5.28.2025 Redevelopment Authority

Okay, everybody. Welcome to the May 28th, 2025 meeting of the Fall River Redevelopment Authority. Pursuant to the open meeting law, any person may make an audio or video recording of this public meeting or may transmit the meeting through any medium. Attendees are therefore advised that such recording or transmission are being made whether perceived or unpersceived by those present and are deemed acknowledged and

permissible. Um, I'm going to start out with a roll call. Johnny Ericson, Ron Rousen, Ben Fidelberg, Joan Madias.

Joining us on uh Zoom is Sarah Paige. Um Ann Keane could not join us tonight.

Also joining us, John Coughlin, legal counsel. Kenny Fiola, which will be here in a few minutes, and Karen Martin, our project manager. Uh first item is approval of our open session minutes from April 30th. If there's no comments on those minutes, I'll entertain a motion to approve those.

Motion to approve the April 30th, 2025 open session minutes. Second. Second.

John Erson. Yes. Ron Rousen. Yes. John Fidleberg. Yes. Joan Medeiros. Yes. Thank you. Uh May warrant. Uh Joan has reviewed it and signed off on it. It totals $32,379.37.

If there's no uh questions on that, I'll entertain a motion to approve that warrant. Roll call vote to approve the May warrant and amount of 32,379 and 37 cents. Second.

Second. John Ericen, yes. Ron Rousen, yes. Ben Fidleberg, yes. Joan Medeiros, yes. Thank you. Um Sarah is going to speak to matching funds for the onestop grant application.

So this um this is about a few applications. We're applying for um funds to take the Route 79 land through WEBA and um we're going to talk about that more uh in later on. Uh, but we aren't going to need matching funds for that.

Uh, and we do need matching funds for the one stop um that is for the vacant storefront program. Now, we don't have to have it, but it's more competitive if we do. And we're applying for storefronts on Pleasant Street in our target area of Pleasant Street and in our target area of the north downtown as well as South Main Street which had been a target um when the redevelopment authority applied many years ago. So, we

get extra credit for the fact that we're an agency that already um had been approved for this vacant storefront program. My understanding is we never actually used it. It was really complicated and um a huge amount of effort for a small amount of money. So they have revised the program making it much more um much more valuable although it is still very complicated. You get tax credits as the business that you can

approve to go into a storefront and get the funding gets it through tax credits.

But when they send in their tax return, if they don't actually have a use for the tax credits, they just get paid what they would have gotten if they needed tax credits. So, in a way, it kind of becomes a grant, but it comes out of the Department of Revenue rather than out of one of the grant programs of the state.

And so we are asking for 50,000 in tax credits and the program used to require a match or really more competitive if you didn't have a match. No, I think they really required it. Now they don't require it, but you're more competitive if you have it. Now we don't know. We have a number of storefronts that are identified that would be great to fill.

They have to have been vacant for six months. Many storefronts we would love to fill are in buildings that are deteriorated and really don't have a vacant storefront that is um able to be utilized which is a big frustration. So there's, you know, a reasonable number of storefronts. We're still identifying them. We have to put them into a map. And the question for you is we're getting you're asking for

50,000 in tax credits. Would you be willing to um would you be willing to provide 10,000 20,000 in matching funds and it's not utterly clear in the directions exactly how those would come into play. I think um the other thing that's really amazing about the program now is you could use your entire 50,000 in tax credits for one project. If you had a big storefront and it was a really

high priority, you could you really have total flexibility about how you allocate the tax credits.

And in the old days, it was clear how you would have to match. Now it's not fully clear. And we don't even know if once we get these tax credits, we'll find people who actually can use them.

But it's really worth doing this. We'll advertise it. We'll reach out to people and hopefully it will fill some storefronts.

So Sarah, are we Are are we going to prove it for like a unknown amount or I'm not sure. No, you No, I It's up to us. You pick on your Oh, okay. Cuz I I just have a blank where it's just Yeah, we we weren't sure what we were going to Okay. So, Sarah, I Yeah. If we say a 10,000 match, does that mean whatever they do, we do 20% of

it? It's 10 on 50 because we're going to get 50. If we get 50. If we put up 10,000, that means whatever they do, we get 20% of them. Like if you did uh 20,000 as a match, it would be 40%.

So if somebody asked for 20,000, you give them eight out of our money. Do you know what I'm saying? How are we maxing like that? Cuz match see match to me seems they put up 25, we put up 25. It doesn't seem the other way. So if you're saying put 10, 20, 30 away, but we're getting 50, that's not really a match.

It's kind of like uh we'll do a percentage of it. Yeah. It's just kind of a contribution. But the absurdity of it is that um you know if we don't need all of the 50,000 then would how would we deal with that match? So you're thinking that we would just set it as a percentage. Yeah.

