Comments

33 comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here

• CrickeeRaven

  Honest, taxpaying voters in Warwick who wish to learn more about the cosplay candidate before voting on Sept. 12 should read the entirety of this comment.

  In addition to his use of this website for free political advertising, which has been his primary way to promote his once-failed candidacy, the cosplay candidate has a history of making false claims that he hopes readers will forget.

  For their benefit, I include the following information, so that within approximately 20 minutes, they will have a clearer picture of the failed 2016 candidate and his intent to fool voters into supporting him.

  - He began his 2016 campaign by issuing claims about his property evaluations: http://warwickonline.com/stories/running-on-a-platform-to-cut-taxes,115119

  These claims were investigated by a local news website and found to be untrue:

  https://warwickpost.com/correntes-attacks-fail-on-the-facts/

  - Also during the 2016 campaign, he issued false claims that Warwick “lost 4,666 businesses” over 10 years: http://warwickonline.com/stories/corrente-gop-chair-differ-over-meaning-of-the-numbers,113096

  Once again, his claims were reviewed and found to be false:

  https://warwickpost.com/numbers-game-corrente-claims-of-lost-businesses-dont-add-up/

  These two claims were central to his 2016 campaign — and they were both lies. And yet he continued to repeat them until his eventual 65-to-35% loss.

  - A Nov. 3, 2016 article in the Beacon reported that he had, in fact, lost his former residence to tax sale. To quote: “Corrente continues to live in a house that was sold in a tax sale for taxes due the city.”

  http://warwickonline.com/stories/mayors-race-hotter-than-usual,119296?

  In spite of his own admission, the make-believe mayor continued to not only claim the opposite, but also claim his mortgage lender was to blame and that he had “won” a court case — yet he moved from that residence in 2018, indicating that he did not “win.”

  City records, accessible at the following website, show that three different parties have paid the property taxes on his former residence since 2015. Enter “177 Grand View” to see this information:

  https://www.citizenselfservice.com/MSSProd/citizens/RealEstate/Default.aspx?mode=new

  For the 2018 campaign, he has again been twisting facts and making claims that are later proven to be untrue:

  - He has frequently claimed that the Warwick school population has fallen by half, from 17,000 to 8,500, “in the last 10 years” — but the actual figures show nothing of the kind. As shown on the following website, Warwick’s school population in 2007-8 was 11,139 and in 2017-18 was 8,953 — a drop of 2,186, not half:

  http://www.eride.ri.gov/reports/reports.asp

  - He paid for a political advertisement that claimed his losing 2016 campaign led the Warwick City Council to cut taxes and spending for the FY18 budget, and that former Mayor Avedisian submitted “29 tax-increasing amendments” to the budget among other claims — that were all found to be untrue:

  https://warwickpost.com/digit-spinner-richard-corrente-fudges-numbers/

  - As that article also explains, the cosplay candidate claimed to be running against "political insiders" in 2018 -- after receiving campaign contributions from many of these same people in 2016.

  That is the campaign he is referring to when he talks about spending $40,000 -- the 2016 campaign, not the 2018 campaign. For the current campaign, he has raised $0 in contributions and until recently had $24 in his campaign account.

  - He failed to report that advertisement in his campaign finance report for the 4th quarter of 2017, and has refused to answer why he is paying office rent to the same individual who previously paid the property taxes on his residence:

  https://warwickpost.com/gop-chair-files-election-board-complaint-against-corrente-for-failing-to-report-ad-hq-spending/

  - On his new campaign website, he at first claimed that he was an “Endorsed Democrat for Mayor” — before the local Democratic Party had endorsed any candidates in the 2018 campaign. He lost his bid for the endorsement, forcing him to remove that false claim from his website.

  This is the person calling himself “the taxpayers' mayor” — someone who has admitted that he lost his home due to tax delinquency, repeatedly made false claims about the school population and business community in Warwick, refused to answer questions about his ethically questionable campaign finance activities, and claimed an endorsement that he did not have.

  Please join me and thousands of honest, taxpaying voters in rejecting his candidacy again on Sept. 12.

