Pickleball Event at Kennedy Park to Include Business Vendors
Dead Tree Removal Approved on Morse Street, Replacement Discussed
Another Dangerous Tree Approved for Removal on Montgomery Street
The Board of Park Commissioners held its regular meeting on July 1st, with commissioners Nick Sicilio, Victor Farias, and John Silvia present at the start, joined later by Helen Rigo. The board quickly approved the minutes from the previous June meeting. Under new business, the board unanimously approved several requests for park use. A request from Rachel Goldsby for a farmers market at Kennedy Park every Saturday from July 11th to November 28th was granted. The board also approved requests to add business vendors to two previously approved events: a Fall River Pickle League event and a skateboard celebration at Lafayette Park. The commissioners approved two tree removals based on recommendations from the Director of Parks and Tree Department Supervisor Chris Martin. The dead trees were located at 99 Morse Street, requested by resident Thomas Martell, and 139 Montgomery Street. This led to a brief discussion about the city's policy for replacing removed trees and ensuring new trees are watered. The board also approved a request from Chad Trail of Victory Church for a basketball tournament on August 15th. The final item was a request from Aizino Vass for a wedding ceremony at the Kennedy Park Pavilion on July 11th. After noting the applicant's insurance included liquor liability, the board approved the request with the specific stipulation that no alcohol be served, as it would require a separate license.
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City Officials
Public / Other
Good evening, and welcome to the regular meeting of the Board of Park Commissioners.
0:05This is Wednesday, July 1st, and it's approximately 6 o'clock, I believe.
0:115:37.
0:13Oh, 5:30.
0:13I'm sorry, 5:37.
0:17Okay, the Open Meeting Law language to be read.
0:20Pursuant to the Open Meeting Law, any person may make an audio or video recording of this public meeting or may transmit the meeting through any medium Attendees are therefore advised that such recordings or transmissions are being made, whether perceived or unperceived, by those present and are deemed acknowledged and permissible.
0:41Okay.
0:42Roll call of commissioners.
0:45Nick Sicilio.
0:46Victor Farias.
0:47John Silvia.
0:49And Helen Rigo will be coming here soon.
0:54Okay, so do I have an acceptance of the June meeting minutes?
0:58Making a motion to accept the June meeting minutes.
1:01And I second it.
1:02Okay.
1:05All in favor?
1:06Aye.
1:06Sorry, this is the first one here, so sorry.
1:09Okay, no citizens input, I gather.
1:13So new business, we have a request from Rachel Goldsby for use of the Kennedy Park for the farmers market.
1:19Dates are as follows: July 11th through November 28th, from 7:00 AM to noon every Saturday.
1:27Any questions?
1:29Okay, no questions.
1:31Do I have a motion?
1:33Make a motion to accept that.
1:34Seconded.
1:35Okay, all in favor?
1:38Aye.
1:39Okay, the next issue is we are revisiting the approval of a partnership between the City of Fall River and the Fall River Pickle League.
1:50They're asking, in addition to food truck vendors, if business vendors can be there selling wares.
1:57Can they— can we accommodate them?
2:00Any questions?
2:00That was at the last park board, that event got approved.
2:04Now they want to have just— well, the food trucks were approved.
2:09They want to add like somebody selling like pickleball stuff there, whatever that is at Kennedy, right at the bottom.
2:15Yeah.
2:15Yeah.
2:16Okay, anything— are they bringing like trucks of stuff?
2:20Like, no, just like a— there's not much room to set up vendor tables.
2:24I think it's just this— they have a 3-day event and it's in addition to food trucks.
2:29They forgot to ask for somebody selling like pickleball-themed, you know, t-shirts, paddles, things of that nature.
2:40They're gonna set up outside, right?
2:42The trucks will be on the street side against the sidewalk curb.
2:47We— I told him there's no room.
2:48I don't want them inside the park on the grass.
2:52Yeah.
2:53And then the vendors will be on the grass?
2:54Yes.
2:55Yeah.
2:56I don't have a problem with it.
