Fall River council asks state and federal auditors to review city maintenance office after private probe; council to seek responses by Aug. 15
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Summary
After a privately commissioned investigation surfaced allegations of equipment misuse, procurement irregularities and workplace retaliation in the Department of Community Maintenance, the council voted to send the report to multiple law- and oversight-agencies and to seek formal responses by Aug. 15.
The Fall River City Council voted to request outside reviews of a private investigation into the Department of Community Maintenance (DCM) after a reported probe alleged misuse of city equipment, procurement irregularities and a hostile workplace culture.
The study, prepared by private investigator Daniel Lowney at the request of city officials, was read into the council record during a full-council session and prompted immediate action from several councilors. The council adopted — as amended — a resolution directing the clerk to transmit the investigator’s report to the U.S. attorney’s office, the Massachusetts attorney general, the Bristol County district attorney, the state inspector general and the Fall River Police Department, and asking those agencies to respond by Aug. 15.
The private report, which councilors said was previously withheld in redacted form, contains multiple allegations. Councilors summarized items read from the report in public comments: that city equipment and labor were used on private projects; that procurement procedures were bypassed by invoicing work in smaller amounts to avoid chapter 30B requirements; that hazardous materials and improper disposal practices were reported; and that some employees who raised concerns had been retaliated against or marginalized.
“Corruption and abuse of power,” one councilor said while urging a full outside review. Another described examples read from the report in which city equipment reportedly vanished after being used by staff on private work and recounted testimony that city staffers had worked for contractors or on private properties using city machinery.
Council members debated several options before voting. Some members asked that the council first meet in executive session with corporation counsel, the private investigator and representatives of law enforcement; others urged immediate referral to outside agencies. The final motion ordered transmittal of the full report and set a deadline for agency responses, and the council also agreed to schedule a separate executive-session briefing with the administration to review the investigation’s handling.
Several councilors emphasized that the referral is an initial fact-finding step and that agencies receiving the report will determine whether further criminal or civil investigation is warranted. The council retained the option to authorize its own independent inquiry should state or federal offices decline to pursue the matter or return an unsatisfactory response.
The council also voted to schedule an executive session after the current budget process to receive an update from administration legal staff on the status of the original investigatory work and any steps already taken by city officials.
The adopted resolution and the request for outside review mark an uncommon use of external oversight in response to internal allegations. Council leaders said their aim is to restore public trust, ensure procurement compliance and ensure employees who raised concerns can be heard and protected.
