Official State of Rhode Island website

State of Rhode Island Ethics Commission

Minutes 9-1-26

MINUTES OF THE OPEN SESSION

OF THE RHODE ISLAND ETHICS COMMISSION

September 1, 2026

 

The Rhode Island Ethics Commission held its 12th 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, September 1, 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:

 

Lauren E. Jones, Chair                                Frank J. Cenerini

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

Christopher P. Callahan                              

                                                                         

The following Commissioners were not present: Holly J. Susi 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; Staff Attorneys Teresa Giusti and 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 August 4, 2026.

 

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

 

VOTED:                     To approve the minutes of the Open Session held on August 4, 2026.

 

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

 

ABSTENTIONS:      Lauren E. Jones. 

 

The next order of business was:

Director’s Report: Status report and updates.

                                         

  1. Complaints and investigations pending

    There are four complaints pending. Executive Director Gramitt informed that the Shekarchi matter remains stayed, and he will provide a litigation update in Executive Session. Executive Director Gramitt advised that the Kent complaint is under investigation, and there are two new complaints noticed for initial determination today in Executive Session. 

  2. Advisory opinions pending 

    There are seven advisory opinions pending, three of which have been noticed for today’s meeting. Executive Director Gramitt informed that two of the advisory opinions on today’s agenda were drafted by former Staff Attorney Radiches and will be presented by Staff Attorney Popova Papa. 

  3. Access to Public Records Act requests since last meeting

    There were nine APRA requests received since the last meeting, seven of which were granted within one business day, one of which required two days, and one of which is still pending but will be granted within the 10-day statutory period. Executive Director Gramitt informed that six requests related to complaint materials, one related to advisory opinions, one related to the Ethics Commission’s purchasing data, and the one still pending is a voluminous request for various records. 

  4. Financial disclosure 

    Executive Director Gramitt advised that 10 non-filing candidates remain notwithstanding a great deal of effort on the staff’s part. He will inform the Commission at the next meeting regarding whether the staff will initiate complaints against the remaining candidates. 

  5. General office administration

    The Commission’s next meeting is scheduled for September 29, 2026. 

     

    Executive Director Gramitt informed that there are two vacancies on the Commission’s staff due to the recent departures of Staff Attorney/Education Coordinator Lynne M. Radiches and Deputy Chief Investigator Kevin Santurri. He further informed that those positions are currently advertised on the state’s website, and he encouraged interested persons to apply. In response to Chair Jones, Executive Director Gramitt stated that yesterday, August 31, 2026, was Attorney Radiches’ last day, and her position is open to any internal and external applicants. 

    In further response to Chair Jones, Executive Director Gramitt explained that candidates for public office are required to file financial disclosure statements within 30 days of the filing notice sent to them by the Ethics Commission, and he informed that the 30-day deadline expired in early August. 

    In response to Commissioner Cenerini, Executive Director Gramitt stated that the 90-day moratorium period during which new complaints cannot be accepted against candidates for office is now in effect and runs until the general election. In further response to Commissioner Cenerini, Executive Director Gramitt stated that no complaints have been returned yet due to the moratorium. In response to Chair Jones, Executive Director Gramitt informed that the moratorium does not preclude staff-initiated non-filing complaints or preliminary investigations. 

     

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:

Katherine Lennon, a principal resource specialist employed by the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth & Families, Licensing Division, requests an advisory opinion regarding whether she is prohibited by the Code of Ethics from simultaneously working in her private capacity as a residential supervisor in a group home for teenage girls that is owned and operated by Family Service of Rhode Island, an entity that provides services to the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth & Families pursuant to a contract between the two entities. 

Staff Attorney Popova Papa presented the Commission Staff recommendation. Chair Jones commended the Petitioner for her service. Upon motion made by Commissioner Callahan and duly seconded by Commissioner Ricci, it was unanimously

 

VOTED:         To issue an advisory opinion to Katherine Lennon, a principal resource specialist employed by the Rhode Island Department of Children, Youth & Families, Licensing Division.

