Fall River Veterans’ Agent Alleges Political Interference, Sparking City Council Call for Investigation

FALL RIVER ─ After Fall River Veterans’ Agent Talos Farris accused an unnamed official of ‘political influence and personal agendas’ during citizens’ input at Tuesday’s City Council meeting, councilors unanimously called on the administration to investigate the allegations.

Reading from a prepared statement during citizens’ input, Farris said that a former city VSO, whom he again declined to identify, told him he was going to have to play politics, “whether you like it or not, and yes, you are going to have to pick a side.”

Farris said he chose a side and that it was the side to help veterans.

Farris did not respond to requests for comment on Wednesday.

Farris alleges move to oust him

Over the past 14 months, as VSO, Farris alleged he learned of “repeated efforts to undermine my role, delay fair contract negotiations, and even pushed for my removal.”

There’s been a bit of a revolving door at the veteran services department, with four directors since 2021, and repeated controversies between different local veterans’ groups and some of the VSOs.

In April 2022, things got so heated between then VSO Micaila Britto, the city’s first female veterans’ agent, and the Fall River War Council, the umbrella organization for a host of smaller veterans’ groups, Mayor Paul Coogan had to set up a veterans advisory committee to bring the two sides together.

The dividing issue at the time was whether the VSO or the War Council would oversee the annual Fall River Memorial Day Parade, which veterans’ services funds.

Since then, the War Council has had new leadership with attorney Renee Brown, that organization’s first woman. Farris said that the organization has been successful with “joining together” the different veterans’ groups.

“I cannot and will not allow the dysfunction that used to be a part of that organization to take root ever again,” said Farris.

Regarding the City Council’s vote to request an investigation, which was proposed by councilor Cliff Ponte, acting City Administrator Michael Dion and Corporation Counsel Alan Rumsey said that the issue was a “personnel issue” which the administration does not comment on.

However, Dion and Rumsey each said that they are not aware of a formal complaint filed by Farris.

Farris’s contract was tied up in committee for almost a year

Part of Farris’s frustration with the alleged political influence and agendas may be due to his proposed contract having been tabled and stuck in the Committee on Ordinances since last September, until recently.

Councilor Linda Pereira, who chairs the committee and sets its agenda, did not return a call for comment.

On Aug. 26, Councilor Andrew Raposo asked to lift the contract issue off the table. Linda Pereira opposed the motion, with Shawn Cadime and Ricky Tith voting in the affirmative.

After discussion with the administration, the proposed contract was changed to ordinance for the VSO salary to not exceed $95,000 from the $72,000 cap to make it closer to the level of neighboring communities and moved to the full council.

On Tuesday, the City Council voted unanimously to increase the VSO salary not to exceed $95,000.