4.22.2025 City Council

My marble coming.

Hey, hey hey.

Hey,

City Council Committ will come to order.

The clerk will call the role.

Council Kadim here. Dion here. Hart here. Kilby here. Perr here. Ponty here.

Reposo here. Samson here. President Camaro here. Pursuant to the open meeting law, any person may make an audio or video recording of this public meeting or may transmit or may trans um or may transmit the meeting to 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. There are a number of citizens assigned up for citizen input time. Each citizen will have three minutes. First to come up is Robert uphold. Subject matter help for the homeless.

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen. Imagine that everything's going great for you and then all of a sudden the bottom falls out. You're a homeless veteran with your family. And that's my story. One morning, my landlord calls me and tells me that he sold my apartment building.

He sold my apartment and that I'm going to need to move. 5:00 that night, the new landlord shows up with the police to intimidate me, tell me I need to get out as soon as possible. Now, everything's going great for my family at that time, minus us moving quickly. I've got two jobs where I'm making enough money to put food in the table, pay for my storage bills, pay for my vehicle, pay

for a room for rent till I can find somewhere. All of a sudden, everything falls out from underneath me. My job tells me I'm no longer a good fit. Both of them. Now I'm down to just my VA disability, which wasn't much at the time. It could pay enough for about 20 days. I have an emotional support animal for my wife because the doctor required it for her because of her ill her mental illnesses. And

then I have to get my own medications and her medications. But in order for me to do that, I got to work walk 14 miles a day to or walk 14 miles to go get them. I'm constantly worried about how my fam how I can feed my family. How I'm going to house my family when we run out of funds. I'm being used by the owner of a hotel. I'm being paid under minimum wage

to afford my room, but I'm doing work that really is extremely dangerous for myself.

I'm worried about every couple days that I'm going to have to take my family and we're going to have to sleep outside.

And when it's hot, we're getting baked because there's not enough cooling stations. When it's night time, we're getting hit with the weather. We got drenched in rain on. I got people looking at us like we are vagabonds. I was We were accused of being drug dealers of alcoholics. My wife was propositioned. All right. This happens to the homeless. This happens to the homeless of and veterans and all. What

I'm here for you to do is I'm asking you to please help them by coming up with some funding to get a shower trailer over by the VAC. All right? Because the VABC and a man that I had not met at the time who had a very white reminiscent voice and you all know him, Doc Tallos calls me.

Mind you, I'm at my wit's end. Uh I'm ready to break. I'm calling the crisis line for the V for the veterans and they're sitting there telling me, "Oh, we'll get a counselor back with you in two days." All right. Then I get a social worker turns around, tells me that my wife can lie and say I hit her.

So, she can go into the battered women's shelter. My cat can go up for adoption even though it's an emotional support animal, which falls under the same laws as service animals. All right? and I can go into transitional housing alone as a veteran. Please help the VABC get these shower trailers. And if you can help them find find way to help fund them to where they can get transitional housing

for family members so this way families aren't broken up. All right. I know that there's a a light at the end of my dark tunnel. I'm currently in it and that's because of groups like the veteran the VABC veterans bris of Bristol County.

All right. Doc Taylor and the Fall River VSO and the Marine Corps motorcycle club called the Leathernecks. They helped me go back to school to where I'm now enrolled in Bristol. I'm part of the SVA. Can you try to wrap it up, please?

Motion to wave the rules. Second. Motion rules are made in second. All in favor?

I. Any opposed? What? Three more minutes. Three more minutes.

Okay. Please help them. All right. This will help all the the homeless veterans out there. All right. Mass.gov gov says there's around 600 homeless veterans that are there because of supply as well as the increasing housing prices. And that's just a rough estimate because there are a lot of veterans even like myself. I was a stubborn son of a gun that did not want to let anybody know

that I was a veteran. All right? Except for the people that I went to go see for my medical.

A lot of people, a lot of veterans don't want to help or don't want help because they don't want to show that they need the help. All right? If it wasn't for TAOS and those groups literally coming down on me and saying, "Hey, we can help you." And me being at my ropes saying, "Okay, I need it. Help them. Please."

All right. This will help clean up a lot of the problems with the homeless. I thank you guys very much for your time.

Thank you. Thank you.

Next. Next we have Mrs. Ranco, subject matter

homeless. First off, I want to apologize for my tone personally. I'm doing this with double ear infections right now. Where'd he go? There he is. Veteran. Veteran. Everything I've been telling you guys for the last three years, you've just heard from another veteran. So, there's the second that there's an issue when it comes to the homeless situation. Just so you know, chief, there is stuff going on. I am

working with Mr. Caesar over there. I'm trying to work on a transitional park for us, almost like a bivwack setup.

That way, we can open up income. We try to I try to talk about it publicly. For some reason, I cannot get the the city to talk about it publicly.

But there is something that we are trying to do. I am here right now making this statement just to reinforce to these guys that we need to do something now. We both know it's going to be cold again in 7 months. I feel your pain.

Trust me, I feel your pain. I was the executive director at VABC as an intern.

I was trying to work on this stuff when I was there. That is a great organization. I am so happy I did what I could do to save that organization so that veterans like you can utilize that.

With that being said there's other I'm the one that got called out April 1st, no sorry, March 1st by the Herald News saying that you can't solve homelessness.

I didn't want to take the challenge, but I have on my end. I am so far ahead of the game right now and it's so far ahead ahead of everybody else. That's why this needs to be talked about publicly again.

It was fine in February when it was cold to talk about it publicly. When's the last time that board met?

Months. I know I have something to present. I'm pretty sure Nikki Fontaine has something to present there. You know, we would I came out and begged for you guys for the homelessness over the winter time. March happened. Now the weather's getting nice. I should honestly be in the woods setting up stuff for what I want to do to get rid of to to help transition people into homelessness. a money generation that

will a money generator that will actually fund itself type situation. I just I can't even deal with my own voice right now. My head's blowing up. I apologize. This was really not directed at anybody. But at the same time, you guys are the ones that can fix this problem.

And I've learned time and time again, I can do so much more on this side of the table than I can ever do in any one of those seats. Thank you. Thank you. Next, we have Jack Hackett. Subject matter softball league help.

Yes.

I thought I would make the table attractive.

You look great, Jack.

I can get started.

Maybe use the other mic. Chad, what's that? Try to use the other mic.

There you go. Okay. Good evening. I really want to thank you for giving us the opportunity to appear in front of the city councilors. I just want to introduce this my wife Natalie. Uh my name is Jack Hackett. I am the director of the fall of the scholarship softball league and I've been running it for 55 seasons. I've enjoyed it immensely even though there's a lot of headaches. I am here for two endeavors.

The first one is the electricity bill and the second one is concerning netting at the park.

The league was established in 1963 and in 1967 the lights were put up and the city took care of the electricity bill until the year of 2014. 2015 to present the lead took over the bill. not only electricity but paying for the bulbs which are $90 a piece and we also had to pay the electrician when he did come in for various things that had to be done over the nine years that the league

has covered it. We have put out $16,000 not counting the number of bulbs I paid for from the league money and took care of the electrician.

So, I am here hoping that now I think most of you know that my wife and I and the committee, we did get a $400,000 grant to put up a new metal pole lighting to get up to date because many of the old poles were starting to fall down.

We put the application in in 2021 and finally four years later the lights are up and they look beautiful and we'll light them up on May 5th and of course the electricity bill I think will be a little cheaper and I'm very happy that the bulbs will last for 25 years. So that's great.

Uh so we are looking for help with the electricity bill because that is a burden on our teams and it would help to lower the entry fee. Right now this season we're going into 20 teams. Previously I had 42 teams playing at that park. I had a Saturday morning league, a Sunday morning league, a Sunday afternoon co-ed league, and during the week I had the young guys, had a women's league, and I had the

old-timers. So, that park was very active recreational wise. So, if possible, if the city could let the electricity bill rip back and give us a hand there, it would be greatly appreciated. I just love when I drive around the city to the different parks and see that all the fields are active. The little league's playing, baseball's playing. The big thing that exploded now is pickle ball. We got the

tennis courts, we got the uh soccer fields, we got the kids out flying kites. It's just tremendous thing to see in the city of For River. and I thank the city for being behind uh recreational activities and benefits in the city and I hope you always will be.

Thank you so much. My second endeavor concerns with the netting.

We have had trouble with the metal bats the balls hitting the houses a lot of damages. Can you try to wrap it up Mr. Hacket? Can you try to wrap it up?

You're beyond your three minutes. What they say? Motion to wave. Second. Motion w made and second. All in favor? Keep going. I'm okay. Yeah. So, we had uh damages on the houses with the windows and the sighting and we took care of it because in our league we have a lot of players with all the different occupations. Not only that, we register with the state of Massachusetts and we have insurance. We

have property insurance and we have disability insurance. So, we are covered. The park board called me in because some of the neighbors had complained and they were going to shut us down in 2021 in the month of August. We didn't even finish the league or finish get into our playoffs. So I proposed to them that we would go to wooden bats. Watch that bow honey.

and to a restricted flight softball and they accepted it. So Jack Hackett kept that league going. The teams went out and we spent $5,000 on wooden bats. Since that time, there hasn't been one property damage. Very happy. The only thing was in 2021, we went out and bought purchased a netting for right field for $1600. And one of my offices right now has been babysitting it for four years.

We cannot get help with somebody to help us put up the two poles. When I went to the park department previously, of course, they do their best to help us out, but they don't have the money and so they couldn't help us. I went to uh John Brandt, the p uh the chairperson of the uh uh cap and he stated to me because I had it in the application when we went

in for the lights, but somehow they missed it or they didn't want to handle it. So, John told me that if there was money left over from the $400,000 grant that he would speak to Nancy and see if possibly they could help us in erecting the net.

I've been trying to contact him few times. I have no got no response. Thank you, Ala. Can you try to wrap it up? You've already gone beyond six minutes. Al Aloe Vera, the uh director of the community maintenance, has been up there 100% helping us. So, I'm going to leave it right there. We need to help if possible with the electricity bill and with the erection of the netting. If you can help us, we

greatly appreciate it. I know money is tight all over, but thank you for giving us the opportunity to appear in front of you. Good night. Thank you, Mr. Hack.

Thank you. Next we have Colin Dia, subject matter, city chart.

Thank you. Good job and good luck.

Thank you. Just quickly, I don't know if um the gentleman that spoke last considered hosting the softball games on the school grounds. the very least you will be away from different properties.

So I mean there's one issue right there and we can see if we can help with the electricity but um the reason I'm speaking today is I just had the urge just to give my two cents on this issue as a citizen. Again I never had a bad inter interaction with Chief Patado. I never had a bad interaction with Chief Govern. I really don't know either of them. However, as I just said, never had

a bad interaction whatsoever. Um, I don't believe the issue today is about Chief Fittado. Believe the issue today is about our mayor. The charter is clear. A temporary appointment is given 90 days with two 30-day extensions. You cannot make up your own rules. The city council is the legislative body of our city and you as a body voted to reject the appointment and you just can't reappoint someone when you don't get

your way. I wonder what communications you received from your corporate council on this matter if any. I believe this could potentially even affect the school department because someone temporarily appointment only has powers essential to the office and I have concerns how this could affect our SRO program if there's appointments in terms of personnel. A city council vote should mean something.

It should hold value. I believe it's unfair good counselors were accused of abusing their power when they were just doing the right thing. The city council authority to confirm appointments must be respected. If not, we could have a a potentially a mayor in the future appoint anyone as long as he wants for as long as he wants under this current doctrine. I believe if the council switched its vote tonight, it would be

abandoning its legislative authority and its goal, which is a good goal, to have a fair outside process, which is something I believe the majority of the city wants. It's unfortunate. Again, we have a mayor who decided to put this down again. I believe he just has disdain for the council, and I believe we have a mayor who believes checks and balances does not apply to him.

and a mayor who believes he's above the law. And if you don't believe me, just watch a school committee meeting. He likes to silence silence those who disagree with his positions there.

Supposed to be about the charter. You saw you going to talk about the charter. So now we're going to school committee meetings. Thank you, council president. I was explaining that I believe the charter is violated and I'm giving my opinion on the issue that's before us today. Okay. On one last note with this issue here, just doing brief research on Cushing's rules.

