Fall River School Committee Faces Heated Debate Over Mayor’s Handling of Ransomware Attack

The Fall River School Committee’s recent special meeting was marked by discussion over the mayor’s public comments on a ransomware attack and the absence of the committee’s attorney during discussions of potential criminal misconduct. Concerns about transparency, legal oversight, and the handling of sensitive information dominated the agenda.

00:55The meeting commenced with a debate concerning a motion to enter an executive session. A participant, Mr. Das, expressed disagreement with the motion, citing potential violations of the open meeting law due to the lack of specificity in the agenda item. He argued for greater transparency, emphasizing the committee’s responsibility to inform the public about potential risks and financial implications related to the ransomware attack. Mr. Das accused the committee leadership of lacking transparency and trust, specifically criticizing the mayor’s handling of the situation.

02:20Central to the discussion was Mr. Das’s proposal to censure Mayor Paul Coogan for allegedly violating the school committee ethics policy by disclosing classified information. Mr. Das asserted that the mayor’s public comments had compromised the district’s security, referencing a ransomware attack and the mayor’s handling of sensitive information. In response, the mayor acknowledged discussing the ransomware attack with NBC 10 but defended his actions, stating that the information was already public and that he did not disclose any confidential details. He maintained that he was not explicitly advised against discussing the matter publicly.

The debate intensified as Mr. Das and another participant, Mr. Aguiar, criticized the mayor for allegedly speaking on behalf of the school department without accurate information. They argued that his public disclosures hindered the committee’s ability to address the matter within the appropriate forum, which should have been the executive session. The mayor stood firm, asserting that his statements were not confidential and that he had not been instructed to remain silent.

11:05The absence of the committee’s legal counsel, attorney Assad, further complicated matters and was a focal point of contention. Several attendees highlighted the importance of having legal guidance during discussions involving potential criminal misconduct. The absence was attributed to the time-sensitive nature of the meeting, which was scheduled before a holiday weekend, leaving no room for rescheduling. The Superintendent confirmed that they were aware of the attorney’s unavailability when the meeting was scheduled, emphasizing the urgency of discussing the ransomware attack.

09:11The discussion became heated as members exchanged criticisms over the necessity of the attorney’s presence and the perceived theatricality of the inquiries about his absence. Amidst the back-and-forth, a call was made to move forward with the meeting’s agenda and enter executive session.

13:43The specific topic for the executive session centered around investigating potential criminal charges or misconduct related to the ransomware attack. Members were reminded to keep discussions within the parameters set for the executive session to avoid complications regarding public disclosure of the session’s minutes. One member emphasized the importance of clarifying to the public that the executive session was specifically about a cyber security attack to prevent misinformation and speculation.

Note: This meeting summary was generated by AI, which can occasionally misspell names, misattribute actions, and state inaccuracies. This summary is intended to be a starting point and you should review the meeting record linked above before acting on anything you read. If we got something wrong, let us know. We’re working every day to improve our process in pursuit of universal local government transparency.

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