![Providence City Council Elects Shawn Selleck as City Clerk]()
by Billy Kepner | Feb 21, 2019 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-11, Ward-15, Ward-2, Ward-5, Ward-6
(L to R) Katia Lugo, Sheri Petronio, Tina Mastroianni, Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris, Majority Leader Jo-Ann Ryan, Council President Sabina Matos, City Clerk Shawn Selleck, Antonieta Falconi, Councilwoman Helen Anthony, and Council President Pro Tempore Michael J. Correia
Selleck, a Resident of the West End of Providence,
Was Elected to Serve a Four-Year Term
At tonight’s City Council meeting, Shawn Selleck of Providence was elected to serve as Providence’s City Clerk for the 2019-2022 term.
Selleck previously worked for the Clerk’s Department, as he served there as the open government and civic innovation consultant from 2013 until 2014. During his tenure, he was instrumental in launching the City’s first Open Meetings Portal, and he worked with the City Council to purchase laptop computers so that the legislative body could go as “paperless” as possible. He also implemented a paperless pre-procurement process which resulted in the elimination of thousands of pages of documentation monthly, by utilizing digital approval and workflow technology. Currently, he serves as a project manager in the Department of Information Technology for the State of Rhode Island.
“First and foremost, Lori Hagen has been a tremendous leader and has been an astounding civil servant, and I cannot thank her enough for all the work she has done to keep Providence moving forward. During her tenure she has digitized thousands of documents, provided access to thousands of meetings and other important historical information on the Open Meetings Portal,” stated City Council President Sabina Matos. “As we started this new term, I have been thinking about the future of the City Council, and all its departments, and what that looks like in 2022 when several of us step off the Council and several long-time employees will likely retire. I want to ensure that our incoming Councilors and employees have a steady foundation to build upon, and there is not a ’brain-drain’ of important institutional knowledge. The vision that Shawn expressed to me to transform the Clerk’s Department to become more technologically focused resonated with me and my vision for the future of the departments that the Council oversees.”
The Department of the City Clerk is the official repository for all ordinances, resolutions and official documents related to the government of the City of Providence. The Clerk also is responsible for the authenticity of all legal documents and oversees the Providence City Archives. The Archives houses an extensive collection of manuscripts, printed material, maps, blueprints, and images that span the period from the Colony’s founding in 1636 to the present.
“I’m honored to be elected by the City Council to serve in this important role,” stated newly elected City Clerk Shawn Selleck. “Six years ago, I had the pleasure of working on behalf of the Providence City Council, the Office of the City Clerk and the Office of the Mayor to act on recommendations of the Open Providence Commission for Transparency and Accountability. By leading a modernization effort that included accomplishments with a wide range of complexity, from the simple replacement of cassette tape recorders with digital recording devices to the more challenging implementation of the City’s first Open Meetings Portal, our residents were provided better access to the records of City Hall. I am grateful for this new opportunity to continue that progress, serve the Council and my fellow residents and work with the staff in the Department of the City Clerk.”
Majority Leader Ryan stated, “I am proud of my colleagues on the Council. While change is difficult, it is important that the Clerk’s office keep abreast of state-of-the-art technology to increase transparency and public participation. Mr. Selleck brings a host of technology skills that will enhance the Clerk’s office operations and the Council’s goals for a more open government.” Leader Ryan continued, “The City Clerk’s office by City Charter is the keeper of the City’s Records and Archives. This office needs to communicate with legislators and residents regularly and inform the public of ongoing City-wide business all with the goal of encouraging robust public participation. I thank Ms. Hagen for her exemplary professionalism and her years of service to the City and wish her well.”
Lori Hagen has served the City of Providence for nearly 30 years and has been the City Clerk for the last two terms. Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr. said, “It has been a pleasure to work with Lori for all these years. She has been a consummate professional, and I wish her well in all her future endeavors. I along with my colleagues welcome Shawn, and remind him that he has very big shoes to fill.”
“Shawn will be stepping into a very big role, and we have big plans for him and the future of the Clerk’s Department,” stated City Council President Pro Tempore Michael J. Correia. “I am looking forward to working with him to make the Clerk’s office more engaging and continue serving the people of Providence with a focus on customer service and accessibility. Everyone on this Council and in this office wishes Lori the best as she moves on from this role, and we thank her for her 30-years of service.”
Shawn Selleck lives in the West End neighborhood of Providence with his wife, Antonieta. He begins serving as City Clerk immediately.
by Billy Kepner | Feb 19, 2019 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-15, Ward-4, Ward-6
Providence City Council President Sabina Matos, Ward 15, on Friday, February 15, 2019 awarded City Year Providence $70K to support its partnership with Providence Schools.
“City Year Providence is an organization that the Council has long supported, and has great respect for,” stated City Council President Sabina Matos. “The work that City Year AmeriCorps members do in our schools is life changing, and has a proven track record of helping our students achieve great things.”
In Providence, City Year supports the Providence Public School Department by providing focused supports to ensure students stay in school and on track to graduate. In each school, City Year AmeriCorps members add capacity to universal student support and school climate initiatives, family engagement nights, before and after school programs, whole-classroom management and engagement support.
