$250k-Plus Severance Package for Prov Water Chief
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
One of the highest-paid employees in the city of Providence will receive 14 months pay and insurance benefits as part of her severance package, according to e-mails obtained by GoLocalProv.
Pamela Marchand, the departing $175,685 per year general manager and chief engineer of the Providence Water Supply Board, is currently on paid administrative leave while the seven member board of directors waits for her official resignation.
Last Wednesday, the board agreed to provide Marchand with the generous severance package, which when combined with benefits, will amount to well over $250,000. In an e-mail sent to board members and city officials, board chairman Brett Smiley said an agreement has already been signed.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLAST“Around noon yesterday I signed an agreement providing all the benefits we discussed & voted on to Pam Marchand,” Smiley wrote. “Specifically, we provided her 14 months pay, 14 months of insurance and a letter of recommendation. We have an agreement not to sue or disparage one another.”
Smiley informed the board that Boyce Spinelli would serve as acting general manager. He cautioned the board to not be critical of Marchand.
“Please note - we all need to be diligent to describe it as a resignation and be sure to not criticize her past performance,” Smiley wrote.
City was Unhappy
Providence Water supplies 60 percent of Rhode Island residents with drinking water. The board of directors includes Smiley, City Council President Michael Solomon, Councilman Michael Correia, Joseph D. Cataldi, Congressman Cicilline staffer Andy M. Andujar, lawyer Fernando S. Cunha and well-connected city insider and former chairperson of the Providence Democratic Party Joan Badway.
Marchand, who was hired by former Mayor David Cicilline in 2006, was the second highest-paid city employee in 2010. Only former Police Chief Dean Esserman earned more. Prior to coming to Providence, she had served in the same role in Pawtucket.
The exact reason for the change in leadership is unclear, but sources close to the situation say the city had been unhappy with her job performance and the problems came to a head following Tropical Storm Irene.
On Monday, Smiley sent another e-mail to the board explaining that Marchand had still not submitted her formal resignation.
” We don't know why they are unable to provide it, but we as a board only voted on a benefit package should she resign - so, we need it,” Smiley wrote.
Smiley continued: “If we don't get the letter today we will have to reconvene, debate and vote on termination.”
When asked Monday if Marchand’s resignation had been submitted, Smiley told GoLocalProv he could not comment on her status.
“As I mentioned earlier today, Pam is on paid administrative leave, we have been in negotiations regarding her future at ProvWater and as Chair of the Board I've kept my colleagues updated on the situation. Again, these are confidential personnel matters,” Smiley wrote in an e-mail.
A call to Marchand’s lawyer was not returned.
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