zerobased budgeting in the FY26 budget. We are looking at a lot less department level turnbacks. Um within the expense items this year, we still have the same amount of kind of vacancy savings and turnbacks that will happen just with the turnover um that happens with employees.
Um but we are doing a lot better with our expenses, kind of spending what we projected we would spend. Um we don't have at this point a lot of overages if any at all within the expenses outside of snow obviously that we've been talking about. So, we are kind of on track and and doing well in that sense.
I know we talked last year about this solid waste changes in the FY26 budget. So, we are actually um we did go out for bid for a new solid waste contract to start July 1. The bids are actually being opened um Thursday this week. So, we are close to having, you know, better
numbers back um knowing what the bids kind of came in at and we'll give you guys that information as soon as we have it to share. um healthcare costs. I know we talked about it a little bit um during the school committee portion of this, but we um we are on track this year. We are at
um we received a report this morning through February that shows that we're at 80 92% of what they projected we would be at. So, we're we're doing well um to what we kind of budgeted for and planned for. We're staying on track. they don't see it spiking up um and they
say is that we think we'll stay within um the budgeted amount. It'll be included in the quarterly report um at the next meeting with more detail. Um we did get our healthcare increase for next year. It is 8 and a half% for basic health insurance. Um our dental
insurance is 4.1% I believe. Um and then life insurance I believe is rather status quo for the rates at this time. So, we do have those costs and um and that 8 and 12% is still good in comparison to a lot of other communities. We were in the same boat last year. A lot of people were going up
15 to 20% and we were able to only need to go up 8 and a half% and it's working out well this year. Um but we are also looking at another 8 and a half% this year with other communities looking most more like 11 to 15. So, we're doing better again and we are one of the last
communities that have the GLP1s in our um insurance at this time. Um, diamond debt assessment. So, this time last year, we were talking about um FY26 being the first year of a full, you know, bond payment being um in our
assessment. They did issue the debt in September. Um there was a slight modification from what we kind of had they had their estimated number to to what it came out to. They did issue a little bit more debt than originally anticipated. They were saying it was going to be a hund00 million bond this
first one, but where they were at in construction, they could actually do it was more like $15 million. So, it is a little bit higher than we anticipated, but it's not more in the overall scheme. It's just an earlier batch of the debt. So, um that is part of the five-year
projections that um we gave. All of those debt numbers were in there at that time. So, that will be um included. We did start the diamond stabilization fund last year. We do have money in that to kind of continue to use to help offset the increases coming in so quickly to
our budget. Um it was about a four it was a $4.5 million increase in FY26 and it'll be about 5 million and FY27. So um you know at the drop of a hat we had an assessment go up of almost 5 million that we didn't really plan for on our
own. So, we'll use that fund to keep level, you know, easing that into our own budget. Um, our stabilization fund balance, um, I know we've talked about this a lot last year. So, over the last couple of years, we had, um, an increase in our free cash certification and were able to
kind of really rebuild our stabilization fund um, for the general fund. So, as of today, we're at about 2.7 million two, wow, $20.7 million as the fund the stabilization fund balance. Um, and we're looking to end the year at about
24 million um, in that stabilization fund. So, it's not necessarily that the end- all beall where we want to end up with it, but we're definitely at a comfortable place to be um, have a good safety net for what we need right now. So, this is the the most data that you
were given in your slides. Um, it is just um, we talked about this last year in the same format. So just kind of a review for everybody here and everybody in the public to talk about you know the general fund budget that we have. So the budget um last year was about 430
million I believe um for the general fund alone but this is kind of how the costs are allocated out. So we have a lot of costs that are within the general fund that are fixed fully fixed costs. So you have your cherry sheet assessments from the state and our regional school assessments. There's nothing that we can do to affect what
those charges are. We have no say in it. we have no ability to, you know, change anything to make those charges be any different. Um, so that's about 11.6% of the total general fund budget. Then you have a this whole section of the
partially controllable cost. So that's 70.4% of the budget. So you can see education is 80 wow 47.1% um of the budget. So that is the net school spending amounts as well as
transportation. but not including the city share of those costs. Um those are kind of in the health insurance. The other insurance is the pension. So it's included in those areas rather than being in that education piece. Um we left it in that fringe benefit area. So just to meet that I think the number is
226 million that was in from the school presentation. That's what makes up that 47% right now. the health insurance. Um that is with our current estimates for FY27 to be at about 10%. So again, there's some things that we can do to
affect what the costs are, but it it comes with other results um and outcomes that we don't really we can't fully cut it or reduce the expense the way we would like to. Um same thing with pensions. our pension assessment is going up about um it's 7% I believe 6.5%
every year um from the retirement board. So that's included in there. Um and then we have our solid waste expenses that um you know again we can somewhat affect but we have to dispose of solid waste and then our debt service. So it's debt that's already been taken out so we have
to pay it at this point. we could have done things, you know, and we can do things in small ways to affect it, but there's not really getting around the fact that we have to make those payments. Um, so then that leaves us with about 18% of the rest of the general fund budget that we have control over to cover all of public safety
salaries and expenses. Um, all of the other governmental um, expenses that we have make up that remaining 18% of the budget. So there isn't much that we have in the sense of cutting expenses and cutting costs to really reduce the overall general fund
budget um given the way a lot of the expenses are within it. >> Thank you so much Mr. Dus. Thank you. So this um this right here this is for this year. >> It's it's estimates. So, yes, it's for this year, but there's still just the
projections and estimates from the 5-year forecast mixed with a little bit of updated data, but it's it's not a final number yet. >> What's the total number that's projected so far for the budget? >> Um, so it's it's about 479 million 8 something like that. So, it's
it's within 477 to 479 million. >> Thank you. Um, so there's a few questions I'm going to try that tie into the school department with this. Um, first actually first question, my colleague and I were just looking at this other insuranceances. What what's that for?
>> Um, so that is our um prop it's we have a property insurance um with different properties throughout the city and then we also have um a limited liability insurance that are in there and then there's some you know workers comp and other unemployment type of insuranceances that we lump into that.
>> Thank you. um property rates though. I know um the school department we pay into um enterprise, we pay in the water, we pay in the sewer. Um we do we pay property taxes on our buildings as well? >> No, >> we don't. Okay. Um last question, and this is more of a
city question, but speaking for myself, I get this question often. um property tax bills. Um that's they're not itemized for the debt dery debt exclusion. >> No, we've we've had the
sorry we've had these conversations before. It's it's a little bit complicated to get into right now, but no, we we don't really have that ability. We could put something online. Um, and it's I think the idea that we've talked about is kind of giving an idea of for every
essentially dollar of your tax rate, this is how much of it is the dery debt. Um, but it's it's not something that we are the way the calculation works and the way we're able to do it. We're not able to break it out on the bill like that, but we could provide some information for people to make their own
calculations based on how much the debt is. >> I understand if that's something that can because we I can speak for myself. We get this question a lot on the school committee side and the reason being and again a veteran member correct me if I'm wrong and back in 2018 I know you
weren't here Miss Arpi there was um a request from the school committee to forward for a debt exclusion and there's questions as to whether that number that was promised for the debt exclusion by Derpy Rising and some on the stage is exactly what is being
charged today. I think it's important that we can compare the two. >> Um, and again, I don't know if any other members of the committee get it, but I think it's just important in truth and advertising the committee and the public knows what they're truly paying for. Um,
last question, and I know I don't know if this is um in the um indirect cost. Do we have a separate intermunicipal agreement for legal services with the city? Is there like separate from an indirect cost agreement? >> No.
>> So everything would be um for legal services. >> It's it's part of that per pupil rate other than workers comp. So workers comp there is a little bit of a separate but that's literally by person that is used and put on workers comp. But the rest of I'm going to say our legal services
through um that office. It's just part of that per people general rate that is charged. So it's not a specific cost that is shared in that sense. I understand we're getting part of anybody's salary. >> No, I understand. I I guess my my one concern maybe this is just internally
on the policy side of the school committee. We have a policy which states and it's an old policy. It states still has the city solicitor, but I would take that to be corporation council. We at times I guess it's kind of the opposite with
the the city council has corporation council just automatically appears to certain meetings of the school committee. I'm not sure if we're being charged an extra rate for that. >> No. >> Um the school committee never invites the corporation council. He's just invited by the chair of the school committee at certain times even though
we have policy that states otherwise. But if it's we're not being charged anything extra, I guess we'll deal with that internally. Um I guess one last question on the city side for because I know it's just broken up into general expenses
for legal. For example, on the school school department side for our legal we have different departments and the legal is um there's some legal and special education. There's some legal within HR for different reasons. Um, for example,
public safety, if they use outside legal for any reason, would that be within the public safety budget? Would that be within or is that just within the corporation council? >> It's within the corporation council. There might be uh a minor like a consultation type of fee in some places,
but it's not at that point being used in the full sense of the way corporation council is giving legal coverage. So, >> thank you. Um, I guess I'll end with this. Um it's going a little bit outside my lane here. I think um since the school committee has their own um legal
council, different departments do, it's just important. I think the city council should have their own as well for whatever endeavor or question they may have. And I yield with that. >> Thank you. Councilman Cat for Council Vice President. >> Okay, let's start with the um exclusion.
>> Yes. So again, we all know it was promised in the beginning. We've heard all kinds of stories and excuses even to it's illegal. No, it's not. No, it's not. And plenty of communities do it. It's a
percentage basis based on the value of your home. It's x number of percent times the value of your home. Every homeowner doesn't pay the same amount. It's a should be a different amount. >> It's not a percentage based. >> What is it then?
>> So that's what I'm saying. >> So how do you how do you base it on the value of somebody's home? Some pay less than others, but it's not percentage based. >> No. So it's it's the rate. So if you if you ever look at our the way that um the tax is done, it's we have a full amount
that we need. We have a then a a base value of property and then from there we get a rate that pops out of the calculation system. For example, just for numbers, we pay $1.13 on every thousand the value of our house. But that's different than a debt exclusion. >> But that's what I'm saying. So I can say
that within that debt exclusion, I could tell you potentially that 13 cents of it is for a dery. >> That's what I'm saying. We could give in that kind of generic chart information. So then people from there could figure out, okay, if I have then, you know, this money per thousand that I'm being
charged of that, it would be this. So it that's how it would be factored out is I could be able to break out of your rate approximately this amount is for the dery debt exclusion for everybody's rate. So it's one we have two rates. We have a commercial and we have a um residential. >> That's not how it's supposed You know
what? Now I have another mission. Now I have to pull out all the old paperwork so that we can revisit this because that is not even close. >> I can I can talk through more of that with you. I think this is a very generic not looking at anything conversation. The state has to approve our debt
exclusion every single year. We resubmit all of the paperwork and show them all of the information of how we're getting that amount in our tax rate recap, you know, process to get our levy set. So, we are the state is validating and has very direct oversight over that every
year. So, I'm happy to talk through it more and we can work through what this all looks like and how to explain it, but we have very, very direct overight. Again, that's still yet a separate issue because what we owe the state is what we owe the state. >> No, no, no, no, no. It's not about owing the state. They they look at what we're
charging in our levy every single year with that debt exclusion. They're looking at Yes. They are reviewing that every year. >> Okay. So, so yes, there is a total number that has to be paid based on the debt. Probably a 20-year loan.
>> Yeah. So, we have exact Yeah. the loan amounts >> and we have x number of years left of that loan. But the bottom line to the story is just like your tax bill, if your house is worth less, you pay less. Yes. If your house is worth more, you pay more.
>> Yes. >> And with it being rolled into the tax bill and not broken out, >> people don't know what they're paying and we're not going to know when it falls off because it's supposed to go away once the debt is realized.
>> Correct. So that brings me to and maybe it's apples and oranges. So here's my question. We pay we have CPA funding. Correct. >> Correct. >> That's on our tax bills. >> Correct. >> That's also based on what? How does it determine what you pay?
>> It's based on the value of your home. >> Value of your home. And it's a separate line item on our tax code. >> It's that's separate legislation that set up CPA. And that's why Yeah. >> But you still had to figure it out. >> So that's my point. If you can figure it out for CPA, you can figure it out for the debt exclusion. And I'm not, listen,
you know me. I'm not trying to be rude and I'm not going after you. >> This has just been a bone of contention since day one. >> I would love to have a one-on-one meeting to show you everything I have and we can work through what a good solution is for everybody. >> I think that would be good. And I'll
look for all my old paperwork because, you know, I have it. >> I would love to see it. Please share it. I was not here. >> All right. So, let's put that away for now. um health insurance. So, a reduction next year in GLP1s is going to reduce
the percentage that our insurance goes up or it's going to I shouldn't say it's going to reduce what it goes up because you don't know from year to year, but it there should be um a reduction or an offset because that is no longer going to be covered. >> No, it is still covered >> after next year.
>> So, it's it's it's one year. So, no matter if you haven't been on it at all, if you're on city health insurance and you have never used it, at any point your one year starts. So, it's not like we offered a one-year program that started October 1 and it ends October 1. It's anybody, we started offering it
October 1. And so, once you enter into it, you get it for 12 months and that's it. Then you don't get it again. So, it's each person is limited to one year at any one year point. Right now, >> okay. in terms of debt. So, I've asked
this question um a couple of times now. Um because we had opera funding and capital improvement plans were not included in our budget anymore. We debt has fallen off in the last six years. Yes. How much debt has fallen off in the last in the last six years?
>> So, I I brought to the last meeting all of those documents and the copies of the debt schedule and then it didn't come up. So I don't have them I have them in my office right after this meeting but it is so last year our or shouldn't say last year this current year this is where I get confused on fiscal years.
This current year our debt payment is $14.47 million. Next year's is 14.1 million. So that right there you're talking about a debt payment dropping off. So the debt schedule that was associated it could
have been a $30 million loan, but really the payment that we're seeing dropping off is 300,000. So I can get you I have the full schedules of what's been dropping off the last couple of years. And like I said, I I have them all. I printed them and everything. I have them electronically. I just didn't bring them.
>> You can bring them the next time, the next meeting because I know other people are interested in that. >> They will be in clerk's office tomorrow morning. Tomorrow morning. You can get them whenever you want. >> I appreciate that. Um can you define
so 70.4% of costs >> are partially controllable. >> Yes. >> Can you define partially controllable and and why that seems like such an obscure >> I know I I have a it written down very clearly here but I don't know. So it
says expenses that the city has zero control over having to pay and have very limited ability to affect how much we must pay. So we have to pay for education costs. There's no discussion on that. We technically have a net
school spending amount that we have to meet. But as we all know, we could in theory not meet that amount. >> So do we have some control over meeting it or not meeting it? Yes. But how much control do you have over not actually meeting that? because then you'll pay for it the next year. So, so all of
that, right? So, health insurance, we have to provide and offer health insurance as a city with employees. >> How much that costs? Again, healthcare industry somewhat defines how much that costs. Are there certain things we can look at with program design or different
options that we could kind of play with it and and change it some? Sure. But it's it's no matter what, you're not going to cut that number from 50 million down to five million next year just because you want to. So it's that's what's in that whole category are things that we have to do and there's
not really much discussion or debate on whether we do it. We have a pension liability at this point. We could stop operating pension tomorrow. We still have a current liability for people who have already been in the program that >> we have to pay off and get to. So we can talk about, you know, adding
people in and how quickly we fund it and you know what colas are given each year with the retirement board, but that's a limited impact on it. So you're never going to get that 9 and a half% down to one. It'll always be something. But there are some minor things you can do
to affect the full level of cost, but there isn't anything you can do to get rid of it. >> And my last thing, um, solid waste. Are we continuing with the cardboard program and are we expanding it? >> I do not have full details on that. The
last I've heard, we are still continuing it. I don't know about expanding it, but I can have that um when we send out the when we have the information on the bids, I'll make sure that that's included. I know what was included in what we bid out was to have that program
as an option um and what that would look like. So, I know we're looking towards that. I just don't know what the plan is yet. And what is the length of contract that we're looking at? >> I believe that the bid included for
three years. >> Three years. >> It could be it could be with an option to go to five, but I don't I don't have that in front of me, but I believe it's at least three years. >> Okay. Thank you. With that, I yield. >> Thank you, counselor. In seat seven, councelor Pereira.
