EAST PROVIDENCE, RI – East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva vetoed an amendment made by the East Providence City Council during their October 15 meeting.
In the original proposed Capital budget, $3 million was set aside to purchase a new tower ladder truck and a rescue vehicle for the fire department, as well as 2 frontline plow vehicles and other vital day-to-day equipment for the Department of Public Works.
The Capital Budget presented by Mayor Bob DaSilva is carefully vetted by city department heads, and then presented to the planning board for a public hearing, before being presented to the city council.
The City Council voted 3-2 to amend the budget and instead commit those funds towards three school district projects which included $ 1 million roof repair at Oldham Elementary School, $1.5 million to install communications intercoms in schools throughout the district and $500,000 for an energy management system with no vetting by the administration, no public hearing and no scope of work to consider.
“As mayor, I was completely baffled by the actions of the rest of the City Council when they amended this well-vetted capital spending plan and decided to cut funds to replace critical public safety equipment necessary to protect all our residents,” Mayor Bob DaSilva said.
“The Administration has already committed to expending remaining high school bond monies for other school-related capital projects, thus making these changes unnecessary. The Council majority’s reallocation merely jeopardizes equally important projects that cannot be funded by the remaining school bond monies,” DaSilva added.