If you did 10,000 then whatever they go for 90% comes out of the or 80% comes out of the the the grant 20% comes out of our match. If if you're doing 10,000 on 50 if you're doing another if you're doing 20,000 then you can do okay if they want 25,000 you're paying 40% that 15 from the grant 10 from us. So it I don't know what you mean by match.

That's why I'm just saying if you say 10 20 or 30 the numbers used it's either 20 40 or 60% of a match. Yeah. There are not some of these matches are not really a match.

It's not um they really are meaning that you're putting funds in and contributing. So I would be fine with doing 10,000 and doing it as 20%. Is there is there a local business contribution?

Well, there can be, but um we're afraid that these storefronts, we're going to be lucky if we find businesses who are going to decide to um occupy them. They probably will still have more costs. Um, and so we aren't proposing that there be a business match. You can do that. I think we also will be showing staff time um as a match. And how about Davis Bacon? Does that kick in?

It's not federal. No. I Or prevailing wage. It' be prevailing wage. Yeah.

Because it's state money, not federal money. Correct. Yeah.

Yeah. This though may not really be construction as much as um decorating, you know. Um you can't decorate a sign on a bull. Listen, that's pretty good, but I'm not sure why that's pretty good. I'm not sure. For example, it could be buying uh sinks and uh chairs for a uh beauty salon. Now, that wouldn't trigger Davis Bacon unless you know it was the construction to install them.

But that's not storefront. Are you saying the Yeah. Yeah. I I'm I'm very confused with this whole thing and I'm not really sure where our money is going based on what you've said so far because you said that if the business doesn't need it to offset taxes then they would get it back in the form of a grant. So where's our money going in all this? I'm not I'm not following this.

Well, it would expand what we can um what we can provide if it exceeds 50,000. But I'm not, you know, I really want us to get this grant and see if we can fill some storefronts.

Um, oh, I thought this was a signage.

It's not for signage like White Rose Bakery what they did over there. This isn't the same brand. It's not the same brand. Something like that. It would be the same type of storefront. Yeah, it's really totally different than what Community Development did on Pleasant Street where they redid facads and windows and all kinds of construction. This one is to fill stores, okay? You know, and so it isn't

facades and store front, but it's really how do you attract a business to invest in equipment, um, moving expenses, all the things involved in moving into a space that needs work. And that's where um this comes into play. And our money would be used um you know if we went with the formula of a 20% match of each project people would um and they have to show receipts. Joan,

I guess that's the answer is that if it comes back to them as a grant, they've still had to show receipts for everything and they would have to show us receipts for what they purchased and did to use the funds.

Are the tax credits sellable or they have to use them themselves?

They have to use them themselves. And that's where it becomes, you know, they call it like a reimbursement. If you don't need the tax credits, you get that money back from the department of revenue. And I have seen a program work like that before, but it's kind of unusual.

What is the criteria for a business to apply for this grant? Is there any tie to the local community or anyone throughout the state could apply for this?

Well, I would think it would. I mean, someone from throughout the state could apply if we attracted a really good business to bring jobs to Fall River.

We'd be happy to attract some somebody from outside, but presumably it will be local people who have been thinking about, you know, going to downtown or going to Pleasant Street and um all of our outreach will really be focused locally or at least that's what I was envisioning.

So, so Sarah, so in it's the the storefront. Uh it's just basically a a title. It doesn't obviously mean the physical storefront of the building. So if we were to approve matching funds in the amount of say $10,000, is that for one particular project or or would we be committing to do that multiple times?

Right. That was my next question. It you'd have to split it up. So let's say somebody went for 10,000. That's your cap. If somebody went the cap's 50,000, somebody went to 10,000, 8,000 will come out of the grant. 2,000 will come out of our 10,000 party. Next 10,000 will be 2,000. Next 10,000. Our exposure is only 10,000. 10% 10,000 to the whole thing.

Yes. So it would be 20 actually, I'm sorry, it's 20%. So it's 10,000. 8,000 comes from the uh grant. 2,000 comes from our match. Okay. So that's the 8020 split. So if this materializes, we we we contribute 10,000.

Right. Of course, the way that Ron's suggesting it, if only two companies come and use $20,000, then we've only put $4,000 in. Yes, that's the point trying to get out. So there' be 20% of each project. 20% of each project comes from us. Total of 10, not to exceed $10,000 in total for So whatever they apply for, if they apply for 10,000, it goes 82. 80 from the grant, 20% from us.

They go 20,000 16 of whatever the number is. Well, I'm okay with it if you guys are. It's not a huge amount of money and sounds like it could help. And you're saying this will help to get the grant.

Is that why you're saying matching funds? Yes. Okay. Yeah. It's competitive and it's supposed to help you get the grant.

Is there any negatives to sarah? Who are we going to administer this grant if it gets approved or does somebody else administer the grant?

