City of Fall River Meetings
Search and subscribe to city meeting topics that impact you
Newsletters
Subscribe
← Back to video
7.14.2026 City Council
−
Fit
+
IN
0:00
OUT
0:00
Length
0:00
▶ Play selection
Export clip
Keyboard:
I
set in,
O
set out,
←
/
→
nudge playhead 5s.
0:02
This Forest City Council public hearing will now be called to order.
In
Out
0:05
It is 5:58.
In
Out
0:08
Madam Clerk, roll call please.
In
Out
0:10
Councilor Cadime?
In
Out
0:11
Here.
In
Out
0:12
Camara?
In
Out
0:12
Here.
In
Out
0:13
Canuel?
In
Out
0:14
Here.
In
Out
0:14
Dion?
In
Out
0:15
Here.
In
Out
0:16
Hart?
In
Out
0:17
Peckham?
In
Out
0:17
Here.
In
Out
0:18
Ferreras?
In
Out
0:19
Here.
In
Out
0:19
Raposo?
In
Out
0:20
Here.
In
Out
0:20
President Ponte?
In
Out
0:21
Here.
In
Out
0:21
Pursuant to the open meeting law, any person may make an audio or video recording of this public meeting or may transmit the meeting through any medium.
In
Out
0:27
Attendees are therefore advised that such recordings or transmissions are being made, whether perceived or unperceived by those present, and are deemed acknowledged and permissible.
In
Out
0:36
Motion to open public hearing.
In
Out
0:37
Motion to open public hearing has been made by Councilor Raposo, seconded by Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
0:41
All those in favor?
In
Out
0:42
Aye.
In
Out
0:42
Opposed?
In
Out
0:42
The ayes have it.
In
Out
0:44
Item number 1, Timothy Long, 1343 Newhall Street, for the removal of curbing.
In
Out
0:50
The existing parcel was previously served by a 15-foot curb opening driveway.
In
Out
0:55
The applicant requests permission to extend the existing opening by an additional 9 feet 1 inch.
In
Out
1:02
The total opening for the location will be 24 feet 1 inch.
In
Out
1:06
This is after the fact— this is after the fact submission.
In
Out
1:10
The work was performed without the required permitting.
In
Out
1:14
Calling all proponents wishing to speak on this item.
In
Out
1:16
Calling all proponents.
In
Out
1:18
Hearing none, calling all opponents wishing to speak.
In
Out
1:21
Calling all opponents.
In
Out
1:23
Hearing none.
In
Out
1:24
To be clear, that is 677 Meridian Street.
In
Out
1:27
He raised his hand for proponent right there.
In
Out
1:29
Mr. Long, come down.
In
Out
1:31
I'm sorry.
In
Out
1:32
Yeah, to be clear, the address is 677 Meridian Street.
In
Out
1:38
Uh, you did have a prior address of 1343 Newhall Street.
In
Out
1:42
So for the record, the petitioner is asking for 677 Meridian Street.
In
Out
1:48
I'm going to ask for all proponents one more time.
In
Out
1:51
Hearing none, all opponents?
In
Out
1:53
Thank you.
In
Out
1:54
Item number 2, Glenn J. Hathaway, 46 Bowen Street, for the removal of curbing as follows.
In
Out
2:00
The existing parcel was previous— this is on 46 Bowen Street.
In
Out
2:04
The existing parcel was previously served by a 25-foot 11-inch curb opening driveway.
In
Out
2:12
The applicant requests permission to create an additional 16-foot curb opening and driveway.
In
Out
2:17
The total opening will— for the location will be 41 feet 11 inches.
In
Out
2:22
Calling all proponents wishing to speak.
In
Out
2:27
Hearing none.
In
Out
2:27
Calling all opponents wishing to speak.
In
Out
2:29
Hearing none.
In
Out
2:32
Item number 3 on our public hearing is Joshua Rodriks of 840 Rodman Street for the removal of curbing as follows.
In
Out
2:38
At 840 Rodman Street, the existing parcel is currently served by a 16-foot opening driveway.
In
Out
2:46
The applicant proposes to extend the existing opening by an additional 7 feet westerly.
In
Out
2:52
The total opening for the location will be 23 feet.
In
Out
2:55
Calling all proponents.
In
Out
2:58
Calling all opponents.
In
Out
3:01
Hearing none.
In
Out
3:02
Item number 4 is a secondhand article store.
In
Out
3:04
Connor Vendellucci— I hope I said that correct— doing business as Decked Out Trading Cards LLC of 1054 Wilson Road, Fall River, For permission to operate and maintain a secondhand article store located at 1665 South Main Street, trading cards to be sold.
In
Out
3:24
Calling all proponents.
In
Out
3:27
Hearing none.
In
Out
3:28
Calling all opponents.
In
Out
3:31
Hearing none.
In
Out
3:31
Motion to close public hearing.
In
Out
3:32
Motion to close the public hearing made by Councilor Raposo, seconded by Councilor Cano.
In
Out
3:36
All those in favor?
In
Out
3:37
Aye.
In
Out
3:37
Opposed?
In
Out
3:38
The ayes have it.
In
Out
3:39
Motion to adjourn the meeting.
In
Out
3:41
Oh, sorry, motion to close proceedings.
In
Out
3:52
Motion to adjourn.
In
Out
3:53
I didn't take a motion.
In
Out
3:54
To adjourn has been made by Councilor Raposo, seconded by Councilor Pereira.
In
Out
3:57
All those in favor?
In
Out
3:58
Aye.
In
Out
3:59
Opposed?
In
Out
3:59
The ayes have it.
In
Out
4:00
The public hearing is considered adjourned.
In
Out
4:32
This Fort Worth City Council— this Fort Worth City Council Committee on Finance meeting will now be called to order.
In
Out
4:37
It is 6:03 PM.
In
Out
4:40
Madam Clerk, roll call please.
In
Out
4:42
Councilor Cadime?
In
Out
4:42
Here.
In
Out
4:43
Camara?
In
Out
4:44
Here.
In
Out
4:44
Cano?
In
Out
4:45
Here.
In
Out
4:45
Dion?
In
Out
4:46
Here.
In
Out
4:47
Hart?
In
Out
4:47
Peckham?
In
Out
4:49
Here.
In
Out
4:49
Pereira?
In
Out
4:50
Here.
In
Out
4:51
Raposo?
In
Out
4:51
Here.
In
Out
4:51
President Ponte?
In
Out
4:52
Here.
In
Out
4:53
I just wanted to let everybody know that Councilor Hart did inform me today he is under the weather and he will not be attending tonight's meeting.
In
Out
4:58
Pursuant to the open meeting law, any person may make an audio or video recording of of this public meeting or may transmit the meeting through any medium.
In
Out
5:05
Attendees are therefore advised that such recordings or transmissions are being made, whether perceived or unperceived by those present, and are deemed acknowledged and permissible.
In
Out
5:14
First item on our agenda is a citation.
In
Out
5:17
Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
5:35
Lauren has it.
In
Out
5:44
So I filed the city citation.
In
Out
5:47
Um, I love volunteerism in the city.
In
Out
5:49
People that come out and help us, people that come out and want to make the city better on their own time and not get paid for it.
In
Out
5:55
They just come out and help.
In
Out
5:56
This one individual I've seen at every event that I've been at with the veterans.
In
Out
6:02
He's a huge help for the veterans.
In
Out
6:03
He does everything they ask.
In
Out
6:05
He's over at the Pine Street location every time I go by there.
In
Out
6:09
He's bringing food outside to the cars, and he's got a group of some very— I don't even know how to word it— they're great, great kids that show up with you, and they put out flags for the veterans, they deliver food for the veterans.
In
Out
6:24
And as a matter of fact, a few weeks ago I had run into a 92-year-old veteran— we both know who that is— who needed assistance in the city and has been left by the wayside.
In
Out
6:33
He had reached out to me, needed assistance, and this gentleman right here went to his house with the veteran service agent to help the gentleman out, and they've been in constant contact with him over the last, uh, 3 or 4 months.
In
Out
6:45
So with that being said, I have a citation here for Jeffrey Sarnecki, if you don't mind coming down.
In
Out
6:56
Jeffrey, I want you to know that I greatly appreciate you.
In
Out
6:58
So the City Council official citation: Be it known that the City Council hereby extends its commendation to Jeffrey Sonecki in recognition of your overwhelming support of our veterans and willingness to continue reaching out to your brother and sister veterans in need.
In
Out
7:12
Be it further known that the Forest City Council extends best wishes for continued success and that this citation be entered into the records of the City Council.
In
Out
7:20
It is signed by myself and Council President Ponte.
In
Out
7:23
And I also want to thank you for your service because you are a veteran as well, and I appreciate you, and I know we all do.
In
Out
7:29
So with that being said, thank you.
In
Out
7:35
Congratulations.
In
Out
7:38
Thank you, Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
7:40
Item number 1, citizens' input.
In
Out
7:42
We have 2 people have signed up to speak, 3 minutes each.
In
Out
7:45
Ian Tompkins, 636 Rock Street, regarding a zoning amendment.
In
Out
7:57
Hello, Council.
In
Out
7:58
How are you?
In
Out
8:00
So I just came down to speak about the zoning amendment that I kind of unexpectedly put in on Friday.
In
Out
8:07
I spoke with the Niagara Neighborhood Association president yesterday.
In
Out
8:11
They're probably a little bit opposed to it, so I'm going to continue to talk to them a little bit about it.
In
Out
8:16
But, um, basically the reason I proposed it was because I was going to go to the zoning board about 450 Cambridge Street, as I would like to turn it into a 5-family, and I know that that would meet the lot size requirements under the new A-2 zoning rules.
In
Out
8:34
And, uh, you know, I took a look around and I figured most of the neighborhood probably more conforms to the A-2 rules than to the R-4 zoning rules that it's currently there.
In
Out
8:44
It abuts A-2 to the north and to the west.
In
Out
8:48
It abuts a bunch of commercial and business districts.
In
Out
8:52
There's even more A-2 zoning to the south of it.
In
Out
8:57
So, uh, you know, I figured it kind of makes sense to request to turn it into an A-2 district rather than try to continue to than to just go right to zoning and try to spot zone my parcel, basically.
In
Out
9:10
But, um, and even if you look at the single-family homes in the district, most of them already conform to the A-2 because they're small lot single-family homes.
In
Out
9:19
They're not like single-family homes on enormous things that people could then turn into like 4 or 5 family homes.
In
Out
9:25
So that's pretty much the reason why I decided I'd rather propose the zoning amendment than just go to the zoning board directly.
In
Out
9:32
I probably still need to go and get a special permit because of lot coverage, but that's pretty much where I'm at.
In
Out
9:38
Councilman C4, Council Vice President Dion.
In
Out
9:41
So if you weren't purchasing this house and didn't want to turn it into a 5-family, this never would have come about?
In
Out
9:49
Well, I've owned 450 Cambridge Street for like 8 years, and I've kind of wanted to turn it into a 5-family for the past like 4 or 5 years.
In
Out
9:56
So it's been on my life plan radar for a while.
In
Out
10:03
Um, have you spoken with any of your neighbors above?
In
Out
10:07
I mean, and I get that the Niagara president wouldn't be happy.
In
Out
10:11
I can fully understand that.
In
Out
10:13
Yeah.
In
Out
10:14
Um, well, I tried to explain to him that, like I said, most of the parcels aren't going to be affected.
In
Out
10:18
It's probably only a small handful of parcels, like if there's a Like, there's a couple, um, single-family homes on 8,000-square-foot lot that you could demolish and turn into a 3-family, but the cost-benefit to do that is pretty low or prohibitive.
In
Out
10:36
And then, um, most— you know, there's the new ADU laws, so any parcel that's a single-family that could, could just be turned into a 2-family anyway right now.
In
Out
10:46
So, and density is going to go up in the city no matter what.
In
Out
10:50
So I figured I would just kind of propose this.
In
Out
10:52
I talked to my neighbor that abuts me to the north.
In
Out
10:54
He supports it.
In
Out
10:56
My neighbor to the, to the east of me is a 6-family, and the— to the south of me is a school.
In
Out
11:04
So putting more families close to a school— because I, I, it's a— it's currently a 3-bedroom, a 4-bedroom, and a 4-bedroom apartment.
In
Out
11:12
So I would— I was going to turn my attic into a 2 or 3 bed, and I was going to turn my basement into a 2 or 3 bed.
In
Out
11:18
So getting more families close to a school seemed like a potentially good idea to me.
In
Out
11:23
So above and beyond needing to change the zoning, have you looked into if your basement can become an apartment?
In
Out
11:30
Because a lot of basements can't.
In
Out
11:32
It's got the height requirements and it's got the— it's got the placement for egress.
In
Out
11:36
It's got— I think it meets most of the requirements.
In
Out
11:38
I mean, I've, I've talked to Glenn before I did anything to it, uh, but it seemed— I'm like, feasibility-wise, it's— it seems feasible.
In
Out
11:49
Okay, thank you.
In
Out
11:50
With that, I yield.
In
Out
11:51
Thank you.
In
Out
11:52
Thank you.
In
Out
11:52
Uh, Councilman Seats, uh, 7, Councilor Pereira.
In
Out
11:56
I did also speak to the president of Niagara, and there are concerns with this, and it seems that this is something you want to do for your property.
In
Out
12:06
Why not just go to zoning yourself and see if that'll pass.
In
Out
12:10
I could.
In
Out
12:11
Yeah, well, why didn't you?
In
Out
12:13
Because— is there a reason why?
In
Out
12:15
I, I figured this would make more sense because there's A-2 to the north, to the west, and there's a bunch of commercial districts around it.
In
Out
12:24
And the city is, you know, the state wants to push for higher density in cities.
In
Out
12:28
This is— if you were to pick a parcel out of the city, this is a, like, a region that makes sense to make go in the A-2 direction versus, you know, going further to the south towards Tiverton and further to the north in the North End where it's big sprawling single-family homes.
In
Out
12:43
Meridian Street, you don't want to touch.
In
Out
12:45
So if you wanted to make higher density, this would be an area to do it, right?
In
Out
12:49
I mean, right now I live in an A-2 district on Rock Street, so, you know, I've got 6 families all around me and it makes sense to transform the historic as long as they're not done in a hideous manner.
In
Out
13:00
It makes sense to transform some of the historic mansions into multi-families.
In
Out
13:03
So now if you made this into a 4-family, 5-family— 5-family, do you have off-street parking?
In
Out
13:10
There's plenty of room.
In
Out
13:11
That's the reason— that's the only reason it qualifies, is because my particular property at 450 Cambridge is one of those— it's one of those rare double lots that has a massive 3-family and then a big yard.
In
Out
13:23
So I just want it rather than split the lot up and make another 3-family on the side of it like most people would do.
In
Out
13:29
I'd rather add 2 units to it and leave the yard nice and spacious and comfortable for people to use.
In
Out
13:34
I mean, because one of the concerns that people have had is if we start doing this all over this area, then we have to have more room for parking, and parking is very tight.
In
Out
13:44
Well, in that area, the rules— if you get it, that's why I asked if you had off-street parking.
In
Out
13:50
Yeah, it's required.
In
Out
13:51
Yeah, I would have to go to the zoning board to get around that parking requirement.
In
Out
13:53
I require to have 10 parking spaces, which I do.
In
Out
13:56
You can have— okay.
In
Out
13:57
Yeah, but other, other properties that are going to be transformed into a 3-family or whatever, they would have to show that they have space to put 3 parking spaces, which is— they probably don't.
In
Out
14:07
Well, sometimes they do a space and a half, which I can't really see that concept.
In
Out
14:12
I don't know anybody that has half a car, but, uh, maybe a motorcycle or something.
In
Out
14:17
Yeah, or bring your horse in.
In
Out
14:19
Thank you, Ian.
In
Out
14:20
I appreciate it.
In
Out
14:21
Thank you.
In
Out
14:21
Thank you.
In
Out
14:22
Just so we're clear, uh, Miss Tompkins, the item that is before us this evening, we are most likely going to refer the item to the planning board.
In
Out
14:29
The planning board would then schedule their own public hearing.
In
Out
14:33
They will go through their process, and then it will come back to us to schedule our public hearings and go through the process like we did earlier, just so you're aware.
In
Out
14:40
So there'll be no real action other than the referral to the planning board, most likely, this evening.
In
Out
14:45
That's about what I expected.
In
Out
14:47
Book.
In
Out
14:47
Thank you very much.
In
Out
14:48
Thank you.
In
Out
14:48
Thank you.
In
Out
14:48
All right, next person, Alex Silva, 148 Purchase Street, regarding 158 Bedford Street, the Central Police Station.
In
Out
15:00
Hello, uh, members of the City Council.
In
Out
15:02
Alexander Silva, 148 Purchase Street, president of the board of directors of the Preservation Society of Fall River.
In
Out
15:07
Uh, for several years, the Preservation Society of Fall River has requested that should demolition of the historic former Central Police Station building at 158 efforts become unavoidable, that the city should make every reasonable effort to salvage architecturally and historically significant elements for future preservation and reuse.
In
Out
15:25
With demolition now underway, we just heard actually from Attorney Matt Thomas today that the city has requested the contractor save irreplaceable features such as the carved eagles, the stone emblems, and the distinctive Fall River granite pillar so that they can be incorporated hopefully into a future memorial building project or historical display.
In
Out
15:44
However, the manner in which the demolition has proceeded should raise concern to the Council.
In
Out
15:49
The City has chosen to bypass the City's own ordinance dictating the demolition of municipally owned historic structures that this very Council approved.
In
Out
15:57
Rather than presenting evidence to the Historical Commission and requesting a waiver of the demolition delay, the City determined as early as February that the ordinance should not apply and bypassed a process that was specifically created to ensure transparency, public input, and careful consideration but for the loss of significant historic resources.
In
Out
16:14
The justification for this expedited demolition also raises serious concerns.
In
Out
16:19
The building inspector asserted that the former police station is unsafe and presents an immediate danger to the public.
In
Out
16:24
However, when the city sought demolition proposals nearly 6 months ago, no emergency was identified and no documented inspection was presented to support the claim that the building required an immediate $1.4 million taxpayer-funded demolition.
In
Out
16:37
In order to align with the city's street paving schedule.
In
Out
16:40
When members of the Historical Commission requested evidence supporting this determination, the building inspector acknowledged that no comprehensive inspection had been performed beyond looking through the building's doorway.
In
Out
16:50
Such a limited visual observation can hardly qualify as an evaluation.
In
Out
16:55
Earlier this week, the city announced that demolition would begin without presenting the public with a clear plan explaining how the work would be conducted or how environmental remediation and neighborhood impacts would managed.
In
Out
17:05
The loss of historic public buildings is significant in its own, but the absence of transparency and the failure of the city to follow its own ordinance or provide document— documented evidence supporting the emergency determination is an entirely different issue.
In
Out
17:19
I respectfully urge the City Council to exercise its oversight responsibilities by requesting a full public accounting of the basis for the emergency demolition determination.
In
Out
17:29
Ensuring that all feasible historic elements are salvaged before the demolition, and reviewing whether existing ordinances governing municipal historic buildings were actually properly followed.
In
Out
17:41
If shortcomings are identified, I encourage the council to consider measures that will prevent similar situations from occurring in the future, lest we lose something else needlessly.
In
Out
17:49
Thank you.
In
Out
17:50
Thank you.
In
Out
17:52
That will conclude citizens' input.
In
Out
17:54
Item number 2 is a resolution to convene with the Director of Financial Services, the Director of Operations and the interim director of community maintenance for updates on the administration's planning for residential solid waste and recycling collection.
In
Out
18:12
Resolution was filed by Councilor Kadim and Councilor Cannuel, whereas the 4-year residential solid waste and recycling collection contract is approaching expiration, and whereas the City Council seeks to ensure that future decisions regarding waste collection are informed by current Information collections are informed by current information, planning considerations, and financial impacts.
In
Out
18:34
Be it resolved that the Committee on Finance convene with the Director of Financial Services, the Director of City Operations, and the interim Director of Community Maintenance to discuss updates on the administration's planning for residential solid waste recycling collection, including general information regarding anticipated procurement timelines, planning considerations, and any other under review for the and any other options under review for future service delivery.
In
Out
18:58
Welcome.
In
Out
18:58
Uh, please, uh, introduce your, uh, name and title for the record, please.
In
Out
19:02
Anne O'Neill Souza, uh, interim city administrator.
In
Out
19:06
Al Oliveira, director of city operations.
In
Out
19:09
Chris Hathaway, director of community maintenance.
In
Out
19:12
Emily Arpke, CFO.
In
Out
19:13
Before I acknowledge all my colleagues who raised their hand, do the colleagues who sponsored the resolution like to speak first?
In
Out
19:17
Councilman seat 3, Councilor Canuel.
In
Out
19:19
Thank you.
In
Out
19:20
Um, this— obviously we're pretty far along from when this was adopted to where we're at, so I think, um, just to level set, where are we at with the trash contract right now in terms of those finalization of the contract?
In
Out
19:34
Right now there was a memorandum of understanding signed with the company and the city for a 90-day, um, stay of the execution of the contract due to the 112th budget, as the contract called for a guarantee of up to a year of financing being available, which we cannot do right now.
In
Out
19:54
So we are using the current pricing in the new contract, but we have a 90-day extension with them right now before the contract is fully executed.
In
Out
20:03
And what is that pricing that is being used?
In
Out
20:11
It's, it's what's in the budget and the bid documents, but we can send that electronically.
In
Out
20:18
I think we provided it in the past, but we can send what's currently in there.
In
Out
20:21
It sounded like, I think during one of the— I think it was the Orange meeting, uh, that the contract may come in a little bit lower.
In
Out
20:28
Um, is that not the case?
In
Out
20:30
It was, I think, some of the disposal costs for, um, certain items with, um, was it yard waste and the literal other items, so not traditional recycling and solid waste, but the things that fall into that other category.
In
Out
20:45
Um, and I think maybe bulkies were what were in question, but I'm not clear.
In
Out
20:53
I think, you know, just given where we're at, I think originally I had, you know, hoped that I could get some information on, you know, the comparative cost, um, if the city were doing it ourselves, just because I think they're— obviously this is a for-profit company.
In
Out
21:08
And to that point, I think more so I want to talk about the length of the contract that is out there, right?
In
Out
21:15
Because this is a 2-year contract with a 1-year option, correct?
In
Out
21:18
And I think that in and of itself drove up the cost of this potential bid and kept bidders out, because I think we got just 2 bidders.
In
Out
21:27
And I think we— I think we've talked previously that, you know, there are some potentially new trucks being built, you know, as part of this, we would get new trucks.
In
Out
21:36
And, you know, if we had put out for a 5-year contract, I think, or even, or 10, even at 5 years, I think we see more than 2 bidders and potentially a lot less money per year as a savings.
In
Out
21:47
So I think I want to dive in, use this meeting, you know, and that's where we're at, to dive in a little bit deeper to understand why we only went with the 2 years.
In
Out
21:55
And what this strategy might be, uh, moving forward and what, what's changing, I guess.
In
Out
21:59
What's changing after the 2 years or the 3rd year option that we think we needed to make this as short as it is?
In
Out
22:07
Waste diversion.
In
Out
22:09
We wanted to firm up ordinances as is before you tonight for second reading, is the removal of any parcel that has more than 4 units on it to be collected by the city.
In
Out
22:19
They will now be required to get a private vendor.
In
Out
22:22
Um, Matt Thomas, when he was here, spoke about, um, in August coming down with a comprehensive revamp of ordinances regarding solid waste collection and disposal.
In
Out
22:34
So that we have been working with the Board of Health to try to— we have a number of issues with contaminated recycling, especially on Tuesday and Thursday, and people are being fined on multiple occasions, and the fines you know, go up— $100, $200, $300.
In
Out
22:50
But if the problem isn't corrected, it still continues, and the fines in a number of cases go unpaid.
In
Out
22:56
And we are now starting to lien properties and try to get the collection of those fines by people not being able to get permitted or licensed if they have outstanding debt with the city in that regard.
In
Out
23:08
But what we are looking to do is to stop pulling bins.
In
Out
23:11
So if people are not following the ordinances and properly disposing of the trash, we are looking to then pull the bins and have them go after 3, um, citations have been issued, pulling the bins and having them go with a private vendor.
In
Out
23:25
So if I think this through, the disposal costs are separate from the actual contract though, right?
In
Out
23:28
The actual collection of it, right?
In
Out
23:33
So from what I'm hearing from you, that would address the cost or potential savings on the disposal.
In
Out
23:39
But at the end of the day, we still have the same number of trucks driving up and down streets.
In
Out
23:43
They're still going to have to do that whether it's, you know, whether we're servicing less or not.
In
Out
23:47
They're still having to go up and down every single street.
In
Out
23:50
So I'm trying— I'm still trying to get to how— why we wouldn't go 5 years, because it sounds like what you— what you're saying, it would be the savings would come from the disposal piece of it.
In
Out
24:00
I don't see the savings on the collection side of it.
In
Out
24:04
The numbers that you had asked I do have the, um, the amendment here with me.
In
Out
24:09
For the first year, it's, uh, $5,086,468 for collection of municipal solid waste, and then the disposal of curbside collection is $125 a ton.
In
Out
24:22
Point of clarification, can I get that first number again?
In
Out
24:26
Yes, it's $5,086,468.
In
Out
24:30
Thank you.
In
Out
24:35
Is that just for the solid waste?
In
Out
24:37
Yes.
In
Out
24:38
What about recycling?
In
Out
24:39
Municipal solid waste.
In
Out
24:40
So I thought that's what he was— to kind of go down this path a little bit, if we are saving— if we go down this path, we— if the ordinances that are before us get adopted, um, where is— what's going to change on the collection side in 2 years that would result in a material need to rebid, I guess?
In
Out
25:01
Well, as you said, Councilor, I mean, we have to go down the street, so the collection cost is pretty much going to remain the same.
In
Out
25:07
But what we will save per ton— because what we're seeing is that people are mixing their solid waste with recycling, there's just, you know, the ordinances just aren't being followed.
In
Out
25:18
So if we can reduce with waste diversion, and as we've already taken away commercial Um, bins from mixed use.
In
Out
25:26
We also— I mean, I'm sorry, from just commercial use.
In
Out
25:30
We now also have the ability where we're going to be reducing the number of units for the disposal purposes.
In
Out
25:35
So we should see a significant change in our disposal costs, which is within our control.
In
Out
25:40
The collection of it, I mean, really is not because they— we have to pick up on streets.
In
Out
25:45
So the trucks are out there, they're still needed to run the routes.
In
Out
25:49
But if we were locked into a 5 or 10-year or longer term, even per ton, we'd have a very predictable number.
In
Out
25:57
Isn't there a chance that in 2 or 3 years the per ton could go up as well?
In
Out
26:01
So yes, we might have a better compliance rate, which is less solid waste, but ultimately costs keep going up elsewhere.
In
Out
26:10
Couldn't that number still be higher in the end on us in 2 years?
In
Out
26:15
I mean, when we had a discussion initially, this was what everyone felt was most beneficial to the city, was to go with a shorter-term contract to be able to have more flexibility with the, uh, the 2 with the option to renew.
In
Out
26:31
Yeah, I just think that doing the short contract really left out bidders, right?
In
Out
26:35
People who would have, you know, put in for the contract, potentially save the city money because obviously the more people bidding, the better price we're gonna get for the taxpayers.
In
Out
26:45
I think this short term really impacted us in terms of what this number is coming in at.
In
Out
26:51
And now we're gonna, in 2 short years or 3, I guess, with the option, we're gonna be back.
In
Out
26:56
I'd always take any day of the week a 10-year because then I can predict my cost over the 10 years.
In
Out
27:03
It's gonna be fixed like we did I guess with Easy, right?
In
Out
27:06
I guess it wasn't financially beneficial for them, but it was predictable for us.
In
Out
27:10
Well, that contract when it was written was based on Page and Throw too, and Page and Throw left kind of at, you know, in the middle of the contract, and then things kind of— but they still generally served out them pretty much most of that contract up until that last year with that last transfer.
In
Out
27:25
Well, it was 2 years.
In
Out
27:27
Yeah, we amended the last 2 years of the contract.
In
Out
27:29
Yeah, so 80% of that, even though Page and Throw happened pretty early into that, I think.
In
Out
27:33
Thank you.
In
Out
27:34
I mean, Councilor, if I could just interject.
In
Out
27:37
We believe that within the next 3 years that we'll see some change in waste diversion.
In
Out
27:44
The Tuesdays and Thursdays, our compliance folks have really battled.
In
Out
27:48
They've been up and down the streets focusing on those 2 areas.
In
Out
27:53
And we're seeing a major change in those Tuesdays and Thursdays.
In
Out
27:57
So it's working.
In
Out
27:59
Just getting the information out to the public and just making sure that we continue on that path.
In
Out
28:05
And we believe that in 3 years, there will be a savings in our waste.
In
Out
28:11
So that was the mindset.
In
Out
28:14
And going out, there's a lot of new technology coming out, again, that we were looking into.
In
Out
28:19
So we believe that that is the best method for the city in the timeframe.
In
Out
28:25
So you think there's going to be a savings?
In
Out
28:26
What type of savings do you think will be here in 3 years?
In
Out
28:29
Well, again, so as we, as we mentioned, the, uh, the solid waste and then the recycling component and, uh, just going out to bid, it's a cycle.
In
Out
28:40
Uh, bidding is just a cycle.
In
Out
28:42
Uh, we believe that that was— that's going to be a benefit to the city by not locking ourselves in for a longer term.
In
Out
28:48
And you think that savings will add up to the potential savings we could have had in years 1 through 3 had we had a better price all along.
In
Out
28:57
Again, the bidding is— there's no guarantee, Councilor.
In
Out
29:00
When I've bid multiple projects out, and there's just no guarantee.
In
Out
29:04
Depends on— I mean, it's a double-edged sword.
In
Out
29:07
Sometimes you, you get lower prices, sometimes you don't.
In
Out
29:10
So do you think we would have gotten a lower price if we put a 5-year contract out there, or more bidders?
In
Out
29:16
At a minimum, we could have— we, we could have stayed the same.
In
Out
29:20
So there's no way of telling at that point.
In
Out
29:24
Okay, for now I'll yield.
In
Out
29:25
Thank you.
In
Out
29:25
Thank you.
In
Out
29:25
Before I acknowledge other councilors, Councilman C1, you co-sponsored the resolution.
In
Out
29:28
You have any questions?
In
Out
29:29
Uh, no, I guess more of a statement.
In
Out
29:32
I agree with my colleague in terms of the length of the contract.
In
Out
29:35
So you mean to tell me that we're going to have some type of new technology in 3 years?
In
Out
29:40
Well, there's things that we're, we're looking into right now that could potentially come down, down.
In
Out
29:45
So we'll be able to execute new technology.
In
Out
29:46
So we'll be completely revamping solid waste delivery and services as we see it in 3 years.
In
Out
29:52
Uh, Councilor, I've, I've been, uh, working this for many, many years, and when I was here last time, we brought, we brought multiple people to the table to, to see if there's any new technology.
In
Out
30:03
Uh, we're looking at something right now.
In
Out
30:05
It just, um, that could be a potential, but I guess nothing written in stone.
In
Out
30:09
But I guess to my my colleague's point, a 3-year contract versus a 5-year contract, even if you did a 10-year contract, a 5-year contract with 5 1-year renewals at the option of the city and the vendor, so it's a win-win after 5 years.
In
Out
30:22
I, I don't see any new technology coming in 3 years where the City of Fall River is going to be delivering or disposing of, of trash or recyclable any different than what we're doing today.
In
Out
30:31
So to my colleague's point, when we start looking at a cost-benefit analysis, I I don't see the probability, high probability.
In
Out
30:38
If we're going on CalShee or any type of betting market, I would say that the odds are against you if you're telling us in 3 years we're going in a different direction.
In
Out
30:48
I just don't see it.
In
Out
30:49
So I think my colleague brings up a good point in terms of just the cost savings associated with it.
In
Out
30:54
It's, you know, I don't want to belabor the point, but I agree with him wholeheartedly.
In
Out
30:59
I just don't see it.
In
Out
31:01
And I'm not trying to be negative, but, you know, we've, we've been talking about a lot of technology with, with trash and solid waste and recycling and all that other stuff, and just nothing has come to fruition for us.
In
Out
31:11
So with that, I yield.
In
Out
31:12
Thank you, Councilor.
In
Out
31:13
In seat 7, Councilor Pereira.
In
Out
31:16
I think if you're looking at the disposal cost, you also need to look at the fact that every area around us has a trash fee or bags, and those individuals bring it to Fall River if they own a house here, if they have a relative here.
In
Out
31:31
They're bringing it here, and that's something that's not even being addressed.
