The Plan is to Let Councilman Brien Stay on the Woonsocket Budget Commission but Step Down as Council President

2B. H7943: Replaces the town/city council president on a budget commission of a town/city that’s under one, with a member chosen by a vote of the town/city council. (H Municipal Government; Thu, Apr 10) This bill could also be described as “replaces Albert Brien on the Woonsocket Budget Commission with someone yet to be determined (at least as far as the public knows)”. People have a better case for taking to the streets shouting “It’s a coup! It’s a coup!” in response to this bill (though it would still be a stretch) than they do in response to Gordon Fox’s resignation.

A knowledgeable and trustworthy Woonsocket source heard an interview on WNRI (1380 AM) this morning with Woonsocket City Councilman Albert Brien, where this bill was explained. According to the interview, the purpose of this bill is not to move Councilman Brien off of the budget commission, it’s to allow him to keep his seat on the budget commission, while relinquishing the City Council presidency. Councilman Brien, apparently, doesn’t really want to be council president. Councilman Robert Moreau, on the other hand, does, but because he is a retired police officer, and there is a retiree lawsuit underway against the budget commission, his taking of the budget-commission seat would create a conflict-of-interest. By splitting the jobs apart, Councilmen Brien and Moreau are allowed to take on roles they’d prefer to have.

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