The Fall River City Council met on February 10, 2026, opening with a Committee on Finance meeting followed by a regular meeting. During citizens’ input, former Raynham official James Dupont addressed the council regarding state aid shortfalls and property taxes under Proposition 2½. Financial Services Director Emily Arpke presented the fiscal year 2026 Quarter 2 budget report alongside Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon, Chief of Police Kelly A. Furtado, and EMS Chief Beth Fox. The discussion touched on cash flow, salt supply shortages, MSBA project closeouts, fire department overtime staffing levels post-Gabriel House fire, and increased litigation costs requiring additional funding for the Law Department.
In the regular City Council meeting, councilors confirmed the reappointments of Ann O’Neil-Souza, Dennis Borselli, and Daniel Robillard to the Commission on Disability, setting their effective dates to February 10, 2026. A proposed transfer of $750,000 from the opioid stabilization fund to the opioid settlement revolving fund was referred back to the Committee on Finance due to requests for more specific spending details, while capital transfers totaling over $2.23 million from FY 2025 surplus revenue were approved—including $1,230,000 for Fire and Emergency Services capital, $650,000 for Police capital, and $350,000 for Administrative Services legal expenses.
The council also referred the five-year financial forecast to Finance and a salary ordinance for the Director of Municipal Buildings/Inspector of Buildings to the Committee on Ordinances and Legislation. Additionally, the council adopted a resolution sponsored by Councilors Michael G. Canuel and Michelle M. Dionne directing the Committee on Public Works and Transportation to convene a debrief with administration and emergency officials regarding the response to the January 25–26, 2026 snowstorm.
Topics discussed
- 3:36 · State Aid and Local Property Taxes
James Dupont presented concerns on Massachusetts state underfunding of local aid and Proposition 2½ impacts. - 13:00 · MSBA Project Audits and Deficits
Discussion regarding final paperwork submissions and audits for Westall, RPA, TNZ, and Durfee MSBA projects. - 19:39 · Salt Supply and Snow Removal Deficit
Councilors inquired about salt shortages and delayed invoices, and discussed snow removal deficit spending. - 22:40 · Fire Department Staffing and Overtime
Chief Bacon discussed overtime drivers, firefighter hiring, civil service exams, a joint recruit academy, and SAFER grant applications. - 26:20 · EMS Enterprise Fund Budget and Operations
EMS Chief Beth Fox discussed front-loaded expenses, supply cost increases, PCG reimbursements, and the EMT training program. - 29:05 · Quarter 2 FY 2026 Financial Update
Emily Arpke reviewed city revenues, expenses, invoice timing, and enterprise fund standings. - 1:11:38 · Central Fire Station and Stanley Street Station Conditions
Discussion regarding structural issues reported at the Stanley Street fire station and Central Station asbestos testing. - 1:18:55 · Refer proposed appropriation of $750,000 from Opioid Stabilization Fund to Opioid Settlement Revolving Fund to the Committee on Finance — referred
Refer proposed appropriation of $750,000 from Opioid Stabilization Fund to Opioid Settlement Revolving Fund to the Committee on Finance - 1:19:04 · Opioid Settlement Fund Appropriation
Proposed $750,000 transfer from Opioid Stabilization to the Revolving Fund for PASS, CARES, and FAST programs. - 1:35:34 · Capital Transfers for Fire, Police, and Legal Services
Appropriations from FY 2025 surplus revenue for fire apparatus, police vehicles, and outside counsel litigation expenses. - 1:35:46 · Adopt order transferring $350,000 from FY 2025 surplus revenue to Administrative Services expenses — passed
Adopt order transferring $350,000 from FY 2025 surplus revenue to Administrative Services expenses - 1:40:04 · Commission on Disability Reappointments
Confirmation of Ann O’Neil-Souza, Dennis Borselli, and Daniel Robillard to the Commission on Disability. - 1:42:00 · Confirm the reappointment of Ann O’Neil-Souza to the Commission on Disability effective February 10, 2026 — approved
