The Fall River City Council, in a lengthy and contentious meeting, rejected the mayor’s proposed Fiscal Year 2027 municipal budget. The rejection came after the council first made significant cuts to the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Enterprise Fund budget. Led by Council Vice President Dion, the council voted unanimously to reduce the EMS fund’s indirect cost transfers to the city’s general fund by $1,050,001, citing inflated figures for pensions and health insurance. This action rendered the main municipal budget unbalanced, as it relied on that revenue. Consequently, the council proceeded to reject every line item of the $484 million municipal budget in a series of 7-2 votes, culminating in a final vote to reduce the total appropriation to zero.
Councilors cited several reasons for the rejection beyond the now-unbalanced state, including the administration’s failure to budget for an anticipated $450,000 in police department retirement buyouts and the omission of $40,000 for the City Council’s independent legal counsel. A tense discussion also occurred during the preceding finance committee meeting regarding a $1.4 million appropriation from surplus funds to cover a fire department salary shortfall, with several councilors criticizing the administration for poor financial planning and last-minute requests; this appropriation ultimately failed to pass in the full council meeting. A motion to schedule a special meeting for June 30th to address the budget failed on a 3-6 vote, leaving it to the administration to submit a new budget or a continuing appropriation before the July 1st deadline. Other notable decisions included approving a home rule petition to use the Liberal Club as a new polling location, adopting two tax increment exemption agreements, and passing several ordinances through first reading.
Topics discussed
- 0:34 · Public Hearing: Utility Pole Installation
A public hearing was held for a petition by National Grid and Verizon to install a new 55-foot utility pole on Eastern Avenue as part of a reliability project. The hearing was opened and closed without opposition. - 3:16 · E-bike Safety Concerns
Resident Bruce Souza raised concerns about the danger of high-speed e-bikes on sidewalks, particularly for people with disabilities. Councilors acknowledged the issue and noted that the Public Safety committee is actively working on updating ordinances to address it. - 7:55 · Polling Location Changes
Ryan Lions of the Elections Department and Dan Robillard of the Disability Commission discussed efforts to move polling locations out of housing authorities and fire stations due to accessibility issues. A new plan to consolidate several precincts at the Liberal Club was presented and discussed. - 7:55 · Resolution to discuss election cycle trends and new polling locations — tabled
Resolution to discuss election cycle trends and new polling locations - 20:20 · Voter Turnout Discussion
Councilors discussed the decline in municipal election voter turnout, with some attributing it to a lack of candidates running for office rather than changes in polling locations. - 23:27 · Appropriate $3,670,000 from FY25 sewer retained earnings — passed
Appropriate $3,670,000 from FY25 sewer retained earnings - 23:31 · Appropriate $1,770,000 from FY25 water retained earnings — passed
Appropriate $1,770,000 from FY25 water retained earnings - 25:45 · Sewer and Water Retained Earnings Transfers
The council reviewed appropriations of $3,670,000 from sewer retained earnings and $1,770,000 from water retained earnings to fund capital improvements and build stabilization funds. Concerns were raised about the high percentage of funds being used and the need for a formal policy. - 32:04 · Fire Department Salary Appropriation
A tense discussion was held over a $1.4 million appropriation from surplus revenue to cover a fire department salary shortfall created by adding staff after a major fire. Councilors criticized the administration for the last-minute request and for not exploring other funding options within the operating budget. - 1:12:02 · Appointment of John Sylvia
John Sylvia, chairman of the Board of Park Commissioners, was confirmed as their representative on the Community Preservation Committee. - 1:12:10 · Confirmation of the appointment of John Sylvia to the Community Preservation Committee — approved
Confirmation of the appointment of John Sylvia to the Community Preservation Committee - 1:12:21 · Extended Liquor License Hours
