Council adopts code of conduct for boards and committees after removing enforcement penalties

The North Smithfield Town Council on July 21 approved a code of conduct policy for town elected and appointed officials and volunteer board and committee members that emphasizes compliance and respectful discourse and removes enforcement penalties from earlier drafts.

Councilwoman Rebecca De Cristoforo, who introduced the item, said she worked with the town solicitor to revise enforcement language so the document “raises awareness and encourages compliance rather than enforcement penalties.” She told the council the policy removes language that some members felt would infringe on First Amendment rights and that the town would monitor compliance while not imposing immediate sanctions.

Some council members questioned whether the policy should apply only to official town actions and communications, or also to public statements made by volunteers and officials outside of meetings. One councilor said the policy should apply only to official acts; others argued that elected and appointed officials represent the town when volunteering or speaking in public and should be mindful of public posts and commentary.

Council members repeatedly described the final language as a compromise. “Good government requires compromise,” one member said before the roll call. The motion to adopt the code as revised passed on roll call.

The council instructed staff to distribute the policy to board members, volunteers and appointees and to include an acknowledgment of the code on future board and committee applications.