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Council Takes Action to Strengthen Civilian Oversight Agency (PERA)  The City Council voted in January to approve a substantial amendment to the Providence External Review Authority (PERA) ordinance. PERA provides civilian oversight of the Providence Police Department through investigations and hearings concerning allegations of police officer misconduct, but has struggled to realize its potential. The changes made by the Council broaden PERA's responsibilities, while making the authority more efficient.
Key changes to the PERA ordinance adopted by the Council include the following:
- Size of the board reduced to nine (9) from twenty-two (22) members.
- Council will approve the appointment of the executive director.
- Authority members will be responsible for creating and implementing community outreach programs, and reviewing and making recommendations regarding police department policies and procedures.
- Executive director can actively monitor any police internal investigation involving a citizen complaint alleging police misconduct, and any police internal investigation which the director believes would be in the city's best interest for PERA to monitor.
- PERA's budget will be part of the City Council's budget.
Although the Mayor and the City Solicitor are challenging the PERA ordinance and questioning whether PERA has the authority to hire its own executive director, the Council is pressing ahead with its efforts to improve PERA's operations. Councilman Yurdin, one of the key sponsors of the amended ordinance said that, "The Council is doing everything in its power to support and strengthen independent civilian oversight of the police department in our city."
Councilman Miguel Luna, a longtime advocate for civilian oversight, and the other lead sponsor of the new ordinance, confirmed that the Council plans to recruit new members for the downsized PERA board, and will be seeking applications shortly. "While the disagreement regarding the hiring of the director gets resolved, the Council can and will pursue board appointments," he said. He emphasized that he will work to ensure that PERA continues to operate without disruption.
Information about serving on PERA will be posted on the Council website shortly, and also will be advertised in multiple newspapers.
Click here for past press releases regarding PERA.
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Council Members Respond to School Facilities Plan  On January 20th, the Providence Public School Department presented its new Facilities Master Plan to the Providence City Council. Since then, Council members have been working diligently with the School Department, parents, and community members to rework many of the plan's recommendations which included closing certain schools and expanding others in an effort to lower costs. While the Council has been supportive of the School Department's efforts to increase efficiency in these tough economic times, many Council members have expressed concerns about the effect these changes will have on Providence's school children.
In response to the many issues raised by Council members, parents, and the public, Superintendent Thomas Brady announced on February 22nd that the School Department would delay implementing many of the proposed changes so that staff could study the matters further.
Councilman John Lombardi's ward faced many changes under the plan, including the addition of grades 6-8 to Carl Lauro Elementary, the transfer of numerous elementary students to new schools, and the closing of Bridgham Middle School in adjacent Ward 15, which many Ward 13 children attend. Lombardi had urged the superintendent to reconsider these changes and was pleased with the decision to keep Bridgham open and to reexamine expanding Carl Lauro.
Councilman Miguel Luna also expressed his satisfaction that at least one neighborhood school would remain in his ward. "Under the plan, both of the schools in Ward Nine were recommended for closure," said Luna, referring to Feinstein High and Lillian Feinstein Elementary (formerly the Sackett Street School). "Having neighborhood schools not only benefits the children and families of our community, who would not have to worry about busing or other transportation issues, it also helps strengthen neighborhood bonds."
Councilwoman Josephine DiRuzzo, a former School Board chairperson who represents Ward 15 on the Council, was pleased with the School Department's change in course with regard to Bridgham, and is looking forward to continued discussions with the superintendent and the community with regard to the Asa Messer Annex. "We need to be very careful with decisions that affect our children," said DiRuzzo, "Taking the time to collect input from residents and families is a vital step to ensure the best possible outcome is reached."
In Ward Four, where the Windmill Elementary School was scheduled to be closed, Councilman Nicholas Narducci, Jr. also was happy to hear of the School Department's reversal. "Superintendent Tom Brady listened to our neighborhood's concerns, he heard parents' concerns, and he remained open-minded throughout the public forum process," Narducci said. "It was refreshing to know that my constituents' opinions were valued, and were factored into the school department's ultimate decision."
Superintendent Brady's revised recommendations to the School Board are available online here.
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City Council Helps Residents Recycle
 Like every city and town facing decreased revenues and increased costs to provide city services, the City of Providence has been reviewing a variety of cost saving measures. One of the largest expense items for any municipality is garbage collection and disposal.
