Deutsch On Corrigan Reappointment: If Not Her, Who?

by | Nov 13, 2017

By Elizabeth F. McNamara

Town Councilman Andy Deutsch said Superior Court Judge Susan McGuirl has given the Town Council “a unique opportunity for the second chance” to appoint a town manager. The question is, will that be Gayle Corrigan?

The Town Council is meeting Tuesday night to address McGuirl’s ruling last week that the council’s June 19 appointment of Corrigan to serve as town manager is null and void because the council did not put the appointment on the meeting agenda and did not hold the vote in public session.

So, the council’s agenda for Tuesday night lists three items: appointing Corrigan town manager, ratifying her contract and ratifying all of her decisions since she started serving as town manager June 19.

“I’m going to vote to ratify the decisions she’s made up until November 14th,” said Deutsch.

He’s less sure about voting to appoint Corrigan.

“The question on my mind, if not her, then who?” he said.

There are options. The council could appoint a department head as interim town manager. Former Town Manager Tom Coyle was first appointed interim town manager  in 2014 (while still serving as police chief) before the council decided to offer him the permanent job. When Bill Sequino was hired as town manager in 1988, he took over for then-Public Works Director John Cooke, who had been serving as interim town manager.

About Judge McGuirl’s ruling, Deutsch said he stands behind his votes, including his votes on Corrigan.

“I’m a logical thinker. I’d assume if we don’t have a town manager we’d need to get one,” he said. Deutsch was referring to the council’s vote June 19. At that meeting, the council voted to approve a separation agreement with then-Town Manager Coyle. That item had been on the agenda. Then the council voted to appoint Corrigan acting town manager. That item was not on the agenda. Both votes, and any discussion, were held in executive session.

“I would have done every vote I’ve taken on the council standing on a street corner,” he said. “It doesn’t look good but we weren’t trying to pull the wool over anyone’s eyes. There was no nefarious intention.”

Deutsch said he did not receive any training on the Open Meetings Act when he became a town councilor one year ago. McGuirl ruled the town violated the Open Meetings Act five times.

Deutsch said he had supported the decision to fire James Perry because of what he called “oddities” in the hiring process but that he accepted Judge McGuirl’s decision that Perry be reinstated.

About Town Solicitor David D’Agostino, Deutsch said, “We rely on our town solicitor who is really supposed to guide us on these sorts of things.… You rely on professionals to give you the best advice. We didn’t get that.”

D’Agostino was hired in May. He also serves as solicitor for the Central Coventry Fire District, of which Corrigan remains district manager.

Although Deutsch hinted he had some reservations about reappointing Corrigan, he declined to comment on her job performance. And he said he was not personally bothered or embarrassed by Judge McGuirl’s decision.

“I respect it. People make mistakes. A lot of times, people forget that we’re human. My personal feeling, I would have preferred not to be on the front page of the Providence Journal [the day after the ruling]. The judge is giving us an opportunity to do this. I’m grateful for that.”

Councilman Nino Granatiero expressed his opinion about the ruling and here and Councilman Mark Schwager here. Council President Sue Cienki issued a statement about the ruling. Council Vice President Sean Todd did not respond to a request for comment.

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Heather
Heather
November 13, 2017 7:45 am

“If not her, who”??? I hope that’s a rhetorical question and he understands the choices he has.

David Caldwell
November 13, 2017 8:02 am

The Fresh Start East Greenwich petition (http://bit.ly/FreshStartPetition) which calls on Council not to re-appoint Corrigan, has been signed by hundreds of East Greenwich residents. It addresses this question with the following language:

“Please appoint a department head as Acting Town Manager, and initiate a 35-day discussion, with public input, about what to do next.”

We believe that our Town will be much better off with a brief period led by an experienced Town employee and careful consideration — by the Council and the public *together* — of our future options.

We hope Councilman Deutsch and the other members of Council will adopt a solution like this.

Juan Ledesma
Juan Ledesma
November 13, 2017 8:08 am

So David D’Agostino has failed miserably at his job, will he be let go? Also, the town council has had FIVE MONTHS to find a permanent replacement for town manager. What have they done in those five months to find a permanent replacement? If five months later there are still no options but Gayle Corrigan, that did not happen by coincidence, that was done on purpose.

Jason Beaumier
Jason Beaumier
November 13, 2017 5:14 pm

The AG office offers open meeting training 2 times a year and an email blast goes out to every elected official and every person serving on a town board when it happens. And even after the fact, power-points and printouts of the presentation are available. So if he didn’t get any training, that’s on him, the training was readily available for him to take.

William H. Guilfoyle
William H. Guilfoyle
November 16, 2017 2:22 am

Open the hiring practice by advertising for Town Manager and appoint an acting current department head. Finally try if at all possible to use some common sense, which is decidedly lacking.LOOK at Corrigan past. It ain’t pretty. Let’s do this right NOW!!!

William H. Guilfoyle
William H. Guilfoyle
November 16, 2017 2:35 am

While your cleaning house,the town solicitor needs to take a hike also.

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