Fall River Now

Transcript Welcome to Fall River Now. This is our weekly recap for the week ending October 23, 2026, where we cover the most significant local government news. Topping the news this week, public health officials took enforcement action against local businesses. The Fall River Board of Health voted during a virtual meeting on Monday to suspend tobacco sales at two city stores. Board members Thomas...

Meeting summary The Fall River School Committee's Facilities and Operations Subcommittee met to review several ongoing capital and operational projects. The meeting began with discussions regarding previous cleanout operations at the Wiley School, where committee members expressed concern over the discovery and shredding of old human resources and payroll files containing Social Security numbers,...

Meeting summary The Fall River Commission on Disability met on October 21, 2026, and approved the previous meeting minutes from September 9, 2026. The primary focus of the meeting was reconsidering a funding request from Diman Regional Vocational Technical High School for an evacuation chair (Stryker chair). The item had been tabled at the previous meeting pending a legal opinion from Corporation...

Meeting summary The Fall River Traffic Board met on October 21, 2026, to address a variety of traffic, parking, and school safety matters across the city. The board approved a 72-foot curb cut for a vacant parcel at 11 Dyer Street following confirmation from the engineering department that there were no objections. They also approved the installation of a four-way stop at Ray Street and Weetamoe S...

Meeting summary The Fall River Historical Commission met on October 20, 2026, to consider several historic preservation matters and requests for Community Preservation Act (CPA) funding support. The Commission approved adding 403 Anawan Street, the former Catholic Youth Organization (CYO) building currently home to Bernardo's Boxing and Fitness, to the Fall River Register of Significant Structures...

Meeting summary The Fall River Community Preservation Committee met on October 19, 2026, to review project eligibility determinations, discuss marketing outreach, and plan for FY28 funding evaluations. The committee voted unanimously to approve the September 21, 2026 meeting minutes and addressed determinations for three specific applications following guidance from state Community Preservation Ac...

Meeting summary The Fall River Board of Health held a virtual meeting on October 19, 2026, chaired by Thomas Cory, with board members Michael J. Coughlin and Stephen Gagliardi, MD, and Health and Human Services Director Tess Curran present. The board promptly approved the minutes from the August 31, 2026 meeting before reviewing and unanimously approving two tattoo apprenticeship applications: one...

Meeting summary On October 16, 2026, the Fall River Fire Department held an awards ceremony to honor the department members who responded to the catastrophic Gabriel House fire that occurred on July 13, 2025. Brockton Fire Chief and President of the Fire Chiefs Association of Massachusetts Brian Nardelli served as master of ceremonies. The opening and closing prayers were offered by Father Michael...

Transcript Welcome to Fall River Now. Here's your look at the week ahead in Fall River city government. On Monday afternoon at three thirty, the Board of Health meets to hold hearings on alleged second tobacco violations under the Act to Modernize Tobacco Control. The board will examine cases involving the International Smoker Shop on Pleasant Street and Stop N Save on Robeson Street. Members will...

Transcript Welcome to Fall River Now. This is our weekly recap for the week ending October 16, 2026, where we cover the most significant local government news. Topping the news this week, the Fall River City Council took action on housing and community health. During Tuesday's meeting, the council approved housing tax exemptions following a public hearing and a Committee on Finance session. Counci...

Meeting summary On October 14, 2026, the City of Fall River hosted a public screening and panel discussion of the documentary 'Unless Something Goes Terribly Wrong' at Morton Middle School in recognition of 'Imagine a Day Without Water.' Administrator of Community Utilities Paul Furlan and Mayor Paul E. Coogan opened the event by emphasizing the vital importance of municipal water and wastewater s...

Meeting summary The Fall River Zoning Board of Appeals met on October 15, 2026, to address old and new business concerning property variances and special permits. Chairman Joseph Pereira presided over the hearing alongside Vice Chairman John Frank III, Clerk James C. Calkins, alternate members Eric Kelly and Alexis Anselmo, and Director of Engineering & Planning Daniel Aguiar. Two items regard...

