KEEP THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT IN THE CITY CHARTER

Dear EP Residents,
The 2nd public hearing on the 2013-2014 Budget is scheduled for Tuesday, October 15, 2013 @ 7:30pm, City Hall. Please support the East Providence Recreation Department by attending the meeting and voicing your opinion. If you can't attend, please call your council rep and tell them to reject the City Manager's proposal of removing the Recreation Department from the City Charter and placing recreation & Pierce Field under the administration of the Senior Center. His new department would be called "Community Services". The Recreation Department has been in the City Charter since 1974 and has done an excellent job in providing quality recreation and parks programs for all age groups including the development of the Heritage Festival in 1981. A recipient of many awards, the East Providence Recreation Department was chosen several times by the National Recreation and Parks Association (NRPA) as a First Place contender for its successful programming in the areas of Arts & Humanities.
The City Manager justifies his proposal by calling it "consolidation" but actually it comes at an additional $11,000 cost to you the taxpayer since the Senior Center Director salary, as shown in the budget, would increase by $11,000. Granted, additional responsibilities would merit a pay increase but THIS "CONSOLIDATION" IS TOTALLY UNNECESSARY. THE RECREATION DEPARTMENT IS ALIVE AND WELL AND PERFORMING EXCELLENTLY EVEN WITH THE DRASTIC CUTS MADE TO ITS BUDGET WITHIN THE PAST FEW YEARS. Of the 39 cities and towns in RI only 5-Exeter, Little Compton, Portsmouth, Tiverton and West Greenwich do not have a Recreation Department. All other cities and towns in RI and across the nation have a Recreation Department or a Parks & Recreation Department. Heck, there's even a TV show by that name.
CITY COUNCIL – Non-Partisan

WARD 1 James A. Briden – 17 Hollow Ridge Rd., 02916 323-8641 jbriden@cityofeastprov.com

WARD 2 Helder J. Cunha - 101 Williams Ave., 02914 285-1504 hcunha@cityofeastprov.com

WARD 3 Thomas A.Rose Jr. – 733 Warren Ave., 02914 952-8208 trose@cityofeastprov.com

WARD 4 Christine A. Rossi – 29 Woodbine St., 02915 481-1721 crossi@cityofeastprov.com

At Large Tracy Capobianco - 104 Merritt Rd, 02915 368-1851 tcapobianco@cityofeastprov.com

MAYOR James A. Briden ASSISTANT MAYOR Thomas Rose Jr.