Advisory Opinion No. 97-116

Re: William P. Sisco

QUESTION PRESENTED

The Petitioner, Westerly Housing Authority Commissioner, a municipal appointed position, requests an advisory opinion as to whether he may use his title as Commissioner to serve as an advocate for the elderly, non-elderly, and low income people.

RESPONSE

It is the opinion of the Rhode Island Ethics Commission that the Petitioner, Westerly Housing Authority Commissioner, a municipal appointed position, may use his title as Commissioner to advocate for the elderly or other groups so long as it is not done to obtain or result in financial gain for himself, his family, a business associate, or employer. R.I. Gen. Laws 36-14-5(d). The Petitioner also advises that in his advocacy role he may obtain meals or tickets for the elderly from private vendors. Unless the receipt of such items directly benefits the Petitioner, a family member, or a business associate, it is not prohibited by the Code of Ethics. We remind the Petitioner, however, that General Commission Advisories 5 and 7 regarding meals and free passes provide that a public official may not accept meals for himself from businesses subject to his jurisdiction as Housing Authority Commissioner over $200 in a calendar year nor free passes in excess of $100 annually without risking a violation of the Code. See R.I. Gen. Laws 36-14-5(d), 36-14-5(g).

Code Citations:

36-14-5(d)

36-14-5(g)

Related Advisory Opinions:

GCA 5

GCA 7

97-21

95-76

95-42

94-43

94-54

94-35

94-9

 

Keywords:

Gifts

Meals