“City Year provides critically important supports to our kids and improves education outcomes in our Providence schools,” said Providence Mayor Jorge O. Elorza. “Through this award, City Year corps members will be able to continue their tremendous work helping our kids reach their full potential.”
The funding to support the City Year program was set aside by the City Council and the Administration during last year’s budget cycle. Councilman David A. Salvatore was a strong supporter of the cause, as well as the Council’s Committee on Finance.
“We are so grateful for the City, City Council, and Providence Public School District partnership, and for their trust and belief in our support of our schools and students,” stated Jennie Johnson, Executive Director, City Year Providence. “We look forward to continuing to work alongside our school leaders, teachers, and families to provide support to our amazing students as they strive to realize their full and amazing potential. Thank you, for your belief in the power of young people and for your investment in our service and partnership.”
City Year Providence has successfully worked with the Providence Public School District to provide partner schools with a holistic portfolio of research-based and data-informed academic and social-emotional interventions, expanded learning programs, and activities that foster a school-wide climate of achievement. City Year provides a cost-effective solution that increases the adult-to-student ratio in schools and builds schools’ capacity to deliver individualized supports to students. With these supports, more students can reach grade-level academic proficiency, develop their non-cognitive social-emotional skills, and benefit from caring mentoring relationships with City Year AmeriCorps.
Superintendent of Providence Schools Christopher Maher said, “City Year continues to be an invaluable partner with Providence Public Schools, and we cannot thank them enough for their commitment to education and to our student’s well-being.”
Photo (Left to Right): Alex Molina, Managing Director of Impact for City Year Providence, City Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia, City Council President Sabina Matos, Jennie Johnson, Executive Director of City Year Providence, Providence Public Schools Superintendent Christopher Maher, City Council Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr., and Matthew Shumate, Deputy Chief of Staff to Mayor Jorge O. Elorza.
by Billy Kepner | Feb 13, 2019 | Council News, Press Release, Ward-11, Ward-13, Ward-4, Ward-6, Ward-8
Council President Sabina Matos has created a special committee to examine public safety in municipal-owned buildings and has tapped Councilman James Taylor to lead the effort.
“After much discussion with my colleagues I decided to create a special committee to explore public safety in our city-owned facilities,” stated City Council President Sabina Matos. “City Hall and other municipal buildings are used for public meetings, and although we have security protocols in place, there is always more we can do to ensure the safety of all that visit and work in our facilities.”
The Special Committee on Public Safety will include:
- Councilman James E. Taylor, Chair
- Council President Pro Tempore Michael J. Correia, Vice-Chair
- Senior Deputy Majority Leader Nicholas J. Narducci Jr.
- Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris
- Councilwoman Rachel M. Miller
Councilman James E. Taylor stated, “Public safety is only discussed during the budget season, and we need to be proactive instead of reactive. I believe that this committee can address some of these public safety issues that we face. In addition to looking at the security and safety of public buildings, we will be addressing the current challenges of having our E911 CAD system upgraded to receive ANI (Automatic Number Identification) and ALI (Automatic Location Identifier) to make Police and Fire Dispatch more efficient. The Committee will also address why the Providence Fire Department, the Country’s second oldest paid Fire Department, does not currently have a dedicated Chief and hasn’t for the past four years. We live in turbulent times, and as a life-long public safety officer I believe in preparedness, and that’s my goal for this committee.”
The Special Committee on Public Safety will meet regularly and will work closely with all stakeholders, including public safety officials in the city and the state.
by Billy Kepner | Feb 1, 2019 | Council News, Ward-11, Ward-13, Ward-2, Ward-5, Ward-6, Ward-8
Deputy Majority Leader Mary Kay Harris reminds us all to be the best street sweepers we can be at Providence’s 16th Annual Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Awards & Hall of Fame Ceremony hosted by Mayor Jorge O. Elorza.
In 1967, Dr. King in a speech to a group of middle school students in Philadelphia stated: “If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as a Michaelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music or Shakespeare wrote poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, ‘Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.’”
Congratulations to Shawndell Burney-Speaks, Detective Anthony Roberson, and to the family of the late Laura Rodriguez who live, and lived, in service to others. They each were the best street sweepers Providence has to offer.
by Billy Kepner | Jan 27, 2019 | Council News, Ward-6, Ward-8
United States Congressman Jim Langevin, City Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia, and friends.
Many thanks to all the sponsors that helped to make the Meeting Street Telethon a success!
Councilman James Taylor and Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia.
Councilman James Taylor, Secretary of State Nellie Gorbea, and Council President Pro Tempore Michael Correia.
The Cardi Brothers and please notice Congressman James Langevin and R.I. Treasurer Seth Magaziner in the back helping answer the phones!
by Billy Kepner | Jan 26, 2019 | Community Engagement, Council News, Ward-15, Ward-6, Ward-9
Council President Sabina Matos giving remarks at the flower offering.
The Dominican Flag flies in Roger Williams Park.
Council President Sabina Matos with the Dominican Flag.
Councilwoman Carmen Castillo giving remarks at the event.
Councilwoman Carmen Castillo & Council President Pro Tempore hold the Dominican Flag.
