Morgan Follows Up on Own Grant, Finds More Flaws in System

Morgan Follows Up on Own Grant, Finds More Flaws in System

Legislative grant critic Representative Patricia Morgan said that she uncovered an inconsistency this week in a grant she had previously received for her district in West Warwick. 

Republican Morgan said that she had requested $5000 for Monsignor DeAngelis in Fiscal Year 2014 under then-Speaker Gordon Fox, for safety improvements around the West Warwick elderly housing complex, including pedestrian signage and crosswalks, only to find out this week that the project had been paid for by other funds.

"[The state] apparently came looking for the receipts about how the money was spent, and what we discovered was that the town had used leftover Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money to pay for the [safety] project instead," said Morgan.  "I never saw the [grant] money, it went to the Manor.  I don't doubt they used it for other expenses, to help improve the quality of life there."

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A review by GoLocal found that Morgan secured over $10,000 for DeAngelis Manor over a three year period; Morgan said the point of contact for Monsignor DeAngelis was in Florida this week and would be able to provide the paperwork of how the money was spent upon return.   

Pressing The Issue

Morgan has continued to press on the issue of legislative grants, saying they should be equitably distributed, memorialized in the budget, or not be there at all. 

"I've been outspoken about legislative grants.  Yes, I got some money, but I got $12,000 over six years when the Speaker took in a quarter million dollars during that time," said Morgan.  "Are there worthy causes?  Absolutely."

"There's been so much pressure on the process for a reason," said Morgan. "But the question now is, will anything come of it?"