The Town Manager's Annual Review is Still Private

A few weeks back I made an inquiry to review the town manager's annual evaluation by the Warren Town Council and was told it was private. I question the town solicitor on the matter and was directed to file a complaint to the Attorney General's office.

In a letter dated July 1, the focus was presented that this evaluation falls under R.I. Gen. Law 38-2-2 and various subsections, and is a private document between the town council and town manager. It still is not correct that the $70,000-a-year manger's performance is not available for its citizens to view what our elected officials think of his performance annually.

This explains a lot, such as why I have asked for him to respond to several road hazards and issues, yet he feels that he does not need to respond to me and remains silent. It is a shame that after several written communications that bring to the attention of our town officials saftey and road hazards, they go un-anwsered. I was shut out of town council meetings trying to get my questions answered, and I was illegally ejected from a meeting trying to exercise my right of freedom of speech.

The solicitor used his legal bags of tricks trying to get me to file a suit against the town, well knowing my ability to bring court action against the town was not possible. He openly lied that there were several communications that should be discussed in court rather than at a council meeting, and when asked to provide them, the town officials fell silent. I took personal abuse in the local blogs, being called a nusiance, and told that I should leave town because I am trying to fight for the right to safely use a public right of way.

I will continue to fight for this, and if I have to start a petition to remove the town manager, I will do that too! Elections are next year. It is time people wake up and start thinking about electing people that will lead the citizens of Warren rather than run their own agendas for their personal use.