Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- As construction pushes forward on the relocation of I-195, motorists can expect to see new access ramps opening up from the roadway's western approach sometime this summer, with more to come later this year.

The state Department of Transportation's ambitious $610 million Iway project, an undertaking that began decades ago, brought the promise of easier traffic transitions along I-95 and I-195.

Iway construction for 2009 began with roadway closures in late January so crews could remove steel beams from two highway overpasses.

This summer a new ramp from I-195 West to I-95 South is expected to open, though officials are still not ready to confirm a date, according to DOT spokeswoman Dana Nolfe. Also coming in this phase is a new access ramp from I-195 West to Eddy Street, near the hospital campus in Providence.

Scheduled for the end of the year, the DOT hopes to open a new ramp from the I-195 western approach that will connect to I-95 North, Nolfe said. All exits will be on the right-hand side.

Eventually, all access to the old portions of the old I-195 will be eliminated and the project is expected to wrap up by 2012.

WEST WARWICK, R.I. -- On Thursday the Coventry/West Warwick Wildcats Special Olympic team will host a ziti and meatball dinner fundraiser.

The dinner runs from 5 to 8 p.m. at the West Warwick Senior Center, 145 Washington St. Dinner is $5 a head and includes Italian bread, salad, ziti & meatballs, desserts, fruit punch and coffee.

The Special Olympians will serve the guests. A raffle drawing will also take place, for gift baskets and gift certificates.

The athletes have been practicing their track and field skills in preparation for the statewide Special Olympic Games at the University of Rhode Island in June.

Proceeds will be used on new uniforms and transportation to the games.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- A delegation of superintendents representing several Rhode Island communities will spend spring break in China to study the country's educational system.

Traveling on the roughly two-week excursion are Supt. Marcia Lukon of Jamestown Schools; Asst. Supt. Judy Paolucci from Narragansett Schools; Supt. Hans Dellith from Pawtucket Public Schools, Supt. Kenneth DiPietro from Coventry, and John Pini, executive director of Rhode Island School Superintendents' Association [RISSA] and former superintendent of CHARIHO Regional Schools.

The majority of the group is scheduled to leave Tuesday, April 14, but some were slated to leave Friday, April 10. Everyone is scheduled to return on April 26.

The superintendents' goal is to experience the Chinese culture, the language and educational system, as China, which has roughly 1.6 billion of the world's population, continues to grow as one of the major global economies.

The trip is sponsored by the Rhode Island School Superintendents' Association and was organized under the China Exchange Initiative, an organization that creates educational exchange programs for schools in the United States and in China at the pre-college level.

The superintendents are paying for the bulk of the trip out of pocket, some $600 each, according to RISSA president Kenneth DiPietro. The remaining portion is being partially funded by a grant from the Freeman Foundation. Established in 1993, the New York-based nonprofit's goal is to strengthen ties with the U.S. and countries in East Asia.

>> Continue reading: Superintendents to spend spring break in China

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The Royal Bank of Scotland Group PLC announced it plans to eliminate as many as 9,000 positions globally, affecting some 1,250 jobs at Citizens Financial Group in the United States.

The Providence-based group has retail operations in 12 states, according to company spokesman Michael Jones. As of February, the Citizens group employed 5,500 people in Rhode Island and 3,600 in Massachusetts.

The reduction, which will be done over the next two years in the U.S., amounts to roughly 5 percent of the work force, which now employs 24,000 people. The bulk of the eliminated jobs will be non-customer facing positions in the bank group's manufacturing division, which include jobs in purchasing, processing, property services and technology.

Jones said the company has not decided at what locations the job losses would take place, or what specific types of jobs would be affected.

The Citizen's group includes Citizen's Bank, New England's second largest and Charter One in the Midwest.

RBS, the largest bank controlled by the United Kingdom treasury, announced its plans to eliminate positions as a way to repay a government bailout. The financially-troubled institution posted a $34-billion lost for last year that forced it to accept a substantial capital infusion from the British government. In the U.S., Citizens group had reported a net loss of $929 million for last year.

The cuts, which total about 5 percent of RBS's global work force, include 4,500 jobs in Britain.

WEST WARWICK, R.I. -- The Town Council is seeking dismissal of 2 of the 13 counts in a lawsuit filed last year by fired Town Manager Wolfgang Bauer.

The town's lawyer, William E. O'Gara, filed the motion March 25 in U.S. District Court, where the case was moved last June. The motion asks Judge Mary M. Lisi to deny a portion of Bauer's suit, asserting that it has no merit.