>> Yeah. I just have one question to Mr. Das. Uh, I'm a little concerned that you made a statement that the city attorney is showing up at school committee meetings. How often has that happened? >> Go ahead. >> Believe it's happened twice, three times
within the last 6 months. >> For what purpose was he there? Do you know? >> I don't believe I'm authorized to discuss the specific purpose. It's for litigation purposes. >> Oh, so he was there for litigation. He was probably there in executive session
or something that you can't talk about executive session obviously. But I mean I just the way you said it I thought he was showing up there all the time because I watch it and I haven't seen uh attorney Rumsy being at the meetings. So I was a little concerned at why
sometimes I try to get him to these meetings and I have a hard time and if he was going over there then I would have an issue with that. But thank you for clarifying that. Mr. >> D. Quickly respond. Um, school committee has policies in place which state when we or when we do not invite corporation
council or city solicitor and I just ask that through the chair that be followed going forward. Thank you. >> Well, obviously he was there for some reason maybe uh that we don't know about but I just thought he was showing up there frequently. It was a little concerning. With that I yield. Thank
you. >> Thank you. Counselor Councilman C3. Councelor Canuel. >> Thank you. Uh my line of question is more around I think uh what uh school committeeman disas was talking about with regard to the average cost for taxpayers uh for Deria High School. Um
the fire that had been mailed out to the homes during that stated that the principal and interest for the average taxpayer was $115 per year or $9.38 a month. And my question is, do we have a sense as to if
that's >> I can absolutely I don't have that in front of me, but I can easily get you those numbers um by the next meeting at least. I I just don't have that. >> Then how how many long how many more years are we expecting to go to
taxpayers for debt exclusion? Because I know that that was part of it was a limited number of years, my recollection. So, so we are to be clear, we are authorized to do it the life of the debt. So, I want to be very clear on that. Um, I can tell you that in my
forecast that I've been working on, um, I am working to decrease that need to have the full exclusion. So, um, I can say that by at least by the time, um, and again, I don't know any of those commitments that were made before about it because the paperwork I have says the
life of the loan. I know that at least when our pension liability drops off in 2035, we'll definitely stop. We won't have a need for it at all anymore. Um my goal and in my forecast, I am working to decrease it um up until then to at least get it to half of what we've been doing
up until 2035. I can tell you next year it is still the full exclusion. Um, I think we need the the increases that we've been seeing and feeling in the net school spending amounts and levels, the health care costs, the solid waste changes, those have to stop going up at these exorbitant rates in order for us
to start getting that relief on the um debt exclusion. But it is a goal. It's something that I have been talking with administration about since I took on this role a year ago. But um, we just have to kind of get into a little bit of a better place to start doing that. Yeah, I know that the promise I believe
I believe the promise was eight years of what taxpayers would be charged. So it sounds like when the bonds were issued in 2024 is my understanding 2035 means we're going to go maybe three years past. >> I I yeah I don't I don't know. I mean
like I said it could be before then. I don't like I said I'm already working to forecast in my forecast to start decreasing it um in the next I'm going to say in my five-year forecast. So, I don't know what year that is anymore because I'm very confused on fiscal years right now. But
um so what we are working to decrease it eliminating it I can't guarantee um at this point in time without you know having more time and information with that I guess generally speaking would a
purchase of Bishop Connelly allow the administration potentially to not end that in 2035 because there's I don't know what the plan to pay for that is >> that so that in my last 5year forecast. We did include the purchase of Bishop
Bishop Connley already in our 5-year capital plan and in that. So, that is included already in our forecast of what it'll cost. Um, and that is still what I'm working towards is to be able to reduce that. The amount of debt that we have dropping off um this year it's a small decrease, but I believe it's um
not next year, but in 28 FY28, we have a significant drop off in our debt at that point in time. So, it's really going to give us that room to take that on and not not hurt is what I'll say. >> Thank you. I yield. >> Thank you, Mr. Haggiar. >> So, I just have a a couple brief
questions, but there's only one slide that actually has information on it. So, I want to ask a question on that, but sorry. But but the purpose of the meeting was to review fiscal and financial condition of the city revenue and expense forecasts and other relevant information. We don't have anything here
at this meeting. So, I I think there's a problem either with the timing of this meeting and the budget calendar because I'm looking at these slides and the budget calendar is not even the city doesn't even have a budget yet. >> School committees already have a budget. We're having a hearing tomorrow. So, we're on two different wavelengths for
what the purpose of this meeting is, but we don't have anything to go on. So, I can't ask about that. My question is >> can I can I just respond to that really quick? So, just to be clear, your budget goes into my budget. So, I can't finalize my budget until I have your yours. So, that is part of the delay
isn't a choice. It's a it's a necessity at this point. >> So, basically on April 15th, we're going to approve our budget tomorrow. So, we hand it to you April 16th. You can't put it into your budget because your budget's not done yet. >> I It is going into my budget on April 16th, but then I have to finalize everything else. So, all you're giving
me is 200 plus million dollars of expenses that I now have to fund and work in with every other city expense that we have. So, we are well underway in that process. Um, but we can't finalize anything until we have >> All I was going was on the your slides at the beginning that said you haven't
even met with you're meeting one-on-one with departments. >> We're in the middle of it already. >> Okay. So, you're not even close to getting >> No, they've already submitted all of their budgets to us. We're now reviewing them one-on-one. All I'm saying is that if we're going to do this meeting on April 15th or 14th,
we should have the city actually have it the same timeline as us. So on April 15th, when we do our budget, we just slide it into everything that's already done in your budget. Your budget's not done till May 7th, but this the purpose of this meeting by charter says revenue and expense forecast, financial
condition. Like I get it, but where is it? >> So the forecast I I can I'm and I wasn't thinking about that. We just did a financial forecast literally 5 weeks ago. So we I have them. We can show those. But I we had just gone over it and that was completely my, you know,
misstep in thinking that we had just done that because you guys weren't here for that. So >> I'm only looking at it from my angle. We're here. We don't really have that. So my only question is on this last page where it says debt service 2.9 million. Uh 2.9% is 14 million. >> Yes.
>> So solid waste 2.9%. Are you saying that we're spending 14 million in the city on solid wasting? >> Like literally the same amount of money? >> That's the estimate. So we don't we I just said we're opening bids on Thursday. So that right now is our estimate. Last year we were at 13 or
current I say last I'm sorry this year we are at 13.5 million for our solid waste contract and for our budget for solid waste. So, yes, it's it's about a $500,000 difference, but yes, we are we are rather the same
>> in the historical maybe the papers that you have that you know you're going to get it must say how you got to that point because it was never that way as far as me paying attention to the city stuff that the trash uh solid waste was the same as the as
the debt was never. >> No, it wasn't. it. No, I can tell you in FY25 it was 11 million. So, yes, there was a sharp increase last year because costs have gone up. Um, so we are opening this, you know, these new bids this
week. And so, we've had, you know, these conversations many times. We're expecting these bids to come in around where we're at now. They'll obviously be a slight increase, but it's not going to be another $2 million jump. So, we were in a 10-year contract, so it was severely short changed and outdated.
nobody saw the financial conditions kind of coming down the line when we signed a 10-year contract. So, and then a lot of our contract had changed. We were pay by um pay as you throw when we signed that contract and we obviously changed from that. So, that's where there was another, you know, huge change that we
did within that contract that wasn't part of that contract. So, >> yep, I understand and I know it had and that's really for the city council to figure out, but I just thought it was it just so happened it's the same percentage. So, it's glaring to ask the question, how is it that that's the case? >> You had indicated though that you have a
plan to pay for the Connelly. If you could get something to the city to the school committee related to what that plan is >> because that if it's 2.9% and you can live within that 2.9%, >> it's really makes the case for >> you're not adding another million dollars a year.
>> Correct. It's it's within our capital plan to fund it that way. So, I we can absolutely share that presentation that was done. It's a very our capital plan is very much a loose plan at this point until we do a bond authorization but um we can absolutely share that in the meantime. >> Thank you. The only other comment I would make is on the dery debt
exclusion. I thought when you explained that you take the amount of money that you're spending for the year 6 million 6.5 million whatever that number is and you put it into that machine that they put in to make sure you know what the taxes are. >> Yes. So you if we just do that and then
it pops out what it is for the percentage if it's 14 cents whatever you set right you multiply that by the amount of your house so you get a specific dollar figure for every resident >> correct >> I I don't know why that hasn't happened already because I've watched meetings where people go back and forth back and
forth it's very simple you could tomorrow morning figure that out send it to all of us and we could all calculate our own house and say correct >> I'm paying x amount he's paying some like why does that not happen I watched the meeting sometimes at home and shake my head because it's such a simple thing. Now, I agree with the council
order in C3, seat 4, whoever that said. We were told the the voters were sold a bill of goods years ago about the the dery. There's no doubt about it. It was going to be eight years at $3.5 million. That comes out to about 25 million. What's happening is you might try later,
but you're not not guaranteed to do it. You're taking 6.5 million for 30 years, 25 years, whatever that amount is. So if that's 6 million for 20 years, that's $120 million. So to the voters, the difference of 120 million and 36 million is $75 million coming out of your
pocket. That when you voted to say, "Yes, I want a debt exclusion." You didn't know that. You voted thinking eight years and it's going to be off and we'll only pay that. So it's truth in advertising. Just say what it is and that's the the end of the story. We the
people voted, but they were snookered, duped, whatever you want to call it. I I can't speak to what happened when that vote took place. And I I will say that in my year that I've been here, the the dery amount hasn't really been a conversation on council floor that I've had. I did have a one-on-one conversation with council Dion about it.
So, um I'm happy to I didn't realize that everybody was looking for it. So, you know, we can easily turn that around tomorrow. I'm sure half my staff is watching this right now and is probably already working on it. So, >> thank you so much. I yield. Thank you, >> Councilman C1. Councelor Ladine. >> Thank you. So, I I guess I don't want to
believe the point, but I just do want to I guess express my concern. First of all, I want to say phenomenal job on the school side. Uh you came and you delivered tonight. Unfortunately, the the city did not. Um to me, there there's no there's nothing here in the presentation for us to even have any
conversation. And then I and I I think just looking at the budget process itself, um I would tell you right now that probably 80% of the communities in Massachusetts already have a budget. Um, so what I would suggest personally is that the budget process itself that you have outlined should probably start at
least two months earlier. Um, department heads should be submitting uh their budget requests in in December. You should be having conversations in in January. Uh, the governor's numbers get released the end of January. Then you're you're really starting to have that dialogue. And while for tonight, I I
think the date that we have here is is outlined by the charter, right, in terms of why we're here. So, we can't move it up. We can't move it back. But in order to have um I guess legitimate conversations uh with regards to education and the city side, we need to
have something even if it's just the initial budgets that were presented by the department heads knowing full well that you got to go through all that process and make some additional cuts. But it would be nice to know that you know what the bottom line number is as
it currently stands with all the budget requests that have been submitted by the department heads and what the budget gap is so that we know what you need to close right. So then at that point, if we know you got a $4 million budget deficit or gap, not a deficit, a budget gap that you need to close, then we're
having a different conversation with the school department. But if you're I don't know, and I know this won't ever happen in forever, but if you're $5 million to the good at all the requests that are coming from the departments, then we're having a different conversation with the school committee saying, "Okay, we can potentially throw an additional million,
$2 million, whatever the the case may be." Um I I I think moving forward that that's what we really need to have and then from a debt schedule like that's absolutely something we need to to really kind of discuss especially if we're going to talk about Morton. Um I
know we've got some retiring debt that's coming off. I mean I don't know why you keep saying Morton something's going something's going on with Morton. Call me tomorrow. Okay. Uh I I even wrote it down on my I don't know. I don't know. I wrote it down on my paper too and I know it's Connley but Connley
um not even close at the end of president half but anyways um but we've got potentially Connley coming in and just trying to figure out exactly what that looks like right and the the cost associated with it and to Mr. Aas point and to I think um my colleague in see
one two three four I think brought it up. I always have to count um just in terms of the impact I mean the DLS has the financial website like you could we could do that in two seconds right now to tell you exactly what you're paying on on each of it like this. I mean there's already systems out there. We
don't need to reinvent the wheel. But I just think unfortunately and I'm not trying to be hard but we just wasted at least a good hour and a half. I mean we got a ton of things to do. I don't know that we were productive on our side. So, for that, I want to say sorry to the school committee from from my standpoint. Um, because I I think the
documentation you provided to us allows us to be able to have a good dialogue and back and forth, which is why we were here just three hours talking about school school issues and and I think we owe it to the schools to be able to have that same dialogue back to them. And I just I think we failed on that. So, with
that, I yield. >> Thank you. Councilman C7, Council Pereira. Well, I think that my colleague in seat number one um explained um what I was going to say that I just don't think we were prepared. I mean, last year we were $3 million short when
Mr. Agua asked about trash and how much it went up. We were $3 million short and the city decided to give the money because we had it in the budget. Uh there was money around and they were going to throw three million. Never even came to the council and said, "We need your vote to put this 3 million in." And
now there I just heard Mrs. Opky say that they are going to open up the bids on Thursday. So we don't even know what it is for trash. We have what three people that bid or how many do you know how many people bid on trash? >> It's it they are due Thursday morning.
So that No, I don't have that number. We don't have that number yet. It's not it's not due. So to say how many have bid it's yet? >> And when will they open it? All the bids will come in Thursday. >> Yeah, they come in Thursday. They're open Thursday. They will be open Thursday. >> Um, we haven't I've asked for a copy of
that contract. I want to know what they put out to bid. I haven't gotten that yet. But most of the time the budget process starts earlier. >> Yes. >> And I know that you did uh have all of the departments send in their wish list
or send in their budget. And now it said on here that in April you start meeting with them one on- one to see um and I've I've never heard that happen. Usually earlier we're already meeting with them. >> We are behind. Yep. So I mean we're talking to them year round. Let's be
clear on that. We are always talking to them as things are changing as things come up as they know what's going forward. So we are talking to them in that sense all the time. Um the whole time that they were working to submit their budgets if they have questions if there's conversations we we are in communication on those types of things. we are sitting down and going over line
item by line item what they have submitted, what their requests are, what their needs are, um what their, you know, for their projections are through the end of 26. So, we're going through all of that level of detail one-on-one at this point. So, um we are behind. I know last year when I I started and I
started March 1st last year, so we were behind last year from that. You know, this year, um I didn't have an auditor for those couple of months and I was stuck in those duties. So, I did get behind again this year. So, I know I keep saying I'm behind and I'm sorry and I don't have anything better to tell you than that. We're trying to be better and
do better. We need more people shouldn't be behind with an auditor. We really need to make sure that when those positions become vacant that they're filled uh quickly. >> Um but I agree that the city really didn't provide a lot tonight and I feel badly about that. Um and perhaps the
president, you know, didn't know that we didn't have a whole lot here on the city side and maybe if he knew, he would have been able to schedule this meeting um out another couple of weeks to give you time. >> But with that, I yield. Thank you, Mr. President. >> Mr. Dus,
>> thank you. Just two last final um items. First is um SERA. Where would that be? Would that be under other general expenses? Our we pay a um >> assessment. Assessment. Yeah, it's through cherry sheet assessments that we pay that.
>> Thank you. And I asked a question um to the administration, the mayor yesterday in preparation. I know um some members of the committee and I I know myself we've been receiving um many different questions as to Certa
specifically just so the the public understands the backstory. As Mr. Pico um highlighted before we our policies on the school department side go above and beyond the um what the state law states for transportation
um particularly at the middle school level and um some of the high school level as well and what we decided as a school department I don't believe the school committee has ever had a say in this is we do not use even though our policy states we will transfer outside
of the um the minimum um state law we use serta instead of paying um and I'm sure we we've seen the videos it's I have deep concerns about the
public safety at some of these stops and when members of the public come to us it sort of is outside of our purview however I think there needs to be more that needs to be done I looked quickly looked at the budget that um that they had on their serta and if a lot less
than this it's not itemized at all. So, whoever is I believe it's the the mayor who is the um who has a seat at the table for SERTA, we need to find out what they're paying. If we're paying an assessment, and I'm assuming it's in the
million dollars of range, we need to be um making sure public safety at those bus stops are um top priority. And with that, I yield. >> Thank you, Mr. Das. I got a question. How do you know they're dery students? >> Repeat that, Mr. Mayor. How do you know
they're dery students? >> I I didn't think I said that they were dery. I said that middle school. >> Yeah, but you don't know if there are or not. >> I do. Do you know, Mr. Mayor? >> No, I don't know. That's what I'm saying. I admit I don't know, but you're saying you know there are students.
>> Point of information, council president. I spoke to the mayor the other day, the mayor's office in regards to SERA and what was going on with that. And the mayor's office was aware of the situation. I spoke to an and was in contact with the police department. I did speak to them after as well and the
PD is rectifying um or trying to look into >> the issues that have been on Facebook in regards to sitter in the bus terminal. >> We have other schools that Mr. Mr. um Mr. Pek, we have other schools. We have charter schools. We have we have uh Diamond. I don't know how he's able to
identify him as former public school students. That's all I said. >> If I may respond. >> Sure. We um we as a school department issue out and you we used to pay for it but now it's free but we refer students to use the service so it's reasonable to
make the inference regardless if they're for public school students or not. That's why I said it's not within our purview. They they again it's not on the city side but it's again it's on SERA and if we have a voice at the SERA board of directors I just like to know as one member of the public what they're doing
for security. I think it's a reasonable question. >> Thank you. >> You yield, Mr. D? >> I yield. Thank >> Thank you, sir. Mr. Aguar, >> just one one more question. But the mayor mentioned Diamond. Diamond doesn't take Certa buses because the state actually pays them to have a a true
yellow bus. So if you're for a public school student, you have to wait on the corner, jump on a cert bus. Diamond actually gets a the state funds them to have yellow buses. >> Yep. But those students were at a bus stop, Mr. Aguar. So they could have come there and gotten off their school bus and been hanging around the bus stop.
I'm just saying I I didn't know they were all they were all public school students. >> I I agree with you and I think that at the end of the day we don't want anybody fighting and those videos are ridiculous. So we should get some security there one way or another. >> We're working on it. So, my uh question was for councelor Pereira, who I thought
I heard this and I I can't believe it if it's true, but that this the city administration spent $3 million and you all didn't know and have any say in that. >> No, we didn't know. >> I mean, that's ridiculous.
>> We were told after what happened there was a there was a procedural error where they thought if they had the money, they could just >> Yeah. >> do the additional. I hear you. That's totally crazy, ridiculous. But at the end of the day, all I wanted to say was the school committee and administration
will never spend $3 million. They don't spend $300,000 without the school committee saying. So, it might be an issue of how uh the organization of government is that you guys are allowed. They can spend $3 million what you're saying and you all had no say. That is
crazy. But the school committee doesn't do that. And I appreciate the superintendent and Mr. Alita for not doing that. I yield clarification. Constant C4. >> Yeah. So, what happened was they negotiated a contract with somebody that
was going to cost $3.7 million. They didn't spend the money, but they negotiated the contract, which in our some of our opinions was illegal because they can't enter into a contract that is unfunded. And they did. They enter into
into an unfunded contract. They signed the contract. Then they came to the city council and said I will you pay for it please. >> That's what happened. >> Let me guess. Corporation council said that was aok. Okay. >> Okay. >> I yield. >> That's a question.
