5.28.2025 Fall River City Council

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City Council Committee on Finance will come to order. Clerk will call the role.

Council Scadin. Dion here. Hart here.

Kilby here. Pereira here. Ponty here.

Raposo here. Tiff here. President Camara here. Just want everybody to know councelor Kadin did reach out and say he could not attend tonight's meeting. He has a commitment. He could not be here tonight. So I just want to make everybody very clear of that.

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

Item number one is citizens input time.

However, no one has signed up to speak before citizens input time. So, we move on to item number two. It's a resolution committee on finance convey with the city administrator and the opera director to provide with the to be provided with the full account of all funds allocated, spent or redirected with opera funding in addition to the status report on all projects funded through OPA funding adopted on February

25th, 2025. And we'll hold discussion.

You want to come down please?

Good evening.

Good evening. Good evening. Like it's been a while. I think March 11th, 2024, so it's my last time here. Um, so first of all, thank you. I know a lot of people don't thank you for inviting them down here. Um, and at the end of this, maybe I won't be so thankful, but um, I think this was actually a really great resolution and important um, I know you guys were really interested in hearing

more about where we were with the projects, but I think um, for the residents and the taxpayers, um, it was actually a great idea to do this status report. Car, can you just put that microphone a little closer to you, please? It's a lot easier. Yeah, sorry.

Thank you. Um, I wanted to create a report that I thought highlighted everything the resolution asked for. Um, I did add the Bristol County Treasury projects. Um, because I did think that was also important for you to have. Um, I know in watching the meetings where you guys spoke about this resolution, um, Councelor Pont, you made a point about the benefits to the residents. So,

I did want to make sure that this report really highlighted um the benefits and um flushed those out for you. Um I would just say um tonight I provided you with a so the report that you have before you is 150 pages and that was quarter ending March 31st of 2025. But as I was doing the report obviously we were paying invoices. So the summation that I gave

you tonight is up tod date um as of 521 what we've paid out. Um so it changes a little bit. Um it's my intention to tomorrow upload this report to the website so the public can have access to this and as we complete projects I'll continue to update this for all of you.

Uh so just to begin especially for the individuals um watching at home who might not totally understand ARPA and how it came to be I think it's just important to mention that so it started in 2021 and it was a new and unprecedented opportunity where the city received funding um there was very little guidance um and there were evolving guidelines that were changing in fact um I actually just learned this

recently because this before I even got here. Um, Mayor Coogan can be credited for um, identifying that the original guidelines were very um, narrow and restrictive on the revenue loss category. And so he reached out to federal delegates to advocate that that the revenue loss that we that we were we were I don't remember what the exact amount was, but it was much less than $10 million um, that it be increased.

And so because of him advocating for that and his persistence, the US Treasury actually changed the guidelines and we res we as it sort of inserted this $10 million option um that we took um that we used. Um so we wouldn't have had this opportunity in this revenue loss category had it not been for Mayor Coogan early on. Um but that just give highlights sort of how the guidelines were always changing. So from the

beginning, the administration worked to identify priority projects um and determine whether those projects were eligible under the enumerated um categories. Additionally, Mayor Coogan um opened up an application process so that um community organizations could apply for uh funding. We also created um an ARPA advisory committee which councelor Dion sat on, members of the administration, the director of finance

um as well as some department heads, some community members and citizens um sorry community stakeholders I should say and citizens um and that advisory board um was created to sort of ensure that there was thoughtful communitydriven decision-making that was taking place and they would make recommendations as to whether to approve or not approve projects that were being proposed um through

applications. Um and so the committee was really trying to focus on transformative municipal improvements but also providing money to organizations that directly work with residents in the city. And so in August of 2023 um the US Treasury and I sorry um Councelor Reposa I misstated that. So it was in August of 2023 and then I don't think it was until December or April 2024 that the guidelines actually

changed but we um the treasury issued an update to provide what was called this flex provision. And that was where um the city was finally able to prioritize um what we call title one which is like surface transportation um projects and um community development projects. So early on when we identified priority projects um I know we we tried I think prior um to me um Mr. Dion tried

to get Lewon Street um the DCM uh re the restoration of the DCM Lewon Street building. We couldn't do that. So we couldn't do that until recently. We couldn't allocate money because it didn't qualify. So when we got when that those guidelines changed, we were able to sort of pivot and really address some you know allocating 2.5 million to surface transportation projects. Um, so

that's just to give an idea that at the, you know, in real time we were working with what we knew. Um, and I say this because I think in hindsight it's really easy to critique the decisions, you know, that the advisory committee, city council, um, you made some decisions also, you know, obviously the administration, myself, um, you know, but at the time we were working within the framework that was available and we

were trying to make what we believed um, and I think that's important here is to like we believed and it was our intention to make thoughtful decisions that would benefit the residents, alleviate budgets within the department and sort of think creatively about long-term projects or long long-term impact on things. And so I think we really did do the best that we could.

And you know, I think and so I just I say that sort of to to start this conversation because I think it's important. Um most importantly, I think it's um worth noting that we have met all federal obligation deadlines. Um and to date we have expended um $45,32,655 of our 69 million that was city ARPA funds and we have expended 14,22,513 of our 16 million and change of Bristol County Treasury funds. Um,

also worth mentioning is that in March of 2025, this year, a couple months ago, we completed the um, a single audit as you know, and part of that single audit was the ARPA program. And, um, this audit takes a deep dive into our compliance with federal and state procurement, um, our my federal reporting that I do, uh, subreient monitoring on our projects, um, and there were no findings. And so, I think

that's really important as well, um, to mention. So, sorry this little elevator speech is a little bit longer than I expected but um I know Michelle Dion, sorry, councelor Dion will like this. Um I meant So, what I wanted to do and I wanted it ready for that report and I apologize, but um I asked Mr. Furlin to provide um as we look across the board on all the water projects that were done with

city money as well as Bristol County Treasury money. Um I wanted to know the impact that that had on the taxpayer um the taxpayer the rate as well as their average household bills. And so I know I it was stated in the report as being 22 um cents for the water main replacement.

In fact um when you add the money that we also did with Bristol County Treasury, it's almost 15 million. And so from that um that would change to um point so 36 cents which is a savings of $19 a year for the average household.

And this is based on a 20-year loan um with an estimate um estimated 4% interest rate. And so when we go down um and look at sort so we have the high crest um project which he said would have been paid out of his operational budget. So that would have um increased it 03 rate for just one year in his operational budget. Um so when we look

at and do I mean do you want is it okay if I go through this? Is that okay? Um so the blue water project um would have increased um the same the 01 um the lead removal and hotbox project would have been 08 cents. the bio reserve discovery center would have um increased the rate 04%. And then you see the storm water corridor was 5 million plus um and that was a Bristol County Treasury. But when

you add the Route 79 corridor improvement which was 1.4 4 million and change. Um that would increase it uh.17 which is actually a savings of um $960 for the average household per year.

Um Stafford Square was 01 uh street sweepers 03 cents. And so, um, when you look at sort of the overall amount of money, um, allocated to water and sewer in both Bristol County and city, it's 27,121,4356. And so that um was a that was a sorry 6669 on the increase of rates for people but also an average um household savings of um $3662. So for a three family home um

it's just over $100 a year savings. Um and that would be for the next 20 years if each year. Um so I just thought that was important 7 c. Thank you. First thank you for the report. Excellent. Um very detailed. I just have some I guess more or less housekeeping questions and I'm going to go from page to page in order um just so you can give provide some additional information. As I was reading

through it, I recognize that the reporting is as of 3:31. So just clarify for me when's the next reporting cycle?

Uh July 31st of 2000. Well that's sorry it's year end but then I don't have to report on so it my last reporting will be on July 31st. Okay. But it's it's quarter ending 6:30. Okay. Sorry. And is it your intention once everything is said and done to re-update this and reput this out again once? Yes. Yeah.

and I can do it. I mean, quarterly seems to make the most sense and we should have several other projects closed by then. Okay. So, I'm I'm just going to throw some questions at you and you can kind of answer them as we go. Um, so on page two is Operation Compass and I know a lot of the a lot of the equipment's already been purchased. Is there things

still left to get at this point? What is I don't know if you can elaborate on any of that. What is left? I'm um this I may have to 14,000 Yeah. So, I think what is left here was for a training, but I can double check and let you know. Okay. And I apologize.

I I have spent the entire day trying to anticipate every possible question. And well, and I I think some of it you may have to go back to the people who who who received the offer money to get some clarifi clarification. So, that's fine.

Um, page 10 was the water main replacement. And again, this may be a question for for Mr. referral as far as what is left of this list to be done. Um because it says date completed. Yep. And that I apologize. So that is there's a couple of these typos. There's another one on Bristol County um Treasury 6 911 dispatch. Um it should say expected date of completion. Okay. Which I figured

that was the case because it's ahead. Um if you could just clarify what is left to be done of that water water main replacement. Excuse me. Can to make this easier, can you identify opera 12 or opera 21? It's a lot easier to find that than to try to find the page number in the list. Well, I'm actually going in order from beginning to end of the book anyway. So, it's it's as we flip, but I

I can do that. Page numbers work fine though. Page 10. It's ARPA. It is ARPA five. Yeah. And page 10. Okay. Thank you. I'll specify both as we go. All right. Thanks. You're welcome.

Um page 16 which is ARPA 9 crime prevention training and equipment. Um I noticed that the budget was amended to increase. We haven't spent all of it yet. Expected completion date is in a few months. Do you know what is left here? I think this was um a lot of their um what is the word I'm looking for?

um when they enter on like a search warrant like a lot of the and I'm the uh the equipment to get into the homes and like a lot of the shields and um that stuff and this the training I think the train not the training that goes with it but the equipment. Okay. Um I think there was a there was a drone in this as well. Um and I I think that is what is

outstanding. Okay. I'll let you add that. But I can I'll add that. Yes, of course. Um, page 19, which is ARPA 10, the Quicoan Rail Trail phase 4. So, nothing's been expended to this point. I guess I'm curious because I know that it was divided into two phases and is it correct that one of the phases can't be done just because of timing? Yes. Okay.

So, the plan right now is from Quicoan Easterly to Father Travas Park. When do we expect to see that beginning? Um, I believe and I Mr. Mr. Agiar is here tonight. Um, but I believe that may have already started.

It's under contract.

Mr. Aar, can you want to come down? Oh, don't we have the rules? You don't have to come. We're fine. That's fine. Only find if you speak to the microphone so people at home can listen. Mr. Aar, we'll hear it, but no one at home will be able to know what you're saying.

No.

Thank you, Mr. Aar. Good evening. For the record, Dan Agui, our director of engineering and planning. So, yes, the um QuickShan Rail Trail phase 4A is what we've called this segment um is from Quicoan to Father Travaso's Park. The project was bid under contract with Century Paving was the awarding uh contract and they were waiting for u June 1st to begin their construction.

and they've submitted all their pre-construction documents and they anticipate being completed well before the project deadline of December uh 31st 2026. Okay, I appreciate that. Thank you. So, we were hoping to be be started once school was out. So, we're being cognizant of that. Appreciate that.

Great point of order. Thank you, sir.

While you're asking quick, can we ask because this one here was amended to a million dollars. The original was $4 million. What was the amendment for?

Correct. So, I think it was in the report, but originally it was a $4 million um assignment of the funds for the entire phase 4 project, which was from Britain Park to Father Travasos Park. The westerly side of the project, which would have been from Quesan to um to Britain, was a much more extensive permitting process and it kind of sat on the vine for a while till I started here

and began permitting the rest of that.

So we would not have been able to process all of the land takings, all of the permitting and meet the construction deadlines. So at that point in time, it was determined to to move forward with a portion of the project that we could get completed and the additional funds could be re redirected somewhere else. May I extend on that just quickly? So as far as plan 4-B down the road, is that something

anticipate to look for grants to accomplish? Yep. And and just so that you know in during this process we were able to um get a savings by committing these opera funds to the construction of this um that the state ended up picking up the design um cost for the project.

So um we had a explain to them why we weren't going to be using using 4B at this point in time and they were comfortable with our representation and move forward with the payments for the design. Excellent. Thank you, Mr. Ari. I appreciate that. Anything else? Um actually this the next one I'll ask is about the Lon Plaza the Jerry Lton Plaza. Yep.

Complete. So it is complete and attorney Hum is there as far as the inspection completion date. It says July but it's done. There is I think one Yep. closing out. There was one if you drive by um we tried to preserve one light fixture but you'll see they match in aesthetics but one is very dim. Uh, so we did have some enough funding to replace that and that was I think a 16week lead time for that

fixture. So as soon as that comes in that'll be installed. I think we actually just just paid so I think it just came in. So we should we should be having that installed soon. Excellent.

Thank you sir. Appreciate it. Thank you Mr. All right. Um, page 26 is the teen room center and I'm assuming this is the boys and girls.

Yes. Actually, I have a post-it note as to to correct myself with that. Yes, it was it's opera 15 is the opera 15 page 26. Yes. Yeah. So, that's the Boys and Girls Club and that hasn't started. So, it's started. It just they haven't invoiced us yet and um I just got one of I did get actually one invoice last Friday and I will pay that. Um and it should be near completion soon.

Excellent.

um page 30 which is ARPA 17 it's the near mapap software purchase and that was for the assessor's office is it my understanding that's already in place at this point so actually and I part of this so it is through the assessors but I think actually engineering uses the software as well um and that was also a correction I'm intended to make um So this was to I'm I'm just going to Yeah. Welcome back Mr.

Again. Yeah. So the near map software is a module that a number of offices use um in the city. Um and it had been paid for in numerous ways um over the years. CDA had paid for it I believe one year. I believe it paid for it another year.

This was an opportunity to uh pay a little bit in advance and get I think it was a two or three year uh commitment um that actually just expired maybe two weeks ago. So it was purchased. It's been utilized. And basically what it is, it's like a Google Earth, but they provide us two updated photos every year. So every department uses it for determining, hey, has somebody built something that wasn't

there. So it it's everybody uses it u for different reasons. I want to say we have six or eight licenses with within city hall that that uses it. So it was paid for. It's been utilized and it has just uh agreed to pick up the ongoing uh fee for this upcoming year as well.

Gotcha. So attorney H. So is has the budget been expended to this point? It has not yet, but there's a purchase there's a purchase order in the system.

Correct. Got it. Thank you. Uh page 38 is the library. Um I don't read. So not you don't need that. Um 22 ARPA 22. So just a kind of a side question.

So this ARPA project included the water infiltration repairs and the boiler. Not the roof. Not the roof. the the boiler has been completed and it's the I think it was one we had um I think uh when we transitioned to a new director of city operations like he the it was like the onboarding of that so he is now taking over this which probably should have been done sooner. Okay. But that is well underway. Okay.

Thank you.

Uh, next is page 40 and that's ARPA 23.

ARPA 23, the South Coast Creatives Lab.

Is this an invoicing timing thing? Yep.

So, um, she actually just sent some invoices today. Um, this is a program that runs along with like a lot with the school. Um, so I the school calendar.

So, I believe that that is going to wrap up. Yeah. And do you have any statistics on how many kiddos benefited from the program? Um or can you get that? I can get that. Okay. Thank you. There's a lot especially from a lot. Page 54 is the administration of strategic tourism plan. It's ARPA 31A. So long term here. So this is currently, correct me if I'm wrong, is paying for the event coordinator

position. Yes. Amongst there's some and then there's events as well. We allocated some money towards events and some money towards um pertaining um Patty Rigo to continue with some of her work as well. Okay. And this and this continues through 26, correct? Correct.

It wraps up Yeah. on 1211. So um so the in yeah I was going to say so the intention here was to you know it's my opinion that having um the Sam Barbosza as an event planner um for the city is super helpful and beneficial to the city. I mean, she does a ton of work.

And so, I think the intent was to if to so we did all this work with the the strategic tourism plan, right? We allocated what some people think is too much funds um to that. um but uh to to do the research, the analytics and then to really identify where tourists are spending their money, what businesses are the draw, what you know um attractions, where this money is being spent, who where are these people coming

from? And so once we had all of that information, then you create this tourism plan, right? Where you t where your target marketing is. And um and that's if you go skip to the page before I tried to include like where that target market was. And I I think when I was down here last it was with um Miss Rigo on March 11th and she did a very indepth detailed report. And so I don't

necessarily want to repeat all of that.

