To the editor,

The current East Providence City Manager - Peter Graczykowski - accepted his employment offer without a contract, and has been a chronic complainer about not having a contract ever since. This City Manager has been continuously interviewing to find a position with other cities/towns since accepting this job, so, where is the commitment, dedication and focus to East Providence?

This City Manager was distressed by the return - after only two weeks - of the Budget Commission which was caused by a reactive move by this City Manager to put the Police Chief on leave, potentially putting the City at risk for a lawsuit. The State Police were in the City, and this also seemed to disturb the City Manager - why?

This City Manager is ultimately responsible for a private citizen's personal information and social security number being made available publicly, and when questioned about this by Reporter Jim Hummel refused to answer any questions and referred the reporter to the City Solicitor - who had not been informed of the details. Just recently, the City Manager apparently gave a legal interpretation, without referring/deferring to the City Solicitor, a licensed Rhode Island Attorney, which the City Manager is not.

Now, incredibly, this City Manager wants to give himself a RAISE….is East Providence better off since his start? Have the schools been repaired and brought up to code? Are there enough text books? School sports? Reasonable taxes? Is this in accordance with what the Budget Commission put in place?

A raise is usually granted for exemplary performance and contribution to the job - not a description of what has been received by this city. This City Manager has attempted to provide a pay raise to himself and a few select others, some of whom have had their positions a relatively short time. This is an insult to each and every tax payer in East Providence, and an abuse of position at the taxpayer's expense.

Can't we do better? I encourage all tax payers to contact your Ward representative and request their commitment to release this City Manager from the payroll, so he can focus full time on his next gig, unless, of course, you are impressed with his management of our city.

Corliss Blanchard

Rumford