The Fall River Board of Health met virtually on November 5, 2020, to discuss municipal health regulations and receive an update on the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The meeting began with the tabling of the minutes from the February meeting due to the lack of an eligible quorum present from that session. The board then engaged in an extensive discussion with Faust Fiore, Director of Minimum Housing, and Lisa Golden of the Inspectional Services Division regarding proposed revisions to the city’s animal keeping regulations, which had not been updated since 2000.
Fiore and Golden highlighted mounting neighborhood complaints concerning roosters, property setback variances, rodent control, and unmonitored flock expansion, as well as ambiguities surrounding enforcement, permit fees, and penalties. The board considered adopting a standardized regulation based on the Massachusetts Association of Health Boards template, requiring citywide permits for keeping chickens, establishing graduated fines up to the standard $300 maximum, clarifying written variance conditions, and requiring applicants to cover abutter notifications. Health Director Tess Curran agreed to revise the draft regulation incorporating the board’s feedback and present it at the next meeting ahead of scheduling a formal public hearing.
Curran also provided a comprehensive COVID-19 update, reporting that Fall River had accumulated 2,789 confirmed positive cases since the pandemic began, with significant transmission driven by household gatherings and cases rising fastest among residents aged 30 to 39 and 40 to 69. She outlined incoming state emergency orders taking effect the following day, including tighter gathering restrictions, a mandatory mask order, and 9:30 p.m. business curfews. Board members raised concerns regarding social distancing compliance at the Seven Hills testing site, local school hybrid schedules, and rapid testing capacity. The board scheduled its next meeting for December 3, 2020, before adjourning.
Topics discussed
- 0:44 · Approval of Minutes — tabled
The board discussed and postponed approval of previous meeting minutes due to lack of a voting quorum. - 1:01 · Updating Keeping of Animal Regulation
Faust Fiore and Lisa Golden discussed inconsistencies in enforcing chicken keeping, setback variances, roosters, graduated fines, and licensing fees. - 37:02 · Next Meeting Scheduling — passed
The board coordinated and confirmed their next virtual meeting date. - 38:48 · COVID-19 Local Case Statistics and Demographics
Tess Curran reported 2,789 total cases through November 2, analyzing gender, age brackets, and household transmission patterns. - 43:17 · Statewide COVID-19 Executive Orders and Enforcement
Discussion of Governor Baker’s new orders taking effect November 6 regarding mask mandates, 9:30 p.m. business closures, and indoor gathering caps. - 49:07 · Hospital Capacity and Testing Operations
Discussion covered local hospital coordination, crowded conditions observed at the Seven Hills testing site, and private rapid PCR testing capabilities. - 57:26 · Fall River Public Schools Learning Model — approved
The board discussed cohort spacing and potential changes to the hybrid model alongside Superintendent Dr. Matthew Malone.