|
By HANNAH CLARKIN
This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
WEST WARWICK — The new — or not so new — members of the West Warwick Town Council and School Committee will be sworn in Monday at the West Warwick High School Auditorium. The town council will be sworn in at 6 p.m. and the school committee at 7 p.m. There are no changes on the council — Edward Giroux (D-Ward 3), Peter Calci (D-Ward 5), Filomena Gustafson (D-Ward 4), David Gosselin (D-Ward 2), and Angelo Padula (D-Ward 1) all maintained their positions. After the council is organized, council members hope to tackle the financial stability of the town, said Padula.
“My first priority is getting together with the school committee and taking care of the problems we have with the budget,” he said. “That’s long overdue. Each day that goes on, more and more money is spent and we’ve got to nip that in the bud.” Calci said that his first priority is the same. “[Our success] is predicated on how the council goes forward, how the leadership of the council coordinates and works hand and hand with the school committee and on the cooperation between the town council and the town manager — to be on the same page at the same time,” he said. Making cuts and saving money in light of the bad economy is the first priority for her, Gustafson said. The school committee, which had three openings, gained new member John Pettinicchio Jr. while incumbents Bruce Vanasse and Jim Williamson maintained their seats in the election. Entering the committee, Pettinicchio voices the same concerns as the town council members. “The first thing I want to do is just to get in there and maybe look at the budget and see where we can make cuts and see what we can do and get the school budget under control,” Pettiniccio said. “That’s the biggest issue right now.” Re-elected committee-member Vanasse said he has the same concern. “We need to look to find a way to save some money. We need to break the deficit that we are currently in.” Working on the deficit is of immediate importance, agreed Williamson. “I’m sure we’ve all individually been thinking about that and coming up with some ideas, so, once the swearing in takes place, we can all reconvene and put some of those ideas to work.” He hopes the council will be ready to form some of the join committees that were mentioned in the Caruolo Settlement, Williamson said. “I’d like to see that take place as soon as possible so we can dig our heels in and get things done.” Making appointments to the task force that was part of the Caruolo settlement is his first priority for his new term on the town council, said Giroux. Both the council and the school committee will choose their leaders on Monday night—the council will vote on a president and vice president and the school committee will choose a chairperson. |