Minutes February 11, 2014

MINUTES OF THE OPEN SESSION OF THE RHODE ISLAND ETHICS COMMISSION

February 11, 2014

The Rhode Island Ethics Commission held its 3^rd meeting of 2014 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, February 11, 2014, pursuant to the notice published at the Commission Headquarters, the State House Library, and electronically with the Rhode Island Secretary of State. 

The following Commissioners were present: 

Ross Cheit, Chair                                                        Mark B. Heffner*

Deborah M. Cerullo SSND, Vice Chair                     John M. LaCross

John D. Lynch, Jr., Secretary                                      Edward A. Magro

Frederick K. Butler                                                     James V. Murray

Also present were Edmund L. Alves, Jr., Commission Legal Counsel; Kent A. Willever, Commission Executive Director; Katherine D’Arezzo, Senior Staff Attorney; Jason Gramitt, Education Coordinator/Staff Attorney; Staff Attorneys Nicole B. DiLibero and Amy C. Stewart; and Commission Investigators Steven T. Cross, Peter J. Mancini and Gary V. Petrarca.

At 9:03 a.m. the Chair opened the meeting.  The first order of business was the approval of minutes of the Open Session held on January 28, 2014.  Upon motion made by Commissioner Lynch and duly seconded by Commissioner Butler, it was unanimously

VOTED: To approve minutes of the Open Session held on January 28, 2014. 

The next order of business was the Director’s Report.  Executive Director Willever reported that there were ten (10) complaints pending, nine (9) of which were for the non-filing of financial statements.  He also stated that there was one (1) advisory opinion and one (1) litigation matter pending.  He stated that ten (10) APRA requests were granted since the last meeting, all of which were completed within one (1) business day. 

At 9:05 a.m., upon motion made by Commissioner Murray and duly seconded by Commissioner Cerullo, it was unanimously

VOTED:  To go into Executive Session, to wit:

a) Motion to approve minutes of Executive Session held on January 28, 2014, pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(2) and (4).

b)  In re: Lynne A. DeStefano, Complaint No. NF2013-1, pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(2) and (4).

c)   In re: Richard P. Martin, Complaint No. NF2013-2, pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(2) and (4).

d)  In re: Thomas P. McGee IV, Complaint No. NF2013-3, pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(2) and (4).

e)   In re: Thomas A. Hetherman, Complaint No. NF2013-5, pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(2) and (4).

f)  In re: Stephen A. Furtado, Complaint No. NF2013-11, pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(2) and (4).

g)   In re: Micah J. Shapiro, Complaint No. NF2013-13, pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws § 42-46-5(a)(2) and (4).

*Commissioner Heffner arrived at 9:10 a.m., during Executive Session. 

The Commission reconvened in Open Session at approximately 10:02 a.m. The next order of business was a motion to seal the minutes of the February 11, 2014, Executive Session. Upon motion made by Commissioner Lynch and duly seconded by Commissioner Magro, it was unanimously

VOTED:  To seal the minutes of the February 11, 2014, Executive Session.

Chair Cheit reported that the Commission took the following actions during Executive Session:

1. Unanimously voted to approve the minutes of the January 28, 2014, Executive Session. 

2. In the matter of In re: Thomas A. Hetherman, Complaint No. NF2013-5, unanimously voted to find that there was probable cause to believe that the Respondent violated R.I. Gen. Laws § 36-14-16 by failing to file a Financial Disclosure Statement for calendar year 2012.

3.  In the matter of In re: Lynne A. DeStefano, Complaint No. NF2013-1, unanimously voted to find that there was probable cause to believe that the Respondent violated R.I. Gen. Laws § 36-14-16 by failing to file a Financial Disclosure Statement for calendar year 2012.

4.  In the matter of In re: Richard P. Martin, Complaint No. NF2013-2, unanimously voted to find that there was probable cause to believe that the Respondent violated R.I. Gen. Laws § 36-14-16 by failing to timely file a Financial Disclosure Statement for calendar year 2012.

5.  In the matter of In re: Thomas P. McGee IV, Complaint No. NF2013-3, unanimously voted to find that there was probable cause to believe that the Respondent violated R.I. Gen. Laws § 36-14-16 by failing to file a Financial Disclosure Statement for calendar year 2012.

6.  In the matter of In re: Stephen A. Furtado, Complaint No. NF2013-11, unanimously voted to find that there was probable cause to believe that the Respondent violated R.I. Gen. Laws § 36-14-16 by failing to file a Financial Disclosure Statement for calendar year 2012.

7.  In the matter of In re: Micah J. Shapiro, Complaint No. NF2013-13, unanimously voted to find that there was probable cause to believe that the Respondent violated R.I. Gen. Laws § 36-14-16 by failing to timely file a Financial Disclosure Statement for calendar year 2012.

The next order of business was New Business.  There being none, at 10:05 a.m. upon motion made by Commissioner Butler and duly seconded by Commission Lynch, it was unanimously

VOTED:  To adjourn. 

Respectfully submitted,

 __________________

John D. Lynch, Jr.

Secretary