>> And the next guess is I voted no. He didn't say >> and with that I yield. >> C2. >> This council does not negotiate contracts as the school committee does negotiate contracts in private session. So you guys are more aware of what contracts are being negotiated. We don't
>> just let you know. >> Thank you. >> You yield. Councilman. >> I yield. Thank you. >> Anything further from the council? >> No. >> Uh Mr. Das. Thank you. And just to clarify, we negotiate I mean we we don't really negotiate contracts ourselves. We approve contracts that come before us. I
don't think we've ever directly negotiated a contract unless it was with our superintendent. Um just a qu I'm just curious on the um city side. So contracts is that with outside entities or with personnel is that or with personnel if a contract's made it has to
be funded by the city >> outside agency. It was trash solid waste. >> No, I understand that. I'm I was switching the gears a little bit. For any contract, does it have to be um funded by the either of personnel or not? Does a contract have to be funded
by the city council? >> The city council holds the purse strings. So if pick any union and they they negotiate >> S9 contracts if you want to >> excuse me >> for an S non like a non-union contract.
Okay. >> It doesn't matter what the contract >> I'd like to I'd like to inter I'd like to interject for a moment. We we are totally going off topic right now. So we need to get back into any other financial questions. If not we're not going into policy right now. I'm not going to entertain any more questions or
dialogue about anything else other than finance right now. Is there anything further? >> Nope. >> Is there a mo u Mr. Mayor? >> Motion to adjurnn. >> Entertain a motion to all in favor? >> I opposed. Unanimous. >> Motion motion to adjurnn has been made
by councelor Raposo, seconded by councelor Pekkham. All those in favor. The eyes have it. >> I don't think so. >> 60sec break. So they allows the school committee to leave and we're going right to our our meeting. Heat. Heat. Heat. Heat. Hey.
City Council public hearing will now be called to order. Clark >> council >> here. >> Daniel >> here. >> Dion >> here. >> Hart >> here. >> Peekom >> here. >> Perr
>> here. >> Raposo >> here. >> President Ponty >> here. Pursuant to the open meeting Lauring of this public meeting or may transmit the meeting through any medium. Attendees are therefore advised that such recordings or transmissions are being made whether perceived or unpersceived by those present and are
deemed acknowledged and permissible. For the record, councelor Kadim is present. Uh motion to open the public hearings has been made by councelor Raposo. Second by councelor Hart. All those in favor opposed. The eyes have it. >> First item on our uh public hearing is a jointly owned poll location. The
Massachusetts electric company doing business as National Grid and Verizon New England Inc. for one jointly owned pole location as follows. This is on Arizona Street. The petition is proposing to install one new jointly owned uh midspan pole P1-50 between pole
1 and two and approximately 130 ft southeast on the central line of the intersection of Eastern Avenue and Connie Street. This is in accordance with plan number 31285348. At this time, I'll call for all proponents. Calling all proponents wishing to speak on this item.
Welcome. State your name and address for the record, please. You can quickly let us know why you are a proponent. >> Thank you. Thank you. Uh good evening, Mr. President, city council members. >> Um my name is Aaron Roy representing National Grid. Tonight um we have, I
believe, six um six um new jointly owned polls. This one uh specifically on Arizona Street between uh poles one and poles two, existing poles. Um just to give you a little rundown, um these all
six of these poles are um for feeder improvements. Um these will allow us to install um new reliability devices on each uh each one of these poles um going forward um helps the outages uh reduces the outages um overall. So
>> thank you. Thank you very much. Any other proponents wishing to speak on this item? Harry, none. Calling all opponents wishing to speak. Calling all opponents. Hearing none. Item number two. The Massachusetts Electric Company doing business as National Grid in Verizon, New England for one jointly owned pole
locations is on Bedford Street. The petition is proposing to install one new jointly owned 55 ft class H1 midspan pole P64-50 approximately 143 ft westerly on the center line of the intersection of Eastern Avenue and Bedford Street
between existing poles P64 and P65. This is in accordance with plan number 31284377. Um, there is a restriction on this one. Must not impede an exposing driveway. Calling all proponents. Mr. Roy, Aaron Roy representing National Grid, 1250
Brain Point Road, Somerset. Um, same idea. Uh we're looking to install uh a new uh 55 ft pole between um the gas station and the in the driveway uh adjacent to the gas station 1315 Bedford. Um this pole location will be
out of the out of the driveway. Uh it'll be located in the sidewalk up against the up against the curbing. Uh another pole that'll um give us um give us way to um a reliability device um to help our system. >> Thank you. Calling all other proponents
wishing to speak on this item. Calling all proponents. Hearing none. Calling all opponents wishing to speak. Calling all opponents. Hearing none. Thank you very much. Item number three, Massachusetts Electric Company once again doing business as National Grid and Verizon New England Inc. for one jointly owned pole location on East Main
Street. The petition is proposing to install one new jointly owned midspan pole, pole 12-50 on the East Main Street, approximately 61 ft northerly on the existing pole 12 in accordance with plan number 31260059.
There is a restriction noted in this hearing that it must not impede an existing driveway. Calling all proponents. >> Yes, good evening. Um Aaron Roy, 1250 Braen Point Road representing National Grid. uh this new midspan pole um which will be set just north of the entrance
um into the parking lot there uh in front of that proper and east main street um gives us um another way to uh install a reliability device on that poll. >> Thank you. Calling all other proponents. Hearing none. Calling all opponents wishing to speak on this item. Calling
all opponents. Hearing none. Item four. Massachusetts electric company doing business as National Grid in Verizon, New England for one jointly owned pole location as follows. on Locust Street. The petition is proposing to install one new jointly owned pole location P-6 uh
P67-50 approximately 120 ft east on the center line of the intersection of Locus and Sherman in accordance with plan number 31260029. Calling all proponents >> Aaron Roy 1250 Braen Point Road Somerset representing National Grid. Um, National
GR is requesting uh new pole, pole 67-50, uh, located in the sidewalk there. Um, there are no driveways there between that section. Um, so there won't be any restrictions there. Um, but yeah, between these two sections.
Thank you. Calling all the proponents wishing to speak on this item. Calling all proponents. Hearing none. There is uh, calling all opponents. I will tell you that there is a written opponent that has uh sent a communication to the city clerk's office. Madam clerk, can you identify
the individual for the record? >> Sorry, did you say opponent? >> There was a opponent opponent. Somebody opposed to this. >> Yep. We received a letter from Eric and Suzanne Worsley from um who lives on 1626 Locust Street. >> Yeah. Did they state anything briefly um
on the reason for their opposition? Um, they pretty much just said it's based on concerns regarding property rights, public way use, and duty to minimize unreasonable interference with abudding properties. >> Very good. Uh, council in C3, council.
>> Yes. So, um, why do we need this poll? I think is the question, >> right? Um so for the last uh three in in the in the next in the next one uh the next two um National Grid has uh put a sub
substantially amount substantial amount of money into our our um our feeders over the last year and going forward over the next 5 to 10 years. And these new poles will allow us to install um these reliability devices. We call them reclosers that will allow our feeders to
talk to each other. So when there's an outage they communicate with each other. Um in order to do this uh we need to install 60 or so in the city and um the poll like as you know you all know uh we have
uh our poles are congested as it is and so that's why requesting new poles to put these devices on there large devices um but it'll reduce the outages that that occur in the city. So >> when you say the polls are congested, what do you mean like the the reason for
these the the the poll proposals that we have here tonight and last the last time I was here and probably going forward um our existing poles have either transformers on them or they have side tabs where we're not allowed
our poles are busy enough to where we can't install these new devices on. So that's why we're requesting new midspan polls to do so. >> Okay. >> Yep. Thank you. >> Thank you. Councelor in C6, Council Pekham. >> So I I spoke to the uh the person, the
gentleman that's in opposite. Well, I didn't speak to him. We played phone tag and he left me a minute and 38 second voicemail and then finished on another one minute voicemail. So I kind of got the gist of what his complaint is. His complaint is are apparently multiple poles on the sidewalk to begin with, one
on each either side of the sidewalk. and this one's going to be set smack dab right in the middle of those two kind of taking up the whole sidewalk. Um so that was the the majority of his complaint as far as it being a public way of easement. It is the city's property. Um
is there any interest to take this one item and maybe refer to public works and transportation to council if it's the will of the >> Yeah, that's I just think that would be appropriate with there being concerns out there. So that's all I got. I yield. Thank you. >> Thank you, Councilman C2. Councelor Kamarra. >> Hey, just two things. Is there an
appetite to move the pole before going or this the only location it can go in? >> I I can't say that it's the only location. We could we could go back to the drawing board and we can possibly find a um a different location, but there's there could be another chance
that we get another butter that comes out and says, you know, so in this area um you know, we have, you know, multiple departments in in National Grid and our planning engineer comes up with the best possible location for these devices um without being so close to each other so
they find a good distance. Um this one just happens to be at this location. >> Right. Another quick question. Someone asked me to ask you this since he's watches the meetings. >> When National Grid is putting up their I don't know what they call them, but when you have solar panels on a street, he was told that he couldn't get solar
panels because there's already too many on that street for the capacity of the whatever you call that unit. >> Yeah. So, I I I think I get the base of the question. I can't answer it for sure because I don't work in that department. But um from what I know um when
depending on how many customers are on a on a transformer or transformer steps the primary down to the secondary which feeds the voltages to each one of your houses. Um if there are uh multiple solar systems on a crib is what we call um on each transformer. Um there may be
some modifications that the customer may may have to do or pay to upgrade just because they might be the last one to request that solar system. >> Is it a significant cost or not? >> I I couldn't say for sure. >> And will National Grid entertain that changing the transformer so that he can
get solar. >> They um there's always the possibility but it may be on the customer's dime. I don't know exactly. >> Okay. Thank you for answering that. Appreciate it. Thank you, Mr. President. >> You yield, sir. >> I yield. Anything further on any other proponents wishing to speak on this item, calling all proponents and
opponents? Hearing none. Item five, Massachusetts Electric Company doing business as National Grid in Verizon, New England for one jointly owned pole location. This is on Northeastern Avenue. The petition is proposing to install one new jointly owned Midspan Pole P25-50 at the intersection of Davis and Herm
Street located at 103 ft southwest of Pole 26 in accordance with plan number 31260011. Calling all proponents. >> Karen Roy, 1250 Breakpoint Road, representing National Grid. Um, same idea. Looking to install pole 25-50
approximately 100 feet south of pole 26. This will allow us to install a device there. Um, this is um on a busier road. Um, this this piece of property is is part of um the Baptist temple. Um, this is one of their um this is not in front of the church, but in like the wooded
wooded section uh of their piece of property there. >> Thank you. Are you calling all of the proponents wishing to speak? Hearing none. Calling all opponents. Hearing none. Item six. Massachusetts electric company doing business as National Grid and Verizon, New England for one jointly owned pole location on Peckham Street.
The petition is proposing to install one new jointly owned midspan pole P19-50 approximately 55 ft west of pole 20 in accordance with plan number 31260049. Calling all proponents. Aaron Roy, 1250 Braen Point Road,
Somerset, representing National Grid. Um here's another location. This is kind of a congested area. Um but this pole will be located in the sidewalk up against the curving. Uh it's se almost separating um to the north of the um in between driveways, so it won't be restricting any driveways. Um but same
idea. >> Thank you. Calling all the proponents. Hearing none. Calling all opponents. Opponents. Hearing none. Is there a motion to close the hearing made by counceloro, seconded by councelor Leekham. All those in favor oppos. The eyes have it. Our public hearings have now been adjourned. Thank you. Thank you very much.
>> Thank you, Mr. Right. >> For a city council meeting, uh for a city council committee on finance will now be called to order. Madame clerk, >> councilors Kadim >> here. >> Chimera >> here. >> Can >> here. >> Dion
>> here. Hart >> here. >> Peekom >> here. >> Perr >> here. Rapo >> here. >> President Fonte >> here. Pursuant to the open meeting, Laura, any person may make an audio or video recording of this public meeting or may transmit the meeting through any medium. Attendees are therefore advised
that such recordings or transmissions, whether perceived or unpersceived by those present, are deemed acknowledged and permissible. First item on our agenda on the committee on finance is citizens input. Um, anybody else sign up to speak at citizens input?
Thank you, Madam Clerk. Dan Robelad, 142 Old Second Street, regarding the charter. Actually, he's not here. >> He's on his way. >> He's on his way. >> Wonderful. President Ponty, members of the council,
first want to say before I begin, I am not speaking on behalf of any board commission or prior elected position that I held. I'm speaking as a private resident tonight who was elected to the
first charter commission and appointed to the last committee that filed the report with this council. But I speak tonight only as a private citizen and not on behalf of any of the prior colleagues that I served with uh with
regard to the chapter. I want to make that clear. Having said that, I listened intently to the last ordinance meeting and I want to be very clear. The first charter commission had between 25
to 30 meetings that were all on FRGTV. They've all been archived. You can go find them. I tried to go find them this week, but I will tell you that there wasn't very much in that
document that I liked. I wrote the the minority report, but there were a few things I liked and one of them was the confirmation of all board and commission members. That's probably the best thing
in that chart as far as I'm concerned. I look at it as an advis and consent role. Councilor Mosa who was the chair of the original charter commission pushed for the uh the legislation that's in article
two that has come up about contracts and reappoints and I will tell you that I agree with councel Kadim and I believe the majority of this council. you absolutely have the right
to confirm both uh the original contracts and the reappoints and I would take it to court because uh there there's a a lot that was wrong with this charter. I think those are two
provisions that were right. the uh councelor Dion talked a lot about the charter members intent. I will tell you from my memory I believe that council my
po uh wanted that provision in because at the time we were having a lot of turnaround with certain department heads. I remember Christine T being here. Uh the finance department was in disarray. There was a lot going on and
he wanted the council in my opinion from my memory never putting words in his mouth. Uh this chatter is uh pretty old that was passed on November 3rd uh 2017.
So uh but I in my mind that provision was put in uh by a majority of the members. I'm not sure of the vote. It's one of the few provisions that I voted for in the entire charter, but I think
it was done with the intention of giving the council more control and uh >> 15 seconds >> and while while it might >> motion to wave the rules. >> Second rules has been made by councelor Leon, seconded by councel Pekkham. Discussion hearing none. All those in
favor opposed. The eyes have it. >> While it might inhibit in some ways attracting uh their employees. There are many other reasons uh why people and we have trouble retaining employees here far greater than that provision in the
charter. So I I know that the corporation council is adamantly opposed to that provision. Uh he's entitled to his opinion. As a member of the original charter commission, I believe this council has
the full right and authority on all those appointments and all those contracts. And I would urge uh that if there's any doubt, take it to court and let the judge decide. Thank you very much. >> Thank you. Next person to sign up to
speak is Sandy and Dave Dennis, 132 Highland Avenue regarding CPA reputation coming down together, I'm assuming. Yes. Okay. as well as cultural culture. Culture I think I can't read that, Dave.
Is that what that says? Well, arts and culture it is. That's what it is for the record. >> Oh, arts and culture. >> Is that what it is? I couldn't read it. Sorry. >> Um, three minutes each. Thanks. >> Well, it's always a pleasure. It's always a pleasure to be back in the
council chambers. And I also know why I that was one of the meetings uh that we just you just had that I didn't miss. So anyway, >> I'll go for I'm going to go first and I'm here in response to the following public statement made by CJ Ferry uh the
weekend flush April 12th. And CJ's comment, I know it's probably going to chew up some of my three minutes, but I do need to state it. On the agenda for Tuesday's city council meeting is an appropriation for Community Preservation Act CBC funds. The appropriation listing
only provides the awards or various categories. It does not itemize the award for the CPA awards. This is unfair to the people and to the city council. What does the CPC committee have to hide? This is regular practice of the Kugan administration.