Well, the city has to play a role in it and has to approve the um the stores that are coming in. But yes, we would be involved in um helping try to attract uh companies, but we also have the downtown um north downtown group really engaged in this. Um so we would be asking them to help us find businesses to come into storefronts and they're very um excited about that. And then

um in the Flint neighborhood, you have Gloria Sadler who's the uh love your block fellow working with community development and she's been trying to fill storefronts. So, she would be out there uh beating the pavement looking for people.

And there's what you have to do is just fill out forms and submit them to um the housing department who takes them to an entity that actually approves the tax credits. So, it's the most complicated program, but I don't see that it's a lot of work on our part. The major work is just attracting companies, which is kind of part of our mission, especially when we're trying to revitalize particular neighborhoods.

So, it could be any it could go anywhere in the city. Doesn't have to be one particular neighborhood.

Well, we're defining target areas and we have to show them maps. So, I've asked them though if for example, we're saying our target is Pleasant Street in the Flint, but there are stores going into Alden Street these days. So, if someone wanted to go into a storefront in Alden Street, they would be flexible and that would be fine. So you define areas that are your focus and they would be focuses

of ours that exist and then if you had an entity that wanted a storefront outside of those areas and it was a really good idea you could um ask to grant them there as a side but it has to be it can't just be anywhere it has to be kind of a downtown area. So, so if I decide I want to open up a barber shop, let's say on Pleasant

Street as a vacant store and vacant for a year, I go in there and say, "Okay, I need 50,000. I need to put eight seats in this, this, this, this and apply for it and get a free $50,000 grant or they have to be Oh, no, no. But the owner I was just reading the regulations here.

The owners have to contribute.

The property owners need to contribute.

The property owner or the person that's owner? What about the business owner?

The property owner has to contribute.

Ken, are you reading the old storefront program? No, this is the 50,000. This is the 50 the one that uh Karen just gave us. It's the $50,000. There's a cash there's a cash match and it says the owners of the property must contribute either either in rent relief or the buildout.

the owner, but not the tenant. Not the tenant, right? The owner, the owner of the property. I'm not saying it's a bad thing. I'm just saying. But there and there's also a bunch of reporting requirements here. That's basis. That's what I'm asking about. There are a lot of reporting requirements.

But one thing I have to say is we've been very encouraged to apply for this by the folks we've, you know, when we submitted a request for the earmark that Senator Rogers um submitted, they the people we're sending uh proposals to said um you really should be applying for all these one stops. That's how you should be getting money from the state. And we explained that there are very few of the

one stops that we can apply for that really would do what our earmark request would do. This is one that would truly benefit Pleasant Street. So I they know that we opened the application and they are expecting us to apply for this. So that's one other pressure on this. But nobody said we have to do a match and I don't know that we'll be successful in filling any storefronts.

You said they. Who's they?

Who's they? When you said they, they covers us. Do this. They Who's the they?

the potential tenants or people who's the they you're saying they encouraged you. Who encouraged you? Was it future tenants? Uh the secret the secretary of the department of economic development for the state who we are Boston. I thought you met somebody locally. Okay.

So we so she keeps writing me as I send her our details on our request for the use of the earmark saying be sure to get your one stops in on time and apply. And this is one of the ones she knows we opened and we're considering applying for. Usually you wouldn't have someone watching the secretary of an agency.

watching over whether you're applying for things, but this one is an odd situation and she is wanting to see us apply for this.

What's the board's flavor? What do they I It sounds to me like it's short money that maybe could go a long way for somebody that needs an opportunity. And the 10,000 only happens if $10,000. I mean, we don't even know if it will be that much, right? So is it geared towards a startup business or does the business have to be towards filling the startup business? We don't know. It's geared to vacill.

Oh yeah. So it's a startup. I'm saying because it's a vacant storefront. It's been vacant for a year. That means it's But it be somebody relocating storefront. So somebody wants to move into that vacant. The way I see it, somebody that wants to move into that vacant storefront, they may be eligible for this grant, providing that the owner of the property also has some sort of cash match. Yeah.

Or is involved in the buildout of the property itself or free rent and the money can be used for architectural and construction expenses. I didn't see equipment in there, but I only looked at it quickly. I don't think it is. I don't think it's equipment. I think it's more exterior oriented. Window replacement, painting, yeah, storefront facility. So that means anybody any anybody would be

eligible whether you're an existing business or new business or a business that's looking to expand so long as it's a vacant storefront, they could probably utilize this brand. So this is is something the city's interested in doing too. The city have you talked to the mayor or whoever is going to take care of this program or they do they want us to do this?

I haven't personally talked with the mayor, but Jasmine's involved in writing this and has drafted a letter for him to submit for us. And um given that it's a piece of this larger request for the earmark, I think he would be totally behind it.

