Fall River RDA approves $260,646 pier contract, renews parking lease and OKs irrigation work

The Fall River Redevelopment Authority on April 30 approved a $260,646.80 contract with Kavanaugh Marine Inc. for cathodic protection work at the Northern Pier, and separately authorized a one-year renewal of a private parking‑lot license for City Pier and a seasonal irrigation contract for pier landscaping.

The authority voted to award the cathodic protection contract after the low bidder, CNH Marine, voluntarily withdrew its bid following discussions with the project engineer. Karen Martin, project manager, told the authority that the selected contract — including Alternate 1 for coating the south‑facing splash area above the intertidal zone — would be paid from grant funds and that contingency money in the grant would cover the overage. "That whole contract amount would be, $260,646.80," Martin said.

Martin said the contractor may begin mobilizing in June and that Foth Engineering, which prepared the design, will perform construction oversight including diver inspections and photographic documentation. "He's got a place right up the river a little bit," Martin said of the contractor and added the firm will work from a boat for diving and coating operations.

In the same meeting the authority approved extending its parking license for the lot at 600 Duval Street for one year, from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2026, at the same annual price of $30,000. The lot is owned by 6148 LLC, the authority said; the license includes a clause providing reimbursement for unused months if the owner begins construction or sells the lot during the license term. The vote authorized the executive director to sign the renewal.

The authority also approved an irrigation maintenance agreement with P and G Irrigation (a division identified in the record as Anne Julins Inc.) on a time‑and‑materials basis not to exceed $7,500 for the season May 1 to Nov. 1. Martin described the contract as covering start‑up, midseason inspection and shutdown, and necessary repairs. "He is pretty much ready to go once we know the contract's approved," Martin said.

Board members voted on each of the items during the open session. The motions passed with recorded affirmative votes.

Staff gave additional updates on City Pier operations ahead of the summer season: a water meter was recently installed, event coordination is underway for a June 14 concert by the Fall River Symphony (with a June 15 rain date), and organizers expect food trucks, a stage and alcohol service for the celebration. Staff also proposed a trial of four anchored picnic tables at City Pier as an amenity; the initial estimate cited by staff was roughly $1,600 per unit and about $8,000 total for four units, and the tables were described as ADA‑compliant in the staff presentation. Martin said she would return with firm pricing at the next meeting for a formal vote.

What’s next: staff said it would assemble construction timing and mobilization details for the cathodic protection work and return with final installation proposals and pricing for the picnic‑table trial at the next board meeting.