In counts three and eight of the original complaint filed last April, Bauer alleges that the town violated the Open Meeting Act, denied his due process and breached its employment contract with him when he was terminated in December 2007.

The termination prevents Bauer from receiving severance benefits, which he alleges violates federal age discrimination law. He was 64 when he was fired.

The town fired Bauer after nine years as town manager, and officials said it was because he mismanaged the Riverwalk Project, which exceeded the $3.2 million budgeted account by roughly $800,000.

Under an employment contract with Bauer, the town maintains it would not be obligated to pay severance benefits if Bauer was fired due to misconduct.

PROVIDENCE, R.I.-- The Rhode Island Foundation is now accepting scholarship applications for the 2009-2010 academic year, and for the first time students now must apply online.

Applicants can use the new free online Scholarship Tracking and Review System [STARS] for most scholarships available.

The STARS application allows students to enter their specific interests, academic credentials and school choice. The program helps the student identify which scholarships they would be most qualified for.

Some applications for foundation-administered scholarships still must be submitted directly to a school or institution.

The foundation offers 150 scholarships to assist students who live in Rhode Island attending middle school up to post-graduate study. There are scholarships available for a variety of disciplines such as music, communications, nursing or education.

Last year the foundation awarded roughly $1 million in scholarship assistance.

To apply online, visit the R.I. Foundation site.

Journal photo/ Bob Thayer
The Acela, heading from Boston to Washington, pulls into Providence Thursday. Amtrak plans to use federal stimulus money to construct protective edging above the electrical power transmission wires to prevent accidental contact.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- Amtrak is getting a $1.3 billion-boost in federal stimulus money, a big chunk of which will be used in Northeast Corridor facilities to tighten security, bring needed upgrades and efficiency to those locations.

The funding, a part of the national reinvestment package, is broken down into two accounts: $845 million for railroad and station capital projects and $450 million for security and life safety projects.

In Rhode Island, $3.4 million will be pumped into local stations, allowing Amtrak to pursue so-called "shovel-ready" projects that have been on hold for a while, Amtrak spokesman Clifford Cole said.

"That is very big for us," Cole said. "As far back as we can remember, we were existing on the year-to-year [government] appropriation. It has not allowed us to plan out beyond a year.

"The good thing about this ... we can get moving on this pretty quickly."

The influx of money, announced today by Senators Jack Reed and Sheldon Whitehouse, will help create jobs, enhance security, make train travel more secure and improve passenger rail service.

The federal funding in Rhode Island includes $2.8 million to improve security operations, especially when threats arise, and make stations safer.

Another $350,000 will go for upgrades at Providence Station to construct a protective edging above the electrical power transmission wires to prevent accidental contact. Also, $105,000 will be used to improve wireless access points so Amtrak engineers, police, and mechanical and transportation workers in the field will have better communication and connectivity.

Lastly, about $101,000 will go toward building a tactile edge, compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act, on concrete MBTA platforms at Providence Station.

WESTERLY, R.I. -- The Westerly Land Trust, a nonprofit group devoted to open space preservation, announced it will invest roughly $5 million to $7 million to refurbish the historic United Theater and adjacent former Montgomery Ward building into a multipurpose arts complex.

The trust made its announcement today, unveiling its plans to their membership, local business owners and town officials, at their headquarters on High Street.

The renovation is the first of many downtown revitalization projects the land trust plans to embark upon, since recently acquiring seven commercial properties in the downtown area, with funding assistance from the Royce Family Fund Foundation of Connecticut.

The land trust, in the conservation business for 22 years, is hoping to spur economic activity in town as a way to preserve the land, which members say complements its historical mission, Harvey Perry, president of the trust's board of directors, said.

"If we can make the downtown more fun, more exciting more convenient and attractive, and more densely populated, it will diminish the development pressure of the outlying area that really needs to be protected," Perry said.

"It's good for the town if there's less development on the outside and more development where we have more infrastructure. We don't know any other land trust doing this."

NARRAGANSETT - Raising student achievement a few notches higher, redesigning class schedules and snatching a few school awards, three years in a row.

These are some of the things Daniel F. Warner has accomplished in his five years as Narragansett High School principal, and among the reasons why the Rhode Island Association of School Principals named him as its 2009 High School Principal of the Year.

Warner, 50, of South Kingstown, was named this week, and will be recognized next month by the association.

The association will also honor middle school principal of year winner Lawrence Filippelli of Scituate Middle School, and Melissa Marino, for outstanding first year principal at Wawaloam and Lineham schools in the Exeter-West Greenwich Regional School District.

"I feel humbled," Warner said. "There are so many good principals in Rhode Island."