Um, I had told him a bit about this issue of applying for other grants being linked to our earmark request. So, he has I I don't think he would have any problem with this and I think there are a couple of staff in his office who would help to administer this. Um, if in fact people apply

Okay. Motion to approve matching funds in the amount of 10,000 for the year 26 vacant storefront one-stop grant application that has to be submitted on June 4, 2025. Second.

Second. J. Yes. Ron Rousen. Yes. And Fleberg. Yes. Joan Medeiros. Yes. Thank you. Next item is Oh, go ahead, Sarah.

Do you want to say something? No, I just said thank you. Oh, um, you're welcome.

Uh, 600 Devall Street event. Oh, we've got our event list here. Did you want to mention anything, Karen? No, I just wanted to make sure everyone got the list of the events and um uh I think the pier is going to be in good shape to uh handle it all this summer and uh go from there. Okay. Um, is this I'm sorry. Is this all the events or these the city's

going to be using? These are all the events.

There's no concerts in here for the city like um I thought there's a couple more concerts. Is the fault the same?

Um Okay, so Cathotic Protection.

Yes. So, Cathotic Protection is um moving chugging along. We um awarded the contract to Kavanaaugh Marine. We had our kickoff meeting on site May 13th and um discussed the logistics of um the project and Kavanaaugh is going to be um doing everything off um a working boat in the water. So there'll be nothing on um City Pay proper or anything on 600 Deval Street. They're not even going to

use the docks. They're going to be um they have a a dock area just past um like where the boat launch is by um by Centennial Park. They have um some type of a area past there. Then they're going to be going back and forth from there.

Um so they'll have their materials delivered there. They'll drink bring everything on the boat, do their work, go back at the end of the workday with their boat. Um they don't even really anticipate parking any work vehicles on the site. So that's going to be great.

and um all their submitts have been sent in and approved. Um they're going to be getting the coding material uh the end of this week and the anodess should be arriving the week of June 9th. They're going to mobilize on site the uh June 9th and start um working. They're going to be doing all the above water work, all the knuckle welds, start the coatings, and um go from there. And then

once they get the anodess, they'll um start putting those in um with divers.

So, um I think that um it's the the plan is laid out and I think it's going to be good. There really won't be any above surface interference at all. So, that's great. So, I will keep you posted as the work progresses and we'll go from there.

A certificate of insurance. Yes, I did get it. Yes. And they had more than meet the minimum. So, we got all the signed contract, got the certificate of insurance, we got the performance and payment bond and all of that. So, we're in good shape. So, okay. Uh Sarah's going to talk about the um brown fields brown fields for remedi remediation award of the year.

Yes, I think you mostly know what's happening with this. We've submitted a lot of uh video. Johnny had some great video of city of the Norton City Pier and we've submitted um uh lots of photographs.

Uh Ken, Jill Mclofflin, and I were interviewed and um so they're going to put together this um background showing what Norton City Pier is. I'm going to speak for two minutes.

All of our um partners will be on stage.

Um I think uh we have we have someone from we have uh Ellen Sabula coming from the Seapport Council. Um we have uh someone that actually stola at EOCD. Um uh assigned to come. Mass development is sending someone. Uh someone's coming from PAR from um Coastal Marine who put in the dock. Someone from Mass um MAS. Then there's someone from the EPA. Our friends at the Department of Environmental Protection in

Massachusetts bought a whole table. So, a number of them are coming. Um, so a number of us will be up on the stage to uh receive awards and people who couldn't come will receive awards sent to them. Uh, Senator Rogers is coming with his aid Kyle and he'll be on stage.

So, it should be a good group. A lot of people couldn't come. Um, but we have a really good group coming.

Um, so we have Oh, are you all done with that or I think so. Do you have any questions?

It's June 4th at 4 o'clock. Correct.

Correct. Right. And you should be getting um more information have you will be getting a more detailed agenda. They're sending out um Have you gotten one, Johnny? No. Oh, no. She asked me for your email. Um, so they're sending them out, but it will tell you that at 4:00 is cocktails, at 5:00 is this program where they give the awards and they vote on their board and that lasts one hour. They have it

scripted incredibly tightly and then we move on to a reception.

Okay.

And beta bought a table. So a lot of them will be there. Jill Mclofflin will be sitting at our one of our head tables. So, I think that's a pretty good summary of it.

Um, and I'm waiting to get uh some kind of uh newspaper um press release. So, we're going to send that to the Herald News, try to get press on it, and uh the chamber wants to put it in their newsletter, and so does um the community foundation. And if you think of any others that you think would like to include it in a newsletter, let me know and we'll send them something.

