City council prepared to move forward with Fall River recall

September 29, 2014 5:21 pm

Nicole Brazier
@NicoleBrazierTV
nbrazier@abc6.com

FALL RIVER – The gears are in motion at Government Center in Fall River. Tuesday the city council will meet to officially present nearly 4,000 certified signatures to Mayor Will Flanagan, well above the number needed for his recall. At that point the mayor has 5 business days to resign or the council swings into action.

“After the 5 day period, what happens is the city council will then set a date within 60 days to have a special election to recall the mayor,” said council Vice President Raymond Mitchell.

If it comes down to a special election, it’ll cost the city upwards of $60,000. Money that wasn’t originally in the budget.

“I just don’t know where that money will come from but it’s going to be something that’s going to have to be worked out because obviously we have to fund it,” said Mitchell.

People living in the area say they’re less than impressed that this process will end up cutting even further into the city’s already cash–strapped funds.

“I think that’s nuts. We’re crying poverty now why should we pay 60 grand when we’re crying poverty now?” said Joseph Constant.

“I think it’s a waste of money, that money could go for other things,” said Arleene Blanchard.

There is a chance this entire process will be prolonged if Mayor Flanagan decides to take the fight to the courtroom.

Some on the city council say they expect that to happen.

“I believe that he’s going to try to tie it up for a while so I don’t think you’re going to see an election until probably the middle of January, beginning of February,” said Mitchell.

Any candidates interested in running in the special election will have to go through the same processes as a general election, which includes collecting at least the minimum 50 signatures from registered voters.