While officials remained largely mum on the situation surrounding the Cranston Police Department following a closed-doors meeting on Monday, most expressed a degree of satisfaction with the recent communication and the ongoing investigation.

“I think there’s a better feeling because the mayor came and talked to us,” said Councilman Steven Stycos. “I think the key is the state police coming in … I think everyone has confidence we’ll get a good investigation.”

Stycos did say if the review finds “serious, systemic problems,” officials must know so as to act accordingly.

“They’re moving in the right direction,” said Councilman Michael Farina, who also expressed hope that details of the ongoing probe and assessment will be provided so officials can collectively work on issues that must be addressed.

Councilman Richard Santamaria said while questions remain, the meeting provided “clarity” in terms of what has been taking place. Councilman Michael Favicchio said the process will “take some time,” and urged officials to allow state police to complete their work.

Rhode Island State Police Col. Steven O’Donnell, who addressed the council in open session and then spoke with the media, was also limited in his remarks. He did say an internal investigation of alleged retaliatory ticketing on the part of Cranston officers should be complete within “several weeks,” but said a broader, overall review of the department and other internal issues that was requested by Mayor Allan Fung would likely take much longer. He called it “premature” to discuss any specifics.

O’Donnell also praised Cranston’s law enforcement personnel, citing their work on several recent high-profile cases and saying officers need a break from the “front page” attention that has surrounded the department in recent weeks.

“You have a solid police department. You have good men and women,” he said. “Let the case go it’s course … it’s only fair to have a clear head when you’re doing police work.”

O’Donnell drew praise from several council members.

“We all feel confident you’ll do a great job because you always do,” said Council President John Lanni.

Fung, who also spoke with the media, applauded the state police for “doing a thorough job” and Cranston police for doing “very good work.” He also painted the closed-door meeting with council members as productive.

“I shared with them whatever I could,” he said.

But he blasted a resolution before the council – originally submitted for consideration before state police involvement, and passed in amended form – as “personally insulting” and “nothing more than political theater.”

“My office had nothing to do” with the alleged ticketing blitz, the mayor said.

Fung also stressed that Cranston Police Chief Col. Marco Palombo, who was earlier this month placed on paid administrative leave as State Police Capt. Kevin Barry took temporary leadership of the department, has not been implicated in the alleged ticketing.

“There is no allegation that the colonel was involved,” the mayor said, telling reporters he did not want any “unfair inference” to be drawn.

Palombo’s status had been a topic of the closed-door session with council members. At the time the chief was placed on leave, Fung had not detailed specific reasons.

On Monday, the mayor said the chief’s leave allows state police a “fresh overview” and “good, clean look” at the department as they complete the “objective assessment” he requested.

“We need to make sure that there is that public confidence,” he said.

The closed session, and the appearance of O’Donnell, stemmed from a contentious meeting of the council’s Finance Committee earlier this month.

At that gathering, several council members voiced frustration that they had not been kept apprised of the situation surrounding the police department. Fung aides stressed that existing regulations limit what can be disclosed, and countered that council members had not contacted the administration and had instead taken concerns to the press.

The ticketing allegations stem from a December meeting of the council at which Stycos and Councilman Paul Archetto, who represent wards 1 and 3, respectively, charged their wards had been blanketed with parking citations following a November finance committee vote against a new police contract.

Fung later said he would employ a New Jersey-based investigator to review the police department’s internal review of the matter.

Then, as some officials were calling for state police involvement, Fung announced that a pair of new, anonymous letters, purportedly written by police officers, had come to his office’s attention and led him to place Palombo on leave and request that the state police provide temporary leadership for the department and conduct a more expansive review.

The resolution passed Monday had been introduced before the mayor’s announcement, and was amended during an, at times, heated debate during the finance committee’s meeting this month. Stycos on Monday successfully proposed an additional amendment deleting a passage of the resolution that called for state police to provide any recommended changes to the city’s charter, ordinances, police department regulations or union contracts.

The resolution generally thanks state police for their involvement and seeks a thorough investigation. It does continue to contain a passed calling on Fung to testify before the council to answer questions about the ticketing and “what role, if any, he and/or his administrative staff played” in the November blitz.

Several council members questioned the need for the resolution in light of recent developments.

“This resolution really now is pointless,” said Councilman Donald Botts.

“I don’t know what it solves,” said Farina.

Archetto said it is “important for the people of Cranston to see the council and mayor are on the same page,” and that the resolution would be useful to that end.

Asked after Monday’s meeting whether the discussion with Fung had answered his earlier calls for a determination of whether the mayor or police chief were involved in the ticketing, Stycos said he had to answer carefully given the restrictions on information discussed in executive session.

Citing the frequent denials by Fung and his aides that the administration had any role in or knowledge of the matter, Stycos said, “I accept his word on that.”

Farina was more direct in his response.

“I don’t feel there’s any involvement by the mayor and his staff,” he said.

In related discussion, Lanni on Monday responded sharply to a recent Providence Journal report in which Joseph J. Rodio, the attorney representing International Brotherhood of Police Officers Local 301, said Cranston officers began writing substantially fewer overnight parking tickets after the fine was increased from $15 to $50.

“If this is the case with this, I wonder what other ordinances they are selectively enforcing,” said Lanni. “You don’t just pick and choose.”

Rodio, in his legal capacity, also this month publicly stated that union president and Cranston Police Capt. Stephen Antonucci acknowledged ordering the November mass ticketing but denied it was retaliatory.

The latest chapter in the ticketing comes as the city faces legal action from its highest-ranking female officer, and less than a week following an executive session of the council to discuss that case and a pair of other ongoing issues.

Lt. Karen Guilbeault, in her complaint against the city and five officers, alleges that because she is a woman, she faced delayed promotions and was denied training as overseer of the department’s Traffic Unit. She also alleges she was unfairly disciplined, subjected to harassment and schedule tampering, and refused a paid leave when she became ill as a result of the mistreatment.

Also discussed during the closed session were the situations involving former police sergeant Lillian Rivera, who has alleged she was sexually harassed on the job and recently won a court ruling regarding an accidental disability pension, and Capt. Todd Patalano, who recently returned to duty after a nearly two-year suspension.