By ETHAN HARTLEY Warwick City Council President Steve Merolla and Acting Fire Chief Marcel Fontenault confirmed Wednesday that the Providence accounting firm Yarlas, Kaplan, Santilli, Moran (YKSM) has already begun and is the midst of conducting an
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Warwick City Council President Steve Merolla and Acting Fire Chief Marcel Fontenault confirmed Wednesday that the Providence accounting firm Yarlas, Kaplan, Santilli, Moran (YKSM) has already begun and is the midst of conducting an investigation into the bookkeeping practices of the Warwick Fire Department in response to concerns levied from analysis of the department’s own records tracking sick time payouts.
“There's been accusations made based on the fire department's own records, so that's disconcerting to everyone and we want to get to the bottom of it. Is it accurate or isn’t it?” said Merolla. “We need to get answers and find out what's going on.”
It should be noted that YKSM is the Warwick City Council's contracted accounting firm used to conduct all manners of financial consulting to the city. The city did not hire YKSM specifically to investigate the Warwick Fire Department. Multiple points of concern have led the council to recommend an analysis of the department’s records, which Merolla said had been going on for at least a couple of weeks now.
One, fire department records as of the end of May of this year indicate that as many as 94 firefighters have banked more than 140 days of unused sick time, despite the fact that the current collective bargaining agreement dictates firefighters should be able to bank no more than 140. Six firefighters, according to the documents, have accrued time in excess of 150 days, while another six are redacted.
Fontenault said on Wednesday that firefighters are able to accrue above 140 banked days when they reach that threshold because they cash out the excess days at the end of each month, and that the banks are reverted back to 140 at the beginning of each year.
Concerns have abounded over this method of firefighters being able to cash in on their unused sick time, as was reflected in a recent Beacon article that chronicled the independent analysis of private citizen activists Rob Cote and Ken Block, who believe they have uncovered evidence of a systematic abuse of the sick time payouts, along with widespread accounting inconsistencies throughout the department’s data.
Block’s analysis of the department’s sick time sheets indicate that many firefighters are still getting paid the maximum amount of sick time (equivalent to 1.25 days’ worth of pay, which may be monetized monthly) even when they utilize a sick day during the month. In some cases, the sick banks of firefighters fluctuate wildly from one month to the next, including cases where firefighters with 140 days in the bank inexplicably drop down into the 70s, and others that go from lower numbers to 140.
Third, and most recently, Cote sent documents he was able to view in person at the fire department headquarters to the Beacon and the Warwick City Council that showed the most current sick time and vacation time accruals were seemingly being handwritten with pencil on paper accounting ledgers. To Block and Cote, such a practice on what amounts to a million-dollar budget item for unused sick pay is unacceptable.
“I would like the fire department to follow standard accounting practices like every other department does. I don’t think that’s an unreasonable request. If they aren’t, it’s going to be corrected,” Merolla said in response to receiving the handwritten documents. “I don’t think it's appropriate to use handwritten ledgers.”
Fontenault said Wednesday that the handwritten records are the first step in the process of conducting payroll. The clerk for the fire department records each firefighter’s status by hand before transferring those to the computer and transferring the numbers to the city. The numbers are then sent back for verification. Fontenault said that the department was cooperating with the investigation and that it is important to find out whether or not they have made any errors in accounting.
“We’re doing our best at this time to review this practice and make changes or recommendations if there is something that is being done wrong or maybe can be done better,” he said.
Cote and Block have publicly requested multiple times for the city to halt the paying out of unused sick time for both active members of the fire department and for the payout of accrued time when firefighters retire, as they believe the aforementioned accounting errors could have major financial implications due to improperly assessed and monetized sick time.
These implications may also be extenuated by the fact that the fire department has lost 17 members to retirement in recent weeks, and retiring firefighters are able to cash in on all their unused sick time.
Fontenault said Tuesday during a promotion ceremony for the Warwick Police Department that he is looking to hold a fire academy to replenish the ranks.
Merolla said that patience was necessary to allow YKSM to conduct and finish the investigation before any such action is taken.
