have cause, I'm not I'm not sure. Um, if

if that fails, maybe they go for uh a for cause or just cause. I I I don't know where it stands. And and again, um based on the relationship that's going back and forth with the school committee and the superintendent, I don't even know if the superintendent even wants to stick around, right? We don't know that.

So, there could be discussions in executive session that we're not privy to. Uh, I'm sure there's a number of um day-to-day operations that that we're not privy to. And and I've said this before that um it's just unfortunate when people have contracts that they uh get terminated mid midterm of a of a contract. But the language is what the language is. We all uh run the risk when we have those type of contracts that,

you know, if you've get a change in leadership, then if if you've got language in there that you can get terminated for no cause, you you run the risk of getting terminated if the votes are there. Uh what I would say is is that you know from an educational standpoint is she doing a good job? I don't know. Uh my colleague to the my my left says she is okay that's that's his

opinion. But what I would say is is that you know being a superintendent is not just about education. It's about managing a district. Right. So some of the concerns and complaints I think valid that I've heard from the school committee in terms of the operation of uh the school department. You know, I know there are things that have taken place that are direct conflicts of interest and uh people could potentially

be fined $10,000, right? So that's, you know, that's up to the school committee to make that determination. Um and I I think some of that all predates Tracy to be honest with you, right? So I just get that out there. But there there is uh a systemic issue that's taking place on on the schools. Uh and there's there's no question about it. But from an educational standpoint, I can't really

speak to it because I haven't looked at um the graduate graduation rates. I haven't looked at her um plans and goals and objectives for the district and whether or not she's meeting them. I I I can't evaluate the superintendent. So, that really is up to the school committee to make that determination. Um I'm just hoping that it can be done in a professional manner and and whatever

happens happens. That's where I stand on that. With that, I yield.

Thank you, Councilman C5. Council Hart.

Thank you, Mr. President. Um, obviously I was on the school committee with uh um when Superintendent Malone was fired. In fact, I think myself and one other colleague were the only ones to come out um and you know request that he be fired. And no, it's not has no it's not even similar um to what we did what we decided on with Malone. Um but also with this there's no there I don't know

what's going on in executive session. I I have no idea. I don't know what their reasoning is. Um I do know it's for no so far it's no cause. That's what it is in the public. And I just think personally that's wrong. So I'm going to be real quick, but I just don't see the problem in supporting a resolution like this when it looks like at least um publicly and on the surface that um

she's going she's getting reprimanded or potentially fired for I don't know why.

So we don't know why. So, and again, that's for this uh school committee to decide. Their job is to hire and fire.

I'm just going to go on record that I think she's doing a Dr. Curley is doing a good job and I support this resolution. I yield.

Thank you, councelor. Council C4, Council Vice President Dion.

Yeah. Um so, again, there's two sides to a story and we don't really know any side to the story. um there's things going on executive session that we are not you know anybody is entitled to their opinion as an individual. I don't even think the issue is is she doing a good job not doing a good job. I don't know what the issue is because we're not involved in the discussion. I think if

anybody wants us to you know uh but I do take exception to that our heads are in the sand. Our heads are not in the sand. I'm choosing not to comment on something that I don't know anything about. And I really struggled with whether I was going to do this or not. And I feel now that I have to because the counselor in seat seven gave the best reasons why we should not do this tonight.

social media generation. That's just not how I communicate with people. I pick up a phone, I call somebody, there's a conversation. Not that I'm against social media, but that's just not me.

But I will tell you all that I did teach in the for school system many, many moons ago.

And then the rest of my career was doing investigations, whether it was for DCF, whether it was for the district attorney's office. And when I did an investigation, I needed to hear both sides of a story.

Point of ordering me, counselor, your point of not doing an investigation. It's a resolution that says whether you support the termination or not. I don't need to hear a res video of someone saying when they But that's that's different.

Your point I'll let I'll let the colleague finish his point of order quickly.

Your point of order finish.

We're not talking about someone doing an investigation. what I'm hearing is comments about when I do an investigation. It has nothing to do with the resolution I see before me. That's my point of order.

Thank you. Constant C4, you have the floor.

Can't take.

So if you listen to this further in in the end result, the comment is I don't know both sides of the story. So I can't support this. I'll vote present. So I'm simply saying your opinion then is my opinion today and your opinion then actually goes against your own resolution because we don't know both sides one person at a time point of order. Mr. President, one point one person at a time.

Councelor Laart, your point of order.

Move the question.

Is there a motion to move the question?

