From the more than 100 items seized by police from his home, it would appear former school director of buildings and grounds David LaPlante was prepared to cope with every conceivable emergency – …
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From the more than 100 items seized by police from his home, it would appear former school director of buildings and grounds David LaPlante was prepared to cope with every conceivable emergency – from flooding to fallen trees, invasion of insects, loss of electricity, a snowstorm, and buildup of roof ice and snow, on down to a broken tool that would require welding.
LaPlante was fired by the School Committee early last month and was subsequently arrested for allegedly misappropriating more than $70,000 from the School Department. Allegedly, he would pick up items ordered by the department and rather than deliver them to the work site, take them home or order items from school vendors that he wanted and the department had no need for.
The extensive list of items taken from LaPlante’s home was obtained from court records, along with an affidavit filed by police used to obtain two search warrants.
On Sunday, Rob Cote, who headed the car tax revolt a couple of years ago and has persistently called for greater controls over municipal spending, emailed the members of the School Committee and City Council, along with the police chief and the mayor, calling for a forensic audit and vigorous prosecution of LaPlante.
“It is time that we conduct a complete forensic audit of the whereabouts of merchandise that has been signed for by municipal employees and the audit should begin with the following: Sullivan Tire, Salks Hardware, FW Webb, NAPA, Grainger, Lowe’s, and the federal funds obtained after Tropical Storm Irene,” Cote suggests.
Mayor Scott Avedisian suggests a full review of school purchasing procedures be undertaken first, and that the committee and superintendent lower the $5,000 threshold requiring committee action. On the city side, that threshold is $1,000.
“The city side of the budget has numerous checks and balances so that no employee can approve their own requisition. A similar system in the school department would safeguard against such activity in the future,” the mayor writes in an email.
He continues: “I think all the elected officials in the City are saddened by Mr. LaPlante’s actions. Change must be brought to this archaic system that concentrated too much power in one person and allowed that person to misuse the public trust. We should not rush to a solution but look for best practices that other school departments utilize for purchasing.”
The items listed by police would suggest LaPlante was equipped to tackle just about any job. Items secured by police include three chainsaws, sump pumps, cordless lights, assorted tool chests with tools, a snow blower, ladders, hoses, folding tables, circuit breakers, fogging insecticide, an air compressor, a paint spray gun, jumper cables, saw blades, duct tape, hand cleaner, mechanics gloves, and assorted hand and power tools.
Police also found two 275-gallon oil tanks valued at $1,007.12, which they say match invoices showing they were signed for and picked up by LaPlante on Oct. 21, and nine sections of decorative wood fencing valued at more than $2,000 that LaPlante picked up from State Wide Fence Builders that matches fencing at the LaPlante home at 100 Fairway Lane.
Specifically, the warrant issued Dec. 7 lists the fencing and the oil tanks. It also lists a paint sprayer, dishwasher, countertop microwave, self-regulating heat cable, LED floodlights, and crossover truck box.
According to the affidavit, LaPlante’s alleged misappropriations came to light while he was on vacation and School Construction Manager Robert Corrente reviewed signed invoices and discovered what “appeared to be some questionable purchases.”
Digging deeper, it was found that LaPlante authorized $73,464.37 in payments from July 1, 2014, to November 2015. Of that amount, items valued at $20,298.73 were deemed questionable, as they were “not installed or located on school property.”
Superintendent Philip Thornton told police that school employees drove by LaPlante’s home to observe items that had been ordered and signed for by LaPlante, including the heat cables on the roof used to thaw ice and snow and two LED floodlights.
According to police, many of the items – including the fence, chainsaws, a generator, electric winches, and sharpening tools –were ordered in the wake of the macro-burst storm of Aug. 4, when a tree fell on the LaPlante house. Police said they talked with neighbors who reported they had seen him unloading equipment from his truck into his garage.
“There is also a general feeling by these same neighbors that LaPlante always seems to have the right tools for the job when something like the macro-burst storm or larger snow storm [hits],” the affidavit reads.
The LaPlante incident prompted Thornton to review purchasing procedures, implement safeguards, and seek an audit of school records. In addition to his call for forensic audits of the city and schools, Cote is looking for the city to go after LaPlante.
