The Fall River City Council adopted an order authorizing a $10,000,000 loan for the construction and improvement of city streets during its regular meeting on September 22, 2026. The loan order passed on an 8-1 vote, with Councilor Christopher M. Peckham, Sr. casting the lone dissenting vote.
Councilors also acted on tabled matters concerning the PEG Access and Cable Related Fund, voting to appropriate $586,600. The funds cover operating salaries and expenses for FREDTV ($330,000), FREDTV capital expenditures ($106,600), and operating salaries and expenses for FRCMedia ($150,000). The measure passed 7-1, with Councilor Peckham voting against and Councilor Linda M. Pereira absent during the vote after stepping out of the chamber. Emily Arpke, Director of Financial Services, addressed the council after rules were waived, explaining that guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Revenue confirmed the appropriation did not violate state policies or regulations.
An attempt to revisit the city’s solid waste ordinance failed earlier in the meeting. A motion by Councilor Andrew J. Raposo to lift the proposed ordinance regarding municipal solid waste collection and disposal from the table was defeated 2-7, with only Councilors Raposo and Peckham voting in the affirmative.
In other business, the council approved an emergency preamble and ordained an ordinance establishing multiple handicapped parking spots across the city by a unanimous 9-0 roll call. Councilors also passed several ordinances through first reading, including traffic loading zones, handicapped parking space removals, and an amendment governing the appointment, powers, duties, and term of the Chief of Police. Additionally, an order adopting a revised policy regarding outside legal counsel was approved as amended, despite opposition from Councilor Raposo.
Key actions
- Adopted an order for the Board of Election Commissioners and warrant for the State Election to be held on November 3, 2026.
- Adopted a resolution requesting the Committee on Ordinances and Legislation convene to discuss potential amendments to the nuisance properties ordinance, 8-0 (Cadime absent).
- Accepted and placed on file citations for Vanson Leathers, Inc., Gregory Molinar, and Brigadier General Lisa Ahaesy.
- Adopted a livery vehicle license order for Danilson Claudio Tavares (1 vehicle).
- Referred claims to Corporation Counsel.
- Accepted and placed on file a communication from MassDOT regarding Route 79/Davol Street procurement.
- Approved payment of a $15,000 invoice from Roselli, Clark and Associates for the completion of the 2025 audit.
- Accepted and placed on file documents from Ryan Duarte regarding the Traffic and Parking Department.
- Approved an application for structures on or over a public way for Elections Department banners on Bedford Street, Downtown (South Main Street), and Pleasant Street.
- Accepted and placed on file Planning Board minutes from August 12, 2026.
- Approved City Council minutes for Public Hearings, Committee on Finance, and Regular Council meetings of August 11, 2026, and September 8, 2026.
- Voted to lift Item 19 from the table, 8-0 (Pereira absent).
- Waived rules to allow Emily Arpke, Director of Financial Services, to answer questions regarding PEG Access funds, 8-0 (Pereira absent).
- Adopted an appropriation order totaling $586,600 from the PEG Access and Cable Related Fund ($330,000 for FREDTV salaries/expenses, $106,600 for FREDTV capital, $150,000 for FRCMedia salaries/expenses), 7-1 (Peckham opposed, Pereira absent).
- Defeated a motion to lift the proposed solid waste collection and disposal ordinance from the table, 2-7.
- Adopted the emergency preamble (9-0) and passed to be enrolled and ordained a proposed ordinance for handicapped parking designations on various city streets.
- Passed through first reading a proposed ordinance establishing a loading zone on William Street.
- Passed through first reading a proposed ordinance removing handicapped parking designations across eighteen street locations.
- Passed through first reading a proposed ordinance amending Section 62-401 regarding the Chief of Police appointment, powers, duties, and term.
- Adopted a loan order in the amount of $10,000,000 for the construction and/or improvement of city streets, 8-1 (Peckham opposed).
- Adopted an order regarding a revised policy to City Council re: outside legal counsel, as amended, with Councilor Raposo opposed.
How each councilor voted
| Motion | Ponte | Cadime | Camara | Canuel | Dionne | Hart | Peckham | Pereira | Raposo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adopt order for Election Commissioners warrant for State Election on November 3, 2026 (Approved unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Adopt resolution for Committee on Ordinances and Legislation to convene on nuisance properties ordinance (Approved unanimously (8-0)) | Y | — | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Take items 3 through 5 together (Citations) (Approved unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Accept citations and place on file (Items 3 through 5) (Approved unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Adopt order for Police Chief’s report on licenses (Private Livery Vehicle) (Approved unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Refer claims to Corporation Counsel (Item 7) (Approved unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Accept and place on file communication from MassDOT re: Route 79/Davol Street Procurement (Approved unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Approve payment of invoice from Roselli, Clark and Associates for completion of 2025 audit (Approved unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Accept and place on file documents from Ryan Duarte re: Traffic and Parking Department (Approved unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Approve application for structures on or over a public way for Elections Department banners (Approved unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Accept and place on file Planning Board minutes of August 12, 2026 (Approved unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Take items 13 through 18 together (City Council Minutes) (Approved unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Approve City Council minutes (Items 13 through 18) (Approved unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Lift Item 19 (PEG Access and Cable Related Fund appropriation) from the table (Approved unanimously (8-0)) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | — | Y |
| Waive rules to allow Emily Arpke, Director of Financial Services, to answer questions (Approved unanimously (8-0)) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | — | Y |
| Adopt appropriation order totaling $586,600 from PEG Access and Cable Related Fund (Approved 7-1) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | — | Y |
| Lift proposed ordinance related to Amending §62-2(C), Solid waste – collection and disposal, Generally, from the table (Defeated 2-7) | N | N | N | N | N | N | Y | N | Y |
| Adopt emergency preamble for proposed ordinance – Traffic, Handicapped Parking (Approved 9-0) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Pass proposed ordinance – Traffic, Handicapped Parking through first reading, second reading, enrolled, and ordained (Approved unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Pass proposed ordinance – Traffic, Loading zones (William Street) through first reading (Approved unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Pass proposed ordinance – Traffic, Handicapped parking removals through first reading (Approved unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Pass proposed ordinance – Amending §2-401, Chief of Police – Appointment; powers and duties; term through first reading (Approved unanimously) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Adopt loan order of $10,000,000 for construction and/or improvement of City Streets (Approved 8-1) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y |
| Adopt order re: Revised policy to City Council re: outside legal counsel, as amended (Approved (with Raposo opposed)) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N |
Y = yes · N = no · A = abstained · P = present · — = absent. Votes the minutes do not record individually are inferred from the result and the attendance roll.