I believe it requires a twothirds vote to reconsider since this was previously rejected. So, I hope the ch the city council abides by the city charter, abides by its previous vote and its own rules of order, and makes the appropriate decision tonight. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. President. Yes. As a point of information on on Mr. to hack its comments. Madame Clerk, would you be able to get back to the council when you have a chance? I believe councelor Peekham filed a resolution a couple of years ago um about the city helping the leagues pay for lights and I'm not sure if that was passed and if the city is doing that with Maplewood and Kennedy.

So, would you be able to get back to us?

And if not, maybe we one of us could file a resolution um when you have a chance. 21. I just don't know where it went. So, okay, that's all. I don't need that. I wasn't here.

Believe it was 20121. Madam Cler, next we have Nelson Vasquez. Subject matter for River.

Good evening, City Council, Council President, members of the City Council.

It was an honor to be back in this room. Uh at the last at the end of the recent meeting, there were comments directed to towards councelor Kadim. And then after that uh meeting, not too long after that, there was an internal email that went out uh accusing two city councilors for uh abuse of power.

Now, city councilors going in front of the camera on the record calling out the the BS process that unfolded and recommend a more open process where more candidates come in internal and external is not an abuse of power is making sure that we have the most qualified person to do that job.

So, so far the conduct regarding that situation inexcusable and recently the governor was tasked with the very same uh situation and she hired someone from the outside but it wasn't just someone from the outside. She hired someone from outside out of state from New Jersey.

So, she didn't even choose someone from within her state that she represents to set a standard. And once again, here we are. And in a symbolic vote, the city council voted 90 to restart the process and do it right. And to council Ponty's point, that is the fastest process for recruitment, which is irrehensible and quite frankly a disrespect to the city council above all above all levels. And

tonight before you on 9A, there is a discussion to create a screening committee for the chief of police, fire, and EMS. This is even more of a reason to do a motion to reconsider, go back to the process, do this so that we can interview more uh candidates who are more qualified for the job. My last point and um I'm going to say the elephant in the room. It is time that

this city elect someone from the outside to come in with zero political ties who will do the job is going to do it right with respect and is going to respect every single for police officer because apparently hiring from within is a major problem. And the residents of this city pay a pretty penny for public safety.

And that building needs a total restructure, a total change. And hiring someone from the outside is the only way to go because sometimes traveling the road less traveled. It may be the hardest decision, but to get to where to get where you need to go, sometimes you have to do. If the governor did it, so can Paul Coogan. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Next we have James Loretta, subject matter, four of us streets.

How y'all doing?

Now my problem is these streets. I mean they are horrible. You can go right off city hall, go right up the street right here and there's powels everywhere. go up North Main, a main street that you want people to come to.

It's horrible. It's horrible. There's people always breaking down because there's suspension going on these streets. I've seen it personally. These streets are a mess.

the electric company and gas company, they're digging the streets up and they're putting this little quarter patch in. If they bid the whole street where they're digging up, it would take away all them potholes that we have to drive over every day. I mean, you guys have the money to do it. It doesn't cost that much to pave a road, to shave it down and pave a road.

We just need to get these re these streets redone. I moved away from the city a while ago and I came back after seven years and the streets are even the same thing when I left. That's horrible. And you guys have all been here for a long time and these streets are still horrible.

I mean, come over at the end of I don't know what is that Columbia in North Main. Them bumps have been there since I left. There's new pavement above that and the zoo pay been going down now, but them bumps have been there. I just want you guys to try to budget something to fix these streets. That's it. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Item number two, we have discussion with the executive director of community development agency regarding the five-year consolidated plan and the one year one annual action plan. It was referred to the council April 8th, 2025. Mr. President, I'm going to abstain from this vote. I'll be stepping aside for this just for my um dealings as a real estate broker and sometimes people use uh community development

agency money uh in grants through his office. So, I'll just best practice to abstain. Thank you, councelor.

Good evening. My name is uh Michael Dion. I'm the executive director of the Fall River Community Development Agency and I have a little prepared statement here. Honorable Council President Camaro, Vice President Pereira, city councilors, and the residents of the city of Fall River. It is a pleasure to be here with you this evening requesting that the city council adopt a resolution to allow the community development

agency to submit its consolidated plan and year 1 annual action plan to the US department of housing and urban development by May 15, 2025.

The year 1 annual action plan addresses the community development block grant, the home investment partnership grant, and the emergency solutions grant, and strives to meet the three objectives of HUD, which are to provide decent affordable housing, to create suitable living environments, and create economic opportunities. F FRCDA will receive uh about $2,584,036 in community development block grant funding,

1,100,000 in CD investment partnership program and $231,000 in emergency solutions grant program for the programming year beginning July 1, 2025.

F FRCDA will continue to prioritize infrastructure projects um like sidewalk improvements and park improvements, economic development activities, public service programs like recreational programs, senior citizen drop-in centers, and crime awareness programs.

FRCDA will continue to offer firsttime home buyer loans and homeowner and investor rehabilitation loans and grants. And through the ESG program, we will continue to fund the first step in homeless shelter, our sister's place, and the Catholic ser uh Catholic social services. The Florida Community Development Agency and the Coogan administration have worked diligently to prioritize funding to the programs that

will meet these objectives and help the city residents. The consolidated plan and year one annual action plan was submitted to each counselor for their review on April 1st, 2025. And I'm here this evening to answer any questions that you have concerning the plan. Thank you, Mr. De.

Good evening. Good evening.

So, I noticed looking through here that you sent a survey out to multiple um entities, individuals, neighborhood groups, etc. Uh looking for feedback, looking for suggestions, um addressing homeless needs, children, a whole a whole uh wealth of services.

And I think what struck me though some I thought were pretty comprehensive is how many never answered your email. Yeah, a lot of people don't. Uh that that I I think threequarters of them didn't answer. Um and I found that very disturbing.

So do I. Yeah, this this plan is based on public participation. Um we put it out there. We put out the plan. We put out um uh we go out on Facebook constantly. We um uh share this uh um survey with as many people as we can. I personally attend the neighborhood organizations to go there and ask them to fill it out. Um but it, you know, they tell me if you get, you know,

around a thousand people to reply to the survey, you're doing really well. So, um right now we have, you know, we had 722 answer the survey. Yeah, there's 33 pages. Yep. And it's pretty in-depth if you ask me. Yeah. Yeah. So, yeah, that would like I say that was really disturbing. I mean, we're trying to find solutions. We're trying to correct situations and we can't even uh get the

input that we need to move forward. So, my thought was and this all involves housing obviously that's a huge issue.

So I would think moving forward it would be on our best interest to do a comprehensive housing study. Where are we? Where are we going? How many um how many I don't want to say apartments. How many um how many not just market rate? Yeah.

Market rate uh units have have already come into the city. How many are we working on right now? What does the waterfront going to look like? What do we need for housing?

What's the anticipated numbers? Um, we don't have that in one comprehensive plan. And I think we need that moving forward to to to get a clearer and better picture of where we are and where we're going and how we're going to meet all our needs. Yeah, I I agree with you, councelor. I mean, housing is one of the it is the number one business in the city of Fall River. Um, people treat it

as a business. Um, to know where we're going is is uh is really important. Um, to see what uh I know we do know that we have about uh 11% of our units are on the subsid subsidized housing inventory list. Um, if you take in all of the programs that we have, that number goes to about I want to say 23 24%. Um but uh yes, I think it would be something that

would be beneficial going forward to see what you know what is um what can the city you know take in terms of um market rate housing, how much it can take concerning what we have already in um affordable housing. I think it would be a smart move and because my other concern and and maybe it shouldn't be and you can address it. So with the H dip and all the different zones that we

have now, we have to meet certain criteria for the train to come. We had to meet a certain criteria in housing.

Um it was what I believe an 11% benchmark. Yeah, there was there was a housing study housing that you had to meet a certain percentage in that area where the train was. So okay. So at what point in developing housing do we develop so much housing that we no longer meet that threshold? what happens. And I think that's part of why we need a a comprehensive um well, you have you have 43,000 units

in the city right now. Um about 4,000 of those 4,300 of those are listed on the um subsidized housing inventory list. As you increase the number of units in the city, that percentage will go down. You know, is that a good thing? Is it a bad thing? that's different for for different people. Um but it it's worth looking at. It's it's something that you know my office uh we do have planning

money available. Um we did have a housing uh study done um a couple years ago um with Bayos Bank and and uh state uh state representative Carol Fiola. Um but it's somewhere to build from uh and and I think we should take a look at it.

I agree with you. Yeah, I think we're going to need a resolution to move forward with that just to get an overall true picture.

Um, I mean, you know, you have your $2 million is significant money, but it's not significant when you when you're speaking about the types and amount of housing that we need and and the number of people that we're trying to help and address. Correct. We get about, like I said, in the housing, we get about $1.1 million. The cost right now to develop a unit is costing around 230 240,000 a

unit. So like I said, you're only getting four or five units. Then that then the other part of it is is if you buy the piece of property, we all know, you know, three families going for about $600,000 now. So, you know, between the purchase and the rehab, you could only get three units out of one year's worth of funding. So there is, you know, we we we've done we've done Yman's work with

what we've had. Um we've got some good projects going forward.

Um but every day I live it with the new president. You know, is HUD going to be around? So um it doesn't look good right now with things that are going on. Uh the percentage of people that are employed by HUD has gone down dramatically. It's gone down about 30%.

And that was before um they call it rifts, reductions in forces. and um uh uh the um uh taking of uh uh retirement, you know, um that percentage could probably go up to about 50 60%. So, we're looking at just in our Boston office, um right now we're probably going to go down to about five people and the person that has the most experience has about six years worth of

work in there at HUD. So, how many people in the office right now? there's probably about 20 25 people in the office right now. So, it's drastically gone down. Um, and again, they're they're looking at a possibility of um getting rid of the block grant program and getting rid of the home program. So, we're good for next year, level funding for next year, but as as you all know, more entitlement

communities come on, so you actually get less funding, but it'll be the following year. um which is starting in October um the budget uh uh discussions of where we stand going forward.

And the other thing that concerns me, maybe it I don't know if it's off topic, but I feel like it isn't um based on um different material that's in here. Are we also creating enough jobs for the population that's coming? Are we are we looking at the future in terms of recreation um to keep people in the community versus anytime somebody wants entertainment they're going to go somewhere else in New Bedford or they're

going to go to the Wang Center in Boston. What are we doing to have an overall picture?

Well, um Ken Fol is here this evening.

He can probably answer that for you.

Yeah, I mean I don't mean to uh uh um I mean people are going to go where where the entertainment's going to be. I mean um we have some great venues in the city. Um uh the narrow center, you have, you know, the new the new park uh the the city pier. Um, I mean, you have your gems here in the city. Are we creating the right jobs? I believe we are

creating the right jobs. Um, as as you know, as rents go up, as the cost of living goes up, you'll see an influx into the into the city of Fall River.

You got the new train, uh, which will probably bring some people into the city. Um, which will bring, you know, disposable income. Um, but it's it's nothing, uh, uh, new that we, you know, we need new businesses to move into the city. you need to increase um uh more of a living wage. You I tell people this all the time with housing is you either have two choices. You reduce the amount

you reduce the cost of housing or you increase the person's capacity to um afford it to afford it. It's one or the other.

With that I yield. Thank you. Thank you.

Council council C5 council vice president. Yeah. Um there was someone earlier that spoke about the homelessness and I know we had big meetings about uh stepping stone and all the programs they have and I know there are some family shelters as well. Can you let people know how much your agency has spent on homelessness because sometimes I feel that people don't think that we're doing enough. Um but we've

done quite a bit. Well, first of all, the gentleman that spoke at public input was probably somebody I helped. He didn't give his name. I've been working very closely with the VSO officer, good to put people up in hotels. Um, we have um made a decision at CDA. Basically, I've made a decision that uh no veteran will be homeless in the city. We just did the point in time count for the city

and we had one one homeless veteran that we we met on location. Um we've spent considerable amounts of money. Um, and I I have it here this evening with me. Um, it's just too lengthy to go through. Um, if he's worried about having uh the mobile showers at the VAC, that's not a problem. We have them every Thursday at Thrive um on uh um uh Plymouth Avenue.

Just recently, they had something at a spirit of Santo Church where they had the showers there. Um I can move those showers around because they're portable.

Um I have no problem with that uh at all. Um just to go over some of the figures like the past five years um in terms of uh emergency solutions grant you talking about $1.2 million in ESG uh CV funding which was car's act funding was almost $2 million. Um in the Samshire grant that we just received is uh four years for $2 million. Um we got a department of justice grant 550,000.

