[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6653571,"mediaKeyId","2478210-303f1f21f421873236b165294ebf0a5b","parentId",2478210,"title","Rhode Island Ethics Commission gives Cranston council a refresher on conflicts, recusals and advisory opinions","audioSeconds",2447,"startMs",11199000,"endMs",13646000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2478210-303f1f21f421873236b165294ebf0a5b&start=11199&end=13646","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2478210-303f1f21f421873236b165294ebf0a5b/thumbnail_11199000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6653571/Cranston-City/Providence-County/Rhode-Island/Rhode-Island-Ethics-Commission-gives-Cranston-council-a-refresher-on-conflicts-recusals-and-advisory-opinions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6653571-bce49bb399804a8a5af2530b09054ae1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190573&Signature=YU-IEjjaaSn0cW1vFS~MOOtwu8WtxktfIOkYulqyoEwfCC1N8ZlxnN9l1Ke1~fIiRvI7Uk8N--KKZ7Lr-r-JkzUiVyicoaRnml54Iv-UERz40afEHXyjrHLzuqBZLs7xi0nq6NF0iZ-k4Se5TI2mzdbKsNRTzPDI47lL58lULZAcdi0ziEGOAD1xIC1jyyXjKgg9XNr87JSG1ymcMnt5fV9jm3fd9E0QqXOLxQ4ezsIxP-ErLNIUIJ0EAhtmvLR9D8ljgtMqGJ9z-34DQqEo-Ey77K7bZyoj1KFjtoVgTzpMJAQJSSQcZ4ydFPNugcDuPxGN3HulbvM8k6bhtJbIiQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author"," City of Cranston","date","2025-03-04T03:20:57.48Z","article","The Cranston City Council met in workshop March 3 for a presentation by Lynn Radiches, staff attorney and education coordinator for the Rhode Island Ethics Commission. The session covered the state Code of Ethics, how the commission evaluates conflicts of interest and the procedures for advisory opinions and complaints.

Why it matters: Municipal officials are subject to the state code; understanding recusal rules, nepotism limits and gift thresholds helps officials avoid ethical violations and limits the appearance of impropriety.

Key points from the training
- Conflicts and recusal: The Ethics Commission determines conflicts by whether it is reasonably foreseeable that an official's action will cause direct monetary gain or loss to the official, family, household member or business associate. Officials must file a one‑page recusal/statement of conflict form and should generally leave the room when the matter is discussed to avoid the appearance of participation.

- Nepotism and household members: The code defines family broadly and applies the nepotism rules to household members regardless of blood relation; officials may not participate in hiring, promotion, discipline or appointment decisions affecting family or household members.

- Gifts: Public officials who take part in decisions may not accept cash or forgiveness of debt from an interested person. Noncash items from a single interested person are limited to $25 per instance and $75 per year under the code; municipal rules that are stricter must be followed.

- Revolving door: Officials and employees face a one‑year restriction on certain appointments and employment that are related to bodies they previously served or appointed, unless the Ethics Commission grants a hardship exception.

- Advisory opinions and complaints: Advisory opinions are issued prospectively on the basis of the petitioner's factual representations and protect an official who follows the advice; complaints must be signed, sworn and identify the respondent and factual allegations. The commission may initiate investigations and can impose civil penalties (up to statutory limits) for violations.

Council Q&A highlights
Council members asked how the code applies to school‑department budgets, whether a school committee member may seek paid employment with the school department, and whether council members may assist neighborhood groups with fundraising. The presenter advised that officials should avoid taking part in decisions that directly affect family members' employment and recommended advisory opinions when a conflict is uncertain.

Ending: The Ethics Commission staff closed by reminding officials to file annual financial disclosure statements (due the last Friday in April) and to contact the commission's staff for case‑specific guidance or an advisory opinion before taking potentially sensitive official action.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","March 3, 2025, Claims, Safety Services & Licenses, Special City Council, and Finance","oneSentenceSummary","At a March 3 council workshop the Rhode Island Ethics Commission staff delivered a training on conflicts of interest, nepotism, gifts, revolving‑door rules and advisory opinions; commissioners were encouraged to use advisory opinions and to file annual financial disclosures on time.","taxTitle","Cranston City, Providence County, Rhode Island","taxId",4549,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6653575,"Residents oppose liquor and entertainment license at Rolfe Square; committee continues application",1441,9311000,10752000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2478210-303f1f21f421873236b165294ebf0a5b&start=9311&end=10752","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2478210-303f1f21f421873236b165294ebf0a5b/thumbnail_9311000.jpg","/articles/6653575/Cranston-City/Providence-County/Rhode-Island/Residents-oppose-liquor-and-entertainment-license-at-Rolfe-Square-committee-continues-application","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6653575-dd0e20dff6e095da8a340997725ced9e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190574&Signature=CgtW7KnocKu1sWCL2szCKhj-LZPsNOoaDD4QD1NLl9xEPs~ufJ6goYYE1eL-CpV1qF6V2qLW6Px6Re4mzOLR-xSQyaAma1~LiycoWJt1Z7~a2DaQhLI~AwbbUDVNxZhAEwUPGlH6i29u8dpsoOgQZrVlTtN0eaX0vcj9MK~FrITMKfK6jHMT0kw4bM--loHgPfeI2NIKb4BSi5rEwA~Z7l5hQv4mmAvlWEDmneYva4kytMztRYBT9-Fuo5cUgahWb8~qoUxN1oUVDNpiU-QwAgb3caYCIZiTb-ttifQqZ971mP~-Wb2VCqY56ivTwYZy2UmDYn6XF8cMIeh661wCJQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Neighbors of Rolfe Square urged Cranston's Safety Services & Licenses Committee on March 3 to deny or delay an indoor entertainment and victualing (liquor) license for El Laham restaurant, citing recurring late‑night noise, trash, engine revving and pedestrian safety risks near a dance school.

