Taveras Takes Power, But Most Cicilline People Staying
Thursday, January 06, 2011
Mayor Angel Taveras swept into office this week promising big changes in Providence, but most of the top positions in his administration are holdovers from his predecessor, David Cicilline.
A list of the top 40 positions in city government obtained by GoLocalProv indicates that more three quarters of them, or at least 31 positions to be exact, are still held by Cicilline appointees.
They include some of the biggest figures from the Cicilline years—Police Chief Dean Esserman, Fire Chief George Farrell, Schools Superintendent Thomas Brady, former Director of Administration Richard Kerbel, and Gonzalo Cuervo, who held many positions under Cicilline and now is Deputy Chief of Staff to Taveras. (See below for the complete list.)
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTPrior to the inauguration, it was unclear exactly how much turnover there would be among department directors and senior staff. Late last month, several city hall sources told GoLocalProv said many directors were unsure if they would be continuing under Taveras. As of the inauguration, the transition office had made announcements on just nine positions.
‘Inevitably there will be transitions’
“People here today have been asked by the administration to stay,” Melissa Withers, the new Director of Communications, said on Tuesday. She said there were no plans for wholesale staff changes now or in the near future. “I can’t tell you that in five, six, or ten months a director coming and going. Inevitably, there will be transitions.”
Withers denied that there was uncertainty surrounding the futures of city directors. “I walked about the building today. There were not droves of people walking around with their heads cut off like chickens, wondering about their future,” she said.
Esserman staying for now
Much speculation, however, has surrounded the future of Esserman. Prior to the election, Taveras said he would make no decisions about whether the police chief stays or goes until his public safety commissioner conducted a top-to-bottom review of the Police Department. That review is now being spearheaded by Acting Public Safety Commissioner Steven Pare. “If and when there will be changes it will be when the review is going to be complete,” Withers said. She said the administration is not yet ready to put a date on when it will be completed.
That leaves four other vacancies that need to be filled as well as the Director of Finance position. The former Director of Administration, Rich Kerbel, is currently serving as the acting Director of Finance while the Mayor’s office actively searches for a permanent replacement, Withers said.
“The administration is thrilled to be in office and we have hit the ground running,” Withers said. “Now more than ever, the City needs inspired, focused and hardworking staff to help solve the challenges we face. We are at the beginning of our administration and expeditiously looking at what is working well and what can be better. This will be an ongoing process as the Mayor continuously strives to set the highest standards for everyone working within his administration.”
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