I'm not sure that I could do that myself. Um but uh the intention was was that you just once we had all that information and all we are doing all these events and everything to just stop it would seem a little bit frivolous and so trying to give buy some time so that you know if we want to create an in-house event planner we can you know we can send down an ordinance to create

that position if we need to um and or a find a grant or something to continue her services. And so that was kind of what this was was that she's she's in the midst of doing all this great work and um you know and so we did have and we had a balance from the strategic tourism plan. We did not spend the 670,000 that was originally allocated um

and so we used that to help pay for um the event planner within the city. So so just kind of a more of a statement more more than less than a question to you.

So talking about plans ahead. So we all this work has been done and we're looking at obviously we're in this budget but it really be what is FY27 going forward how we're going to sustain that momentum of the work that's already been done. So that I guess that's a correct a thing to look at in the near future. Um page 57 is the ARPA 33 the storefront facade improvement program.

Yeah. And that was completed just so you know it's it's done the last one was done on Pleasant Street. It's it's and so yeah, and just I do have some updated information on that as well. So there were um five businesses that um storefronts if you will that benefited from that program. Um those are actually like very anchored storefronts. So sort of pivotal ones that are um in that um

neighborhood and I think if you take a drive down there, you see that it does look really nice. So yep, it's a it's a start in the right direction of a neighborhood that needs it for sure. Um page 58 is the tree and stump removal program. I'm more interested ARPA 34 by the way. Um how many trees have been planted and what is the game plan going forward because I'm going to imagine

there's more to be done at this point.

Um and any details of the plan of where these may be going and so that I would have to get back to you on please. Y and I apologize. I just I don't have all the answers. No, no, that's that's fine. And I think again this is why this is helpful conversation to get additional information to see where it all went. Um and that was sorry just to be clear you

wanted to know um how many how many have been planted and then where are the future locations and what's what's left to be allocated as far as trees are concerned because it seems like that we still have another essentially full year to to do some of that. Uh page 64, the air quality improvements. Um ARPA 39. ARPA 39. So this this has to do particularly with the uh fire stations.

Yes. So I know that was a conversation, Council Ponte, I know we we had a conversation some time ago about it. Um where does where do we stand with the split systems for our firefighters? my understanding. So, this one was um and I have a copy. This one was amended to include um I think it is and I hope I'm pronouncing is it Kandas? Kandas.

Kandas. Um so, we amend we originally were only going to do um I think three and then we added we amended it to finish and I think it was that one. I I can check, but um this should be wrapped up by what the date of completion. I think all of the others are done except for the one we added. Okay. And I I'm going to double check on that. And the

air compressors in Center North and Flint have already been done.

Um I'm trying to think of which Hold on, let me um we have done I think the air compressors are done and we're waiting on the mini splits. Yes. Okay.

Do we imagine we're going to get those in before the summer hits? Um, which is I think Al's coming down on June 10th, so uh I'll I'll I'll I would save that, but I don't I'm not sure. Okay, I'll ask him when when I see him. That's not a problem. Uh page 73 is the ARPA 40.

Nope, I'm sorry. ARPA 46, the open government program. Again, similar question to the previous one. Open gov is already put into place is operational. Yeah, actually I have a email that I enclosed in here to get to I have an answer to that.

Um so the last um yeah so it is in place the last invoice um is due July 1st um which will conclude the balance of that.

Okay. Page 75 is the ARPA 47 and 47A capital improvements and city operations. If I know the expected completion date is now so has has it been expended all the items that were requested obtained at this point everything is ordered except two items.

Um a where's the we are looking we're waiting for the Um I think we're going to pivot from the battery operated um equipment to electric. There was just a meeting about that late last week and um that's for parks. Uh yes and there was sorry please and then there was a triacal rolloff and that is the specs are done and complete and they just have to go out just to be

go out for bid. So we will probably be amending the expected completion date and giving that just another couple months.

Okay. And would you be able to provide to us what we've already received and what's already in in being in use at this point? Yeah, actually I can I might I don't know. I don't think mine is I don't know how updated it is.

It's something you can also get back to me on. Okay. I mean, so I I don't know when this was probably I think this is not totally up to date. So, I think I had this a month ago, but I know that a lot of So, basically, right now, um we have I think we Sorry, I'm just looking. Okay, so we have the cemeteries. They purchased um the truck, crew cab, and the front end

loader. And then, as I said, the city operation battery operated um equipment is going to be converted to electric.

that should um be purchased by the end of this month. Um the Ventrak rider for facilities was purchased. Um the K Cabota I think we ended up doing two of those. Um those have been p those were just purchased. Not to interrupt you but when you say purchased purchased as in we have it already or uh we already had so we already had purchased one that had come in I believe and then the second

one was just purchased not yet. Yep.

Okay.

Um and the the Hustler mowers, the those um were just put on the state bid list and I think those were just purchased as of I think Tuesday.

Um, I don't know the status of the um park dump truck crew cab that could have been purchased at this point. I'm not I'm not certain that I can check in on.

Um, we do have uh we have purchased and I can't tell you if they're received so I don't I can continue but mo everything has been purchased as of this probably that was given to me a month ago except at the time the backho uh trailer heavy duty trailer the triacle rolloff and the Ford uh F550 dump. Okay. And then everything else. Yeah. And the uh Ford F-150 hybrid. So, most of the

stuff had already been purchased. I can tell you that definitely more, as I indicated, was purchased. Um, and I just I'll check on the received side of that.

Please, I appreciate that. Um, page 80, ARPA 50, the roadway and sidewalk reconstruction. Um, I would imagine there's plenty more to happen during the summer. So, and I won't ask you to tell me everything now, but if you could also find out what the update on that is um because I would imagine there's a plan in place for the summer to address some of these things. You want to know what

um will be or Yeah. What's on the game plan essentially for of of those things?

All right. Page 86 is ARPA 54, the feasibility studies.

um how many feasibility studies have been done at this point of the four? So I think I know that um Nagel Auditorium, Lewon Street, Kennedy Park renovations and I think the only one outstanding is Bulock Street and I'm and I think it's being done. I just don't know that we have paid for it yet. Okay. And Bulock Street is because that is where the equipment is for cemeteries. Yeah. So

no. Well, so that's like that area that has the found like the foundation that had been put in but no actual sort of actual house or you know um shelter if you will not too far from Oak Cemetery.

Yeah. And so that area I think that the intention is to do something with that uh to make it a storage facility.

Okay.

Um 90 page 90 ARPA 57. It's the Lafayette skateboard restoration. So, I know the models were in government center downstairs. Um, has the final been chosen? Yep. To get that, they believe it's going out for bid within the month and they believe that this um I spoke with Mr. Dion today and they believe that that's going to be done and completed by October. So, they should be I I think like midsummer they should be

starting.

Okay. Awesome.

Uh 91, page 91 is the uh enforcement and permit management solution. Correct me if I'm wrong. This is the online permitting system. Yes. Okay. And is the remaining balance essentially just licensing? I think it's just the last invoice that has to come through. Okay.

And they have been using that and seems like it's been used a lot. Um, page 98 and and this is Lewon Street, which I think you already kind of alluded to.

Um, so I'll actually just skip that for now because you talked about that a little bit. Um, page 103 is the Bedford Roberson Street Rehabilitation ARPA 69.

Yes. So, we're at zero. So, what what's where do we stand with that?

This is another um Mr. Agar project. Um I I cannot speak to the They're working on it. I drive by it every day. You're in. Yeah. Welcome back, Mr. AA.

younger people.

So, this is um Bedford and Robersonson Street intersection reconstruction and uh opera funds were used to offset the original um bond dollars that you had appropriated for streetscapes. So both um Columbia Street and South Main Street street streetscapes as well as the Bedford Street streetscapes those funds we were able to reactivate. They I guess they had always been sitting and never

been utilized. So that that project was sent out to bid. It's been um awarded and that construction is set to begin.

Actually they just finished we got uh Liberty Gas to come in and get the gas mans through the intersection before they were starting the construction work. So Liberty was willing to redo their schedule. They've actually worked nights the last two weeks to get that in so that again once school gets done because that is a carer for buses um that sentry paving can can start that construction at that intersection as

well. Okay. Point of information Mr.

President. Yeah. Um Mr. Aguar on that if I may. Um you made you made a comment on the streetscapes that were uh capital projects that were funded either short or long term.

correct grants I mean through uh bonding through bonding. So what did you say about the funding through opera was used? I'm sorry for I didn't hear additional funds to to increased construction activity at that intersection because when the those original bond amounts were set they would never be able to cover the entire cost of these improvements. Okay. So, just to be clear, it's not like a a

streetscapes project that was call it $3 million that you're going we would have had to spend $4 million for example for easy numbers to get the project completed but we only bonded three million. That's correct. Got it. Yeah.

Thank you. Yeah. Can I ask a point of order? Sure. If uh councelor Posa doesn't mind. Of course. Um what are they going to do there? I know for the past few weeks when I left here Tuesday night, uh it's always that they're there at night evenings. Yes. What are they going to do there though? So that intersection has been completely redesigned for geometry and signalization. The biggest change that

you will see is that when you head south on Robeson Street and you approach Bedford, you will be able to take a left onto Bedford. You will not need to make the loop around Portugalia CBS. So that that'll be the biggest change that you will see. And then we were able to once that project was permitted bid and we knew what the dollars were required for that construction project, we would then to

able to send out Bedford Street in its completion from the end of that project to North Main Street with some of the additional funds and that has also been awarded to LA and that is set to to begin as well this summer. How about coming from Plymouth Avenue over to Bedford and then you're going to take a left to come down Bedford Street and the people that are coming from, you know,

southernly from Roberson Street, are they doing anything with that configuration? That that entire geometry of that intersection, lane widths, left turn only lanes, right turn only lanes, the signalization, the movements and the timing of how vehicles will be able to proceed. Yes, that movement in specifics was dealt with with our traffic consultant, which was McMahon Associates at the time. It was Bowman since they

were transitioned to a new ownership company. But yes, all of those items were um resolved during this redesign.

So, you should see drastic improvement through that. And when did you say that completed by? I've got to guess a year.

So, probably next July. So, that they're set to begin this July. Um LA was just finishing up. I believe you you might have seen Stafford Road finally getting finished. They had a number of streets that they were completing with their last street project and then this would be one to start again next. Thank you.

Okay. Thank you. Yep. One more. Yeah, please. One more point of information.

So, this is the only question I have.

Andrew Rapo is doing a very good job going page by page. The ramifications per the contract. There's a lot of projects that are not complete here.

Okay. So, in different stages and different values and things like that.

What are the ramifications um financially if um projects are not completed on time? So or on and on budget. So um I'm not sure. So I think I understand but just tell me if I'm not answering your question. So every project has I haven't read the contracts. Okay. So every project though has a contract. So I are you saying like are you asking if a contract between like if the contract's not fulfilled um

what are what are penalties potentially?

So on any contract that's so any I can ask you another time if you'd like. No no no I'm just trying to like let me do the bigger broader one. So if if we have not expended our money on some of these pro like the street projects have to be expended the money has to be expended by September 30th of 2026. Um the deadline for everything else is um December 31st of

20 sorry yeah 2026. So if those if that money is not expended then we don't we have to they're going to claw that back like we have to return it. Um but every contract that I have that that anybody receiving funds has has a contract. If they cannot meet that deadline we can amend the contract to give them more time um to do so. Okay. Yeah. as long as I you probably know better than me

stagger being in the business but uh every every uh in construction every delay every the cost of materials so there must be contingency built into every single contract that that probably covers that. But yeah, there's 26 items that are not completed and it's a lot of money here. Yeah. A lot of money. And I think it's all quality of life stuff which is which is great. It's it's a lot of projects over a vast array of

projects that numerous people are handling. So I might have two or three that that are under my focus. Someone else might have six. So it's it's not overseeing. They're not 26 projects that I'm responsible for. Yeah. Um in all of our road projects there there is an end date for completion just like any other contract. If if the contractor can't meet those requirements or submissions, right, then then there are legal

ramifications. This does have a little bit of an opera twist where the funding mechanism goes away so that we can't go back for a contingency. No, I mean unless they try they may change the guidelines again which I mean who knows.

I mean really it's like all Yeah, this I'm sorry I'm sorry to take your time Andrew because this is u I mean this is going out throughout the nation not just Fall River. Um so hopefully because the nature of construction and projects is on time on budget are two ingredients right so whether you're building a house or you're building a bra new brager bridge I think it's just I hope I hope

we're on top of it and we just have to hope and I think too just and I a lot of it's out of our control I'm sorry to interrupt thank you made the point I want to seat seven counc oh I was just going to say I think part of the administration's decisions on what projects to right that we prioritize also had to ensure that we could do it and complete it within the

framework of the US Treasuries you know in a perfect world yeah so okay thank you are you allowed my question thank you page 104 RPA 70 which is the public service safety equipment um this was particular for the police department um completion date is now so I'm assuming all has been taken care of at this point um I believe So, I think that there was I'm trying to think if

we what is I'm trying to think what was there was one thing left.

Um, and this actually was I believe this was extended. I I did um amend this contract to give a little bit more time.

Um, and I'm just trying to think um what is left, but this should be I think there was just one thing whether that they needed an invoice paid, but I do believe that everything was ordered.

You'll get back to me on that. I'll get back to you on that. Appreciate it. Feel like that's like my tagline. That's okay. No, that's we're getting to the nitty-gritty of this. That's why I just don't like to make up answers. Fair enough. Um, page 108 is the ARPA 73 and 73A ex expansion to the city prek program. Um, we we have the school department here. Yesterday we were talking about expansion of prek. Um, so

I guess the bigger question is is this is these monies not only dealing with physical locations but also the staffing for the programs. It is not. So this is very specific to um the Nagel Auditorium the roof which was um done and we've paid that out. That's where you see the 4.4 million um expended. Um we just um got uh contracted for the sprinkler system which is another um just over 3 million. Um and then any

remaining funds um if I don't believe there is any but would be for inside for work inside the classroom. When you say sprinkler system you mean fire suppression not sprinkle for the lawn.

Yes. I'm sorry. It's a very expensive lawn sprinkler system. Um and it actually came in under I think what we anticipated just to make sure people understand that. And and once this project is done, roughly December of 26, does the administration have the plan of what that building is going to become long term? It's going to be an expansion of the prek program. So, it's going to have the the vision is is that that's

going to have classrooms in it um so that we can expand the program and that we can run it out of that. So, you're talking about the the classroom side, but the actual physical auditorium itself. I think it's going to be I I should check on that, but I think it's part I do believe it's part of the whole pro the whole area. Yeah. Because I think the conversation long term that's

been thrown out there is that eventually the I guess we'll call it Nagel number one, the original one, second one there, I guess, would be used as like a community Yes. opportunity for um drama clubs and different theater companies to come in and rent it, dance companies, what have you. Okay, so that's still kind of the point. Yes, I think um can you clarify that? I'll definitely

clarify. And I apologize. I don't want to sound that I don't know what I'm talking about is that there are so many meetings that happen and um I'm not always part of all of them and it comes from different places and and different department heads that are involved in their particular asks. So that's I completely understand. I appreciate it.

It's not her job to monitor the progress every day.

Absolutely. Uh page 111 is the improvements to network ARPA 76.

Yeah. And so for that I have and this is particular it I'm assuming. Yep. And so this um so we um obviously you saw earlier there's the door access card um that was completed and then you see on page 110 ARPA 75 we had the information technology improvements that was completed. this improvements to network is that um we are our existing hardware um is expiring this year and so um um

our IT director is deciding whether to upgrade the current servers or more or move to um a cloud solution um which he believes to be like a long-term better fit and so um he's once that is decision has been made um he can go forward and move forward with that. Okay, thank you.