In
Out
31:35
One of the, one of the issues that we spoke about when, uh, Mr. Tom— when Attorney Thomas was here and he wanted the 5 and 6 families get their own trash pickup, private, the city wasn't going to pick them up.
In
Out
31:50
Did anybody think to call all the haulers around the area and see who's doing private?
In
Out
31:57
Because Republic's not, Wind's not, Waste Innovation's not.
In
Out
32:04
The only one is Harvey, and maybe Waste Innovation may have a few bins.
In
Out
32:09
Republic will pick up a container for a commercial.
In
Out
32:15
Where are we going to put these containers?
In
Out
32:18
Because there was a house on Bedford Street that had a big dumpster in the driveway between 2 houses.
In
Out
32:23
And the woman that lived in the other house, an elderly lady, couldn't open her windows during the summer because all she would do is smell the trash.
In
Out
32:31
So there's people calling these companies, and I did today as well.
In
Out
32:36
They're not picking up trash in Fall River.
In
Out
32:39
So if you can't get a private to pick up trash, what's going to happen?
In
Out
32:43
Is the Board of Health going to step in?
In
Out
32:45
Where are they going to put their trash, just on the sidewalk?
In
Out
32:49
Where are they going to put it?
In
Out
32:50
I don't think that that was well thought of, because tell me what companies are going to come in— Waste Management, whatever— they're going to come in and pick up a bin in front of your house?
In
Out
33:04
They're not.
In
Out
33:05
They're not doing it.
In
Out
33:07
They're not coming in.
In
Out
33:09
So call around.
In
Out
33:10
I think this is going to be an abysmal failure.
In
Out
33:13
I think you need to slow up a little bit and find out more of what's happening.
In
Out
33:18
If you're thinking that rail is going to be the answer, much more expensive.
In
Out
33:24
I mean, according to the people that work in this business and know this business.
In
Out
33:28
But I'm telling you, Mr. Oliveira, I call these places today myself just to verify what somebody told me, and they're absolutely right.
In
Out
33:37
Republic's not going to pick them up.
In
Out
33:39
They're not going to have a truck coming around.
In
Out
33:41
With Republic trash bins and picking them up.
In
Out
33:45
What are people going to do in these 5 and 6 families if nobody will come and pick it up?
In
Out
33:51
And if they're going to put in a dumpster, what are we doing as far as an ordinance to regulate where the dumpster can be, how much space around the dumpster does it have to be to not inconvenience other people?
In
Out
34:05
I hate to say it, trash is a big ticket item.
In
Out
34:09
Every community around us has a fee or bags, and I know that it's probably not popular with my colleagues.
In
Out
34:19
I don't want to pay.
In
Out
34:20
I hate to pay taxes too.
In
Out
34:22
I don't want to have to pay for trash.
In
Out
34:24
But if this lady that called me and I asked if I had a 96-size container and one recyclable What is that going to cost me a month from Harvey?
In
Out
34:35
Know what it was?
In
Out
34:35
$100 a month.
In
Out
34:38
So you're saying 5 and 6 families can do that?
In
Out
34:43
They're going to have more than one.
In
Out
34:45
I mean, this particular person only has one individual that lives in each of her units.
In
Out
34:49
But I think we need to look at how are we going to fix this.
In
Out
34:55
It's got to be fixed.
In
Out
34:56
And when my colleague says, you know, have a longer term on a contract.
In
Out
35:01
I agree with that.
In
Out
35:02
But when we got rid of the purple bags for somebody's political gain, we had to pay and buy back all the bags that were in all the stores in Fall River because people paid for them, and that cost us a lot of money.
In
Out
35:17
I mean, we're still using them when we do cleanups around the city, but I, I think there needs to be more thought into this, and I know Looking at a trash fee is not a popular thing, but everybody around us does it.
In
Out
35:33
They do it, and we're getting their trash into the city.
In
Out
35:38
And, you know, I mean, I think Councilor Dion and I had looked at— what was that machine we looked at that you could even put a couch through in it?
In
Out
35:45
A grinder.
In
Out
35:46
The grinder.
In
Out
35:47
Are we looking at that for The, you know, near where the incinerator was?
In
Out
35:54
We haven't.
In
Out
35:54
We have talked about that.
In
Out
35:56
We haven't, we haven't gotten any quotes because what happens is the— that will change within, within a matter of months.
In
Out
36:01
But getting back to— we did, we did make some phone calls to some, some firms, and at probably about 6 months ago they were okay with, with, uh, working around the areas.
In
Out
36:12
Uh, we'll make some phone calls again to make sure if, if those companies have changed.
In
Out
36:17
Um, well, then they're not now because I called them today.
In
Out
36:21
I can give you phone numbers and things of people I talked to.
In
Out
36:24
Another thing, Councilor, at one point this was the will of the council as well, was to, to do the 5s and 6s.
In
Out
36:32
So no, I voted no.
In
Out
36:34
You can say the will of everybody else.
In
Out
36:36
Okay.
In
Out
36:36
I mean, that's, that's what we initially went off, that, um, that recommendation.
In
Out
36:41
Recommendation?
In
Out
36:42
I, I think that's discriminatory.
In
Out
36:46
I think everybody should be treated the same.
In
Out
36:47
If you're not recycling the way you should, then your barrels get removed.
In
Out
36:51
That's one issue.
In
Out
36:52
Uh, you know, if somebody's from out of town and they're using it as a business, then maybe we need to look at that.
In
Out
36:58
Um, but you know, if these people are not going to have enough people to come in— and once they're coming in and they know they're privates, they're going to gouge them too.
In
Out
37:08
We're going to gouge them for more.
In
Out
37:10
You know, we've put trash committees together.
In
Out
37:13
I think I've been on every one.
In
Out
37:15
We've met twice.
In
Out
37:16
This is serious business.
In
Out
37:18
This is going to cost us a lot of money, and we need to look into it.
In
Out
37:23
We do.
In
Out
37:24
You've got Diamond, that's going to be pulled out of the budget.
In
Out
37:26
You got the trash, that's going to be pulled out of the budget.
In
Out
37:30
But yet we sit here and say our clerk should be getting more.
In
Out
37:34
Know what I mean?
In
Out
37:35
So we really need to look at this.
In
Out
37:37
And I know it's a tough decision, but sometimes the right decision is a tough decision.
In
Out
37:42
But I would check into that because I have concerns that if this is implemented and these people are not going to be picking up trash, then what's going to happen?
In
Out
37:50
Are we going to look to the Board of Health?
In
Out
37:51
What, what are they going to do?
In
Out
37:54
Then it'll be, you know, you can't leave trash on the street, right?
In
Out
37:58
I mean, I don't have it with me here tonight, Councilor, but I know that when we stopped the commercial pickup and they had to go to privates.
In
Out
38:04
I mean, a lot of those commercial establishments did not have the ability to place dumpsters on their properties, and they have the commercial pickup that are coming in right now with the bins to pick up the bins.
In
Out
38:16
Yeah, right.
In
Out
38:16
But now these companies, they're doing private in different areas as well.
In
Out
38:21
They like, um, Waste to Innovation.
In
Out
38:24
They only have a few bins left in Fall River.
In
Out
38:27
They're not doing it.
In
Out
38:28
Harvey's doing it.
In
Out
38:29
Republic's not doing it.
In
Out
38:30
They're not gonna get a driver with 2 men and, you know, do all these bins all over.
In
Out
38:36
They will come and they will do, you know, um, a container of some sort.
In
Out
38:41
But with that container too, it needs to be a place that they have the room to empty it, you know.
In
Out
38:48
I mean, we can make sure that we get a list together to provide to individuals.
In
Out
38:52
We can't recommend anybody, but when we notify them, we can send them a list.
In
Out
38:56
List of companies that are available who service the city of Fall River.
In
Out
39:00
I'd like to see a list of what companies are available, because when I talk to companies today, they're not willing to do it.
In
Out
39:06
Yeah, because I mean, the ordinance that was passed that will require that they pick up the same day as the city— there are a number of companies that are in the city that are, that are private vendors, that are not capital, that, that are picking up our trash, that are picking up other residents' trash.
In
Out
39:21
So we can do that, absolutely.
In
Out
39:22
Absolutely.
In
Out
39:23
And if though you have those companies and now they're going to be picking up more, they got to get another truck, they've got to hire more drivers, and some companies just don't want to do it.
In
Out
39:31
They've got enough business.
In
Out
39:33
But I would look into that because if you implement this without knowing what companies are around— and I would also look at where people are going to put a container so that that container is not, you know, ruining the quality of life for other people in the neighborhood.
In
Out
39:48
And the Board of Health does regulate that, where dumpsters can be placed on property, and we have inspectors that go out to make sure for the cleanliness and such that things are being disposed of properly, lids are closed, whenever we get complaints.
In
Out
40:01
So we absolutely will make sure that that is— well, I know the one on Bedford Street across from the Boys and Girls Club, that was in a driveway, and the lady complained about it.
In
Out
40:11
There was nothing they could do.
In
Out
40:12
They had it on their property in the driveway.
In
Out
40:14
And, you know, the poor lady couldn't open her window.
In
Out
40:17
There was another one down north, the same thing.
In
Out
40:19
So I don't know what the ordinances are around how much space around it, how much, you know, space you have to have, the size of the container.
In
Out
40:27
Maybe we need to look at that.
In
Out
40:28
Yep, we can, we can absolutely have the Board of Health regulations given out.
In
Out
40:35
Well, with that, I yield.
In
Out
40:35
Thank you, Mr. President.
In
Out
40:36
Thank you, Councilor.
In
Out
40:37
Councilman C6, Councilor Pickle.
In
Out
40:39
Good evening.
In
Out
40:40
I have a few questions.
In
Out
40:42
Um, one of them is I've received several complaints and I've been in constant— well, quite a bit of conversation with Mr. Hathaway regarding the amount of people living in apartments in the city of Fall River.
In
Out
40:54
Illegal apartments, basement apartments, attic apartments.
In
Out
40:57
We're dealing with that right now.
In
Out
40:59
I have a building in my— on my block.
In
Out
41:04
I think there's 12 people in a 3-bedroom apartment.
In
Out
41:07
So how are we going to rectify that at the end?
In
Out
41:09
Because I've had to call Joe Kennedy.
In
Out
41:11
There's been trash all over the sidewalks— Bay Street, Bradford Avenue— because we have multiple new people that have moved to this city and they're living in these apartments 8, 10 at a time.
In
Out
41:21
I got a phone call from a firefighter that couldn't get into a building, an apartment, because it was a bunk bed against the door.
In
Out
41:28
So ultimately, we're going to have to admit that we have those problems in this city, and how is that going to affect our trash pickup?
In
Out
41:35
Well, I mean, the, the ordinances require that the number of containers provided per household are not by the number of occupants of the household, they're by the number of units in the household.
In
Out
41:47
So if a person has a 2-family house and in one apartment they have 12 people living there, I mean, that would more be a concern for code enforcement to see, are they all members of the same family?
In
Out
42:00
You know, when they're living there.
In
Out
42:02
If you're saying that multiple people are like renting out rooms in their homes, that's what's happening.
In
Out
42:07
That would be— I just sent Mr. Hathaway a screenshot from Facebook of a gentleman that was renting a bedroom in an apartment for just Brazilians.
In
Out
42:16
He had this post on Facebook.
In
Out
42:18
So that's what we're dealing with right now in the city, and unless we're honest about it, nothing's going to move forward.
In
Out
42:24
I believe trash is going to be hindered by this.
In
Out
42:26
Because if we're telling them that we have a normal haul like we've had for the past few years, and then they're showing up to places and there's trash overflowing, you know, the more people in an apartment, the more trash we have.
In
Out
42:38
And that's where our litter enforcement officers come in, because if people again aren't properly disposing of it, we have to cite them so that they are aware.
In
Out
42:46
We give them a warning, then we give them a citation.
In
Out
42:49
But it's very clear in the ordinance that the trash needs to be in the bin, the lids need to be closed, that they can't commingle recycle with municipal solid waste, and that they're only allowed so many bins.
In
Out
43:02
Trash that's left on the side of the bins is not normally picked up.
In
Out
43:06
It's left behind.
In
Out
43:07
In the following week, they need to put it in there.
In
Out
43:09
So if there's a household that you're aware of that is improperly disposing of their trash, if you give the address to litter enforcement, Joe Kennedy, or call Chris, or we'll call the mayor's office.
In
Out
43:22
We send them out all the time because we're always getting emails of people who either put their bins curbside too early or not properly disposing of their trash.
In
Out
43:32
And we have the code enforcement officers go out— the litter enforcement officers go out.
In
Out
43:36
I'm sorry.
In
Out
43:37
Okay.
In
Out
43:38
Yeah, I know Mr. Kennedy has been very responsive, very responsive, and I've had to call him numerous times, as well as yourself, Mr. Hathaway, already in your position.
In
Out
43:45
I've had a few times, not for trash but uncleanliness on city sidewalks.
In
Out
43:50
My concern is that's just going to grow and get worse, then eventually we're going to have to pay for this.
In
Out
43:56
Second question is bulk item pickup.
In
Out
43:57
This would be a question for you, Mr. Hathaway.
In
Out
43:59
So commercial properties aren't allowed to bring their bulk items to Lewiston Street to dispose of?
In
Out
44:04
No.
In
Out
44:05
Okay.
In
Out
44:06
At a time where the city is absolutely broke, I think any revenue stream would be fantastic.
In
Out
44:11
So I was going to file a resolution on this to see how commercial properties can bring their bulk items to the lowest entry lot and then pay us to take it.
In
Out
44:21
I don't understand why we're circumventing that and not wanting the money in return.
In
Out
44:25
It doesn't make sense.
In
Out
44:26
Is that something that could come to fruition where we can make that happen without me filing a resolution?
In
Out
44:31
We can look into it.
In
Out
44:33
We can work on what the ordinances and what we can do to, um, make that possible.
In
Out
44:40
Okay, because it is actually helping us by getting rid of— through a private hauler that we're not picking up the tonnage, we're not going by their property.
In
Out
44:48
I think we should be able to take their money if they have to get rid of a TV.
In
Out
44:53
So we weren't— right now we aren't, I'm going to say, making money off of bulky items like that.
In
Out
44:58
It is a cost that we, I think, at one point were more breaking even on Um, and as the costs have gone up, the bulky item pickup fees haven't gone up the same way.
In
Out
45:07
So at this point in time, it would probably cost us money, but we've already talked about looking at that and revising that.
In
Out
45:13
And I think if that was the case, or if we came up with even different rates for commercial and, and we were able to have it be worthwhile, I absolutely think it's something that we could look at.
In
Out
45:22
But I think the reason it was a no-go before was just the cost benefit.
In
Out
45:26
It was— we would be losing money.
In
Out
45:28
So Okay, if I could just piggyback on that one.
In
Out
45:32
The only rates that we've increased within the last few years has been the mattress.
In
Out
45:37
We were losing a considerable amount, $21 I believe, when I was on the council.
In
Out
45:40
Correct.
In
Out
45:41
So that's the only one.
In
Out
45:42
And we have, we have been in communication with the team just to make sure that we do increase that so that we can at least not lose money at that point.
In
Out
45:51
Other communities, their rates are— and we have a spreadsheet of what other communities have and what we, uh, what we should be going up to.
In
Out
45:58
So that, that's coming down, down the pike.
In
Out
46:01
Thank you, Miss Oliveira.
In
Out
46:02
So I just want to touch upon the worthwhile part.
In
Out
46:05
In a position where we can't balance a budget and we don't have any money and we're fearful over the next few years that we're not going to have enough revenue, I think that's worthwhile if we increase the fee.
In
Out
46:15
Yes, right now we would be losing money with the current fee structure, and then that amount of tonnage, we would be losing money.
In
Out
46:20
So that's why I'm saying that's not worthwhile.
In
Out
46:22
If we adjust it, it was absolutely worthwhile.
In
Out
46:25
That's something I am working on, is looking at surrounding communities and putting something together.
In
Out
46:29
Okay, it's definitely something that has to be looked at.
In
Out
46:32
I appreciate it.
In
Out
46:33
Thank you.
In
Out
46:34
Let me see here.
In
Out
46:35
How many bids did we get to go back for the trash?
In
Out
46:38
How many?
In
Out
46:38
2, right?
In
Out
46:39
2 bids.
In
Out
46:40
Again, in a position where the city is broke, why wouldn't we go out to 5 companies and see who the lowest bidder was?
In
Out
46:47
So it's— it goes out as we went— we've put that out as an RFP for a bid.
In
Out
46:52
Uh, 2 returned the bid.
In
Out
46:54
We, we've contacted a few contractors to make sure that they did bid, and, uh, 2 were the only ones that went out.
In
Out
47:02
Okay.
In
Out
47:03
I think we had inquiries from, I think it was 6 or 7 different companies.
In
Out
47:06
So there were multiple other vendors that were looking at it and ultimately didn't submit, but there were more vendors that were that did get the bid and reviewed it.
In
Out
47:15
Okay, thank you.
In
Out
47:16
Um, just one last question.
In
Out
47:19
In all honesty, Miss Aubrey, do you think we're in a position where we're getting close to have to bring in— to have to bring our trash back in-house, where it's going to be too expensive to pay for it and it would be more cost effective to have our own trash service?
In
Out
47:32
I honestly don't think that we're close to that.
In
Out
47:34
I think we're closer to implementing something like a trash fee before the that would be worthwhile.
In
Out
47:39
The costs on the liability side for that are, are much, much too high at this point in time, in my opinion, and from the numbers I've seen.
In
Out
47:48
But that's, that's where we're at.
In
Out
47:50
I mean, I think you're— we do have to do something now and, um, have a plan for, you know, a couple years from now.
In
Out
47:58
We are okay at this moment, but it's not going to be sustained like this.
In
Out
48:03
Okay, Councilor, if I could, um, We have, we have tossed that around many, many times.
In
Out
48:11
Um, the thought that really came to my mind was, can we start taking little bites out of the apple?
In
Out
48:19
Can we do some yard waste collection?
In
Out
48:22
Can we take care of, of other things that we could do right away?
In
Out
48:27
And then I'm not sure if we'd ever be in a position to do the solid waste component.
In
Out
48:34
But just taking certain bites out of that apple to reduce the cost wherever we could was something that we entertained, and we're still, still communicating with one another just to make sure that we could do that.
In
Out
48:47
Okay.
In
Out
48:48
The one word that scares me is fee, because we constantly go to the taxpayer to fix our mistakes.
In
Out
48:55
That's what we do.
In
Out
48:56
So with the position that the city's in over the next 5 years, how many times are we going to have to go to the taxpayer to increase fees?
In
Out
49:02
Do you have a hypothesis as to that?
In
Out
49:05
I do not.
In
Out
49:06
I know that a lot of our fee structures we've been having, you know, in the last year and a half that I've been down here, we've been talking about the fact that most of our fees for businesses or commercial things just in general citywide, not just with trash, haven't been revised or updated.
In
Out
49:20
So that's just a general structure basis that we need to look at as a city.
In
Out
49:24
We've been pulling data and looking at comparable communities, and we are not in the place that most other communities around us are at.
In
Out
49:31
So that's, I'm going to say, a one-time kind of structural look at that we're doing.
In
Out
49:35
We may do it, you know, in pieces over time, but it's a whole picture that we need to review as a city in that sense.
In
Out
49:42
Thank you.
In
Out
49:43
I lastly, I'm going to say that I agree with Councilor Pereira in the sense that I remember when we increased that mattress fee.
In
Out
49:51
And then I drove by Shep's Cove Apartments and there was mattresses, mattresses in the parking lot.
In
Out
49:57
So they're going to do the same thing with the trash, and that's worse.
In
Out
50:00
So we have to have rectification to this right away.
In
Out
50:03
There has to be some type of plan.
In
Out
50:05
Well, we did talk about for apartment buildings that do have dumpsters, they do not require that their residents recycle or don't provide them an option of getting rid of their bulky items.
In
Out
50:17
That's a lot of the problem the city sees, where they'll take it to a family member's house, have them get rid of it and things, which only increase our costs.
In
Out
50:25
So we have been in discussion, um, when this new contract came about, to possibly in the ordinances coming down in August start talking about these condominium units or larger apartment units that have the private vendors, requiring that they recycle cycle and assist their residents with disposal of bulky items.
In
Out
50:48
Because for the city to be able to do that, I mean, it— that just increases our solid waste.
In
Out
50:54
We don't have a permit anymore at Lewiston Street for municipal solid waste.
In
Out
50:59
There have been a lot of homes being built in that area, single-family homes, since we went out of the trash business.
In
Out
51:06
And if we went back and got permitted again, I mean I don't know that those people would be very happy about their property values, um, if we started taking in municipal solid waste there again.
In
Out
51:16
Yeah, well, I've, I've had my concerns about that property to begin with that still haven't been answered.
In
Out
51:21
So yes, I wouldn't, I wouldn't dump a trash facility right into their neighborhood, especially with the questions that I've asked in the past.
In
Out
51:28
With that, I yield.
In
Out
51:30
Thank you.
In
Out
51:30
Thank you.
In
Out
51:31
Councilman Seat 8, Councilor Raposo.
In
Out
51:32
Thank you.
In
Out
51:33
Miss Olivera, do you have any update on the pilot program, the Harvard?
In
Out
51:37
Yes, we're, uh, we're terminating that at this point because there was no benefit to that, um, and we're looking to see what else we can do at this point.
In
Out
51:46
Okay, effective when?
In
Out
51:48
We haven't discussed— we haven't discussed that.
In
Out
51:50
We're in communication with Attorney Matt Thomas to see, um, how we can— but at least at this point there's no future of it?
In
Out
51:58
Correct.
In
Out
51:59
Been determined?
In
Out
52:00
Correct.
In
Out
52:00
Okay.
In
Out
52:01
Do you any curiosity, do you have any data that you can share with the council of how the program went overall?
In
Out
52:07
I'd be interested in that if possible.
In
Out
52:09
Sure, we can find something.
In
Out
52:10
Okay.
In
Out
52:11
Um, all right, that answers my question.
In
Out
52:13
So as far as the bins that exist for the pilot program, are they going to eventually be collected and reused in some way?
In
Out
52:19
They'll be collected, reused.
In
Out
52:21
Okay.
In
Out
52:23
And then, um, to the interim city administrator, I know you, you've said a few times that ordinance is coming down in August.
In
Out
52:29
The chairman of ordinance would like to know when, when in August.
In
Out
52:32
We only have one meeting in August.
In
Out
52:34
We let Attorney Thomas know that, so we asked him.
In
Out
52:37
He has been working on them since we've been working on the new trash contract, so I would say at your meeting in August.
In
Out
52:43
Okay.
In
Out
52:44
And, and more of a statement, because I think my counselor to my, to my right mentioned about the Board of Health.
In
Out
52:50
When we make the ordinance for the essentially 3 strikes you're out rule of pulling your bins.
In
Out
52:55
I'm curious, and I— and if possible, I'd like to have the Director of Health and Human Services available for that meeting, because I am curious what teeth the Board of Health does have if we get to a situation where a resident decides they don't want to get a private, and to Councilor Pereira's point, just stop putting trash on the sidewalk.
In
Out
53:13
What teeth does the Board of Health have to ensure that does not happen?
In
Out
53:17
So, you know, it's more of a statement to you if, if we can invite, um, Miss Current to that meeting as well, um, and get some more information on what, what power the Board of Health has and if we get to that situation.
In
Out
53:28
And Attorney Thomas has already started conversations with the board, um, and its chairperson and the Director of Health and Human Services to discuss those.
In
Out
53:38
Excellent.
In
Out
53:38
Thank you very much.
In
Out
53:39
I yield to Mr. President.
In
Out
53:40
Thank you.
In
Out
53:41
Councilman C1, Councilor Kadim.
In
Out
53:43
Thank you.
In
Out
53:44
Just I guess piggybacking on my colleague in seat 7 with regards to her concerns about the 5 and 6 families, um, if, if there is a concern about private not coming in, private companies not coming in to do the bin pickup, which I don't know that it is an issue, but if it becomes an issue, why wouldn't we just come up with a fee for the households and just figure out what our costs associated with it and just charge the 5 or 6 families if they want to stay with the city?
In
Out
54:08
Because it's— we're driving down the roads anyways.
In
Out
54:11
I would, I would just suggest that we identify what our internal costs are plus what the cost would be for the new company coming in to pick it up, whether it's on a per-tonnage basis or whatever the case may be, and we just charge a fee associated with that.
In
Out
54:24
So if it's higher than a private, then it's higher than a private, but at least the 5 or 6-unit family homes have the opportunity to figure out if they want to stay with the city or not, but it will be generating additional revenue.
In
Out
54:37
Um, and then just, just to confirm, the— when we took the vote, I think part of the conversation was the savings associated with the, you know, the, the 5 families and up.
In
Out
54:46
That was about, I think it was $600,000.
In
Out
54:48
Yes, $600,000.
In
Out
54:50
Okay, so with that savings plus, uh, potentially additional revenue coming in if they do want to continue the service with the city, I think that could generate some additional revenue to potentially offset some costs associated with that.
In
Out
55:03
So, um, I guess just to comment on, uh, removing privatization, I would say that I don't know any other community that's trying to bring trash in-house.
In
Out
55:13
In fact, if they're not privatizing, they're already stopping the service for trash.
In
Out
55:18
So you either have to have a private or you have to bring your trash to a landfill.
In
Out
55:21
So I don't know that, um, the city should even be entertaining bringing this service back in-house.
In
Out
55:26
We've got out of the trash business business.
In
Out
55:28
I think we need to stay out of the trash business.
In
Out
55:30
I don't disagree, uh, with Miss Opke in terms of the liability associated with just, you know, providing that service and, and workers' comps and things of that nature.
In
Out
55:41
It's, it's significant.
In
Out
55:42
So I would look at something completely different before we even try to entertain any of those, those moves, even if it's yard waste or anything like that.
In
Out
55:51
And then just in terms of my colleague in Seat 8 with regards to the, uh, pilot program.
In
Out
55:57
Did we have any statistics at all in terms of that pilot program and if it was working, or was it really just an eyeball test?
In
Out
56:03
I'll find out tomorrow.
In
Out
56:05
Okay.
In
Out
56:06
All right, with that, I yield.
In
Out
56:07
Thank you.
In
Out
56:07
Councilman Seat 3, uh, Councilman Seat 3, Councilor O'Connell.
In
Out
56:10
Thank you.
In
Out
56:13
Uh, so just to Miss Sarkey, you mentioned, I think, that there were 6 or 7 bidders Um, for the trash contract?
In
Out
56:21
Um, inquiries?
In
Out
56:22
No inquiries.
In
Out
56:23
Sorry.
In
Out
56:24
Yes, my apologies.
In
Out
56:26
Uh, did they leave any feedback on why they didn't bid, or was there any like scoffing at the length?
In
Out
56:34
Was there any, any type of suggestion?
In
Out
56:35
I don't, I don't think so, but I can pull that.
In
Out
56:37
I, I just know that we received questions and obviously we record all of that, but I can pull that information from purchasing and get that over Okay, I think that would be helpful as we think about, you know, 2 or 3 years from now and, you know, another bid out and seeing what, you know, people may have said or not, you know, suggested, you know, why they didn't bid.
In
Out
56:57
I think would be good for us to know in advance.
In
Out
57:01
Since the 5s and 6s were brought up by my counselor in seat 7, I did get a call from a lady who owns a 6-unit studio, which, uh, yes, and she spoke, I believe, with my colleague in C7 as well as yourself.
In
Out
57:20
And the concern was really around equity.
In
Out
57:24
She has 6 people living in 6 units there, 1 person per unit, and she's concerned about the cost.
In
Out
57:33
She was quoting, I think it was $300 per quarter, potentially would be the cost that she's been getting now from several different vendors to pick up her 6-unit.
In
Out
57:43
And her argument is simply this: there's 6 people, they're producing in many cases less trash, and particularly less trash than her 3-family neighbor who isn't going to be impacted by this.
In
Out
57:55
And so her question is, you know, what exception process if somebody has a 5 or 6 unit that is producing— that can live basically within the same bin we provide a single family or whatnot.
In
Out
58:10
What is the process for her to stay on the city's trash at no cost?
In
Out
58:17
Well, as I explained to her yesterday, she is the exception, not the rule, because there are very— I would say I don't know any other 6-family in the city of Fall River that only puts out one bin a week.
In
Out
58:30
If we stop making exclusions for individuals and 6 families, I mean, what we're giving them is locations that they're no longer going to cover.
In
Out
58:38
If we're going to say, okay, because you only put out one bin, we'll pick up your trash for X amount, and then another household and they want to buy bins— we have people that call all the time asking us to buy additional bins, whether— and it's never for recycling.
In
Out
58:52
It's always for solid waste.
In
Out
58:54
We're trying to keep the disposal costs down.
In
Out
58:57
What we do is we send Mr. Kennedy and his group out, and they go out and do an audit.
In
Out
59:01
They see if people are recycling to the fullest or if they're just throwing away material that could potentially be recyclable.
In
Out
59:08
So that's what we're trying to do.
In
Out
59:09
So if, again, if we make an exception for one individual who only puts out one barrel, what about the other one that puts out 2?
In
Out
59:17
And then how, you know, how do we change things?
In
Out
59:22
Could people buy bins if they wanted to from the city, as Councilor Kadim suggested?
In
Out
59:27
I mean, that certainly is something that could be looked into.
In
Out
59:32
I just, I did not, she did not quote me a price that she had received.
In
Out
59:36
She hadn't reached out to anyone at that time.
In
Out
59:39
That seems an awful lot for one bin, for 300 a quarter.
In
Out
59:45
Quarter, but we'll gladly— did she tell you who she reached out to that maybe we can— I don't recall.
In
Out
59:52
We can check that out to see because that was not the amounts that we were seeing from individuals was $300 a quarter for one container.
In
Out
1:00:00
I guess to her question, she quoted you as saying she's the exception to the rule, so how does she get an exception?
In
Out
1:00:09
Is there something you know, if this ordinance, which is not fully through, it's on the agenda tonight.
In
Out
1:00:15
And we— and I mentioned that to her.
In
Out
1:00:17
I left her a message yesterday letting her know that it was on the council agenda this evening, that it hadn't passed yet, and that, you know, her input— definitely continue to reach out and, and voice her concerns.
In
Out
1:00:29
So is there something the council could do potentially later to make an exception, to put something in place that says if there's— if they can live within one bin, just like any other household in the city, they're paying, you know, their taxes.
In
Out
1:00:42
And if they have— if they're producing equal to or less than anybody else who's getting it for free, why not?
In
Out
1:00:49
Why can't they have it?
In
Out
1:00:50
I mean, it's within your purview, Councilor, to amend the ordinance if you choose to amend the ordinance for someone in a 6-family who only has one bin or 2 bins.
In
Out
1:00:59
Um, they normally would have, what, 3?
In
Out
1:01:01
4, 3, 3 95-gallon.
In
Out
1:01:04
Correct.
In
Out
1:01:05
So I, I mean, it's within your purview to amend the ordinance as you see fit.
In
Out
1:01:10
I guess I'm, I'm asking more of what would be the impact, uh, potentially if there's, you know, just a handful of these.
In
Out
1:01:17
Is there particularly— back to the contract that's got this 90-day delay— would that materially impact if there were exceptions made?
In
Out
1:01:27
I mean, when we were looking at this contract, we were looking at having anything with more than 4 units per parcel, pickup would cease.
In
Out
1:01:37
So, so how does— just take me through that.
In
Out
1:01:40
How does a trash truck— they have a list of here's the addresses I pick up, here's the ones I don't?
In
Out
1:01:46
Well, with the bins that are outside, those are the ones that they're picking up.
In
Out
1:01:50
But I guess larger units, like when we stopped the commercial pickup, What we did is we followed along the last day of the pickup, their last pickup.
In
Out
1:01:58
We were picking up the bins after they were emptying the trash.
In
Out
1:02:01
Okay, that's what I was saying.
In
Out
1:02:02
And so we made sure the bins were reclaimed for reuse.
In
Out
1:02:06
Okay, that's what I was trying to figure out.
In
Out
1:02:07
Yeah.
In
Out
1:02:07
Like how does this get— Yeah, otherwise they're just putting it in the back and we're not allowed to grab it in the back.
In
Out
1:02:13
So we have to follow that truck during that day or days.
In
Out
1:02:19
Okay, all right.
In
Out
1:02:20
Um, I, I think I'll explore maybe a potential for the exceptions to the rule that, you know, are, are looking at a very small production of trash.
In
Out
1:02:30
Um, I think they make a valid point.
In
Out
1:02:32
Um, and we can look at that in ordinance.
