Advisory Opinion No. 97-53

QUESTION PRESENTED

The Pawtucket Assistant City Solicitor requests an advisory opinion on behalf of the Pawtucket Board of Canvassers as to whether a member or employee of the Board of Canvassers or Board itself may allow a vendor to use their comments praising a software package in the vendor's next marketing brochure

RESPONSE

It is the opinion of the Rhode Island Ethics Commission that the Pawtucket Board of Canvassers or its members or employees may allow a vendor to use their comments praising a software package in the vendor's next marketing brochure under the Code of Ethics provided that the vendor is not providing a financial benefit including discounts to the Board or its members. Provided no financial benefit to the members is involved, other provisions of the Code of Ethics do not apply. This opinion cannot address other possible legal issues that may arise under other laws or municipal policies.

Code Citations:

36-14-5(a)

36-14-7(a)

36-14-5008

Keywords:

code jurisdiction

vendors