Architect of Mass Teacher Firing in Providence Now Candidate for East Greenwich Town Manager

Architect of Mass Teacher Firing in Providence Now Candidate for East Greenwich Town Manager

Mike D’Amico, who served as Director of Administration and was the architect of the City of Providence firing 2,000 teachers in February 2011, is now a candidate for the position of Town Administrator of East Greenwich, GoLocal has learned. 

East Greenwich has been in a non-stop political whirlwind over the last couple of years and the town has been mired in dozens of lawsuits. This past November, the town council flipped from predominantly Republican to a full slate of Democrats and then the new council fired controversial Town Manager Gayle Corrigan.

D'Amico is one of a number of candidates being considered GoLocal has learned.

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In February 2011, new Providence Mayor Angel Taveras and Director of Administration D'Amico set forth a strategy that led to the city firing all the Providence teachers.

The story went national. GoLocal’s then News Director appeared on Fox and Friends. SEE VIDEO BELOW.

The firing was picked up by nearly every major news organization — CNN featured the mass firing as its top story.

CNN reported:

In a statement, American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten called the decision "stunning," especially given that the union and city "have been working collaboratively on a groundbreaking, nationally recognized school transformation model."

"We looked up 'flexibility' in the dictionary, and it does not mean destabilizing education for all students in Providence or taking away workers' voice or rights," said Weingarten, whose organization includes 1.5 million teachers and staff. "Mass firings, whether in one school or an entire district, are not fiscally or educationally sound."

The impact of the mass firing set forth a bitter relationship between the RI’s teacher’s unions and Taveras. As a result, the National Education Association threw its support behind Democratic candidate

Thousands in Consulting Fees

D’Amico left his position and continued to consult to the city, running up hundreds of thousands in fees. GoLocal reported:

Former Director of Administration for the City of Providence under Angel Taveras Michael D'Amico has been paid nearly $175,000 in consulting fees by both the Taveras and Jorge Elorza Administrations.

Coupled with what he got as his salary, benefits and consulting agreements, D'Amico has been paid more than $1 million by the City of Providence.

D’Amico, who developed the strategy to fire all of the City’s of Providence’s teachers during the city’s financial problems and also wanted to block all Tax Stabilization Agreements (TSAs) has been being paid approximately $6,000 per month since July 15, 2014.

When GoLocal reported on his contract in 2014, questions were raised if the agreement violated the revolving door prohibition.

D’Amico left his $196,000-a-year position at City Hall on March 14. While still a full-time employee, he negotiated a contract that allows him to work as an independent consultant on the 2015 city budget at a “discounted” rate of $200, according to a copy of the contract obtained by GoLocalProv through a public records request. The document, which was dated February 27, was signed by D’Amico, Taveras, and Jeffrey Padwa, the city solicitor.

The contract expires in June but can be extended for another six months. It does not cap the amount that the city can pay D’Amico. Under the contract, D’Amico can also be reimbursed for any travel expenses, including parking.

According to the city charter and city ordinance, any purchase of services between $500 and $5,000 must be made by the director of public property by going out to bid. Any purchases worth $5,000 or more also must go before the Board of Contract and Supply. But a review of the agendas for the past six months of meetings showed that D’Amico’s contract was never considered by the board.

“I think it’s wrong,” said state Rep. and former Councilman John Lombardi, adding that there should be a revolving door provision barring former employees from benefiting from city work for at least a year. “Apparently this administration doesn’t care.”

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