The Fall River Board of Health held a virtual meeting on December 3, 2020, with members Thomas Corey and Dr. Stephen Gagliardi present, and Stephanie Perry absent. The board approved the minutes from their February 26 and November 5, 2020 meetings before proceeding to review proposed regulations governing the keeping of animals. Key points of discussion included requiring explicit landlord consent for tenants applying to keep animals, ensuring application and permitting fees adequately cover city costs for certified mail notices sent to abutters within 300 feet, and removing permit exemptions so that all chicken owners must obtain permits. The board voted to forward the draft regulations to Corporation Counsel for legal review and fee structure guidance.
The board also addressed an Open Meeting Law complaint filed by Patrick Higgins regarding the November 5, 2020 meeting, voting to refer the complaint to Corporation Counsel. Under new business, Agent Tess Curran provided an update on COVID-19 in Fall River, reporting 5,257 confirmed cases and two additional deaths since the previous day, bringing the city’s total COVID-associated fatalities to 172. Curran also outlined ongoing inspectional enforcement efforts and fine structures for businesses violating COVID-19 mandates and food codes. The board scheduled its next meeting for January 14, 2021, at 4:00 PM before voting to adjourn.
Topics discussed
- 0:40 · Approval of Minutes — approved
Adoption of the minutes from the February 26, 2020, and November 5, 2020 meetings. - 1:44 · Keeping of Animals Regulations
Review of draft regulations on animal keeping, covering landlord awareness/approval language, abutter notice fees, permitting fees, and requiring permits for all chickens. - 16:06 · Patrick Higgins Open Meeting Law Complaint — referred
Review and referral to Corporation Counsel of an Open Meeting Law complaint alleging a violation at the November 5, 2020 meeting. - 16:48 · COVID-19 Health and Enforcement Update — referred
Report on local COVID-19 statistics, state stay-at-home guidance, and inspectional services enforcement against non-compliant businesses. - 22:35 · Next Meeting Scheduling — passed
Discussion and scheduling of the next regular meeting for January 14, 2021, at 4:00 PM.