Mayor `disheartened'

Posted 1/12/17

Editor's note: Mayor Scott Avedisian responded with the following statement to questions about the firefighters' union action to grieve the Tier II pension system: I am disheartened by the actions of the IAFF Warwick Local 2748 to undo the pension

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Mayor `disheartened'

Posted

Editor’s note: Mayor Scott Avedisian responded with the following statement to questions about the firefighters’ union action to grieve the Tier II pension system:I am disheartened by the actions of the IAFF Warwick Local 2748 to undo the pension ordinance amendments proposed by me and adopted by the City Council in 2011. Since the adoption of the revised pension ordinances for the municipal, police and fire employees, the city has enrolled over 213 new hires under the provisions of the revised pension ordinances. In the long run, the city’s actuarial consultant estimated savings under the revised pension ordinances of well-over $30 million. The municipal and police locals have embraced the revised pension ordinances knowing full well they are necessary for the best interest of the city and their membership. Unfortunately, the action of the Warwick IAFF Local threatens these savings.

I am further troubled by the fact that the Warwick IAFF Local bargained for and ratified two new collective bargaining agreements since the adoption of the revised pension ordinances. Yet, on neither occasion did the Warwick IAFF Local contest the revised pension ordinance amendments. In fact, employee pension contribution rates are tied to the new Fire II, Tier II actuarial projections. In my opinion, the Warwick Local’s actions are contrary to the best interest of the city.

The revised pension ordinances were a win-win for the taxpayer and contributing employees. The revised pension ordinances lowered the cost to taxpayers to provide city employees with decent, sustainable pension benefits. The current dispute with the Warwick IAFF Local is unnecessary. I urge the Warwick IAFF Local to put the best interest of the city before their personal interests and accept the revised pension ordinance provisions for its membership.

I am particularly disappointed with this action from the IAFF since at least two presidents of that union have repeatedly expressed to me that this action would not be taken. To have them do an about face on this issue will alter the good working relationship that we have had over the last 26 years.

Comments

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  • Thecaptain

    But Scott, you alone have negotiated their contract for 16 years and you have given away the store. Your increased the unused sick pay bonus by 50% which will cost us in excess of $34.5 million from now until your proposed realization of savings date of 2049. I know everyone at one time or another bunked a class or 2 but were you absent during every math class? This does nothing for the taxpayer except to re-define the gorging by the pigs at the trough.

    Thursday, January 12, 2017 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    The Mayor states "I urge the Warwick IAFF Local to put the best interests of the city before their personal interests." This is unrealistic to even dream about. There is an old saying. "I love you but I love me more". That is how our firefighters must feel and I don't blame them. I would feel the same way. The Mayor should meet with them weekly for an hour (an idea that several firefighters suggested to me during my Mayoral campaign that they wanted) and discuss how to keep the Warwick Fire Department from falling into bankruptcy like Coventry did. That would be a win-win-win for the taxpayers, the city AND the firefighters. I find their compensation package is understated in the salaries (maybe by a lot) and way too complicated in the benefits and pensions categories. It has led to widespread abuse and suspicions for decades. Rather than being "disheartened", Avedisian should work WITH the firefighters to put in the effort, to clarify the wording, close some of the loopholes, and improve the overall quality of the employment contracts. Look at areas that make the city a profit like rescues, and do more of that. ( a rescue costs approx. $110,000 and makes approx. $45,000 a year, an excellent return-on-investment). Look at areas of abuse and make a joint effort to save money that will end up in higher salaries as well as lowered taxes. Buying a new rescue, by the way, came from a firefighter who was with the department for only 2 years. Great ideas come from open communication. Do it Mr. Mayor. You'll avoid the flack you're presently receiving and you won't have to feel "disheartened" while 80,000 taxpayers are paying the tab. If you "reduce the abuse" and share the savings with the firefighters as well as the taxpayers, everyone wins, including you.

    Happy Spring everyone.

    Rick Corrente

    Thursday, January 12, 2017 Report this

  • Thecaptain

    Mr. Corrente,

    This statement of yours exemplifies your complete ignorance of the subject matter, complete lack of any understanding of the departments costs to the taxpayer, and an overall indication that you have less knowledge about city wide costs than the average child in 5th grade. It really is reprehensible that you make such comments, completely void of knowledge. So, from someone who does continuous research, let me educate you.

    Your comment that the firefighters compensation package is understated is the most ignorant comment (to date) that you have made. During the 3 year wage freeze 2012-2015, the average firefighter made in excess of $45,000 in overtime for the 3 years. Numerous men made in excess of $100,000. For example, Jonathan Faucher earned $392,000 in the 3 year wage freeze period when his salary was $76,880.44. He is only one of numerous, numerous men that did the same. For example Francis Colantonio who earned $366,857 during the same wage freeze period when his salary was $72,644.80. I could go on with dozens of examples but frankly, I just don,t think you have the intelligence to comprehend the issue. Its called gaming the system, pension spiking, overtime spiking, or what is commonly referred to by clear thinking individuals who have analytical abilities - WIDE SPREAD CORRUPTION AND THEFT.

    You know ZERO about the workings of the department, its historical budget cost over-runs, and how the scam has been engineered to rape us. Do you have any idea how many sick days that the taxpayer gave to the poor hero's last year? Of course you dont because admittedly, you havent read the contract, dont know how to find it, and have never accessed public records to substantiate the manpower numbers. Well Rick, the answer is 13,200 sick days in 3 years. Do you know how many have been tracked and accounted for on the balance sheet?? ZERO. That's right, ZERO. Do you know how much the health benefit package of the new firefighters is costing the city based on a 20 year employment? Of course you don't, its $550,000 EACH. Multiply that by 24 and let me know what your answer is.

    Do you know what the impact is to the budget and to the pension system due to the 50% increase in the sick pay bonus scam that was approved by people (much like yourself) that never read the contract?? Of course you don't. It s $34.5 million dollars during the "cost saving period (now til 2049) that the pension cola adjustment plan was engineered to save $9 million. These are facts Rick which clearly indicate that you have done no research, no reading, no analysis, and no research. But then again, status quo.

    And about rescues, wrong again Rick. The Advanced Life Support Rescues are $243,000 each. We could buy 4 every year with the money that the department is skimming in the sick pay bonus wide spread corruption scam that the mayor wasn't smart enough to remove from the contract, that the council wasn't smart enough not to enhance by 50 %, and that your not smart enough to even understand how it works.

    Oh I almost forgot the 20 sick days per year, that of course is in addition to unlimited sick days in accordance with

    RIGL Title 45-19, the 20 - 24 vacation days, the 15 paid holidays, the $1000 clothing allowance, the $450 cleaning allowance, the best health care, and the ability to wage spike and pension spike when you go out the door. Also, Rick, if you read the contract, which you haven't, you would see the clause that states that if a employees uniform is damaged on duty, the city replaces it at no charge to the firefighter. So why are we spending $230,000 per year on uniform allowance to the men when we pay for the uniforms anyway? Its time you educate yourself as your comments are feckless.

    Thursday, January 12, 2017 Report this

  • wwkvoter

    Here's a suggestion for Corrente. Go take down your signs that still litter the city. Clean up after yourself please if you "care about our city".

    Saturday, January 14, 2017 Report this

  • richardcorrente

    Dear WwkVoter,

    You're right. I do care about our city. I believe I got them all but if you know of any of my signs that are still up please call me at 401-338-9900. I will get them personally and immediately.

    Thanks WwkVoter.

    Rick Corrente

    Tuesday, January 17, 2017 Report this