Friday, May 10, 2013
City Solicitor Tim Chapman rules that the East Providence mayor is the chief elected officer under state law, which always trumps a city charter.
Mayor James Briden has the legal right to select an administrative and finance officer for East Providence, according to a legal opinion issued by the city solicitor. That right has been challenged by Chrissy Rossi, another member of the City Council, who questioned Briden's status as chief elected officer. Briden actually asked for Chapman’s opinion before her challenge. "My interest was in complying with the Rhode Island General Law," Briden said. City Solicitor Timothy Chapman states in his opinion: “The Mayor is the elected CEO in the City of East Providence” under Rhode Island law, which created the East Providence Budget Commission. As the elected CEO, Briden would appoint the AFO if and when the state Revenue Department decides to…
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
The board will meet Thursday, May 2, to handle personnel issues -- a request made by Mayor James Briden soon after the police chief was put on administrative leave by the city manager.
The East Providence Budget Commission will reconvene Thursday to weigh in on five personnel matters – none of which involves the police chief, who has been placed on administrative leave. The meeting starts at 3 pm in Room 306 in City Hall. It was the removal of Police Chief Joseph Tavares from his position by City Manager Peter Graczykowski that sparked a decision by Mayor James Briden to ask that the budget board resume its authority over personnel matters. He has said only that he asked for this step "in the best interests of the city." Briden said that this request has been his only connection to the investigation of Tavares. "I have stayed out of this," said Briden. RI Revenue Director Rosemary Booth Gallogly, who controls the …
Wednesday, March 27, 2013
Under an 'exit plan' released four weeks ago, the East Providence Budget Commission will meet for the last time on Thursday afternoon, March 28.
The final meeting of the East Providence Budget Commission takes place Thursday under an "exit plan" released about four weeks ago. It will end the state's control of the city's finances after almost 16 months. The meeting starts at 3 pm in City Hall, Room 306. The dominant agenda item is the first on the docket: a Budget Commisson recommendation "to continue delegation of authority." Under the state law that established the budget board in East Providence, that authority will include a Municipal Administration and Finance Officer to be hired by the city. A less costly "alternative" to an AFO, however, has been under discussion between state and city officials, Mayor James Briden said in a Patch story on Tuesday. He also presented that …
Tuesday, March 26, 2013
Mayor James Briden is "in discussions" with the state revenue director and other officials to come up with a far less costly way to monitor East Providence's finances.
The mayor is talking to the state about coming up with a far less costly alternative to East Providence hiring a $100,000 a year official to monitor finances as mandated by the state law that created the Budget Commission. There may be much more to report at the Budget Commission’s final meeting on Thursday afternoon under its exit plan, said East Providence Mayor James Briden. “We’re in discussions with the state,” he said. “That’s all I can really say right now.” Briden said: “I recognize the benefits of having someone like this, and I appreciate the role of a Municipal Administration and Finance Officer.” “At the same time, I would like to explore less costly ways to accomplish the same objective,” he said. That is really the purpose …
Thursday, March 7, 2013
East Providence Mayor James Briden wants to know for sure; he has asked the city solicitor to review the state law that creates an AFO and the City Charter.
The mayor wants to make sure he is the right person to appoint East Providence’s new fiscal overseer. James Briden is asking city solicitor Timothy Chapman to review Rhode Island General Law 45-9-10, which creates the position of Municipal Administration and Finance Officer (AFO) to take over for the Budget Commission when it leaves at the end of March. The AFO will be appointed by “the elected chief executive officer,” according to the law. Briden wants to make sure he is that officer with the help of Chapman’s legal interpretation of the law and the City Charter. “Am I that individual that makes the choice?” Briden said. “It’s a relatively new law. Under an abundance of caution, I want a legal interpretation from the solicitor. It …
Thursday, February 7, 2013
East Providence Mayor James Briden will ask the City Council at the special meeting next Monday to support his attempt to bring back live streaming of meetings.
East Providence Mayor James Briden wants to bring back live streaming of the City Council and School Committee meetings. Streaming was eliminated as part of the cuts in the City Clerk’s budget made by the East Providence Budget Commission soon after it arrived “I know it is a budget expense,” said Briden. “But it has a benefit to society, and makes us a better city.” Live streaming of the meetings is the second issue Briden wants to address at Monday’s special City Council meeting. It starts at 6 pm in City Hall. City Council meetings can still be viewed on cable TV on the two days after the Tuesday meetings at noon and 9 pm. But those times are not convenient for many people in East Providence, a city the mayor describes as having “…
Rags 1
12:09 pm on Monday, May 13, 2013
Joe you had your chance when you were on the council years ago. Sure the dynamic has changed, but does that mean we change to a strong Mayor and go partisan and have real division. I agree that special interests are hard to deny, but the solution is simple--it is the ballot box and the people are not brainwashed. Get elected, announce your issues beforehand and if you win then move in a position … more ›