Minutes April 24, 2018 MINUTES OF THE OPEN SESSION OF THE RHODE ISLAND ETHICS COMMISSION April 24, 2018 The Rhode Island Ethics Commission held its 9th meeting of 2018 at 9:00 a.m. at the Rhode Island Ethics Commission conference room, located at 40 Fountain Street, 8th Floor, Providence, Rhode Island, on Tuesday, April 24, 2018, pursuant to the notice published at the Commission offices, the State House Library, and electronically with the Rhode Island Secretary of State. The following Commissioners were present: Ross Cheit, Chair Timothy Murphy Robert A. Salk, Secretary James V. Murray Arianne Corrente The following Commissioner(s) were not present: M. Therese Antone; J. Douglas Bennett; John D. Lynch, Jr.; and Marisa A. Quinn, Vice Chair. Also present were Herbert F. DeSimone, Jr., Commission Legal Counsel; Jason Gramitt, Commission Executive Director; Katherine D’Arezzo, Senior Staff Attorney; Staff Attorneys Teresa Giusti and Teodora Popova Papa; and Commission Investigators Steven T. Cross; Peter J. Mancini; and Gary V. Petrarca. At 9:00 a.m., the Chair opened the meeting. The first order of business was: Approval of minutes of the Open Session held on April 4, 2018. Upon motion made by Commissioner Corrente and duly seconded by Commissioner Murphy, it was VOTED: To approve the minutes of the Open Session held on April 4, 2018. AYES: Arianne Corrente; Robert A. Salk; and Ross Cheit. ABSTENTIONS: Timothy Murphy, and James V. Murray. The next order of business was: Approval of minutes of the Open Session held on April 10, 2018. Upon motion made by Commissioner Murphy and duly seconded by Commissioner Corrente, it was VOTED: To approve the minutes of the Open Session held on April 10, 2018. AYES: Arianne Corrente; Robert A. Salk; Timothy Murphy; and Ross Cheit. ABSTENTIONS: James V. Murray. Executive Session. At 9:03 a.m., uponmotion made by Commissioner Murray and duly seconded by Commissioner Murphy, it was unanimously VOTED: To go into Executive Session, to wit: 1. Motion to approve the minutes of the Executive Session held on April 4, 2018, pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(1). 2. Motion to approve the minutes of the Executive Session held on April 10, 2018, pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(2) and (4). 3. In re: Glen Skurka, Complaint No. 2017-10, pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(2) and (4). 4. In re: Gayle Corrigan, Complaint No. 2018-5, pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(2) and (4). 5. Preliminary Investigation No. 2018-1, pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(2) and (4). 6. Motion to return to Open Session. The Commission reconvened in Open Session at 10:10 a.m. The next order of business was: Motion to seal minutes of Executive Session held on April 24, 2018. Upon motion made by Commissioner Murphy and duly seconded by Commissioner Murray, it was unanimously VOTED: To seal the minutes of the Executive Session held on April 24, 2018. The next order of business was: Report on actions taken in Executive Session. Chair Cheit reported that the Commission took the following actions in Executive Session: 1. Voted (3-0) to approve the minutes of the Executive Session held on April 4, 2018. [Reporter’s Note: The vote was as follows: AYES: Arianne Corrente; Robert A. Salk; and Ross Cheit. ABSTENTIONS: Timothy Murphy, and James V. Murray.] 2. Voted (4-0) to approve the minutes of the Executive Session held on April 10, 2018. [Reporter’s Note: The vote was as follows: AYES: Arianne Corrente; Timothy Murphy; Robert A. Salk; and Ross Cheit. ABSTENTIONS: James V. Murray.] 3. In the matter of In re: Glen Skurka, Complaint No. 2017-10, unanimously voted (5-0) to find that probable cause exists to believe that the Respondent violated the Code of Ethics as alleged in the Complaint. 4. Unanimously voted (5-0) to initially determine that the facts alleged in In re: Gayle Corrigan, Complaint No. 2018-5, if true, are sufficient to constitute a knowing and willful violation of the Code of Ethics and authorized an investigation. 5. Report on Preliminary Investigation No. 2018-1. The next order of business was: New Business. Chair Cheit proposed adopting a policy for conducting the annual review of the Executive Director by the Chair and Vice Chair. He requested that this subject be placed on the agenda for the next Commission meeting for discussion. At 10:15 a.m., upon motion made by Commissioner Murphy and duly seconded by Commissioner Murray, it was unanimously VOTED: To adjourn. Respectfully submitted, ______________________________ Robert A. Salk Secretary