Fall River City Council calls Mayor to resign despite letter

The Fall River City Council was served during Tuesday’s meeting concerning a vote on the recall process. That did not, however, stop them from voting.

City Council President Cliff Ponte addressed the Chamber after Mayor Correia’s representation delivered the letter. Ponte stated his concern that the Council could have been served at another time. Cadime, Kilby, and Laliberte-Lebeau also expressed their frustration at the move.

Despite the letter, the Fall River City Council voted unanimously to have the Fall River City Clerk send a letter to Mayor Correia to ask him to resign. Correia now has five days to resign. Due to holidays and weekends, that gives the Mayor until December 26th to decide.

Mayor Correia has stated he will not resign which, minus any possible litigation, will begin the process of determining a recall election date as the City Council expressed their plan to follow through with the recall process despite the letter and objections. According to the Charter, the recall election will then have to take place within 65 days.

The mayor has filed an objection concerning the validity of the recall signatures/petitions. The Board of Election Commissioners is expected to discuss the objection in the coming days.

Here is a copy of the letter sent to the City Council by the Mayor’s representation: