Woonsocket City Council member files complaint to remove mayor

Cori Dubois, Olivia DaRocha,
This is a file image of Woonsocket Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt. (WLNE)

WOONSOCKET, R.I. (WLNE) — A complaint has been filed by a Woonsocket City Council member to remove Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt from office.

City Council member Denise Sierra filed the complaint Tuesday against Baldelli-Hunt.

The complaint included nine separate charges where the city councilor said the mayor violated her duties, including failure to submit monthly financial reports and “willfully” violating the code of ordinances in providing health insurance to an employee who is not a full-time employee.

In response to the complaint, Mayor Baldelli-Hunt issued the below statement:

“Denise Sierra has been a six-year council person who has basically brought nothing to the City of Woonsocket. She thrives on controversy and this is another example of her poor leadership as she leaves the city. This is very typical of her in an election year and it is not the first time she and several other councilors have done things such as this. Very shameful.”

City Council President Daniel Gendron released the following statement to ABC 6 News in response to the complaint:

“I received a copy of the Complaint yesterday (Tuesday, September 6).

I have read through it and I believe it is compelling and speaks for itself.
That said, I am reserving judgment until we have the hearing and the Mayor is afforded an opportunity to respond.
I will respect the process and we will see where it leads us.”

This is a developing story and will be updated once more information becomes available. 

Categories: News, Rhode Island, Woonsocket

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