10.1.2025 Park Board

All right. I'd like to call this uh regular meeting of the park board of commissioners to order. Today's Wednesday, October 1st, 2025. It's 5:30.

We're in the council hearing room in uh government center, Fall River. Uh 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 media.

Attendees are therefore advised that such recordings or transmissions are being made whether perceived or unpersceived by those present and are deemed acknowledged and permissible.

Uh roll call.

Nick uh Nick Cecilio, Vicarius, Amber Burns, BJ McDonald, Darren Maderas.

Helen's out.

I guess for the record, Helen is not here.

Um do we have any citizens input? I I know. Yeah.

Nobody's citizens input.

Oh, I don't have a copy of the agenda, so I'm not sure if Kennedy Park is on the agenda. I mean, um, bysentennial veterans by Centennial Park, it is is on the agenda.

Yeah, Mr. Gunan and Miss Yep. Okay, perfect.

I was also wondering uh I don't think I made it in the agenda, but uh I uh if you could just come down, can you just come down to the table and speak into the microphone, please, just so that everybody else can uh Yeah, just um state your name and address for the record.

Yeah. Uh David Kenzalis, 802 county street. Um so I put in a request to do an event at the Quicken Rail Trail and I don't know if anybody actually got it.

I know. I haven't seen what the park did you put it through parks.

Yeah. Yeah. I spoke to Darren.

Yeah. Darren Maderas. I I spoke we spoke over the phone uh on the 17th and I submitted it the same day.

Same day.

Yeah. It was for two dates.

What are you looking to do?

Uh so I'm with the trustees of reservations. Um so we have land out on the bio reserve the Copa Cut Woods. Uh and I do youth engagement. Um, so we have like a travel a traveling youth experience that we do like environmental education and so I was trying to just get permission generally uh to use the quicken rail trail to conduct like some nature walks free to the public for kids and families.

Do we typically but it's not really like a permit right? Technically, they do have to.

The rail trail is technically park.

It is.

It is. Some sections of it is um I've gotten a lot of weird feedback from people. I've spoken to Sarah Paige. Uh you know, before on the rail trail, so that's the only reason why I'm saying I think that it is.

And I don't we're not trying to give you a hard time. Like I want you to do that, but I just want to make sure we follow.

Did you want to do it on?

Uh I had my phone.

Is it in October?

Uh no. Uh, so I knew it would be like too short a notice for that cuz I I put it in for um like on the 17th.

So the dates that I had in mind were uh November 1st and December 20th.

Okay. Um our next meeting is November I think it's like the 3rd or the 4th. We meet the first Wednesday of the month.

Y So my thought is if it would be I don't know if you're stuck on that date. I don't think anyone here is going to have a problem approving it. But as far as just making sure we follow up and get you whatever in touch with whatever departments because I think the rail trail responsibility I think some of it is split between parks and DCM.

So however that's going to shake out upstairs. I know that um I don't want to speak for everyone but we're not going to give you a hard time approving it.

So I guess for today what I would say is let's make sure we connect you with Darren after the meeting to get whatever he needs. We'll get you on the agenda for the November meeting so that we can approve it and follow all the protocols that need to be followed. But in the meantime, you can probably just proceed and continue to market it and make sure you can get some kids at the event.

Okay, great.

Can you Can you tell me your email? I'll just write it down. Just Yeah, I'll just spell the whole thing out for you. It's D C A N I Z A L E S.

Hold on.

Too fast. Yeah. Uh C A N I Z A L E S.

Mhm.

at the trustees.org.

Okay.

Okay. Um we can try and look through the email and search for that email and then if not we'll we'll just get in contact with you.

Yeah, sure. And I can always just forward it to whoever needs it.

Perfect.

Thank you.

Thanks.

Thank you.

So I guess just confirm Steve with Ripple Fiber.

Yep. You're up. You're first on your agenda. Actually, if you want to come down. Item A, new business. Oh, no, sorry. Before we do that, um item three is the acceptance of the minutes from the September 3rd, 2025 regular park board meeting.

Um I make a motion to amend the minutes to show that Commissioner Cecilio um arrived at 5:55 um during item H on the agenda. Do I have a second?

Second.

All in favor?

I. Motion carries. Um, and then the other motion I'd like to entertain is sending along the open meeting law complaint that was received in regards to the uh acknowledging what time commissioner Cecilio got here just to corporation council. So I make a motion to send to corporation council.

Second.

Motion was made and seconded. All in favor?

Motion carries.

Do we I make a motion to approve the amended minutes?

Second. Motion to approve the amended minutes reflecting the time Commissioner Cecilio arrived to the meeting was made by Commissioner Burns and seconded by Commissioner Cecilio. All in favor?

Motion carries.

New business. Item A is a letter from Steven Maher regarding the request of easements on several parks. Ripple Fiber is planning a large fiber broadband deployment infrastructure project in Fall River. Part of this will require placing 5x5 cabinets used to provide the fiber network with internet service. Mr.

AR if you want to just come down just do have um a little packets for you guys.

I do have a presentation if that's easier for people for reporting purposes or we can kind of just I think this will be fine.

Thanks.

I guess before we get into this, I just have a a question, a procedural question as far as um what exactly this is and what exactly we're approving? So, I know you're going to go through the the specifications of the project, but is Ripple Fiber a company that's already been awarded a contract anywhere within the city or is this just strictly going out to bid and you're one of the biders?

So, it's not necessarily going out to bid, uh nor is there a contract to award. Um so we're a private company. Uh we're looking to provide uh fiber broadband service to um residents in Fall River. So we're planning on a build. Uh most of our infrastructure will be within the right of way. Um so either on poles aerial or underground within the right of way. Um so we have met with the mayor, we've met with um

the city engineer, we've met with city lawyer as well. Uh had about three or four different meetings to discuss this project to date. Um, we come to you now, uh, as basically in order to light the network. Uh, what we need to do is have these cabinets, basically is what they're called, 5x5 structures. And, uh, what they do, each one will serve about 15,000 homes. So, we think we'll need

about four within the city in order to serve everyone and provide, um, another option for internet service. And this is the last approval before you're Yeah. speaking with Dan um the city engineer um he he mentioned there there's no real um there's no real contract to go through uh or approval process. The only other approval we'll need is to go before city council and that's when we actually go up on the

polls. So the city council has right to review when we if we put our fiber up on polls to make sure it's safe. Uh, but that's really kind of the only real sticking point there. As long as it's going up in a safe manner, which it will because it'll have to be approved through the pole owners in this situation. I'm pretty sure it's Eversource, I think, than the city. I think so.

Um, Eversource. Then Verizon also owns the poles. So, they'll go through, they'll they'll do the necessary work to make sure we're placing it in a safe spot far far enough away from any electrical wires. Um, but those are the two real pieces that we need is approval through the parks to to place these cabinets and also through the city council to go up on polls.

I guess my other question um when I see the word easement, I'm not an attorney, but like that also does that change anything and it just makes me a little nervous as far as when we say easement, does that mean what does that mean for um you know the cutting and the maintenance and all that? Some of these parks, for example, are Mstead parks like Kennedy.

