Can the Cranston City Council investigate its own members? Germain resignation opens debate

CRANSTON – The City Council on Tuesday will revisit the subject of former Ward 2 Councilor Aniece Germain’s sudden resignation last month.

The discussion will center on a letter Steven Brown, executive director of Rhode Island’s ACLU, a civil-rights advocacy group, sent to the council following Germain’s resignation. Nicole Renzulli, a Republican city-wide councilor, introduced the item into the agenda.

“I think it's the public's right to know that we are not afraid to discuss these things. I feel like this issue has kind of been swept under the rug because maybe it's uncomfortable for some people, but being transparent about it is part of our job,” Renzulli said.

In the letter, Brown raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding Germain’s resignation. Germain alleged that council President Jessica Marino threatened to hold hearings into her nonprofit’s activities unless she resigned. Germain’s nonprofit, Hope and Change for Haiti, lost its tax-exempt status in 2022 but continued accepting political donations and requesting funds.

In a previous interview with The Journal, Marino said it was her public duty “to proceed with counsel, investigatory hearings relative to the allegations, evidence and admissions of unlawful conduct relative to soliciting and receiving funds under the pretense of being a 501(c)3, when it has in fact been revoked.”

Critics, however, have pointed out that Cranston’s charter restricts the City Council’s investigative powers to “official conduct” and looking into Germain’s nonprofit would have been out of that scope.

“An investigation in this instance would have enmeshed the council in potentially using its official subpoena powers to seek private information completely unrelated to city governance, setting an extremely damaging example,” Brown wrote in the letter.

Brown added, “Making use of the City Council’s investigatory powers over private conduct is especially troubling when aimed at fellow council members, regardless of the intent, in light of the inherent political implications and consequences of such an investigation.”

Tuesday’s discussion will also address the scope and authority of council investigations.

Previous coverage: Ex-Cranston councilwoman claims she was blackmailed. Now state police may be investigating

“We need to establish a clear understanding of what constitutes ‘official conduct’ and ensure that investigatory actions are confined to this scope,” Renzulli’s item says in the meeting agenda.

A vote may be taken to accept the ACLU’s letter into the City Council’s record.

Rhode Island State Police are investigating the circumstances surrounding Germain’s resignation, following a request by Cranston City Solicitor Christopher Millea to look into the matter.

This article originally appeared on The Providence Journal: Aniece Germain resignation to be discussed by Cranston City Council