East Providence City Council Takes Steps on Consolidation

The East Providence City Council moved forward on efforts to consolidate building maintenance and information technology on the city and school department sides.

Mayor Bruce Rogers discussed during the council's Tuesday night meeting how the East Providence School Committee had decided not to hire a new facilities manager with the idea that the work could be managed by the facilities director on the city side.

He said agreements are being worked out between Interim School superintendent Edward Daft and Interim City Manager Orlando Andreoni.

Councilman William Conley asked whether the council and school committee would receive a financial analysis on how the consolidation would take place and what the savings would be for the city. Rogers said he thought that was appropriate and necessary.

The council passed a motion of support for the consolidation effort unanimously.

Rogers also brought up the potential consolidation of the information technology departments on the city and school sides. In the past, he said there was one director overseeing efforts on both sides.

He asked for support to send the matter to the school committee for consideration and said there would also be an analysis on the fiscal impact of that consolidation.