Advisory Opinion No. 97-138

Re: Kevin J. Rabbitt

QUESTION PRESENTED

The Pawtucket Assistant City Solicitor requests an advisory opinion on behalf of the Petitioner, a Pawtucket City Councilor, a municipal elected position, as to whether he may be appointed to a board in the City of Pawtucket, paid or unpaid, within one year from the Petitioner's official severance from his position as City Councilor.

RESPONSE

It is the opinion of the Rhode Island Ethics Commission that the Petitioner, a Pawtucket City Councilor, a municipal elected position, may be appointed by the City Council to a board in the City of Pawtucket within one year from the Petitioner's official severance from his position as City Councilor provided that he serves in such position as an unpaid volunteer. Additionally, the Petitioner may not circumvent the Code of Ethics by taking on an appointed volunteer position and serving as a volunteer only for the period of one year after his term in office ends and then accepting financial and other benefits as compensation for such position as soon as the one-year period ends. Without a showing of hardship, the Petitioner may not accept appointment to a board by the City Council to a position which carries with it remuneration of any kind prior to January 1999 nor may he appear before the City Council during that time as provided in R.I. Gen. Laws §§ 36-14-5(e)(1) and 5(e)(4) and Commission Regulation 5006.

Code Citations:

36-14-5(e)

36-14-5006

Related Advisory Opinions:

97-27

97-117

96-85

Keywords:

Revolving door