ROMNEY ACTS TO REMOVE AMORELLO, CITING PUBLIC SAFETY
Action comes in the wake of fatal collapse of tunnel ceiling
Governor Romney today announced his intention to fire Matthew Amorello as chairman and chief executive officer at the Turnpike Authority, citing public safety concerns and ongoing mismanagement. Amorello is entitled to a hearing prior to the action becoming effective.
Romney’s announcement came after a three-ton section of the ceiling collapsed in the I-90 Connector, killing a woman passenger in a car traveling eastbound in the tunnel.
According to Romney, Amorello has engaged in a continuing course of mismanagement, including dismissing the concerns of highly-regarded outside engineering experts who raised questions about the safety of the tunnel system a year ago.
“Through his failures, Matt Amorello has undermined public confidence in the safety of the Big Dig tunnels, diminishing the project’s benefit to the public,” said Romney. “I am following the course set out in the law to bring in new leadership that can restore the public’s confidence.”