In a federal court lawsuit, former Warwick Water employee Bree Boulais alleges sexual harassment in a “boys’ club”

The lawsuit, filed in U.S. District Court in Providence, also alleges that DiPetrillo’s brother, water company foreman Michael DiPetrillo, threw a heavy metal tool that landed next to Boulais in a parking lot after they had an argument over a copier.

This “hostile work environment” forced Boulais to undergo psychiatric treatment and ultimately resign, the lawsuit states. The court was asked to order the city to pay an unspecified amount in back pay, compensation and punitive damages.

The lawsuit prompted Warwick City Council member Vincent Gebhart to call for the immediate dismissal of Terry DiPetrillo as head of the water department.

“Anti-Semitic rhetoric and harassment in any form are a direct violation of the principles of equality and respect that our city stands for,” Gebhart said in a statement. “The safety and dignity of our city’s workers are our highest priority and there is no place for such behavior in our administration.”

Warwick Mayor Frank J. Picozzi issued a statement saying, “I cannot comment on this as it is a legal matter.” He referred questions to the city’s attorney. City Attorney Michael A. Ursillo said the Rhode Island Interlocal Risk Management Trust, which insures municipalities, would respond to the complaint.

Picozzi said, “Councilman Gebhart is free to make any statement he wants, but he knows nothing about the situation other than what he has read in the press.” Of Terry DiPetrillo, he said, “At the time of the incident, appropriate action was taken against the employee.”

However, Picozzi’s office would not say what that “appropriate action” was, citing Ursillo’s advice. The lawsuit says Terry DiPetrillo’s disciplinary action for attacking a colleague was “only a 10-day suspension and nothing more serious.”

Terry DiPetrillo, who earns an annual salary of $112,774, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Boulais began working for Warwick as a water project manager in April 2021, and by spring 2022, “the environment began to become hostile to her because of her gender,” the lawsuit says.

In March 2022, then-city controller Jason Parmelee met with Terry DiPetrillo of the water department, according to court documents. Afterward, Boulais received an email from Parmalee that said, “Hi. I was just there. I don’t think I ever noticed how attractive you are. Super cute. So have a great weekend, haha!”

The lawsuit states that Boulais was offended because colleagues and superiors knew about her fiancée and that she responded to Parmalee: “I find your comments extremely inappropriate and unprofessional. This will not be tolerated in the future.”

She said she reported the email to Terry DiPetrillo and a supervisor, finance manager Michael St. Pierre, and they assured her that action would be taken, the lawsuit states.

But a few days later, Terry DiPetrillo sent Boulais an email saying, “You look stunning.” He then approached her desk “in a mocking manner and with a grin on his face” and said, “Did you get my email?” He then laughed and left the building for the day, according to the lawsuit.

The next day, the lawsuit says, Boulais and other colleagues were gathered in an office when Terry DiPetrillo entered the room and said, “Bree, I think I left my socks next to your bed.”

Terry DiPetrillo then asked another employee, Richard Moniz, if he wanted to “come over to Bree’s house later and surprise her.” A footnote in the complaint states that “surprise” is a slang term that “refers to multiple men having sex with a woman one after the other, with or without her consent.”

In April 2022, Boulais got into an argument with Terry DiPetrillo’s brother, department manager Michael DiPetrillo, over the transport of a copier. As she walked to her car for her lunch break that day, a large metal tool, an angle grinder, landed a few feet in front of her, and when she looked up, she saw Michael DiPetrillo glaring at her, according to the lawsuit.

Michael DiPetrillo later claimed the tool “fell off the back of his truck,” and was given a 10-day unpaid suspension and a verbal warning, the lawsuit says.

In April 2023, according to the lawsuit, Boulais received an email from a supervisor, St. Pierre, that said, in part, “I realize I have developed feelings for you. I don’t expect you to return them, but I want you to know.” He later apologized.

In May 2023, Terry DiPetrillo hired a new employee, Norman Metz, who began making “inappropriate” comments toward Boulais, the lawsuit says. At one point, Metz approached her desk and said, “You would look much prettier if you smiled.” She responded, “I’m not here for your entertainment.” The lawsuit says two other employees told her that Metz had told coworkers he dreamed about her taking off her clothes.

In July 2023, Terry DiPetrillo showed Boulais a picture of himself grilling outside wearing nothing but an apron, the lawsuit says. He asked her, “How do I look?” She kept typing and he walked away, laughing loudly.

In August 2023, Terry DiPetrillo said he wanted to see her in the office of another employee, Peter Broomfield, so he could tell a joke. According to the lawsuit, he told Broomfield to stand up and said, “You want to hear my Nazi joke? Knock, knock?”

Broomfield was about to ask, “Who’s there?” But before the words could leave his mouth, Terry DiPetrillo slapped him in the face with the palm of his hand. “The sound of the slap was audible and left a red mark on Mr. Broomfield’s face for hours,” the lawsuit states. Broomfield, who is Jewish, quickly walked away while Terry DiPetrillo “laughed hysterically.”

In late August 2023, Boulais began treatment with a therapist who issued her a leave of absence. And in October 2023, Boulais emailed the city a detailed letter of resignation in which she “described the harassment and hostility she faced during her employment with the Water Department.”

“The only reason I am on stress/sick leave is because of the treatment I have endured at work for about a year and a half that I have complained about and it has never been addressed,” Boulais wrote. “I have waited patiently for something to be done to stop these men and I did everything right and informed the chain of command. The best response I have ever received was ‘Don’t make waves’ instead of any supervisor, manager or HR to stop this behavior.”

After seeking treatment, she said, “For my own safety, mental health and well-being, I have no choice but to leave there and not return.”

Edward Fitzpatrick can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @FitzProv.