East Providence Council calls meeting to potentially remove Moore as manager

EPPD Chief Parella would become new interim CEO of the city

By Mike Rego
Posted 6/25/18

EAST PROVIDENCE — Well, that was quick.

It appears as though East Providence will once again have a new city manager after the city clerk posted a docket on Monday afternoon, June 25, for a …

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East Providence Council calls meeting to potentially remove Moore as manager

EPPD Chief Parella would become new interim CEO of the city

Posted

EAST PROVIDENCE — Well, that was quick.
It appears as though East Providence will once again have a new city manager after the city clerk posted a docket on Monday afternoon, June 25, for a special meeting of the council to be held Wednesday evening, June 27, where a vote could be taken to replace the current interim person in that position, City Finance Director Malcolm Moore, with another acting designate, Police Chief Christopher Parella.
Mr. Moore, who has served as Finance Department head for some five-plus years, was only installed in the manager’s post upon the initial removal of Tim Chapman in February of this year. Mr. Moore officially took the office upon the 30-day termination period, which ended in March. Mr. Chapman served the position for approximately 18 months, much of that on an interim basis as well in the stead of Richard Kirby, who was relieved of his duties as manager in August of 2016.
According to the agenda, Chief Parella will, like Mr. Moore for a time, serve dual roles. He’ll remain in his position atop the East Providence Police Department with the ability to “retain an administrative assistant from within” the EPPD ranks to help him in his managerial duties. The chief will receive additional compensation for his time as manager, but his pension and longevity pay will not be changed. Chief Parella will return to his position in the EPPD “upon the installation of the Mayor of the City of East Providence or at any time prior to if his services are no longer needed.”
Mr. Moore’s tenure as acting manager will have been a brief one if the vote to remove him, as could be expected, takes place. One source, speaking on condition of anonymity, said “the moment was a bit too big for him,” as it pertains to his ability to operate the city on a daily basis while also overseeing the Finance Department.
Chief Parella was appointed to his current position three years ago by then acting city manager Paul Lemont. The Bristol native and city resident is currently in his 28th year with the EPPD.
The docket for Wednesday’s meeting was posted then pulled with several other addenda made, apparently related to the on-going predicament of Ward 4 Councilman Brian Faria.
At a charged council meeting the week prior, Chief Parella and Acting Human Resources Director EPPD Captain Mike David testified Mr. Faria had engaged in some questionable behavior, among other things accessing City Hall after the close of business and spending upwards of 10 hours allegedly making copies of Law Department documents.
Items to be discussed Wednesday aside from the manager vote include councilor access to City Hall, elimination of the council office in the building, taking swipe keys for City Hall away from councilors and a “Discussion and Vote Regarding Charter Amendment to Address Issues of Removal of Council Member.”
The open session of Wednesday’s meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.

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MIKE REGO

Mike Rego has worked at East Bay Newspapers since 2001, helping the company launch The Westport Shorelines. He soon after became a Sports Editor, spending the next 10-plus years in that role before taking over as editor of The East Providence Post in February of 2012. To contact Mike about The Post or to submit information, suggest story ideas or photo opportunities, etc. in East Providence, email mrego@eastbaymediagroup.com.