5.28.2024 City Council - Committee on Finance & Regular Meeting

The Fall River City Council meeting on May 28, 2024, began with a Committee on Finance session, followed by a regular meeting. During the finance committee, a 10-year contract for the operation, maintenance, and management of the wastewater treatment facility and collection system was discussed and referred to the full Council for adoption, with a vote of all in favor. Public input included Alexander Silva advocating for changes to the demolition delay ordinance, recommending a process similar to New Bedford's, and Kelly Buchanan expressing frustration over the lack of action on illegal encampments in the South End, particularly near Bay Street, despite ongoing efforts and the promise of a new ordinance.

In the regular meeting, the Council honored two deceased World War II veterans and city retirees, Manuel Cavalo and Joseph Lima. Key decisions included the adoption of spending limits for revolving funds for FY2025 and the confirmation of Andrew Hoak to the Sewer Commission. Several legal opinions were reviewed, with the Council referring an opinion on the Armory Commission ordinance back to committee due to discrepancies and referring proposed ordinances on demolition delays, deed restrictions, and trolley fees to the Ordinance and Legislation Committee for further review. A significant debate occurred over the selection of an independent auditor, with Roselli Clark and Associates being chosen by an 8-1 roll call vote despite concerns raised about a potential conflict of interest with another bidder, Hagen Sahadi, whose partner, Mary Sahadi, was a former city CFO. The 10-year wastewater contract was also adopted by the full Council with an 8-1 vote, with Councilor Perera opposing due to the contract's length. The Council also passed several ordinances through various readings, including handicap parking, engineering department fees, minimum housing division organizational structure, miscellaneous traffic, and zoning map amendments for the waterfront Transit Oriented Development District.

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