Mhm.

And that's to go in front of historic.

And I probably can almost guess they wouldn't approve anything in Kennedy Park or North or uh Rugles. They don't they don't look too like intrusive and I don't want to stop a whole project for a couple of small boxes. Um, and I don't think but I guess I just don't know enough about this and I guess that's why you're here exactly to to tell us, but um, so I guess I'll

let you talk a little bit more about it and what other communities kind of do and what does it look like and all of that.

Yeah, you know, it it depends on the community. So for Fall River, what you have is, you know, um, it's a little different than kind of your more rural area where your rights of way are are somewhat small. You know, it basically the rights of way is kind of the the sidewalk and a little bit beyond the sidewalk. You can't really put these cabinets right on the sidewalks for obvious reasons. It's going to have

issues with people actually getting by them, ADA accessibility, things of that sort. So, when we look at more urban areas like Fall River, we do look at areas where we'd be able to place them.

Um, where it wouldn't interfere with the sidewalk doesn't really interfere too much with the park in any way because it's really just taking up a small corner. Um and in certain areas I think um we were looking to actually place them next to similar structures that are already on on the parks uh as well.

Um I hate to say this but I feel like this is above our pay grade because I feel like this is much bigger than just putting something in the park because they're permanent too, right?

I think this is something that would need to be approved by like the city council first and then come to us like because at the end of the day if we approve it and the city council says no like I feel like it's a moot point at that but like they ultimately have well I think we do have the jurisdiction to approve or deny it. But I also I guess my other concern is like as far

as maintenance and stuff and how often are you out there like do these things break down? Like what is what does that look like? Uh yeah, I mean we would maintain them um 100%. I mean they'd be our responsibility to maintain um from this point forward. Obviously if the board was to approve it, we'd be happy to go into a contract with the city in order to place them on here. Um and uh

to make sure that we're all on the same page as far as what we're responsible for, what you're not responsible for because there wouldn't be anything you would be responsible for in this situation. We'd be literally just looking for a 5x5 piece of the park in order to place these cabinets in in service. Uh, and right now it's Columbus North Kennedy.

Kennedy.

How many total?

Four total.

Four boxes.

Yeah, four boxes total. Um, about halfway through, we have an example of what it looks like. You're probably familiar. Um, you've seen similar structures around around the city um in other areas. Um, and then there is the kind of the overview of the different parts of the city that we're placing them. And again, the reason for that is that, you know, each one serves about 15,000 homes. So, we want to

spread them out across the city, obviously, so that, you know, we're we're serving as many people as possible in the city. I think that the other thing that you said that um as far as like our working together with the city council and the administration and making sure everybody's rowing in the same direction um you can't put the boxes in the parks unless you get approval to put stuff on the

polls anyways, right? So even if we were to approve it and the city council says no, you can't go up on the polls, you it wouldn't move forward anyways, right?

So the uh the city council's jurisdiction over the polls is very limited. It's literally only if it um creates a safety hazard. Okay.

So that that's their only jurisdiction over it. They don't have a right to deny us access to the poles in any other way.

Um because it is technically in the right of way.

There's federal law, state law that basically says we have a right to be on those. But the city does have a right to say, well, no, that's not in a safe manner, so you can't do that. So if we were to, for example, if we were to petition to go within 3 in or something of the electrical wire, the city council would come back and say, "No, that's goes against standards. That's unsafe.

You can't place it there. You need to place it, you know, within a certain area."

So So this is essentially happening regardless of if we say yes today, it's happening.

Yeah. I mean if you say yes today um I mean we still have to go through Dan and actually get the permits approved as well for areas that we will be going underground engineering yet Daniel the problem is some of those parks parks like north and Kennedy like that's a whole another dynamic so the Mstead parks are historic and when we make changes to those or we want to present anything um the historic

commission also gets involved so another board for you to go in front of Um, but that as far as Kennedy and uh the North, I think like they would probably Yeah, I don't think they would say yes.

And and aesthetically, I don't know, you know, if you have any control over what they look like.

Yeah. I mean, we can all always work that into the designs. Um, a lot of areas kind of require some level of beautifification. So, whether it's as simple as putting a shrub in front of it or something more complex, doing some sort of an art contest and having like the school um paint them uh or or decorate them in that sense. So, we can definitely get creative if the issue is that they're

just ugly because they are. Um you know, we're happy to work with the city as to what what we would need to do in order to keep them there. And what about using existing electrical structures there in some of those parks?

Cuz there are electrical um structures that house like for the lights for the field that I think we could probably place it near it.

Not inside it, right?

Um I don't think so.

Okay.

feel like we're uh talking a little bit about all the things that make us nervous, but could you maybe shed a little light on why it's important for the city to do this?

Yeah, I mean absolutely. I mean, so to give you an idea, you know, um Ripple Fiber, we're a fiber broadband company.

Um right now in Fall River, you pretty much have one choice for internet. Um if I had to guess, and it's likely either Comcast or Spectrum. Mhm.

Um what what kind of makes fiber a lot different if you kind of go to note halfway through and I'll kind of give you an idea is um you know it says why ripple fiber and it has the three different types of fiber.

Um what we do is we use state-of-the-art fiber in all of our builds. It's the XGS pawn. What makes that different than everything else is that it's number one it's future proof but number two it's symmetrical. So, if you're ever on a call in your house um or um a team's meeting or a Zoom meeting, anything like that, and you're having uh the call and everyone else is coming through clear,

but then you keep hearing, hey, you're frozen. Hey, you're you're breaking up.

That's because you don't have symmetrical speeds. So, our base package, we offer we offer 500 megabits per second up downstream. So, symmetrical speeds, upload speeds, download speeds. when you're getting those choppy messages, it means you have really low um upload speeds. And that's the major difference between fiber and cable right now is cable you'll get very decent download speeds. You'll probably

get 300 maybe 500 megabits per second.

But if you were to go home and go to the there's a website called UCLA, so O KA can do this at your house to see what your speeds are. I would I would guarantee your upload speeds are below 50 megabits per second.

Um so that's the big difference. So number one we provide I think a a really good option um as far as internet for residents in in Fall River. Um but number two it creates competition which is I think the big thing and a big thing that a lot of people are are really striving for especially in Massachusetts because in most parts of Massachusetts you have one option. You might have two um

depending on the area but right now Fall River is kind of just has one option. um give you an idea of what we kind of offer for our packages. Um you know, we have pretty much kept these packages the same since we started. Our base package is um I think it's actually just where is it?

Yeah. Uh base package is 500 megabits per second. We do have a lower price option for that which is about um $45 a month for low income. So, if you're in public housing, if you get SNAP benefits, we do have a lower um that we get the same 500 megabit package, but we do cut some money off to make it more affordable for families that need that.

