Where was the Fuss on Kuss?

Recently, an arbitrator determined that the City of Fall River is required to pay an additional $2.15 million in damages regarding the eminent domain taking involved to construct the new Matthew Kuss middle school. According to the Herald News, several city councilors expressed surprise and concern over the $2.15 million liability.

“I didn’t know it was in arbitration,” Councilor Linda M. Pereira said. “I have a lot of questions about that.” Questioning the law department, Pereira said, “The council was not privy to Kuss, and I think that needs to be changed.”

“I didn’t know about the lawsuit until Adam Chapdelaine told me on Wednesday,” Councilor Leo O. Pelletier said.

When the concession stand was debated over several meetings recently, Pelletier said, “At no time did I know they wanted more money. We didn’t know we had all that extra money.

Now, anyone who has watched a City Council meeting knows that legal claims against the City of Fall River are listed on the agenda, and the standard practice is to expeditiously refer the legal claims to Corporation Counsel. Therefore, if legal claims against the City are listed in the agendas for City Council meetings, how can City Council members now claim that they didn’t know about the lawsuit? Are the City Councilors indicating that this lawsuit somehow never made it to their City Council agendas?

Another important point concerns the responsibility of the City Council to periodically request that the Corporation Counsel update them on the progress of all litigation against the City. Massachusetts law specifically provides the opportunity for the City Council to hold a meeting in executive session “to discuss strategy with respect to . . . litigation if an open meeting may have a detrimental effect on the . . . litigating position of the governmental body . . .” Yet, the City Councilors were left in the dark because they don’t request periodic reports on the status of litigation.

I suppose if the City Council never bothers to ask any questions or request updates that they then have the perfect opportunity to feign ignorance.

Say it ain't so

Let the hackery continue....

Word on the street says outgoing mayor, Bob Correia, is seeking a job in the court system. I have no doubt he will happily suck off the teet of taxpayers until the day he dies (I mean "continue to dedicate his life to public service"). Times are tough and there is currently a hiring freeze in the MA court system. The hiring freeze would make any job Bob Correia is given, that much more egregious. I would not be surprised if he already has a position lined up. He mentioned he would be taking time off in January. Time off from what? Time off before starting his new state position?

FROED's Contract with the Redevelopment Authority Expires in May

CLICK HERE for FROED's Contract with the Fall River Redevelopment Authority

Some highlights:

• FROED's contract is up on May 9, 2010!
• See how much the city pays FROED

Outgoing Mayor Correia Creates/Gives Jobs to Friends

So far........

Kathy Edwards $55,000
Newly combined position of contract compliance officer/executive secretary in the Community Development Agency
Coelho said one reason the combined job wasn’t posted was because “an internal candidate needed a job.”

Ines Leite $55,914 - $65,147
Assistant City Clerk

Jeff Santos $85,000
CDA Executive Director
Told mayoral staffers were being given municipal jobs in a city with soaring unemployment, Santos said, “It happens all the time."

I am going to be incredibly disappointed if these positions aren't seriously scrutinized by Mayor Flanagan.

Inaugurations

I am hoping (and anticipating) that Mayor-elect Flanagan will not spend an entire week congratulating himself, stroking his ego, and getting his ass kissed through a never ending inaugural celebration like Bob Correia did. However, if Flanagan does desire to have a big bash, I suggest he tap into some funding from the "Fall River Inaugural Celebration, Inc."

Fall River Inaugural Celebration, Inc (FRIC) was incorporated one month before Bob's endless inauguration, by members of team Correia (Alan Silva, Ernest Edwards, etc). How vain can you be that you start an entire non profit organization with the purpose of praising yourself. FRIC's purpose, as stated in its forming documents, is to:

"TO RAISE PRIVATE FUNDS TO PAY, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, INAUGURAL EXPENSES IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE FALL RIVER INAUGURATION AND OTHER INAUGURAL EVENTS. THE PURPOSE OF THE INAUGURAL EVENT IS TO CELEBRATE THE INAUGURATION OF ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS AND SHALL NOT FINANCIALLY BENEFIT ANY PARTICULAR ELECTED OFFICIAL OR ANY PARTICULAR OFFICIAL’S COMMITTEE."

http://corp.sec.state.ma.us/corp/corpsearch/CorpSearchSummary.asp?ReadFromDB=True&UpdateAllowed=&FEIN=000965194

Seeing as how this organization was founded to unselfishly celebrate the inaugurations of not just one particular candidate, they should have no problem carrying out their purpose by organizing an inaugural event for Flanagan.

p.s. Treasurer Edwards, your annual report was due to the state Nov. 1, better get on that!

Battleship on the Battleship

A friend of mine had a fantastic idea for tourism, as well as for the general promotion and awesomeness of Fall River - Host a Battleship tournament on Big Mamie!

I was pretty excited about the prospect....I was even MORE excited when I found out there is a Battleship movie in the works, based on the game (Universal Studios with director Peter Berg of Hancock). This is a great way to capitalize on free press from the Battleship movie and game.

The idea makes so much sense, Battleship Cove rents Big Mamie for events, why not allow such an event to be held on the ship. It would require a little planning on our part but it is ripe for advertising and sponsorship. The game Battleship is even owned by Hasbro who is headquartered in nearby Pawtucket, RI. Perhaps we could even have a screening of the Battleship movie at the Heritage State Park building theatre.

A few weeks ago the officials at Battleship Cove announced they were seeking a new director upon the recent resignation of their current director. Hopefully the new director and powers that be give this idea some serious thought.

I encourage everyone - the city, the Mayor Flanagan, the council, and the Battleship directors, to make this idea a reality. It could be an annual event attracting many people to Fall River. It is a golden opportunity we would be foolish to ignore.

Awesome Tourism Video