The Fall River City Council met on May 26, 2026, approving a significant appropriation of $501,300 from Community Preservation Act (CPA), FY27 Funding, for Community Housing funds to the Fall River Preservation Society. The vote was 8 yeas to adopt the order, with President Ponte abstaining. This funding is intended to assist the Fall River Preservation Society in purchasing and renovating 604 Rock Street, a project that includes affordable housing units and a 25-year deed restriction on the property. Representatives from the Fall River Preservation Society provided details on the project, addressing questions regarding a typographical error in the address on previously signed documents and plans for current residents.
In other key decisions, the Council unanimously confirmed several appointments to various boards and commissions. Barbara Jean, Susana Ribeiro, and Lorraine Sherry were all confirmed for reappointment to the Council on Aging. Ken Schadegg was confirmed for appointment to the Historical Commission, and Orlando Rodrigues was confirmed for appointment to the Planning Board. All these confirmations were passed by unanimous votes.
The Council also addressed a loan order of $29,800,000 for the purchase of the former Bishop Connolly High School property at 373 Elsbree Street. This loan order was authorized to be published and referred to the Committee on Finance, with a vote of 7 yeas, 1 nay, and Councilor Raposo abstaining. Additionally, the Council considered and voted on several appropriations from FY25 Surplus Revenue, including $2,000,000 to the Employer Health Care Trust Fund (approved 7-2), $1,700,000 to the Diman Stabilization Fund (approved 8-1), and $2,336,175.90 to the General Fund Stabilization (approved unanimously).
A communication from the Mayor and Treasurer/Collector regarding the acquisition of property under tax possession at 308 South Main Street was accepted and placed on file. The Council also voted to refer the Traffic Commission’s recommendation to amend traffic ordinances to the Committee on Ordinances and Legislation and unanimously passed a proposed ordinance on traffic, miscellaneous through second reading and enrollment, and to be ordained.
Regarding resolutions, the Committee on Public Safety’s request to discuss safety concerns at the Southeastern Regional Transit Authority (SRTA) terminal was unanimously adopted. A contentious resolution requesting a forensic audit of Community Maintenance operations from Fiscal Year 2022 to the present saw a proposed amendment to send a letter to the Massachusetts State Auditor requesting an audit, which failed with a 2-7 vote. A further amendment to change the fiscal year in the resolution from FY 2026 to FY 2027 also failed with a 5-4 vote against. The resolution as amended was then voted upon, failing with a 4-5 vote, indicating a clear split among councilors on the approach to the audit.
Finally, the Committee on Ordinances and Legislation’s resolution to convene to amend the ordinance for naming City buildings, parks, recreational facilities, and other public properties was unanimously adopted. Several drainlayer licenses were also unanimously approved.
Key actions
- Voted unanimously to take item 8a out of order
- Voted unanimously to waive the rules to allow James Souza and Steven Long to answer questions
- Voted 8 yeas to adopt the order appropriating $501,300 from Community Preservation Act, FY27 Funding, Community Housing funds to the Fall River Preservation Society
- Confirmed Barbara Jean for reappointment to the Council on Aging unanimously
- Confirmed Susana Ribeiro for reappointment to the Council on Aging unanimously
- Confirmed Lorraine Sherry for reappointment to the Council on Aging unanimously
- Confirmed Ken Schadegg for appointment to the Historical Commission unanimously
- Confirmed Orlando Rodrigues for appointment to the Planning Board unanimously
