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Central Falls council permits 90‑day extension for acting public works director while search continues
Summary
Council granted the administration permission to retain an acting Department of Public Works director for another 90 days while officials continue an accelerated recruitment; staff reported 31 applications, 14 phone screens and six in‑person interviews to date.
The City Council of Central Falls on Tuesday authorized the mayor’s office to retain the acting director of the Department of Public Works for an additional 90 days while the administration completes a national search.
Speaker 5, presenting the executive communication, said the city’s charter allows the mayor to appoint an acting director for up to 90 days without a council vote and that Luisa Bridal had been serving in the post since August. “At this point, we're not confident” the vetting will be complete before the initial period ends, Speaker 5 said, and asked council to permit a short extension while staff finish interviews. The presenter added that the administration had received 31 applications, conducted 14 phone screenings and held six in‑person interviews.
Speaker 5 also praised the current acting director, saying Luis Zapade “has done a very capable job in the acting role,” and argued the extension was intended to protect continuity for residents who interact with city services through public works.
Council debated the request briefly and put the extension to a vote. The motion to allow the administration to retain an acting director for an additional 90 days was recorded in the meeting minutes and announced from the dais.
The council did not set new substantive conditions on the extension in the public record; staff said the administration will continue vetting candidates and return with a recommended permanent appointment at a later meeting.
Next steps: the administration will continue interviews and report back to council; the acting director will remain in place under the 90‑day extension while the search continues.
