Fall River CPC rescinds $225,000 grant for Coughlin School project after missed deadlines

At its Jan. 8 meeting the Fall River Community Preservation Committee voted to rescind a previously awarded $225,000 grant for sprinkler work at the Coughlin School after concluding the award recipient had missed contractual milestones.

Staff reported the applicant had been given 180 days to provide agreed deliverables and status updates; committee members said they had not received progress reports and that a late email submitted on the day of the meeting did not satisfy the contractual requirement. A member moved to rescind the award; another member seconded, and the roll-call vote yielded a majority in favor. Committee members cited two principal concerns: the elapsed timeline since the award and a lack of substantive updates or work on site that would permit the sprinkler contractor to proceed because the building was still being used for storage.

A committee member summarized the compliance issue: “They did not give us any updates whatsoever,” and the panel proceeded with a vote to rescind. Roll-call votes were recorded during the meeting; members voting yes included James Hornsby, John Brandt (as recorded), Kristen Cantera Oliver, and Joanne/Joey Bentley (as recorded); Alexander Silva and Michael Farris were recorded as voting no. The motion passed and staff indicated those funds would be returned to CPC appropriations pending administrative processing.

Committee members noted that grants normally have a two-year award window but stressed that the specific contractual 180‑day milestone in this case had been missed and that applicants are expected to request extensions or provide documentation if delays occur. The committee did not take further disciplinary action at the meeting but stated applicants should maintain communication and provide evidence of progress when a project is under contract.