Advisory Opinion No. 97-14

Re: Ronald S. Wood

QUESTION PRESENTED

Whether and to what extent the Code of Ethics imposes restrictions on a member of the Coventry Town Council, newly elected, meeting with the prospective developer of a business park in the Town of Coventry who wishes to update the new member on the proposal and provide information to him on the plans for the proposed park.

RESPONSE

The Code of Ethics does not prohibit public officials from meeting with and/or obtaining information and briefings from persons or entities seeking to do business in a city or town. Therefore, a meeting between an individual member of the Town Council and the developer or his representatives is not a violation of the Code of Ethics. A public official may not, however, either in direct meetings with an individual or entity seeking to do business in a city or town or otherwise, take any action, or agree to take any action, in return for any gift, loan, political contribution, reward or other thing of economic benefit. See R.I. Gen. Laws § 36-14-5(l).

Code Citations:

36-14-5(1)

Keywords:

code jurisdiction