Okay. Um Karen, the um the silver proposal for the overgrowth. Yeah, this is I don't I don't know if the pictures were self-explanatory or not, but this is in the guise of being a good neighbor. Um there's that walkway that comes so our northern border is the walkway from Deval Street down to um the bicesentennial trail the uh the trailway and the that actual walkway is owned by point Gloria but our property is that

tree line and it is just been slotted with some of the storms. there's a bunch of just downed trees and there is just massive poison ivy overtaking everything and growing up into them. And um you know, one of the things I've had a few residents and people walking by um just talk about potentially just cleaning that whole area kind of up and making it look a little more presentable. And um I

had Tim take a look at it. And he um he said that he could take the um you know, the worst of it, all you know, take all the the dead stuff out and and and beat back the poison ivy and make it look more presentable um for like 3500 in that the estimate that I sent you. Um, ultimately, you know, Point Gloria did allow us access on to the site through

their property, so it would kind of be a nice thing to do for them, too. And that walkway will be reopened once that um shared use path gets done. So, you know, people will be trapesing down there, too, not just the Point Gloria people.

People use it to come off of Deval Street and down to the um the waterfront. So, it is um public access.

Uh so, right here. Yeah, that's the path from and then that goes from Dval all the way down to um the trail. Yeah.

Now it looks like from the trees to the path is 10 12 feet. I think it's like 8 to 10. Yeah. 8 to 10 feet. Yeah. So what they're worried about that's going to grow onto the path like in it just it so that gets mowed um I don't know what to say this in public, but so that gets mowed um by the park department. Yeah. and you know kind of

regularly and um but they don't do any beyond that tree. Yeah. And I'm not really sure why they mow that, but I don't ask questions. Um and um but uh they also owe they also mow the other side that's on our property. So that's we'll take that as a win. And um and so this is I I don't think that one the city has the capacity to go in there and clean

that and two um it's technically our property. So it's kind of like a oneshot deal. Yeah. I mean you know I mean he's going to beat it back as best possible.

Some of the stuff will start growing back in. Um you know we can it does keep people out of there though. It does but it is in the bushes. You mean by cleaning it up. We think that we don't know what we'll find. No, no. I'm just saying it's I just worry a little bit about people occupying that space once it's really clean because it's sheltered. That's all I'm saying. Yeah.

Have we ever done it before? No. And who's asking to do it now? Um, I've had some residents on Point Gloria and people along that as I've been like walking around down there, people um have said that to me, have asked me that about taking care of that.

Does it make the water more visible?

Um, potentially it could. Well, not for glory. It'll be too high. Yeah, but I mean like just for the for the walkers it might I mean there's the potential for that. He's going to take out all that dead wood that's in there.

So, this is the same um firm, you know, that does the the landscaping. Yeah. The maintenance, the plowing and everything.

We've had really good uh luck with them.

They start doing one thing. What can you cut around here? Hey, can you cut this?

Can you cut that? Next thing it's $10,000, right? No, we're going to do 3500. Karen's pretty tight with that. I know. But I mean, I'm just saying I I understand a couple people don't like it, but why is I guess it's our land.

It's our land. Yeah. It's called being a good neighbor. All right. Any other questions on it?

Okay. Motion roll call vote to approve a contract for maintenance work at 600 the wall street tree line as outlined in the civil landscape construction estimate dated 52125 in the amount of 3500 and to authorize the chair to sign the contract second yes Ron Rousen yes fleberg yes John yes thank you Karen's going to talk about our our 8 inch water service from um DW W I want to talk about the 8 in

water service and um and when we went to um start up the irrigation system our backflow pretor failed. Um so uh we had it had failed a one time it failed the first year after um we started up the um system but it was under warranty and we rebuilt it.

But the fear was that if we rebuilt it again on the inside the inards that it wasn't going to hold. Um I had been told for 2 years that um you could blow it out as part of closing out the irrigation system and leave it in place and it wouldn't be a problem. I do not believe that anymore.

So, at the end of this season, I made it very clear to the irrigation contractor that we are going to take it apart, drop it, and I'm taking it back to the office and storing it inside for the winter.

The water meter goes to the water department. We will take the backflow pretor in our office. So, we don't have to worry. I think what happens is because it gets cold, even though there's not water in there, it is all plastic components that are inside. If you take the top off the backflow pre and look in, it's all like plastic components that are in there. and I think that it gets cold enough that they

can freeze regardless of whether there's water there. So, I just said enough is enough. We're taking it into the office and keeping it nice and warm for the winter. And um so um I had it replaced um last week and the irrigation system is um he was out there yesterday and he got it ready to go. Um I believe a mouse had gotten into one of the lines, built a little nest, had to clean that out.

But um but the system is now ready to go. but we just got to finalize the programming. Um, so we are back on track. So that's going to be about a $2,2500 bill um that you'll see in the next month's warrant. So um so we will be doing that. And now for the a good for I mean is is not going to change every two because it's been three. No.

