Listen to the full meeting
The Fall River City Council held a public hearing, a Committee on Finance meeting, and a regular City Council meeting on September 8, 2026. The public hearing covered multiple National Grid and Verizon pole petition requests, an auto repair shop license, a curb removal application, and a license for the relocation of the Savers secondhand store to 133 Mariano Bishop Boulevard. A resident objected to a proposed utility pole near her driveway on Bedford Street, prompting the Council to refer that specific petition to the Committee on Public Works and Transportation for further review.
During the Committee on Finance meeting, the Council presented a citation honoring Anthony F. Cordeiro as the recipient of the Roger Valcourt Outstanding Citizenship Award. Public citizens brought forward concerns regarding administrative procedures and parking citation appeals in the Traffic and Parking Department. The committee also discussed funding for May’s Playground, reviewing inactive capital accounts and potential state ADA and park grant applications totaling hundreds of thousands of dollars.
In the regular City Council session, members approved various committee appointments, an online public auction for surplus property, and fiber optic cable attachments. The Council adopted resolutions requesting an open checkbook financial transparency portal, an audit and comprehensive plan for solid waste and recycling carts, discussions on an HR compensation study, and traffic safety reviews. After debating whether funds could legally be expended prior to the next fiscal year without explicit Department of Revenue guidance, the Council voted 8-1 to re-table a $586,600 appropriation from the PEG Access and Cable Related Fund.
Topics discussed
- 7:19 · Bedford Street Pole Opposition
Resident Eileen Pacheco of 1139 Bedford Street voiced concerns that a proposed pole would block her driveway and sightlines, leading to referral to committee. - 7:19 · Refer Bedford Street utility pole petition (Item 19C) to Public Works and Transportation Committee — referred
Refer Bedford Street utility pole petition (Item 19C) to Public Works and Transportation Committee - 14:45 · National Grid & Verizon Pole Petitions
National Grid and Verizon petitioned for utility poles across six city locations to install electrical reclosers for circuit reliability. - 18:55 · Savers Relocation
Savers District Manager Julia Cotto presented plans to relocate their store and donation intake operation next door at 133 Mariano Bishop Boulevard. - 25:04 · Roger Valcourt Citizenship Award Presentation
The City Council presented a citation honoring Anthony F. Cordeiro for receiving the Roger Valcourt Outstanding Citizenship Award for community development and philanthropy. - 43:40 · Citizen Input: Traffic & Parking Department Oversight Requests
Residents Ryan Duarte and Veda Boulet requested City Council oversight into administrative procedures, citation appeals, and RMV registration holds. - 45:10 · May’s Playground Capital Funding
Councilors discussed allocating $50,000 from inactive park capital project funds and tracking $675,000 in pending state grants for May’s Playground. - 1:03:31 · Confirm reappointment of Christopher Antao to the Cultural Council — approved
Confirm reappointment of Christopher Antao to the Cultural Council - 1:03:51 · Confirm reappointment of Vania M. Noverca-Viveiros to the Cultural Council — approved
Confirm reappointment of Vania M. Noverca-Viveiros to the Cultural Council - 1:04:08 · Confirm reappointment of Ken Shadegg to the Historical Commission — approved
Confirm reappointment of Ken Shadegg to the Historical Commission - 1:04:26 · Confirm reappointment of Richard R. Mancini to the Historical Commission — approved
Confirm reappointment of Richard R. Mancini to the Historical Commission - 1:04:42 · Refer FY26 quarterly budget report to Committee on Finance — referred
Refer FY26 quarterly budget report to Committee on Finance - 1:04:45 · $10M Street Improvement Loan Order
Mayoral loan order of $10,000,000 for street construction and improvements referred to the Committee on Finance. - 1:05:44 · Authorize $10,000,000 street construction and improvement loan order to be published and referred to Committee on Finance — referred
Authorize $10,000,000 street construction and improvement loan order to be published and referred to Committee on Finance - 1:07:10 · Approve request to conduct public online auction for surplus property — approved
Approve request to conduct public online auction for surplus property - 1:07:26 · Refer Traffic Commission recommendations to Committee on Ordinances and Legislation — referred
Refer Traffic Commission recommendations to Committee on Ordinances and Legislation - 1:10:46 · Refer revised outside legal counsel policy to Committee on Finance — referred
Refer revised outside legal counsel policy to Committee on Finance - 1:10:53 · Outside Legal Counsel Policy
Councilors debated proposed procedural rules and voting thresholds governing when the City Council can retain second legal opinions or outside counsel. - 1:14:53 · Refer proposed removal of Section 2-33 (outside legal counsel) to Committee on Ordinances and Legislation — referred