  Tuesday, September 11, 2018 Report this

• SCOT63

  Thanks CRICKEERAVEN because of you i will now vote MR CORRENTE, BEING A BULLY GETS YOU NOWHERE!!!

  THANKS AGAIN!!!!!!

  Tuesday, September 11, 2018 Report this

• Thecaptain

  In addition to the above information the failed candidate was also on the losing side of 16 civil lawsuits, most recent to his last landlord. He also failed to declare his tax liens levied on his office at 1050 Main St. in East Greenwich.

  he has made numerous defamatory claims against me stating that "Cote has stolen over 40 of my campaign signs". The facts of the matter id that I lawfully removed 9 of his signs that were attached to traffic control boxes in the city, an act that any resident can perform when illegal campaign signs are affixed to state or city property. Each sigh was photographed booth before and after and those photos were sent to numerous media publications. As an example seethe following:

  https://warwickpost.com/cote-corrente-political-signs-illegally-posted-city-traffic-control-boxes/

  Throughout this failed candidates campaign he has yet to post any legitimate documentation to support any of his claims, yet relies of the readers to believe his ridiculous claims when he has no supporting evidence only the "I talked to this person, and this person said this, and I researched this and yata yata yata" . All nonsense.

  he has never posted any of the fiscal impacts to any of his proposals under the laughable "Corrente Plan. Just banter with no bite.

  Then there was this little piece of information obviously supplied by a family members.

  From the court records:

  " Further evidence that Plaintifff Corrente believed the order to be inequitable at its issuance is found in past court records from previous court appearances. The computation of Corrente's income has been the central focus of the past nine years of litigation.

  Corrente has continually urged in past court appearances before different judges, that the Family Court's method of computing his income is inequitable because the court has not subtracted what he considers to be legitimate business expenses from his gross earnings. Appearing before Justice Michael Forte in the same matter on March 12, 1997, Justice Forte asks Corrente, "What's your annual income?" (Record, 3/12/97, page 12, line 7) Corrente responded , "Under $7000 per year, and I can prove that to you. My gross earnings is (sic) one issue. What I live off is a fraction of that, Yor Honor." (Record, 3/12/97, pg 12, lines 8-11) In the same court appearance, Justice Forte asked Corrente, "I'm asking you what your willing to pay temporarily until I can resolve this. If you're a good father - and I'm sure you're going to stand there and tell me that you are - then you're willing to pay something. How much?" (Record 3/12/97, pg 11, lines 8-13) Corrente responded - " I don't want to set a precedence (sic) Ten dollars a week is about what I can afford." (Record 3/12/97, pg 11, lines 14-16) to clarify Corrente's response, Justice Forte later asked,

  The Court - "You're telling me, you can only pay ten dollars a week?"

  Mr. Corrente - "Yes sir"

  The Court - " You're telling me that on the record?"

  Mr. Corrente - "Yes sir, I'll stand by that"

  Mr. Watson - There is a W2 form that declares $40,000 in income in 1995

  The Court - "What happened to that?"

  Mr. Corrente - "Gross earnings, Your Honor, He's neglected to tell you the $25,000 that it cost me to make that, Your Honor."

  The Court - " Well, we're going to have to wait. We'll deal with it at the hearing".

  Mr. Corrente - "You cant look at gross receipts and consider them earnings, I wish you could."

  In a court appearance before Justice Forte on January 28,1997, to determine his income for child support payments, Corrente stated on the record, "He (defendants attorney) does not know what my income is. All he know's is my gross receipts , and he's trying to manipulate this Court into believing that my gross receipts is my income." (Record, 1/28/97, pg 3 lines 22-25)

  This small sample of on the record statements demonstrates plaintiff's concern with the court's computation of his income - specifically his contention that certain business and/or personal living expenses should be deducted from his gross earnings. It also shows the amount of money that Corrente believed he could afford to pay for child support: $10.00 per week. Corrente was aware at the time of the issuance of the May 27th court order that the court had not deducted the amounts from his gross earnings that he had wished. He was also aware the the court order stated he must pay $223.15 per week for child support payments: $213.15 more than he stated on the record he could afford. It is hard to imagine how this order could ever have been considered "equitable" by Corrente in light of his previous testimony. His statement on the may 27th record confirms this theory. "

  Tuesday, September 11, 2018 Report this

• CrickeeRaven

  Have fun, SCOT63. I especially like how you go all-caps yelling and then accuse me of being a bully. What a great representation of who would actually support the cosplay candidate.

