MassVoter.com← Fall RiverMunicipal votes · 2026–2027 Council
Fall River City Council
How the Fall River City Council voted, from the City Clerk's official minutes. 9 councilors, all elected at-large. Elected November 2025; sworn in January 5, 2026. Covers 22 meetings so far, January 5 to September 22, 2026.
A monthly email on what it voted on, starting in November.
What does the City Council do? It is the city’s lawmaking body. It passes local laws (ordinances), votes on the yearly budget, and approves borrowing and zoning changes.
The mayor runs the city day to day and proposes the budget.
Sources: Mass. General Laws c. 44 § 32 (city budgets)Your Fall River ballot: 16 quizzes, about a minute each.
Start my ballot →Vote Transparency Score
Fall River City Council: 8 out of 10 · Mostly open
How easy Fall River makes it to see, online, how each member votes. It scores the city’s records, not any official. Checked October 3, 2026.
- Minutes postedMinutes are posted for nearly every meeting in the past year.Full points: 2/2
- Each vote namedThe minutes name the councilors who voted no (and those absent), but not each councilor’s yes vote.Part points: 2/3
- Posted quicklyMinutes usually go up within about three weeks.Full points: 2/2
- Past years onlineCity Council minutes from 2016 to today are online.Full points: 1/1
- Readable textThe minutes are scanned images, so you can’t search or copy the text.No points: 0/1
- Member photosThe city’s website shows a photo of each councilor.Full points: 1/1
How the city can raise its score
- Each vote named (+1): On any vote that isn’t unanimous, write how each member voted. For example: “Motion passed 3–2. Yes: Smith, Jones, Lee. No: Brown, Silva.” A roll call on split votes is the simplest way to do this.
- Readable text (+1): Save minutes straight from Word or Google Docs as a PDF instead of printing and scanning them. If a scan is needed, turn on the scanner’s “searchable PDF” or text-recognition setting.
How we score · Something wrong, or has the city made a change? Email info@massvoter.com and we’ll re-check.
A monthly email on its votes, starting in November. We'll also tell you if this score changes.
Council sessions
Coming up
MassVoter can’t read Fall River’s meeting calendar automatically yet. See upcoming meetings on the official site →
Councilors
PresidentCliff A. PonteCouncil President · At-large · at 22 of 22 meetings
Vice PresidentMichelle M. DionneCouncil Vice President · At-large · at 21 of 22 meetings
Shawn E. CadimeCity Councilor · At-large · at 22 of 22 meetings✓ Every meeting 2026
Joseph D. CamaraCity Councilor · At-large · at 22 of 22 meetings✓ Every meeting 2026
Michael G. CanuelCity Councilor · At-large · at 22 of 22 meetings
Paul B. HartCity Councilor · At-large · at 18 of 22 meetings
Christopher M. Peckham, Sr.City Councilor · At-large · at 21 of 22 meetings
Linda M. PereiraCity Councilor · At-large · at 19 of 22 meetings✓ Every meeting 2026
Andrew J. RaposoCity Councilor · At-large · at 22 of 22 meetings"At X of Y meetings" counts the roll call at the start of each meeting in this record. Councilors who step out are listed on each meeting page.
Attendance
22 full-board meetings so far this year, through September 22. Ties share a rank.
1Shawn E. Cadime22 of 22 meetings Every meeting100%1Joseph D. Camara22 of 22 meetings Every meeting100%1Michael G. Canuel22 of 22 meetings Every meeting100%1Cliff A. Ponte22 of 22 meetings Every meeting100%1Andrew J. Raposo22 of 22 meetings Every meeting100%6Michelle M. Dionne21 of 22 meetings95%6Christopher M. Peckham, Sr.21 of 22 meetings95%8Linda M. Pereira19 of 22 meetings86%9Paul B. Hart18 of 22 meetings82%28 full-board meetings in 2025. Ties share a rank.
