Strong words from ACLU to Cranston City Council. Overreach must be addressed. Meeting TODAY.

The Cranston City Council meeting set for TODAY, Tuesday, May 28th at 7pm will consider the matter of the resignation of Councilwoman Aniece Germain (and the appointment of Kristen Haroian to fill her position) and the process of how that resignation occurred.

The item on the agenda is as follows:

The full agenda is here – https://www.cranstonri.gov/city-council20240528/ – Click on docket. The meeting is open to the public as well as carried on ZOOM and YouTube. Specifics are at the link.

The Council matter comes in response to a letter received by the RI ACLU Executive Director Steven Brown.

The RI State Police have also been asked to investigate the situation, and at this time that investigation has not been completed.

Nicole Renzulli, Cranston City Council member who requested the issue be put on the agenda said in a statement to RINewsToday: “I have repeatedly raised concerns about Councilwoman Aniece Germain’s resignation as it relates to the council’s investigatory powers and at the April council meeting I was silenced by a roll call without receiving any real answers. I refuse to sit down and shut up just because I don’t have the gavel or the majority. Frankly, I’m unsure why more of my colleagues are not demanding answers here because facts matter and this issue could potentially affect every one of us at some point– council members, board and commission members, and City of Cranston employees. The public has a right to transparency, and it’s our duty to address these issues openly. I applaud Director Steven Brown and the ACLU for urging an open discussion to clarify ‘official conduct’ and the limits of the city council’s investigatory powers. This is discussion is crucial for maintaining the council’s integrity and upholding transparency and accountability as we attempt to move forward from this unfortunate situation.”

Aniece Germain resigned her position at the Cranston City Council in response to her perceived threat of a public investigation of the issue with the nonprofit she founded, Hope and Change for Haiti. Almost immediately after Germain’s resignation, at the next Council meeting, Kristen Haroian was appointed to complete her term. Haroian was an announced candidate to challenge Germain in a primary for that position.

RINewsToday wrote several articles – included documents from Germain. Follow the issue at the articles, below:

This is a developing story.