“Before we take any action, we need to have a report from our auditors,” he said. “I don’t want to take action and find out we did something wrong and get a bad faith claim against us. These things take time, it takes time to investigate things and they need to be done properly and then you need to take the appropriate measures based on what the report says.”
“If the fire department has made errors and if their accounting measures are not up to where they need to be, I expect them to work with us to correct those problems immediately,” Merolla continued. “I would think the fire department would want to correct this too, I hope.”
Mayor Joseph Solomon did not respond to requests for comment on this story.
“It’s always concerning when these type of things come up, I’m not going to rush to judgment call,” said Ward 5 Councilman Ed Ladouceur.
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richardcorrente
Council Finance Chair Ed Ladouceur and Council President Steve Merolla have the right idea in a "not going to rush to judgement" mindset. As far as Warwicks' Fire Department, here is what we do know.
1. Firefighters in Warwick presently make EXACTLY the U.S. average salary according to Salary.com (New Jersey makes the most. Mississippi makes the least), so clearly Warwick Firefighters are NOT overpaid. At least not in the "salary" portion of their pay.
2. Every time a firefighter breaths smoke he/she is inhaling toxic, cancerous fumes. That alone earns them the right to a little extra consideration. It's a job that many of us, myself included, could not handle for a day, let alone a career.
3. When Warwick received Federal funds for the training income of 34 (or so) new firefighters it was never listed as "training income" on the Firefighters spreadsheet. It was combined with "overtime income" suggesting that Warwick fire fighters received MUCH more overtime than they actually did.
4. Their contracts have never been negotiated openly. Mayor Avedisian would send them their new contract with little or no communication with the actual firefighters or their union representatives. During my campaign, I heard that as a common complaint. As Mayor, I have promised every fire fighter that my administration would change that to monthly meetings with no agenda from me. I would encourage communication, not ignore it.
5. As far as this overtime issue, could it be improved upon? Of course, but it shouldn't be argued in the news, nor should some people with an ax to bear be leading the attack. (Rob Cote was denied his bid to train the firefighters in scuba. Warwick got the needed training for a fraction of his bid. He's been vindictive ever since.) It should be openly (and maybe even loudly) discussed by our elected officials and the Firefighters Union. The fact that Avedisian never did, and acting Mayor Solomon "did not respond to requests for comment on this story" is worsening the very communication that caused the problem in the first place. I encourage the acting Mayor to sit with these people and listen to their issues. Too many of members of the Warwick Fire Department are abruptly retiring for me to believe they are happy with the results so far. They tell me that they "just want to be heard". I will listen intently. I may agree. I may disagree, but I will ALWAYS listen.The present administration should as well.
Happy Summer everyone.
Rick Corrente
The Taxpayers Mayor
Thursday, June 28, 2018 Report this
Tim
Mayor Solomon
The only advice I will give you. Is get away from these malcontents that seem to have control over you and the council. If not you will be just like Jerry Gibbons a six month Mayor .
Thursday, June 28, 2018 Report this
Thecaptain
Well, once again I am forced to surgically dissect the fake never to be mayor's false claims and lack of facts in his latest nonsensical diatribe.
1. There are no statistics about Warwick Firefighters on Salary.com, however, according to the 2017 Report on Firefighter Wage according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, only six states pay firefighters higher than Rhode Island firefighters. These statistics do not take into consideration any other aspect except wage. Here is the link https://www.bls.gov/oes/current/oes332011.htm
2. He has made this foolish statement dozens of times in an effort to pander - "Every time a firefighter breaths smoke he/she is inhaling toxic, cancerous fumes". Evidently, the fake never to be mayor doesn't realize that they wear Scott Air Packs and do not go into a smoke area without respirators. Duh !
3. The 3.1 million dollar grant that Warwick got to train 24 (not 34 or so) firefighters was listed in the grant section of the budget. Those monies were not listed in the overtime line item. He would know that if he were able to understand a simple line item budgetary document. But as we have established, he does not.
4. He states - Their contracts have never been negotiated openly. Mayor Avedisian would send them their new contract with little or no communication with the actual firefighters or their union representatives."