Why it matters: Licenses for late‑night entertainment and alcohol affect neighborhood quality of life, public safety and parking. Residents told the committee they have repeatedly called police about noise and disturbances and worried that extending hours or granting alcohol service will make problems worse.

Public comment: neighbors describe recurring disturbances
Demitrius Palmer (spelled in meeting records) told the committee that he has made multiple noise complaints about patrons revving engines and loud activity outside the restaurant late at night. \"They've been there past 2 a.m. constantly,\" he said, and described trash and power‑washing in the early morning hours.

Several other neighbors echoed those concerns. Rebecca Bernardo said she lives on Lexington Avenue and described a \"serious and consistent trash issue\" in the restaurant's parking lot and frequent loud confrontations. \"This is not a business that has shown they care about Rolfe Square or the residents of Cranston,\" she said.

Ethan Hartley and other speakers said the site sits adjacent to a children's dance studio and that parents and children are regularly present when the business operates; they warned that adding later hours and alcohol increases safety risks.

Owners' response and procedural issues
Applicants Hannah Kossafi and Charbel (last name provided at the hearing) told the committee they intend to purchase the plaza and renovate the property. They said the sale closing had been extended to April 1 because environmental work (removing two underground tanks) required additional time and permits.

Solicitor Christopher Malay advised the committee that, absent a completed sale and clear documentation, acting now would be premature. He also flagged a possible statutory constraint: Rhode Island law (cited at the meeting as R.I. Gen. Laws §3-7-19) can bar issuance of certain liquor licenses within 200 feet of some places of worship and requires staff to confirm statutory distance limits.

Committee decision and votes at a glance
The committee voted to continue the indoor entertainment and victualing (liquor) license application for El Laham to the next Safety Services meeting so the applicants can complete the sale and provide outstanding documentation. Committee members said they had heard multiple resident complaints and wanted proof of ownership and evidence of planned improvements before granting a new license.

Votes at a glance (selected items from March 3 Safety Services meeting)
- El Laham (indoor entertainment and liquor license): continued to next Safety Services meeting — outcome: continued (motion carried).
- Classic Liquors (1358 Plainfield Pike): victualer/holiday sales permit approved — outcome: approved.
- Cumberland Farms (additional victualer hours at 921 Cranston St.): hours approved — outcome: approved.
- Max Foodmart (983 Oakland Ave.): victualer license approved — outcome: approved.
- Kids' Empire (indoor amusement, 1400 Oakland Ave.): amusement license approved, subject to Department of Health documentation — outcome: approved (pending document).
- Cranston Wine & Spirits (transfer at 1285 Pontiac Ave): victualer transfer/holiday sales approved — outcome: approved.

What the committee requested
- Applicants for El Laham to provide a completed purchase and sale agreement, evidence the environmental/tank issue has been addressed, and any required state or local permits; the committee asked city staff to verify proximity to any places of worship before re‑considering the license.
- For other pending new‑business licenses, the committee required production of outstanding state documents (for example Department of Health forms) before issuing final licenses.

