Target 12: Shake-up at Providence DPW

PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) - One city administrator has been fired and another has been suspended without pay after a Target 12 investigation raised questions about leadership within the Providence Department of Public Works.

Director Paul Thomas was terminated and the department's "Fiscal Advisor" David Pontarelli was suspended without pay by Providence Mayor Angel Taveras. The move comes in the wake of an undercover WPRI 12 investigation that revealed Pontarelli was spending a large amount of time checking in on his second job as marketing manager at a popular night club, dining with friends and running errands during regular DPW hours.

The investigation also revealed that on several occasions Pontarelli would come into work late after an event at the night club and leave early. On those days, undercover video shows him going into the club on DPW hours then running errands at several banks and often heading back home early.

• Watch the investigation in the video player above

Target 12 monitored Pontarelli's movements for five weeks, conducting more than 120 hours of surveillance.

The investigation reveals Pontarelli – a high-ranking member of the DPW – used two traffic lights and several streets signs for decorations inside the nightclub.

The equipment was returned to the DPW less than 24 hours after WPRI 12 tried to question Pontarelli. A spokesman for the mayor says he was told that another manager gave Pontarelli permission to use the equipment. The spokesman said he was told the lights were broken.

But pictures from inside the club show the traffic lights working and Target 12 has learned one light was still in operation by the city and the other was brand new. A city worker had to rewire the lights for Pontarelli so they could be used in the club.

Pontarelli declined to comment when Target 12 attempted to question him about the findings.

Hired by Providence in 2002, Pontarelli has steadily rose the ranks in city government acting as assistant to the Chief of Staff under former Mayor David Cicilline.

• Related: Ted Nesi on Pontarelli's history with Providence

Records show he receives a base salary of $60,000 and has earned $2,600 in overtime this year. He also collects an annual "longevity bonus" of $2,400 and the city pays into a pension account as well as health benefits.

According a job description provided by the city, the "fiscal advisor" is charged with "monitoring spending in the [DPW]...supervise staff assigned to perform the fiscal and personnel time keeping functions... and will act as a couch or mentor to other Department employees."

• See the full job description for "Fiscal Advisor"
• Interactive timeline of "City Slacker" Investigation

The city declined to give specifics as to why Thomas was fired, but the termination came after WPRI 12 began asking questions about him, as well as Pontarelli.

Thomas had a base salary of $102,596, up from $96,000 when he was hired in 2009. He did not return calls for comment.

• See the full job description for "DPW Director"

Tim White ( twhite@wpri.com ) is the Target 12 investigative reporter for WPRI 12 and Fox Providence. Follow him on Twitter: @white_tim

Watch on Friday: Providence Mayor Angel Taveras reacts to Target 12 findings