The Fall River City Council held a series of meetings on July 14, 2020, beginning with public hearings regarding curb removals, pole relocations, and underground conduits for National Grid, all of which passed without public opposition. The Council then convened into the Committee on Finance, reviewing written citizens’ input that addressed substance abuse counseling outreach by Council members, housing eviction moratoriums, and unpaved roads and drainage problems in unfinished private developments like Linwood Street. Former and current officials from the Fall River Redevelopment Authority presented plans for the City Pier, confirming that approximately $1.6 million would be funded without municipal tax dollars to construct railings, lighting, and sidewalks.
Significant financial discussions centered on the FY 2020 year-end budget transfers. Finance Director Mary Sahadi clarified that a $480,000 transfer, which drew $280,223 from police department salary surpluses to fund Department of Community Maintenance trash disposal payments to Republic Services and insurance settlements, was merely standard year-end accounting to capture 13 billing cycles rather than an attempt to defund police operations. Frustrations surfaced strongly regarding the consistent absence of Corporation Counsel at Council meetings, prompting a unanimous vote authorizing Council President Cliff Ponte to seek a cost estimate from KP Law to serve as independent special counsel for the City Council.
During the regular council meeting, members adopted an August continuing appropriation budget for FY 2021 and approved the disputed FY 2020 year-end transfers by an 8-1 roll-call vote, with Councilor Christopher Peckham dissenting. The Council also voted to refer a five-year, $2.6 million school bus transportation contract with Whaling City Transit to the Committee on Finance for further review, designated the hydrangea as Fall River’s official ornamental flower, tabled park commissioner appointments over legal questions under Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 45, and created a three-member ad hoc committee to push for statewide subdivision zoning reform to hold developers accountable.
Topics discussed
- 6:11 · Close public hearings on curb removals, pole locations, and underground conduits — passed
- 41:45 · Linwood Street Infrastructure and Developer Abandonment
Residents and councilors discussed terrible road conditions, drainage failure, and the legal issues surrounding unfinished developments where developers dissolved LLCs. - 1:29:20 · City Pier Redevelopment and Financing
Presentation on the next phase of the City Pier improvements involving railings, walkways, and lighting funded through the Redevelopment Authority without city tax dollars. - 1:52:24 · Table discussion order for Community Preservation Act funds FY 2021 — tabled
- 1:53:31 · Adopt August continuing appropriation budget for FY 2021 — passed
- 2:03:19 · FY 2020 Year-End Transfers and Police Department Funding
Debate over transferring $280,223 in surplus police salary funds to cover trash disposal payments and workers’ compensation settlements, addressing public misconceptions about ‘defunding’ police. - 2:15:40 · Trash Disposal Accounting and Revenue Deficits
DCM Director John Perry and Mary Sahadi explained why 13 monthly trash disposal invoices to Republic Services were paid in FY 2020 to align future fiscal cycles. - 3:20:16 · Leave to withdraw order rescinding the July FY 2021 continuing appropriation — approved
- 3:22:04 · Adopt communication allowing Q4 budget report submission in August — passed
- 3:22:37 · Refer proposed FY 2021 Water and Sewer rates to Committee on Ordinances — referred
- 3:22:45 · Adopt appropriation order for FY 2020 year-end obligations (transfers) — passed
- 3:26:40 · School Bus Transportation Contract with Whaling City Transit — tabled
Council debated approving a 5-year special education bus contract worth over $2.6 million in year one given COVID-19 school reopening uncertainties. - 3:35:19 · Corporation Counsel Absence and Independent Legal Representation
Councilors criticized Corporation Counsel’s absence from council meetings and authorized seeking a quote from KP Law to hire independent counsel for the Council. - 3:37:38 · Adopt order gifting 250 cobblestones to the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall — passed
- 3:40:26 · Table appointments of Amber Burns and others to Board of Park Commissioners — tabled
- 3:40:47 · Park Board Appointments and Legal Compliance Under MGL Chapter 45 — referred
Questions regarding state law limits on Park Board membership size and removal powers led to tabling new commissioner appointments. - 3:48:01 · Confirm appointment of Joanne Bentley to Fall River Housing Authority — approved
- 3:48:28 · Confirm reappointments of Victor Farias and Helen Rego to Board of Park Commissioners — approved
- 3:53:45 · Authorize Council President to seek quote from KP Law for special counsel to the City Council — passed
- 4:09:05 · Approve street opening request for Sykes Road and Currant Road for pavement less than 5 years old — passed
- 4:20:49 · Adopt resolution designating hydrangea as the official ornamental flower of Fall River as amended — passed
- 4:32:18 · Zoning Reform Ad Hoc Committee and Developer Accountability — tabled
Council created a three-member ad hoc committee to pursue state-level legislative reform holding subdivision developers accountable. - 4:38:38 · Schedule a joint meeting with the Planning Board to review unaccepted subdivisions — passed
- 4:38:42 · Leave to withdraw resolution regarding police detail and Northeast Alternatives — approved
- 4:39:12 · Adopt resolution calling for chief of police and administration to meet regarding plan and resources for violent crime — passed
- 4:44:10 · Addressing Rising Violent Crime and Police Resources — passed
Councilors reviewed alarming crime statistics and called for a joint executive/open session with the police chief to review strategy and equipment needs.