March 29, 2024

Paul Lemont Receives $25,639.27 Compensation from City as Consultant

Posted

Providing for professional administration for the city of East Providence has not been an easy task of late. There has been a revolving door of upper level management in both the school and city government. The school administration has settled down for now with an almost total changeover in management at the Superintendent's level. Initial reports have teachers - heretofore feeling very disrespected - as now feeling optimistic about new Superintendent Kathryn Crowley. "This new administration has done more for education in East Providence, in a short time, than previous administrations did during its' full tenure here," said a respected veteran high teacher. Teachers have been praising the efforts of Superintendent of Schools, Kathryn Crowley, high school principal, Shani Wallace and several other new appointments. "We were chastised for giving our opinions on routine matters, and more. Things are so much better now."

However, while expressing a desire to work together, some members of the school committee and city council have been at odds on how best to deal with the physical infrastructure needs of the city's high school and other budget issues. Although the high school has received recent state accreditation for major improvements of the building, the heating system remains to be updated.

The most discourse right now exists within City Hall where reports of uneasiness between some staffers are fairly widespread. After a 14 year stint as City Manager, Paul Lemont was not retained by a former city council in 2003 which refused to renew his contract. Bill Fazioli was hired but didn't opt to stay on after his term, on his own. Fazioli was well liked and respected during his calming reign as City Manager. The then city council hired Richard Brown as Manager. Brown soon fell out of favor and was not retained as Chief Executive. Peter Graczykowski was hired in September of 2011. However Graczykowski had a short lived tenure in the City. In an unusual move Graczykowski was never given a binding employment contract.

In November of 2013 Graczykowski was fired by the council. Ward 2 councilman Helder Cunha, had introduced a resolution to have Graczykowski suspended and then fired after he had raised some eyebrows with a couple of controversial decisions and became embroiled in a growing controversy between the police union and its embattled police chief at the time, Joseph Tavares. The R.I. State Police were called in to investigate the situation and Colonel Stephen O'Donnell sent the city a strongly worded letter chastising Graczykowski. "On its face, it appears that Mr. Graczykowski is attempting to interfere with a Rhode Island State Police investigation. I am bringing this to your attention because it is troubling, at best, to understand why a person in such a position cannot comprehend the separation of power and authority between his position and that of the Rhode Island State Police, " wrote O'Donnell.

After Graczykowski was fired, he agreed on a financial settlement at a cost of $40,000. Paul Lemont was brought back to the city in November of 2013 as Interim City Manager. Speaking at his first budget hearing Lemont said, "When I left in 2003, we were at an all-time high. We had been nominated for All America City status 3 times in 14 years, our Police and Fire Pension Plan was fully funded, we were on the verge of having the state see our waterfront recovery, and we had the lowest tax rate of any City in the state," said Lemont.

"Yes, I would like to stay on as permanent city manager," said Paul Lemont as the council was deciding what to do about a permanent City Manager. Once the state budget commission had left East Providence Lemont made it clear that he didn't think they should have been sent to rule over city spending. "There were many other accolades that put us "first" or "on top" (During Lemont's earlier years as Manager) and while the bloom has been off that rose for the past few years, we are once again poised to regain our former status. The nightmare of running out of money or of having to have outsiders determine our destiny is over. With few restrictions, we are once again in the driver's seat of directing our future," said Lemont. "As a life-long "Townie" I was eager to remove us from having been managed by a state Budget Commission, or anyone else who will only take us backwards, not forwards," said Lemont. "The state screwed up. They thought having state people run a city government is the same. It's not, they were wrong," he added.

In November of 2013 the council decided to table looking for a new manager, opting to give Lemont time to settle down the city government. The council delayed searching for a new Manager until mid-June of 2015. In September of 2015, Richard Kirby was hired as City Manager. At the time Kirby was the attorney for the R.I. Senate Finance Committee, of which Senator Dan Daponte of East Providence is Chairman. Although Lemont didn't return as permanent Manager, he would stay on as a "consultant."

After the hiring of new City Manager, Richard Kirby, Paul Lemont was hired as an Independent Contractor on September 28, 2015. Pursuant to the "Access to Public Records Act ("APRA"), of the R.I. General Laws, The Reporter obtained city documents outlining the agreement made between the City and Lemont for compensation. The agreement is signed by new acting City Manager, Richard Kirby.

According to one section of the agreement, "The term of this Agreement shall commence on September 24, 2015. After the first twenty­ one (21) days of the term, either party may, without cause, terminate this Agreement by giving written notice to the other. Lemont shall work 40 hours per week for the twenty-one (21) day term. The City shall pay to Lemont and Lemont shall accept from the City as compensation for all services to be provided pursuant to this Agreement the sum of $7,319.72 for said twenty-one (21) day term. Lemont will also receive $1,000.00 per week as needed until December 31, 2015. Lemont shall work no less than 15 hours per week until December 31, 2015 or on an as needed basis."

The agreement also stated that Lemont was hired as Acting City Manager on November 18, 2013 and subsequently resigned as Acting City Manager on September 24, 2015. The document included a retirement calculation with a "Bi-Weekly rate of $4,879.81. at an hourly rate of $69.71. The document indicates a total payment of "105 x $69.71 for a total of $7,319.55."

A City purchase order dated 12/15/2015 shows that Lemont received payment of $18,319.72 as "Independent Contractor Services" for the period of September 24, 2015 to December 31, 2015. In total, Paul Lemont received $25,639.27 for consultant fees from the City of East Providence. 

When asked in late January 2016 if Lemont was still consulting with him about City business, Richard Kirby said, "No, not anymore, but Paul Lemont was a valuable asset to me and to City government. He was extremely helpful in this transition time and I appreciate everything he has done. He was very cooperative."

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here


Share!
Truly local news delivered to every home in town