The Fall River Commission on Disability held a virtual meeting on March 10, 2021, chaired by Dennis Polselli. Following the approval of the February 10, 2021 meeting minutes, Sergeant Kevin Dolan from the Fall River Police Department presented an overview of the disability parking enforcement detail program. Dolan detailed enforcement efforts by Officers John Riley and David Gouveia, sharing specific case examples of misuse of handicap placards and parking violations at locations including Walmart, Stop & Shop, and Market Basket. Commissioner Daniel Robillard voiced concerns about officers waiting up to an hour for violators and requested a revised memorandum of understanding (MOU), but his motion failed due to lack of a second.
During updates, the commission discussed recent work group meetings on audible pedestrian signals (APS) with national expert Beezy Bentzen and City Administrator John Perry, noting plans for a follow-up meeting on March 31. Under finance, the commission voted 3-1 to renew the Fall River Police Department detail disability parking enforcement program for the upcoming year, with Commissioner Robillard casting the dissenting vote. Additionally, the commission reviewed the progress of a student scholarship program across three high schools, with plans to allocate funds at the April 14 meeting.
Topics discussed
- 1:56 · Approval of Meeting Minutes — approved
Roll call vote approving the minutes of the February 10, 2021 meeting. - 3:06 · Disability Parking Enforcement Detail Presentation
Sergeant Kevin Dolan explained how two patrol officers inspect vehicles, issue $505 citations for misuse and $200 parking tickets, and forward confiscated placards to the parking clerk. - 3:11 · Renewal of Police Detail Enforcement Program
Formal motion and roll-call vote approving renewal of the handicap parking enforcement detail program. - 30:07 · Revision of Police Department MOU — failed
Motion to consider revising the 2016 MOU between the Commission on Disability and the Police Department within 60 days, which died for lack of a second. - 31:53 · Audible Pedestrian Signals and ADA Grant Updates — approved
Chairman Polselli summarized a February 24 work group meeting regarding audible traffic signals and upcoming follow-up on the ADA improvement grant at City Hall. - 37:47 · High School Scholarship Program Outreach — passed
Commissioner Lisa Silva shared updates on gathering student counts from three high schools to allocate scholarship funding. - 39:02 · Massachusetts Office on Disability Webinar Announcement
Announcement of a free April 14 webinar by Jeff Dougan covering outdoor dining accessibility regulations.