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State of Rhode Island Ethics Commission

Minutes 12-16-25

MINUTES OF THE OPEN SESSION

OF THE RHODE ISLAND ETHICS COMMISSION

December 16, 2025

The Rhode Island Ethics Commission held its 17th meeting of 2025 at 9:00 a.m. at the Rhode Island Ethics Commission conference room, located at 40 Fountain Street, 8th Floor, Providence, Rhode Island, on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, pursuant to the notice published at the Commission offices, the State House Library, and electronically with the Rhode Island Secretary of State. 

The following Commissioners were present:

Lauren E. Jones, Chair                                Emma L. Peterson

Holly J. Susi, Vice Chair                             Scott P. Rabideau

Dr. Michael Browner, Jr.                             Hugo L. Ricci, Jr.

Christopher P. Callahan                              Matthew D. Strauss

            The following Commissioner was not present: Frank J. Cenerini.

            Also present were Herbert F. DeSimone, Jr., Commission Legal Counsel; Jason Gramitt, Commission Executive Director; Katherine D’Arezzo, Senior Staff Attorney; Lynne M. Radiches, Staff Attorney/Education Coordinator; Staff Attorneys Teresa Giusti and Teodora Popova Papa; and Commission Investigators Peter J. Mancini and Kevin Santurri.

At 9:02 a.m., the Chair opened the meeting. 

The first order of business was:

Approval of minutes of the Open Session held on November 18, 2025.

Upon motion made by Commissioner Callahan and duly seconded by Commissioner Susi, it was  

VOTED:                     To approve the minutes of the Open Session held on November 18, 2025.

AYES:                        Lauren E. Jones; Michael Browner, Jr.; Christopher P. Callahan; Emma L. Peterson; Scott P. Rabideau; Hugo L. Ricci, Jr.; and Holly J. Susi.

ABSTENTIONS:      Matthew D. Strauss.

Chair Jones informed that the Commission would be considering matters in executive session first this morning.

At 9:03 a.m., upon motion made by Commissioner Rabideau and duly seconded by Commissioner Peterson, it was unanimously:

 VOTED:        To go into Executive Session, to wit:

a.) Motion to approve minutes of Executive Session held on November 18, 2025, pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(2) & (4). 

b.) In re: Heidi Weston Rogers, Complaint No. 2024-12, pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(2) & (4).

c.) In re: Jeffrey McCormick, Complaint No. 2025-6, pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(2) & (4).

d.) Motion to return to Open Session.

At 9:37 a.m., the Commission reconvened in Open Session. 

The next order of business was:

Report on actions taken in Executive Session.

Chair Jones reported that the Commission took the following actions in Executive Session:

  1. Voted (7-0) to approve the minutes of the Executive Session held on November 18, 2025.

      [Reporter’s Note: The vote was as follows:

                   AYES:                            Lauren E. Jones; Michael Browner, Jr.; Christopher P. Callahan; Emma L. Peterson; Scott P. Rabideau; Hugo L. Ricci, Jr.; and Holly J. Susi.            

       ABSTENTIONS:           Matthew D Strauss.]

  1. Voted (7-1) in the matter of In re: Heidi Weston Rogers, Complaint No. 2024-12, to approve a proposed Informal Resolution and Settlement. 

      [Reporter’s Note: The vote was as follows:

                   AYES:    Lauren E. Jones; Michael Browner, Jr.; Christopher P. Callahan; Emma L. Peterson; Scott P. Rabideau; Matthew D. Strauss; and Holly J. Susi.

                   NOES:   Hugo L. Ricci, Jr.]

  1. Voted (7-0) in the matter of In re: Jeffrey McCormick, Complaint No. 2025-6, to grant the Prosecution’s Motion to Enlarge Time for Investigation, First Extension by 60 days to March 29, 2026.

      [Reporter’s Note: The vote was as follows:

AYES:                  Lauren E. Jones; Michael Browner, Jr.; Christopher P. Callahan; Emma L. Peterson; Hugo L. Ricci, Jr.; Matthew D. Strauss; and Holly J. Susi.        

      RECUSALS:       Scott P. Rabideau.]

  1. Unanimously voted (8-0) to return to Open Session.

The next order of business was:

Motion to seal minutes of December 16, 2025, Executive Session.

Upon motion made by Commissioner Peterson and duly seconded by Commissioner Browner, it was unanimously 

VOTED:         To seal the minutes of Executive Session held on December 16, 2025.

