PROVIDENCE – The new Senate president, Dominick Ruggerio, D-Providence, has introduced legislation that would compel the Interstate 195 Redevelopment District Commission to take part in ethics training and more clearly specify why it is entering closed session.
The bill, introduced Tuesday, would require newly appointed members to take part in the training course within six months of appointment.
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It would subject the commission to open-meeting requirements. In order to enter a closed session, or executive session, the body would have to be considering the purchase, exchange, value or lease of property, and the chairman would have to declare that discussing this in open session would have a detrimental effect on their negotiations.
In instances where sessions are closed, an audio recording is required and would be retained as minutes in accordance with state law.
The bill amends the original legislation that created the I-195 commission in 2011, which was also sponsored by Ruggerio.
In a news release, he said he understood the need for executive session but said all too often the commission “seems to be exercising the option to go into executive session for different reasons.
“Rhode Islanders deserve to know that the commission is acting in good faith, in the interest of the public and in a transparent manner to ensure the best development projects possible are being considered and properly vetted.”
Mary MacDonald is a PBN staff writer.