In
Out
1:02:34
But, um, let me see, the final question I have, uh, just I couldn't help but notice as I was walking in, uh, there's a sign on the window of City Hall that says effective July 1st, if you're looking for stickers, you can no longer get them here at City Hall.
In
Out
1:02:54
You have to go down to Lewiston Street.
In
Out
1:02:56
I'm just kind of— I know I've run into a couple people now looking for where in City Hall to buy those stickers.
In
Out
1:03:03
I think a lot of people are going to show up here.
In
Out
1:03:05
Just kind of want to understand the thought process there, why we wouldn't continue to have that available, particularly when, you know, we have a lot of ability to collect money here.
In
Out
1:03:15
So due to vacations, um, there was only one clerk here anyway.
In
Out
1:03:19
So due to vacations, we're short a clerk.
In
Out
1:03:21
To get the coverage for lunches, to get the coverage for vacations, things weren't working out while having this clerk split up.
In
Out
1:03:30
By having them all under one roof, it was easier to manage.
In
Out
1:03:33
Yeah, I get that it's easy to manage.
In
Out
1:03:34
I'm just concerned we're going to have people, you know, coming here because it's been that process for so long and have to go somewhere else.
In
Out
1:03:40
We're in the process also of allowing a fillable form online.
In
Out
1:03:44
We're hoping that that gets off the ground soon.
In
Out
1:03:46
I mean, that would be really great.
In
Out
1:03:50
Yeah, and it'll allow credit card payment and so on and so forth.
In
Out
1:03:52
So we're hoping that'll be going soon.
In
Out
1:03:55
Yeah, we're looking to add it to our existing systems that we use for that, so it'll— it would be an extension of that.
In
Out
1:04:00
It's just figuring out So I guess my question is, could we, rather than just eliminate the pickup here— not the pickup, the ability to buy the stickers completely— could we not just look at another department, maybe say the collectors or another department, to have that ability, keep that ability here until such form is on purchases online?
In
Out
1:04:23
We can talk about it internally.
In
Out
1:04:24
I mean, they also have the option to print the form off online and mail it in.
In
Out
1:04:29
As well.
In
Out
1:04:30
Yeah, I just— I've, like I said, twice in the last probably 2 months I've had people like, where do I buy the stickers?
In
Out
1:04:37
So I know people are coming here.
In
Out
1:04:39
And it was on my— it was— I recommended it due to the fact of the lunches coverage, lack of a clerk at the time.
In
Out
1:04:46
So yeah, it makes sense, I think, for your department.
In
Out
1:04:49
But when we think broader, there are other departments maybe that could handle that particular transaction and take care of that.
In
Out
1:04:55
So I would just request, I think, just for the residents I know who are coming down here, saving them a second trip to Lewis Street, maybe there's another department that could take those payments and just start handling it.
In
Out
1:05:07
One of the issues, it's not just the collection of the money, it's also giving out the bulky item ticket with the items that people want to select, and then they have to get it on a list to be able to give to capital so that they know that it's on a bulky item pickup list.
In
Out
1:05:23
So the collector's office, they handle so much else and all the other bills that are coming in that we had thought about that quite some time ago, is having individuals who went to pay their bills being able to get everything at the same location.
In
Out
1:05:36
But that was the point of the sticker.
In
Out
1:05:38
That's why we're trying the online way to do away with a sticker, because in a number of cases you get a sticker, you put it on an item someone takes the item before you even have the pickup and you don't have your, your sticker on there anymore.
In
Out
1:05:51
So you're describing an internal process of how to get on the schedule, but what's the online process going to do?
In
Out
1:05:56
Is that going to do that in an automated fashion, or— Yep, we're going to remove the stickers.
In
Out
1:06:00
What will happen is when individuals pay the fee online, they will then— somebody will get the trigger that they have paid for a bulky item.
In
Out
1:06:09
They'll get their address on the list so that Capital will have an updated list when they go out on your regular trash collection day to pick up your bulky items.
In
Out
1:06:18
So you'll select from the list online what your items are.
In
Out
1:06:22
The only thing missing will be you'll no longer have that sticker that goes on one of the items that you're disposing of.
In
Out
1:06:28
And currently— sorry to interrupt— currently, if you mail in the form, you don't get a sticker, you just get a phone call saying put it out.
In
Out
1:06:36
We received it, put it out on such and such trash day.
In
Out
1:06:39
You are on the list for that day.
In
Out
1:06:40
How far away are we from this online implementation?
In
Out
1:06:44
Very soon.
In
Out
1:06:45
Yeah, we're working right now just with the collector's office for the banking piece of it, for the finance piece, and the right company to use to be able to allow people to use the checks as well so that people don't have to— credit card companies, they charge a fee So with the, uh, the checks, it's only a 40-cent charge.
In
Out
1:07:05
So if individuals prefer that over their ATM card or a credit card, it's going to make it easier.
In
Out
1:07:12
So, um, this will also help with— at the Lewiston Street facility, allow us to accept credit cards or e-checks at the same time.
In
Out
1:07:20
So it'll— a lot of people walk out of the building after they come in to go get cash.
In
Out
1:07:27
Thank you.
In
Out
1:07:27
I have no further questions.
In
Out
1:07:29
Thank you.
In
Out
1:07:29
Thank you.
In
Out
1:07:29
Council on seat 2, Councilor Camara.
In
Out
1:07:32
Thank you, Mr. President.
In
Out
1:07:33
I don't envy any of you for having to do what you have to do with the trash problem.
In
Out
1:07:37
It's been an existing problem for a long time, and it— every day it doesn't get cheaper, it gets more expensive.
In
Out
1:07:43
One of the things I do want to point out though, I also received a phone call from the individual that talked to you and stuff, and I kind of agree with her.
In
Out
1:07:48
And I think what we probably could do to solve that problem is just if you are a homeowner and a resident of Fall River and a 6-tenant or 4-tenant or higher, but you're a present landlord, not an absentee landlord, you get a bin for you, for your apartment.
In
Out
1:08:04
And if your tenants— you need more for your tenants, then you can do whatever you got to do to get them more bins.
In
Out
1:08:09
I don't think my colleague in C1 was saying charge them, sell them more bins.
In
Out
1:08:14
I think he was saying charge them every time we pick up those bins.
In
Out
1:08:17
So I'm— there's going to be something in place so we can pay for what we're doing with the services.
In
Out
1:08:23
But if you are a homeowner and you own a 4-tenement or a 5-tenement or 6-tenement, you shouldn't be denied a bin to take out your trash.
In
Out
1:08:32
If you're not a— I mean, if you're a present landlord.
In
Out
1:08:36
Absentee landlords, 4-tenement, 5-tenement, 6-tenement houses, that's different.
In
Out
1:08:41
Make them get their stuff because no one from Fall River, no resident lives there that owns the building.
In
Out
1:08:45
It's just people that renting it to.
In
Out
1:08:47
So that's one option.
In
Out
1:08:48
I, I agree with her.
In
Out
1:08:49
I think she shouldn't be denied a bin if she lives there and it's her house.
In
Out
1:08:53
She should at least have the same rights as everybody else.
In
Out
1:08:55
And if we're picking up the person next door that's got a 2-tenement or a 3-tenement, this house is right there, just take one bin.
In
Out
1:09:01
If there's trash nearby or bags, fine them, as we should, because it has to be in the bin.
In
Out
1:09:07
But if she can pull that off, one bin for 6 people or 4 people, and you live in there, you're absent— you're not an absentee landlord but a present landlord, homeowner in the city, resident— give them a bin.
In
Out
1:09:18
Just give them one bin and take care of it.
In
Out
1:09:20
Can't be that expensive.
In
Out
1:09:22
That's one solution that I think would probably work.
In
Out
1:09:26
Although my colleague in seat 7 pointed out that, you know, some places you can't put these.
In
Out
1:09:30
I can think of one location on North Main Street.
In
Out
1:09:32
As you're driving north on North Main Street before you get to Weaver Street, there's a cluster of 4, 5, and tenement houses there.
In
Out
1:09:39
The yards in the back, maybe 20 feet deep, but to get to that backyard, there's a 3-foot, maybe 2 feet, 3 feet narrow walkway.
In
Out
1:09:49
It would be impossible— they can get the bins out if they have bins, but it'd be impossible to get commercial trash there unless they put it on the sidewalk, and that's not acceptable.
In
Out
1:10:00
So what do we do with locations like that that is congested area where people— and there's a lot of other areas that I can think of— there's just no way to get a commercial trash bin on the side of the house, on their property, without putting it in the backyard.
In
Out
1:10:15
And once it's in the backyard, there's no way of bringing it to the front.
In
Out
1:10:17
They can't— you can't get it there.
In
Out
1:10:19
What's the solution to that?
In
Out
1:10:21
You mean a dumpster?
In
Out
1:10:22
A dumpster?
In
Out
1:10:23
Well, what's it— they're being denied bins, right?
In
Out
1:10:26
What's that?
In
Out
1:10:27
Most companies who have dumpsters for residential have bins as well?
In
Out
1:10:31
Also have bins as well, yes.
In
Out
1:10:33
Yeah, because there are a number of— we saw that with just the commercial properties, uh, when we stopped picking up business trash.
In
Out
1:10:40
There were a number of businesses who didn't have the space to be able to put a dumpster, so they had to go to bins.
In
Out
1:10:46
It's probably going to cost them more money.
In
Out
1:10:49
As far as the cost, I think it was— that was a long time ago.
In
Out
1:10:53
I mean, it was a while ago, right?
In
Out
1:10:54
Well, so, well, that's good.
In
Out
1:10:55
I didn't that, but that's good.
In
Out
1:10:57
I don't know if they're gonna be willing to do that though for a few people that might want to resort to that.
In
Out
1:11:02
I don't know, but like I said, something they're gonna figure out.
In
Out
1:11:04
But I think honestly that individual that called me, and I agree with her, if you're a present landlord and you're a resident of Fall River, you shouldn't be denied a bin.
In
Out
1:11:12
I know one thing that Attorney Thomas did mention at the ordinance committee meeting that night was it's very difficult to determine without a lot of intense labor who is an owner-occupied and non-owner-occupied property.
In
Out
1:11:26
Yeah, I don't know how difficult that is, honestly.
In
Out
1:11:28
That's probably a 1-year check of their tax bill and where they mail it to and who's living there.
In
Out
1:11:33
It's not that hard.
In
Out
1:11:34
Mr. Thomas— Matt Thomas does a lot of wonderful things when he wants to, and there's a lot of nothing when he wants to as well.
In
Out
1:11:40
So he would— he wouldn't be doing it, right?
In
Out
1:11:42
That's my point.
In
Out
1:11:43
So he's not even gonna be involved in it.
In
Out
1:11:44
So it's not— I don't think it's that difficult.
In
Out
1:11:46
I disagree.
In
Out
1:11:47
I don't think it's difficult to say, here's your address, you live here, we'll send you the tax bill to you, to you where you're living.
In
Out
1:11:53
So, and it's, it's just something to verify once a year.
In
Out
1:11:57
Um, I don't think it's that impossible.
In
Out
1:12:00
How many addresses did we say it affected?
In
Out
1:12:05
500?
In
Out
1:12:05
700?
In
Out
1:12:06
It's close to 700, yeah, different addresses.
In
Out
1:12:11
I understand some people have their tax bills go to another address.
In
Out
1:12:15
It's it's not necessarily because they may not live where they want, and maybe because they want their bill to go somewhere else.
In
Out
1:12:21
So that's— and we have some people who— right, so, so if you're a resident and you're living there and it's not going to your name, to your apartment right there, they don't qualify.
In
Out
1:12:33
But people could also have their bills sent there without living there too.
In
Out
1:12:36
If they own the building, they could have the mail show up there and doesn't mean that they live there.
In
Out
1:12:40
So it, it doesn't necessarily prove anything.
In
Out
1:12:44
Their address is on Patriot Properties.
In
Out
1:12:48
I'm not saying that it's not possible.
In
Out
1:12:49
I just want to be clear that their tax bill going there doesn't mean that.
In
Out
1:12:52
It needs to be, quite honestly.
In
Out
1:12:53
I mean, if we can show an electric bill— does— do they have electric?
In
Out
1:12:56
They pay an electric bill there too?
In
Out
1:12:57
Well, they own the property, so they likely have a bill for the house in their name.
In
Out
1:13:01
Yeah, not if they're not paying electric bill or gas.
In
Out
1:13:05
Gas or gas.
In
Out
1:13:09
All right, well, if we can't figure that out, then maybe you're right, maybe we shouldn't.
In
Out
1:13:13
I just think it's more complicated.
In
Out
1:13:14
If we can't accommodate someone who lives here, is going to prove that I live in this building, then we have more issues than what I thought.
In
Out
1:13:22
With that, I yield.
In
Out
1:13:23
Thank you, Councilor.
In
Out
1:13:24
In seat 1, you good?
In
Out
1:13:26
Councilman seat 4, Council Vice President Dionne.
In
Out
1:13:28
Good evening.
In
Out
1:13:29
To piggyback on the, uh, bulky items I recently had somebody who had to go to Lewiston Street.
In
Out
1:13:37
With the construction that's going on there, we're actually putting people in dangerous positions.
In
Out
1:13:45
This individual was like, we pulled in the yard, we weren't sure where to go, we get out of the car, this— I don't know what— I don't remember what they said.
In
Out
1:13:52
It wasn't a backhoe, but it was a sizable piece of equipment, was backing up, almost ran them over.
In
Out
1:14:00
I don't know that it's the best idea while we're under construction to have people randomly walking around that property trying to figure out where they're going and what they're doing.
In
Out
1:14:08
Um, I certainly hope somebody doesn't get hurt.
In
Out
1:14:11
Um, go ahead, Councilor, if I could.
In
Out
1:14:14
Um, yes, you are 100% right, and, um, Mr. Hathaway and I have had numerous conversations with the contractor.
In
Out
1:14:25
That point in time was a picture, a snapshot.
In
Out
1:14:29
It's not happening all the time right now.
In
Out
1:14:32
That was one of the main lines that were going in.
In
Out
1:14:35
They, uh, they trenched it, and very, very shortly that's going to be eliminated.
In
Out
1:14:42
So they are working on it, and it's just a little snapshot that we had with that situation.
In
Out
1:14:49
Obviously it's construction area, and it's going to look a whole lot better very shortly.
In
Out
1:14:56
But yes, that was, that was a hard time at that point, and Mr. Hathaway had brought that to my attention on numerous occasions, and we, we had conversations with the contractor to remedy that situation.
In
Out
1:15:09
Okay, that's good.
In
Out
1:15:10
It's good to hear because that could be really ugly.
In
Out
1:15:14
Um, the $125 a ton for disposal for solid waste That's just the first year?
In
Out
1:15:19
Is that locked in for the, uh, yeah, I think it's just the first year.
In
Out
1:15:25
It was FY27.
In
Out
1:15:28
Yeah.
In
Out
1:15:29
And you have any numbers for second and third year, or is it going to be adjusted year by year?
In
Out
1:15:36
$132,500, $28,000, and $140,000.
In
Out
1:15:43
45 and 29.
In
Out
1:15:47
Now that's for the disposal of curbside collection municipal solid waste.
In
Out
1:15:52
And what's, what's, what's the disposal rate for, um, um, recycles at this time, at this point?
In
Out
1:16:01
115.
In
Out
1:16:02
And that's only if it's clean?
In
Out
1:16:04
That's the clean.
In
Out
1:16:04
There are 2 rates.
In
Out
1:16:05
There's a rate for contaminated and the rate for the clean is 115.
In
Out
1:16:09
Which is the majority of the curbside right now.
In
Out
1:16:12
Now, I certainly don't see the price of disposal going down, but in that we would have a freak year that it would, is it in the contract that that number would be reduced in that particular year?
In
Out
1:16:23
Well, it's based on the tonnage, so if our tonnage goes down, we'd still pay the same per ton, but our disposal costs would yes be reduced.
In
Out
1:16:30
So I— but I guess my question is, even I know it would be a strange phenomenon, I understand that, but let's assume in year 2 it's not $138 and actually the cost to dispose that year is only— stayed at $125.
In
Out
1:16:45
Are they going to charge $125 per ton, or are they going to charge— whether our, whether our amount goes up or down, the dollar amount, will that change?
In
Out
1:16:54
These are the rates they're locking in with where we're disposing of now in advance of that time.
In
Out
1:17:00
Okay, so they already know.
In
Out
1:17:01
So there's no adjustment to our favor if it's less expensive, and it wouldn't go up any higher if we're locked in with this rate.
In
Out
1:17:08
This is what we would get at this time and, and continuing.
In
Out
1:17:11
Okay.
In
Out
1:17:12
Now the other discussion that's been had that I've mentioned on multiple occasions to multiple people in terms of offsetting the cost of, um, disposal would be there's a formula whether it's a one-family, two-family, three-family, etc.
In
Out
1:17:30
How many carts, what size cart each residence is supposed to have.
In
Out
1:17:36
And I know we discussed that there are many, many more carts out there than are supposed to be out there.
In
Out
1:17:43
You're in the process of evaluating that, pulling in carts so people don't have more than they're supposed to have.
In
Out
1:17:49
How have you looked into the people who truly do recycle a lot more or do have or do need a second trash bin, that whatever meets the formula, they get that for free.
In
Out
1:18:02
If they want anything more, anything above and beyond that, they can have as many carts as they want as long as they're willing to pay to have the extra carts.
In
Out
1:18:11
So if you say a cart, for the sake of numbers, uh, is $30 a month to dispose of, well, you can have 10 carts, but you're going to pay $300 a month.
In
Out
1:18:21
Or one cart and pay $30 a month.
In
Out
1:18:23
There's people— it would be worth it and it would offset the cost.
In
Out
1:18:27
Has— is that being considered at all?
In
Out
1:18:30
We have not spoken about that, but that, that is a good idea.
In
Out
1:18:34
I think part of that complication would be it could change what we have currently specced out in the bid.
In
Out
1:18:39
So I think, you know, we would have to revisit the contract at that point, making sure that they're still collecting the number that we had agreed to or close to it.
In
Out
1:18:46
You know, obviously there's a slight range that comes with that collection, but you know, if we are at— I'm just going to say, you know, 1,000 bins right now, and that goes up to 5,000, that could change the scope of the contract.
In
Out
1:18:57
Well, I guess my point is, so as it exists— listen, I know how— and this isn't an argument, this is just a matter of reality.
In
Out
1:19:08
Just near where I live, there's a single family that's got 3 recycle bins, 2, uh, trash bins, 3 people live in the house, and guess what?
In
Out
1:19:21
It all gets picked up every week.
In
Out
1:19:23
So they're out there.
In
Out
1:19:24
That's the point.
In
Out
1:19:25
These carts are out there.
In
Out
1:19:27
I bet you there are— if you go and you see the ones with the large number versus the ones that just have maybe one extra whatever, I bet you there's double the carts than you think are out there.
In
Out
1:19:38
No, so my point is, if you're charging for those, you want to keep them, keep them.
In
Out
1:19:42
But you're going to pay for it.
In
Out
1:19:43
Yeah, I want to be clear, I'm not saying that we should use up— but it could change things if we, you know, don't— if we talk about adding more, not just keeping what we have.
In
Out
1:19:52
So I just wanted to be clear on that, that it's not a bad idea, but we, we would have to make sure that the dollar amount would increase, but you'd also be taking in the revenue to cover the cost.
In
Out
1:20:02
No, absolutely.
In
Out
1:20:04
Okay, with that, I yield.
In
Out
1:20:05
Thank you.
In
Out
1:20:05
Thank you, Councilor Sinaita.
In
Out
1:20:06
Councilor Raposo.
In
Out
1:20:07
Yeah, the only comment I'm going to make I think my colleagues bring up some good points, so I'm wondering if, if this— the proposed ordinance were to go back to ordinance, would you be able to get that additional information to justify some of my colleagues' points?
In
Out
1:20:22
For the record, we're planning— I'm planning on having an ordinance meeting next week.
In
Out
1:20:29
So if— would that be something that you can collect that information and then possibly present that next week to us?
In
Out
1:20:36
As far as the suggestions made by my colleagues this evening, we can, but the, the only issue is too that when this contract was negotiated, we spoke with them about removing the anything more than 4 from the waste stream.
In
Out
1:20:52
So we'll want to talk to Attorney Thomas in that regard.
In
Out
1:20:57
And, um, yeah.
In
Out
1:21:00
We were trying to, trying to find ways to reduce the disposal costs, which is within our control.
In
Out
1:21:06
I understand.
In
Out
1:21:06
And that has been a conversation that's been had for several years about lowering the number of units we pick up and removing the commercial which we have.
In
Out
1:21:15
So, um, but we can get numbers as far as vendors.
In
Out
1:21:21
Absolutely.
In
Out
1:21:21
Yeah.
In
Out
1:21:22
All right, Councilor, if I could.
In
Out
1:21:24
Yes, the ultimate goal is waste So if we can just reduce the amount of solid waste that we have and just try to pull all the recycling out of the solid waste, I mean, in 2030 we're going to have the organics kick in.
In
Out
1:21:43
So that's another MassDEP component that we have to deal with.
In
Out
1:21:48
So that's 3 years away.
In
Out
1:21:50
So we're very close to that.
In
Out
1:21:52
That.
In
Out
1:21:53
So our— the bottom line is, is we want waste diversion, and however we can do that, that's the key, key goal.
In
Out
1:22:03
And the litter enforcement officers have also been closely monitoring the properties with the contaminated recycling, which is costing us more money.
In
Out
1:22:11
And those are the houses that have more than 4 units and have the contaminated recycling, which is driving Okay, yeah, I think that's fine.
In
Out
1:22:23
I, I think my, my colleague, especially in seat 1, brings up a very good point that should definitely be looked into.
In
Out
1:22:28
But I don't want to close the door on that just by the ordinance passing and then we just don't talk about it anymore.
In
Out
1:22:33
Yeah, no, absolutely.
In
Out
1:22:34
Yeah, I mean, and, and I guess, and not a question that you need to answer right now, but if we were to go down that route, to, to Miss Harpkey's point, you know, how do we then make that adjustment if we need to in a contract after the fact.
In
Out
1:22:46
So again, a point to ponder for another day, but just out of curiosity, that information would be helpful if we can kind of come up with a comprehensive solution to the problem that I think we've all heard about at this point.
In
Out
1:22:59
Thank you, Councillor.
In
Out
1:23:00
And seat 2, Councillor Khumaira.
In
Out
1:23:02
I'm all set.
In
Out
1:23:02
I think we've done enough trash talking for tonight.
In
Out
1:23:04
I'm good.
In
Out
1:23:04
Thank you.
In
Out
1:23:05
Anything further?
In
Out
1:23:06
Nope.
In
Out
1:23:07
Is there an act this council wants to have on this item?
In
Out
1:23:10
Motion to table.
In
Out
1:23:11
Motion to table made by Councilor Raposo, seconded by Councilor Dion.
In
Out
1:23:14
All those in favor?
In
Out
1:23:14
Aye.
In
Out
1:23:15
Opposed?
In
Out
1:23:15
The ayes have it.
In
Out
1:23:18
All right, next item on our Committee on Finance is transfers and appropriations.
In
Out
1:23:24
That is already in full council.
In
Out
1:23:26
No referral is going to be needed to full council, which will take place shortly.
In
Out
1:23:30
Um, go to item 4 on your agenda.
In
Out
1:23:32
First item would be $586, $600 and be the same hereby appropriated to and from the PEG Access and Cable Related Fund.
In
Out
1:23:44
Any discussion on this?
In
Out
1:23:49
Councilman C1, Councilor Liccini.
In
Out
1:23:52
Thank you.
In
Out
1:23:53
So we're gonna establish the special revenue account, correct?
In
Out
1:23:59
Yeah, the item 4A is to accept the MGL first.
In
Out
1:24:03
And then B would be to then appropriate according to the acceptance.
In
Out
1:24:09
Okay, um, so how much, how much of a balance do we currently have?
In
Out
1:24:12
And I guess, what was it, a revolving fund?
In
Out
1:24:15
It's just, it's a fund, it's a special revenue fund, um, that has the word revolving written on it, but it's just a special revenue fund.
In
Out
1:24:24
Um, so the balance is, uh, of course, of all the things I have printed, that's not the one, but it's it's just over the number that is presented there.
In
Out
1:24:33
So the way this revolving— or the way this, um, law was written is you cannot appropriate in anticipation.
In
Out
1:24:41
You can only appropriate based on current cash balance.
In
Out
1:24:45
So it is just over this, but that doesn't include any of the receipts that we will receive this year for the fund.
In
Out
1:24:51
So that is the technically the current balance, but, um, we would have to come back down to appropriate as we receive receipts for this year, right?
In
Out
1:24:59
And then, and that's why I was asking.
In
Out
1:25:00
I, I know we can't appropriate, but I, I know there was a conversation about how much was in the account.
In
Out
1:25:05
So do we, do we know?
In
Out
1:25:06
It's about, it's about $10,000 to $20,000 more than what's on there.
In
Out
1:25:11
It's not much more, but there is.
In
Out
1:25:13
Yeah.
In
Out
1:25:13
Okay.
In
Out
1:25:14
And then just in terms of— so FRC Meteorite, I, I, I understand, right?
In
Out
1:25:21
So that's BCC.
In
Out
1:25:22
We we take $150,000, we give it to them, they, they deal with it.
In
Out
1:25:27
Fred TV, is, is that a nonprofit?
In
Out
1:25:30
Are they— where's the money go?
In
Out
1:25:32
So the school department.
In
Out
1:25:34
So the school department oversees that?
In
Out
1:25:36
Yeah.
In
Out
1:25:36
So it— and I, I realized after the fact that I just put Fred TV, but it's also the FRGTV, right?
In
Out
1:25:43
They, they kind of— I'm going to say cooperate in that sense.
In
Out
1:25:46
So it is really both of them.
In
Out
1:25:48
Um, but it's operated out of the school department at that point.
In
Out
1:25:51
So we, we transfer— we'll be transferring out of this cable-related special revenue over to the school department?
In
Out
1:25:57
No, they expend it out of that fund.
In
Out
1:25:59
Oh, we, we send out a check for FRC media, but then they, um, the school department operates out of that fund directly.
In
Out
1:26:07
Strictly out of— yeah.
In
Out
1:26:09
So does the— after, once we make the appropriation, do the schools have any say over that, that money, how how it's spent?
In
Out
1:26:16
Yes, in the sense of how they kind of oversee the salaries and the expenses within that operation, because I think there is other funding that they have within the school that might support some of it.
In
Out
1:26:28
But I'm not 100% sure how they've been doing it.
In
Out
1:26:31
I know that they've been expending it, obviously not through this body and through, you know, MGL as we discussed it should be, but they have been overseeing and managing that, those expenditures.
In
Out
1:26:42
Okay.
In
Out
1:26:43
And so do we, do you see about, do we see a budget?
In
Out
1:26:46
Do we typically get it?
In
Out
1:26:47
Like, how's the— and I didn't read the MOA.
In
Out
1:26:50
I know the MOA is in there.
In
Out
1:26:50
I don't know if it really spelled out.
In
Out
1:26:52
No.
In
Out
1:26:52
So it's, it's very much based on user fees.
In
Out
1:26:55
So there is one portion that we kind of get that set amount, that $106,000.
In
Out
1:26:59
No, no, I'm not talking about the revenue.
In
Out
1:27:01
I, I understand, I understand how the revenue comes in.
In
Out
1:27:03
So we've got the capital and then the, uh, I guess revenue sharing based on number of subscribers.
In
Out
1:27:08
But so how did we get to the $330,000 and the $106,000?
In
Out
1:27:13
So I was looking at the past, um, last year's payments that came in, and that's about what they were.
In
Out
1:27:19
So it's about $140,000 to $160,000, um, each quarter to the school side, and then it's about, um, $60,000 to $75,000 on the BCC side.
In
Out
1:27:33
So that's where those numbers come in.
In
Out
1:27:34
So like I said, the school one might be a little bit short, but that's also because they have that capital influx that first time.
In
Out
1:27:39
So, you know, I would expect by November, December, we'd be back down here for another appropriation for that.
In
Out
1:27:46
So I guess I would just say for the next appropriation, I, I for one would want to see at least from the school committee what they're requesting, as opposed to us just turning it over.
In
Out
1:27:54
Um, you know, because my concern— and we talked about this at the Um, the May 26th, I think, ordinance meeting regarding just the revenue.
In
Out
1:28:02
So I don't know that the revenue is going to be there after this 10-year contract.
In
Out
1:28:06
I think a lot of communities that are currently in the cable contracts that they have recognize that, you know, the revenues are going to be going down.
In
Out
1:28:13
So we don't get any revenue on, um, any internet or anything like that.
In
Out
1:28:18
So as, as all— as everything starts moving to streaming platforms, you know, the cable revenue is going to dwindle significantly.
In
Out
1:28:25
And I would imagine all the cable providers, whether that be Verizon or Comcast, are going to make an argument that they're not willing to pay for or provide any revenue for internet, in that the streaming services are no longer cable, they're internet-based.
In
Out
1:28:41
So the concern then becomes is how are we capturing these costs and is it sustainable moving forward?
In
Out
1:28:47
And I guess the real— I mean, because a real community benefit.
In
Out
1:28:50
So I think we need to start planning for the real, real near future in terms of what this looks like, who's going to cover the costs, and, you know, where's the revenue going to come from.
In
Out
1:29:04
So that's, that's just my concern.
In
Out
1:29:06
But I do think that the school committee should have some, some oversight in terms of what that looks like so we can start seeing the actual line item budgets for these Um, and then the capital— I mean, the capital is pretty straightforward.
In
Out
1:29:17
I know that's a fixed amount in the contract.
In
Out
1:29:20
So, uh, just in terms of the, the guidelines that you provided to us— so I was familiar with this and I hadn't read it in a long time.
In
Out
1:29:27
Um, I guess I'm just gonna turn to page 3.
In
Out
1:29:31
Did you read this?
In
Out
1:29:35
The guidelines?
In
Out
1:29:35
Yeah.
In
Out
1:29:36
Sorry.
In
Out
1:29:37
So just in terms of this, this special revenue funds.
In
Out
1:29:43
Item number 4, the effective date.
In
Out
1:29:44
And I guess this is the concern that I have.
In
Out
1:29:46
It says the fund will begin operations for the fiscal year that begins the next July 1st.
In
Out
1:29:52
So yeah, I talked to, um, oh my gosh, the, my, the DOR rep before June 30th about the whole thing and the timing and, and all of that.
In
Out
1:30:02
And he said that the meeting in July would be fine and it would become effective, um, upon adoption for the first year of it so that it— we weren't going to be an issue and that we could bring it into compliance that way.
In
Out
1:30:13
But I can follow up again and make sure that, you know, that's still the case and that if, if we need a legal opinion from DLS on that.
In
Out
1:30:21
But he, he had no concern since it's the first time that we're adopting it.
In
Out
1:30:27
So he's, he's going against what the, the guidelines are suggesting from DLS?
In
Out
1:30:31
I mean, because it says the effective date, so the fund will be beginning the operation of the fiscal year that begins the next July 1st.
In
Out
1:30:38
So he's saying he's— they're going to overrule what their, their guidelines are.
In
Out
1:30:43
I— yeah, I can clarify with him.
In
Out
1:30:45
Like I said, I, I had asked him about the timing before the last meeting, and he said it wasn't going to be an issue to do in July.
In
Out
1:30:50
So I will confirm that again.
In
Out
1:30:52
Okay, so I guess we would just need to get that— in my opinion, we, we would need to, to get that in right in because I, you know, the council would then not be able to appropriate something until from the fund until next July 1st, as it, as it states, based on the guidelines that have been issued by the DLS.
In
Out
1:31:15
And do we know, I mean, what, what's the impact?
In
Out
1:31:17
Do they have funds currently, like FRG-TV, Fred TV?
In
Out
1:31:22
How, how are they operating?
In
Out
1:31:27
Currently, I'm going to say probably the same way that they always have been, but I I'm not 100% sure with.
In
Out
1:31:33
I know that it seems like some of the salaries are split; it's not 100% coming from here, so I'm not sure if that's during this time of year when there's less people there.
In
Out
1:31:42
If that's how no, I guess what I'm asking is is so we we recognize that we didn't have the proper proper account.
In
Out
1:31:48
So if we if we if we're creating the special revenue that aligns with what the Department of Local Services has, has suggested, they're still operating, right?
In
Out
1:31:57
So before, I'm sure they were just charging something, but we know that was the inappropriate way, so we would have to stop them.
In
Out
1:32:02
So how are they getting funding to currently operate, I guess, is where— is what my question is.
In
Out
1:32:10
The same way that they were.
In
Out
1:32:11
So we didn't stop operations.
In
Out
1:32:14
Again, with my conversations, it was just, you know, we were already out of compliance.
In
Out
1:32:17
I know that you brought up the concern about doing this before June 30th, um, as we were almost done with a fiscal year to bring that year into compliance.
In
Out
1:32:25
And, and, um, the response was that, you know, we already had been out of compliance and it was likely not a material, um, out of compliance, which is why it had been flagged before.
In
Out
1:32:34
And so that we should just bring it into compliance and move forward from there.
In
Out
1:32:38
So I can, I can look into halting operations if that's No, I guess what I want to make sure we're not halting operations, right?
In
Out
1:32:45
You know, I, uh, but I also want to make sure that we're following the rules that we need to follow.
In
Out
1:32:49
So I guess that's just— I didn't know if there was any additional revenue that's coming, or yeah, I guess an appropriation, or well, 1/12 budget, or continuing appropriation, or whatever it is that's covering them from this on the school side.
In
Out
1:33:03
No, this is, this is— I mean, if there's already stuff in their operating budget that covers some of this, then then sure, but otherwise no, there was nothing additional added in to make up any changes with this.
In
Out
1:33:17
Okay, to Councilor Kadim's point, just so we're aware, the order that's before us this evening does, does specify fiscal year 2027, which begins July 1st.
In
Out
1:33:28
Correct.
In
Out
1:33:28
So to Councilor in seat 1's point, I just wanted to make it clear that 4A in our agenda does speak to the PEG access and cable-related fund.
In
Out
1:33:36
So you, Counselor, you were speaking on a specific year going into next year.
In
Out
1:33:40
That's what it— that's what the Department of Local Services has issued a guideline, right?
In
Out
1:33:45
So the effective date, when you accept it, it says the fund, the special revenue, the fund will begin operation for the fiscal year that begins the next July 1st.
In
Out
1:33:54
We're already in July, so the fund wouldn't be established until next July, a year from now.
In
Out
1:33:58
And my point is, the order that's before us is incorrect?
In
Out
1:34:02
No, they're trying to get it for this one, and I'm saying that what the guidelines that are being provided by DOR is in conflict of what we're trying to do now.
In
Out
1:34:09
So I'm saying as a city council, we should not be making these appropriations because it conflicts with the guidelines that are before us from the DLS.
In
Out
1:34:16
Okay, very good.
In
Out
1:34:17
I know that part of the guidelines that we're reading and that was initially released was released in 2016 when they were changing the way this fund was supposed to be operating, because these funds have been around for well before that time.
In
Out
1:34:29
And so it was done in January.
In
Out
1:34:30
I think it was— the intent was to bring it, you know, everybody starting clean that year, that next year, and that could be why that language is in the guidance that way.
In
Out
1:34:38
So I can reconfirm with him, um, you know, that this will be fine and that that effective date was more speaking for, you know, municipalities moving forward when this change rolled out.
In
Out
1:34:50
But I'll confirm that and make sure that we're I don't read it that way because then it just, it goes into the revocation of the statute to terminate because you don't have to accept it, right?
In
Out
1:34:58
So, right, you could have accepted a, um, an enterprise fund.
In
Out
1:35:01
So it could have been 2016, '17, '18, '19, '20, whatever it is.
In
Out
1:35:05
It also could just go into the general fund if we don't establish this, right?
In
Out
1:35:08
But you can't appropriate from the general fund, right?
In
Out
1:35:11
So, right, it would have been part— it would be part of the general operating budget at that point, correct?
In
Out
1:35:17
So I guess that's just my concern.
In
Out
1:35:22
And from my standpoint, we— and in the general operating budget, we don't have a line item for, for this.
In
Out
1:35:27
It's under the school department authority, right?
In
Out
1:35:29
So yeah, but I, I, like I said, I thought that they still had some funds that were in there that operated that program.
In
Out
1:35:35
So, but I, like I said, I'll reconfirm with him, you know, again to make sure that— and point out that specific portion of the guidance to make sure that we're in compliance.
In
Out
1:35:46
Okay, I yield.
In
Out
1:35:47
Thank you.
In
Out
1:35:48
Thank you.
In
Out
1:35:48
Anything further on this item?
In
Out
1:35:50
Hearing none, thank you.
In
Out
1:35:52
Item 6 in full council, which is another appropriation in accordance— um, actually, item is $331,636.27.
In
Out
1:36:01
It's item 6 in full council that the sum of $331,636.27, being the same, hereby appropriated to the Opioid Settlement Revolving Fund.
In
Out
1:36:11
The transfer is coming from the Opioid Stabilization Fund.
In
Out
1:36:15
Questions?
In
Out
1:36:19
Hearing none.
In
Out
1:36:22
Also, 7A appropriations.
In
Out
1:36:25
These appropriations are necessitated— this is 7A in full council— necessitated due to the rejection of a free cash appropriation.
In
Out
1:36:34
To cover the deficit in fire salaries.
In
Out
1:36:37
The deficit was created when the administration worked with the fire chief and the fire union to increase minimum manning to 4 additional apparatus in the city following the tragic Gabriel House fire on July 13th, 2025.
In
Out
1:36:50
The following appropriations will assist the city in meeting its fiscal year 2026 obligations associated with that commitment.
In
Out
1:36:58
That's for a total of $1.4 million.
In
Out
1:37:00
That's coming from veterans expenses, financial service expenses, facilities expenses, community maintenance expenses, fire expenses, reserve, reserve for employee benefits, debt service, to fire salaries in the amount of $1.4 million.
In
Out
1:37:15
Questions?
In
Out
1:37:16
Councilor in seat 6, Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
1:37:19
Thank you.
In
Out
1:37:19
Um, in regards to the $1.4 million, and I sent you an email yesterday for confirmation, um, as to why we didn't receive extra money from the governor's office, although they came down in July of 2025 and put a— I guess they had a press conference here.
In
Out
1:37:35
What happened there?
In
Out
1:37:36
So at the press conference, there was, you know, funding announced that was being released to provide relief, but the press release in writing stated that it was an early release of the funds that we typically get for the following calendar year, and it was just an early release of the funding for that year.
In
Out
1:37:56
So there's 10 communities that are eligible for it each year.
In
Out
1:37:59
We go through an application process usually in the fall.
In
Out
1:38:02
It's awarded for that next calendar year, but this one was adjusted.
In
Out
1:38:06
It was moved up and expedited, and then there was a list of certain communities that were awarded that funding early.
In
Out
1:38:12
So some of them still have the regular January time frame of spending, but I want to say that there was 2 or 3 communities that then were getting it in August to begin immediate spending, but it was the same amounts that we had typically received and that we were already set to receive for the following calendar year.
In
Out
1:38:26
Okay, so after that press conference, the administration here walked away under the assumption that they were going to receive money for new firefighters, correct?
In
Out
1:38:37
Yeah, but within a couple of days, we, we were— we had figured out that that wasn't the case.
In
Out
1:38:46
Where are we getting the money from to pay for these new recruits, the last 2 classes over the next couple of years?
In
Out
1:38:52
What is your plan to make sure that we didn't offer them a job only to turn around and take their livelihood in a couple of years?
In
Out
1:38:58
So it is built into the budget now.
In
Out
1:39:00
So we did, um, you know, the big cost that there, you know, was coming in for this was on overtime.
In
Out
1:39:06
Um, the majority of this $1.4 million um, was all done in overtime.
In
Out
1:39:10
It wasn't really from the base salaries at that point.
In
Out
1:39:13
So we did move forward with hiring because that is, you know, a rather significant savings in that sense.
In
Out
1:39:19
And so it is baked into the operating budget, and we, we do have plans to continue it.
In
Out
1:39:23
Looking at the 5-year forecasts, it is something that we are building into it.
In
Out
1:39:27
And as much as, you know, I've stated that the budget is sustainable, you know, with all of the things that we've discussed we're working towards in a whole city sense.
In
Out
1:39:38
This is part of it, and we plan to keep them on.
In
Out
1:39:40
Okay, so you're comfortable saying that, that they will have a job in a couple of years here?
In
Out
1:39:44
Yes.
In
Out
1:39:45
Okay, thank you.
In
Out
1:39:51
Um, I find it just ridiculous that we have to take this $1.4 million from surplus revenue to attach to Faya's salary.
In
Out
1:40:00
So, and on top of it, we took $500,000 in surplus— what was it— kickback from last year from Veteran Services.
In
Out
1:40:08
It seems every time that you come down here with something that has to be moved, Veteran Services is hit right away.
In
Out
1:40:13
And I understand this is surplus revenue.
In
Out
1:40:14
Do you plan on taking any money from Veteran Services in the future?
In
Out
1:40:18
No.
In
Out
1:40:18
So this is, this is from not surplus revenue.
In
Out
1:40:21
I just want to be clear on the terms.
In
Out
1:40:23
It's not free cash.
In
Out
1:40:23
This is just from '26 unexpended.
In
Out
1:40:26
So it is surplus in the department, and I don't disagree with that.
In
Out
1:40:28
I just want to be clear for everybody's sense, it's not the free cash appropriation surplus in that sense.
In
Out
1:40:33
So this is after the fiscal year has ended, there are no more expenses in that department, there are no other encumbrances.
In
Out
1:40:40
There was— it just in the expenses alone, there was $508,000 unexpended.
In
Out
1:40:45
So rather than having that certified into free cash, we just are using it to cover this other department's deficit.
In
Out
1:40:52
Okay, and I forget, what did we hire?
In
Out
1:40:54
How many firefighters achieved the last 2 classes?
In
Out
1:40:58
Uh, 15.
In
Out
1:40:59
15.
In
Out
1:41:00
Okay, so going forward, we have enough money to cover all their benefits because they, they start with 2 weeks vacation, right?
In
Out
1:41:07
They earn, they earn 2 vacation days a month.
In
Out
1:41:10
Okay, have we planned for that?
In
Out
1:41:12
Yes, so we added 16 positions into the fire department this, um, for '27's budget.
In
Out
1:41:18
I, I know we don't have that budget, but let's just say for the sake of conversation, we added 16 positions, um, when the very technical response is that we added 4 people on per shift.
In
Out
1:41:30
So we really, you know, added in enough in that sense and are making sure that we're covering retirements and all of that.
In
Out
1:41:36
So we've been working to build up that number in that sustainable way.
In
Out
1:41:39
We've always used some overtime to cover some of these vacations, so we are working to fill some of these, you know, positions and making sure that we're keeping, you know, if we see retirements coming, to bring people on you know, in a timely manner so that we're not short-staffed again.
In
Out
1:41:53
And, and we're working towards building that number.
In
Out
1:41:55
I mean, we've been in conversations about adding in, you know, additional staff in the future and what it would take to make sure that we're comfortably covering vacations and not depending on overtime.
In
Out
1:42:04
But we're trying to make sure that we're also then adding on these bodies in a sustainable way so that we're not giving somebody a job and then laying them off.
In
Out
1:42:10
So that's the other part of the conversation that we're having.
In
Out
1:42:15
Well, I guess we'll see.
In
Out
1:42:16
And I'm going to hold you to that because it would be devastating to the city to have to lay off firefighters after what happened last year.
In
Out
1:42:26
Right.
In
Out
1:42:27
I want to be clear that we're all on that same page and that we are trying to do this in a way that is— we're ensuring that it's sustainable as much as we can ensure anything here.
In
Out
1:42:37
We don't want to end up in a position to hire on firefighters to lay them off.
In
Out
1:42:41
Um, or to have to reduce the numbers.
In
Out
1:42:43
We see what is happening in other communities, and we've decided to make this commitment to move forward with these positions.
In
Out
1:42:49
We can't commit to more right now because we don't want to end up in that spot, but it is still a goal, and we're trying to make sure that everything we're doing is sustainable because it is a priority.
In
Out
1:42:58
Thank you.
In
Out
1:42:58
Um, and if you don't mind me asking, did the mayor ever reach out to the governor to find out what the miscommunication was when they were here?
In
Out
1:43:08
I think that it was just reported incorrectly.
In
Out
1:43:10
I mean, at that press conference it was announced there would be monies coming.
In
Out
1:43:13
Uh, Miss Susan, can you speak into the microphone please?
In
Out
1:43:16
Sorry.
In
Out
1:43:17
Um, I, I think it was just the way that it was reported.
In
Out
1:43:20
I mean, they, they— when the press conference was held and the governor came here, they came here to give us that money that we get each year earlier, as Miss Apke already said.
In
Out
1:43:31
There was a misunderstanding that there was a different award, but I believe— I wasn't in the position as interim city administrator at that time, but what I believe is was the way that it was reported, that it was additional funding in addition to what we were getting.
In
Out
1:43:46
And that was clarified right after, um, by the governor's office, that we were getting this, the award, only earlier.
In
Out
1:43:55
Okay.
In
Out
1:43:55
Yes, to assist with the operations.
In
Out
1:43:59
Thank you, Miss Arkey.
In
Out
1:44:01
Um, so they gave us that money 2 months earlier.
In
Out
1:44:06
How did that break down, the allocation?
In
Out
1:44:09
What was it, the money that they— that we— the grant that we, we applied for, we got?
In
Out
1:44:14
So yeah, the grant that we applied for and we got, we've been getting it, um, for several years now.
In
Out
1:44:19
Um, it's technically the application that goes in from the city of Fall River is for police and for fire, so Um, there was about— it's, I think it's $803,000 for fire and $803,000 for police, um, previous years.
In
Out
1:44:31
So before all of this had happened, I think, you know, we had already talked about changing the application.
In
Out
1:44:36
We were submitting for $900,000 for fire and $700,000 for police.
In
Out
1:44:41
So I think that that application had already kind of adjusted to equal out before.
In
Out
1:44:46
That was the only additional money that we were getting, so it wasn't— it's about $800,000 and $805,000 that was received for the fire department.
In
Out
1:44:55
And again, we've— we had been spending that, so without this change taking place, we would have spent $400,000 through January to June of this calendar year.
In
Out
1:45:05
We would have spent the other $400,000 from July to December.
In
Out
1:45:09
Instead, I'm pretty sure we expended all $800,000 before the end of January.
In
Out
1:45:16
All right, with that I yield.
In
Out
1:45:17
Thank you.
In
Out
1:45:17
Thank you.
In
Out
1:45:17
Anything further?
In
Out
1:45:18
Nope.
In
Out
1:45:21
Uh, conclude our appropriation discussion, correct, Madam Clerk?
In
Out
1:45:26
Just one second.
In
Out
1:45:29
Yep, the other one was a loan order.
In
Out
1:45:30
Yep, that would be it.
In
Out
1:45:31
6.7a would be it.
In
Out
1:45:33
You also have item 6.
In
Out
1:45:35
Uh, item 6 is a transfer in appropriation for the opioid stabilization fund.
In
Out
1:45:40
Yeah, we just did that.
In
Out
1:45:41
You did that one?
In
Out
1:45:41
Yeah, I introduced that item.
In
Out
1:45:43
That's for 331,636.27.
In
Out
1:45:46
Yeah, that's 6.
In
Out
1:45:47
I introduced that item.
In
Out
1:45:48
Thank you.
In
Out
1:45:48
And I guess that is it.
In
Out
1:45:51
Item 5, revolving funds.
In
Out
1:45:55
That's not a transfer, that's establishing funds.
In
Out
1:45:58
That's in full council.
In
Out
1:45:59
No, it's not establishing that, it's just— yeah, I didn't know if you wanted to talk about the appropriation amounts.
In
Out
1:46:04
Okay, what is the discussion?
In
Out
1:46:06
It's setting I didn't know if there was a discussion.
In
Out
1:46:08
I don't know if we're going to do it in finance or— yeah, no, usually the council doesn't.
In
Out
1:46:13
Normally it's the will of the council.
In
Out
1:46:15
It's the will.
In
Out
1:46:15
You want to, you want to ask your revolving fund question now?
In
Out
1:46:19
Oh yeah, yeah, I'll introduce the item.
In
Out
1:46:22
Item Mayor, establishing spending funds for revolving funds for fiscal year 2027, uh, item 5 in full council.
In
Out
1:46:29
Councilman C1, Councilor Kadim.
In
Out
1:46:31
Thank you.
In
Out
1:46:31
So, uh, just going through this list.
In
Out
1:46:32
I know in ordinance we have a number— it's got to be established in ordinance.
In
Out
1:46:36
So I was just going through, I noticed that there were a number of revolving accounts in ordinance that are not currently on this list.
In
Out
1:46:44
Just curious why.
In
Out
1:46:45
So it's facilities, vehicle trade-in, solid waste recovery, streetlight repair.
In
Out
1:46:53
We've got the trolley slash handicap bus, and then culinary arts.
In
Out
1:46:58
So the culinary arts, my understanding is that that is the CVTE.
In
Out
1:47:04
I don't know why it's called that.
In
Out
1:47:05
I was— yeah, because I was, I was going to ask that.
In
Out
1:47:08
That was going to be my next question.
In
Out
1:47:09
I don't see the CVTE revolving fund.
In
Out
1:47:12
It's the culinary arts one.
In
Out
1:47:13
I don't know, to be honest with you, I don't know what the CVTE is, but that I know that that is one and the same.
In
Out
1:47:19
I don't know what those letters stand for though.
In
Out
1:47:22
Okay.
In
Out
1:47:22
Um, so those other funds, it's my understanding that they just haven't been in operation as of late, and that's why that they're not included on it, um, because they haven't been utilized.
In
Out
1:47:33
So are there no funds associated with those in those accounts?
In
Out
1:47:37
There, there could be a balance in them, but we haven't been utilizing it.
In
Out
1:47:40
So I can pull that information, um, and just and let you know, but there's been no request to utilize those funds, um, by those departments.
In
Out
1:47:49
I don't think they're very active in receiving new monies needing expenses to go out, and I think that's why.
In
Out
1:47:56
Okay.
In
Out
1:47:57
And even the trolley, do we not have fees for the trolley or no?
In
Out
1:48:01
Yes, we do have fees for the trolley.
In
Out
1:48:04
So do those not get deposited into the revolving fund?
In
Out
1:48:08
Uh, they should be.
In
Out
1:48:09
Yeah, I'm not— I can look into that.
In
Out
1:48:12
Again, this is— I've been working off of, you know, what we've been doing.
In
Out
1:48:15
I know we added the library one in, and so I can confirm what's— how that's operating, if those fees are, you know, operating the general fund, if we are doing the revolving fund for them.
In
Out
1:48:25
If you don't mind, just, you know, look at the— I guess the 4 that I, I just mentioned, make sure that we just don't need that for the future spending.
In
Out
1:48:32
Can you just repeat the other 3?
In
Out
1:48:34
So it's, um, vehicle trade-in, but it's specifically for facilities.
In
Out
1:48:40
Then there was the solid waste recovery.
In
Out
1:48:41
I'm not sure.
In
Out
1:48:43
I think that was from when we had the Enterprise Fund.
In
Out
1:48:45
Okay.
In
Out
1:48:46
And then there's the streetlight repair, and then the trolley slash handicap bus, and then— not sure.
In
Out
1:49:05
So, and then I guess in the other accounts, do you, do you have the balances associated with, with each account?
In
Out
1:49:10
I'm just curious to see where we are with regards to where the limit is versus what the, the balance is.
In
Out
1:49:15
So, um, I do have all of those numbers, um, in front of me.
In
Out
1:49:19
It's, it's a point-in-time snapshot.
In
Out
1:49:20
Obviously we haven't fully rolled the year, but I do have those numbers.
In
Out
1:49:23
Um, I want to be clear that all of the departments that are listed on here, um, with the exception of the community maintenance one, um, I sent out the fund balance to all the departments to confirm what they wanted for their amount for the year.
In
Out
1:49:36
So So, you know, if there is a higher balance in there, these numbers are coming from the department, so I can't fully speak to why they may want or not want to use more.
In
Out
1:49:47
Sorry, these are in fund order number, not necessarily in order of the list.
In
Out
1:49:50
Just give me a second so I can make this less confusing for everybody.
In
Out
1:49:54
So the first one on the list is for the fire department.
In
Out
1:49:59
There is a balance in there of $131,000.
In
Out
1:50:15
The cleaning and securing buildings, so that's the— I'm going to say vacant and blighted lots— there's a balance of $105,000.
In
Out
1:50:28
Um, demolition, there is a balance of $100— I'm sorry, $1,631,000.
In
Out
1:50:46
Um, community maintenance, the home composting is a balance of $7,000.
In
Out
1:51:00
The moorings— is that the next one?
In
Out
1:51:01
I'm sorry.
In
Out
1:51:02
Moorings maintenance, um, that has a balance of $41,500.
In
Out
1:51:08
I'm rounding these, to be clear.
In
Out
1:51:09
I can get you the exact reports if you want them.
In
Out
1:51:11
No, the round is fine.
In
Out
1:51:12
Um, I just don't want people to think that they were that perfect, because they're not.
In
Out
1:51:16
Um, the police cruiser fund has a balance of, um, $547,000.
In
Out
1:51:32
The— can we just, uh, so what makes up that, that revenue that comes in there?
In
Out
1:51:38
Is that like details?
In
Out
1:51:40
Do we put vehicles in there?
In
Out
1:51:42
It's the details that either— I think it's— I'm not sure where this one— I don't have it fully in front of me, but I think it's when they are requesting a cruiser to be on site specifically.
In
Out
1:51:52
There's a certain fee that they're able to charge, but then there is also a portion of the admin fee in a general sense with details that we're able to charge that also goes into here, is my understanding.
In
Out
1:52:02
And do you know how many— how many do we use this account every year to purchase vehicles, or So, not necessarily.
In
Out
1:52:12
It's kind of, before now, my understanding is that they would just say when they want to, and they would use the money in there.
In
Out
1:52:19
So, I think they've been buying about one a year.
In
Out
1:52:20
That's about what has been appropriated towards it.
In
Out
1:52:24
I plan to, you know, I started having conversations already with the police department in the sense of the capital plan and how we're forecasting and planning to make sure that we're factoring this in.
In
Out
1:52:35
So yes and no, there isn't.
In
Out
1:52:38
I think it's just been about one a year is what they try to do.
In
Out
1:52:40
But if there was ever more available, they would come down for an increase for that year to spend it.
In
Out
1:52:46
I am going to skip the school ones for now and just give you the library one since I think just on the school, were they included?
In
Out
1:52:52
So you, you asked the schools about?
In
Out
1:52:54
Yeah, and I have all those reports.
In
Out
1:52:55
I just wanted to give you the balance for library.
In
Out
1:52:57
I was just asking about sending.
In
Out
1:52:58
You said you sent out.
In
Out
1:52:59
I did.
In
Out
1:53:00
I sent it over as well.
In
Out
1:53:00
Department.
In
Out
1:53:01
And they confirmed the limits?
In
Out
1:53:04
Yes.
In
Out
1:53:04
Okay.
In
Out
1:53:05
So library revolving fund, there's a balance currently of $1,900.
In
Out
1:53:13
Oh gosh, all right, these are all out of order, I apologize.
In
Out
1:53:18
School department summer tuition, there's a balance of $245,000.
In
Out
1:53:28
Um, which probably is due to the timing of it being summer, but the athletic events, there is a balance of $47,000, $48,000.
In
Out
1:53:44
The music revolving, there's a balance of $20,500.
In
Out
1:53:59
Um, let me— the school store one, I believe, is in with one of these, so give me a second to go back to that.
In
Out
1:54:04
The daycare services is a balance of $213,000.
In
Out
1:54:16
The school building use, I believe that that is the one that is combined with the school store, the revenue.
In
Out
1:54:24
It's in 2 different line items, but that one has a total balance of $686,000.
In
Out
1:54:34
And you said that that's both school store combined?
In
Out
1:54:38
I think so, but I'd have to look back at my emails.
In
Out
1:54:43
I had that same question, um, when I was going through this, so I can confirm that.
In
Out
1:54:47
But I believe that is where it's combined with, but I can confirm that again for you after the fact.
In
Out
1:54:54
Um, and then the last one is the CVTE, um, and that is a balance of $303,000.
In
Out
1:55:03
I'm sorry, what was it?
In
Out
1:55:04
$303,000.
In
Out
1:55:08
Okay, and I think that's all of them.
In
Out
1:55:09
All right, thank you.
In
Out
1:55:10
I yield.
In
Out
1:55:12
Anything further?
In
Out
1:55:13
Uh, Councilman Siegfried, Councilor O'Connell.
In
Out
1:55:14
Thank you.
In
Out
1:55:14
Can you just repeat the Police Cruiser 1, uh, balance?
In
Out
1:55:20
I'm just gonna flip back through.
In
Out
1:55:21
I'm sorry, $547,000.
In
Out
1:55:23
$547,000.
In
Out
1:55:27
Yeah, $547,000.
In
Out
1:55:29
Okay, that's what I thought.
In
Out
1:55:30
So my question is, the request is an authorized spending limit of $80,000 for that fund.
In
Out
1:55:37
So, what would happen to the other, the difference?
In
Out
1:55:41
Well, that's why there is such a big balance right now, is because I'm sure each year, so I can see right here, just for '26, 'cause I only pulled, you know, for '26 at that point, the revenue that came in was just shy of $180,000.
In
Out
1:55:56
And so, I believe last year the limit that was set might have been $60,000.
In
Out
1:56:01
So with that, you know, if they even had spent that, there would have been surplus.
In
Out
1:56:06
It doesn't seem like they did expend that this year.
In
Out
1:56:11
So with that, all of that's being turned into the fund balance.
In
Out
1:56:14
So they can increase that at any point.
In
Out
1:56:16
This is the whole point of the revolving fund is you set this limit, and so then as long as they have enough money that's in there, they can spend that.
In
Out
1:56:22
But if they want to do more, we could come back down.
In
Out
1:56:24
So I mean, the demolition one is in there for $1.6 million this year.
In
Out
1:56:27
Year because we have that demolition, but that limit is normally lower.
In
Out
1:56:30
So rather than coming down in a separate time and amending it, we just left it at that higher amount given that current demolition plan.
In
Out
1:56:38
But if we, um, want to, we could come back down at another point throughout the year and say, you know, we're requesting to increase that spending limit for this year to spend down some of that balance.
In
Out
1:56:48
Yeah, thank you.
In
Out
1:56:49
Are you okay?
In
Out
1:56:50
Anything further?
In
Out
1:56:55
Motion to adjourn the Committee on Finance has been made by Councilor Canuel, seconded by Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
1:57:00
All those in favor?
In
Out
1:57:01
Aye.
In
Out
1:57:01
Opposed?
In
Out
1:57:01
The ayes have it.
In
Out
1:57:20
City Council meeting will be called to order at 7:55 PM.
In
Out
1:57:24
Madam Clerk, roll call.
In
Out
1:57:25
Councilor Kadim.
In
Out
1:57:26
Here.
In
Out
1:57:26
Tamara.
In
Out
1:57:27
Here.
In
Out
1:57:28
Canuel.
In
Out
1:57:28
Here.
In
Out
1:57:29
Dion.
In
Out
1:57:30
Here.
In
Out
1:57:30
Hart.
In
Out
1:57:31
Peckham.
In
Out
1:57:32
Here.
In
Out
1:57:32
Carrera.
In
Out
1:57:33
Here.
In
Out
1:57:33
Raposo.
In
Out
1:57:34
Here.
In
Out
1:57:34
President Ponte.
In
Out
1:57:35
Here.
In
Out
1:57:35
Once again, Councilor Hart is, uh, not, uh, going to join us.
In
Out
1:57:39
He is sick.
In
Out
1:57:40
He did, uh, call me earlier today.
In
Out
1:57:42
If everybody in the chamber can please rise for a moment of silent prayer.
In
Out
1:57:54
Thank you, and a salute to the flag.
In
Out
1:57:55
I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
In
Out
1:58:06
Pursuant to the open meeting law, any person may make an audio or video recording of this public meeting or may transmit the meeting through any medium.
In
Out
1:58:13
Attendees are therefore advised that such recordings or transmissions are being made, whether perceived or unperceived by those present, and are deemed acknowledged and permissible.
In
Out
1:58:20
Madam Clerk, good evening.
In
Out
1:58:21
Good evening.
In
Out
1:58:23
The first item before you, Mr. President, is an item that was objected to at the last meeting.
In
Out
1:58:27
It's a communication from the mayor and an order appropriating $1,400,000 from the FY25 surplus revenue to fire salaries.
In
Out
1:58:36
Motion to lift from the table.
In
Out
1:58:37
Second.
In
Out
1:58:37
Lift the item from the table is made by Councilor Raposo, seconded by Councilor Kadim.
In
Out
1:58:41
Discussion?
In
Out
1:58:42
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
1:58:43
Aye.
In
Out
1:58:43
Motion opposed?
In
Out
1:58:44
Motion to grant leave to withdraw.
In
Out
1:58:46
Motion to grant the item leave to withdraw has been made by Councilor Kadim, seconded by Councilor Canuel.
In
Out
1:58:51
Roll call on granting the financial order leave to withdraw.
In
Out
1:58:55
Councilors Kadim?
In
Out
1:58:56
Yes.
In
Out
1:58:57
Camara?
In
Out
1:58:59
Yes.
In
Out
1:59:03
Canuel?
In
Out
1:59:03
Yes.
In
Out
1:59:04
Dion?
In
Out
1:59:05
Yes.
In
Out
1:59:06
Hart?
In
Out
1:59:07
Peckham?
In
Out
1:59:08
Yes.
In
Out
1:59:09
Pereira?
In
Out
1:59:10
Yes.
In
Out
1:59:10
Raposo?
In
Out
1:59:11
Yes.
In
Out
1:59:12
President Ponte?
In
Out
1:59:13
Yes.
In
Out
1:59:14
Motion carries 8 yeas.
In
Out
1:59:19
Item 2A is a communication from the mayor and a request for the confirmation of the reappointment of Joyce Rodricks to the Historical Commission.
In
Out
1:59:28
Motion to confirm.
In
Out
1:59:29
Motion to confirm the reappointment has been made by Councilor Cannuel, seconded by Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
1:59:33
Discussion?
In
Out
1:59:35
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
1:59:36
Opposed?
In
Out
1:59:37
The ayes have it.
In
Out
1:59:39
And item 2B is for the reappointment of Maria Connie Sewell, also to the Historical Commission.
In
Out
1:59:43
Motion to confirm.
In
Out
1:59:44
Motion to confirm the reappointment has been made by Councilor Peckham, seconded by Councilor Cannuel.
In
Out
1:59:49
Discussion?
In
Out
1:59:50
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
1:59:52
Opposed?
In
Out
1:59:53
Ayes have it.
In
Out
1:59:55
Item 3A is, uh, communication from the mayor and the original July continuing appropriation budget order for FY 2027.
In
Out
2:00:04
Motion to reject.
In
Out
2:00:06
Motion to reject has been made by Councilor Kadim, seconded by Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
2:00:10
Discussion?
In
Out
2:00:11
Supposed to be approved one.
In
Out
2:00:15
Hearing Councilman Seat too.
In
Out
2:00:16
Yeah, I just want to clarify the reason that As I understand it, we're rejecting this because you use the terminology free cash and we can't use free cash.
In
Out
2:00:25
What item are you talking about?
In
Out
2:00:26
I can't hear you, Councilor.
In
Out
2:00:27
What was that?
In
Out
2:00:27
The item that we're going to vote on right now, 3A.
In
Out
2:00:29
Okay, that's right.
In
Out
2:00:32
The original appropriation has— is there a motion to waive the rules?
In
Out
2:00:37
What is your question?
In
Out
2:00:38
I, I know it's a point of information.
In
Out
2:00:40
I made a motion to reject because 3A has the one with free cash.
In
Out
2:00:45
3B is the one— is the updated one that does not have— we can't approve both.
In
Out
2:00:50
We have to— just want to make it clear.
In
Out
2:00:53
Yep.
In
Out
2:00:54
Motion to— any further discussion, Council?
In
Out
2:00:56
No, I'm good.
In
Out
2:00:57
Motion to— thank you, you're good.
In
Out
2:00:58
Motion to reject item 3A has been made and seconded.
In
Out
2:01:02
Hearing no further discussion, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:01:04
Aye.
In
Out
2:01:04
Opposed?
In
Out
2:01:05
The ayes have it.
In
Out
2:01:09
Mr. President, Um, how would you like to take the vote on rejecting the order?
In
Out
2:01:14
The prior appropriation orders were rejected by line item and then reduced down to zero to avoid any issue with the interpretation of the council's vote.
In
Out
2:01:26
Um, my suggestion would be to reject by section so that you don't have to go by line item.
In
Out
2:01:33
You're talking about 3A that we just rejected?
In
Out
2:01:36
But the section would include A and B, correct?
In
Out
2:01:40
No, she means 3B is a separate vote.
