The Fall River City Council’s Ordinance Committee continued the conversation last night as to whether it has jurisdiction over the expenditure of $69 million in city funding from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA).
Last week the council was told that when it accepted the first payment of ARPA funds last month, totaling $34 million, the mayor had sole authorization on how the money would be spent. At last night’s meeting, Corporation Counsel Alan Rumsey said state law made it clear that the ARPA funding was to be treated as any other grant source.
City council attorney Lauren Goldberg of KP Law says the state statute is not as cut and dry as Attorney Rumsey claims.
The committee is moving ahead with plans to draft a policy that will make recommendations on how the ARPA money should be spent. Mayor Paul Coogan has assembled an advisory committee that will also make recommendations as to how best to spend the funds. City Councilor Christopher Peckham is a member of that advisory panel.
Video courtesy Fall River Covernment Television
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