Budget Commission OKs Police Promotions, Temporary Librarian
Thursday meeting ties up loose end with police department.
Photos
The Woonsocket Budget Commission approved three promotions Thursday, allowing Police Chief Thomas Carey to fill two vacancies in his department he's been waiting on several weeks.
Carey has been before the Commission during meetings since early July to get permission for the promotion of a police sergeant to fill an open lieutenant's position and the promotion of an officer to fill an open sergeant's position. A third promotion of an officer to sergeant was also required to replace the sergeant promoted to lieutenant.
The promotions were tabled for discussion July 10 and votes on them have been delayed a few times as the Commission tackled other issues.
Budget Commission counsel Edward Alves asked if the promotions would affect Carey's talks with Budget Commission members to re-organize the department.
"I don't think this will create a glut that we will have to roll back," said Commission member Mayor Leo Fontaine. With that, the Commission voted to approve the promotions.
"I'd just like to say thank you," Carey told the Commission, adding the thanks of the promoted officers on their behalf as well.
The Commission also approved hiring a part time reference librarian for the Woonsocket Harris Public Library at the request of Library Director Leslie Page. She wrote to the Commission Aug. 8 to request the part-time help, since one of the reference department's three full-time employees, the Readers Advisor, recently retired, quickly followed by an extended medical leave for the library's Chief of Reference and Adult Services.
Page asked for permission to hire a part-time reference librarian to fill in during the Chief of Reference's medical leave, 13 weeks, at $20 per hour for a 19.5 hours per week. The funds to pay the position will come from library fines and fee collections, Page told the panel.
"This will allow us to adequately staff our reference desk, especially after Sept. 6, when we again open on Saturdays," Page wrote.
The Commission approved the request.
John Ward Jr.
1:40 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
Wish i could file a grievance at home!
russell archambault
3:47 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
JR> why dont you file a grievance with daddy, or is he still angry at you for being a failure and an embarasement to the family. just asking.
WED Watchdog
2:05 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
Speaking of Hiring. Dr. Donoyan just hired an Executive Secretary and the job hasn't been posted or a job description been written as of yet. This is politics at work already from new School Committee Chair Vimala Phongsavanh. The person that was hired is a friend of Vimala's from Neighborworks (Vimala's previous employer) that has questionable credentials and will displace a long time highly qualified Administrative Assistant. This is the start of Vimala hiring all her non-profit friends and driving out the highly qualified. Was this approved by the Budget Commission?
russell archambault
3:48 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
WED you have got to be kidding ! its imposible.It just has to be!
DonQ
7:03 am on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Careful Russell,
RL Jr, (oops - Cheerleader) is going to get upset if he even remotely thinks you are questioning what his idol Dr. Donoyan is doing. After all, he looks up to her and knows that she would never do anything questionable. However, it does prove once again that our illustrious school committee must be eliminated. It also proves that Vimala Phongsavanh and her stooges (Nadeau and Donlon) have absolutely no honesty and/or integrity.
russell archambault
7:01 pm on Monday, August 20, 2012
"Page asked for permission to hire a part-time reference librarian to fill in during the Chief of Reference's medical leave, 13 weeks, at $20 per hour for a 19.5 hours per week. The funds to pay the position will come from library fines and fee collections, Page told the panel." PAGE this is just unbeleivable you have no shame to ask for this, none of you people can just help a little extra. Try working in the real world. another thing 400 per week times 13 weeks = 5,200.00 all in fines ?.How much money do you have on the books in fines?? if you worked for me i would fire you. It will even be more of a slap in the face to the tax payer if it is granted. Now the first thing I would do is close the library in this city. With the internet, times have changed. Goes to show how much money that is wasted in this city.
jde
10:13 am on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Mr Archambault, your attacks on the library are ridiculous.
First, if Ms Page says that fines will pay the salary, clearly she must have data to back that up, so why do you question her? Why do you automatically assume that she's lying? She's going to fill two positions, one of which is stated in the article as full-time and the other which may be assumed to be because it's the Chief of Reference and Adult Services with 19.5 hours per week. Sounds like she already must be spreading folks around.
My family and I use the library all the time. Every time I go there other people are using it, too. We take out books to entertain ourselves and better ourselves. I've never read a book online and I don't really have any desire to start doing it now. A laptop is far less convenient, in my opinion, than holding a book. Also, as a research tool, the internet pales in comparison to first person accounts and other scholarly works available in print.
Closing the City's only library would be a major mistake.