No. Can I Wait a minute. Let me say something before we move the question.

Hold on. Hold on. Hold on. Stop. Stop.

Our colleague in seat four has the floor. I want you to finish. I will entertain other discussions after she's done.

Thank you.

Let's respect our colleague, please.

So, I won't continue with the recording.

However, it's as I stated, everybody's entitled to their opinion.

I'm not going against or for Superintendent Curley. I don't think in this situation that I that I feel I that I have to do that. And that's not having your head in the sand. That's saying it isn't any of my business. It's a personnel decision.

It's in their purview, not mine. Do I think she's a bad person? No. I'll tell you no, I don't think she's a bad person. Can I rate her performance? No, I can't. Not in my purview. That's all I'm saying. So, and you know, you said I always need to know both sides of the of of the situation, both sides of the story because the truth is somewhere in the middle.

Correct. And you've said that many times.

Correct. So nothing negative, nothing against you, just my words today are your words back then. It had nothing.

So no, I am not supporting it and I'll just leave it at that.

Thank you, councelor. Councelor in C7, councelor Pereira.

I think council in seat two had to stand up before me.

I I I I'm recognizing you first, counselor.

Okay. And I'm not meaning to say that everybody else has their head under the in the sand. Maybe I want to say that I don't want to feel like I'm putting my head in the sand. This is a hot issue.

And you know, here you have the the union, the teachers union endorsing and supporting for the superintendent to stay there. I don't think it's good for the education of the children to have somebody ripped out midyear. Those are some of the issues that I have. And I have had calls from people and said, you know, why didn't the council do a resolution like they did before? And this is not an investig.

If you don't want to vote for it, don't vote for it. But I think she's doing a good job. You heard the mayor say, the progress that has occurred, the the attendance being up, the graduation rate being up, if there's other things going on, obviously they have to be resolved.

But a lot of what comes up is stuff that happened before she was even superintendent. And I don't think that's fair. So that's the resolution I put in.

You want to vote for it, you vote for it. You don't want to vote for it, vote no. Vote present. I don't really care, but I'm taking a stand on this one. With that, I yield, Mr. President.

Thank you, Council in Seat 2, Council Camarra.

Thank you, Mr. President. So, I've often heard it said in this council chamber, be an easy job if you didn't have to vote. And that applies to everybody, right? I don't disrespect or disagree with anyone who doesn't want to take a stand. I respect all my colleagues. I respect my colleagues on the school committee. But what I'm looking at here is I personally as a person, someone who

is a resident of this community, sits on this board and votes on a budget that is put together basically by the superintendent and presented to the school committee and voted upon. I think we're making a mistake. Nothing I can do about it. They have the right to do what they're doing. I respect whatever decision they make in the long run. But I am opposed to it. I think you're losing a good individual if you do lose

her. And my colleagues see one's right.

She might want to leave, might not want to put up with this. Just as I said earlier, other department headers might want to leave. If they can do better somewhere else, they're going to get up and go. But for me to stand here and have this resolution in front of me and say, well, you know, I don't know how I feel. I do know how I feel. I think the

city is going to be in a worst off position, and that's my opinion only by not having her at the superintendent. I think she's come up through the ranks.

She's a For River resident. She's been here. She's done everything that you would want someone to do. and I see progress. Now, I could be wrong, but it's what I see. So, my colleagues could be right. Who knows? School committee members could be right. Maybe I'm wrong.

But I am not going to stand here and say that I am not opposed to it. I am opposed to it. So, I'm opposed to her termination. I'm going to vote to keep her there as much as I can. Whether it matters or not, that's just the way I feel. With that, I yield. Thank you.

Thank you, Councelor Raposo. So very simple to me is that the last thing I'd want is a school committee to send us a letter to say we should terminate somebody in city government. It doesn't make any sense. Again, you're not in your purview. And again, I'm going to repeat myself that there is conversation of litigation from both sides. I think it's a dangerous precedent that we get

involved in this conversation to begin with. I yield. Anything further?

Roll call.

On the motion before us to adopt that has been made and seconded. Roll call.

Councelor Scadim, no.

Camarra, yes.

Can no.

Dion, no.

Hart, yes.

Peekom, no.

Pereira, yes.

Reposo, no.

President Ponti, no.

Motion fails.

Next order of business, madam clerk.

