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Finance committee approves two disability-waiver requests allowing employees to seek accidental-disability review
Summary
Providence City Finance Committee approved two motions allowing city employees who missed an 18‑month filing deadline to pursue review for accidental disability; the approvals permit review but do not grant disability benefits.
The Providence City Committee on Finance voted to allow two city employees to proceed with applications for accidental disability review after both missed an 18‑month filing deadline.
The approvals were procedural: the committee cleared waiver requests so the employees’ files can be reviewed for possible accidental disability, but committee members and city staff emphasized that the committee’s votes do not themselves grant disability benefits.
Melanie Borges, an employee with the City of Providence, told the committee she has worked for the city “nearly 34 years” and described being assaulted on a school bus on Nov. 16, 2018; she said she has been out of work since the incident. “I didn’t intend on being out of work for this long,” Borges said during the hearing. The committee heard from Jonathan Dosh, identified in the meeting as director of OSHA for the city, who said he did not object to allowing the waiver but that medical and independent medical examination records still needed review. Chair Helen Anthony said the committee had been “very respectful about the team claims” and that granting a waiver would allow staff and medical directors to complete a formal review.
A second waiver, for an employee identified in the agenda as Adelina Mendez, was considered in the applicant’s absence. The committee chair and the city solicitor said the committee could act if the employee had been properly noticed; the solicitor indicated that, procedurally, acting was acceptable when notice was given. The committee approved that waiver as well.
Councilor Andrew Vaughn moved to approve the Adelina Mendez waiver; Councilor Sanchez seconded. For the Melanie Borges waiver the motion to approve was made by Councilor Adeball and seconded by Councilor Sanchez. Both motions passed by roll call with aye votes announced.
Committee members discussed concerns about recurring late filings and inconsistent notice processes, particularly for school department employees. Several committee members, including Councilor Graves, urged staff to present a future briefing on why delays occur and to work with the school department and union representatives to improve notice and processing so employees do not miss filing windows.
The approvals recorded in the meeting allow the city’s medical directors and claims staff to review the applicants’ records and determine whether they qualify for accidental disability under the city’s procedures; the approvals do not determine eligibility or approve any disability payments.
The committee moved on to other agenda items after the votes.
