Town Social Worker Resigns, Told Not to Work Through Last Day

by | May 12, 2018

She worked for the town for 14 years, since the beginning of the senior services program.

By Elizabeth F. McNamara

Editor’s Note: This story has been revised since it was originally posted.

The town’s social worker submitted her letter of resignation to town officials Wednesday morning, saying she would work through Friday, May 18. However, before 3 p.m. Wednesday afternoon a police officer appeared at Swift Community Center. 

According to Police Chief Steven Brown, the officer was there to meet Parks and Senior Services Director Cathy Bradley, who was going to give the social worker a letter informing her that she would be paid through May 18 but that Wednesday was her last day. Bradley was not there, however.

Assessing the situation, the social worker logged out of her computer, gathered her things and said goodbye to the seniors playing Hi-Lo Jack in the large gathering room.

Bradley arrived five minutes after social worker had left, according to Chief Brown. So, instead of Bradley handing her the letter at Swift Wednesday afternoon, an EG police officer appeared at the social worker’s home that evening around 9:30, to deliver the letter.

Brown said police have been called to perform “keep the peace” duty when employees have been let go under previous town managers, including Tom Coyle and Bill Sequino. 

Town Manager Gayle Corrigan did not respond to an EG News question about the actions taken Wednesday. The treatment stands in contrast to the recent departure of former chief of staff Michaela Antunes, who allegedly decided to leave her job voluntarily after being told her salary would be cut but received an as-yet-undisclosed settlement agreement.

The social worker started in East Greenwich in the early days of the senior center. From 2004 to 2010, the senior lunch program and services were housed in the dining room at St. Luke’s. After extensive renovations, Swift Community Center opened in 2010 and senior services ramped up considerably. She worked with seniors, people with low incomes and the homeless. When asked what she would miss about her job in East Greenwich, she said she’d miss her clients and the residents.


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KarenLu LaPolice
KarenLu LaPolice
May 13, 2018 5:01 pm

Disgusting. In all my 31 years of working for the Town of North Kingstown, at the Annex and the main town hall, I never saw anyone treated so poorly as employees of EG have been recently. This lack of respect has to stop. There’s absolutely no excuse whatsoever for this type of behavior and why the town council puts up with the manager acting this way is unfathomable. You really should be ashamed of yourselves. It’s not only unprofessional, it’s embarrassing to see how low you can go. I’m glad Ms Tudino left EG for NK where she will be valued, but so very sorry to see her treated this way in a town that she gave her best to for 14 years.

Renu Englehart
Renu Englehart
May 13, 2018 8:40 pm

Imagine, Ms. Tudino was escorted from her job by a police officer in front of the seniors that she cared for over her 14 years. Once again, is this how other town managers behave and how other towns treat their employees?

Ms. Corrigan and the council treat this town as their personal fiefdom.

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