The firefighter contracts are negotiated with the mayor, Peter Ruggiero the city solicitor, the fire chief, the union president, the chief of staff, and the IAFF legal representative. Then the tentative agreements are brought forth to the members to vote on accepting or going back for further consideration. Wrong again Dickie Boy.
5. Corrente states - "As far as this overtime issue, could it be improved upon?" Clearly the fake never to be mayor is not intelligent enough to understand the article before us. Which begs the question, has he even read it? If he did, he would realize that the article is not about overtime, it is about over payment of unused sick pay due to an accounting scheme. He would also understand that in 2018, no one, I repeat, no one, no business, no entity, conducts financial related business by using hand written pencil and paper to perform accounting of payroll or any other aspect of finances. He would also understand that the article details numerous mathematical errors to the hand written paper and pencil calculations. Obviously he is oblivious to the facts. Including his statement of me losing a contract to train firefighters in Scuba. I would love to see his documentation were he states "Warwick got the needed training for a fraction of his bid". Another fabrication which is completely unsubstantiated and wrong. But then again, why would he change his posture now?
Thursday, June 28, 2018 Report this
Sandman
Why didn’t they hire an INDEPENDENT firm to audit them? (rolling eyes)
“It should be noted that YKSM is the city’s contracted accounting firm used to conduct all manners of financial consulting to the city. The city did not hire YKSM specifically to investigate the Warwick Fire Department. Multiple points of concern have led the council to recommend an analysis of the department’s records, which Merolla said had been going on for at least a couple of weeks now.”
Friday, June 29, 2018 Report this
Hemi_Royed
For the Craptain. Are you willing to "Ball" up like a man and if this audit shows no malice admit your wrong publicly?
Some other questions:
Why do you not seek political office? Checkered past? Certainly controversial the last two decades.
When are you moving as you publicly stated afew years ago?
Though I don't much agree with Mr. Corrente, you do have a vendetta against the Fire Department that started with the dive program to which you were not awarded the bid. That vendetta increased when the Fire Department responded to your business that sustained a minor explosion when you in fact poured gasoline into the slop sink in the rear. Twist it however you want, you looked like a cartoon character when Engine # 3 pulled up and you were standing practically smoking from the exposure to the blast. Singed with wide white eyes and a ringing in your ears.
So there is a history with you and the WFD. That history is one of harassment. Further it is one were you have accosted members of the WFD. Remember opening the door of Ladder co. # 2? I would say you were lucky that day with the officer that you verbally assaulted. With others your horseshoe may have been upside down.
Your conduct with other city employees is no different except for the PD. There your true lack of courage shines. You have never made a comment about that department because as a true coward you attempt to hide behind their protection. Proof of your lack of courage is the fact that your you tube videos have commentary disabled. all of this is the true sign of a coward! So, the challenge is for you to put your B@lls on the table. If your wrong publicly admit it and then go off and play video games or spin the propeller on your beanie or whatever lunacy you engage in
Friday, June 29, 2018 Report this
Thecaptain
That's a very eloquent statement which clearly comes from someone with insignificant mentality, hence the screen name.
Friday, June 29, 2018 Report this
Scal1024
If this whole report finds no wrongdoing there SHOULD absolutely be a public apology made to the WFD. Sloppy bookeeping mistakes is one thing, accusing an entire department of essentially committing fraud is a another. Not only that, the allegations of fraud were spoken about with such certainty who knows if that swayed the publics opinion.
I have written about Robs axe with the WFD on here years ago, to which he claimed I was a member. He has accused them of some pretty disgusting things, completely unrelated to bookeeping. I (as well as most of the public) have disagreed with his tactics of following the guys around. This is why when accusations are made the public is skeptical. The WFD's willingness to cooperate speaks volumes in my opinion. It shows a desire to fix ANY problem no matter big or small. I applaud them for not just talking about it, but backing it up.