Um and then the two other packages, we do currently have a price for life option on it. So, if you sign up for that, um you pretty much can guarantee your price will never change while you're work while you're with Ripple Fiber. Um, to give you an idea of what you currently probably need in your homes right now, most people would need the 500 megabits per second. If you have

two or three kids that are doing online gaming and you're trying to do a call at the same time, you'd probably want to go for a larger package. But that one gig package, if you were to sign up, would probably be sustain you for the next 5 to 10 years of need. Um, the two gig is really just for people that are doing crazy things on their on their home own

home uh home systems. So, um, give you a little background on the company. It is a relatively new company. So, we've only been in business since 2021.

Um, the founder of the company, Greg Wilson. He actually, um, is from South Africa. He started a separate company first in South Africa. He built out the entire city of Johannesburg, which is very large city, uh, comparable to probably New York City as far as population. Um, so built up that whole city. when the United States started really investing in digital infrastructure, he moved a company,

started a new company over here in uh United States uh based out of North Carolina. Since then, we built out North and South Carolina uh and have now gone into eight different states including Massachusetts. So, we currently have active pro projects in Massachusetts in both Hula, Massachusetts and West Boilston. and we're working on um some agreements with some other cities as well in Massachusetts. We anticipate

probably serving around 250 to 300,000 people in Massachusetts within the next 5 years.

So in in this um packet that's what that's an example of what it looks like.

It's Joy Joy Road uh Wayne County, Michigan towards the back, right? Yeah. After the uh the kind of the OT location proposal. Yeah.

So it's Sorry, I'm jumping around on your proposal.

No, no, absolutely. Yeah. I mean, that's what this is for is kind of you get your questions for sure. Um, so yeah, that that's kind of what it what you can anticipate it looks like. We do put down a a concrete slab obviously to to hold it, build it on top of that. Um, and uh and then we'd be responsible for any refurbishing of any um grass that we

have to cut up or any anything that is is dug up in that area. It's it um and so of the four then the next pages show kind of where they're looking to um so like true park is like in the cut which I feel like is a good idea.

Yeah. The I mean I I don't really have an issue with where they are and I think everything else makes sense.

My my concern is just the homestead uh aspect of it. So, I guess the other question is if are there other places that they could be placed if it wasn't placed in a park?

Have you thought of backup locations there? There are other areas we can do.

Um, for sure. Um, even other parks possibly that we could we could place them in if it was an issue of certain parks having historic preservation um designation. Um, and even as far as like the usage of it, like Columbus Park doesn't I mean there's no baseball league there anymore. Hopefully we can turn it into something, but there there doesn't get nearly as much use as the other um, you

know, Kennedy and I mean, even at the top of North Park, it's relatively quiet up there, but obviously Kennedy, there's always stuff going on there. Um, so it it I just don't know if there's a better spot that I think Kennedy is the one that I have like the the sticking point for as far as where they are. I don't know where they have it. Kennedy's kind of far into the park.

So, so when you went and so you went, you have not gone to the city council.

Uh, no. Okay. That would be the So, when you went to the mayor's office, like how did how did that start and like who gave the idea to put them in parks?

If you I feel like one of the examples it's on a street in like Michigan. Why?

My question is why is parks and then also like do you I know you said there was no contract. So I'm just trying to figure out how this all came to be essentially.

Yeah. So typically what we try and do is we engage with you know either a mayor's office or city manager's office depending on the on the municipality first uh to let them know what our plans are to understand what kind of um red tape we're going to be dealing with, what kind of permitting we're going to be dealing with. So in that first meeting I think I have um it's in there community engagement

first meeting was last year u we started talking with the city in December 9th was our first meeting with them um so at the time the city administrator was in there along with the mayor um and then um since that meeting I've been dealing mostly with um Dan the city engineer and also Allen the city attorney so working with Allen he mentions they're they're not really doing any sort of um right

ofway agreement or you know or or any agreement with uh with providers that if you want to come in you can come in submit your permits go from there. Um so the first meeting with the mayor was really to represent the company tell them who we are what we're planning what our footprints looking like and then um get some feedback as far as their thoughts as to our plans. So originally

we were looking at doing uh almost completely underground in Fall River and the reason for that the reason we came into the the meeting with that kind of consensus was that getting on polls is um it can take a long time. Um you know working with the utility providers they have projects all across the state of course so sometimes that can take up to two years to get in there. So where we

can we try and go underground because the permitting process is a lot quicker.

You know, getting a permit through the city engineer uh might take a couple weeks. Getting that same permit through National Good Evers Source could take two years. So, we typically go underground. The mayor had some constructive feedback that that's just not going to be possible in certain parts of the city.

So, we have moved it to almost like about a 60/40 split of um underground being 60% 40% um will be on on aerial from there. Um and then from there we kind of you know from that meeting that's when we kind of re-engineered it looked at the at the new plans from there and then over the summer reached back out to the city um and re-engaged with Dan and also with Allen at that

point um uh Seth had already left so he was no longer a point of contact there.

Okay. So have you you you have talked to like the new city administrator and not yet. Uh so I think when we had engaged with uh Dan and and Allan uh he was not on board yet. Um I'm not sure when he started.

Okay. But you've been talking to currently talking to Allan.

Yeah. Allan and and Dan are both well aware of of the project.

Okay. So they know you're here.

Yes. Yeah. Dan Dan uh Dan Dan actually pointed me in the direction of of going to the parks for approval.

I So I personally have no problem with this because I work from home. My internet is not well. So, I'm I have no problem with this. I know the only I'm nervous to approve this cuz it's literally something for Yeah. It's like it could be contingent on talking I think we should city lawyer and Dan.

Yeah. So, as long as Well, I think that that's the other thing. As long as we have um as long as Dan and like what comes along with this easement?

That's the other thing. So the when you say an easement, does is that just like a right of way?

Is that just saying you have I mean it's a public park, so they're all and none of these locations are like really ever locked down.

That's my that was my question too. You got you have this 5x5, right?

Mhm.

Are you are you going to pull like a a cage? Because the way it looks on this picture, you do have the electrical boxes outside and I know nobody can get at it, but will you kind of like put a chain length uh gate around? Um if there are certain we have a lot of kids that play if if we put a a candy pod or certain spots.

I love locations like solid where they have to go. Can they be can we work on the locations the area the general areas? Yeah. I mean, especially if it's in the same park, if you're if you're saying, "Hey, we don't we don't want it right here. We want it, you know, 100 yards that way." We can absolutely work because you need a 5x5 footprint, right?

Right.

Okay.

Yeah.

Cuz like I had mentioned, the c the the structures we have in some of these parks are not being used.

So, I wonder if you could remove them and put that.

Yeah, that's what I'm saying.

Electrical.

Yeah. So, some of the old ones that they're like enclosed buildings that are not being used by any of the leagues.

Some of them. And I would say if you put it inside there, it would be the best of both worlds. Nobody would see it. It wouldn't get tagged. It wouldn't get damaged.

So maybe you can work with Darren on some like identifying some of those locations and they might be within some of these parks where there already is a structure or or even or a pad or and maybe the whole thing needs to be replaced. But at least if we're getting rid of something that's not being used or even something that's going to be used, I think that makes sense.

