Last week, during a Committee on Finance meeting, we learned that members of the Mayor’s Administration had unilaterally renegotiated the contract for the City’s school zone speed cameras with the vendor, Conduent Inc. This action bypassed city purchasing laws and circumvented the public process.
As required by the City Charter, the contract should have gone to the Board of Contract and Supply and then before the City Council for public review and ratification.
Therefore, we have requested that the City’s Internal Auditor review the contract and process by which it navigated the system. We have also asked the City Solicitor to review this process as well, and ask that the Administration immediately send the contract to the Board of Contract and Supply and the City Council for a full review and rigorous vetting.
John J. Igliozzi, Majority Leader and Chairman, Committee on Finance
Jo-Ann Ryan, Majority Whip, and Member, Committee on Finance
Providence City Council Majority Leader John J. Igliozzi, with the help of third graders from Anthony Carnevale Elementary School, will “officially” cut the ribbon on the school’s new playground structure on Friday, September 14 at noon.
“I am thrilled to help bring this playground structure to the community,” stated City Council Majority Leader John J. Igliozzi. “This is a perfect example of the synergies that can happen when the legislative body of city government partners with city departments to maximize community investments. The playground improves the student experience, and provides the whole community with a place to gather and enjoy being outside and most importantly have fun.”
“I am very grateful to Councilman Igliozzi for partnering with us on this improvement to our outdoor play space,” said Christopher Maher, superintendent of Providence Public Schools. “We know that kids perform better in school when they have the opportunity to exercise and play outside, and this creates the ideal environment for both those activities.”
The financing for the playground was a joint investment between the City Council and the School Department with Leader Igliozzi using his Neighborhood Improvement Funds for the project.
In the face of this heartbreaking tragedy we need to do what we can to support our community. We must strengthen our resolve to take on the underlying issues that lead to these tragic events. No child should ever have to worry about their safety at school, and tragically that is exactly what students across Providence are worried about right now. I send my deepest sympathies to William’s friends and family.
