‘River to Recovery’ Runs Dry

River to Recovery, a non profit organization that provides a haven for recovering addicts and their families, needs to find a new location. City building inspectors closed down the Ace Street mill today that houses the River to Recovery offices due to what they say are building code violations.

According to a published report in the Fall River Herald News, Rene Brown, a local defense attorney and River to Recovery board member, was the person responsible for requesting public records that uncovered information that led to the resignation of the city Department of Health and Human Services Substance Abuse Grant Coordinator Michael Aguiar. In an FRC Media News report this week, it was stated that Aguiar had attended a conference in New York City in 2016 during which he spent nearly $3,500 dollars to stay at a five star hotel, order room service, and rent a luxury car, among other questionable expenses.

The expense issue was brought to light at a budget hearing Monday by City Councilor Linda Pereira. Aguiar resigned the next day, and Mayor Correia accepted his resignation immediately.

Brown questioned the timing of the closure, and whether shutting down the mill is retaliatory for exposing Aguiar. It is unclear if that was the case. The city’s Building Inspector Joe Biszko says that this mill was on a list of mill buildings to be inspected. The building is owned by Patricia Todd, who is responsible for the code violations, and will be required to fix them. River to Recovery offices have been housed at that site for two and a half years.