In
Out
2:01:43
Uh, I'm going to take your recommendation, Madam Clerk, and we'll do that.
In
Out
2:01:46
Is there a— what is the will of the council on the appropriation?
In
Out
2:01:49
I'm fine with that.
In
Out
2:01:49
Okay, can we, uh, hear a motion?
In
Out
2:01:54
Motion to take it section by section.
In
Out
2:01:56
Motion to take section by section has been made by Council Vice President Dion, seconded by Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
2:02:01
All those in favor?
In
Out
2:02:02
Opposed?
In
Out
2:02:03
Councilman, we need to do a motion to reconsider first.
In
Out
2:02:05
Uh, we just rejected it.
In
Out
2:02:07
Now we're going to reject it in sections.
In
Out
2:02:08
I don't necessarily think it's necessary for reconsideration.
In
Out
2:02:11
Motion to now reject it by section has been made and seconded.
In
Out
2:02:15
Hearing no further discussion, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:02:17
Opposed?
In
Out
2:02:18
The ayes have it.
In
Out
2:02:18
Madam Clerk, Section A, for the purpose of general government, in the amount of $268,394,000.
In
Out
2:02:27
Excuse me, $268,394.70.
In
Out
2:02:33
Motion to reject.
In
Out
2:02:34
Motion to reject has been made by Councilor Kadim, seconded by Councilor Pereira.
In
Out
2:02:39
Discussion?
In
Out
2:02:40
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:02:42
Opposed?
In
Out
2:02:42
The ayes have it.
In
Out
2:02:43
Section B, for the purpose of administration, in the amount of $1,729,917.42.
In
Out
2:02:53
Motion to reject has been made by Councilor Raposo, seconded by Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
2:02:57
Discussion?
In
Out
2:02:58
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:02:59
Aye.
In
Out
2:02:59
Opposed?
In
Out
2:03:00
The ayes have it.
In
Out
2:03:02
Section C, for the purpose of financial services, in the amount of $176,561.49.
In
Out
2:03:09
Motion to reject.
In
Out
2:03:10
Motion to reject has been made by Councilor Raposo, seconded by Council Vice President Dion.
In
Out
2:03:15
Is there discussion?
In
Out
2:03:16
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:03:17
Aye.
In
Out
2:03:17
Opposed?
In
Out
2:03:18
The have it.
In
Out
2:03:19
Section D, for the purpose of facilities maintenance, in the amount of $379,474.03.
In
Out
2:03:27
Motion to reject.
In
Out
2:03:28
Motion to reject has been made by Councilor Peckham, seconded by Council Vice President Dion.
In
Out
2:03:32
Discussion?
In
Out
2:03:33
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:03:34
Aye.
In
Out
2:03:34
Opposed?
In
Out
2:03:35
The ayes have it.
In
Out
2:03:36
Section E, for the purpose of community maintenance, in the amount of $2,155,960.93.
In
Out
2:03:44
Motion to reject.
In
Out
2:03:45
Motion to reject made by Councilor Peckham, seconded by Councilor Raposo.
In
Out
2:03:49
Discussion?
In
Out
2:03:50
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:03:51
Aye.
In
Out
2:03:51
Opposed?
In
Out
2:03:52
The ayes have it.
In
Out
2:03:54
Section F, for the purpose of community service, in the amount of $339,158.39.
In
Out
2:04:01
Motion to reject.
In
Out
2:04:02
Motion to reject has been made by Councilor Raposo, seconded by Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
2:04:06
Discussion?
In
Out
2:04:07
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:04:08
Opposed?
In
Out
2:04:09
The ayes have it.
In
Out
2:04:11
Section G, for the purpose of education, $377,000.
In
Out
2:04:15
Motion to reject.
In
Out
2:04:16
Motion to reject made by Councilor Peckham, seconded by Council Vice President Dion.
In
Out
2:04:20
Discussion?
In
Out
2:04:21
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:04:22
Aye.
In
Out
2:04:23
Opposed?
In
Out
2:04:23
The ayes have it.
In
Out
2:04:25
Section H, for the purpose of community protection, in the amount of $3,909,000— excuse me, $3,905,116.77.
In
Out
2:04:36
Motion to reject.
In
Out
2:04:37
Motion to reject has been made by Councilor Peckham, seconded by Council Vice President Dion.
In
Out
2:04:42
Discussion?
In
Out
2:04:43
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:04:45
Aye.
In
Out
2:04:45
Opposed?
In
Out
2:04:45
The ayes have it.
In
Out
2:04:47
Section I, for the purpose of other governmental expenses, in the amount of $11,520,135.61.
In
Out
2:04:56
Motion to reject made by Councilor Raposo, seconded by Councilor Cannuel.
In
Out
2:05:00
Discussion?
In
Out
2:05:01
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:05:02
Aye.
In
Out
2:05:03
Opposed?
In
Out
2:05:03
Ayes have it.
In
Out
2:05:06
And then the next section are the funding sources in the amount of $24,794,922.51.
In
Out
2:05:14
Motion to reject.
In
Out
2:05:15
Motion to reject has been made by Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
2:05:18
Second.
In
Out
2:05:19
Seconded by Councilor Raposo.
In
Out
2:05:20
Discussion?
In
Out
2:05:21
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:05:23
Opposed?
In
Out
2:05:23
The ayes have it.
In
Out
2:05:26
And then is it the will of the council to reduce the appropriation order to Motion to reduce the appropriation order to zero has been made by Councilor Khadim, seconded by Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
2:05:36
Discussion?
In
Out
2:05:37
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:05:38
Opposed?
In
Out
2:05:39
The ayes have it.
In
Out
2:05:41
And then adopt as amended, if I could.
In
Out
2:05:44
It'd be the will of the council to adopt the item as amended.
In
Out
2:05:46
So made.
In
Out
2:05:47
Motion to adopt as amended has been made by Councilor Raposo, seconded by Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
2:05:52
Discussion?
In
Out
2:05:52
Council in seat 4, Council Vice President Dionne.
In
Out
2:05:54
Yeah, I have one question.
In
Out
2:05:56
And I might have to, um, make a motion to waive the rules.
In
Out
2:05:58
I'm a little bit confused.
In
Out
2:06:01
Um, so the other budget, because of $150,000, was rejected.
In
Out
2:06:06
That dollar amount is not in 3B, but yet the total dollar amount remains the same in both appropriations— $24,794,922.51.
In
Out
2:06:20
And on the— and in B, it's $24,794,922.
In
Out
2:06:26
How can that number be— Motion to waive the rules has been made by— Can we finish the— well, can we just finish this first one?
In
Out
2:06:32
We're rejecting it.
In
Out
2:06:33
Yeah, we reject— we just, we just, we, we have a motion on the floor to adopt it as a— that was a yes then.
In
Out
2:06:41
I didn't vote, so I'm just— just to be clear, uh, Councilman C4, you have the floor, but we have a motion on the floor to finish 3A.
In
Out
2:06:48
Which is to— we did, we reduced it to zero.
In
Out
2:06:54
Motion has been made by Councilor Raposo, seconded by Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
2:06:58
Hearing no further discussion, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:07:00
Aye.
In
Out
2:07:01
Opposed?
In
Out
2:07:02
The ayes have it.
In
Out
2:07:02
Motion to adopt it as amended is correct.
In
Out
2:07:06
Madam Clerk, item 3B is the revised appropriation order for the month of July as a continuing appropriation budget for FY 2027.
In
Out
2:07:15
Motion to approve.
In
Out
2:07:16
Motion to approve has been made by Councilor Raposo.
In
Out
2:07:19
Is there a second?
In
Out
2:07:20
Second.
In
Out
2:07:21
Seconded by Councilor Pereira.
In
Out
2:07:22
Discussion?
In
Out
2:07:23
Council on C4.
In
Out
2:07:23
Councilor Vice President Dionne.
In
Out
2:07:26
Yes, I'd like to make a motion to waive the rules.
In
Out
2:07:28
Second.
In
Out
2:07:29
Motion to waive the rules has been made by Councilor Vice President Dionne, seconded by Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
2:07:34
All those in favor?
In
Out
2:07:34
Aye.
In
Out
2:07:35
Opposed?
In
Out
2:07:35
The ayes have it.
In
Out
2:07:37
3B.
In
Out
2:07:44
I could be missing something, I could be misinterpreting, but those 2 dollar amounts are the same, but yet it was reduced by $150,000.
In
Out
2:07:51
So when you say the 2 dollar amounts are the same, the operating budget amount is the same, is that, is that what you're talking about?
In
Out
2:07:58
The general fund and operating budget are identical, correct?
In
Out
2:08:02
Correct.
In
Out
2:08:03
So that is the budget.
In
Out
2:08:05
The $24 million number is the budget.
In
Out
2:08:07
The funding sources is to approve outside sources.
In
Out
2:08:10
So what number would be changing, and it is different, is that from ordinary revenue and municipal receipts.
In
Out
2:08:16
So that does go up by $150,000.
In
Out
2:08:19
So that was just— I mean, literally the line was left in there and it shouldn't have been.
In
Out
2:08:23
That was purely an oversight when I was amending the order to send it in, and it should have been pulled out.
In
Out
2:08:28
Everything else is pretty formulated within these spreadsheets that I use.
In
Out
2:08:32
And that— all right, so I guess my question would be, so from ordinary revenue, municipal receipts was $20,920,000 in the 3A appropriation with the $150,000, but we took it out so it no longer exists, but the other number went up.
In
Out
2:08:51
I could just be being confused.
In
Out
2:08:52
So the expenses stayed the same, the full plan for expenditures remained the same.
In
Out
2:08:56
So everything above the total general fund operating budget did not change.
In
Out
2:09:01
There was no intent to change it.
In
Out
2:09:02
It's just the funding sources line, which is honestly— it's an informational piece at this point because I wasn't requesting free cash.
In
Out
2:09:08
I can't request free cash at this point.
In
Out
2:09:10
There's nothing in there for stabilization.
In
Out
2:09:12
And then the revenues from the EMS, water, and sewer, you actually approved on their appropriation orders.
In
Out
2:09:18
So it's just an informational piece that that revenue is coming in.
In
Out
2:09:21
So then whatever's not funded with that is funded with ordinary.
In
Out
2:09:25
So the rest of the general fund funding, and that doesn't require— how we fund these items does not require a vote.
In
Out
2:09:31
What requires a vote is funding stabilization or free cash.
In
Out
2:09:35
That's what— and then obviously from the EMS, water, sewer, you approve those within those fund appropriation orders.
In
Out
2:09:42
So even though we took $150,000 out, the numbers all stay the same.
In
Out
2:09:46
It's a revenue source that you took out.
In
Out
2:09:48
So the expenses stayed the same.
In
Out
2:09:53
It was— and like I said, it was a typo.
In
Out
2:09:55
It wasn't like we actually put an expense in and decided to pull it out.
In
Out
2:09:57
It just shouldn't have been in there as a funding source.
In
Out
2:10:00
Okay, then I yield.
In
Out
2:10:01
Thank you.
In
Out
2:10:02
Councilman Seat 1, Councilor Kadeem.
In
Out
2:10:04
Thank you.
In
Out
2:10:04
I guess so my first question is, when can we anticipate the budget coming back down before us?
In
Out
2:10:10
So, um, we have heard your concerns about know, what is outstanding and why we don't have a budget at this point in time.
In
Out
2:10:17
Um, so I don't have what I think would be sufficient for everybody to answer all 3 of those items.
In
Out
2:10:22
So that would be the MOA, the, uh, school transportation, and then the, um, information from PARAC on the pensions.
In
Out
2:10:32
So once we have that, um, in hand, we would be resubmitting it.
In
Out
2:10:36
My goal has been and is still before the end of July, but I also recognize that there's not another meeting until August 11th, so the goal would be to have something in front of you by then.
In
Out
2:10:47
But without any of those pieces of information back and provided to all of you, you'd be getting the same thing that was rejected on June 30th, and that felt like a waste of everybody's time.
In
Out
2:10:57
So how close are we on those 3?
In
Out
2:10:59
So I was told last week— no, I was told before the 4th that I would have it from the pension stuff from PARAC, that I would have it by Friday of last week.
In
Out
2:11:12
So I followed up again.
In
Out
2:11:13
Remind me again, what's the pension issue?
In
Out
2:11:16
The liability amount and the funding from that.
In
Out
2:11:18
So it's not the biggest issue, but it's— part of it is just making sure that the pension liability and the appropriation for that is correct by department at that point.
In
Out
2:11:26
So it's a, it's a minor thing, to be honest with you, but, um, that's the timeline on that that I have then.
In
Out
2:11:32
Is there.
In
Out
2:11:32
So I— we did have a meeting with school department, um, a big meeting with several people in it.
In
Out
2:11:38
So, um, there is a follow-up meeting happening this week, um, between myself and the new CFO over there.
In
Out
2:11:45
The problem is he's not here full-time right now, so the timing of being able to schedule that isn't as easy, I think, as everybody would like it to be.
In
Out
2:11:51
So we're just working on, you know, scheduling those meetings and getting that firmed up for you.
In
Out
2:11:56
And then the MOA is obviously between the mayor's office and city council, so I don't have a timeline for you on that.
In
Out
2:12:05
Okay, so my, my first issue with even approving this is that the school department doesn't even have an appropriation.
In
Out
2:12:11
So there's— if we approve this budget, they've got— and I'm not sure how they're operating now— so they're $377,000 for transportation.
In
Out
2:12:22
There's, there's no no appropriation.
In
Out
2:12:23
So the opinion that was provided is that the approval that happened on June 3rd for the school operating budget and for the school assessments was approved and nothing was done to rescind or recant.
In
Out
2:12:39
Whose opinion was that?
In
Out
2:12:41
It was between Corporation Counsel and the state.
In
Out
2:12:44
That's the one we had a conversation.
In
Out
2:12:46
So, and the state?
In
Out
2:12:47
Yeah, we talked to I spoke specifically with Ken Woodward myself.
In
Out
2:12:51
Alan did as well.
In
Out
2:12:52
So, so we, we voted a line item on the expenses with no appropriation.
In
Out
2:12:58
We zeroed out the appropriation, and they're saying that they have an appropriation.
In
Out
2:13:02
How's that even possible?
In
Out
2:13:04
We zeroed it.
In
Out
2:13:05
There was, there was no— even when we— on June 3rd.
In
Out
2:13:07
So I made the motion, right?
In
Out
2:13:09
And I was, I was a little tired, right?
In
Out
2:13:11
So I wanted to get the school department their budget.
In
Out
2:13:13
So we approved their line item expense.
In
Out
2:13:16
Then we subsequently took a vote to— for the appropriation.
In
Out
2:13:19
We zeroed out the appropriation.
In
Out
2:13:21
There is no appropriation whatsoever.
In
Out
2:13:22
We said that to legal counsel.
In
Out
2:13:24
That's why I said that I had no confidence in legal opinion.
In
Out
2:13:27
I mean, I don't know how you can have a budget without an appropriation.
In
Out
2:13:31
There is no appropriation that has ever been voted on by the City Council.
In
Out
2:13:36
All the appropriations have been zero.
In
Out
2:13:37
So the school department is operating without without an appropriation.
In
Out
2:13:43
I, I'm not a lawyer and I can't speak to the rules provided, but that's, that's the basis that I'm operating on.
In
Out
2:13:48
That's why it wasn't included.
In
Out
2:13:49
I understand.
In
Out
2:13:49
I'm not a lawyer.
In
Out
2:13:50
I don't need to be a lawyer to understand finance.
In
Out
2:13:53
No, I just meant to respond to that, that it's— no, no, I, I get it.
In
Out
2:13:56
And this is not appropriation stood.
In
Out
2:13:57
So this, this is not directed to you.
In
Out
2:13:59
This is directed to the attorneys who tried to play things other than they should really kind of focus in on.
In
Out
2:14:04
And give an opinion to say that there's an appropriation when the city council zeroed out an appropriation is just absolutely ludicrous.
In
Out
2:14:11
I don't even know how we sell that, right?
In
Out
2:14:13
I really don't know how we sell it.
In
Out
2:14:15
So I'm going to be rejecting this budget until we get an appropriation for the schools.
In
Out
2:14:19
The schools need an appropriation.
In
Out
2:14:22
Every other department has an appropriation, and I've heard some argument that, you know, Chapter 70 is in there.
In
Out
2:14:29
Well, unrestricted local aid is in here as well, and And, you know, we have to appropriate every single department that's before us.
In
Out
2:14:34
So the schools are no different.
In
Out
2:14:37
It requires an appropriation from, from the City Council.
In
Out
2:14:39
And I maintain and stick by the fact that there has been $0 appropriated to any department on any City Council meeting that we've had in June and July.
In
Out
2:14:53
There was $0 that have been appropriated.
In
Out
2:14:56
So right now, the Department does not in this 1/12 budget, which we don't have to approve.
In
Out
2:15:01
The only thing we need to do as a city council is reduce or reject.
In
Out
2:15:04
There's no approval required for us.
In
Out
2:15:07
I would suggest that you just submit something back down to us with an appropriation from the schools, and then we'll take it up at the next meeting.
In
Out
2:15:13
And if we don't have a meeting in July, you automatically have your 1/12 budget that you need.
In
Out
2:15:17
But from my standpoint, I'm, I'm not supporting this as it stands because the school department does not have a budget.
In
Out
2:15:23
Without a yield.
In
Out
2:15:25
Thank you, Councilman C4.
In
Out
2:15:26
Council Vice President Dionne.
In
Out
2:15:27
Yeah, and, um, that was spoken about at the last meeting, and I want to piggyback on what Councilman Seatwell was saying.
In
Out
2:15:34
We made it very clear.
In
Out
2:15:35
So to the— through the president to the clerk, um, when we did the zero appropriation, we never ever ever amended the appropriation to keep the money for the school department in the budget.
In
Out
2:15:51
All line items were at zero, amended to zero, with the, um, the subsequent appropriation orders.
In
Out
2:15:59
The, the first one, the council did approve those 2 appropriations.
In
Out
2:16:03
Then the mayor subsequently submitted a new appropriation order with those same line items.
In
Out
2:16:09
Ever since that meeting, the council has reduced those down to zero.
In
Out
2:16:13
We did.
In
Out
2:16:13
We performed the same function twice, line by line, rejection, $0 appropriation.
In
Out
2:16:19
So on June 3rd, it was not— yes, both meetings, absolutely, after June 3rd.
In
Out
2:16:25
So I was stating that the June 3rd appropriation is what is what I was told stands, not the June 23rd and not the June 30th.
In
Out
2:16:32
The June 3rd, the first one, that Wednesday night, that those 2 line items were approved, not rejected.
In
Out
2:16:39
Just a point of clarification.
In
Out
2:16:42
Were you told that by the state or by Attorney Ramsey?
In
Out
2:16:45
Well, okay, it was conversation.
In
Out
2:16:47
So the state doesn't make the final determination on it.
In
Out
2:16:49
They said the corporation counsel does, but there was conversations with him that I had myself about this, and I had shared the orders, and it was ultimately the decision that he said that corporation counsel had the final say, but he said he had seen something similar, and there was no act to rescind the vote that was taken so that it would stay the end.
In
Out
2:17:09
Councilman Seat 1, your point of clarification.
In
Out
2:17:10
Point of clarification to the clerk: what was the appropriation on June 3rd?
In
Out
2:17:14
I understand we— I understand we approved the expense budget.
In
Out
2:17:18
What was the appropriation?
In
Out
2:17:19
The appropriation was zero.
In
Out
2:17:21
The, uh, on June 3rd it wasn't.
In
Out
2:17:23
The appropriation order was the mayor's original budget.
In
Out
2:17:27
The council rejected all of the line items with the exception of the 2, but what appropriation funding source was zeroed out?
In
Out
2:17:34
For the school department.
In
Out
2:17:35
So what—that's what I'm saying.
In
Out
2:17:36
We're back to what exactly what I said.
In
Out
2:17:38
There is no funding source for the school department online.
In
Out
2:17:41
No, the funding source is the appropriation.
In
Out
2:17:42
There's no appropriation.
In
Out
2:17:44
Correct.
In
Out
2:17:45
We we how my question is: How do you send expenses to the school department?
In
Out
2:17:51
We appropriate, right?
In
Out
2:17:53
How do you get an appropriation to the school department without an appropriation?
In
Out
2:17:58
Yes, we agree.
In
Out
2:17:58
We agreed with the appropriation.
In
Out
2:18:01
The individual lines, the expenses that we're going over, right?
In
Out
2:18:04
We rejected the entire amount.
In
Out
2:18:05
We've never appropriated any dollar to the budget.
In
Out
2:18:09
Point of clarification, on it before June 3rd.
In
Out
2:18:11
June 3rd, all of them.
In
Out
2:18:12
And June— this council has never appropriated any revenue.
In
Out
2:18:16
That is correct.
In
Out
2:18:17
Correct.
In
Out
2:18:17
That is correct.
In
Out
2:18:18
You said without revenue, how can you appropriate something?
In
Out
2:18:21
You can't.
In
Out
2:18:22
But you don't appropriate the revenue part.
In
Out
2:18:24
We— oh my God.
In
Out
2:18:25
Councilor in seat 4, council Just to be clear, Councilman C4, you have the floor, and then I'm going to acknowledge other councilors who raised their hand.
In
Out
2:18:32
Councilman C4.
In
Out
2:18:35
Yes.
In
Out
2:18:37
Um, first of all, you keep saying we approved 2 line items.
In
Out
2:18:41
What were the 2?
In
Out
2:18:42
G1 and G3.
In
Out
2:18:43
So that's school operating.
In
Out
2:18:45
So for 2, it's 212.
In
Out
2:18:46
I don't have the exact order.
In
Out
2:18:47
And what's the other?
In
Out
2:18:49
The school assessment.
In
Out
2:18:50
So what we paid to Diamond and, um, Oh my God, Bristol County, Aggie.
In
Out
2:18:55
All right, because I knew he kept saying 2 and I wasn't clear.
In
Out
2:18:59
So the 3rd one that wasn't is transportation, which is why it's included on the 112th in that way.
In
Out
2:19:03
So again, if that's wrong— but the bottom line to the story is, and I don't know how you can— you know, I can say, gee, I opened up a savings account today with 10 cents and I'm gonna put $50 in it and then never put the money in.
In
Out
2:19:19
If the money's not there, it's not there.
In
Out
2:19:20
That's what happened.
In
Out
2:19:22
Yes, we made it.
In
Out
2:19:23
Yes, we said yes for the school budget in a line item.
In
Out
2:19:27
Approving a line item is not appropriating the cash to subsidize that line item.
In
Out
2:19:34
What we had to do and what we didn't do— it was actually a mistake on our part, but in the end result, it is what it is.
In
Out
2:19:42
The next step we should have taken if we were going to approve a budget for the school department would have been to deduct everything from the appropriation except the school department budget, and it would have been approved with whatever dollar amount was going to fund the school department.
In
Out
2:20:00
We did not take that step.
In
Out
2:20:02
We never did that.
In
Out
2:20:03
We voted on a $0 appropriation June 3rd and June 17th, both times.
In
Out
2:20:10
There is no money, never was, and still isn't.
In
Out
2:20:15
And maybe that needs to be explained to DOR, because if it was explained any other way, they're not going to tell you the funding's there.
In
Out
2:20:22
Trust me.
In
Out
2:20:22
I just— I had shared the orders as they were shared with me, so again, I can't— I think they understand zero equals zero, not a million dollars or $2 million or whatever dollar amount needs to be applied.
In
Out
2:20:37
Um, and then I— and I have one more, and I One more question on this.
In
Out
2:20:42
So we also, prior to doing the budget, did the EMS indirects, and we reduced those, correct?
In
Out
2:20:51
I don't— I apologize, I don't have it with me.
In
Out
2:20:53
I should have it with me, I don't.
In
Out
2:20:56
What was— what we reduced the pension liability to, what dollar amount?
In
Out
2:21:00
Do you remember?
In
Out
2:21:01
Do you have it, the exact number?
In
Out
2:21:03
I don't.
In
Out
2:21:03
It's something around $600 $600,000.
In
Out
2:21:06
It was reduced by $600,000.
In
Out
2:21:09
So let's assume it was, and the pensions where it was at, what, 2.3?
In
Out
2:21:15
So it should be 1.6 it was reduced to.
In
Out
2:21:17
Yeah, something about that.
In
Out
2:21:19
Yeah.
In
Out
2:21:19
Okay, well, if you multiply 12 times the dollar amount you here— you have here for EMS pensions, it comes out to $2,346,000.
In
Out
2:21:34
$2,954.40.
In
Out
2:21:35
So you're taking out too much money.
In
Out
2:21:40
So this, this funding source isn't what we're necessarily taking.
In
Out
2:21:43
We're taking whatever is appropriated in their budget.
In
Out
2:21:45
So, okay, but $2.3 million is not appropriate in their budget.
In
Out
2:21:48
We reduced it to $1.6 million.
In
Out
2:21:50
Correct.
In
Out
2:21:50
So whatever that number was approved at is what's in their budget and would be coming over in the one So the pension liability is going to be— if we stayed— I know we can't stay on a 112 for 12 months, I know that.
In
Out
2:22:04
We can do it for 90 days.
In
Out
2:22:06
But if we stayed on track for 12 months, you'd be at the $2.3 million original dollars.
In
Out
2:22:12
So what are you going to do?
In
Out
2:22:13
It's going to— the pension would reduce with this amount, would adjust.
In
Out
2:22:16
If I made an incorrect calculation on what this funding source number is, it would come down.
In
Out
2:22:21
I would adjust it, but But it's not adjusted in the August one either.
In
Out
2:22:24
There isn't an August one.
In
Out
2:22:28
There's no August continuing appropriation yet.
In
Out
2:22:30
I have not, I have not completed that.
In
Out
2:22:32
So if you have one, I don't know who you got it from.
In
Out
2:22:35
Well, then it needs to be adjusted in August because the $192,000 is way off.
In
Out
2:22:42
I, I don't— I'm, I, I'm not saying no, I'm not saying yes.
In
Out
2:22:45
Yeah, no, no, absolutely look at it and I'm happy to correct it.
In
Out
2:22:47
I I did this at 8:30 at night after the meeting on June 30th, so I apologize that mistakes were made.
In
Out
2:22:54
Yep, no, that's fine.
In
Out
2:22:55
And I wish I, I should have brought it with me.
In
Out
2:22:56
I didn't.
In
Out
2:22:57
With that, I'll yield to my counselor in seat 1.
In
Out
2:23:01
I mean, I don't, I don't know that we need to continue to go on, but it's zero appropriation with the expenses.
In
Out
2:23:10
I don't know how we get an opinion that there's an appropriation, so So I personally don't believe that the school department has any appropriation whatsoever, and with the budget that is approved before us, they will continue not to have it other than transportation, which is paid for by the city.
In
Out
2:23:27
So at that, I yield.
In
Out
2:23:30
Councilman C8, Councilor Raposo.
In
Out
2:23:31
Yeah, through you, Mr. President, to the clerk.
In
Out
2:23:33
So I'm looking at the minutes from the June 3rd meeting, and it states that G1 carried unanimously on voice vote, and G3 also carried unanimously on voice vote, and that's on the appropriation order.
In
Out
2:23:47
That's on the expense side, yes.
In
Out
2:23:48
Yeah, but how do you spend expenses without revenue?
In
Out
2:23:52
I'm just, just stating the fact.
In
Out
2:23:53
That's what we— nobody's arguing that.
In
Out
2:23:54
Yeah, everybody agrees with that.
In
Out
2:23:55
Um, that's what I'm, I'm just trying to clarify here.
In
Out
2:23:59
Who said that?
In
Out
2:23:59
Is that correct?
In
Out
2:24:00
Yes, I understand.
In
Out
2:24:01
I just wanted to ask the question.
In
Out
2:24:03
Thank you very much.
In
Out
2:24:04
Field.
In
Out
2:24:04
Thank you.
In
Out
2:24:05
Councilor in seat 7, Councilor Pereira.
In
Out
2:24:07
I'm good.
In
Out
2:24:08
Councilor in seat 6, Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
2:24:10
Um, I just want to mention that I was going to reject this too, and the reason being I sent you guys an email on July 6th questioning similar to this discussion and nobody got back to me.
In
Out
2:24:20
I, I, I thought I responded to your emails about the 150.
In
Out
2:24:24
I'm— no, the only, the only person that responded to me was the DOR because I included the DOR on this I, I couldn't look back because I, I swear I sent something.
In
Out
2:24:35
I, I don't know what happened.
In
Out
2:24:37
And I had— and I have emailed you quite a few times in the past couple of weeks, so that, that's fine.
In
Out
2:24:41
Um, but it doesn't make sense.
In
Out
2:24:43
And I'll just touch upon what Councilor Khadim is 100% correct— there's no money to use.
In
Out
2:24:46
So where— what are we doing?
In
Out
2:24:49
I mean, money is still coming in.
In
Out
2:24:50
We sent out first quarter tax bills.
In
Out
2:24:52
We are still getting our state appropriations in, so money is still coming into the city.
In
Out
2:24:56
I just want to be clear on that.
In
Out
2:24:57
It's not that money is— so yeah, but we're strapped.
In
Out
2:25:00
We haven't appropriated it.
In
Out
2:25:02
Correct.
In
Out
2:25:02
That's the separate issue.
In
Out
2:25:03
But I just wanted to be clear, money is still coming in.
In
Out
2:25:09
Okay, I yield.
In
Out
2:25:10
Thank you.
In
Out
2:25:11
Thank you, Councilman Sieg.
In
Out
2:25:12
3, Councilor Cannell.
In
Out
2:25:13
Thank you.
In
Out
2:25:14
Through you to the clerk, if the motion to reject was made and move through?
In
Out
2:25:22
Does government just shut down tomorrow?
In
Out
2:25:24
What's the process?
In
Out
2:25:26
It's a very good question, Councillor.
In
Out
2:25:27
No, I would, I would submit an appropriation order tonight as soon as I leave here so that we don't do that.
In
Out
2:25:34
Could we, uh, could you not just send an amended one, I think, to the point that the school department's not in here?
In
Out
2:25:40
I could as well.
In
Out
2:25:41
So you could act on this and then I could send down another one that includes those amounts, um, to increase that and include schools.
In
Out
2:25:48
So that is another option.
In
Out
2:25:50
It's obviously the will of the council, but I could also do that.
In
Out
2:25:55
Either way, I'll be sending something down pretty much immediately.
In
Out
2:25:58
So, so will of the council from there.
In
Out
2:26:02
Yeah, thank you.
In
Out
2:26:03
Thank you, Councilor C1.
In
Out
2:26:03
Councilor Lakadeem.
In
Out
2:26:04
Thank you.
In
Out
2:26:06
So government doesn't shut down, they're gonna just submit the continuing appropriation tomorrow, and then it continues.
In
Out
2:26:13
What I will say is that it's July 14th, and there seems to be no sense of urgency from the administration with regards to a budget.
In
Out
2:26:20
So that's the bigger issue and bigger concern that I have.
In
Out
2:26:24
The fact that we continue to get legal opinions that make absolutely no sense whatsoever is another issue that I continue to have with Corporation Counsel.
In
Out
2:26:31
So I'm going to reject this, but the fact that the administration does not have a budget before us and we're talking about July 14th, is extremely concerning.
In
Out
2:26:42
So with that, I yield.
In
Out
2:26:44
Councilman C7, Councilor LaPera.
In
Out
2:26:45
Yeah, I think what Emily said was she was waiting to get some information from PARAC, from other people.
In
Out
2:26:54
You're saying the financial officer over at the school department, he's only part-time?
In
Out
2:26:58
Did you yield?
In
Out
2:27:00
I just raised my hands to get the floor.
In
Out
2:27:01
Oh, I thought maybe you didn't.
In
Out
2:27:02
Yeah.
In
Out
2:27:03
Um, that you hadn't yelled.
In
Out
2:27:05
Um, and it's only part-time.
In
Out
2:27:07
Well, you just got hired, for crying out loud.
In
Out
2:27:09
You can't come in?
In
Out
2:27:10
He's not— he's not hired officially yet.
In
Out
2:27:12
He has not left his former job.
In
Out
2:27:14
He's not hired?
In
Out
2:27:16
I, I don't— I don't know.
In
Out
2:27:17
I'm not here to speak to that, but my understanding is his employment has not ended there yet.
In
Out
2:27:21
He has accepted clarification that he has 2 minutes— like 2 jobs within municipalities right now.
In
Out
2:27:26
He's working— that's what I'm saying.
In
Out
2:27:27
I don't think he is fully here that We have offered— can we find out?
In
Out
2:27:30
Because I don't think the retirement board would like that too much.
In
Out
2:27:33
Correct.