We rated the city's opiate funding for another uh 400,000 which we made the enhancements without encampments. Um we've also applied for the DPH Masonic grant which we were successful in and we're going to do another Samshire grant. So, we we spent a considerable amount and like I said, I don't know what had me bring it this evening, but I mean, here's a listing of stuff that we provided in terms of, you know, not to

go through each and every one of them cuz we'll be here all night, but um uh you know, we closed numerous private and public encampments and I'm working on that right now. I just got a bid from a company to go in and clean up. We're looking at maybe another three weeks, four weeks to go into Plymouth A, which is the Taco Bell area. We're looking at Henry Street, the the uh um the ramp to

clean that up. Uh we're looking at the uh um bottom of Middle Street to clean that encampment up, but we're going in there with the fast team. Like I said, we're going in there to offer them services before we close down any encampments. We've been doing that from day one. We've been we've been going out and giving services as much as we can.

It really pains me when I hear a lot of people say, "Well, you know, there wasn't a home there wasn't a a winter shelter this year." Well, there was an overflow shelter this year that was not at capacity. I can tell you that. I have it all all down. Um there wasn't uh um there was a a warming center that was at uh Christ the Rock Church that I paid

for. There was a uh um uh another overflow shelter at First Baptist Church that cost us about $12,000 this year.

So, I mean, we've done more for our homeless population in the last two years than I've done probably I've been here 30 years. It's been 27 years that, you know, we purchased a homeless van.

We we purchased a shower trailer, a laundry trailer, funded an overflow shelter with the tomato center, developed a work homeless work program.

I could go on and on. If you'd like to see it, I could give it to you. It's not a big um I do have I do I am aware uh Mr. Dion of all of those, but I just think that the general public thinks we're doing nothing. The the other thing is I wanted you to bring that up. Just so you know, we don't provide homeless services to families. We only provide homeless

services to singles and individuals. Um homeless families are handled by the state. Okay. Um, so if the gentleman that spoke had a family, and it seemed like he did, he was in a motel, uh, living in a motel, um, uh, with a family, if he was with a family member, then he would be going through the state. Um, all I know is the veterans agent comes to me on a Friday and says,

"Hey, we need to put some people up because, you know, they don't have anywhere to go." So, we just lend a hand at CDA. You know, and it's strange because I I spoke with housing authority this week on an issue uh with somebody had put their name in a long time ago and there was a there was a confusion.

Um but then I find out I'm not sure if some of our developments are federal, some are state. Well, the federal can be for anyone. No, the federal you have to be a resident of Fall River. they take priority, but state doesn't, which kind of boggles my mind. All I know is is is I've had a lot of people tell me, you know, what about putting small houses on the Wata Heights land? We don't own

Muppa. We don't own Muppa. And the cost to put small houses is astronomical.

Um the other thing is is that the um waiting list that you have has over 10,000 people for it for the waiting list. The waiting list is not um is statewide is not citywide. So as soon as an apartment becomes available, somebody on that list could be from Springfield, could be from Greenfield, could be from anywhere in the state of Massachusetts, they're getting a call to come to Fall

River. So, so when people say, "Let's build more affordable housing, let's build more, build more," um, it's not necessarily going to go to four river residents, just to let you know, I try to I try my hardest to make sure that we take care of four river residents. I just developed a property on Lynwood uh Lynon Street, 155 Lyndon Street and uh a person wanted to come from Brockton and

another person was coming from Jamaica plane and it it that happens you know people people come down this way and they look at look at places that's available for for rentals.

Well, I know a family that's in a family group home here, but they're from New Bedford because New Bedford was full.

And if you have people that you're looking for a place for them, it could be anywhere. Unfortunately, some people don't want to go from here to Springfield or, you know, from here anywhere else. They want to stay here.

And I I get that. You know, they may have doctors here. Their children may be in schools here. I mean there's a number of reasons they familiar with the the area. Um it it's not easy. It's very difficult. But I wish that some of our surrounding towns would do a little bit more. And I find that you know everything gets dumped on not only Fall River but the gateway cities. You know

we have to solve problems for a lot of these smaller towns. And I don't think that's fair because people that live in these towns same thing. They know the surroundings. Their kids may be in school there and you know they're forced to have to come somewhere else. You get such an an amount of homeless people in this city because we provide really good services. I have a lot of people who

come from outside the community who are clients of either star I don't want to use their name star stepping stone different clients that once they're done they stay here.

So, if you look at the homeless makeup of people, I hear a lot of people coming from New York. I have a lot of people that are coming from uh Puerto Rico, all over. And I say, "How do you come to Fall River?" Say, "You provide great services." That's what I'm hearing too from people that we provide better services than other places.

um you know and talking about different recreational um issues in the city and what can we do with that would be nice and we've said it again and again and again to get a tourism director we have a trolley I don't know what they're doing with it other than karoki and on a trolley so you bring people around to bars everybody drinks and then you drop them off at their cars I I

see a little bit of an imbalance there myself but um you know there's a lot of different things and ways that we can promote the city. For some reason, we are the worst at promoting ourselves. Everybody will criticize. They're great at criticizing everything, but to say the good that we have here, um that's hard to do and we've pushed. I mean, some places have a tourism office.

Um and we don't we don't have that. And there are a lot of things that people can go to and see and participate in.

Our website doesn't include that.

There's a lot. One of the things that you mentioned too was on recreation. Is there any money that you have that could help Mr. Hackett out? I was just thinking about that. Um, we do a lot of park work. Um, I know you do. I I did not know his dilemma with with fencing.

It is in a lowinccome area. Um, right.

It's all set up for a community development. Um, I will talk to him. Um, can you let us know? Oh, I will let you know. Definitely let us know. Definitely because he's done a heck of a job down there. He's been there forever. A lot of the houses that got damaged is because he has really good ball players that can hit the ball way over the net. Um, if

you see, we did a lot of work in the Father Kelly Park right across the not Father Kelly, uh, whatever the park. I forget the name of it. Down where the airplane was. Yeah. I've you know you're old when you remember what was there, right? Yeah. I forget it. Um but we did a lot of work. We put basketball courts.

We did the We did the fencing. We did a new back stop. We did the, you know, um uh Jew Park. Yeah, we did the um uh water park there. Um I I will call him tomorrow. I will find out from um Mr.

Olivera what's going on and I will call him tomorrow and uh set up a meeting with him and find out what his needs are. that would be great. But again, thank you so much, Mr. Deion. I know that whenever I call you with a problem, um you're always there to help and I know your staff is phenomenal as well.

So, you're awesome. Thank you. And I keep my fingers crossed that we will get money from the feds. But, um get in line. I'm praying. Right behind me. I'm praying to But thank you. With that, I yield, Mr. President. Thank you, counselor. There are no further questions. Thank you, Mr. D. Thank you.

Thank you, Mike. Awesome. Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you. Can Mr. Hack a check please?

Just give a check for the lights defense and that item number three to transfer an appropriation in accordance with the provision of chapter 44 section 32 of the Massachusetts General Laws. I recommend the following appropriation to the honorable body that the sum of 4,600,000 being the same as hereby transferred to diamond stabilization from the fiscal year 24 surplus revenue.

Questions I have a question please. Yeah, I I just have a question on that because I thought that I was told if there was enough money in the budget. Um when we met and we had a conversation and I asked about diamond, you said, "No, fine. There's enough money in the budget. We're going to go zerobased budgeting. I can find that money, so we'll just pay it." So now you're saying you need a stabilization

fund set up separate. So I'm confused.

If you could explain it behind Yeah, absolutely. So this is that is still the case. the the goal is to budget for it um each year in the budget, but we do know that over the next 10 years while the um pension appropriation is still sharply increasing um and then we also have a couple of years left in the school um no no the act um to increase the net school spending. So, while those

increases are kind of coming still, you know, it is I'm going to say a tight budget over those couple of years. So, we wanted to have the stabilization fund to kind of set aside dedicated funds to cover if in a fiscal year we're not able to meet the amount that's needed. We wanted to have at least a year's payment in the stabilization fund to kind of cover that amount so that we would have

a whole another budget cycle to then solve a longer term plan on making sure that we could cover the debt. So, this is just to kind of get the fund started.

Um, it does match the amount that is budgeted for this coming year. So, it's obviously at this point not necessarily intended to be needed or used. It would it's just to kind of start building that fund so that if in the following year we can't fit the, you know, $6 million amount in the budget, we have funds available to to cover it.

All right. So, that money still comes out of other money. So if it's going to be free cash or stabilization, whatever, it's still the same money. It's still taxpayer money. I just didn't know why you wanted to do a specific fund. So the specific fund comes from kind of do recommendations and regulations um as well as you know the rating agency and what they kind of look for. So um our

general fund stabilization fund is truly supposed to be for emergency use only.

It's supposed to be for things that we don't know are coming. Um unforeseen expenses is what they call it. Um and then you know unreliable revenues if economic changes happen and things like that. So it's not supposed to be you know it's for like contract settlements that you know we set aside you know $500,000 and it came in at 2 million. So things like that that happen that we're

not able to see or plan for. But diamond coming online with you know increased debt payments over the next 30 years we know what's coming. So this just kind of shows the rating agencies and the state that we understand that we have this financial burden and this is the way that we're kind of preparing ourselves to cover it for future years. Thank you.

I appreciate that. I yield, Mr.

President. Thank you, Council. Council 26, Council Ponti. Thank you, Mr.

President. So, um, so first off, I commend this. Um, candidly, probably, you know, playing Monday morning quarterback, we probably could should have done this two, three years ago because if we committed four or five million uh fiscal year um from free cash um we would be in in a much better spot that we wouldn't have to go to the debt exclusion if we didn't have to. Agreed.

So, your your position is the $4.6 million. Again, I commend you. I think it's a great idea, but I give the compliment but um the total payment for diamond going into FY26, the next fiscal year, is how much? It's just under 4.6 million. Okay.

And and what is your plan next fiscal year with this 4.6 million? So essentially, it's going to be, you know, if if we didn't have this fund to to um councelor Pereira's point, we would take this money instead of putting it into this fund, we would either leave it in our free cash balance or we would be putting it into our regular stabilization fund. So by putting it here, we're just kind of it's a

placeholder. It's a placeholder, but we are planning on paying for it in the budget next year. So, it's going to just sit there and acrue interest and then we would hopefully add a little bit more to it next year if we can um to make sure that we have enough for the full payment the following year if needed. Um and then from there, you know, at this point, I think it would just kind of sit

there and acrew interest and be there when we need it. And if we ultimately don't need it at any point, we can always take the funds back out, put them somewhere else, we can kind of re reallocate the stabilization fund either into general fund, into another special purpose. So it's kind of tying our hands just with intention at this point, but it's not stuck there forever. So if we

ever don't need it, it's not like we can't. So what is the intent? What is your intention on using it for you? To make diamond stabiliz to make the diamond payments. So give me an example of an expense. It's it's just for the debt expense just the assessment that comes in from diamond. Okay. That is it.

So I you know I was critical at the last meeting. I forget what I think we were talking you were talking about the water and sewer enterprise accounts and I think I was a little critical of having fiscal financial policies with respect to what each department has to do with their indirects, right? And so what kind of financial policy is going to be in place because if you leave and go

somewhere else and a new mayor comes in or a new counselor has come in, they could just repurpose that money and do whatever they want with. So what is the actual policy attached to the stabilization account? So that to me is why we want to create a special stabilization fund because the ordinance and the acceptance of adopting this fund comes through you guys and that fund is then dedicated to use for the diamond

assessment debt payment. And so that is what is kind of tying that in order for somebody to I'm going to say change that use it would have to go back through council. And so that's kind of why we want to do it is so that for future years coming it it kind of sets the tone. So if the may a new mayor came in or if I wasn't here and somebody wanted

to do something with it, they'd have to get it through you guys in order to change any of that. And so that's why the the creation of the fund itself is what ties it to be used for that. I I get that. I'm not being critical of this. I'm just saying it makes sense so that we have a financial policy in place in terms of what we can and can't do. Is

there going to be a plan to put a certain percentage of unused money in the future fiscal years or are we just going to just wing it, throw a thumb up in the air and say this year we're going to put 2 million. This year we're going to put four. So my point is to be better prepared so we're not governing by fire and emergency. I'm trying to find out what the administration plans to do with

financial policy with respect to this.

