East Providence 2018: Year in Review

Reflecting on some of the biggest stories in city over the last 12 months

By Mike Rego
Posted 12/31/18

EAST PROVIDENCE — The year 2018 was certainly another notable one in East Providence, a 12-month period that saw residents for the first time in the history of the city get to elect their mayor …

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East Providence 2018: Year in Review

Reflecting on some of the biggest stories in city over the last 12 months

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — The year 2018 was certainly another notable one in East Providence, a 12-month period that saw residents for the first time in the history of the city get to elect their mayor and vote to fund the construction of a new high school along with a whole host of other newsworthy events.
The aforementioned two happenings were certainly 1 and 1A when it comes to creating a list of the top news stories for the last year. The rest, in no particular order, is a compilation of the other more notable happenings in East Providence in 2018.

1. Mayor DaSilva
Roberto DaSilva was chosen as the city’s initial chief executive officer when voters on November 6 selected the former state representative to become East Providence’s first elected mayor.
and also approved ballot Question No. 4, backing construction of a replacement for East Providence High School.
Mr. DaSilva, a former member of the Rhode Island House representing East Providence and Pawtucket, narrowly defeated James Russo, a long-time political operative seeking elected office for the first time.
“I’m very, very happy for what we were able to do. I thank the people of the City of East Providence,” said Mr. DaSilva on election night. “Our first step will be to put together a transition team, sit down with them and start preparing for what needs to be done for the city.
The margin of victory stood at just under 800 votes (8,296-7,499) out of over 15,500 cast. Turnout was also slightly more than the recent past average in the city during off-year elections, which has been around 14,000. Percentage-wise, Mr. DaSilva won 52.1-47.1. There were 116 write-in ballots cast for .7% of the total vote.
Voters in the September 12 primary previously determined the final two candidates to become East Providence’s first elected mayor, choosing Mr. DaSilva and Mr. Russo out of a field of four.
Mr. DaSilva, a Ward 3 resident, received the most votes, 3,300, with Mr. Russo, likewise a resident of Ward 3, in second, garnering 2,835. The pair emerged from a four-way primary that also included multi-time elected city official Chrissy Rossi (third; 1,364 votes) and current city building inspector Albert Quattrucci (fourth; 440).

1A. New EPHS
Also at the November general election, Question No. 4, which asked residents to affirm or deny the city seeking $189.5 million in bond monies to construct a new East Providence High School to replace the existing near seven-decade old structure, passed by an overwhelming 77.6-22.4% majority.
“I couldn’t be more proud of the people of the City of East Providence,” said Nate Cahoon, the councilman-elect from Ward 3 and current member of the School Committee who also is chairman of the high school building sub-committee.
“We worked very hard to put together a proposal to present to them,” he continued. “Give them an opportunity to vote on it and decide the course of their future, and they decided in the right way, which I knew they would. It’s a very exciting opportunity to have as a city.”
Of note as well, voters in city and around Rhode Island also resoundingly approved (81-19%) authorizing the state to seek $250 million in bonds to help assist with school construction, of which East Providence is expected to receive a sizable chunk towards its new high school.

3. Chapman fired
The 19-month tenure of City Manager Tim Chapman all but came to an end during a 23-minute special session of the City Council held Wednesday night, March 28.
At the time and per City Charter, the council voted 3-2 to remove Mr. Chapman from the office. Councilors Joe Botelho, Brian Faria and Anna Sousa, the latter the official sponsor of the act, cast their vote in the affirmative. Councilors Jim Briden and Bobby Britto were in the negative. Mr. Chapman left the dais after the tally without making a comment.
Mr. Chapman was jettisoned as manager by the council “without cause” and via a “majority vote of its members,” according to Wednesday’s resolution. The council also on the same 3-2 split voted to appoint City Finance Director Malcolm Moore as acting manager, a measure sponsored by Mr. Faria. Mr. Moore will maintain his position in finance.
The removal resolution, pursuant to Section 2-11 of the Charter, allowed Mr. Chapman to seek a public hearing on the matter no later than 30 days following the vote. At that point, and after Mr. Chapman declined to seek a hearing, the move became “officially” official.

