Woonsocket Radio News Room

Office of the Mayor

WOONSOCKET, RHODE ISLAND

 

Christine Chamberland Appointed City of Woonsocket Interim Finance Director

 

WOONSOCKET, R.I: Mayor Christopher Beauchamp announced today that effective July 30, Christine Chamberland will serve as Interim Finance Director for the City of Woonsocket. Chamberland has worked in multiple capacities within the city’s Finance Department for over 33 years, including Finance Director. Currently, she is working as the city’s Enterprise Fund Finance Administrator, a position she will continue while assuming the role of Interim Finance Director. Chamberland replaces Christine Coutu, who has left for another job opportunity.

Chamberland will oversee all the city’s finance operations, including accounting, treasury, assessing, and personnel. Beauchamp highlighted that Chamberland’s top priority is to finalize the Fiscal Year 2023 audit which is underway with the city’s new auditors, Marcum LLP. The Mayor is reallocating existing resources and will be adding outside temporary assistance to fortify the Finance Department. Beauchamp also offered that the city would search for a permanent finance director after the Fiscal Year 2023 audit is completed and the Fiscal Year 2024 audit is underway.

Mayor Beauchamp expressed his confidence in Chamberland, stating, "We are fortunate to be able to appoint a highly experienced finance professional like Christine Chamberland as Interim Finance Director. Christine Chamberland knows every financial function in the city and will be able to step in and provide leadership to our department heads in furthering the city’s finance-related goals."

The Justice Department has served grand jury subpoenas to Minnesota Governor Tim Walz and Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey. The subpoenas are centered on an investigation into allegedly obstructing federal officers amid anti-ICE protests in the state. Walz and Frey have been critical of federal immigration officials following the deadly shooting of Renee Good by an ICE agent in Minneapolis earlier this month.        Freezing temperatures are gripping a large part of the country. Life-threatening wind chill temperatures have already impacted parts of the Northern Plains, Upper Midwest, Ohio Valley and Northeast. This first wave of arctic air will slightly ease by tomorrow, before another surge of cold air hits the Midwest on Thursday.        A majority of the Supreme Court appears to be skeptical of Hawaii's "vampire rule" related to firearms. Justices heard arguments Tuesday on the rule, which requires anyone carrying a firearm to ask for permission to enter private property. It's called the "vampire rule" because fictional vampires must get permission to enter a home.        The Trump administration is announcing plans to hold a minerals summit. The State Department posted on X Tuesday that Secretary of State Marco Rubio will welcome partners from across the world for the summit on February 4th, a move that comes in the wake of President Trump's ramped up pursuit of Greenland. The post went on to say that strengthening mineral supply chains with international partners is "vital to America's economic and national security."        A federal judge is refusing to temporarily block a newly reinstated Department of Homeland Security policy that would limit lawmakers' access to Immigration and Customs Enforcement detention centers. Colorado Congressman Joe Neguse and other Democrats sued the Trump administration last week seeking to bar enforcement of a policy requiring them to give seven days' notice before any visit. The lawmakers challenged the policy by arguing that it violated a court order striking down a similar rule last month.        Carlos Beltrán and Andruw Jones have been elected to Baseball Hall of Fame as members of 2026 class. Beltran, a nine-time All-Star and 1999 AL Rookie of the Year, received 84-percent of the vote. Jones, a ten-time Gold Glove winner and five-time All-Star, received 78-percent, just over the needed 75-percent.       

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