So, let's say you have $7 million of free cash that rolls through and unused money in your fiscal year next year. Are we going to take $2 million and put it there? 10% of that 15? Like, that's why I'm trying to So, at at this point in time, to be honest with you, I don't I don't know yet. Right. The goal is just to be able to have enough in there for

the next year's payment. And I kind of said that in it, but it's you're right.

It's not a policy that we're tied to right now because I kind of wanted to see how things go, what our financial outlook is, and then from there know that, you know, right now the one-year amount is set, but if we do know that a couple of years are going to be even tighter, and we had extra money now, we could put, you know, two years worth of payments in to say that we're going to

use $2 million for the next three years to lessen the burden or whatever that may be. So I wanted to kind of allow for a little bit more flexibility, but when we are creating, revising, officially making all of the policies and procedures, it would be addressed in there in some way. You know, whether it is kind of that loose language or not, it it will be part of the policies that

we create. All right. So, I I'll I'll um I'll reserve additional questions on your fiscal policy to our budget meetings going into next fiscal year, but I would like to maybe urge you to tell you and your team and your staff to start working on a plan for fiscal policy when it comes to this. And instead of just a thumb up in the air and say we're going to put 4.6 million

in it this year, maybe next year we'll do four. May maybe maybe this is unrealistic but to run businesses effectively which is government essentially there needs to be a policy in place because people change and we want to be consistent with that. It's the same thing that I've been saying when it comes to the fire department.

You know we have an apparatus issue year in and year out. We all campaign before the fire union every every two years and say we're going to help you. I I would like to see, and I said this before, a percentage of the inspections that we make they make for going to property inspections and put it towards a reserve account for apparatus updates and upgrades down the road. Right? It's the

same thing with this department. It's the same thing for a financial policy for indirects for the water and sewer enterprise account. So, I'm just trying to be creative and making sure that we have systems in place because clearly now I don't see that. Right. And that and that goes back to my questions last week on the indirects. Right. No, I I completely agree. I think it it's I mean

it even for me coming into it right it would be nice if I had a very clear this is how we do things and what we do and why we do it this way. So um honestly the plan is postbudget to you know shift into all of that. So obviously right now we're heavy into this but it's our summer plan. We actually have a summer intern coming in from the state um

specific for municipal finance um for two months that I'm hoping will Thank you. tackle it. Thank you. C1 council.

Thank you. I was just going to ask the same line of questioning that my colleague in seat six had asked. Um so our our diamond assessment total building projects 195 million 200 million do upwards of that. Yeah I don't have that exact amount in front of me but it is it's also not finalized yet.

So right now all we do have is a draft debt schedule. Um they're doing the first official issuance on the long-term debt in September. So, and at that point, it's going to be the biggest long-term issuance that we'll have through the whole project, about $und00 million that they'll issue. So, we'll have a much much stronger picture of what the full debt schedule will look like. Um, obviously, there will be some

subsequent issuances, but like I said, the bulk of it will be done in September. So, you know, once that rate is locked in, we'll we'll know more about what it kind of looks like, but even with the draft debt schedule now, it's um I think we max out at $6 million a year. So the and I know you said you don't necessarily have a goal right now, but what what is the ultimate plan in

terms of a balance for that? Is it is it just to carry a one-year payment? Is it multiple years? Is it half the program?

So because I I don't I don't disagree with my colleague. I I would think that at least 10% or 15% of our free cash should be thrown into the right. Um, I definitely agree with that and I I want to look at it too in the sense of knowing, you know, I think setting the one year at least minimum is to just buy us a full fiscal year if something

shifts. But the more that we can have, the better. But then also making sure that if we do have more than one year's worth of payment that then there's a plan in place to use the funds if needed to, you know, make sure that we're not just setting aside a separate pot of money with no plan to use it um appropriately. So, in that sense, I know that we get, you know, if you look at a

5year to 10 year forecast, which I know looking out that far is kind of hard, but given that that's when our peak um pension payment is, you kind of have to look out that far. Um it it just gets really tight really quickly. I mean, you're talking about going from our 40 million $45 million payment and pension up to, you know, 75 million. So that's a huge huge increase that you know having

payments set aside for those years that start getting towards the end of that might be the better plan. So I think honestly if we could have a couple of extra payments in there to even smooth out those years and to decrease the amount that's needed for that assessment and then after that 10 years I mean potentially once that pension liability drops off everything's going to change.

We may not need that stabilization fund at all anymore because the budget can very easily absorb it but maybe we still do. So, I think I think that's also part of my hesitation in creating a set policy because I don't want to say that we're putting 10% into it every year and then have the fund, you know, get up to $20 million when we could just put into our general fund stabilization. M yeah.

So I guess I would just caution you in terms of the pension if that's falling off. I I I fully anticipate and I don't know this to be fact but I would fully anticipate that the legislature is then going to implement the OPED which is half a million dollars that we we pay for an unfunded liability uh to be fully funded which again we have $500 million set aside at some point in time uh that

can only be used if the city goes bankrupt to cover retirey healthcare.

Right? So, that's a concern for me. But I I don't disagree with my colleague in C6. I I think in terms of this um I'd personally like to see a policy that comes down 10 to 15% of our free cash. I also think that he was spot on when he starts talking about capital that 10 to 15% of free cash should also be set aside for capital projects so we're not

constantly going to debt or back to the taxpayers. And then we have that flexibility to identify what we need for either the fire department, police department, uh other capital needs throughout uh the various departments that we have. So, I think this is a good starting point, but I' I'd like to see a real more solid uh financial policy. I know we don't necessarily get a get a say of it. Um, you know, 10% roll over

for next fiscal year. So, when you start when you start working on the budget, you I mean the audits um if there are any deficits either in grants or anything like that, you've got at least 10% that you're starting with a uh a balance. But outside of that, I think the rest of it should be appropriated based on percentage with a minimum balance in each of those accounts. So as as counselors, we can, you know, point

to those balances and say, "Okay, we need, you know, 5% of the tax levy from the prior year that to be in this account. So we have, I don't know, just call it $5 million to spend because that's what's above that that requirement." So I know you get it. Uh it's something we've been talking about with the uh the administration for quite some time. I think now is the time to do

it. Uh there's just a lot from a financial standpoint that's coming down.

And I will say that if it's if if we're concerned about the $6 million and we're tapping into the stabilization account, we're going to need it more than one year. So I would suggest that a one-year payment is not enough, right? No, I agree with that. I think it's I think it's more to just make sure we have time to, you know, kind of come up with a new plan. It's part of it the thought too

of, you know, there are opinions out there that, you know, we're firm that we needed, you know, another debt exclusion for this. Um, and so I think for me part of this is just showing for those people who do have that concern that we have enough set aside to at least get through one year without, you know, with time to figure out another plan to move forward because I do agree if we can't make the payment

in one year, we will probably have future year payment um, issues, but it would at least give us time to come up with a longer term plan. Okay. Thank you. I yield. Thank you. Also, Deb, no further questions. Thank you for coming on, Emily. I'll entertain a motion to adjurnn. Motion to adjurnn. Finance.

Motion to adjurnn has been made and second. All in favor? Any opposed? City council committee on finance is now adjourned.

City council, please come to order. The clerk will call the role. Council here.

Dion here. Hart here. Kilby here. Perr here. Auntie here. Reposo here. Samson here. President Camara here. Will everyone in the council chair please rise for a moment of silent prayer prayer?

Please remain standing for salute to the flag. I allegiance 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. Take item 10 out of order presentation citation.

Also item 5. Hold on, hold on, hold on.

Pursuant to the open meeting law, any person may make an audio or video recording of this public meeting or may transmit this meeting through any medium. Attendees are therefore advised that such recordings or transmissions are being made whether perceived or unpersceived by those present and not deemed acknowledged and permissible. Mr.

President, motion to take item 10 out of order, please. Second. Motion to take item 10 out of order. We'll have a brief presentation. Um motion has made second.

All in favor? I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Motion to adopt. Second. Motion to adopt item number 10 has been made and seconded. All in favor? Any opposed?

Motion carries. She Yes, she is. She's up there. Oh, good.

Yeah.

So, start with some positivity tonight.

So, I want to take the opportunity as an educator here in the city to highlight um a young lady who did a great job, did some great work. Um and I think she should be highlighted for it. So, this is Madison Medeiros. She's a junior at Diamond Vogue Tech. Um I have thanks to mom. She gave me a whole write up on you, so I appreciate her for that. I'm going to do some highlights for you.

She's a junior in the business technology program, a proud member of the Skills USA and DECA leadership conference team. She's a member of the Key Club, National Honor Society, National Technical Honors Society. I don't know how you don't run the school yet, but you're doing a lot of great things. But the the key here is that I brought her here to accept the city council citation because one of her

projects is community service. And something we encourage our kids to do in our community is give back to the community that's helped them. Um, one of the projects she recently did was run a fundraiser for our local CYO basketball league, which for many of you know, it runs over at the, uh, Bishop Connley campus. It's been running for a number of years. Uh, this year we've had 41

teams. I was a part of those teams as as one of the coaches, um, as council Kadim was and council Hart was as well. Um, a lot of fun we had with the kids. They always enjoyed it. A great competition and something that the kids always talk about and enjoy. Well, Madison took it upon herself to decide to do a fundraiser to help support the league, help support the kids that play in it.

Um because as we know, we sometimes run into issues with kiddos be able to afford to play. Um and she took this opportunity and ran with it. um she was able to organize literally this fundraising um alumni game from the bottom up, starting from the plan, presenting it to people, seeking sponsorships to help support the program, recruiting uh former former basketball players, alumni of the league

to come back and participate. It was a load of fun. It was the longest five and a half hours I was a part of, but it was a blast. Um the kids really enjoyed it.

The the league enjoyed it. The parents enjoyed it. It's just here's an opportunity where we highlight a youth in our community who is leading by example. You know, it's one thing you got to talk the talk, you got to walk the walk. And here's a situation where Madison took it upon herself and she literally talked the talk and walk the walk with it. Um, you know, I know I've

I've known her for some time as she was growing up. She was originally student holy Trinity School here in the city and then went over to Diamond. Um, you know, I think it's important that we as a city council highlight what you've done, the importance of what you've done. I know the community is happy. I know the council here in front of you is very happy. Um, so with that said, I'll

present to you the official city city council citation. It reads, "The official resolution be it resolved that the city council hereby extends commendation to Madison Medeiros in recognition of our your extending work in developing a basketball tournament fundraiser for the CEO basketball league and your dedication to engage, inspire, and improve your community. Be a further result of the forest city council.

Extend best wishes for its continued success and this resolution be entered into the records of the city council adopted today, April 22nd, proposed by myself and signed by the president and the city clerk. On behalf of all of us, congratulations. A job well done.

Andrew. Andrew. Turn around. I'll take a picture and send it to you so she can have it. Sure. Smile.

Good. I'll send it to you. You want to say it? I wasn't prepared. This is awesome. You can. Thank you. I just want to say thank you to everyone who helped um make this possible for me. I really wasn't expecting anything out of this. I just wanted to do it all for all the people out there, all the kids. So, they all got an opportunity to experience something that I really value, has a

special place in in my heart. And I just want to make sure everyone else got the opportunity to experience these amazing things that CIO brings them. Good job.

Good job.

She knows.

Oh my daughter. Congrat.

Yeah, I'll send it to

Mr. President. Uh motion to take 5C out of order, please. Motion has been made to take 5C out of order. Is there a second? Second. Second. All in favor?

Any opposed? Is there a motion to adopt?

Motion to adopt the resolution.

Tie. Correct. Correct. Yes. Clerk, can I read it?

Clerk.

So item 5C is a communication from the mayor and a resolution for approval of a tie agreement for Mass Can LLC at 460 Globe Street. Motion to second. Motion to second has been seconded. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries.

Item number one is a communication from the mayor in a resolution authorizing submission of the community development ay's five-year consolidated plan and year one annual action plan. Motion to adopt. Second. Roll call. Motion to adopt has been made and seconded. Roll call on adoption of the resolution. Council Kadim, yes. Dion, yes. Hart, yes. Kilby, yes. Pereira, yes. Ponty, abstain.

Reposo, yes. Samson, yes. President Camara yes.

Motion carries. Yes.

Item number two is the fiscal year 25 quarter 3 budget report. Motion to refer to finance. Motion to refer to commun has a meeting and seconded. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Motion carries.