Um, page 118 and this is probably my my mild frustration. Um, so the graffiti removal machines, something I advocated for. Um, do you have a sense of how much graffiti has been removed with the machines? I do not. Okay. And because and and this may not be a question you'll be able to answer, but it's more of a statement. So, I know that on the new city website, we have a reporting

tool that allows city residents to report graffiti removal. And I think that's great. I think the problem becomes, and I and I think it's something that, uh, I'm probably going to readress with my colleagues in the ordinance committee. Um, you know, we redid the graffiti ordinance to try to get more graffiti removed, but it seems like that's not happening. Um, and and I think there are a few reasons why, but

essentially what I don't want to see is that we expanded some money to clean things up and we're not able to do it because of what I guess what I would call more red tape as far as where it's located, what building it's located and liabilities and what have you. Um, so what I would like from you, if possible, a idea of how much graffiti has been removed since the purchase of the

machines and if possible a list of where it's been removed. Okay. because I think it's it's a larger conversation that I think this council should have about um if that ordinance needs to change or be strengthened even more than it is currently. So, if you could do that for me, that would be great. Certainly. Um I promise I'm almost done. Page 112 is now Bristol County Treasury money. It's

about the bio I'm sorry 122. My apologies. Bristol County Treasury number four. It's the bioreserve center.

Do we anticipate that the expectction is still December of 25 and does Mr. Furlin have an idea of when we would expect to see an opening of that discovery center?

Um, so I do believe um he expects it to be completed and I think that he was um doing I think he was focusing on the building at that po at this point and I would I don't know if when he's planning to do an opening but I know that this is definitely underway. Okay.

Okay.

133, page 133, I should say. And this is Bristol County number 11, Stafford Square, the one we talk about all too often. Um, has the feasibility study been done as of yet? Um, I believe so because we've expended so many um so many funds. Okay. So, I I believe that.

So, Mr. Furland question or Mr. Mr.

Furland. Okay. Mr. Fur. Yes. I'm sorry.

That's all right. So, that'll be a question I will ask Mr. Furlin. All right. Um 136, page 136 is Bristol County 13. Um and I know the last time we talked to Mr. Furlin, it's on the removal of lead service. Um he gave an update to the subcommittee on where that stands, if possible. Could you get a further update of where it stands at this point? I know that um water the

water department sent out notices to city residents. I I got one on my door myself actually. um about that. So just curious of how much more lead service has been removed and what are they anticipating what's coming up. Okay.

Um page 138 is the Bristol County 14 which is the former arts coalition art recover artist recovery program and that invoice did I believe come in today as well? So so is that closed out at this point? I think that's going to be very shortly. Yes. Okay. And do you have a sense of how many artists completely were supported through this program? Um I know I I know they said they said 115

but so what happens just so you know and why I don't have answers to all these questions is a lot of my monitoring although it's done during it like my reports I I draft so I collect the information from them and then I draft it at the conclusion when I go and like meet with them and talk to them. These are I'm talking about subreients on this. So, um I just so I don't have like

this will be a closeout soon and I will go and meet with her and collect all of this information. And I know too that the executive director of Frack has since changed. Yes. So, I'm curious if you can ask um the new executive director to because I supported this particular this particular program if a report could be given to the council about um how the artists were supported, how many were supported, just some

additional details to back up um why we supported the program.

Uh page 142 is Bristol County 17, the open space and recreational plan. Um where does this stand currently? Um this again um this was headed by so when just also for clarification Dan is here but just so you know so this is welcome back I am not intimately involved in all of these in that sense you know that's why we have that is why we have department heads and so if this is a lot of

projects and I do I I do have I do defer to the department heads who head these because I think are put in those positions because they're the ones who understand how this works. So, I just want to thanks for being here tonight.

Appreciate you. Um, so the uh open space and recreation plan is a it's an active document. Used to be seven years that we would be covered for it. It has now transitioned to a 10-year plan. We are at the end game of that. So, we established an open space and recreation plan committee. It was spearheaded by um city administrator Seth Aken and I had directed Chris Pirano who was the

assistant planner at the time to take this on as an endeavor that that he could focus on. Um since then it has now become my focus um like it seems many things do. Um but we were able to pick it up and with the help of of a lot of great people in the city at different organizations that were part of the committee um really did a great job working with Sered who was our

consultant. So, we were very frivolous in the dollars that we were spending on this plan. We've had a number of open houses. We actually had one two weeks ago here, one of the final because there's there's so much public input that you're required to to have put into these. We had a survey posted online. We went through all of those processes.

Serit is going to be at two more summer events coming up through the month of July and then we anticipate the final plan being created by by the end of this summer. So, we we should see it sometime maybe in August, September. Yeah. Okay.

Thank you, sir. So, you still have an opportunity if there's if there's an an open space amenity that you think there's a need for in any of the parks, it can be land conservation, any number of things, there are still opportunities to go on the city's website, you can find the location and you can make comment on these things. Um, so were so in that question, so obviously the public was asked where do they think

things should change, but were there already a priorities list kind of put forward of these are things we already know need to be addressed? We had we had a previous plan that was just setting to set to expire. So you you pick up on that. Hey, what were we able to accomplish? What should we carry forward? We we thought we would be very hands-on with providing a list of all of the existing amenities, whether they be

parks, trails, all of the different opportunities for people to to use in these areas, whether they be swimming, biking, um and just put that all out there. What do we need? Do we need more lighting, more safety, more bathrooms?

It could be anything. Um and yes, so we went through an arduous process of getting all of that information in.

Serpent goes through all of that. Of course, we always wish we had more input. The last open meeting that we had downstairs two weeks ago, five residents showed up. Um, but I explained to them, you'll get your voices will be heard, right? So, if you only have five people making comment and that's what you're drawing from. So, we we've asked that everybody take an opportunity to uh Was

the online surveying successful? It was.

We had 500 and something um now I I did it myself as well, but it was pretty well received. Um and it was it was fairly because they have they have to get into all of the economics and there are there are many different things you from the city not the city age family and all of the different opportunities and then Serpent does you know many of these a year. So they can craft it a lot

easier and quicker than than we ever could. Thank you Mr. U. Last program I have a question for is page 145, Bristol County ARPA 20, which is the mental health outreach for veterans. Was this something that was under the VSO's office? Um, yes. And this was um Yes. So Michelle Hamilton started with it um and had some visions and then um Talos um Ferris took it over and there was he had um something planned um

but had to pivot away from that I think due to the location um there was some feedback on that and I think what I don't know how well attended he thought it would be and so he has something else planned um for I believe it's um I wanted to August or September it was it's like doing um going out doing a fishing um excursion and but he's also incorporated that with pier um like peer-on-per

sessions and some other things. Correct.

Could you ask the VSO to give us an update on that if possible as well? That would be great. And then I guess the last question just in summation of of all this is that in your opinion do we find ourselves at any point leaving any money on the table at the end of this program? I mean my take on that was like absolutely not. Okay. I mean I think

that's like I think if if my job is anything it's to make sure that we have met our obligation deadline and adhered to those rules and to make sure that we expend any money um and all money and it seems like as of right now the plan is to do that. Yeah. And I think one thing I was I was going to say earlier too is that um when you look at like the money

that is left I mean a big chunk of that is the Lewon Street project. It's over $16 million. So, I mean, that's that is a huge chunk that's still on the table.

Um, and I think as we start seeing that expended, you'll I mean, I think we'll all feel more comfortable. Yeah, of course. And it's and we feel it's realistic that that will be done by the completion day that's forward. I'm like I'm all I'm on them. Like I'm like we h like I they they've heard it a million times on when this deadline is and they all know it and um I mean they they're

they understand if they're receiving the ARPA money what these deadlines and expenditure requirements are. Awesome. I appreciate all the answers and and I look forward to the additional information you'll find. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. President. I yield. Thank you. Council seat six consequent. Thank you. I'll be quick. Um, in terms of money uh deposits from Arbor, I know that we received Did you call me? Go ahead. Go ahead. No, I'm sorry. Go ahead. Go ahead. No, sorry. Go ahead.

Seat 6 has the floor. Oh, thanks. Yeah, go ahead. Um, so question for you. Uh, arper investment income, the amount of money we received a number of separate deposits. I'm not sure if you can answer this question or not. And I'm going to say pro anything that has to do with the investment I don't I'm not part of. Um, because it it was it came in the so there's two tranches of money that came

in. um at two different times all preceding my employment here. Um that is handled by the treasury and the collector's office. So you don't where is the money parked? Parked I I don't know for sure and I think that's something that the interimm CFO would need to speak to. Um but I my understanding is it's been invested in funds but I'm not sure. So, out of curiosity, just like in terms of your

SOP, if you had to approve an expense for 911 dispatch communications or even though that's Bristol County, that money is sitting somewhere. What do you just send a work order up and it gets processed? What is the process? Is every week what So, what every week what we do is um any invoices that I have to pay, I give notice um to the collector's office and I of in those two tanches. So, we

have a breakdown of like if the project is getting paid out of trunch one versus tranch 2, um I'm I'm notifying them. So, if money has to be pulled back in, then they can do that. Okay. So, I guess that's a question I need to ask the collector or the interim CFO when comes down during the budget. Okay. I'm just wondering if there's I'm feeling like I'm not helpful at all. No, look, I you

keep saying that and I want you to just from my standpoint, I can appreciate and we can appreciate if you don't have the answer to a question, get back to us and not spit on us. So, don't don't feel that you have to continue to apologize.

You're doing fine. It's just these are just questions that we think of and when you're explaining these things, it's something that we we we need to know.

So, I'll ask um um this the interim CFO when she comes back down. So, for now, I'll yield. Thank you. Thank you, Council. Councelor in seat five council.

Yep.

I have a couple of questions on the Jerry Lorton Plaza. Uh that's Opera 11 for anybody that wants to know. Are they putting benches there?

Do you know? I am not sure. Stand that is Mr. Aguard that handling that simple.

Yes or no? You get up ahead of time. You might as well just sit here for a minute. Um because last time we had a a plaza there. It ended up being shut down because people were sleeping there, etc.

Right. So the benches that we have, are they the benches that are single seat so people can't So So there is currently no permanent seating um in that park and that was intentional for for that exact reason. Okay. U we have had discussions um with local businesses and we're trying to find someone who would want to take responsibility for moving movable or temporary tables and chairs in and

out depending upon the types of events that we're having there. So if we would have put something in that would be permanent that may have precluded some of the types or uses that that could go on in that. So it was intentional in design not to put in permanent bolted down seating uh for a number of reasons the the sleeping aspect being one of them but uh we are having discussions on

how do we provide seating and the types of uses now that it's completed we have talked to Sam Barbosa the events coordinator about the different types of things um that we can plan uh for that area you know very soon you know it becomes really frustrating when we want to do nice things in Fall River. Yep.

But we can't do it because of the 10% of the people that would abuse it. We can't do it for the 90% of the people that wouldn't abuse it. I mean, I have I have bus stops, uh, little stations where people wait for a bus where all the panels have been taken down and then I find out, well, they took down the panels because people were sleeping there. Yeah. So the senior citizen that

goes to Walmart is freezing with wind and isn't that doesn't becomes frustrating. So when we had designed the park, we we even took into account where we could use retaining walls, where we could do grading to make sure that there wasn't a parapit or a wall that someone could sleep behind or day two after the fences came down, there were already people sleeping in the park, defecating

in the park. Day two. Um, and the police department has put that a little bit more on their radar now knowing that that's open and I don't believe we've had an issue since or at least not one that's been reported to my office. It's really heartbreaking for the good people of the city who really take pride in in the community. The skate park that's uh pretty much all done. One of the

questions that I I did see the plan in Dion's office of the projects that you have here and projects that they didn't expend all the money. Where does that money switch to? Can you switch it any way you want or So now the answer now is different than let's step back before the obligation deadline. So um we had to obligate all funds um by December 31st of 2024. And so um there were projects

like for instance let's use like the quickest rail trail right because that was a significant amount of money that came back right um so when it comes back it sort of comes back into this what I conceptualize is like it's almost like the general fund right it comes back in and then um I and I think I said I don't know if I said it to councelor Dion or to you miss prayer but like

about you know I can't tell you like exactly what project it then went to because I you know because it goes back into this sort of thing. My guess is that that money was allocated towards Lewon Street, right? Um a lot of um so now the qu the answer would be that if uh if there isn't now that the obligation deadline has passed, right?

And so you you are allowed under the treasury treasury rules to um take something to a project that is that already exists like-minded. Yeah. So you can kind Yeah. So, you're allowed to do that cuz there there's several of them that you have extra money in a lot of them. The administration of strategic tourism plan that it says $271,500 expended 53 and it's pending.

So, there's the leftover there of 218,000. And I think Samantha in the mayor's office does a wonderful job at planning events. I think she needs to have help there. Um, she does it all herself and I think she's marvelous at it. But I've been pushing for a tourism director. All of a sudden now since they received this, they've spent 53. I don't know with the rest, but if you go to the

strategic tourism plan that there was 670,000 uh and that they have expended 582,000, they have another 87,000 there.

When I looked at different um visitors guides for two years, you know, where where are these guys? Who's distributing them? USA Today, um, National Geographics, Bonapetit magazine, Yankee magazine, Cape Carter, um, you know, the Boston Commuter Rail that just, we just got that coming here, uh, Explore New Radio Spots, all these radio spots, but no radio spots at WSR. So, I find it really frustrating

when people in the city are looking for things to do and there's no easy way to access how to do it. Now, I know Sam has put put something on uh the website for river events for people um to look at.

We don't we don't promote that. So, people don't really know. There's got to be a a tourism director to get this out there.

Um see more off of 24. I've traveled 24 up to Boston and back up, you know, and I have not seen one of those signs. I'd like to see where these signs are. When I look at the trolley, I mean, we spent $50,000 on the trolley. I've heard of the karaoke on the trolley or the pub stop. I'm not particularly fond of the pub stop. Everybody gets off, has a

drink, and then you drop them off at one last restaurant. If something happens to somebody when they get in the car, is that last restaurant going to be liable?

I don't know about that. That but even that, what is the list of tours that we have? They have an audio system. So what? You have to bring your own earbuds. I'm sorry. We really need a tourism director. I personally I've said it from the beginning that I thought it was a waste of money. When I look at what Sandy and Dave Dennis do with Ma and the little money that they got, it's

the same thing. I wish people could just work together to promote a healthy community. Um that's just my rant on that. I'm not thrilled with it. And I am going to push with the mayor like I push every year. We need a tourism director.

Oh, good location. Fall River. You're near Providence, the Cape, Boston, Newport. Okay. Say it again and again and again and again, but don't do anything to bring people in. Let's let's stick to the opera question while she's here. Tired. We can bring the roadway and the reconstruction of sidewalks. I think this is a Mr. Aguia question.

Maybe not. But when these streets are done, do we have a contract with those individuals so that if a street is surfaced and all of a sudden somebody needs to cut it? Are they doing the side to side, you know, curb to curb? Two questions. Let's let's get to the upper part of the project first. What was the question related to upper? No, I'm asking you, what was the upper question?

Um, it was on the the money that's been spent on street improvements. Okay.

Okay. So, and sidewalk improvements. So, there have been a number of street improvements and then separate just sidewalk contracts um by themselves. So, a lot of that money has been expended already. All been expended on a number of streets. Um so, that that's the opera part of it. Now, you have another question regarding when somebody needs to open. So, when these sidewalks are

done, I know that the city is doing the uh water manes, you know, the lead pipe stuff that they're doing. Do you coordinate with them so that if they have to bust up a sidewalk to doled service? Of course. Yep. Absolutely. So, you're coordinating with them? Yes. Yep.

That's all I just wanted to make sure they were coordinating. Um, there's other questions that I have, but I'm going to hold it till department heads come down. But I do, um, thank you for sharing with us, uh, Mrs. Hum, about all of the money that people will save with water and sewer with OPA money that's been put in. So, I guess the council did a good thing in not increasing the money

on our homeowners. Uh, thank you for your work, Mrs. Hump.

I yield, Mr. President. Thank you, Council. Good to see you, too. Good evening. You've been chomping at the bit over there. No, no, no. I politely waited because I knew I probably had more questions than anybody, so I let everybody else go first.

Um, so just to follow up on on the uh roadway and sidewalk. So a little over $960,000 is left. Safe to assume that all work will be completed? Yes, I believe that that that appropriation has already they're all under contract. Um, all of my appropriations were under contract prior to the deadline of uh December 31st, 2024. Yes. Thank you.

That's the only question I had on that, but I didn't want you to go back and have to come back. That's the only one.

Um, if I math No, I can come back. No, I think I I I think you're good with me. I don't know. We'll see. Um, so we'll start we'll start at let's see done. See that all those are answered. ARPA six. Oh, so on Lewon Street, page 98.

