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4 days ago

Public safety committee backs study of a shared mobile command center after blizzard response After reviewing the city's response to a recent blizzard, the Fall River City Public Safety Committee voted to send a letter to the mayor supporting study of a shared mobile command center and to ask executive staff for recommendations on upgrading the emergency operations center (EOC).

Fall River's Public Safety Committee is pushing for a mobile command center after a blizzard revealed gaps in emergency response—are we ready for the next storm?

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1 month ago

Fall River City panel approves $32.4 million FY2027 sewer and stormwater budget with no rate increase The Fall River City sewer/stormwater commission approved a $32,404,108 FY2027 budget, keeping the sewer rate at $8.11 and the stormwater fee at $50 per ERU per quarter; the budget adds one FTE for damage-prevention/inspection and cites higher electricity and permit compliance costs offset by operational savings and lower debt service.

Fall River City has just approved a $32.4 million sewer and stormwater budget for FY2027, holding rates steady despite rising costs and adding new positions for enhanced oversight!

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1 month ago

Committee asks counsel to draft ordinance for screening committee for police, fire and EMS chiefs amid civil service changes The committee asked corporation counsel to draft an ordinance creating a local screening committee to vet candidates for police, fire and EMS chiefs. HR explained civil service timing; councillors debated the mayor’s appointment authority, transparency and how an assessment center or civil service list would interact with a local committee.

Fall River is taking a bold step toward transparency by proposing a local screening committee for selecting police, fire, and EMS chiefs—will this change the way leaders are chosen in your community?

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1 month ago

Fall River committee backs stricter assisted‑living inspections after Gabriel House fire The Ordinances & Legislation Committee voted to convene city lawyers, the fire chief and inspectional services to pursue an ordinance for stricter safety rules and more frequent inspections at assisted‑living facilities following lessons from the Gabriel House fire; the committee also approved sending a letter to state legislators backing several state commission recommendations.

Fall River is taking bold steps to enhance safety at assisted-living facilities, pushing for stricter inspections and new protocols in the wake of the tragic Gabriel House fire.

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1 month ago

Fall River declares emergency and bans parking, nonessential driving ahead of 18–24 inch storm Mayor Coogan declared a city emergency as Fall River braces for a forecast 18–24 inches of heavy, wet snow, imposing a parking ban (01:00) and a driving ban for nonessential travel from midnight through 12:00 Monday; schools will be closed and an emergency shelter is set up at Cuss Middle School.

Fall River is bracing for a massive winter storm with 18-24 inches of heavy snow, prompting a state of emergency and strict travel bans.

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1 month ago

Fall River ZBA denies request for commercial dog kennel after owners and neighbors testify about deaths and licensing concerns The Zoning Board denied a request to allow a commercial dog daycare/kennel at 1089 Wilson Road after testimony from owners, supporters and opponents who alleged past unlicensed boarding and two dog deaths; the board cited licensing and public-safety issues in voting to deny.

The Fall River Zoning Board has denied a commercial dog kennel permit after heartbreaking testimonies revealed shocking health issues and licensing failures that led to the tragic deaths of two beloved pets.

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1 month ago

Fall River board approves series of tax abatements and exemptions, denies several claims On Jan. 14, 2026, the Fall River City board voted unanimously to approve a set of statutory exemptions (90–98) and multiple property abatements, denied a personal property claim (PP4) and several other abatements, and entered an executive session to review exemption matters under cited GLC statutes.

The Fall River City board made significant moves by approving a series of tax abatements and exemptions while denying several claims, leaving residents eager for details on the implications.

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1 month ago

Roger Williams students present survey and recommendations for Fall River Waterfront Cultural District Roger Williams University preservation students presented a survey of eight waterfront sites and recommended expanded National Register research, interpretive panels, and further study; the commission said CPC and a $28,000 matching grant would fund next steps and a $20,000 CLG request for the Bank Street Armory advances to a March 13 state board review.

Roger Williams University students are uncovering Fall River’s rich industrial history with a groundbreaking survey that could reshape the Waterfront Cultural District!

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1 month ago

Fall River committee reviews snow-removal response after Jan. 25–26 storm City and public-safety officials told a City Council committee they mobilized roughly 80 plowing units during the Jan. 25–26, 2026 storm, cited equipment and staffing limits, and urged recruiting more private vendors, wider use of brine inserts and clearer vendor pay/insurance terms.

Fall River's recent snowstorm revealed major challenges in city operations, from equipment limitations to vendor recruitment, sparking a vital discussion on improving response strategies for future storms.

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1 month ago

Fall River ZBA rejects Holy Name Church request to pave 70-space parking lot The Zoning Board of Appeals voted against a special permit request from Holy Name Church to increase impervious coverage for a proposed 70-space lot, after months of plan revisions and a lengthy public debate over neighborhood impacts and stormwater mitigation.

