Dear Governor, Legislative Leaders, and the RI Attorney General's Office,
The RIDEM rejected the Town of Narragansett's proposal for Galilee. The Town of Narragansett's Proposal was supported by the Town of Narragansett (The Narragansett Town Council, the Narragansett Building Inspector, the Narragansett Town Planner, members of the Galilee Advisory Committee, citizens and residents of Galilee as evident by the Friends of Galilee consisting of several hundred members and the Narragansett Pier Residents Group). In addition, there is an online petition at the change.org website that now has over 3000 signatures that show support of the Town of Narragansett's Proposal, and the petition expresses the frustration with the RIDEM. The Town of Narragansett's Proposal was supported by the University of Rhode Island Research Study that was conducted by the division of Landscape Architecture and it consisted of Marine Scientists. Narragansett's Proposal is supported by the Galilee Master Development Plan that was created by experts who spent countless hours on determining what is best for Galilee. I will gladly share with you any of the above reports or the minutes of meetings that will substantiate my above comments. Yet, as part of screening the proposals for the 5-acre parcel in Galilee, the RIDEM created a rubric that, in anyone's unbiased opinion, did not allow the RIDEM to select Narragansett's Proposal as the best fit for Galilee. The RIDEM then announced none of the three proposals that were submitted based on the RFP generated by Procaccianti and the RIDEM were acceptable. The RIDEM then announced it wants to submit for approval to the State Properties Committee a 19-year parking lot lease agreement with Procaccianti Developers (PRI X). I am totally perplexed why the RIDEM would not want to manage the parking lot in Galilee or allow the Town of Narragansett manage the parking lot for the taxpayers of Rhode Island Gain. Why does the RIDEM want to award a behind the scenes deal with Procaccianti Developers who works hand in hand with Joseph Paolino without the 19-year parking lot lease going out for bid? Why does the RIDEM want to award a multi-Billionaire who showed total disregard to the leased area in Galilee a lucrative no bid contract which will result in the Billionaire's Gain and the Taxpayers of Rhode Island's Loss? If this 19-year parking lot lease deal is approved by the State Properties Committee, then many who have told me Rhode Island is one of the most politically corrupt states in the United States may have it right.
I read in yesterday's Providence Journal, RIDEM Acting environmental chief on track for appointment. (Please see the article attached immediately below this paragraph) I strongly urge each of you to reconsider nominating Director Gray unless he can explain why the Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management has rejected the Town of Narragansett's Proposal for Galilee without sound justification? Why did the RIDEM create a rubric in screening the proposals submitted for Galilee that were not valid based on prior research conducted by the Town of Narragansett, the University of Rhode Island Research Studies, the Master Plan Agreement for Galilee, and the Town's Governmental Leaders and experts? Why did he approve the 6 month lease extension to Procaccianti Developers last summer when it was not supported by the Town of Narragansett? Why is the RIDEM suggesting the State Properties Committee approve a 19-year parking lot lease with Procaccianti Developers that is a no bid parking lot lease that was negotiated behind closed doors? Why is the RIDEM requesting the State of Rhode Island pay for the demolition of the Lighthouse Inn building that was abandoned by Procaccianti Developers (PRI X) ? Why is the RIDEM not allowing the Town of Narragansett to operate the parking lot lease so the State of Rhode Island and the Town of Narragansett can benefit from the revenue rather than giving it to a multi-billionaire who created one of the worst eyesores on State Land in the history of the United States that will result in the Billionaire's Gain and the Taxpayers of Rhode Island loss? The Town of Narragansett's Proposal had a multi-level garage that would have consolidated the parking area as it would have taken up a smaller footprint on the leased land. In addition, a parking garage would provide greater accountability. With the RIDEM proposing a street level parking lot in the area, it will take up precious land space, and it will bring in cash without a system of checks and balances to make sure all the income is accounted for. Please ask Director Gray, who from the RIDEM came up with the idea of a street level parking lot in an area that could be used more profitably for the State of Rhode Island? At least if the RIDEM or the Town of Narragansett was awarded the parking lot, the money will go to the State or the Town of Narragansett. If the aforementioned actions are an indication of how Director Gray will continue to operate the RIDEM, and he gets nominated, then Heaven Help Our State.