Um, basically most of those question what's been done so far with the 1,275,000. Oh no, that was an increase in the budget. Um, so do we have do we have all all the information we need? Do we have all the plans already the design? Where are we? So all the plans have been done um and it came in incredibly over budget and so we had to change the scope and pull it back even

more than we wanted to. Um so that we've had been having meetings on sort of um how to bring that back and we were just given the final plans and so they're going under contract on that and that should be starting shortly. So I know at one time they knew they weren't going to have enough money. we perhaps were going to have to bond in addition to the opera funding. And I think at this point, my

understanding is they did not go out to bond on this. Okay. That this is we were able I think when we were able to pull in, if you you know, you see the original budget, the 14 million, we were able to pull some when we I and I think when we pulled quicken back that a lot of that money went over to amend this budget. Um and so I it's my

understanding that we are not going out to bond on it but well that's a very very good thing.

Um see opera 31A page

5455. Um, so the 218,000 that's left over, um, is that going to pay the event coord coordinator's salary until, um, 2026? Correct. Yes. Until her last, I mean her last p. The reason it's like 1211 is to get that last payment in before we have to expend. Okay. Now, well, and now is any portion of that money um going to Patty Rigo? Correct.

It is. It's um there's a like a $3,500 like payment a month like retainer to have her do her work. So when you say her work as in setting up events in the city, so she's focusing more on sort of the advertisement of it and the marketing and the sort of public relations piece of that. Um, so she's that's Yeah. And she's trying and she's working on special like special events

like bigger events um for the city that will take place here. Yes. Yes. As part Yeah. within the city. Yes. Okay. So none of our opera funding has gone outside of the city. No.

Okay. Except for like when you see a billboard on the highway. Right. Right.

Uh let's see. Point of order. Can you get the locations of those? Absolutely.

Thank you. I actually intended to write that and I so um opera 76 page 111 the um improvements to network. I just need a little clarification on that. So if you read the original intention of this uh in the city of Fall River, the pandemic forced city employees to work from home remotely log into the server. Thus security systems to prevent cyber attacks need to be implemented. Uh with

increased demand for work from home, current work blah blah blah.

Infrastructure and equipment is being strained. Upgrading is necessary.

So none of this money has been expended yet according to this what's in the book. Maybe something changed in the since you did this um gave us this this this book. But my concern is so we had we had a cyber attack obviously on the school side. Um people have been back to work for what two or three years now but yet it wasn't implemented either. Yeah.

And so I I do want to apologize and I actually want to make an edit to this.

So when this was when this originally came down, it came down before the city council um and you guys approved it for Bristol, it was it was combined. So it was like a bigger sum of money. It was over a million dollars um and include door access in uh ARPA 75 and ARPA 76.

It was approved um and I went to put it through and um Bristol County Treasury did not agree with me that it qualified and so we had to we asked to pull that back. loosened the approval of it. Um, and I broke it into two two different projects. Um, under revenue replacement.

Um, and what I'm realizing now is this is not an accurate description.

And so, so I I apologize because I think I when it at the time when it was combined with ARPO75 and the door access, it was all written as one and I did not tweak it.

And I apologize. This was probably when my eyes were rolling back in my head, you know. Well, yeah. 149 pages, right?

So, I um I will make a note of that and correct it. But so to and so to answer your question, this was this is more to provide um network improvements. Okay?

You know, to upgrade our systems that are going to the software is going to expire this year. Yeah. So, you can understand why I saw that. And these are the things that makesense this makes me cringey because I you know, you you get it bound and then you look through it. I found like other spelling errors and it's I'm glad you guys haven't seen those yet. So, h don't worry about that.

As long as I can read it and get the gist of it, that's all right. Um, let's see if I still have a question here. No, I already answered that one.

Okay. Um, I would like to make one comment though that yes, I was on the committee. However, it was very short and limited.

So once the majority of these I had I had no involvement in and I mean I so I came I think I started in June of 2022.

I sat in on the April meeting of 2022 but um so a lot of the projects were done prior but also once the co emergency was declared having ended on May I think it was 13th of 2023. Um we decided at that point because we took the and and this is on me. I mean, I suggested we take the application down um online and now focus it on um city operate like capital improvements, city

operations, stuff like that. So um and so at that point, we didn't think there was a need for the advisory committee.

Right. Right. Well, and prior to I take full blame for that. And prior to you being here, um Council Pekum was actually on the committee. So Yeah. Y um Okay. Uh, Opera 33, the storefront facade. Uh, page 57. I think I only have one follow-up question for that. Oh, maybe not. Um, was there a maximum dollar amount for people applying for the funding? I don't know the answer to

that. Um, but I will find out for you.

Um, and did the dollar amount vary property to property? I my I my inclination is that yes, it did. Um because I think there was different size storefronts um and there was different needs um for different owners of those stores. Um some I think had to replace you know more windows which are much more costly um as to as compared to like the stonework and stuff like that. So um

I can find out for you. Um but my gut feeling is no. Um and I think you answered this but I I don't know because I was looking at something at the time. Did you did you say how many um entities actually took advantage of the program? Yeah, so there was um five um five owners um or storefronts if you will and then um Yeah. Yeah. Okay. And why was it limited

to downtown? I think what they um I think this was a prior um CDA did have a program and I think we sort of helped to to support that program that wasn't really being utilized. And so I think they focused it on that neighborhood because they felt like and identified that that was a neighborhood that really when you drive down needed some sort of uh beautifification beautifification and

I think that just became like a focus.

Um now also in here it states that the the one of the purposes was to reduce vacancies and storefronts and upper floors. Was that goal accomplished? So, I think the I can check, but I think the idea was was that by creating by revitalizing a neighborhood or a you know a business area that people weren't moving into because it didn't have it wasn't there was no enticement there, right? It didn't look good. um that the

hope was that by putting some you know a facelift on these storefronts that more people would end up coming in um and seeing it as sort of um a boost in the economy for those that that area.

Um so there's a section here city of Fall River programs and there are four um in in that category. So, we're going to start with page 12, the uh small business grant oper six.

Um, so the original budget was 3,260,000. It was amended to 532,000. Um, and it was fully expended.

Yeah.

How many So, oh, sorry. So in a situation like that just so you know so once the program so if we amend a bud like that amended budget was the final amount expended was because we ended the pro do you know what I'm saying like it the the amended budget came once we had a final number does that make sense because you didn't know so I'll I'll so you didn't initially know how many

businesses were going to apply for the funding correct so so you allocate an earmark um and this was very early on.

So this preceded me here where um and what I am told from um Mr. Dion was that you know they earmarked an amount of money that they thought um was sufficient to make sure that they um could help as many businesses um in Fall River as possible. And I know Mr. Fiola, I mean he advertised this, he went on the radio with this. I mean he he did a

lot of work to get this out. And um you know like I I think I put in the bottom at the conclusion you know it was 154 small businesses applied. Um I know that there were you know feelings that maybe they people didn't hear about it but I do know that you know it was publicized.

Um so we kept it this this I think they rolled this they rolled this out right at the beginning of 2022 in January. And so, um, I mean, it was out for quite a while, um, before they closed it out.

And, um, at that point, no, I would agree that it was well advertised and it was spoken about down in this chamber multiple times as well. Um, it's unfortunate if people missed out. Um, so, OPA 38, nonprofit assistance program.

This is just a case of um okay let me see nonprofit okay this so again this was just to help um were all of these no okay because I know that some of these were um like the food yeah the food pantry creative pathways um so this all right so this no this one was completed I was thinking that that there excess funds in this one, but they weren't. Um, this also exceeded the

original uh budgeted amount. It was triple actually. Wait, the non Oh, no.

I'm right. No, it's it was reduced. It was reduced. All right.

693,000. Yes. So, this was another one where so the advisory committee was still um meeting at this time and it was my suggestion that um we were getting all of these small um applications for not significant amounts of money and I thought that it would be nice to earmark and really sort of advertise and do like a nonprofit assistance program to try to generate some more um nonprofit

organizations who may have suffered during the pandemic to come out and seek money. And so this was around um for two years and um there were eight applicant I mean there so these were the eight that were approved. Okay. Um let's see only two more. Let's see. The four youth initiative oppa 43 page 69. Um I believe you said that the funding that was not used was reallocated to the Lafayette Park.

Correct. Uh skateboard park. Yep. And that was um that was a suggestion that I thought was important that we were this program definitely benefited um families, youth, um certainly the small businesses, you know. Um but one thing that I saw and felt was that when this was all said and done, um there wasn't like a there wasn't something permanent that you could look at, right, that

would that benefited the youth that you could really like look back and say like our money went to this permanently, right? because if I don't want to interrupt you, but it it initially when it was discussed, the sustainability was one of the questions and one of the things that was discussed. So, we're going to invest $2 million, but we we're thinking we're going to see something beyond this. Yeah. Yeah. And I think

what we found um through all of this, unfortunately, and I I absolutely think the families and small businesses were super appreciative of it, but the fact is is that once the money ended, these families couldn't continue if they because they didn't have the money and they still don't have the money. Back in the same boat. We are. And I mean, it's it is unfortunate, but I think that's

why it was important. I said, you know, maybe we need to like sort of pull back on this and allocate it towards something that's long lasting.

Um, expand on this. So, the Buffington Rehabilitation page 79. Oh. Um, what exactly was that or is that? So, the Buffington building is if you like it's the one that Time Blossom is housed in.

And this was um again when the advisory committee was in existence um it went before the committee and my my belief was that they supported this because it was a this area is getting more condos and apartments and it is sort of this area that's like off of the main street but still um has a bunch of restaurants and businesses. And so they wanted to support his proposal to create

um to to sort of mo to modify and fix up the bottom of that building in which he has now um has like a small outdoor space that my understanding is that he has had some events there and plans to have create more of like a street fair.

um opportunities for musicians to play there and a gathering spot somewhere to sort of bring in the community and the people that are beginning to rent in the apartments. And that's how it was um pitched and approved. Okay. Thank you.

Um yeah, I I mean I don't think we could have asked for a more comprehensive uh report. So I really appreciate that.

There's no doubt this took it took you a long time. That's why I don't know anything about any of them. I was in my basement doing um so yeah, no, I definitely appreciate it. I think it's it's enlightened people and and people finally can say, "Oh, so that's what happened in the opera funding." Um whether they agree with all of it or not is another issue, but that's I guess somewhat immaterial. Um

so thank you very much. You're welcome. With that, I yield. Thank you, Council Sarah. I know you're car I know you're sad to hear this, but there are no more questions for you.

Thank you very much. It was a great presentation and you did an excellent job explaining it. She's a she's a very good attorney, Mr.

Good job.

Move on to item number three.

Discussion proposed for school year 2026 M budget. Is there a motion to lift from the table? Motion made second. Motion lift and save. All in favor? Any opposed? Motion is now lifted from the table. Um let's begin with facilities and community maintenance.

Come down please.

Facility and community minutes.

Traffic and parking. That's fine.

Engineering. That's fine. Come on.

Council 7, Council Pos, let them introduce themselves first.

Could you just introduce yourselves and say what department you're with so that people at home will know who we're talking to? Good evening, councelor.

Stephanie MacArthur, director of traffic and parking. Good evening. Um, Emily Arpi, intram, director of finance.

Daniel Aguiard, director of engineering and planning. Thank you. Thank you, Mr.

President. Hi, Stephanie. Um few questions uh regarding traffic particularly. So parking meters, I know I I asked the prior um director about the plan about changing them over from coins to the digital systems. Have have those all been done at this point? Have they all been converted from the old to the new? So currently we have 46 kiosks.

Um we have those more in the busier areas. Uh we still do have um some meters within the areas that are not as busy um which are just coin operated.

Okay. And is there still a plan to update those or not at this point? Not at this point. No. All right. As far as the conversion to the new kiosks, has how has been the offset with the credit card fees and and what have you? Because I'm imagining that the credit card fees aren't getting any cheaper. So has how is that looked at long term as far as budget wise is concerned? So the credit

card fees haven't gotten any cheaper but they haven't increased either. Okay. Um so which is a good thing. The only thing that has increased um was the kiosk meter fees. We pay a fee per kiosk per month. Um but I did have an increase in that for $10 a month. So it went from $50 a month to $60 a month per kiosk.

Um, but the revenue that we bring in on the credit cards is what's beneficial to the city. Of course, just just a point of clarification course. Is that monthly fee in a contract for a limited amount of time or can they raise it any particular time? Any month to month? No, it's in a contract. For how long is the contract? So, the first contract was for five years and we we're starting another

contract starting July 1st. So, the next five years it went up to $10 a month.

Correct. Thank you. You're welcome. And with that being said, is there an impact on the rates for the meters because of that increased fee? No. No. Okay. So, the rates are going to remain the same as as of now. Okay. Um, moving to parking control officers. Mhm. I don't know the answer to this question, so you're going to have to help me. Okay.

Um, do all the parking control officers work the same hours? Yes. Okay. So, one thing I've I've said in the past I'm concerned about is what happens when it's after 5:00 and we have individuals who park illegally or park where they shouldn't. Outside of calling the police department, how are we dealing or addressing those issues? Unfortunately, it would have to be a cruiser. It would have to be the federal police

department. Has there ever been a conversation of having a different shift to address some of those issues? That would be a union issue. Okay. That's that's why I asked the question, Mr. A.

um only because the first two questions that you asked have kind of been addressed in a downtown parking study that was just completed just published literally two days ago which we're in the process of uploading to the city website so that everyone can read. Uh Stephanie was fantastic and very involved in in this study and the recommendations and there were a number of recommendations and action plans like

different ways of paying are kiosks the way to do it. Is it apps? Is it, you know, should we have staggered shifts?

Because right now our our required parking um the way that it's posted, you're supposed to be paying till a certain amount of time, but there isn't staff even to go monitor those meters or give someone a ticket because there's nobody on. So there were there was a discussion about maybe moving towards a staggered shift or a second shift. Um but again, all union items. But so it's it's in its infancy now to look at

parking just not only in the downtown but holistically spreading out through the city and ways to address it. So the consultant that we had used for that came up with a number of different methods utilized through municipalities all over the country um that we could potentially implement. Okay. Yeah.

Because I would think on the parking meter side um I've seen other places that do apps that are a little more flexible um which is a good idea I think in the end. And then as far as the parking itself, you know, I think to the police department, you know, they have so much I don't want to say better. They do have better things to do other really to what they're doing than to go deal

with somebody who blocks a driveway. But at the same time, there's really no method to address it. I mean, and I'll tell you personally, it's happened to me at the school. It's 7:00 in the morning, somebody parks in front of the driveway.

Guess what? I know I have to redirect traffic. And it's it unless a cruiser comes down to address it, there's not much that can be done. So, I think it's frustrating on on the resident side and you know, I think my ask would be long term if we could look at that to see if there's a way to address that. Um, on on the crossing guards, so it's the budget

says 45. Does that in I'm because of course the crossing guards are for the schools, correct? Correct. Okay. Does the 45 considering the opening of Westall this past year? That is correct.

Yeah. Okay. And is 45 the accurate number to address the need as far as we go into FY26 for the school department is concerned currently yes. Okay. Unless they decide to add on another intersection for any reason. Um but at the moment 45 I am short about eight crossing guards. So that was my next question. Yeah. So how many intersections you have? How many per intersection?

So it it depends on the school. So each school it could vary from two crossing guards to four crossing guards. It depends on the size of the school. Okay.

And that's driven by u enrollment.

Correct. Okay. Um and as far as because I know I I travel Eastern Avenue every day up the up to down. So I know the intersection of Beford. No, not Beford.

Eastern and County. Thank you. Eastern and County near Lafia Park. There's two.

Yep. They're for Talbet. Talbet. Okay.

So as far as the ones you're short at, are those the lesbies of your schools? I guess. No. No. Okay. actually some of my busier schools. Oh, okay. So, how what's what's the status on that? How are we addressing that? It is posted. The positions are posted. I've worked with the school department. They've also posted it out through Parent Square as well. Um, it's just the applications.

It's getting the applicants in. And it's tough with it being a two hour per day.

That's all it is. It's an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon.

Part-time position pays hourly type of thing. Correct. No benefits, no union, nothing like that. No. Okay. So, it's it's hard to hire somebody for two hours a day. Gotcha. Okay. But it that is being posted addressed and how we're going to Yep. It is currently posted on the city website and I believe the school human resources has it posted as well. Excellent. Um question on the admin clerk the vacancy. Yep. Um any is

that still vacant? It point still vacant. Okay. Doing interviews actually.

