Fired EP Inspector Quattrucci May Get Job Back

Former East Providence building inspector, Albert Quattrucci was fired by former city manager Richard Brown in 2009, for “egregious insubordinate behavior.” Brown had said that Quattrucci has “a history of disregarding his superiors.” Quattrucci not only clashed with city hall management but he also angered former school superintendent Mario Cirillo and his right hand man, chief operating officer, Lonnie Barham. Quattrucci was frustrated with school officials during the summer of 2009 over health concerns with East Providence High School. Before school was to open, Quattrucci was considering an order to close the school. Quattrucci told area news reporters that the high school was “unsafe” and a “deathtrap”. During an inspection of the high school, school officials called the East Providence Police who responded and removed Quattrucci from the school. "They told me to leave, the superintendent doesn't want you on the city's property and I left," said Quattrucci at that time. Then Superintendent, Mario Cirillo, said that “while there are some issues with the school that are being addressed, Quattrucci’s claims are an exaggeration.” But Albert Quattrucci says he was fired because he ordered the closure of East Providence High School against the wishes of school department officials. Quattrucci had several disagreements with school and city officials as he received parental and some staff complaints about health related issues in several schools in the city. In the end, Richard Brown fired Quattrucci.

Quattrucci appealed his firing to a city personnel hearing board that September of 2009. City officials continued to uphold former Manager Brown’s firing. “This wasn’t done with this city council and we are not directly involved with this case,” current Mayor Bruce Rogers told the Reporter. The case is now in arbitration before former Supreme Court Chief Judge Frank Williams. “I don’t have any official information yet but I hear that this arbitration may be going well for Mr. Quattrucci,” said Rogers. Quattrucci said before that he was terminated for “doing his job” and refusing to cover up School Department negligence, especially unsafe conditions at East Providence High School.

Quattrucci ordered the state’s largest high school closed July 17 for alleged unsafe structures and conditions. It is believed that the city had this decision reversed. The Reporter reached Quattrucci this week who would not comment yet on the case. When told that some people watching this case closely believe that he has a strong chance of prevailing against the city, Quattrucci would only say, “we’ll see.”

The city may be faced with reinstating Quattrucci to his old job as building inspector with back salary and benefits and other damages. Quattrucci is represented by longtime attorney Thomas J. McAndrew. McAndrew has successfully represented several former East Providence city and school employees in defamation and/or wrongful dismissal lawsuits. In a very celebrated case - Ali Khorasani v. East Providence - McAndrew argued successfully before Superior Court Judge Judith Savage on behalf of Ali Khorasani, a city traffic engineer. The discrimination case was settled in Khorasani’s behalf for some $580,000. The Quattrucci case may be resolved by early April. Attempts to speak with city attorneys in this matter have been unsuccessful.