Then Again...What Do I Know?

West Warwick

 

If Kentucky can do it, why can’t Rhode Island do it? The chairman of the Senate Finance Committee Sen. Stephen D. Alves, D-West Warwick, is drafting legislation to force cities and towns to adopt sweeping pension changes that would establish minimum retirement ages, limit annual increases and reduce disability pensions for thousands of local firefighters, police officers and municipal workers. AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer George Nee blasted the pension proposal as “offensive” and “an unnecessary reach.”  However, in Kentucky in the final hours of the 2008 legislative session, House and Senate leaders appeared to have worked out an agreement on a bill to reform the state's beleaguered employee pension system. The pension bill, which is aimed at beginning the process of controlling the soaring retirement costs for state workers and teachers, has been a priority with the Kentucky legislature. The House advocated a bill that reduced benefits for future hires and a study of retooling the various pension systems -- which face a $26.6 billion shortfall -- to make them more efficient. In a WNRI interview yesterday State Senator Marc Cote predicts pension reform will not pass this year but maybe next year.

 

Providence

 

Former Call managing editor Denise Perreault is now writing for Providence Business News, a weekly business publication. Denise’s specialty will feature stories on the economy, small business, manufacturing and the media. Among the stories Denise wrote in this week’s PBN were how realtors are dealing with a slumping market and limiting gang violence in Providence. Nice to see Denise’s name back in the by lines of a respected media outlet. I credit Denise with catching many mistakes in this column before they reached the readers when she edited this column.

 

Woonsocket/Cumberland

 

State Representative Roger Picard is taking nothing for granted next Tuesday in his bid for state senator. Picard, the only name on the ballot, is out campaigning door to door this week during school vacation. Picard also purchased print ads and radio spots on WNRI reminding voters to turn out in at the eight polling places in Woonsocket and Cumberland. Picard easily won the Democrat primary in February. Technically, Roger needs only one vote to win, but a write in candidate could get a dozen votes and take the seat away. Therefore, Picard is busy urging friends, supporters and family to cast votes this Tuesday as a precaution.

 

Woonsocket

 

The Blackstone Valley and Woonsocket could be the focus of a news story in the London Daily Telegraph. Telegraph writer Paul Wade will be in Woonsocket tomorrow checking out Woonsocket highlights. Wade will visit the Stadium Theatre and the Museum of Work and Culture. Wade wanted to visit a bed and breakfast so Blackstone Valley Tourism officials will take him through the Pillsbury House B & B on Prospect Street. Seeking to enjoy some local food fare, Wade will sample dynamites and weiners from Barbara’s Place on North Main Street. We look forward reading about Woonsocket in a future edition of the newspaper.

 

Woonsocket

 

Being a Woonsocket police officer can bring unique and challenging law enforcement situations. Did you read in Wednesday’s Call about patrolmen arresting a mop thief (as in mop the floor) in the Rockridge Drive area Sunday? Byron T. Barr was arrested for the alleged robbery. Among the items attributed to Barr as stolen were greeting cards and a mop. He is currently at the ACI. Then on Saturday a man attacked another man with a knife because a visitor refused to properly dispose of beer cans that had been left  in the backyard on a Third Avenue residence. The alleged knife slashing took place because one of the two men “felt disrespected.” Whatever happened to old-fashioned fistfights to solve a dispute?

 

Woonsocket

 

The pending closing of World War Two Memorial State Park continues to produce conflicting reports. A memo circulated by Robert J. Paquette, Chief of DEM Division of Parks and Recreation confirms the closing for Saturday May 18. The directive outlines that any Woonsocket sponsored event (Autumnfest, Fireworks, summer concerts) must have a special use permit from DEM and carry insurance. The directives also orders trash collection and porta johns will be paid for by the renting parties. Restrooms and the swimming area will be closed permanently. Grass cutting will most likely be awarded to a private company. State crews from other parks in the region will pick up litter. Last month, officials in the governor’s office said the closing would not touch Autumnfest. Last week Governor Carcieri told soon to be mayor Leo Fontaine in a face-to-face meeting the Autumnfest will go on as planned. The directive used the term “mothballing of the facility” to describe the future of the park.

 

Woonsocket

Senator Marc Cote says the showdown on the state budget crisis is about a month away. When budget analysts submit "estimated numbers" in mid May, legislative leaders will know how much or how little money is available to fund state programs. Cote along with other leaders tell us, the cuts will be a general percentage rather than target any one social service agency. Social service programs tend to make up a huge percentage of the state budget. To put things into perspective, Cote says this is worst economic downturn he's seen since he was first elected in 1994.