City Hall Battle Erupts Over $34K "Illegal" Severance Package to Muksian
GoLocalProv News Team
City Hall Battle Erupts Over $34K "Illegal" Severance Package to Muksian
The Mayor's office announced on March 28 that Muksian would be "resigning," amidst allegations that she pushed forth an unqualified candidate to be the new Board of Licenses Administrator, due to her personal relationship with the candidate's family.
On Friday, City Treasurer Jim Lombardi blasted the city's finance and legal departments for pushing for a $34,000 severance package for Muksian -- who had been making $127,000 -- without approval by the City Council.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTLombardi's Letter
Lombardi sent the following to the City Council on Friday, outlining the situation:
I am writing to bring a concerning situation to the members of the Council. As you are aware by an email that you received, the former COO was in the process of receiving a severance package. I immediately emailed the Solicitor on March 29, 2017 to remind him that all severance packages that provide more than the Ordinances allow must be approved by the City Council (attached). It was my understanding that a check would be issued and I would send it to Council for approval. This was an agreement that I had with the Controller's office and not unusual. Historically, most severance packages have complied with the Ordinances. Those that did not or were fixed before funds were released.
Yesterday, I was alerted to a direct deposit for the COO that substantially exceeded the Ordinances. It was a payment for $34,215 with an amount deemed "severance" for $19,692 (attached). I immediately emailed the Controller's office to reverse the $19,692 severance portion of the payment and they stated that the Law Department opined it was proper. The refused to separate the payment. Unfortunately, this is a complete breakdown of the checks and balances authorized by the City Charter.
A GoLocal investigation found that Muksian's Facebook page showed both an extensive social media relationship with Stephen Hamilton, father of Tashi Hamilton, and acknowledgement that Muksian bought a horse from Stephen Hamilton. Muksian did not respond to request for comment as to her relationship with Hamilton reported by GoLocal on March 28.
Lombardi closed the letter with a scathing rebuke.
This has been a stressful and disheartening situation. There has been a strong level of trust between the Finance and Treasury Departments since I was appointed as Treasurer six years ago. You have entrusted me twice with the appointment of Treasurer and with responsibilities before me.
I will not be intimidated and will follow my duties as outlined in the Providence City Charter. This is only one issue of many that plagued my office over the last two years. Some concerning matters have been brought the Council as required as most issues have been resolved though discussion and education. There are City Charter, Board of Contract and Supply, and ordinances that are laws that must be followed. I am doing my job as required by Charter, but when we have a solicitor that makes disingenuous decision, then how do we expect the departments to comply.
Muksian also under fire for Putting Down Animals
As GoLocal reported in late March:
Rhode Island’s leading animal rights advocate is charging that the recently “resigned” Providence Chief Operating Officer Robin Muksian had misled his group and other animal protection organizations, and had 19 dogs and three cats killed unnecessarily in Cranston in 2003, when a shelter was shut down - and the groups had offered to take them.
Tabella told GoLocal that while serving as Cranston's Deputy Director of Administration, Muksian assured him she would reach out to him before the city put the animals down, as his group, and others, had offered to take them, when the city shut down a shelter.
“She (Robin Muksian) lied to me about those dogs and cats the day before they killed them. We could have saved them. She said that she would contact us if they needed help finding homes for the animals....she never called...they just went ahead and destroyed them.” said Dennis Tabella of the Defenders of Animals.
Tabella had contacted GoLocalProv after reading of Muksian's controversial departure.
