Baldelli-Hunt: 'We Are Not Going to Wait One Minute'

RI Speaker of the House Gordon Fox swore in Mayor Lisa Baldelli Hunt Tuesday night at Stadium Theater, launching the former state rep on a mission to mend Woonsocket's image, finances and future.

The new Mayor offered smiles and thanks for her supporters, "But the hard work begins tomorrow and we are not going to waste one minute turning this city around," Baldelli-Hunt told the theater's packed crowd.

The new mayor suggested an end-run around Woonsocket's Budget Commission-engineered 5-year-plan, which reduces the city's Homestead tax exemption, cuts retiree benefits, unifies all city employees under one health plan and significantly raises property taxes.  

"The City of Woonsocket cannot absorb the planned tax increases in the 5-year-plan," Baldelli-Hunt said. Instead, she said, the City will work to bring in new businesses and tax revenue and work doggedly with Director of Revenue Rosemary Booth Gallogly to make the city solvent again. "We share a common goal in making sure that Woonsocket will be brought back to financial solvency in short order," Baldelli-Hunt said.

"Starting tomorrow we will be rolling out the welcome mat in Woonsocket," Baldelli-Hunt said, referencing her pledge to act as the city's Economic Development Director. She said she had also won the aid of developer Scott Gibbs, whom she said would work to bring new industry to the city. 

Another aide in restoring Woonsocket's financial health, Baldelli-Hunt said, would be Michael O'Keefe, who was instrumental in restoring East Providence's fiscal standing. 

The night was emceed by Baldelli-Hunt's uncle, former Mayor Charles C. Baldelli, who also introduced the oaths of office taken by new City Clerk Christina Harmon-Duarte and the City Council, sporting new members Garrett Mancieri and Melissa Murray. 

The new Council elected Albert Brien as Council President, and Bob Moreau as Vice President. Brien and Baldelli-Hunt will now take state law-mandated posts on the Woonsocket Budget Commission, replacing former Mayor Leo Fontaine and former Council President John Ward.

Baldelli-Hunt also announced her appointments for the Woonsocket School Committee, which she selected from a list of 28 applicants with the help of her School Board Review Committee (David Lahousse, Thomas Bruce, Donna Coderre, Jackie Perez and Thomas Ray) Their names are: Daniel Chattman, Soren Seale, Jose Rivera, Susan Pawlina and George Lacouture.

The appointments, which were not announced prior to the inauguration, will be voted on at a later City Council meeting, Baldelli-Hunt said. A change voters approved last year switched the elected positions to Mayor-appointed posts.