In
Out
2:27:33
I, I don't believe he's getting paid, but we can clarify that.
In
Out
2:27:35
Like I said, it's not mine to speak to, but I know he is not here full-time at this point.
In
Out
2:27:39
So thank you.
In
Out
2:27:39
Okay, I thought that he was here, and even though he's working part-time, maybe you could meet with him on a day that he comes in.
In
Out
2:27:45
Well, we, we are, but it's just not as easy to just meet whenever we want is what I was trying to say.
In
Out
2:27:49
He's not hired.
In
Out
2:27:50
Why are we meeting with him if he's not hired?
In
Out
2:27:52
We're going to meet with people that aren't hired, and that doesn't make sense.
In
Out
2:27:55
What I was going to say is, as soon as you can put a budget together and you can rectify, you know, the MOA and the PERAC and school department transportation, etc., even— you don't have to wait till August, correct?
In
Out
2:28:09
As soon as we have it, we will.
In
Out
2:28:10
As soon as you have it, bring it in so we can get this.
In
Out
2:28:13
We will.
In
Out
2:28:14
No, we have to have a special meeting to do it, so be it.
In
Out
2:28:19
But if you're waiting, you know, for information I, I understand that, and that's fine.
In
Out
2:28:25
I was a little confused about the finance person on the school department.
In
Out
2:28:28
I thought that person had been hired, didn't realize they weren't.
In
Out
2:28:31
But if he's not hired, why are you meeting with him?
In
Out
2:28:33
I mean, now I'm a little bit more confused, so maybe I shouldn't have even asked this question.
In
Out
2:28:38
I should have just sat back and relaxed.
In
Out
2:28:41
Um, but when you have it ready, let the president know, and we'll see how many councilors can be here.
In
Out
2:28:49
You yield, Councilor?
In
Out
2:28:50
I yield.
In
Out
2:28:50
Councilman Seat 1, Councilor Kadim.
In
Out
2:28:53
Thank you.
In
Out
2:28:53
Just in, in terms of conversations with the school finance director, is there nobody else on the school side?
In
Out
2:29:00
I mean, what— the budget should have been built back in December.
In
Out
2:29:03
We're having a conversation about transportation.
In
Out
2:29:05
What, what is the issue with transportation that we can't get rectified?
In
Out
2:29:09
Any information on how it was built?
In
Out
2:29:13
Than 5% was added to the previous budget.
In
Out
2:29:16
There's no additional information.
In
Out
2:29:17
I know, I know I got one contract, not all the contracts, but there's one contract that I've seen that says it's a 5% escalator clause.
In
Out
2:29:23
That's on one of them.
In
Out
2:29:24
That's not consistent across all of them.
In
Out
2:29:26
And what you're saying is, is accurate.
In
Out
2:29:27
But I don't understand, like, how are we still nowhere close to having information on transportation?
In
Out
2:29:36
I would— I— that's a great question that we've been consistently asking.
In
Out
2:29:40
So I— it's not my information that I have.
In
Out
2:29:43
I didn't build that budget.
In
Out
2:29:43
So that's what I've been trying to get.
In
Out
2:29:45
So I, I don't have a better answer for you than that.
In
Out
2:29:48
So, but when, when did you start asking those questions?
In
Out
2:29:51
We started talking about this at the beginning of June.
In
Out
2:29:54
But that's, that's the problem.
In
Out
2:29:55
That's the problem that I have.
In
Out
2:29:56
I don't know about my— any, any of my other colleagues, but I have a problem that we're asking transportation questions and how it was built in June, right?
In
Out
2:30:03
That, that's the issue that I have, right?
In
Out
2:30:05
So now we have a CFO who is— or a business manager, whatever the title is— is now leaving, and we've got to wait for the new guy to come in and have a conversation, and we're gonna go to August without a budget.
In
Out
2:30:17
I don't know.
In
Out
2:30:18
And then to the council president and vice president, has any discussion been had about the MOA, or is that just— were we ignoring the MOA?
In
Out
2:30:27
What are we doing in terms of that?
In
Out
2:30:28
Is that any discussion?
In
Out
2:30:30
Has anybody picked up the telephone?
In
Out
2:30:31
Has there been any dialogue whatsoever, or are we just going to continue to try to blame the council for taking our sweet time on approving the budget?
In
Out
2:30:39
Uh, there hasn't been any meetings that we have scheduled yet on the MOA.
In
Out
2:30:42
The mayor has, uh, did call me when I was in the building last week asking if I could come up, and I couldn't.
In
Out
2:30:48
He asked me yesterday at the— at an event if I could come today, and I couldn't.
In
Out
2:30:52
Other than that, there has been no dialogue with me.
In
Out
2:30:54
I don't know if there's been any other dialogue with other the councillors.
In
Out
2:30:56
All right, so the administration is good with the continuation appropriation.
In
Out
2:31:01
Well, he's asked them twice.
In
Out
2:31:03
Cool.
In
Out
2:31:03
All right, so I guess we'll just continue this until next month.
In
Out
2:31:07
Stay tuned.
In
Out
2:31:09
I yield.
In
Out
2:31:10
Um, out of councillor in seat 7, you can't go because you have something else to do that you can't go.
In
Out
2:31:16
Let's— yeah, yeah, no, I let councillor, um, the vice president go.
In
Out
2:31:21
At least we'll get something.
In
Out
2:31:23
Totally.
In
Out
2:31:24
I, to be clear, the mayor just asked me, do you have time to come in and chat?
In
Out
2:31:27
That wasn't like, hey, can you come in and speak on the MOA?
In
Out
2:31:30
It was just, he often asks me, if you're around and you're in the building, come upstairs and let's chat.
In
Out
2:31:34
And that's all it was.
In
Out
2:31:35
Well, send him an email saying pick a day, we're going to come in and we're going to talk.
In
Out
2:31:39
Got it.
In
Out
2:31:40
What do you have?
In
Out
2:31:41
That's what you do.
In
Out
2:31:41
He's usually— I mean, if I call and say I want to come in and talk, he gives me a date.
In
Out
2:31:45
So get a date or let the vice president go in.
In
Out
2:31:49
You bet.
In
Out
2:31:50
Thank you.
In
Out
2:31:51
I yield.
In
Out
2:31:51
Thank you.
In
Out
2:31:52
Out of curiosity, Ms. Arkey, I believe the mayor did vote on $17 million for transportation on the school department when he was as chair of the school committee.
In
Out
2:32:01
Has there been any dialogue from that $17 million vote that the mayor had to now you presenting a completely different number on what changed between his vote and your numbers?
In
Out
2:32:11
Yes, the, the budget that is sent down is the mayor's.
In
Out
2:32:13
I know.
In
Out
2:32:14
Yes, I put in work to but that conversation happened in the submission process with the administration before anything was presented to council in May.
In
Out
2:32:23
I just didn't understand why there would be a yes vote on $17 million for transportation and the mayor's budget that he presents to the city council has a completely different number to it.
In
Out
2:32:32
I'm trying to understand that.
In
Out
2:32:33
That's a conversation with the mayor.
In
Out
2:32:35
Understood.
In
Out
2:32:36
I'll add that to our agenda clarification.
In
Out
2:32:38
It seems like it's circumventing the school committee.
In
Out
2:32:40
Thank you.
In
Out
2:32:41
I asked a question.
In
Out
2:32:42
And so is, uh, is there a motion?
In
Out
2:32:44
Councilman Seat 1, Councilor Kareem.
In
Out
2:32:46
I'm just going to follow up.
In
Out
2:32:47
So the question, did you have the conversation with the mayor why he voted on a $17 million transportation number, and if he had any documentation?
In
Out
2:32:53
I mean, you submitted $16 million.
In
Out
2:32:55
Clearly you're having conversations with the mayor.
In
Out
2:32:57
You said that's a conversation for the mayor.
In
Out
2:32:59
Did you have a conversation with the mayor as to why he voted for $17 million versus $16 million, and did he provide you the documentation that would show why he voted on $17 million?
In
Out
2:33:08
No, he did not.
In
Out
2:33:09
He did not have documentation on voting for the $17 million.
In
Out
2:33:11
They don't have that, anything more than what is in the school budget that you all have for that $17 million.
In
Out
2:33:17
So that is— it's always been voted on in that way.
In
Out
2:33:20
So after that was done, there was conversations about the number and, and where the number comes from and what the figures look like, and that's how the number was then amended with the mayor.
In
Out
2:33:31
But he voted with the $17 million feeling comfortable that the number is $17 million, right?
In
Out
2:33:38
I cannot speak to his decision-making in the voting.
In
Out
2:33:40
No, I don't know.
In
Out
2:33:40
I do not know.
In
Out
2:33:41
And what his comfort level was when he made the vote, that's not a conversation I've had with him.
In
Out
2:33:48
Okay.
In
Out
2:33:48
Isn't there an assistant person that worked under, uh, Kevin Almeida?
In
Out
2:33:55
A woman?
In
Out
2:33:55
We have been asking.
In
Out
2:33:57
We have been asked.
In
Out
2:33:57
I want to be very clear.
In
Out
2:33:58
We have asked.
In
Out
2:33:59
We We have talked to school administration.
In
Out
2:34:00
We have talked to a number of people there.
In
Out
2:34:02
Like I said, we had a meeting there with— I want to say there were 7 of them in the room.
In
Out
2:34:07
Nobody can give me numbers and figures and calculations on how the number was created.
In
Out
2:34:11
Everybody refers to Kevin on that.
In
Out
2:34:16
Maybe he's not in the room for that conversation.
In
Out
2:34:18
So I just— with that, I yield.
In
Out
2:34:21
Thank you.
In
Out
2:34:22
Further— thank you.
In
Out
2:34:23
Just for the record, I want to just make make it clear.
In
Out
2:34:26
I know the interim city administrator is here.
In
Out
2:34:29
If you could just please reach out to myself and Council Vice President tomorrow so we can schedule a meeting.
In
Out
2:34:35
I am not attending a meeting without the other council leadership.
In
Out
2:34:38
Council Vice President, we've done this before, we'll continue to do it.
In
Out
2:34:40
So if we can get that done, certainly like we've always done, we'll accommodate any kind of an appointment necessary.
In
Out
2:34:46
Okay, so what is the vote?
In
Out
2:34:48
Is there a motion?
In
Out
2:34:49
A motion to reject has been made by Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
2:34:52
I believe this motion on the— there's a motion on the floor right now to approve that has been, uh, made and seconded.
In
Out
2:34:58
The motion to reject, I'm going to hear, has been heard by Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
2:35:01
Is there a second?
In
Out
2:35:03
Was there a second to the motion to reject?
In
Out
2:35:04
Seconded by Councilor Kadim.
In
Out
2:35:05
Is there discussion on the motion to reject?
In
Out
2:35:08
Hearing none, roll call.
In
Out
2:35:11
Mr. President, is the motion to approve, uh, being withdrawn, or are you first considering the motion to reject?
In
Out
2:35:18
I, I Well, is there a— is there a will?
In
Out
2:35:22
Well, you know, that's a good point.
In
Out
2:35:23
I'll take that back.
In
Out
2:35:24
There is a motion on the floor to approve that has been made by Councilor Raposo.
In
Out
2:35:28
Who seconded that motion?
In
Out
2:35:30
Who?
In
Out
2:35:30
Councilor Pereira.
In
Out
2:35:31
Councilor Pereira, is there a will to act on— let's act on that.
In
Out
2:35:34
Motion to approve has been made and seconded.
In
Out
2:35:36
Roll call.
In
Out
2:35:37
Councilor Skadeem?
In
Out
2:35:38
No.
In
Out
2:35:39
Camara?
In
Out
2:35:40
Yes.
In
Out
2:35:41
Canuel?
In
Out
2:35:42
Yes.
In
Out
2:35:44
Dion?
In
Out
2:35:44
No.
In
Out
2:35:46
Hart.
In
Out
2:35:47
Peckham?
In
Out
2:35:47
No.
In
Out
2:35:49
Pereira?
In
Out
2:35:49
Yes.
In
Out
2:35:51
Raposo?
In
Out
2:35:52
Yes.
In
Out
2:35:53
President Ponte?
In
Out
2:35:54
No.
In
Out
2:35:56
Motion fails, 4 yeas, 4 nays.
In
Out
2:36:00
Motion to reject.
In
Out
2:36:01
Motion to reject has been made by Councilor Khadim, seconded by Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
2:36:04
Discussion?
In
Out
2:36:05
Roll call.
In
Out
2:36:11
Like the first order, is it the will of the council to take the appropriation order line by section by section?
In
Out
2:36:18
We can.
In
Out
2:36:18
We can.
In
Out
2:36:19
Is there?
In
Out
2:36:19
Is there a motion on the?
In
Out
2:36:20
Let's let's do the first one.
In
Out
2:36:21
Let's do that.
In
Out
2:36:22
Let's let's make a motion to reject them, and then we can make that vote like we did last time.
In
Out
2:36:27
Motion to reject has been made and seconded.
In
Out
2:36:29
Roll call.
In
Out
2:36:29
Councilor Skadeem.
In
Out
2:36:31
Yes.
In
Out
2:36:31
Camara.
In
Out
2:36:32
No.
In
Out
2:36:33
Canuel.
In
Out
2:36:34
No.
In
Out
2:36:35
Dion.
In
Out
2:36:36
Yes.
In
Out
2:36:39
Hart.
In
Out
2:36:39
Peckham.
In
Out
2:36:40
Yes.
In
Out
2:36:41
Pereira.
In
Out
2:36:42
No.
In
Out
2:36:44
Raposo.
In
Out
2:36:44
No.
In
Out
2:36:46
President Ponte.
In
Out
2:36:48
Yes.
In
Out
2:36:48
Motion fails to carry.
In
Out
2:36:49
4 yeas, 4 nays.
In
Out
2:36:51
And just for the record, there is no appropriation for the school department.
In
Out
2:36:56
Can I get that on the record?
In
Out
2:36:57
There is not.
In
Out
2:36:57
Okay, so, all right, just saying we've made that clear.
In
Out
2:37:01
Okay.
In
Out
2:37:03
So, you know, I, I don't know.
In
Out
2:37:05
That's just mind-boggling.
In
Out
2:37:07
It's okay, whatever.
In
Out
2:37:09
Madam Clerk, is it necessary to go section by section?
In
Out
2:37:13
Can I— Councilman C1, your point of information?
In
Out
2:37:15
Fair enough.
In
Out
2:37:20
Councilman C1, you have a point of information?
In
Out
2:37:22
Not, not a point of information.
In
Out
2:37:23
I got a statement to make.
In
Out
2:37:24
Okay, go ahead.
In
Out
2:37:25
We have a responsibility not to just one department, to all departments.
In
Out
2:37:28
I don't care what anybody says, we never appropriated for the schools.
In
Out
2:37:31
So how are we gonna say that we advocate for education and not reject this budget to get funding so that they can just resubmit a 1/12 budget tomorrow to give us appropriation for the school department?
In
Out
2:37:44
I guess we're all status quo with, you know, we can do whatever we want to do, we just ignore the rules, we don't need to follow, you know, Mass law, forget Massachusetts general laws, let's throw everything out.
In
Out
2:37:53
We got legal opinion opinions that will say the opposite of everything that, you know, the legislature has— legislation has put in, right?
In
Out
2:38:01
We have zero appropriation for the schools.
In
Out
2:38:05
With that, I yield.
In
Out
2:38:06
Thank you, Councilor Ferrara.
In
Out
2:38:07
Do we really have to vote on a 1/12, or it just goes in the way it does without our approval?
In
Out
2:38:12
No, it goes in as it is, but there is no appropriation for the schools other than transportation.
In
Out
2:38:16
That's what I'm saying.
In
Out
2:38:17
First came in, we were told we don't need to have a meeting we don't have to approve it or disapprove it, it just automatically goes in.
In
Out
2:38:23
I understand what he's saying.
In
Out
2:38:25
There's nothing there, but quite frankly, we don't really need to approve it.
In
Out
2:38:28
If you want, I'll reconsider, take the vote, and can she have something tomorrow?
In
Out
2:38:32
If she has something tomorrow, we're gonna come in in 48 hours.
In
Out
2:38:35
No, she doesn't need us tomorrow.
In
Out
2:38:36
That's the point.
In
Out
2:38:38
That was the point.
In
Out
2:38:38
She doesn't need us to approve the budget, the 1/12.
In
Out
2:38:41
She'll submit a continuing appropriation tomorrow, which will include the school schools, we don't even have to take a vote.
In
Out
2:38:47
Motion to reconsider.
In
Out
2:38:48
Motion to reconsider has been made by Councilor Camara, seconded by Councilor Pereira.
In
Out
2:38:52
Discussion?
In
Out
2:38:53
Hearing discussion, Councilman Seat 3, Councilor Cannuel, on discussion, uh, on the motion to reconsider.
In
Out
2:38:59
Uh, Miss Harpke had indicated that if we took a— if we did not reject it, she would send a revised one down tonight including the school department.
In
Out
2:39:10
Mr. President, if I may.
In
Out
2:39:13
Madam Clerk, since the motion to reject failed, with absent a council vote to reduce or reject, the appropriation order is in effect.
In
Out
2:39:22
It continues to be in effect until she sends it down tomorrow.
In
Out
2:39:27
There is no need— the next appropriation order that is needed would be for the month of August or the annual appropriation.
In
Out
2:39:34
But if she sends one down for a revised July one, as she indicated she that included the school department that would take effect over this.
In
Out
2:39:44
Can I just— no, can we— Councilman C1, just, just, can we play the logic out for a second?
In
Out
2:39:50
So we're gonna hope the administration does something.
In
Out
2:39:52
You know how long I've been hoping?
In
Out
2:39:53
I've been on this council for 10 years and I've been hoping for a whole lot for the last 10 years, that we would have good government.
In
Out
2:39:58
And guess what?
In
Out
2:39:59
We haven't had good government for the last 10 years.
In
Out
2:40:01
So we're gonna do this again and just hope that something comes comes down, as opposed to rejecting what's before us, and then she's absolutely going to submit a continuing appropriation which will include the schools, right?
In
Out
2:40:16
This is not a difficult decision.
In
Out
2:40:19
I'm just saying, without a— yes, Constance, seat 3, on the motion to reconsider.
In
Out
2:40:25
I guess if something happened And Miss Harpkey did not submit it tomorrow.
In
Out
2:40:31
What happened?
In
Out
2:40:31
Back to my original question through you to the clerk: does government shut down?
In
Out
2:40:37
No.
In
Out
2:40:37
No, the motion to reject failed.
In
Out
2:40:39
So it's my understanding that the provision order.
In
Out
2:40:42
If we reconsider this and then it gets rejected, then what happens?
In
Out
2:40:46
If Miss Harpkey doesn't submit, if she does not submit something, what happens tomorrow?
In
Out
2:40:51
I know the intention is that it will happen.
In
Out
2:40:54
What if it doesn't?
In
Out
2:40:54
Doesn't?
In
Out
2:40:56
I don't have a clear answer for you, Councilor.
In
Out
2:40:58
I wish I did.
In
Out
2:40:58
Okay, great.
In
Out
2:41:00
Councilman C4, Council Vice President Dionne.
In
Out
2:41:03
The way things stand, we have not approved a budget and we have not object— and we have not rejected the budget.
In
Out
2:41:12
However, we have a budget that's not a budget because it's missing a whole portion of the budget.
In
Out
2:41:18
We have no school department.
In
Out
2:41:21
She said she will absolutely submit an appropriation, correct?
In
Out
2:41:26
I heard that correctly.
In
Out
2:41:28
So we reject it, she submits it, and we move on to August.
In
Out
2:41:33
I think it's that simple, but whatever people want to do.
In
Out
2:41:37
I yield on the motion to reconsider.
In
Out
2:41:39
Hearing no further discussion, roll call on the motion to reconsider, please.
In
Out
2:41:43
Councilor Skadeem?
In
Out
2:41:44
Yes.
In
Out
2:41:46
Camara?
In
Out
2:41:47
Yes.
In
Out
2:41:48
Canuel?
In
Out
2:41:49
No.
In
Out
2:41:50
Dion?
In
Out
2:41:51
Yes.
In
Out
2:41:52
Hart?
In
Out
2:41:53
Peckham?
In
Out
2:41:54
Yes.
In
Out
2:41:56
Pereira?
In
Out
2:41:56
Yes.
In
Out
2:41:58
Raposo?
In
Out
2:41:58
Yes.
In
Out
2:41:59
President Ponte?
In
Out
2:42:01
Yes.
In
Out
2:42:01
Motion carries 6 yeas, 2 nays.
In
Out
2:42:03
Motion?
In
Out
2:42:04
Motion to reject.
In
Out
2:42:05
To reject has been made by Councilor Khadim, seconded by Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
2:42:10
Roll call.
In
Out
2:42:11
Councilor Kadeem?
In
Out
2:42:12
Yes.
In
Out
2:42:13
Camara?
In
Out
2:42:13
No.
In
Out
2:42:14
Canuel?
In
Out
2:42:15
No.
In
Out
2:42:16
Dion?
In
Out
2:42:17
Yes.
In
Out
2:42:19
Hart?
In
Out
2:42:19
Peckham?
In
Out
2:42:20
Yes.
In
Out
2:42:21
Pereira?
In
Out
2:42:22
Yes.
In
Out
2:42:23
Raposo?
In
Out
2:42:24
Yes.
In
Out
2:42:25
President Ponte?
In
Out
2:42:26
Yes.
In
Out
2:42:27
Motion carries 6 yeas, 2 nays.
In
Out
2:42:32
Council President, if I may— motion to reject, uh, A1 through 10.
In
Out
2:42:37
Motion to reject the appropriation order A through 10 has been made by Councilor Kadim, seconded by Councilor Pereira.
In
Out
2:42:43
Discussion?
In
Out
2:42:44
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:42:45
Aye.
In
Out
2:42:45
Opposed?
In
Out
2:42:47
2 and 3 are opposed.
In
Out
2:42:48
On the record, the ayes have it.
In
Out
2:42:50
Councilor in seat 6.
In
Out
2:42:52
Council President, if I may, I'd like to make a motion to maybe as a council send the DOR a letter with our concerns so far, both with the budget and the original one from 12th and this 1/12th.
In
Out
2:43:05
I would like to cover our you-know-whats in the future if we go past 3 months or hit that 3-month mark.
In
Out
2:43:11
I would like to— well, I know we can't go 3 months, but before they start asking questions, I would like us to notify them of the hardships that we faced while trying to decipher this mess.
In
Out
2:43:22
Um, and if it's the will of the council, I'd like to come from a whole body.
In
Out
2:43:25
You want— and you asking for an opinion?
In
Out
2:43:27
Nope.
In
Out
2:43:27
I want us to just notify the DOR of all the the, um, hiccups that we face both with the budget and the continuing appropriation budgets number 1 and 2.
In
Out
2:43:38
And that way it isn't able to be thrown back at us that it's our fault that we're carrying this on.
In
Out
2:43:44
I just want to notify the DOR of what is taking place here.
In
Out
2:43:47
Motion made by Councilor Peckham to send a letter to the Department of Revenue has been made.
In
Out
2:43:51
Is there a second?
In
Out
2:43:52
Seconded.
In
Out
2:43:52
Is there a second?
In
Out
2:43:55
I'll second the motion.
In
Out
2:43:56
Is there discussion.
In
Out
2:43:59
Councilman C2, Councilor Camara.
In
Out
2:44:00
Yeah, we're going to tell them, we're going to identify the hiccups.
In
Out
2:44:03
Yeah, absolutely.
In
Out
2:44:04
I got emails where they've been responding.
In
Out
2:44:06
One of them at a time.
In
Out
2:44:07
Councilman C2 has the floor.
In
Out
2:44:08
I just want to know what the hiccups are, whether we just— tell me what the hiccups are.
In
Out
2:44:13
I can answer that if you'd like.
In
Out
2:44:14
He'll let the council finish.
In
Out
2:44:15
What did I hear?
In
Out
2:44:16
Great.
In
Out
2:44:17
Councilman C7, uh, 6, Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
2:44:19
The original appropriation came down with $150,000 of free cash cash that we can't use.
In
Out
2:44:23
The second appropriation came down with a school department budget that we don't have money to pay for.
In
Out
2:44:28
So obviously there are some issues here that need to be addressed, and it seems to be on the administration side.
In
Out
2:44:33
So I would like to send a letter notifying them that it's not us, it's them.
In
Out
2:44:42
Councilor Peckham?
In
Out
2:44:43
I yield.
In
Out
2:44:44
Any further discussion on sending the letter?
In
Out
2:44:46
Roll call.
In
Out
2:44:48
Councilor Kadeem?
In
Out
2:44:49
Yes.
In
Out
2:44:49
Camara?
In
Out
2:44:50
No.
In
Out
2:44:51
Cannuel?
In
Out
2:44:52
No.
In
Out
2:44:53
Dion?
In
Out
2:44:55
Yes.
In
Out
2:44:57
Hart-Peckham?
In
Out
2:44:58
Yes.
In
Out
2:45:00
Pereira?
In
Out
2:45:00
No.
In
Out
2:45:02
Raposo?
In
Out
2:45:03
Present.
In
Out
2:45:05
President Ponte?
In
Out
2:45:11
Yes.
In
Out
2:45:11
Motion does not carry.
In
Out
2:45:12
4 yeas, 3 nays.
In
Out
2:45:15
Motion to reject Uh, line item, uh, appropriation B1 to 3.
In
Out
2:45:20
Sorry, motion to reject, uh, B1 through B3 has been made by Councilor Kadim, seconded by Councilor Pereira.
In
Out
2:45:27
Discussion?
In
Out
2:45:28
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:45:30
Aye.
In
Out
2:45:30
Motion to reject C1-2.
In
Out
2:45:32
Opposed?
In
Out
2:45:32
Councilor in seat 3 opposed.
In
Out
2:45:34
Councilor in seat 2 opposed.
In
Out
2:45:35
For the record, the ayes have it.
In
Out
2:45:36
Next order of business, Madam Clerk.
In
Out
2:45:39
Section C, for the purpose of financial services.
In
Out
2:45:42
Motion to reject.
In
Out
2:45:43
Motion to reject, uh, C1 and C2 has been made by Councilor Kadeem, seconded by— second— Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
2:45:51
Discussion?
In
Out
2:45:52
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:45:53
Aye.
In
Out
2:45:54
Opposed?
In
Out
2:45:54
C2 and C3 on the record are opposed.
In
Out
2:46:00
The ayes have it.
In
Out
2:46:02
Section D, for the purpose of facilities maintenance.
In
Out
2:46:06
Motion to reject.
In
Out
2:46:07
Motion to reject Facilities Maintenance 1 through 3 has been made by Councilor Pereira, seconded by Councilor Khadim.
In
Out
2:46:14
Discussion?
In
Out
2:46:15
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:46:17
Aye.
In
Out
2:46:17
Opposed?
In
Out
2:46:18
Councilor in seat 2 and Councilor in seat 3 opposed.
In
Out
2:46:21
The ayes have it.
In
Out
2:46:22
Section E, for the purpose of community maintenance.
In
Out
2:46:26
Motion to reject E1 through 3, uh, has been made by Councilor Khadim, seconded by Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
2:46:32
Discussion?
In
Out
2:46:33
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:46:34
Aye.
In
Out
2:46:34
Opposed?
In
Out
2:46:35
Councilman Seat 2 and Councilman Seat 3.
In
Out
2:46:37
Opposed?
In
Out
2:46:38
The ayes have it.
In
Out
2:46:40
Section F, for the purpose of community service.
In
Out
2:46:43
Motion to reject.
In
Out
2:46:44
Second.
In
Out
2:46:45
Motion to reject F through— F1 through 3, made by Councilor Kareem, seconded by Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
2:46:50
Discussion?
In
Out
2:46:51
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:46:52
Aye.
In
Out
2:46:53
Opposed?
In
Out
2:46:54
Councilman Seat 2 and Seat 3.
In
Out
2:46:56
Opposed?
In
Out
2:46:56
The ayes have it.
In
Out
2:46:58
Section G, for the purpose of education.
In
Out
2:47:01
Motion to reject.
In
Out
2:47:02
Motion to reject has been made by Councilor Peckham, seconded by Councilor Kadeem.
In
Out
2:47:06
Discussion?
In
Out
2:47:07
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:47:08
Opposed?
In
Out
2:47:09
Councilman Seat 2 and 3 opposed.
In
Out
2:47:10
The ayes have it.
In
Out
2:47:12
That's 1 through 3.
In
Out
2:47:14
That 1 through 3, that's correct.
In
Out
2:47:16
Yep.
In
Out
2:47:16
Section H, for the purpose of community protection.
In
Out
2:47:19
Motion to reject.
In
Out
2:47:20
Motion to reject H1 through 8 has been by Councilor Peckham, seconded by Councilor Kadeem.
In
Out
2:47:26
Discussion?
In
Out
2:47:27
Hearing none.
In
Out
2:47:28
All those in favor?
In
Out
2:47:28
Aye.
In
Out
2:47:29
Opposed?
In
Out
2:47:29
Councilman Sieck II and III.
In
Out
2:47:31
Opposed?
In
Out
2:47:31
The ayes have it.
In
Out
2:47:34
Section I, for the purpose of other governmental expenses.
In
Out
2:47:36
Second.
In
Out
2:47:37
Motion to reject ayes 1 through 4 has been made by Councilor Kadeem, seconded by Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
2:47:42
Discussion?
In
Out
2:47:43
Hearing none.
In
Out
2:47:43
All those in favor?
In
Out
2:47:44
Aye.
In
Out
2:47:45
Opposed?
In
Out
2:47:45
Councilman Sieck II and III.
In
Out
2:47:47
Opposed?
In
Out
2:47:48
The ayes have it.
In
Out
2:47:50
Motion to reject funding sources.
In
Out
2:47:51
Motion to reject all funding sources has been made by Councilor Khadim, seconded by Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
2:47:56
Discussion?
In
Out
2:47:57
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:47:58
Aye.
In
Out
2:47:59
Opposed?
In
Out
2:47:59
Councilman Seat 2 and 3 opposed.
In
Out
2:48:01
The ayes have it.
In
Out
2:48:02
Motion to reduce the appropriate to zero.
In
Out
2:48:05
Motion to approve, uh, reduce the appropriation to zero has been made by Councilor Khadim, seconded by Council Vice President Dion.
In
Out
2:48:13
Is there discussion?
In
Out
2:48:14
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:48:15
Aye.
In
Out
2:48:16
Opposed?
In
Out
2:48:17
Councilman Sieck, 3— 2 and 3 opposed.
In
Out
2:48:19
The ayes have it.
In
Out
2:48:22
Motion to— what did we do last time?
In
Out
2:48:25
Adopt as amended.
In
Out
2:48:26
Motion to adopt as amended.
In
Out
2:48:28
The rejection has been made by Councilor Kadim, seconded by Council Vice President Dion.
In
Out
2:48:32
Is there discussion?
In
Out
2:48:33
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:48:34
Roll call on adopting the appropriation order as amended.
In
Out
2:48:39
Councilor Kadim?
In
Out
2:48:40
Yes.
In
Out
2:48:41
Camarah?
In
Out
2:48:41
No.
In
Out
2:48:42
Cannuel?
In
Out
2:48:43
No.
In
Out
2:48:44
Dionne?
In
Out
2:48:44
Yes.
In
Out
2:48:45
Hart?
In
Out
2:48:46
Peckham?
In
Out
2:48:46
Yes.
In
Out
2:48:48
Pereira?
In
Out
2:48:48
Yes.
In
Out
2:48:50
Raposo?
In
Out
2:48:50
Yes.
In
Out
2:48:52
President Ponte?
In
Out
2:48:53
Yes.
In
Out
2:48:54
Motion carries 6 yeas, 2 nays.
In
Out
2:48:59
All right, onward we go, Madam Clerk.
In
Out
2:49:06
Item 4 is a communication from the mayor in the acceptance and appropriation of several orders with regarding— with regards to the PEG Access and Cable Related Special Revenue Fund.
In
Out
2:49:19
Order 4A is the acceptance of such fund.
In
Out
2:49:22
Motion to adopt.
In
Out
2:49:23
Motion to adopt has been made by Councilor Kadim, seconded by Council Vice President Dion.
In
Out
2:49:27
Discussion?
In
Out
2:49:27
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:49:29
Opposed?
In
Out
2:49:30
The ayes have it.
In
Out
2:49:31
Motion on Table 4B.
In
Out
2:49:33
Motion to table 4B, made by Councilor Khadim.
In
Out
2:49:35
Seconded by Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
2:49:38
All those in favor?
In
Out
2:49:39
Aye.
In
Out
2:49:40
Opposed?
In
Out
2:49:41
The ayes have it.
In
Out
2:49:43
Item is tabled.
