Moore: End Providence Pension Spiking
Monday, January 04, 2016
Russell J. Moore, GoLocalProv MINDSETTER™
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Councilman David Salvatore
Should a former, long term Providence City Councilwoman be allowed to take a city job with good pay, long after leaving the council, and be eligible to increase her pension after leaving city service once again?
Providence City Councilman David Salvatore says no. And I agree with him.
Bablina Young, who spent 22 years on the Providence City Council representing portions of South Providence, was hired earlier last summer as an aide to the very same city council. Young left the city council in 2010, and began receiving a pension based on her last salary of about $18,000 per year.
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A New Role For a Bigger Pension?
Since she's taken the position working for the city council, she began receiving a salary that equates to about $57,000 per year. (Her pension payments were suspended when she began working for the city again.) When she leaves that position, she'll be able to apply those higher salary years to the city pension she will once again be eligible to receive, since pensions are based on salaries earned in the last several years of city service.
That doesn't sit well with Salvatore--the current, second term city councilman who represents portions of Elmhurst and Wanskuck.
"When people read about things like this, they get angry with city government," said Salvatore.
Salvatore has submitted an ordinance that would prevent former elected officials from "spiking" their pensions. Most city employees would not be allowed to apply time served on the council to future pension credits.
A Fairness Issue
"I guarantee that this ordinance would engender confidence in city government by the residents we serve," said Salvatore. "It would be met with applause."
Let's face it: he's right. If this ordinance gained final passage on a Monday, the people reading about it on Tuesday would be impressed. Yes, it wouldn't save the city from it's financial troubles. But people would be nodding their heads in approval, after being given evidence that the city is serious about enacting good government reforms.
There are thousands over thousands of Providence residents (and other Rhode Islanders, who support the Providence city budget with their own tax dollars, as well) who think that the city government is a glorified automatic teller machine for the politically connected. This measure wouldn't obliterate that sentiment, but it would surely help dampen it in some small way.
Saving Taxpayer Money
But it would not only resolve an issue of fairness, said Salvatore, it would also make the city's vulnerable pension fund a little bit more healthy as opposed to less healthy.
Salvatore also points out that the city received a pretty ominous letter from the state auditor general about the city's cumulative deficit of about $13 million last summer, and that there really hasn't been all that much done to resolve the issue.
Again, Salvatore's ordinance wouldn't solve the problem--not even close. But it wouldn't hurt. The young councilman is frustrated that the ordinance not only hasn't passed, but also hasn't received a hearing.
"The ordinance hasn't received a hearing, and as far as I know there it isn't scheduled for one yet," said Salvatore. "I will continue to push for this in 2016."
It should be noted Salvatore is the former Chairman of the Council "Ways and Means Committee", which was the council's Finance Committee by another name last term. Salvatore has been far more aggressive about good government issues since he has been ousted his previous council leadership role. As an aside, it is ironic how politicians tend to be far more interested in advocating good government issues when they're out of power as opposed to when they wield it.
Give The Ordinance a Hearing
But that's not the issue at hand. Every matter that comes before the city council should be decided solely on its own merits. And on that front, Salvatore's ordinance to prevent pension spiking passes that test, with flying colors.
At first, Salvatore said he would have agreed to drop the ordinance if Young promised to not spike her pension. But then he realized that this issue shouldn't be about just one person. There are other former elected officials who have spiked their pensions after leaving the council as well. This should become a law.
Don't get me wrong: Council President Luis Aponte is a very smart man, an effective council leader, and in my opinion, the most talented politician in Providence right now. But he would be wise to not only give Salvatore's ordinance a hearing sometime soon, but to throw his support behind it. As far as I can see, there's no reason not to.
Where's Elorza's Leadership?
It's also disappointing that Mayor Jorge Elorza hasn't thrown his weight behind this issue, instead saying this matter is up to the council. That's a complete and less than artful dodge. The Mayor is the Chairman of the city's Pension Investment Commission, and therefore has tons of say over the city pension system.
In ant event, at the very least, Salvatore is demanding a hearing on the issue.
"If this isn't a good idea, at least tell me why I'm wrong," said Salvatore.