To increase recycling and thereby reduce waste disposal fees, late last year the City initiated a new mandatory recycling program. The program requires residents to place both a green and a blue recycling bin (or other approved containers) curbside on trash day in addition to their Big Green can. The aim of the new mandatory program is to double Providence's recycling rate, resulting in a potential annual savings of $300,000. As a way to compel compliance with the new policy, garbage is no longer collected unless both recycling bins are placed alongside the trash barrels.
The City Council has long-advocated for increased recycling, and supports the new program. However, its sudden commencement and limited informational campaign caught many residents by surprise. For a number of reasons, a large number of residents did not have recycling bins. In addition, there was confusion among people living in multi-family houses about the requirement that both a blue and a green bin need to be placed curbside for each Big Green can. As a result, for several weeks, garbage was not picked up at every household.
Concerned with the growing amount of uncollected garbage and potential public health issues, several Council members responded to the situation by holding educational sessions throughout the city. The meetings took place at community and recreation centers, and provided residents with helpful information about the new policy. In addition, to facilitate compliance, recycling bins were distributed free of charge to those in attendance. At the Washington Park Community Center, Councilmen Miguel Luna and Luis Aponte noted that most of their constituents expressed a willingness to abide by the new policy. However, both councilmen noted, "No matter how willing, folks can't comply with a policy if they were never sufficiently notified."
As she helped distribute recycling bins to Ward 11 residents at the Davey Lopes Recreation Center, Councilwoman Balbina Young observed, "It is in everyone's best interest that the new program succeeds." Councilman John Igliozzi took matters a step further by arranging delivery of bins to residents' homes to accommodate busy work schedules. Councilman Igliozzi added, "Many of my constituents work two jobs; we need to make every reasonable effort to provide residents with the items they need to obey the policy." Overall, the City Council distributed over 1,000 sets of recycling bins which have greatly assisted residents in fulfilling their civic responsibility, and helped the City to accomplish its goal.
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A Conversation With Councilman John J. Lombardi  In each issue, The Docket poses the same ten questions to one of the fifteen members of the City Council and presents these conversations as a way to provide insights into the respective backgrounds, thinking, and values of each Council member.
In this newsletter, we feature Councilman John J. Lombardi. First elected in 1984, Lombardi has represented the thirteenth ward for nearly 26 years. He became Council President in 1999, and served in that position through 2006. A lifelong resident of Federal Hill, Lombardi now is a mayoral candidate. To learn more, read Councilman Lombardi's biography.
********* 1. How do you define public service? John F. Kennedy said, "If you are interested, if you want to participate, if you feel strongly about any public question ... governmental service is the way to translate this interest into action, [for] the natural place for the concerned citizen is to contribute part of his life to [public service]." I could never express my own thoughts and motivations with more clarity. 2. Who are the public servants who have had the most profound positive influence on your choice to join their ranks? Those that believe in alms--giving to those in need--and all of the other unsung heroes in our community, have inspired me throughout my life, and I would be honored to be considered among their ranks. 3. What are your top three priorities for City Council initiatives during the next year?My three guiding principles remain accessibility, accountability, and responsibility. Specifically, I will be focused this year on addressing the issues of job, workforce, and economic development--they are profoundly linked, so I list them as a single entity; the reform of our public education system; and the enhancement of the delivery of city services throughout Providence. 4. How do you communicate directly with your constituents? How does this interaction inform your work as a Council member?There is not a sidewalk in Ward 13 I have not tread. There is not a doorbell I have not rung. My law office has an open door policy for all my constituents. I pride myself on being among the most accessible of elected officials. 5. What are some of your favorite films, books, and/or plays? What kinds of music do you most enjoy? The only reason why I don't describe myself as a voracious reader is that my legal work and City Council duties devour my time. Recently, I've read The Shack by William P. Young; The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini; and The Summons by John Grisham. Film and theater, which I enjoy, struggle to make it onto my schedule, although I do occasionally catch something at PPAC. All music is palatable to my ear, depending on the situation, and what I am doing. 6. In your opinion, what is the biggest challenge or opportunity facing Providence today?Educating and employing our workforce. Growing and stabilizing our economy. Securing our downtown and our neighborhoods. Providing quality public education for all our children. Inherent in all these challenges is a commitment to excellence for everyone in the city. 7. How would you describe the unique responsibilities of the legislative and executive branches of our city's government? What is the ideal working relationship between the two?Throughout my 26-year tenure on the City Council, I have endeavored to protect its status as a co-equal branch of municipal government. At times this has meant cooperating with the executive branch. At times this has meant opposing the executive branch. Ours is a checks and balances system, which neatly describes the "ideal working relationship" between the City Council and the Office of Mayor. 8. Imagine that, for one day only, you were given the power to make this world a better place; what would you do? I would bestow upon all people the ability to bring out the very best in their nature, and to act accordingly toward those around them. 9. On what criteria would you ask the people of Providence to judge your performance as a City Council member? I have always tried to be fair and honest with everyone who I've represented, not only as a Council member and Council President, but also while serving for a short time as Mayor. I would want people to ask if I, as a public servant, have used to the fullest extent possible my abilities and powers toward the goal of excellence (to paraphrase Aristotle). 10. Finally, the quintessential Rhode Island question: Red Sox or Yankees?In the shadow of the CITGO sign, I proudly proclaim, YANKEES!