I recently requested via an APRA (Access to Public Records Request) to the RIDEM, requesting the Director explain why he approved a 6 month extension with Procaccianti Developers (PRIX) in Galilee last summer since Procacccianti Developers violated the terms of the prior lease agreement for the 5 acre parcel as Procaccianti Developers neglected the Lighthouse Inn, and now it is beyond rehabilitation. He originally wrote back to me and he said, in consultation with the Town of Narragansett and the State Properties Committee, I awarded Procaccianti Developers the 6 month extension last summer. The Town of Narragansett never approved the 6 month extension and they were never consulted on the matter. In fact, the Town of Narragansett was blindsided by that decision.
Here is the email Director Gray sent me:
Good evening Dr. Alba:
Compliance with the RI Access to Public Records Act is a legal process and requests need to be specific and accurate. The response you received is directly related to your request. In terms of lease approvals, I approved the six month extension last summer after consulting with the town and the state properties commission. Any further lease proposals will be presented to the State Properties Commission when ready for their consideration.
The minutes from all state properties commission meetings are filed with the RI Secretary of State and are available online at:
You are welcome to submit an open records request at any time and we will respond to the best of our abilities in accordance with state law.
Thank you, Terry Gray
Terrence Gray, P.E.
Acting Director
RI Department of Environmental Management
Below are two of my most recent APRA (Access To Public Records Act) Requests: I strongly urge you to question Director Gray on his above response to me as it is false. I also urge you to ask the following questions to Director Gray before he is approved for nomination. You can reach out to anyone of our elected officials to verify the Town of Narragansett was never consulted regarding the 6 month extension for Procaccianti Developers (PRI X) that was awarded last summer.
Name and Description of record *
Dear Director Gray and Legal Counsel Mary Kay,
I would like all records, minutes, and correspondence on who proposed and who is responsible from the RIDEM that the RIDEM should submit for approval to the State Properties Committee a 19-Year Parking Lot Lease to Procaccianti (PRI X) Developers and what was the rationale on why the RIDEM wants to award a multi-billionaire developer a 19-year parking lot lease who showed gross neglect to the leased land in Galilee that will hurt the State of RI, the Town of Narragansett, and all the taxpayer citizens in Rhode Island. Respectfully Submitted, Dr. Albert Alba
Name and Description of record *
Dear Director Gray and Assistant Director / Legal Counsel Mary Kay, I would like all minutes, correspondence, and records either electronically or by other means on who approved the State of Rhode Island should now be responsible to pay for the demolition of the Lighthouse Inn. The Lighthouse Inn became beyond repair and in gross neglect at the hands of Procaccianti Developers. Procaccianti failed to maintain the subject property. It was previously noted Procaccianti will pay for the demolition. Please provide information for any person or persons who is/are responsible for putting forth the suggestion and recommendation that the taxpayers of RI will now have to pay for the demolition of the Lighthouse Inn.
When the RIDEM gave the 6 month extension to Procaccianti Developers, it was noted the RIDEM would have Procaccianti Developers demolish the building, now the RIDEM wants the State of Rhode Island and its taxpayers to pay for the demolition. The 5 acre parcel of land in Galilee became one of the worst eyesores on RI State Land while a multi-billion dollar developer was leasing it out from a State Agency. If it was any ordinary citizen who abandoned his or her property as Procaccianti did with the State of RI land that was being leased out, he or she would be summoned into court and fined on a daily basis until the gross negligence was corrected. The building is not only an eyesore, but due to the neglect it is an environmental hazard. It is deeply ironic and a tragedy the RIDEM, an agency that is supposed to protect our environment has allowed a private developer on its leased land to create not only an eyesore for the environment as it has become a haven for scavengers and for debris scattered around the hotel, but the inside of the building is now a hazard to our environment for anyone who enters the building. I am sure none of you would want your families to stay in that hotel now.
I hope and pray our elected officials will act prudently before nominating the Director of the RIDEM, Terrance Gray, for a permanent leader for the agency. The Motto for the State of Rhode Island is Hope, so let us Hope our elected leaders will properly question Director Gray to make sure he will be an asset and not a liability for the State of Rhode Island, its citizens, and our environment.
Respectfully Submitted, Dr. Albert Alba