4. Moore ‘reassigned’
Mr. Moore’s dual tenure lasted less than three months. At a special meeting of the council to be held Wednesday evening, June 27, he was voted out of the position with another acting designate, Police Chief Christopher Parella, taking over the manager’s role.
Mr. Moore, who has served as Finance Department head for some five-plus years, was only installed in the manager’s post upon the initial removal of Tim Chapman in late February. Mr. Moore officially took the office upon the 30-day termination period, which ended in March. Mr. Chapman served the position for approximately 18 months, much of that on an interim basis as well in the stead of Richard Kirby, who was relieved of his duties as manager in August of 2016.
According to the agenda, Chief Parella did, like Mr. Moore for a time, serve dual roles. He remained in his position atop the East Providence Police Department with the ability to “retain an administrative assistant from within” the EPPD ranks to help him in his managerial duties. The chief received additional compensation for his time as manager, but his pension and longevity pay did not be changed. Chief Parella will return to his position in the EPPD “upon the installation of the Mayor of the City of East Providence or at any time prior to if his services are no longer needed.”

5. Parella hired
The City of East Providence had its third city manager in as many months after the council at a special session called for Wednesday night, June 27, voted to remove Mr. Moore from his interim position and replace him with Chief Parella for what is assumed the final six months of the term.
The council took great pains to say Mr. Moore was not being terminated, but reassigned back to his former position as city side Finance Department director. Several members offered praise for his years of service to the city and his performance in Finance. The move, however, comes just four months after he was elevated into the role as interim manager following the firing of then-manager Tim Chapman.
“I just want to thank the council for their kind words. It’s an honor to work here,” Mr. Moore said upon the 4-1 vote to make the change. “It’s been interesting. I spoke to the mayor (At-Large member Jim Briden). I understand his reasoning…It’s going to be a seamless transition…I understand the situation and I’m fine with it.”
Speaking prior to the vote, Mr. Briden said of his decision to support placing Chief Parella in the manager’s position, “It’s an unusual situation. In all my years in city hall, in city halls, I’ve never seen anything like it.”
Mr. Briden was referring to matters made public recently at a pair of other special sessions of the council where investigations into the conduct of Ward 4 representative Brian Faria were openly aired.
Among the claims against the first-term councilor were alleged interference in personnel matters and day-to-day operations of the city, actions forbidden to council members by city charter, and improper access of law department records in late April of this year.
“Let’s be clear, the reason why we’re here this evening is because of events that occurred on April 27 and 28,” said Ward 1 Councilor Bobby Britto. “We need to return law and order to city hall. That’s the reason why we’re here this evening.”

6. Bridgham murder
A prominent area doctor is the victim in a murder investigation being conducted by East Providence Police.
Dr. Clive Bridgham, 67, was found dead upon the arrival of officers who responded to his residence on Pleasant Street in the Rumford section of the city on Thursday evening, Jan. 12. A call seeking the EPPD to inquire about Dr. Bridgham’s safety was placed that night just after 8 p.m. The responding officers found an “unresponsive male” on the floor in a room of the home upon arrival at 8:40 p.m. The officers determined him to be deceased at that time.
Until recently, Dr. Bridgham operated a practice in Barrington — Barrington Chiropractic and Sports Medicine Clinic — out of an office located on County Road. In November of 2017, he voluntarily surrendered his license back to the Rhode Island Department of Health after admitting to having sex with a 19-year-old male patient. According to public documents, Dr. Bridgham was alleged to have “violated the professional boundaries of the chiropractic physician-patient relationship” with the teen.
About two weeks later, a suspect, Owen Morris, 21, of 18 Cole St., in Warren, will appear in court next week, after a judge on Tuesday ordered him held without bail on a charge of first-degree murder. The son of Spencer Morris and Allison Newsome of Warren and Prudence Island, Mr. Morris, 21, was arrested by East Providence police Monday. Chief Parella would not comment on what led to Mr. Morris’s arrest or where it occurred, but said it came after nearly two weeks of exhaustive work by East Providence detectives, Warren police, the Rhode Island Attorney General’s office, and other agencies. 
“We’re confident Owen Morris is the person responsible for this murder,” added East Providence Lt. Raymond Blinn.