Item three is the fiscal year 2026 enterprise fund budget for the emergency medical services. Motion for the committee on finance. Second. Motion refer to committee on finance and meeting second. All in favor. Any opposed? Motion carries.

Item four is a communication from the mayor and a request for the confirmation of the appointment of Kelly Prittado to police chief in an order requesting approval of that of the contract. Motion to reject. Seconded.

Seconded on this motion to adopt. We have an order before us.

Motion to adopt. Take president to the motion to reject.

Ma'am, I'm sorry. Can you say that a little louder? I didn't hear you. The order before us would be the order to adopt and second it. Council C5, did you have your hand up? Yes. I'd like to say something. You know, I've really been pondering over this for the past two weeks. And when I look at how chiefs are selected, whether it be the chief of the fire department, the chief of EMS, or the chief of

police, every one of those have come before us, and the last two chiefs of police has come before us, and we have voted on it, and there's never been an issue.

It's the mayor's choice, and he brings it down. What I do find is that people want more. Remember when we had um one of the chiefs, I believe it was Racine, that there was an interview panel that was done, members of the community served on it, it was televised, and then something came down.

But I don't think that if we had the chief of police, so we just had chief of EMS and that'll be coming down again because that individual resigned.

That'll be coming down. Why are we going to treat officer Fetado differently? That's my personal opinion. Whether you agree with it or don't, I've seen I've heard a lot of things on Facebook, half of them that are not true. Um, and I quite frankly don't care. people have freedom of speech and can say whatever they want. But that's why I filed two resolutions that are attached to this

agenda. One is that the head of the public safety committee, maybe we need to have the chief of police, the chief of fire, and the chief of EMS down quarterly. Let us know what's going on in those departments. And then the second one that I filed was to create an ordinance so that when we are looking for a chief for any one of our public safety divisions that there be a consistent panel of individuals

that will be looked at. If you're looking for a chief of fire, maybe you need to have somebody on there that knows about fire issues. you're having a chief of police, you want somebody that knows law enforcement. EMS, you might want to have somebody who knows has a medical background and work from there.

So, people that know me know if I have something to say, I'm going to say it. I don't need anybody talking for me. I can speak for myself.

And this is what I have come to the conclusion. Miss Fetado can be chief.

The mayor wants her. It's his prerogative. You don't like his prerogative, don't vote for him. I don't know what to tell you. But I think we need to come up with a plan. But I don't think that she should be the scapegoat for the plan. And I feel that by not supporting her was making her a scapegoat that she wasn't doing what other people have done or we want her to do different. That's my opinion. With

that, I yield. There you go. Thank you, Mr. President.

Um, first I'd just like to address the uh fire chief. Um, he really needs to be taken out of the equation. We have a process for the fire chief. It's called civil service. Um, the mayor just doesn't randomly choose somebody or put a committee together to do uh an interview process for for the for the fire chief. They take the exam. The top three rise to the top and

one of those people are chosen. And so I think that needs to be taken out of this conversation because it just doesn't apply in terms of the situation. I said it at the last meeting and I'm going to say it again. I don't look at this personally.

I'm not I have no I I met with the fire chief after I the fire chief the I met with acting chief frittat after the last vote. We had a very lengthy conversation. I explained what my position where I was coming from. She understood it. I have been advocating to have a process since before Chief Cardardoza. So this has from my perspective has nothing to do with scapegoats or going after anybody

personally. I'm just standing up for what I've been advocating for the entire time I've been on this city council. And with that, I yield. Thank you. Council council seat. Thank you, Mr. President.

Um, so bear with me for a moment here if you can.

Just two weeks ago, two weeks ago, this body made a position loud and clear. If you ask me, we rejected the appointment of the acting chief.

And then by a nine nothing vote 90 all of us every single one of us urged the mayor to initiate a fair, competitive and transparent search. That wasn't a suggestion. Well, it really was a suggestion because we can't direct and he can't direct or order us to do anything. But in my opinion, it was a mandate governing the mayor, asking the mayor to do the right thing. And it was flatout disregarded. Totally disregarded,

dismissed, erased. It didn't happen. So I'd like to be absolutely clear with my colleagues that it's not about to our colleague in seat 2's point personalities. It's about principle.

Okay. It's about integrity in government and credibility of a forever city council, an honorable dulyeleed body. I think to my colleagueu's point, the city deserves better than whatever happened behind closed doors, whatever dealings were orchestrated behind closed doors, whatever outcomes occurred there. The city deserves better. The residents of of Fall River deserve a legitimate

process in my opinion, not a political act crafted behind closed doors. So I ask my colleagues, what message are we sending the rank and file, the men and women of the Forever Police Department or or an upand cominging superstar in another department that might want to be a leader somewhere else. We've essentially told every dedicated person who aspires to be in leadership, don't bother applying. Don't

bother going through the interview process because the decisions already been made. That's not leadership. It's a direct insult in my opinion to what I believe is merit, honor, and fairness.

Now, I'd like to address the word transparency for a moment. It's a catchphrase we all use as elected officials. We all say it on the campaign trail, but we conveniently abandon it when we come into office.

Why? I believe that this council by way of a nine nothing vote asked the mayor to do the right thing. And today, in two weeks, we're making a change. It's back before us. The velocity, in my opinion, of this reversal in just two weeks is suspicious. Not only is it suspicious, I think it's

inflammatory. I think that the council is totally being ignored, publicly undermined.

And what what we're being told right now is your vote doesn't matter, counselors. Your authority doesn't matter. Your oversight is meaningless.

And we're not listening to you. That's what I hear. Other than that, why do we vote?

Why do we show up? Right now, the administration has shown this city council that it doesn't matter. You're going to do whatever they want, however they want to do it. And that's fine. But I'm going to tell you, I'm not going to stay silent whether this passes or not to remind this co this council in the community of how we acted. And I have respect and admiration for every single one of

you. But if we stay silent or if I as one counselor stay silent, we've shown even less for ourselves. It's easy to stay quiet and not say anything.

It's easy to keep your head down and let's say, hey, maybe they'll forget, but we weren't elected to do the easy stuff because it's been pretty easy around here the last couple years. And what is happening right now is absolutely wrong. And to think that this moment will fade into the background, I believe you're mistaken. I believe my colleagues are mistaken. If you just if we think

we're going to act quickly, change our vote, disregard a letter in in an act to do the right thing, I don't think the people will forget this is the top law enforcement officer in the city of Fall River. Don't you believe that this will merit scrutiny? If this does, I don't know what position does.

You cannot claim to sit here and support the for police department or any public safety department for that matter. I believe while undercutting the process because that's what's about to happen right now if we vote on this again. You're undercutting the process that we all asked for. So before I yield the floor, let me just tell you this.

If we continue to act powerless, we will continue to be treated irrelevant. And the people watching, they'll believe it. And when election season rolls around, they'll remember the silence, every retreat, and every betrayal in the process because that is exactly what's happening right now. So words matter, votes matter, actions matter. Above all else, doing the right thing matters. And doing the right thing is to

listen to the 90 vote asking the mayor to do the right thing. Have it have a search committee. He has he's he's told multiple news media outlets that he intends to do that. He was already thinking about putting people's names together and making sure that this process is done the right way. That's all I'm asking for here. So, I I I look forward to hearing what debate occurred and what has

happened in two weeks to increase this velocity real fast. Hurry up and get this done. Just feels wrong and it stinks even more now than it did two weeks ago. I yield. There you go. Councilman C5, Council Kelby.

Council Kilby C4, sorry. It's okay. Yes.

Um, no. Councelor NC6 does not have a monopoly on honesty and integrity. I take a great deal of pride in my honesty and my integrity. And guess what? This was a very, very difficult vote for me. I've known the GIN family for many, many years. The brothers and Chief Garvin not as much.

and I greatly admire that family. Okay, it was a difficult vote and I know his wife's family very well.

Now, let me explain my rationale for voting the way I did because I am not going to sit here and be and and take the him, you know, uh degregating my 20 going on 24 years of service.

Okay. I looked to my left. I saw Chief Garvin. I felt compassion. I felt friendship.

But this body did not terminate Chief Garvin. And it was a hard decision for the mayor as well. I'm sure it was. He's another person. I mean living in in lifetime in full for river you know people he's another individual that cares he does and to say he doesn't care bologoney. So I looked there I looked to my right I saw Miss Fetado who started in the police department at 19 years

old and many police officers that I respect stood up and clapped. That was not unofficial.

I've seen a lot of artificial things in my life as an attorney that was genuine. So, I'm sitting here and at the beginning of the meme, we all have conversations here and there. I'm Oh, I'm struggling with this one. This is a tough one. I'm struggling, too. I'm struggling, too.

But I went what I thought was right. I voted for her not because of Mayor Coogan and notwithstanding my personal relationship with a family who and I've gotten calls from people and messages from people that I respect.

I voted the way I think I should vote. I went with the Florida Police Department in terms of what I think is in the best interest of the department. That's what my vote was.

Now, the mayor brought this down to us again. Yes, we took a 90 vote for a um you know, interview process because the first vote failed. What are we going to do? Of course, we're going to call for interviews now. Then it went down 54.

That's how sitting in this seat, that's how then things work. He brought it down again. and I'm going to vote the same way I voted last time notwithstanding the feelings I had to the individual I was looking on the right hand side. So this is in my opinion a courageous vote that I'm taking. It's a very courageous vote to go with my principles and how I my exercising this muscle up here my and

exercising my independent judgment in my brain. people elected me for that to vote the way I think is an appropriate vote and to fight crime not notwithstanding I'm I'm sure Chief go this is nothing to do with Chief G so I I wish it would have got resolved the first meeting and we wouldn't be reciting and going over all of this again but I am happy with my position and a vote I've taken and council

66 we're friends as well and I mean many many years but um you know I just feel that um it was not appropriate to put down colleagues and and uh state that you somewhat have a monopoly on integrity and honesty because we all have integrity we're honest Mr. P. So I yield thank you council okay hold the applause please the city council meeting hold the applause please council C1 thank you Mr. President. So my concerns

and my statements from the last meeting stand. I'm not going to rehash them. I I agree with my colleague in in C6. Um there is there was a question about the process that took place. The vote was a 54 vote to reject. Then it was a 90 vote to request a transparent process. Now within a two-eek process, nothing is taking place and now we have a change and it's coming back before us.

I for one have put in several requests for public records requests uh through the police department. Have not yet received it. Received information from corporation council that he needed some time. The police department is aware of my requests and yet here we are again.

Um the charter article 2 section 2-7B says that the city council has the ability to access information. I've requested it through public records.

Have not received any of it. But the mayor is still going to send down this appointment for us to take a vote when I have asked for specific documentation and I have not yet received it. So what is the rush? What is the rush? You know that we've asked for a transparent process. You know that at least for one counselor, I have put in three to four public records requests for information prior to taking a vote.

and I have yet to receive any information. So, if we being fully transparent, provide the information that I requested and then I can make an informed decision. I still have concerns about the process. I have concerns about the the person who is being uh requested as an appointment appointment for us to ratify. And yes, I mean, we we've had a number of votes come down. But if if the

council thinks we're just going to sit here and rubber stamp every vote that comes down to the to the council based on the the administration, that's that's ridiculous. Why are we here? Then you don't need us. You don't need a legislative body. You don't need a checks and balance if we're just going to approve everything just to approve it because that's what the mayor wants. This council has been more than

willing to work with the administration on a number of issues. All I've asked for was for information and I've yet to receive it. And I understand be because I requested it through the public records request. There's a 10-day period. I understand that some of the information I requested is a quick turnaround time. Just give it to me.

It's all I'm asking for is information that the public has the right to.

They're all public records. Just give me the information that I'm looking for and then I can take a vote.

I might not agree with my colleagues on on their vote, but I would never criticize any of my colleagues on the vote, how they vote. But for for one counselor, all I'm asking for from the rest of my colleagues is the opportunity to receive information that I think we should have. Is that too much to ask? That I put in a request for information to see documentation and I have not gotten

that. But yet we're going to rush it and put it back down before the council within a twoe period. I don't know. I don't disagree with my colleague in six in seat six.

Just seems a little too rushed for me.

