Minutes 8-4-26

MINUTES OF THE OPEN SESSION

OF THE RHODE ISLAND ETHICS COMMISSION

August 4, 2026

The Rhode Island Ethics Commission held its 11^th meeting of 2026 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, August 4, 2026, 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:

Holly J. Susi, Vice Chair Frank J. Cenerini

Emma L. Peterson, Secretary Hugo L. Ricci, Jr.

Christopher P. Callahan

The following Commissioners were not present: Lauren E. Jones and Dr. Michael N. Browner, Jr.

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 Attorney Teodora Popova Papa; and Commission Investigators Peter J. Mancini and Gary V. Petrarca.

The first order of business was:

Approval of minutes of the Open Session held on July 14, 2026.

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

VOTED: To approve the minutes of the Open Session held on July 14, 2026.

AYES: Holly J. Susi; Christopher P. Callahan; Frank J. Cenerini; and Emma L. Peterson.

ABSTENTIONS: Hugo L. Ricci, Jr.

Vice Chair Susi noted that the Commission currently consists of seven members, of which five members constitute a quorum. Vice Chair Susi informed that four affirmative votes would be required to approve the advisory opinions on today’s agenda.

The next order of business was:

Director’s Report: Status report and updates.

Complaints and investigations pending

There are three complaints pending. Executive Director Gramitt informed that the Shekarchi matter remains stayed and the Commission will discuss the recent Superior Court decision in Executive Session. Executive Director Gramitt advised that the Kent complaint will be initially determined today. Due to time constraints, a complaint filed against Valerie Lawson will be initially determined at the September 1^st meeting.
Advisory opinions pending

There are six advisory opinions pending, four of which have been noticed for today’s meeting.
Access to Public Records Act requests since last meeting

There were three APRA requests received since the last meeting, two of which related to financial disclosure and were granted within one business day. One request related to complaint materials and was granted within the 10-day statutory period.

Financial disclosure

Executive Director Gramitt advised that the Commission has attained 100% compliance for the FY 2025 Statement, excluding candidates. This represents full compliance for 4,331 required filers. He thanked the investigative team and Financial Disclosure Officer Michelle Berg for their collective efforts to achieve this milestone.
General office administration

The Commission’s next meeting is scheduled for September 1, 2026.

Executive Director Gramitt informed that Staff Attorney/Education Coordinator Lynne M. Radiches will be retiring from state service at the end of August. He noted her achievements in expanding the Commission’s education program and creating a new online training program. The Commissioners expressed their gratitude for Attorney Radiches’ outstanding work and dedicated public service.

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:

The Honorable Frank J. Picozzi, the Mayor of the City of Warwick, requests an advisory opinion regarding what restrictions, if any, the Code of Ethics would place upon him in carrying out his official duties in the event that his grandson is selected by the Warwick Board of Public Safety for employment as a firefighter with the Warwick Fire Department.

Staff Attorney Radiches presented the Commission Staff recommendation. The Petitioner was present along with Warwick Assistant City Solicitor Amy Goins. The Petitioner stated that he does not participate in negotiating the contract, which is ultimately ratified by the council. Commissioner Cenerini noted his prior involvement in police and fire contract negotiations as a Warwick deputy solicitor and stated his agreement with the staff analysis. Upon motion made by Commissioner Ricci and duly seconded by Commissioner Callahan, it was unanimously

VOTED: To issue an advisory opinion to the Honorable Frank J. Picozzi, the Mayor of the City of Warwick.

The next advisory opinion was that of:

Joshua D. Ferreira, the deputy chief of the Tiverton Fire Department, who has been selected to become the town’s fire chief, requests an advisory opinion regarding whether the proposed alternate supervisory chain of command would sufficiently insulate him from conflicts of interest arising out of his anticipated new position, given that his mother is employed by the Tiverton Fire Department as it’s executive administrative assistant.

Staff Attorney Radiches presented the Commission Staff recommendation. The Petitioner was present along with Tiverton Town Administrator Patrick Jones. Vice Chair Susi disclosed that her spouse is the Executive Director of the Rhode Island Association of Fire Chiefs, but she does not know the Petitioner. Commissioner Cenerini, who noted that Mr. Jones previously appeared before him 15 years ago, voiced his support for the draft opinion. Upon motion made by Commissioner Callahan and duly seconded by Commissioner Cenerini, it was unanimously

VOTED: To issue an advisory opinion to Joshua D. Ferreira, the deputy chief of the Tiverton Fire Department.