Top 100 Overtimers at RIPTA
#100
JERIMAL BARNES
Salary: $45,170.54
Overtime: $22,707.39
Total: $67,877.93
Does not include benefits
#99
BRENDA BRIERE
Salary: $60,302.26
Overtime: $22,801.78
Total: $83,104.04
Does not include benefits
#98
MARSEL GARCIA
Salary: $47,368.14
Overtime: $22,832.61
Total: $70,200.75
Does not include benefits
#97
JENNIFER DONAHAY
Salary: $57,083.95
Overtime: $22,910.62
Total: $79,994.54
Does not include benefits
#96
JAMES GARCIA
Salary: $57,177.33
Overtime: $23,025.74
Total: $80,203.07
Does not include benefits
#95
JEFFREY THERIAULT
Salary: $47,370.19
Overtime: $23,195.92
Total: $70,566.11
Does not include benefits
#94
ANTOINIER PINTHIERE
Salary: $40,231.47
Overtime: $23,220.03
Total: $63,451.5
Does not include benefits
#93
ARTHUR TILLEY
Salary: $60,646.22
Overtime: $23,319.01
Total: $83,965.23
Does not include benefits
#92
A JOSEPH DAOU
Salary: $40,226.29
Overtime: $23,518.67
Total: $63,744.96
Does not include benefits
#91
ANTONIO LOPES
Salary: $37,807.65
Overtime: $23,591.75
Total: $61,399.4
Does not include benefits
#90
PENELOPE CODY-HEROUX
Salary: $42,539.58
Overtime: $23,786.93
Total: $66,326.51
Does not include benefits
#89
ABIODUN OSHIYEMI
Salary: $56,424.39
Overtime: $23,945.01
Total: $80,369.4
Does not include benefits
#88
OSWALDO RIVERA
Salary: $33,963.10
Overtime: $24,169.54
Total: $58,132.64
Does not include benefits
#87
NERY DURAN
Salary: $47,826.31
Overtime: $24,171.43
Total: $71,997.74
Does not include benefits
#86
PIERRE CHARLES
Salary: $56,467.37
Overtime: $24,236.90
Total: $80,704.27
Does not include benefits
#85
DAVID BLAIS
Salary: $62,316.27
Overtime: $24,281.46
Total: $86,597.73
Does not include benefits
#84
ANTHONY WILLIAMS
Salary: $61,714.37
Overtime: $24,377.80
Total: $86,092.17
Does not include benefits
#83
NICHOLAS DECRISTOFARO
Salary: $59,374.23
Overtime: $24,557.13
Total: $83,931.36
Does not include benefits
#82
GIOVANNI TIBURCIO
Salary: $59,579.49
Overtime: $24,645.30
Total: $84,224.79
Does not include benefits
#81
WILLIAM FELCI
Salary: $61,242.21
Overtime: $24,721.23
Total: $85,963.44
Does not include benefits
#80
MICHAEL CAMPOPIANO
Salary: $57,838.80
Overtime: $24,766.28
Total: $82,605.08
Does not include benefits
#79
ROBERT ANDOSCIA
Salary: $70,601.28
Overtime: $24,787.80
Total: $95,389.08
Does not include benefits
#78
MICHAEL PELLETIER
Salary: $59,553.13
Overtime: $24,798.52
Total: $84,351.65
Does not include benefits
#77
JULES ROMAIN
Salary: $60,919.34
Overtime: $24,861.48
Total: $85,780.82
Does not include benefits
#76
ERNST LUBIN
Salary: $65,183.76
Overtime: $25,318.42
Total: $90,502.18
Does not include benefits
#75
CHARLES WILLIS
Salary: $65,945.25
Overtime: $25,544.98
Total: $91,490.23
Does not include benefits
#74
STEPHEN ZACHAS
Salary: $64,362.72
Overtime: $25,594.00
Total: $89,956.72
Does not include benefits
#73
ORLANDO SEMEDO
Salary: $61,694.61
Overtime: $25,688.86
Total: $87,383.47
Does not include benefits
#72
DIMKY EDOUARD
Salary: $56,220.53
Overtime: $25,707.05
Total: $81,927.58
Does not include benefits
#71
JAMES MANER
Salary: $60,082.03
Overtime: $25,771.87
Total: $85,853.9
Does not include benefits
#70
MAURICE HOWIE
Salary: $70,170.11
Overtime: $26,013.00
Total: $96,183.11
Does not include benefits
#69
FERNAND LAGUERRE
Salary: $59,563.90
Overtime: $26,014.51
Total: $85,578.41
Does not include benefits
#68
KENNETH ATHAIDE
Salary: $65,816.19
Overtime: $26,238.96
Total: $92,055.15
Does not include benefits
