News Summary
Michael Charbatji, a former North Providence employee, has filed a lawsuit against Mayor Charles Lombardi, alleging misuse of town resources for personal and business projects. The complaint details how Charbatji was directed to perform tasks on private properties during official hours and claims that town resources were improperly used for such activities. The lawsuit raises questions about municipal resource management and employment practices within the local government.
North Providence – A former town employee, Michael Charbatji, has initiated legal proceedings against Mayor Charles Lombardi, alleging misuse of town resources for personal and business projects. The lawsuit was filed on Tuesday in Providence Superior Court. Charbatji claims that beginning in 2019, Lombardi directed him to conduct work on private properties during official town hours, which he contends violates town regulations.
According to the lawsuit, Charbatji alleges that he was ordered to complete tasks at Lombardi’s summer home located in Narragansett, along with two dry cleaning business locations and another property owned by Lombardi. The complaint states that he was under the instruction of both Lombardi and the director of the town’s Department of Public Works, leading him to fear for his employment if he did not adhere to their requests.
The lawsuit follows a notice of intent to file suit that Charbatji provided to the town in December 2024. In addition to detailed accounts of personal assignments, he asserts that resources like the town’s Lowe’s credit card were improperly utilized for purchasing materials intended for work on Lombardi’s properties.
Charbatji contends that not only was he performing these tasks, but he also observed other town employees and contractors engaging in similar work on the mayor’s personal properties while being compensated by the town. The lawsuit indicates that Charbatji was terminated from his position in 2022 after taking medical leave due to stress-related health issues stemming from the situation.
Following his notice of intent to sue, Charbatji reports experiencing intimidation and has expressed concerns over being followed by an investigator, which prompted him to file a complaint with the state police in March. Mayor Lombardi has not responded to requests for comment regarding the allegations detailed in the lawsuit. Previously, he stated he could not discuss the matter as it had been forwarded to the town’s legal department and insurance company. However, he has acknowledged that town workers performed tasks on his personal properties, alleging that he compensated them with his own funds.
Charbatji began his employment with the town’s Department of Public Buildings in July 2017, believing the position would provide stable pay and benefits. His lawsuit outlines a troubling timeline where he was engaged in work at Lombardi-owned properties during official hours, raising questions about the legality of such actions. It is claimed that during work hours, Lombardi directly communicated with Charbatji to assign tasks on his properties, facilitating timecard manipulation allegedly conducted by the Department of Public Buildings’ director, Fuoroli.
In his complaint, Charbatji asserts that he was instructed to acquire materials necessary for Lombardi’s properties using town resources, which he believes violates established regulations. He also notes that his relationship with Lombardi began to deteriorate in 2022, particularly as Charbatji sought a pay raise. The claim further details that on his last day of work, Charbatji fell ill, subsequently leading to an extended medical leave of several months.
Compounding the situation, the lawsuit claims that Lombardi ordered a police officer to deliver a termination notice to Charbatji at his home, denying him the opportunity to present his side of the story at any point in the matter. The developments in this lawsuit have drawn attention to potential misuse of municipal resources and have raised questions regarding employment practices within the North Providence town government.
As the legal proceedings progress, further details are expected to emerge that will shed more light on these serious allegations against the mayor and the conduct of town employees.
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