PROVIDENCE – “Today, I am asking the R.I. Senate to consider and confirm a full slate of exemplary men and women to lead the Resource Recovery Corporation past its management challenges, through the next phases of development at the Central Landfill and into a future that must include a long term solution to the state’s solid waste disposal needs,” Gov. Donald L. Carcieri said yesterday in naming six new members to the RIRRC’s eight-member board of commissioners.
“Considering the problems facing the corporation, I hope the Senate will act quickly on these nominations,” he added.
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“It is now clear that the Central Landfill has been mismanaged for years,” Carcieri said, referring to the problems uncovered by the R.I. Department of Administration’s Bureau of Audits in its preliminary report. (READ MORE)
“I have already asked the Bureau of Audits to continue and complete their investigation. I have also provided copies of the bureau’s preliminary findings to the State Police, the Attorney General and the U.S. Attorney for their review,” he said. “In the meantime, we must help the new executive director, Mike OConnell, by putting in place a new board.”
One seat on the RIRRC board goes to the director of the Department of Administration, or a person designated by that director. Carcieri last month named Jerome F. Williams – previously, the director of transportation – to replace Beverly E. Najarian, the administration director for the past four years. (READ MORE)
The governor has the power to appoint the other seven RIRRC commissioners, two of whom must be Johnston residents; those appointments are subject to Senate approval. The statute establishing the agency urges him to take into consideration the recommendations of the mayor of Johnston, the R.I. League of Cities and Towns, and various environmental, hauling and recycling interests.
Current board member Kenneth Aurecchia of Johnston will continue to serve, the governor said.
His nominees for the other six public seats, in alphabetical order, are:
• Carole Bell of Cranston: A senior program manager at Science Applications International Corp., working in environmental compliance and waste management and prevention, she was recommended by the Environmental Council of Rhode Island.
• Bradford Gorham of Foster: A lawyer and former state senator, who led efforts to establish and improve the RIRRC’s recycling programs.
• Douglas Jeffrey of Johnston: The president of urban residential broker and developer Signature Properties, he was recommended by Johnston Mayor Joseph M. Polisena.
• Michael Quinn of Warwick: A retired R.I. State Police major currently serving as executive director of campus safety and security at Johnson & Wales University, where he is also an adjunct professor.
• Sue Sheppard of Lincoln: A retired town administrator for Lincoln.
• John Ward of Woonsocket: A certified public accountant, he serves as the Town of Lincoln’s current finance director and a member of the Woonsocket City Council. Ward was recommended by the League of Cities and Towns.
“Taken together, these nominees bring a depth and breadth of valuable government and business experience and insights to a board that needs fresh perspectives,” Carcieri said.
“In addition to the ongoing investigations, the Resource Recovery Corporation faces a number of significant challenges going forward – beginning with a long-planned expansion that must be started with the spring building season, and ongoing critical environmental compliance activities.
“I urge the Senate to timely and favorably consider this slate of nominees so that the serious business of the corporation may be attended to by a fully qualified and confirmed board.”
The R.I. Resource Recovery Corporation, manager of the state Central Landfill in Johnston, was created by the R.I. General Assembly in 1974 to provide environmentally sound programs and facilities for managing solid waste generated in Rhode Island. Additional information is available at www.rirrc.org. News and information from the governor’s office is available online at www.ri.gov/governor.
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1 comment on this story
Posted by anthony from johnston, ri
at 12:25 AM, 3/19/2008
The question that should be put forward is "Why does the State own and run the Landfill operation?" If State sold the Landfill and the failed Industrial Park, the budget defecit would be eliminated. The private sector should be running businesses not politicians. A real business would not have been burying aluminum, steel, and copper for the past 30 yrs. and now complain that there is no more room in the landfill. Worse yet is the Govenor, Senate and House leaders promoting a new untested incineration technology as a solution!
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The question that should be put forward is "Why does the State own and run the Landfill operation?" If State sold the Landfill and the failed Industrial Park, the budget defecit would be eliminated. The private sector should be running businesses not politicians. A real business would not have been burying aluminum, steel, and copper for the past 30 yrs. and now complain that there is no more room in the landfill. Worse yet is the Govenor, Senate and House leaders promoting a new untested incineration technology as a solution!