BLATANT CONTRADICTIONS DECEIVING THE PUBLIC
- Mike Clifford
- Dec 28, 2019
- 3 min read
Watch and judge for yourself.
Below are five BRIEF excerpts from videos that demonstrate the contradictions in what officials have been saying publicly. It takes less than 10 minutes to view all 5 videos.
Background
In 2014, residents of North Smithfield voted to support fixing up long neglected town buildings and doing it in a way that was within the town’s means and would achieve long-term efficiencies. Those efficiencies would be realized by consolidating town and school administration services into shared space at a renovated Kendall-Dean building at 83 Greene Street in Slatersville. While several town boards and commissions - including the School Committee - supported the plan before it went to voters with very specific bond referendum language, not everyone in town supported the consolidation. It has become clear in recent months that some town officials believe they know better than voters. Quietly, they’ve changed the plan to eliminate the efficiencies that would come with a shared space.
On October 17, 2019 we learned that the office space renovated for school department personnel would remain vacant.
July 17, 2017
Town Council meeting - a 36 second video: MBRTF Chairman Paul Vadenais confirms for Councilman Halloran that he has a commitment from the School Department that they will return to Kendall Dean when the project is complete.
January 22, 2018
Town Council Meeting - a 4 minute video: Architect Mark Saccoccio reviews Kendall Dean Floor plans. Accommodations for all school department central office staff, with the exception of the Special Education Director (PPS), were included in the plans. The plans presented showed offices scattered throughout the building which would be used by the school department. Two previous architects (RGB and Studio Meja) had logically designated the entire second floor (roughly more than twice the square footage) as the area for school department personnel.
July 16, 2018
Town Council meeting - a 24 second video: MBRTF presents plans and bid specs for Kendall Dean which suddenly show a smaller space for the school department. Paul Vadenais claims only the school department’s business office staff would be moving back in to Kendall Dean. The Town Council had authorized Saccoccio to draw up bid documents and specs which matched the January 22, 2018 plans which Saccoccio presented. The MBRTF and Saccoccio apparently ignored the motion approved by the Town Council and developed plans which did not include consolidation of nearly all school department offices at Kendall Dean as approved on January 22, 2018. Under questioning by Mike Clifford, MBRTF Chairman Paul Vadenais asserts that the School Department Business office personnel will definitely be moving back into Kendall Dean once the building is completed. Mr. Vadenais claimed moving the school department’s business offices in to Kendall Dean would fulfill the bond requirements of consolidation of school and town offices and services. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lq29aob44hs
July 17, 2018
North Smithfield School Committee Meeting - a 4 minute video: The day after Paul Vadenais told the Town Council that the business offices would be moving into Kendall Dean, I attended the North Smithfield School Committee meeting. I asked the School Committee if central office staff would be moving back into Kendall Dean and also asked if they have met with and discussed the plan with the MBRTF. School Committee chair indicated no contact or dialogue with MBRTF and that Central Office staff would not be moving back to KD. Chairman Lombardi stated he would oppose such a move. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=md1qC8miAT0&t=4s
Excerpts taken from the October 17, 2019
Town Council meeting video - a 48 second video: Councilman Zwolenski, Administrator Ezovski and Council President and MBRTF Chair Paul Vadenais stated for the first time that the school department central office staff would not be moving back into Kendall Dean.
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