 

            The next advisory opinion was that of:

 

Bernard Lane, Jr., the chief financial officer for the Rhode Island Department of Public Safety, requests an advisory opinion regarding whether his daughter’s potential employment with the Rhode Island State Police would present a conflict of interest for him under the Code of Ethics. 

Staff Attorney Popova Papa presented the Commission Staff recommendation. She informed that this draft was prepared by former Staff Attorney Radiches. The Petitioner was present. Upon motion made by Commissioner Ricci and duly seconded by Commissioner Cenerini, it was unanimously

 

VOTED:         To issue an advisory opinion to Bernard Lane, Jr., the chief financial officer for the Rhode Island Department of Public Safety.

 

The final advisory opinion was that of:

 

Jeffrey McCormick, the Department of Public Works Director for the Town of Burrillville, who is currently one of two final candidates for the position of Burrillville Town Manager, requests an advisory opinion regarding whether the proposed alternate supervisory chain of command would sufficiently insulate him from conflicts of interest if he is the successful candidate for the town manager position, and what other restrictions, if any, the Code of Ethics would place upon him in carrying out his official duties, given that his sister is employed by the town as an administrative assistant to the town clerk.

Staff Attorney Popova Papa presented the Commission Staff recommendation. She informed that this draft also was prepared by former Staff Attorney Radiches. The Petitioner was present. In response to Commissioner Callahan, the Petitioner stated that the town clerk serves under the town manager, but he represented that the town manager does not exercise influence over the clerk. In further response to Commissioner Callahan, the Petitioner stated that if he is selected as town manager and a disciplinary matter involving his sister, a lower clerk, should arise that needs to be escalated to the town manager, he would recuse from handling the matter. Upon motion made by Commissioner Callahan and duly seconded by Commissioner Peterson, it was unanimously

 

VOTED:         To issue an advisory opinion to Jeffrey McCormick, the Department of Public Works Director for the Town of Burrillville, who is currently one of two final candidates for the position of Burrillville Town Manager.

 

At 9:38 a.m., upon motion made by Commissioner Cenerini and duly seconded by Commissioner Callahan, it was unanimously

 

VOTED:         To go into Executive Session, to wit:

 

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

             

  1. In re: Gordon E. Rogers, Complaint No. 2026-4, pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws      § 42-46-5(a)(2) & (4).

     

  2. In re: Valarie J. Lawson, Complaint No. 2026-3, pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws      § 42-46-5(a)(2) & (4).

 

  1. 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).

 

  1. Motion to return to Open Session.

 

            At 10:33 a.m., the Commission reconvened in Open Session. 

 

The next order of business was:

 

Motion to seal minutes of September 1, 2026, Executive Session.

 

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

 

VOTED:         To seal the minutes of Executive Session held on September 1, 2026.

 

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

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

 

AYES:                     Christopher P. Callahan; Frank J. Cenerini; Emma L. Peterson; and Hugo L. Ricci.

 

ABSTENTIONS:   Lauren E. Jones.]     

 

  1. Unanimously voted (5-0) in the matter of In re: Gordon E. Rogers, Complaint No. 2026-4, 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. 

     

  2. A motion was made in the matter of In re: Valarie J. Lawson, Complaint No. 2026-3, 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. The motion was not seconded.

    Voted (4-1) in the matter of In re: Valarie J. Lawson, Complaint No. 2026-3, to initially determine that the Complaint does not state facts that are sufficient to constitute violations of the Code of Ethics and to dismiss the Complaint without prejudice.

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

 

AYES:         Lauren E. Jones; Christopher P. Callahan; Frank J. Cenerini; and Emma L. Peterson.

 

NOES:         Hugo L. Ricci.]         

 

  1. 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. The Commission took no action. [Reporter’s Note: Lauren E. Jones recused from the discussion and left the hearing room.]

 

  1. Unanimously voted (5-0) to return to Open Session. [Reporter’s Note: Lauren E. Jones returned to the hearing room for the vote 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 10:39 a.m., upon motion made by Commissioner Callahan and duly seconded by Commissioner Peterson, it was unanimously 

 

            VOTED:        To adjourn the meeting.

Respectfully submitted,                                                                              

            

___________________________

Emma L. Peterson

Secretary