And then we're going to arbitrarily just ignore the charter when it's convenient because we're going to make an appointment after we can't make an appointment because it ran out. There is so much there is so much going the wrong way and it is just hard to reconcile this with basic logic when we start looking at the push back you get for an appointment and and when I have requested information my colleague here

was called to for for a meeting the leadership that is currently in the in the police department knows that I have put in requests for information not once did I get a telephone call for the courtesy to go into the police department and have a conversation with the chief. Not one. And we're talking about leadership. And they are fully aware of my public records request. So I would ask you, is that

leadership? Nine city councilors, one counselor gets called in to have a conversation about the vote to explanation of what transpired.

It was a 54 vote against to reject. So at least five individuals should have received a telephone call to go into the chief's office and have a conversation with the chief. Not I. Still waiting for my information. So I will not be supporting this. All I want is transparency. I've got concerns. If you can provide documentation and ease my concerns because this is not about Chief Govin.

It's about the process, the investigatory process that took place. Chief Garvin's not coming back.

I'm not looking to get Chief Garvin back. I understand the department did not like Chief Garvin. That's for Chief Garvin to fight, but there is an investigational process that took place and if you follow it through, it does not make sense. And my colleague in seat six talks about good government. Do you know the last time we talked about good government?

The last time that this was that that discussion took place on this council floor was Jason Carrer's administration that we wanted good government and here we are again talking about good government just providing access to the city councilors. You may not agree with me but I have the right to information. The charter says I have access to information and I don't have that access

and I have not gotten it. So I will not be supporting this. I yield. Thank you councel. Council seat 88. Councelor San, please hold your applause. Thank you.

Thank you, council president. So I first want to start off with an apology to my counselor in seat one publicly for our argument. I guess last I want to say publicly that I have so much respect for counselor in seat one. Um and that's the beauty of democracy. We can disagree. We can disagree. We're going to have different votes on this. I completely disagree. But I respect his opinion. I

respect what he does. And he is going to vote in the way that he feels so right about. And I'm gonna vote in the way that I feel so right about. So there is a apology to the public and apology to my counselor in seat one that I yelled.

I apologize to you. And um I have a lot of respect for him. But I also want to clear something up. Um when I um became a city councelor, it was no secret that my brother is the union president. He's a union president of the Fall River Police Department. I'm so proud of that.

I'm proud of my city. I love my city. I love this country. I love what I do. And one of the first things I did was call the ethics commission and find out what can and what I cannot do. And I I just want to say for the record, he was a union president prior to you to being elected. Prior to me being elected. So, I called the ethics commission and found

out and I filed it with the clerk's office like I was instructed to do what I can and cannot do. I cannot vote for things on um union matters. I can't that makes sense. Anything that's going to be a financial gain to to a direct family member, I cannot do. This is a nonun issue. I also this got a legal opinion from the city's cooperation council that they also had got their opinion from

ethics that I can vote. So that's out of the way. I believe that I am in the right to vote for this. So I will vote for this. I have I have gone back and forth with do I do I not vote? Do I take a vote? Should I just step aside? Do I not step aside? But I am going to do what I feel is right for my community, for the police department, for the men

and women that served. This what I feel is right. I'm not less ethical or anything else. In fact, I did what I was supposed to do when I got on the council and I filed that and I took the cooperation council's legal opinion under advisement. And so I am going to vote. But that does not mean that I don't uh my colleagues are any different from I am. That's why we get elected. All

different people. We get elected because we're different. You're either going to love me or you're going to hate me.

There's really no in between there. And so it has nothing nothing to do with that. But I support Chief Fetado. It has nothing to do with anything that she's a great chief. She's turned that department around. I've seen it. I was there. The community loved her. She's done a great job. And so I believe that she deserves that. And so that's going to be my vote. And with that, I yield.

Council, thank you. Council council C5 council power. The only thing that I want to add is I do agree that there should be a process for all the chiefs that we hire in the city and that's what prompted me to put in those two resolutions. I did two weeks ago uh become a bit overwhelmed because I thought the discussion was not on the issue in front of us, but a lot of other

stuff came up which I believe in this agenda. We have two open meeting law violations because we just things were discussed that shouldn't have been discussed. But with that being said, I think moving forward when there's a problem, you try to resolve it. Every chief we've had was interviewed by the city administrator, the mayor, and um Nick from human from human resources. And that's what came down to

us. And this was the same thing. And that's what came down to us. I don't think that she should be treated different than what we did with the past two chiefs. The same thing with the chief of EMS. It was those three individuals that did the interviews and it came down before us. And I think hers is going to be coming down again as well. But moving forward, if there's a

problem, figure out how to solve it. And anybody can vote whatever way they want.

I was really I was really torn to be honest with you. And the I only received two calls or not even one message from an individual that lives in Tampa who I know his whole family and it was negative with swears.

I blocked them. That's right, Council.

Let's just stick to you know what I'm saying. We don't need to hear about No, but No, but I want to say it. And the other one was from a f fictitious email of a name of an officer that retired seven years ago who claims to have been here. Other than that, I've heard good things. And you know, Kelly Fetado did give us a list of all of the things that

she's done. And for that reason, yes, we need to make a change and I yield. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. President. So, let me just make a couple things clear. First, I'd like to address my colleague in C8.

I I I want you from my own personal perspective to know that working with you and everybody else here, we've all learned that we can't accomplish anything as a legislative body if we can't count to five. Okay? So, working together is important. And the amount of grit and determination that you have and the passion that you have, I don't think anybody should ever take away from your

vote and what you want to do. So, I want to from my perspective, I know this is challenging for many of my colleagues, you included, but you you continue to do what you think is right by you, and you'll never have anything to worry about. With that being said, to my colleague in seat 4, I never questioned the city council, the counselor's integrity. I am questioning the process.

to my colleague in seat five who now is going to file a resolution saying that we do the process the right way. Why can't we start that right now? Why do we have to wait? Because I'm not going to support the resolution tonight. I'm going to actually make a motion to give it leave to withdraw because tonight we have the ability to do the right thing right now. Why are we

going to start a process to do the right thing after we vote or you vote or the council votes to appoint a person to the process that is completely totally polar opposite of what we're what you're suggesting in your resolution? I just don't understand that that that we have the ability now to do the right thing and we ask the mayor to do the right thing. Why are we going to

do this later? because he's not bound. I just don't And we can't do this for we can't we can't do this for the fire department. It's civil service. Still three.

I I I just this is this is not something is wrong here. And I'm I'm telling you this reeks. And to our colleague who we all respect very much in seat one, he's asking for information. He's asking to get information and he is being totally pushed aside and then this vote comes down two weeks later. So if the vote gets to me through roll call, Mr. President, I will be objecting to this tonight. Okay? Because

this item shouldn't be before us until all counselors have the ability to get the information that they need. I don't need a I don't need a two-hour meeting anywhere in the police department. I'd happy to take one. I'll express the same concerns that I have I've stated on this floor as I would in front of our inim chief RTO and the mayor. I'm not holding anything back. So, but I think our colleague

asked for information that we all respect so so much. Let's get him the information so that he can make an informed decision and we all can. So, if this comes to me, I'm I'm objecting to this tonight just so everybody's aware and this will kick it down to the next meeting. We'll keep talking about this again. So I yield. Thank you, councelor.

Council C5, you want to revert it? Don't we have a legal opinion from uh attorney for that? Wave the rules, please. We wave the rules and have him come down.

Seconded. Motion to wave the rules has been made and seconded on the motion.

Hold on, please. C1, do you have a question? No, no, I was just waiting for this. Okay. Motion to wave rules has come down. Has made second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Come on down.

Good evening, Mr. President. Good evening. How are you? Good evening.

Please introduce your name and what office you so people at home will know who we're talking to. I know some of us know who you are, but others may not that are watching.

Good evening, council men and women. My name is Kenneth Ferd. I'm an assistant corporation counsel working up on the sixth floor. Can you please try to speak to the microphone? Yes. Thank you. Uh it's a lot clearer. Usually my voice is loud enough, but uh there we go. Uh Kenneth Fet, assistant corporation counsel, sixth floor of this building and um happy to be here to to answer any

questions or provide the legal opinion that I did. You have the floor.

Yes. Mr. Fet, Attorney Fet, if the item came before us two weeks ago, is there an ability to object again after it was already in front of us because it was voted down? Uh, I just want I know you sent us um a letter today stating that, but if you could explain it. Certainly. And thank you.

Thank you. Thank you, Council Pereira.

So, objections are controlled by our Fall River Charter, Chapter C, Article 2, Section 29, Subsection C. A copy of the language and the entirety of that sent to each of you today in the form of an email. Hope you saw it. And uh let me read it. On the first occasion that the question of adoption of a measure is put to the city council. If a single councelor presents present objects to the taking of the

vote, the vote shall be postponed until the next meeting of city council whether regular or special. If more than one council, can we just get clarification on one thing? Yes, sir. You said on the first would you just write again, please? Certainly. Um, on the first and this is under the heading of charter objection on the first occasion that the question of adoption of a measure is put

to the city council. If a single counselor present objects to the taking of the vote, the vote shall be postponed until the next meeting of the city council. Could you just clarify for me what is the first occasion? The first occasion would be the agenda uh showing an uh argument and discourse made uh in regards to the uh the adoption of a measure. So when the item is on the city

council agenda for the first time. Yes.

And when it's actively assuming that for whatever reason there was not a outright rejection of the conversation to take place uh once that uh adoption of the measure is put before the council. Can he just repeat the statement he just made? Yes. Assuming there is not a fullout rejection.

Yes. So, uh, councelor Kadeim, what I'm saying is if for some reason it appeared on the agenda, but it did not get its place in discussion before this council, that is not my understanding what happened on April 8th. I'll let them finish. I've got I've got a ton of questions. Let me finish. So, on on uh uh in regards to uh uh presenting the entirety of this uh section, I I had

started, but I'll finish. If more than one counselor present objects, such postponement shall be until the next regular meeting. If it is an emergency measure, at least three counselors must object. This procedure shall not be used more than once for any specific matter not withstanding an amendment to the original matter. A charter objection shall have privilege all over over all

motions but must be raised prior to or at the call for a vote by the presiding officer and all debate shall cease. So thank you very much for that explanation. The only question I have is the you're you're referring to the last city council meeting as the first time it was presented to the council.

I I put the agenda together just last week. This was introduced after the last city council meeting. So therefore, wouldn't this be the first time it's come before the council? I have the uh schedule uh and agenda from the from the April 8th meeting, right? But that was that meeting has been done gone. It was voted. It was rejected there. Therefore, there was no item before us. We moved on

to the next order of business. So I'm not disagreeing with the objection.

Well, I know it very well. If the council gets it for the first time, but my opinion is that this is before is now for the first time that same same issue but it's a new item order before the council to vote on which was introduced to the council after the last council meeting. I just want to get clear and clarification on that. What what justifies first time on the agenda? It

is the going to be the vote that was taken if if allowed. Uh there's going to be a vote of the council for the position uh of chief and that was held for the first time two weeks ago and has been referenced numerous times by the 54 vote that occurred on that date. Uh so it is the interpretation of the officer corporation council uh that this question has been put to the city

council uh on a prior occasion therefore precluding an objection on the issue tonight. Right. But that vote was taken, failed, and then it was rejected by the council in its entirety. Therefore, there was nothing else for that item other than to be reintroduced at a later date in time, which is today, which would make it the first time it's come before us. It would be the second time in the opinion, same

same discussion. Sure. Uh, council, did I I had a similar question? Same question. I I think um what pre the president wants to ask is u and I maybe I'll I'll phrase it a little differently because I had the same thought. Um once the item is disposed of at the first meeting okay does this count as a second time or does this count as a first time?

That's that's the narrow because I want to get this right too. Yep. And so again that's the that's that's the the question the stem of the questions the opinion is and it's been I think so the definition would be what is a definition of a a second or a first is it after a disposal of a prior vote you you follow me I I do and we don't have a ordinance

that addresses on point a defi a definition this is a legal imp interpretation It's a matter the plain reading in the opinion of the office of corporation council is that it would be a second present probably no precedent the chart is relatively new so I don't I don't know if you can I mean what anything ever done in the past there is no case law similar to this so so so

there is no case law not case law but an occasion where we acted past president you know I am not aware council Camaro would know I recall I I am not aware that this issue has ever uh been raised in this form prior. Um I have the benefit of talking to corporation council Rumsy. We worked on this. Uh it may have been days off. This building may have been closed but we have been re

researching this issue and we're fairly confident that our interpretation is the appropriate interpretation of that and I I respect your opinion. Trust me. Thank you councelor. Thank you. Thank you. I just want to get clarification. Thank you council. Council C1 council. Thank you. Um, so respectfully, this just doesn't pass the common sense test. Okay. When we step back and take a look at this through the lens of

everyday logic and fairness, it raises real concern. Residents expect decisions that make sense not only on paper, but practical. And right now, this doesn't make sense to me. Okay. So, you're telling me we took a vote, it was rejected.

as a city councelor, can I bring that back up on the table? Has it been tabled? Is the matter still on the table? So if the mayor never submitted

you back I just lost my train of thought. But if the mayor So if this if this was a table, could I have brought it up anywhere on the agenda? Is it is items left on the on the table? Is it is there any way that I could have reconsidered my vote if I wanted to? Not you or any other counselor. Okay. So, the action was taken. It was no longer before us.

