Cumberland Solicitor Kelley Morris Salvatore Responds to Initial Lodge at Diamond Hill APRA Request … Sort Of?

Cumberland Solicitor Kelley Morris Salvatore, responded promptly to an APRA Request from the Coalition Radio Network … yet managed to miss the point.

While providing the barest of information regarding bookings, with the “Lodge Blue Ribbon Cutting Event” & “Open House” clearly the preoccupation of the entirety of Cumberland Town Government, little was provided in order to portray the central focus of the APRA Request: A monthly Profit & Loss Statement for the entire facility. The response failed to identify utility, maintenance, insurance and other associated operating costs.

The Town of Cumberland has effectively entered the “Events” business. The Town has committed millions of dollars of taxpayer money to compete with privately owned Event Centers. The citizens of Cumberland find themselves unwitting shareholders in this venture. They deserve a thorough, ongoing financial analysis. If Cumberland will not provide that analysis on its own? The Coalition Radio Network will force the issue, with identical APRA requests, monthly.

Of equal concern? The apparent absence of any costs related to marketing and promotion. A request for communications involved in marketing and promotions will be the subject of the next APRA, as well as information surrounding the relationship of our City Solicitor, her associated law firm, and just how, and how much she is compensated for her work in Cumberland.

The response by Ms. Morris-Salvatore remains incomplete, with just 2 days remaining in the deadline. Failure to complete the request on a timely basis will result in a formal complaint to the Office of the Rhode Island Attorney General.

The Original APRA Request

1. Expenses incurred by the Town of Cumberland and associated entities, including but not limited to utilities, labor costs, maintenance, insurance, and all other operating costs, for the operation of The Lodge at Diamond Hill, at 4097 Diamond Hill Road, Cumberland, Rhode Island, from January 1, 2025 to the present day. This information should be presented in the form of a schedule, individually presented by category (by the nature of the expense)
2. All revenue received as a result of operations at The Lodge at Diamond Hill, from January 1, 2025 to the present day. This information should be presented in the form of a schedule, individually presented by category (by the nature of the revenue)
3. A schedule of bookings for all events, moving forward. The analysis should include anticipated income, where applicable.

The Information Provided