2:58Any other questions?
3:00Okay, can I get a motion?
3:01Yeah, I'll make a motion to accept vendors.
3:04I'll second that motion.
3:05Okay.
3:06All in favor?
3:07Aye.
3:09Aye.
3:09Okay, next we have a request from Thomas Martell of 99 Morse Street to remove a tree in front of his house, which has dropped limbs last week and has been an issue for a while.
3:22The supervisor of the tree department, Chris Martin, and the director of parks have confirmed the tree condition warrants a removal.
3:30Dead tree.
3:31Dead tree.
3:32Yeah.
3:33Okay, make a motion to remove the tree.
3:35Okay.
3:36And I'll second.
3:37Okay.
3:38All in favor?
3:38Aye.
3:40Are they replacing it with something else?
3:41Sorry about that.
3:44I could talk to Chris.
3:45He's got trees in the yard.
3:47I was just wondering if the homeowner wants it.
3:51Yeah, sometimes they don't want it.
3:52Yeah.
3:54But yeah, I'll talk to him about it.
3:56All right.
3:57That's— is that going to be the condition?
4:00Of removing it?
4:02Well, usually if they replace one, it's usually because it's no good.
4:07And then they replace it with another one.
4:09But they're not going to replace it.
4:13Maybe there's, maybe there's a different way.
4:14Because if the people aren't going to take care of it and water it, it's going to die the first year.
4:19So maybe there would be a way if they didn't, can we plant the trees somewhere?
4:23Well, technically, it's still city property.
4:25Okay, Chris has got a tree, I'll put a tree there.
4:27They don't really have a say.
4:29Yeah, but is it, is it, is it because it's dead?
4:31Or is it they're removing it because it's dead?
4:33Like half, half that tree, the limbs fell off.
4:37It's got green on this side, but half the tree split in half and fell.
4:40That's the reason why it's going to come down.
4:43Because the next side, if that side falls, it'll be on the property.
4:47And then there's a liability.
4:53Yeah, I just— the only thing I would say, Darren, is if they don't want to water it, it's going to die.
4:58I know I'm watering 2 trees on this park on Durfee Street that people wanted and nobody's watering.
5:03How long has it been there?
5:04It was there last year, but the tree planting committee, the Fall River Street tree planting committee, paid to plant them there.
5:12Okay, I'm the one doing it.
5:13So the ones with Davies now that are planting, they have the water bags?
5:17Yeah.
5:17Chris has that 500-gallon water machine.
5:19They go out, I think, every, like, every, like, biweekly, and they fill up the bags throughout the city.
5:25Okay.
5:26On the new plantings.
5:27Oh, that's good if they do that, if it's part of them.
5:29I don't know if that— I don't— if it's the— maybe the tree planting committee wasn't part of that program.
5:33City?
5:34Yeah, they— well, it's not a tree, you know, we, we paid for the trees, so it's not a city tree.
5:39Okay.
5:40But even in the past when we, we'd plant trees in front of people's sidewalks they had to be responsible to water them because the city couldn't do it.
5:46No, but if the city's doing it now, they have, they have the, they have the capacity to do it now.
5:51They have the tank and everything.
5:53If they want to do it, then hey, that's fine.
5:55I agree.
5:58Okay.
5:59We had a motion.
6:01It was— yep.
6:02All right.
6:02So it was seconded.
6:03So yeah, all in favor?
6:04Yeah, we already had it.
6:06Okay.
6:06We were having conversations.
6:07Okay, cool.
6:09All right.
6:09So the next request is For a tree that's really— that's located in front of 139 Montgomery Street.
6:19Chris Martin and the Director of Parks have also looked at that tree and it warrants removal.
6:29Same condition.
6:30It just gets to half of it's dead.
6:32It's either got termites in it or something.
6:34I'll second that motion.
6:35Okay.
6:36All in favor?
6:37Aye.
6:39Okay, next agenda item, a request by Chad Trail representing Victory Church for a basketball tournament on 8/15 from 9 AM to 5 PM.
