Cumberland Citizen Ford\Reporter Ford-Submits Town Ordinance Demanding Full Monthly Financial Transparency on The $8? Million Dollar “Country Club” Lodge at Diamond Hill
Earlier this year, the Coalition’s Pat Ford, a long time resident of the Town of Cumberland, responded to a Facebook post announcing the effective closure of 2025 Summer Day Camps, due to construction at Cumberland Schools. A simple question … Why not used the newly constructed “Lodge” as a transitional location, for this year? The answer … that the Lodge was not suitable for a children’s summer camp … has started, (at least at Coalition HQ) a firestorm. Simple questions: How was it possible to spend $8?Million Dollars and not plan for a structure that could not handle a children’s day camp? Why is the Town of Cumberland “investing” municipal resources in a facility whose purpose is ostensibly to provide a banquet facility, an objective clearly outside the role/responsibility of Town Government? And, clearly in competition to local, taxpaying businesses … who now see their taxes used to subsidize competition against them?
Couldn’t this money be put to better uses? Including, but not limited to a Cumberland School System challenged for resources?
Phone calls & inquiries about The Lodge’s ability to pay off related bonded debt, as well as covering ongoing operating costs yielded few specifics. As is often the case in Municipal vanity plays, apparently little thought was given to the level of revenue necessary to make this project at a minimum, revenue neutral. You know: Build it and pray like hell someone shows up …
Accordingly, given the dearth of financial data, the Coalition Radio Network submitted a formal APRA request on May 8 of this year, in order to glean an understanding of the financial underpinnings of The Lodge:
The results, as they say, were less than inspiring. (See Below) A tossed together word salad of documents, minus, as requested, a schedule format, reflecting at least an attempt at a profit and loss statement. And of course, the associated borrowing costs? MIA. But at least there was …. something.
In order to gain additional clarity, a second APRA was filed on July 21, 2025. This time? …. Nothing. As of August 17, 2025 no response has been received, in clear violation of Rhode Island General Law. Sandra Giovanelli, Cumberland Superb Town Clerk, acknowledged receipt, via email, on July 22, 2025. Under State Law, Rhode Island Municipalities are given 10 business days to respond to APRA requests, with the ability to receive an automatic 20 business day extension.
As a result, a formal complaint has been filed with the Office of the Rhode Island Attorney General, on a violation of the Open Meetings Act.
In summary, a multi million dollar cash outlay for a business that is clearly inappropriate to be funded by raiding taxpayer coffers, “managed” by a Municipal Government who shows no inclination at rendering even the most basic financial disclosure.
The result? Cumberland Town Councilor Peter Bradley, at the request of myself, Patrick Ford, has submitted an ordinance calling for a monthly financial report on the ongoing operations of the “Lodge”. Pretty straightforward stuff: income, expenses, carrying costs .. going forward bookings. The facts that comes straight out of a standard Quick Books App. If, as advertised, the “Lodge” is successful, the level of success will be reflected in the schedules suggested. If not? Appropriate options … decisions … can be considered.
On an Editorial Note: We urge Cumberland taxpayers to contact their City Council to support this legislation. First Stop? Probably the Finance Committee. The harsh reality? If your councilperson does not support open bookkeeping? They are simply not worthy of the trust you have placed on them.
The Ordinance
FINAL_Council_Packet_Monthly_Lodge_Report_Ordinance.docx
The “Lodge” at Diamond Hill Fee Schedule
Diamond Hill Lodge Fee Schedule
Response from First APRA
SKM_C36825050815330 (1)
4-28-2025 Lodge (1)
96fb5f64-780e-4082-86f2-cf74ba5cd951 (1)
