Phillips Working to Find Ways Communities Can Share Services

The Joint Commission on Shared Municipal Services has appointed two advisory committees to support its first steps toward helping cities and towns cut costs by working together to provide municipal services.

The commission, which is co-chaired by Sen. Louis P. DiPalma (D-Dist.12, Middletown, Newport, Little Compton, Tiverton) and Rep. Robert D. Phillips (D-Dist. 51, Woonsocket, Cumberland), has announced the appointment of a Public Safety Dispatch Service Advisory Committee and a Tax Collection Service Advisory Committee, since public safety dispatch and tax collection were among the services that legislators have identified as having the greatest potential for sharing and saving money for municipalities.

Each advisory committee consists of working professionals and officials from all overRhode Island in those services as well as other stakeholders and experts. The panels will be asked to make recommendations and provide information to the joint commission as it develops the means for interested municipalities to share those services.

The Public Safety Dispatch Service Advisory Committee shall consist of:

·        Paul Valletta, legislative representative for the International Association of Fire Fighters and the Rhode Island State Association of Firefighters

·        Little Compton Fire Chief Richard J. Petrin, representing the Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs

·        Tony Capezza, legislative representative for the Rhode Island International Brotherhood of Police Officers

·        Cumberland Police Chief John R. Desmarais, president of the Rhode Island Association of Police Chiefs

·        Glen Biddiscombe, Emergency Management Agency director for the Burrillville Police

·        Paul Doughty of the Providence Fire Department, president of the IAFF Local 799

·        William P. Gasbarro, contracts and specifications officer for the Rhode Island E911 Uniform Emergency Telephone System

·        Gregory M. Scungio, principal project manager for the Rhode Island E911 Uniform Emergency Telephone System

·        Rhode Island Emergency Management Agency Deputy Director Ed Johnson

·        North Smithfield Town Administrator Paulette D. Hamilton

·        Rhode Island Public Expenditure Council (RIPEC) Executive Director John Simmons

·        Rhode Island Interlocal Trust General Counsel and Director of Legal Services Ian Ridlon

·        Middletown Fire Chief Roland Doire

·        Westerly Emergency Management Deputy Director Mike Brancato

·        Warwick Fire Chief Edmund Armstrong III

·        Aquidneck Island Planning Commission Executive Director Tina Dolen

·        Ray Berberick of Portsmouth, representing the general public. 

The Tax Collection Service Advisory Committee shall consist of:

·        Rhode Island Division of Taxation Tax Administrator David Sullivan

·        Smithfield Finance Director Randy Rossi

·        East Greenwich Finance Director Kathy Raposa, representing the Rhode Island Government Finance Officers Association.

·        Mark A. Mancinho, director of political activities, Rhode Island American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)

·        J. Michael Downey, President, Rhode Island Council 94, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)

·        Middletown Finance Director Lynne Dible

·        Cranston Finance Director Robert F. Strom

·        Middletown Town Administrator Shawn Brown

·        RIPEC Executive Director John Simmons

·        Aquidneck Island Planning Commission Executive Director Tina Dolen.