1Paul B. Hart28 of 28 meetings Every meeting100%1Andrew J. Raposo28 of 28 meetings Every meeting100%3Joseph D. Camara27 of 28 meetings96%4Ricky T. Tith16 of 17 meetings · served from May94%5Michelle M. Dionne26 of 28 meetings93%5Linda M. Pereira26 of 28 meetings93%5Cliff A. Ponte26 of 28 meetings93%8Laura-Jean Sampson10 of 11 meetings · served until Apr91%9Shawn E. Cadime25 of 28 meetings89%9Bradford L. Kilby25 of 28 meetings89%27 full-board meetings in 2024. Ties share a rank.
1Andrew J. Raposo26 of 27 meetings96%2Michelle M. Dionne25 of 27 meetings93%2Paul B. Hart25 of 27 meetings93%2Linda M. Pereira25 of 27 meetings93%2Laura-Jean Sampson25 of 27 meetings93%6Joseph D. Camara25 of 28 meetings89%7Bradford L. Kilby24 of 27 meetings89%7Cliff A. Ponte24 of 27 meetings89%9Shawn E. Cadime23 of 27 meetings85%25 full-board meetings in 2023. Ties share a rank.
1Linda M. Pereira25 of 25 meetings Every meeting100%1Andrew J. Raposo25 of 25 meetings Every meeting100%3Bradford L. Kilby24 of 25 meetings96%3Laura-Jean Sampson24 of 25 meetings96%5Michelle M. Dionne23 of 25 meetings92%6Joseph D. Camara22 of 25 meetings88%7Shawn E. Cadime20 of 25 meetings80%8Pamela S. Laliberte16 of 25 meetings64%9Leo O. Pelletier12 of 25 meetings48%26 full-board meetings in 2022. Ties share a rank.
1Andrew J. Raposo26 of 26 meetings Every meeting100%1Laura-Jean Sampson14 of 14 meetings · served from Jun Every meeting100%1Trott Lee12 of 12 meetings · served until May Every meeting100%4Shawn E. Cadime25 of 26 meetings96%4Michelle M. Dionne25 of 26 meetings96%4Pamela S. Laliberte25 of 26 meetings96%7Leo O. Pelletier24 of 25 meetings96%8Joseph D. Camara24 of 26 meetings92%8Bradford L. Kilby24 of 26 meetings92%10Linda M. Pereira23 of 26 meetings88%25 full-board meetings in 2021. Ties share a rank.
1Shawn E. Cadime25 of 25 meetings Every meeting100%1Michelle M. Dionne25 of 25 meetings Every meeting100%1Pamela S. Laliberte25 of 25 meetings Every meeting100%1Leo O. Pelletier25 of 25 meetings Every meeting100%1Cliff A. Ponte25 of 25 meetings Every meeting100%6Trott Lee24 of 25 meetings96%6Christopher M. Peckham, Sr.24 of 25 meetings96%6Linda M. Pereira24 of 25 meetings96%9Bradford L. Kilby23 of 25 meetings92%21 full-board meetings in 2020. Ties share a rank.
1Shawn E. Cadime21 of 21 meetings Every meeting100%1Michelle M. Dionne21 of 21 meetings Every meeting100%1Pamela S. Laliberte21 of 21 meetings Every meeting100%1Trott Lee21 of 21 meetings Every meeting100%1Cliff A. Ponte21 of 21 meetings Every meeting100%6Bradford L. Kilby20 of 21 meetings95%6Leo O. Pelletier20 of 21 meetings95%6Linda M. Pereira20 of 21 meetings95%9Christopher M. Peckham, Sr.19 of 21 meetings90%23 full-board meetings in 2019. Ties share a rank.
