Former state rep was named to human services position vacated by Dionne

By SANDY McGEE

WOONSOCKET — Former State Rep. Albert G. Brien has stepped down from his position as the city’s human services director after nearly eight months.

According to Brien, his resignation was not unexpected. Before accepting the position from Mayor Susan D. Menard, Brien said he told the mayor that he would only occupy the director post temporarily.
“I had indicated to the mayor that I would fill that position until the end of the year,” Brien said. “I stayed longer than I anticipated. I had first indicated to the mayor that I would leave some time in late January or early February. My tenure was simply temporary and was intended to be short lived.”
Brien, 67, began serving as human services director in August after the controversial resignation of the previous director, John R. Dionne.
Dionne, who was previously appointed by Menard, resigned from his post under a City Hall e-mail flap last July.
Brien said his extended stay was due to various projects he had been working on these past few months, including finding suitable housing and medical assistance for individuals.
“There were a couple of loose ends to tie together before leaving,” he said. “Those things just don’t go away because the human services director goes away. It’s very hard to walk away from these things after working on them for months.”
Brien’s last day serving as human services director was April 11. 
Michael Annarummo, the city’s director for the Department of Public Works, said he learned a lot from Brien during the former state representative’s brief stay at City Hall.
“He’s a great guy with a wealth of knowledge,” said Annarummo. “I keep meeting people that I can learn from and Albert is one of those guys.”
Brien will continue to work as an independent real estate appraiser and broker for his company, Albert G. Brien Associates, which is located on Hamlet Avenue.
Brien, the father of current Rep. Jon D. Brien (D-Dist. 50, Woonsocket), served as a state representative for 12 years before leaving the General Assembly to become the city’s director of finance and administration. He served in that city position for four years under the administration of former Mayor Charles C. Baldelli and for six months under the administration of former Mayor Francis L. Lanctot.
While the recent change in administration at City Hall did not impact his decision to stay, Brien said he is disappointed that Menard is stepping down as mayor.
“I went there because of Mayor Menard,” Brien said. “I believe in Mayor Menard. I regret that she’s resigning.”
Menard announced in March that she would retire from office effective June 15, citing her plans to spend time with her family in Utah. 
Menard is the city’s first female mayor and longest serving. Due to a City Charter’s provision, City Council President Leo T. Fontaine will serve as mayor for the remainder of Menard’s current two-year term, approximately 18 months.
It is unclear whether it will be Menard or Fontaine that appoints the next human services director. Both the mayor and City Council president were unavailable for comment on Friday.