Or even attached to a structure.

Yeah.

Yeah.

We're happy to work with with with the city as as far as you know where in the parks you know these are obviously I think the locations we know we we put down because it seemed to make the most sense especially when we look at um what was it like Jew Park I think that makes sense like that area there's there's behind the field it's not even in I don't feel like that's even in the park

right um yeah and then with with Kennedy Park we saw you know another similar size structure figured made sense next softball field right down the bottom yes exactly Um, so again, out of the way, not going to interfere with any sort of park activities.

That's not That's the top of the park.

I was going to say that looks like the top.

Yeah. You see the basketball courts there?

Like behind the It's like behind home plate over there, but there's another structure right there.

You see that structure? There are some like those that are literally in the park that have nothing in them. That's what they're talking about.

So in Columbus on the other side of this, there's a a phone box, right? But you know where it is, right?

Y.

So, and that's out of service. It's I don't think it's even being used. And if he replaced it with his, it would be fine cuz And then aesthetically, it doesn't change the park, right? So, if there's something there that hasn't been used in a while and nobody's using it and we can take it out, we can take that out and put something that's usable there. I think that makes sense.

Yeah. I I think we can I can definitely bring that back to the engineering team and see what we can work out. I think as long as we're able to get that box, you know, if they can do if we can do boots on the ground and actually walk these sites Yeah.

and then we can see, hey, can you move it from here to here? I think that would be a big bonus.

Yep. Be happy to do that.

Yeah.

And then um for the Mstead Parks, Kennedy and North um those those would have to go before the historical commission, too.

Okay. Um, and I think the only way you would sell that was to is to use existing structures and hide them.

Use existing structures because the Mstead is like the aesthetics of the historical design of the park. Um, so we'd need their feedback on on that unless there was an alternative spot that wouldn't be one of those homestead parks.

Yeah. Would you be able to I don't know if you would you be able to point to maybe another area near North Park Highland Park.

Highland Park.

I don't know if Yeah, that could work too.

Yeah.

And that also has one of those big uh It does have a cabin in there already.

Yeah.

And there's probably a space even behind like the basketball courts or something.

Yeah. Highland Park is just like I think it's like probably half a mile. Not even.

Yeah. Right up the hill.

Okay. Um, and then Kennedy, I mean, if that thing if that thing that's in the picture is not in use, you can you could put it in there. You could swap it out and then I don't think the historical commission would really I think there's two of them.

There's there are a few of those in that corner field. There's two structures. Yeah.

Do we know exactly what that structure is? Was it just for It was electric storage and electrical that's not being used anymore.

No, there's no leaks there. hasn't been for a long time.

And there's not even lights there. I was going to say they took down the poles.

The poles got taken down.

Yeah. So, it could be just empty.

Those poles don't exist.

The poles were no good. So, they came down and I think the box is just still there.

Cuz like part of my concern like with these structures out in the open is them getting tagged, them getting damaged.

Mhm.

It's going to happen, you know. But so, in a building like that, it's less of a possibility.

Yeah.

Does anyone else have any questions? So if we approve this, it would just have to be contingent on locations, location and historical board, their say.

Well, and I think maybe um it would either I I think for the sake of what's on the agenda and what we would need to go up or down on or table.

I mean, we I don't want to send you back to the drawing board, but it might make more sense to get them out of the Mstead parks if we can do that and then work with Darren before the next month's meeting to say, "Hey, in this park and this park, we can just replace what's there. It's not going to change the look of it for anyone. Nobody should complain about what it looks like because it's

the same thing that's already there and now everybody's got an internet option.

So, what what is your time frame for this?" So, are we approved today, like where would you go from here?

We'd be able to start submitting permits um within the next week or two.

Um and uh this is really the only only piece that has held up us starting permits. So, when we we do our builds, we like to make sure that we're lighting people as we go. So, it's not just the project's done and then everyone gets internet. You get internet slowly over the course of a two-year project. So, we want to make sure that, you know, we can't light a single person until we

have one of these installed. So, we want to make sure that we can actually start that project. So, um what I would say what might be helpful is, you know, some sort of a vote contingent on certain pieces. Um and that way I can continue to work with Darren in order to find the right placement. Um and uh and if we need to move them out of the homestead parks into um nearby parks

cuz I think that's everyone's concern, right? No one has a concern with putting them in the parks. It's where are they going to go and what are they going to look like cuz like the two non homestead parks are the locations I think are good, right?

Because they are literally completely away from everything, right? So we could and even in Columbus you could put in that building if you wanted to hide it.

So we could we could make a motion to approve the two non Chu and approve Chu and Columbus just contingent on location contingent on you working with Darren to make sure the location works. And then for the other two we'd either defer to we would just defer that to to the historical commission and if they shoot it down then we'd have to then you'd have to come back with two new locations.

Yeah. So I would say also contingent on so you're approving contingent that's approved through the commission. Correct. Yeah. Um but then like I said if they don't then you would have to come back to us with other options of locations.

Okay. Yeah. Cuz I think it's a project.

I mean it won't speak for everyone. I'd like I want to see it go forward. I just want to make sure that we're doing it right and that after the fact they're not going to be like oh that doesn't look great there. So I think that that's just my concern.

No, I I think that makes perfect sense.

So I can continue to work with Darren and we can have our engineering team come out and um and you know do a walk as Darren was saying.

When do you want this to when do you want it to happen? Next week work.

Um yeah, we could probably make something next week work and call me.

Yeah.

Okay.

We can set that up.

Sorry. I just have this I'm so sorry.

You don't how how does I think I already asked this but I'm still confused on it.

Yeah.

How does this work with your company?

Like how is it that your company is able to just come here without a contract?

Um it's because it basically federal law. Um you know so we're a telecommunications company technically.

So um in Massachusetts it's actually federal and state law. In Massachusetts you don't need any sort of a right-of-way agreement. you don't need any sort of um franchise agreement because we're not a cable company.

So cable companies because they provide video technically there is a fee attached to to those contracts. So you do have to get that approved through city council for companies that are just providing internet. You don't actually need to have any sort of a a contract put together. What you do have to do is follow the guidelines and the rules of the city. So, if we were to go to the

city engineer to go to Dan and say that we wanted to put it, you know, right in the middle of the street and the street was paved two years ago, he could say, "No, we have a a rule in the city that says you can't place it within 5 years of a city being of a of a road being paved."

But, um, as far as the right of way, it's considered public land. Um, and yeah, us along with any other company can come in and and, you know, request and submit permits. And do you have any other concerns like from a maintenance standpoint?

No, I my own with him saying this, my only other concern is if other companies come in with the same request.

Yeah, that that's the thing because normally like when something like this happens, you go out to bid, you pick which company you want to work with and then you start the process.

So if there was never a bid, I don't know how that works. And that's the I'm I have no problem with this at all. No, the only thing that I'm nervous about is you don't want 10 of these lying around.

