Martinelli: Manfredi comments 'out of line'

After reading councilman Manfredi's response to the response that School Committee member Leva wrote, I find the councilman to be out of line to say the least.

I attended all the council meetings where committee member Leva spoke about the finances of the School Department and requested an audit be done. Leva repeated the same statement over and over that she was not accusing anyone of any wrong doing. She was simply looking for accountability.

For councilman Manfredi to state that Leva accused the School Committee of cover ups and wrongdoings that border on criminality is absolutely false. Perhaps, the councilman should have gone back and looked at the meeting transcripts, being that he must have not been paying attention during the meeting.

Also, Leva went to the council to seek assistance because she exhausted all avenues with the School Department. The question arose at two of the council meetings whether or not the council had the authority to audit the School Department.

Again, this was clearly stated at the last meeting that Leva addressed the council that yes the council does have the authority. There is no violation of the charter. Therefore, this is another false statement made by Manfredi. This councilman was in favor of this audit. He voted for it. However, after a finance committee meeting in July, he changed his mind.

Whether or not he changed his mind because his niece was hired by the School Department is the million dollar question. In addition, councilman Manfredi had the audacity to state that committee member Leva talked out of both sides of her mouth. However, the only person that I have seen talk out of both sides of their mouth is this councilman. He was the one week after week discrediting the School Finance Department.

In one article, he called the finance director incompetent. Committee member Leva only spoke the facts. Councilman Manfredi was the one who bragged about his good rapport with the mayor, and he must have had this rapport because he was able to get his nephew a job with the town. Now, there must have been some falling out, being that Mr. Manfredi is now discrediting the mayor. It appears he talks and gets along with whoever has a job opening. He got along well with the mayor, he got a job. He did not get along well with the School Department.

He was in favor of an audit, and at the 11th hour, he got along and got a job. I also went to him on many occasions for help as a School Committee member and he did not follow through, he was lined up with the mayor at that time and I would not get him any jobs! Thank God there are a few politicians like Tami Leva that can't be bought.

Vito Martinelli

North Providence

(Martinelli is the

former chairman of the North Providence School Committee.)