  [That's all sarcasm, just in case you didn't get it, SCOT.]

  This is not sarcasm: If you feel justified supporting a proven liar and tax delinquent, that's your decision to make. I take no blame or responsibility for you wasting your vote tomorrow out of spite toward seeing the objective facts about the cosplay candidate laid out for readers to see and understand.

  I also make no apologies for being on the winning side tomorrow.

  Happy one day until your candidate suffers another humiliating defeat!

  Tuesday, September 11, 2018 Report this

• Scal1024

  I find it totally appropriate that the most empty commenter on this website (Richard Corrente) is backed by the #2 most empty commenter on this website (SCOT63). IS THERE A MORE FITTING SURROGATE FOR RICHARD CORRENTE THAN SCOT63? I think not!

  Tuesday, September 11, 2018 Report this

• Cat2222

  Well I guess this makes RC a WINNER! He said if he gets just 1 vote he will win. I guess SCOT63 was useful for something. Every cloud does have a silver lining.

  Congrats CrickeeRaven on being a bully by using facts. Knowledge is power and you have used your facts wisely.

  Tuesday, September 11, 2018 Report this

• CrickeeRaven

  Thank you, Cat. What has stood out for other readers, I hope, is how easily the facts about the cosplay candidate could be found and presented.

  That his response has been, essentially, "believe me because I'm the candidate" is a defect in his behavior as a candidate -- not anyone else's.

  His behavior -- not anyone else's -- will be the reason that so many of our honest, taxpaying neighbors will reject his candidacy tomorrow.

  And Scal, excellent point. If SCOT is the kind of person who supports the cosplay candidate, they deserve each other.

  Tuesday, September 11, 2018 Report this

• Justanidiot

  ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ

  Tuesday, September 11, 2018 Report this

• CrickeeRaven

  I agree with you, Justanidiot -- it sure is boring to see the cosplay candidate keep repeating the many false statements that he's been peddling on this website for the last several months.

  Here we go again...

  "80,000 taxpayers." False. There are 80,000 residents, not 80,000 taxpayers.

  "Campaigned for almost 1,000 days in a row." False. His 2016 campaign ended on Nov. 8, 2016 and he announced his 2018 campaign on Dec. 5, 2017.

  "[S]pent over $40,000 of my own money..." False. Not for the 2018 campaign.

  "‘The Corrente Plan’ can be seen..." False. His website has no plans, just empty slogans and false claims about the population, business sector, and school enrollment in Warwick.

  "If you want to ‘Cut Taxes – Cut Spending,’ please vote for me..." False. The cosplay candidate supported the FY18 budget that increased taxes but still did not raise enough revenue to cover an additional $6.5 million in spending, resulting in a $4.2 million deficit and the FY19 tax increase.

  And all of these lies are in addition to his proven tax delinquency, as the information provided above shows.

  Here's hoping that voters don't fall asleep today, and actually get out to the polls to reject the cosplay candidate again.

  Wednesday, September 12, 2018 Report this

• Thecaptain

  Only 7 more hours until the overwhelming defeat of the tax delinquent fake mayor. Only 8 more hours until he announces his candidacy for the 2020 election cycle.

  Wednesday, September 12, 2018 Report this

• CrickeeRaven

  I don't know, Thecaptain. It's equally likely that he will describe himself again as some heroic candidate who "took on the political insiders" and now considers his work done.

  Or maybe he'll complain that the "insiders" are driving good people like him out of politics because it's a rigged system.

  Either way, he'll continue making a fool of himself.

  Wednesday, September 12, 2018 Report this

• Thecaptain

  Only 5 1/2 more hours until the tax delinquent is horribly destroyed in the primary.