Holy Name Church's ambitious plan for a 70-space parking lot was denied by the Zoning Board, sparking heated debates about safety, neighborhood impact, and alternative solutions.

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1 month ago

Fall River committee approves interim HR director posting and authorizes up to $100,000 for outside investigations The committee approved advertising the human-resources director post as an interim role while the district considers structural HR changes and authorized the superintendent to contract external investigative counsel (cap $100,000) to centralize outstanding investigations.

Fall River School Committee takes bold steps to tackle personnel investigation backlogs by approving an interim HR director and allocating $100,000 for outside counsel!

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1 month ago

Fall River School Committee presses city over $6 million net‑school‑spending discrepancy; superintendent to submit numbers to DOR Committee members said recent city financial sheets reduced prior reimbursement figures, creating a disputed $6 million shortfall in net school spending; the superintendent and CFO said they will submit a revised calculation to the Department of Revenue for clarification.

Fall River School Committee members are sounding the alarm over a shocking $6 million discrepancy in net school spending, raising serious questions about the city's financial practices.

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1 month ago

Parents and educators are demanding urgent action from the Fall River School Committee over alarming safety issues and teacher shortages at Sylvia Elementary, with one paraprofessional recounting a harrowing assault that left her hospitalized.

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2 months ago

Fall River CPC approves $4.1M in project awards, splits on bonding plan Fall River’s Community Preservation Committee voted to fund a slate of open-space, historic‑preservation and community‑housing projects on Feb. 9, approving major awards (parklet, parking, land acquisition and historic‑preservation grants) while narrowly rejecting several bonding options before agreeing a limited 10‑year bond package for parks.

Fall River's Community Preservation Committee just allocated over $4 million to boost parks, historic sites, and community housing—but a heated bonding debate could change everything!

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2 months ago

Council adopts capital transfers for fire and police; approves $350,000 for outside legal costs Council voted to adopt transfer orders: $1.23 million to fire capital (including a used pumper), $656,000 to police capital for cruisers and motorcycles, and $350,000 to administrative services to cover high outside‑counsel litigation costs.

Fall River City Council just approved a staggering $1.23 million for fire and police capital improvements, including a vital used pumper and new cruisers—find out how these investments will impact community safety!

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2 months ago

After failing to win SAFER grant, Fall River plans a larger future request and outlines staffing targets Fire Chief Jeffrey Bacon said the city's SAFER grant application for five positions failed to advance in computer scoring because it did not materially change NFPA 1710 compliance; the department plans a larger submission next cycle and outlined staffing targets (roughly 192–195 budgeted firefighters, 200 without overtime) to reduce overtime reliance.

Fall River's fire department faces setbacks in securing vital SAFER grant funding, prompting a bold strategy to boost staffing and cut overtime costs.

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2 months ago

Fall River budget update: revenues on track, winter costs and law suits push timing shortfalls City financial staff told the council Q2 revenues and expenses largely track expectations but line‑item timing and a cluster of known costs — snow removal, outside legal expenses and EMS reimbursement timing — create temporary shortfalls the administration says will correct as reimbursements and hires arrive.

Fall River's budget is on track, but timing issues and unexpected costs from snow removal and legal fees are causing temporary shortfalls—how will the city address these challenges?

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2 months ago

Park board votes to deny proposal for broadband cabinets in parks, asks council for clearer benefits to parks After a lengthy discussion about fee structure and maintenance burden, the Fall River City Park Board voted to deny a proposal to place broadband equipment cabinets in city parks, saying the city’s existing fee ordinance provides no clear revenue or direct benefit to the parks department.

The Fall River City Park Board has unanimously voted against placing private broadband cabinets in local parks, citing insufficient benefits for park operations and maintenance concerns.

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2 months ago

Policy subcommittee sends revised member-authority language to full committee for first read The Fall River City Policy Subcommittee voted to refer an amended BBA governance policy (defining school committee oversight and special‑meeting procedures) to the full school committee as a first read; members debated how narrowly to limit review of superintendent personnel decisions.

The Fall River City Policy Subcommittee has sparked a heated debate over the governance of superintendent personnel decisions, raising questions about the limits of oversight and authority.

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2 months ago

Subcommittee questions storm overtime, snow removal and bus disruptions; seeks city operations director at next meeting Members pressed facilities staff on long overtime shifts, deconflicted responsibilities with city snow removal, salt stockpiles, and bus reroutes that left students walking extra blocks; the committee asked for a clarifying memo and voted to invite the city's operations director to discuss coordination.

After a major winter storm, the committee raised serious concerns about overtime shifts, bus disruptions, and the need for better coordination with city snow removal efforts.

