Long-Time Carousel Managers Quit After Reported Brouhaha

The historic Crescent Park carousel will continue to operate today and the rest of the season -- unless employees walk off the job in support of Ed Serowik Jr. and Ed Serowick Sr. who quit last weekend after a brouhaha of some type with a member of the Carousel Commission.

City Manager Peter Graczykowski would not comment on the confrontation, describing it as an "internal matter."

There is an adequate number of trained staff available to continue to operate the facility, he said, unless all the workers walk off the job in protest. The carousel runs on a Wednesday to Sunday schedule during the summer months.

If the staff does not report to work, the city manaer said, the city would then have to find some way to keep the carousel operating, perhaps with private staffing. 

And each employee would be treated like any worker who does not fulfill their responsibilities, he said, although terminations would have to go before the East Providence Budget Commission, which is handling personnel matters. 

“We could, of course, accept their resignations,” he said, reportedly the action taken by Human Resources Director Kate Waterbury Tuesday with the Serowiks.

Graczykowski said that he could not confirm or deny that a meeting with her took place. He said he knows only that the Serowiks quit.

The Serowiks have worked at the carousel for decades as manager and historian, according to the Carousel Commission. But they reportedly were "insulted" by a commission member who questioned their ability to run the carousel. So they walked out, according to staff members.

There is also a report that workers may stage some type of a protest at the carousel today to get the Serowiks back. Graczykowski said he does not expect a protest to take place.