Video: Principal of the Year at Narragansett High School

>> Continue reading: Narragansett High School principal wins top honor

PROVIDENCE- Mijanielle Achille says the Genesis Center, an adult education program, is like a second home to her.

The 40-year-old Haitian immigrant received job training, spruced up her English skills and got help landing an internship at Rhode Island Hospital, which ultimately turned into a job.

Achille, a mother of three, this morning shared her experience before Governor Carcieri, educators and others during a conference about adult literacy efforts in Rhode Island, held at Network RI, a career center.

"I don't think I would have finished without their support. This center is like a big family,'' Achille told an audience of roughly three dozen people who attended.

The conference included a progress report from Governor Carcieri about the adult literacy task force and its efforts since it was created in 2003. The second-half included a panel discussion about how to integrate the adult education system.

The Genesis Center, which ranked number one among adult-education program last year in performance, was among 15 state-funded programs recognized for their efforts.

The state literacy programs help participants gain valuable job training, computer skills and language skills, and they help them to find jobs in growth industries, such as health care and hospitality.

Town officials for a month now have been wrestling with school officials to gain control over the district's stressed finances.

First it was a proposed recall of the School Committee. Then there was the attempt to allow the Town Manager to step in to oversee finances, and mandate the union to speak with him.

Now in the latest of such clashes, the School Department has been told it can no longer make any major purchases or order services without the approval of the town's finance director.

According to letter hand delivered to Supt. Kenneth Sheehan last Wednesday by town finance director Malcolm Moore, "all school department purchase orders will be pre-audited by the finance director before issuance."

In his letter, Moore cites the Town Charter and says he is taking the action because the schools are expected to run out of money before the end of the current fiscal year. His letter continues to state that any purchase order that does not fall under "contract, law or regulation" will be denied.

>> Continue reading: W. Warwick finance director to OK schools spending

WEST WARWICK -- The funds in the rainy-day account are starting to dry up.

For the second consecutive year, town officials dipped into the cash reserves, using $2.7 million to help balance the $79.8 million operating budget for fiscal year 2008, according to an independent audit report.

The money was needed to cover a budgeted $1.2 million from reserves, another $1 million paid out for last year's so-called "Caruolo action" lawsuit the schools waged against the town, and another $500,000 in lost revenue, according to the town's finance director Malcolm D. Moore.

Moore presented the audit, prepared by Parmalee, Poirer and Associates of Warwick, to the Town Council Tuesday night.

About $4.1 million remains in the town's coffers, roughly 5 percent of the overall budget, the amount needed to maintain a decent bond rating. The score is not great: a Fitch Ratings report released Wednesday gave the town BBB rating on its general obligation bonds with the projected outlook as not good.

And now with the town scrambling to fix a projected $5.2 million shortfall for the current year, the rainy-day fund, this time, won't be enough to bail out the town come June 30, at least not without some help from somewhere else, Moore said.

"We are looking at a $5 million shortfall for this year. We have run into the scenario that our fund balance is not enough...and we haven't fixed the problem. The council needs to implement something to minimize this deficit," Moore said. "Either less benefits, less salary, less people or more taxes, no matter what you chose, someone is going to be unhappy."

Moore said for West Warwick, a lot of how the town will proceed depends on whether Governor Carcieri's supplemental budget goes through. While the plan calls for eliminating the general revenue sharing, and taking away $1.5 million from cash-strapped town, it also proposes changes to health care plans in new collective bargaining agreements for municipal workers that could net substantial savings for communities.

Town Manager James Thomas also has proposed a $1.1 million saving plan for the town that relies heavily on concessions -- mainly in health care plans and staff reductions -- from the police, fire and municipal unions. Getting concessions from the unions are a time consuming process, something the town doesn't have, but getting them would lessen the burden on the cash reserves, Moore said.

When asked if declaring bankruptcy come June is an option, Moore said the town should pursue everything thing else it can before even considering such a move.

"We are not discussing that at this time,'' Moore said. "Since we [could] raise taxes, it not an option at this time. You have a list of things you would want to do and things you can do to save, and if that doesn't work then you have to look outside the box."

Moore said depleting the cash reserves, though it could jeopardize future borrowing, may be a better choice than adding a supplement tax [something that requires a referendum] or worst, laying-off people, something being proposed in other communities.

"It supposed to be used in times of emergency. It's an emergency," he said. "I can't afford to run out of money."

WEST WARWICK -- The School Committee is set to renew three-year contracts for principals and other administrators tonight, but expects to freeze those salaries at current levels.

Committee member James Williamson, who just finished reviewing contracts this morning, said the freeze would be for the first two year with the third year open for negotiation.