Sly
6:53 am on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Budget Commission strikes again,Thank god for the BC,Spending somelse's money with no regret.What would we do without them.Fontaine and Ward must be loving it.Pockets and wallets must be getting pretty heavy these days..When will it end? Its just great thier time is soon over,but not soon enough.This now has been going on for roughly what 3 or 4 months with still no plan in view,but to squeeze the people of Woonsocket like their in a vice.It takes a good set of clowns to run a circus.We've found them right here in the great city of Woonsocket,How fortunate we are.
taxed2death
7:19 am on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
only 2 options left for you tax payers
1 do like me and others get out of dodge
2 revolt and don't pay your taxes and let the mini council and the free loaders wonder where there gonna more money.
English first
10:12 am on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Thank you Ms Page for helping the people in your community library able to do research. Libraries are the lowest funded departments (I think) in most city and town budgets. it is a shame that you have to ask permission to do this when the money is coming out of library funds. Thanks for doing a fabulous job.
Sly
10:38 am on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Tell me EF and the rest of you believers,Who visits the Library? Paper readers,Job Hunters,sleepers,Close it.Schools havve libraries in which are they being used?But the paper and read it at home.Take a nap at Home,Stay home.Do not need a Library no one uses it for good purposes.anyway Providence has the best library in the state take a bus.Whoever say thier not lieing better wake up they make up positions by the day.People get with it close it.Elimnate 1 problem out of many.You all have a good day hoard your money now.
John
11:23 am on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Sly, After reading your post I offer this advice.....use the library and get your GED. At least take out a book on the English language.
Sly
11:31 am on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Thanks John.Your a blessing! My dog didn't have a problem understanding it.I guess its true animals are smarter than john.My advice to you is keep up the good work you really are a super human hero..
John
8:37 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Thanks Sly (Mr. Dionne). Maybe as a super hero you could have me as a guest on your show at 2pm today? I could add some intelligence to your ignorant daily rants.
russell archambault
11:42 am on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
does anyone have a clue what the salaries are there. does anyone know what the budget is there. lets put it out on the table then we can argue! then we can fix this problem once and for all. JDE, please understand my point of view. I only make a point on how to get a handle on spending. I want to know, I,have a right to know how much funds are in that account a full accounting of that item. and how that money has been spent for so long. then ill fire her. the only reason we are now knowing about it ,is because she by law is not able to spend it without asking permission. more things like this will creep up while the budget commision is running the so called circus. Its about time we finally have a wring leader.
Kim Shipala
12:15 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Russell and Sly, The library's budget is public record. You can take a look at it here: http://www.woonutilities.net/web/FY2012%20Adopted%20Budget.pdf . It's for the previous year, but the current budget is a bit less. I can scan and send a copy of this year's budget if you like, or you can come to the library and meet with me. I will be happy to discuss any and all library matters with you. The fines and fees account is about $65,000 as was mentioned to the Budget Commission. Perhaps you should attend some of their meetings. Our fines and fees account is used to pay for items outside our regular budget such as computers, books, programs, and even a security guard. A job as a Reference Librarian requires a Master's degree, so that's why the salary may seem high to you. That's the same as what our current Reference Librarian makes. We have had unfilled positions for years, and to say that we "should help out a little more"? We already do! I personally do the job of three positions! We are one of the busiest libraries in the state, and we are the busiest when it comes to internet usage. To say that Leslie Page should be fired is a ludicrous statement. No matter how little we receive for a budget, she always finds a way to keep us open and end up up with a small surplus to give back to the city.
Sly
12:24 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Close it.Eliminate the problem.That's the career you chose quit crying about what kind of degree's it take to run a library.Its a no-brainer.How hard could it possibly be.
I bet a monkey could run that,He just needs a key to open the door.Or does take an Engineering Degree.Go without like the rest of us.Lay-off everyone and close it.Put the money that's saved in my fund.
English first
8:21 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
Sly. Thank you for your wonderful comments. If other readers of the patch want to see some of the rings going on at Harris Library check out this website http://www.woonsocketlibrary.org. Also all towns around has a lending policy in case you cannot find what you are looking for in your city library.
russell archambault
10:58 pm on Tuesday, August 21, 2012
Ms. Shipala, I thank you for being so kind to me and taking the time to explaine some of the questions that I had. I may stop by and thank you in person.
Sly
8:57 am on Wednesday, August 22, 2012
John you really bore me,Your comments well lets just say you must be around 16 years old.Your not worth even answering to anymore.The beautiful thing about it is I'm closer to you than you think Have a fine day my hero.