No. And I I so I I believe that taking it in for the winter is going to definitely um to to help with that cuz it should last a decent amount of time.

I think they come I didn't actually look at the I think it's at least 10 years on those things usually, but it had already been rebuilt by the contractor um that had originally installed it because it was still within his warranty period.

Why did he give us a rebuilt one as opposed to a new one? He didn't. He gave us a new one. it it failed and he rebuilt the insides which was acceptable when I talked to them at the time and then um but I but to rebuild it again I did not if it's under warranty you get a new one you get a new one I agree right

but um but at the time it was I talked to the um the um I forget where he got it from it was that guy Mike and see if we can get one next time with a 10-year warranty on it or something so well it's and new. So, it's got um Tim's going to get me all the info. It's not a bad idea to take him in Italian, but you you shouldn't have to. There's backflow

presenters all over the city.

And my house. My house resched.

Yeah. But where is it located? Outside my house right next to my bulkhead.

Right. I know. So, that's So, the only thing I can think of is is that because it's the plastic components inside of it that they're freezing in the winter, but that's twice now it's failed. So, I'm just not even It's just not worth No, the risk. That's a comment. Yeah. It's It's just not worth the risk. Um so I'm going to try to take it in and we'll see

how it goes. Perfect. Yeah. So um the so the 8 inch water service so Mass DOT said that we were private ent enterprise and um would not cover the cost for the um installation of our water service.

So, we will have to pay the 42,000 for the water service and DW and we um the city contracted with DW White and will reimburse for the cost for that line and that should be going in really any day now. Um because they're um they've actually got it marked. I was out there today. They do have it marked where the location's going to go. Um it's going to be come in just

um off Deval Street before the tree line starts um on Deval Street. So it's going to be right in that area there. And um so that will be there for future use and um we can go from there. That was all I had in the We got to record an easement for that.

Haven't seen it. Nobody asked me if you probably want to get an easement.

from the city for a water service. Whose property does that? I don't know. I think that's the city's property and that side the sidewalk. It comes through the sidewalk. The city knows we're doing it. But I'm just saying so who it's servicing us? The quick question is who's responsible for the pipe until it hits our property. Is it all ours all the way to the middle of the road? So they're bringing it just onto our

property. Okay. Which property on the on the western side of the sidewalk or just in the embankment? In the embankment, I think. Is that redevelopment authority property or? Yeah, that's 600 Devall Street. I understand. But that side of the sidewalk, is that city property that's mowed by the city? No, that's our property. We mow that? No, the city does. I think that's city property. No,

it's not. It's in our Okay. I I'll just double check that just to be sure. Yeah, cuz it's it's all part of our parcel.

Okay. But is this a stub to our property though? It's a stub to our property.

Yeah. It's water service to our property. And so we don't own that pipe.

We just we won't own the pipe to so it' be like so we would attach a meter to the end. So anything from that side of the meter out to the street is the city.

Anything from this side of the meter onto our property is ours. Okay. We should we should just double check. We only need an easement if we need to go repair it. But if it's depends who's responsible to repair it if it breaks or if it's city property.

Okay. I'll look at that tomorrow. Yeah.

Okay. It's it's far as I can see it's our property. They bringing it on to Yeah. I mean, I always thought that the pier property was to the west of that sidewalk because that sidewalk is city property and the embankment to the east of that I always thought was the city. I may be wrong, but what sidewalk are you talking about? This one that goes through the pier like the the boardwalk

peril. Yes. The bsentennial boardwalk there. No, that's we went all the way up to Deval Street. Okay. Okay. the DOT plans. Surprising that there's we don't think there's an easement to the city, but the city is that is on our land. We can show you a deed of the property. Yeah. Well, like I said, if either way, just double check if there's a need for these again. If not, if it's our land, then we don't

need these.

Yeah. No, I think it's I'm pretty sure it's our land, but Okay. Yeah. And we have no easement for the bsentennial trail through our lot property. We don't have any easement for the point glorio septic line through our property either.

So, but remember that that we acquired that property through a taking back in 80 something, right? 88 Yeah. 83 83 I think. So, the D the DOT plans must show the property line down there, right? Do we have a copy of those?

Uh, it does. Yes. Okay. If you can send me like just that page, I'll take a look at that. I'm trying to think. Those are all I bet the landscaping plans that show I think it shows us. I think it shows the um the um line on it. The layout plan has to show the property line somewhere. Yeah. That's the only way DOT knows where to where to build.

You know what I mean? So, there's got to be a plan that shows the property line.

Yeah. If I don't have it, I can get it from Dan. Okay. I'll take a look at Yeah. Okay. Uh, next, Northfield Point.

Yes. So, Northfield Point. So, um, last month I had told you that we had submitted um our permits to to Mass D.