Final resolution tonight. Whereas members of the city council have received inquiries and concerns from members of the public regarding expenditures associated with veteran services. And whereas transparency and accountability in the use of public funds is essential to maintaining public trust. And whereas a city council seeks to review expenditures to ensure that all funds have been utilized

appropriately and in accordance with applicable laws and policies. And whereas this request is not related to or intended to review individual veteran benefits, but rather expenditures related to operations, services, reimbursements, or other payments made through veteran services accounts. Now therefore, be it resolved that the city council hereby requests that the administration provide the city council

with a report detailing all expenditures not related to veteran benefits for fiscal years 2020 through 2024 and be a further resolve that the report shall include a list of all vendors and individuals who receive payments for services, reimbursements, or other expenses paid through veteran services accounts during fiscal years 2020 through 2024. Before the amount of each payment and the date of payment, the

purpose or description of the expense were available.

Identification of the account or funding source from which the payment was made.

And be a further resolve that this request specifically excludes all payments related to direct veteran benefits and any information protected by privacy laws. Motion to adopt.

Motion to adopt has been made by councel Pekkham, seconded by councelor Raposo.

discussion. The sponsor of the resolution, the sponsor of the resolution, councelor in seat one, councelor Kadeim, you care to speak on this?

Uh, thank you, Mr. President. So, I know there's, you know, my colleagues have received some complaints. A couple years back, I was getting more and more complaints about um expenses that were being made from from the veterans account. So, I'm not looking for any uh information from veterans that are receiving benefits, but the actual expenses for them. Uh, so I I do want to amend my motion from fiscal year 2020. I

want to bring it up to fiscal year uh from 2020 to 2026 as as opposed to cutting it off at 2024.

Um and at the end of the day, I just want to put to rest some of the concerns that I'm hearing from individuals about how expenses or what type of expenses are being paid. I'm not quite sure what I'm going to find um or what we're going to find if the information comes out. I just want to be able to get the information and either say yes, there is a concern or no, there isn't a concern.

It's just a lot of um noise right now in terms of what's going on. So that's that's why I filed the resolution and if there is any any concerns then we can address it as a council to make sure that the uh uh the money that's being appropriated to veterans are going uh for the purposes that we've appropriated it for you know to benefit the the b uh the veterans uh throughout the city. So

uh with that I'd like to make a motion to amend fiscal year 2020 to through 2024 to 2026. Motion to amend the resolution as it's read for fiscal years 2022 through 2026 has been made by councelor Kadim, seconded by councel cabar on the amendment council 2020 to 2026.

What did I say? You said 2022.

Oh, sorry. 2020 through 2026. Um, hearing no further. Is there a discussion on the amendment?

Hearing none. Is there a motion to adopt as amended as appropriate?

Motion to adopt as amended. Motion to adopt as amended has been made by councelor Pereira, seconded by councel Camar. Is there discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor? Opposed? The eyes have it.

Item 29 are citations for the fall river fire department, emergency medical services department, police department, and emergency management in response to the July 13, 2025 Gabriel House assisted living residences fire response. Motion to adopt has been made by councelor Hart, seconded by councelor Peekham. Is there discussion on the adoption? Hearing none. All those in favor? Opposed? The eyes have it.

Item 30 is a a citation for the Matthew J. Cus Middle School boys basketball team for winning the 2026 boys middle school basketball city championship.

Is there a motion to adopt has been made by councelor Raposo, seconded by councelor Hart. Is there discussion?

Hearing none. All those in favor?

Opposed?

The eyes have it. Item 31 is a citation for the James Madison Morton Middle School girls basketball team for winning the girls middle school basketball championship for the 10th year in a row in the city.

Motion to adopt has been made by councelor Hart, seconded by councelor reposo. Discussion hearing none. All those in favor opposed. The eyes have it.

Item 32 is a citation for Brian Bishop for donating electrical services and materials and for his community outreach.

Motion to adopt. Motion to adopt has been made by councelor Hart, seconded by councelor Peekham. Is there discussion?

Hearing none. All those in favor?

Opposed? The eyes have it.

The next item, item 33 is for Greg's Saturday Kitchen for 40 years of service to the residents of Fall River.

Motion to adopt.

Motion to adopt Greg's Saturday Kitchen has been made by councelor Raposo.

Seconded by councelor Hart. Is there discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor? Opposed? The eyes have it. 34 is a citation for Matt Maderos for the development of the plowed application during the blizzard of 2020.

Motion to adopt.

Motion to adopt. The citation has been made by councelor Raposo, seconded by council Canuel. Discussion hearing none.

All those in favor?

Opposed? The eyes have it.

Item 35 is the scheduling of a hearing for March 24th for the acceptance of Draper Street extending Southerntherly from Globe Mills to Terminus and Northerly from Globe Mills Avenue to Terminus. Motion to adopt.

