March 18, 2024

Longtime Former City Manager Paul Lemont Dies

City Issues Condolence Statement

Posted

Paul Lemont, a 1958 graduate of East Providence High School, passed away on May 20, 2018 after an illness. Lemont, a long time former City Manager, was first hired in 1989 after a successful administrative career at the former Providence Gas Company. He spent 14 years as City Manager until his contract was not renewed by a city council in 2003. After a succession of city managers were hired and fired by different city councils, Paul Lemont was brought back as an Interim Manager in 2013. Lemont returned after former manager Peter Graczykowski was fired.

Lemont told the city council that he was interested in returning to the position full time "to get this city back on track." Lemont never supported the fact that the state mandated budget commission was placed in East Providence. "In all my years we never ran a deficit government. We had surpluses and we never needed the budget commission. It was an embarrassment to have them here," Lemont told the Reporter in prior interviews. "I'm a proud Townie, I can get this city back to success like we had before. We just need good people in charge of departments," he would tell the council when he became interim. Lemont was never rehired on a permanent basis and city voters have now chosen to elect a strong Mayoral form of government. The first Mayoral election will be in November of 2018. 

The City of East Providence web site posted the following message:
"The City of East Providence is profoundly saddened by the passing of former City Manager Paul Lemont. Always the dedicated public servant, Mr. Lemont served as City Manager between 1989 and 2003, and returned as Interim City Manager between 2013 and 2015. Known for his love of all things East Providence, and a larger-than-life personality, Mr. Lemont’s accomplishments as a manager are many and varied. The City would like to express condolences to Mr. Lemont’s family during this difficult time, his legacy as a proud and devout Townie will surely live on."

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