Remarks by Michael G. Canuel
26 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 1 of 2
“Thank you. As you know, I was at that meeting. I'm a member of that committee. I did pull the transcript. They did say 30 to 45 days. I know you want to be on the low end of that. We are still within the range that they provided to you. So I just did want to clarify that that it was 30 to 45 days. I do have the transcript here.”
“Thank you, Mr. President. If we could just have tonight's moment of silence for Mario Luciola, who served almost two decades on the Fort River Planning Board and the Fort River Conservation Commission.”
“I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands, one nation, under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.”
“Thank you. I want to start by saying that I support housing development in Fall River. We need investment and we need more housing options and I want to see these projects succeed. But I also believe that we have a responsibility to make sure these agreements deliver the greatest possible benefit to our residents. When we consider TIF and TIE agreements, we should be looking at more than just the development itself. We should be asking what the city is giving up in tax revenue and what our community is getting in return. All three agreements before us tonight follow the same structure. An 80%…”
“Motion to refer the Committee on Finance.”
“Thank you. The only thing I want to add, half the stuff I saw there is stuff I've seen in homeless encampments that have been cleaned up and things like that. I didn't know what half of those were, but the quantity specifically of the needles that they're handing out in one bag that you can go back and get tomorrow, that explains a lot that I see from these cleanups. And that's all I want to add.”
“Thank you. Um, Mr. President, um, a lot of calls, a lot of people wondering when this is going to resume. It was, uh, listed as a temporary suspension of services. And I've had discussions with the health department and I've had discussions with the veterans department and I don't see this getting restored in the time that it should be. So I'd like to get them to, uh, the committee I chair to discuss this further and establish what are those barriers so that we can move forward and get this going again. A lot of people depend on this.”
“So I want to start by saying I went to your office yesterday looking for the official budget book, right, this big document right here, which we're supposed to approve. And I'll start off by saying I received the updated pages. I received summaries and things like that last Friday. But the actual pages I was seeking, I got a 344 today for a 6 o'clock meeting. Sorry, 530, you're right. So not even two full hours before this meeting is when I get this book, the pages I was looking for. So I'm going to start there and say, that wasn't enough notice. I got your executive summary on Friday, but I…”
“I understand that. I think just, you know, I don't know how I'm expected to vote on something where I haven't gotten to those pages. I got these. I didn't realize they were sent until I got home. I drove in special for this. I was out of town as well. So that's number one.”
“Thank you. The school department, I have concerns there. I think my colleague in seat four eloquently outlined, I think her and I were in a meeting a week ago Monday in the mayor's office. We were told that circuit breaker could be used. She's clarified what can be used and what can't be used. So I think what baffles me is that there is a meeting tomorrow on school transportation, but yet we're being asked to vote on this tonight.”
“And that's fair. There have been a number of also emails, I think, sent to, I've been copying on some from school committee members, city council members, asking about some specifics on transportation. I haven't seen any replies to some of those. And I am curious, when are we gonna get answers to emails on that stuff? Because I think we're talking about a $17 million number.”
“But one of the things that was asked in my meeting was what happens if that fund were to fall fall short? Because that was my biggest concern. Okay, there are a couple different numbers flowing out the school committee voted on one number. What's in here is a different number.”
“My specific question in the meeting with you guys was what happens if there's a shortfall? And the answer at the time was that circuit breaker, there's over $6 million in there that could be used.”
“I'm not convinced the redistricting is gonna save any money. I'm just gonna say that. I'm not convinced that's gonna pan out that way. It's great if it does, but I'm not convinced. I have yet to see data and evidence that that is truly gonna be the case. I think that's a guess and a wing and a prayer. I sit on the Committee on Ordinances and Legislation. And I'm gonna go back to, and actually I'll lead with, I was not pleased to see this on my desk today, a opinion from the Office of Corporation Counsel concerning a possible motion or objection vote, that objection motion that may take place…”
“Thank you. Yeah, I'm speaking to this legal opinion that was put on because it pertains to a possible motion maybe that they're speculating may or may not happen tonight. He called my court cases AI hallucinations. I would suggest that's probably an AI hallucination even though the clerk who was sitting at the table had them printed. Point of order.”
“Well, I think I think I'm talking about this right now. Let's put on our desk. I had hallucinations. But that's not on the agenda.”
“sure thank you i'm speaking specifically to the legal opinion that was put on and i'll read the title just so we're all clear it's applicability of section 2-9c of the fall river charter to the june 30th 2026 special meeting of the city council and this was issued as an opinion signed by Assistant Corporation Counsel Gary Howey and Allen Rumsey Corporation Counsel. And throughout this, I think I'm concerned that the opinions coming out are inaccurate. This is an opinion. I'd like a second opinion on this. And my question is, if I disagree with this opinion, how do I get a second opinion? And…”
“I'm going to wrap this up. Corporation counsel in his office in the month of May.”
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
“We need to also pass section one and two through first reading.”
“Motion over. Oh. Motion to take item eight out of order. Second.”
“Uh, I just have one amendment that I'd like to make given how much time has passed. I'd like to make a motion to change the effective date of this change. from 1-1-2026 to 7-1-2026. Is that a form of motion, Councilor? That is my motion.”
“Motion that the ordinance be passed through first reading as amended.”
“Thank you. So the position we just passed the first reading, I recommend to pass the first reading, the Director of Health and Human Services, you did comps for that position, showed us why that should be amended. I think we should be doing the same methodology for all of these positions. I don't know that we should just be arbitrarily raising it without conducting the same equivalent complex as well, I think. I understand what you did and how you did it, but I can't get on board with the methodology here that we're just going to add 2.5% from where someone's at because what the market may…”
“So just back to the methodology that you're applying, you said it was 2.5%, right? Or is it different?”