City Council Brings Charges Against & Seeks Removal of City Clerk Who Was Appointed by Matos

City Council Brings Charges Against & Seeks Removal of City Clerk Who Was Appointed by Matos

The Providence City Council on Thursday voted unanimously to approve a Providence Home Rule Charter Section 403 resolution to bring charges against City Clerk Shawn Selleck, and to seek his suspension or removal from office. 

In September, GoLocal was first to unveil the results of an independent investigation that found repeated allegations of workplace bullying in the Providence City Council office, after reporting in August that Providence City Council President John Igliozzi hired a top-flight labor attorney to investigate the complaints made by multiple members of the Providence City Clerk’s office against Selleck.

Selleck was appointed to the position of clerk by former City Council President Sabina Matos -- now Lt. Governor. 

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Days after GoLocal unveiled the findings of the report, Igliozzi announced that the Council would move forward to remove Selleck.

Matos has refused multiple requests for comment. 

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On Thursday, the resolution charged Mr. Selleck with the following:
 
·        Violations of the City Code of Conduct
·        Violations of the City Anti-bullying Policy
·        Violations of the City Anti-harassment Policy
·        Violations of the City Workplace Violence Policy
·        Creation of a Toxic Work Environment
·        Inappropriate Management
 
The charges contained in the resolution are based on an independent investigation conducted by respected employment and labor attorney Carly Iafrate, which determined Mr. Selleck violated the City’s Code of Conduct, Anti-Bullying, Anti-Harassment, and Workforce Violence policies through a pattern of bullying, confrontational, and intimidating behavior that created a toxic work environment within the City Clerk’s office.
 
Pursuant to Section 403, these charges will be presented in writing to the Mayor and Mr. Selleck, and after a 30-day period, the Council will call a public hearing to weigh the charges and vote on the suspension or removal of the City Clerk.

A two-thirds vote of the Council is required.