Advisory Opinion No. 97-99

Re: Harold R. Shippee, Sr.

QUESTION PRESENTED

The Petitioner, Foster Town Councilor, a municipal elected position, requests an advisory opinion as to whether he may participate in a vote for a renewal contract for dispatchers given that his son-in-law's mother is a dispatcher in Foster.

RESPONSE

It is the opinion of the Rhode Island Ethics Commission that the Petitioner, Foster Town Councilor, a municipal elected position, may participate in a vote for a renewal contract for dispatchers. Under the Code of Ethics, the Petitioner's son-in-law's mother is not a "family member". See Commission Regulation 36-14-SOOS. Since the Petitioner does not have a "family member" serving as a dispatcher, and there is no indication that the Petitioner or any business associate of his would be affected by the renewal contract, no conflict of interest exists under the Code of Ethics which would require recusal in this matter.

Code Citations:

36-14-5(a)

36-14-5005

Keywords:

Family: public employment

Nepotism