NORTH PROVIDENCE – Gary Tiberi missed another municipal court appearance on Aug. 26, and his tab with the town continues to grow, according to officials.
According to Mayor Charles Lombardi, a body attachment, or a written court order directing law enforcement officers to take a person into custody and bring them directly before a judge, could be the next step if the court authorizes it.
Tiberi, husband of “Real Housewives of Rhode Island” participant Jo-Ellen Tiberi, had been seeking reduced fees on the more than $5,000 he owes to the town, but his approach now appears to have changed, as the price tag rises.
“At this point in time, we’ll just sit and wait,” said Lombardi of the interest that’s accruing. “He didn’t show up (in court), so the tab’s going to keep running.”
The mayor said the town will be taking additional actions shortly.
“You’ll see some stuff happening, I can guarantee you that,” he said. “He’s just being foolish, and the judge feels like he’s been more than fair with him, so we’ll see where it goes now.”
As reported Aug. 4, Tiberi also missed his previous hearing.
The town’s lien on Tiberi’s property at 15 Elm St. remains in effect. He owes money for court costs, mailings, dumpster removal, and labor following the town taking action to clean up the property when he didn’t.
According to town documents, Tiberi, of Cranston, purchased the North Providence home for $176,000 in December of 2010. He was cited last year for violations of minimum housing standards, including weeds, garbage, and sanitation issues.
According to officials, Tiberi failed to respond to notices sent to his Cranston home last year, and then failed to appear in Municipal Court for hearings in October and November. The town then got permission to clean up the property and place a lien on it to recoup its costs.
Bills added up for the total on the lien included town staff and laborer time, use of trucks, and use of town equipment. The nearly $6,000 in costs didn’t include future charges, according to officials.
Tiberi showed up for a court date in January, where he requested reduced fees, and during a status update two months later, he was granted a $1,000 reduction. He had made the case that he was cleaning up the property following an eviction of a bad tenant. He later told the town’s judge that he had tried to make contact with Lombardi by phone to talk about the fees, but hadn’t been able to and would go see him for an in-person discussion. The mayor said earlier this month he had already rebuffed Tiberi when Tiberi was making comments that he would approach the mayor.