- Voted unanimously that the communication re: POST Commission’s Division of Police Standards review be accepted and placed on file
- Authorized the loan order of $29,800,000 for the purchase of the former Bishop Connolly High School property to be published and referred to the Committee on Finance, 7-1 with 1 abstention
- Voted unanimously to lay the veto of the proposed ordinance authorizing the City Council to hire outside legal counsel on the table
- Voted unanimously to waive the rules to allow Emily Arpke to answer questions regarding the $2,000,000 appropriation
- Adopted the order appropriating $2,000,000 from FY25 Surplus Revenue to Employer Health Care Trust Fund, 7-2
- Voted unanimously to waive the rules to allow Emily Arpke to answer questions regarding the $1,700,000 appropriation
- Adopted the order appropriating $1,700,000 from FY25 Surplus Revenue to Diman Stabilization Fund, 8-1
- Adopted the order appropriating $2,336,175.90 from FY25 Surplus Revenue to General Fund Stabilization unanimously
- Voted unanimously that the communication regarding the acquisition of property at 308 South Main Street be accepted and placed on file
- Voted unanimously to refer the Traffic Commission recommendation to the Committee on Ordinances and Legislation
- Voted unanimously that the proposed ordinance – Traffic, Miscellaneous (one-hour parking and handicapped parking removals) be passed through second reading and enrollment
- Voted unanimously that the proposed ordinance be passed to be ordained
- Voted unanimously to adopt the resolution from the Committee on Public Safety to discuss safety concerns at Southeastern Regional Transit Authority (SRTA) terminal
- Voted 2 yeas, 7 nays to amend the resolution regarding forensic audit by requesting a letter to the Massachusetts State Auditor (motion failed)
- Voted 5 yeas, 4 nays to amend the resolution by striking out “FY 2026 Operating Budget” and inserting “FY 2027 Operating Budget” (motion failed)
- Voted 4 yeas, 5 nays to adopt the resolution regarding forensic audit as amended (motion failed)
- Voted unanimously to adopt the resolution from the Committee on Ordinances and Legislation to amend ordinance for naming City buildings, parks, recreational facilities and other public properties
- Voted unanimously that the citation for Police Chief Kelly Furtado be accepted and placed on file
- Voted unanimously that the citation for First Responders – Emergency Medical Services Week be accepted and placed on file
- Voted unanimously to take items 16 through 18 together
- Voted unanimously to adopt the orders for jointly owned pole locations (King Philip Street, Meridian Street, New Boston Road)
- Voted unanimously to take items 19 through 22 together
- Voted unanimously to adopt the orders for Police Chief’s Report on Licenses (Taxicab Drivers Michael H. Souza, Ricardo Raposa)
- Voted unanimously to approve the drainlayer applications (Daniels Asphalt Services, Inc., Geologic Earth Exploration, Inc., Perfected Construction LLC, S. Oliveira Construction Corp., Thermo-Mechanical Systems Inc.)
- Voted unanimously that the Planning Board Minutes – April 8, 2026 be accepted and placed on file
- Voted unanimously to approve the City Council Minutes, Committee on Finance – April 28, 2026
- Voted unanimously to approve the Regular Meeting of the City Council – April 28, 2026 minutes
- Voted unanimously to lift item 9a from the table
- Voted 4 yeas, 5 nays to table the resolution from the Committee on Ordinances and Legislation recommending legal action to determine City Council’s authority (motion failed)
- Voted 5 yeas, 4 nays to adopt the resolution from the Committee on Ordinances and Legislation regarding legal action (motion failed)
- Voted unanimously that the proposed ordinance – Traffic, Violations and penalties be passed through first reading, as amended
- Voted unanimously to adjourn at 12:09 a.m.
