Editorial July 22, 2004
	At the July 19th Council meeting, a Turner Road resident asked the Council to seek an outside investigation by the Rhode Island State police into the matter of the Turner Road construction contract. The resident suggested that Town employees had authorized payment for work not performed and materials not installed. The Council ignored the suggestion and took no action to investigation this matter. Coincidentally at the same meeting the Council approved a construction contract for work at Slate Hill Farm. Prior to authorizing the contract, the Council heard testimony from the Town Engineer that the traffic signal device included in the contract is no longer required and will not be installed. Councilwoman Roarke attempted to amend the dollar amount of the contract to reflect the non-needed traffic signal device; however, her amendment was ignored and the Council approved the full dollar amount of the contract. It appears that at all levels of Town government, from the civil servant to the elected official, it is considered routine and appropriate to use taxpayer money to pay contractors for work not performed. This is an outrageous practice and must end! Since the Council seems to be a willing participant and will not seek an outside independent investigation, it is incumbent upon someone outside the employ of the Town to seek redress. With this in mind, a copy of this editorial and associated reference material will be forwarded to the Attorney General's office with a request to investigate this matter.