In
Out
2:49:44
Item 5 is a communication from the mayor and an order establishing the spending limits for the revolving funds for fiscal year 2027.
In
Out
2:49:51
Motion to adopt.
In
Out
2:49:52
Motion to adopt, made by Councilor Khadim, seconded by Councilor, uh, Vice President Dion.
In
Out
2:49:57
Discussion?
In
Out
2:49:58
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:50:00
Opposed?
In
Out
2:50:01
The ayes have it.
In
Out
2:50:03
Item 6 is a communication from the mayor and an order appropriating $331,636.27 from the Opioid Stabilization Fund to the Opioid Settlement Revolving Fund.
In
Out
2:50:18
Motion to adopt.
In
Out
2:50:18
Motion to adopt has been made by Councilor Kadim, seconded by Councilor Raposo.
In
Out
2:50:22
Discussion?
In
Out
2:50:23
Hearing Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:50:25
Aye.
In
Out
2:50:25
Opposed?
In
Out
2:50:26
The ayes have it.
In
Out
2:50:28
Item 7 is a communication from the mayor and a loan order in the amount of $6,883,400 for the repairs and the renovation of the 3rd Street parking garage.
In
Out
2:50:41
Motion to be published and refer to the Committee on Finance.
In
Out
2:50:43
Motion to authorize the item to be published and referred to the Committee on Finance has been made by Councilor Raposo.
In
Out
2:50:49
Seconded by Councilor Canuel.
In
Out
2:50:52
Is there discussion?
In
Out
2:50:52
Councilor in seat 1, Councilor Kadim.
In
Out
2:50:54
Uh, motion to waive the rules.
In
Out
2:50:55
Motion to waive the rules.
In
Out
2:50:56
So I just have the administration come down just— motion to waive the rules has been made by Councilor Kadim, seconded by Councilor Raposo.
In
Out
2:51:03
All those in favor?
In
Out
2:51:03
Opposed?
In
Out
2:51:04
The ayes have it.
In
Out
2:51:05
Miss Susan, somewhat my question is this This obviously went out to bid.
In
Out
2:51:17
Work is already being done on the, on the garages?
In
Out
2:51:19
Preliminary.
In
Out
2:51:21
What's, what's the difference?
In
Out
2:51:24
Yeah, what's the preliminary work?
In
Out
2:51:25
Just— oh my gosh, I'm sorry— just getting things, uh, ready over there.
In
Out
2:51:30
There they have funding separate and aside from the, um, $6.8 million.
In
Out
2:51:38
Um, I believe it's probably can come down as well.
In
Out
2:51:42
$700,000 that she has identified that they're using now for just the preliminary start of the work that's over there.
In
Out
2:51:51
I mean, there's no major work ongoing right at this point.
In
Out
2:51:56
So I guess the— I mean, it's, it's just a process from, from my standpoint, right?
In
Out
2:52:02
So what's it, 6 months that I've been saying come down for, for the appropriation, get the bonding and stuff like that.
In
Out
2:52:09
So now the resolution in March, right?
In
Out
2:52:11
So now we go out to bid, we are looking for a loan order, and then work's already started.
In
Out
2:52:15
So if we decide not to do this loan authorization, we're paying people from $700,000 to start doing work on the garage, right?
In
Out
2:52:22
So, and I support the garage, I just want to say mobilization, that's— but just, it's just already appropriated.
In
Out
2:52:28
Okay, so I'm going to be a stickler because this is what I'm talking about, the process is always ignored.
In
Out
2:52:34
That, that is the issue, right?
In
Out
2:52:37
And I support the garages.
In
Out
2:52:38
I've been saying it for at least 6 months, come down to the city council to get an appropriation order so once we go out to bid, we have the money, we stop moving.
In
Out
2:52:46
And we didn't do it, and here we are again.
In
Out
2:52:48
We've got work that's being done.
In
Out
2:52:50
In order to execute the contract, you have to have a funding mechanism.
In
Out
2:52:54
So you've already brought the contractor on to already do mobilization, so you're again assuming that the council is going to take a vote.
In
Out
2:53:00
Not saying that anybody's against it.
In
Out
2:53:02
I'm just saying the process again is broken.
In
Out
2:53:05
I just— it just frustrates me.
In
Out
2:53:06
All I'm asking for is that in the future we do follow the process.
In
Out
2:53:10
That's all it is.
In
Out
2:53:11
That's all I'm looking for.
In
Out
2:53:12
I, I support the project.
In
Out
2:53:14
I support it getting it done.
In
Out
2:53:15
I just want to see the process moving forward.
In
Out
2:53:18
That, that's it.
In
Out
2:53:18
And it just— I just feel like I'm constantly the only one on this floor that's— that is just beating this drum, right, in terms of what the process should be.
In
Out
2:53:27
We have a clear process.
In
Out
2:53:29
There's rules and laws associated with procurement.
In
Out
2:53:32
I didn't mean everybody, but it just, you know, it feels like it sometimes because I don't know.
In
Out
2:53:42
That's just, that's just my take.
In
Out
2:53:43
With that, I yield.
In
Out
2:53:44
I'm going to approve it.
In
Out
2:53:45
I, I just frustrates me.
In
Out
2:53:49
With that, I yield.
In
Out
2:53:49
Thank you.
In
Out
2:53:49
Thank you.
In
Out
2:53:50
Anything further?
In
Out
2:53:51
Nope.
In
Out
2:53:51
Councilman C7, Councilor Pearl.
In
Out
2:53:53
Yeah, I already had that conversation with the city interim city administrator when all of the vehicles, everybody that parks there, was put all over the city in bagged meters for all of our employees to be able to park, and the work was being done, and it was explained that there was money.
In
Out
2:54:09
The other thing is, besides this parking garage, the other parking garage we've— I've been asking for months and months and months.
In
Out
2:54:17
When are we putting it out to bid to sell?
In
Out
2:54:19
It doesn't make sense for us to repair that when we're not going to get enough revenue in to pay for the cost of the repairs being there.
In
Out
2:54:29
And I'm being told that that's been done too.
In
Out
2:54:31
And that was with— there's a difference between a lease and a license.
In
Out
2:54:36
And a lease council votes on, a license they don't.
In
Out
2:54:39
So that license was given many years ago through Bob Correa, and then it came back with Flanagan where other spaces— Point of order.
In
Out
2:54:48
Can we just stay focused on what's in front of us?
In
Out
2:54:49
Well, I'm talking about parking garages, different garage.
In
Out
2:54:52
Just let's— I mean, we got to— I know, I know, Joe, it upsets you when I bring something else up.
In
Out
2:54:57
I'm sorry.
In
Out
2:54:57
Not just you, just stay focused on the agenda.
In
Out
2:55:00
I didn't mean to do that, but I'm just like, okay, we're talking about parking garages, I could slip that in, but you caught me.
In
Out
2:55:05
With that, I yield.
In
Out
2:55:07
Thank you.
In
Out
2:55:08
Anything further here?
In
Out
2:55:09
Councilman C6, Councilor Pecker?
In
Out
2:55:10
Well, while we're on the topic, I am going to mention Pearl Street.
In
Out
2:55:13
Have we started a mobilization project there too?
In
Out
2:55:16
No, no, let's just— no, I can't.
In
Out
2:55:18
There is an RFP that will be going out.
In
Out
2:55:20
Good.
In
Out
2:55:21
To put that out for sale, it should be ready by the end of this week to the mayor for review before it's published.
In
Out
2:55:27
Yeah, I don't go by Joe's rules, so thank you.
In
Out
2:55:29
Thank you very much.
In
Out
2:55:31
Next order of business, uh, we have Uh, actually no, we have to continue on the item.
In
Out
2:55:35
Authorize it to be published and refer to the Committee on Finance.
In
Out
2:55:38
That motion has been made and seconded.
In
Out
2:55:40
Hearing no further discussions, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:55:43
Aye.
In
Out
2:55:44
Opposed?
In
Out
2:55:45
The ayes have it.
In
Out
2:55:46
Thank you.
In
Out
2:55:47
Next order of business.
In
Out
2:55:49
Item 8 is a letter from the City Council president regarding the renovations in the City Council chamber lobby and stairs taking place between July 15th and August 10th.
In
Out
2:55:58
Motion to accept.
In
Out
2:55:59
Motion to accept and place on file has been made by Councilor Pereira, seconded by Councilor Raposo.
In
Out
2:56:05
Discussion?
In
Out
2:56:05
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:56:07
Aye.
In
Out
2:56:07
Opposed?
In
Out
2:56:08
The ayes have it.
In
Out
2:56:09
Item 9, add a number of traffic recommendations.
In
Out
2:56:12
Motion to refer to the Committee on Ordinance and Legislation made by Councilor Raposo, seconded by Councilor Pereira.
In
Out
2:56:18
Discussion?
In
Out
2:56:19
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:56:20
Aye.
In
Out
2:56:20
Opposed?
In
Out
2:56:21
The ayes have it.
In
Out
2:56:22
Item 10 is a proposed ordinance for second reading and enrollment that relates to the solid waste and collection and disposal of such solid waste.
In
Out
2:56:34
What is the will?
In
Out
2:56:36
This would be a, uh, it did pass through first reading.
In
Out
2:56:38
This is a second reading and enrollment.
In
Out
2:56:40
What is the will?
In
Out
2:56:41
Is there a motion?
In
Out
2:56:43
Motion to pass through second reading enrollment.
In
Out
2:56:45
Motion to pass through second reading and enrollment has been made by Councilor Kadim, seconded by— second— Councilor Raposo.
In
Out
2:56:51
Discussion?
In
Out
2:56:52
Councilman Seat 3, Councilor Canuel.
In
Out
2:56:54
Thank you.
In
Out
2:56:55
Uh, to the discussion that we had earlier, um, I would like to make a motion that the Ordinances and Legislation Committee convene to discuss potential amendments to 62-2C, uh, to carve out, um, potential exceptions process for 5 and 6 units when they can operate with the same number of bins afforded to the properties with 1, 2, 3, and 4 units.
In
Out
2:57:20
That's a motion.
In
Out
2:57:21
Are you referring the item back to the Committee on Ordinances and Legislation?
In
Out
2:57:24
Uh, yes, yes.
In
Out
2:57:26
Motion to refer the item.
In
Out
2:57:29
There is a motion on the floor right now to pass the item through second reading and enrollment.
In
Out
2:57:34
So motion to refer takes precedence.
In
Out
2:57:36
The motion to refer does take precedence over that.
In
Out
2:57:38
That is correct.
In
Out
2:57:39
Yep.
In
Out
2:57:40
So is that— that's a motion on the floor by you, Councilor?
In
Out
2:57:42
Yes.
In
Out
2:57:42
Motion to refer has been been to refer back to the Committee on Ordinance and Legislation has been made by Councilor Canuel, seconded by Councilor Pereira.
In
Out
2:57:49
Discussion on the referral?
In
Out
2:57:51
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:57:52
Aye.
In
Out
2:57:53
Opposed?
In
Out
2:57:54
Uh, roll call.
In
Out
2:57:56
Councilor Skadeem?
In
Out
2:57:57
No.
In
Out
2:57:58
Camara?
In
Out
2:57:59
Yes.
In
Out
2:58:01
Canuel?
In
Out
2:58:01
Yes.
In
Out
2:58:02
Dionne?
In
Out
2:58:03
No.
In
Out
2:58:04
Hart-Peckham?
In
Out
2:58:06
Yes.
In
Out
2:58:07
Pereira?
In
Out
2:58:08
Yes.
In
Out
2:58:10
Raposo?
In
Out
2:58:11
Yes.
In
Out
2:58:11
President Ponte?
In
Out
2:58:12
No.
In
Out
2:58:14
Motion carries 5 yeas, 3 nays.
In
Out
2:58:18
Item 11 is a proposed ordinance amending the salary schedule for executive officers, department heads, and non-union personnel, also for second reading and enrollment.
In
Out
2:58:26
Motion pass through second reading and enrollment.
In
Out
2:58:28
Motion to pass through second reading and enrollment has been made by Councilor Raposo.
In
Out
2:58:31
Do I have a second?
In
Out
2:58:33
Second.
In
Out
2:58:33
Seconded by Councilor Khadim.
In
Out
2:58:35
Discussion?
In
Out
2:58:36
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:58:37
Aye.
In
Out
2:58:38
Opposed?
In
Out
2:58:39
Councilor in seat 3 opposed.
In
Out
2:58:40
The ayes have it.
In
Out
2:58:43
Item 12 is a proposed ordinance for second reading and enrollment amending Section 50-303 for the, the salary schedule for political appointments and boards and committees.
In
Out
2:58:52
Motion to pass through second reading and enrollment.
In
Out
2:58:54
Motion to pass through second reading and enrollment has been made by Councilor Raposo, seconded by Council Vice President Dion.
In
Out
2:58:59
Do I hear discussion?
In
Out
2:59:01
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:59:02
Aye.
In
Out
2:59:03
Opposed?
In
Out
2:59:04
The ayes have it.
In
Out
2:59:08
Item 13 is a proposed ordinance for miscellaneous traffic for second reading and enrollment.
In
Out
2:59:13
That's the second reading.
In
Out
2:59:14
Motion to pass the item second reading and enrollment as amended would be appropriate.
In
Out
2:59:18
Second has been made by Councilor Pereira, seconded by Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
2:59:22
Discussion?
In
Out
2:59:23
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:59:25
Aye.
In
Out
2:59:25
Opposed?
In
Out
2:59:26
Opposed.
In
Out
2:59:26
Councilor in seat 8 opposed, and the ayes have it.
In
Out
2:59:30
Item 14 is a proposed ordinance for miscellaneous traffic for a second reading and enrollment as amended.
In
Out
2:59:35
Motion so made.
In
Out
2:59:36
Motion to pass through the item as second reading and enrollment as amended has been made by Councilor Raposo.
In
Out
2:59:41
Second.
In
Out
2:59:42
Seconded by Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
2:59:43
Discussion?
In
Out
2:59:44
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
2:59:45
Opposed?
In
Out
2:59:47
The ayes have it.
In
Out
2:59:49
Item 15 is a proposed ordinance for miscellaneous traffic for second reading and enrollment as amended.
In
Out
2:59:54
Motion so made.
In
Out
2:59:56
Motion to pass through the item second reading and enrollment as amended has been made by Councilor Raposo, seconded by Councilor Khadim.
In
Out
3:00:03
Discussion?
In
Out
3:00:04
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
3:00:05
Opposed?
In
Out
3:00:06
The ayes have it.
In
Out
3:00:10
Item 16 is a proposed ordinance for second reading and enrollment as amended.
In
Out
3:00:14
This is the salary amendments for the Director of Health and Human Services.
In
Out
3:00:19
Motion to pass the item through secondary reading and enrollment as amended would be appropriate.
In
Out
3:00:23
So made.
In
Out
3:00:23
Made by Councilor Raposo, seconded by Councilor— who?
In
Out
3:00:28
Hello, Councilor in seat 2.
In
Out
3:00:32
Seconded by Councilor Camara.
In
Out
3:00:33
Discussion?
In
Out
3:00:34
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
3:00:35
Roll call.
In
Out
3:00:35
Roll call.
In
Out
3:00:37
Councilor Kadim?
In
Out
3:00:38
No.
In
Out
3:00:39
Camara?
In
Out
3:00:39
Yes.
In
Out
3:00:41
Canuel?
In
Out
3:00:41
Yes.
In
Out
3:00:42
Dionne?
In
Out
3:00:43
No.
In
Out
3:00:45
Hart.
In
Out
3:00:45
Peckham.
In
Out
3:00:46
No.
In
Out
3:00:48
Pereira.
In
Out
3:00:49
Yes.
In
Out
3:00:50
Raposo.
In
Out
3:00:51
Yes.
In
Out
3:00:52
President Ponte.
In
Out
3:00:54
No.
In
Out
3:00:54
Motion fails to carry, 4 yeas, 4 nays.
In
Out
3:01:03
Whereas pursuant to the city charter, the city council maintains the express authority to vote to approve or reject and the initial department head contract proposed by the mayor, and whereas there is established a 3-year term for department head appointments, but the city charter lacks distinguishing provisions or distinct procedures for contracts executed for alternative durations of 1 or 2 years, and whereas a formal dispute has arisen between the city council and the administration regarding whether the city council's charter may mandated approval authority extends to the renewal of existing department head contracts, and whereas this lack of explicit regulatory clarity creates administrative ambiguity, hinders municipal oversight, and requires immediate legislative resolution to ensure stable governance, now therefore be it resolved that the Committee on Ordinances and Legislation convene a meeting with all interested parties including representatives from the administration and Corporation Council, to review this matter.
In
Out
3:02:07
And be it further resolved that the Committee on Ordinances and Legislation draft an ordinance that precisely defines, clarifies, and affirms the City Council's authority to vote to approve or reject any contract renewal granted to a department head whose expiring contract was executed for a term of less than 3 years.
In
Out
3:02:27
Is there a motion?
In
Out
3:02:29
Is there a motion to adopt?
In
Out
3:02:32
Motion to refer.
In
Out
3:02:34
Motion to adopt the resolution.
In
Out
3:02:36
Motion to adopt first.
In
Out
3:02:37
I'll make a motion to adopt.
In
Out
3:02:38
Motion to adopt the resolution has been made by Councilor Dion.
In
Out
3:02:41
This is seconded by Councilor Cannuel.
In
Out
3:02:43
A discussion?
In
Out
3:02:44
The sponsor of the resolution, Councilor in seat 7, Councilor Pereira.
In
Out
3:02:48
I find that what I'm seeing as of late is we'll get a contract to come down for 1 year, we vote on that, and it seems to be circumventing that.
In
Out
3:02:58
Then it goes on for additional years.
In
Out
3:03:01
If it's a 3-year contract and the council votes on it, then administration can continue to vote on it, can continue to bring it forward.
In
Out
3:03:09
They know what the individual does, etc.
In
Out
3:03:12
But to have a 1-year contract and then not have to come back before us again, I think that's caused problems, and it seems like you're circumventing what needs to happen.
In
Out
3:03:23
3 years, you know, I don't see what people do— a department head does with somebody who's in a contract day to day to day.
In
Out
3:03:30
The mayor does.
In
Out
3:03:31
But when you come and tell us we're going to give somebody a 1-year contract, see how they're working out, and then they don't come back, I, I just think it circumvents.
In
Out
3:03:40
So I think we need to look at the charter because the charter doesn't say specifically how many years it has to be.
In
Out
3:03:45
It doesn't say that, you know, from one year then it doesn't have to come back.
In
Out
3:03:50
So I just think ordinance should take a look at it, and maybe our legal department.
In
Out
3:03:54
Maybe that was a joke, right?
In
Out
3:03:57
Pardon?
In
Out
3:03:58
I'm sorry.
In
Out
3:03:59
I yield.
In
Out
3:04:00
Any further discussion?
In
Out
3:04:02
Motion to adopt has been made and seconded.
In
Out
3:04:04
Hearing no further discussion, all those in favor?
In
Out
3:04:06
Aye.
In
Out
3:04:06
Opposed?
In
Out
3:04:08
The ayes have it.
In
Out
3:04:11
Madam Clerk, whereas throughout the fiscal year 2027 budgetary discussions, numerous concerns have been raised in relation to the calculation process for school transportation costs, and whereas there are anticipated changes to both school district assignments as well as school bus routes within the upcoming years that will affect the city's expenditures for this vital service, and whereas there was incongruency between the school transportation appropriation recommended by the School Committee in comparison to the school transportation appropriation submitted by the administration within the fiscal year 2027 budget, and whereas communication between the administration, School Committee, and City Council is pertinent to ensure successful financial planning that will benefit students, now therefore be it resolved that the Committee on Ordinances and Legislation convene meet with the interim city administrator, the director of financial services, the interim superintendent of the Fall River Public Schools, and Corporation Council to discuss the creation of an ad hoc school transportation committee consisting of representatives from the administration, the school committee, and the city council.
In
Out
3:05:23
And be it further resolved that at the will of the committee, Corporation Council draft a proposed ordinance to create and define said ad hoc school transportation committee to allow for open communication regarding anticipated budgetary costs, planned transportation contract expenses, and future program changes that may financially affect the city of Fall River and the Fall River School Department.
In
Out
3:05:46
Motion to adopt.
In
Out
3:05:47
Motion to adopt the resolution has been made by Councilor Raposo, seconded by— second— Councilor Kadim.
In
Out
3:05:55
Discussion?
In
Out
3:05:55
Councilor in seat 8, the sponsor of the resolution, Councilor Raposo.
In
Out
3:05:59
I have very little to say at this point other than the fact that, you know, I think this is a discussion we just keep wrapping our heads around, and it's kind of my attempt to try to, A, as a council, understand the process a little better, but B, to try to bring both sides together and get a better understanding of where this is.
In
Out
3:06:14
Because the reality is the transportation is in our purview, so I want to make sure that we analyze it over time and have more conversations, because right now I'm not seeing that happening.
In
Out
3:06:23
So thank you.
In
Out
3:06:24
Thank you.
In
Out
3:06:24
Hearing no further discussion, motion to adopt has been made and seconded.
In
Out
3:06:27
All those in favor?
In
Out
3:06:28
Opposed.
In
Out
3:06:30
The ayes have it.
In
Out
3:06:32
Whereas the area of Stafford Plaza located at Pleasant Street and Quarry Street in the city of Fall River has experienced repeated and long-standing flooding issues for decades, and whereas this flooding has created ongoing concerns for residents, business owners, motorists, pedestrians, and the overall public as it pertains to public safety and emergency responses accessibility, and whereas the City of Fall River remains under significant federal and state obligations related to its combined sewer overflow system requiring major infrastructure improvements to reduce stormwater and wastewater impacts during heavy rain events, and whereas the same stormwater pressures that contribute to CSO concerns may also contribute to localized flooding in vulnerable areas of the city, including low-lying or overburdened drainage areas such as Stafford Plaza.
In
Out
3:07:25
Now therefore be it resolved that the Committee on Public Safety convene with the administration, the administrator of Community Utilities, a representative from the Fall River State Legislative delegation, and a representative from United States Congressman Jake Auchincloss's office to address the long-standing flooding issues at Stafford Plaza.
In
Out
3:07:45
Pleasant Street and Quarry Street as a public safety concern and to identify appropriate actions to mitigate and rectify the hazard.
In
Out
3:07:57
Motion to adopt has been made by Councilor Peckham, seconded by Council Vice President Dion.
In
Out
3:08:02
Discussions?
In
Out
3:08:03
Uh, Councilor, uh, the sponsor of the resolution, Councilor in seat 6, Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
3:08:07
Thank you.
In
Out
3:08:08
So I know that there is a resolution that's table than Public Works and Transportation.
In
Out
3:08:14
I filed this because it's pertinent.
In
Out
3:08:16
So through you, Council President, to Councilor Camara, is this something that— I believe it's in your committee currently unless it was dead filed— is this something that could be heard?
In
Out
3:08:26
Absolutely.
In
Out
3:08:27
I appreciate that.
In
Out
3:08:27
Thank you.
In
Out
3:08:27
Just because I had received, uh, word from a firefighter— a firefighter— an engine company, I guess, had a tough time getting through that intersection during the last flooding.
In
Out
3:08:36
Um, so it is, it's something that we have to rectify ASAP.
In
Out
3:08:41
I had spoken to Councilor— yeah, $30 million.
In
Out
3:08:46
So I, um, I had spoken to Council Vice President Dion and Mr. Furlan.
In
Out
3:08:51
There is a plan in place.
In
Out
3:08:53
Um, multiple outside agencies have been contacted.
In
Out
3:08:56
The problem is we don't have the money to, to rectify the intersection.
In
Out
3:08:59
Um, I think ultimately that's going to kick us because it's getting bad over there.
In
Out
3:09:04
So I appreciate this, and, um, I'm willing to leave it in Public Works and Transportation as long as it can be, you know, heard in a reasonable amount of time, and I don't need it to go to Public Safety.
In
Out
3:09:14
Oh, the referral has already been made.
In
Out
3:09:17
Motion to adopt.
In
Out
3:09:18
You can also give it leave to withdraw to your committee if you'd like.
In
Out
3:09:20
Yeah, I'll do that.
In
Out
3:09:21
I'll send it to my committee and then leave to withdraw.
In
Out
3:09:23
I appreciate it.
In
Out
3:09:24
Thank you.
In
Out
3:09:24
That's where it's at right now.
In
Out
3:09:26
Motion to refer to to adopt the resolution has already been made and seconded.
In
Out
3:09:29
Hearing no further discussions, all those in favor?
In
Out
3:09:31
Aye.
In
Out
3:09:32
Opposed?
In
Out
3:09:33
Councilman C2, you opposed?
In
Out
3:09:34
I just wanted to make a point.
In
Out
3:09:35
Sure.
In
Out
3:09:36
So for anyone who's ever— as he said in the resolution, it's been an ongoing problem for years.
In
Out
3:09:41
Terry Sullivan tried to address it years ago.
In
Out
3:09:43
Paul Freeland tried to address it.
In
Out
3:09:45
It comes down to money, an awful lot of money.
In
Out
3:09:49
Um, unfortunately, it's in a low-lying area, and when we get severe rain, no matter how much money we put into it, it's going to get flooded.
In
Out
3:09:59
It's just something that we've been talking about for as long as I've been on this council and prior to me getting on the council.
In
Out
3:10:05
There is no easy solution.
In
Out
3:10:06
The only easy solution that there probably could be was to put a direct drain from there into the Totten River, not the Quicker Sand, because it'll overflow that, cause more problems.
In
Out
3:10:15
And I don't think the government will let you do that.
In
Out
3:10:17
With that, I yield.
In
Out
3:10:18
Thank you.
In
Out
3:10:18
Thank you.
In
Out
3:10:19
Motion to adopt has been made and seconded.
In
Out
3:10:20
Harry, no further discussion.
In
Out
3:10:22
All those in favor?
In
Out
3:10:22
Aye.
In
Out
3:10:23
Opposed?
In
Out
3:10:23
The ayes have it.
In
Out
3:10:24
Thank you.
In
Out
3:10:25
Whereas the City of Fall River is home to organizations and initiatives that provide vital services to residents, including children with disabilities, our nation's veterans, and, and senior citizens, and whereas State Representative Alan Sylvia requested a $100,000 legislative earmark to support the development of a sensory-friendly autism playground in Fall River, a project that would provide an inclusive recreational space for children with autism spectrum disorder and other sensory needs.
In
Out
3:10:54
And whereas Representative Sylvia also requested a $50,000 legislative earmark to support the Veterans Kitchen, a local organization that provides hot meals and other assistance to veterans in our community.
In
Out
3:11:07
And whereas Representative Sylvia also requested a $25,000 Legislative earmarked to support Fall River's Council on Aging, which provides support and community engagement for those in their later years of life, and whereas all requests were reduced to $10,000 during the Massachusetts House of Representatives budget process, significantly limiting the resources available to advance these important community initiatives, and whereas the City Council believes investments that improve the lives of children with disabilities, honor and support our veterans, and strengthen local senior citizen communities deserve meaningful consideration and equitable support from the Commonwealth.
In
Out
3:11:49
And whereas these projects represent the important investments in the well-being of Fall River residents and merit the support of the entire Fall River legislative delegation, now therefore be it resolved that the City Council respectfully urges the Speaker of the Massachusetts House of Representatives and the members of the Fall River legislative delegation to work collaboratively to restore the funding levels originally requested for these 3 important Fall River community projects.
In
Out
3:12:19
And be it further resolved that the City Council reaffirms its strong support for the creation of a sensory-friendly autism playground in Fall River and for the continued work of the Veterans Kitchen in serving those who have served our nation in our local senior citizen community.
In
Out
3:12:36
And be it further resolved that a certified copy of this resolution be sent to the Governor of Massachusetts, the Lieutenant Governor of Massachusetts, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Foreigner Legislative Delegation.
In
Out
3:12:51
Is there a motion?
In
Out
3:12:52
Motion to adopt.
In
Out
3:12:53
Motion to adopt as made by Council Vice President Dion, seconded by Councilor Canuel.
In
Out
3:12:58
Discussion?
In
Out
3:12:58
The sponsor of the resolution, Councilor in seat 3, Councilor Canuel.
In
Out
3:13:02
Thank you.
In
Out
3:13:04
I was obviously disappointed when I saw that these items were reduced during the budget process.
In
Out
3:13:11
It's not lost on me that the governor has signed the budget since I filed this bill several days before she signed it, but nonetheless, Just like the administration here comes down with supplemental appropriation orders, the state government certainly could do the same, although I won't give high hopes to that.
In
Out
3:13:30
I, I think I want to fight for every dollar, particularly every state dollar that we can, to come back to Fall River.
In
Out
3:13:36
I would like to see the council adopt this and send that letter.
In
Out
3:13:39
But at the same time, as I, I kind of looked at the sensory playground, there's been a big response by the businesses in our community, and I want to thank them for stepping up.
In
Out
3:13:52
They've really helped to close some of that budget gap.
In
Out
3:13:55
I do see other funding sources, you know, that have come in.
In
Out
3:13:59
We have the CPC funding as well, but I would like to amend this resolution to send a letter to the administration requesting a review of inactive capital projects for parks.
In
Out
3:14:14
Inactive Projects for Parks to be able to provide $50,000 towards May's playground specifically and request that the Committee on Finance meet to discuss any of those options that may be able to provide that supplemental funding.
In
Out
3:14:30
I did speak with Mr. Marcel Riley today regarding this, and with the big response to, you know, from the businesses, they are closing in on their goal.
In
Out
3:14:39
I want to make sure they're over the top of this.
In
Out
3:14:41
So with that, I request— okay, so you have an amendment to your resolution requesting that we send a letter to the administration asking them to look at inactive capital projects for parks, uh, as you're looking for an additional $50,000, and also refer the item to the Committee on Finance.
In
Out
3:15:03
I still want the letter sent.
In
Out
3:15:04
That's what I— yep, that's what I mentioned.
In
Out
3:15:05
I'm requesting that a letter is sent to the administration for inactive capital projects to see if they can find $50,000 there and also refer the item to the Committee on Finance for discussion.
In
Out
3:15:17
Correct.
In
Out
3:15:18
That is an amendment to the resolution that has been made by Councilor Cano.
In
Out
3:15:22
Do I hear a second?
In
Out
3:15:23
Second.
In
Out
3:15:23
Seconded by Councilor Pereira.
In
Out
3:15:24
Discussion on the amendment?
In
Out
3:15:27
On the amendment?
In
Out
3:15:29
Hearing none, motion to, on the amendment, roll call.
In
Out
3:15:33
Councilor Cadime?
In
Out
3:15:33
Yes.
In
Out
3:15:35
Camara?
In
Out
3:15:35
Yes.
In
Out
3:15:37
Canuel?
In
Out
3:15:37
Yes.
In
Out
3:15:38
Dion?
In
Out
3:15:39
Yes.
In
Out
3:15:40
Hart?
In
Out
3:15:41
Peckham?
In
Out
3:15:41
Yes.
In
Out
3:15:42
Pereira?
In
Out
3:15:43
Yes.
In
Out
3:15:44
Raposo?
In
Out
3:15:45
Yes.
In
Out
3:15:45
President Ponte?
In
Out
3:15:46
Yes.
In
Out
3:15:47
On the, uh, motion to adopt as amended would be appropriate, and then there is some discussion to be had.
In
Out
3:15:51
Motion so made.
In
Out
3:15:52
Motion to adopt as amended has been made by Councilor Raposo, seconded by Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
3:15:57
Discussion?
In
Out
3:15:57
Consulency?
In
Out
3:15:58
One, Councilor Kadim.
In
Out
3:16:01
Can somebody just update me?
In
Out
3:16:03
The sensory-friendly autism playground, that's in a park in the city.
In
Out
3:16:10
Yes.
In
Out
3:16:11
Point of clarification, Abbott Court.
In
Out
3:16:13
Abbott Court that we own.
In
Out
3:16:15
Yes.
In
Out
3:16:15
I appreciate all the fundraising that's going on, but why are we not just paying for the park?
In
Out
3:16:24
Why are we going out?
In
Out
3:16:24
You want my honest opinion?
In
Out
3:16:25
All the donations that be that were raised should go to the Veterans Kitchen.
In
Out
3:16:29
We should put the sensory playground in the park.
In
Out
3:16:33
We should fund it.
In
Out
3:16:34
We just had CPC money that was approved.
In
Out
3:16:36
We have CDA money that's, that's being approved.
In
Out
3:16:39
How much is the park?
In
Out
3:16:40
$400,000.
In
Out
3:16:41
$400,000.
In
Out
3:16:42
We've got $12 million in stabilization.
In
Out
3:16:44
We have the ability to go and bonds.
