Winthrop Farwell, Jr. - Brockton City Councilor at Large

06/21/2026

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY 2026
The gift of time to our loved ones IS the gift of greatest value!

06/17/2026

WITH GREAT APPRECIATION! THANK YOU!
Brockton School Committee members Sandra Centeio (Ward 5), Vice-Chair Claudio Gomes (Ward 2), Timothy Sullivan (Ward 7) and Ana Oliver (Ward 3) for your vote to allow the Metro South Boys and Girls Club project to proceed.

This privately funded project will enhance programs and services to children in our city.

To the Club and its private donors - thank you for your patience and for believing in Brockton and our kids!

06/16/2026

TAKING RESPONSIBILITY

On June 9th, I posted copies of payroll records uncovered by our finance department for Brockton School Committee members.

Those payroll records were for a pay raise beginning in July, 2025, not authorized by city ordinance. The increase was for $5,000.

On June 14, 2026, the school committee attorney sent a letter to the City Solicitor and Legislative Counsel for the City Council asserting the “employee ID numbers” for the committee members were confidential and the posting was a “breach of confidentiality.” The letter indicated the original posting should be taken down and records made available to you should have the ID numbers removed.

I take full responsibility for not knowing elected officials have a protected employee ID number. It is important we all follow the law and respect confidential personnel information.

The payroll records relating to the unauthorized pay increase are posted here with redacted ID numbers. My apologies for the original error.

06/11/2026

POLITICS SUCKS...

Using your public funds, the Brockton School Committee voted to hire its own Private Investigator to review the recent allegations against the mayor. Since the mayor is a member of the committee, they are paying to investigate one of their own. Independence? Transparency? Appropriate?

The state police are already assigned to this incident.

A private investigator works for the client (in this case, the committee) whereas the state police are public officials held accountable for their work by state laws and the courts.

Worse yet, the victim and her family will now be interviewed and/or subjected to report painful events twice, from TWO separate investigators.

My sympathy to the complainant and her family. You deserve better.

Brockton's School Committee has retained a third-party investigator after a formal complaint was filed by a Brockton High School student against Mayor Moises Rodrigues.

06/11/2026

06/11/2026

QUICK UPDATE...
*The city council finance committee completed three (3) nights of budget reviews for the new, Fiscal Year 2027 spending plan submitted by the mayor. The fiscal year begins July 1, 2026.
*Monday, June 15, 2026, at 6:00PM, there is a Special City Council Meeting to finalize the budget, offer any amendments to reduce spending (the council does not have authority to increase spending) or leave the appropriations without any changes.
*Monday, June 15, 2026, at 7:00PM, the regular Finance Committee Meeting will be held.

Agendas may be found here: https://brockton.ma.us/document-category/meeting-agendas/
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SATURDAY, June 13, 2026, from 11:00AM to 4:00PM - join the African American Association of Brockton at the East Middle School for fun, food and entertainment as part of the upcoming Juneteenth Holiday.

Have a great week and weekend. Stay safe.

06/09/2026

(UPDATE: See post of June 16 to view records as a result of school committee complaint.)

FACTS MATTER!
I’ve watched the accusations lobbed at the mayor, city council and our finance office by members of the school committee. The city is “stealing” money which should go to the schools.

In 2024, through a city ordinance, school committee members received a salary increase from $6,000 to $15,000 per year with full city benefits.

Last August 1, 2025, that salary was changed to $25,000. Why? Even RETROACTIVE amounts owed back to 7/1/2025 were calculated and provided to members. The school superintendent labels this a simple “mistake.”

When 2 new committee members assumed office in January, 2026, the “mistake” occurred again and updated salary entries were made for the amount of $25,000.

CFO Clarkson’s office reviewed these financial discrepancies. Appropriate external reviews should be underway.

The documentary records are published here for you to verify facts.

No, I don’t like the embarrassment of this type of conduct. However, it IS your money and this issue was fully revealed at our budget hearing last night.

The challenges of city government continue…

06/06/2026

A BRIEF COMMENTARY...
James O'Brien, Esquire is our City Solicitor appointed by Mayor Moises Rodrigues. He is an excellent addition to our city leadership team.

I've had numerous conversations with him on a wide variety of topics including the Boys and Girls Club political machinations, employees on worker's compensation and passage of ordinances by the city council.

To avoid a mistake such as the recent trash fee $40 bill, I think the law department and solicitor should be notified immediately by the council when an ordinance is approved. The law department can then notify the city department(s) which may be affected by the ordinance and provide legal guidance on what is required and allowed.

I like government commonsense!

Have a great weekend.

Congratulations to our graduating seniors. May your future be blessed with happiness and success in all your endeavors.

06/02/2026

TO MY FELLOW BROCKTON RESIDENTS
Please read! The $40 trash fee bill was sent in error.

05/25/2026

Every day we rise and live our lives in this great country, that day should also be remembered as a Memorial Day.