RI Convention Center Rejects Mattiello’s Demand for Audit - Chairman Calls Motivation Political
GoLocalProv News Team
RI Convention Center Rejects Mattiello’s Demand for Audit - Chairman Calls Motivation Political
Chair of the Authority Bernie Buonanno told GoLocal he believed the effort by Mattiello was “politically motivated” and tied to the Convention Center Authority’s disciplinary action against Mattiello’s crony James Demers.
The placing of Demers on administrative leave by the Authority sparked Mattiello’s ire -- and the ordering of the audit.
GET THE LATEST BREAKING NEWS HERE -- SIGN UP FOR GOLOCAL FREE DAILY EBLASTThe motion to reject the audit was made by George Nee, the head of the AFL-CIO in Rhode Island. Nee said that the audit was illegal because there was not a vote of the JCLS instructing RI State Auditor General Dennis Hoyle to seek an audit.
Buonanno said he believes Mattiello’s actions were retribution.
A GoLocal story on Wednesday unveiled a letter by Amanda Marzullo Wilmouth, the Assistant General Manager of the Rhode Island Convention Center that alleges years of verbal and mental abuse by fellow Convention Center executive Demers.
Mattiello's office refused to comment on the Convention Center board's decision and the lawsuit.
Mattiello Sued
This was the second blow for Mattiello today.
As GoLocal first reported on Thursday morning, Rhode Island House Republican Leader Blake Filippi filed a lawsuit in Rhode Island Superior Court that calls the audit of the Rhode Island Convention Center illegal.
The audit was ordered by JCLS — a committee controlled by Mattiello and has not met in years.
The audit was ordered by Mattiello’s office after the Convention Center placed its head of security James Demers on administrative leave. Demers is close personal friends with Mattiello. Demers’ co-worker is alleging that he harassed and stalked her.
The Filippi suit "seeks a declaration that Defendant Montanaro and Defendant Mattiello have unlawfully assumed the powers of JCLS…”
The suit also names Senate President Dominick Ruggerio, House Majority Leader Joe Shekarchi, and Senate Minority Leader Dennis Algiere —all serve on JCLS, and have de facto, surrendered authority to Mattiello.
Filippi’s actions call for a restraining order specifically:
Defendant Mattiello has taken actions and has directed others to take actions without authority, most recently the order purportedly by JCLS, without any vote, to audit the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority.
This action has and will continue to cause irreparable harm to Plaintiff who has been denied the right to vote on such matters and has no adequate remedy at law to rectify the abuse of power by Defendant Mattiello and other Defendants named herein.
For the reasons stated herein, Plaintiff has demonstrated a likelihood of success on the merits of, at the very least, his claim that Defendant Mattiello ordered an illegal audit of the Rhode Island Convention Center Authority. This warrants a preliminary injunction pending the resolution of the instant declaratory judgment action.
Plaintiff respectfully requests a preliminary injunction preventing the Defendants from taking any further action on the Rhode Island Convention Center Audit.
Plaintiff further requests Defendants produce any and all documents and records obtained as part of this "Audit" to be immediately produced and kept under seal by this Honorable Court.
Further, Plaintiff requests a preliminary and permanent injunction preventing Defendant Mattiello and Defendant Montanaro from taking any action which would usurp the responsibilities of JCLS pursuant to § 22-11-1, et. seq. and § 22-13-1, et. seq.
Common Cause
Common Cause Rhode Island Executive Director John Marion said that the recent announcement by Auditor General Dennis Hoyle that JCLS authorized an audit of the Rhode Island Convention Center -- without meeting -- could be in violation of state law.
Filippi, who serves on the JCLS along with four other members of House and Senate leadership, told GoLocal that the JLCS has never met since was elected, and certainly did not meet to authorize a Convention Center audit.
As GoLocal reported, JCLS controls an annual budget of $45.6 million.
“In my 11 years at Common Cause I've only seen JCLS meet as a committee twice; once to approve paying the legal bill of a disgraced former legislator, and the other time to hire the man who gerrymanders our political districts,” said Marion. “JCLS controls tens of millions of dollars and more than 100 employees, but never really meets. That means its decision-making process is opaque.”
“However, there are decisions that require a vote of the committee, theoretically creating transparency. One of those is the decision to order a performance audit of a state agency or quasi-public,” said Marion.
“In the case of the Convention Center audit ordered by the JCLS it appears that public vote never happened. Since there is no penalty for violating that law it remains unclear what will happen,” said Marion. “Certainly a majority of the committee (three members) could force a public meeting and call the question.”