[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6086284,"mediaKeyId","2897748-24dea95043aec4620b6732375c829cc0","parentId",2897748,"title","Council moves short-term rental ordinance to second reading, sets $500 annual registration fee","audioSeconds",869,"startMs",3775000,"endMs",4644000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2897748-24dea95043aec4620b6732375c829cc0&start=3775&end=4644","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2897748-24dea95043aec4620b6732375c829cc0/thumbnail_3775000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6086284/Fall-River-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Council-moves-short-term-rental-ordinance-to-second-reading-sets-500-annual-registration-fee","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6086284-1a90e318dca260d241808eb9b089cbe0/orig.mp4?Expires=1773677143&Signature=e3skqI~tktvd5AZyeFkJO7gXiX-uHtR5sHDGx7Kbcx77mwdRizD9bPDoQIMVZUQqywBLwmgMDJR8twuLIFO2-W0qVqZ9yH4iozlDu1lBHC8qwl-D1Uf6FGQtGL-aLiMojrhSQh~Ex2kWxtJxku6SEgkT-MXIB0zZFvviZYioCfjlL7ZnYoIKBJU07~-Un7CbvXw6NYNkAfsR-mqgogYmJyL47-ehQJ8OMpEkiVqlGJC~EfpNvcG0mu2Ufh0smyzglvkw0irpQtpWLuU3xxvvh-7TPbWqhuhaGX0JRjfx~tanxxgsH6uyT~Jrs3amZvNxtA2N~NTuxi9IBUEFTc6ddg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Fall River City, MA","date","2025-04-07T23:47:31Z","article","Fall River City Council voted to advance a proposed short-term rental ordinance to second reading and adopted an amendment setting the annual registration fee at $500.

The ordinance, as discussed in the meeting, would allow short-term rentals (listings such as Airbnb) only where the owner occupies the unit for a minimum of nine months per year; residential units in single-family zoning districts would not be eligible. Corporation Counsel Alan Rumsey and Building Commissioner Glenn Hathaway told councilors the draft was expressly designed to prevent investor-owned units used solely for short-term rentals from reducing long-term housing supply.

Councilors asked how residency would be proven. The proposed approval process requires a sworn affidavit and supporting documents such as a driver's license plus a utility bill or voter-registration evidence to show the owner's primary residence. Staff noted a statutory state registration also exists and requires commercial-style insurance (the transcript references a $1 million policy requirement under state rules); that state registration and insurance would apply whether or not the local ordinance is adopted.

Councilors also discussed operational issues and enforcement. Hathaway said building-code and safety standards apply; staff cited past cases in which short-term rental activity was shut down because properties lacked required means of egress or other code compliance. Hathaway recounted a downtown case where an owner operating weekend short-term rentals was closed because the first-floor apartment lacked a second means of egress and appropriate accessibility.

On fees: councilors proposed and adopted on the floor an amendment setting the annual registration fee at $500 (the clerk's office will finalize fee-schedule placement). The council then voted to recommend passage to second reading as amended; the meeting recorded the motions, seconds and \"Aye\" voices. The transcript does not include a roll-call tally by name for the vote.

Why it matters: the ordinance aims to preserve long-term rental housing by preventing investor-run short-term rental conversions in single-family zones and by requiring owner-occupancy for units that qualify for short-term rental use.

Next steps: the ordinance will return for second reading with the $500 annual registration fee included; staff said the clerk's office will finalize application and registration procedures and that state registration/insurance requirements remain in force.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","4.7.2025 Fall River City Council - Ordinances & Legislation","oneSentenceSummary","Fall River City Council voted to advance a short-term rental ordinance to second reading and approved an amendment setting the annual registration fee at $500.","taxTitle","Fall River City, Bristol County, Massachusetts","taxId",4215,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6086289,"Council hears staff on sober homes, lodging and enforcement after court guidance",1705,2055000,3760000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2897748-24dea95043aec4620b6732375c829cc0&start=2055&end=3760","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2897748-24dea95043aec4620b6732375c829cc0/thumbnail_2055000.jpg","/articles/6086289/Fall-River-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Council-hears-staff-on-sober-homes-lodging-and-enforcement-after-court-guidance","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6086289-c88c8505d5a6642ff0e4ae6dc369f119/orig.mp4?Expires=1773677143&Signature=Ug~7NZ4JjyEVfdTqb-0ccfnhvP605jpISXedfF21WVJc8sSmwGdjNSfbpdYpkcp7-7p7UBMHy7L29WmjHmLlyXSxKFmDgxGXc1bG~ghmSCnRLxLmSSGWs~IwY8pP~iLyqGQIsogv7KEj8PUM02uB3E0RV6HCtc1d-PeXJ8foq1eSDOpR1JwmpaHNfHtlHptAqVKHGno~bPi0Y1uuSVETaF96mihQGKhKzyT4e4-uqUuK6tc6WiVcxXmArIF1gCAShpAALpPd-~P-DQsH7OcWPR~9q7JPFm7qWwAYO1lhH~zh6N3aTquxrh5GefS4xJmTxQnBfvvMxDaZipfsT99aAQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fall River City Council received an extended briefing from Corporation Counsel Alan Rumsey and Building Commissioner Glenn Hathaway on lodging houses, sober homes and enforcement challenges following recent court guidance.

