PROVIDENCE — The state Democratic Party chairman yesterday called on Governor Carcieri to explain where he was getting the money to pay Steve Kass, his six-figure salaried communications director now “on loan” to the Emergency Management Agency, and the new senior communications adviser replacing him.

Kass, a former radio talk-show host and governor’s communications director, takes his $126,541 salary with him to the state EMA — where he makes $50,000 more than the former executive director and nearly three times as much as the current spokeswoman. Portsmouth Republican John Robitaille, whose salary wasn’t released, will now “guide the governor’s public relations and communications efforts.”

A spokeswoman for Carcieri couldn’t answer questions about the specific funding for Kass’ salary yesterday, saying it was “in transition.”

“The truth is the governor has absolutely no idea how to pay for Mr. Kass and Mr. Robitaille’s salaries,” said William Lynch, Democratic Party chairman. “Unless he intends on creating another new position in state government, then one of these two gentlemen need to be let go, because Rhode Islanders can ill-afford another high-priced message maven whose only purpose seems to be inflating the governor’s ego.”

The governor decided to assign Kass as spokesman for the EMA and, occasionally, for Maj. Robert T. Bray, adjutant general for the Rhode Island National Guard, after a series of articles about problems at the agency, said Carcieri spokeswoman Barbara Trainor. The Journal has written about clashes between Bray and local emergency officials over his handling of the agency.

Kass is “on loan” for an undetermined length of time — several months or a year, said Trainor. “It depends on what Steve Kass finds needs to be done, what the general finds needs to be done,” she said.

Kass takes over for Brittan Bates, who, at about $47,000 a year, was handling public relations and coordinating training exercises. Bates remains on staff.

Bates, not Kass, handled public relations over the weekend when the EMA activated its emergency operations center for a flood watch. In an e-mail obtained by The Journal, Bray informed state officials that Bates would “take the lead to publish a media release for the activation, supported by Steve Kass.”

The governor’s office didn’t know if Kass had the training that the Federal Emergency Management Agency requires for public information officers. Bray said Friday that Kass needs to learn about emergency management. “The governor indicated with the general that if there’s training that Steve needs, he will get it,” said Trainor.

Lynch accused Carcieri of “playing politics” with emergency management. “I understand he wants to find a way to keep his pals on the state payroll, but even the man who heads up the EMA in Rhode Island admitted Kass knew nothing about emergency management,” Lynch said. “His brazen disregard for the people who actually pay these obnoxious salaries is appalling and another indication of just how out of touch this governor has become.”

Meanwhile, state personnel administrator Anthony Bucci held a public hearing on Carcieri’s bid to raise the salary that is paid to the director of the Department of Administration so that Jerome Williams won’t take a pay cut when he moves into the job.

Current director Beverly Najarian is paid $115,837; Williams makes $143,000 as head of the state Department of Transportation. Under the proposal, Williams will make $143,011 when he replaces Najarian mid-month.

The only protest came from Anna Sullivan, president of the wing of the National Education Association representing a handful of state Health Department employees who check conditions at nursing homes. She said they have been waiting years for their pay to be raised to the same level as others with similar duties, while Williams’ hearing took only a few weeks.

Unless the House and Senate object, the governor’s bid will take effect.

With reports from staff writer Katherine Gregg.

amilkovi@projo.com