The council debated a state bill allowing extended hours for liquor license holders for the summer, primarily for World Cup soccer games. Some councilors expressed public safety concerns, but the communication was accepted. - 1:12:21 · Accept communication regarding extended liquor license hours — passed
Accept communication regarding extended liquor license hours - 1:23:00 · Reduce EMS Enterprise Fund indirect cost transfers by $1,050,001 — passed
Reduce EMS Enterprise Fund indirect cost transfers by $1,050,001 - 1:32:48 · Approve the FY2027 EMS Enterprise Fund budget as amended — passed
Approve the FY2027 EMS Enterprise Fund budget as amended - 1:39:13 · Police Department Salary Appropriation
The police chief explained a $450,000 appropriation for police salaries was needed to cover overtime from major incidents and retirement buyouts, which were not funded in the budget. - 1:54:31 · FY2027 Municipal Budget Rejection
Following the cuts to the EMS fund, the council deemed the main municipal budget unbalanced and proceeded to reject every appropriation line item, ultimately reducing the total budget to zero. - 1:54:31 · Reject all line items of the FY2027 Municipal Budget — passed
Reject all line items of the FY2027 Municipal Budget - 1:54:31 · Reduce the total FY2027 municipal budget appropriation to zero dollars — passed
Reduce the total FY2027 municipal budget appropriation to zero dollars - 1:55:08 · Adopt the FY2027 municipal budget appropriation order as amended (at zero) — passed
Adopt the FY2027 municipal budget appropriation order as amended (at zero) - 1:56:42 · Motion to schedule a special meeting on June 30th to address the budget — failed
Motion to schedule a special meeting on June 30th to address the budget - 2:03:13 · FY2027 EMS Enterprise Fund Budget Amendment
The council took up the EMS budget line by line and voted to reduce indirect cost transfers to the city by $1,050,001, specifically cutting contributions to health insurance, pensions, and other costs. - 2:20:20 · Waterfront Development Zone Expansion
A resolution was adopted to expand the Waterfront Downtown Housing Development Zone, also known as the Central Market Housing Development District. - 2:20:36 · Adopt resolution to expand the waterfront downtown housing development zone — passed
Adopt resolution to expand the waterfront downtown housing development zone - 2:23:00 · Appropriate $1,400,000 from surplus revenue to fire salaries — failed
Appropriate $1,400,000 from surplus revenue to fire salaries - 2:24:11 · Tax Increment Exemption (TIE) Agreements
The council approved two TIE agreements for Jefferson Realty LLC at 37 Park Street and the Second Street Trust at 377 Second Street. - 2:24:22 · Adopt tax increment exemption agreement for Jefferson Realty LLC at 37 Park Street — passed
Adopt tax increment exemption agreement for Jefferson Realty LLC at 37 Park Street - 2:24:52 · Adopt tax increment exemption agreement for the Second Street Trust at 377 Second Street — passed
Adopt tax increment exemption agreement for the Second Street Trust at 377 Second Street - 2:25:30 · EMS Union Contract
A memorandum of agreement for the Fall River EMS unit, ASME, Council 93, Local 1202 was approved. - 2:25:55 · Approve polling places order for state primary and election, including changes — passed
Approve polling places order for state primary and election, including changes - 2:27:41 · Route 79 Corridor Development Ordinances
A resolution was adopted to have the Committee on Ordinances and Legislation review and draft new ordinances to manage development, traffic, and parking in the new Route 79 corridor area. - 2:29:55 · Billboard Regulations
A resolution was passed to have the Committee on Ordinances and Legislation review and draft stricter ordinances for outdoor billboards, particularly concerning the redeveloped waterfront. - 2:38:22 · Adopt Home Rule Petition for use of the Liberal Club as a polling location — passed
Adopt Home Rule Petition for use of the Liberal Club as a polling location - 2:47:07 · Salary Ordinances
The council passed through first reading several salary ordinances, including for the Director of Health and Human Services and for executive officers, department heads, and non-union personnel. - 2:47:07 · Pass through first reading the salary schedule ordinance for executive officers, department heads, and non-union personnel (after reconsideration) — passed
Pass through first reading the salary schedule ordinance for executive officers, department heads, and non-union personnel (after reconsideration)