TIF Board Addresses Open Meeting Law Complaint Over Member Certifications
The Fall River Tax Increment Finance Board held a brief meeting on August 25, 2026. The board began by approving the minutes from their previous meeting on June 12, 2026, with a unanimous 6-0 vote. The primary agenda item was an Open Meeting Law complaint filed by Collin R. Dias. The complaint alleged that two board members, Ann O'Neil-Souza and Frank Marchione, had not filed their Open Meeting Law certifications. An unidentified speaker explained that Mr. Marchione, appointed in 2014, had received the required materials but had not signed the certification, which has since been sent to him to rectify. Ms. O'Neil-Souza had recently signed her certification. Following this explanation, the board voted unanimously, 6-0, to refer the matter to the Law Department for a formal response. With no other business, the meeting was promptly adjourned.
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Council
Public / Other
I'm going to call this meeting to order.
0:04It's the August 25th meeting of the Tax Increment Financing Board in the Farova Hearing Room.
0:09Richie Gonzalez?
0:10Here.
0:12Frank Marcioni?
0:17Linda?
0:18Here.
0:19Sean Kadeem?
0:20Paul Coogan?
0:21Cliff Ponte?
0:23Okay.
0:23And Ann O'Neill-Souza?
0:25Yep.
0:27Pursuant to the Open Meeting Law, any person make an audio or video recording of this public meeting or may transmit the meeting through any medium.
0:34Attendees are therefore advised that such meetings and recordings are being made, whether perceived or unperceived by those present, and are deemed acknowledged and permissible.
0:41Salute to the flag.
0:45I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands.
0:51One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.
0:59Uh, no citizens' input tonight?
1:00None.
1:01None.
1:02Um, I entertain a motion to approve the minutes of the June 12th, 2026 meeting.
1:08Motion to accept.
1:09Second.
1:09I have a motion and a second.
1:11Any discussion?
1:13Uh, I'll— I guess I'll call the roll on that.
1:16Okay.
1:17Unless you want to do it, you want to do it then.
1:19Go ahead, please.
1:21Mayor Coogan?
1:22Yes.
1:23Cliff Pond?
1:24Yes.
1:24Sean Kadim?
1:25Yes.
1:25Linda Pereira?
1:26Yes.
1:27Anne O'Neill Souza?
1:28Yes.
1:28Richard Gonzalez?
1:29Yes.
1:29Frank Macchione?
1:30It's passed at 6, man.
1:34Item number 6 on the agenda is an open meeting law complaint from Colin Dias.
1:40Do you want to talk to that, Matt?
1:41Yes, uh, thank you, Mayor.
1:43Uh, so we received an open meeting law complaint from Colin Dias, and the substance of the complaint is that 2 of the members haven't signed their Open Meeting Law certifications.
1:54So, as you know, when you're appointed, the clerk gives you a package on all the Open Meeting Law rules, and you sign a certification that says you've received it when you get sworn in.
2:04There's no requirement that you do it every time you— you know, if you're ex officio, you don't have to do it every year.
2:10It's just when you're sworn in.
2:12So, they said that Ann O'Neill-Suza and Frank Macchione do not have open meeting law certifications on file.
2:19I checked with INEG, and Mr. Macchione was appointed in 2014, and he received his packet at that time.
2:25He just didn't sign a certification.
2:28So, a certification has been sent to him to sign.
2:31Ann signed one as interim, and now as city administrator.
2:36So, that's been done.
2:38Um, the motion would be to refer this to the Law Department for response.
2:42So moved.
2:43Second.
2:44Any discussion on that motion?
2:48Call the roll, please, Frank.
2:49Sure.
2:50Mayor Coogan?
2:51Yes.
2:51Cliff Pond?
2:52Yes.
2:52Sean Kadim?
2:53Yes.
2:53Linda Pereira?
2:54Yes.
2:54Ann O'Neill Souza?
2:55Yes.
2:56Richard Gonzalez?
2:57Yes.
2:57Frank Macchiano?
2:58Passes 6-nothing.
3:00Item number 7, all other relevant matters not known 48 hours in advance.
3:04Any new business to come before the committee?
3:07Hearing none, I'll entertain a motion to adjourn.
3:09So moved.
3:09Second.
3:11I have a motion and a second.
3:13Deb, call— I mean, Deb.
3:16Matt, call the roll, please.
3:17School Committee.
3:19Mayor Coon.
3:19Yes.
3:20Cliff Barton.
3:20Yes.
3:20Sean Cadenas.
3:21Linda Pereira.
3:22Yes.
3:22Anne O'Neill Souza.
3:23Yes.
3:24Richard Gonzalez.
3:25Yes.
3:25Frank Macchione.
3:26Patrick Fitzsimmons.
3:27Adjourned.