There has been some controversy over a CPC award for the CAN organization run by Sandy by Dave and Sandy Dennis and there are a lot of questions on how Miss Dennis got the approp application through without a disclosure to the CPC committee and without a disclosure by
Richard Mancini of being on a board for the waterfront management which is not a city sanctioned organization. I would like to suggest that the city council reject the appropriation and that they request an itemized breakdown with the authority to align item and veto any
project or award. It has been reported that Sandy Dennis has been reported to the ethics commission for investigation. We demand full and immediate transparency. Rep repeal the CPA. I'd like to address this may go over three
minutes u council president because I do think we need to address all the points that Mr. Ferry made and these comments because they're pretty serious comments. Um so for the record I'm writing to address several false and damaging
allegations that have circulated regarding the community preservation act appropriation order which is on tonight's agenda. the transparency of the community preservation committee and the integrity of individuals and organizations associated with this recent application. These claims are not
only inaccurate, but they also undermine public trust in a process that is in fact one of the most transparent in city government. CPA appropriation format and I believe all of you can attest to the format that I'm going to discuss. It has
been alleged that the CPC appropriation appropriation order is unfair because it lists only funding categories and not each individual project. This accusation ignores long-standing practice in the actual process. The appropriation order
has never been itemized and I think you can attest to that because you get it every year. Uh CPC always provides the city council with a full itemized list of every project. And I think you can all agree to that that every time the appropriation calls, you get a list and
a packet with all the projects. >> 15 seconds to the rules. Motion to wave the rules for another three minutes has been made by councelor Raposo, seconded by councel Pekkham. Discussion hearing none. All those in favor? >> CPC project gives the name, the
applicant, and the category, the amount requested, and the amount recommended. CPC committee members are also available to answer specific questions at the meeting. This information is provided to the city council before the city council votes. Nothing is hidden, nothing is withheld, and nothing about this year's
pro process deviates from prior years. To suggest that the CPC is concealing information is simply false. CPC transparency. The CPC maintains complete public access to all projects, applications, meeting minutes, agendas, and funding recommendations. Documents
are posted on the CPC web page of the city's website. Any resident council media can review the full record at any time to imply that the CPC has something to hide as irresponsible and unsupported by any facts. The mayor's office hiding
information. Another false narrative suggests that the Kugan administration is somehow directing or influencing CPC decisions. This is not correct. The CPC is an independent statutory body established under state law. The mayor does not control CPC deliberations,
votes, or recommendations. The CPC authority comes from the Community Preservation Act and the city council adoption of it, not from the administration. Attempts to link CPC decisions to the mayor's office are misleading and distort the legal structure of the CPA program. The waterfront cultural district
application. There has been public confusion and in some cases intentional misinformation regarding CPC applications associated with the district study. Here are the facts. Dave Dennis submitted the application as the applicant. Ken was the applicant organization. Sandy Dennis did not apply
for the funding. The applications was submitted by Dave Dennis at he as he has done in the past for other city projects such as the private Joseph Francis Green which was su successfully funded city awarded this same project in FY22 in the
amount of $70,000 which went to the water department. Tonight the water department's asking for phase two for 33 for the same exact project that K is applying for. There are both historic preservation study projects. A public record request has
never been requested on those two projects. Just to be clear, Sandy and Dave will receive no financial benefit from this project. The city will clearly benefit from this project just like the two city water department projects. In addition, Kent did not just decide to
apply for this funding. It was recommended that because Roger Williams University completed phase one and the amount close to $80,000 of inind that phase 2 funds could come through CBC so the project have continuity between
semesters. To quote Mr. Ferry, Miss Dennis got the application through. This is completely absurd. This application was treated the exact same way every application was treated and was and was the process. The absence of a disclosure
filing for the Waterfront Cultural District preservation study was not intentional, nor was it done with malice or attempt to conceal information. At no point was it brought to the committee's attention that a non-member of the community preservation committee who provides administrative support would be
expected to file a disclosure for this type of project. Historically, disclosures have been required only for voting members of the CPC, not staff or non- voting participants. It is also important to note that there is nothing hidden or disclosed about my relationship to the waterfront cultural
district or Dave tennis. For more than a decade, it has widely been known throughout the city that Dave and I established can and that can manages the waterfront district. There was no new undisclosed relationship that would have required special notifications. At the
time the study was intended, no one, including CBC members, staff or legal advice, indicated that a disclosure was necessary or expected. The omission was an honest oversight based on past practices and the understanding that administration staffs do not participate in decision-making and do not vote for
CPC matters. My role in this process was strictly administrative with no authority to influence the outcome of the study or any related funding decisions. For these reasons, the lack of disclosure was not an act of wrongful doing, but rather a procedural misunderstanding in an area where
guidance had not previously been provided. I remain committed to full transparency and will continue to follow all disclosure requirements. Allegations of an ethics violation. It has been publicly stated that I am under investigation by the state commission.
This is categorically false. the commission subject of an investigation. I would have received a notice directly from the enforcement division. I have not received a letter from anyone that I'm being investigated.
No notice of any investigation has ever been received by me. What I what did occur was we received I received through CAN and the CPC several public record requests were sent to the CPC me by
Christian Tyrell for the waterfront cultural district historic preservation study project which were handled appropriately through the city law department. A public record request by Chrysan Tyrell for the same project was sent to the Fall River Historical Commission. Responding to public record
requests is not an ethics investigation. Spreading false allegations of an ethics complaint is harmful, defamatory, and undermines the integrity of the public process. Some have suggested that the council should reject the CBCA appropriation order under its until it
receives an itemized breakdown and the authority to line veto projects. This authority already exists. The council receives the full list list of recommended projects which you do. The council may approve or reject the appropriation which you've done in the
past. The council may send recommendations back to the CPC for reconsideration. You've done that in the past. In addition, an itemized breakdown of the project is included in all of our hearings, all of our voting meetings on
our web page on the city website. There's never a place that you can't find what projects, the description, who applied, what they're applying for, what the city CBC has recommended. All that
information is on our web page. Every single application that was submitted is on our web page. That's what I call full transparency. It doesn't get any fuller than that. Repeal the CPA. >> Just to be clear, was the motion for another three minutes? It was. I I let
that go. I didn't hear the three minutes. So, how much longer do you have, Miss Dennis? >> I only have this. They want to repeal the CPC, but everybody knows that. So, I I I'll just >> I think you make a >> You want me to read it? >> Okay. >> Could we have a copy of that, though? >> I gave the city clerk I gave a copy for
all of you. >> It's in our agenda. Yeah. >> Yeah. Um and just so that you know, I did file a disclosure form. It was delivered. It's timestamped. It's in city clerk and it's in the human resource office. >> Thank you. Um, I'm sorry. I guess the point that I
needed to come down here tonight and read this to you is because I'm personally getting a little tired of people blemishing my reputation in this city.
I'm sick and tired of say people saying Sandy Dennis does this, Sandy Dennis does that, Sandy Dennis is doing that. I work. I'm a workhorse. I do it for nothing for the city, for the good of the city. So for someone to say that someone filed an investigation on me
that isn't true, they're tarnishing my reputation that I have worked 67 years to build. And I have built a good reputation, not only in the city of Fall River, but everywhere I've ever worked, everything I've ever done in my entire
life. and for the people of Fall River to bash me and and say that I am doing things that I shouldn't be doing and for people to say that the CPC is not transparent. You can't find you show me another border
committee in the city of Fall River that is as transparent as the CPC. >> Thank you. Thank you, Miss Dennis. Counselor in seat seven. Councelor Pereira. >> Uh Sandy, if more people in Fall River did a quarter of the work that you and
Dave have done, we'd be in a better city. The people that are negative and spew negativity from keyboards or from some podcast or from some blog, whatever. You know what you've got to
do? Shut it off. I'm out of Facebook. I never watch that program. When it's something important or something that that group has to say, I get a call from Chip Camarra or I'll call Chip. I respect him.
>> I'll listen. >> I get I never get any We never get any calls. We have >> If I don't If I don't respect somebody or their negativity, I mean, you were at the meeting the other night. There's a lot of positive things going on. Ignore them. >> I know it's hard to do, but you're lucky
you have your husband as a lawyer. sue him for defamation. >> Well, it does. It goes it goes beyond that. It goes calls to the Better Business Bureau, public record requests. It goes on and on and on and on about this project. This committee has voted
for a project just like this for the Steepbrook. You've got another water department, the exact same project up for a vote tonight. This vote has been I I it's been targeted to not want >> I can tell that it it's emotional with
you. >> It's ridiculous. >> It's sad that you're living rentree in someone's head and >> I feel badly about that. >> But um >> I wish >> that's what happens. That's what happens. I live rentree in a lot of people's heads too and they want to talk. Shut them off.
>> All right. Let's >> shut them off. I don't have time for negativity. Thank you for coming down. Appreciate >> it. Mr. Dennis, three minutes please. >> Okay. to the leaders and partners and residents of for >> there's a hard truth this city needs to face. For has developed a culture that punishes the very people who are trying
to help it. The negativity, suspicion, and relentless personal attacks have become so routine that they now overshadow the good work being done every day by people who ask nothing in return. This culture is not just unpleasant,
it's destructive. It drives away volunteers. It discourages innovation. It silences new voices and it exhausts the people who continue to show up despite the hostility. Fall River has no shortage of people willing to give their time, their talent and their energy to
make this city better. What we lack is a culture that respects them. Instead, we have created an environment where good people doing good work are forced to defend themselves more than they allow they're allowed to contribute.
People who volunteer their evenings and weekends in personal resources are treated as if they are suspects. People who build programs, events, and improvements for the public good are interrogated as if they're doing something wrong. People who step up to
serve are met with cynicism instead of gratitude. It's not normal. It's not healthy. It's not how a city moves forward. The truth is simple. There is no personal gain in the work so many of us do. There's no paychecks. There's no
benefits package. There's no special treatment. The reward is the hope that Fall River will be a stronger, more vibrant, more welcoming place. Yet time and again, those who give the most
are the ones who are targeted the most. This toxic environment has consequences. It pushes out helpers. It discourages collaboration. It creates fear around stepping forward. And at least four of us are stuck in the same cycle of negativity that have held the city back
for decades. We cannot keep operating this way and expect progress. If we want a better Fall River, we must stop by changing the culture. We must stop tearing down people who are trying to lift the city up. We must stop
assuming bad intentions where there are none. We must stop weaponizing misinformation and suspicion. And we must stop valuing the people who show up not because they have to, but because they want to and because they
care. For's future depends on its ability to sab uh to support, not sabotage the people who are working to improve it. The city will not grow if acts of service are met with hostility. It will
not thrive if veteran if volunteers are treated like a threat. And it will not progress if the loudest voices are the ones tearing others down. It is time for a cultural shift. >> 15 seconds.
>> A shift toward toward respect toward truth toward collaboration toward gratitude. For deserves better and the people of who serve for deserve better. It's time to stop attacking the helpers and start supporting them. Only then will this city become the place we all
know it to be. If all volunteers can expect to push back lack of cooperation, false innuendos, reputational uh attacks, then the city will continue to deteriorate and never reach its potential or becoming the shining city on the hill. But be assured, we the
citizens of Fall River will continue to fight to ensure that will never happen. Thank you. >> Thank you, Mr. Dennis. >> Thank you. >> Thank you guys. >> I I I see you. >> Thanks. >> We don't need the the applause. Council in C4, Council Vice President Dion, please. Can
>> I just want to ask a couple of questions if you don't mind? you >> because I'm confused as I'm looking because I was looking through everything while she was speaking. >> You put in the application. >> Uh you're talking I think you don't want
to address the >> Miss Dennis, please come back to the table. Yeah, keep putting in the >> He put the application in and I believe you said it was on behalf of can >> the creative arts network was the organization for the waterfront cultural
district project exactly what happened with Raj Williams University. >> So I guess my confusion is if it's can for the waterfront why didn't he just put the application in for the waterfront because you're also both on that committee. Correct.
or you need an applicant then you need an applicant organization. So the organization is CAN and the project that would be like um that would be like Helen Rigo applying for Niagara a plasky park for a playground.
>> Okay. Okay. >> So it would be that analogy. >> Okay. Um, and then the description that we got here on the paper, in-depth study to uncover, document, and interpret the historic assets embedded within the district. And as you said, Roger
Williams did do >> they did phase one and this would be phase two and they would do phase three. So to keep continuity between semesters because the students can't do summer work and their semester's end and this. So we would get this grant. And let's be
perfectly clear, we didn't wake up one day and said, "Oo, Dave, why don't we apply?" No, it was recommended by someone else in the community for us to apply for that grant. So Dave said, "Okay, we we'll apply." Wasn't our idea.
Listen, yeah, we'd love to get this grant, but if we don't get it, the city's going to lose, not us. It's just going to make more work for us. So, Roger Williams, the initial um >> and they they it it amounted to about
$80,000 in kind services >> and then their next one will be another 80,000 in services give or take >> but we'll have a gap. >> Yep. No, I understand that. >> They would be able to come back. >> So then I guess my only question would be I know you're saying continuity.
>> Um what so their studies are very in-depth. They're very big. They're very involved. They have a lot of people that did it etc etc. >> What is going to be different or what will this uncover that none of them?
>> The organization that was used for the water department would be the consultant that we would also use because they're familiar with the city. They know these projects. They know form B's. We can really get the cultural district documented and work off of some of the
work that Roger Williams did. They could only do so much. the consultant can pick up and do the form B's for us and then Roger Williams can come back in and survey again and work on more form B's. So when you say historic assets, are
those things that are owned by like I'm not sure like is it a particular um >> yeah land? Is it a business? Is it a mill? >> Some of them are mills. Some of them are pieces of land. You've got crab pond down there. You got the gates of the city. You've got the carousel. You've
got the old mill buildings. You got um the old row houses that were on Columbia Street. I mean they did a really indepth survey. And what they did from that survey is they're telling a story. So now because of that project, we've
enlisted an intern from Roger Williams who's working with us in DCR and she's working on um walking tours for the district. So because of that project is coming another whole new project that will bring tourists into the city. And
will she be paid on with this funding? >> That's all in kind again from Roger Williams. So Roger Williams is giving us a lot I probably two $250,000 worth of ink kind services and for the community preservation for someone for someone to
work so hard to get this project to not get funded absolutely amazes me for 28,750 for someone to not want this project and
to do all this work to not get it funded is an absolute amazement to me. And like I said, it wasn't our idea to apply. Someone said I would write apply for this phase through CPC. So I know the push is on for this
committee to not vote for it. But listen, we're not going to lose. The city's going to lose. >> The city will lose. Then I guess I guess my last question would be because I mean honestly in most of these like if I read
I don't know one of the ones that needs to be painted woodwork needs to be fixed those things are concrete. Yes >> I can look at those and know exactly what they're talking about >> and know okay what the dollars the dollars are going to be for painting the dollars are going to be so I can identify with that. So I guess in some I
I guess my thing is because I'm not an abstract person. Um >> what will this do? >> So yeah, the funding pays for what? And yes, exactly. And what it does Yeah. It does it is it it helps protect and preserve these buildings.
>> It helps them get documentation. >> It helps them get documentation on the state level as well as a local level. So they're entitled to um additional grant monies that they ordinarily wouldn't be allowed to get. Um so it opens the doors
for a lot of those businesses in the district and it offers a lot of um storytelling because the project we're working with now with Roger Williams is walking tours with scripts and story boards to actually tell the stories from
the work that they did. So it it just it offers a huge amount of opportunities for Fall River >> Council. What it's a building process. In other words, this is this is sort of a foundational kind of project. What this does it it really help it's in the long term it's going to help to rebuild
and reinvigorate the downtown. It's going to regenerate >> waterfront >> the I'm sorry I said downtown the the water the waterfront. But that's what the waterfront cultural district does because this is stuff that's never been done before. And if it has uh it's been done in a very small scale. there's really not many records about it. Uh so
this this this is historic and what happens with this is all those entities and all those assets uh the real estate down there all of a sudden becomes alive. It becomes more important uh and there's a story to tell whether it's boarding remington or whether it's the maritime museum or any of the other
number old firestone down there. We all remember the the fire down here. Uh people have forgotten that there's tremendous amount and I think we'll all agree people that live in the city there is tremendous amounts of history on the waterfront. And the really good news is
not only is it of interest to sort of his uh history geeks. We're going to be able to monetize that. We're going to be able to monetize that because people are going to become it's going to generate interest in the waterfront in a whole variety of ways. So that's what this is all about and we're getting it done
really for nothing. It's a grant. So um >> it's a great value to the city. >> Short money. With that I yield. >> Thank you. Thank you Mr. and Mrs. Dennis. Appreciate that. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Always a pleasure being back. >> Thank you.
>> Okay. The next item on our agenda is item number two. The mayor and a proposed 2027 enterprise fund budgets for water and sewer divisions. Now, um, just so everybody is aware, Mr. Furland is out of town. He is not here. Um, I
don't know if you want to come down and speak on it. Mr. Arpky, you're happy to come on down. >> Uh, before I do, M council, Council Kadine, >> when is he when is he back? And then I guess what's the uh timetable for approval? So, just so we're clear, the reason this had to has to be on our
agenda today is because um it it might or may not need to be referred and action taken in full counsel because of the 75 day or 45day whatever was it 45 days. >> 45day period from the moment he submitted the budget. Uh he sent it to us. What was the date, madam clerk?