Oh, that's good to know. All right. And I'm not going to ask you this question.

I'm going to ask the interim CFO this question in regards to the department head in front of us. Um, is the department head part of a union or is that non-union management? It's a non-union. Okay. So, we're anticipating a increase there. Correct. Yeah, there was a conversation with the mayor for that increase. Um, when Stephanie was originally put into the role, um, you know, she hadn't necessarily done it

before and it was kind of a putting her in and seeing how she performed to then get her up to a salary that is more comparable with what the role has previously um, been paid at and what other department heads at that capacity has been paid at. Okay. So, this will be a comparable rate. Um, and if the budget passes, it would be effective uh, July 1. Correct. Okay. Excellent. Thank you.

Um and the last question is regard the uh regarding the uh blinking signs there that we've talked about. Um is do you still have because that was all opera correct that paid for those signs or is that it was there was a portion that was paid through opera. Okay. And do you still have a stock of them at this point or so if more locations come up you would I do you'll have some stock left.

Do you have a sense of how much you have left? Um I do not but I can get you that number. Okay cool. Awesome. Thank you very much. I yield. Thank you, Council Council C5. Council West, I have a question.

Um, Miss Macatha, tell me how the gasoline is purchased for your vehicles, for your um, parking control offices.

We get the gasoline at DCM. At DCM? So, there's a flat rate that you're paying at DCM. Is it you get it for free? How do you log in, log out? Tell me a little bit about that. So, we have a key card.

So when we go, we put gas, we put our employee ID, and it's a through a key card, and then the key cards in. Yeah.

Okay. Just a point of information, do they point the mileage of the car they're in as well, or just employee ID?

It's just an employee ID, so it knows what department to be paid through. I believe they're all city vehicles, which is why they don't log mileage because it's just city vehicles that are only used during work hours. They're not personal vehicles that are being fueled.

So they don't take them home. Correct. I think it I think all vehicles of the city should have the same um it should be the same way that they should go there gas up.

Um I'll wait for the other department to come forward that I have a question with. I think you do a marvelous job. I really do. Whenever there's a question with somebody, something happens. Uh I think you're exceptional. So I'm happy to see that. Thank you. you know that there should be some type of a a bump up. Um because I I I really believe that um and I one of the questions that I

have and you and I have talked about this today there are so many cars that you know it's not like one car per family that many streets there's parking on both sides you cannot get two cars by.

Uh, is there going to be a study done on that to see which streets are problematic? I've seen people fighting because one's coming one way and they just can't uh go by. I mean, the one I saw the young lady didn't neither one of them knew how to back up. So, I said, "Let me back up one of your cars." I mean, I got to go. Um, and that street

was turned into a oneway. But, I find there's a lot of streets like that. I don't know if that's something you have to work with police and fire with different routes. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, just like that street Eddie Street for an example. I know that's the street that you're I um anything like that has to go through the traffic board because we do have to have a full study done through the police department and the

fire department. Um we do need, you know, public safety to to check out the area as well to let us know what direction if it is possible. Um, I mean, we're currently having an issue with Pine Street. Yeah, we we were in on that. Um, it should be a one-way, but it's a two-way and then the people want it to be the one way from Robersonson to Seabberry, yet the police, the fire department

wants it from Seabberry to Robersonson Street. Correct. But they're going to be fixing that Roberson Street intersection. So maybe the fire department will figure out another way.

But I don't have any questions. I just thank you and your department because uh I've seen the the maintenance workers out uh one of them was on McGawan Street and I felt bad he was all by himself like for one person to be all by themselves putting up a pole doing a sign what if something happened really maybe there should be two and I said you're all alone he said yeah well we're

short today so we go out and do it so but uh kudos to your department with that I Mr. There you go.

Thank you, Mr. President. Um, your department I'm seeing does not have any capital uh set aside for some apparent reason why I don't understand because looking at ARPA, which we just went over, um the only thing I saw that your department benefited from from ARPA was those flashing lights. Um when I say flashing lights, the solar flashing lights for the pedestrian signs. So, do you have capital needs within your

department? So, the only capital improvement that I did request um which I was told to remove from my budget from the previous administration was for the garages. Um I was told that that would be put under another capital improvement through another department.

Uh explain a little bit more about what that means. So, what garages? It was the Pearl Street garage and the third street garage and the repairs that needed to be done. That all falls under your department. So my department does the collection of the revenue and the enforcement. So does your what what capital needs is your does your department need? So that was my that was my need that that that was the most

important part. And then I was told that because it's a facilities department it would have to be through facilities.

It wasn't it wasn't my decision. It but facilities manages all city-owned buildings and and handles all of that.

So they obviously do it in some hand with Stephanie. It's not done you know.

um sure in a in an isolated bubble but that funding is would run through there but I will say that that's already being done through the feasibility is done through those capital projects that were kind of pulled together with the leftovers and and kind of reallocated towards that so that's being done right now it is in progress okay and then the actual you know improvements that need

to be made we're waiting to get the full scope of work and the price to then fully say how it's going to be funded so it is something that's going to be done but that's not something that would be on, you know, especially a capital of that size, we're talking about upwards of two to three, maybe more million dollars. That would never be a general fund line item. Understood. In terms of

your equipment for striping though, do you have adequate updated equipment?

Because you haven't bought any new equipment in a long time. So, we do get our equipment maintained every year. I know you do a great job with that. Yeah, we do. We do maintain that equipment every year. Um, and any we replace the parts when needed. Um, for the most part, I have a great crew, as council prayer was saying, who maintains it.

They're phenomenal. um you know, as far as cleaning the machine and making sure that everything is working and operational, they're great with that.

So, I am very fortunate. So, you don't need additional equipment. No, I do not at the moment. Well, that that's encouraging. I'm only asking because we spoke at our um our quarterly uh and we talked about a lot of that idle money that's sitting in the capital projects that are not being used. You know, for example, streets and highways department was sitting on $24,000 of idle money that isn't being

used. And I think if we wanted to utilize some of that, if it hasn't been expended between the last quarter report to now that the facilities department such as traffic and engineering could probably very well utilize some of some of these funds.

I we didn't talk about this at the last quarterly meeting. It might have been the one before that. So, I'm not It was It was at some point this year. Yeah.

Um, I was only at the last one though, so I just want to be clear on that. I was a little caught off guard with that.

But we are still always evaluating that.

And again, I did I did just jump into this. Um, and I'm still a little bit underwater, but as soon as the budget stuff is done, you know, we are going to start looking at the capital plan, which would include, you know, all of the current capital needs and then from there, how we're going to fund it. So part of that would be looking at current available funds that have already been

issued or approved that can be reallocated if they're not going to be expended. So, I know some of that was done, you know, prior to me stepping into this, but I, you know, continue to do that. We'll continue to do that. Um, it's not just a until things are cleaned up, it'll it'll be a constant thing, you know, to always project out exactly what a project needs to the penny is going to

be very rare. So, we will continue to kind of do that um, you know, annually to make sure that we are re, you know, fully utilizing all of the dollars that we already have taken out. Okay. Um, planning and community services. I have a note here.

Um, I saw an is the increase in the salary reserve. Did I see something or am I in the wrong department? Mr. You might be. Um, is it your department, Mr.

I'm guessing.

So, it was great having Emily involved in this and over the the last three years that I've been here trying to recreate and modify how these two departments are actually in separate departments but kind of act as one and even staff-wise trying to make that all work. Emily and I had noticed that there is a licensing clerk um line item that fell under the licensing department that

falls under the planning department. So we had that one salary for the licensing clerk. So what we did was find found found a better home for it which would be under the planning line item. So we we've moved approximately 50,000. Yeah.

Um for that salary position, moving it out of licensing category and into the planning. So yes, you you would see an increase um with both the number of employees and the salary amount number in the in the overall planning um salary line item. you have enough resources to work going into next fiscal year? Well, we I've always come down here and told you that we always try to do more with

less. Um, we try to increase revenue and reduce expenses. Um, I've been lucky to have some great staff. Um, that goes above and beyond what their necessary duties are. Uh, and I'm very appreciative of that. So, yes, we have been able to stem the tide. Of course, you can always do more with more people.

Mhm.

Um but getting the right people is is the way to do it and and sometimes the right people just aren't there. So we have enough to do what we do and I think do it pretty well. Um but again of course you can always do more. Um we we do we do fall short and we're we're working very hard on it with reaching out um and applying for a number of

grants um through Serpent. I sit on three different serpent commissions um and have learned over the last few years that there are millions of dollars uh that the city has not taken advantage of over the years. We've just implemented Eastern Avenue um a project with them uh to get on their transportation improvement plan for an entire reconstruction of of Eastern Avenue. um 20 to30 million project that we'd never

be able to take on in-house, but it's required to go through the steps with those organizations to get those funds.

It might be a five-year plan to, you know, five years away, but I know the council president had reached out to me a year or two ago about some sections of Eastern Avenue that don't even have sidewalks, so it doesn't make sense. But there are a number of different programs through Mass DOT and Serpentid, different grant funding opportunities, whether they be safe roots to school,

um, complete streets, the tip program.

So you can pull from all of these and it took me a while to learn these things.

So where fullcourt press with with reaching out and trying to get those opportunities for the city because they're real dollars. Um, so again, sometimes time is a little bit stretched with that, but we've made leaps and bounds over where we were three or four years ago with with reaching out and getting those funds. Okay, Stephanie, in terms of your department, the amount the amount of income that it generates a

fiscal year. Uh, what what does your department generate back to the general fund a year, you think? Because you're not an enterprise account, so it runs through. No, so every so everything we do generate for revenue does go into the general fund. What do you generate?

Um, it's up here. Do I have to like 2? Yeah, almost 2. Yeah, about almost 2.5. Yeah.

So, your department's completely s self- sustaining.

Your expenses are essentially $1.2 million and you're bringing in over $2 million. Mhm. Is there any um Emily in terms of your experiences whether it's here or in other communities? Just a crazy question. Has there been any traffic departments that have had their own enterprise accounts? They did in New Bedford. Um but it's not a full It's not a full enterprise account. So, which is

a little confusing to be honest with you. I don't recommend it, but they had a downtown parking enterprise fund. So just downtown parking was in this enterprise fund and then the rest of the parking receipts outside of a very set downtown radius was in the general fund.

Yeah. I'm I'm just trying to think from from a parking officer standpoint with the development of our waterfront with additional traffic studies that are being done on a consistent basis. I'm wondering if an analysis should be done as to whether or not to consider making this traffic department its own enterprise account.

So from my experience and education on this, the point of having an enterprise fund versus a general fund is to um it's the way that the fees are kind of structured and and that it's a different unique situation than the general fund and to keep the money kind of self-supporting and and without that supporting revenue then some of the expenses wouldn't kind of be taken on and vice versa. So with something like

this, no matter what, right? No matter what the revenue is that supports it, if there is a need for increased officers because of the increased parking areas, because of the increased maintenance, all of that, whether the revenue is fully supported or not, as a city, we would have to take on those expenses.

Sure. But you also get the indirects and I mean, we get now just get it directly.

The indirects isn't actually an additional revenue. Here's what I'm trying to say. If you if you if you follow where I'm going, right? We need to generate more income, right? This department generates $2 million a year in income, right? Her department has one, two, three, four parking control officers. The city's new growth is going to continue to increase.

We're going to need more than four parking control officers when our waterfront is developed and if we make any changes to any traffic patterns for parking, etc. So when we're trying to be creative, innovative, and effective with bringing in new revenue without essentially going to the taxpayers for more money, wouldn't it make more sense to do an analysis now to consider utilizing this? I know I know I know you

probably are saying no to that because you want the $2 million. No, the enterprise fund structure doesn't change any of that though. No matter what, if the if more parking is being paid, regardless of where it's at, more revenue is going to come in. If parking rates change, more revenue is going to come in. If we need more support, staff support it. You know what I mean? No matter what the revenue additionally

will come in will go out. Okay, fine.

Why can't we get more parking control officers then? You don't pay enough be that's not that's not my decision. I wasn't requested to add more. It wasn't necessarily a need that was expressed at this point in time. So that's why no additional ones have been requested. I wouldn't even say were added because that's a whole separate conversation.

But at this point in time, that's not seen as a an immediate need. Okay.

Council Pton if I could in that traffic study there is there is a section regarding traffic management and and assessment similar to if the traffic department is taking in revenue then that revenue those revenue sources should be directed towards the improvement of those parking garages.

The entire traffic study hinges on it's all predicated upon getting these garages fixed. So if those if those traffic dollars when they came in were directed to an account, we may not be that deep in the hole with what we need to spend to fix these garages. So that is contemplated in in this um traffic study. So in future fiscal years, are you expecting to go to the administration for additional parking

officers? Yes. How many more do you know yet? I do not. You do not?

And I don't want to put you on the spot on. Um I I I'm going to ask to be recognized after these two indiv department heads leave because I I have some follow-up questions, but I'm just trying to make a a a point that we need to try to find new ways to bring in new revenue. And if this department's bringing in $2 million with four people, that is absolutely tremendous work.

Okay, we need more revenue. And if our if our city is growing at a higher level, then why not do that? Why not having those discussions now? If we're spending uh thousands of dollars on traffic studies that are telling us essentially we need to make sure that we have more parking control officers, why aren't we having those discussions now?

This study came out two days ago. So that's why we're not having it now. It's not that it won't be happening, but at this point in time with what we had in front of us, we we didn't have that.

Look, I get that, but you're missing my point. My point is we need to generate revenue. Agreed.

And if we have four parking control officers bringing in 2.5 million 2.5 to$2.1 million almost 2.5 the parking control officers do the ticketing and that's 1.5 million. The other revenues are from other sources. Sure. But all right 1.5 for four. It's semantics at this point. No, I just wanted to be clear on the amounts. I'm trying to find a way to bring in additional revenue because we have a we have a balance we

have an unbalanced budget right now.

Right. We talked about that yesterday. I know. But I still adamantly disagree.

Okay. But I disagree too. Right. We have a budget that absolutely has a $5 million shortfall and you're looking at $3.8 million of of money set aside for investment income that is setting up future structural deficits. Okay. I I that's my opinion. We could we could disagree on that. So, as I'm looking ahead, that doesn't tell me that the waters are as blue as we want them to be. Okay. I I I think that we will

continue to have further conversations and hope to get closer to being on the same page in the coming meetings. All right. So, um I'll be I'll be following up on this in future meetings and in future planning as we go into the next fiscal year and beyond. And I would love to see that next year in your budget since it's essentially a self- sustaining operation if not it makes money for the city that we're trying to

find ways that we can add more parking control officers at $50,000 a year or if it's 55 because to me there's a return on investment doing that. It's not just hiring more people just for the sake of hiring more people. This is a money revenue generating department and I think we should look into more about trying to find ways to bring additional revenue in. So, I yield. Thank you.

Thank you, Council. Councelor C2, Council D. Good evening. Good evening.

Um, he's got me my my wheels turning here.

Um, under uh salaries and wages, the overtime. Um, if they all start at the same time and and clock out at the same time, where does the overtime come in?

Events. Um, events snow overtime. Um, parking control does issue parking tickets during the snow overtime. Um and all these summers events usually the parking control officers are there. Uh maintenance as well. They need to set up signage for the events. Um you know before and after um you know even striping sometimes you know during we can't stripe in early mornings because the traffic is too busy. Sometimes they

will do striping after 3. Uh so that's why that overtime does increase. Okay. I mean it's not a huge dollar amount. I was just it was just a curiosity.

Rentals and leases y is zero. Now what changed um there's been a new agreement with another department. That's where you were talking about uh city opera uh city operations facilities taking over.

Correct. That that just happens to be that they got a new space that included space for them now. So they are covering the full bill of it. It wasn't just that they took over her current rental agreement. It was that there was a new rental agreement at a new location. And so then they just took the whole amount on over in the south end. Correct. Yeah.

I drive by it quite often. Okay. I didn't realize that both there were more there was more than one department over there though. Yes. Y Okay. Um other purchased services. What were those?

Because that's also at zero now. So that was that was one that was moved around um to try and be more clear. So if you if you see that we have the credit card fees that wasn't a line item before.