They were two chapter 91 minor modifications and a um a letter notification of maintenance for the revetment work. We just got back between yesterday and today approval of all three of those applications. So those have been um uh filed and done and we have also submitted our notice of intent to the conservation commission for the work and that is on the June 2nd which is Tuesday's agenda and um hopefully

there won't be um too much discussion about that. We will see. And um hopefully um I'm going to get I was supposed to get the final drawings and updated budget um this week, but Bill actually didn't factor in that he was going on vacation. So he'll be back from vacation next Wednesday. And I should hopefully um shortly after his return get um the most current drawings and budget so that we can start um putting

together the um grant to the Seport Economic Council for the work with the revetment and the um improvements at Northfield Point. Um the that would be for fiscal 20 fiscal year 26 grant money and the grant portal opens June 1st. So and that has to be submitted by the end of June. So we are hoping that we will be competitive for that.

Um additionally um we still have some available money in our seapport grant which was fiscal year 2024 money. We had a total grant amount of $396,000. And with um the current design um and engineering efforts with Beta, we have remaining roughly $16,000. And what I have done is submitted to the Seapport Economic Council a request to carry over funds into fiscal year 26 because they were

supposed to be expended by June 30th of this year for fiscal 24 money. So, they've approved that um extension of the money. Um we just have to get a quick clarification. What we want to do is to um take a portion of the work that was um laid out for those improvements at Northfield Point to um start work on the invasive species management so that we can get ahead of that. And um uh one of

the things I sent you this afternoon was a proposal from Beta for roughly 30,000 to pre to prepare um bid documents, bid support and construction oversight of invasive species management. That will allow us to get onto the property. Um and the invas comes off of the 106 that comes off of the grant money that's currently in the FY24 grant. Um, and it allows us to start doing a little bit of clearing and removing

of this is the rough layout. I don't know if you can really see it great, but of the invasive species that um now currently occupy a good portion of Northfield Point. So, we're going to go out there and try to attack. We're gonna mostly probably focus on this area here.

Um, and potentially do there's a lot of like poison ivy and some stuff that we can get in over here because most of this will get taken out as part of doing the revetment work. So, this part here won't be as impacted with that. So, we're hoping that um uh Beta feels that between their efforts to put together a bid package and oversee it and then put it out for bid that he they think it's

going to be between 50 and 60,000 to to do this initial um does that have to get removals and treatment September. Did I read that somewhere? What was that? Does that have to get spent or in the work has to be it the way that it was written in the um amendment that we got from the SEO grant? It has to be the um the work this work would need to be completed by

the end of September if possible.

Move fast on it. Yeah, they've they've extended that the money can be available through June 30th of 2026. But um but they wanted the work to be done by the end of September.

But so um it just it just gets us out there to do something a little earlier and gets that phase started while the stuff is growing now and we can that's a lot of invasive species. There is a lot of invasive species. That's a big number. Yeah. 3,600 is that do we get other bits for or we just taking their word for is that whole bait is that's all part So that's been part of their

scope all along. Yeah. So we're just pulling it out into a separate package.

So, okay. That was the original bid we agreed upon. Yes. Okay. Well, yes. I thought invasive meant forum, but I guess it doesn't. No, according to our horiculturist. Oh, I'm no horiculturist.

Well, they I'm just going to I think you should just put groundhogs out there.

They'll take care of it.

Poison ivy isn't invasive, but it's invasive. It's not It's native, but it's invasive. It's native. It's native but invasive.

Okay. Roll call vote to approve the VA group proposal dated May 28, 2025 in amount of 30,600 for the invasive species management bid package bid support construction management services for the Northfield Point Improvements Project and to authorize the chair to sign the contract. Second. Second. Jen, yes. Rod Ren, yes. Fleberg, yes. Jill Medeiros yes.

Thank you. Um Sarah's going to speak to the Pleasant Street Flint neighborhood, right? Urban renewal circle.

Okay. So the latest is Emily complete Emily Enis, our consultant, completed a revision of the urban renewal plan that addressed comments and issues raised by the housing department and what Meepa um a lot of questions Meepa asked and as I've talked to you before about we removed some things clarified things that we are not doing but the city is doing. Um she did some analysis of where

uh where properties could be uh packaged together to create sites for apartment buildings in the range of 25 units. And so she did a lot of work on the urban renewal plan. The next step is to send it to Kai and Bond. They give us a quote for what it's going to take for them to take it through the process to get us to an SEIR, which is a single environmental

impact report. That is what MIEA is requiring. And then Mass Housing will pay tie-in bond because we have a grant at Mass Housing that was supposed to be used for implementation steps for our urban renewal plan and is being used up for these MEPA reviews which I find uh objectionable. But that's where we are.