>> March 12th. >> March 12th. We haven't we've had a span of not really many meetings. We had that like those three weeks off. So, I had to add it to the agenda for council to act on it tonight. Hoping that Miss Arkkey can answer any questions the council has regarding this. Um, so that's where
we're at and I hope I answered your question, but the council is going to have to take action. Thank you. >> I did not. >> I didn't answer your question. >> So, that's I had to >> What is that? Drop dropped dead time >> before the 20 before the next meeting. >> Before the next meeting around the
>> Something like that. >> All right. >> Of April. >> Of April. Yes. >> Of April. Okay, I >> thank you councelor seat 8 councelor repos. >> Thank you Mr. President. Um I just have a quick question and I think you'll be able to answer it. So obviously I
celebrate the idea that there's no rate increases going on but I think I just curious or caution uh future years. I mean I know we I can remember the presentation that Mr. Furland did with a few representatives uh probably a year a
year year and a half ago now talking about projected increases over time. I guess I'm just concerned that while we celebrate no rate increases this year um I'm just concerned of future years and and I and I'm inquiring some sort of
financial forecast down the road of what it may be. Um I you know I reviewed the budget and I I see where where the offsets happen and it works the number wise but I guess to you as the CFO um some sort of projection not that not that you're going to be able to answer
it but maybe something that you may want to could you consider doing uh for just for future planning purposes because obviously this is always a conversation that um brings a lot of interest every year and I think we want to do our due diligence. So, >> so, um, my understanding is from that presentation that you referenced that
happened, um, has to be more than a year and a half ago because I wasn't here when it happened. So, over two years ago, but there was, um, a consultant that he worked with to kind of set those rates to make sure that all of these, um, cso debt required projects that were coming on could fit into it and there was a forecast of what the rates would
the rate increase would look like every year moving forward. So, um, you know, I know in the past we've cautioned when we cut rates, it's just going to add it to the next year. So this is coming down because essentially some of those costs have been reduced that were projected in those original ones. So um I would say
that you could safely expect whatever the rates had said for the future years will still be in place. It's not like whatever was planned for this year will be added on to those. At this point in time, we've had a reduction in enough of the debt um issuance needs between um what's been given through um Mass Clean
Water Trust um and some of that that that debt forgiveness. but as well as some of the revenues kind of coming in. I'm going to say as they should be because we don't always get what we bill, but they've been coming in. Well, usage has somewhat gone up. So, with that um we've also have some reserves
that have built up um in the retained earnings that we can now use for some of those capital projects as well. So, essentially some of the debt that was projected in those original rate increases that were to be expected every year have fortunately come back positive ways that we don't need a rate increase this year. And whatever was originally
planned for this year won't just be pushed off in future years. Whatever was in future years will stay though. >> Yeah. And and that's and that's again all things I could celebrate. But I just think again I don't want this conversation every year to be a surprise when we approach the budget season and
we always have to talk about water and sewer rates. But if there's a reasonable cityside projection of water and sewer, at least it sets some sort of understanding for the residents of what it could be expected to be. I think when people watch that presentation like you said about two years ago there was a lot of shock value to it surely. Um but I
think from the city side a reasonable projection over the next few years I think would be helpful for this conversation. >> No abs. Absolutely. I think um we talked about it actually when I was doing the forecasts and and that that point we figured that they've never been given in that way before. We want to do it but because we didn't have a basis we we
kind of need to start to build towards that. So, um, the goal is to get to providing that, but like I said, I I can at least get those rates as they were provided before and, um, I think moving forward, we'd like to provide those same 5-year forecasts. >> I appreciate it. I yield, Mr. President. >> Thank you. Just for the council's own
edification of the public, the enterprise budget for water and sewer before us reflects zero increases in both water and sewer. >> Correct. >> Yes. >> Okay. There'll be two consecutive years that the council has not increased water and sewer rates in their in their
enterprise budget to be clear. >> Any other further query for council vice president Dion? >> I'm very happy that the rates aren't going up. My question is two years ago when we had that presentation it was a significant increase as my colleague
stated but at that time they said for the next four years it was going to go up 5% every year. >> Correct. >> So it's the debt. what happened. >> So, a big part is the debt. Um, I will say that the other part of it is to give you guys credit those um indirect
decreases that you provided last year. I know that we kept talking about, you know, having a new indirect calculation and getting back to doing it in a more calculated form. So, we did do that this year. Um, and so we were able to rather maintain those cuts that you made
last year to those indirect. So, that also helped with that rate increase not being needed. But the biggest part is the debt. So if you look at the debt amounts, um we were supposed to be increasing it a lot more and haven't had that need, which is a great thing. So and if you look at the debt part of the budgets, you'll see that it is pretty
much the biggest part of their budget in some ways. So by not having an impact there, it easily relieves that 5%. >> Okay, great. Glad to hear that. Thank you. With that, I yield. >> Thank you, councelor. Councilman C3, Council King. >> Thank you. Well, I'm very thrilled that we're not raising rates. I do have a few
questions around some increase in costs uh specific to the sewer enterprise fund. The salaries and wages uh permanent uh seem to be substantially higher. Uh the FY26 projected was
483,000 but the proposed budget is 735,000. >> I'm sorry. Are you you're in sewer? >> I'm in sewer. Yeah. >> So, were salaries and wages? >> Yes. Yes. Sorry, I just was making sure. Um, that projected number just it might
it might be off. I don't that doesn't seem quite right. I can we can relook at those projected numbers. Um, I know that there are vacancies in sewer. Um, at this time there aren't, you know, compared to the water department budget, there are only nine positions. um they
are adding on some positions as well. So there are two positions um that are being added in the project manager safety coordinator and then the senior engineer for inspection markoff. So those are things that came down from um I believe legislation that we need to
kind of meet those services. So there are two positions that are being added in from that. Um and then we have a deputy administrator of community utilities that isn't filled at this time. So that's the other part of the amount that's probably not being expended this year. Um
that would be typic that we're looking to fill next year. >> Okay. On the a little lower the sewer treatment plant expenses. Uh the other professional services seem to jump uh pretty substantially as well. Um
>> you're talking about the $8 million line. >> Yes. So that is a contract that we have with um I'm going to butcher the name of the company but it's the contract that we have to maintain the plant um >> private company. >> Yes, thank you. Um I have it in here somewhere. >> Maybe I have it too.
>> Oh, we have >> info mark. >> Thank you. I was going to say that but it felt wrong. So but it's with that. So it's it is a contract that we have. They do provide um a lot of you know employee support in that sense. Um but then they also do
some of the um maintenance of the items as well. So it's a large portion of it. >> I think to my colleague in C1's point when it comes to multi-year projections if this is going up you know that substantially.
Do is this also going to happen in the future years? Because I know Infamar just got a 10-year contract. I think they're in year two. So, when we get to the 10 years, do we know how much that's going to increase percentage-wise? >> I don't have that increase off top of my
head to give you, but we could definitely include it in a 5year forecast um >> to to share that at that time, but I believe it's a a normalized, you know, kind of rate increase each year to keep up with the cost of living. >> Okay. Thank you. I yield.
>> Thank you. Anything further? Consent C7. >> Wouldn't that be in the contract? >> It would. I just don't have that in front of me, but it it's definitely in the contract. I just don't know what it is. >> You can you can get the contract to go. >> Absolutely. >> Um, council can. >> Thank you. >> I yield. >> Thank you, councelor. Anything further
on this item? Is there a motion? >> Motion to refer to full counsel. >> Motion to refer to full counsel may have councelor Raposo. Seconded by councel Pereira discussion on the referral hearing. None. All those in favor? Opposed? The eyes have it. Item three, transfers and appropriations that have already been referred to full counsel. U
Miss Susa, do you want to join us at the table for any of this? Okay. First item on our um transfers and appropriations which I will refer to you in our full council agenda is item number one $225,000 that the sum of $225,000
be in the same hereby transferred to facilities capital from the FY2025 surplus revenue account. Councilman seat four. Council Vice President Dion. >> So basically I'm going to have the same question for one, two, three, and four because it's they're all capital. So I
guess my only question is what are the capital items that this money is being transferred for? Or what ex what what or why is this money being transferred? >> So I will tell you that all four of those first transfers that you're asking about, they are included in the capital plan um in FY26 under free cash. So this
first one for the 225,000 it's for the library repointing that we discussed um at the meeting. I believe it was the last meeting. Um so we talked about how we have secured already that ARPA funding as well as the mass historic commission funding. So this is to um
take what was already planned with that to do the one most weathered side um and check on all three other sides while we're there and do those additional minor repairs while we already have a contractor out there. >> Okay. Thank you. I don't know. You want to read them off first? I don't want to jump the gun
here, but I can anything further on this item. Constency7. >> I think it would just be helpful if you went one to you know one to six what that money was for. Like I know what that one is. I know the one from the police department. It's on the the guns. >> Yep.
>> That they have to purchase and you know >> the employer demolition. >> Yeah. I mean, I I can tell you what in a general sense they're for relating to it is in their department head letters, but they can also come down to answer specific questions, but the 250,000 for police capital is for >> I know. Let's do this. Let's make this
real simple. >> We will take items 1 through six and if there's any questions on transfers and appropriations, we can answer them right now. >> Okay. >> Okay. I'm going to recognize our colleague in C7 who has the floor and then I'm going to go to our colleague in C4. >> Well, I would just say one to six for
the public to know. We're just shooting out a number >> without letting them know what it's for. I know people are here. >> I see the chief of the fire department. I see um JT who are here, deputy. >> Any questions you have on items 1 through six? Please answer. >> While while they're coming down here, I
can answer quickly what they all are in a general sense. So, the 250,000 is for the firearm replacement that we discussed in the capital plan meeting for the police department. The 397 um to fire capital is for um what's in the capital plan as the $160,000 to do the
apparatus lift replacements and then um wow to do the first year of the um turnout gear um replacement. We talked about how there's a mass amount of gear that needs to be replaced from 2017. It's a 10-year life expectancy. We're trying to cut it in half to make it more
feasible. So um I believe that is 200 237. Thank you. Yes. Um >> Oh, the document said I Okay, great. Um and then the last one for um 245,000 for
community maintenance capital um is technically for two different departments. So, one is for um the traffic division for the 165,000 for the speed tables that are again in the capital plan. Um, and then the $80,000
for the pole removal and the parks um that are also in the capital plan. >> And I would like to know on the traffic, where are they going to put those? Is there a specific place or how many? >> So there are.
>> So at this I I don't know if she has more information on that, but I will say that in the capital plan at this point, it is being assessed and we're there's options for where that it will be going. Stephanie worked with the police department um for advice on where these should go. So
>> Oh, okay. >> Stephanie McCracker. >> Stephanie McCra, director of traffic and parking. Um we haven't identified specific locations. We have had some suggestions. Um right now we are trying
to figure out um some type of standards as to where we're going to put them. Um as far as school zones, park areas. Um heavy residential areas where there's a lot of foot traffic. Um, but right now we do have a placement of the temporary ones. We're actually going to be placing
one tomorrow in the industrial park area, uh, where speeding is an issue. >> How many of these do you think you'd be able to purchase with 245,000? >> So, hers is 165, not 245. >> So, with the more with the permanent option, um, depending on the width of
the roadway, those vary from $6,000 to $8,000 >> each. Okay. And let me hop around. And for the um item number two for the deputy chief, the money for the um the uh firearms
here. We'll find out what uh deputy what what time frame are we looking at to purchase these um these new guns? >> JT deputy chief of police. Um the timeline would be once the funds are
appropriated, then we'll refreshen up the three bids. Uh but the procurement is probably going to take a few months >> because they're they're a high demand gun. Uh the border patrol went over to that same firearm. >> Um but we're we pretty confident we can get them by the end of the year, which
will be in line with our qualifications that happened in the fall. So the timing would have been nice to have it sooner, but I think we're encouraged to look at the fall. Um to be clear when he says procurement he doesn't mean city procurement in that sense he's using the term as to actually obtain
>> them. Yeah. >> Thank you. >> I yield Mr. President. >> Thank you councelor. Councelor in seat four. Council vice president Dion. >> No I'm good. Thanks basically. Y. >> Thank you. Councel in seat 8. Councelor Raposo. Uh quick quick uh fire questions here.
Not fire but quick questions as I say. Um pole removal part. Yeah that's not what I meant. Confused. It's too late. >> It's way too late. All right. >> Pass my bedtime. Um, so the polls in the parks, do we do we know which ones they are? >> Yes, there was a study that was completed, I believe, in 2018. I don't
have that here, but I know that Darren could provide that to you. Um, but there was a specific study that was done on what polls could be removed and that needed to be removed. >> Yes. >> I don't have that list, but we do have that list to share. >> Can you can you have can you share that with the council? That would be great. Yeah.
>> Um I I know some of the polls are are a hot mess anyway, so I've seen them doing baseball around the city. Um the only question I really have is on the demolition um conversation and I don't know, Mr. Hathaway, if you want to come
come on over. Um so obviously the police station is in disarray. It needs to be demolished, but I guess my question long term after it is demolished, what is the plan? um interim city administrator. I don't know if you want to answer that. Um it' be just a little guidance on it,
please. >> Well, there's been conversation about potential areas for parking um in the area as we all know in the downtown area. Parking is limited. Uh so that was some thought about possibly cutting curb in that area, setting it up for
additional parking. We know with the parking garages that we have in the downtown right now, we're going to be doing uh some renovations there. So, we're going to need to relocate vehicles. That was one of the thoughts. Um would be that parking area. It's limited because of the contamination and
Glenn can speak to that. >> Makes sense. Commissioner Hathaway, as far as if if it is uh approved, timeline on demolition of the building. >> Glenn Hathaway, building commissioner, city of Fore River. The timeline would be um I'm hoping for if approved to get
started as soon as possible. Uh most likely May 1st somewhere in there or sooner. >> Awesome. I yield. Thank you. Councilman C7. Councelor Pereira. >> Uh Commissioner Hathaway, some of the outside of the police department, there's an emblem and will any of that
be able to be salvaged, even the huge column, there's one column, the other column, some car hit it or something. >> That was part of the bid specs is to attempt to preserve some of those select items >> there. There is, to my knowledge, uh, a
couple of items that has been requested to save and store away. Um, >> that went out. >> We want to store them away. Let's find out where we can put them. We store things, we never find them again. >> We actually had a conversation about that earlier today. And the preservation
society had given a number of items that they were looking to have >> taken from there and held on to, but realistically with the cost to try to keep the cost of demolition down. and there were some things that just really couldn't be kept. So, there were two items and they were talking about that
today for now, storing them and then possibly looking um at the police department currently um now to see if any of those things could be repurposed there. >> But good. I'm glad that uh they're doing that. But I'll tell you when I looked
back and actually had Lauren looked back at the records in March 3rd of 2006, Alen Robinette, remember her? She used to be our purchasing agent. How long has she been gone? That's when this first came to the real estate committee and
came to us. And it was either Anthony Cado for 25,000 or George AU for 40,000. I think I was the only Alves and I were the only ones that voted no. Everybody and Joe voted no. And I look
at we could have got 25,000 and now 20 years later we're paying 1.6 million. Boy, sometimes I may not vote right, but this time I know I absolutely did vote either one of these gentlemen to get it for 40,000 or 25,000.
We' have saved money. But I'm glad that it's finally being down because it's an eyesore and hopefully we can save as much as we can. What do you think the timeline's going to be to de to demolish it all? >> Ask that question. >> I'm I'm hoping within 30 days really uh
once they start it'll be finalized complete. Uh once they get started they right now the plan is to enter through the front of the building uh due to the severity of things fallen. So that's why they want to start in the >> front.
>> Um, with that said, you'll see traffic detours and so on and so forth until it's gets to a point where it's going to be safer for cars and traffic to roam by there. So, uh, the >> How much brick is on that building? Do
you know? >> I don't know the name of the brick or the style. It's >> Yeah. You got to keep in mind one thing councelor that so there was a addendum sent out to the bid to remove the >> to demo the building.
>> Um but the building is contaminated. >> I know >> and that's unfortunate. So everything that you we try to save needs to be sterilized so to speak, >> right? >> And in that process um it costs money and that brings the cost up. So, we're
trying to limit it to uh make this more appetizing to come down and just face the facts. It's got to go. >> Too bad we couldn't like sell bricks to somebody. >> I'll tell you a story. The Allen's fire, the chimney of the Allen's fire was
bought by former counselor Ray Mitchell. He bought the chimney, >> dropped it off on land he had bought on Meridian Street, and his house is made of brick. And that brick is all from the chimney at Holland's. >> Pretty smart guy to do that.
>> Unfortunately, today's labor rate um the city >> he did it himself. So >> yeah. Yes. >> Labor. >> The the fact of the matter is we could do a lot better if we were a municipality. We have to play uh pay prevailing wage for everything we do. So therefore, the
cost goes up. >> Well, congratulations finally. >> Oh, it's been a long ride. I know >> and it's not down yet. Just please appropriate the funds. >> I absolutely >> please. >> Absolutely. >> Thank you. You yield, counselor. You yield. >> I yield. >> Council C2, councelor.
>> I'll be real brief. Uh I know my colleague points out two individuals that could have purchased it. One for 40,000, one for 25,000. The city probably did them a favor when they didn't take the building because later on we sold it to someone else for 160. And when he started to go in and take out the contamination, he gave it
back to the city. We took it because he couldn't afford to get rid of it. all the cost was in the so we end we did end up selling it for 160 in the long run and it just came back to us because it was cost him too much money to clean it up the right way trying to do it the wrong way and he got caught so you never know what's in those buildings I remember years ago council pellet tells
the story about the Hudner hospital >> sold it for I think a dollar or $1,000 at the time and the guy gave it back it cost him over a million to get just the contaminants out of that building and he wants to give it back to the city long time ago you never know what's in those buildings but it can get very expensive to demolish With that, I yield. Thank
you. >> Thank you. Just for the council's uh own understanding, you're going to be closing down, I believe, that street from there to Rock um correct. I spoke with the mayor about that yesterday um to allow for the demolition of that building. So, what what street is that
that it's on? Uh >> highend rock is going to be closed until the building's down. So, so there's been a a plan that's been presented to fire, EMS, police, and the mayor in order and the contractor uh I
have spoken to briefly about it. The plan is to close um Troy Street at Pleasant to stop the traffic from going north. >> Yep. >> Um for a certain amount of time till we get in the building and make things safe. >> Yep. Um, Puffford Street will be closed
from the fire station traveling west. The fire department is going to enter and exit the building, but they're going to have to travel east on Beford Street all the way to uh the Mill >> Seabberry. >> Yep. Seabberry Street.
>> Um, temporarily. Any traffic going up High Street will not be allowed for the first entries of most of this. Um the plan is that the trucks will come down due to the contamination. The trucks have to be um prepped with six mill poly
in the beds of the trucks. So the plan is to let them enter through Toy Street, turn to Rock towards CD Rack in front of CDR. They'll be lined with plastic in preparation of being loaded. Then from there they back up and get loaded up and
continue on down Beford. They're not going through the neighborhood. Uh they're going down Beuffford and whatever is going to be the easiest way for them to enter uh probably 195 to to head west. Thank you. >> Which will be back up to Pleasant.
>> Thank you. Uh anything further on transfers and appropriations. >> Oh, just item six. >> All those items are already in our full council item five and full council. So no referral is necessary. >> Is there a motion to adjurnn finance? >> Motion to adjurnn finance. Second made
by councelor Rapo, seconded by council vice president Dion. All those in favor? Opposed? The eyes have it. We're ajourned. Let's go. >> Oh my god. >> You're good. >> We're good. Heat This for a city council meeting will now
be called to order. Madame clerk for the roll call. >> Councelors >> here. >> Camarra >> here. >> Can >> here. >> Dion >> here. >> Hart >> here. >> Peekom >> here. >> Pereira >> here. >> Rapoozo >> here. >> President Ponte >> here. If everybody in the chamber can
please rise for a moment of silent prayer. >> Silent prayer. Thank you. And a salute to the flag. 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. >> 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. Attendees are therefore advised that such recordings or transmissions are being made whether perceived by those uh perceived or unpersceived by those
present and are deemed acknowledged and permissible. Madame clerk, good evening. >> Good evening. >> Oh my god. >> First on the agenda, we have a letter from the mayor to order to accept MGL chapter 90 section 17C which relates to the establishment of 25 miles per hour
speed limit in a thickly settles or business district in city or town violation. >> Motion to adopt. Motion to adopt has been made by councelor Raposo, seconded by councelor Hart. Is there discussion? Council seat one. Councel kadine. >> Uh Mr. Chairman, can you just tell me what the uh statuses of the police investigation?
