[{"_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",6223500,"mediaKeyId","3575010-4c801e261b7f549e5861313bdf07bd64","parentId",3575010,"title","Inspectional staff say auto and fuel allowances are modest; department asks for fuel access review","audioSeconds",174,"startMs",10146000,"endMs",10320000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3575010-4c801e261b7f549e5861313bdf07bd64&start=10146&end=10320","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3575010-4c801e261b7f549e5861313bdf07bd64/thumbnail_10146000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6223500/Fall-River-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Inspectional-staff-say-auto-and-fuel-allowances-are-modest-department-asks-for-fuel-access-review","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223500-2dbb32af1ef51edcac6ae72b49dbc058/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448528&Signature=Hkvd0dDO2w8sZkb6beMG3lKRC1wWNgTl8jbRtEJ-doaUbzn9HivG6Jp7Cz05QynS~FFiywAvh74njVgg4k3kD~XPif-p2UbiGURjDcxnlb5HuyNtfXRI5u35GDQhJtxkuvWeYlubD1fTcT7NI6k1awQ~BElNUhRLY1pl-8ZsZ33rBGn~uo3sf8cdS9PQYBCzCSZyxGj9-IX2Ah~zehbP~hL9oHxcVB7amd5ootz3Xmeah-bCmTm2oPXzNZyTS4slM252Meaf8YCQhaS3rKt-GrKq-a3SEwleyZmfu3jgW~xO0KSWNkUBCS8o3RXm1q1wTVTeHjbPWA7c04CzdZIxeA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Fall River City, MA","date","2025-05-29T07:16:42.863Z","article","Inspectional services and related departments told the finance committee that field inspectors receive an auto allowance plus a monthly fuel stipend but urged administrators to review whether inspectors should be assigned city vehicles or regain depot fueling access.

Building Commissioner Michael Hathaway explained that inspectors receive a fuel stipend and a monthly auto allowance: \"We get $300 a month stipend for fuel,\" he said, and noted the stipend is taxable and reduced by withholding. He said the current out‑of‑pocket approach produces administrative and fairness concerns because city‑operated fueling (wholesale, non‑taxed) is handled differently for other departments and some departments that use only city vehicles do not incur the same costs.

Hathaway told the committee he and the interim finance director are discussing returning inspector fueling to the city depot or providing marked city vehicles for staff who are on the road full time. Committee members urged staff to prepare a proposal that quantifies lifecycle costs for city vehicles versus allowances, and the administration said it will study options and return with recommendations.

Why this matters: inspectors travel extensively and their vehicle availability and fueling method affect response times, enforcement capacity and departmental costs. Councilors raised equity questions about who receives city vehicles and how to account for fuel costs.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","5.28.2025 Fall River City Council","oneSentenceSummary","Inspectional services staff said inspectors receive an auto allowance and a monthly fuel stipend; building and inspection leaders asked the administration to consider direct city vehicles or access to the city fuel depot to reduce out‑of‑pocket costs and improve tracking.","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},6223505,"Fall River library expands bookmobile outreach; passport service paused pending administrative transfer",1117,8888000,10005000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3575010-4c801e261b7f549e5861313bdf07bd64&start=8888&end=10005","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3575010-4c801e261b7f549e5861313bdf07bd64/thumbnail_8888000.jpg","/articles/6223505/Fall-River-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Fall-River-library-expands-bookmobile-outreach-passport-service-paused-pending-administrative-transfer","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223505-ed946ce14b12d99094c4e0af3241e130/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448528&Signature=SfK-Hff9uoqrxKegXcwFRanl982fsH4-eNVqNXng6Ngysuehr-qbGbUYG3~tFoADYZoQyCX0vuWgM0s4R5WRoDBsE4AsVkDGsHPhCphjGCIQJX1btW-OlXF2xOwNFMsNJQcUZmwp-idfbf-xAw5OEJr2l~iDirk6QzSUT10o3AukmynHxJ4qPr3kjhPr9x0ZTK56ENmpJQXqeS4Eh10M9dvDSEVswzGF0ZDzs8lxce~jC8eoQp2MFLGErVvjVEd8ko6LiCgMvolmQGK-ablpV5BxvF2P3jo7qxyfPl2C4TLqgabT~9qs~GuFe00VCeWWixMk20WqjpwuYuludmJMJg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Fall River Public Library reported to the finance committee that its new bookmobile is operating at schools, parks and senior centers and helping expand access to materials; the director also said passport processing is paused while the city determines how to route revenue.