Refer proposed removal of Section 2-33 (outside legal counsel) to Committee on Ordinances and Legislation - 1:15:12 · Solid Waste & Recycling Cart Audit and Policy
Council Vice President Dionne introduced a resolution to inventory excess municipal trash carts and conduct a comprehensive cost analysis instead of eliminating 5- and 6-family pickups. - 1:15:12 · Adopt resolution for solid waste cart inventory and comprehensive financial analysis — passed
Adopt resolution for solid waste cart inventory and comprehensive financial analysis - 1:31:47 · Motion to reject/grant leave to withdraw proposed ordinance amending Section 62-2C regarding solid waste collection — failed
Motion to reject/grant leave to withdraw proposed ordinance amending Section 62-2C regarding solid waste collection - 1:31:51 · Table proposed ordinance amending Section 62-2C regarding solid waste collection — tabled
Table proposed ordinance amending Section 62-2C regarding solid waste collection - 1:32:45 · Pass proposed ordinance for miscellaneous traffic through second reading and enrollment — passed
Pass proposed ordinance for miscellaneous traffic through second reading and enrollment - 1:34:03 · Adopt resolution regarding after-the-fact curb removal fines — passed
Adopt resolution regarding after-the-fact curb removal fines - 1:34:06 · Historical Preservation at Oak Grove Cemetery
Councilors discussed improper painting, historical preservation protocols at Oak Grove Cemetery, and the relocation of a 1653 historic boundary marker. - 1:34:06 · Adopt resolution regarding Oak Grove Cemetery renovations and historical preservation — passed
Adopt resolution regarding Oak Grove Cemetery renovations and historical preservation - 1:40:59 · Adopt resolution requesting an interactive financial transparency portal (Open Checkbook) — passed
Adopt resolution requesting an interactive financial transparency portal (Open Checkbook) - 1:41:05 · Open Checkbook Financial Transparency Portal
Councilor Canuel proposed establishing a public-facing interactive open checkbook tool integrating with the city’s Munis accounting software. - 1:45:37 · HR Compensation Study
Councilor Raposo sponsored a resolution to review the progress and application of the citywide employee compensation and classification study. - 1:47:25 · Adopt amended resolution regarding speeding concerns and traffic safety — passed
Adopt amended resolution regarding speeding concerns and traffic safety - 1:47:27 · Adopt resolution regarding Human Resources employee compensation study — passed
Adopt resolution regarding Human Resources employee compensation study - 1:47:32 · Traffic Speeding Enforcement Resolution
Council amended and adopted a resolution to meet with police leadership regarding speeding complaints and resident safety. - 1:53:35 · Accept and place on file citation for Anthony F. Cordeiro — approved
Accept and place on file citation for Anthony F. Cordeiro - 1:54:45 · Adopt utility pole petitions for Airport Road, Bay Street, Mott Street, Rodman Street, and Stafford Road (Items 19A, B, D, E, F) — passed
Adopt utility pole petitions for Airport Road, Bay Street, Mott Street, Rodman Street, and Stafford Road (Items 19A, B, D, E, F) - 1:55:30 · Adopt auto repair shop license (Globe St), curb removal (Reading St), and secondhand store license (Savers) — passed
Adopt auto repair shop license (Globe St), curb removal (Reading St), and secondhand store license (Savers) - 1:56:18 · Adopt auto repair shop license renewals for Ground Earth Inc. and Auto Stop — passed
Adopt auto repair shop license renewals for Ground Earth Inc. and Auto Stop - 1:56:59 · Adopt auto repair shop license transfer for Fortier’s Auto Sales and Service, Inc. — passed
Adopt auto repair shop license transfer for Fortier’s Auto Sales and Service, Inc. - 1:57:11 · Adopt Police Chief’s report on licenses — passed
Adopt Police Chief’s report on licenses - 1:57:11 · Approve permanent aerial fiber attachments on Bedford Street, Locust Street, and Stonehaven Road — approved
Approve permanent aerial fiber attachments on Bedford Street, Locust Street, and Stonehaven Road - 1:59:41 · Refer claims to Corporation Counsel — referred
Refer claims to Corporation Counsel - 2:00:47 · Approve drain layer license for JPB Construction Company, Inc. — approved
Approve drain layer license for JPB Construction Company, Inc. - 2:02:08 · PEG Access and Cable Fund Appropriation ($586,600)
The Council debated whether DOR rules allow spending newly established PEG fund appropriations immediately or in the following fiscal year, voting to table the measure. - 2:02:16 · Table appropriation of $586,600 from PEG Access and Cable Related Fund pending DOR clarification — tabled
Table appropriation of $586,600 from PEG Access and Cable Related Fund pending DOR clarification - 2:07:41 · Adopt curb removal order for 677 Meridian Street with double permit fee penalty — passed
Adopt curb removal order for 677 Meridian Street with double permit fee penalty - 2:09:40 · Pass proposed ordinance for miscellaneous traffic to be ordained — passed
Pass proposed ordinance for miscellaneous traffic to be ordained