City Council unanimously adopts order to sell former Sylvia School to current buyer

The Fall River City Council on July 21 unanimously adopted an order to sell the former Sylvia School to the only buyer currently under consideration, following a unanimous recommendation from the Committee on Real Estate. The clerk read the committee’s recommendation, noting the Committee on Real Estate met on July 21, 2025, and “voted unanimously to recommend that the accompanying order be adopted.” The clerk then called for a motion; a motion to adopt was made and seconded and the council proceeded to a roll-call vote. Councilor Cliff Ponty submitted a written statement read into the record in his absence, saying he regretted he could not attend the special meeting and urging support for the sale. “I fully support the sale of the former Sylvia School to the only buyer we currently have,” Ponty’s letter said. Ponty described the proposed developer, “Mr. Caddiro,” as having “a proven and successful track record throughout our city,” and said the project would bring housing stock and economic activity. The roll-call vote recorded in the transcript shows the following votes in favor: Kadeem; Dionne Hart; Kilby; Pereira; Ponte (Propozo in the transcript); Tipp; and President Kamara. The clerk announced the motion carried. The transcript does not identify the motion’s mover or seconder by name and does not include details in this meeting about the buyer’s identity, the sale price, closing schedule, or specific development approvals. The committee recommendation and Ponty’s letter are the only recorded deliberations in the meeting transcript related to the sale.