>> Um sure. Um the status of the police investigation is um myself, Council Vice President Dion, and the chair of the public safety committee, Councelor Peekham, uh had a meeting with a law >> point of order, right? Everybody's looking at me like I'm crazy because it's going to make a determination on
how I vote on this. So understood councelor um totally okay um I'll finish that is that yesterday we had we we had a number of calls yesterday we had a call with a law firm uh which is going to be also accompanied by an
investigator that we are waiting for their ret their letter that is to retain their services. Um we have not received that yet. uh we should be receiving that within 24 hours and at that point the uh my colleagues and I the council vice president and councelor Pekkham uh will
be then authorizing them to move forward with their investigation. >> So is the administration working with us on that or are they still pushing back? Are we do we have enough funding? the mayor. >> That's the the only story I know because if if we're not getting this is the point I figure out how to answer the
question, >> but if we're if we're not getting support from the administration and the administration refused to to provide the resources that we need because they refuse to do the investigation itself, I will not be voting on anything that comes down before us from the mayor's office. So, that's all I'm trying to
figure out. >> So, um I can tell you that I had a meeting with the mayor the other day. He's taking the same position that he took at his press conference that he wants to work with post in the attorney general's office to do their investigation. To answer your second question regarding funding, we have the money in our budget that I intend to
use. I've advised the clerks to hold any other payments unless approved by me um within the city council budget. Uh we have $170,000 associated with when it comes to audit. >> We're not doing we're not doing any internal investigation, >> right? That's >> the council in itself isn't, but we will
be >> the administration. the administration. I don't believe so. Corporation council is here like No, I don't I don't need to belabor the point. I just need to understand where we stand. That's all. >> I mean, you asked a question and I I I feel it's appropriate that if attorney Ramsey wants to come down and answer if
they if they're going to cooperate with the investigation, he can answer that question quickly. Um um so, uh Mr. Ramsey, come down, please, and answer the question. >> Motion to wave the rules. >> Motion to wave the rules has been made by council, seconded by council. All
those in favor? oppose the ICE habit. Attorney >> mayor and the city council. >> Thank you. Alan Ramsey, corporation council. Um I just want to make sure the city council is aware. Um council mass the administration is working with the council. I think the mayor is um after the last meeting which was contentious.
Um the city did conduct an investigation. It was conducted through uh human resources in the city of Fall River. Um I know it's been concluded. Um I do not believe there is any disciplinary measures taken against officers. But in addition to that, I'm also aware that the mayor forwarded the
issue to the AG's office, not suggesting the city did anything wrong, but saying if you'd like to take your own look at it, here's the information. That same information was sent to a post. Um, so the city did do an investigation at the urging of the city council. it has been concluded and in addition the AG's
office and the post both receive information with the you know uh wouldn't call it an invitation but feel free to take a look at it and if you think that we did a did not do an appropriate investigation ourselves so that's the status >> to be clear nobody has made that report public correct
>> those reports typically are not public so I don't think so I think you're correct assertion it's an it's an HR issue >> people were interviewed >> yes >> investigation was actually completed >> that's correct So, you can't be I I listen, I'm not going to bel label the point, but I don't know how working with the the city
council and and we've got three people on this committee of this council who has been tasked with moving that and you got you folks didn't know that. >> I mean, we did have a conversation today. I don't I don't believe that an investigation was I believe interviews were done. I haven't seen any investigation. I haven't seen a
conclusion. I didn't see a memo. All I was told verbally was a letter after I went to the police department as a private citizen to file a complaint that since the police department couldn't do it, they referred it over to Mr. Malini's office. Mr. Molini then sent me over a letter saying they completed the
investigation and that's all I heard that the council does not have any understanding at this point whatsoever on the conclusion of that or the results of it. >> All right. >> I don't know if this point they if they've read the affidavit either. >> Gotcha. I yield. Thank you. >> Thank you. Conser seat seven >> motion to wave the rules and have Mr.
Malini come down. >> Motion to wave the rules to invite Mr. Malini down has been made by councelor Pereira. Is there a second? Seconded by councel Pekham. Discussion hearing not. All those in favor oppose the eyes have habit. >> My understanding was that after you at a at the podium when you did your press
conference, you stated from the podium that as a private citizen you had gone to the police department and made a complaint. assuming it was the same complaint. And I called to find out. I talked to the chief. I heard Cliff say
that he as a private citizen went there. What happened? She said, "It came to us. I can't do it. It went to Mr. Molene and he was forwarding it to Post." That's what I was told. Did you not forward it to to post
>> but decided to do it on your own? >> It was for >> I'm not sure. >> Mr. Malaney if you can answer the council's question. >> It was forwarded to Post. >> Okay. So Post will do the investigation. >> No, the city does a preliminary where we >> did do interviews and then that
information was sent to Post. >> So you >> I can I can probably answer that myself better. Um I personally spoke with somebody at Post uh to get the parameters about what they typically receive and not receive, what's required and what's not required. It was after my
conversation with the member from post it was is my opinion they didn't it was not required to be for them but to be an abundance of caution knowing that there's a lot of eyes on this we sent it to them anyway um I can tell you the city didn't suggest that there was
anything wrong but it was like you know here's all the information we have feel free to have a new set of eyes if you if you believe so >> point of information but this this goes back to what I said before post does not do the investigations. They investigate an investigation. They review an investigation. >> Right. >> That's correct. That's exactly what
happened. >> So, there's a written report out there completed by your investigation. >> Point of clarification. >> Oh, no. I don't I'm not answered. You said there was an investigation. You said there's not an investigation. Which is it? Interviews or investigation?
>> You both said it within the last 15 minutes. I just want to know. >> I would say interviews are part of an investigation. >> Okay. So, there was an investigation. It was an investigation including interviews and it has been concluded from the city side. >> Okay. >> Councilman C7 has the floor. >> Well, I was told that it went to post.
Whatever you did went to post. Now, you're not going to have any notes or anything on the information the interview you did or will you have notes on that? >> I have notes from our interviews >> and those notes will be made public to
members of the council. >> Of course, because they're not interview because there wasn't an investigation. If they're just interviews, then >> but no, wait. That's what I'm saying. >> No, if he's going to give you as the notes. >> No, these things are typically not made public records. Investigations, those kind of things are kept in HR files.
>> So, it's an interview to be clear. >> No, I I I think I've consistently said there was an investigation that included interviews and it has concluded. >> Okay. Constant C7. >> And then you just sent it to Post. >> Yes. >> Okay. This is my feelings on this whole
thing. And I've, you know, people are kind of a little upset with all the investigations that are going on, but honestly, we received this investigation or whatever the the resolution that was filed and it
was based on something on Facebook. Based on something you saw on Facebook. So when I'm asked, did you read the affidavit? Did you see the emails? I'm not governing this city by what I see on
Facebook or some blogger or somebody that does a TV show like Mrs. Dennis was in here >> complaining as well. I'm not doing that. So, no, I haven't seen that stuff because I'm not on Facebook. Maybe here
people are on Facebook more than me. My Facebook is happy anniversary. Congratulations. sorry for your loss. That's it. So, for us to be going all crazy with doing this and an investigation, if Post has it, they did
the interview. If they find something wrong, they're going to let us know. And that's how I feel because I think it's ridiculous that we're going off on something based on something that you saw on Facebook. And then there was another letter that
was written. We all got copies of it, but another letter that was written about something that happened at a boxing place. I called to find out, hey, what happened? Nothing. So, if somebody calls and just makes these allegations,
we go forward with that. I I've never sat here and seen this type of thing. I haven't. So, >> I'm opposed to doing any investigation. and I'll vote president again. >> To your Facebook post, I you know, I'd
like to point out I've also read on Facebook that somebody I'm not even certain how it got there, but somebody took it apparently to a lawyer at UMass Dartmouth. And that lawyer gave an opinion that he didn't find that there was anything to substantiate the allegations. But then again, we didn't take that into account. The city didn't
take that into account either. These are just things that appear on Facebook. >> Wait, wait a minute. Wait a minute. You didn't take what into account? >> A a lawyer's opinion from a Facebook article. Okay. >> They the city conducts its own investigation. >> Okay. I want to just make one thing clear. We can talk about this for three
hours if we want. This was voted on at the last meeting. 7 nothing. The city council, unless you want to override my decision as a full body right now, I'm moving forward with the investigation and hiring a firm. If you don't like it, tell me and reconsider your motion. But
you all p 7 nothing passed a resolution 70 with our colleague in seat seven voting present. I'm moving forward with it. We have the money in our budget and nobody's going to tell me otherwise. So, if you my my question to the two of you is very simple. When the city
council hires a firm to go to the police department and interview individuals, are you going to tell your city employees to not cooperate with the city council's investigation? Yes or no? My advice to this council as the legal
counsel to this is that this city council does not have the authority to retain outside legal counsel and >> I think the resolution if I recall correctly the conversation was if the city doesn't take action we will Mr. President Mr. President I'd like to make
a motion can I make a motion please? I'd like to make a motion that a resolution be filed that we change the ordinance that requires the city council number one to have its own outside legal um council. Number two, that um the administration shall fund outside legal
counsel and any audits that the city council requires in the operating budget. It's it's it's a it's a city ordinance. So I I just want to change the ordinance. >> We can change the ordinance. Yeah. >> That's a form of a motion. That's a motion made by and also to refer it to the committee on ordinances to draft the resolution
>> has been made by councel Kadeim. Is there a second to the motion? >> I'll second the motion. >> Seconded by councel Pekkham. Is there discussion? Council seat one. Council uh two. >> Are we going to put limits as to how much we can >> the ordinance committee will be able to to it has to run through ordinance before it comes back to us.
>> I'm just curious. We're doing it now just while we're making this motion. But are we going to put limits on what we can spend for outside legal counsel? I I've always voted against this council having its own representation because I don't think it's necessary. >> Sure. >> Been here longer than anybody here and we've never had a
>> one situation that we had to get uh an um outside attorney to take care of and it was actually the school department attorney. Uh Mr. >> Yeah. >> No, it wasn't Assad. It's um
>> Tippy. Assad. >> Yeah. >> Bruce Assad. >> Bruce Assad handled the case and it had to do when we were doing the strip club ordinance and he took care of it. And then there was someone that was suing us and the city council hired it. Hired an outside attorney to do it. But that was
a special and that was different. And actually the mayor was the one that jumped on board and supported it and they end up paying for it. But this city council's never had its own budget. Well, maybe they did when I wasn't here two years that I wasn't here. And uh for an attorney, outside attorney, I just wonder what's the limit on we're going to have how much can we spend on outside
attorney fees. >> I don't have >> we should let people know before they sign on to something like that. >> Well, just to be clear, >> I supported the resolution that was before us last time. It was filed after the agenda because I want to see an investigation. My colleague in C1 was right when he says we don't even know if the Facebook article is true or not. So
I said, well, let's have an investigation and see if it is true. Doesn't matter if the attorney general does it, Post does it, city does it. I don't care who does the investigation. But it seems to be that there was an investigation. Now, if you don't agree that there was investigation, you want to have another investigation, then it's up to some colleagues here. But I I just
think that this is what happens when you file something after the agenda, as you and I spoke about it, and people don't have the time to do the due diligence. I didn't speak to anyone from the police department or people from the other side to figure out what actually happened and what went on because there's a lot of stuff that people didn't get a chance to
voice and what happened, what went on. during the investigation. I hope they explained everything to you guys on how many people you investigated. How many people did you investigate? >> Thank you. That was going to be my question. >> We met with three people. >> Three people named in the complaint. >> Okay. So, those three people. >> So, as far as I'm concerned, I'm all set
whether the city does it, post does it, attorney general does it, let them all have it. Did you send to the attorney general as well? >> The mayor did, right? >> I believe the mayor sent it to the attorney general's office. >> And and let them take >> When I say that, I mean the issue itself. >> Okay. So let them take it up and let them pay for the attorney fees and let
them do it. They they I mean we don't not trust the attorney general anymore. Do we not trust that that department? I do. So I don't want to go back and forth my colleagues. It's been long enough already. But I yield >> council in C6 council.
>> Well to answer your question council kamar I don't trust her. We're still waiting for our audit is 72% of the vote for the AG. So no I don't trust her. Um, secondly, 2026 we're in. The for reporter has 128,000 followers. I don't think the Herald News
ever accumulated that in in I don't know 10 years. He's got 53,000 posts. We can't just sit here and call him a blogger or it's a vlogger um or a social media personality. He is the he's the
asset that the residents of the city of Fall River go to. And as much as you don't like him or people don't like him, we have to respect the fact that he is the largest source of news in the city of Fall River. So when an article comes out like that in the Fall River Reporter, we have to take it seriously
because 128,000 people may see this. I don't understand what the problem is. I keep saying it over and over again. We have to start recognizing him as a journalist. Just says what it is. Secondly, um as part of these this investigation, did you interview um the
clerk magistrate that was involved? >> I can only interview city employees. >> Okay, fantastic. So, there was no investigation done into this. So, you said interviews. Was it an investigation through HR or was it interviews through HR? >> Again, interviews are part of an investigation. >> But that's not my question. Did you
specifically as HR open an inter an internal investigation into an employee within the city of Fall River? >> The police department. you >> through deputy chief Castro did the intake and sent it to human resources to investigate. >> So did you investigate it? >> Yes. >> And that was by interviews. Yes.
>> And you're suffic You're happy with the fact that after speaking to three people in this >> that were involved in this situation, the three people what they said to you was sufficient enough to you to just you're okay with it. No disciplinary action, no nothing. >> I am satisfied with the investigation. >> Okay. When did you decide to do this?
Because we weren't notified. So, a citizen complaint came in and that was what opened it. As soon as it went through the police department to remove any perception of a conflict of interest, I asked the deputy to send it to my attention and it was handled through HR. >> Okay. And uh I'm going to touch
>> Well, I'm sorry. >> No, it's fine. >> Your point of information, C. >> I was just going to ask a point of information. So, you're the individual who as not a member of the city council filed a complaint. He held an investigation. He says he can't he can't ask anybody in the outside, which is is
mindboggling to me because anytime we get a constituent complaint, we call the constituents and we ask them questions, right? So, the constituent should have been interviewed. So, I'm going to ask you, council president, in your normal duties, your individual personal day-to-day as a resident of the city of
Fall River who filed a complaint, were you ever questioned about your complaint? >> No. >> So, the administration never called you to? I just got a letter saying it was concluded. >> So they never talked to you to find out exactly and elaborate as to what your
concerns were about the investigation. >> No, >> but it was investigated and you weren't spoken to. >> I was not. >> That's an investigation. >> That's what they label an investigation as. >> Let's think about this for a second. And I I don't even know what the outcome is going to be, but this is the concern that I had. Like if we're going to do an
investigation, let's do a legitimate investigation, not a half-fast investigation, which is why we are going this route because there is a lack of trust about doing it. We had three people who were interviewed. That was it. There's a person who filed a complaint and they were never contacted. >> Say what you will. I mean, it just it is
what it is. I don't know what the outcome is going to be of the investigation, but please, there's already enough out there with regards to public perception. So why why is it the push back for the investigation and not doing it properly? With with that I yield like we don't need to go on
anymore. I I got that motion. I'm ready to vote on it. >> Constant seat six. You still have the floor. >> Yeah, I can say that the boxing gym and why do we go forward with things? So I can tell you that I was at an event at a boxing gym. >> Yeah, I read the email. >> Yeah, I don't Yeah, it didn't go public. I think it stayed within the council. I
haven't seen it anywhere else, but I went to a boxing gym. Didn't witness an event. I didn't see anything happen. I got a call from a constituent that was very upset about what had happened. So, I forwarded it. >> What was I supposed to do? I'm just waiting for your recommendation. >> No.
>> Okay. >> But I'm just saying sometimes you get information that's true. >> So, I So, I got whatever information I got and forwarded it to. And I'm going to touch upon councelor Kadim's point here. I was very satisfied with the interaction I had when I was interviewed because I was the complainant as a
private citizen of the city of Fall River. JT Hall, the deputy did contact me twice and interview me twice as the complainant. Um, so that rectified in my mind the bonado's boxing whatever. I was very satisfied with the way Deputy handled it. I do have a problem that
they didn't talk to you during this investigation. I have a problem that three people were interviewed to me and I I respect the fact that you went and did the investigation. I think we should have been apprised of the situation. Um, but it seems halfassed in my opinion.
three people on a on a topic that took all kinds of attention. We did a behind the-scenes investigation of three people and that was it. And nothing against you guys. That's not that's not a personal attack. Just in the grand scheme of things, that's not a good it's not good enough a response to me to stop the
investigation that we have going forward. So with that, I yield. Thank you. Councilman C7, Council La Pereira, >> just the fact that if you're going to get an attorney or get whoever to go do the investigation, I met with the uh police unions when they called to meet and they said do whatever you want. If
they come in, we don't have we don't have to speak to anybody. So, you want to spend the money and then they don't speak to anybody. I don't know. >> Can I just ask a question, please? I just want it answered uh from attorney Ramsey and Mr. Malini. If the city council by its virtue of 7 nothing
continues the investigation unless otherwise told to me tonight, are you going to make sure that the city employees and department heads cooperate with the investigation or are you going to tell them not to? I'm going to
stick with the written opinion I gave before, which is that this legislative body does not have the authority to retain outside legal counsel to conduct an investigation that is purely an executive branch function. >> Not yet.
>> Thank you. I'm going to ask that again after our colleague in C7 yields the floor. Council, >> that's what I'm going to say. If you're We got outside attorney before when Pam was was still here and when we read it, if any counselor wanted to contact that
attorney, we had to go through you or the vice president or somebody to get the okay to do that. I thought that was a little bit >> sure >> bizarre, but I never had to use them. Um, and I I just think we're spinning our wheels here because you go to do the
investigation. I'd like to have an attorney go talk to the clerk magistrate and see if he's going to answer. I don't know if he will or if he won't. But >> point of clarification, just so is the argument here that we can't do the argument per 2-7A or is it that we can't hire our own independent legal counsel?