It's not that they weren't being paid before, it's that it wasn't it was just kind of lumped under the other purchase services. And I believe that the other part of it was um part of the Oh, yes.

The office supplies. That's the other line that was added. I mean, those other purchase services is is not intended to be credit card fees and office supplies, especially when they're two very distinct line items. So, if you look, those are two new added line items. And then the other one was kind of elim, you know, zeroed out. So, we just relocated it um and didn't necessarily have a

clear easy way to pull out those details to put them into the budget. So, we we just left it with the zeroing out and then the no previous amounts. So, as we move forward, there will be better data for years of history on it. Okay. Thank you.

Um so in terms of the study um that does that also address potential um kiosks in that corridor and and adding um paid parking? It it did. So we had it was it was a holistic look at parking in the downtown corridor where we see a lot of new development and we gave it a map of where we wanted it to cover included the few parking garages and a couple of the upgrade lots as well

trying to bring that into because it was it was only limited to this downtown area and there are sections in that that contemplates future development the need for additional spaces parking zoning requirements dealing with parking and different revenue generators or opportunities um for adding parking, ways of working with uh private lot owners um that their lots aren't utilized during the evening time. So

different ways of looking at parking, signage, branding, um a number of different items, very comprehensive report, very lengthy. Um we actually split it up into two printed documents.

One was like a recommendations and then one was an existing conditions and the study part of it. So, um it was very interesting to be involved in and um we actually we fared better than I thought we would have. Um we have some things to look forward to for sure.

That's good to hear for sure. Sure. Um I mean I I I have to say I both of your budgets um are well-run departments. Um, I think fiscally pretty conservative.

Um, which is great for the city. Um, the fact that you're able to generate the money you do is is great. Um, I wish we could do that across the board.

Um, so I guess I don't really have anything else to say or ask. With that, I yield. Thank you, Council Council C5.

Council Per, just a a question. Mrs.

Macappa, you said that you generated 2.5 million this year. That included both Pearl Street, correct? Yep. That's all revenue collected in traffic. So, you're not going to get that anymore. So, without the flat lot that we have here that people pay and the two Pearl Street Why wouldn't I get that anymore? What do you mean? You'll get the flat lot, but you're not going to get the parking

decks if you gave that money over.

You're giving that over to um the microphone. No, no, no. The The the collections are still going to go through the maintenance of the structure is through facilities. I thought wait a minute facilities is taking that take our money to not going to take okay the enforcement aspect of it all still falls under the traffic department. They'll still do that. Okay. I just didn't want her to. But again, we're limited by a

few floors of spaces that we can't. So that 2.1 that that's probably shy a few hundred,000 because we've got how I don't know how many floors that are in two floors, but they're they're safe.

But the top one or two floors you can't park there. So I don't know, but we'll see how that gets done. Thank you. I yield, Mr. President. Thank you, Council. Council C3. Council Hop. Thank you, Mr. President. Good evening. Um, yeah, I agree with council Dion. The departments have really run very well and I'm glad with it. Um, I did have a couple questions for Stephanie and I echo a lot of the sentiment here on the

council that your department is is a is doing a fantastic job just being on the council for the past two years. Um, and being on the public safety committee, I get a lot of requests uh through uh through people and also too at the parks. Um I go to the parks quite often to watch the little league games with um my girlfriend's son. So um and I get a lot of requests there and you've always

been there um and helping those folks and they're greatly appreciative of it.

Um I did talk to you probably about a week ago or two weeks ago as I talked to some of the folks. I think it was at Maplewood Park and um because they're concerned about and you've alleviated a little bit of it with those signs, the flashing signs on uh Albert Street from Stafford to Rodman and then Stewward right there. Y um it it's a very dangerous street when especially when

you have that little league park full uh with kids. Um and one of the suggestions was to have um not permanent speed bumps but uh replacement, you know, rubber made speed bumps where they're easily easily replaceable and you can take them out maybe from starting in like maybe end of March or April to the end of September to October or and also around the schools and I and you said that yes,

we are looking into that and I think that's fantastic that you're doing that because I think that's going to help a lot. Uh and where where are we with that right now? Uh currently it's all in the discussion phase. Um the administration has recently brought this to me probably I don't know maybe about a month ago.

Yeah. Um so it is being discussed currently for the for the speed tables at locations such as in the school area um park area. Um there are there's still going to have to be some guidelines because no doubt and all over the city there's speeding everywhere. Um so there will have to be some guidelines for these speed tables to be placed. Um but it is in the discussion phase. The industrial park was another location

that was y so with the when the when it's in discussion what how quickly I mean so it's probably not going to happen for this kai calendar year. So you're looking at maybe next year to do that. I mean it might be I mean the industrial park might be this summer because we've we we've always had discussions even with the industrial park organization where 18 wheelers that have heavy loads stacked relatively high

when they approach these speed tables even if they're creeping loads shift sometimes in trucks. So that's that's one of the the bad things about it. So, we've looked at the ability to they have almost like pods where you would have a series of them that cross a street and not just one entire table.

They're longer. So, so it's like eight foot humps, eight foot squares that can come in and out because another issue we've always discussed is how do we deal with snow removal um if these are here.

So, as you just stated, if we use them during a certain time of year, right, then of course that makes it easier. you can identify them with ballards or signage to either side alerting plow drivers that you're coming up on a on a speed table. Um sometimes speed tables create ramps for other people that that that still want to use them. So um drainage is another issue when when you add one across a street. Are you

impeding runoff of of storm water? So there are a few different variables that that we've been discussing and how we choose to implement them. But we have discussed that fix first most likely on Rianback uh road in the industrial park and and give it a little bit of a test in a pilot program to see how it works.

Yeah, I I think it's going to be very successful. I think it's a great idea to uh and I'm glad it's being implemented.

Uh the other thing Dan I wanted to ask you about which was talked about discussed about the Bedford Robersonson Street. Yep. Just real quickly, I don't know if you mentioned this but um obviously everybody travels that's a very busy intersection. If you're heading south on Robersonson coming to Bedford and on the north side of that where you have Plymouth Avenue coming into uh Rob Bedford, I can see where on

that on the south side there's a much wider area to deal with on the north the uh north side of Robersonson and Bedford where Dunkin Donuts is and I think Wendy's restaurant. It's it's a little more it's it's less wider than the other. Correct. how like what are they going to do as far as you and I think it's a great idea of being able to take a left um but also was was it is it

being discussed where you take the right now on Bedford and then the folks coming there there's that yield sign which they never stop. So is that something that's Yeah. So so it's been contemplated and and it's in the design. So even with the existing intersection the way that it was there could have been signalization improvements just the way they were.

What happens is with the lack of signals that we have there, you can't control traffic well enough. There should only be one traffic movement at a time. There should never be a conflicting one. So now when you when you're heading north and everybody's taking that left turn and I travel the road multiple times every day and I'm constantly out of this eye. Okay, who's coming? Is Bedford

Street coming at me? Is are people coming down from Roberson? So the way that that the new signals will be set and the timing of each, you will remove that conflict entirely. So if you're approaching north and you want to take a left onto Bedford, there'll be nobody else coming onto Bedford. You may sit a little bit longer at that intersection, but we will will have improved the

safety immensely. And the amount of cars that now have to traverse that loop by having to wrap around, let's call it China Royal Plaza, right, to get around that that loop, won't need to do that anymore. So, it's the people taking a right onto Bedford and then immediately needing to take that left onto I apologize 13th uh 12th I think 12th. So, trying to get over to that left lane by

JC's Gas and taking that left. We're probably going to cut that traffic in half because now you can just take the left right at the end of Roberson Street. Um so, simultaneously that's not going to happen anymore. The one left.

Correct. That never stop at the yield sign. That that will not. So, there will be no more yield signs. Everything will be through signalization. Perfect. Okay.

I yield. Thank you very much. Thank you.

Just just a couple of things. If you want us to talk about No, if you want to talk about raised crosswalks and speed bumps, just take a ride to Boston, Matapan, Dorchester, Roxberry, Brooklyn. They have raised speed bumps all over the place and they're permanent. They're not just temporary. Doesn't seem to affect anything there. And um they they put them there for a reason because of all

the people are speeding in those towns. One more thing, Mr. Before I forget, you mentioned sidewalks on Eastern Avenue. Is that going to take place anytime soon? Are we is that in the plans or like um as I just stated the program that we are reaching out to for construction? So, I had in included in my capital y uh request I think it was $20 million for the reconstruction of Eastern Avenue. So, if you want to

appropriate the 20 million, then we can do it immediately. Let's just start on the sidewalks first. Trying trying to reach out to and finding a tip program that mass dot pays for. That's a lengthier process, probably four or five years out uh to see the the the a big change to happen through that corridor.

But we are making incremental change. We just had a meeting last week about the intersection of County Eastern and Eastern Avenue. Reconstructing those crosswalks because now they're kind of scattered and it's just a mess of an intersection where the Rolling Rock is.

My point is in the winter time when it's snowing out, everyone's walking and the breakdown is very dangerous. To that point, we should put temporary sidewalks in as quick as possible because someone's going to get hit from behind there and it's going to happen and it's going to be very unfortunate. Uh to that point, council president, if I may. Um thank you. You brought that up last uh

last year as well. Um two years. I've been thinking about that since uh council president brought that up when I drive by there. It is especially with diamond opening and um it's it's that corridor is there's a lot of pedestrians in the street and there are a lot of sidewalks already on avenue. We just got to put the there's just a few potholes that just on one side public safety

issue. Yeah, I think it's just south of the of the Baptist church. I think it's about where it ends. Yeah.

Can I just add to that that he talked about the sidewalks, Diamond? If you're going from uh Eastern Avenue up to Stone Haven Road, there are some sidewalks there. And then there there are no sidewalks. They did in front of the water department, but at the top of the street, Stone Haven and um Bedford, there's shrubs all in the right at the curb. So every kid has to come out and walk in the street and a

lot of young drivers. I really worry about that and it's not the whole thing that needs to be done. They said they were going to fix it when John Perry was here. So and it never got done. So what ends up happening is so chapter $90 which is the main funding source for my department when we reconstruct roads and sidewalks come along with those roads then we can spend chapter $90. If it's a

just a sidewalk project, we cannot use chapter 90 funds for that. But school projects around schools. So there are safe roots to school, right? Grant programs where we've just in 26 or 27 um we were able to get funding for the FSA elementary school. So Fansa connecting to the boys club was very important. Um increasing sidewalk widths that intersection, all new signalization. Um half a million dollar project. We were

able to get that through grant funding through Serpent and through Mass DOT. So yes, that's a specific program that I alluded to previously, safe roots to school program. And I've mentioned to them about a safe roots to school program for that section of Bedford Street to get to Stonehen. Who's them that you mentioned? Serpent and and Mass D. Yes. Do we have to do any kind of a a

proposal? That that's on me and the So we are working on that as well. Yeah.

Yeah. Just we're lucky that the head of Serpentid that the head planner there grew up in Fall River and her mother lives off of Eastern Avenue. So, she travels it every day. Good. And and we speak about uh Eastern Avenue often.

Let's get it done. Keep talking. Thanks for your patience, Mr. Council President. What was the price tag again for the entire section? I think 20 million probably 20 to 30 million today's dollars. Yeah. So they've actually asked me to break that up into two different groups and start with one first and then piggy back on with another one. So we've just had but what ends up happening is and what everybody

needs to understand the way that these proh programs work is that the city is on the hook for the initial design phase. Okay? So you can't apply or get credited money until you've taken some money. So, chapter 90 funding, for instance, I could spend $500,000 on three streets or spend $500,000 on the required design to get 20 million.

It's always been the process or the thought process in the past. I need to spend the $500,000 on five streets and let Eastern Avenue. So, you've just got to figure out where do you want to spend the money, right? And I've gotten this administration to buy into the fact of, okay, we can spend 2 million on streets.

Let's take 500,000 and put it into design so that we can move a larger project forward that will get paid for entirely. Good. Thank you. All right.

Councilman C7, did you have your hand up? Yeah, I did. Council C7. Beautiful.

Thank you. Um, thank you. Six. Oh, me.

You I'll be quick. I forget what number I am. Seven. Six. Um, just a year.

That's okay. Just a clarification to the interim CFO. What is the total revenue for the traffic department? What is the total? Because then I want to break it down. Okay. We threw a few things around. I just want to clarify what the actual number is and all that good stuff. Sorry, I started adding it to be sure. I have it all broken out already.

So, I just want to make sure I'm giving you the right numbers. Thank you.

So, right now what's budgeted, which means it probably comes in just over it.

So right now what's budget is is um 2,342,000. So we are probably landing right around 2.5 million. Okay. So about approximately 2.5 mil and then of that 2.5 million we said 1.5 is generated by the park control officers. Correct.

That's parking fines. Okay. And what is what is um what part of that is the garage I should say? the the garage parking fees is about 500 to 450 I'm sorry 450,000 okay what makes up the remaining so there's the parking meter fees which is about 375 okay and then there are parking permits which is about 3,000 and then parking permit fees um which is about 14,000 so permits for 300,000 and what was the last one

last figure you just said. Sorry. No, it was 3,000 for the parking,00 permits.

Yes. 3,000. I was like, "Oh, gez, we made a lot of money." Yeah. I almost didn't know what I said for a second there. 3,000 for permits and then parking permit fees. So, there's the traffic and parking permits and then parking permit fees is 14,000. 14,000 for fees.

Okay. Awesome. And then, Mr. I guess to your question about to your statement about the plan with the garages being looked to be repaired is then is that a question of fees for the garages themselves because you obviously need some money to fix them. So are we looking at it's a matter of a matter of where you direct the funds that that are coming in. Okay.

Yeah. Okay. So I will tell you that our intent in the conversations that we've had between facilities, between traffic and parking, between the administration is that we will after the repairs are done, these initial, you know, 3 million plus maybe dollars of repairs are done that in the 20, we're hoping that it's all done in 26, but we'll get a timeline on that soon. But in fiscal year 27, we

will include maintenance um to keep the prop, you know, keep the garages maintained so that we never need $3 million worth of improvements again. Um and then that will be offset by the increase in revenue that we're able to realize by having the full utilization of the garages um and maybe looking at the fee schedule at that point. So um there is plans to cover all of those maintenance costs moving forward and

hopefully and then some. Good. And and Stephanie to you as far as capital needs, were there any capital needs needed for the garages themselves as far as the the systems in which you collect the fees at the parking garages? Are they in good shape? Nope. No, they're pretty good. We actually just recently um started with the new enforcement system. Okay. Um which is great and also with the parking study and as it was

discussed and I am again in the discussion phase um of looking into the mobile pay and the mobile app. Um so again it all comes down to anything additional for fees. Yeah, makes sense.

And then just last quick question uh repainting of crosswalks. Is that already on play right now? Yes, it is.

Excellent. I yield. Thank you. Thank you six council. Thank you Mr. President.

Um, you were rattling off some numbers on revenue for traffic and I'm looking under the general fund. It's in a couple different sections.

Okay. So, it leads my question to why are we projecting the uh traffic and parking department to have a 5% loss in revenue because you're according to your budget on page 24 under traffic and parking. What what line item is that?

It's saying in your actuals from 20 your revised budget from 25 to 26 in 25 your revised budget was 1.2 uh 1274 and you're projecting 1.25 25. I'm sorry. What page did you say?

24. Page 24. So 24. That's that's um expenses. Okay. So where are you? Why why where is the department directly when it comes to So there is there it's not in there directly. And and for the record, it's never been in there directly. I know it hasn't. So why? So I can tell you. So if you look at um if you look at page 17, there's I'm going to tell you to go

to 17. And it's conveniently not on that page. It's on the following page, but that's the section that starts the revenue detail for the record. So that's um page 17. So when you go to page 18, um there are some fees that are included in this. So that is the parking permit fees, the parking meter fees, the parking garage fees. So those there's three different lines and they're called

just that. Um they're towards the end of the fees section. And so you can see those line items in there. Um there's then also the departmental nope, not departmental revenue, I'm sorry. There's um under licenses and permits. That's where you'll find the traffic and parking permits.

And then the last one is on page 19 and it's under fines and forfeertures. So that's parking fines. Why is it like this? Um you can thank do for that. So the way we report on this um these headers fall perfectly in line with our state reporting. So it goes by um I I literally have them numbered in my thing. So I almost know them by heart.

