WOONSOCKET — The mayor has held up the City Council’s investigation into the misuse of city resources once more.

The City Council went to Superior Court yesterday to try to lift a temporary injunction Mayor Susan D. Menard had managed to get last Thursday to stop the council from beginning its investigation.

Yesterday, in Superior Court, before they could talk about lifting the temporary restraining order, Glen Whitehead, a lawyer acting for the mayor and the city, asked the court to determine whether the council’s lawyer, Joseph S. Larisa Jr., has a conflict of interest since he is also representing the city in its case against John Dionne, the former Human Services director who has sued the city to get lifetime health benefits and accrued sick time. Dionne, a close ally of Menard, quit last July after it was determined that e-mails sent out under other people’s names were coming from his computer.

The court has scheduled a March 25 date to talk about whether Larisa should be disqualified from representing the council, Whitehead said. He declined to talk further on the matter.

Larisa said that the mayor’s actions are questionable, “For some reason the mayor is trying to stop at absolutely nothing to attempt to stop the investigation for the misuse of city resources.”

Larisa was hired by the City Council when it was fighting Dionne over benefits. When the city joined that fight, City Solicitor Robert Iuliano asked Larisa to be co-solicitor in the matter, according to Council President Leo Fontaine.

The council has subpoenaed a city employee and a vendor who has a contract with the city to begin its investigation. Menard was able to get an injunction because a resolution the council had written to invoke its authority to investigate city matters was too vague. On Tuesday, the council passed a more specific resolution and had planned to present it in Superior Court yesterday. It did not get considered after Whitehead asked the court whether Larisa can represent the council. Fontaine said that the issue will likely be heard on March 25 also.

“It seems to be nothing but a stalling tactic to try to delay this. I’m at a loss as to why,” Fontaine said. “I would hope [Menard] would advise everyone to cooperate fully so we can get to the bottom of everything. I can’t understand why she would do anything other than that,” he said.

Asked if he thinks the mayor is trying to hide something, he said. “I can’t speak to her motives, but certainly her actions would give that appearance of trying to hide something.”

Menard has said she intends to retire in June, 18 months shy of her two-year term. Her decision comes on the heels of Police Chief Michael Houle’s and Deputy Chief Richard Dubois’ announcement of retirement last week. The chief and deputy chief made their announcements after Marsha Houle, the chief’s ex-wife said they changed test scores on police exams to get her on the force.

Council members have said that despite Menard’s retirement they intend to press ahead with their investigations of various actions by the administration.

tpina@projo.com