August 03, 2005
Contact: Sue Baker
For Immediate Release
WARWICK – Mayor Scott Avedisian announced today a more stringent policy relative to employees’ use of city-owned vehicles and said that, at his direction, a study is being conducted to examine what municipal positions actually require an employee being allowed to use a vehicle during off-duty hours.
Avedisian said the measures were put in place, for all municipal departments, in order to cut rising gasoline and maintenance costs and to ensure that all the vehicles are being used for the purpose for which they were originally intended.
Among other things, the regulations re-enforce an existing policy that city vehicles not be used for personal use; stress the need for safety, including the use of seat belts; prohibit non-employees or employees who are not authorized to use a city vehicle from riding in or operating one; and require that cars be refueled only at approved city facilities.
Avedisian said the Personnel Department is currently working with department directors to determine if all employees currently authorized to take city vehicles home will be allowed to continue this practice. It is likely, he said, that after the study is complete that he will revoke that authorization for at least several municipal positions.