Friday, June 29, 2018 Report this
Thecaptain
Scal,
What you may not understand is that these "claims" are the result of numerous months of access to public records which have revealed gross inconsistencies within the book keeping system of the WFD. Furthermore, it has been shown unequivocally that certain members of the WFD out right lied to the city council on a number of issues including overtime, sick time and other issues. This "investigation" has been ongoing for months and the WFD has not been very cooperative as they are still refusing to release documents to both myself and to the 3rd party CFE/CPA.
Now we find out that the primary book keeping system of records pertaining to attendance and unused sick pay is done with pencil and paper, that there are dozens if not hundreds of math errors, and that there is not a separate set of eyes on the books. What 22 million dollar per year business keeps records in this fashion? Can you name one?
When the fiscal records do not reconcile year after year after year, and the council does nothing about it, asks few questions, and does not request documents, at that time it becomes incumbent upon any taxpayer to get to the bottom of it. If you think for one minute that this administration or any other, during an election cycle is going to come out and openly tell the public that they have a department that has manipulated certain aspects of payroll, you are mistaken. However, as I have extended the invitation on so many occasions, you don t have to believe me, in fact, I dont want you to. I will however make any of the documents available to you or anyone else at any time so that you can see for yourself and make your own determination. All you need to do is ask. I understand that it is much easier to cast aspersions on people as opposed to seeing the facts and the documents. That takes time. I get it. But do you think for one minute that the media would be following this if there was not substantial evidence of "manipulation"?
Again, I would love to sit with you or anyone else so that you can see the documents. Its too bad that they cant be posted on here. I would invite you to go to the council video and scroll to the 3:00:00 mark and watch the presentation by Mr. Block and myself, and then render a comment. Bear in mind, the presentations are based on official city documents. Here is the link-
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ae2VzIdcs_I
I look forward to your comments.
Friday, June 29, 2018 Report this
Scal1024
Captain, I actually did watch when you first presented with Ken Block to the City Council. To prove it at one point Block turns to hand documents over to both WFD members standing behind him, both wrongfully (in my opinion) declined to take them. My take on that is even if they don't/didn't believe you or believe you have an agenda, atleast pretend to look on and criticize it after as they see fit. I didn't think they handled that in the best way.
Second, this gets back to some of the disagreements we've had in previous years on here. I have always said the following of public employees hurts your message more than helps. Everyone wants responsible government, but there is something about following a person, or group of people to stores, on their lunch breaks that rubs people the wrong way. You disagree with that and even suggest some of these videos are taken by chance. As a member of the public that comes across as a bit disingenuous sometimes. That reputation (rightly or wrongly) is a big reason why people believe you have an agenda against the WFD. That is what I meant when I said it hurts your cause, it feeds into the "axe to grind" narrative that is out there.
I will reserve my judgement until all of the facts are in on this topic. I wanted to say good job to the WFD for their cooperation. If you're going to point out the bad it might help to point out some good also. I don't resent what you do Rob, I think many of us resent the way you do it. That is your own choice, I'm not here to lecture you, its only to offer the same advice I offered you on here in other years. Voters can relate to the idea of being followed around at work, and its been clear they reject that idea. Just something to keep in mind. There are people who want government held accountable without tearing down public sector employees, who also by the way, PAY TAXES!!!
Friday, June 29, 2018 Report this
FASTFREDWARD4
I wonder why cody didn't run for office. Last time he said 6-3 5--4 . What wrong Cody no balls
Friday, June 29, 2018 Report this
Thecaptain
Scal,
be advised:
https://www.wpri.com/target-12/warwick-investigating-potentially-costly-mistake-in-unused-sick-time-bonuses/1281468303
Wednesday, July 4, 2018 Report this
Scal1024
I did read that article Rob. If that is found to.be true than I would applaud all of your work on this. I will still disagree with the video of shopping trips, but that is a seperate issue. If this is true, I will concede that you were right on about this whole thing. I'm just waiting until the final report until I make a full judgement, right now it doesn't look good.
Wednesday, July 4, 2018 Report this
Thecaptain
Scal,
Did you watch the video? The documents are hand written. Multiple math errors. The 2015, 2016 sick pay report clearly indicates that men have been overpaid. They can perform any kind of audit that the want but the evidence is Prima-facia.
Thursday, July 5, 2018 Report this