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EG Officials Old & New At Work In "Distressed" Communities

In addition to Town Manager Bill Sequino's role in Woonsocket, former elected official Vince Bradley is now serving on the West Warwick School Committee.

 


Town Manager Bill Sequino – named last week to head the newly formed Woonsocket Budget Commission – isn't the only person with East Greenwich connections suddenly in the middle of another community's budget crisis.

Longtime EG Town Council and School Committee member Vince Bradley, who moved to West Warwick a few years ago, was appointed to the School Committee there three months ago, to fill a vacancy.

Two years ago, the West Warwick Town Council cut the school budget 5 percent. A ruling on that is still in the courts. The schools used surplus money to fill the gap for two years. This year, there is no surplus money to fill the gap so last week the School Committee cut all sports and other after-school activities.

"It virtually devastated the school system," said Bradley in an interview Tuesday. The Town Council met again Tuesday night to consider its options amid loud protests from residents.

The 89-year-old Bradley served on the Town Council in East Greenwich from the 1980s to 2000, then served on the School Committee, including a stint as chair, from 2002 to 2006.

According to Bradley, West Warwick has spent $800,000 in court battles over school funding. "Meanwhile, textbooks are 12 years old," he said.

As for why West Warwick, which shares a border with East Greenwich, is struggling, Bradley said the town has had more than 400 foreclosures since the economic downturn. Today in West Warwick there are 125 buildings and residences in foreclosure, compared with 38 buildings and residences in East Greenwich.

Sequino said another issue for municipalities like West Warwick and Woonsocket was their reliance on state aid. While East Greenwich got minimal state aid in recent years, those communities depended on state aid for large portions of their budget, he said. With state aid vastly diminished, the West Warwicks and Woonsockets are hurting.

"We don't have any of those issues," said Sequino Tuesday. "It's nowhere near the magnitude" as most of the state.

East Greenwich holds its annual Financial Town Meeting next Tuesday, June 12. With no controversies looming, it seems likely the town's $50.6 million budget will pass by default.

While Sequino and Bradley are new to the "distressed community" scene, there is one East Greenwich resident who's just been relieved of his duties with another such Rhode Island community. Bob Flanders served as receiver for Central Falls from February 2011 until last Friday, when he was replaced by Gov. Lincoln Chafee.

Related Topics: Bill Sequino, Bob Flanders, Vince Bradley, West Warwick, and Woonsocket

William F. Greene

7:13 am on Wednesday, June 6, 2012

How much is it costing EG gor Mr. Sequino's time and expenses for his work for Woonsocket? How are his reponsibilities in EG being fulfilled?

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EG Lurker

2:30 pm on Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Although I disagree with many on this site with regard to "loaning" Mr Sequino to Woonsocket, I would also like to know if he or the town are being compensated for his use of his town-supplied car and gas to drive up there as needed (assuming he has a town-supplied vehicle).

D sal

9:05 am on Wednesday, June 6, 2012

EG has out performed other RI towns because of our town manager. With all the corrupt politicians in RI ~ I encourage everyone to use their energy towards unseating them as opposed to honing in on Mr Sequino. He has done a great job in EG & he should feel compelled to help out our less fortunate neighbors.

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Mark Thompson

12:36 pm on Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Way to go, Vince....altho' not sure an 89-year old should be complaining about 12-year-old books!

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Judy Bailey

10:41 pm on Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Vince---did you have fun at the meeting last night? It looked a little wild, even for you.

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Elizabeth McNamara

10:53 pm on Wednesday, June 6, 2012

You would know, Judy! Thanks for the comment.

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