Fall River resident urges city to secure abandoned mills, citing safety and odors

Alphonse Hathaway told the Fall River City Council at a July 21 special meeting that a number of abandoned mills and vacant properties in the city remain unsecured and are creating safety and environmental problems. Hathaway said unauthorized people can enter former mill buildings and other vacant properties “at any given time,” and described odors and leaks he said come from the sites. He named specific locations, including 881 and 891 Rodman Street, Hotwell Street and the former police station on Bedford Street, and said he previously maintained one vacant property for about 10 years. Hathaway said he has raised the issue with city officials and offered to help secure sites free of charge. “I’m willing to do it free of charge. I’m willing to go up there and show you how people are gaining access,” he told the council, and said he had approached Glenn Hathaway and Mayor Paul Krugman but that they “refused to work with me on this.” The remarks occurred during the meeting’s public-comment period; the transcript contains Hathaway’s statements but does not record any council response, a staff direction, or a formal motion related to securing the properties during the session. Hathaway characterized the unsecured buildings as “environmentally unsafe” and said leaking contaminants are producing disruptive odors; he urged the council and residents to act and reiterated his offer to work with the city. The council transcript does not indicate whether staff will follow up, whether city code enforcement or public-safety units have open investigations, or whether any specific funding or contract would be required to secure the sites.