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Lombard i starts early in new role as mayor

01:00 AM EDT on Tuesday, April 24, 2007

By Richard C. Dujardin

[Providence] Journal Staff Writer

NORTH PROVIDENCE – Charles A. Lombardi hit the ground running yesterday,
going to work after a brief swearing-in ceremony as the town’s new
mayor.

Arriving at Town Hall at 7:30 a.m., he was one of the first to arrive,
preceded only by his chief of staff, former Mayor G. Richard Fossa, and
his newly named personnel chief, Rocco Gesualdi, both of whom were let
in by the janitor a half-hour earlier.

He came with just a few accouterments: the clock his children bought for
him after he won the Democratic primary Feb. 27, etched with the words
"Your Time Has Come," a name plate for his desk and a silver Cross pen.

And there was one other new item as well: a shoe-shine kit with polish,
which he said will be a reminder that his administration will be "about
keeping your shoes shined and attitudes polished."

Though Lombardi is planning a more festive swearing in at 5 p.m.
Saturday at the high school, an old friend, Supreme Court Justice Frank
Flaherty, came by at 8:30 a.m. to administer the oath to Lombardi in a
small ceremony in the mayor’s office. Lombardi’s wife, Carol, son Chuck,
daughter Tarra, his 87-year-old father, Alfred Lombardi and a small
group of friends attended. The new mayor then went to each office and
invited employees to come by the hall outside his office for a spread of
rolls, pastries, coffee and fruit put together by senior center director
Karen Testa, the third member of his top-level transition team.

Lombardi said when he came back to his office, he found a note left by
his daughter Tarra, "Dad, Have a wonderful first day as mayor. I love
you."

Among the many people who came by yesterday was Joseph Leylegian, a
member of the town’s Armenian Genocide Committee. Leylegian said he came
with some remarks he thought Lombardi might want to deliver at an
Armenian flag-raising service scheduled for 10 this morning in front of
Town Hall. The event will mark the 92nd anniversary of the killing of
1.5 million Armenians at the hands of their Turkish neighbors.

Lombardi acknowledged yesterday that the office still lacks some of the
usual decor, such as family pictures, but he will bring them in when he
has more time. He was also missing a couch. Acting Mayor John Sisto Jr.
had one, but removed it last week, saying it was his.

Lombardi said he is not going to do what some politicians do and clear
everyone out who worked for the prior administration.

"As I told the fellows at Public Works when we stopped in the other day,
we’re going to make all our decisions based on need and what is best for
the taxpayers of the town, not politics. I did tell them, ‘If I’m paying
you for 8 hours, I want at least 7½ hours, not 2.’ The only people who
will be disfavorable to this administration will be those who clearly do
not want to work."

Lombardi has transition teams in place to examine and make
recommendations on the running of the Police and Fire Departments.
Yesterday he disclosed the names of the three people who will be on his
education transition team: former North Providence School Supt. Marie
Hanley, who left the post in 1999 to become the director of the Northern
Rhode Island Collaborative; former Cumberland Assistant School Supt.
Rosemarie Kavanagh; and Joseph Andreozzi, a retired Providence school
administrator.

He said he has asked Robert Giudici, a certified public accountant, to
conduct a forensic audit, and has begun a search for a professional
engineer to replace Robert Bradford as director of Public Works.
Bradford retired two months ago.

"The DPW director needs to enjoy some engineering qualities. We want to
professionalize the department by appointing a director with the
background and expertise so we don’t have to be calling on outside
engineers."

"Are we going to accomplish everything we want to? Hopefully. Rome
wasn’t built in a day, but I think we are going to be in great shape."

Lombardi said he visited Fire Station 1 on Mineral Spring Avenue and was
disappointed to find that there was a Cranston ladder truck inside
because of the department’s own equipment problems.

Last week, there was a Smithfield rescue truck in the station for a
similar reason, and if one were to visit the station on a rainy day, he
said, one would find water pouring down on the town vehicles through the
roof.

"We obviously need an equipment replacement fund. Too many things were
neglected for so long because of politics. It’s one of the things we
need to change."

Lombardi said he also expects to spend the coming days going over the
budget recently submitted by Sisto.

He said he has heard the complaints that the building inspector’s office
is short-staffed. "I’m not going to say I disagree with that. The
building inspector’s office generates a considerable amount of revenue
for the town. If we are losing revenue because we are short-staffed, I
can guarantee you there will be another person added to that office.

"We also have the problem with the use of town cars, which in my opinion
has become an abuse."

Lombardi said he understands his official car is at the police station.

"I’m not concerned about the use of the car. We will use it sparingly or
whatever, but it’s not a top priority for me. Will I use the car? Maybe
not every day, but I’m sure I am going to use it. Someone asked me who
my driver will be. I’ll drive my own car. We need to set an example."

Later in the day, former Mayor Fossa and Gesualdi, who runs the senior
day care center Generations and who will be the town’s personnel
director, were going through schedules to try to develop a master list
of events the mayor will need to attend.

Beverly Sepe, who had been the executive secretary when Fossa was mayor
until 1997, was back at Town Hall yesterday as executive secretary to
Lombardi after being "borrowed" from the School Department.

Lombardi said he plans to run an open administration and one where
employees are courteous and professional toward the taxpayers and
public.

"I’m sure that if we do that, we’ll be successful."

rdujardi@projo.com