Fall River council confirms finance director amid wider debate over contract reapproval; DCM appointment draws objections

The City Council confirmed Emily Yarki for the position of Director of Financial Services on Nov. 25 after a lengthy debate about whether the council should have repeated review of department-head contracts. Councilors and Corporation Counsel Alan Rumsey disagreed over the enforceability of requiring the mayor to re‑submit a contract: Rumsey advised that the charter requires the mayor to refer the appointee’s name to the council for confirmation but treats the contract terms (term length, compensation) as executive functions.

Councilor Ponte proposed — and the council approved — language asking that the mayor offer a one‑year contract so that the council could review the contract after one year. "If the person doesn't want to sign a one-year contract, then don't sign the contract," one councilor said in the debate, emphasizing enforceability rests on the contract's mutual execution. The motion to confirm Ms. Yarki with the one‑year provision carried by roll call (the transcript records the roll call and the chair announced the motion carried).

Separately, councilors engaged in an extended debate over the mayor’s appointment of Christopher Perano as director of community maintenance (DCM). Several councilors objected to Perano's appointment citing limited DCM technical experience, a lack of documented exit interviews, and incomplete supervisory checks during his prior internal movement; others, including DCM leadership and colleagues who worked with Perano at the cemeteries, said he had strong administrative skills and crew-level praise. Councilor motions to reject the Perano appointment were discussed and a roll call on an objection was taken; the roll call recorded more 'no' votes than 'yes' votes on the motion to reject, so that particular motion failed. The transcript records debate on a planned mentorship and training plan for the appointee and the need for clearer HR due diligence going forward.

What happens next: The finance director’s confirmation was approved with the council’s one-year review request recorded in the motion language. Councilors asked administration to bring clearer HR screening and supervisor-feedback processes to future appointments and to provide follow-up material about training plans when internal hires are proposed.