Advisory Opinion No. 97-80

Re: J. Michael Downey

QUESTION PRESENTED

The Petitioner, Chair of the Tax Assessment Board of Review for Charlestown, a municipal appointed position, requests an advisory opinion as to potential conflicts given that he is also a plumber for the University of Rhode Island, President of Local 528 for AFSCME, Council 14, Charlestown Democratic Town Committee Chair, and member of the Democratic Senate District 25 Commission.

RESPONSE

It is the opinion of the Rhode Island Ethics Commission the Petitioner, Chair of the Tax Assessment Board of Review for Charlestown, a municipal appointed position, does not have an inherent conflict with serving on such Board given that he is also a plumber for the University of Rhode Island, President of Local 528 for AFSCME, Council 14, Charlestown Democratic Town Committee Chair, and member of the Democratic Senate District 25 Commission. However, if any matter should come before the Petitioner as a member of the Charlestown Tax Assessment Board of Review that would directly affect his employer, the University of Rhode Island, his union or himself, he should follow the recusal sections of the Code of Ethics.

Code Citations:

36-14-5(a)

36-14-7(b)

Related Advisory Opinions:

96-6

96-9

96-12

96-17

95-92

95-62

95-34

95-33

Keywords:

dual public roles