Projo 7 to 7 News Blog

PROVIDENCE -- A Superior Court judge today issued a temporary restraining order that will allow newly elected Hopkinton Town Council member William Felkner to return to his seat on the Chariho Regional School Committee -- at least temporarily.

Felkner wants to hold both positions, but his School Committee colleagues voted him off the board after he was sworn in as a member of the Hopkinton Town Council.

He is fighting their move. His lawyer, Nicholas Gorham, argued that the board voted on the issue without properly advertising it. He asked Judge O. Rogeriee Thompson to order Felkner reinstated until the Rhode Island Attorney General's office can rule on whether one person can simultaneously hold seats on a regional school committee and a town council.

Thompson reinstated Felkner until the School Committee can take another vote after it's been properly advertised. The judge also said the Rhode Island Attorney General's Office should be notified so the office can decide whether it wants to get involved.

All 11 School Committee members will be able to vote, including Felkner.

-- By Donita Naylor, Journal staff writer,

 Tags  Superior Court

Comments

Scott Bill Hirst said:

Hi!
What part of law enables the RI AG to determine eligibility to hold office? I realize open records and open meetings are clearly are in their purview.
This is an historic situation, and it is really nothing you can compare it to. However clearly dual elected office holding happens in other states. Even in Rhode Island for example in West Greenwich, candidates for both parties ran for a town council seat and town moderator at the same time and held dual elective office but it is not done now.
An RIAG ruling can be appealed to court BTW,.
Regards,
Scott

Link | January 2, 2009 4:18 PM
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Curious Resident said:

This part was a no-brainer. The School Committee had plenty of time to put the issue of Mr. Felkner on the agenda, but instead went the surreptitious route and ousted him without any notice to him or the public of their intent.

I'd like to see fines imposed on the individual School Committee members who willfully violated the Open Meetings Act.

Link | January 2, 2009 4:20 PM
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