The Rhode Island Ethics Commission this morning will consider a complaint that alleges that Woonsocket Mayor Susan D. Menard was involved in the Police Department’s lease of four Harley- Davidson motorcycles from her son-in-law’s business in Framingham, Mass.

The complaint was filed by retired police officer Edward M. Roy, of Woonsocket. Roy said that by allowing the lease of the motorcycles from her son-in-law, Menard committed an “egregious” ethics violation. Roy ran unsuccessfully for a City Council seat in November on a campaign of fiscal prudence.

Roy said that Michael L.A. Houle, former chief of the Woonsocket Police Department, confirmed on WNRI talk radio Feb.15 that the department had leased the four motorcycles from Paramount Harley Davidson of Framingham. Houle also said on the radio that leasing the bikes from the mayor’s son-in-law was a good thing because extras were thrown in at no cost, according to Roy.

Houle said that the lease was $10,000 a year for all four motorcycles. He said they were being paid for from a Community Development Block Grant.

But when Roy checked CDBG funds for the city, he found no allocations for motorcycles. He brought his concerns about the motorcycles up during a City Council meeting on Feb. 18. During the meeting, Joel Mathews, the director of planning, said that no block grant money was used to pay for the bikes.

The complaint, filed by Roy on March 3, came just four days before Menard shocked the city by announcing that she will resign in June after 12½ years as mayor. Her resignation came on the heels of resignations by Chief Houle and Deputy Chief Richard Dubois earlier that week after Marsha Bish, Houle’s ex-wife, alleged that Houle and Dubois fixed test scores to get her on the force. Both men denied the allegations. The latest controversy had been the motorcycles.

Roy said that the mayor’s son-in-law, James Pilavin, is a part owner of the Framingham shop. Records from the Rhode Island Board of Elections show that he contributed $1,000 to Menard in November 2005, and $750 in July 2007, both election years.

During the council meeting, Councilman John Ward said that Woonsocket is a member of the Greater Boston Police Council which allows the city to purchase police vehicles through bid contracts negotiated by the Police Council. Ward questioned why the leased Harleys had come from Paramount and not the contracted dealer, Bruce Rossmeyer’s Boston Harley Davidson out of Everett Mass.

Council members said during the meeting that the lease was signed without bids and without their knowledge.

In the complaint, Roy said that Menard, during an appearance on WNRI Feb. 19, confirmed that the bikes came from her son-in-law’s dealership and that getting them from him was best for the city because of the extras thrown in. Menard said the Justice Department’s Local Law Enforcement Block Grant is paying for the leases, Roy said.

Roy said that although the mayor said that the leases were for one year, vouchers documenting payments to Paramount Harley Davidson show what appear to be contracts for every two years. Menard could not be reached for comment.

Commission lawyer Jason Grammit said that the commission today will have its first look at the complaint and will make a determination whether to authorize an investigation.

tpina@projo.com