You were here earlier. We get open meeting law complaints and all this different. I just want to make sure that we're going the right way. And I used to work for the city and you had to get put the bid out that you have to put in the newspaper and put do it here, there, see who you get and then you pick who you want. So that's the only thing. If that process never happened,

I don't know how that works.

If this was a city project, you're 100% right. If the city was paying for this since we're a private company, the city is the city is offering. That makes more sense. Sorry. I was like, how are we paying for I kind of bury the lead. Yeah, they're paying it to come in and then it's a value add a service to the city that they're providing.

Okay, so that's where that was the disconnection. I thought we were paying for something and but that is a good point because how many other companies also provide this type of service?

If we if we if we approve for you to do it, does that open the door for anybody else to say, "Hey, they got to put their boxes in city parks. Why can't we?" you would be able to have the same say with us as you would have with them as far as beautifification, as far as location and and issues.

And at that point, you already got two options. How many options do you need? I mean, there is that is a good point.

There is only one. So, yeah, I mean, to be honest, it works a lot. So, fiber companies are are very similar to like electric companies.

You're not going to find many cities in Massachusetts that have both National Grid and Eversource on poles. you're going to have one or the other um because it's just too expensive for the the actual infrastructure to be splitting the um splitting the market with someone else.

So fiber companies going to be very similar. You're not going to see them overbuilding each other. So in these situations, it's very unlikely that you would see another company come in, place another cabinet in the same location because they'd be serving the same customers that were already serving.

If if everyone else is fine, I'm fine, I think. Um, so just got to figure out the motion.

So okay.

I make a motion to approve the two parks, Chew Park and Columbus, and refer the other two contingent on the historical commission, but all four on location, too, because I want to go I want to Yeah, correct. And then work with Darren on the locations to make sure they work.

And then I'm just throwing this in there.

If for some reason something comes up to Darren that we do not have the authority to approve this then this would our motion would essentially have to be then brought to whoever the powers that be. Do we want to just the other thing we could do and I know that you've been at this for over a year with the city meetings but the other thing we could do is table it till

next meeting gather our thoughts if we want to have a conversation with Allen Corporation council or Dan Aguar in the planning department you we can make those calls behind the scenes and say hey you know this is what's going on this is what's before us before we approve it because as it stands now like which we do we But the the question is for them, you know, what are their thoughts on it?

Do they have is there anything that we're missing? You know, I'm not an engine. None of us are engineers. So, is there something that we're missing that maybe we just want to take a step back before we put these in?

Well, it seems like they sent him here.

Yeah.

So, I feel like he's already had all those conversations, but would it make you feel better if we had it? That's my only thing. My Did it give you more confidence? like the city council, the whoever the other councils would be. That's that's the issue that I have cuz I just like Linda's here and she's been shaking her head the entire time. So like I don't want to have something come back on us

if we app because I have no problem with this. But like I said, I don't want it to be brought up at the city council that we did something we weren't supposed to.

I don't plus I don't want to vote on something that's not complete because obviously there's a lot of contingencies like where they're going to go if it's going to work in these locations.

Well, I feel like Yeah, just table.

I think we should No, nothing against you. It's just we just need to do our duty.

If we tabled it and then you worked with Darren, maybe he doesn't have the next meeting, which would be November 3rd on the locations to figure that out and then even figure out if there is a meeting for the historical commission in between, then you could already talk to them about that as well because if they say a flat out, they're going to have to go back to the drawing board anyways. Yeah.

Would that be something that I know obviously it's adding another month which we don't want to do but Yeah.

So I I understand.

Yeah.

I've sit on sat on town boards myself in the past and I can't God bless you.

Yeah.

Seriously to all of you. Um if possible in order for us to actually start permitting I I think uh the two parks you're okay with um contingent of course on on Darren's approval for the areas just to get the project going.

Yeah. I feel like I would lot rather be a one and done only because like what if these two parks we think those locations are good and then you guys go and they're not and then you're back here anyway. So I think that if you walk the parks I'm I'm just going to make an official motion been to these sites like in person.

Yeah.

Where these I mean we've we've mostly done this through you know GIS.

So I make a motion to table. I'm so sorry but in the meantime work with Darren for the locations and then make sure they all work. come back to us like you said then and let's get the historical commission involved at those two parks or identify another one and Darren can let you know or um Mindy can if you identify and say hey instead of putting in North Park we can just move it to Highland Park.

Highland Park isn't an Mstead, but it's only a stones throw away from North Park, then you know, you don't have to go to the historical commission at all and you could just bring it back to us at that point and then we can Yeah. have And I don't know like where you're located and if you like walking Fall River is not something you're able to do. But I also think it would be a good idea because

obviously I know using maps and all of that for locations, but when you get there you might realize like, oh, this is not a good location. and it looked like it on the picture, but it not isn't in person.

So, I think that that would be the best bet. Um, yeah.

And then and then we kind of go from there if if that's in Wait, so what are we doing?

So, we're tableing it. Somebody make the motion to table.

Okay. So, I'm going to make the motion to table. Please work with Darren in the meantime to figure out the locations of all the things and then yeah, work with um the city lawyer as well to make sure I'm assuming I think we should make I think we should follow up and just you know we'll all feel better just to verify everything you said and make sure request like this like yeah we're used to approving like

threeon-ree basketball games and pickle ball games and stuff or people arguing about pickle ball games so so motion to table is made by commissioner burn second second by commissioner all in favor I motion carries thank you for your time thank you sorry can we take um G out of order yes motion was made to take item G out of order by Commissioner Faras. I have a second.

Second.

Second by Commissioner Burns. All in favor?

Motion carries. Item G is a verbal request from Bob Gunan and Lisa Borges uh regarding a request to install memorial bench in honor of Herman Bombacher in Bsentennial Park. Did I Bombck?

Bombach. Sorry. Oh, I I knew that name.

I thought it was CK. I think is perfect. Um in honor of uh Herman Bombck in Bsentennial Park.

Um, I make a I make a motion to approve.

I feel like we Well, I'll say I've had multiple conversations with Darren.

I've had the conversation with Bob.

Y I talked to Lisa today. Everything's on board. They all they all know the process. What's going Well, the location.

I make a motion to Yeah. If you come down, I should rein.

I was going to say whipper.

Oh, it as long as it's about the bench.

Yeah, it is.

All right.

Okay.

Up a bench. Oh, I just I don't want to talk anymore.

I I don't know about it. So, I want to educate myself because we already did approve one another company. I think this is uh Lisa Borges.

Hi.

Who is the commander Post 464? Now, I think Can I just ask you just because I've gotten in trouble to just state your name?

Sure. Linda Pereira.

Thank you, Council Per.

Uh Robert Gynan. Um, vice commander of the American Legion post 464. Lisa, um, Lis, I'm Commander Lisa Bordis from uh, Colorado American Legion Post 464.

Thank you.

I think there may be a little confusion over this. Back in the spring when um, Mr. Denme was here. Um, and Al Aa, it was brought up to have a bench placed at the Veterans Memorial Park in honor of Herman Bombach, uh, at the request of his wife. He had passed away and he was the commander for years. Um, and it was approved then.

