PROVIDENCE, R.I.—The Rhode Island attorney general's office has sued the city of Woonsocket for allegedly violating the state's open records laws.
Attorney General Patrick Lynch said Monday that Woonsocket officials, including former Mayor Susan Menard, ignored requests for public records from the president of the city's firefighter union earlier this year. The documents related to a court fight over the city's plan to lay off some firefighters.
Lynch said the city failed to supply the documents despite repeated warnings from his office and calls the violation "egregious."
A lawyer for the city told Lynch's office that the city was short-staffed and that the information was not readily available.
It's the sixth time Lynch has sued a public body for open government violations.
The maximum fine is $1,000.