6:53They will provide pre-made food, pizza, and have music.
6:57They will clean the court when finished.
7:00I always get confused on this.
7:01What is the deal with pre-made food?
7:03So pre-made, they can, they can serve pre-made food.
7:08They can't cook.
7:09Okay.
7:10On the spot.
7:10They can't cook in the park.
7:12Only people that can cook in the park are food trucks.
7:14Okay.
7:15That's it.
7:16Unless we— so at Corky Rowe, um, he had an event with grills, but it had to get approved by the fire department, and the fire department approved that event.
7:29So as long as he gets that approval, which is rare, they don't— we don't want anything, any cooking in parks.
7:36Yeah, no, it looks good.
7:37Like I said, just in case it's outdoors, a rain day, possibly.
7:41So he may have to— he's only got one day.
7:43So it's Saturday, which is fine.
7:45But if it rains, then they're gonna have to reschedule and come before the board again to get a new date.
7:50Okay.
7:51Make the motion to accept.
7:53I'll second that motion.
7:54All in favor?
7:55Aye.
7:57Okay, next item, revisit the approval of the use of Lafayette Park for the skateboard celebration.
8:04They're asking in addition to food truck vendors, if business vendors selling wares can be accommodated.
8:11So I gather, Darren, that's the same thing they want to— So yeah, it was this, those 2 things were on the last agenda.
8:20So what happened was— so what happened is they're in the same boat as the pickleball.
8:29They didn't ask for that specific thing.
8:32It's approximately 5:46.
8:35And Commissioner Helen Rigo is here.
8:39So I'm sorry.
8:40Helen, we're on— sorry.
8:43That's okay.
8:43We're on item agenda.
8:51Yep.
8:51Sorry.
8:52Is that there?
8:55Here we go.
8:57Right there.
8:58Okay, so were there any other questions?
9:01No.
9:01So it's the same as the earlier one, right?
9:03Correct.
9:04Just— yeah, they just missed that to ask that.
9:07Okay.
9:08Okay.
9:09Do I have a motion?
9:11Make a motion.
9:13Okay, Mr. Ferris made the motion and I will second it.
9:17Seconded by Nick.
9:18All in favor?
9:19Aye.
9:20And I'm sorry, Helen, what was— were you okay with that?
9:24I don't know, which one was that?
9:25We're on number F. Now let me read that again.
9:28F?
9:29Yes, F. Revisit the approval of the use of Lafayette Park for the skateboard.
9:33So it's almost done.
9:34Yeah, they are asking in addition to the food truck vendors, if business vendors selling Whereas can be accommodated.
9:40Yeah.
9:40And Darren had said it's going to be, you know, yeah, it was just so long.
9:44So yeah, you're in favor of that?
9:46Okay.
9:46Okay.
9:47Okay.
9:47All right.
9:48Last one.
9:49It's a request, and I'm going to probably butcher the first name.
9:52Aizino Vass for the use of Kennedy Park Pavilion for a wedding ceremony on Saturday, July 11th, from noon until 7.
10:02Food is going to be precooked and brought.
10:04And they are also going to be putting a porta-john there for bathroom use.
10:11I think so.
10:15We never had that before.
10:17Yeah, they want to do what they're going to pay the fee.
10:19I charge them the fee.
10:22It's on a Saturday too.
10:23And they have insurance too, right?
10:25Yeah.
10:25Yeah.
10:26They have all the insurance.
10:28Darren, I was reading this.
10:29I just have a question.
10:30Is there— because usually there's kids there and stuff.
10:34Are they going to, you know, I mean, be able to tell kids not to be if they're having a ceremony there?
10:38Do you know how that's going to work?
10:40Well, when they come in and pay the permit fee, we just, we tell them, hey, if you're having an issue down there with them, you just call the PD because you have permission.
10:50The food is going to be precooked.
10:51Yeah, but they can't bring any, they can't bring any grills or anything.
10:56No, they already know.
10:57No, I said unless they're gonna get food trucks down there.
