Providence city lawyers to decide whether disgraced councilman should lose pension

PROVIDENCE — Should former City Councilman Luis Aponte, who pleaded no contest in July to embezzling $13,942 from his campaign account, be banned from collecting a $500-a-month city pension?

Deputy City Solicitor Kenneth Chiavarini told the city's retirement board Wednesday morning that the city's Law Department will advise the board what to do when it meets Nov. 20.

At Wednesday's meeting, the board voted to approve the pension applications of Aponte and nine other city retirees. Chiavarini told the board that their unanimous vote to approve the applications only confirms that the paperwork was submitted in the proper form. He said it would not affect the city's ability to move to reduce or revoke Aponte's pension after the Law Department researches the issue.

City pension administrator Jill Reese told the board that Aponte officially retired July 30 and received the first check of his $502.36 monthly pension on Sept. 30.

Aponte pleaded guilty July 29 to one count of felony embezzlement and agreed to resign from the City Council. Superior Court Judge Jeffrey A. Lanphear gave Aponte a suspended 4½-year sentence, with 4½ years of probation.

Apont was first elected to the council in 1998.

— pparker@providencejournal.com

(401) 277-7360

On Twitter: @projopaul