FROED One Government Center Fall River, MA 02722-7700 Tel 508-324-2620 Fax 508-677-2840 info@froed.org		COUNCIL TO CONSIDER ECONOMIC INITIATIVES Mayor asks board to affirm projects The Herald News, Monday, September 1, 2008 - Page A1 Fall River — Mayor Robert Correia is asking the City Council at its meeting Tuesday to move on several economic initiatives that would impact parking, downtown residential re-use of mill buildings and tax incentives for a $6.3 million construction project. The Tax Increment Financing Board last week voted to recommend a five-year TIF for the Catahoula Corp., which is building a commercial project at 240 Hartwell St., at the corner of Rodman Street, on four acres that years ago housed the Luther Manufacturing complex. The investors would need to create 28 full-time jobs and 48 part-time jobs within three years under the TIF agreement that says the corporation would be liable for no taxes the first year, adding 25 percent tax liability each year for the subsequent four years. The project, called Hartwell Commons, includes a liquor store, service station/convenience store, restaurant and car wash. In another proposal, the city could acquire buildings once used by Bristol Community College at 64 Durfee Street. The Fall River Redevelopment Authority assessed those buildings, now owned by the state Division of Capital Asset Management and Maintenance, and believes that two can be salvaged. The 47,000 square-foot Bradford Durfee Textiles building and 17,000 square-foot adjacent textile building “can be saved, redeveloped for residential use and generate real estate revenue for the city,” wrote Kenneth Fiola Jr., executive vice president of the Fall River Office of Economic Development. The Redevelopment Authority would assume ownership of the parcel and select a project developer with the next six or seven months, Fiola said. In a third proposal, the city would transfer the Third Street and Pearl Street parking garages and lots to the Redevelopment Authority. Correia’s administration amended its prior request to include that any sale of those garages be approved by the City Council. Council members expressed that concern during a prior discussion about the transfer. Among other council matters, several members issued resolutions related to the Department of Public Works. Councilors Leo O. Pelletier and Cathy Ann Viveiros proposed hiring a private contractor and take funds from the stabilization account to repair about 900 existing potholes in the city. The resolution states the rutted roads are costing motorists thousands of dollars and the new $113,000 infrared machine only repairs 10 potholes a day with the DPW short of crews. Viveiros and Vice President Pat Casey, in a second resolution, are asking the city to research and write an ordinance that would improve the ability of DPW street sweepers to clean debris that’s inaccessible because of parked cars. Pelletier, in another resolution, said he has been “unable to get answers from city department heads” because of edicts issued by Correia. His resolution asks the department head of the traffic department to appear before the council to answer questions that Pelletier said he’s been unable to have answered. During his 26 years on the council, he wrote, “I have never experienced problems requesting or receiving information from department heads.” In other business, an ordinance replacing the existing compensation package for the corporation counsel with a contract is up for second reading. It proposes raising the pay for the part-time position from $48,500 to $85,000, about $10,000 more than what assistant corporation counsels receive. The council meeting will be held at 7 p.m. in the council chambers, preceded by the Committee on Finance meeting at 5:30. Back