So 31 is page three number one motor vehicle page, you know, 32A is motor meals excise, 32B is So it's it's just the way they section it out. And so a fine is a fine, a fee is a fee, and a permit and license is a permit and license. So we end up having some departments that are very luckily collecting all three types of revenues that get broken out into that area. So

your parking fines that is generated directly through the traffic department or police as well? Nope. That is directly track. So why we Is that the department I was looking at that's seeing a small decrease in its projections by $50,000? No, you were looking at the expenses, not so I don't have percentages with this level of detail. We did kind of summary percentages. So when you look at that um

if you go to page 23 that um is before so 24 is the expenses but 23 is the revenue. You'll see that it's just fees in total. So, parking fees is included within that, but there are other fees.

So, that's why you won't see it. Okay.

I'm sorry. I know it's a little bit unfortunate. It's just different. It's fine. Um, so my final question is where do you store your equipment at that rental facility? What rental facility? The one that we have the agreement with um facilities department.

Where is that? The old the old NEP over on Kilburn Street. So, it's up there.

Mhm. It's in the south end, right? Yeah.

So, there were there were a couple of different locations that were being rented. The garage over on Rodman Street that facilities had some stuff there.

Um, and now it's all been centralized is my understanding. And so, your department pays rent. We do not any longer. No. Okay. Where who pays the rent now? Facilities. So, that was pulled out of her department into facilities, but she still has enough space and everything's adequate and there's no issues pertaining to space or usage or anything? Nope. Okay. Any issues? No. Okay. Thank you. I yield.

Thank you, council. All right. There being no further questions, I want to thank you guys for coming down. You did a tremendous job and keep up the good work you do. You do run excellent department. Credit to all the people that work for you and with you.

Next, we will continue with community services, city planning, inspectional services, health and human services, and the library. Can you please come down? Can all come down together?

Yeah it's easy this way. In case the cops ask a different question, you'll be

here. Please just state your name and what department you went for the record so people at home know who they're talking to or listen to. Sorry, I keep saying it. Uh my name is Felicia Desaris. I'm the library fall public library director. Daniel Agiard, director of engineering and planning.

Oh, still Emily Arky. Um director of financial interim director of financial services.

Haway, building commissioner and department head for inspectional services. Tesaran, director of health and human services.

Come to see two company um the library.

I know that recently it was approved for you to have security to hire people for security at the library.

So um I had I had come and I had asked for security positions to be funded with state aid. Um but after going back we kind of had some thought about it. There were some things that I couldn't really really uh settle out. Certain things about qualifications, training um that I realized we weren't really going to be able to keep up with with that position structure. So, I did away with that

idea. Um and currently we're using police details uh with the same funding.

So, it's not uh funded through the budget. It's funded through our state aid.

Okay. because I did notice that in FY24 the security duty was in the budget and now this year it wasn't. So yes, um it used to be two part-time security um but now we just have the police details.

Interesting. Um point of information, Mr. President, if I could. Yep. Is that detail available throughout the time the library is open? Yes. So it's available throughout all of our open hours. We did just start it. Um, so we're finding that it is picking up. We don't have a detail for every single hour that we're open, but we're finding that the random um taking of the details is kind of um

creating the behavior that was problematic to lessen because individuals don't know when they'll be there or if they are there. Yes. Uh so it has helped an awful lot even though um they haven't been there all hours. We do expect for the summer for it to be more. Don't spill the beans. They're there all the time. Excellent. I yield.

Thank you.

Council, Mr.

Hathaway, I look at this every single budget season and it makes me crazy.

Every single budget season, your demo, your evolving account for demo and vacant buildings. I know for sure in my first term that amount was raised to $50,000. Now I see we're at $20,000. I know we can't increase line items. We can only decrease or reject.

Unfortunately, I can't imagine that 20,000 is adequate for what you do and have to do in the course of a year.

If you'd like to address that, fine. And if not, I'll it's okay because I'll say that it's not.

Well, it's so the cleanup account for that is adequate for now, and that's due to the fact that uh the economy is taking some of the vacant properties and putting them back into the tax positions. Okay.

uh they're being fixed up, remodeled, and I'm not maintaining them as many of them. Uh so the economy and the wealth that the city's going through in regards to um uh growth is helping on the vacant end of things or the abandoned properties. On the other side of the coin, there's still some lots that is in the law department is reviewing through the land court system to get cleared in

order for us to put them on the market and auction them off. Those lots I I am maintaining and um I'm cutting them, taking care of them the best I can with what I have. And um I'm kind of a Scrooge at times, so I don't cut them every week or when I have to. When the mayor complains, when a counselor complains, uh I might do it.

Uh when a neighbor complains. Um so I kind of uh hold back sometimes for a reason. Uh one of the main reasons, just so everybody knows, uh I may not clean a lot uh uh frequently because I don't want people dumping on it. If it's nice and flat and level, people see a place to dump.

Um, and that's that's a big problem I have in some of the vacant lots. So, um, I keep them lumpy, uh, trees treated, and as long as I don't irritate anybody too much, uh, it stops them from throwing a mattress in or 10 couches.

Um, however, if I do need money, um, I've agreed you'll see a cut as you have this year, and that's why you're questioning me. Mhm. Um I've we've agreed to cut it um for now um to tighten up our belts uh with the agreement that if I need more, we'll be back before the council to request more.

And uh hopefully uh the council will support that request if needed. I would like to think we would. Um uh we know what happens when lots get too bad then we start having uh different critter is living there and people aren't too happy with the outcome. Correct.

Um and the fact that it's a revolving account so you spend your money but it might take especially with land court a year a year and a half to to recoup that 20 years. Yeah. In some cases, some of it is 20 years to get that money back in that account. Yeah.

Properties that uh the there is heirs or they court has to research the heirs uh cost a lot of money and um takes a lot of attorney's fees and then once it gets cleared through the court, the court grants the system us to auction it off. Um, it takes time. So, there is some outstanding maintenance fees, so to speak, on these lots that we'll never collect the money back. And that's

what makes me hold back because I know we're not I know the community is not going to get their money back in the long run. And it disturbs me. I don't mind spending money as long as I know the city's going to get it back. But in some we've the maintenance is because it's been so long is um outweighed the value of the property so to speak. So I I become a Scrooge when that happens. Uh

to respect the citizens money, our money, taxpayers money. Yep. No, that makes perfect sense. I I sometimes uh get a little heat from the neighbors over it, but I I I just try to be a use it wisely. Let's just say that.

Yeah. And unfortunately, that's why we developed one of the reasons why the butter is lot program was developed to alleviate some of those problems. And now the state and I don't know who the individual was uh who thinks anybody's going to pay market rate for a non-builtable lot which is now put that in the toilet so to speak. So we can't move those properties as readily and easily as we

were going to be able to. Um okay with that I yield. Thank you. Thank you counc account for council. Yeah. Well, every year we have an opportunity with during budget time to uh to express our our gratitude to department heads. So, Miss Hathway, you're credit to the city.

Thank you. You you are I mean um you have so many responsibilities. So many. It's it's really public safety driven. I mean and in the community quite often I I I only it's your position sometimes you make by nature of it you make enemies because people don't want to hear what you have to say right am I right absolutely so but I haven't heard anything about you except you're a man of integrity so thank you you're

severely underpaid thank you with the amount of responsibility you have so I had to I had to say that I I really that too.

Um the question I have, Mr. Hathaway, is um the Sylvia school. Um talk about your job being 247 um when that fire was happening. It was uh I think late at night or very early in the morning. I think it was at night time and I I passed by the site and sure enough you were right there in the car.

So my question is um the Sylvia School, I'm glad to see that um it's been demolished. It was pleasant surprise. Uh the building on the side which was severely damaged that city owned is that not Yes. So um what what are the plans with that? I'm sure it's been condemned.

Just so the people at home understand he's talking about the old Sylvia school, not the old Sylvia school. No, the the new Sylvia school. I don't want you saying the Sylvia school and a lot of people only know of one Sylvia school. So the one in Hotwell Street is what council is referring to. Thank you for the clarification. Just want to make sure we know. All right. So, let me give

you let me give you an update of of the whole complex over there. Yeah. Okay.

You have three buildings. One was the school and the other one was the administration building for the school department at the the last and the third one was a hockey rink in the back. Okay.

Youth hockey used to play in the back.

So, there's three buildings. One burnt.

That was the school. um because of its condition after the fire. Uh we I talked to the administration and they were very um supportive of me trying to apply through the state for an emergency waiver to tear the building down. So that put the bidding regulations aside.

It put some of the other requirements associated with demolition aside. Not aside that we had to wave them, but just they could happen. things could happen a lot faster. It gave you more flexibility.

No. Well, a little bit. It made things happen faster such as correct the procurement to advertise and get a contractor in. Yeah. You get special permission from the higher authorities.

So, we we were able to obtain that special permission through the state. Um and then also um the contractor or the bids went out for the con uh for the demolition of the one building. It did not because the other buildings weren't damaged in the fire. I couldn't include them. Although the condition warrants them to be torn down immediately.

Interesting. It couldn't involve those buildings. So I am taking advantage of what I got. The um the state was also very uh cooperative in supporting the contractor that was chosen for the job in regards to how it was torn down and the requirements needed to tear a building down that is considered with asbestous.

Okay. So, um it's it's all being watched very closely. Uh there is a plan in place that the contractor had to get approved by the state DEM in particular.

Um and it's all being monitored. I have with the support of the mayor in in the mayor's office uh was able to hire an outside consultant to monitor the air quality that's taking place over there.

Each and every day the demolition takes place, he is on site on behalf of the city for us for our protection. Um he's there. It's going extremely well. Uh water is the key to keeping everybody out of trouble in this situation. And if you go by there, they're spraying a lot of water. Um yeah, I I I don't like to advertise this, but I got to put this out there because you're asking. Uh I

was able to convince another department head uh to donate the water to me. No, we have we have to talk about these things. No, I want you to know that I was able to to to convince another department head to donate the water to the city on behalf of the demolition of this building. So, another department in this in the in the community uh stepped up to the plate and he's donating the

water free of charge. Yeah. The people should be hearing this. So, yeah. Uh I think that's important to the let the water everybody know that the water department uh stepped up to the plate.

Otherwise, they'd be paying a water fee.

Kudos to them. So that's where the demolition in answer to the end result the building will be demolished. The building will will be the the the foundation will remain in the ground. We are not disturbing the ground. We're bringing it down to grade.

That means whatever the grade was wherever it is. Um I plan on putting a fence up along the front when they're done. The other two buildings will remain standing. And I believe I could be wrong. Well, the talk is that it's going to go out for auction. Yes, we have as is with the requirement to take those buildings down immediately.

Whoever the purchaser or buyer or the successful bidder is. Um I think that's the plan. I I haven't been discussed that lately, but that was the last plan.

Okay. So, that's where that's at, and I'll leave it at that. Any questions? I don't know if No, the I'd like to be quick with my questions. I don't I don't know if you u have the answer to this question, but um during after that fire, I I called the mayor and I requested whether or not we had insurance on um that that after that happened, it triggered in me. Well, whoa. We should

be getting insurance on these buildings, the the police station, the armory, buildings that um we have plans for that if they go down um it's going to be a significant significant cost to the city. Um so, you know, it um that's the question. Do do we have we do have property insurance. Um, and I will say at this point in time, we don't have the final figures, but the the last

understanding I have is that um the insurance is fully paying for this demolition at this point in time. Well, the answer I got to receive from the um the authority was um I don't know. So, if we don't if I said, well, if we don't know, we better get it. So, it's just the way that the property insurance is listed out. Obviously, our major major buildings are listed on it, but then

some of the other ones um kind of are are grouped together in it. And so I think it was just when you pull out the policy quickly and look at it, you may not see that level of detail on it. And so that's why we had to just reach out to the insurance company and get that confirmation. But we have since got the confirmation. It's definitely going to be covered in insurance. It's just the

full dollar amount. How about the other building Amy? Library. Yeah. So again, we I couldn't give you that full list off top of my head, but we do have property insurance exactly for things like this to, you know, protect. Well, that's something I can talk to the administration, but I'm glad we had it.

Someone was thinking ahead. There's a line item in here to pay for it. Next year's property insurance. Just keep that in mind. Right. Right. Okay. That's that's a my one question, Mr. Hathway.

Once again, you're a credit to the city.

I mean that. I mean that. So, thank you.

I yield. Thank you. Thank you. Council council five. Council vice president. A couple of questions I have. I'm on a gasoline hunt tonight. Um, you have gasoline, Mr. Maris, for the library. Is that for the um bookmo? Yes.

because it went up a lot. Where do you get your gas? Is it a contract with someone? Uh, no. It's It's the same. Um, you get it from the city? Yes. I think it was just moved into my my It wasn't budgeted previously in her budget before. So, that's why it went up 100% because there was nothing in it before.

Um, at that point in time when it was so, you know, fresh and it happened, I'm going to say not in fiscal year planning. So, it just wasn't put into her budget at that point in time. So, facilities was kind of just um absorbing the cost. I shouldn't say facilities. I use that city operations. I forget which line item it's in, but within city operations, they were just covering the

cost at that point. And so we've now put it in gave her $2,475.

I think it's $5,000. I thought um I thought it was I'm sorry, I'm I'm between a lot of pages right now. It's the 2475. And I think that um that came from the cost. Yeah, that came from what? That came from the cost that we have. So um as Stephanie had mentioned, we do have the key cards and they're done by department. So we know exactly which departments are using it and then

the way the monthly rates are done it's based on you know what was what the fill cost was within that time period that we had. So then we kind of come up with a gas price for that month um and allocate it out to the departments that um should be paying for their gas within their department. All right. So you man you figured out how much they've used so far

in the months that they've had it and yes went on from that. What I want to ask you about is the um passports that you do at the library. I'm hearing that you no longer can do passports or the money can't go to your department or to the friends of the library. So um the passports are on pause right now mostly because uh the funding for some of the

postage all of that was paid for by the friends of the library. Um and then the funds were going to that organization.

But since there that is a sur a surplus of money coming in, um what we were using those funds for was programming.

So it made more sense to have that come back to us in a revolving fund. Um and so we're kind of waiting um to I who pulled that out who pulled that out of their budget passports. How did that get it? Um nothing really got pulled. Yeah, it it was never um in the budget. It was strictly handled by this nonprofit organization, but it's it was done by

our staff. So when I had kind of come in and and saw that our staff were doing the task, but then the funds were going out and then we'd ask the organization for that money to use for our programming. It just seemed to make more sense if um I had a conversation. Yeah, we're we're considering creating a revolving fund. It's still in conversations right now to see what those actual dollar amounts are coming

in at this point, but at this point in time, what we did to start out with was putting the expenses within the general fund account. And we do have a revenue line. And it's a small revenue line.

We're kind of estimating right now what it's going to be, but there might be conversations over the next couple of months whether it's going to be a revolving fund or whether it'll stay in the general fund. But for right now, it is funded in here so that she can start that up again. So you can continue to do it. So if I sent somebody next week to get a passport, you can handle that. So

next week, not at the moment because the Yeah. In July 1, they're losing money.

They're losing money doing it. What's the Well, it was not really coming to us. Weren't the friends of the library funneling it back to you for programs and different things, events? So, we would h Yes, we'd we'd bring them proposals on some of our events, but um I think in this way we can kind of self-direct a lot of our programming because um a lot of the staff do know what what the public right wants. So,

um, for programming, um, so it'll be really good to have to have that actually come right back to the library.

Can you keep me posted, Mr. Marathon, when it comes back to you? Yeah, absolutely. If I don't hear from you in about a month, then I'll know that I have to take a walk to the sixth floor and see what the holdup is because I think that's a great service for people.

We we agree. Yeah, we agree. We agree.

Um, so I'm glad your gas is for that bookmo. They do a heck of a job. So do you at the library? Uh, I was there for Comic Con and it was unbelievably crowded. Um, good job down there. You offer a lot of services. Uh, Mr. Haway, let me go to you with gas. Your inspectors, they have vehicles, city vehicles. No. What do they get for a stipen for gas? They each get We all

get $300 a month stipen for fuel. Okay.

Okay. So, when you get the check, it's $300 or you have to pay Uncle Sam out of that?

