Politics & Government

Council Offers Four Candidates for Interim City Manager

Candidates will interview next Friday, 4 p.m. in open or closed session as they wish.

East Providence City Council members offered four candidates for interim City Manager Friday at a special 5 p.m. meeting: two current City employees, a former Westerly City Manager and a former EP City Manager.

The four candidates: Former EP City Manager Paul Lemont, EP finance officers Paul Luba and Malcolm Moore and Stephen Hartford, former City Manager in Westerly, will interview with the Council next Friday in Council Chambers at 4 p.m. The candidates will interview either in open or closed session, at their discretion.

The Council fired City Manager Peter Graczykowski Tuesday. The Council voted to approve the motion 4-1, with only Councilor Chrissy Rossi voting to keep him in the position, leaving them in need of an interim City Manager.  

Councilman Helder Cunha, who suggested Lamont, said Lamont has won awards for his work during his 14 years with the City. Lamont also demonstrates leadership qualities Cunha admires, the councilman said.

Council President Jim Briden recommended Paul Luba, appointed as Financial Advisor to replace the Budget Commission in September. Luba said he would consider taking the temporary job to help out the city. He said he is very happy with his current position and is not interested in filling the post long-term. 

In the event Luba is not able to fill the position, Councilwoman Crissy Rossi said she suggests City Finance Director Malcolm Moore

Councilman Rose suggested Steven Hartford, former Town Manager in Westerly, who resigned in August. During Friday's meeting, Hartford said he resigned because it was clear he didn't have the support of the majority of the Westerly Town Council.

Hartford, Vice President of the RI City and Town Managers Association, had held the Westerly position for four years. Prior to that, he had served as Town Solicitor in Westerly for eight years.  

Hartford said he saw East Providence would be looking for a new City Manager and decided to let the City know he was available. City Solicitor Tim Chapman said Hartford had made a formal inquiry into the job earlier this week. He said if he wins the interim job, and he and the City Council work well together, he would consider applying for the job long-term. 

When asked about whether the recent tumult surrounding Graczykowski's tenure made him nervous, Hartford said he wasn't worried.  





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