The next advisory opinion was that of:

Rosa Gough, MSW, LICSW, an associate director of the Outpatient Services Unit within the Forensic Division at the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals, who has been offered a position on the board of directors of the Key Program, Inc., a private, non-profit social service organization, requests an advisory opinion regarding whether the Code of Ethics prohibits her from simultaneously serving as a Key Program board member while continuing her state employment.

Staff Attorney Papa presented the Commission Staff recommendation. The Petitioner was present. Staff Attorney Papa noted an edit to page 4 of the draft opinion, adding “on behalf of the Key Program” to the last sentence of the first full paragraph. In response to Commissioner Cenerini, Staff Attorney Papa indicated that the Petitioner would not be subject to financial disclosure. Upon motion made by Commissioner Callahan and duly seconded by Commissioner Ricci, it was unanimously

VOTED: To issue an advisory opinion, as amended, to Rosa Gough, MSW, LICSW, an associate director of the Outpatient Services Unit within the Forensic Division at the Rhode Island Department of Behavioral Healthcare, Developmental Disabilities & Hospitals.

The next advisory opinion was that of:

Matt St. Ours, a member of the East Greenwich Historic District Commission, requests an advisory opinion regarding whether he qualifies for a hardship exception to the Code of Ethics’ prohibition on representing himself, either personally or through a representative, before his own board, in order to allow him to seek a certificate of appropriateness to replace the roof of a rental property that he co-owns with another individual.

Staff Attorney Papa presented the Commission Staff recommendation. The Petitioner was present along with East Greenwich Assistant Town Solicitor David Marks. Upon motion made by Commissioner Peterson and duly seconded by Commissioner Callahan, it was unanimously

VOTED: To issue an advisory opinion to Matt St. Ours, a member of the East Greenwich Historic District Commission.

At 9:55 a.m., upon motion made by Commissioner Browner and duly seconded by Commissioner Callahan, it was unanimously

VOTED: To go into Executive Session, to wit:

Motion to approve minutes of Executive Session held on July 14, 2026, pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(1), (2), & (4).

In re: Matthew Kent, Complaint No. 2026-2, pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(2) & (4).
K. Joseph Shekarchi vs. Rhode Island Ethics Commission, Superior Court C.A. No. PC-2026-03423, pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(2).

Motion to return to Open Session.

At 11:15 a.m., the Commission reconvened in Open Session.

The next order of business was:

Motion to seal minutes of August 4, 2026, Executive Session.

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

VOTED: To seal the minutes of Executive Session held on August 4, 2026.

The next order of business was:

Report on actions taken in Executive Session.

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

Voted (4-0) to approve the minutes of the Executive Session held on July 14, 2026.

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

AYES: Holly J. Susi; Christopher P. Callahan; Frank J. Cenerini; and Emma L. Peterson.

ABSTENTIONS: Hugo L. Ricci, Jr.]

Unanimously voted (5-0) in the matter of In re: Matthew Kent, Complaint No. 2026-2, to initially determine that the Complaint states facts that, if true, are sufficient to constitute violations of the Code of Ethics and to authorize an investigation.

An Initial Determination is a preliminary vote that should not be construed as an opinion regarding the truth of the facts alleged in the complaint but is merely a vote to conduct an investigation into the allegations raised.
Received an update and discussed the litigation matter of K. Joseph Shekarchi vs. Rhode Island Ethics Commission, Superior Court C.A. No. PC-2026-03423. Upon the Commission staff exiting the hearing room, the Commission further discussed the matter with only its Legal Counsel present. The Commission voted (4-1) to authorize the Executive Director/Chief Prosecutor to file an appeal of the order and judgment entered by the Superior Court, which granted Plaintiff Sherkarchi’s complaint for declaratory judgment and dismissed the administrative appeal as moot, to the Rhode Island Supreme Court.

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

AYES: Holly J. Susi; Christopher P. Callahan; Emma L. Peterson; and Hugo L. Ricci, Jr.

NOES: Frank J. Cenerini.]

Unanimously voted (5-0) to return to Open Session.

The next order of business was:

New Business proposed for future Commission agendas and

general comments from the Commission.

There was none.

At 11:19 a.m., upon motion made by Commissioner Cenerini and duly seconded by Commissioner Callahan, it was unanimously

VOTED: To adjourn the meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

___________________________

Emma L. Peterson

Secretary