Requests that meeting be invalidated

An open letter to Attorney General Peter Kilmartin:

Section 3-7 of Johnston’s Home Rule Charter states as follows, “The purpose of a special meeting shall be stated in the notice of the meeting and no business shall be transacted at any special meeting other than that which has been stated in the notice. All meetings of the town council shall be open to the public and the citizens shall have a reasonable opportunity to be heard; except, that this provision shall not be deemed to prevent the holding of executive sessions; provided that all votes are taken in public.”

Honorable General I’m quite sure that you are aware of what took place in Johnston January 10, 2017, when Johnston’s town council violated that section of Johnston’s charter by not allowing any public comment regarding Resolution 2017-5. Also, what you may not be aware of was that members of the council were assembled together with Mayor Polisena in the lower level of that meeting hall prior to the convening of said meeting. The general by itself was a violation of the Open Meetings Law. Last but not least, the doors to the meeting room were opened much earlier than they usually are for regular or other special town council meetings to allow those invited to gather within. In my opinion it smacks of another strong dose of what I consider to be our current corrupt administration.

Based on what’s written above, I, Ernest F. Pitochelli, Sr., am seeking action from your department to declare that January 10, 2017 meeting of the Johnston Town Council to be invalid based on the following: The public was not accorded the opportunity to be heard as Section 3-7 states. Also the assembling of the entire body of members of that town council in the lower chamber of that meeting hall just prior to the convening of said meeting smacks of an utter disregard for Rhode Island’s Open Meeting Law.

Since this is a very serious abuse of power in the eyes of many, not only Johnstonians, I am asking that your office take some action regarding what many believe to be complete disregard not only for Johnston citizens but the entire citizenry of the state of Rhode Island. This is not an issue that can be set aside for tomorrow or next week, I’m asking for action from your office within a week or two from this signed, sealed and dated complaint filed by me on behalf of almost all Johnston residents.

Ernest F. Pitochelli, Sr.

Johnston

Editor’s note: A spokeswoman for the Attorney General said that more than 10 complaints have been received claiming that the meeting was in violation of state and municipal regulations. Those complaints are under review and no action had been taken as of press time Wednesday.