MassVoter.com← Fall RiverMunicipal votes · 2022–2023 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 2021; sworn in January 3, 2022. Covers 51 meetings, January 3 to December 12, 2023.
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 →Council sessions
Coming up
MassVoter can’t read Fall River’s meeting calendar automatically yet. See upcoming meetings on the official site →
Councilors
PresidentJoseph D. CamaraCouncil President (Sept. 2022–2023) · At-large · at 46 of 51 meetings
Vice PresidentMichelle M. DionneCouncil Vice President (2022) · At-large · at 48 of 51 meetings
Shawn E. CadimeCity Councilor · At-large · at 45 of 51 meetings
Bradford L. KilbyCity Councilor · At-large · at 48 of 51 meetings
Pamela S. LaliberteCouncil President (Jan.–Sept. 2022) · At-large · at 41 of 51 meetings
Trott LeeCity Councilor · At-large · at 12 of 12 meetings · until May 2022
Leo O. PelletierCity Councilor · At-large · at 36 of 50 meetings
Linda M. PereiraCouncil Vice President (2023) · At-large · at 48 of 51 meetings
Andrew J. RaposoCity Councilor · At-large · at 51 of 51 meetings
Laura-Jean SampsonCity Councilor · At-large · at 38 of 39 meetings · from Jun 2022"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.
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.
Nov 14Mayor requesting approvals as follows: Resolution ~ TIE Agreement…Motion: to adopt , One Government Center + Fall River, MA 02722…Passed 6–1 · No: Dionne
November 14, 2023 · Item 2a: Mayor requesting approvals as follows:: Resolution ~ TIE Agreement for Sanford Spinning Mills, LLC 206 Globe Mills Avenue
To adopt , One Government Center + Fall River, MA 02722 TEL 508-324-2220 * FAX 508-324-2211 * EMAIL city_clerks@fallriverma.org the resolution, pending payment agreement or payment of outstanding taxes
Yes: Cadime, Joseph D. Camara, Kilby, Pereira, Raposo, SampsonNo: DionneAbsent: Laliberte, Pelletier
From the minutes
“On a further motion made by Councilor Kilby and seconded by Vice President Pereira, it was voted to adopt , One Government Center + Fall River, MA 02722 TEL 508-324-2220 * FAX 508-324-2211 * EMAIL city_clerks@fallriverma.org the resolution, pending payment agreement or payment of outstanding taxes, with Councilor Dionne opposed and with Councilors Laliberte and Pelletier absent and not voting.” (Motion: Kilby, second: Pereira) The minutes name who voted no but give no count; the count shown is from those names.
Nov 14Mayor requesting approvals as follows: Resolution — TIE Agreement…Motion: to adopt the resolutionPassed 6–1 · No: Dionne
November 14, 2023 · Item 2b: Mayor requesting approvals as follows:: Resolution — TIE Agreement for Durfee Trust Limited Partnership 80-84 North Main Street
To adopt the resolution
Yes: Cadime, Joseph D. Camara, Kilby, Pereira, Raposo, SampsonNo: DionneAbsent: Laliberte, Pelletier
From the minutes
“On a motion made by Councilor Kilby and seconded by Vice President Pereira, it was voted to adopt the resolution, with Councilor Dionne opposed and with Councilors Laliberte and Pelletier absent and nof voting.” (Motion: Kilby, second: Pereira) The minutes name who voted no but give no count; the count shown is from those names.
Sep 26Massachusetts Department of Environmental! Protection - notice of new…Motion: to adopt the order and approve the proposalPassed 5–2 · No: Joseph D. Camara, Pereira
September 26, 2023 · Item 24: Massachusetts Department of Environmental! Protection - notice of new regulatory reporting requirement rel. to medium and heavy duty vehicles operated/dispatched in Massachusetis
To adopt the order and approve the proposal
Yes: Cadime, Dionne, Kilby, Raposo, SampsonNo: Joseph D. Camara, PereiraAbsent: Laliberte, Pelletier
From the minutes
“On a motion made by Councilor Kilby and seconded by Councilor Washington, it was voted 5 yeas, 2 nays, to adopt the order and approve the proposal, with President Camara and Vice President Pereira voting in the negative and Councilors Laliberte and Pelletier absent and not voting.” (Motion: Kilby, second: Sampson)
Sep 26Massachusetts Department of Environmental! Protection - notice of new…Motion: to adopt the order and approve the proposalPassed 4–3 · No: Dionne, Joseph D. Camara, Pereira
September 26, 2023 · Item 24: Massachusetts Department of Environmental! Protection - notice of new regulatory reporting requirement rel. to medium and heavy duty vehicles operated/dispatched in Massachusetis
To adopt the order and approve the proposal
Yes: Cadime, Kilby, Raposo, SampsonNo: Dionne, Joseph D. Camara, PereiraAbsent: Laliberte, Pelletier
From the minutes
“On a further motion made by Councilor Kilby and seconded by Councilor Cadime, it was voted 4 yeas, 3 nays, to adopt the order and approve the proposal, with President Pereira and Councilor Dionne voting in the negative and with Councilors Laliberte and Pelletier absent and not voting.” (Motion: Kilby, second: Cadime)
Sep 12Proposed Ordinance — Thin-Film Plastic BagsMotion: to pass the proposed ordinance through first readingPassed 6–1 · No: Raposo
September 12, 2023 · Item 13: Proposed Ordinance — Thin-Film Plastic Bags
To pass the proposed ordinance through first reading
Yes: Cadime, Dionne, Joseph D. Camara, Kilby, Laliberte, PereiraNo: RaposoAbsent: Pelletier, Sampson
From the minutes
“On a motion made by Councilor Kilby and seconded by Councilor Cadime, it was voted to pass the proposed ordinance through first reading, with Councilor Raposo opposed and with Councilors Pelletier and Washington absent and not voting.” (Motion: Kilby, second: Cadime) The minutes name who voted no but give no count; the count shown is from those names.
