Last May the Coventry RI Parks and Recreation department lost Guy Lafabre as its leader after over 30 years. Guy was personally responsible for building many of the recreatiin areas we have today, including the Coventry Greenway Bike Path.

He turned the Parks and Recreation department into a well oiled machine, securing funds for upkeep and maintenance, as well as creating new open spaces for the townspeople to enjoy. He was highly respected by everyone in his department, the town council, and numerous town managers.

Today, only three months later, the parks department is a mess. Employees are afraid of this tyrant. He is creating division between employees and running amuck. The parks and open spaces themselves are deteriorating, and nepotism has become the hiring process within thr department.

He changed job descriptions of the park monitors to include heavy lifting and gestapo type security when residents are asked to leave the parks after closings. He tells the park monitors to "be more agressive" this statement is to include agression toward anyone, from children playing in the skate park to star watchers in the fields.

He fired many long time employees. At least one, without reason or provocation, and no prior warnings for a single infraction. She was told she could not handle a 150 pound floor washing machine, which had never been part of her job description for the five years she was employed there (she is a 70 yeat old handicapped woman) and was "not agressive enough" with people within the parks after hours. Is this the type of person we want running the parks for our kids?

"Not agressive enough"? What exactly did he mean by that? Was she, or is anyone in the parks department supposed to act as police? The coward did not even have the respect and courage to look her in the eye when he fired her. He looked down at his feet and said, "that and alot of things." Like what Jason? The fact that you already had positions advertised for less money and didn't have the respect to inform her of her impending termination? Or the fact that you are weeding out the department to install friends and family into those positions? Or both.

This town has beautiful open spaces and parks. It would be ashame to see them deteriorate at the hands of an ill equipped, unethical and unqualified individual such as Jadon Licciardi. Please sign this petition to get rid of him and hire someone with the vision and stature of Guy Lafabre.

Thank you