It was, but then Yeah, it wasn't.

I don't think it was approved.

It wasn't before.

I don't think it came to us.

I think Charlie and Al approved.

So I gave So that's why we're here again to kind of clarify.

I gave Bob the name of who applied for it. Remember I told you on the phone?

Who was it?

And you said it came from uh the state rep. Fiola Carol Fiola requested.

Yeah. So that was the only one they had in the minutes from this year. Yeah.

So part of the question is I know that we have benches available. We buy certain types of benches.

So if this was going to be put in honor of of Mr. Bombach and the the bench I think is $1,200. Not sure when it went way up. They've gone way up.

How much has it gone up?

So with shipping it's about $2,200.

So it's 2,200 around there.

Plaque.

The plaque I get a price I think from uh Baker Signs. I think they've made all the signs. Those memorial plaques.

Yeah.

It can't be much though. No, I think it was.

Yeah. 125.

Uh, Simister, Paul Simister had made some before and they were 150. So, does the American Legions are they responsible for paying for that or for the cement pad?

So, the cement pad I I told Bob that DCM always get DCM to do it. They just do it.

Okay.

We don't have a charge for the pad.

don't have a charge to lag it in. It's just basically the bench and the uh plaque.

Okay.

So, and then now the location was there was two benches that were mentioned to me down near the Italian monument that there's two old benches down there that are totally falling apart. I was said that they would be a good area to take those two out and put one in.

And if there was a second bench, that would be another spot to put it. It's on the water. And you said that's where his wife wanted it. Okay. I don't know if that if you know the area. Do you know the area? I do. Right in the corner.

Okay. Is that a is that a good area that you could do? Cuz I've already talked with DCM. I I know I'm I still used to work there, but I still I still can get that work done.

Mhm.

Through them.

Matter of fact, um um cuz the we have the benches in house already. So, as soon as this gets approved, I can move the process forward to get it poured and and put in. And then it would just be the waiting on the benches that are there. Now there's no pad underneath them.

No, they just the old style concrete sides with with the slats.

That location uh you mentioned near the water. Uh Laura Bombat, Herman's wife, she liked that location. She thought that was a good Okay.

Good area.

And we can orient the benches any way that you want. Not the same way of the benches that are there. You can orient them any way you want. if if there was some concern about the fishermen sometimes on a pair. They u they cut their bait on the benches and so on and uh yeah they're not supposed to but that's not anything that we can do about that would probably be

environmental to I don't know if you get the fish to fish off that off you're supposed to be fishing off there anyway fish off that pier. So Mhm. Well, there's got to be a new pier just down a little bit that he is working on. So, fishing pier going in there. They'll go there.

And as far as them cutting the fish on, I don't think unless you extend, you know, I mean, and I love him and bomb back. I was I'm a member of the 464 still. And uh you're still a member?

Still a member.

Just got to get my uh things.

Do you have any questions? How was I going to send the bill to you?

Sure. My Yeah. How do we pay for it then?

You could just you just I think you got a check to the parks department, but that we'll get to that point when you get to it because I have the benches in stock. It's not a rush right now to get that done when when everything's all You'll be able to just get her an Yeah, I'll get you an invoice. I'll invoice.

I'll make a motion to approve.

Motion to approve by Commissioner Burns, second by Commissioner Ferris. All in favor?

Thank you so much.

Motion carries. Thank you. Uh, can I uh have a motion to Oh, back to the original.

Motion to go back to item B and new business made by Commissioner Harris. Do I have a second?

Second.

Second by Commissioner Cilio. All in favor?

I.

I. Motion carries. Item B is a letter from Gloria Sadler on behalf of the Community Development Agency of Fall River regarding the request for the use of Travasos Park for the traffic gardens. The event will take place on Saturday, October 18th from 1:00 to 3:00.

I I have no questions.

I have no problem with it.

I make a motion to approve.

Second.

Motion to approve by Commissioner Burns.

Second by Commissioner Faras. All in favor?

I I. Motion carries.

Item C is from Chris Martins in the tree and cemeteries. The request for tree removals 670, 579, and 518 Valentine Street, 10 Hyram Street, one on President A, and the corner across from Rock Street.

Do we want to hear from Chris or do you want to No.

Oh, no. I I feel like I trust him and he usually just comes and I'm make a motion to approve. Motion to approve the rem the removal of trees at 670 579 518 Valentine 10 Hyram Street President Aav in the corner of uh Rock Street made by Commissioner Burns seconded by Commissioner Faras. All in favor?

I.

Motion carries.

Item D is from uh Darren Maderas on behalf of the parks department uh regarding the request for the removal of six trees at North Park.

So those are six trees around the new ice rink to the totally ready to come down. Chris has already walked the area with me. He said they should come down.

Okay. Um I make a motion to approve.

I'll second it. Motion to approve by Commissioner Burns. Second by Commissioner Cecilio. All in favor?

I.

Motion carries. Item E is another request from Darren Maderas on behalf of the parks department and it's his request to discuss a couple of CPC projects. Um, before I let you talk about them, Darren, I just I don't know.

I know Vic's been on the CPC board, but CPC money, um, or the CPC process, you go through eligibility first. Does it qualify? Could it potentially qualify for CPC funding? These projects all came before the CPC board last month. The CPC board said that all of these projects qualify or could qualify for um, CPC funds to finish them. The issue that I have that I mentioned to Darren is

there's a few projects here in their significant amount of money. So what I asked Darren was uh I think in order to best position the parks department to get CPC money, we should give them one and say it's a high priority that he can get it done within the year and then next year if we get one, we can come back and ask for the next one. So I think because when

Darren does the application on behalf of the parks department for the CPC, it's a pretty cumbersome application and within the application we need to write a letter of support from the board that says we think this is a good project. So I think and I had talked to Darren about it. I think that he should give us the one that he thinks is the one that he So, the number the number one on this

list, if everybody agrees with it, it's going to be uh Griffin Park. Griffin Park is the original one that started this uh the two basketball courts and the hopscotch coach. And then second to that is Maplewood that we're going and that's the resurfacing.

That's all resurfacing. Everything is resurfacing. Nothing new. versus res re crack fill resurface re real reline repaint and and I only say that we shouldn't put more than one forward because there was 25 applications for CPC last year I think the CPC awarded like 1.5 or $1.6 6 million. And I mean, if you added up all 25 requests, it was like over $10 million in requests. So, I think trying

to get to make sure we get him the money.

I think that's our role is to find out.

And if he thinks that resurfacing the uh courts at um Griffin and Maplewood for the 300,000 is what we should ask for.

I think we should um there is like these other ones are attached to it. I don't know if someone has a preference.

So, I see. So, is this these are all the ones that need to be resurfaced? And then you you're saying we would just do Maplewood and Well, Griffin and Maplewood are the priorities. I don't know if if you've anybody has have been to any of these parks listed, if you had your own.

So, opinion, why are we already resurfacing the pickle ball court?

