NORTH PROVIDENCE, R.I. (WPRI) -- A former employee is threatening to sue North Providence, saying he was fired for refusing to work on Mayor Charles Lombardi's personal properties on municipal time, Target 12 has confirmed. Michael Charbatji, who began working for the town in 2017, sent a demand letter to North Providence officials on Dec. 27, giving them notice of his intent to file a lawsuit seeking back pay, lost benefits and damages that he claims to have experienced since getting fired in 2022. The story was first reported by The Boston Globe. "He will prove that his employment was unlawfully terminated after he refused to do work on Mayor Lombardi's personal real estate during work hours while he was being compensated as an employee of the Town of North Providence," wrote Lisa Holley, an attorney representing Charbatji. Lombardi, 78, has served as mayor since 2007 and was reelected last November. Usually outspoken on all matters related to his town, he declined to comment when reached Friday. "This is not easy for me, but unfortunately I can't comment at this time," Lombardi told Target 12. "Being that it's a town personnel matter, it was turned over and it's being handled by the legal department, along with our insurance." Charbatji alleges he was repeatedly ordered to do repairs on Lombardi's properties, along with a home owned by James Fuoroli, who is the town's director of public buildings. The mayor's properties included his Narragansett beach house and his North Providence dry-cleaning business, along with multiple investment properties and his personal condo, according to the letter. "This construction occurred while Mr. Charbatji was on town time and being paid by the town," Holley wrote. "Lombardi did not personally compensate Mr. Charbatji for the construction work on his properties." Charbatji alleges Fuoroli would direct him to leave his town vehicle on town property and drive his personal vehicle to Lombardi's properties, according to the letter. "Mr. Charbatji became increasingly uncomfortable with the repeated demands that he work off site," she added. "Additionally, Charbatji had reason to believe the supplies were being purchased with a town credit card." Lombardi's use of town employees for work on his personal property isn't a secret. In November 2022, a Target 12 investigation discovered Public Works employees using town equipment to do lawn work on a three-family home that Lombardi had recently purchased on Steere Street -- about 200 feet from Town Hall. Lombardi defended his actions at the time, saying he personally paid the workers $50 each, and he provided payroll records showing the two men had clocked out for the day. But Lombardi also suspended his Public Works assistant director, saying he was unaware the workers were using town equipment. The mayor also said he hired public-works employees a few other times to work on his other properties and usually would ask his director if any of them wanted to make some extra money. “I don’t think it’s the public’s business what I do personally,” Lombardi said in 2022. “I don’t care what people think.” According to the letter, Charbatji said he was called into Lombardi's office in July 2022 where the mayor offered him cash to do work on the Steere Street property. Charbatji said he refused the request, and "told Lombardi he would not be working on his personal properties any longer." "Lombardi told Mr. Charbatji that he would 'deny, deny, deny that the conversation ever happened,'" Holley wrote. A month after the conversation, Charbatji said again he was called into Lombardi's office to meet with the mayor and Fuoroli. Before the meeting happened, however, Charbatji said a coworker told him he was looking ill and an ambulance subsequently took him to the hospital. "As a result of the anxiety and stress caused by Lombardi and Fuoroli, Mr. Charbatji remained on sick leave under a physician's care," Holley wrote. The sick leave went on until November when Charbatji said he received a letter from the mayor notifying him that he'd been fired for an "unauthorized leave of absence," according to the letter. Charbatji disputes the reason and said he has evidence to back up his allegations. "We will provide evidence to show the dates, times and locations of the work, as well as photographs and descriptions of the construction and repairs completed," Holley wrote. Eli Sherman ([email protected]) is a Target 12 investigative reporter for 12 News. Connect with him on Twitter and on Facebook. Tim White ([email protected]) is Target 12 managing editor and chief investigative reporter and host of Newsmakers for 12 News. Connect with him on Twitter and Facebook. Ted Nesi contributed to this report. Close Thanks for signing up! Watch for us in your inbox. Subscribe Now Daily Roundup SIGN UP NOW