N. Providence Mayor Gets Ethics OK To Rent Building To Non-Profit

NORTH PROVIDENCE, RI — Mayor Charles Lombardi told the state Ethics Commission that a non-profit social services agency wants to rent a building from him in his personal capacity, and he asked for an advisory opinion.

Lombardi appeared before the commission on Tuesday and was told that state ethics code does not prohibit him from renting the building to Tri-County Community Action Agency. However, the landlord-tenant business relationship will govern his behavior when it comes to interacting with the non-profit in his capacity as a public official.

The mayor will be required to recuse from taking any official action, including discussions or decision-making, on any matter that is likely to have a financial impact on Tri-County, or in which Tri-County appears before city government or presents evidence or arguments.

Lombardi said he would comply with the April 27 advisory opinion.

Lombardi on March 29 had written a letter to the commission. He said he was approached by Joseph DeSantis, CEO and president of Tri-County, who was searching for a suitable building to stage food distribution for families in the Marieville area.

"After an exhaustive search, he came upon a building, which I happen to own," Lombardi wrote.

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Lombardi noted Tri-County has an annual budget of $28 million, does not receive any funds from the town, and does not hold any contracts with the town. "Kindly provide me with an opinion as to me renting a building to Tri-County Community Action Agency," the mayor wrote.

Appearing remotely before the nine-member commission, Lombardi remarked that he felt "uncomfortable" about being there, and suggested that he didn't want people to get the wrong impression. "This is not the be-all and end-all for me to rent this property to Tri-County," he said. "I don't need any of the negativism, the skepticism, and most certainly, I don't want to be careless." Lombardi said that he would not have any problem renting the property to somebody else.

However, Lombardi remarked that Tri-County provides valuable services."You might not know this, but I come from this neighborhood, and I know the need for the residents of that area," he said. "It will help with the services for the neighborhood."

Reached by telephone Friday, Lombardi said that the commercial building in question is off of Charles Street on Volturno Street. It's about 2,500 square feet with garage space. Property records show Lombardi owns such a structure at 19 Volturno Street.

"Joe DeSantis called me, and I agreed to ask for the opinion," Lombardi said. "I don't need to rent it to them. But it's for a good cause."