Uh, which one are you speaking of?

I don't know. It just says pickle ball.

Uh, Maplewood. So Maplewood is a is a defunct uh court tennis court. It's totally hasn't been used in years.

Gotcha. Oh, so you there. So they they redid the tennis court on the side.

Brand new. I don't know if you've seen it right on the side. They want to put a pickle ball.

Gotcha.

So we just decided instead of doing another tennis court there, we'll do the pickle ball.

Okay.

But that one's in in rough shape. That one is.

But Griffin is the number one I want to get done. That's the park I that needs to happen because the other one is also and I don't want to like downplay it because those walkways in Kennedy Park and the pathways in Kennedy Park also need to be done.

But just because I sit on the CPC board, uh I feel like we probably have a better chance if we just ask for one of these projects to be funded. And plus you said like that that Kennedy Park brings in the historical board to that one because it's Homemstead and that's a whole another dynamic added to that.

Mhm.

Okay.

So we just approve one of the two.

So what would the what we would um the motion that should be made would just be to um move forward with the CPC application for the court resurfacing to ask CPC for $300,000. We'll write we'll have a letter of support drawn up and Darren can put it in with the application to go in front of the CPC board.

Okay.

So, what is the other one? Just so the other one will just wait for next year, I think.

So, we table it till next year or or do we No, I think we just turn it down and just Yeah, I think that um and that way he doesn't have to do two applications and like the applications are all up.

Yeah, except Yeah. So, just so I'm understanding though, if we turn this down, does the funds go away or get reallocated? their funds aren't available. So basically, okay, this is where Oh, I'm sorry. All right, so I'm misunderstanding. I'm you.

No, no, good question. So like CPC, a portion of your tax dollars goes into the community preservation commission and then if they are open space, uh, recreation, historic preservation, or community housing, then they qualify to potentially get that money.

Okay, there were 25 applicants through the eligibility round. So there were 25 papers like this that came from all over the city that said, "Hey, we have a open space project. We have a historic preservation project. We have a community housing project." And now it's up to the board and up to each applicant to fill out the application, come up with all the specs. How much money are

you looking for? What is the project?

And then the board decides which projects get funded because there's not enough money in the pot to fund them all.

Okay?

Right. So I just think that rather than asking for 600,000 for two different projects, if we ask for one for 300,000, we might have a better chance of right because the lower number the the lower the number, the better off you are, right from Well, it just depends on the project and the board. So the the board votes on, you know, you grade them all.

Yep. Everybody grades them all and then they compile all the data and they just go by priority of what the I think there's I think it's a nine member board. So what the nine member board says okay we think this project is the number one project that should be funded it gets funded then you go to number two three until all the money's gone. Okay.

So, if of 25, if you get through five projects, you're good.

That's all you get through.

Mhm.

So, I guess my point is for the parks department, we should only submit one.

Okay.

Um I make a motion to submit um the resurfacing project to CPC and then also include a letter of support from the park board.

Second it.

Motion was made by Commissioner Burns, second by Commissioner Fries. All in favor?

I. So, you'll be able to work on that application and we'll draw up a letter and we'll we can let Al know that we're going to punt on the resurfacing of Kennedy Park for now.

Um, item F is a letter from Mike Dion on behalf of the city of Fall River. It was just to discuss uh the CDA pro project in Columbus Park. Um, they're we got the parks department or the CDA, I'm not even sure how it works, but the footprints of it, too.

We have the money, the funds are there to replace the playground at Columbus Park. So, the community development agency is doing that. We uh I thought maybe Mr. Dion would be there just to let us know what's going on and where it kind of stands in the bidding process and stuff, but they got the money that we approved previously.

No, we don't.

Okay.

Is there a reason why this didn't come to us first? was. No, I don't know.

Okay.

The project itself was never like approved by the park board to begin with. Um, yeah. I mean, if we if if you think that the specs look good and and obviously we have the money for it.

If you guys want to look at them, it's here. We can maybe look at it afterwards.

Yeah.

I mean, it's it's basically replacing the playground that was torn down because of violations and it was Yeah, it was deemed unsafe. We voted that we voted to uh take take it down because it wasn't so I guess just for the sake of having the record even though he's not here I mean if anyone wants to see the plans before we approve it I did sign the CDA thing the other day um accepting the

funds to do the project. So I don't know you know I can't block right if the money is there I think that it the playground used to be there we need to rebuild it. So I think just for the sake of the record if someone wants to just make a motion to approve it. I'll make a motion to approve it. Uh second.

Motion to approve by Commissioner Harris, second by Commissioner Burns.

All in favor?

I.

Motion carries. Uh we can skip item G.

We we handled that already from Mr.

Bombach. Item H is a letter from Reverend David. Oh man, these names tonight. I'm Federi.

Frederick.

Frederesi.

No. Uh it's regarding the request for the use of Kennedy Park for an annual candlelight procession. It will take place on Monday uh 10:30 from 6:00 to 9:00. That's got to be the wrong date because today's the 1st, right?

Right.

So, it must be that's the I think it's the maybe it's the 13th. October 13th is Columbus Day. I think it is the 13th after it's the day after Columbus, I think.

So, this says Monday, but Columbus would be the Columbus Day is usually on a Monday.

I think it's on a Tuesday. Is it Columbus Day is always on a Monday?

Columbus Day is always a Monday, and it's it is the 13th. bump stick.

So maybe it's I have the email.

Yeah, it's an annual event. I think we can approve it and make sure Darren works out the logistics of the date and time.

I make a motion to approve.

I'll second that motion.

Motion to approve by Commissioner Burns, second by Commissioner Ferris. All in favor? I. Motion carries.

Item I is a letter from Sheila Alivera.

She's the project designer um in Elellanar Page Podcast Tribe. It's a request to install a permanent wayfinding sign in Britain Park at the Quicoan bike path in support of the 2025 echoes of the Picasset in the Falling River.

Sure. Come on down.

It's finally your time. You were so patient.

This was a long one tonight.

Yeah, this is never like this.

If you could both please just state your name for the record.

I'm Sheila Ala Paige.

Okay. Um, well, I guess I'll I'll talk about the project a little bit uh which began uh last year. And are you familiar with it at all?

I am not.

The Echos project I'll just read uh what it is. Uh, Echoes of the Picassid and the Fallen River, uh, is a multi-sight cultural and recreational initiative celebrating the lost, excuse me, lost waterways and rich history of the Picasset tribe of, the Wampaoic Nation and Quicane River and Fall River, uh, Massachusetts. Now there are already signs that have been installed um and let's see 11 historic sites that

um mark the places where the Quickers once was free falling and unobstructed and those uh signs um are already in place um by permission of the mayor I would assume and we've had uh several events in support of the project. uh initially it was started by frack which is I'm going to be correct here uh for river arts and cultural uh council coalition rather uh it is on the uh their website the whole

program and there's a map that's online as well as um a narrative explaining what how the picassets um were uh you know instrumental in living Go ahead.

I'm the historian for the Picassa tribe.