We could not take any action whatsoever.

So, the question to assistant corporation council if it was a different name, would you have the same opinion?

If the mayor came back and decided that he wanted to follow the request of nine city councils that we took on April 8th for a fully transparent process and he actually did that within a two-eek process and came back to the city council with a new name. Would that be the first time it was before us or would that be the second time it's before us?

So councelor Kadim what you're asking is an is a simple question. Is it the first time? Cuz now we're playing. Let's hear his explanation. But I I I hear what you're saying. We're playing with words, right? Because if if it's a different name, it's the first time before us. If it's the same name, it's a second time.

Well, let's see what his reasoning is.

Go ahead, Mr. There is no legal preclusion preventing the mayor to ask for this to be on the agenda, which the process was followed. It is now on the agenda tonight. There are justifications for asking for the vote that the legal department does not engage in. But there are reasons why you can do this from inaccuracies. And I'm not suggesting what I'm tell laying out is a small list of reasons this is allowed and not

precluded by law because that's what you're seeking is a preclusion or uh No, we're we're agreeing that he can do it.

We're not saying he can't do what he does. He's not answering my question.

The question the question is very simple. Had the name take out the name that's on the application and put someone else's name in there. Would it be the first time it's before the council? It's it is a simple question.

Still would be the second. No. If it is that issue never came before us. Yes.

Okay. So tell me. So that's your that's your legal opinion. I can council. We're going to it is just hard to reconcile with basic logic. I'm I am saying. So with that being said, y So we rejected it. This is the second time before us. Article two, section 210, city council confirmation of certain appointments.

Just bear with me. The mayor shall res refer to the city council and simultaneously file with the city clerk the name of each person the mayor desires to appoint as a city officer, department head, or as a member of a multi-body multi-member body.

Appointments made by the mayor shall become effective on the 45th day after the date on which notice of the proposed appointment was filed with the clerk unless approved or rejected by the city council within 45 days. Does the 45day clock start on April 8th? No, it would start it would start on April 22nd. April 15th. Oh, April 15th. That's when it was submitted. So then it's not the first

time it was before us because if it was the first time before us we would be starting the clock on April 8th prior to April 8th when it was submitted. Right.

So again basic logic second time I'm sorry this is this would be the second time right 45 days. So 45 days is based on April 15th when it was submitted to us.

The original appointment was fi the the appointment that the council voted on on May on April 8th was presented on I believe April 3rd. April 3rd this um when did the 45day clock kick in well you've you've disposed of that correct?

So it does no longer fall because you reject it's rejected. So this is we can just go this is like a a merrygoround.

We can it's very simple. I sorry I'm sorry I cut you off. Go ahead.

Yeah. This was this was presented on April this current one that's before you was presented filed with the city clerk on April 15th because the last item was rejected and there was nothing before us for us to take any action on.

Is that correct? The other the 45 days does not is no longer in play because the first it started over the first appointment was rejected. All right. So it wasn't tabled. The 45day clock starts on the 15th. It is now April 22nd. This is the first time that this issue is before us. In my opinion, I'm going to rely on the president. You run the meeting. I think we are allowed to

object. I will be objecting as well because this is the first time this appointment was done before us. There is no way if it was a new name that this would be a second time it was before us because if it was a new name, it would be the first time we were even discussing the individual before us. So just because the mayor decided to keep putting forward the same name doesn't

mean it's not the first time it was before us. We took action on the very first request. He has submitted a new request. Just so happens to be the same request that he submitted down to the city council.

At some point at some point common sense has to make has to kick in when we start re reviewing the charter. And I don't disagree. The charter is a mess. It's it's not a good charter, you know, but at the end of the day, it has to pass common sense. It's got to be practical for anybody to sit here and suggest that after we reject something and it comes back before us, it's it's

not considered the first time, it's already been rejected, then if that's not the case, then we would need twothirds according I mean, Mr. D said at public's uh public input, he was right. It would require twothirds if we want to bring it up again after it was rejected and it would be twothirds and it have to be somebody in the in the um majority to be able to make that. So what are we doing

with that? I yield. There you go. The council C4. Yes. A further question. I'm trying to move beyond this whole objection issue now because first question is what what if what if there's an objection? who is going to rule tonight whether the objection is appropriate and or not appropriate because an objection just postpones the vote to the next meeting. Correct. Okay.

Now, it doesn't stop anything. So, what's the remedy here? I mean, if someone objects, who's going to make the decision to allow the vote to go to go through and who's going to make the decision that the objection is valid?

Point of parliamentary procedure. Point of parliamentary procedure. It's a question.

trying to get beyond the point of parliamentary proced.

So we all duly elect our council president who is the parliamentarian before the city council. It's nobody else. So the council president will determine whether or not like we're in court whether or not the motion is is is acceptable or not. I agree. It's nobody else. So we we can appreciate his comments. The president makes that decision. And for the record, we've had prior, you know, pri other people have

been president before and there's been times where the president would somebody would object and then what I did was I asked if there's any other objections and at that point we'll find out if there's two objections or three objections to the charter's point. So, okay. Well, I still have the floor. So, I just wanted that point apologize.

Absolutely. Yeah. Thank you. So, I I agree. I mean, it's it's up to you, Council Kamar. Sorry to put you on the spot, but we either uh either honor the objection or don't. And I took the job.

I know the responsibility and we proceed. So, I think I think I'm I'm done what I have to say and I think we should move on.

I get it. Um I will say this, just a couple of things. Number one, Council Py, there hasn't been any easy votes in the last two years. They're all tough. Every city council here is independent. I know you said we've had an easy two years. Voting for Diamond High School was not an easy vote for a lot of counselors. voting on a lot of stuff. It's gets did none. No one comes

here saying it's going to be easy night.

We're going to get out of here.

Sometimes we do our business quickly, but those votes aren't easy. They're very tough. Even the curb cut vote for two individuals is is tough. So, it's always tough. Transparency. I think every council here is as transparent as possible. And it's just something that you know what it's it's hard to get your message out sometimes, but as far as independent thinkers, I've never seen nine more independent thinkers serve

this body than than we have before us now. We're all very independent and we do what we believe is right every single time. That's the tough part about being a counselor. I will say this, I have disagreed with opinions from corporation councils on many of occasions. Sometimes I'm right, sometimes I'm wrong, but it's an opinion and ultimately a judge will make the final decision if it get if it

went that far. I don't see it going that far, but just letting you know just because for the people who've never dealt with this, just because we get an opinion from the corporation council, it's nice to have if you want to use it for and you believe it and you think that it makes sense. But I've disagreed with a lot of attorneys, no offense to you, but a lot of them that have sat

here that have told me, "I represent the city. You pay me a lot of money to make these decisions." Only to find out that they were wrong in the opinion they had given us. So I I I try to use as much common sense as I have and sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn't. Tonight, if there is objection, I will adhere to the objection because in my opinion, when we

voted for it last time, we dismissed of it in its entirety. And it was presented, reintroduced to the clerk, regardless if it's the same scenario, same name, same everything. Okay? Same bat time, same bat channel, same everything. It's a new introducing first time before us. So, I I will state that the 45day clock proves it that it's the first time for us.

Anyone else want to speak?

No, you made a motion. There's a motion to second. Yeah. Motion. What is the motion? Please. The motion was to motion is to confirm the appointment. Motion to approve and confirm as made and seconded. I can I just point of clarification?

Maybe I misunderstood uh assistant corporation council, but for an objection, one one single objection just pushes it off to either a special meeting or a regular meeting. two councils objecting. It has to be at a regular meeting. For emergencies, it's a it's a three member objection. So, we only need one or two for tonight. I don't think you need one, right? I just want Well, I don't know where two and

three came from. Four, five, and six. I just You only need one. It'll put it for two weeks. Okay. Just clarify back.

Motion has been made and seconded. Roll call.

This motion would be to confirm the appointment and adopt the order approving the contract. Council Kadine, object clerk, move on to the next order, please. Move the question. Is there any other objections? Is it just one?

There's just one. Council for the just for the record. For the record, I I I'd like to be on record for objecting.

Okay. It says it right there. One or more counselors can object.

No further discussion. Let's go.

Madam clerk, you continue the roll call.

Item five. Shame. Shame on me. Really?

Please knock it off. Yeah, you're all public safety and you're shameing on me because I'm taking my my right as a consulate to take a right a vote. And that's not intimidation. Let's not let's not get dooked into a con. Come on.

That's what we're going to say, right?

Unbelievable.

Sometimes they praise us, sometimes they don't. I get it. I get it. It's just it's called. They've left the building.

Uncalled for five. You go. Thank you, Attorney, for that. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, Ken. Ken, appreciate it. So, council C2, just have the record as objection, please. Go. I'm sorry. Just council C2 just council to what? Council size.

Council seat six has an objection as well. You've noted. Thank you. Item five. Item five is a communication from the mayor in two orders. The first would be establishing the diamond stabilization fund. Motion to adopt.

Second. Motion to adopt has been made and second. All in favor? Any opposed?

Motion carries. In B um is ordered. Um this would create a excuse me this would transfer $4.6 million from the FY24 surplus revenue to the diamond stabilization. Motion to adopt. Motion to adopt. Has a made second. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries.

Item six is a proposed ordinance for passage through second reading and enrollment and this relates to miscellaneous traffic. Motion so made pass through second reading and enrollment has remained second.

Volunteer. Any opposed? Motion carries.

Item seven is a and proposed ordinance for passage through second reading and enrollment that relates to right-of-way fees for fiber optic cable. Motion pass through second reading and enrollment.

Motion to pass or second and Roman has remained second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Whereas at a recent meeting of the city council committee on finance, there was a discussion held regarding necessary updates that must be made to the existing chapter 42 article 4 of Butters Lots program within the city code. And whereas there are new Massachusetts general laws that are no longer

congruent with various portions of the existing ordinance such as real estate appraisal requirements and acceptable methods of property sale. And whereas there are many abutters throughout the city that have expressed interest in purchasing eligible properties through the abuters lots program. Now therefore, be it resolved that the committee on ordinances and legislation convene with cooperation council and any other

interested parties to discuss necessary amendments that must be applied to the existing AB butters lots program to achieve compliance with new state law requirements. Motion to adopt. Second.

Motion to adopt has remained second. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries.

Whereas the city of Fall River is home to over 93,000 residents and along with non-residents are serviced by the Fall River Police Department, the Fall River Fire Department, and the Fall River Department of Emergency Medical Services. And whereas these services, whether emergent or non-emergent, are incredibly important to the well-being of all residents, property owners, and business owners within the city. And

whereas the leaders of all three departments work cohesively with various matters requiring collaboration within Fall River. Now therefore, be it resolved that the committee on public safety convene quarterly with the police chief, fire chief, and chief of emer emergency medical services to discuss any concerns, achievements, or updates related to law enforcement, fire prevention, and medical services and

provide information to the public regarding available services within these departments. To adopt second motion to adopt and second in favor. Any opposed?

I'm opposed.

counselor in seat six opposed.

I'm not believing in transparency on everything.

Mr. President, seat six.

It's funny. I just heard my colleague who was in council leadership. Council, please stop talking to each other. He has the floor. Council, if you want to talk after, come speak. Who's our council vice president who just said talking about transparency.

Yes. Transparency is doing the right thing and doing it the right way. And the way we did we were going to do it before isn't the right way. So maybe what we do with these two resolutions before us is is pass pass them through ordinance and have an emergency preamble at the next city council meeting to finally do it the right way, which is what I've been asking for.