Rumsey told the council the case BAK Realty v. City of Pittsburgh (described in the meeting as a recent decision) clarifies municipalities may define \"family\" for zoning and that sober homes that meet the municipal family definition must be treated the same as any other family residence. \"If they fit the definition of family, then you can't discriminate them,\" he said. Conversely, houses that do not meet the local definition of family would be treated as boarding or lodging houses and be subject to the city's lodging-house rules.

Hathaway explained local practice and code distinctions: sober homes typically limit occupancy to five or fewer residents and often include a house monitor or 24-hour supervision; that threshold generally avoids the sprinkler requirement that applies under the building code to larger lodging houses or group residences. \"The code has relinquished the sprinkler system for the sober home community, with 5 and under,\" Hathaway said. For properties with more than five unrelated occupants, building-code requirements (sprinklers, inspections, certification and quarterly fire inspections for sprinkler systems) apply.

Councilors and staff discussed enforcement and practical problems. Hathaway and other staff recounted several enforcement cases in Fall River where managers or out-of-town investors converted multi-family properties into higher-occupancy residences without appropriate permits or code compliance; the city closed some problem properties after fire-safety or complaints revealed unsafe or illegal conversions. Staff also described cases where out-of-town providers placed people in Fall River but continued to provide services from their originating city, creating coordination problems for case management and oversight.

Several councilors asked whether the city should adopt a specific local ordinance for sober homes or include sober-home rules in zoning. Rumsey and Hathaway cautioned that sober homes may be protected by state law and related legal doctrines (the transcript referenced the \"Dover amendment\" and state disability protections), and that many enforcement tools already exist through the building code. Hathaway said he did not think a new ordinance was strictly necessary for lodging houses because building-code tools were sufficient, but council members signaled interest in studying whether zoning or targeted rules could improve proactive oversight without running afoul of state protections.

Why it matters: councilors said they want to avoid both unsafe overcrowding and the displacement of legitimate supportive housing. Staff emphasized the focus of enforcement should be on noncompliant operators rather than certified sober providers. Hathaway and other staff urged residents and service providers to report suspicious activity so inspections and enforcement can act quickly.

Next steps: staff will continue to use building-code enforcement and work with the city's homeless-service partners to identify noncompliant facilities; council members asked for follow-up analysis about whether any locally tailored zoning language would be legally defensible and useful in enforcement.

","Fall River City Council received an extended briefing from Corporation Counsel Alan Rumsey and Building Commissioner Glenn Hathaway on lodging houses, sober homes and enforcement challenges following recent court guidance.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6086294,"Council advances fee schedule to cover fiber, cabinets and other right-of-way infrastructure in first reading",1678,266000,1944000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2897748-24dea95043aec4620b6732375c829cc0&start=266&end=1944","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2897748-24dea95043aec4620b6732375c829cc0/thumbnail_266000.jpg","/articles/6086294/Fall-River-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Council-advances-fee-schedule-to-cover-fiber-cabinets-and-other-right-of-way-infrastructure-in-first-reading","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6086294-07901f969bc0bcd6991fd5375332795b/orig.mp4?Expires=1773677143&Signature=g7il-yEjRoxOm2nD3jiMRLZ17q6X44vOm~cuUPGmPIoqWRZEqT2Q3CzDjpbeCShiTiUUagjTJ-SUwHnafWiD3MJezfGglSxqyAmDY8Qwg1y1qWoW4G-DFI-r5H2ckY6cYlEUYZINhzQCBp2VUAlP~8QeTStzovsww3Eotd1N5VdByGym6RjCSuN0T74~qZKCW-gQxnFdxf716GsWD75Pt2cKJtL1gUU35zD4eE1Ve5Nu90LLg-SdjhTJq28~6np2wh-GJwlkPW0DxSVbBQjdzqC7joPjbznYR5557Cw1BFf4G7YSnVk0Y~oYG-0QtQQjxlKFQBgdJvuynfk~ebzFSA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fall River City Council passed a motion on first reading to amend the city's right-of-way fee schedule so it explicitly covers cable, fiber, cabinets and related equipment in the public right of way.

Corporation Counsel Alan Rumsey and Dan Aguiar, the city's director of engineering and planning, told the council the draft language mostly folds fiber and cabinet charges into an existing fee schedule rather than creating a wholly new ordinance. \"I think having fiber Internet in the city will be a great thing for the city of Fall River,\" Rumsey said, and added the proposal was developed after reviewing other municipalities and consulting staff who have been working with providers.

The amendment adds language to the fee schedule under the existing reference given in the meeting as Section A110-1, Chapter 2 Administration, Fees 2-453, subsection 26 to include \"cable, wire, fiber, and cabinets.\" It also creates a daily accrual fee for unused or abandoned poles and cabinets and extends the fee scheme to city-owned property as well as the right of way. \"Something we thought was important to add ... is when we end up with a provider that has unused equipment, whether they be poles, cabinets, that they just leave behind,\" Rumsey said.

