Minutes June 5, 2007

MINUTES OF THE OPEN SESSION OF THE RHODE ISLAND ETHICS COMMISSION

June 5, 2007  

The Rhode Island Ethics Commission held its 11^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, June 5, 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 V. Murray

Barbara R. Binder, Vice Chair              James C. Segovis

Richard E. Kirby                                              Ross Cheit

                                                Also present were Kathleen Managhan, Commission Legal Counsel; Kent A. Willever, Commission Executive Director; Katherine D’Arezzo, Senior Staff Attorney; and Staff Attorney Jason M. Gramitt. 

            At approximately 9:18 a.m., the Chair opened the meeting.  The first order of business was a motion to approve minutes of the Open Session held on May 15, 2007. Commissioner Murray noted that he had abstained from the advisory opinion issued to Mary Ellen McQueeney-Lally.  Upon motion made by Commissioner Binder and duly seconded by Commissioner Cheit, it was unanimously

            VOTED:    To approve the minutes of the Open Session held on May 15, 2007, as corrected.

            The next order of business was to extend time to approve minutes of the Open Session held on May 31, 2007.  Upon motion made by Commissioner Murray and duly seconded by Commissioner Cheit, it was unanimously

            VOTED:  To extend time to approve minutes of the Open Session held on May 31, 2007.

            At approximately 9:20 a.m., upon motion made by Commissioner Cheit and duly seconded by Commissioner Binder, 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 May 15, 2007.

b.)          In re: Daniel J. McGregor,

                                    Complaint No. 2006-12  

c.)          Motion to return to Open Session.

              The Commission reconvened in Open Session at approximately 10:52 a.m.  The next order of business was a motion to seal minutes of the Executive Session held on June 5, 2007.  Upon motion made by Commissioner Binder and duly seconded by Commissioner Cheit, it was unanimously

            VOTED:          To seal minutes of the Executive Session held on June 5, 2007.

              Chair Lynch reported that the Commission approved minutes of the Executive Session held on May 15, 2007 and read the Findings of Probable Cause made in Complaint No. 2006-12, In re: Daniel J. McGregor.   

            The next order of business was the Director’s Report.  Executive Director Willever reported that there are six Complaints and sixteen advisory opinions pending.  He advised that he received permission to proceed with the hiring process for the Staff Attorney 1 position, which is currently underway.  He expressed the Commission’s condolences to Investigator Michael Douglas and his family on the loss of his father.  He noted that the education program is still going strong and expressed his appreciation for the extra work performed by Staff.  Chair Lynch commended the detailed work done in the investigation of the McGregor Complaint, which was echoed by Commissioner Cheit.  

              The next order of business was New Business.  Commissioner Segovis proposed that the Commission determine in advance the amount of time it will hear oral argument from parties and suggested that the time limits imposed by the courts would be sufficient.  Upon motion made by Commissioner Kirby and duly seconded by Commissioner Cheit, it was unanimously

            VOTED:          To adjourn the meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

__________________

George E. Weavill, Jr.

Secretary