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Council Celebrates the Holidays During the December holiday season, the members of the Providence City Council sponsored a number of neighborhood celebrations and events.
First, on December 12th, Councilman Joseph DeLuca and Attorney General Patrick Lynch held a toy gun bash at the Pleasant View School. Children who brought a toy gun to the event could trade it in for a present of their choice. The goal of the event was to educate children about the dangers of real guns and to promote less aggressive types of play. There was also a fire prevention lesson for children as well as pizza and snacks.
 That same day, Santa and Mrs. Claus were on hand for Councilwoman Josephine DiRuzzo's Christmas party at the Sgt. Steven Shaw Memorial Sub-Station on Webster Avenue. On top of the visit from the couple from the North Pole, attendees enjoyed storytellers, musical performances, and horse and carriage rides. Later that week, Council President Peter Mancini sponsored a holiday party at the Wanskuck library. Children were treated to toys and games as well as Christmas themed cookies and sweets.
 Residents of Ward Five came out in numbers for Councilman Michael Solomon and Representative Joanne Giannini's annual Christmas on the Parkway event on December 19th. Children spent the day enjoying horse and buggy rides, face painting, and balloon animals.
Before rounding out the holiday season with his annual Christmas party at the Wanskuck Boys and Girls Club, Councilman Nicholas Narducci held two separate toy drives to help ensure no child went without holiday cheer. The first toy drive was a spaghetti and meatball dinner on December 13th at the Knights of Columbus Hall, and the second was part of a fundraiser for Toys for Tots on the 15th at the Pearl Restaurant, where the councilman was joined by the host of TV's Extra, Mario Lopez.
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Council Office Wins Grand Prize  Celebrating the holiday season took on many forms in City Hall this year. The annual Doorway Decorating Contest--a friendly and spirited competition that challenges offices in City Hall to demonstrate their creativity and holiday spirit by decorating their doorways--generated a great deal of interest and participation.
Nearly every office had an entry as departments competed for an array of prizes that featured a $100 gift certificate to Café Nuovo. Themes covered a wide range of holiday and community oriented sentiments, from "Peace on Earth - Good Will Towards Animals," which encouraged adopting abandoned animals, to the more traditional "A Stocking Full of Cheer."
The City Council Office combined a holiday message and a public service endorsement with its entry, "Recycling: The Gift That Keeps on Giving." Following the recent rollout of the Green Up Providence campaign, aimed at increasing the number of city households that recycle each week, the Council Office staff created a doorway featuring a large wreath covered in lights, which included colorful glass ornaments, mini blue and green recycling bins, and a large recycling triangle in the middle. Full-sized green and blue bins also were on display in front of the office doors containing relevant recycling items, as well as helpful holiday recycling tips.
Staff members' hard work, enthusiasm, and creativity were rewarded with the Grand Prize for "Best Group Effort for an Informative Doorway Filled With Holiday Cheer!" They also received the Café Nuovo gift certificate.
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"The Docket" is all about making city government accessible to everyone. The Providence City Council provides this newsletter as an information resource for residents, business owners and everyone interested in making Providence a great place to live, work and visit. Please join us in our work to make Providence the best city it can be -- subscribe to "The Docket" today!
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