Russell Moore has worked on both sides of the desk in Rhode Island media, both for newspapers and on political campaigns. He can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on twitter @russmoore713.
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#49
Name- Daniel Guertin
Annual Earning- $95,050.92
Postition- Police-5
City- Providence
State- RI
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- December 19,1991
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#48
Name- Carmine Vallante
Annual Earning- $95,140.20
Postition- Fire-4
City- Johnston
State- RI
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- December 19,1991
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#47
Name- Alfred Millard
Annual Earning- $95,368.32
Postition- Fire-4
City- Warwick
State- RI
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- March 24, 1994
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#46
Name- James Rattigan
Annual Earning- $95,983.44
Postition- Fire-4
City- North Providence
State- RI
Retirement Type- Service
Retirement Date- June 30, 2003
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#45
Name- Frank Deangelis
Annual Earning- $95,986.80
Postition- Fire-4
City- North Providence
State- RI
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- December 19, 1991
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#44
Name- Stephen Lowe
Annual Earning- $96,156.36
Postition- Fire-4
City- Bristol
State- RI
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- December 17, 1992
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#43
Name- Mary Gonsalves
Annual Earning- $97,463.04
Postition- Police-5
City- Warwick
State- RI
Retirement Type- Beneficiary
Retirement Date- December 1, 1993
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#42
Name- William O'Neill
Annual Earning- $98,160.96
Postition- Fire-4
City- Cumberland
State- RI
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- August 22, 1990
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#41
Name- Paul Healy
Annual Earning- $98,183.28
Postition- Fire-4
City- Cranston
State- RI
Retirement Type- Service
Retirement Date- October 20, 1993
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#40
Name- James Molloy
Annual Earning- $98,711.16
Postition- Fire-4
City- Providence
State- RI
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- December 18, 1987
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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Name- Livia Miller
Annual Earning- $99,193.80
Postition- Fire-4
City- Warwick
State- RI
Retirement Type- Beneficiary
Retirement Date- May 1, 1997
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#38
Name- Joseph Battista
Annual Earning- $99,271.08
Postition- Fire-4
City- Johnston
State- RI
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- April 29, 2004
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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Name- Robert Kerfoot
Annual Earning- $100,140.36
Postition- Fire-4
City- Cranston
State- RI
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- March 24, 1994
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#36
Name- Ralph Ricci
Annual Earning- $100,357.44
Postition- Fire-4
City- Providence
State- RI
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- April 28, 1994
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#35
Name- Henry Latek
Annual Earning- $100,502.52
Postition- Fire-4
City- Providence
State- RI
Retirement Type- Service
Retirement Date- June 30, 1995
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#34
Name- Joseph Bradley
Annual Earning- $100,898.52
Postition- Fire-4
City- Whitefield
State- NH
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- November 20, 1991
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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Name- Ronald Johnson
Annual Earning- $102,098.64
Postition- Fire-4
City- North Scituate
State- RI
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- May 1, 2003
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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Name- Gloria Pisaturo
Annual Earning- $103,385.76
Postition- Police-5
City- Warwick
State- RI
Retirement Type- Beneficiary
Retirement Date- December 1, 2002
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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Name- Edmond Malloy
Annual Earning- $103,575.72
Postition- Police-5
City- Chepachet
State- RI
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- September 5, 1990
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#30
Name- John Reposa
Annual Earning- $104,665.44
Postition- Fire-4
City- Jamestown
State- RI
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- June 21, 1995
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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Name- Pasquale Rocchio
Annual Earning- $105,238.32
Postition- Police-5
City- North Providence
State- RI
Retirement Type- Service
Retirement Date- August 22, 1989
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#28
Name- David Deignan
Annual Earning- $105,609.36
Postition- Police-5
City- Providence
State- RI
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- December 19, 1991
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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Name- Lee Podedworny
Annual Earning- $106,838.16
Postition- Fire-4
City- South Kingstown
State- RI
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- July 23, 1992
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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Name- Nancy Donahue
Annual Earning- $107,757.24
Postition- Fire-4
City- Warwick
State- RI
Retirement Type- Beneficiary
Retirement Date- July 1, 2005
