Councilman Manfredi responds to Leva's letter

School Committee member Leva wrote of writing a letter to the editor several months ago regarding the need for all elected officials to work together. She further stated that she "found it appalling to see a fellow councilman discredit his fellow councilmen because a vote did not go his way." What I find incredulous is that these statements could be made by Ms. Leva with a straight face. This is the same person who accused her colleagues on the School Committee of a cover up and other wrongdoings that border criminality. Not only did she disparage her colleagues to their face, but she then took her grievances to me first and then to the entire Town Council, asking the body to violate the Town Charter by investigating the School Department, something the Charter specifically prohibits the council from doing. She asked the council to expend tens of thousands of dollars to conduct an "illegal" investigation after I had investigated her complaints and found some merit to financial mismanagement and inaccurate reporting but no evidence to warrant a forensic audit; an opinion supported by auditor Robert Civiti, C.P.A. at a meeting of the Town Council and School Committee members whereby an agreement was outlined at that meeting to correct the problems. We did work together to resolve the issues, but that was still not satisfactory to Ms. Leva who had continued on with her barrage of accusations and refused to accept the efforts of her colleagues. Was that her example of "working together"?

Ms. Leva also attacks my vote against a tax increase in 2007 and attempts to blame that vote for the 2009 hike. What Mayor Lombardi obviously forgot to tell Ms. Leva while advising her on this issue is the story that blames just about everyone for the financial mess that we are in and having never alluded to a 2007 vote to not increase the taxes as the fault of anything.

Ms. Leva also attempts to discredit my attempt to impose a tax freeze because the revaluation will result in a property value decrease, in turn requiring a tax rate increase. Apparently, when Ms. Leva was being coached on this issue by Councilman Douglas, who originally brought up the concept at the October council meeting, he forgot to tell her that he was wrong on the issue and that a tax freeze will have no impact on the revaluation.

Ms. Leva, you can't talk out of both sides of your mouth. Either you are in favor of higher taxes or you are not. Either you support honest, efficient and effective government (for both the School Committee and the town), or you don't. If you are going to continue to do the mayor's bidding, or that of Councilman Douglas, you should first check the facts that they provide you. You have a tendency to look foolish enough on your own without having others make you look more foolish.

Regarding Councilman Douglas, I can understand your desire not to air out dirty laundry in the media. When you are apparently involved in Town Charter violations and behavior that is less than in compliance with ethical standards expected of elected officials, you are wise to keep your dirty laundry under wraps. Your ability to vote independently has been compromised as a result. As far as coincidence, as CEO of an auto body business that was added to the town's tow list during the Lombardi administration, is that also coincidence? Finally, after six years on the council, I find it ironic that you need to introduce yourself to "those who may not know you" at the start of your letter. Had you been involved in any initiatives of your own doing rather than being the second voice of the mayor, the readers of this paper would need no introduction.

Frank A. Manfredi

Councilman, District 11 North Providence