Advisory Opinion No. 96-87

Re: Michael A. Ursillo

QUESTION PRESENTED

Whether a member of the South Kingstown Planning Board, who previously belonged to a private advocacy group known as the South Kingstown Neighborhood Congress, Inc., may participate and vote regarding matters in which the Congress has an interest, specifically issues and hearings regarding a commercial entity named the South County Sand & Gravel, Inc., which is the plaintiff in a slander suit against the Congress.

RESPONSE

The official involved here, a municipal appointed official has no present interest in the South Kingstown Neighborhood Congress. Therefore, she is not a "business associate" of that entity. In addition, there is no indication that the official has any interest in either the slander suit brought against the Congress or otherwise in matters involving South County Sand & Gravel, Inc. As a result, absent some other interest, the Code of Ethics does not prohibit the official's involvement in matters affecting either the Congress or South County Sand & Gravel.

Code Citations:

36-14-2(8)

36-14-5(a)

36-14-5(b)

Related Advisory Opinions:

96-54

90-31

89-16

Keywords:

business associate

litigation

non-profit boards