The Fall River Board of Park Commissioners met on February 6, 2019, to consider field and park use requests, utility infrastructure maintenance, capital project awards, filming permits, and an Open Meeting Law complaint. Representatives from Algonquin Gas Transmission and VHB presented a proposed cathodic protection ground bed project along Pembroke Street into Mount Hope Bay, which may require removing up to four street trees. The board advised the applicants to complete their broader permitting with the state and city, and reach an agreement with the street tree planting program regarding caliper compensation, before returning for final tree removal approval.
Topics discussed
- 0:36 · Meeting Minutes Approval — approved
Approval of the meeting minutes from the January 9, 2019 meeting. - 1:11 · Pembroke Street Gas Pipeline Cathodic Protection and Tree Removal
Algonquin Gas Transmission proposed laying an electrical cable for pipeline corrosion protection along Pembroke Street, requiring the potential removal of up to four street trees totaling approximately 50 inches in caliper. - 26:11 · Greater Fall River Tennis Association Bicentennial Park Request — approved
Jeffrey Chase requested Tuesday night court reservations at Bicentennial Park for 40 to 50 players due to Durfee High School courts being unavailable due to construction. - 33:34 · Durfee High School Spring Athletics Field and Court Use — approved
Brad Bustin requested the use of North Park baseball fields and Bicentennial Park tennis courts for Durfee High School teams, discussing game schedules and sanitary facilities. - 40:02 · Father Kelly Park Pathways Project Bid Award — approved
The board lifted a tabled contract award for pathway work at Father Kelly Park, discussing funding transparency and requiring board review of invoices and a final walk-through. - 40:52 · Lift the Father Kelly Park pathways project item from the table — passed
- 44:09 · Award the Father Kelly Park pathways contract with amendments requiring invoice copies to be submitted to the board and a mandatory walk-through before final payment — passed
- 48:39 · Oak Grove Cemetery TV Filming Request
Talos Films requested permission to film at Oak Grove Cemetery for the show ‘Hometown Horror’ covering Lizzie Borden and Sarah Maria Cornell, agreeing that funeral operations take precedence. - 59:45 · Colin Dias Open Meeting Law Complaint — approved
The board and resident Colin Dias discussed allegations in an Open Meeting Law complaint regarding a roll call vote tally and board procedures from the January 9 meeting. - 1:07:14 · Parks and Cemetery Department Updates — approved
Staff shared updates on seasonal field permit filings, council inquiries on park lighting, staffing challenges in the tree division and cemetery, and cemetery digitization fund transfers.