  Wednesday, September 12, 2018 Report this

• KaptainMorgan

  As miserable as this election cycle is, Corrente has managed to ensure that I voted! AGAINST him --- unfortunately, I cast a vote for Solomon --- not to vote for him, but to show Corrente that he's a complete moronic buffoon. Solomon is a major part of the problem that we have --- I will not vote for him in November --- but then, what do we do??? There are absolutely no qualified people running for Mayor of Warwick!

  Another reason for voting in the Dem primary, was the McKee / Regunberg --- I work for a living, have absolutely no interest in socialist Regunberg....

  Wednesday, September 12, 2018 Report this

• Thecaptain

  Only 90 more minutes until the overwhelming defeat of the tax delinquent fake mayor. By the way, i took a ride by numerous polling locations today and did not see 1 single Mayor Dumbness sign and no ground support at all. AHAHAHAHAH

  Wednesday, September 12, 2018 Report this

• CrickeeRaven

  No surprise to me, Thecaptain. He's shown no ability or willingness to understabd what a successful campaign looks like -- why would he start now?

  Wednesday, September 12, 2018 Report this

• Thecaptain

  Only 30 minutes left until the overwhelming defeat of Mayor Dumbness.

  Wednesday, September 12, 2018 Report this

• Iceman32_89

  a part of me hopes he somehow pulls off the upset and wins this thing. The crying and whining would go on for weeks around here. It would be very entertaining but alas, it's not to be.

  Wednesday, September 12, 2018 Report this

• CrickeeRaven

  Not tonight, Phil. The cosplay candidate is getting his behind handed to him -- and rightly so.

  Wednesday, September 12, 2018 Report this

• Thecaptain

  Preliminary numbers are in. The fake mayor, Mayor Dumbness grabs 16% of the vote. More than expected.

  Wednesday, September 12, 2018 Report this

• CrickeeRaven

  I expected Carbone to finish ahead of the cosplay candidate, Thecaptain, but to see that the two of them were within 200 votes of each other -- with Carbone running for the first time this year -- is an indictment on the cosplay candidate's futile campaign.

  All that effort, all those illegal signs, all that free political advertising on this website, and the cosplay candidate couldn't even get 1 out of 5 votes.

  Pathetic.

  Wednesday, September 12, 2018 Report this

• Thecaptain

  As of 9 pm, according to the fake mayor , Mayor Dumbness, out of the "80,000 taxpayers" only 2.095% of them voted for the un-electable candidate.

  Wednesday, September 12, 2018 Report this

• wwkvoter

  Rob, lol... countdown was GREAT!

  "for whom The Captain tolls..."

  I have just joined thousands of honest, hardworking Warwick voters to hand a just and overwhelming defeat to the tax scofflaw's mayor

  Let me also say - 80,000 taxpayers spoke LOUD and CLEAR to corrente... go away.

  Congratulations to Joe Solomon - the legitimate Mayor.

  Wednesday, September 12, 2018 Report this

• CrickeeRaven

  I hereby give full and complete permission for other commenters to copy the following, in part or its entirety, with no attribution expected or required:

  To the Twice-Losing Candidate:

  You have failed, yet again, to do anything but humiliate yourself in public. As predicted, thousands of honest, taxpaying voters rejected your candidacy today, making you the first candidate this century to lose to two different mayors in Warwick.

  And it’s your fault. At every opportunity where you could have improved your image or behavior, you instead consciously decided to make yourself look even worse.

  Where you could have admitted to your tax delinquency — and possibly even earned sympathy from others who have fallen victim to predatory lending — instead you denied public information that proved your failure to pay property taxes, leading to the loss of your former residence to tax sale, and claimed you had “won” a court case against your lender.

  Where you could have corrected your false claims about changes in Warwick’s population and school enrollment — based on numbers that you invented by misinterpreting legitimate data — instead you repeated them, over and over again, showing that you did not care how completely the facts proved you wrong.

  Where you could have corrected your version of how the FY18 budget was passed, instead you kept repeating that your failed 2016 campaign influenced the city council to cut spending and taxes — when every single part of that claim was a lie.

  Where you could have tried to earn your party’s endorsement, instead you first falsely claimed on your website that you had it, and then attacked your party as “political insiders” when you didn’t receive it, and despite the fact that many of those same people contributed to your 2016 campaign.

