Woonsocket city council respond to auditors abruptly quitting

WOONSOCKET, R.I. (WLNE) — Woonsocket officials are hoping city auditors will change their mind, after they abruptly quit this past week.

Woonsocket City auditors officially ended their contract with the city during budget season, citing the “lost confidence in the integrity of City Management.”

In a letter dated May 28, Hague Sahady & Co., a certified public accounting company, wrote that the company reached the decision reluctantly and after substantial deliberation.

In the letter, Engagement Principal for the Firm Mary Sahady wrote that the city has only provided 43 of the 110 total funds in the fiscal year June 30 2022 audit.

She also wrote that city councilors have made accusations against her firm in previous city council meetings that relate to former Mayor Lisa Baldelli-Hunt.

Sahady further write that the city should retain a new auditing firm as a there’s a number of accounting matters that need attention, including the city’s pending annual audit for the previous fiscal year, and any corrective actions that are needed to address issues raised in past audits.

In a statement to ABC6, City Councilor John Ward said: 

 “I think it is unfortunate that the auditors came to this conclusion based on concerns expressed by city council members that are more indicative of their struggles in obtaining timely information caused by the former mayor and her terrible mismanagement of the city staff, especially the finance staff. I hope that they will reconsider their decision and help us to prepare for a successful future.”

ABC6 has reached out to Hague Sahady & Co. for comment but have yet to hear back.