7. Newport Avenue plaza project
After years of decline and decay, a new day was horizon for the moribund Narragansett Park Plaza at the border of East Providence and Pawtucket following the council’s tentative approval of a redevelopment plan for the land.
Traffic patterns at the site, which some four decades ago was transformed from the historic horse racing track to a commercial plaza, will be rerouted according to the plans of the Carpionato Group, owners of the 39.3 acres of land.
The entrance to the plaza would be widened, improving the radius of the turn to allow for a smoother flow of traffic and easier access to tractor trailer trucks, Mr. Coates continued. He termed the traffic improvements as “the first thing to do” in the redevelopment process.
The Carpionato mixed-use plan for the site seeks to introduce 240,770 square feet of retail and restaurant space as well as 118,770 square feet of office space and 72 residential units. Nearly all of the existing structures on the site would be razed, except for the former Stop & Shop Supermarket. The intention of Carpionato is to renovate the 58,000 square foot building.

8. Wilson honored
The Rhode Island Hockey Hall of Fame has announced East Providence’s Ron Wilson as one of 16 Rhode Island greats to be enshrined in its charter class during a ceremony on September 20 at the Twin River Event Center in Lincoln.
Wilson’s credentials locally, nationally and globally are impressive. Born in Winsor, Ontario, he moved to East Providence at age 12 when his father, Larry, took over the coaching reigns of Rhode Island Reds.
Wilson became a three-time All-Stater at East Providence High School under legendary coach Joe Sprague. He later was a two-time All-American at Providence College and the nation’s leading scorer in 1974 en route to becoming the Friar’s all-time leading scorer with 250 career points. After a 12-year NHL and European career, he coached four NHL teams to 648 wins, the most ever by an American coach. He was inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame in 2017.

9. Term lengths
Nearly six years after voters approval a referendum item on the matter, changes to the term length for members of the city council were officially entered into the city charter following a months-long debate.
Former school committee and council member Chrissy Rossi initially raised the subject at two council gatherings, reiterating her call for final conclusion on the matter during the public comment section of last Tuesday’s meeting.
The change in term lengths was posed to the electorate in November 2012, a referenda item residents passed in a 54.8% (9,337) to 45.2% (7,692) majority.
Taking the lead in response to Mrs. Rossi’s latest inquiries, Ward 3 Councilor Joe Botelho referenced a significant amount of research he purported to have done on the issue. According to Mr. Botelho, an opinion backed openly by council peers Brian Faria and Anna Sousa, East Providence’s Home Rule Charter gave its citizens the right to make the change upon the results of the 2012 election.
Previous councils, however, as well as the existing body earlier this session, have either willfully or subliminally backed the opinion consistently presented to them over the years by the city solicitor’s office, formerly led by now City Manager Tim Chapman and currently by Greg Dias, an assistant solicitor at the time the initial reading of state law was proffered. In a written opinion, Assistant City Solicitor Robert Craven agreed term lengths for elected officials should be four years. A lingering question was also if the sitting council should remain in office through 2020.
In the end, the city’s canvassing board opined, saying the change should take effect upon the results of the November 2018 election, a sentiment eventually shared the state board of elections in a later decision.
The length of terms subject for school committee members, however, remained undetermined after the body opted not to pursue the matter formally. So, committee people were elected this past fall for a two-year term.

10. Chevron waterfront project
Following a series of meetings during the fall, the council supported amended an existing Tax Incremental Financing (TIF) agreement between the Chevron Corporation and the city, which would increase the amount of bonds sold for the proposed redevelopment of the 26-acre former Gulf Oil Refinery off Veterans Memorial Parkway.
The initial TIF agreement for the land called for the sale of some $19 million in notes. The amended agreement would see that figure raised to $32 million and an accelerated schedule of accessing the monies for potential developers.
East Providence Waterfront Commission Chairman William Fazioli accompanied the advisors to the October 16 forum, telling the council then his board backed the modified TIF arrangement as did Acting City Planner Diane Feather.
The added expense sought to be paid for through the modified TIF includes the 1.2 mile extension of Waterfront Drive. As well, some 45 acres of public access space will be included in the redevelopment. Greater integration with the East Bay Bike Path and the construction of an observation/fishing pier are also part of the plan.
Another note of significance, one element of the overall plan for that portion of the waterfront district highlighted is Chevron’s coordination with the city in attempting to build along with the Rhode Island Department of Transportation a new exit to the location off Interstate 195.