  As if all that weren’t enough — as if your complete refusal to acknowledge verified facts, your petty vindictiveness toward your party, and your continued false claims were not proof enough of your utter unfitness for office — you used this website as a free advertising platform for your campaign activities, attacking others, making wild accusations against public officials, and using a fake title that you neither earned nor deserved.

  The voters of Warwick rejected your candidacy, again.

  The results today are 100 percent your fault. You made that happen.

  Not “political insiders,” not website commenters, not the media — you.

  So, use this site to make your last pathetic statement claiming otherwise.

  Try to convince other people, one last time, that the facts are wrong and you’re right.

  And then, after you’re done making a pathetic fool of yourself one last time, do us all a favor and go away.

  Wednesday, September 12, 2018 Report this

• Scal1024

  But...but...but...the make believe mayor Rick Corrente was carrying 14,000 votes over from the last election. How could this happen? Its almost as if (as predicted) voters took a hard pass on a lying, deceitful, unprepared candidate with a history of tax delinquency. Yes, thats right Rick TAX DELINQUENCY. Congratulations to Joe Solomon and Sue Stenhouse for winning their parties primary contests. Now that the circus candidate (Corrente) has been twice dismissed by voters, I hope for a serious general election about issues, with real solutions. Not recycled talking points like the ones used by the cosplay (former) candidate. I wonder what excuses Corrente is cooking up now? After the way he has conducted himself, and the lies he has told I highly doubt he will be gracious in defeat. Good riddance Tax Delinquents Mayor, you have now lost an election to 2 different mayors. What a distinction!!!

  On last thing...I want to say good job Mr. Carbone. Several people I know had a chance to speak to you, and all spoke highly of you. Mayor is a tough entry level job into politics for anyone, especially so late in the game. I hope he runs for another office other than mayor.

  Wednesday, September 12, 2018 Report this

• CrickeeRaven

  Scal, you are right, as always.

  I also heard good things about Mr. Carbone during this campaign, and certainly hope he considers running again.

  He conducted himself with class, never trying to smear others or push false statements. The same, of course, can not be said of the cosplay candidate.

  While the outcome was never in doubt, I am glad to actually see it come to pass.

  Wednesday, September 12, 2018 Report this

• CrickeeRaven

  Here is the link to tonight's results:

  https://www.ri.gov/election/results/2018/statewide_primary/warwick/

  It shows that, as predicted, Joe Solomon wiped the floor with the cosplay candidate, 65% to 17.8%, with Mr. Carbone just 249 votes behind in 3rd place.

  Wednesday, September 12, 2018 Report this

• wwkvoter

  I dont wish to take this conversation down so to speak, but I looked up "cosplay" and it means costume play where "participants called cosplayers wear self-made costumes and fashion accessories to represent a specific character". (IE: senior home resident)

  So I'd have to say the real "cosplay candidate" would definitely be the Stenhouse lady.

  Thursday, September 13, 2018 Report this

• Thecaptain

  So now, according to the self proclaimed fake mayor, Mayor Dumbness, out of the "80,000" taxpayers that "he represents", only 2.28% of them decided that he was mentally stable enough to vote for. Hopefully now the last of his campaign signs goes into the garbage and his pandering, delinquent, litigating, lifestyle goes away once and for all. But me doubts it!!

  Thursday, September 13, 2018 Report this

• CrickeeRaven

  Touche, WwkVoter. I agree that Stenhouse has a difficult road ahead if she's arguing that her experience may make her a better mayor than Solomon.

  And Thecaptain, it may be too much to hope that the cosplay candidate finally stops his pathetic behavior on this website. Then again, this loss was so humiliating, so overwhelming, that maybe he actually, finally gets the hint and goes away.

  Thursday, September 13, 2018 Report this

• Cat2222

  The results are as expected. We are moving on towards November.

  I still struggle with Stenhouse. I know people make mistakes and bad judgement calls. I simply cannot find it in me to trust her. It was such an obvious and ridiculous ploy. For what? She wasn't backed into a corner, she wasn't fighting tooth and nail for a cause. She knowingly stood next to a male bus driver that was dressed up as a female senior citizen for a photo op. She set out to deceive people. What will she do when her back is really up against the wall? I am not sure I can overcome my bias against her. I don't think Solomon is a saint by any stretch of the imagination. It feels like the 2016 Presidential Election all over again!