10:59Well, I, I got married down there and I, I didn't have no problem with the kids.
11:03So just got a question.
11:04What?
11:05I got married down there and I didn't have no problem with kids.
11:08No, I'm not talking about the kids, I'm talking about the food.
11:10Yeah, yeah, can't be.
11:13They can't warm it up on grills or anything like that.
11:15So if you look at the liability, the insurance liability, this is host liquor liability, so they're allowed to have liquor.
11:21No, just say that in the insurance— on the first insurance liability insurance, it says host liquor and it's got a check mark.
11:28So I'm assuming they're getting a liability for liquor.
11:32No, no, they can't.
11:34But you see, do you see the insurance right on the left-hand side on the first where it says certificate of liability insurance?
11:39It says host liquor and there's a check mark next to it.
11:42So that's something that you got to possibly talk to them about because I get it, it's a wedding, champagne, all that stuff.
11:47But it's, it's not all those food truck vendors.
11:50They got to be licensed.
11:51And they have to pay too, don't they?
11:53Well, they're not bringing food trucks down there.
11:55Except they may.
11:57They may.
11:58Well, if they do, yeah, right here.
12:01No, it's a G. Yeah.
12:04G, we're on G. I'm on G. Yeah.
12:08But I mean, I would gather that the, the form that they sent in said wedding ceremony, they would have to go to the licensing board to do that.
12:18And if they have liquor, you know what I mean, they're going to come down.
12:21I just, like I said, I just noticed that on the insurance form, it's checked.
12:24So that means that they took out a liquor liability.
12:27I didn't see that.
12:28Yeah.
12:28So that's something that's got to be talked to.
12:30I mean, yeah, you're gonna have to notify them.
12:32Because this wedding is happening in 10 days.
12:38Yeah, they can't, they can't.
12:41No, can't allow them to have— so if it gets approved, it'd have to be approved with a stipulation, stipulation that the liquor— unfortunately, I get it, it's a wedding, but the liquor can't happen.
12:54No, I think it would even supersede us because you have to have a license, right?
12:58I get that license.
12:59But like, because they pay for the insurance, I don't know if they know about getting the license for liquor.
13:04Yeah.
13:05So Yep, that's fine.
13:08You're right, they should be notified.
13:10But I just— I was looking over the insurance liability and never do, and I just saw that.
13:13I was like, whoa, liquor, post-liquor liability.
13:16Good catch.
13:18Okay, so if it gets— if, if we approve it, it would have to be proving, you know, a stipulation that no liquor is served.
13:26So you want to make a motion to that effect then?
13:28Yeah, I'll do it.
13:29So I'll make a motion to approve the ceremony with a stipulation that no liquor is to be served during the ceremony.
13:34That's right, you can't serve no liquor, right?
13:37So that's, that's what I'll make.
13:38And Darren, if you can follow up with that.
13:39No liquor.
13:40We'll follow up tomorrow.
13:42Okay, because it's like I said, it's 10 days away.
13:43So, okay, they do make apple cider in bottles.
13:46So, so that's my motion.
13:49Okay.
13:49Um, do I have a second?
13:52I'll have a second.
13:54Oh, okay, I'm sorry.
13:55All right, uh, Mrs. Rigo, Second to that, all in favor?
13:59Aye.
14:00Okay.
14:01And, you know, I'm just looking at this thing at the bottom.
14:03It says ceremony, reception, rehearsal, and breakfast.
14:08You know what I mean?
14:08But yeah, it's interesting how they have that on there.
14:10Didn't really state it in the bottom.
14:13But that's interesting.
14:15Okay.
14:17So, old business.
14:19Does anybody have any old business?
14:24Mrs. Regal, no business?
14:26Nope.
14:27Okay, cool.
14:29Okay, do I have a motion to adjourn?
14:31Make a motion to adjourn.
14:32Second.
14:34I think— do I have a second?
14:35Okay, second.
14:36Second.
14:37Commissioner Regal seconds.
14:39All in favor?
14:39Aye.
14:40Thank you.
14:41Have a good night.