#67
DAVID LEMIRE
Salary: $64,622.21
Overtime: $26,673.94
Total: $91,296.15
Does not include benefits
#66
KEVIN DECOSTA
Salary: $60,720.01
Overtime: $26,682.68
Total: $87,402.69
Does not include benefits
#65
HENRY WILLIAMS
Salary: $75,864.00
Overtime: $26,901.18
Total: $102,765.18
Does not include benefits
#64
CARLOS ROCHA
Salary: $72,422.30
Overtime: $26,924.37
Total: $99,346.67
Does not include benefits
#63
CHARLES CAMPBELL
Salary: $54,881.00
Overtime: $27,059.66
Total: $81,940.66
Does not include benefits
#62
ELEUTERIO TORTI
Salary: $60,846.67
Overtime: $27,175.79
Total: $88,022.46
Does not include benefits
#61
ELDORA GIBLIN
Salary: $58,241.09
Overtime: $27,294.04
Total: $85,535.13
Does not include benefits
#60
MEURIS MOQUETE
Salary: $67,626.46
Overtime: $27,478.84
Total: $95,105.3
Does not include benefits
#59
EDDY PIERRE PHILIPPE
Salary: $68,720.56
Overtime: $27,539.27
Total: $96,259.83
Does not include benefits
#58
JASON FERREIRA
Salary: $74,351.36
Overtime: $27,555.32
Total: 101,906.68
Does not include benefits
#57
JAMES BIANCHI
Salary: $57,462.71
Overtime: $27,632.22
Total: $85,094.93
Does not include benefits
#56
MARY HATHAWAY
Salary: $38,637.04
Overtime: $27,644.10
Total: $66,281.14
Does not include benefits
#55
DENNIS DUGAN
Salary: $61,758.61
Overtime: $27,941.43
Total: $89,700.04
Does not include benefits
#54
OSIEL OLIVA
Salary: $51,294.64
Overtime: $27,984.21
Total: $79,278.85
Does not include benefits
#53
FIROUZ PAZHOUHANDEH
Salary: $63,288.54
Overtime: $28,013.90
Total: $91,302.44
Does not include benefits
#52
LOVERIDGE AMOAKO
Salary: $68,757.43
Overtime: $28,127.17
Total: $96,884.6
Does not include benefits
#51
DAVID MCGEE
Salary: $61,188.94
Overtime: $28,388.53
Total: $89,577.47
Does not include benefits
#50
SLAV MALYUTA
Salary: $40,164.78
Overtime: $28,802.99
Total: $68,967.77
Does not include benefits
#49
MILTON LUNA
Salary: $60,352.93
Overtime: $28,832.53
Total: 89,185.46
Does not include benefits
#48
JOSEPH COLE
Salary: $65,644.69
Overtime: $29,904.84
Total: $95,549.53
Does not include benefits
#47
GEORGE CURRAN
Salary: $68,968.48
Overtime: $30,022.05
Total: $98,990.53
Does not include benefits
#46
PETER DZIEDZIC
Salary: $61,072.04
Overtime: $30,820.70
Total: $91,892.74
Does not include benefits
#45
JORGE VIZCAINO
Salary: $67,905.35
Overtime: $30,900.19
Total: $98,805.54
Does not include benefits
#44
BERT DEMERS
Salary: $65,121.68
Overtime: $31,222.21
Total: $96,343.89
Does not include benefits
#43
LENUS BAPTISTE
Salary: $39,874.52
Overtime: $31,283.90
Total: $71,158.42
Does not include benefits
#42
JOHN TANCREDI
Salary: $69,805.26
Overtime: $31,362.49
Total: $101,167.75
Does not include benefits
#41
SAMUEL RIVERA
Salary: $47,874.95
Overtime: $31,394.86
Total: $76,269.81
Does not include benefits
#40
RAYMOND LEE
Salary: $67,935.57
Overtime: $31,442.45
Total: $99,378.02
Does not include benefits
#39
ALBERT CARDILLO
Salary: $60,086.08
Overtime: $31,736.42
Total: $91,822.5
Does not include benefits
#38
XIOMARA PACHECO
Salary: $68,383.37
Overtime: $31,819.18
Total: $100,202.55
Does not include benefits
#37
SHELDON WILLIAMS
Salary: $60,798.37
Overtime: $31,849.70
Total: $92,648.07
Does not include benefits
#36
WELLINGTON TAVAREZ
Salary: $58,525.45
Overtime: $32,213.38
Total: $90,738.83
Does not include benefits
#35
DAVID NOVSAM
Salary: $61,966.07
Overtime: $32,414.02
Total: $94,380.09
Does not include benefits
#34
MARILYN RAPOSA
Salary: $60,837.44
