Politics & Government

Retirees Abandon Attempt to Seek Council's Blessing on Bankruptcy Protection

Council to vote on abandoning part of East Orchard Street.

The City Council will meet with retirees Monday to discuss an agreement protecting former city workers from the consequences of a city bankruptcy, but the group has abandoned an attempt to include the Council in the bargain.  

The memorandum of agreement, approved by the Budget Commission, promises 198 retirees concessions they've accepted will be honored in the event of a city bankruptcy. A vote on the memorandum was tabled by the City Council Sept. 16.

Sara Rapport, attorney for the city and the Budget Commission, told council members the memorandum hinged on their approval, since the retirees consider them the body they will deal with when the Budget Commission is disbanded. But Monday's City Council docket hints that is no longer the case.

"After conferring with their legal counsel, the Retiree Representatives have decided to execute the MOA with the Budget Commission directly, and without naming the City Council and/or Woonsocket Education Department as separate entities," Rapport wrote in an Oct. 2 email to the City Council, included in the docket.

The retiree representatives will, however, appear before the Council to answer questions about the memorandum, Rapport wrote. 

The Council will also vote on whether the city should abandon a portion of East Orchard Street, and hold a public hearing on the matter. 


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