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Public safety committee backs study of a shared mobile command center after blizzard response

Fall River City Public Safety Committee · April 8, 2026

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Summary

After reviewing the city's response to a recent blizzard, the Fall River City Public Safety Committee voted to send a letter to the mayor supporting study of a shared mobile command center and to ask executive staff for recommendations on upgrading the emergency operations center (EOC).

The Fall River City Public Safety Committee voted April 7 to send a letter to the mayor supporting a study of a shared mobile command center and improvements to the city's emergency operations center following a review of the city's response to a recent blizzard.

The committee heard from Richard Adjek, the city's emergency management director, who described Fire Headquarters on Commerce Drive as the EOC because of its highway access, nearby parking suitable for helicopter staging, on-site offices and shower facilities. "It's been around forever," Adjek said of the EOC plan, adding that the plan is a "living" document that is regularly updated and submitted to MEMA.

Deputy Chief JT Hoare of the police department told the panel the EOC functioned during the storm but highlighted areas for improvement, including standardized vendor onboarding, finance tracking for emergency contracts and communications capacity. "If we truly honestly kinda had a tabletop exercise and walked through...the role is this," Hoare said, arguing exercises helped coordination and resource tracking during the event.

Committee members and staff discussed options to meet those needs. Chief Fonts (EMS) and other officials said the city already has a trailer used during COVID that could be retrofitted in the short term while officials evaluate longer-term capital investments. "We do have a red, COVID trailer right now that could be retrofitted for this season," Chief Fonts said; the committee discussed developing specifications or seeking a newer unit shared across departments.

Council members stressed the need for clearer, condensed operational pages for each department and for annual exercises. Adjek said the ESIP/ESIP-like plan was last revised in January 2026 and that he can provide condensed digital copies to department heads.

Councilor (functional) moved that the committee send a letter to the mayor supporting the concept of a mobile operation center and requesting analysis of retrofit vs. purchase options; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote. The interim city administrator was asked to forward the committee's letter and any recommendations to the mayor.

Next steps: staff and department heads will work on an operational/procedural plan, circulate condensed pages of the EOC plan and return to the committee with recommended changes and potential budget or grant paths for a mobile command post.