  Thursday, September 13, 2018 Report this

• wwkvoter

  Cat why is Solomon not a saint? Anything that I and other voters should know? Remember we're dealing with local politicians here, so unfortunately, you can only expect so much. I look at policy and the experience to at least not blow things up. The budget is strained and has been for many years. But even with all the criticism about raises for town employees, show me a community where those same classes of employees make significantly less or that there are less of them per population, because unless you can reduce labor costs (and I dont think you can by very much), and considering that the retirement costs are fixed, what can you do? It costs X to run Warwick.

  I know that Rob Cote posted his own ideas to make things more efficient but I cant find it now.

  Thursday, September 13, 2018 Report this

• Cat2222

  WwkVoter,

  The issues the city is facing did not happen overnight. Solomon has spent 18 years on the City Council and has worked closely with the former administration. He certainly does bear some responsibility for the decisions that have been made over that time span that are affecting us today. That is what I was getting at with my comment. At this point, I do not believe he has set out to deliberately deceive people. It remains to be seen how things will turn out in November.

  Thursday, September 13, 2018 Report this

• Thecaptain

  Wwkvoter,

  Here is just a sample of some of the cuts that can be made. This is just the WFD. I have done similar studies of DPW and school dept maintenance division.

  SECTION 3. PAID HOLIDAYS

  The following holidays should be removed from the WFD schedule of paid holidays for all members of the Fire Department.

  VJ Day (2nd Monday in August)

  Lincoln’s Birthday Labor Day

  Easter Sunday (1st Sunday in April)

  Firemen’s Memorial Sunday (2nd Sunday in June)

  This renders the department with the 10 standard Federal Holidays. Cost savings to the taxpayer of the 3 year contract based upon the 2016 average day rate of a Warwick Fire Department member : 880 days cut x 3 years = 2640 days x $376/day = $992,640 SAVINGS

  ARTICLE VIII SECTION 6. PAYMENT FOR UNUSED SICK LEAVE AFTER MAXIMUM ACCUMULATION

  In any case where an employee has accumulated his or her or her maximum sick leave entitlement under Section 1 hereof, he or she shall, at the end of each year, be entitled to be paid for three-fourths (3/4) of his or her unused, yearly sick leave entitlement, prorated on a monthly basis, not to exceed fifteen (15) days. Such payment is to be made on the basis of said employee’s daily rate of pay and shall be paid to the employee by the last day of each month.

  The above benefit was changes from ½ (10days) to ¾ (15days) in 2015. The net result was showed an increase in over $600,000 annually. This benefit needs to be reduced to 25% or 5 days. The net overall result is that in the PAST 6 year period the members still receive an average of 50% which amounts to a 6% annual bonus over and above the 1 ½ % semi annual pay raise and longevity raise. Data is as follows:

  2016 pay out to 139 men = $1,092,0421

  Reduction to 25% results in the following cost savings

  $819,316/year x 3 years = $2,457,948 SAVINGS * based upon 2016 salary schedule

  10 year savings based on 2016 wages without factoring pay increases and step increases =

  $ 8,193,160.00

  ARTICLE IV SECTION 2. SUBSTITUTIONS

  The right to substitute at any time shall be permitted, provided, however, that permission in writing to substitute must be obtained from the Battalion Chief on duty. A substitution shall be defined as a mutual exchange of time. No other form of compensation shall be allowed.

  The above provision must be removed from the contract. Average substitution days based upon 2014-2017 documents =1400 days per year.

  1400 days x 3 years = 4200 days

  4200 days x $376/day = $1,579,200 SAVINGS

  This savings would be realized by eliminating the substation clause. All substitution days should be utilized as vacation days covered at straight time by the floaters. No addition overtime costs are incurred by the city.

  ARTICLE VII SECTION 1.