1Shawn E. Cadime23 of 23 meetings Every meeting100%1Steven A. Camara23 of 23 meetings Every meeting100%1Cliff A. Ponte16 of 16 meetings · served until Sep Every meeting100%4Leo O. Pelletier22 of 23 meetings96%5Pamela S. Laliberte21 of 23 meetings91%5Derek R. Viveiros21 of 23 meetings91%7Stephen R. Long20 of 23 meetings87%8Joseph D. Camara18 of 23 meetings78%8Bradford L. Kilby18 of 23 meetings78%26 full-board meetings in 2018. Ties share a rank.
1Pamela S. Laliberte26 of 26 meetings Every meeting100%1Cliff A. Ponte26 of 26 meetings Every meeting100%3Shawn E. Cadime25 of 26 meetings96%3Stephen R. Long25 of 26 meetings96%3Leo O. Pelletier25 of 26 meetings96%3Steven A. Camara25 of 26 meetings96%3Derek R. Viveiros25 of 26 meetings96%8Joseph D. Camara24 of 26 meetings92%8Bradford L. Kilby24 of 26 meetings92%24 full-board meetings in 2017. Ties share a rank.
1Steven A. Camara24 of 24 meetings Every meeting100%2Stephen R. Long23 of 24 meetings96%3Richard Cabeceiras22 of 24 meetings92%3Shawn E. Cadime22 of 24 meetings92%3Joseph D. Camara22 of 24 meetings92%3Pamela S. Laliberte22 of 24 meetings92%7Raymond A. Mitchell21 of 24 meetings88%7Linda M. Pereira21 of 24 meetings88%9Cliff A. Ponte20 of 24 meetings83%24 full-board meetings in 2016. Ties share a rank.
1Raymond A. Mitchell24 of 24 meetings Every meeting100%1Linda M. Pereira24 of 24 meetings Every meeting100%1Cliff A. Ponte24 of 24 meetings Every meeting100%1Steven A. Camara24 of 24 meetings Every meeting100%5Richard Cabeceiras23 of 24 meetings96%5Shawn E. Cadime23 of 24 meetings96%5Joseph D. Camara23 of 24 meetings96%5Stephen R. Long23 of 24 meetings96%9Pamela S. Laliberte22 of 24 meetings92%From the official minutes: full-board meetings only (committee meetings are not counted). Members are counted only for meetings held while they served, and arriving late counts as attending. The minutes rarely say why a member was absent.
A monthly email on its votes and who was there, starting in November.
Meetings
About missing minutes
Not here yet: the City Clerk has not posted minutes for the January 2, 2018 organization meeting or the October 8, 2019 executive session, and the city’s link for the February 11, 2020 minutes opens the agenda instead. For 2016–2017, the posted minutes for July 12 and August 16, 2016 are agendas marked with the action taken (they don’t list who attended), the city’s link for the October 24, 2017 minutes opens the agenda (we used the minutes the council approved in August 2018), and Committee on Finance and Public Hearings minutes for some 2016–2017 meetings were never posted. A few older minutes have possible errors (noted on those votes); we will ask the City Clerk for the missing minutes and to confirm those votes.
Votes where councilors disagreed
Most council votes are unanimous. These are the ones where at least one councilor voted no or abstained, newest first.
Sep 22City Council minutes: Public Hearings (Aug. 11 and Sept.…Motion: to approve the minutesPassed Unanimous, 9 present · see note
September 22, 2026 · Item 13-18: City Council minutes: Public Hearings (Aug. 11 and Sept. 8, 2026), Committee on Finance (Aug. 11 and Sept. 8, 2026), City Council (“August 17, 2026” as printed, and Sept. 8,…
To approve the minutes
The agenda line reads “City Council — August 17, 2026,” but the council met on Aug. 11, 2026; this looks like a typo. We will ask the City Clerk to confirm.
