[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-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",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_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",6060504,"mediaKeyId","3289488-636f69b08a922bf7f9b9bcf13f46f3ce","parentId",3289488,"title","City council grants National Grid petition to install joint utility pole on Riggenback Road","audioSeconds",274,"startMs",311000,"endMs",585000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3289488-636f69b08a922bf7f9b9bcf13f46f3ce&start=311&end=585","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3289488-636f69b08a922bf7f9b9bcf13f46f3ce/thumbnail_311000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6060504/Fall-River-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/City-council-grants-National-Grid-petition-to-install-joint-utility-pole-on-Riggenback-Road","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6060504-5a70fb999bfeac57cd14746d3393bd6c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204302&Signature=K-WE34ZR8Asrrh2ffqL6ZgpG2R7TIRCRwKvNVjCcV12P59ecYKaYmbnyp6mtKsgogZ4Vs-Or6vOivmfoKsmn1YxFz1eJy27gR7U8ycfNJLzkAS9wcwd4nRIHx9A0cTjhME8iIAwPqCGUXKTY58yTccDzoJnM5ecoyO-iYOEQhBLi4g9iJH8pnC8DV52WrrM7IqbmMgB2ZZHTTpcEpgQCif-miFoWP8GBUOagJBSTszBCe~AjuUZqqaCcZSVkJOdpZV3ZfM8UBX9SdjltPBPzhQgQz3pMQTUnHeYuNcJN~BCokeUVJaUXZhg3ZQ6fIu6MRI2GWT0mjGGg3wheLYKmQw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Fall River City, MA","date","2025-05-14T01:36:56Z","article","During a brief public hearing the council approved a petition from Massachusetts Electric Company (doing business as National Grid) and Verizon New England to install one jointly‑owned pole (identified as pole 27‑50) on Riggenback Road.

Aaron Roy, representing National Grid, told the council the proposed pole would be set in line between existing poles 27 and 28 to serve new commercial buildings at 1350 Riggenback Road and to support an overhead‑to‑underground service transition. No opponents spoke during the hearing.

The council voted to grant the location request and closed the public hearing.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","5.13.2025 Fall River City Council","oneSentenceSummary","Council approved a public‑hearing petition from National Grid and Verizon to install a jointly‑owned pole (pole 27‑50) between existing poles 27 and 28 on Riggenback Road to support new commercial development at 1350 Riggenback Road.","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},6060509,"School committee asks Fall River council to file unfunded‑mandate petition over student transportation costs",322,485000,807000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3289488-636f69b08a922bf7f9b9bcf13f46f3ce&start=485&end=807","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3289488-636f69b08a922bf7f9b9bcf13f46f3ce/thumbnail_485000.jpg","/articles/6060509/Fall-River-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/School-committee-asks-Fall-River-council-to-file-unfundedmandate-petition-over-student-transportation-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6060509-054d9e4ce07bf9f1d0cc8dd5b252af42/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204302&Signature=nR8jYzZMpuFE-mWd~FhGsUpzH8u54UBJvlMoug-QzcyOJn6yZv0sSwWo3pFbWHILTTXu6S-b3wzFUmEcVKdW7NwEGpEDhMFYWcC-lFUnX9UuDZxiE79~2Ah9V36oImIbKupRnf6MoIm634i4HuQzr5NN6xdKAp44oOOl7dj2MASEXgw2OhJOpeiDCNvJXpnG0DTpr8hbGqz8wabiJllCh-qR32sr7zWWc-VPkrduzI6MCsSESGcWW8scV4nxDnROIPIsxEVaA23HT53~bdOooFV96qF7Sum8-Es8p3nX1Ch-WrvFck-JA6gPHJ7v8hl5XnG1BPNOlMZOMody89LWDg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Colin Dyer, speaking during citizen input, told the council the school committee unanimously voted to ask the city council to file an unfunded‑mandate petition with the state auditor over student transportation costs the committee calls mandated but underfunded under several state statutes.

Dyer cited state statutes (chapter 71 and related chapters) and described the petition as a mechanism to seek reimbursement or to prompt further state action. He said the school committee hoped the city would work with its legislative delegation to pursue reimbursement under the governor’s budget proposals and avoid cuts to student transportation.

The council committee referred the mayor and school committee communication to the full council for action. Councilors and the school speaker said filing the petition would be the first step; if the auditor’s finding were favorable, it could lead to additional steps including litigation or further negotiations with the state.

