12/22/2020
Committee seeking more info about potential purchase
NORTH PROVIDENCE – Mayor Charlie Lombardi, who offered first dibs on the sale of a work vehicle to the School Department, says if the schools don’t take up his offer, he’ll consider giving the van to the North Providence Mancini Center.
Lombardi recently offered the town-owned vehicle to the schools to use for internal deliveries, especially mail and other materials. The potential purchase was discussed at last week’s School Committee meeting, when committee members raised several questions and concerns.
Supt. Joseph Goho explained that he was recently approached by the town mechanic, who said they were “putting a van out to the market for sale and thought maybe we could use it. They would offer it to us at a lower price.”
Jim Fuoroli, director of public buildings, indicated to Goho that the district should be “very serious about considering making the purchase.”
The first question swirling was concerning the year, make and model of the vehicle up for purchase, information officials said was not available for the meeting.
School board member Gina Picard agreed with Steven Andreozzi that more information, including “what we would be purchasing,” was needed before agreeing. She also asked what, specifically, the schools would be using the van for, including what type of material it would be delivering and how often.
“I think if we’re going to make a big purchase I want to know specifically how much mail we actually have. This is the 21st century, I can’t imagine … I mean we don’t even print report cards anymore,” Picard said.
Goho said the town is currently using a flatbed truck, loaned by the town, for daily departmental deliveries. On days when there is inclement weather, Goho said the district’s courier is not capable of making deliveries.
“We also would have this as our own van, so we would have complete disposal and use and access to it at all times,” he said.
Andreozzi said he could “probably sell you a car for a lot cheaper than what you’re paying for this, depending on what it is, to handle all of your transportation needs” calling out the mayor’s price tag of $4,000. “I didn’t know you were in the market for something,” he said.
Goho said the finance department indicated to him that there is some money in the budget that would help pay for the van.
Member Rod Da Silva then questioned why the school department would be asked to purchase the Chevy cargo van if many of the town’s departments have been merged with the schools into a single entity.
“We have a merger that has no guidelines because there’s nothing written on paper. We have a facilities director who has told multiple superintendents, ‘I work for the mayor,’” DaSilva said. “If this is a merger and there is a vehicle available, why aren’t we just having this vehicle given to us? Why do we have to come up with $4,500, then be accused of our finances not (being) in proper order?”
Da Silva said he’s not opposed to having the van, but wonders why they’re being asked to purchase it.
Lombardi told The Breeze that the town had purchased the cargo van, which “needed a little work,” but “is like new now.”
Lombardi said he didn’t consider gifting the van for free, since it wouldn’t be used by the merged town/school maintenance department but by the school administration building to deliver supplies.
“I can’t afford to give it to them. This use would fall under the superintendent’s office, not maintenance,” Lombardi said. “It would be there to benefit just one department, not the entire town.”
If the School Department chooses not to purchase the vehicle, Lombardi said he’d consider sharing it with the Mancini Center.
“It may be more important for the School Department to have the availability of use, but if they don’t, maybe I’ll send it to the senior center. They could certainly use it, but I think the School Department has more use for it now … especially to protect the paperwork and (material),” he said.
The matter was tabled for now, pending the acquisition of more information.
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