Library Director Felicia Desmeris told the committee the bookmobile has been active at summer programs and in school visits; staff are currently not charging overdue fines for items circulated from the bookmobile and instead use replacement fees when items are lost. \"There is no fines for anything that goes out on the bookmobile,\" Desmeris told the committee, adding that the vehicle’s limited storage footprint constrains how many titles can be carried and that the library is adjusting collection purchases accordingly.

The committee also asked about passport application processing. Desmeris said passport intake had been handled by the Friends of the Library (a nonprofit), which covered postage and operational costs and used receipts for programming. City staff recommended routing passport receipts into a city revenue account or a revolving fund so the library can use the proceeds directly for programming and operations; the director said the library will resume passport intake once the administrative transfer is finalized.

Why this matters: the bookmobile expands access to library materials for children and adults who do not easily reach the main library; the passport service provides a modest community convenience and generates fees that the library wants to direct toward local programming. Committee members asked staff to provide a timeline for restoring passport service and for a report on bookmobile usage and circulation statistics.","The public library’s director told the finance committee the city’s bookmobile is expanding school and community outreach, that fines are low for that program, and that passport service is temporarily paused while the city works to route passport fees into a revolving or general fund.",{"_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},6223510,"Building commissioner: Sylvia School collapse demolished under state emergency approval; insurance expected to cover work",256,9540000,9796000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3575010-4c801e261b7f549e5861313bdf07bd64&start=9540&end=9796","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3575010-4c801e261b7f549e5861313bdf07bd64/thumbnail_9540000.jpg","/articles/6223510/Fall-River-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Building-commissioner-Sylvia-School-collapse-demolished-under-state-emergency-approval-insurance-expected-to-cover-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223510-7ea600389034f96b1b385fd4bc9db236/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448528&Signature=H81MAHtDjO5NlgC-RDF8bL5~5Y~TPXOP0UFYnKSGwY9S3toIOcKKYywMuRpWM9l40gVbDjBUf80svDiS1lmoYL-mRvuRlW5NWbjT7jvOSYBhdoM-Y1uwQ61mI4Eo60WEqQ59KNHrKiSw47skiBC9bKj9A6df5mkdS9VAGzLMKMmbQ-GBV4KjYLand6gUjCHmh5Culgf~G8H4eo4ZeEftv84jD~S6cWFB1zFyWY0KYW0F6J8YAYyPNZhwT9Jo0xrssEuevgjk0ARH8fdaI3b6PiXDJY8sy4XGSpJ0b84ukZuZA4KHkR5Qa5K6~slxHiceGLMpY~fo5OAMbzd-r-ESAg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The city’s building commissioner told the finance committee the damaged Sylvia School building has been taken down under an emergency demolition process approved by the state and that an outside consultant is monitoring air quality during work.

Commissioner Michael Hathaway said the city obtained a state waiver to accelerate demolition procurement and environmental controls after the fire made the structure unsafe for long‑term stabilization. \"We were able to obtain that special permission through the state, and then also, the contractor's plan had to be approved by the state, DEM, and it's all being monitored,\" Hathaway said. He added later that his understanding was \"the insurance is fully paying for this demolition at this point in time.\" The commissioner said dust and asbestos controls are active and that crews are using water and other measures to limit airborne contamination. He told the committee the foundation will remain in place and that remaining city‑owned buildings on the property would be addressed by the sale/auction process once the site is cleared.

Why this matters: the partial collapse and fire raised public‑safety and environmental concerns for neighboring properties. The commissioner said state oversight is active, demolition contractors are following required monitoring protocols, and the city arranged an independent air quality monitor to validate controls during work.

