Providence City Hall Disarray - City Clerk Claims Staffing Shortages Following Investigation

Thursday, October 14, 2021

GoLocalProv News Team

 

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The latest at Providence City Hall.

Controversial Providence City Clerk Shawn Selleck is claiming staffing shortages, after employees were moved following allegations of bullying and harassment. 

A recent independent investigation found that there has been a “toxic environment" under Selleck -- who was appointed by former City Council President and now Lt. Governor Sabina Matos. 

The City Council voted unanimously last week to approve a resolution to bring charges against Selleck, and to seek his suspension or removal from office.

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Now, Selleck is alleging City Council committee meetings might have to go unstaffed. 

 

Clerk Communications

On Tuesday, Selleck sent the following to the Finance Committee, ahead of Tuesday night’s meeting. 

I’m writing to alert you to a staffing issue as it relates to the ability of the Clerk’s Office to provide support for tonight’s Finance Committee meeting. 

As you know, the clerk’s office has been short staffed since three deputies were removed from the office over a month ago, leaving six people to do the work of ten.  The remaining staff have risen to the occasion admirably, filling the gaps and performing in a highly professional manner, despite the petty gamesmanship and political obstacles that have been placed in their path along the way (see thread, below).  As individuals and as a team they are extraordinary public servants and a credit to the City, and the citizens, of Providence.  I am proud to serve with them.

Relative to tonight’s Finance Committee meeting, however, while our office will be able to provide a stenographer, I have been informed that none of the three deputy clerks are available to fulfill their duties and provide support (see thread, below).  Due to this unavailability, I regret to inform you that our office will not be able to provide support in the form of a clerk.

Please feel free to reach out to me at any time to discuss the staffing challenges the Clerk’s Office currently faces, or any other matters that relate to the office.

Selleck then included the following communications with City Council Chief of Staff Jim Lombardi. 

On the afternoon of October 8, Selleck wrote the following to Lombardi. 

Good afternoon, Mr. Chief of Staff,

I was just notified that another of our staff will be out next week unexpectedly.

The Department of City Clerk will be down to five staff (operating at 50% of our head count) next Tuesday due to:

1.       Departure of deputies
2.       Health issues among staff members
3.       Failure/unwillingness of the city to allow the department director to backfill open roles for the past two months

We request the former deputies fulfill the following responsibilities that the Department of City Clerk cannot meet without the assistance of the deputies or additional staff immediately:

    1    October 12, 2021 Board of Contract and Supply: We require a clerk, a steno and processing of items on the agenda (Tina and Angela could handle this)
    2    October 12, 2021 Finance Committee: We require a clerk to work with Donna who will serve as Steno
    3    October 13, 2021 Housing Crisis Task Force: We require a clerk and a steno to facilitate and complete all related duties for this meeting (any combination of the deputies will suffice as they see fit)

These meetings may go unstaffed if the management of this office continues to be impeded by the city. Our office has been upholding good standards while operating at 2/3 capacity for weeks, and we cannot continue like this.

I understand that Marsha sent a request earlier today before we found out about the most recent absence, but we have not received a response from you.

Thanks in advance for your support and prompt response.

Lombardi responded with the following on October 8.

Shawn,

I was cc'ed on an email today. No one directly emailed me. My understanding is that 2 of the 3 clerks were out today. So, they will respond when they are back in the office. The one clerk that was in called me today and said she would not be interested in covering. When I see the other 2 [women] I will ask Tuesday. 

Jim

On Tuesday, October 12, Lombardi followed up with the following:

Shawn,

I spoke to the 3 Deputies and they have declined. They want to be helpful, but the actions of the past week have caused them to respectfully decline. 

Respectfully,

Jim

Lombardi did not respond to request for comment.


Council President on Record

City Council President John Igliozzi, when reached for comment, said that Selleck’s email would “normally” be viewed as insubordination — and that the Council was moving forward to go to trial to remove Selleck. 

“We are moving forward with bringing the charges [against Selleck],” said Igliozzi.  “We put the Mayor on notice. After 30 days from that notice, then we set the trial date.”

“In normal business parlance, that would be considered an insubordinate act,” said Igliozzi of Selleck’s comments. “At the end of the day. we’re in a particular place in that we have to go through a public termination — this clearly compounds and magnifies how important it is to the council to move forward in an appropriate manner in which we are."

“These were serious charges — bullying and intimidation — that were investigated by an independent and respected labor attorney who found the allegations to have merit,” said Igliozzi.

Despite the reported staffing issues, Igliozzi said the Council office is “still moving along fine.”

“We’re able to conduct the people’s business. We’ve [got] stenographers to take notes and keep the record,” said Igliozzi.

 

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