In the meantime, I have held up for about a month um sending the urban renewal plan to Tyenbond because we have been told many times that NEPA has NEPA is going to change their regulations and there's a very high likelihood that NEPA review will be eliminated. ated for urban renewal plans. So, the latest on that is that on June 5th, uh folks from Mass, uh, Inc. are going to represent our group that's been

working on this and meet with a number of people in the Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs, which is the agency that includes NEA, and going to talk with them about the changes that they're willing to make. Now, tomorrow I have a conference call with our working group to talk with the mass housing people who are going to that meeting to make sure that they cover the issues we want

covered. Originally, we were all going to be on the June 5th Zoom meeting, and it would have been huge.

And I think they're smart to simplify that and let our representatives go and meet with them, come back. We'll see where we are.

Um, so I'm planning to wait until June 5th so we have some idea where MEPA is going, but our consultant at Tai and Bond believes that MEPA will not back off from the requirements they already established with us. that our best bet is to say they're they're um there's information they ask for that we don't think we need to present to them. So, we're going to try to simplify it. Emily has

simplified it. Tyen Bond is willing to try to push back and simplify it so it's not so lengthy and expensive. Um, but in the meantime, we're waiting to see if there's any chance this whole requirement will go away, but it may be that it will go away down the road, but it won't benefit us for this member review. So, that's where that stands.

Any questions?

No.

Uh, okay. So Sarah, there's no update on the um there's no real update on the master plan. I just wanted that just slipped through cuz that got finalized and and Sarah Yeah, we thought might be but there is Do you want to say anything about NMA?

Yes.

So, we worked with the um NMA, which is north downtown uh north main um group that uh is really becoming very active with property owners, business owners, bag five um and uh Jamie Kum kind of staying in touch with what we're doing and encouraging change uh how we're approaching things.

So, we applied to extend the TDI district. It is supposed to end in October. You know, ours has been extended a few times because of COVID and because um the state really wanted to see us have a vibrant TBI district. And so we lose Nick Shonberg B worker who is working with us um in October unless we got an extension which would extend his work with us into June and we would like

to do that because he's really just he started working with us basically in December and so he's just building momentum with us. We're getting lots of projects moving forward and we hate to have that stop in October. So, we had to send in three applications which was a whole new process. We had very little notice. So, um I worked with Jasmine to do one for the city uh to send in and then uh I worked with

a couple of people to put one together that the chamber could submit as the fiscal sponsor and bank five um got some guidance from us and put uh an application in and that strengthens the proposal. because a major financial institution headquartered in the TDI district gives it a lot more credibility than some some districts. So, we'll see.

It was more competitive than we expected. Uh 11 out of 13 uh districts applied and only uh seven will get funded. So, uh, we had been led to believe it wouldn't be quite so competitive. We won't hear for another week or two, but we will hear relatively soon and then we'll have to see where we go from there.

Okay.

Um, the Oh, go ahead. I should say I believe that the downtown I believe folks are applying for a uh a grant to um get fund get a consultant to work with the group on furthering the process of formalizing some nonprofit or business association to have a formal more formal entity taking this work forward. And uh I believe Frack is working with um Joseph Holderman and I may I have to connect

with them and find out if they need some help with that. But I hope that they're moving forward on that.

Did you already go to the Providence conference or is that No. No. And I decided not to. This is such a busy season and I really couldn't get my head around feeling like it was really going to be worth it. And so what we are doing is we're now preparing for our almost a dayong tour of Fall River. And so we're going to have a Zoom call to be sure we

have our route all figured out. Then I'll be going out with uh some of the folks who've been having us plan it with them to do a run through and make sure we can really do this route one this period of time and are clear about it.

So Ken and I will be talking with them.

Ken and I are being the speakers on the tour. If any of you want to join us at some point, we'd be happy to have you.

Um but a lot of um Congress for new urbanism people are going to be touring Fall River and they're going to go to the narrows is hosting them to have kind of a meeting at the end and look out over the bridge and the waterfront. We're taking them to City Pier Portugalia. by driving them over to the Washan Trail um around downtown looking at mills that have been redeveloped um and they're getting quite the tour.

When is that Sarah?

That is June 12th. Uh June 12th is the tour Thursday June 12th. Thank you.

Okay. 10 to there's no further matters for the open session. The chair makes a finding that open session would have a detrimental effect on negotiating position of the public body. The purpose of the executive session is to approve the executive session minutes from April 30th, 2025 and discuss strategy with respect to a potential real estate transaction for property located at 45

Analan Street, Fall River and the Deval Street corridor in Fall River. Uh if there's no questions, I'll entertain a motion to enter into executive session and we will not return to open session.

Motion roll call vote to enter into executive session and we will not return to the open session. Second. Second.

John Ericen, yes. Ron Rousen, yes. Ben Fuleberg, yes. Joan Medeiros, yes. Thanks everybody.