11. In the black
East Providence was once again on as firm a financial footing as it’s been most of this decade, holding in its coffers in 2018 an amount of money likely the envy of most municipalities around the state.
According to state-appointed Municipal Finance Advisor Paul Luba and Finance Director Moore, East Providence, combining the assets on the municipal and schools sides, has upwards of $35 million in reserve. The status of the city’s books is a far cry from the times just before East Providence was put into state oversight late in 2011. Then, the city was officially in the red to the tune of some $50,000, though facing debts of several million dollars as well, Messrs. Moore and Luba said.
The key change suggested by the Charter Review Commission and accepted by residents last year was tweaking the Budget Reserve Fund enacted during the tenure of the state-appointed budget commission. The commission, as did the review body, proposed placing the Reserve or “Rainy Day” Fund amendment on the November 2012 ballot. And voters also approved the measure that year.
Initially, payments into the fund needed to be at least one percent of annual tax revenues maxing out at $10 million or 10 percent of fiscal year receipts. That total was heavily restricted in use, only able to be accessed under extreme cases of financial duress such as a sudden drop in the tax base or state aid.
The city swiftly met the $10 million Reserve Fund requirement, eventually adding over $4 million more. That balance has been transferred into a capital reserve account, which was called for in the original text of the act.
The Review Commission suggested upping the reserve percentage to 12 percent, leaving seven percent restricted and five unrestricted, allowing elected officials and administrators to have greater access to the surplus cash. Because of the change, which takes effect in the upcoming Fiscal Year 2018-19 budget season, the restricted balance is currently $8 million with $6.8 in the unrestricted column.

12. Medeiros retires
The steward of one of the city’s most venerable beacons stepped away from his position recently when Joe Medeiros retired as the East Providence Parks and Recreation Department supervisor at Pierce Field.
The last day for Mr. Medeiros, whose official title was Pierce Athletic Complex Manager, was on Monday, April 30. He departs the role after slightly more than 27 years on the job, one of which he understood the importance to the residents of the city.
“It was a responsibility, but it was fun,” Mr. Medeiros said. “You know, so many people get up in the morning and go to place to work they can’t stand. That never happened to me here, never, ever happened to me here. I mean, some days, you have bad days, but for the most part I loved coming to this place every day. Look at it, how could you not love coming to a place like this every day?”

13. In memoriam I
Paul Lemont, an East Providence native, life-long resident and who twice served the city as its manager, passed away on Sunday, May 20. He was 77.
Mr. Lemont, a lawyer by profession, first became city manager in East Providence in the late 1980s, serving into the early 2000s before stepping away from the position. During his initial spell, East Providence earned the distinction of an “All-American City” and enjoyed its most stable period in recent memory at the chief executive officer position.
Mr. Lemont returned to the role on an interim/acting basis late in 2013, following the firing of then-manager Peter Graczykowski. The intermitting decade after his departure was a tumultuous one for the East Providence city manager post, which in part led to a state takeover of oversight by a budget commission in December of 2011. His return, for a brief period at least, brought back a sense of consistency to East Providence’s governance after the commission returned control to the city in September of 2013.
Mr. Lemont led the city through two more budget cycles prior to being replaced by Richard Kirby on a full-time basis in September of 2015. Messrs. Lemont and Kirby would later become embroiled in a harassment case brought against them, Fire Chief Oscar Elmasian and the city by former Human Resources Director Kathleen Waterbury. Mr. Kirby was fired less than a year after being hired. The case was eventually settled against the wishes of the men. All three, including Mr. Lemont, maintained their propriety throughout the matter.

14. In memoriam II
Former State Senator and member of the East Providence Police Department Michael J. Damiani died unexpectedly on September 8. He was 63.
Mr. Damiani was an EPPD sergeant for 17 years before retiring in 1996. Mr. Damiani served in the Rhode Island State Senate for 10 years serving from 1996 until his retirement in 2006. He served the Senate as the Deputy Majority Leader. He was instrumental in establishing the state’s registry of sex offenders, Lyme Disease health insurance coverage, and the mandatory defibrillators for all Rhode Island College buildings and police cars.
Mike was a Patriot Member of the National Rifle Association. He was also a member of the East Providence F.O.P, the Riverside Bishop Hickey Knights of Columbus, the Rhode Island State Bomb Squad and the National Association of State Boaters Law Administrators. He was a dive master, specializing in underwater body recoveries, and started the Search and Rescue Team for the EPPD.