Confirm the reappointment of Ann O’Neil-Souza to the Commission on Disability effective February 10, 2026 - 1:42:05 · Confirm the reappointment of Dennis Borselli to the Commission on Disability effective February 10, 2026 — approved
Confirm the reappointment of Dennis Borselli to the Commission on Disability effective February 10, 2026 - 1:42:19 · Confirm the reappointment of Daniel Robillard to the Commission on Disability effective February 10, 2026 — approved
Confirm the reappointment of Daniel Robillard to the Commission on Disability effective February 10, 2026 - 1:42:44 · Refer the Mayor’s five-year financial forecast to the Committee on Finance — referred
Refer the Mayor’s five-year financial forecast to the Committee on Finance - 1:43:05 · Refer proposed salary ordinance for Director of Municipal Buildings and Code Enforcement/Inspector of Buildings to Committee on Ordinances and Legislation — referred
Refer proposed salary ordinance for Director of Municipal Buildings and Code Enforcement/Inspector of Buildings to Committee on Ordinances and Legislation - 1:43:34 · Accept and place on file communication from Mayor informing council of deficit spending in snow and ice account — passed
Accept and place on file communication from Mayor informing council of deficit spending in snow and ice account - 1:44:27 · Adopt order transferring $1,230,000 from FY 2025 surplus revenue to Fire and Emergency Services Capital — passed
Adopt order transferring $1,230,000 from FY 2025 surplus revenue to Fire and Emergency Services Capital - 1:44:45 · Adopt order transferring $650,000 from FY 2025 surplus revenue to Police Capital — passed
Adopt order transferring $650,000 from FY 2025 surplus revenue to Police Capital - 1:45:42 · Accept and place on file communication regarding Central Fire Station status and asbestos testing report — passed
Accept and place on file communication regarding Central Fire Station status and asbestos testing report - 1:45:58 · Pass to be ordained the ordinance amending City Council committee titles — passed
Pass to be ordained the ordinance amending City Council committee titles - 1:46:00 · Refer Traffic Commission recommendations for traffic ordinance amendments to Committee on Ordinances and Legislation — referred
Refer Traffic Commission recommendations for traffic ordinance amendments to Committee on Ordinances and Legislation - 1:46:23 · Pass through second reading and enrollment ordinance amending City Council committee titles — passed
Pass through second reading and enrollment ordinance amending City Council committee titles - 1:46:23 · Adopt resolution directing Committee on Public Works and Transportation to convene a debrief on the January 25–26, 2026 snow event — passed
Adopt resolution directing Committee on Public Works and Transportation to convene a debrief on the January 25–26, 2026 snow event - 1:46:26 · Snow Event Debrief Resolution
Council approved a resolution calling for a Public Works committee debrief on the January 25–26 snow event response. - 1:50:20 · Adopt order scheduling street acceptance hearings for February 24, 2026 for Brookfield Terrace, Fieldstone Lane, and Stony Brook Circle — passed
Adopt order scheduling street acceptance hearings for February 24, 2026 for Brookfield Terrace, Fieldstone Lane, and Stony Brook Circle - 1:50:46 · Adopt auto body shop license renewals for Santos Custom Coatings LLC and Paul’s Auto Body and Sales — passed
Adopt auto body shop license renewals for Santos Custom Coatings LLC and Paul’s Auto Body and Sales - 1:51:10 · Adopt auto repair shop license renewal for SM Automotive LLC — passed
Adopt auto repair shop license renewal for SM Automotive LLC - 1:51:24 · Refer claims to Corporation Counsel — referred
Refer claims to Corporation Counsel - 1:51:26 · Open Meeting Law Complaint
Complaint regarding meeting times from January 27, 2026 was discussed and referred to Corporation Counsel. - 1:53:25 · Refer Open Meeting Law complaint regarding January 27, 2026 meeting to Corporation Counsel — referred
Refer Open Meeting Law complaint regarding January 27, 2026 meeting to Corporation Counsel - 1:54:10 · Approve City Council meeting minutes of public hearings, Committee on Finance, and regular meeting of January 27, 2026 — approved
Approve City Council meeting minutes of public hearings, Committee on Finance, and regular meeting of January 27, 2026