My husband is the chief. Um and the idea of this project was to remind the people of Fore River that Picassa tribe were the first people here. They were the indigenous people. We a lot of children learn in school and we've heard all about her main encampment for the summer was here in a building that we're sitting on right now. It was a large encampment. So we wanted to go back to

the 1600 when the the original indigenous people were living amongst where we're sitting and um it it came out lovely. I mean it's it's just wonderful. We've gotten a lot of comments from uh citizens of Far River visit coming through that they did not know what the Crican River meant to the indigenous people because as we all know most of it you can't see any longer and uh Sheila was kind enough to do all of

the artwork for them. In fact, one of the signs is right outside the building over here. Uh two more that's close by is in front of the chamber building and um it it came out very well but they are very spaced out.

Yes. So people really are not they're not connected.

Yeah. It's not a walking tour.

You would have to take your car to go and then it just comes in in areas.

There's quite a bit that's in this area.

Then we have a couple on um the bike trail and then you've got to go out to Brighton Avenue and all the way down to the uh South and Northw Tupper Pond.

So So getting back getting uh to the present and what we're looking for is really uh permission and a letter of support uh to create one. I think you probably have a picture. Did you print out a picture?

Exact right. Yeah. of uh one that is a it's a suggestion.

Um I took a drive and I tried to find something similar to what we're looking for.

Do you have all the locations where you want to put these?

We only want one that will um where is So this is your It says Britain Park/thequickan bike path.

Yeah. Because I wasn't sure uh whose authority uh you know I didn't know. So, you know, I'm thinking, well, Ellie really would know better than I. We would like it in a place that people could understand more about the Quick Shan, its history as it relates to the city, uh, not only for the Picasset, but also industrial, you know, revolution and and how it impacted the Quicoan, which really

begins with this with the Stafford ponds. Do I have that right? the south watapa and the uh north watapa ponds and it came through the city of Fall River.

Now, it's been obstructed so you can't really see it, but there are still places where you can and we've uh located those signs and in those places that you know were important for the Quicoan and of course the terminus of the Quicoan is on Anowan Street, right?

Yeah.

And so this is something you guys would pay for and build and have it and then work with Darren to get it. So glad that I knew know the guy now who who really would be see I do I'm not familiar with where it should go but I envision um and I'm sure so you're saying like in the Britain Park area around the soccer field is right in that ent

behind the field so maybe in between the field and the trail over there they could I think the idea was we want to um give people who walk the trail um an idea of the whole encompass all of the 11 that's part of the echoes project.

You've got one area where you can you can look at a map or you could look at it and say oh it's it's along you know the cookies is a long way the echos is a long way they would get a a main idea of the whole project of it in one spot.

So basically, uh, you know, uh, the idea is we're going to write grants and try to get some funding.

I'd like to see a seating area, you know, like a bench, which would be a really great idea. So people could sit and read the information. We already have all the design work. I mean, there's been a map that's been, it's a beautiful map, and it shows all the locations. Ellie has written historically the um, documentation.

Yeah. the narrative of the Picasset uh tribe and you know the history of Wedimu and as you know if you're far people half the streets here are named uh you know from the Picasset uh and Wampaoic tribes so um we're looking for a letter of support I guess first I didn't have enough time to put together a comprehensive we can probably approve the sign yeah have no problem with it

and then if but if you wanted a bench or something. You might have to come back.

They have names on them. Yeah, it's still a bench. Yeah, but maybe you could maybe there's already a bench there. Then you wouldn't have to come up with the additional money to I' I'd really like that. I I think it's a beautiful project and uh it's going to get lost because it's too widespread and uh it's important to the uh the Cassie tribe.

The only thing I will say just because I feel like this happens it there is a possibility that it could get damaged, it could get tagged. So just just know that that is a possibility. If this goes through and it's there and it's beautiful, just know that that is a possibility and we would have to figure out what we would do from there as to the cleaning it, I guess.

Uh I did notice I walked the um the bike path and I saw there is signage there.

It's just like old.

It's been it's kind of like faded, ripped off.

Yeah. I think we had a book we approved like they had like a walking um a book thing down there where it was like you could walk and there was a story and to read, but I think that's probably what it was.

So I guess just know like not saying that it will happen, it's just a chance.

Yeah. So, I just um but I guess my my question to that is who who really looks overseas that I figured he was we've been lucky so far with all the signage that we have throughout the trail. I mean, they're on some of them are on corner of uh Plymouth Avenue and Pleasant Street. No one has touched any of them standing today and stuff.

Um, the Picasset tribe feels that because the history of Far River is so rich with the first indigenous people and the fact that the tribe is still here, uh, having ceremonies on their reservation given to them in 1700 up on Indian Town Road that we have to remind the new generations of people about them because they used to be newspaper articles all the time about the natives and the PTA and stuff, but

you don't see as much of that anymore.

So, uh it's it's good history of Far River. Yeah. And the pictures are beautiful. Everyone, one of the things I tell everybody is I walked down every once in a while on the bike path. And I saw this gentleman with two children.

One of them looked like he was about eight, nine years old. The other one was really little. And the father was speaking to he was looking at the sign that we have there and he was reading it in English and turned around to his two sons and started telling them in Spanish what it said on there. And my little bit of Spanish that I understood understood he was talking about Indians who lived

here and this was where they fished and the plants they used to get and the littlest ones jumping up and down trying to point at the sign and the little boys you know he was in school so he probably read English and he's reading the sign and that that really warmed my heart cuz this is another generation and people who weren't born in Far River coming here and admiring the history of the city of

Far River. So I say you've got the history presented to people out there.

Um I'm going to jump forward with the sign. It it'll probably be something like 36 48 similar to what's down there already.

Similar to the ones that are down there already.

Yeah, similar. And uh I'm not sure what contractor you work with when you uh have signs made.

Um I don't know where those signs were made. usually work with Baker.

Are they local?

Yeah, they're near the Tipsy Tobago.

K E R. I'll give them a call.

Right near Tipsy Tobago.

What is that?

Right. They're right near Tipsy Tobago.

Mhm. Okay. So, that gives me I did check I did check a few different places that create these wayfinding signs. And um you know, as far as the installation, would you be the one to be doing it or uh maybe who installed them at the other places throughout the city? We don't know.

It was the city.

The city did. So GCM probably probably they were on existing polls. So there were poles.

They just uh tacked them on there.

Okay.

Um I make a motion to approve.

So motion to approve by Commissioner Burns. Second by Commissioner Faras. All in favor?

I I motion carries. So it's approved. you can work with Darren and he'll be you can be in touch and figure out the logistics of you know who's going to put it where it's going to go six months out anyway but uh you know thank you thank you so much okay there's no um old business on the agenda the last thing is any commissioner inquiries I did but I'm tired anybody got anything then anybody

I I'll uh entertain a motion to adjurnn I'll make a motion to adjurnn Motion to adjurnn by Commissioner Cecilio, second by Commissioner Burns. All in favor? I.

Motion carries. Thank you.