Then Again...What Do I Know?

Local commentary by Roger Bouchard as published in the Woonsocket Call on March 13, 2008

Woonsocket

The question most asked of your devoted columnist this week is what REALLY happened to make Susan Menard leave office after only serving several months of her term. Let’s examine what she said was the reason and then other issues that may have hasten the departure. She said family members including the arrival of a new grandchild and the departure of her jet fighter pilot son to serve more time in

Iraq

, has prompted her to go to Utah and stay with her son’s family and lend a helping hand. Another reason is pension considerations. She told us 10 days ago and channel ten on Monday that general assembly plans to cut pension benefits is another consideration to leave early. However when Channel ten reporters checked with legislative leaders, they said there are no plans to alter pensions that would affect Mayor Menard. She also said “I’m burned out and tired and after 29 years it’s time to move on.” That’s what she said!

However there are other issues that may have been festering in her mind to speed up the departure.

· The revelation that the city’s pension fund has lost a good chuck of its value recently; so much so that the city may have to appropriate extra funds to keep it solvent. The Mayor says there are built in safeguards to prevent this and her council critics say coming up with extra city generated funds would be a more likely fix.

· The surplus that really wasn’t a surplus. The recording of the funds from the sale of city land to Wal-Mart for $500,000 into this year’s budget pushed the city’s fiscal picture into black ink. But in reality that money hasn’t come in yet and can only be counted when it does. So the $34,000 surplus originally announced turned into $467,000 deficit. Council President Leo Fontaine in radio interview two weeks ago on WNRI says other “creative budget” miscalculations suggest the deficit is closer to 1,000,000 dollars.

· The police department scandals. From the motorcycle sale deal involving a relative of Mayor Menard to the Bish police testing scores revelations to a host of other issues, the Mayor handed over the department operations to the state police.

· The yet to be released but critical audit revealing “significant deficiencies which we (the auditors) believe constitute material weaknesses.” The audit conducted by Braver PC covers 22 pages of problems that need correction. Just one example the audit outlines are the cash disbursement procedures in the Mayor’s contingency account that were not supported by receipts. The finance department has an opportunity to answer all the findings within the next couple of days.

· The investigations into city affairs by the city council continue on. You may remember only last week Mayor Menard blocked this investigation by going to Superior Court. The subpoenas were too vague so the judge issued a restraining order. But it was only a matter of a few days before the paperwork was tightened up and the council was ready to go ahead with the investigation. Even with the Mayor leaving, Council President Leo Fontaine says the investigation will move forward. It is this issue that will probably move up the timetable of the Mayor’s departure. Expect Fontaine and Menard to clash on questioning city hall employees and city vendors about her dealings.

· Certain members of the inner team of the Mayor Susan Menard have either left or are under scrutiny. The John Dionne e-mail caper caused one of her key people to make a sudden departure. There are other people still in city hall that are under the microscope for possible inside business dealings and records altering.

· The city solicitor works for whom? The departure of former solicitor Christopher Lambert and the poor performance of the new appointee has created a logjam where the city council has no legal counsel. The new solicitor seems to work only for the Mayor. The current solicitor has admitted as much in a public forum forcing the council to hire its own legal advisor.

· The unsettled lawsuits must be settled someday. There are two big ones pending namely construction company Promac and the Gordon F. Ondis suit alleging Woonsocket officials made false representations to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Both have plus million dollar settlement figures and both could be coming to roost sooner than later.

· So what would you do if you were Mayor Menard? Salt Lake City sounds good to me.

Woonsocket

A discussion ensued on the WNRI talk show UPFRONT this week as to what to call Leo Fonfaine as he ascends to the fourth floor of city hall June 15^th or sooner.

Is he mayor elect? No.

Is he mayor designate? No.

Is he mayor in waiting ? Yes. Mayor in waiting Leo Fontaine will take office when his time comes.

Woonsocket

And all this activity is sending Woonsocket into a political season a year ahead of time. With Leo Fontaine stepping up to mayor, a number of locals are considering a run in a special election to round out the city council. At least thinking about running are retired police officer Edward Roy, retired police officer Todd Brien and banker Robert “Bob” Phillips. Woonsocket resident C. Michael Blake has not said anything yet.

ROGER BOUCHARD is general manager of radio station WNRI. His column appears every Thursday in the Woonsocket Call. He can be reached at rogerwnri@prodigy.net.

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Then Again...What Do I Know?

Local commentary by Roger Bouchard as published in the Woonsocket Call on March 13, 2008

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