No formal vote on filing the petition was taken at this committee meeting; the referral sends the matter to the full council for decision.","A school committee member urged the council to file an unfunded‑mandate petition with the state auditor about transportation costs that state law requires but does not fully fund; the council referred the communication to full council for action.",{"_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},6060514,"Fall River council confirms Kelly Furtado as police chief under one‑year contract amid ordinance, home‑rule debate",1706,4294000,6000000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3289488-636f69b08a922bf7f9b9bcf13f46f3ce&start=4294&end=6000","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3289488-636f69b08a922bf7f9b9bcf13f46f3ce/thumbnail_4294000.jpg","/articles/6060514/Fall-River-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Fall-River-council-confirms-Kelly-Furtado-as-police-chief-under-oneyear-contract-amid-ordinance-homerule-debate","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6060514-10da024e50e276e92357912babc3f8bd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204302&Signature=HWwUMWDreRiqE374uC-Fpfmp96szjzJowcQYs1DIVWQoFhXkSN4KchWT8IHIYF7N7MnBwPuL6bAswFzqBibeDIJkTk-XD59Pt5qGP2voYA-jpa8HVtHACdMN4MSJ~nKCy1aqEm3egfHelllbrYaO7~ZvGgkT95yXMGwbuQ36jnezhkYZYkoTGn1~bGuuWwYZBVlzWc4d8BX8MRNbKk32bBkS6ZKYPPTmCKMv8ccUFGm~zhtzEkaCssdgqp5g~58GFMgBR7BtABEHNHgOGeEM73zidkSwURmY95bf1OC~O2vKLqZf8DZX4NI6YKSTQ4WmeCFMq6BmPvcc8Umiah-fsQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fall River City Council confirmed Kelly Furtado as chief of police and approved a one‑year employment contract after extended debate about process, timing and an ongoing home‑rule petition to change how future chiefs are appointed.

Councilors raised procedural and policy concerns. Several members said they want a formal, transparent screening process for the next permanent chief and noted the home‑rule petition filed to allow a different appointment mechanism could take six months to a year before the Legislature acts. That timeline, councilors said, created the immediate need to identify who will lead the department while the petition is pending.

Legal counsel and others told the council that the city ordinance that previously prescribed a multiyear minimum term conflicted with Massachusetts law; city staff said the ordinance must be amended so contracts align with the state requirement that municipal department head contracts are subject to annual appropriation. The council adopted an amended ordinance and approved the chief’s one‑year contract. A roll call vote confirmed Furtado on the appointment and then approved the one‑year contract.

Council members also questioned how the interim chief had been paid prior to approval of an employment contract. Nick MacLean, director of human resources, told the council the interim chief’s pay had been set at $190,000 at the time of the interim appointment; Deputy Chief JT Hoare said the appointed chief had about 43 hours of time that could be eligible for buyout, a relatively small comp‑time liability compared with several prior chief buyouts discussed by councilors.

Why this matters: Councilors said they favor a formalized screening committee and civil‑service or home‑rule procedures for selecting future chiefs, but the council concluded the city needs a confirmed leader now. The one‑year contract and the home‑rule petition proceed in parallel; councilors asked city counsel and staff to finish ordinance changes and to work with the mayor’s office and state delegation on the petition.","The council confirmed Kelly Furtado as Fall River police chief and approved a one‑year contract after debate over a pending home‑rule petition and a city ordinance that conflicted with state law. Councilors questioned timing, process and temporary pay arrangements for the interim chief.",{"_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},6060519,"Fall River council approves $2.5M transfer to cover employer health trust shortfall after finance briefing",558,2975000,3533000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3289488-636f69b08a922bf7f9b9bcf13f46f3ce&start=2975&end=3533","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3289488-636f69b08a922bf7f9b9bcf13f46f3ce/thumbnail_2975000.jpg","/articles/6060519/Fall-River-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Fall-River-council-approves-25M-transfer-to-cover-employer-health-trust-shortfall-after-finance-briefing","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6060519-77f3941720d194e981a5b2e603893685/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204302&Signature=KyAHGU-3D0uztFnx1cShff4zdaQ7YvVYgu4DIRIkzbhRSszVwff3qQaKMOts2nGfXoFMqnJv2OvLuFMRXI2sBXQOElwykW2q~cGv7W2ujcX7aSZpjyn-i0LB2DhzaVC~ZTGlWcNtYvg7NOyTYblWAqUFCxXGNkPWNbDcUaF-GnU6TrrgwVvA9VNLi85a~xpjlpMU5XJ2pDgDOE5TIjLQZFNP5bxskd3HYBWFMCx-gvqb0SToKdYge5jRADgLeDTZZMvm-Bhi0oZfxdV74rg6APxlqtHuwzvRxVKnh8NzABAdKH646R7nUgswu752ld2BwmhKm5TQAu-uwxL1syy1YA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fall River finance staff told the City Council that the Employer Health Trust Fund was running a shortfall and the administration proposed a $2.5 million transfer from FY24 surplus to stabilize the trust.

Interim Director of Finance Emily Erpke said the FY25 appropriation for health care fell short of actual claims growth; staff earlier made a $2.5 million transfer and this action adds a further $2.5 million to the fund. Erpke said FY24‑to‑FY25 expense growth was roughly 5% and that projections for FY26 show higher increases; she described the $2.5 million transfer as intended to cover the immediate deficit and noted the administration was still reviewing other non‑general‑fund revenues to close any remaining gap.