Which one is >> is that we can't hire our own? >> It's both. It's >> all right. So, we have a member of the the original charter committee still here. Can we ask him what his opinion is on right now? So, he already gave it a citizens input. >> I mean, it's it's it's simple. I mean, I know you disagree, but it's a twofold thing. One is that there's absolutely no
legal authority for this body to retain their outside legal counsel. >> Okay? >> Everything comes through the office of corporation counsel. >> Okay. >> The second part is the 2-7 when it talks about the investigative process. It says in general the legisl you know the investigative process
parts B, C, and D have to be read as a whole. But what you also have to remember is that this is a legislative body. So the investigations have to pertain to a legislative function or a budgetary function. >> So is that a guess? Uh attorney Ramsey. Now is that a guess because do you know
that that was the original intentions of the charter committee when they put it in there or are you are you insinuating that that was their intentions? >> It's it's it's clear to me. And what I mean by that there are parts in there that say the the executive branch will never undertake any legislative action.
The legislative branch will never undertake any executive action. So that as a whole that's that's the primary thing you know we each have the lanes the legislative and the executive branch. So I mean I think it's relevant when we talk about what let's
hypothetically hypothetically if this body could do an investigation you wouldn't be able to discipline the employee wouldn't be able to terminate the employee wouldn't be able to suspend the employee because these are all executive functions. So, I think it's also clear that these investigations
have to be for a legislative or budgetary purpose. Otherwise, you're not permitted to conduct any investigation, even if you could do one free. Everything has to pertain to what your your body has the power to do. >> Okay. Thank you for your point of clarification. >> This is something where you disagree
with how the executive branch is doing something. You disagree. You strongly disagree and I get that. Well, I strongly disagree with this point as well. >> So, but it doesn't allow you to then do the executive action yourself. >> So, if I may just interject, our colleague in seat seven still has the floor. I've entertained my colleague in
seat six for his point of information. Counselor. >> No, I I just I just think even if you get a lawyer, even if you spend money, if nobody's wants to talk to you, you're not going to get anything. And I think what attorney Ramsey just said, if something is wrong, what what can you
do? Um, so I don't know. I'm my position, but I'll vote present like I did last time. I'm not. I think this is way out of our lane. But with that, I yield. >> Thank you, counselor. Counselor in seat 2, councelor Camaro. >> Thank you, Mr. President. Through the chair, the council in seat six, I hope
you weren't insinuating that I had a dislike to someone who did anything. You said whether you like the guy or not. You weren't talking to me. >> You talking about the attorney general. You talking about >> talking about the attorney general. >> No, no, not attorney general. a little while ago. He said because someone was on Facebook and put something on Facebook and started this and you made
the insinuation you said clearly just because you don't like somebody. >> No, no, no. I was in rebuttal to councelor Pereira's comment. >> Okay. So, I just want to make sure I I don't want >> No, I made it quite clear that I didn't like someone or not like someone. >> Let me let me stop. >> Councilman C2 has the floor. We're not
going to answer. >> I just want to make it very clear. I don't want anyone insinuating that I am taking whatever stance I'm going to take because I might not like somebody or like if I don't like someone, they're going to know. If I like someone, they're going to know. >> Well, I and I counselor, one person at a time, council in C2,
>> uh I'm going to let my colleague in C2. >> I just want to make that point clear. This has nothing to do with anything other than what's this council discussing. Now, we're outside people whether there's any just want to make clear. >> There's a motion to move the question. I'm not hearing a second to that motion.
Second to the motion to move the question ending debate. And just so we're clear, the question that we're moving is a motion that was filed by our colleague in seat one, seconded by uh our colleague in seat six to draft and
refer to the committee on ordinance a resolution requesting that the ordinance committee prepare uh an ordinance that allows the city council to have its full uh its
outside attorney and have the full capabilities of hiring that within the council. What else? >> And that a budget be >> and that a suggestion that a budget >> our suggestion that a budget be appropriated for outside legal
>> and a budget in the city council budget be appropriated for an amount to be determined for outside legal. Did I miss anything on that? That motion has been made by councelor Kadim, seconded by councelor Pekham. Roll call on that motion.
>> On the motion to draft a resolution. Kadim, >> yes. >> Camarra, >> no. >> Can >> yes. >> Dion, >> yes. >> Hart, >> no. >> Pekkham, >> yes. >> Pereira, >> no. >> Reposo,
>> yes. >> President Ponty, >> yes. Motion passes. Uh I council se one council >> uh just threw you to the clerk >> when employees get sworn in
>> right and they take the oath what is the oath? Do you know that >> is it to uphold is it up to uphold the state stat uh state statutes the ordinance >> uh well the charter and the ordinance >> I would have to >> can we get clarification because the statement that now police officers don't
need to answer any questions they they took an oath to uphold the state statute the charter and ordinance so you're going to directly violate and I don't care what the corporation council is we'll we'll challenge that it is very clear that the power was given to the
city council. It is absolutely clear that the council has the authority to provide investigation and the fact that there are police officers who are saying they are not going to participate in that is a violation of an oath that they have taken. So I want to be on the record on the record that that's clearly
what it is and I if we could just get clarification that >> Do you want me to go grab it right now? >> No, you don't need to. But if you can just forward it to the city council for our reference. With that I yield. >> Thank you. I I have a question. I just need it answered with a yes or no um because it will determine my position on some votes tonight. Attorney Ramsey or
Mr. Malini, yes or no. Do you intend to stop any city department head or city employee from cooperating with a city council investigation? I just want a yes or no. I don't need you the same siloquy about you you you disagree with the legal position. Are you going to put an
order to your employees to not cooperate with the city council's 7 nothing vote to move forward with an investigation? >> I can tell you that that would not be anything within my role. >> Mr. Malini, yes or no? >> That's something I'd have to consult
with legal on. In all fairness, >> he's right there. >> He is. And we have not had an opportunity to discuss this. I've never encountered this situation where the city council has requested an investigation. So I could not give you an honest answer right now. Informed answer. >> I'll make my votes as one counselor
appropriately. Council two. >> Just one quick question. As a council also going to come to the determination of what the penalties will be during this investigation if these people are found to be I don't know what do you want to call it? Are we going to give them fines penalties issue? No. What's what's the what's the ramifications?
>> So the ramifications >> charges what are we doing? >> Well no what we can do the resolution is clear. Just so we're clear. >> I don't remember it. >> It's okay. problem. The the resolution does state what we would do and at the end of the day, we can't fire anybody. >> Correct. >> So, it the report would be sent over to
Mr. Molini, a corporation council, and the mayor for them to act appropriately at the after the results of the investigation. >> Can I can I elaborate a little bit more? >> Yeah, you can. >> But it was one >> it was also to look if there's any policy changes that need to take place because if there was either a policy
violation because it may not be anything criminal. We don't know, right? So there could be potentially a policy issue >> or a lack of a policy. So the the suggestion whatever recommendations come in if it's a policy it would be forwarded to the administration. Uh if there was any disciplinary action obviously that would have to be
forwarded to the uh to the executive branch. And then if there was any criminal activity then at that point um or criminal allegations associated with it then this council would then have to take a vote as to whether or not we want to refer it to any any body uh whether it's the DA's office or or the AG's
office. But I think we're just jumping ahead and and I keep saying that all we're looking for is a simple investigation. There's a lot that could come out of it and it doesn't necessarily need to be to the extreme of that it's criminal or illegal. >> Thank you. Constantine T2, you have a floor. >> Yeah. No, I agree. Right. We're going to
find out what's going to happen and we send it to the AG's office to see if what they're Why don't we just send to the AG's office now? Let them do the investigation and come up with the penalties and fines and everything else. That's my whole point. Like we're going to eventually have this investigation. spend money on an attorney to ask people
questions. Whether they might answer or not answer, who knows? And then we're going to send it. Okay, now we find get the findings. Let's go to the AG office to do what they should have done from day one. >> Consul, we don't know what we don't know. >> Correct. I told you a long time ago. >> Yeah. We don't know what we don't know. So I I we can't tell you if it's going
to be referred to the attorney general's office to your point because we don't know if it says once we find out what happens. We could refer to the A's office to be clear. We know that could be happen. So you're right. We don't know what we don't know, but we do know what we could do. >> But point of information that the AG is not going to review policy,
>> right? Internal operations that the AG is solely going to look at a criminal component to it. >> If that was the case that whatever, but I I I think I made my point. I think he's made his point. We >> forward with our agenda at this point. Um, and councils can vote as they wish.
Anything further on this item? >> I don't think so. Thank you. >> Thank you. And I you might want to hang out for item six in full counsel because this is the um communication we received from the mayor regarding um I believe that item. So I believe it's on our full
council item. Madame Madame clerk, please reintroduce item one. Please. >> Okay. >> Item one is the letter. >> To be clear, the motion has been adopted. I am sorry, but just for the public, I'm going to have her reintroduce the item. I recognize that it was a motion to adopt has been made
and seconded. Let's just there's been a lot going on. Reintroduce the item and then we'll take our votes. >> Okay. We have a letter from the mayor to order to accept MGL chapter 90 section 17C which relates to the establishment of 25 miles per hour speed limit in a
thickly settled or business district in city or town violation. >> Is there a mo motion to adopt has made seconded? Motion to adopt has already been made and seconded. Discussion on the item council seat for council. Can I ask that the traffic >> motion to wave the rules second? Yes, please >> for the traffic director to come down
has been made and seconded. Hearing no further discussion. All those in favor the eyes have it. Mer >> Council Vice President, you have the floor. >> Thank you. I know it's been a really long night and thank you for tolerating this so long. >> I've only been here since 7 a.m. It's
fine. I just want some clarif I'm confused on this. Um, so adopting this allows us to change speed limits. >> Correct. >> Okay. But we have changed speed limits
without adopting this. >> So we shouldn't have done that. >> And I know and I know you didn't do it. >> No. No. I know you didn't >> once it was brought to my attention is when I brought it down for the approval.
>> Okay. So the cart was before the horse before. Now we're trying to put the horse in front of the cart. >> So this will so so technically we don't have to get into what streets happened on. I know some of them those speed limits aren't valid until this is
adopted or or do we have to go how do how do you proceed? Um I would probably recommend legal come down and have that discussion. >> You want to >> you want >> it will >> corporation council come back down to the floor please. Motion to wave the
rules. >> Motion to wave made and seconded. All those in favor the eyes. >> Thank you. >> Alan Ramsey Corporation Council. I'm sorry. What was the question? >> So, we're it's to adopt this um public
ways and works to um have the ability to change speed limits from 30 to 25. Um we're adopting mass general law. >> Okay. >> But we've already reduced speed limits in certain areas, not having adopted this, which we should apparently should
not have done. So, my question was, were those are those valid until this is adopted? And how do we move forward seeing we got it a little backwards? >> It's a great question. I don't I don't know the exact answer. I assume they would still be valid. I think it's cleaner if we do it by Mass General law,
but I mean I I still think we have the ability to enact it on our own. I mean, it hasn't been challenged as far as if somebody were to get a speeding ticket um for somewhere between 25 to 30. So, I'm not sure. I mean, I'm happy to look into it. I don't know. I can't give you a great answer today. I mean obviously I
think we obviously need to adopt it so we can >> do it the right way. Correct. >> I'm just a little concerned with the confusion and the fact that we kind of jump. >> Mr. President, through you can I just I just want to save everybody time. I'm objecting to everything. So it's coming to next meeting. So we can continue to
ask questions but it's going to be objected to. So >> thank you counc. >> I just I know there are people in the audience uh if they want to go home now's the time to go home because I'm objecting to everything. So, just want to save time trying to >> Well, thank you. I'll have the answer
for the next time. >> With that, I yield. >> Thank you, council. Any further discussion? Motion to adopt has been made and seconded. Roll call. >> Motion to adopt. >> Roll call.
>> Roll call. >> Councilor Kadim, >> object. Is there any other objections? >> Hearing none, only one objection on record. Next purpose. >> Next, we have a letter from the mayor in a gift order to accept a donation of for services of a professionally trained
comfort and search and rescue dog for use by the emergency medical services division. >> Motion to adopt. Motion to adopt is made by councelor Raposo. Second, seconded by councelor Canuel. Discussion hearing none. Roll call. Roll call for item number two. Councelor
Kadim, >> object. >> Any further objections? Hearing none. Next order of business. Is >> it possible to object to the objection? >> Uh, no, you cannot. >> No further. >> Just so we're clear. So, so we're clear. I only ask for other objections just for parliamentarian purposes. Um, one
objection uh postponed uh to either the next regular meeting or a special meeting may be called. Um the more than one would be postponed to the next regular meeting that the council president could or could not call. Next order of business. >> Next we have it has to be to the next
regular schedule. >> Correct. >> Next order of business. We're not going to belabor this any longer. We've labored enough. >> Okay. Item three is a letter from the mayor and community development agency year 2 action plan.
>> Motion to further the committee on finance. Motion to refer to committee on finance has been made by councelor Raposo, seconded by councelor Canuel. Discussion hearing none. Roll call >> for item number three. Council kadine >> object. Hearing no other objections from
the council. Next order of business. >> I wanted to see the dog. >> Next order of business, guys. It's been a long night. Please stay focused. Item number four is a letter from the mayor to adopt appropriating 4,4459,57532
cents from community preservation act funds for fiscal year 2027 community projects. >> Motion to refer the committee on finance. >> Motion to refer to the items in the committee on finance has been made by councelor reposo. Seconded by councelor Pereira. Is there discussion hearing? None. Roll call >> on the referral.
>> Item number four for the referral. Councilor Kadim >> object. There are no other objections from the council. Next order of business. >> Item number five is the letter from the mayor. The following appropriations for 225,000
from the 4year 25 surplus resvenue to facilities capital. >> Motion to adopt. >> Motion to adopt has been made by councelor Raposo. >> Second. >> Seconded by councel Canuel. Is there discussion? >> Hearing none. Roll call.
But it item 5A for surplus revenue for two facilities. Council Kadim >> object. Harry. No other objections. Next order of business. >> We have $250,000 from 4 year 25 surplus revenue to the
police capital. >> Motion to adopt. >> Motion to adopt has been made by councelor Raposo. Seconded by councel Canuel. Is there discussion? Hearing none. Roll call. For item 5B, council kadine >> object. >> Hearing no other objections before the
council. Next order of business. >> Can we take items 5 C to F together? >> Taking items 5, C, D, C, C, D, E, and F. After reading has been made by councelor Kadim. >> Second. >> Seconded by councelor Hart. Is there discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor? I >> opposed. The eyes have it.
>> C3 opposed. >> Opposed. >> On taking the items together. See? >> Yep. >> Roll call on taking them all together. Please. >> Roll call. We're taking C, D, E, and F. That's the motion before us just to take it together. >> Council Kadim, >> yes.
>> Camaro, >> no. >> Can >> no. >> Dion, >> no. >> Hart, >> yes. >> Peekom, >> no. >> Per, >> no. >> Rapo, >> no. >> President Ponty,
>> no. >> Motion fails. Item C, >> $397,500 from 4 year 25 surplus revenue to fire and emergency services. >> Motion to adopt. Motion to adopt has been made by councelor Raposo, seconded by councelor Pereira. Is there
discussion? Hearing none. Roll call. >> Council kadim >> objects. >> Hearing no other objections before the council. Next order of business. 245,000 for year 25 surplus revenue to community maintenance capital. >> Motion to adopt.
>> Motion to adopt has been made by councelor Rapos, seconded by councel. Is there discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor? >> I object. >> Roll call. >> Kadim council.
>> This is just the Yeah. Object. >> Item D 5D. >> Yeah. >> Uh council in seat one objected. Hearing no other objections from this council. Next order of business. >> Item 5E 1.6 million from 4 year 25 surplus revenue to the demolition of
revolving fund. >> Motion to adopt. >> Motion to adopt made by councelor Raposo. >> Second. >> Seconded by councelor Canuel. Is there discussion? Hearing none. Roll call. >> Councilor Scadin. >> Object. Hearing an objection on record. Any further objections from the council? Hearing none. Next.
>> Motion to take a two-minute recess. Motion to take a two-minute recess has been made by council chimera, seconded by council Pereira. We are in recess for two minutes. Hey. Hey. Pay attention. >> Let's go.
>> City council meeting is now back in order. Madame clerk >> for item 5F, $3 million from FIA 25 surplus revenue to employer health trust fund. >> Motion to refer the committee on finance. >> Seconded. Motion to refer to the item to the committee on finance has been made by councelor Robo. Seconded by councelor
Hart discussion hearing none. Roll call. >> Councelor Scadin >> objects. >> Objection heard by the council. Hearing no other objections. Next order of business. >> That should be the last one. >> No one more. >> The letter from the mayor in communication to the city council regarding a resolution adopted at the
regular meeting of the city council held on March 24th, 2026. >> Motion to accept, place on file. Motion to accept the item and place it on file as been made by councelor Hart, seconded by council vice president Dion. Is there discussion? Hearing none. Roll call. >> Actually, >> council seat one. Discussion.