From the minutes
“On a motion made by Councilor Raposo and seconded by Councilor Canuel, it was unanimously voted to approve the minutes.” (Motion: Raposo, second: Canuel)
Sep 22The Appropriation of the following funds to and from…Motion: to adopt the orderPassed 7–1 · No: Peckham
September 22, 2026 · Item 19: Mayor and the Appropriation of the following funds to and from the PEG Access and Cable Related Fund, totaling $586,600 330,000 for FREDTV, Operating Salaries & Expenses
To adopt the order
Yes: Cadime, Canuel, Dionne, Hart, Joseph D. Camara, Ponte, RaposoNo: PeckhamAbsent: Pereira
From the minutes
“On a motion made by Councilor Raposo and seconded by Councilor Hart, it was voted to adopt the order, with Councilor Peckham opposed and Councilor Pereira absent and not voting.” (Motion: Raposo, second: Hart) The minutes name who voted no but give no count; the count shown is from those names.
Sep 22Loan order — $10,000,000 for the construction and/or improvement…Motion: to adopt the loan orderPassed 8–1 · No: Peckham
September 22, 2026 · Item Late 1e: Loan order — $10,000,000 for the construction and/or improvement of City Streets
To adopt the loan order
Yes: Cadime, Canuel, Dionne, Hart, Joseph D. Camara, Pereira, Ponte, RaposoNo: Peckham
From the minutes
“On a motion made by Councilor Raposo and seconded by Councilor Pereira, it was voted 8 yeas, 1 nay, to adopt the loan order, with Councilor Peckham voting in the negative.” (Motion: Raposo, second: Pereira)
Sep 22Order re Revised policy to City Council re: outside…Motion: to adopt the order, as amendedPassed · see note
September 22, 2026 · Item Late 1f: Order re Revised policy to City Council re: outside legal counsel
To adopt the order, as amended
The minutes say this was “unanimously voted … with Councilor Raposo opposed,” which contradicts itself, so no count or individual votes are shown. We will ask the City Clerk to confirm.
From the minutes
“On a motion made by Councilor Cadime and seconded by Councilor Hart, it was unanimously voted to adopt the order, as amended, with Councilor Raposo opposed.” (Motion: Cadime, second: Hart)
Sep 8Second Reading and Enrollment: Proposed Ordinance — Amending §62-2(C),…Motion: that the proposed ordinance be granted leave to withdrawFailed 2–7 · No: Cadime, Dionne, Hart, Joseph D. Camara, Peckham, Ponte, Raposo
September 8, 2026 · Item 10: Second Reading and Enrollment: Proposed Ordinance — Amending §62-2(C), Solid waste — collection and disposal, generally
That the proposed ordinance be granted leave to withdraw
Yes: Canuel, PereiraNo: Cadime, Dionne, Hart, Joseph D. Camara, Peckham, Ponte, Raposo
From the minutes
“On a motion made by Councilor Canuel and seconded by Councilor Pereira, it was voted 2 yeas, 7 nays, that the proposed ordinance be granted leave to withdraw, with Councilors Canuel and Pereira voting in the affirmative, and the motion failed to carry.” (Motion: Canuel, second: Pereira)
Sep 8Notices of Casualty and Loss: 484 Highland AvenueMotion: to table the matterPassed 8–1 · No: Joseph D. Camara
September 8, 2026 · Item 33b: Notices of Casualty and Loss: 484 Highland Avenue .
To table the matter
Yes: Cadime, Canuel, Dionne, Hart, Peckham, Pereira, Ponte, RaposoNo: Joseph D. Camara
From the minutes
“On a motion made by Councilor Raposo and seconded by Councilor Canuel, it was voted 8 yeas, 1 nay, to table the matter, with Councilor Camara voting in the negative.” (Motion: Raposo, second: Canuel)
Aug 11Confirmation of the appointment of Ann O'Neil-Souza as the…Motion: to confirm the appointmentPassed 7–0 · Abstained: Cadime
August 11, 2026 · Item 1: Mayor and request for confirmation of the appointment of Ann O'Neil-Souza as the City Administrator
To confirm the appointment
Yes: Canuel, Dionne, Hart, Joseph D. Camara, Pereira, Ponte, RaposoAbstained: CadimeAbsent: Peckham
From the minutes
“On a motion made by Councilor Pereira and seconded by Councilor Camara, it was voted 7 yeas to confirm the appointment, with Councilor Cadime abstaining and Councilor Peckham absent and not voting.” (Motion: Pereira, second: Joseph D. Camara)
Aug 11Committee on Finance convene with various parties to discuss…Motion: that the resolution be granted leave to withdrawPassed 7–1 · see note
August 11, 2026 · Item 10: Committee on Finance convene with various parties to discuss the current population estimates for the City of Fall River
That the resolution be granted leave to withdraw
The minutes record the count as 7 yeas and 1 nay but do not make clear how each councilor voted.