How each councilor voted
| Motion | Ponte | Cadime | Camara | Canuel | Dionne | Hart | Peckham | Pereira | Raposo |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Take item 8a out of order (Unanimously voted) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Waive rules to allow James Souza and Steven Long to answer questions (Unanimously voted) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Adopt the order appropriating $501,300 from CPA, FY27 Funding to Fall River Preservation Society (Adopted 8 yeas, 1 abstaining) | A | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Confirm reappointment of Barbara Jean to the Council on Aging (Unanimously voted to confirm) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Confirm reappointment of Susana Ribeiro to the Council on Aging (Unanimously voted to confirm) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Confirm reappointment of Lorraine Sherry to the Council on Aging (Unanimously voted to confirm) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Confirm appointment of Ken Schadegg to the Historical Commission (Unanimously voted to confirm) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Confirm appointment of Orlando Rodrigues to the Planning Board (Unanimously voted to confirm) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Accept and place on file communication re: POST Commission’s Division of Police Standards review (Unanimously voted) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Authorize loan order of $29,800,000 for purchase of former Bishop Connolly High School property to be published and referred to Committee on Finance (Voted 7 yeas, 1 nay, 1 abstaining) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | A |
| Lay the veto of the proposed ordinance authorizing the City Council to hire outside legal counsel on the table (Unanimously voted) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Waive rules to allow Emily Arpke to answer questions regarding $2,000,000 appropriation (Unanimously voted) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Adopt order appropriating $2,000,000 from FY25 Surplus Revenue to Employer Health Care Trust Fund (Voted 7 yeas, 2 nays) | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | N | Y | Y |
| Waive rules to allow Emily Arpke to answer questions regarding $1,700,000 appropriation (Unanimously voted) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Adopt order appropriating $1,700,000 from FY25 Surplus Revenue to Diman Stabilization Fund (Voted 8 yeas, 1 nay) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | N | Y | Y |
| Adopt order appropriating $2,336,175.90 from FY25 Surplus Revenue to General Fund Stabilization (Unanimously voted to adopt) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Accept and place on file communication re: acquisition of property at 308 South Main Street (Unanimously voted) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Refer Traffic Commission recommendation to Committee on Ordinances and Legislation (Unanimously voted) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Pass proposed ordinance – Traffic, Miscellaneous through second reading and enrollment (Unanimously voted) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Pass proposed ordinance – Traffic, Miscellaneous to be ordained (Unanimously voted) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Adopt resolution re: safety concerns at Southeastern Regional Transit Authority (SRTA) terminal (Unanimously voted) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Amend resolution re: forensic audit by requesting letter to Massachusetts State Auditor (Motion failed 2 yeas, 7 nays) | N | N | N | Y | Y | N | N | N | N |
| Amend resolution re: forensic audit to change fiscal year to FY 2027 (Motion failed 5 yeas, 4 nays) | Y | Y | N | N | N | N | Y | Y | Y |
| Adopt resolution re: forensic audit as amended (Motion failed 4 yeas, 5 nays) | Y | Y | N | N | N | N | Y | N | Y |
| Adopt resolution to amend ordinance for naming City buildings, parks, recreational facilities (Voted 9 yeas to adopt) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Accept and place on file citation for Police Chief Kelly Furtado (Unanimously voted) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Accept and place on file citation for First Responders – Emergency Medical Services Week (Unanimously voted) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Take items 16 through 18 together (Unanimously voted) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Adopt orders for jointly owned pole locations (King Philip Street, Meridian Street, New Boston Road) (Unanimously voted) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Take items 19 through 22 together (Unanimously voted) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Adopt orders for Police Chief’s Report on Licenses (Taxicab Drivers Michael H. Souza, Ricardo Raposa) (Unanimously voted) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Approve drainlayer applications (Unanimously voted) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Accept and place on file Planning Board Minutes – April 8, 2026 (Unanimously voted) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Approve City Council Minutes, Committee on Finance – April 28, 2026 (Unanimously voted) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Approve Regular Meeting of the City Council – April 28, 2026 minutes (Unanimously voted) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Lift item 9a from the table (Unanimously voted) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Table resolution from Committee on Ordinances and Legislation recommending legal action to determine City Council’s authority (Motion failed 4 yeas, 5 nays) | N | N | Y | Y | N | Y | N | Y | N |
| Adopt resolution from Committee on Ordinances and Legislation regarding legal action to determine City Council’s authority (Motion failed 5 yeas, 4 nays) | Y | Y | N | N | Y | Y | Y | N | Y |
| Pass proposed ordinance – Traffic, Violations and penalties through first reading, as amended (Unanimously voted) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
| Adjourn meeting (Unanimously voted) | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y | Y |
Y = yes · N = no · A = abstained · P = present · — = absent. Votes the minutes do not record individually are inferred from the result and the attendance roll.