Council members and staff discussed practical details the amendment is intended to address: some proposals are above-ground (hanging off existing poles that may be jointly owned by utilities such as National Grid or Verizon/AT&T), while about 30 percent of planned work is underground and therefore subject to street-opening and restoration rules administered by the engineering office. Aguiar noted a submitted plan for a cabinet near Ruggles Park that would have occupied lawn area and could prevent future sidewalk placement, prompting staff to seek siting revisions.

Rumsey said the language and dollar amounts were informed by an FCC decision on small-cell facilities that the city previously used for wireless fees: \"in that FCC decision ... they basically said that a $270 annual fee for a pole ... is reasonable,\" he said; the proposed schedule applies comparable figures to fiber and related infrastructure. The council heard that the city is not yet in a position to require a single provider to cover the entire municipality; City Administrator Aiken had solicited multiple firms and one provider, Tilson, is further along and prepared to file the standard petition to the city clerk to use the right of way.

Councilors asked whether existing pole owners or incumbent cable providers (Comcast was discussed) would be charged or grandfathered; staff said whether existing installations can be charged retroactively is unresolved, but the fee structure would apply to new construction going forward. Aguiar and Rumsey walked councilors through operational issues: coordination with utility pole owners, restoration standards for streets and sidewalks (including five-year moratorium streets), and the need for complete plan sets broken down street-by-street so the council can review petitions in digestible pieces.

The council voted to pass the amendment through its first reading. The vote was recorded in the meeting as in the affirmative with a motion, a second and voices of \"Aye.\" No roll-call tally for named members was provided in the transcript.

Why it matters: the change prepares the city to collect consistent fees from companies building fiber infrastructure and to require removal or daily fees on abandoned equipment. Councilors flagged coverage equity concerns — one member urged protections so a provider cannot serve only the most profitable neighborhoods — and asked whether the city should consider hiring a consultant to manage incoming proposals and proposals' technical review.

Next steps: the ordinance amendment will return for subsequent readings; Tilson is expected to file a formal petition with the clerk for use of the right of way and the council will review petitioned plans in future hearings.

","Fall River City Council passed a motion on first reading to amend the city's right-of-way fee schedule so it explicitly covers cable, fiber, cabinets and related equipment in the public right of way.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6086279,"Votes at a glance: parking, first readings and procedural actions from the council meeting",1796,1965000,3761000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2897748-24dea95043aec4620b6732375c829cc0&start=1965&end=3761","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2897748-24dea95043aec4620b6732375c829cc0/thumbnail_1965000.jpg","/articles/6086279/Fall-River-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Votes-at-a-glance-parking-first-readings-and-procedural-actions-from-the-council-meeting","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6086279-d28927863bb3bc090b5e598b1789c433/orig.mp4?Expires=1773677143&Signature=Jr8DAnZ8aSir5y84Y-9HsVsOxsY7y0~n-vF69~FQ17vGHqgTpY9b48D2w2eelVzvSJFHQexHy2gU8KdcYI1nEXHYBgzuY4VBpVk82mcBkNZ9aD6h7Umu0nuud~p-3ELnV-fHPZLq~1U97oO3~5w8qji6d0jegDfUWwiZKc27ubytG0y-gL-8h4Y571x1mKHu1aeqn8-ldawjBZGVhUtonD5EqlLgfx2-wpp3pLQRo4J9m7EEAkODF8f5C97ORIdeAten~~NnSAm54eF8hg1hleM46yD8ugQrB79yBsiMqVcUmA7yVBPPHROVtyM9aVlA-ZhXNQ4oM7V~Z0GRKC030Q__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fall River City Council recorded several brief procedural votes during the meeting:

- Handicap parking ordinance (item 4): Motion for emergency preamble was made and seconded; roll call was requested and the motion passed for all readings. The transcript records the motion passed on a roll-call and a voice \"Aye.\"

- Miscellaneous traffic handicap parking removals on Broad Street and Osborne Street (item 5): Motion passed for first reading; motion, second and voice \"Aye\" recorded.

- A separate agenda item received a motion to withdraw; the motion was granted and carried by voice vote.

These items were handled with limited discussion and were advanced or withdrawn as recorded. No detailed roll-call vote counts were provided in the transcript; each action in the meeting was recorded as passing by motion, second and voices of \"Aye.\"","At the meeting the council approved emergency preamble and passage for a handicap parking ordinance (all readings), approved first-reading motions for two miscellaneous parking removals, and recorded a motion granted to withdraw on one agenda item; each action was by motion, second and voice vote as recorded in the transcript.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council moves short-term rental ordinance to second reading, sets $500 annual registration fee

Council hears staff on sober homes, lodging and enforcement after court guidance

Council advances fee schedule to cover fiber, cabinets and other right-of-way infrastructure in first reading

Votes at a glance: parking, first readings and procedural actions from the council meeting