From the minutes
“On a motion made by Councilor Pereira and seconded by Councilor Camara, it was voted 7 yeas, 1 nay, that the resolution be granted leave to withdraw, with President Ponte voting in the affirmative and Councilor Peckham absent and not voting.” (Motion: Pereira, second: Joseph D. Camara)
Jul 28Order with Memorandum of Agreement between Mayor Paul E.…Motion: to adopt the orderPassed 8–1 · No: Peckham
July 28, 2026 (Special meeting) · Item 2: Mayor and order with Memorandum of Agreement between Mayor Paul E. } Coogan and the City of Fall River City Council regarding outside legal counsel
To adopt the order
Yes: Cadime, Canuel, Dionne, Hart, Joseph D. Camara, Pereira, Ponte, RaposoNo: Peckham
From the minutes
“On a motion made by Councilor Pereira and seconded by Councilor Raposo, it was voted 8 yeas, 1 nay, to adopt the order, with Councilor Peckham voting in the negative.” (Motion: Pereira, second: Raposo)
Jul 28Third revised Proposed Fiscal Year 2027 Municipal Budget General…Motion: to adopt the revised Proposed Fiscal Year 2027 Municipal Budget General…Passed 8–1 · No: Peckham
July 28, 2026 (Special meeting) · Item 3: Mayor and third revised Proposed Fiscal Year 2027 Municipal Budget General Fund Appropriation Order
To adopt the revised Proposed Fiscal Year 2027 Municipal Budget General Fund appropriation order
Yes: Cadime, Canuel, Dionne, Hart, Joseph D. Camara, Pereira, Ponte, RaposoNo: Peckham
From the minutes
“On a motion made by Vice President Dionne and seconded by Councilor Cadime, it was voted 8 yeas, 1 nay, to adopt the revised Proposed Fiscal Year 2027 Municipal Budget General Fund appropriation order, with Councilor Peckham voting in the negative.” (Motion: Dionne, second: Cadime)
Committees
Much of the council’s work starts in committee. Each committee’s members, meetings and the recommendations it sent to the full council.
From the official minutes kept by the Fall River City Clerk (agendas and minutes). The minutes are scanned documents; we read them with text recognition, check every vote count against the councilors named, and quote the exact sentence for each vote. MassVoter never grades officials; votes and attendance are shown exactly as the minutes record them. Councilor photos: the nine 2026–2027 councilors from the City of Fall River's official councilor photos (Contact the Council page, fallriverma.gov); earlier councilors cropped from the 2024–2025 council group photo and the 2022–2023 council group photo (as published by Fall River Reporter, September 2022). Trott Lee: from his campaign Facebook page (facebook.com/trottlee4cc). Ricky Tith: from Fall River Reporter (April 2025). 2018–2019 councilors (Steven A. Camara, Stephen R. Long, Derek R. Viveiros) and the 2018–2019 group photo: from the City of Fall River’s FY2019 budget book. Richard Cabeceiras, Raymond A. Mitchell and the 2016–2017 group photo: Herald News photo by Jack Foley (January 2016), provided by the Fall River City Clerk. The 2020–2021 and 2022–2023 group photos: provided by the Fall River City Clerk.
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