The man who has been praised for daring to take on and then overseeing the construction of Danger Bridge in Oakland Beach, who drives a street grader to plow streets in a blizzard and led the team …
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The man who has been praised for daring to take on and then overseeing the construction of Danger Bridge in Oakland Beach, who drives a street grader to plow streets in a blizzard and led the team that built the trail at Rocky Point is now wearing two hats in city government…at least for the time being.
Mayor Scott Avedisian said this week that Department of Public Works Director David Picozzi is also assuming the role of chief of staff. That job is held by Bruce Keiser, but Keiser injured his back while boating and has been unable to report for work for at least two weeks.
Because of his knowledge of city operations and government, Avedisian tapped Picozzi to fill the gap until Keiser returns. The additional responsibility comes with no added pay or indication of how long the job will last, the mayor said.
Picozzi knows the players in and out of government. He’s well versed in the city budget and with the union contract as it applies to municipal employees. Also, because DPW works in tandem with fire and police, especially in emergency situations such as the aftermath of the macroburst storm on Aug. 4, Picozzi has a close working relationship with Col. Stephen McCartney and Chief Edmund Armstrong. DPW also performs much of the maintenance on fire apparatus
Keiser, who has a background in municipal government most recently as Jamestown manager before coming to Warwick as interim tax assessor, assumed the role of chief of staff when William DePasquale, who was filling both that role and planning director, returned to full-time planning director this summer. Prior to that, he served as senior planner and executive assistant to the mayor of Pawtucket. Keiser also served as director of local government services for Rhode Island public expenditure council and as director of administrative services in South Kingstown.
Because he is a relatively recent city employee, Avedisian said Keiser is not being paid during his absence. Nonetheless, Avedisian said, Keiser maintains daily contact with his office.
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richardcorrente
The Mayor did it again! And the taxpayers will have to pay...again. This summer the mayor hired 19 part-time employees and never posted or advertised one of those jobs. When the public complained, he assured us it was a mistake and he wouldn't repeat it. The next day he hired Bruce Keiser as his new $100,000+- a year chief-of-staff without posting or advertising THAT desirable job and almost immediately, Mr. Keiser apparently injured his back so the Mayor hired Mr. Picozzi, his 4th Chief-of-staff in little more than a year and he hasn't kept his word once. Not one of those six-figure jobs were posted or advertised. I have to remind the Mayor that the taxpayers are paying the tab. The taxpayers should have the opportunity to apply for ANY City position and when I am Mayor, they will. Every job will be advertised to ANY applicant. Plain and simple, the job will go the most qualified applicant, but it will be a fair process. Not hiring 4 chiefs-of-staffs in one year (Has that happened in ANY city in the country? Ever?). Four salaries. Four pensions. Four benefits packages. Warwick Taxpayers can't afford to keep paying Mr. Mayor!!! Stop doing that to us.
Richard Corrente
Democrat for Mayor 2016
Tuesday, October 6, 2015 Report this