Ending: The committee did not grant the El Laham entertainment or liquor licenses on March 3. Committee members said they welcome new businesses but expect applicants to demonstrate that they will run law‑abiding, neighborhood‑sensitive operations and to provide requested documentation before any license is issued.","Dozens of nearby residents told the Safety Services & Licenses Committee they oppose an indoor entertainment and liquor license for El Laham (Rolfe/Rolfe Square), citing repeated late‑night noise, trash and safety concerns; the committee continued the application pending ownership documentation and other follow‑up.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6653579,"Cranston finance committee presses city solicitor, finance director for full list of pending lawsuits and audit explanation",1709,2596000,4305000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2478210-303f1f21f421873236b165294ebf0a5b&start=2596&end=4305","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2478210-303f1f21f421873236b165294ebf0a5b/thumbnail_2596000.jpg","/articles/6653579/Cranston-City/Providence-County/Rhode-Island/Cranston-finance-committee-presses-city-solicitor-finance-director-for-full-list-of-pending-lawsuits-and-audit-explanation","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6653579-e0ff5f3c15238d0b3d6bfec90436a72d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771190574&Signature=nfTqtdpvTBD1t5hw2Sh~XI1UHeS03wVXitrAPYnlqNIo2J46kX96-gnhGrmQ5u3QtG73bo1yeNGJ3r9hdTyA738LOkiWS9r~XKSmdnM~FNAtoV17UoOBhcR81j~lgRWmZSy61PkCvsBTaQMpzQw-jRVd4-h1amCIYOCb18sIPmqoRUUTNQQHdwf6n5w-QKWvi4oWc5JbosCnzObHgC~-lEPD4pwRfTabMCy7EjTT3ZpUptw9j8auFNcHWC2~c65l4iKsJga6GV1FWToKrBqtCL296uAx4Nyes16l~EaClAOq7bZH8cZhfV3pMpPJLTozE7JLQB4UoEFdw1qZ1yvNjg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Council President Marino and members of the Cranston Finance Committee pressed city legal and finance officials March 3 for a complete list of pending lawsuits, clearer monthly reporting of outside legal expenses and a staff explanation of a large change in audited program revenues.

The committee asked Solicitor Christopher Malay and Finance Director (Director) Zadelis to provide documented answers at the next committee meeting. Council members said they had repeatedly asked for a consolidated, public inventory of litigation and the expenses associated with outside counsel and want the information before budget deliberations.

Why it matters: Pending lawsuits and outside legal spending can affect the city's budget planning and bond disclosures. Committee members said they need a single, consistently updated list to see settlement exposure and legal‑expense trends before finalizing fiscal year budgets.

Solicitor's account and council follow‑up
Solicitor Christopher Malay told the committee he had a list of matters by firm and that many cases already appear in the law department's monthly legal expense report. Malay walked members through several cases he said were active or recently closed, including property partition litigation and other matters handled by outside counsel.

Malay acknowledged the monthly billing reports may not include every filed complaint and said he would produce a written list of pending lawsuits that are publicly filed and active. \"Anything that's been filed is public knowledge and I'm happy to include that in the list,\" Malay said. He also said some matters are being handled in‑house and that certain long‑running superior‑court matters can result in supplemental outside bills when outside counsel is needed.

Council President Marino and Councilwoman Graziano said that past reports have omitted suits the council later learned about, sometimes only when a settlement surfaced. \"We want to know exactly what suits are pending currently with the city,\" Marino said, asking that the list be produced for the next finance committee meeting.

Audit question: the $40 million program‑revenue discrepancy
The council also asked Director Zadelis for an explanation of a roughly $40 million drop in program revenues shown in the city's annual financial report. Zadelis said the comparison required looking across multiple tables and fund classifications and that different accountants can reclassify items between revenue and program categories.

\"It's not a simple one‑line answer,\" Zadelis said, noting that adjustments on the expense side and changes in grants (for example ARPA and ESSER funding) affect how totals appear. He offered to sit down with the council president and the audit preparers to walk through the accounting exhibits in detail.

Federal grants and near‑term risk
Marino also asked for an overview of federal funding that supports the current and next fiscal year. Zadelis said the city's largest active grants (including a SAFER firefighter grant) had been reviewed and he did not have immediate concerns about termination. He noted, however, that federal grant oversight and state pass‑through rules require ongoing monitoring and that he will notify the finance chair promptly if any funding appears in jeopardy.

What the committee requested
- A written, consolidated list of pending, publicly filed lawsuits (sourced to the legal expense report and other records).
- Any missing or supplementary litigation entries that do not appear in monthly bills.
- A detailed walkthrough of the audit exhibit showing the program‑revenue change, tying exhibit tables to revenue and expense reclassifications.
- A notification procedure from the finance director to the committee chair if any federal grants appear at risk.

Next steps and context
Solicitor Malay agreed to provide the list of pending lawsuits and update the committee at its next meeting. The committee also agreed to continue discussion of litigation and any privileged matters in executive session where legally appropriate.

Council members said the records are needed in time for budget work to ensure the city accounts for possible settlements and outside counsel spend in its fiscal plans.

Ending: The finance committee did not take formal action beyond asking for the written lists and audit explanations; members said they expect the materials to appear with next month's finance packet so the council can review potential financial impacts ahead of budget votes.","At a March 3 Finance Committee meeting, council members pushed the solicitor and finance director for a complete, public list of pending lawsuits and an explanation of a roughly $40 million change in program revenues shown in the city audit; the committee asked for written follow‑up and documentation at next month's meeting.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Rhode Island Ethics Commission gives Cranston council a refresher on conflicts, recusals and advisory opinions

Residents oppose liquor and entertainment license at Rolfe Square; committee continues application

Cranston finance committee presses city solicitor, finance director for full list of pending lawsuits and audit explanation