What Will Finance Advisor Do in E.P.?

Paul Luba starts work on Monday, Sept. 16, as a Municipal Finance Advisor in East Providence – a position mandated by state law for cities and towns that are rebounding from a financial crisis.

Luba replaces the East Providence Budget Commission, which dissolves on that day, according to Diane Brennan, chair of the commission. 

He will be a city employee but still report to RI Revenue Director Rosemary Booth Gallogly, who appointed the Budget Commission and selected Luba for the position.

“He should be a great, great help to the city,” said Gallogly at the final Budget Commission meeting on Thursday, Sept. 12, when she introduced him.

Gallogly also said that Luba's duties and responsibilities should not conflict with those of City Manager Peter Graczykowski. He is expected to work closely with Finance Director Malcolm Moore.

Here are some examples of the work Luba will perform, according to the job description for the position:

(1) Recommend to the City Council and School Committee sound fiscal policies for implementation and monitor implementation;

(2) Monitor and oversee all financial operations and activities including the city’s operating and capital financial plans to maintain fiscal stability;

(3) Review operational results of various city funds and evaluate the structural soundness of each;

(4) Advise the assessor, director of finance, city treasurer, purchasing agent and employees performing similar duties but with different titles;

(5) Provide assistance in all matters related to municipal financial affairs;

(6) Review and approve the development and preparation of the annual municipal budget, all department operating and capital budgets and spending plans;

(7) Review and approve all proposed labor contracts and obligations to determine if they are consistent with a structurally balanced five-year plan;

(8) Monitor the receipt of revenues and expenditures of all funds with the assistance of city/town staff;

(9) Participate in rating agency calls pertaining to the city:

(10) Determine compliance with the various ordinances, laws (federal and state) and rules and regulations related to receipt and expenditure of city funds;

(11) Provide comment to the local governing body on the annual or supplemental municipal budgets of the city or town and all of its departments; 

(12) Report quarterly to the City Council, director of revenue, the auditor general, the governor and the chairpersons of the House finance and Senate finance committees on the progress made towards maintaining fiscal stability and all financial operations of the city; 

(13) Make recommendations to the City Council, School Committee, and the director of revenue, as appropriate, to begin to address any operational and/or structural deficit;

(14) Make recommendations to the City Council and School Committee, as appropriate, to have operational, performance, or forensic audits, or similar assessments conducted;

(15) Report any (i) inappropriate expenditure, (ii) any improper accounting procedure, (iii) all failures to properly record financial transactions, and (iv) other inaccuracies, irregularities, and shortages, as soon as practical to the elected chief executive officer, or in the case of a municipality without an elected chief executive officer, the city or town council;

(16) Notify in writing as soon as practical to the City Council; if the finance advisor discovers any errors, unusual practices, or any other discrepancies in connection with his or her work.