NORTH SMITHFIELD – Town Administrator Scott Gibbs can take work as a private consultant without violating ethics law relative to specific tasks for his long-standing non-profit organization, according to a decision issued this week by the state Ethics Commission.
Gibbs requested an advisory opinion from the board as to whether or not he could accept the part time work, noting that the Economic Development Foundation of Rhode Island is winding down its operations, but there is still work to do before its dissolution. The administrator served as president of the EDFRI for 40 years prior to his election to the town leadership role in November.
In his request, Gibbs notes that while he stepped down as president of the EDFRI in December, he hopes to serve as part-time consultant to assist the organization with the disposition of real estate, and to help the town of Burrillville with managing the development of Commerce Park. He notes that the work will be done outside of his normal working hours as town administrator, including nights and weekends, and without the use of public resources.

The EDFRI currently owns two buildings and a parcel of land located in the Highland Corporate Park in Cumberland, according to Gibbs. In Burrillville, he notes that the town manager has indicated that the town would like to continue utilizing his advisory services relative to the Commerce Park, a 253-acre town-owned industrial park.
“The petitioner clarifies that his potential consulting position with EDFRI would be expected to last until the dissolution of the organization has been completed; however, he is unable to predict how long that process will last,” notes the opinion, issued on Tuesday, Jan. 7.
In response, the commission states that a conflict of interest with outside employment of a public official only exists if the individual will derive a direct monetary gain or loss by his official activity.
“The Ethics Commission has consistently opined that public officials and employees are not inherently prohibited from holding other employment that is secondary to their public positions, provided that the other employment would neither impair their independence of judgment nor create an interest in substantial conflict with their public duties,” the opinion notes.
“There is no evidence that the petitioner’s part-time work with EDFRI would either impair his independence of judgment or create an interest in substantial conflict with his public duties as town administrator,” the opinion concludes.
The Ethics Commission notes that the opinion applies to the activities described in the request and encourages Gibbs to seek additional advice if any specific questions regarding potential conflicts of interest arise.
Both candidates for ta expressed conviction that the job was more like 24/7, especially given the condition of our local government at the end of the previous administration’s term. Scott said on at least one occasion that he would leave his business in the hands of his one and ONLY employee while he worked to improve North Smithfield. I think a lot of people bought into this without really considering the odds of is actually happening.
It’s called the wolf in sheep’s clothing.
In theory isn’t the town administrator, the chief economic development officer of the town? Didn’t he run on a platform to bring smart economic development to town but now he’s consulting and assisting the town next-door on economic development?
Sounds like the ethics commission in Rhode Island is about as trustworthy or credible as a used car salesman.
Nothing to see here people….. He wants to restore credibility to our town in the office. What a joke!! Anyone who voted for him got completely fooled.
No. The chief economic development officer is the chair of the economic development commission, Paul Jones.
https://www.nsmithfieldri.org/266/Economic-Development-Commission
Actually, Mr Jones is chairman of a volunteer board that serves without pay or power. They advise and report to the town administrator, who is responsible for the economic development of the town.
Amazing the lengths you will go to defend. I’m sure Mr. Gibbs is a very nice man. No matter who it is, it’s a massive conflict of interest! Can you imagine if Paul Z did this. Some would have had him lynched on the town common!
How does a “consultant “ get paid ? Does he or she get bonus incentives for bringing business to the town? Could the businesses he be in conversation with be steered towards one town or the other based upon a potential payment? Lots of what if scenarios here. Hence the conflict of interest and potential conflicts of interests.
Typical Rhode Island.
They both expressed that it wasn’t a 9-5 position, not that it’s 24/7, though I’m sure the TA is generally on-call 24/7 just the same. Also, it’s important to consider the benefits of working with Burrillville for Economic Development considering how much undeveloped land, serviced by state highways, straddles the border of the two towns.
Let the man work.
Here we go. Everyone knew he wasn’t leaving his private sector gig. He’s just getting a different “title”.
And how is the fact that he’s going “to help the town of Burrillville with managing the development of Commerce Park..a 253 acre town owned industrial park” NOT a conflict of interest?
Word play and carefully thought out words and actions to define this as not a conflict of interest.
As a resident of NS and taxpayer, I have a big problem with our newly elected TA “advising and consulting for the development of our neighboring town’s industrial park. Or is it just me ?
Why would continuing to work with Burrillville, in an advisory role, as he’s apparently done for 25 years, be a conflict? It’s not zero-sum.
He didn’t have to ask for an advisory opinion from the board, most wouldn’t.
No man can serve two masters….
Lol…by the same thought that dictates NS temp grant writer who works for 5 other cities offers no ethical violation…..there is no way he is not indirectly benefitting somehow seems the worry……?
And noting, a TA job encompasses evenings for NS meetings, photo ops, or some other jaunts. TA is not just a true 9-5 M-F job, realistically. Just as for one on the TC. But he did ask, cleared that hurdle, was warned of possible conflicts, so….moot issue for now. He has a juggling act that is for sure. And something to fall back on should the TA job end in the future and he does not seek another term. After all, the non-profit has no real end time…..keeping options open.
I’ll never understand this thinking for three reasons:
– The town isn’t willing to pay the salary of an experienced full-time grant writer, or for a TA w/ Scott’s experience and connections. The 2025 budget has a whopping $39,900 set aside for a grant writer & associated costs – that’s $18.75/hr at 40 hr/wk. There’s $90,000 for the TA’s salary. Clearly, neither of these are the path to riches.
– In what way would the TA working with neighboring towns adversely affect NS? Working together with friends & neighbors will yield better results than competing with them, every time. I can think of many ways that good working relationships with our neighbors could benefit us; a rising tide lifts all ships.
– If a grant writer brings in more money than we would have received otherwise, where is there a possibility for a conflict of interest, or an ethics violation? If we’re all interested in bringing money to town, and that’s what happens, then there isn’t a conflict because our interests are one and the same.
Yup, a moot issue. And great points! If more would see the advantages versus the disadvantages, analyze the (non-existing) fears, they would sleep better? Lol.