According to tonight's School Committee agenda, there are 14 principals, assistant principals, associate principals and department directors -- such as director of elementary education and special education, scheduled to be approved. Three administrator contracts will be amended.

The committee expects also to accept the resignation of two track coaches, one at the high school and one at John F. Deering Middle School.

The schools are facing a deficit of $3.6 million in its current $49 million budget and last week filed a Superior Court lawsuit, so-called "Caruolo Act," against the town to cover it.

Williamson said the committee does not want to bring in new administrators at a lower rate this time, as some have suggested, he said. Rather, the school board wants to assure people they have a job.

"We need some consistency," he said. " We are already paying at the bottom of the barrel."

The School Committee meeting begins at 5:30, with executive session, followed by the public session at 6:30 p.m, John F. Deering Middle School, Webster Knight Drive.
.

The West Warwick School Committee has filed another Caruolo lawsuit against the town.

The lawsuit, asking to increase appropriation by $3.6 million for the current fiscal year, was filed this morning in Superior Court, Providence.

The schools have been running a deficit since last May. In December the School Commitee had asked the Town Council for more money. Last week, the board said it had planned to file the second suit.

The Caruolo Act, permitted under state law, gives school districts the option to sue their communities to get more money than they have been allocated in the municipal budget.

No date has yet been set for a hearing.

Last April, the School Committee filed a Caruolo action against the town seeking an additional $1.4 million for the 2007-08 fiscal year. The town and schools settled for $1.1 million in October.

West Warwick Town Manager James Thomas is calling for a takeover of the School Department's finances.

At tonight's Town Council meeting, Thomas will propose a resolution to evoke Section 508 of the town's charter, and Title 16 in R.I. law, that he says gives him the authority to take control of the school department's budget if it's not balanced.

Both measures say that school committees are required to operate with a balance budget. The School Department has been wrestling with a $3.5 million deficit since last May. The school board last month authorized its board lawyer to sue the town under so-called "Caruolo action," which forces towns to give school departments more appropriations.

"What I am asking for is the authority to manage the labor negotiations and the business side of the schools. They have been negligent with their responsibilities. Some of the measures that will be discussed tonight are unprecedented," Thomas said today. "After two dozen conversations with the schools...we have to start looking out for the best interest of West Warwick."

Some council members are a bit rankled about the manager's last-minute press conference, called Monday at noon, announcing his plans to evoke law without council consent.

"That press conference was a surprise to the majority of the council. The Town Manager is interpreting this [Section] 508 as if he has the ultimate authority to take over the school district. I don't agree," said Councilman Edward Giroux, who did not make the press conference. "It's a double-edge sword. The message was on track, but it is the Town Council that runs the town, not the town managers. Let him not overstep his responsibility."

Also at tonight's meeting, Thomas will unveil a plan to address the municipal side deficit of $1.3 million, its reduction in state-aid. Thomas's proposal would call for re-opening of the teachers' contract to renegotiate health benefits, and possibly layoffs in municipal departments, but he did not specify.

"We have no other choice, but it's going to be a three-pronged approach with dealing with the recommended cuts in state aid that Governor Carcieri announced,'' Thomas said.

A letter went home to teachers this week urging many to come to tonight's meeting with family and friends to show support for the teachers. As many as 500 people are expected to attend tonight's meeting, which begins at 7 p.m. at West Warwick High School on Weber Knight Drive.

As a precaution, West Warwick School Committee said this week it plans to file a lawsuit against the town to demand more money.

The lawsuit, also known as the Caruolo Act, is allowed under a state law and gives school districts the option to sue their communities to get more money than they have been allocated in the municipal budget.

The school district has already slashed about $500,000 from its current budget, but has asked the town to pick up the remaining $3.5 million deficit.

On Tuesday, the committee reauthorized its lawyer, David. G. Lussier, to complete the final paperwork, which should be ready for filing next week, member James Williamson said.

Williamson said the board is concerned about filing in a timely manner. Last May, the Cranston School Committee filed a so-called "Caruolo" action seeking an additional $4.5 million, but the suit was denied.

"It's a time issue as it relates to the decision fr0m Cranston. We did our best to get educated. We don't want to make the same mistakes. One of their issues was the timeliness of the filing.

"In case we are unsuccessful in trying to make headway with the financial problems internally with the town. We can always withdraw it," Williamson said. "We are going to continue to work very diligently. We will continue to work with the town and council and continue to look for avenues of relief."

This is the second time in less than a year that the school board has sought a Caruolo action against the town. The last time, both parties settled out of court last October for $1.1 million.