East Providence mayor calls for release of report into city clerk's discrimination claims

East Providence Mayor Bob DaSilva is requesting the release of a report detailing an investigation into allegations made by City Clerk Samantha Burnett, who claims that the city refused to accommodate her dyslexia. 

Burnett has been on a leave of absence since Aug. 16. She expressed frustration in an emotional speech before the City Council on Aug. 17, saying the administration "basically didn't accept my disability" and wanted additional proof before making a minor change that would have made her job easier. 

Council members subsequently requested that assistant city solicitor Dylan Conley investigate Burnett's claims. The findings from that investigation were presented to the council in a closed executive session earlier this month, and DaSilva now hopes to make them public. 

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In a letter to the City Council last week, DaSilva noted that his director of administration was "not afforded the opportunity" to respond to Burnett's claims at the August meeting. He said the city "categorically denies" the allegations of discrimination. 

In her August speech before the council, Burnett said that she had requested a small tweak to the city's usual protocols: She wanted to use a different form to keep the mayor's communications organized for the City Council docket. 

The administration didn't want to make that change, Burnett said, so she suggested that the city was legally obligated to accommodate her dyslexia under the Americans with Disabilities Act. 

In response, Burnett said, she was told that she would need to get an independent evaluation from a physician "of the city's choice" to confirm that she has dyslexia. 

"That's dignified, right?" she asked with evident sarcasm, adding, "The city has a right to do this, but they don't have to." 

Through tears, Burnett suggested that a "political agenda" was to blame, but did not offer any elaboration. She said that she was considering suing the city. 

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Due to the potential litigation, City Council members said at the August meeting that they would not allow anyone to present a rebuttal to Burnett's claims. However, Conley, saying that it was important "that the record be clear," noted that asking for independent medical evaluations was a common practice. 

Conley told The Providence Journal on Monday that he could not share any details of his investigation due to attorney-client privilege, but that the council was free to waive that privilege. 

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Certain identifying information would have to be redacted from the report, which could take "a long time," he added. 

A vote on whether to release the results of the report is scheduled Tuesday.

DaSilva, in his letter to the council, says his administration has not yet been provided with the findings from the investigation. Evidently confident that they will show no wrongdoing, however, he wants them shared with the public. 

Patricia Resende, a spokeswoman for the mayor's office, said that DaSilva would not be available for further comment on Monday.

Burnett could not immediately be reached for comment.