My latest APRA Request for records on who was responsible for wanting Procaccianti to be given a 19-year parking lot lease and who decided the State of Rhode Island should pay for the demolition of the Lighthouse Inn was denied. It was stated the records do not exist. Please see below my follow-up letter I sent to the Director of the RIDEM as I am appealing the decision of denial, and the Letter of Denial sent to me. In the Letter of Denial, they addressed me as Mr. rather than Dr. , so I guess they forgot I obtained my doctorate degree. In any event, it is my hope each of you will call the news and or radio talk shows and tell them to cover a story on this injustice by a state agency.    If there is enough of an outcry, the media will have to listen.   It is an election year.  Please give the local television stations and the radio stations a call, and you can have them contact me or any of the people mentioned in my letter to the Director that is noted below.   In addition, you can contact the State Properties Committee and tell them they cannot approve of a 19-year parking lot lease with Procaccianti Developers as it will be costly to the State of Rhode Island and the Town of Narragansett.   Procaccianti will be making millions that will be taken away from our taxpayers.   

Dear Director Gray,

I put in 2 APRA Requests regarding who from your department recommended the State Properties Committee approve the 19-year parking lot lease to Procaccianti Developers without it going out for bid, and who approved the State of Rhode Island should have to pay for the demolition of the Lighthouse Inn Hotel. I received a reply that no records were available. I find the response perplexing as someone must have communicated to you the above decisions.

I feel and many others feel that the RIDEM needs to act in a fiduciary capacity with respect to getting the best use of the property. The entire Town of Narragansett was blindsided by the RIDEM decision to award Procaccianti Developers a 19-year parking lot lease without it going out for bid. We hope you will revoke the RIDEM decision that proposes to award Procaccianti the 19-year parking lot lease. It is puzzling why the RIDEM will award a lucrative 19-year parking lot lease to a multibillion-dollar developer who abandoned the Lighthouse Inn Hotel and created the worst eyesores and economic hazards on State Land by purposely failing to maintain the property on the leased land.

In hearing your nomination proceedings, it was noted you are transparent. It was also noted in the proceedings, you want to monetize and make areas profitable for the State of Rhode Island. The Town, its elected officials, its residents, and all concerned feel by awarding Procaccianti Developers the parking lot lease it will be very costly for the State of RI and the Town of Narragansett. In addition, you mentioned a large parking area is needed in that area. I have spoken with business owners in the area and they told me a street level parking lot is not the best use for that area as the multi-level parking lot proposed by the Town of Narragansett would take up a much smaller footprint of the land, and in addition you added in the hearings a street level parking lot will help area businesses and the fishermen. Myself and many others including businesses in the area strongly disagree. I can put you in contact with the owners if you would like. I heard testimony during your nomination proceedings, that you gave people your cell phone number, and it was noted you readily get back to people.

If you can provide me with your cell phone, so I can discuss with you my rationale on why the RIDEM needs to revoke the 19-year parking lot lease with Procaccianti, it would be greatly appreciated. I would like to have a meeting with you, the Department of Commerce, and our Governor if possible. There is an online petition that shows well over 3000 signatures support the Town of Narragansett's Proposal. In addition, there are many highly educated individuals such as Dr. Ewa Dzwierzynski, Tom Mann, Debra Aubin, Sherry Carberry, Charle Carberry, Janice Holly, Elizabeth Delgizzo, Ron Contanzo, our Town Manager, and our Town Planner who I feel would love to discuss with you that either the Town of Narragansett should be given the lease for the parking lot or for you to reconsider the Town of Narragansett's Proposal for Galilee as it was the only viable proposal that is in agreement with the Galilee Development Master Plan.

I look forward to you being as honest and upright with me as you were with the two gentlemen who mentioned you gave them your personal cell phone number during your nomination hearing, and it was noted you were quick to respond to all their questions and concerns.

Respectfully Submitted,
Dr. Albert Alba

Here is the APRA Letter of Denial 

RHODE ISLAND
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
OFFICE /DIVISION OF CUSTOMER AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
235 Promenade Street, Room 260
Providence, Rhode Island 02908
May 23, 2022
Mr. Albert Alba
aalbaphd@gmail.com
Re: Access to Public Records Request Pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws Section 38-2-1

Dear Mr. Alba:

This office is in receipt of your request received May 9, 2022 regarding records for approximate publish date of record, Friday, April 1, 2022, pursuant to the Access to Public Records Act, R.I. Gen.
Laws Chapter 38-2, to inspect and/or copy certain public records.
Please be advised that your request has been ☒ Denied ☐ Denied in Part ☐ Redacted
Please be advised that it is necessary to deny request for Lighthouse Inn 19-year lease and
records regarding demolition for the following reason(s):
☐ Requested records are not maintained by the department
☒ Requested records do not exist in regard to records, minutes, correspondences regarding
demolition and for persons responsible for recommending taxpayers would pay for demolition.
☐ Requested records are exempt from disclosure pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws §38-2-2(4)(A)(I)(a) as
privileged Attorney/Client communication
☐ Requested records have been redacted pursuant to R.I. Gen. Laws §38-2-2(4)(A)(I)(b)
☒ Other- Please be advised that records do not exist in response to your request regarding the
demolition. While the above records do not exist, related documents relating to an RFP to redevelop
the parcel can be found at the below links:
DEM Coastal Resources, posting links. http://www.dem.ri.gov/programs/coastal/
Direct link: http://dem.ri.gov/programs/bnatres/coastal/pdf/lighthouse-eval.pdf
The remainder of this APRA does not request records but appears to ask questions and state opinions of the requestor which are not matters that are subject to an APRA request.

You have the option of appealing this denial to the Director of the Department of Environmental Management, in his capacity as the Chief Administrative Officer, 235 Promenade Street, Providence,
RI 02908. In the event of a final determination by the Director denying access to documents, a complaint may be made to the Attorney General or the Providence Superior Court pursuant to R.I.
Gen Laws Sections 38-2-8 and 38-2-9.2

Should you have any questions or if I may be of further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact
me at 401-222-4700, extension 277 7307.

Very truly yours,
Angela Spadoni
Angela Spadoni
File Review Coordinator