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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Name- Domenic Pono
Annual Earning- $107,850.72
Postition- Fire-4
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State- RI
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- December 19, 1991
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#24
Name- John Murphy
Annual Earning- $107,892.84
Postition- Fire-4
City- Providence
State- RI
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- December 19, 1991
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#23
Name- Robert Carlson
Annual Earning- $108,555.36
Postition- Fire-4
City- Greenville
State- RI
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- April 24, 1991
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#22
Name- Robert Emmett
Annual Earning- $109,256.16
Postition- Police-5
City- Cranston
State- RI
Retirement Type- Service
Retirement Date- November 13, 1990
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#21
Name- Thomas Doyle
Annual Earning- $109,329.24
Postition- Fire-4
City- West Warwick
State- RI
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- August 26, 1988
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#20
Name- Joseph Errico
Annual Earning- $109,611.60
Postition- Fire-4
City- Warwick
State- RI
Retirement Type- Service
Retirement Date- June 30, 1995
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#19
Name- Edward MacDonald
Annual Earning- $110,225.64
Postition- Fire-4
City- Johnston
State- RI
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- May 26, 1994
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#18
Name- Alfred Lamothe
Annual Earning- $110,505.96
Postition- Fire-4
City- Warwick
State- RI
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- September 6, 1991
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#17
Name- Ernest Silva
Annual Earning- $112,796.28
Postition- Fire-4
City- Ft. Myers
State- FL
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- April 24, 1991
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#16
Name- Edward Dolan
Annual Earning- $113,126.04
Postition- Fire-4
City- North Kingstown
State- RI
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- December 19, 1991
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#15
Name- Paul Marianetti
Annual Earning- $113,331.60
Postition- Fire-4
City- Ormond Beach
State- FL
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- November 17, 1994
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#14
Name- Rosemary Clark
Annual Earning- $114,725.64
Postition- Police-5
City- Chepachet
State- RI
Retirement Type- Beneficiary
Retirement Date- August 1, 2004
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#13
Name- John Gannon
Annual Earning- $117,318.60
Postition-Police-5
City- Coventry
State- RI
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- January 24, 1991
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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Name- Marcia Moise
Annual Earning- $119,791.20
Postition- Fire-4
City- Jupiter
State- FL
Retirement Type- Beneficiary
Retirement Date- April 1, 1997
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#11
Name- Robert Read
Annual Earning- $123,105.00
Postition- Fire-4
City- Cranston
State- RI
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- December 19, 1991
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#10
Name- Alfred Bertoncini
Annual Earning- $123,599.16
Postition- Fire-4
City- Smithfield
State- RI
Retirement Type- Service
Retirement Date- December 19,1994
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#9
Name- Victor Dichiara
Annual Earning- $126,845.28
Postition- Fire-4
City- East Greenwich
State- RI
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- December 17, 1992
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#8
Name- Edmund Calcagni
Annual Earning- $135,702.72
Postition- Police-5
City- North Providence
State- RI
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- December 29, 1990
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#7
Name- James Kelly
Annual Earning- $137,336.04
Postition- Fire-4
City- Greenville
State- RI
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- September 28, 1988
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#6
Name- Vincent Delisi
Annual Earning- $145,520.88
Postition- Fire-4
City- North Providence
State- RI
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- December 17, 1992
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#5
Name- William Manchester
Annual Earning- $148,839.84
Postition- Fire-4
City- Warwick
State- RI
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- December 19, 1991
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#4
Name- William D'Iorio
Annual Earning- $156,870.60
Postition- Fire-4
City- Smithfield
State- RI
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- Novemver 29, 1990
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#3
Name- Anthony Sauro
Annual Earning- $161,487.24
Postition- Fire-4
City- Johnston
State- RI
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- July 5, 1991
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#2
Name- Robert Anthony
Annual Earning- $162,944.04
Postition- Fire-4
City- Smithfield
State- RI
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- September 25, 1991
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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#1
Name- Gilbert McLaughlin
Annual Earning- $196,813.08
Postition- Fire-4
City- Warwick
State- RI
Retirement Type- Accidental Disability
Retirement Date- October 24, 1991
Source: This information was secured through a FOIA request from the city of Providence.
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