State Ethics Commission, Commonwealth of Massachusetts http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ethhomepage&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Ieth http://www.mass.gov/Ieth/RSS/Home/PressReleases_generic2.xml © 2009 Commonwealth of Massachusetts 2009-11-03T00:00:00Z http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ethpressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Ieth&b=pressrelease&f=2009_erbettacommeret_1103&csid=Ieth 2009-11-03T00:00:00Z 2009-11-03T00:00:00Z

The Ethics Commission issued Public Education Letters to former Marblehead Community Charter Public School Head of School Thomas Commeret and former MCCPS Board of Trustees member Robert Erbetta to resolve allegations that Commeret and Erbetta had violated G.L. c. 268A, the conflict of interest law, in connection with Commeret hiring Erbetta to perform construction-related and other work for the school while Erbetta was a member of the Board, and while Erbetta, in his capacity as a member of the Board, twice voted to renew Commeret's employment contract with the MCCPS. This is the first public matter involving charter school officials and their compliance with the requirements of the conflict of interest law.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ethpressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Ieth&b=pressrelease&f=2009_scottj_1008&csid=Ieth 2009-10-09T00:00:00Z 2009-10-09T00:00:00Z

The Ethics Commission, in a Decision and Order ("Decision"), fined Norfolk property developer Jack Scott the maximum civil penalty of $2,000 for violating section 3 of G.L. c. 268A, the conflict of interest law, by offering an illegal gift to a municipal employee. Specifically, Scott offered a free week's stay at his fly-fishing cabin in Pennsylvania to the chairman of the Norfolk Conservation Commission ("ConCom") at a time when Scott had matters pending before the ConCom. (The maximum civil penalty for this type of violation has been increased to $10,000, but that penalty cannot be applied to conduct that occurred prior to September 29, 2009, the effective date of the recently enacted ethics reform bill.) Scott has 30 days to appeal this decision to the Superior Court.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ethpressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Ieth&b=pressrelease&f=2009_lanzetta_0924&csid=Ieth 2009-09-25T00:00:00Z 2009-09-25T00:00:00Z

The Ethics Commission's Enforcement Division, in an Order to Show Cause issued on September 22, 2009, alleged that former Milford Board of Sewer Commissioners member Scott Lanzetta violated G.L. c. 268A, the conflict of interest law, by receiving compensation from property owners for sewer connection work that required permits issued by the Board of Sewer Commissioners.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ethpressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Ieth&b=pressrelease&f=2009_wheeler_0811&csid=Ieth 2009-08-12T00:00:00Z 2009-08-12T00:00:00Z

The Ethics Commission approved a Disposition Agreement in which Barre DPW Superintendent Richard Wheeler admitted to violating the conflict of interest law, G.L. c. 268A, by attempting to use his official position to secure for himself an unwarranted privilege of substantial value and by participating in his official capacity in a matter in which he had a financial interest. Wheeler paid a $4,000 civil penalty.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ethpressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Ieth&b=pressrelease&f=2009_kennedy_727&csid=Ieth 2009-07-27T00:00:00Z 2009-07-27T00:00:00Z

The Ethics Commission, in a Decision and Order ("Decision"), resolved the adjudicatory matter involving former Massachusetts Highway Department ("MassHighway") Inspector Thomas Kennedy ("Kennedy"). Kennedy was fined $6,000 for soliciting and receiving bribes from a MassHighway vendor doing work on Route 44 in Plymouth.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ethpressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Ieth&b=pressrelease&f=2009_roth_0428&csid=Ieth 2009-04-28T00:00:00Z 2009-04-28T00:00:00Z

Commission determined that Enforcement Division failed to prove allegations that Taylor Roth violated the conflict of interest law.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ethpressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Ieth&b=pressrelease&f=2009_edwards_0402&csid=Ieth 2009-04-02T00:00:00Z 2009-04-02T00:00:00Z

State Ethics Commission approved a Disposition Agreement in which former P.A. Landers, Inc. ("P.A. Landers") Project Manager Terry Edwards ("Edwards") admitted to paying bribes to a Massachusetts Highway Department ("MassHighway") inspector in order to have the inspector approve work performed by P.A. Landers.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ethpressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Ieth&b=pressrelease&f=2009_speranza_0310&csid=Ieth 2009-03-10T00:00:00Z 2009-03-10T00:00:00Z

The Ethics Commission issued an Order on March 10, 2009 vacating its reasonable cause finding and terminating the adjudicatory proceeding in the matter involving Hopkinton Conservation Commission member and Community Preservation Committee member Jack Speranza. The Commission's Order states that its determination is based on new information learned after the adjudicatory proceeding commenced.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ethpressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Ieth&b=pressrelease&f=2009_brennan_0304&csid=Ieth 2009-03-04T00:00:00Z 2009-03-04T00:00:00Z

The Massachusetts State Ethics Commission issued a Decision and Order on March 4, 2009 in the adjudicatory matter of former Marlborough Department of Community Development finance assistant Maureen Brennan. The Commission determined that Brennan violated the conflict of interest law and imposed a $5,000 civil penalty.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ethpressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Ieth&b=pressrelease&f=2009_bitzas_0225&csid=Ieth 2009-02-25T00:00:00Z 2009-02-25T00:00:00Z