>> Is this the uh is that the veto? That's not a veto. >> Yep. >> Yes. This is the mayor's uh letter to the city council vetoing our resolution, which he can't do. But in the in the case that it is considered a order, uh
he took this position. So, I guess are we is this we just place it place it on file? Are we are we taking action on the the veto? That's not a veto. >> It's up to the city council. Um there's there's no nothing in the charter that allows the mayor to
override a city council resolution. The conversations I've had with corporation council and the mayor was it was essentially quote ceremonial uh that that happened. Um, and I put it on the agenda tonight. So, if the council wants to act to override the veto in case
there was some document from 1963 that said can't do it. >> Seconded. >> Motion to move the question has been made by councelor Camar, seconded by councelor Hart to move the question uh and vote on the item. Roll call
>> to accept and place on file for the communication. >> Nope. The order the item that's before us is just to move the question and debate. Okay to move the question. Council Kadin, >> yes. >> Camarra, >> yes. >> Can >> yes. >> Dion, >> yes. >> Hart,
>> yes. >> Pekkham, >> yes. >> Carrera, >> yes. >> Rapo, >> yes. >> President Ponty, >> yes. Madam clerk, reintroduce the item again, please. Item number six. >> Item number six is a letter from the mayor in communication to the city council regarding a resolution adopted at the regular meeting of the city
council held on March 24th, 2026. There's been a motion to accept it and place on file that has been made and seconded. Is there any further discussion on the item? Hearing none. Roll call >> for item number six. Council Kadim >> objects. >> Object. >> Council in seat one in counselor in seat
six have objected. Hearing no other objections before this council. Next order of business. >> Item number seven is a traffic commission recommending amendments to the traffic ordinances. Motion to refer to the committee on ordinance legis. >> Motion to refer to the ordinance committee has been made by councelor Raposo, seconded by councelor Hart.
Discussion hearing none. All those in favor? Opposed. The eyes have it. >> Next we have the communication for the chair of the board of elections update regarding polling locations. >> Motion to accept the communication and place it on files been made by councelor Hart. Seconded by councelor Raposo.
Discussion hearing. None. All those in favor? >> I >> opposed. The eyes have it. Item nine is a communication a letter to administration requesting the creation of a tourism advisory committee. >> Motion to approve. >> Motion to approve the committee's report has been made by councelor Raposo,
seconded by councelor Hart. Discussion councelor in seat seven councelor Pereira >> with the economic and development tourism um committee subcommittee. There was a meeting and the majority of people felt that um they would like to see an advisory committee put together made up
of five or seven members and that was um with several people that attended and they would be able to unify more of all of the activities and tourism and arts and things that are going on in the city. They thought that that would work
better than a tourism director. So with that being said, we'll send the letter and I thank you. >> I yield. >> Motion to approve has been made and second hearing. No further discussions. All those in favor? I >> opposed. The eyes have it. Item number 10 is an adoption for um I'm
sorry, committee on regulations recommending an adoption for the order of J&M Development Route Corp at 263 Gford Road, Westport for the removal of 12 feet on County Street of Curving for a total opening of 32 feet at 215 to 219 Earl Street.
>> Motion to adopt as amended. >> Motion to adopt as amended has been made by councelor Reposo, seconded by councel Pekham. Is there discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor? Oppose. The ice have it. Next, we have a committee on regulations recommending an order for Tucker Dashound LLC, 88 Earl Street for the
removal of 39 ft of curving on Laurel Street for a total opening of 82 feet at 25 Rhode Island A. >> Motion to adopt as amended. >> Motion to adopt as amended in harmony has been made by councelor in seat 8, councelor Reposo, seconded by councelor in seat 6, councelor Pekkham. Discussion
hearing none. All those in favor? I opposed. The eyes have it. Item 12 is committee on ordinance and legislation recommending proposed ordinance for traffic traffic handicap parking for Osborne Street North 20t east of Brown Street and Stewart Street South 29 ft
east of North Underwood. >> Motion to adopt emergency. >> Motion to adopt the emergency preamble has been made by councelor Raposo. Seconded by councel Pekkham. Discussion hearing none. All those uh all those roll call. >> Roll call. >> The emergency preamble. Preamble. Sorry. Council Kadim.
>> Yes. >> Camar. Yes. >> Canuel. >> Yes. >> Dion. >> Yes. >> Hart. >> Yes. >> Pekkham. >> Yes. >> Pereira. >> Yes. >> Rapo. >> Yes. >> President Ponty. >> Yes. Motion to pass through all readings. >> Motion to pass through all readings has been made by councelor Camra. Seconded
by councelor Raposo. Discussion hearing. None. All those in favor? Opposed? The eyes have. >> Item 13 is a proposed ordinance for traffic miscellaneous. >> Motion to pass through first reading. >> Motion to pass through item one. First reading has been made by councel. Reposer. Is there a second? Seconded by
councel Pekkham. Is there discussion? >> Hearing not. All those in favor? >> I opposed. The eyes have it. >> Item 14 is committee on public safety recommending the resolution for the committee on public safety convene with the police chief to discuss strategies to combat veular vandalism in the
President Avenue and Madison Street neighborhood. >> Motion to grant leave to withdraw. >> Motion to grant the item leave to withdraw has been made by councelor Raposo. Seconded by councel Pekkham. Discussion hearing none. All those in favor? >> I opposed. counselor in seat six. >> I will just touch upon it. It did come before public safety. The issue was
rectified just so the public has uh they're aware of the outcome of this. It was rectified. Deputy Chief W doesn't find a need um or stated that they had taken care of it. So, this didn't have to sit in public safety any longer. >> Thank you, councelor. Motion to grant the item leave to withdraw has been made and seconded. All those in favor?
Opposed? The eyes have it. Next order of business. >> Item 15 is a resolution. Whereas the Veteran Center located on Pine Street is currently housing the Veterans Association of Bristol County, which has done great work for our veteran community. And whereas the VAC will be
moving to a new location, providing the city of Fall River an opportunity to advance veteran services and programs beyond the scope of most local communities. And whereas the veteran service officer and the administration have spoken regarding basic upgrades to
the Pine Street building. Now therefore, be it resolved that the city council send a letter to the administration to advocate for a true and historic purpose for this building to further support our veterans. And be it further resolved that the committee on real estate facilities and housing convene with a
representative from the administration, the veteran service officer and the director of city operations to discuss the future plans for this building to ensure that this project is handled with the best interest of all veterans in the city of Fall River in mind. >> Motion to adopt. >> Second. Second
>> motion to adopt the resolution, excuse me, has been made by councelor Raposo, seconded by councelor Hart. Discussion, one of the co-sponsors of the resolution, councelor in C8, councelor repos. >> Thank you, Mr. President. So, on behalf of myself and uh councelor Pekham filed this resolution jointly because as we've
discussed uh the there is an historic opportunity at the Pine Street location once the VAC leaves um to really move veteran services forward. So I would call on my colleague, the chair of the committee on real estate to take this up and uh further this discussion. I yield.
>> Thank you. Councelor in seat six, also a co-sponsor of the resolution, councelor Peekham. >> Um yeah, I just echo what councelor reposo said. I was there the other day and I get to speak to Mr. uh Lebec of some ideas um some ideas back and forth. I think it'd be great to leave in the veteran community, offer and uh as we
had discussed, offer programs and kind of make far lead the way in the topic. Um but yeah, I I appreciate this and uh I hope you guys support it. Thank you. With that, I yield. >> Thank you. Motion to adopt has been made and seconded. Hearing no further discussions. All those in favor? I >> oppose. The eyes have it.
>> Item 16 is a resolution. Whereas applications for curb removals that result in a total opening of 16 ft or larger require approval from both the traffic commission and the city council prior to the work being performed. And whereas from time to time applications
are submitted after the work has already been completed without proper approval, but no additional fines are currently issued to disincentivize this violation. Now therefore, be it resolved that the committee on regulations convened with the director of engineering and planning
to discuss the creation of a fine for applications that are submitted after the curb removal work has been completed prior to being approved by the traffic commission and city council. >> Motion to adopt. >> Second. Motion to adopt has been made and seconded. Uh
let me start that again. Motion to adopt has been made by councelor reposo. Seconded by councelor >> Dion discussion council se to councelor chimera. >> Yeah I know the committee put this together as a group. I just think that the only thing we should probably add to this is maybe another line saying except
if it's an emergency that they have to do the work prior to getting authorization from counselors because who knows it could be some kind of crazy emergency that had to be done. Um, I just hope they would consider
adding that in that and the city would determine the the city plan would determine whether or not that qualifies as an emergency or not. >> The city planner. >> Sure. Well, guess that's what they're asking to city planner. >> Director engineer. >> Engineering. I'm sorry. Engineering
would determine whether or not that uh opening without permission would be qualified as an emergency. >> Is that a amendment? >> That's a form of an amendment. That is an amendment made by councelor Camra, seconded by councelor Kadeima. Uh any discussion on the amendment?
>> Hearing none. All those in favor? >> Opposed? The eyes have it. Motion to adopt as amended would be appropriate. So moved. Motion to adopt as amended has been made by councelor Raposo. Seconded by councel Pekham. Discussion hearing none. All those in favor opposed. The eyes have it.
>> Item 17 is another resolution. Whereas public bodies hold meetings and hearings to review, discuss, and vote upon pertinent issues that impact the residents and business owners of the city of Fall River, including the adoption of municipal and school budgets, the approval of license
applications, and the ordination of city codes. And whereas those have been those who have scheduling conflicts, disabilities are otherwise unable to attend these meetings in person should have the ability to view these meetings online to ensure easy access to information regarding the decisions made
by those who serve the city of Fall River on these public bodies. And whereas while minutes are required to be drafted and presented for all public body meetings in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, there is no current requirement within the city code or state laws that require the filming or
audio recording of these public meetings. Now therefore, be it resolved that the committee on ordinances and legislation convene with the city administrator, corporation council, and a representative of Fall River Government Television to discuss the creation of a proposed ordinance
requiring all public meetings to be recorded with either video or audio equipment to ensure the transparency and availability of these meetings to the public and to discuss potential charge changes with equipment and staffing needs to record these meetings. to
access the financial adjustments that may be that may be necessary to provide the service and to ensure compliance with the Massachusetts open meeting law. >> Motion to adopt. >> Motion to adopt the resolution made by councelor reposo, seconded by councelor Pereira. Discussion the sponsor of the resolution councelor and seedate councelor repos.
>> Thank you Mr. President. So the whole idea behind this is um you know the availability of city residents to see their government in action and especially not just us and the school committee but also our various boards and commissions that do make uh decisions and do record minutes per the
open meeting law. uh but also an opener conversation to uh our colleagues at forever government television as well because obviously um I think there's some scheduling issues that are that are are a problem sometimes when it comes to covering these meetings as well as the funding that may be needed. Um so I
think it's worth a discussion and I would invite um those listed in the resolution to come to the ordinance meeting if this is adopted to begin moving that forward. I yield. >> Thank you. Anything further hearing? None. Motion to adopt has been made and seconded. All those in favor? I oppose.
The eyes have it. Thank you. >> Item 18 is another resolution. Be it resolved that the city council hereby approves this issuance of city council official citations and authorizes the city council president to implement the changes necessary to make this process
more expedient for presentations in the community or in the city council chamber. >> Motion to adopt. >> I second it. >> I love it. But let her let her finish introducing the item. Oh, I read it. >> Such changes will include the following. City council official commendation
resolutions will be known as city council official citations. Citations will to be issued in the city council chamber will be presented by the sponsoring city councelor before the city council sitting at the committee on finance. Such presentation of citations will be the first item on the
committee's agenda which will list the recipients names and issued citations will also be listed on regular meeting agendas to be accepted and placed on file with the records of the city council. >> Motion to adopt. >> Motion to adopt has been made and seconded um just for everybody's own
quick edification. There was no real policy with this. If a counselor needed a resolution, they needed to wait. uh if if a counselor at any point wants to file a resolution, they needed to wait for a full meeting. It was just all over the place and I was trying to organize this and create a quick policy for it
and that's what we decided to do. >> Uh any further discussion on the item cons >> just curious so are we saying that if someone wants to issue a citation but they don't want to come we can we still take the citation? >> Absolutely. >> So it doesn't they don't have to be in the city. Okay. >> Correct. >> Thank you. >> Thank you. Hearing no further discussions. All those in favor?
Opposed? >> You guys have it. Thank you. Item 19 is a citation for Maria N. Sardina, a recipient of the F River Icon Award and for 65 years of dedicated service and generosity to the city of FIR. >> Motion to adopt. >> Motion to adopt has been made by
councelor uh Reposo, seconded by councelor Peekham. All those in favor? Opposed? The eyes have it. >> Motion to take 20 to 22 together, please. >> Motion to take items 20 through 22 together has been made by councelor Raposo, seconded by councelor vice president Dion. Is there discussion on
taking them together? >> Seat three. >> I'd like to have the item 23 taken separately. >> We're only doing items 2022 through 22. >> 20 to 22. >> Motion to take items 20 through 22 together has been made and seconded. All those in favor? Opposed? The eyes have
it. Madam clerk, >> for items 20 to 22, we have orders for jointly owned polls from Massachusetts Electric Company, DVA, National Grid, and Verizon New England, Inc. for one new jointly owned pole location for
Arizona Street, Bedford Street, and East Main Street. >> Motion to adopt. >> Motion to adopt has been made by councelor Raposo. Seconded by council vice president Dion. Is there discussion? Hearing not. All those in favor? Opposed? The eyes have it. Thank you. >> Item 23 is an order for jointly owned
pools from the Massachusetts Electric Company, DVA National Grid, and Verizon New England, Inc. for Locust Street. >> Motion public works and transportation. >> Second. Motion refer to the items of public works and transportation has been made by councel Pekom, seconded by councel Canuel. Is there discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor?
Opposed? The eyes have it. >> Item 24 is Massachusetts Electric Company, DVA National Grid and Verizon New England, Inc. for one new jointly owned pole location on Northeastern A. >> Motion to adopt. >> Motion to adopt has been made by counceloro. Seconded by councel Pekkham.
Is there discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor? Opposed? The eyes have it. Item 25 is another um new jointly owned pole location for Massachusetts Electric Company, DBA National Grid and Verizon New England, Inc. for Peekom Street. >> Motion to adopt. >> Motion to adopt Peekom Street has been
made by councelor Reposo, seconded by councelor Pekkham. Discussion hearing none. All those in favor? I oppose. The eyes have it. Madam clerk, um if you can for item 23, just send a letter uh to the individual who wrote the objection uh letting them know the results of that and a future meeting will be called if
you can. >> We'll do. >> Thank you. Item 26. Next order of business. >> Motion to take items 26, 27, 28 together. >> Motion to take items 26, 27, and 28, 28 together. Has been made by council and 29 >> and 29. >> Motion to take items 26 through 29
together after reading. Has been made by councelor. Seconded by council vice president Dion. Discussion hearing none. All those in favor? Opposed? The eyes have it. Madam clerk, read them into the record, please. >> Okay. For items 26 through 29, we have police fee for four unlicenses for taxi
cab drivers for William Lewis. Auto body shop license transfer for auto body shop license number 93 located at 151 Cool Street from Albert Piva DBA Pis Auto Repair and Body Shop to Alexander Maduras DBA Al Py Auto Body, I'm sorry,
Auto Repair and Body Shop. An auto repair shop license renewal for Naomi Sor's DBA RS performance and repair at 10:30 Dy Street and an auto repair shop license transfer for auto repair shop license number 167 located at 151 Cove
Street from Albert Pyra DBA Pyvis Auto Repair and Body Shop to Alexander Maderas DBA Al Pyvis Auto Repair and Body Shop. >> Motion to adopt. >> Second. >> Motion to adopt all of them. 26- 29 has been made and seconded. Hearing no further discussions, all those in favor?
I oppose. The eyes have it. >> Item 30, we have claims. >> Motion refer to corporation council. >> Motion to refer the item to corporation council has been made by councelor reposo. Seconded by councel canuel. Is there discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor? >> Opposed? The eyes have it. >> Motion to take items 31, 32, 33, and 34
together. >> Second. >> Motion to take items 31, 32, 33, 34 together. Has been made by councelor Kamar. Seconded by councelor reposo. discussion hearing. None. All those in favor? I opposed. The eyes have it. >> To take item um for items 31 to 34, we
have a city engineer street opening less than 5 years on Leaf Street. Another street opening less than 5 years on Harvard Street. And another street opening less than 5 years on Hotwell Street. And we have a number of drain layer licenses for approval. >> Motion to approve. >> Motion to approve items 31, 32, 33, and
34. Has been made by councelor Raposo, seconded by councelor Hart. Is there discussion? hearing none. All those in favor? Opposed? The eyes have it. >> Item 35 is planning board minutes. >> Motion to accept and place on file. >> Motion to accept and place on file has
been made by councelor Pekkham, seconded by councelor Hart. Is there discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor? >> Opposed. The eyes have it. >> Motion to take 36 through 41 together. >> Motion to take items 36 through 41 together after reading have been made by councelor Raposo, seconded by councelor
Pekham. Is there discussion? Harry? None. All those in favor? >> Opposed? The eyes have it. >> For items 36 to 41, we have city council minutes for the joint meeting of the city council in school committee held on March 10th, 2026. The committee on finance held March 10th, 2026. Regular
meeting of the city council held on March 10th, 2026. Public hearings held on March 24th, 2026. Committee on finance held on March 24th, 2026. and the regular meeting of the city council held on March 24th, 2027. >> Motion to approve has been made by
councelor Pekham, seconded by councelor Raposa. Is there discussion? Hearing none, all those in favor? Opposed? The eyes have it. Item 42 is a notice for the Department of Public Utilities of an inquiry in request for comments for a
reinvestigation by the Department of Public Utilities on its own motion into gas and electric delivery charges and bill redesigned with a comment deadline of April 30th, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. >> Motion to accept the place on file. >> Motion to accept the item and place it on file has been made by councelor Rapo,
seconded by councel Pekkham. Is there discussion? Hearing not, all those in favor? Opposed? You guys have it? And lastly, we have a report from the committee on finance at a meeting held on April 14th, 2026. Voted unanimously to recommend that the accompanying
orders be referred to the full council for action. This is for the fiscal year 2027 budget for the water and sewer division. >> Motion to adopt. >> Seconded. >> Motion to adopt has been made by councelor Raposo, seconded by councelor Hart. Is there discussion? Hearing none. All those in favor? Opposed? I
>> councilman seat one opposed. The eyes have it. >> That's all we have today. >> Motion to adjurnn has been made by councelor Hart, seconded by councel Pekham. Discussion hearing none. All those in favor? The eyes have it. Good night. >> They're coming. Hey, hey,
hey. Hey, hey, hey.