Interim planning director appointed in Woonsocket

WOONSOCKET, R.I. (WLNE) — Mayor Chris Beauchamp has appointed a new interim Planning Director following the announcement that former Director Michael Debroisse would be retiring.

The interim director will be the current city’s Tax Assessor, John Pagliarini, who is also a land use attorney, former town planner, member of the American Planning Association, and hold’s a Master’s Degree in community planning.

The reevaluation for December is currently being performed by an outside community, which will also Pagliarini to perform both roles, according to Beauchamp.

Debroisse’s retirement was revealed the day the city council was set to vote on a resolution to accept the investigation into the $1.1. million Mendon Road land deal.

Debroisse was referenced in the investigation alongside former Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt.

The investigation report, written by U.S. Attorney Aaron Weisman, states that Debroisse feared for his job as he knew about the deal, and actively worked on it with the former mayor.

The report states:

“Baldelli-Hunt and city Planning Director Michael Debroisse appear to have knowingly violated Woonsocket legal provisions that were specifically put in place to ensure that all large dollar amount transactions are, truly, in the best interests of the citizens of Woonsocket.”

The report further states:

“There appears to have been a conscious decision on the part of Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt to keep the impending purchase from, to the extent possible, leaving the confines of the City’s Department of Planning and Development. It, moreover, appears that Michael Debroisse (“Director Debroisse”)—the Director of the Department of Planning and Development, who, like all of the City’s departmental directors, served at the Mayor’s pleasure—was fearful that he would, or at least could, lose his job had he contravened the Mayor’s directive on this point.” 

Debroisse served as a city employee for 35 years, previously serving as the Superintendent for Solid Waste/Engineering.

His last day was August 4.

On Monday, the city council voted unanimously to approve the investigation report and send copies of it to the Rhode Island Attorney General, U.S. Attorney, Governor Dan McKee, and other Rhode Island officials.

“I personally believe that this episode represents criminal acts and needs further investigation by the appropriate law enforcement agencies,” Council President John Ward told ABC 6.