I yield. Thank you. Council C5, Council Brown. Listen, I think it's my colleagues to my left was talking about transparency and I agree with them. I think we need to be transparent. This resolution is not to go to the ordinance. the second one. The first one I believe my colleague can see number two files on the Abutles lot program, but it's just to get these um public safety individuals down to a

meeting with our public safety committee just so people see what's going on and make it transparent. That's all. That's all. It's got nothing to do with going to ordinance, etc. That's the resolution that I filed after, which they don't want to vote for. You don't have to. I'm just trying to look at solutions with that idea. Your resolution Your resolution passed 7 to2. Let's go.

You're good.

Thank you, Madam Clerk.

Item 11 is the police chief's report on licenses. We do have one that was denied by the by the police chief.

Um, Madame Clerk, which one was denied?

The taxi driver. Can we refer that to regulations? Sure. So moved. Second motion defer to committ regulations has remained in second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Motion carries. We have a number of claims. Cooperation council.

Motion refer to cooperation council remain in second. All in favor? Mr.

President. Clarification. Council seat seven. Did we send all of 11 to regulations or just we have to make a motion tax. We have to make a motion to separate those two before we move because if not you're voting on the entire report. I thought we would Is that correct, madam cler? So the taxi driver will be separated. We will refer that to the regulations committee. Okay.

So we don't need to make a motion to separate them. The remainder would be the secondhand licenses which should be approved. Motion to a vote to adopt the secondhand licenses other than taxi cab.

So made motion has made and second. All in favor. Any opposed? Motion carries.

Thank you. Um we have a number of claims. Motion refer to corporation council. Motion refer to corporation council minute and seconded. All in favor. Any opposed? Motion carries. Item 13 is an open meeting law complaint filed by Rebecca Collins alleging a violation um with the city council that occurred on April 8th. Motion to refer to corporation council. Motion to refer to corporation council. May second. All

in favor? I. Any opposed? Motion carries. Item 14 is an open meeting law complaint filed by Patrick Higgins also alleging a violation by the city council on April 8th. Corporation council corporation council meeting. Second. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries.

We have a number of drain layer applications. Motion to approve. Second.

Motion to approve the drain layers applications. Made in second. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Motion carries.

We have minutes of the planning board.

Motion to accept. Place on file. Motion to accept the planning board's minutes accepted. Place on files are made and seconded. All in favor? Any opposed?

Motion carries. Whereas there have been various methods utilized to find, interview, and select qualified, experienced candidates for leadership within the police department, fire department, and emergency medical services department over the years.

Whereas other municipalities within the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, such as New Bedford, Marshfield, and Somerville, have created screening committees for the candidate selection process. or is these committees consist of various elected officials, attorneys, members of local organizations and individuals who have retired from either the police department, fire department or EMS

department respective to the department in need of a new candidate. Now therefore, be it resolved that the committee on ordinances and legislation convene with the director of human resources and corporation council to discuss the creation of a screening committee for the process of hiring a new police chief, fire chief, and chief of EMS when these positions are vacant.

Mr. Mr. President, is there a motion to adopt? Motion. Is there a second on the motion council?

So, uh, would we be able to adopt this, uh, by emergency preamble? Right now, this is it's only in the form of a resolution asking that the committee meet to establish an ordinance to establish an ordinance to have a search committee to hire the next police chief.

Can we get are we able to I'm asking the president can we adopt it as you have to have an ordinance meeting have an emergency pre ordinance meeting vote on it then put it through send it back to the council so could it be we can't do it right here in front of the full body because the ordinance is created right there's no not there's no public notice of an ordinance meeting being created

right now sure I I asked I tried um so I'm I'm going to urge um the chair in the ordinance committee that hopefully they'll be able to have an ordinance meeting prior to the next full council and they can adopt the measure and send it back up to the full council whether it's by yay nay or whatever and then we can have our readings because I think the the ordinance I know I was critical

and given the item leave to withdraw if we were going to you know circumvent the process but with the objection a little bit more time we have the time to do the right thing right now is to have the search committee commenced to do exactly what our council vice president is asking for in her resolution the exact same thing. So, I'm I'm and sad that we can't just adopt an ordinance right now

and then it's an ordinance, but you know, we can't pass through all readings or anything like that. It's too bad. I know. But, um, just putting it out there. I hope the ordinance committee can meet prior to the next full city council meeting and then the city council will then be able to adopt the item uh in right right then and there and we can follow the ordinance. I yield. Thank you, Council. Counc.

Yeah. Um, I like the resolution, but I can't support it as written. Um, if we can remove the fire chief from the resolution, um, fine with it. But we do have civil service. There already is a process for the fire chief. Um, we they can't just you can't just randomly have the mayor, the city administrator, and the director of human services interview firemen to become a chief. They have to

follow the civil service process. With that, I respond. Thank you, Council Counc. I understand it's civil service, but you can have up to three and the mayor would then pick one. So, it would be the same thing. I did talk to Chief Bacon about it as well, but we can take it up an ordinance. Yeah, I don't have a problem with that. With that, I yield.

Thank you. Council, are you planning on having an ordinance meeting in the next couple weeks? I'm leaving as soon as this meeting is over and I won't be back. So, until the council meeting.

Sorry, Mr. President. Point of council seat six. Do you have a point of clarification? Point of order. Yeah.

The next meeting isn't for three weeks.

Okay. Right. Not two, it's three. Okay.

Yep. Thank you. Council council seat six council. Mr. President, could I ask you as the individual who prepares the agenda to wait to put the item back on the agenda when we have the ordinance committee meeting? I think it has to go before the next order no next scheduled city council meeting which is already in place. you can uh have an objection and delay the objection. Okay. Thank you for

your ruling on that. I yield.

Thank you. And just point of point of information too, just so I know what my colleague is trying to do, but even even with that, if there was an ordinance meeting and it gets passed, the mayor the mayor still can veto, right? So, he has a number of days to veto it. Then it's 10 to 30 days before we act like put it into the record and take action on it. So, yeah, good veto. It's not

going to happen in the time frame you're looking for. That's That's all I'm saying. I yield. Thank you, council.

Madam Click. Um, lastly, we have vote on the last one. Hold on. Discussion. All in favor? I opposed. Roll call. Roll call. Roll call.

Oh, just on adoption of Oh, I'm sorry. Quick. I'm sorry. So, I I don't disagree with my colleagues in terms of if we wanted the process, we should have we should have requested the process now. So, I I don't disagree. Unless there's an amendment to it to remove the the fire chief from it, I can't support it. And quite frankly, if we're going to go down this road and we're not going to have any transparency

or have a say on what the process is going to be, we might as well put the police chief back into civil service.

So, that solves the problem. So, then you got your fire chief, your police chief, and civil service. There's a civil service process in terms of how a police chief is is appointed. And then we have no say at that point. All we're doing is just supporting it. We know what the process is because it's by civil service, which is by state law. in statute. So, um, that would that would

be my recommendation. If we really want to see something, maybe that's that's the direction we want to go. I don't necessarily support civil service. I think it it limits your pool of candidates and applicants, but if that's the only way that we're going to be able to um be satisfied with the fact that the process is transparent and done properly, then there was a reason this was put into contract. It used to be

sless service. There was a reason went into contract and you just limit the pool of candidates. That's what you're going to have to scope.

Constant seat six. You y constit one. I do. Constit. Yeah. I want to support this because this is what we what we want to do the right thing. I mean I I agree with my colleague in seat one, but I would disagree with him when when we say that we want to remove the police uh the fire chief. The ordinance committee will then draft its ordinance accordingly and then we will act on it

through the ordinance committee and then full counsel. Just the word police chief to to to not consider supporting this to do this the way that we all at least I want done. the search committee I think is the first step in that process. I will just say for the record that if it comes back to us I don't know where I'm going to go because we just talking out

of both sides of our mouth here have a process for police chief that we all want search committee and then it's back before us at the next meeting to vote what I was saying before right having a hard time with that how how do we do that we get it it's frustrating Mr. President, we get a council call you. Yep. Thank you. Motion has a roll call. The motion would be to adopt the resolution.

Councelors Kadim, no. Dion, no. Hart, yes. Kilby, yes. Pereira, yes. Ponty, yes. Reposo, no. Samson, no. President Camaro, no. Motion fails.

Motion failed. That's okay.

We'll come back with nothing. And lastly, we have an open meeting law complaint filed by uh Reena Brown. Madam Cler, can I just I'd just like to go back to item number nine. I'd like to amend uh item nine to remove the fire chief from the resolution. Second.

You have to reconsider to the vote on it. All right. And motion to reconsider.

Motion to reconsider. Second. Motion to reconsider item nine as made and seconded. All in favor? I. Any opposed?

Motion carries. Motion to amend uh the resolution before us to remove the fire chief. Second. Motion to remove the fire chief has been made and seconded. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Motion carries.

Motion to adopt as amended. Second.

Motion to adopt item nine as amended.

hasn't made and seconded. Council President, um I don't I want to address something that was stated in an article before this meeting is adjourned. I feel like it's my right to do that. I couldn't have foreseen this was going to happen. So, okay. Can you you I will give you that opportunity, council, when we're done with this vot. I will I will call on you for your Thank you. Motion to adopt as amended has made and

seconded. All in favor? I. Any opposed?

Motion carries. Opening meeting. Lastly, we have an open meeting law complaint filed by Reena Brown alleging a violation of the city council on April 8th. Motion for the corporation council.

Motion for the corporation made second.

All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries. Two minute recess to sign the ordinances. City council recess for two minutes to sign the ordinances.

I can't do it. It's too city council reconvene. Madam clerk, lastly we have for its final passage the ordinance that relates to miscellaneous traffic. Motion passed beain passed be ordained has been made and seconded. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion carries and then also to pass through its final reading would be the ordinance that relates to the use of city's right of way cable wire fiber cabinet. Motion

pass ordained. Second. Motion to pass to be ordained. Has a second. All in favor?

I. Any opposed? Motion carries. That's all we have. Mr. President, council seat eight. Council Samson. Thank you, Council President. I want to address a recent article that questioned both my integrity and my professional life. I became a city councelor. I wanted to become elected and serve my city because that's what I wanted to do. I love Fall River. I love the people. I believe in

my city and I believe in the democratic process.

But almost 24 years ago, I became to work in the human service field and I became a clinician. And my passion and my true calling that God has called me to do is to be a counselor and to serve people that are sick and suffering. And I have broke through every glass ceiling that you could put before me as a woman in a male field to work to fight for the rights of my

patients and the privacy of my patients.

And that is first and foremost the most important thing that I can do for my community. By the time patients come into my office, they are on the brink of suicide. They are on the brink of death.

Mental health is an issue. The stigma surrounding mental health and people not wanting to come in and be brave enough to come in to seek help from a professional is real and many people die over it. And the article that was posted today with with a simple records request from a real journalist would have done a simple records request to find out if I as a city councelor am receiving funding

from a city to funnel people into my counseling practice. That is an erroneous lie that irresponsible reporting has caused unintended consequences to innocent people. This is a problem that's happening in society.

We see that all innocent people are victims of bad journalism, bad reporting. I mean, Elon Mus just stepped down from his political office because people are wrecking Tulsa vehicles. It's ridiculous. My oath was to protect my patients. And now because of irresponsible reporting, my patients are at jeopardy. They are calling fearing that people are calling and wondering if they're in treatment, if because I'm an

elected official that they could be outed because they're in counseling at my place, whether it be a firefighter, a taxpayer, a homeless person. I see all different types of people. Shame on the reporter that put that out there. And because my patients are in jeopardy because of the decision that I made to run for public office to serve my community, I put them in jeopardy. I resign effective immediately to protect

my patients and my staff with that council president. I respect my colleagues that has nothing to do with them. It has to do People need to take a look at what's happening with reporting.

Anybody can say anything behind their little computer and type it, but there are consequences to that. And people are suffering because of a stupid thing that was put with bad journalism, bad reporting today. And with that, I yield and I am resigning.

Thank you, C. C. Seat 6, did you have something to say, Council? Yeah, I I I I would I would urge our colleague in seat 8 to consider, reconsider. I would agree const because if I if I may, I know she's leaving, but I I I I do got to say that you just started what you had to say by saying that you broke glass ceilings in your career and reporting is reporting.

I get that. I love my city and congratulations to Ricky, but my patience and my staff are my respons. I made the decision to run for political office and I'm making the decision to put them before my needs and I'm with that. I respect all of you.

I am sad that I have to do this because I'd love that. But my patients are my priorities.

There be no further business before this council. I entertain a motion to in favor. Any opposed? What she carries me is now a journal.