Based on an investigation of complaints brought by a constituent who had considered running against her, Ward 6 Councilwoman Donna Travis has reached a settlement with the state Ethics Commission for failing to disclose her ties to JONAH Inc. (Join Our Neighborhood and Help), a neighborhood non-profit that has benefited from city grants. Travis is president of JONAH. She is also the vice president of the Oakland Beach Real Estate Owners Association that owns a vacant lot next to the Travis property in Oakland Beach. The complaint further notes she served as vice president of the Oakland Beach Carousel Foundation.

Travis said Wednesday that she considers the settlement fine of $1,200 “very high” for what she called “an honest mistake.” She said she does not receive pay from any of the three organizations, and she assumed because she was not paid she was not required to list those affiliations on ethics financial disclosure forms she filed in 2015.

“It cost me money,” she said of her involvement with the organizations. “There’s nothing I get out of it. I care for the community.”

Nonetheless, Travis said she realizes her mistake and will pay the fine.

“I did it. I’ll face the music,” she said.

Travis’ failure to disclose her affiliation to nonprofits was raised by retired Providence police officer John A. Simoneau. Simoneau pointed out that Travis and her husband store equipment including a plow and park a truck on the Oakland Beach Real Estate Owners Association property. As a non-profit the association does not pay city taxes.

As for JONAH, Simoneau noted that Travis sponsored a resolution in 2011 to extend the city’s lease of the property on Oakland Beach Avenue. Further, he said, the city cut the grass at JONAH and assisted with putting up a basketball court scoreboard on the property even though JONAH is responsible for maintenance.

In its resolution and settlement, the commission found the City Council did not make any decisions concerning maintenance or upkeep of the basketball court and JONAH property. The commission did not address issues Simoneau raised concerning the real estate association and carousel foundation.

Travis referred additional questions to her attorney, Robert Flaherty.

“This is like treating Mother Teresa like Al Capone. I can’t think of anyone who does more for the community,” Flaherty said of Travis who called her omission a misunderstanding of what was required to be listed in the ethics report.

In its order the commission found that Travis failed to disclose her leadership positions with non-profits on her 2010-15 statements; that she violated the law by sponsoring and voting to extend the city’s lease to JONAH where she is an officer and that she violated the law by participating in discussion relating to the award of city contributive support grants to JONAH.

Asked in an email whether he thought justice had been served, Simoneau replied, “They only prosecuted my complaints with verification. I don't believe they checked to see if she also did for her other 12 listed affiliations to nonprofits, on this year's reports, as she did for JONAH…No deeper investigation and charging for six years of offenses also were not charged. Just one count of question nine violations, not six.”

Asked whether he intended on filing additional complaints, Simoneau said, “The RI Ethics Commission investigators should have investigated deeper than just confirming what I gave them. They didn’t look, but I will be. The evidence I have is that if you did it once, for JONAH, good chance you did the same thing, cause she could, for the other non-profits. If they don’t, and we know you [The Beacon] don’t want to dig deeper, then I will.”