Minutes April 3, 2007

MINUTES OF THE OPEN SESSION OF THE RHODE ISLAND ETHICS COMMISSION

April 3, 2007  

The Rhode Island Ethics Commission held its 6^th meeting of 2007 at 9:00 a.m. at the Rhode Island Ethics Commission conference room, located at 40 Fountain Street, 8thFloor, Providence, Rhode Island, on Tuesday, April 3, 2007, pursuant to the notice published at the Commission Headquarters and at the State House Library. 

            The following Commissioners were present: 

James Lynch, Sr., Chair                                    James C. Segovis

Barbara R. Binder, Vice Chair              Frederick K. Butler*   

George E. Weavill, Jr., Secretary                      Ross Cheit         

James V. Murray                                               

Also present were Kathleen Managhan, Commission Legal Counsel; Kent A. Willever, Commission Executive Director; Katherine D’Arezzo, Senior Staff Attorney; Staff Attorney Jason M. Gramitt; and Commission Investigators Steven T. Cross, Peter J. Mancini and Michael Douglas. 

            At approximately 9:15 a.m., the Chair opened the meeting.  The first order of business was to approve the minutes of the Open Session held on March 20, 2007.    Upon motion made by Commissioner Cheit and duly seconded by Commissioner Binder, it was unanimously

VOTED:    To approve the minutes of the Open Session held on March      20, 2007.

            ABSTENTIONS: James V. Murray and George E. Weavill, Jr.

At approximately 9:17 a.m., upon motion made and duly seconded, it was unanimously 

VOTED:    To go into Executive Session pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws §        42-46-5(a)(4), to wit:

a.)    Motion to approve minutes of Executive Session held on March 20, 2007.                        

                        b.)        In re:  Raymond E. Gallison, Jr.,

                        Complaint No. 2006-10

                        c.)        In re:  Raymond E. Gallison, Jr.,

                        Complaint No. 2007-1

                        d.)        In re:  William V. Irons,

                        Complaint No. 2004-1

e.)          Motion to return to Open Session.

The Commission reconvened in Open Session at approximately 11:44 a.m. with Commissioner Butler present.  The Chair reported that the Commission took the following actions in Executive Session: 1) voted to approve minutes of the Executive Session held on March 20, 2007; 2) voted that in the matter of In re:  Raymond E. Gallison, Jr., Complaint No. 2006-10, there does not exist probable cause to support a knowing and willful violation; 3) voted that Complaint No. 2007-1, In re:  Raymond E. Gallison, Jr., alleges sufficient facts to support a knowing and willful violation and authorized a full investigation; and 4) voted to reject a proposed settlement in the matter of In re:  William V. Irons, Complaint No. 2004-1.   

The next order of business was a motion to seal the minutes of the Executive Session held on April 3, 2007.  Upon motion made by Commissioner Weavill and duly seconded by Commissioner Cheit, it was unanimously  

VOTED:   To seal the minutes of the Executive Session held on April 3, 2007.  

The next order of business was the Director’s Report.  Executive Director Willever suggested continuing his report until the next meeting.

            At approximately 11:48 a.m., upon motion made by Commissioner Segovis and duly seconded by Commission Binder, it was unanimously

            VOTED:          To adjourn the meeting.

 Respectfully submitted,

__________________

George E. Weavill, Jr.

Secretary