Council confirms auditor selection

John Howell
Posted 11/20/14

The City Council didn’t tangle with Bob Healey Monday night, although it’s doubtful the presence of the Moderate Party candidate for governor affected the confirmation of Catherine King Avila as …

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Council confirms auditor selection

Posted

The City Council didn’t tangle with Bob Healey Monday night, although it’s doubtful the presence of the Moderate Party candidate for governor affected the confirmation of Catherine King Avila as auditor.

Ending months of debate over whether Avila’s selection had been properly conducted, five of the seven members present approved her appointment.

Healey was there to see what would happen and he was prepared to represent and advocate for Avila had there been a different outcome. He said after the vote that he has known Avila for years and they both served in Warren’s town government. She was a member of the town council and he was on the school committee. They both served the East Bay Bar Association.

Healey said he attended the Warwick council meeting so that he could hear their logic, if they did not confirm her selection after she was hired. This may not be the end of the controversy.

“I’m not convinced it’s over,” Avila said. She said there has been some talk about not funding her position in next year’s budget.

“That’s one way it could come up again,” she said, “but I’m hopeful. I’m willing to work for all members of the council.”

Ward 5 Councilman Ed Ladouceur and Ward 9 Councilman voted against her confirmation.

Pointing out that the auditor is named by a majority of the council, Ladouceur said the “process was flawed” because only the council president, chair of the finance committee and a representative of the city personnel department interviewed the short-list of candidates and made the selection. Ladouceur had obtained the résumé of the five finalists and circulated them to council members. But the process of choosing the finalists or conducting interviews was not reopened.

Initially, Avila’s selection went unnoticed. The issue surfaced last summer when Roger Durand, who regularly attends council meetings, brought to light that qualifications called for candidates with an accounting degree. Avila, who has extensive experience in municipal government, does not have an accounting degree. Furthermore, it was revealed that Roy Dempsey, who is also a regular at the meetings, was one of the finalists and does have a background in accounting.

Durand and his group mounted a campaign to correct what they thought was an injustice, circulating flyers in the wards of Council President Donna Travis and Finance Committee chair Camille Vella-Wilkinson.

Yesterday, Avila called the action “political bullying.”

“They won’t be successful in intimidating me,” she said. “I’m appreciative of those who stood up to the bullies. They have my thanks and admiration.”

As she has done previously, Vella-Wilkinson outlined the selection process on Monday, emphasizing that the interview process did not deviate between finalists. Candidates were all asked the same questions; the same system of grading the candidates was used; and each of the three conducting the interviews made their selection independently of the others.

After the council’s legal counsel, John Harrington found the selection required council confirmation. Travis docketed it.

On Monday, Ward 8 Councilman Joseph Gallucci said Vella-Wilkinson and Travis had followed past practice in making the selection without the full council. He said the council’s job now was to vote on that selection, not reopen the process. That still didn’t sit well with Ladouceur.

“There is something flawed when the director of personnel had a vote and seven council members didn’t,” he said.

In fact, the personnel director recused herself from the selection process and a member of the department took her place for the interviews.

Comments

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  • RoyDempsey

    I am not sure where "political bullying" comes in, but I do know what the city charter says about the hiring process.

    2-17. - Powers of committees.

    Any committee of the council may investigate and report on any matter referred to it and make a recommendation thereon *****but no committee shall have any executive or legislative powers and all matters shall be determined by the council as a whole.*** >>>> "finance subcommittee"formed by Vella -Wilkinson

    It appears to be very clear that, according to the City Charter, Ms. Vella-Wilkinson had no authority to act in the hiring of Ms. Avila, without first referring her name for consideration by the council as a whole. Her capacity, as the charter states, was to recommend. The decision to hire per the charter was to be made by the council. In this instance, Ms. Vella-Wilkinson, took the role of an executive which she clearly did not have the authority to take.

    Statement above is clearly not bullying and for that matter not political.

    Thursday, November 20, 2014 Report this

  • Stacia Huyler

    and showing up with attorney Bob Healy isn't in any way an intimidation factor? If the hiring process was conducted LEGALLY to begin with, Ms. Avila would not need to show up with an attorney. Also, its disturbing to watch Ms. Avila randomly appear on the city council floor engaging city council members in side bar discussions when members of the public are speaking during the public open mic session. The public expects the full attention of the city council when they are being addressed by the public as per the Warwick City Charter. If pursuing the abidance of law by the public is construed as "bullying" by the city council auditor , then this would be yet another reason as to why she is not qualified to hold the position.

    Thursday, November 20, 2014 Report this

  • fenceman

    Of all people, Bob Healy. The definition of laughable at best and the spoiler of Rhode Island. Clearly, in accordance with the city charter, Avila was not hired properly. But the 2 fools Travis and Wilkinson, on their own accord, turn the issue into a political mess due to their failure to have knowledge of the city charter, failure to check the process with the city solicitor, and failure to simply READ readily accessible documents. (Travis is excused on the reading) Yet Travis opens another can of worms saying " we violated the charter in the past and hired someone the same way so it must be ok" Real display of brain power again.

    During the process, the only bullies noted were the aforementioned, less than knowledgeable council woman. For those of you who missed the circus show, its worth the time and effort to go to "USTREAM Warwick City Council" and watch the antics. As Wilkinson makes a feeble attempt to explain her self proclaimed flawless hiring and interview system, Travis entertains the audience by calling Ladoceur and Merolla sexists. With her articulate use of Deeze, Dems, and Doze, coupled with a few "Youz Peoples" it was clear that the two had entered the pond in which they could not easily tread water.

    The result, compromise the city charter, hire the individual with the least amount of credentials, and put another ally in the pocket of two councilwomen, who would not, could not, and have not ever understood financial issues.

    Another big win for Warwick.

    Thursday, November 20, 2014 Report this

  • warwickguy

    First I have to ask..... why hasn't anyone spoken to Mr Healy about cleaning himself up a little. This is probably why we now have the man that dresses like a woman Gina as Governor. Mr Healy had a lot of great ideas the problem is RI is already the laughing stock of the country and to have such a unkempt man representing us would be icing on the cake.

    As far as Mr. Dumpsey..... no no no no he would be the worse person for the position. Look at all the horrible unfounded issues he has caused though the years just to feel like he has self worth. He is an angry elderly man with a chip on his shoulder, he kind of shot himself in the foot. He needs to move on and find peace.

    Friday, November 21, 2014 Report this

  • RoyDempsey

    @warwickguy. I am not sure what issues have been unfounded, but plenty of peace here warwickguy. Just stated the facts.

    Friday, November 21, 2014 Report this

  • bendover

    I don't know if Mr. Dempsey is correct...However, there certainly is a question about council procedure. First, file an Ethics complaint, then get a Superior court injunction to halt the Avila appointment based on the Charter being violated. Bottom line is Warwick needs a new Council President because what others have stated is true...Currently, this is embarrassing for the second largest City in the State.

    Friday, November 21, 2014 Report this

  • rtwhit55

    Has Healey ever played the role of Rasputin the monk?

    Friday, November 21, 2014 Report this

  • Scal1024

    So we agree Bob Healy has great ideas. We agree he listens to the people yet due to appearance it is accepted that people cannot vote for him?..and we wonder why we're last in everything in this state. Fung was a terrible candidate. A moderate pretending to be conservative in a liberal state. Perhaps changing how/why we vote for people would bring about real changes. Fung and Raimondo were very similar, flawed candidates and yet that's who each party chose. The media and the people ought to do a better job of vetting these candidates.

    Saturday, November 22, 2014 Report this