Committee members asked about timelines for the auction or disposition of the remaining city‑owned structures; the commissioner said the next steps involve permitting, clearing the lot to grade, and a subsequent disposition process.","After a late‑night fire heavily damaged the Sylvia School building, the city used a state emergency waiver to accelerate demolition. The building commissioner said the contractor is following state asbestos and air‑monitoring protocols and that insurance is expected to cover demolition costs.",{"_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},6223515,"Council hears downtown parking study; administration outlines garage repairs and revenue plan",4480,1317000,5797000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3575010-4c801e261b7f549e5861313bdf07bd64&start=1317&end=5797","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3575010-4c801e261b7f549e5861313bdf07bd64/thumbnail_1317000.jpg","/articles/6223515/Fall-River-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Council-hears-downtown-parking-study-administration-outlines-garage-repairs-and-revenue-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223515-a145efa2ee98849a06b3285b6be65516/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448528&Signature=OH0L41gWhv-6xgX3XW-B2ROaNub62tVkqWZjuzDSs3MUDxNQyQ7lvr0jZtd0KsdBYk5HZxZBiw27f-Hg8JyHg2OQb4BMTLqSni6YBiHoUL5FDDnG6XplOJwleQ~LONcpL~auu9G~ZGeZOMat3RUtc28ce7qNrweChjOdveQDUNbevQzZk5WVWQeva~qOK5oKTjtwMGOyeLPHC5sWUoFpEOeWJ1F6p1tIoMHuowaksGth4pr3d5ZLww~ek9xiqFe-1ZmOocmy2KUYPOfpeLLe0uBuuyURfJiIJZ8UtE~rgldwjrjAQuF8PY505XN8diWhnmTeneoOZI6tg6ad~tHUIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City traffic and planning staff briefed the finance committee on a newly completed downtown parking study and on plans to repair and maintain municipal parking garages.

Dan Aguiar, director of engineering and planning, and Stephanie McArthur, director of traffic and parking, said the consultant study — delivered to the council and being posted to the city website — recommends new downtown parking management tools and considered kiosks, mobile payments and staggered enforcement shifts to better match staff coverage with demand.

McArthur summarized revenue collection and operational details: parking fines and enforcement are the largest single revenue line generated by the department, and kiosks or credit‑card acceptance add convenience at a small monthly contract cost. She explained that recent contract negotiations raised the kiosk monthly fee from $50 to $60 per kiosk and that credit‑card processing fees are an ongoing operating expense; she told the committee the city collected roughly $2.3–$2.5 million in combined parking revenue in the most recent budget year, about half of which came from enforcement fines.

The committee also discussed the municipal garages. Staff said facilities will handle the capital repair contracts for Pearl and Third Street garages and that initial demolition and structural repairs will be funded from existing capital appropriations; once repairs are complete the administration plans to propose a FY27 maintenance appropriation to prevent another large deferred maintenance bill. Aguiar said the strategy is to fix the garages and then establish a sustainable maintenance stream funded by parking revenue rather than letting the structures fall back into disrepair.

Why this matters: downtown parking strategy ties to development and to how the city captures revenue from waterfront and downtown growth. Councilors asked for a phased plan and for specifics about how much revenue would be available for ongoing garage maintenance after repairs.","Staff presented a downtown parking study and discussed kiosks, meter fees and planned repairs to Pearl/Third Street garages; officials said parking revenue supports general fund and recommended longer‑term maintenance funding for garages after repairs.",{"_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},6223520,"Fall River officials present ARPA status report, cite audit clearance and remaining Lewiston Street work",3519,375000,3894000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3575010-4c801e261b7f549e5861313bdf07bd64&start=375&end=3894","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3575010-4c801e261b7f549e5861313bdf07bd64/thumbnail_375000.jpg","/articles/6223520/Fall-River-City/Bristol-County/Massachusetts/Fall-River-officials-present-ARPA-status-report-cite-audit-clearance-and-remaining-Lewiston-Street-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6223520-af9a766f109e588bec92edada9c758ec/orig.mp4?Expires=1770448528&Signature=GazAajeBIjgPHKjx2~XNgfUHE0CqvuV9YimBcpCjQA9T0oCuBd3I3bNmMbmWcvl4BF4odvTq-U7ZsRI0slMa5H8DMjm-wev3kG83iviqjEV~ZvGl3t7CYi7AX5qKtI1Zs4c3OhSHOLhrkXg-ZblK80JW6IuGwLe29ybXWA1osVhq799cnh1QZ35EmlSn27RP~mXapgqhNqz8GNhkMwqpqUbab3fYXer8SAa-Gmj81dq7Xf4KHUTKNhKb48nWD4hdZrZCLJg5tx341uo5Vi3nL~rDyZD8QF46AccDYKL5L0rq41axAq8son~ZHGCVTvdTTxQ-gnJ6cesrKMJNBp-adw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City administration presented a 150‑page status report on American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) and Bristol County Treasury projects to the Fall River City Council Committee on Finance, saying the city has met federal obligation deadlines and cleared a recent federal single audit.

