PERA Refile

20 December 2020

Providence City Solicitor Jeffrey Dana

Office of the Providence City Solicitor’s Office

Providence City Hall

25 Dorrance Street

Providence, RI  02903

Dear Solicitor Dana:

Under the Rhode Island Access to Public Records Act, §38-2-1 et seq., I am requesting an opportunity to inspect or obtain copies of public records that deal with the Providence External Review Authority.

I would like a copy of meeting minutes generated by the PERA going back over the last 3 years.  Since “electronic copies” via email are less expensive, and take up less staff time, they are always preferred.

I would like a list of current voting members indicating whether or not they have ever been involved in law enforcement.  (Since the number is limited by statute, this is not an unreasonable request.)

I would like a copy of all records the PERA has voted not to release to the public.  I would like a copy of how all members voted on said motions not to release records, whether in writing, video, audio, or some other form of electronic, to the public.   If you do not feel comfortable doing that now, I will happily form another request and refile once I have the list of what the public has been denied access to.

I would like a copy of the “Sergeant Joseph Hanley” video from the incident back in April.  Please let the PERA know once you receive this email that said video has been requested.

If there are any fees for searching or copying these records, please inform me if the cost will exceed $200.  The Rhode Island Access to Public Records Act requires a response time within seven business days.  If access to the records I am requesting will take longer than this amount of time, please contact me with information about when I might expect copies or the ability to inspect the requested records.

If you deny any or all of this request, please cite each specific exemption you feel justifies the refusal to release the information and notify me of the appeal procedures available to me under the law.

Thank you for considering my request.

Sincerely,

Robert T. Oliveira

Warwick, RI

315-864-1229`