by Billy Kepner | May 27, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-15, Ward-7
Today, the City of Providence Board of Contract and Supply approved the hiring of Ernest Almonte, Rhode Island’s former Auditor General, to advise the City Council and its members on the proposed FY ’21 Providence City Budget.
As the City of Providence is facing severe budget deficits due to the ongoing COVID-19 crisis, the City’s Internal Auditor has hired an outside firm to help provide independent guidance during these times of financial uncertainty. Due to the administration submitting a budget dependent on unresolved factors and their request to borrow $90-million, the Internal Auditor felt that it was imperative that the Council get third-party advisement on how to work through these challenges.
“The COVID-19 Pandemic has upturned every aspect of our lives; including our City’s finances,” stated Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15). “Auditor General Almonte‘s expertise in state and municipal finances will help the Council make the best decisions on how we can maximize our City’s tax dollars in the upcoming fiscal year.“
Ernest Almonte has 40 years of experience working in government, not-for-profits, and higher education, where he has provided technical assistance on accounting and financial reporting issues to federal, state, and local governments. Mr. Almonte is a leader with vast experience working with federal, state, and local government leadership on compliance, audit, and consulting projects. He is a frequent speaker on industry-related topics and spent 16 years as Rhode Island’s Auditor General.
Chairman on the Committee on Finance John J. Igliozzi, Esq. stated, “The Council is prepared to pass a no tax increase budget, but we must understand where cuts can and must be made. With Ernie’s vast knowledge of the state financial system, he will be able to guide the Council and the Committee on Finance through the current financial crisis we find ourselves facing. I look forward to working with him and getting his decades worth of advice to help us make the best and most economically sound decisions for the residents of Providence.”
Mr. Almonte will begin researching the budget, department by department, to find ways to save money and to identify how the City can be the best stewards of resident’s tax dollars as soon as possible.
“I’m happy to be working with Ernie and look forward to his guidance as we prepare to finalize our City’s budget,” stated Providence Internal Auditor Gina Costa. “The City is seeing severe revenue losses across several sectors, and with no idea of when we might begin to see those revenues return, my team and I must have the support in doing our due diligence for the residents of Providence.”
by Billy Kepner | May 21, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-5
At tonight’s City Council meeting Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan (Ward 5) introduced legislation that calls on the administration to establish a COVID-19 Working Group regarding local college and university reentry plans. The group will consist of local college and university representatives, community representatives, public safety officials, public health officials, and others to work together on the creation of reentry plans for students, staff, and faculty. Creating and sharing these plans will provide confidence for neighbors that live and work around these institutions in Providence.
“Providence is a world-class city with world-class institutions of higher education, which makes our city an incredible place to live and learn,” stated Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan. “The goal is to protect our residents and the thousands of students, faculty, and staff of our eight local college and university campuses as they return for in-person learning from the spread of the COVID-19 virus. Many epidemiologists believe that colleges and their congregate settings put students, faculty, and staff at risk if the virus were to return in the fall and winter, which many believe it will. Making it critical for the City and our local colleges and universities to work together to ensure that we can reopen campuses safely.”
The creation of reopening plans that set forth clear and actionable steps for how these institutions plan on maintaining public safety when they do reopen campuses will signal to both students and the residents of Providence that there is a way to co-exist safely and productively, even in the era of COVID-19.
Majority Leader Ryan continued, “The faculty and students of our local institutions play an integral role in the social and economic fabric of our City, and it will require all of us working together to enable their safe return to Providence. We all need to be moving in the same direction so that we can begin to build a new normal without risking another wave of the virus.”
by Billy Kepner | May 21, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-14
Refunds for erroneously charged fines relating
to the late removal of trash bins to be issued within in 45 Days
CouncilmanDavid A. Salvatore (Ward 14) discovered in October of 2019 that a change to the Code of Ordinances from 2011 was never implemented by the Department of Public Works (DPW) regarding the fine amounts for late removal of garbage receptacles. This lapse resulted in residents being incorrectly fined for nearly a decade.