Overtime: $32,555.86
Total: $93,393.3
Does not include benefits
#33
JEAN LOUIS
Salary: $64,816.03
Overtime: $32,768.48
Total: $97,584.51
Does not include benefits
#32
ANTONIO VARGAS
Salary: $56,851.23
Overtime: $33,014.32
Total: $89,865.55
Does not include benefits
#31
FRED NASH
Salary: $39,037.18
Overtime: $33,286.43
Total: $72,323.61
Does not include benefits
#30
MATTHEW BORGES
Salary: $61,538.40
Overtime: $33,312.95
Total: $94,851.35
Does not include benefits
#29
DANILO PAULINO
Salary: $57,872.33
Overtime: $33,391.43
Total: $91,263.76
Does not include benefits
#28
OSCAR DELCID
Salary: $61,871.52
Overtime: $34,594.63
Total: $96,466.15
Does not include benefits
#27
BENJAMIN CABRERA
Salary: $48,300.97
Overtime: $35,264.78
Total: $83,565.75
Does not include benefits
#26
FELIX TERRERO
Salary: $57,890.97
Overtime: $35,267.81
Total: $93,158.78
Does not include benefits
#25
EDMUND MELLO
Salary: $62,106.72
Overtime: $35,272.97
Total: $97,379.69
Does not include benefits
#24
LAWRENCE ONYE
Salary: $60,037.59
Overtime: $35,655.53
Total: $95,693.12
Does not include benefits
#23
DONALD SPELLMAN
Salary: $60,171.53
Overtime: $35,959.88
Total: $96,131.41
Does not include benefits
#22
VICTOR FERREIRA
Salary: $49,687.19
Overtime: $36,268.59
Total: $85,955.78
Does not include benefits
#21
JEAN ALTERA
Salary: $64,439.65
Overtime: $36,722.77
Total: $101,162.42
Does not include benefits
#20
KEVIN CAHILL
Salary: $61,882.27
Overtime: $36,831.63
Total: $98,713.9
Does not include benefits
#19
DAVID ST.GERMAIN
Salary: $58,210.46
Overtime: $37,099.91
Total: $95,310.37
Does not include benefits
#18
MARIAN LONCZAK
Salary: $74,721.30
Overtime: $38,320.12
Total: $113,041.42
Does not include benefits
#17
LAWRENCE THORNTON
Salary: $58,770.93
Overtime: $39,139.03
Total: $97,909.96
Does not include benefits
#16
JULIO ROCA
Salary: $66,959.54
Overtime: $39,256.56
Total: $106,216.1
Does not include benefits
#15
JEFFREY ROY
Salary: $60,785.53
Overtime: $40,374.83
Total: $101,160.36
Does not include benefits
#14
PAUL PRICE
Salary: $60,574.83
Overtime: $40,782.05
Total: $101,356.88
Does not include benefits
#13
JOSEPH LIMA
Salary: $65,717.90
Overtime: $42,067.18
Total: $107,785.08
Does not include benefits
#12
JULIEN RAVENEAU
Salary: $62,387.59
Overtime: $43,244.80
Total: $105,632.39
Does not include benefits
#11
STEPHEN MIELE
Salary: $62,797.76
Overtime: $45,612.73
Total: $108,410.49
Does not include benefits
#10
PASCO MACARI
Salary: $59,191.64
Overtime: $45,837.34
Total: $105,028.98
Does not include benefits
#9
LIVINGSTON CICERON
Salary: $57,473.30
Overtime: $46,234.44
Total: $103,707.74
Does not include benefits
#8
STEPHEN FARRELL
Salary: $63,534.81
Overtime: $46,880.08
Total: $110,414.89
Does not include benefits
#7
PAPA NDIAYE
Salary: $57,226.65
Overtime: $46,898.01
Total: $104,124.66
Does not include benefits
#6
WILLIAM BLAIR
Salary: $61,665.97
Overtime: $48,069.52
Total: $109,735.49
Does not include benefits
#5
LYNN HENDERSON
Salary: $61,909.12
Overtime: $51,238.23
Total: $113,147.35
Does not include benefits
#4
RAYMOND HOLT
Salary: $74,738.88
Overtime: $52,280.20
Total: $127,019.08
Does not include benefits
#3
DENNIS CONNOLLY
Salary: $60,932.98
Overtime: $53,056.52
Total: $113,989.5
Does not include benefits
#2
JOHN REALL
Salary: $61,145.00
Overtime: $53,766.95
Total: $114,911.95
Does not include benefits
#1
JOSEPH MONTI
Salary: $84,823.35
Overtime: $58,359.06
Total: $143,182.41
Does not include benefits