Jun 27Order re: a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure for…Motion: that the communication be accepted and placed on file and that…Passed 7–0 · Abstained: Laliberte
June 27, 2023 · Item 7: Mayor and order re: a Deed in Lieu of Foreclosure for 78 Thomas Street from David Gagnon (Parcel ID# K14-0061)
That the communication be accepted and placed on file and that the order be adopted
Yes: Dionne, Joseph D. Camara, Kilby, Pelletier, Pereira, Raposo, SampsonAbstained: LaliberteAbsent: Cadime
From the minutes
“On a motion made by Vice President Pereira and seconded by Councilor Raposo, it was voted that the communication be accepted and placed on file and that the order be adopted, with Councilor Laliberte abstaining and Councilor Cadime absent and not voting.” (Motion: Pereira, second: Raposo) The minutes name who voted no but give no count; the count shown is from those names.
Jun 27Applications for Taxicab Licenses - Muhammad Shabbir d/b/a Shab…Motion: to adopt the orderPassed 5–3 · No: Dionne, Joseph D. Camara, Pelletier
June 27, 2023 · Item 24: Applications for Taxicab Licenses - Muhammad Shabbir d/b/a Shab in a Cab 2 vehicles)
To adopt the order
Yes: Kilby, Laliberte, Pereira, Raposo, SampsonNo: Dionne, Joseph D. Camara, PelletierAbsent: Cadime
From the minutes
“On a motion made by Councilor Raposo and seconded by Councilor Washington, it was voted 5 yeas, 3 nays to adopt the order, with Councilors Pelletier and President Camara voting in the negative and with Councilor Cadime absent and not voting.” (Motion: Raposo, second: Sampson)
Jun 6Appropriation Order — Fiscal Year 2024 Municipal BudgetMotion: to adopt the orderPassed 5–3 · No: Cadime, Dionne, Raposo
June 6, 2023 · Item Late 3a: Appropriation Order — Fiscal Year 2024 Municipal Budget
To adopt the order
Yes: Joseph D. Camara, Kilby, Pelletier, Pereira, SampsonNo: Cadime, Dionne, RaposoAbsent: Laliberte
From the minutes
“On a motion made by Councilor Pereira and seconded by Councilor Pelletier, it was voted 5 yeas, 3 nays to adopt the order, with Councilors Dionne and Raposo voting in the negative and Councilor Laliberte absent and not voting.” (Motion: Pereira, second: Pelletier)
May 30Proposed Ordinance — Salary increase for School Committee membersMotion: to pass through first readingFailed 4–4 · No: Joseph D. Camara, Kilby, Pereira, Sampson
May 30, 2023 · Item 10: Proposed Ordinance — Salary increase for School Committee members
To pass through first reading
Yes: Cadime, Dionne, Laliberte, RaposoNo: Joseph D. Camara, Kilby, Pereira, SampsonAbsent: Pelletier
From the minutes
“On a motion made by Councilor Cadime and seconded by Councilor Kilby, it was voted 4 yeas, 4 nays to pass through first reading and the motion failed to carry, with Councilors Pereira, Washington as well as President Camara voting in the negative and with Councilor Pelletier absent and not voting.” (Motion: Cadime, second: Kilby)
May 30Proposed Ordinance — Cost of Living Adjustments for Elected…Motion: to pass through first readingFailed 3–5 · No: Cadime, Dionne, Joseph D. Camara, Raposo, Sampson
May 30, 2023 · Item 11: Proposed Ordinance — Cost of Living Adjustments for Elected Officials
To pass through first reading
Yes: Kilby, Laliberte, PereiraNo: Cadime, Dionne, Joseph D. Camara, Raposo, SampsonAbsent: Pelletier
From the minutes
“On a motion made by Councilor Kilby and seconded by Councilor Laliberte, it was voted 3 yeas, 5 nays to pass through first reading and the motion failed to carry, with Councilors Dionne, Raposo, Washington as well as President Camara voting in the negative and with = Councilor Pelletier absent and not voting.” (Motion: Kilby, second: Laliberte)
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.
How to read these pagesWhere the votes come from, how we check them against the official minutes, what isn't included yet, and how to report a mistake.About city pages →