According to an independent auditor,  David Cicilline's staff made some "errors in judgment" in regards to tax favors the administration granted to four property owners who just so happened to be large contributors to Cicilline's Mayoral campaigns.  Today David Cicilline decided to fire Tax Collector Robert Ceprano because of his poor performance.  Supposedly, this decision wasn't made from any one incident.  Instead, it was the result of years of mismanagement.  If you believe this, I have a bridge I'll sell you.

     Robert Ceprano was the Tax Collector for almost 9 years, with 6 of those years during the Cicilline administration.  If Ceprano's termination was the result of his poor long-term performance, then why wasn't he fired sooner?  It certainly looks like anger over having his contributor's favors come to light.  It is entirely possible that Mr. Ceprano wasn't performing his job well, but it is very strange that David Cicilline would keep an incompetent person in such an important job for six years, especially when that person is a holdover from the Cianci Administration.  From what I see, his only mistake was accepting a check from John Cicilline.

     If Robert Ceprano is going to be fired, then why not some other individuals in the Cicilline Administration?  If David Cicilline is in the mood to terminate people, Councilmen John Lombardi and John Igliozzi have some suggestions for where he can start:

Both Lombardi and Igliozzi say that the other staff members mentioned in the KPMG report should face reprimand or even termination if they exerted pressure on the tax collector.

Among those named in the report are Cicilline’s director of administration Richard I. Kerbel; Finance Director Bruce Miller; Planning Director Thomas Deller, Deputy Chief of Staff Rita Murphy and Senior Adviser Leo J. Perotta.

“It’s clear from the report that more people were involved,” Igliozzi said. “If more people are involved, then more people should be disciplined.” Said Lombardi of those other mayoral appointments: “Their work certainly leaves much to be desired.” 


     John Lombardi is correct.  The performance of the employees mentioned above does leave a lot to be desired, as does the Mayor's.  From denying knowledge of his brother's bad check to having members of his administration pressure Ceprano to forfeit tax dollars for campaign contributors, Cicilline's performance leaves much to be desired.  By the way, according to John Igliozzi, this mess has cost Providence nearly $500,000.  Remember that next time you get your tax bill.



"Providence Tax Office Under Fire"
http://www.projo.com/ri/providence/content/CICILLINE_AUDIT_FOLO_01-27-09_U4D3J2T_v41.39af50f.html

"Alert: Providence Mayor Fires City Tax Collector"
http://newsblog.projo.com/2009/01/alert-providenc.html#443846