The Ethics Commission approved a Disposition Agreement on February 20, 2009, in which Agawam City Council member George Bitzas admitted to violating G. L. c. 268A, the conflict of interest law. Bitzas paid a $2,000 civil penalty.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ethpressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Ieth&b=pressrelease&f=2009_foresteire_defeo_0212&csid=Ieth 2009-02-12T00:00:00Z 2009-02-12T00:00:00Z

The Ethics Commission issued two separate Decisions and Orders on February 12, 2009 resolving the adjudicatory hearings of Everett School Superintendent Frederick K. Foresteire and School Department Maintenance Manager Lona DeFeo. The Commission determined that Foresteire and DeFeo each violated the conflict of interest law, and imposed a $6,000 civil penalty on Foresteire and a $4,500 civil penalty on DeFeo.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ethpressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Ieth&b=pressrelease&f=2009_amorello_0211&csid=Ieth 2009-02-11T00:00:00Z 2009-02-11T00:00:00Z

The Ethics Commission issued a Decision and Order on February 11, 2009 in the adjudicatory hearing involving former Massachusetts Turnpike Authority Chairman Matthew Amorello. The Commission determined that Amorello violated the conflict of interest law and ordered Amorello to pay a $2,000 civil penalty.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ethpressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Ieth&b=pressrelease&f=2009_anderson_0126&csid=Ieth 2009-01-26T00:00:00Z 2009-01-26T00:00:00Z

The Ethics Commission approved a Disposition Agreement on January 16, 2009, in which Westminster Conservation Commission member Joan Anderson admitted to violating the conflict of interest law. Anderson paid a $2,000 civil penalty.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ethpressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Ieth&b=pressrelease&f=2009_silva_0122&csid=Ieth 2009-01-22T00:00:00Z 2009-01-22T00:00:00Z

The Ethics Commission approved a Disposition Agreement on January 16, 2009, in which former East Bridgewater Police Chief John L. Silva, Jr. admitted to violating the conflict of interest law by involving himself in disciplinary matters affecting his police officer son. Silva paid a $5,000 civil penalty for violating two sections of the conflict of interest law.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ethpressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Ieth&b=pressrelease&f=2009_newcomb_0121&csid=Ieth 2009-01-21T00:00:00Z 2009-01-21T00:00:00Z

The Ethics Commission approved a Disposition Agreement in which former Rockland Planning Board member Reginald Newcomb admitted to violating the conflict of interest law by repeatedly representing his realty trust before the Rockland Planning Board and for removing a critical document from a Planning Board file in an effort to gain constructive approval of an application. Newcomb agreed to pay a $5,000 civil penalty.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ethpressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Ieth&b=pressrelease&f=2009_martin_0112&csid=Ieth 2009-01-12T00:00:00Z 2009-01-12T00:00:00Z

The Ethics Commission's Enforcement Division, in an Order to Show Cause issued on January 12, 2009, alleges that Rowley Board of Water Commissioners Chair Scott Martin violated the conflict of interest law by arranging for Water Department employees to drive Martin on various occasions to accommodate Martin's personal transportation needs after Martin's driver's license was revoked. A public hearing will be scheduled within 90 days.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ethpressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Ieth&b=pressrelease&f=2008_coughlin_1224&csid=Ieth 2008-12-24T00:00:00Z 2008-12-24T00:00:00Z

The Ethics Commission approved a Disposition Agreement on December 19, 2008, in which former state Undersecretary for Business Development Robert Coughlin admitted to violating the conflict of interest law by repeatedly participating officially as Undersecretary in matters of interest to the Massachusetts Biotechnology Council after Coughlin had applied for the position of MBC President. Coughlin paid a $10,000 civil penalty.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ethpressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Ieth&b=pressrelease&f=2008_palazzola_1216&csid=Ieth 2008-12-16T00:00:00Z 2008-12-16T00:00:00Z

The Ethics Commission approved a Disposition Agreement on December 2, 2008 in which former Gloucester School Committee member Olimpia Palazzola admitted to violating the conflict of interest law and agreed to pay a $2,000 civil penalty.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ethpressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Ieth&b=pressrelease&f=2008_weissman_1201&csid=Ieth 2008-12-01T00:00:00Z 2008-12-01T00:00:00Z

The Ethics Commission on December 1, 2008 issued a Disposition Agreement in which state Marine Fisheries Advisory Commission member Mark Weissman admitted to violating the conflict of interest law by participating officially as an MFC member in matters of interest to the Alliance to Protect Nantucket Sound, while having a private business relationship with the Alliance. Weissman paid a $2,500 civil penalty.

http://www.mass.gov/?pageID=ethpressrelease&L=1&L0=Home&sid=Ieth&b=pressrelease&f=2008_scott_1118&csid=Ieth 2008-11-18T00:00:00Z 2008-11-18T00:00:00Z

The Ethics Commission's Enforcement Division, in an Order to Show Cause issued on November 18, 2008, alleges that Norfolk property developer Jack Scott violated the conflict of interest law by offering a free week at his Pennsylvania cabin to the chairman of the Norfolk Conservation Commission while Scott had an application pending before the ConCom. A public hearing will be scheduled within 90 days.