It’s official! Fall River voters agreed to a Proposition Two and a Half/Debt Exclusion Override to help the city pay for its share of a new B.M.C. Durfee High School at a cost of $98.5 million out of the total cost of $263 million. The measure was approved by a 4,941 to 3,136 margin. If all goes as planned now, the construction is expected to begin next year with the new school’s slated opening scheduled for September of 2021.
Board of Elections Chair Liz Camara tells FRC Media News, that almost 16.6 percent of voters turned out at the polls yesterday, which she adds is a disappointing number.
“It could have been better than that. I think people were confused about rumors floating around that in order for the ballot question to pass there had to be at least a 20% number of voters casting ballots under the terms of the new City Chater, but that’s simply not true. I believe that confusion on this matter is why more voters didn’t go to the polls.”
City Attorney Judge Joe Macy backed up Camara’s statement saying that the new City Charter does not require a 20 percent or more voter turnout. The number of votes cast for either a “yes” or “no” outcome was, and is, the only deciding factor on the special election outcome. In this case there were more “Yes” than “No” votes.
Judge Machy continued by saying that “The special election was held in accordance with current state laws, and city ordinances,” adding that it was also approved by the city council.
“As far as I am concerned, there was no minimum participation requirement that would have impacted the special election under City Charter rules, despite what some people might think,” he said.
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