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2 months ago

Fall River City CPC previews roughly $1.5M in available funds, weighs bonding for shovel‑ready projects The Community Preservation Committee heard staff estimates that the city will have roughly $1.5 million available for allocations this year (with up to $1.7M–$1.8M possible if prior awards are returned), discussed the 10% housing set‑aside and bonding options for large open‑space projects, and reviewed a working score sheet from staff.

Fall River's Community Preservation Committee is set to decide how to allocate nearly $1.8 million in funds, but will they bond for urgent projects or wait for reimbursements?

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2 months ago

Fall River council updates borrowing rules after months-long debate on voter oversight Councilors debated whether to update decades-old dollar thresholds that trigger voter approval for bond authorizations and instead adopted a 70% statutory-debt-limit safeguard; council advanced the loan-order ordinance through second reading and ordained the amended language after heated floor debate.

Fall River city councilors are shaking things up by modernizing borrowing rules, igniting a heated debate on voter oversight and financial safeguards!

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2 months ago

Council refers Central Fire Station renovation plan after union raises asbestos, scope concerns City officials presented a renovation plan for Fall River's Central Fire Station with an estimated $2.1 million interior scope and a separate $644,100 historic facade project. Union leaders said independent tests found asbestos throughout the basement and living quarters; the council voted to refer the item to the Real Estate Committee for more oversight and documentation.

Fall River's ambitious $2.1 million renovation of the Central Fire Station is now under scrutiny after alarming asbestos concerns raised by union leaders, prompting the council to seek further oversight.

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2 months ago

Durfee students, union and community demand answers after construction teacher placed on leave Seniors and union leaders urged the Fall River School Committee to prioritize student instruction and resolve a seven‑week leave affecting the construction craft laborers (CCL) program, while also calling for personnel concerns to be handled privately and in accordance with policy.

Durfee High School students and union leaders are demanding answers as a seven-week absence of their construction craft laborers teacher jeopardizes crucial hands-on training and certifications essential for their futures.

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2 months ago

Committee asks administration to explore audits and document net‑school‑spending reimbursements after CFO raises discrepancies The committee instructed the superintendent to solicit RFQs for audits of facilities and HR and asked for documentation on insurance stop‑loss and prescription rebates after the CFO said previous reporting may have omitted reimbursements affecting net school spending.

A heated budget debate in the Fall River School Committee reveals shocking discrepancies in financial reporting that could impact millions in funding for the district.

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2 months ago

At a glance: board approves contracts, annual plans and procedural items The board approved minutes and multiple contracts (roof substantial completion certificate, sprinkler services at $219,600, valve/piping at $14,553, animal-control supplemental contract $40,144.80), authorized annual plan submissions to HUD and the state, approved participation in the state property insurance program, carried a slate of officers and voted to enter executive session.

The Fall River Housing Authority just made significant strides by approving vital contracts and plans, including a major roof project and essential animal control services!

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2 months ago

Council advances loan‑order ordinance amid debate over voter oversight and debt thresholds After a lengthy debate, the Fall River City Council moved a loan‑order authorization ordinance forward in second reading and enrollment while agreeing to refer related amendment proposals to committee for further work on voter oversight and debt limits.

The Fall River City Council is at a crossroads, debating how much power voters should have over the city’s debt decisions—will they safeguard taxpayer voices or shift to a new approach?

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2 months ago

Housing board lets executive director approve Maple Gardens change orders up to $50,000 The Fall River Housing Authority authorized its executive director to approve change orders in the field for the Maple Gardens Gateway project with a $50,000 cap, while requiring designer and state construction-advisor concurrence and monthly updates; National Grid electrical work (~$62,000) was discussed as a separate scope.

The Fall River Housing Authority has empowered its executive director to swiftly approve change orders up to $50,000 for the Maple Gardens Gateway project, ensuring no delays in this $8.2 million state-funded initiative.

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2 months ago

Fall River Community Preservation Committee reviews eligibility applications for historic preservation grants The Community Preservation Committee heard presentations from more than a dozen applicants Thursday, including Battleship Cove, the Forward Historical Society and several churches and nonprofits seeking funds for windows, masonry and preservation studies. Members focused questions on phasing, contractor availability, deed restrictions and project funding.

Fall River's historic preservation efforts are heating up as the Community Preservation Committee reviews ambitious projects aimed at restoring the city's cultural gems!

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2 months ago

Fall River CPC opens funding round, hears pitches for parks, land protection and a sensory playground At its Jan. 8 meeting, the Fall River Community Preservation Committee heard eligibility presentations for park, land-protection and preservation projects including a $500,000 Father Kelly Park parking lot, a $400,000 Columbia Street parklet, and a $200,000 ask for an Abbott Court sensory playground; committee members pressed for cost breakdowns and phasing plans.

The Fall River Community Preservation Committee is considering exciting proposals for parks, land protection, and even a unique sensory playground for children with autism—could your favorite project make the cut?

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