Questions remain for Revere DPW

The Daily ItemREVERE – Two state oversight agencies have almost completed their review of city public works operations, but the City Council still has questions about unlicensed drain work and other concerns.Ward 6 Councilor Charles Patch wants the city to provide 18 St. Mary?s Way residents Mark and Kerri Lento additional help correcting sewer problems on their properties.A state Ethics Commission transcript detailed how former Public Works employee Anthony Giannino did private sewer work for the Lentos.?The job ?totally failed? on Jan. 25, 2003,” the transcript stated, adding that city Public Works Superintendent Donald Goodwin eventually ordered the sewer job redone.The work apparently did not solve the Lentos? problems because Patch plans to ask Goodwin and Mayor Thomas Ambrosino tonight to “correct the sewerage problem.”The Ethics Commission fined Giannino and another worker, Randy Adamson, in December 2007 after they paid city water facilities director Joseph Maglione $3,000 to $4,000 in bribes between 2002 to 2006 when they did 25 drain-laying jobs.It is not city policy to install the connections. Instead, property owners must arrange for a private drain layer licensed by the city to obtain a drain-laying permit from the city and do the work.Adamson and Giannino, according to the commission, were not licensed drain layers.The pair subsequently resigned their city jobs and the commission issued a show cause order alleging Maglione accepted bribes. The commission held winter and spring hearings on the order, summoning city officials and residents, before clearing Maglione?s name last month.Maglione wants the city to help him pay $50,000 in legal fees and he is seeking overtime pay he claims he is owed.?He will seek reimbursement from all who bear responsibility for the price he paid attempting to stop misconduct at the Revere DPW that was harmful to the citizens of Revere,” William Spallina, Maglione?s attorney, said in a statement last week.Maglione was on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the commission hearings.?Mr. Maglione incurred substantial attorneys fees and lost wages,” Spallina said.Even as they prepare to review Maglione?s request and the Lentos? and councilors are waiting to see if Ambrosino has the results of a Public Works operations audit.Councilors asked the state Auditor to investigate the department after a heated Jan. 21 council debate over DPW operations.At city officials? request, the Auditor is reviewing department time keeping and attendance records for employees and practices DPW followed in purchasing supplies and equipment. The city is paying for the $25,000 review.