Civetti plans bid for District 5 council seat

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Robert Civetti is counting on his understanding of numbers to give him an edge in his bid for the District 5 seat on the Johnston Town Council.

Civetti has been a town resident for 45 years. Married for 25 years with three school-aged children, he graduated from Johnston Public Schools, and went to the University of Rhode Island to study business administration with a concentration in accounting. After 26 years in the field, he opened his own practice as a certified public accountant about a year ago.

His career as a CPA has allowed him unique insights into the financial workings of the town. When Mayor Ralph aRusso left office, Civetti worked on the town’s audit with his firm at the time.

“I started doing the town’s audit back in 1994, so I’m very familiar with the finances. I was in charge of that audit through 2014,” he said.

Civetti said he is pleased with the steps the town has taken to address past financial problems, but there is still work to be done.

“Now, there are problems that are still there – legacy costs, retirements, issues such as post-employment benefits – so those are some of the things I think I’d like to try and help the town get through,” he said.

The town’s arrangement with the Rhode Island Resource Recovery Corporation (RIRRC), which operates the Central Landfill, is another area in which Civetti believes he’s qualified to assist.

“I think there’s been a good relationship, [RIRRC] worked well with the town. There were issues a few years back, whether it’s odor or the financial relationship, but they’ve worked out agreements and obviously there’s been some recent settlements where they were able to get funds and help improve infrastructure in town,” he said. “But I think with any agreement, you need to look at it and monitor it, because the landfill has grown over the years from when that agreement was signed. So it would be nice to look at it to see if the agreement in place is still equitable for the residents.”

Civetti also believes his financial background will help with Citizens Bank negotiations, as the company looks to develop a campus facility on more than 100 acres off of Greenville Avenue.

“The economic development of the town is crucial. If we can continue to increase the tax base of the town, hopefully that reduces some of the tax burden of the residents that live there. So anytime we can have economic development it’s a positive,” he said. “Our tax rate is one of the highest in the state. Even with the Homestead Exemption, we’re still up there. Helping to improve the infrastructure, which hopefully we get some of that with this deal coming through, is again positive and probably an immediate positive to the residents in that area. They will see some benefits.”

Regarding the Citizens project, he added: “I understand the ‘not in my backyard’ concerns of people there for years if their property abuts the project. It’s been a wooded area and it’s a change. But I think that if we need to continue to move the town forward. It’s a great opportunity. Citizens Bank, to the best of my knowledge, would be a good partner with the town and a good company to have on board and to have in our community.”

With three children in Johnston’s schools – two at the high school level and one in elementary school – Civetti believes his personal experience with the district will be valuable.

“I’m a firm believer that the public schools do a good job, and it takes not only the teachers and educators there but it also takes the parents. It’s not all put on the educators, it’s a family upbringing,” he said.

Running as a Democrat, Civetti hopes to seek the endorsement of the Town Committee. Stephanie Manzi, the town council vice present and current representative of District 5, has yet to announced whether she will run for a new term.

“I think Councilwoman Manzi has represented the district well over the years. Yes, there have been some controversies recently and it’s unfortunate,” Civetti said. “But I think you have to look at her tenure there and I think the town has improved with all the current council members, they’ve done a fine job, so have the school committee members. You see everyone working together, which is what you have to do if you’re going to have a sound community, you have to work together as one for the benefit of the taxpayers, and that’s my goal.”

As a longtime resident, Civetti feels he has a vested interest in the community. He’s co-chaired the Johnston Little League for 35 years, beginning with his father as a teenager, and he’s president and a member of the Johnston Lions club.

“I’ve been involved in the community and I’d like to see the community survive, stay healthy, and continue to prosper so that my children can grow up here. I think Johnston is a great town,” he said. “If elected, I can’t please all the taxpayers, but hopefully I can make the right decisions, something that I feel is best for all the residents of the town, not just the residents of District 5.”

Civetti

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  • Educator1

    I think its a poor deal for the Town and another shady one at best !!! The Taxpayers and closest residents were the last to know,If this had gone in little Joeys backyard there would be no deal.but since you Mr Civetti may ne our new Counselman in District 5,maybe you can arrange for this wonderful neighbor of ours to pay for each and every person on Greenville Ave in the near vicinity of this Idotic project to pay the full cost to tie into the sewer so at least we as the closest residents can gain something,Dont join the rest of the Bozos thinking this is such a great deal,they are blowing smoke up our ass saying it will not cause much traffic but just wait because our little group when thier is a backlash of traffic will be driving by each of the reps and little Joeys homes with horns blaring and just causing chaos just to see if it affects thier quality of life... Its time since it is a done deal to get this billionaire company to pay the closest residents for the disruption in our lives.

    Friday, July 1, 2016 Report this

  • Educator1

    I think its a poor deal for the Town and another shady one at best !!! The Taxpayers and closest residents were the last to know.If this had gone in little Joeys backyard there would be no deal,but since you Mr Civetti may ne our new Counselman in District 5,maybe you can arrange for this wonderful neighbor of ours(Citizens Bank) to pay for each and every person on Greenville Ave in the near vicinity of this project to pay the full cost to tie into the sewer so at least we as the closest residents can gain something,Dont join the rest of the Bozos thinking this is such a great deal,they are blowing smoke up our ass,(250000 a yr x20yrs lol) saying it will not cause much traffic but just wait, when they are wrong our little group when thier is a backlash of traffic will be driving by each of the reps and little Joeys homes with horns blaring and just causing chaos on nightly basis just to see if it affects thier quality of life... Its time since it is a done deal to get this billionaire company to pay the closest residents for the disruption in our lives.Lets see what you are made of my friend ??? We the residents of this beautiful farmlike area did not buy here to be sold out by the crooked mayor and fraudmondo,little Joey will get his taste,Ask him to define Karma ????

    Friday, July 1, 2016 Report this