 The next order of business was:    

Director’s Report: Status report and updates.

a.) Complaints and investigations pending

There are five complaints pending. Executive Director Gramitt informed as follows:

  1. An adjudication date of March 17, 2026, has been scheduled in the Thorsen matter.

  2. An informal resolution and settlement in In re: Heidi Weston Rogers was approved in today’s executive session. The order will be available after the meeting. The Investigative Report has been available to the public. 

  3. In re: Jonathan Pascua is under investigation. 

  4. In re: James Durkin is under investigation.

  5. In re: Jeffrey McCormick is under investigation, and a motion for an extension of time was granted in today’s executive session.

b.) Advisory opinions pending 

There are two advisory opinions pending, both of which have been noticed for today’s meeting. 

c.) Access to Public Records Act requests since last meeting

There was one APRA request received since the last meeting which was granted within one business day. The request related to complaint materials that did not exist.

d.) Financial disclosure 

Executive Director Gramitt informed that he met with Tyler Technologies, the Commission’s online filing vendor, regarding updates which will be active online January 1, 2026. He stated that 2025 financial disclosure statements will be mailed out in March and the filing deadline is April 24, 2026. 

e.) General office administration

The next meeting is scheduled for January 6, 2026. 

The next order of business was:

Advisory Opinions.

The advisory opinions were based on draft advisory opinions prepared by Commission Staff for review by the Commission and were scheduled as items on the Open Session Agenda for this date. 

The first advisory opinion was that of:

George Kuzmowycz, a member of the board of directors of the Pawtuxet River Authority and Watershed Council, who is also an appointed member of the Scituate Budget Committee, requests an advisory opinion regarding whether the Code of Ethics prohibits him from continuing to simultaneously serve in both positions and, if not, what restrictions, if any, the Code of Ethics imposes upon him when performing his duties as a budget committee member relative to annual funding requests submitted by the Pawtuxet River Authority.

Staff Attorney Popova Papa presented the Commission Staff recommendation. The Petitioner was present. Upon motion made by Commissioner Peterson and duly seconded by Commissioner Callahan, it was unanimously 

VOTED:         To issue an advisory opinion to George Kuzmowycz, a member of the board of directors of the Pawtuxet River Authority and Watershed Council, who is also an appointed member of the Scituate Budget Committee.

The final advisory opinion was that of:

Glorisbel Marte, a business officer with the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Business Affairs Unit, who in her private capacity owns and operates a business that provides tax preparation, bookkeeping, and related financial services to several individuals and small businesses in Rhode Island, requests an advisory opinion regarding whether she is prohibited by the Code of Ethics from continuing to operate her private business, given her current state employment. 

Staff Attorney Radiches presented the Commission Staff recommendation. The Petitioner was not present but had consented to the Commission proceeding in her absence. 

In response to Commissioner Callahan, Staff Attorney Radiches stated she considered whether an appearance of a conflict of interest could exist should a private client of the Petitioner become a contractor for the DLT. Upon motion made by Commissioner Callahan and duly seconded by Commissioner Browner, it was unanimously 

VOTED:         To issue an advisory opinion to Glorisbel Marte, a business officer with the Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training, Business Affairs Unit, who in her private capacity owns and operates a business that provides tax preparation, bookkeeping, and related financial services to several individuals and small businesses in Rhode Island.

The next order of business was:

Discussion and potential vote regarding initiating rulemaking to correct citation

errors in Commission regulations.

            Staff Attorney Popova Papa informed that an updated copy of the memorandum in the Commissioners’ binders is available which corrects a citation error at the bottom of page two. Chair Jones inquired whether there was any need for discussion, but no concerns were raised. Upon motion made by Commissioner Rabideau and duly seconded by Commissioner Susi, it was unanimously 

VOTED:         To initiate rulemaking to amend Commission Regulations 520-RICR-00-00-2.5, 520-RICR-00-00-2.9(B), 520-RICR-00-00-2.10, and 520-RICR-00-00-3.22(A).

            The next order of business was:

New Business proposed for future Commission agendas and 

general comments from the Commission.

            There was none.

At 10:02 a.m., upon motion made by Commissioner Browner and duly seconded by Commissioner Callahan, it was unanimously

VOTED:         To adjourn the meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                

 ___________________________

Emma L. Peterson
Secretary