Fall River Board of Health Approves Five Chicken Variances, Three Tattoo Apprenticeships

FALL RIVER -- December 10, 2024, Fall River's Board of Health voted unanimously on eight permit actions at its December 10 virtual meeting, approving three tattoo apprenticeships and five backyard-chicken variances. Member Thomas Cory chaired the meeting with Michael J. Coughlin; Stephen Gagliardi, MD, participated in at least the final votes. Approved apprenticeships went to Michael Lima at Flaming Balls Tattoo on Jefferson Street and Anne-Marie Madeira and Kayla D'Souza, both bound for Painted Savage Tattoo on North Main Street. Chicken variances were granted to Brian and Cheryl D'Olivera of Mount Hope Avenue for up to 12 birds, Maria Wheat of June Street for up to 20, and Antonio Sousa of Stafford Road, whose application had been before the board multiple times over property-maintenance concerns. Board Agent Tess Current reported two recent staff departures, the department's first-ever epidemiologist and its mass and motion coordinator, leaving four openings under the shared services grant, with Coughlin calling the epidemiologist's departure "a loss" and noting it was "amazing to have that kind of expertise in the department for the first time ever."