Motion to adopt has been made by councelor Reposo.

Second.

Seconded by councelor Hart. Is there discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor? Opposed? The eyes have it.

Item 36 is an order for the auto repair shop license renewals for several um businesses in the city.

Want to just read those into the record.

Madam clerk, these are for Wilson Frankies DBA Onetop Auto Center, Inc. at 697 Pleasant Street, Carcy Automotive at 127 Eastern Avenue, towing, excuse me, Tony's Towing and Auto Repair at 69 Napoleon Street, and Joe's Gas and Auto Sales at 2608 South.

Motion to adopt has been made by councelor Raposo, seconded by councelor Pekkham. Is there discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor? Opposed? The eyes have it.

Item 37 is the police chief's report on licenses.

Motion to adopt.

Motion to adopt. The police chief's report has been made by councel Pekkham, seconded by councel kadim. Discussion hearing none. All those in favor opposed. The eyes have it.

Item 38 is a number of claims.

Refer to motion council.

Motion to refer the item to corporation council has been made by councelor Raposo. Seconded by councel Pekham.

Discussion hearing none. All those in favor?

Opposed? The eyes have it. Item 33 39 is a communication from the assistant corporation council in response to the open meeting law complaint filed by Patrick Higgins uh for an alleged violation by the city council for a meeting held January 27th 2026.

Motion to accept motion to accept and place on file has been made by councelor Peekom seconded by councelor Raposo.

Discussion hearing none. All those in favor opposed. The eyes have it.

Item 40 is a communication from a city resident regarding the parking ticket appeal process.

Motion to refer the committee on ordinances.

Motion to refer the item to the committee on ordinances has been made by councelor Raposo.

Seconded.

Seconded by councelor Hart. Discussion.

Councelor in seed8. Councelor Raposo.

Yeah, I I've received a few of these emails and I think it's worth the point that the resident brings up regarding ordinances. Um so as the chair I would like to look into this a little more even if it's just a discussion about our adoption of ordinances related to this issue. I yield.

Thank you madam clerk. If you could just please make sure that we reach out to the individual who uh has reached out to us on more than one occasion, letting them know uh the results of this meeting tonight uh and uh get their correct information so our uh our chairman could invite them this individual to that meeting.

Motion to adopt has been made and seconded hearing. No further discussions. All those in favor?

Opposed? The eyes have it.

Item 41 is a drain layer license for communications construction group LLC.

Motion to approve. Motion to approve has been made by councelor Reposo. Seconded by councel Pekkham. Discussion hearing not. All those in favor opposed. The eyes have it.

Motion to take 42 through 46 together.

Second.

Motion to take items 42 through 46 after reading together has been made by councelor Raposo. Seconded by councelor Hart. Discussion hearing none. All those in favor? Opposed? The eyes have it.

Madame clerk.

Community Preservation Committee minutes for meetings held Jan January 8th, January 9th, January 14th, and February 9th, 2026.

We also have planning board minutes for December 10th, 2025. Zoning Board of Appeals minutes for January 15, 2026.

and um committee on finance minutes for February 10th, 2026 regular meeting of the city council held on the same day.

Motion to approve.

Motion to approve and accept and place on file has been made by councelor Raposo.

Second.

Seconded by councelor Hart discussion hearing none. All those in favor?

Opposed?

The eyes have item 47 is a notice of casualty and loss at 171 Grady Street.

Motion to accept and place on file.

Motion to accept and place on file has been made by councelor Pekham, seconded by councelor reposo. Discussion hearing none. All those in favor? Opposed? The eyes have it.

And the committee on finance at a meeting held on March 10th, 2026 voted unanimously to recommend that the attached financial order be referred to the full council for action. This is the $750,000 from the opioid stabilization fund to the opioid settlement revolving fund.

Motion to adopt.

Motion to adopt has been made by councelor Raposo. Second seconded by councel Pekkham. Is there discussion?

Hearing none. All those in favor?

Opposed? The eyes have it.

That's all we have. Mr. President, before we adjourn and I just want to thank our colleagues. It's been a long evening tonight. We didn't have our meeting two weeks ago because of the blizzard. We went through over almost 50 items tonight. So I appreciate everybody's attentiveness and and having a great meeting. Motion to adjurnn has been made by councelor Raposo, seconded by councel kadim. Discussion hearing.

Not. All those in favor? Opposed? Have a good night. The eyes have Are you done?

Hey, hey hey.