Fall River City Council approves $29.8 million loan order to purchase former Bishop Connolly, overrides mayor’s veto authorizing Council to hire outside legal counsel

The Fall River City Council approved a loan order on Tuesday to purchase a shuttered school.

Fall River Mayor Coogan submitted to the City Council a loan order for $29.8 million to purchase the former Bishop Connolly High School from the Catholic Church.

Bishop Connolly High School sits on a 55-acres property, and it will allow for the addition of 33 pre-k classrooms, along with providing an auditorium, full-size gym, and extensive athletic amenities including baseball, softball, and football fields, a track, and tennis courts.

It will also cost an estimated $20 million to rehab and upgrade the school – much of it qualifies for potential reimbursements from the state.

The City Council voted 7-1 to approve the loan order with Christopher Peckham the loan no vote and Andrew Raposo abstaining.

Also, at the meeting, the Council overrode the mayor’s veto of the proposed ordinance authorizing the City Council to hire outside legal counsel by a 6-3 vote with Joe Camara, Linda Pereira, and Paul Hart the no votes.