That's a sore subject with me. Um, so we get $300 and Uncle Sam takes his piece and it probably comes out to about 260, which is not $300.

uh since we have a uh interim CFO, her and I have discussed this to try and convince the administration to bring us back to city facilities, city uh now that they have the new key fobs and fuel depot. Um, I don't know if that's going to take place, but an answer to your question, uh, no, it's not a full $300. And my my soft spot with this, to be upfront and

honest, is they allow us $300 a month. They take a sum out for taxes, and then when I go to the gas pump, I pay taxes on it again. So, the 260 is probably 240. And uh and when the city buys gas, like for Lewis Street, they pay wholesale, no tax. Correct.

Wholesale, no tax. No tax. Correct. That is really something that needs to be corrected. And I really believe that your inspectors should have vehicles from the city labeled with inspectional services or what have you. They should in the long run. As Yeah, the assessor too. I mean, I think they should. other departments have them and I think your department should. So, let's look at that as a capital

uh something that we need to do. Could you forward that to the mayor? That's my my take on that. And if at least if they can't provide vehicles, you know, this year, uh let's look at doing that next year. And let's look at at least allowing them to gas up um at the city garage like everybody else. Um, how are you? I'm well. How are you? Good. Good.

You were so quiet there. Um, always you are. Anyway, um, in your department you have Mr. McCcluskey who does a lot for the youth youth services. Does he ever get a raise? Do you ever put in for a raise for him? So, I do have an update regarding Christian. Um, today was his last day of employment. Um so he or he's technically Friday. Um but he's taking two days off. Um so Christian um had put

in his resignation in early May. Um and um Did you say where he was going? You don't have to. I thought you might have said it and I didn't hear. No, I didn't.

And he's he's um he's seeking employment. Um so so yeah, it's a it's you know it's going to be a big change for our department. um you know, he's been here for so many years and has really been dedicated and committed to the city and are certainly appreciative um of of his of his work um for the Health and Human Services Department. Um but we are going to be posting that

position um and we'll be seeking a new youth services coordinator. That is so disheartening for me to hear. I you know, he's been here for a long time. He does a phenomenal job.

Maybe he just felt it's not like he's going to another job obviously, but maybe he felt that, you know, nobody valued him. I I certainly did and I pushed last year that I thought he should um get some kind of a bump because, you know, he does, you know, the scope of the work has changed, you know, from when he started um and is really a lot of grant management and coordination. And I think, you know,

there was just um you know, some some changes there in terms of of what his I feel bad. That's sad to hear. Yeah. Um what is the total additional pay on some of your employees, some of your inspectors? What is that? 4,500. What is that? So, the uniform allowance and the auto allowance. Sorry. The uniform allowance and auto allowance typically is what's included in that. Um I believe with her

department specifically, sorry my brain shifts gears a lot with this. I believe it is exclusively auto allowance and um the uniform allowance. Yes, for the um for the inspectors that had come over from um the inspectional services division. So minimum housing team and food inspectors received that auto um and uniform allowance. So would they get an auto allowance for what? Using their

own automobiles. Yes. Similar to Glenn's team.

Do your um people get that as well? Yes.

An auto allowance? Yes. So they get the We all get We were all under inspectional services. Every one of us receive the same package, so to speak. So you had $1,200, right, for the use of your vehicle and $300 a month for fuel. I thought it was more than that. No. Well, the $300 a month comes out to be the $2,400 a year, right? Was that my quick math? Right.

Correct. So, it's $3,600 total for So, and and I think what maybe some confusion is, maybe not, but it's it's confusion for me is and something that we're working on overall citywide to get back on track. So, right now, the auto allowance in Health and Human Services is both of those numbers. It is the auto allowance and the gas allowance. And in um inspectional services, it's shown as

the two different line items. The amounts are the same per person. It's just not shown in two different line items, which again um it's these are small things that we're working on on backend details, but it's still the same amounts for the same reasons per union contract. I don't understand why some departments have vehicles and other departments don't have vehicles. Some departments have to go and get their gas

at a local gas station. I don't know where your inspectors go. Do they go to the city or are you going? No, they don't go to the city. They similar to That makes no sense to me. So, I can tell you that my understanding because I've I've asked the same questions that you're asking now in the last couple of weeks. So my understanding is um in general the way that we would assess

whether um a department I'm going to say or a an employee gets a city vehicle versus whether they use own their own vehicle I believe is based on the amount of usage right if if their job is 100% being in a vehicle going around the city all day then obviously that's a city vehicle and then I think it's based on the amount was what I'm going to say should be the determination on how that

works. I don't know what what broke down here. I think plumbing inspectors, electrical inspectors, I don't they're not out on the road. I I think that Mr.

Hathaway is out on the road all the time. It's not like, you know, right? So again, I don't I don't know what decisions were actually made before now, but that's my understanding of the basis of how that should be made. But then with the gas, what I understand to be have happened was when there were personal I'm going to say personal vehicles versus the city vehicles being fueled at the city um pumps when

something went wrong with the pumps being able to decide, you know, what was for what. Um the ones that were fueling personal cars there, they stopped that because there was issues or concerns about whether they could track mileage and know how much of the gas is being used for personal use versus for city operations. So I think that that's where that had changed over and you know

things have now changed again with being able to track that better and there are other ways around it. So that's why I think conversations have started again about trying to shift it back to being on the city use. So um you know how and why we got here there might have been some breakdown but we are we can absolutely look at you know capital for vehicle even if you look at you get x

amount of gallons per week and you fill up on this day or this day this is what you get right there's there's several ways to correct this and and I think that you know Glenn and I are on one page of correcting that um it's just kind of coming up with what that looks like and there are you know I think steps that could be taken you know if we

can't go full fullale on you the way that some of these other departments operate if we have to take it in steps to, you know, anything's going to be better at this point. So, we are working through that. It's unfortunately not just up to him and I, you know, how to change it and when to change it. So, we are starting those conversations. Um, and in the meantime, you know, the the

the thought process was let's get through budget. We're going to put this money in here and no matter what, we need money for gas for these departments. So whether we shift it from the, you know, allowance to actual cost being paid, we're hoping that, you know, we have money to make those changes as we're able to make those policy changes.

Well, I think that if they gas up at the city, even if it's a certain amount of gallons that each car gets, I personally think they should all have their own car, especially inspectional services that are out all the time. They're on the road. Their job is on the road. So to say, well, we're not sure if they're on the road or and they're on the road all the time. I think really one of the

capital improvements that you need to do is get the automobiles for these departments that they need and let them gas up at the city in the long run. It's going to save you money. Let's just get them electric cars. They could. That's what they have in your backyard. So I don't that'll save us more money, but I don't know how many miles those run. Um 250.

So a charge. So, a lot and they could leave him, you know, leave him here parked or whatever. It's not like they're going to be, you know, taking cars back and forth home. But, uh, thank you. And I talk to Mr. Hatway all the time. Uh, one thing I can say is he answers his phone whether it's on the weekend, at night. Um, he's always accessible and, uh, I try to get people

to still like him. Um, even for the complaining that they do, I try to explain why. So, I call them and say, "Why did you do this?" so I can support you and let people know why. And there's always a great reason. Uh the library does fantastic. I don't have any problems with your budget either. Um so with that, I yield. I have no question.

Do you have something to add? Yes. Um just sitting here thinking uh about Councelor Kilby and and your last comments, Councelor Pereira. Um I'd also like to thank my department. I you know, we're all praising me, but I couldn't do it without them. Oh, you have great guys. Uh, I have great guys. I hate I have great working staff, uh, right down to the clerks. And none of that would be

possible dealing with the people we deal with and the amount of people we deal with without everybody participating.

So, I'd like all them to know that even though I'm sitting here getting the recognition, um, they need it too. Okay.

Because they are a big part of the success of the department. They're the major part. Yes. as are in both these departments. Any department in any department we have. But I'm gonna speak for mine. Okay. Seeing the accolades come to me, I think they deserve it.

Good uh just as just as much. Thank you.

I talked to the inspector Dave uh yesterday two times and today uh one time trying to assist somebody with maneuvering the how to get a permit online and he was very very helpful.

Thank you. But as always they they will not. But to all your departments, kudos to them. Exactly. I yield, Mr.

President. Thank you, Council. Council seat 7. Council P. Thank you, Mr.

President. Um to the library director.

Um the book mobile, right? Um and this is an bounce to you as well. What is the number of collection of fees we collect from the library as far as late books?

Um, so late books about $6,000 a year, but that is the main library. That's not the bookmobile.

Okay. So, my next question is, have you seen an increase in fines revenue because of the bookmobile? No, because there is no fines for anything that goes out on the bookmobile. There's no fines collected.

Um, if someone loses a book, then they would have to pay the replacement fee for that. But a lot of these children, um, Emily, my bookmobile librarian, she's going to the schools and then if she can't make it the next week or something, it really makes it difficult for them to schedule that return on time. And it it does make it difficult for the kids to since they don't have a

car, get it back to us. So, we don't want to penalize them for uh for taking items out. So, they have a limit of books, but there's no late fees on them.

The only time they would have to pay is if they lost the book entirely.

Literally Emily was at the school the other day and we gave her like three boxes of books back from the bookmobile.

But but I guess the question is at what point do you determine a book is lost?

Uh so I believe it's three months it gets actually marked lost in our system and even at that point they can return it and the fine will come off of their account. So I guess my question and I and I asked Emily this question particularly. So at what point you know obviously there was a huge investment into the bookmobile and the supplies that were given. Um how are you replenishing books? Is that coming out

of your budget directly? It is um it's coming out of our budget directly, but our budget is required to grow a little bit every year. So, it's kind of uh followed that. It's kind of nice because we have this other aspect that we can really invest in, whereas we only have so much room in the library. I have to spend 12% of my overall budget on library materials. And so, it helps us

um find a new way to use that. So, like currently she's um using some of those funds to um to get a lot of materials for adults because right now we're seeing a lot of attendance of kids with the bookmobile, but we really want to reach adults in some of the neighborhoods where they can't get to us, especially after the the branches um are not there anymore. So, so she's

focusing on that a lot right now, like senior centers, things like that. So I guess should I not be concerned that materials may be lost and then are not getting replaced at a at a fee level? So we find that we find that we don't have great losses of materials. Um and we get a lot of returns even after 5 years.

Sometimes people will come back with 10 books that they found um because they're blocked at the library and they really really need to get onto the either the computers or they need to get a book for school something like that. So, we end up getting a lot of those items back.

It's not as large of a concern as I think um it it might seem. I was actually a little bit more concerned about it until I saw that a lot of the teachers are pretty responsible for, you know, asking the the students to get the the books together. I think they really like it. I asked Emily for a list. I'm like, "Hey, let me know who's who so we can get make sure we get them back."

Exactly. Um on the bookmobile, are there further plans to expand that? Because I think it's marvelous that obviously the sad part is we close all the edex branches, right? We have the main library which I would argue that is not necessarily accessible to everybody, especially the kids. They don't drive, right? Yes. And the bookmobile has been fabulous and I I love the expansion. I love how it's been

reaching schools, including mine. And full disclosure, it's been great. I guess the question is, is there plans for a second for a second bookmobile?

I'm not looking for a second bookmobile, but um so I think that using this this bookmobile in this way is interesting because it kind of shows us the limitations of where we can put it in space. So a lot of the events that we want her to attend, she has limitations uh for the size and sometimes it's easier to just actually go out in say like a minivan or something like that

and supply the same thing like a rotating collection. So, if we were to do something secondary like that, um I would say maybe something smaller. Uh it might it might give the same kind of effect. The bookmobile right now works well for what it is, but it's definitely it it's it has its limits of space, charging, um and then maintenance, which which does come up every now and again.

We have certain issues with the maintenance of the bookmobile specifically because it's built so specifically that it makes it a little bit more niche to try to fix those things. And who's responsible for the maintenance? The library budget. So, it's actually it's um operations, city operations. Okay. We we talked about switching it over, but because it's still such a I'm going to say moving

target right now. Um and then given the way that her budget works specifically with the state and with the state aid, we didn't want to roll the dice right now. And I agree. I think that's kind of was I was going with that to see if something happens to the bookmobile.

Now, who's going to essentially fix it in that case? And this past year, it has been um I'm going to keep saying city operations because there's too many departments and I don't want to say the wrong one, but it's still city operations right now. And again, you know, the goal would be to get it into her, you know, the library's budget in time. It's just that we want to be a

little bit more confident and we've only had not even a full year yet. Or is it just been a full year? Um I think it might have been a little bit over, but um actual maintenance and repairs. So, we're just probably going to give it another year or so to kind of fully work those kinks out. Yeah. I I think my only This is the educator and me talking about access to books. So, the

bookmobile is great for the kids, the schools, the summer programs, the parks, what have you. I think another group of people that we may want to look at is the high-rise and the senior centers.

Yes. So, that's that's where I'm kind of going with the bookmobile. Obviously, you can take the books out and put other books in, vice versa. Yeah. But to address that need because you have a population that met, you know, you have the the apps, the um what's the name of that app? You can get the books. My wife is so pissed at me right now because I forgot the name. What is it? Libby.

Yeah, Libby. Thanks. She reads and I don't. Um that's great for a generation that has tablets, what have you. The older generation that's looking for books. How can we address that group of people? Yeah. Um, so the bookmobile has been going to senior centers. Um, she hasn't had much luck and most of the issue there is that it's hard to get seniors onto a bookmobile um, physically. So, it's it's a little bit

of a steep um, steep entrance and there's other concerns for safety. So, it's easier for her to take the books and then just go into the senior center.

She usually ends up pulling up a table.

So, so that's what I mean by So, that's happening. Yeah, it's happening. Um, we are trying to expand a little bit more into that. um where and that's what I mean by material development. Um I think getting a little more of the materials that the adults like, but that's all learned in collection development through this experience that she's had.

Awesome. Thank you.

Um Miss Curran, question for you. I know it's quiet on this end of the table. Um I have a concern with the inspectors. So I know last year maybe it was moved from Mr. Hathway's department to yours. Um, I wasn't in favor of it, but I guess I have a question about the amount of inspectors that we have. And my question, I asked this the year prior.

Do we have enough inspectors to do the work that's in front of us? So, we did recently hire a regional inspector.

That's a grant-f funded position. So, um, that position works not only in Fall River, but in Secon, Swansea, and Somerset as part of our PHE um, shared services grant. So, Katherine um has been on board for about two months at this point in time. So, she's still getting trained um because there's just so much in the code in terms of minimum housing um that she's focusing on here,

but she will also be cross-trained to do food inspection, other sanitation inspections like tattoos, you know, pools, um and the like. and again will be here primarily in as it stands right now per the grant. Um the need was greatest here in Fall River. Um and then she'll cover in the other communities as needed for vacations, things like that based on theou we have with those communities as part of the grant. Um so

we are receiving you know additional support um with that regional inspector to kind of um help support that team um because there you know there is a lot um and there's not you know as much um prevention or proactive you know or reactive in a lot of ways um but hoping that Katherine will help to support that. So I I think the short question is you feel with that grant position

supporting it, we're in good shape as far as addressing the needs for sanitation, milk inspections, food inspections, etc. at this time. Okay.

Thank you.

Um Mr. Aguar. Yes. City planning, right?

You are still the acting city planner.

Interim. Yes. And you have an an assistant now who's with you. Yes. Okay.

Um, that person's rather new, correct?

The assistant probably six months. Six months. Okay. And there's one more question on the admin clerk in your department. We have two. Yeah. The the vacant one particularly. So, what's up?

We had Well, we had just filled you'll see that there is a line item that we had just filled a position with uh Emily Dy maybe a month ago. Uh, that did not work out. Okay. So, we've just hired someone new yesterday to fill that role.

the administrative clerk position.

Correct. The 10. Um and the mindset is can't have two new people training two new people. Fair. Um so we've tried to bring on one at a time, let them get their feet wet being able to be self- sustaining in a month or two and then continue to bring on that additional staff. Okay. So long-term plan you will fill. Longterm is to fill every position. Sure. Gotcha. Thank you. I yield. Thank you, council.

There being no further questions, I want to thank all of you for coming down. We appreciate what you do. You do a tremendous job each and all of you and your staff as well. Thank you. Motion to table.

Second. Motion to table has been made and seconded. All in favor. Any opposed?

City. Motion to adjurnn. Second. Tabled.

Thank you. Motion to adjurnn has been made and seconded. All in favor? Any opposed? City council on finance is now.

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