Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Board Procedures topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Board members raise hybrid meeting requests and ask for clearer application review, recusal guidance
Summary
A board member asked the Department of Consumer Protection occupational licensing board to permit attendance via Microsoft Teams for members who cannot use state vehicles. Board and staff also discussed application review procedures, a standing application review working group, and current vacancies for a local fire marshal representative and a
Kevin Griffin, board member, asked the board to consider allowing members to join future meetings via Microsoft Teams when they cannot reasonably travel to the meeting location because of state vehicle usage rules.
Griffin said a change at the state Division of Administrative Services (DAS) affected his ability to use a state vehicle for commuting and that he sometimes cannot attend in person as a result. “I would like the board to consider, for meetings going forward, the option to join via Teams,” he said.
Manager John Messner (staff member) said the department will review its position and follow up with the board. “I'll look into it, and I could follow‑up because it has been to the chairperson's comment, the department's stance on it,” Messner said. He noted the department has previously taken an “all or none” stance on hybrid participation but agreed to inquire and report back.
Board members also discussed the application review process for licensure. Messner and staff outlined an application review working group that meets about every 30 days; the working group typically includes Messner, Todd Birch and a member‑delegate from the board, and it vets applications before they appear on the full board agenda. That group can approve or deny applications; denials that are appealed are brought before the full board.
Several members expressed concern that participation in the application review working group can create a need to recuse when the same member later sits on the full board, because of prior knowledge of an application. The chair described longstanding department guidance and the memorandum of understanding that governs board‑staff roles but offered no immediate change to recusal rules.
The board confirmed it has two vacancies: a local fire marshal representative and a public member. Anthony Catalano, an attendee who said he is applying for an F‑3 license, sat in to observe and asked procedural questions about equivalency with a Rhode Island journeyman license. Staff pointed him to licensing services staff (Karen Layman) to assist with documentation and equivalency determinations.
Why it matters: Allowing hybrid participation could affect quorum and participation for a part‑time appointment board that meets infrequently; clearer guidance on recusal and application review timelines would shorten wait times for applicants.
Votes at a glance: No formal policy change was adopted on hybrid access or recusal rules during the meeting.