  CLOTHING ALLOWANCE a. The clothing allowance for all members of the Fire Department shall be EIGHT HUNDRED FIFTY ($850) DOLLARS per year. Clothing allowance shall be payable during the month of March. An employee must be on the payroll as of March 1 to qualify for payment of the clothing allowance. Effective on July 1, 2013, the clothing allowance shall be ONE THOUSAND ($1,000) DOLLARS per year.

  All uniforms provided by the City shall be “Nomex” or equal to “Nomex”. The City agrees to replace all clothing and protective gear, eyeglasses and dentures of an employee of the Fire Department which may be damaged or destroyed in the line of said employee’s duty while on duty or while said employee may be responding to or returning from a call to duty.

  b. Protective equipment for new probationary fire fighters shall be ordered prior to the fire fighters being sworn in and reporting for full-time duty. Such equipment shall include minimally: 1. Helmet with eyeshield, strap and frontpiece. 2. Bunker Coat. 3. Bunker Pants. 4. Suspenders. 5. Fire Boots. 6. Hood. 7. Gloves. 8. Gear Storage bag.

  c. New recruits shall be paid the clothing allowance when they are hired full time by the fire department after successful completion of the training school. This payment shall be in lieu of the clothing allowance paid on March 1, so that the employee will receive only one clothing allowance payment per fiscal year.

  SECTION 2. ADDITIONAL UNIFORMS Any employee, upon being promoted to any rank requiring a new class of uniform, shall have one set of the same issued to him or her by the City at its cost and expense. If the City requires a change in the Class “B” uniforms the City will provide the initial four (4) sets of uniforms over and above the regular clothing allowance.

  Clothing allowance section of the contract needs to be completely eliminated since in every situation from new recruits to advancement to damaged clothing, the city is responsible to pay for new uniforms. No monitoring of this expenditure has ever been performed. Savings from the elimination of this clause as follows:

  220 men x $1450 = $319,000 x 3 years = $957,000 SAVINGS

  Total 3 year savings $5,986,788 without touching salaries or amending other issues such as below.

  SECTION 3. FIRE HYDRANTS

  Off-duty personnel called back for shoveling snow from hydrants shall be compensated at the overtime rate of pay hereinafter set forth.

  If men can take the apparatus to perform grocery shopping on the job, then as they are in transit they should clean the hydrants while on the clock. This is common sense.

  ARTICLE VI VACATIONS

  ARTICLE IX SECTION 5. LIGHT DUTY

  Basically no parameters. Men can get injured off the job and be put on light duty while having another man cover his shift. End result, off duty injuries are covered in many cases as salary plus an additional man.

  SECTION 2. STEP PAYMENTS

  Needs to be revsied

  ARTICLE XIV SECTION 1. PENSION PAYMENTS

  Pension benefit based on the last three years of service. Effective January 1, 2005, pension benefits will be based upon the last year of service, which benefits shall be calculated by using daily pro-ration.

  SECTION 1. SICK LEAVE

  Sick leave shall be granted at the rate of twenty (20) working days per year accumulative to one hundred forty (140) working days; provided, however, that additional sick leave may be granted at the discretion of the Chief of the Department. During the month of February in each year, the City of Warwick shall cause to be calculated and information made available upon request, each member’s present entitlement under this clause. A member’s entitlement to accumulated sick leave shall be determined from the date of his or her first appointment to the Department.

  The above clause needs to be stricken from the contract as it has no boundaries and is not defined in any fashion. The number of annual sick days should be dramatically reduced as the historical data shows that less than 1 sick day per man is currently being used. Considering that under state law firefighters are allowed unlimited paid sick time for job related illness or injury, the current sick leave schedule is unreasonable to the taxpayer and is a tool that can be manipulated in a variety of methods. Bear in mind that 20 sick days is 5 weeks. The historical data shows that in almost every retirement case, the maximum amount of unused sick days is paid out and that annually the maximum unused sick pay is paid out. This benefit is not only unsustainable, but it is unnecessary.

  Presently as of the Feb 1 2017 report the WFD has 22,510 sick days banked with an estimated current value of $12.4 million dollars. This liability is not being carried on any balance sheet. The amount of sick leave needs to be dramatically reduced. I suggest 5 sick days per year to cumulate to 10. After 10 you use them or lose them.

  Thursday, September 13, 2018 Report this