Councilman John J. Lombardi (Ward 13), in reaction to the recent reports in the Providence Journal that the City failed to pursue the collection of a $75,000 check in a timely fashion, issued the following statement:

“I have great confidence in the ability of the State Police to investigate the issue of criminal conduct, if any, in these circumstances. However, I am disheartened by the inability of the executive branch and/or its administrative staff to pursue the City’s interests in a timely fashion. Also, quite frankly, the administration’s version of the events as stated in the Providence Journal is both implausible and incredible.

“Firstly, the position of the executive branch, as stated by the press secretary, that a ‘controlled environment’ was needed and wanted, appears to be a clear example of stonewalling. Secondly, the direct participation—as reported in the Journal—of the administration’s staff, is a cause for alarm and concern. Furthermore, the staff members’ unwillingness to inform the executive of the situation (if true), reveals a leader who is inaccessible; who believes that  deception and favoritism are acceptable; who is extremely detached; and/or a chief executive who has abdicated the role of governance in the City of Providence. Unfortunately, all of the above-referenced options are equally troubling.

“The incident highlights the need for procedural or systemic changes in order to prevent any circumstance like this reoccurring in the future. Therefore, I will introduce at the next Council meeting a resolution calling for additional policies and procedures within the Department of Finance, to ensure that clear rules regarding any and all transactions are established and upheld. To that end, I would hope that the Finance Department avails itself of standard operating procedures for finance departments, as well as the knowledge of several former city collectors who served the City well during difficult times, such as Ron Tarro and Deborah Lapatin.

“Finally, I believe it is incumbent upon the City to seek recompense from any party at fault in this matter. To determine those at fault, the City must consider the following questions:

1)       When was it discovered that the check was not negotiable?

2)       Why was a lien not placed on the affected property forthwith, and is there any liability for those who initially removed the lien?

3)       Why was the check held for a period of up to two years, and who held it, or ordered it to be held?

“Answers to these questions may shed light on the appropriateness of a recent employee’s suspension. For instance, if a top administrative official is found to have ordered a subordinate to hold off on the tax collection, the City’s suspension of the subordinate who was simply following a superior’s instructions may be unfounded. Indeed, the state and federal Whistleblower statutes protect an employee who reports a criminal activity in his or her workplace from retaliation, such as dismissal or suspension.

“Clearly, until such matters are clarified, a fair resolution will be elusive for the taxpayers of Providence.”