15. Sears gets the ‘Gator’
Ben Sears became the second representative of East Providence High School to be chosen as the Gatorade State Player of the Year for baseball in 2018.
“It was really cool,” Sears, a senior who entered Wheaton College in the fall, said of earning the Gatorade Award. “After I found out, we still had playoffs to go, so I wasn’t really worried about winning player of the year or anything. But once it was over, it was pretty cool…A lot of people have congratulated me about it. It’s been a really cool experience.”
Sears joins an elite alumni association of past state winners in the 33-year history of the award, including Derek Jeter (1991-92, Kalamazoo High School, Mich.), Jon Lester (2001-02, Bellarmine Preparatory School, Wash.), David Price (2003-04, Blackman High School, Tenn.), Clayton Kershaw (2005-06, Highland Park High School, Texas), Rick Porcello (2006-2007, Seaton Hall Preparatory School, N.J.) and Kris Bryant (2009-10, Bonanza High School, Nev.).
As well, he follows in the footsteps of former Townie pitching standout Brad Hertzler, who won the same award while dealing for the EPHS baseball team back in 2004.

16. Chatfield shines
Wannamoisett’s Davis Chatfield certainly did his home layout and the area golf community proud last week with his performance at the 118th U.S. Amateur played over the renowned Pebble Beach Golf Links and Spyglass Hill Golf Course.
Chatfield, of Attleboro and about to enter his sophomore year the University of Notre Dame, finished two rounds of stroke play qualifying in a share of 36th place at 2-over par then won his first outing in match play before falling to Stewart Hagestad in the Round of 32, 4-and-3.
“It was certainly a special week at the Am, to have my whole family there and a bunch of friends and family rooting me on from back home was pretty cool,” Chatfield said of the experience. “I feel like my game was solid the whole week. I can definitely work on a few things before gearing up for the fall season. I don’t have any expectations set in stone for this year at Notre Dame, but I know that where my game is headed it should be a good one.”

17. State oversight ends
Quietly and with little fanfare, the tenure of state oversight in East Providence came to an end in September, marking the conclusion of the Department of Revenue’s five-year period of direct involvement in city affairs.
State oversight originally began when then Governor Lincoln Chafee authorized then DOR Director Rosemary Booth Gallogly to appoint Rhode Island State Police Major Stephen Bannon as an administrator in November 2011. The next month, under the auspices of the Fiscal Stability statute, a budget review commission was installed including Major Bannon, former state Budget Officer and House Fiscal Advisor Michael O’Keefe and Diane Brennan, the City of Warwick’s Fiscal Report Analyst. They were also joined by then City Council President Bruce Rogers and then City Manager Peter Graczykowski.
The commission, as constituted with the three state appointees and two city representatives, remained seated until the spring of 2013 before initially taking its leave and returning every-day operations back to the municipality. However, upon Mr. Graczykowski's abrupt decision to place then East Providence Police Chief Joseph Tavares on administrative leave, once and current council president Jim Briden requested the commission return. Director Gallogly affirmed the ask, and the commission was reseated, eventually staying into September of 2013 until once again disbanding.
At that point, Paul Luba was appointed after receiving the approval of both state and local authorities to perform the five years of lingering oversight by and consultation with the DOR. His tenure officially ended when did state oversight, but Chief Parella worked out an arrangement with Woonsocket, where Mr. Luba has performed a similar role, to maintain a presence in city for an extended period.

18. Mutter memorialized
About three dozen family and friends gathered on a splendid early fall Saturday morning, Sept. 22, for a ceremony formally marking the dedication of the softball fields and basketball court off Pawtucket Avenue in the memory of beloved deceased East Providence sports legend Harry Mutter at the “Harry C. Mutter Jr. Athletic Complex.”
Members of Mr. Mutter’s family, including his wife Pat McKinnon Mutter, along with associates and dignitaries from throughout the city were in attendance. After a long illness, Mr. Mutter passed away in the spring of 2017. Last fall, the City Council passed a resolution commemorating his service to the community, including his tenure as school department buildings and grounds supervisor, as board member of the East Providence Community & Teachers Federal Credit Union and East Providence Heritage Days Committee as well as his lengthy association with EPHS athletics. Mr. Mutter was a member of the 1961-62 EPHS state championship basketball team. Later, he starred as a power-hitting member of title-winning men’s softball teams for Bovi’s Tavern, The Paddy Wagon and Conti Brothers among others.
“This is a wonderful tribute to him. When people drive by, they will see his name and go, 'Hey, I knew him,'” Mrs. Mutter said of the honor.

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