Councilors pressed for documentation and questioned why the shortfall was not detected earlier. Multiple councilors asked for Gallagher (the city's benefits consultant) projections, Blue Cross claims analyses and month‑by‑month fund‑ratio reports. Council members also urged tighter monthly monitoring and earlier notification to the legislative body when a trust is trending to run a deficit so that transfers or spending controls can be considered earlier in the fiscal year.

After discussion, the council voted to approve the $2.5 million transfer. Members who spoke emphasized they expect the administration to provide the consultant analyses and additional detail on reimbursements and other offsets before finalizing the FY26 budget.","Finance staff told council the city moved to transfer $2.5 million from FY24 surplus to the Employer Health Trust Fund after claims and funding assumptions left the trust running short; councilors sought detailed Gallagher/Blue Cross analyses and more frequent notification protocols.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6060523,"Fall River EMS reports revenue growth, adds ambulances and staff as council probes indirect cost allocations",333,699000,1032000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3289488-636f69b08a922bf7f9b9bcf13f46f3ce&start=699&end=1032","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3289488-636f69b08a922bf7f9b9bcf13f46f3ce/thumbnail_699000.jpg","/articles/6060523/Fall-River-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Fall-River-EMS-reports-revenue-growth-adds-ambulances-and-staff-as-council-probes-indirect-cost-allocations","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6060523-13c649b217a91c74f6af7c7556e98ada/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204302&Signature=SK6k23NAH-6ZUvnYEUnvB5TrMuuY3kcLM-eQcOocmQhthLtkKmqrx-hHuLQt43z8Cbwt4nicizD6UoYLUdwwq5pxoEbjUbLDAODHkRookapN3lVgrIBdWEhTP6cvKfWExRqeFAOaBCmX8jhZAmyw9NTTPQ3OLeOOh~Ry45W1r4fykmu9aKFYNE3QeT~X15VEqgO2J1GZ8ZpZiPpb~PyiTN~PHrD-aAWRaBADlLnr9xj3dzTzRAC~btfGmmbwuZpm~kGWwoh8mPo9~WtiesGtn4IbgDvWcIFgMi~E2UmktRbUNEEtrlYhHZfSxZg7315DNyHq35KQlpl5ptD5FrmyXg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Fall River interim EMS Chief Beth Fonts told the City Council finance committee that the department has added non‑emergency transport contracts and expanded its fleet, growth that has driven a sizable increase in staffing and salary costs.

“we've doubled our profit from the previous year just with the South Coast contract,” Fonts said, describing non‑transport and interfacility contracts the department began in October and will expand in July with a new contract out of Charlton/North‑area hospital operations.

The council heard that EMS added multiple trucks and roughly 24 field positions in the most recent year to meet contract obligations and that total full‑time equivalents rose to about 106. Interim Director of Finance Emily Erpke said those hires — and how recently they were onboarded — help explain why salary costs jump between fiscal years.

Why this matters: Councilors asked whether EMS’s growing enterprise revenue should change how the city charges indirect costs back to EMS and other enterprise operations. Fonts described EMS capital needs — new trucks, routine apparatus rotation, and a possible building/space requirement — and said the department has used a stabilization fund and a bond for station repairs. Erpke said the city has a formal calculation used to allocate indirect costs but has not yet codified it in a written policy.

The council pressed for specifics on how indirects are determined and how collected enterprise revenue and new recurring contracts should change future allocations. Erpke said staff will work this summer to formalize agreements on indirects so the formula and timing are more predictable for next year’s budget.

Council members also asked about EMS contributions to fire‑station repairs. Fonts said EMS is paying debt service on a bond for upgrades to the Center Street fire station and that EMS is covering costs associated with its occupancy and common areas; she said showers and dormitory upgrades are also included to meet current standards and to allow for accommodating women firefighters if they are hired.

On fleet maintenance and operations, Fonts said the department has historically rotated apparatus on a replacement schedule and that the growing fleet may require additional maintenance-line staffing in future budgets. She described an in‑house EMT training program that supplies about three‑quarters of its graduates to the department as per‑diem hires who eventually convert to full time when openings exist.

The finance committee voted to refer the FY26 EMS budget materials to the full council for final action. The referral motion carried.","Interim EMS Chief Beth Fonts told the council the department has expanded non-emergency contracts and doubled certain revenue streams; Finance Director Emily Erpke and councilors pressed for clarity on indirect cost calculations, capital needs and long-term financial policy.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

City council grants National Grid petition to install joint utility pole on Riggenback Road

School committee asks Fall River council to file unfunded‑mandate petition over student transportation costs

Fall River council confirms Kelly Furtado as police chief under one‑year contract amid ordinance, home‑rule debate

Fall River council approves $2.5M transfer to cover employer health trust shortfall after finance briefing

Fall River EMS reports revenue growth, adds ambulances and staff as council probes indirect cost allocations