NEWS

No contest

Without a contender, Picozzi outlines accomplishments since assuming office 632 days ago

By JOHN HOWELL
Posted 10/5/22

Mayor Frank Picozzi is running for reelection although unlike two years ago there aren’t signs at virtually every intersection and planted in the lawns of neighbors and friends. 

As has …

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NEWS

No contest

Without a contender, Picozzi outlines accomplishments since assuming office 632 days ago

Posted

Mayor Frank Picozzi is running for reelection although unlike two years ago there aren’t signs at virtually every intersection and planted in the lawns of neighbors and friends. 

As has been reported, Picozzi is unopposed, which is unheard of for any incumbent Warwick mayor and, no question a first for an independent mayor.

Yet, Picozzi delivered a campaign speech Thursday – his 632 day in office – when he addressed the Warwick Rotary Club. He talked about what he found when he stepped into office, how he addressed those issues, the condition of the city today and plans for the future. His talk had all the earmarks of an incumbent seeking reelection including what he thinks of those who have questioned the financial stability of the city without the closing appeal for their vote. 

“I stayed out of politics,” Picozzi said of his decision to run as an independent. He defended his single endorsement of House Speaker Joseph Shekarchi saying he was among the first to congratulate him on his election and offer his assistant. From the start he was faced with problems. Aging municipal vehicles were breaking down rendering sanitation and recycling collections difficult to complete and forcing the Fire Department to depend on mutual aid and the loan of reserve vehicles from other departments to complete rescue runs. Municipal employees were working from makeshift offices in the vacant Randall Holden School and a repurposed Buttonwoods Community Center. Topping it off was the pandemic, and the issues it brought from manpower outages to heightened measures to stem the disease.

“And that was just the start,” Picozzi said. The mayor praised his staff, singling out Col. Bradford Connor, Director of Parks and Recreation Beverly Wiley and Chief of Staff Susan Ayrassian who were all in the audience. He shared as president of the Apponaug Girls Softball League in 1995 how he and Wiley, Rhode Island USA/ASA softball state commissioner, differed on calls and she would instruct him ‘shut up and go back to the dugout.’

“She couldn’t have been a better choice,” he said of Wiley’s appointment.

“Sue is my right hand,” he said of Ayrassian.

Relationship with Council

Picozzi also talked of his relationship with the City Council that he characterized as “probably the best relationship a mayor has had with the City Council.”  He said he is in regular contact with City Council President Steve McAllister saying, “He has become like my son.”

Following the meeting McAllister agreed that the relationship between the executive and legislative branches of city government is good.

“The first time I ever met Frank was the Saturday after the election at his house.  I supported Mayor Solomon so it was a little awkward at first, but we decided to put politics aside and work together for the residents of Warwick.  Now we talk on the phone at least once a day! I believe that has had a positive impact on our city.  We have done big things these past two years working together.  Major investments in our infrastructure, schools, and city fleets while also keeping taxes low and targeting the federal APRA funds to help our city in the short term and long term.,” he wrote in an email.

Picozzi made it apparent the same sort of relationship hasn’t existed with the School Committee adding that with the change of three committee members who chose not to seek reelection, “I’m looking forward to establishing a better relationship.”

With the opening of municipal offices in the renovated former Apponaug Mills saw tooth building owned by AAA Northeast last month, Picozzi is looking for more efficient municipal operations and improve access and convenience for the public. The city is leasing the space under a 15-year agreement with AAA. The mayor also spoke of new development especially along the Post Road corridor north from New England Institute of Technology to Route 37. He spoke of the conversion of the former Sheraton Hotel into “workforce” housing providing 238 apartments plus amenities including a restaurant and pool for tenants. He mentioned the 122-room Wood Spring Suites Hotel planned for a now vacant lot next to Chelo’s Restaurant, a 200-unit apartment complex north of the Post Road on-ramp to Route 37, a bank at the site of what was once Carvel’s and a corporate U-Haul with self-storage units at the former Ann & Hope.

Picozzi made a point of emphasizing this new development is happening without tax breaks or incentivizes. “I don’t make deals. And it doesn’t seem to turn anyone away,” he said.

Picozzi said his administration is transparent and “has no secrets,” adding, “I don’t control the boards and no one should.”

He said he gauges his actions by whether they are in the best interest of the taxpayer.

Picozzi said he will vote for the  bond issue to build new Toll Gate and Pilgrim High Schools, adding, “I’m not convinced they can be built for $350 million.” He said a vote on the bond is “not the last step” and should the bond gain voter approval, the council will have the power to issue the bonds and that if bids to build the schools came in over $350 million, construction wouldn’t start.

A question referencing the analysis of former councilman and school committee member Robert Cushman and community activist Rob Cote that the city faces a tough financial times ahead triggered a rebuke from Picozzi. “They have been distorting the numbers of 15 years. They want the city to fail so they can say they are right.”

The mayor said the city faces a $7 million structural deficit that Cushman and Cote have misrepresented as being twice that.

“We have a plan to feather that (the structural deficit) out,” he said.

“It’s complete BS,” he said of Cushman’s prognostications.

Before leaving, Picozzi was reminded of yet another accomplishment during his tenure.

With a combination of city bond funds, federal funds and utility company sharing  in the cost after replacing natural gas lines, Picozzi said “we’re repaved more roads than any other administration”

Picozzi, election

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