Maine’s Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous & Tribal Populations (PCRITP) is slated to implement a new conflict of interest policy after the Maine Wire reported that the Commission granted $12,000 to an organization co-founded by the sister of House Speaker and PCRITP co-chair Rachel Talbot Ross (D-Portland).
[RELATED: Maine Speaker’s Racial Equity Board Gave Her Sister’s Nonprofit $12,000 for Black History Month…]
Earlier this month, the Maine Wire revealed that PCRITP granted $12,000 to the Portland-based nonprofit organization Cross Cultural Community Services (CCCS) for a Black History Month event.
The vendor contact listed on the Commission’s $12,000 grant is Talbot Ross’ sister, Regina Phillips, who is a co-founder of CCCS.
The Black History Month event, which will take place in Portland on Thursday, Feb. 29, is set to feature another of Talbot Ross’ sisters, Robin Talbot, as a speaker.
[RELATED: Maine Racial Equity Commission Banned White People from Talking at Lewiston Public Meeting…]
The Permanent Commission’s Finance and Operations Committee did not disclose the familial ties between Talbot Ross and CCCS on their memo detailing their contract information.
When asked about the potential conflict of interest during their Feb. 13 meeting, PCRITP Finance and Operations Committee Chair Keith Bisson deferred to the Maine Department of Administrative and Financial Services (DAFS).
According to the Commission’s agenda for their upcoming Feb. 28 meeting, PCRITP Executive Director Ariel Ricci will discuss a new draft conflict of interest policy to the Commission.
“Following a question submitted at the Finance and Operations Committee, we have revisited our policy and procedures around potential conflicts of interest in our contracting practices,” the agenda states.
“The majority of decisions on individual contracts are made by staff and not discussed or voted on by Commissioners. We have, however, taken the opportunity to review and
clarify our policy and processes,” the agenda reads. “A new draft policy will be presented to the Finance and Operations Committee at its next meeting for initial review, before being presented to the next meeting of the full Commission for approval.”
According to section 10 of the Permanent Commission’s current bylaws, a conflict of interest arises “when a Commission member, a Commission member’s immediate family, or an organization which employs or is about to employ any of the above, has a financial or other interest in a firm or organization selected for an award, grant, or contract by the Permanent Commission.”
The Commission’s policy requires that a “full disclosure” be made immediately on a conflict of interest, and that a member with a conflict of interest not vote or participate in any decision-making capacity on matter.
Commission members found to be in violation of the conflict of interest policy “will be disciplined by exclusion from Permanent Commission meetings for a period of six (6) months,” the bylaws state.
“Commission members found to be in violation of the conflict of interest policy will be disciplined by exclusion from Permanent Commission meetings for a period of six (6) months.” Big whoop! How about making the member pay back the money?
Why hasn’t this woman been removed from office yet?
She is helping to destroy Maine with her liberal policies. She is nothing more than a lapdog for Soros.
The Permanent Commission on the Status of Racial, Indigenous & Tribal Populations is yet another maqlignant tumor of government that needs to be surgically removed immediately. Rachel Talbot Ross is yet another Rev Al Sharpton in disguise doing nothing except race baiting and continuous virtue signaling victumhood and needs to go as well. Ross is the designated poster child for what Maine needs to get rid of in elected officials.
And now the Mills administration wants to give Non-Profits like this more money by giving them tax exempt status
Corruption at every level of government in plain sight. They are not even attempting to hide it.
DEI is just a money grab for grifters. We need to stop getting jerked around by ignorant gangsta slobs.
Grifters gonna grift.