City Hall Power Shift: Many Directors Still in Limbo

City Hall Power Shift: Many Directors Still in Limbo

With the inauguration barely more than a week away, many top department directors in Providence still do not know if they will be able to keep their jobs after Angel Taveras comes into office, according to several City Hall sources.

To date, Taveras has made seven senior appointments, including a public safety commissioner, a communications director, and a director of administration and operations. He also announced on Friday he is retaining the current directors of Neighborhood Services and Human Resources.

That still leaves many of the roughly 30 department directors in limbo.

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That includes the chiefs of police and fire, Dean Esserman and George Farrell, as well as the directors of Planning and Development, Public Works, and Finance, among others.

A mass e-mail that Angel Taveras sent out to all city directors earlier this month did little to clear things up.

“The gist of it was, ‘Stay with us. Work with us, and we’ll let you know how it works out.’ … Everyone was like, ‘This is strange. What does this mean?” said one recipient of the e-mail, who wondered why Taveras hadn’t personally met with directors instead of dispatching the e-mail.

The e-mail, which was signed by Taveras, read, in part, as follows.

“Dear Director,

I value your service to the people of Providence and believe that continuity and institutional knowledge are important to the success of any organization. I am also aware of the uncertainty you may be feeling during this transition process. Last week, I, along with the incoming Director of Administration, Michael D’Amico, began the process of reviewing City Departments. We will continue to review departments through the month of December.

It is my intention to choose the best possible candidates as I assemble my administrative team and prepare to move Providence forward. In some cases this will be the person currently holding the position. In others, I may feel it necessary to make changes. ….

I ask for your patience and understanding during this process. I also thank you for your continued service to the people of Providence. ….”

The e-mail wasn’t exactly reassuring to city directors whose jobs hang in the balance, the source said. Now many of them expect that decisions about their futures with the city may not be made until well after the inauguration—as late as 90 to 100 days into the new administration.

Melissa Withers, the incoming Director of Communications, confirmed that Taveras is in the process of reviewing all departments. She declined to specify when the remaining appointments would be announced.

“The Mayor-elect has participated directly in a department-by-department review of all offices,” Withers told GoLocalProv. “Many directors have clarity on the Mayor-elect's plans for post-inauguration staffing. Additional personnel decisions will be announced as appropriate.”