In
Out
3:16:47
Why are we going to the community asking for donations and not just funding it?
In
Out
3:16:52
It's no different than the the Vietnam Memorial.
In
Out
3:16:54
We had, we had individuals coming before us for the Vietnam Memorial asking for like $10,000, and then I had to make a motion to give more money.
In
Out
3:17:01
Like, why aren't we— it's, it's, it's our property.
In
Out
3:17:04
I don't understand why we're not just— it's, it's, it's a park that is needed and we should be funding it, period.
In
Out
3:17:11
We shouldn't have to rely on fundraising.
In
Out
3:17:13
It's a great thing that the community is doing it, but when you start talking about the Veterans Kitchen, okay, we can't give that much money to the Veterans Kitchen.
In
Out
3:17:20
Maybe the donation should be going there.
In
Out
3:17:21
Counseling on aging— what, what was the earmark?
In
Out
3:17:23
What was the request?
In
Out
3:17:24
Was that just something representative put in?
In
Out
3:17:26
Because there's a tendency for some representatives just to, to submit earmarks.
In
Out
3:17:30
Is— was there a specific earmark for counseling on aging?
In
Out
3:17:33
Again, a department within, within the city.
In
Out
3:17:37
And for $25,000, why aren't we funding it?
In
Out
3:17:42
That's, that's the concern that I have.
In
Out
3:17:43
So I would, I would say that you know, in the letter we should be telling the administration that they should be fully funding the park at Avocat using the CPC money that was allocated plus the CDA monies.
In
Out
3:17:56
And whatever the difference is, it should be coming out of either a stabilization account that we have, or we come back down before us for a bond authorization to be funded through the general funds.
In
Out
3:18:08
Like, the impact that it would have on our debt service is minimal for the impact that it would have to community.
In
Out
3:18:13
So the fact that we're going out there and having all everybody trying to raise the money when it's our responsibility, and then we all think it's a great, you know, a great endeavor and initiative, then let's just do it.
In
Out
3:18:25
With that, I just— I think we're missing, missing this.
In
Out
3:18:28
Like, I think the donation should go to something that we can't necessarily provide the money for.
In
Out
3:18:32
With that, I yield.
In
Out
3:18:33
Thank you.
In
Out
3:18:33
Councilman C7, Councilor Pereira.
In
Out
3:18:35
Well, there, there are other grants that the city has also applied for.
In
Out
3:18:39
One is with the American Disability Act, and there was one other one, the park grant, another grant.
In
Out
3:18:45
So that would be some money coming in.
In
Out
3:18:47
And when you're talking about the veterans, you just— we just put money into the VSO account for non-Chapter 115.
In
Out
3:18:55
He can certainly take money out of that and give it to the Vet's Kitchen too, and that money's already there.
In
Out
3:19:00
So I agree with you, if we have money there, take pay for it.
In
Out
3:19:04
But then the Park Department has other things that people wanting to have done.
In
Out
3:19:09
I think the sensory playground is something that's needed, but there's so many people that are asking about some of these parks being changed into a soccer field.
In
Out
3:19:18
We did pickleball courts, but do we have money for that?
In
Out
3:19:22
So then, you know, it's kind of tough.
In
Out
3:19:25
I wish we had more money to do all the things we needed to do in parks.
In
Out
3:19:30
But unfortunately we don't.
In
Out
3:19:31
And if we just keep taking money out of savings to pay for all these things, then you got to be careful.
In
Out
3:19:37
Like my husband said, you take money out of savings, you never put it back.
In
Out
3:19:40
So I'll be able to pay for Diamond, you know.
In
Out
3:19:43
But I think, I think that it's a good point that we should be putting money in.
In
Out
3:19:47
I agree.
In
Out
3:19:48
And we have put in quite a bit of money.
In
Out
3:19:52
With that, I yield.
In
Out
3:19:52
I think it was a good resolution.
In
Out
3:19:54
Councilman C3, Councilor Cano.
In
Out
3:19:56
Yeah, I do want to clarify the total cost of this park is not $400,000.
In
Out
3:20:01
It was my understanding from Mr. Marcel Riley today that it was $700,000, I think was his estimate.
In
Out
3:20:08
And he's raising— I think there was a Herald News article— close to $1 million for the park.
In
Out
3:20:15
Fundraising has been occurring for a while.
In
Out
3:20:17
There was a fundraiser at the Elks I attended several months ago.
In
Out
3:20:21
I think the recent fundraising was initiated by Folder Reporter, and that's what's specifically— that was in response to the reduction of the earmark.
In
Out
3:20:32
And so that's what I think I'm looking to address here.
In
Out
3:20:35
So with that, I yield.
In
Out
3:20:36
We can also have this discussion on the Committee on Finance as well.
In
Out
3:20:39
And hopefully the administration heard what our colleague in seat 1 and others have said, and maybe they can come down with an appropriation at that meeting.
In
Out
3:20:46
That could very accomplish everything that we're looking for them to accomplish.
In
Out
3:20:49
Thank you, Councilor.
In
Out
3:20:50
Hearing no further discussion, motion to adopt as amended would be appropriate.
In
Out
3:20:54
I believe that's been moved and seconded.
In
Out
3:20:57
All those in favor?
In
Out
3:20:58
Aye.
In
Out
3:20:59
Opposed?
In
Out
3:21:00
The ayes have it.
In
Out
3:21:04
Can we take citations, um, 22 to 26?
In
Out
3:21:08
Motion to take items 22 to 26 together.
In
Out
3:21:13
Item 21.
In
Out
3:21:13
Oh yeah, that's— let's do that.
In
Out
3:21:15
Thank you, Madam Clerk.
In
Out
3:21:16
Let's slow down.
In
Out
3:21:18
Whereas there are many public parks in the city of Fall River that host league games, outdoor community events, and recreational activities, and whereas all public spaces should be equipped with automated external defibrillators to assist with unexpected cardiac emergencies while awaiting the arrival of first responders, and whereas the installation of AEDs in parks and recreational areas is now recognized as the best public safety practice throughout the country, and whereas this life-saving equipment requires weather-resistant enclosures and proper maintenance by qualified professionals, now therefore be it resolved that the Committee on Public Safety convene with the interim city administrator, the director of parks and recreation, and the chief of emergency medical services to discuss the potential installation of IEDs within all city-owned parks, as well as the cost of continued maintenance and upkeep of these life-saving devices.
In
Out
3:22:14
Motion to adopt the resolution has been made by Councilor Raposo, seconded by Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
3:22:18
Discussion?
In
Out
3:22:19
The sponsor of the resolution, Councilor in seat 8, Councilor Raposo.
In
Out
3:22:22
Yeah, I'll give credit to Councilor Kadim because he originally filed this, uh, I think it was over a year ago, and I believe at the time that was sent a letter to the administration about this.
In
Out
3:22:31
Um, and I don't think anything happened with it.
In
Out
3:22:33
So I asked Councilor Kadim about it, and I also, um, spoke— worked with the clerk to amend it to go to the Committee on Public Safety.
In
Out
3:22:42
I will say I did speak with the interim park— or the park director today regarding this, and this was— it's already on his radar, and he is willing to come down and speak to the committee regarding this.
In
Out
3:22:53
So I would just look for my colleague's support.
In
Out
3:22:56
Thank you.
In
Out
3:22:56
Thank you, Councilman C1.
In
Out
3:22:57
Councilor Kadim.
In
Out
3:22:58
Thank you.
In
Out
3:22:58
Um, this resolution being filed just kind of got the gears turning a little bit.
In
Out
3:23:03
Um, I'd just be curious to see how many resolutions we've submitted to the administration the last 3 years that have gone unanswered with zero acknowledgment.
In
Out
3:23:14
I mean, this is one of them.
In
Out
3:23:16
There's a number of them that are there.
In
Out
3:23:17
So I'd like to see what we've sent over to the administration last, again, 5 years, and then which ones have been responded to and which ones are outstanding, because I think we're going to find that there are a lot of resolutions that we requested that have, um, some significant benefit and would probably address a lot of concerns throughout the community that just go unanswered, and we just continue to file resolutions after resolutions on the same exact things.
In
Out
3:23:43
So with that, I yield.
In
Out
3:23:45
Thank you.
In
Out
3:23:45
Councilman C2, Councilor Camara.
In
Out
3:23:47
I'm just curious, are we asking to put these devices in every park?
In
Out
3:23:52
Are we asking that someone who's having an event there have one available to use?
In
Out
3:23:57
Because you do have to be somewhat trained in using these.
In
Out
3:24:00
I know they have directions on them.
In
Out
3:24:01
I have one at work, and you have to have training.
In
Out
3:24:04
And then if you're going to have it in a park without, I mean, supervision, people will— might walk.
In
Out
3:24:10
I mean, what is the intent here?
In
Out
3:24:12
I'm just curious.
In
Out
3:24:13
Uh, to our colleague in seat 8 who sponsored the resolution.
In
Out
3:24:16
Councilor Raposo and Councilor Kadim can add to this, but I think at first my, my theory is the parks that have active leagues first, um, you know, especially where we have kids playing sports, would be one of the big things.
In
Out
3:24:28
But your point is well taken.
In
Out
3:24:29
I think it also should not just be exclusive to parks that have leagues, but also all our parks.
In
Out
3:24:37
And there is technology out there, um, and in my conversations with the parks director today is that there are abilities where these AEDs can be secured.
In
Out
3:24:45
And for example, when you open the door to use the AED, 911 is automatically called in that process.
In
Out
3:24:52
So it would— there is a process in which it can be secured and be used, as well as a safety mechanism where 911 could be called automatically when that AED is opened up to be used.
In
Out
3:25:03
So I mean, I'm open to both possibilities, but the reality is, you know, we— and Councilor Kadeem, obviously, I'm sure he filed it because of some of the events that have happened and in the past.
In
Out
3:25:14
And again, I think it's a useful thing.
In
Out
3:25:15
And talking to some parents that I have that do play in the local leagues, it is a concern because every minute and every second is essential in those situations.
In
Out
3:25:24
Constantine?
In
Out
3:25:25
Yeah, no, I agree.
In
Out
3:25:26
That's why I'm thinking that if there's going to be Little League games going on, then someone should be in charge of that.
In
Out
3:25:32
That, like the president of the league should assign someone to always have that there present.
In
Out
3:25:36
I, I think it's a great idea.
In
Out
3:25:38
I'm just curious as to how it's going to work, and it's put out in a park on a pole, or if you're having a function there, or someone's, you know, adult guys playing softball, someone should have one there.
In
Out
3:25:47
And maybe more than one person should know how to work it, because it is— I mean, people have been hurt trying to save someone's life, and now you have a lawsuit that they shouldn't have been doing what they were doing because they didn't know what they were and they actually cause the person to get more injured.
In
Out
3:26:01
And, you know, it's tricky, but I think great idea.
In
Out
3:26:05
I just want to know that we do it the right way and just don't put these things in parks and have anyone come and use them thinking they know what they're doing.
In
Out
3:26:12
If someone needs it, if someone might not need it, might not be having a heart attack, and someone says, oh, a guy could be having a seizure, next thing you know someone's grabbing it and causing more damage than needs to be done.
In
Out
3:26:22
So it's just, you just got to be careful.
In
Out
3:26:23
And I think if you're having a function there and someone knows and someone is able to bring it with them, they're a lot— they're portable, and that, you know, that they're one present makes a big difference than just have one on a pole in the park for anyone to use if they feel that the need be.
In
Out
3:26:40
With that, I yield.
In
Out
3:26:40
Thank you.
In
Out
3:26:41
Thank you, Councilor.
In
Out
3:26:41
In seat 6, Councilor Beckham.
In
Out
3:26:42
Yeah, just for clarification, you don't need formal training to use an AED in Massachusetts.
In
Out
3:26:49
When you turn it on, it walks you step by step through the process.
In
Out
3:26:54
There's a book inside with pictures, so even if you're deaf, you could operate the thing.
In
Out
3:26:59
It literally shows you where to put the pads, where to push the button, and it tells you to stand back.
In
Out
3:27:05
I understand the concern.
In
Out
3:27:06
I know it has directions.
In
Out
3:27:08
I have one at work.
In
Out
3:27:09
It has directions.
In
Out
3:27:09
I get that.
In
Out
3:27:10
But we also train people how to do it.
In
Out
3:27:12
Yeah, no, understood, understood.
In
Out
3:27:13
But ultimately, you don't need training to operate it.
In
Out
3:27:17
I think it's a great idea.
In
Out
3:27:18
I do, I do agree that the logistics of it need to be worked out, but I think that we— I'd rather have it than not have it.
In
Out
3:27:25
So with that, I yield.
In
Out
3:27:26
Thank you.
In
Out
3:27:27
Councilman Sidaitis.
In
Out
3:27:27
Councilor Raposo.
In
Out
3:27:28
Yeah, and just in my experience in the school environment, I mean, the AEDs today are more advanced technology where it actually tells you if the button needs to be hit or not, if it's appropriate.
In
Out
3:27:40
So when it gets in attached to a person, it will say yes, do it, or no, not do it.
In
Out
3:27:44
So that's the advancement of the ADs, and we have them at the school.
In
Out
3:27:48
But secondly, the concern that was brought forward is that if it's restricted to leagues, then it's responsible for that person who was ever in charge of league to bring it out and then put it away.
In
Out
3:27:58
But the reality is now you have a problem with access.
In
Out
3:28:00
So we're not just talking about when there's a formal game or practice going on.
In
Out
3:28:04
It could very well be a, you know, a group of people just going to the park and somebody has an episode.
In
Out
3:28:09
So the public accessibility with the logistics piece is important.
In
Out
3:28:13
But again, it's not just something we can just say, yeah, let's do it.
In
Out
3:28:16
It's really got to be thought out and planned out.
In
Out
3:28:17
So that's kind of the purpose of this.
In
Out
3:28:20
Thank you, Councilor.
In
Out
3:28:20
Any further discussion?
In
Out
3:28:21
Hearing none, motion to adopt has been made and seconded.
In
Out
3:28:24
All those in favor?
In
Out
3:28:25
Opposed?
In
Out
3:28:26
The ayes have it.
In
Out
3:28:27
Motion to take items 22 through 26.
In
Out
3:28:30
Motion to take items 22 22 through 26 together for the citations has been made by Councilor Pereira, seconded by Council Vice President Dion.
In
Out
3:28:38
Discussion?
In
Out
3:28:39
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
3:28:41
Opposed?
In
Out
3:28:41
The ayes have it.
In
Out
3:28:42
Madam Clerk, item 22 is a citation for Jacob P. Gannon for achieving the rank of Eagle Scout on February 15, 2026.
In
Out
3:28:52
23, citation for William C. Gannon achieving the rank of Eagle Scout on February 15, 2026.
In
Out
3:28:59
Item 24, Jeffrey Czarnecki, outstanding support for veterans in need.
In
Out
3:29:04
25, Lieutenant Mason Evangelista, providing off-duty aid to a pedestrian struck by a motor vehicle.
In
Out
3:29:11
26, Michael Kelly, the retirement from the Sheriff's Department after over 31 years of service.
In
Out
3:29:16
Motion to accept and place on file has been made by Councilor Raposo, seconded by Councilor Pereira.
In
Out
3:29:21
Discussion?
In
Out
3:29:22
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
3:29:23
Opposed?
In
Out
3:29:23
The ayes have it.
In
Out
3:29:24
Motion to take 27 through 30 together.
In
Out
3:29:26
Motion to take items 27 through 30 together has been made by Councilor Raposo, seconded by Councilor Vice President— no, for discussion— seconded by Councilor Kadim.
In
Out
3:29:36
Discussion?
In
Out
3:29:37
Councilor on seat 4, Council Vice President Dionne, taking the items together.
In
Out
3:29:41
I would— for— I would like to take 27 out of order.
In
Out
3:29:44
Um, I don't think we got any explanation as to why this work was already done.
In
Out
3:29:48
It's already been completed.
In
Out
3:29:50
Um, we talk all the time about the people have to follow the process.
In
Out
3:29:55
They should be— the last city council meeting, not the last, a couple of city council meetings ago, in regulations we had it come down before us because again the work was done in advance.
In
Out
3:30:06
Um, there has to be— so you— I mean, we ended up fine— uh, a fine was, uh, instituted for, for doing it without following the proper process.
In
Out
3:30:18
Um, there was no explanation as to why this work has already been done, so you ask for forgiveness after rather than permission before.
In
Out
3:30:26
I think that's the boat we're in.
In
Out
3:30:28
So I think I would like to see this, uh, either referred to, uh, regulations or, um, Public Works and Transportation.
In
Out
3:30:38
Is that a motion to refer item 27?
In
Out
3:30:40
All right, so I, uh, I, uh, a motion to refer does take precedence.
In
Out
3:30:44
So we're going to take a motion that has been made by Council Vice President Dion to take item 27, uh, Timothy R. Long of 1343 Newhall Street at the property at 677 Meridian Street, to refer to regulations.
In
Out
3:30:57
Has been made by Council Vice President Dion.
In
Out
3:30:58
Do we have a second?
In
Out
3:30:59
Mr. President, if I could, it'd be appropriate to refer to Public Works and Transportation.
In
Out
3:31:03
I'm sorry, Public Works and Transportation.
In
Out
3:31:05
Public Works and Transportation.
In
Out
3:31:06
Motion to refer the item to Public Works and Transportation has been made by Council Vice President Dion.
In
Out
3:31:11
Is there a second?
In
Out
3:31:12
Seconded by Councilor Canuel.
In
Out
3:31:13
Is there discussion?
In
Out
3:31:15
Roll call on referring.
In
Out
3:31:17
Councilors Kadim?
In
Out
3:31:18
Yes.
In
Out
3:31:19
Camara?
In
Out
3:31:20
Yes.
In
Out
3:31:21
Canuel?
In
Out
3:31:22
Yes.
In
Out
3:31:23
Dion?
In
Out
3:31:23
Yes.
In
Out
3:31:25
Hart?
In
Out
3:31:26
Peckham?
In
Out
3:31:27
Pereira?
In
Out
3:31:28
Yes.
In
Out
3:31:29
Raposo?
In
Out
3:31:30
Yes.
In
Out
3:31:30
President Ponte?
In
Out
3:31:31
Yes.
In
Out
3:31:32
Motion to take items 28 through 30 together has been made by Councilor Pereira, seconded by Council Vice President Dion.
In
Out
3:31:39
Discussion?
In
Out
3:31:40
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
3:31:41
Opposed?
In
Out
3:31:42
The ayes have it.
In
Out
3:31:43
Madam Clerk.
In
Out
3:31:46
Item 28 is a curb removal request for Glenn J. Hathaway, 46 Bowen Street, for the removal of 16 feet of curbing for a total opening of 41 feet 11 inches at 46 6 Bowen Street.
In
Out
3:31:59
Item 29, Joshua Rodriguez, 840 Rodman Street, removal of 8 feet of curbing for a total opening of 23 feet at 840 Rodman Street.
In
Out
3:32:09
And item 30 is a secondhand article store for Connor Vendituoli, DBA Decked Out Trading Cards LLC, for permission to operate and maintain a secondhand article store at 1665 South Main Street trading cards will be sold.
In
Out
3:32:26
Motion to adopt items 28, 29, and 30 made by Councilor Raposo, seconded by Councilor Kadim.
In
Out
3:32:33
Discussion?
In
Out
3:32:34
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
3:32:36
Opposed?
In
Out
3:32:37
The ayes have it.
In
Out
3:32:45
Item 31 is the warrant for the state primary election scheduled for September 1st.
In
Out
3:32:49
Motion to adopt made by Councilor Kadim, seconded by Councilor Raposo.
In
Out
3:32:53
Discussion?
In
Out
3:32:54
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
3:32:55
Aye.
In
Out
3:32:55
Opposed?
In
Out
3:32:56
The ayes have it.
In
Out
3:32:58
Item 32 are applications for the renewal of auto repair shop licenses.
In
Out
3:33:03
Motion to approve and adopt the auto repair licenses has been made by Councilor Cannuel, seconded by Councilor Raposo.
In
Out
3:33:09
Discussion?
In
Out
3:33:10
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
3:33:12
Aye.
In
Out
3:33:12
Opposed?
In
Out
3:33:12
The ayes have it.
In
Out
3:33:15
And that order was for, um, JC Gas LLC located at 537 Bedford Street, Chase Automotive Center at 400 Stafford Road, J&S Auto Sales and Repair Inc. at 178 Aberdeen Street, 11th Street Association Inc. at 56th Street, and Barber Auto Sales Trust at 673 Bedford Street.
In
Out
3:33:36
Item 33 is the number of claims.
In
Out
3:33:38
Motion to refer— motion to refer the claims to Corporation Council.
In
Out
3:33:42
Made by Councilor Peckham, seconded by Councilor Raposo.
In
Out
3:33:44
Discussion?
In
Out
3:33:45
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
3:33:47
Opposed?
In
Out
3:33:48
The ayes have it.
In
Out
3:33:48
Motion to take 34 through 36 together.
In
Out
3:33:51
Motion to take items 34 through what?
In
Out
3:33:53
36.
In
Out
3:33:55
36 together has been made by Councilor Peckham, seconded by Councilor Kadeem.
In
Out
3:33:59
Discussion?
In
Out
3:34:00
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
3:34:02
Opposed?
In
Out
3:34:03
The ayes have it.
In
Out
3:34:04
Madam Clerk, item 34 is a drain layer license for for Bond Civil and Utility Construction Inc.
In
Out
3:34:11
Item 35 is an application for a license to conduct one-day bingo for the Kiwanis Club of Fall River Foundation Inc.
In
Out
3:34:20
The event is to be held on September 19, 2026 at 486 Bedford Street.
In
Out
3:34:27
And item 36 is an application for a license to also conduct a one-day bingo for the PVT Joseph Francis VFW Post 486, Inc., the event to be held on October 5th, 2026, at the same location.
In
Out
3:34:41
Motion to approve.
In
Out
3:34:42
Motion to approve has been made by Councilor Peckham, seconded by Councilor Canuel.
In
Out
3:34:47
Discussion?
In
Out
3:34:47
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
3:34:49
Aye.
In
Out
3:34:49
Opposed?
In
Out
3:34:50
The ayes have it.
In
Out
3:34:55
Item 37, as zoning board of appeals minutes for May 21st.
In
Out
3:34:58
Motion Motion to accept the zoning board minutes and place it on file, made by Councilor Raposo, seconded by Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
3:35:05
Discussion?
In
Out
3:35:05
Hearing none.
In
Out
3:35:06
All those in favor?
In
Out
3:35:07
Aye.
In
Out
3:35:07
Opposed?
In
Out
3:35:07
The ayes have it.
In
Out
3:35:08
Motion to take 38 through 41 together after reading, made by Councilor Raposo, seconded by Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
3:35:16
Discussion?
In
Out
3:35:16
Hearing none.
In
Out
3:35:17
All those in favor?
In
Out
3:35:18
Aye.
In
Out
3:35:18
Opposed?
In
Out
3:35:19
The ayes have it.
In
Out
3:35:20
Madam Clerk, those items are public hearings for June 23rd, 2023.
In
Out
3:35:25
6th, Committee on Finance June 23rd, 2026, regular meeting of the City Council for the same date, and special meeting minutes of the City Council for June 30th.
In
Out
3:35:34
Motion to approve.
In
Out
3:35:35
Motion to approve has been made by Councilor Peckham, seconded by Councilor Raposo.
In
Out
3:35:39
All those in favor?
In
Out
3:35:40
Aye.
In
Out
3:35:40
Opposed?
In
Out
3:35:41
The ayes have it.
In
Out
3:35:45
Mr. Item— uh, Mr. President, the, uh, next items were filed after the agenda, uh, closed Um, is it the will of the council to, um, adopt an emergency preamble for the acceptance of orders filed after the agenda deadline?
In
Out
3:35:59
Motion to— is there a motion?
In
Out
3:36:00
Is there a will?
In
Out
3:36:01
Motion for an emergency preamble to what?
In
Out
3:36:04
Which one?
In
Out
3:36:06
Item 7A is the next item.
In
Out
3:36:08
It was an appropriation order that was filed after the agenda had closed.
In
Out
3:36:13
Yeah, uh, emergency grant.
In
Out
3:36:15
Motion.
In
Out
3:36:16
Second.
In
Out
3:36:16
Motion for an emergency Preamble has been made by Councilor Kadeem, seconded by Councilor Raposo.
In
Out
3:36:21
Roll call.
In
Out
3:36:23
Councilors Kadeem?
In
Out
3:36:24
Yes.
In
Out
3:36:25
Camara?
In
Out
3:36:26
Yes.
In
Out
3:36:27
Canuel?
In
Out
3:36:28
Yes.
In
Out
3:36:28
Dion?
In
Out
3:36:29
Yes.
In
Out
3:36:30
Hart?
In
Out
3:36:31
Peckham?
In
Out
3:36:31
Yes.
In
Out
3:36:33
Pereira?
In
Out
3:36:36
Raposo?
In
Out
3:36:36
Yes.
In
Out
3:36:37
President Ponte?
In
Out
3:36:37
Yes.
In
Out
3:36:38
Motion carries 7 yeas.
In
Out
3:36:41
Item 7A.
In
Out
3:36:42
Second.
In
Out
3:36:43
Motion to adopt item 7A has been made by Councilor Cadena, seconded by Councilor Raposo.
In
Out
3:36:49
Discussion on adoption?
In
Out
3:36:51
And Madam Clerk, if you just read it for the record, please.
In
Out
3:36:54
No problem.
In
Out
3:36:55
Item 7A is a communication from the mayor and appropriations in the amount of $1,400,000 from various accounts for fire salaries.
In
Out
3:37:06
Very good.
In
Out
3:37:06
Motion to adopt has been made and seconded.
In
Out
3:37:08
Hearing no further discussions.
In
Out
3:37:09
All those in favor?
In
Out
3:37:10
Opposed?
In
Out
3:37:12
The ayes have it.
In
Out
3:37:15
The next item is the petition for a zoning map amendment filed by city residents, uh, for changes to the zoning ordinances between Warren Street and Braden Avenue, also known as the Braden-Warren Corridor, to designate parcels within that corridor from the R-4 district to the A-2 district.
In
Out
3:37:33
Refer to the planning board.
In
Out
3:37:34
Motion to refer the item to the planning board has been made by Councilor Raposo.
In
Out
3:37:37
Is there a second?
In
Out
3:37:38
Seconded by Councilor Cano.
In
Out
3:37:40
Is there discussion?
In
Out
3:37:40
Councilman C4, Council Vice President Dionne.
In
Out
3:37:43
Yeah, um, just— I don't— I'm not going to support this.
In
Out
3:37:48
Um, I personally would like to deny the request.
In
Out
3:37:52
I don't— uh, I can't wrap my head around the concept of changing zoning in an entire neighborhood because one person wants to put in a 5— a turn their 3-family into a 5-family when they have other avenues to accomplish the same goal.
In
Out
3:38:07
So for that reason, I will not be supporting this.
In
Out
3:38:10
Motion to refer to the planning board has been made and seconded.
In
Out
3:38:13
Roll call.
In
Out
3:38:14
Councilor Skadeev?
In
Out
3:38:15
Yes.
In
Out
3:38:16
Camara?
In
Out
3:38:17
Yes.
In
Out
3:38:18
Canuel?
In
Out
3:38:18
Yes.
In
Out
3:38:19
Dionne?
In
Out
3:38:20
No.
In
Out
3:38:20
Hart?
In
Out
3:38:22
Peckham?
In
Out
3:38:22
No.
In
Out
3:38:24
Pereira?
In
Out
3:38:25
No.
In
Out
3:38:26
Proposo?
In
Out
3:38:27
Yes.
In
Out
3:38:28
President Ponte?
In
Out
3:38:29
No.
In
Out
3:38:31
Motion fails, 4 yeas, uh, 4 nays.
In
Out
3:38:41
Committee on Public Works and Transportation, at a meeting held on July 14th, 2026, voted unanimously to recommend that the accompanying order be adopted as amended, with Councilor Hart absent and not voting.
In
Out
3:38:52
This is an order for a curb removal at 34 to 36 California Street.
In
Out
3:38:58
Motion to adopt as amended has been made by Councilor Khadim, seconded by— second— Councilor Raposo.
In
Out
3:39:05
Discussion?
In
Out
3:39:06
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
3:39:08
Opposed?
In
Out
3:39:08
The ayes have it.
In
Out
3:39:09
And could we have a brief ordinance recess?
In
Out
3:39:12
2-minute recess, please.
In
Out
3:39:13
Thank you.
In
Out
3:42:55
As far as a city council meeting is now back in session, Madam Clerk.
In
Out
3:43:03
Mr. President, the proposed ordinance amending the solid waste Um, excuse me, that— strike that.
In
Out
3:43:11
The, um, that motion failed to carry at the last— during the regular meeting.
In
Out
3:43:16
The next item before you is item 11.
In
Out
3:43:19
It's a proposed ordinance for final ordination amending Section 50-301, salary schedule for executive officers, department heads, and non-union personnel.
In
Out
3:43:29
Motion passed.
In
Out
3:43:30
Motion to pass the item to be ordained has been made by Councilor Raposo.
In
Out
3:43:33
Second by Councilor Locatino.
In
Out
3:43:35
All those in favor?
In
Out
3:43:35
Aye.
In
Out
3:43:36
Opposed?
In
Out
3:43:36
Councilor in seat 3 opposed.
In
Out
3:43:38
And the ayes have it.
In
Out
3:43:40
Item 12 is a proposed ordinance of final ordination amending Section 50-303, salary schedule for political appointments and board committees.
In
Out
3:43:49
Motion to pass the item to be ordained has been made by Councilor Raposo.
In
Out
3:43:53
Second.
In
Out
3:43:53
Seconded by Councilor Locatino.
In
Out
3:43:54
Discussion?
In
Out
3:43:55
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
3:43:57
Opposed?
In
Out
3:43:58
The ayes have it.
In
Out
3:43:59
Item 13 is an ordinance for final ordination as amended.
In
Out
3:44:04
This is the proposed ordinance for miscellaneous traffic.
In
Out
3:44:06
Pass to be ordained as amended.
In
Out
3:44:08
Motion to pass the item to be ordained as amended has been made by Councilor Peckham, seconded by Councilor Kadeem.
In
Out
3:44:12
Discussion?
In
Out
3:44:13
Hearing none.
In
Out
3:44:14
All those in favor?
In
Out
3:44:15
Aye.
In
Out
3:44:15
Opposed?
In
Out
3:44:16
Councilor in seat 8 opposed.
In
Out
3:44:18
And the ayes have it.
In
Out
3:44:21
Item 14 is also a proposed ordinance for miscellaneous traffic.
In
Out
3:44:25
For final ordination as amended.
In
Out
3:44:27
Motion to pass the ordinance amended.
In
Out
3:44:29
Motion to pass the item to be ordained as amended has been made by Councilor Raposo, seconded by Councilor Kadim.
In
Out
3:44:34
Discussion?
In
Out
3:44:35
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
3:44:36
Aye.
In
Out
3:44:37
Opposed?
In
Out
3:44:37
The ayes have it.
In
Out
3:44:42
Item 15 is a proposed ordinance for miscellaneous traffic, also to be passed to be ordained as amended.
In
Out
3:44:47
Pass to be ordained.
In
Out
3:44:48
Motion to pass the item to be ordained as amended has been made by Councilor Raposo, seconded by Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
3:44:53
Discussion?
In
Out
3:44:54
Hearing none, all those in favor?
In
Out
3:44:56
Opposed?
In
Out
3:44:58
The ayes have it.
In
Out
3:44:59
Mr. President, may I have just a 1-minute recess?
In
Out
3:45:02
I just need to confirm the ordinances that are before you at the moment.
In
Out
3:45:04
Yes, 1-minute recess.
In
Out
3:45:05
Thank you.
In
Out
3:45:05
See 2 opposed.
In
Out
3:45:06
Do you— second.
In
Out
3:46:38
Our city council meeting is now back in order.
In
Out
3:46:40
Madam Clerk, there's no further business before— no further business has been set before this council.
In
Out
3:46:45
Motion to adjourn has been made by Councilor Kadim, seconded by Councilor Peckham.
In
Out
3:46:48
All those in favor?
In
Out
3:46:48
Aye.
In
Out
3:46:49
Opposed?
In
Out
3:46:49
The ayes have it.
In
Out
3:46:50
Good night.
In
Out
3:46:51
Thank you.
In
Out
3:46:48
All those in favor?
In
Out
3:46:48
Aye.
In
Out
3:46:49
Opposed?
In
Out
3:46:49
The ayes have it.
In
Out
3:46:50
Good night.
In
Out
3:46:51
Thank you.
In
Out