After conducting an audit of fines imposed on homeowners, repeated attempts by the City’s Internal Auditor requesting updates on the reimbursement plan from the City’s Administration for these charges were never answered. As a result, Councilman Salvatore and his Co-sponsors, Councilwoman Helen Anthony (Ward 2), Councilman Pedro Espinal (Ward 10), and Councilwoman Nirva LaFortune (Ward 3), introduced legislation forcing the City to refund residents who were unfairly fined.
“The City Council approved a change to the Code of Ordinances for these fines in 2011, and it was obviously never instituted by the Department of Public Works,” stated Councilman Salvatore. “The Internal Auditor found that nearly 1,000 residents were erroneously fined and in some cases the amounts of the citations were doubled or tripled. During these difficult times, homeowners impacted by the COVID-19 crisis could use these refunds to buy groceries, purchase medicine, and other critical expenditures. I want to thank the Internal Auditor for her diligence and research to ensure homeowners that they receive these refunds.”
According to the audit, 940 violations are eligible for a refund totaling $30,625.00. The report outlines the background and recommendations to the Department of Public Works, as well as their responses.
“It is my hope that our DPW will employ new methods of communication and outreach so that residents have clear and predictable knowledge of their responsibilities,” continued Councilman Salvatore.
Upon passage of the ordinance, the Director of Public Works shall furnish a report to the City Council and Internal Auditor within ten days that identifies all Providence residents who were improperly charged for violations of Section 12-63 of the Code of Ordinances.
Within 45 days from the passage of this ordinance, the City’s Finance Director must begin reimbursing Providence residents identified by the DPW’s report. Further, within 90 days from the date of passage of this ordinance, the Director of Public Works and Finance Director will provide a report to the City Council outlining their progress in reimbursing the residents who were overcharged, and further identify the required steps needed to complete the reimbursement process.
by Billy Kepner | May 21, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-13, Ward-14, Ward-15, Ward-2, Ward-6
Council President Sabina Matos (Ward 15) will introduce a resolution at tonight’s City Council meeting endorsing and urging the United States Senate to pass H.R. 6800, the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions Act also known as the HEROES Act. The resolution is co-sponsored by Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia (Ward 6), Councilwoman Helen Anthony (Ward 2), Councilor Rachel Miller (Ward 13), and Councilman David Salvatore (Ward 14).
“It is vital that the HEROES Act passes the Senate. Rhode Island’s federal delegation has worked extremely hard to bring economic relief to our state. Yet, not everyone who pays their fair share in taxes is receiving the help they need under the CARES Act.”
The proposed bill, known as the HEROES Act, would protect undocumented workers employed in essential fields from deportation for up to 90 days after the duration of the crisis and extends eligibility for federal stimulus dollars to taxpayers who have an IRS Tax Identification Number but not a social security number.
Council President Matos continued, “There are numerous families in Providence who are working day and night in response to the COVID-19 pandemic but are still struggling to make ends meet. Even more, are dealing with the economic distress of being out of work or taking on unexpected expenses. Everybody, regardless of immigration status, needs help right now, and I urge the Senate to pass the HEROES Act so that the hard-working men and women in our City and around the Country can get the relief that they need and earned.”
Upon passage, copies of the resolution will be sent to Rhode Island’s federal delegation.
by Billy Kepner | May 21, 2020 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-5
The story in yesterday’s Providence Journal regarding the history of JUMP Bikes in Providence was alarming.
In July of 2019, after the e-bike and e-scooter programs littered our sidewalks and waterways and were used in the commission of crime in our neighborhoods, I introduced a resolution to fully evaluate the program’s operation. The resolution, which was passed by the Council, required that the administration provide a comprehensive findings report of the e-bike and e-scooter pilot programs in the City within 30 days of passage. We have still not received the report.
While I support environmentally-friendly and equitably-accessible modes of transportation, I did not support the administration’s insistence on expanding the program without a thorough analysis of the program and absent any effort to mitigate the nuisances these bikes presented to our neighbors.
We have a duty to our residents to ensure that implementation of any third-party partnership is executed in a way that supports public safety, holds businesses accountable, and makes sense for our City and our taxpayers.
This program did not meet those very basic criteria.
Jo-Ann Ryan, Majority Leader
Providence City Council
Councilwoman – Ward 5
