Woonsocket
And the squeeze on non-governmental services — most notably from the Roman Catholic diocese — pushes another one over the edge: The Roman Catholic Diocese of Providence has told a state nursing home association that it is closing St. Francis House, its assisted-living center at 167 Blackstone St. later this year, a spokeswoman for the…
It is wholly reasonable — even obvious — for the city of Woonsocket to implement these rules for its firefighters: The order bans work that that would involve using department time or resources, including the uniform, for personal gain; doing work that would normally be expected to be done for the city while the firefighter…
In case you missed it, a Tea Party broke out in Woonsocket the other day (h/t). As reported by WPRI: Woonsocket’s City Council has voted against a supplemental tax bill that would have raised property taxes by eight percent. Councilors took the vote late Monday night, following testimony from dozens of residents. Council members said…
In the view of a lot of people, one would be the limit. Mayor Susan Menard appears to be more forgiving. The civil lawsuit filed in 2000 by Bennie Koffa outlines the treatment to which he was subjected by certain employees of the Woonsocket Highway Department including, notably, Robert Harnois. It came to light last…
… when you get a minute, in between hearings for this bill, you may want to glance over this article in yesterday’s Valley Breeze. City Council President Leo Fontaine and members of the City Council confirmed for The Valley Breeze this week they are investigating allegations against Highway Superintendent Robert “Bob” Harnois, following complaints from…
I stand by prior criticisms of certain practices and (non)policies of Mayor Susan Menard. Nevertheless, she, along with other mayors and councils around the state grappling with a bad budget situation, has my sympathy. Further, she and the Woonsocket City Council are to be applauded if this questionable practice is discontinued, though some of us…
At 8:20 this morning on WNRI‘s Up Front program, Mayor Susan Menard announced that she would not seek re-election. She gave no reason; she simply made the statement “out of the clear blue sky” and “with finality”, as WNRI co-owner Richard Bouchard, filling in for Dave Kane, later described her announcement. ADDENDUM Commenter Patrick suggests…
This morning, WNRI‘s Dave Kane, not exactly a wild-eyed anti-unionist, asked in all sincerity for an explanation as to why Woonsocket firefighters had declined to discuss a pay cut with Mayor Susan Menard when their refusal to do so meant definite layoffs. He received the following e-mail, apparently from a former president of the Woonsocket…
It’s going to become impossible to catalog all such stories, but a couple came with today’s paper. In Woonsocket: Woonsocket officials warned the city’s two public safety unions yesterday that if they don’t agree to substantive concessions on pay or benefits, they will lay off about 40 of the community’s 101 police officers and 55…
Harvey Waxman, of Wickford, makes a good point: When private-sector unions make concessions their sacrifices will go to companies whose executives often make millions in salaries and to shareholders whose dividends can benefit from those concessions. When a public-sector union makes concessions the beneficiaries are not high priced executives but the people, the homeowners, the…