Newly hired Interim City Manager Paul Lemont said he'll work to settle bruised morale at the East Providence Police Department and look into construction at two City fire stations last night.
Lemont said he intended to work to settle strife over the hiring of EP Police Chief Joseph Tavares, who filed a complaint with the RI Human Rights Commission last month, alleging discrimination, harassment and a hostile work environment at the hands of recently fired City Manager Peter Graczykowski.
The East Providence Police Union voted no confidence in the Chief in July. Lemont said the hiring of Tavares, who was not placed from within the EP Police Department, has been settled. "They've got to accept that," Lemont said.
Lemont also hinted at a need to straighten out brewing difficulties at the East Providence Fire Department. This morning, Lemont said he was referring to administrative difficulties with construction at the city's Broadway and Wampanoag Trail fire stations. He said he would begin taking a look at those projects when he starts on Monday.
Three other candidates were in the running for the interim job: EP finance officers Paul Luba and Malcolm Moore and Stephen Hartford, former City Manager in Westerly, who each made their own arguments for placing them in the interim position.
Lemont said during his 14 years as City Manager East Providence never had a deficit and enjoyed a surplus every year. The track record seemed to impress Councilors, who backed him for the job 4 to 1.
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