Meeting summary The Fall River Planning Board met on October 14, 2026, to address several old and new business items concerning roadway reconstructions and Approval Not Required (ANR) subdivision plans. In old business, the board voted unanimously to table the roadway reconstruction plan for Spring Street to November at the applicant's request. The board also reviewed a roadway reconstruction appl...

Meeting summary The Fall River Board of Library Trustees held its meeting on October 14, 2026, opening with the approval of prior meeting minutes before receiving the administrator's report from Library Director Fellisha Desmarais. Desmarais reported on a busy August and September, which included covering responsibilities during the vacancy left by former assistant administrator Kayla King. Follow...

Meeting summary The Fall River City Council convened on October 13, 2026, conducting a public hearing, a Committee on Finance meeting, and a regular City Council session. During the Committee on Finance meeting and citizens' input, business owner Todd Salpetro and attorney Seth Aiken raised urgent concerns regarding open drug use along South Main Street and the distribution of harm reduction kits...

Meeting summary The City Council Committee on Real Estate, Facilities & Housing met on October 13, 2026, to address multiple long-delayed municipal building and infrastructure projects. During citizen input, School Committee Member Kevin Aguiar voiced severe frustration over delays and poor inter-departmental communication concerning the window replacement project at the School Department Admi...

Transcript Welcome to Fall River Now. Here's your look at the week ahead in Fall River city government. The City Council meets Tuesday evening at 5:55 with several major financial and policy items on the table. The Committee on Finance will take up the city's Capital Improvement Plan, along with municipal fund transfers and appropriations. Councilors will also consider requests from Mayor Paul E....

Transcript Welcome to Fall River Now. This is our weekly recap for the week ending October 9, 2026, where we cover the most significant local government news. Topping the news this week, the Fall River Tax Increment Financing Board approved three residential tax exemption agreements on Tuesday. The deals support redevelopment projects applying for Housing Development Incentive Program and historic...

Meeting summary The Fall River Housing Authority met on October 8, 2026, and handled several routine administrative and modernization matters. During resident input, Ed Gagnon of the Fall River Joint Tenants Council reported on the Massachusetts Union of Public Housing annual conference in Marlborough, noting that Vice Chairman David Underhill was reelected as chairman for an additional two-year t...

Meeting summary On October 9, 2026, the City of Fall River hosted a Domestic Violence Awareness Month event featuring the Clothesline Project at Fall River City Hall. Organized in partnership with the Bristol County District Attorney's Office and the Women's Center at SSTAR, the event aimed to raise awareness, break the silence surrounding domestic abuse, and honor survivors and victims. Mayor Pau...

Meeting summary The Fall River Park Board met on October 7 to address park use permits, cemetery operations, and tree removal requests. The board began by approving the September meeting minutes and granting a request for a pickleball tournament at Father Travassos/Kennedy Park. Chris Martin from the Cemetery and Tree Department and Darren Medeiros discussed ongoing maintenance and security issues...

Meeting summary The Fall River Licensing Board convened for a special meeting on Wednesday, October 7, 2026, chaired by Gregory Brilhante alongside board member Michael Perreira. Chairman Brilhante opened the meeting by reading the required Open Meeting Law statement and public comment policy under City Charter Section 9-18. There were no citizens signed up for public input. The board took up an a...

Meeting summary The Fall River School Committee held its regular meeting on October 7, 2026, opening with a moment of silence in honor of former Superintendent James Gibney, who served the district for 32 years before his passing on September 28. During public comment, educators and community members advocated for the district's implementation of the state's PROTECT Act to ensure structured safegu...

Meeting summary The Fall River Sewer Commission met on October 6, 2026, to address septage hauling permits, major engineering contracts, plant equipment authorizations, and staffing updates. The Commission began by approving the minutes from June 16, 2026, and granted permits for three septage hauling companies—Croom Sanitation Inc., 1620 Sanitation, and Pure Flow LLC—to discharge at the wastewate...

Meeting summary The Fall River City Council Committee on Ordinances and Legislation met on October 6, 2026, to address a heavy agenda of municipal code revisions, resolutions, and operational updates. During citizen input, resident and Marine Corps veteran Mallory Klonowski raised urgent concerns regarding the deteriorated and unmaintained condition of Judge Street and Greenleaf Street. The commit...