Letter to the Editor

Don't Cut Middle School Sports

This letter was submitted by June Coan.

To the Editor, At the most recent School Committee meeting, Mr. Sweeney from B&E Consulting presented recommendations to the committee. Mr. Sweeney recommended eliminating middle school sports comparing them to community sports such as “AYSO”. It is not the same thing; in fact, as a middle school girls’ soccer coach, I spend most of my season undoing a lot of what I call “AYSO mentality”.  AYSO is valuable in its own right, but it does not serve the same function as Middle School Soccer. The three concepts AYSO focuses on is sport fundamentals, fun, and everyone plays. Middle School sports go beyond that, preparing them mentally and physically for high school level playing. AYSO is meant to teach the basics; however, competitively for …

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Lady Integrity

11:03 am on Monday, April 16, 2012

Helen, I can see how irritated you are, I am too when people post non applicable statements under all news items. However, I'm innocent, check with the editor Abigail, because the FACTS ARE I didn't post this under "don;t cut middle school sports", it just suddenly appeared partially, and then in it's entirety. This comment has NO relationship to middle school sports and shouldn't be here. I …   more ›

R.I. House Gives Green Light to State Aid Advance

The bill passed 64-1 on the House floor.

Members of the Rhode Island House of Representatives overwhelmingly passed a legislative bill that will give East Providence an advancement in its state aid. The payment will float the city until May. It was projected East Providence would be broke without an influx of cash by March. "I would not be standing here asking you to do this," said Rep. Helio Melo, chairman of the House Finance Committee (D-East Providence). "Obviously the city is in default of some contractual obligations...It gives the city time to develop strategies." The bill passed 64-1. Rep. Robert Watson (R-East Greenwich, West Greenwich) was the only no vote. He had concerns with an amendment to the bill that states East Providence is not in default due to outstanding …

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Middle School Sports, Small Class Sizes on the Chopping Block

Members discussed the results of an audit that proposes an additional $1.5 million in department savings at Tuesday's East Providence School Committee meeting.

East Providence Patch reported live from city hall during Tuesday night's school committee meeting. To balance the city budget, members voted to accept a B&E audit report that includes $3 million in proposed adjustments - including the elimination of half-day kindergarten, middle school sports, and classes that only attract a small group of students. School committee members voted to study the fiscal impact of those adjustments before they made the recommended cuts. The school committee has already voted on many of the audit's recommendations, so far saving $1.5 million in next year's budget. The audit also praised the department's highly successful special eduction program and urged administrators to hire essential staff, including a …

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Govstench

10:59 pm on Tuesday, January 17, 2012

There is a lot to be done to turn this around. The teachers are complaining that they are the lowest paid in the state, the taxpayers are against the wall with their taxes with some throwing in the towels and leaving, and the students are feeling it in the end. The system is broken and the people have to come together and straighten it out. Years of neglect, special contracts and political …   more ›

State Aid May Come Early for East Providence

East Providence should be able to make payroll through the end of March.

State aid to the rescue, maybe. Members of the budget commission are actively researching initiatives to bail out East Providence's floundering finances. One proposition: ask the Rhode Island House Finance Committee if an early state aid payment can be deposited in East Providence's coffers. The city usually receives the funds by April 30, said Finance Director Ellen Eggeman after Thursday's meeting. A $12.2 million deficit is projected for April. The city also as an option of buying a bond to bridge the deficit. Municipalities, such as Woonsocket, have secured loans while reducing debt. But a poor credit rating is compounding the city's financial woes. According to Maureen Gurghigian of First Southwest, a finance firm that does consulting…

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Govstench

9:14 am on Sunday, January 8, 2012

This early state aid request may lead to a stampede by other municipalities. The best way to describe this credit crunch going on is to see an ever expanding sink hole envelop a community. The urban areas are really feeling the crunch and it is spreading. Pension liabilities are behind much of this and managers are at fault. Shifting funds to operating budgets vs. making payments got everyone …   more ›

Budget Commission Isn't the Work of 'Political Intrigue'

Councilors voted against changing the tax billing schedule to level East Providence debt.

City councilors unanimously voted to table a resolution that would have altered tax collection schedules to help pull East Providence out of its mounting debt. It's no secret administrators are anxious to secure a stopgap in cash flow. They project the city will be broke by the end of January unless they secure additional Tax Anticipation Notes (TANs). The city's borrowing ability has been constricted by the latest bond downgrade; Bank of America only lent $10 million leaving administrators scrambling. After this morning's third budget commission meeting, members agreed to further study the impact of the proposal. Mayor Bruce Rogers said many residents would not be able to handle an extra bill, that some would be "forced out of their homes…

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Bannon Made Fiscal Overseer in East Providence

Major Steven Bannon will give a report to the state regarding the city's finances after 120 days of advisement.

To get East Providence's balance sheets on track, the state Department of Revenue appointed a fiscal overseer on Monday. Major Steven Bannon of the state police will help forge a sustainable five-year budget deficit reduction plan, announced Rosemary Booth Gallogly, director of the state Department of Revenue, during a press conference held at city hall. "Collaboratively we'll come up with a plan to resolve the issues here," Bannon said. Due to outstanding school department debts to eduction vendors, including Meeting Street and Bradley Hospital, and mounting pension plan costs, state officials said intervention is imperative. The city is paying about 48 percent into the pension plan's actuarially required contributions (ARC). According to…

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East Providence Officials Hire Consulting Firm to Audit City Finances

B&E Consulting will conduct a performance audit on city and school department finances.

In an effort to continue city debt reduction and ultimately stave off bankruptcy, East Providence administrators have hired B&E Consulting to conduct a performance audit on city and school department finances. According to City Manager Peter Graczykowski, the results of the audit will be available in about two weeks. "They have the expertise and time to audit the books," he said, noting results will be relayed to Department of Revenue members who are monitoring the city's finances with a critical eye. At last week's school committee meeting, members reduced the school department deficit to $3 million after making plans to lay off 24 school personnel and reduce the IT budget. Most of the slashed school employee positions were related to …

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Gary Trahan

10:20 am on Monday, September 3, 2012

Yes!   more ›

Chafee Set to Act in East Providence after Bradley Hospital Ultimatum

The Chafee administration will likely make an announcement Monday regarding East Providence’s troubled finances, just days after Bradley Hospital issued the city an ultimatum for $4.6 million in unpaid bills.