The Associated Press
PROVIDENCE -- Following a federal court order, the town of North Smithfield today postponed acquisition of a privately-run fire and rescue service, officials said.
A U.S. District Court judge ordered a temporary restraining order that prevents the town from taking over the service and converting into a town-run fire department.
The move comes one day after the Rhode Island chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against the town.
The lawsuit, on behalf of Christine Melendez, an emergency medical technician from Cranston, alleges the town and state denied Melendez the opportunity to compete for a job in the new town fire department.
The town wanted to acquire the private service, hiring its all-white, all-male staff as a group. But town lawyers warned that the town could be sued for discrimination because people could claim it was creating a new department and new jobs that would have to be posted for outside applicants.
Special legislation enacted last month by the General Assembly gave the town an exemption from state employment discrimination laws, allowing the acquisition to proceed.
But the new law did not exempt the town from federal anti-discrimination laws.
The temporary restraining order prevents the hiring of the private service firefighters while the case proceeds.
The judge has set another hearing on the matter for Sept. 9.
Town Administrator Linda Thibault said in the meantime the private company will continue to provide fire rescue services to North Smithfield residents.
PROVIDENCE -- Following a federal court order, the town of North Smithfield today postponed acquisition of a privately-run fire and rescue service, officials said.
A U.S. District Court judge ordered a temporary restraining order that prevents the town from taking over the service and converting into a town-run fire department.
The move comes one day after the Rhode Island chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union filed a federal discrimination lawsuit against the town.
The lawsuit, on behalf of Christine Melendez, an emergency medical technician from Cranston, alleges the town and state denied Melendez the opportunity to compete for a job in the new town fire department.
The town wanted to acquire the private service, hiring its all-white, all-male staff as a group. But town lawyers warned that the town could be sued for discrimination because people could claim it was creating a new department and new jobs that would have to be posted for outside applicants.
Special legislation enacted last month by the General Assembly gave the town an exemption from state employment discrimination laws, allowing the acquisition to proceed.
But the new law did not exempt the town from federal anti-discrimination laws.
The temporary restraining order prevents the hiring of the private service firefighters while the case proceeds.
The judge has set another hearing on the matter for Sept. 9.
Town Administrator Linda Thibault said in the meantime the private company will continue to provide fire rescue services to North Smithfield residents.
Comment