He writes the school committee: “Upon completion of the prosecution of Mr. LaPlante, I expect that a civil suit will be filed to recover the cost of the forensic audit, and to recover all of his wages and benefit package.”
Responding to Cote’s email, Col. Stephen McCartney writes: “I don’t need you to tell me or my officers how to do our jobs. This investigation has been from the beginning worked in cooperation with the Office of Attorney General who will be prosecuting this case.”
In an interview, McCartney reminded that there is a legal process that needs to be followed.
“There is going to be no such thing as a kangaroo court,” he said. Also, he pointed out that not only could a forensic audit be costly, but it would draw away time from regular operations.
Councilwoman and council finance committee chair Camille Vella-Wilkinson docketed a resolution for a city forensic audit, but that was held without a vote last month. While there appears to be support for a review of purchasing procedures and greater accounting of city equipment, at least one councilman, Ed Ladouceur, has issues with the terminology of a financial inquiry.
“Forensic,” he said, implies criminal wrongdoing that casts a shadow on all municipal employees. He suggests a comprehensive audit would be more appropriate.
Thornton said Thursday that the department would interview six people who have applied for the director of buildings and grounds. He said he is looking for a person who has a “full range of skills,” from engineering to a proven ability to manage people.
As a department director, Thornton said the pay range is $113,000 to $121,000.
LaPlante was paid $100,193.
7 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here
Scott58
Our property and car taxes are through the roof in Warwick and issues such as this scream for the audit....If the city wants to prevent a tax revolt I strongly suggest they do the right think here.
Wednesday, January 6, 2016 Report this
Justanidiot
The district was planning on doing an audit the last few years but, damn, they could not find the computers that they ordered.
Wednesday, January 6, 2016 Report this
richardcorrente
In my campaign platform of over a year ago I proposed a "full audit" of the entire budget. We now see what the present Mayor's "hands off" policy has enabled Mr. LaPlante to attempt to get away with. My administration will be involved as much as the law allows and as much as my input is welcomed. In the last year I have attended all City Council meetings, all finance committee meetings and (almost) all school committee meetings. FACT: I haven't seen the present Mayor once. Not once!
If Scott Avedisian spent as much time being our Mayor as he does with his RIPTA job, people like LaPlante might not feel they can get away with the blatant theft that he attempted.
As Mayor I won't be so "hands off" as to ignore my responsibility to 80,000 taxpayers!
I promise a Happy New Year to them all.
Richard Corrente
Democrat for Mayor - 2016
Wednesday, January 6, 2016 Report this
RISchadenfreude
It seems as though he got away with the misappropriations for so long that he he got much more bold and overt in his stealing; no one said anything, so he just assumed that no one, supervisors or citizens, was watching.
I guess over $100,000 a year, and a spouse with a career teacher's salary, isn't enough.
Thursday, January 7, 2016 Report this
JohnStark
As a frequent critic of the schools, I give big kudos to Supt. Thornton for managing this mess in an appropriate and professional manner. You have to wonder if it would even have come to light under the previous regime.
Thursday, January 7, 2016 Report this
FASTFREDWARD4
WE ARE STILL LOWER FOR TAXES THEN CRANSTON AND JOHNSTON . PEOPLE ALLWAYS CRYING AND THERE BUYING HOMES IN WARWICK FASTER THEN ANYWERE ELSE IN THIS STATE. GLAD THE CHIEF TOLD SOMEBODY OFF. IN CLOSEING THIS WAS WRONG AND THE LAW WILL PLAY OUT. BECAUSE I,M IN THE KNOW.
Saturday, January 9, 2016 Report this
patientman
It took a leader new to Warwick to make this happen. When the DPW employee was caught stealing his boss didn't handle it correctly and the thief got a slap on the wrist. Now the city has a disgruntled entitled employee who will do as little as possible until he can get his pension. I am not saying his boss mishandled the situation poorly to protect the thieving employee. It could have been incompetence.
great job by the commissioner taking his time and doing it right.
Saturday, January 9, 2016 Report this