The report, delivered to the committee by a staff member who prepared the document for the mayor’s office, said, \"we have expended, dollars 45,302,655 of our $69,000,000 that was city ARPA funds,\" and that Bristol County Treasury disbursements totaled about $14,202,513 of roughly $16 million allocated to the city. The presenter also told the committee that the single audit of March 2025 included ARPA program compliance review and returned no findings.

Committee members said the update matters because ARPA spending is tied to infrastructure, public services and future operating budgets. The presenter described how changing federal guidance — including a Treasury “flex” provision that expanded eligible surface transportation and community development projects — allowed the city to redirect funds to projects such as Lewiston Street reconstruction, water and sewer work, and surface transportation improvements.

Most of the hearing consisted of item‑by‑item follow‑ups on project status, invoices and expected completion dates. Dan Aguiar, director of engineering and planning, summarized the Quincushaw (Quicashan) Rail Trail Phase 4A: \"The project was bid under contract with Century Paving... they anticipate being completed well before the project deadline of December, 30 first, 2026.\" He told the committee construction would begin in early June and finish well ahead of the federal deadline.

City staff walked the committee through project‑level impacts on typical household utility bills. Using a 20‑year loan at an estimated 4% interest rate, the presenter explained that combined water and sewer investments in city and Bristol County projects (about $27,121,404) would change a modeled rate increase by roughly $0.69 but result in an estimated average household saving of about $0.366 per month (about $19 per year for a three‑family home over the loan horizon) because work was shifted off department operating budgets and financed through project loans.

Committee members pressed for more up‑to‑date invoices and clearer expected completion dates on projects with limited spending to date; staff said quarterly updates will continue and the presenter planned to publish the report to the city website. Staff also told the committee that several large projects remain active — notably Lewiston Street, which staff said represents a significant portion of the remaining unspent funds — and that the city is monitoring federal expenditure deadlines (the presenter cited obligation and expenditure deadlines set by the U.S. Treasury).

Why this matters: the committee sought to confirm that ARPA money will be spent on projects that reduce costs or add long‑term infrastructure value, that compliance risks are mitigated by the clean single audit, and that the city can meet federal deadlines so funds are not clawed back. Staff repeatedly said they would supply updated invoice and completion schedules and that some budgeted amounts remain pending invoicing.

The presentation generated multiple follow‑up requests from councilors for line‑by‑line clarifications (for example, how many trees were planted under the urban forestry line; the number of artists served by an artist recovery program; invoices pending for the Boys & Girls Club teen room); staff agreed to provide those details in the next quarterly report or by direct follow‑up.","City staff told the finance committee the city has spent roughly $45.3 million of $69 million in ARPA funds and cleared a federal single audit, and described timelines and savings estimates for several capital projects while noting large work (Lewiston Street) remains.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Inspectional staff say auto and fuel allowances are modest; department asks for fuel access review

Fall River library expands bookmobile outreach; passport service paused pending administrative transfer

Building commissioner: Sylvia School collapse demolished under state emergency approval; insurance expected to cover work

Council hears downtown parking study; administration outlines garage repairs and revenue plan

Fall River officials present ARPA status report, cite audit clearance and remaining Lewiston Street work