2011 Press Releases

Commission Orders Former Nantucket Sheriff Richard Bretschneider and Former PRIM Board employee David Landy to pay civil penalties for violating financial disclosure law.

Middlesex Sheriff's Department Senior Deputy Sheriff Michael Jackson Pays $5,000 civil penalty for conflict of interest law violations.

The Ethics Commission approved a Disposition Agreement in which Carver Board of Selectmen member Michael O’Donnell admitted to violating G. L. c. 268A, the conflict of interest law, by participating in discussions and negotiations regarding the Town Administrator  employment contract while the Administrator was negotiating a collective bargaining agreement with the Carver Police Union.  O’Donnell is also a police sergeant and a member of the Union.  Pursuant to the Agreement, O’Donnell paid a $2,000 civil penalty for the violation.

Ethics Commission dismisses Joseph Lally adjudicatory proceeding

The Enforcement Division of the State Ethics Commission issued two Orders to Show Cause alleging that former Nantucket Sheriff Richard Bretschneider and former Pension Reserve Investment Management Board Director of Information Technology David Landy each violated General Laws Chapter 268B, the Financial Disclosure Law, by failing to timely file their respective Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2010. 

The Ethics Commission approved a Disposition Agreement in which Nantucket Board of Selectmen member Whiting Willauer admitted to violating G.L. c. 268A, the conflict of interest law, on several occasions by voting to award contracts to the Alliance for Substance Abuse Prevention and to the Family & Children’s Services of Nantucket County, Inc., doing business as Nantucket Behavioral Health Services, Inc. During the relevant time period, Willauer was a member of the board of directors of ASAP, and he was the President of BHS. Pursuant to the Agreement, Willauer paid a $3,000 civil penalty.

The Ethics Commission's Enforcement Division issued two Orders to Show Cause alleging that former Merrimack Special Education Collaborative Executive Director John Barranco and former Collaborative Director of Public Affairs and Governmental Relations Richard McDonough each violated G.L. c. 268A, the conflict of interest law, in connection with Barranco's putting lobbyist McDonough on the Collaborative payroll as the Collaborative's Public Affairs Director, resulting in McDonough receiving public compensation, medical and dental benefits, and public pension benefits to which he was not entitled.

The Ethics Commission approved a Disposition Agreement in which Goshen Board of Selectmen member John Judd admitted to violating the conflict of interest law, by requesting that the BOS purchase sand from his cousin's business.

The Ethics Commission has concluded the adjudicatory proceeding involving former State Auditor A. Joseph DeNucci by approving a Disposition Agreement in which DeNucci admitted to violating the conflict of interest law, and agreed to pay a $2,000 civil penalty, and by dismissing the adjudicatory hearing.

The Ethics Commission's Enforcement Division issued an Order to Show Cause alleging that Winthrop Harbormaster Charles Famolare, III violated G.L. c. 268A, the conflict of interest law, by receiving at no charge two finger piers (small walkways attached to a larger dock), plus free installation, and free cleaning of Famolare's jet ski float, from the vendor contracted to build the $2 million town pier.

The Ethics Commission has concluded the adjudicatory matter involving former Southampton Board of Health member Paul Truehart by approving a Disposition Agreement in which Truehart admitted to violating G.L. c. 268A, by conducting septic system work in the town which was regulated by the BOH.

The Ethics Commission approved two Disposition Agreements in which Marblehead School Superintendent G. Paul Dulac and Elizabeth Moore each admitted to violating G.L. c. 268A, the conflict of interest law, by hiring the spouse of a school committee member to a half-time teaching position without following standard procedures. Pursuant to the Agreements, Dulac and Moore each paid a civil penalty of $500.

The State Ethics Commission issued a Public Education Letter to Brockton Police Chief William Conlon regarding his decision to allow two police union officials to attend a political fundraiser for Brockton Mayor James Harrington on paid city time. As explained in the PEL issued to Conlon, "collective bargaining agreements cannot explicitly or implicitly authorize conduct that violates the conflict of interest law."

The Ethics Commission approved a Disposition Agreement in which Middlesex Registry of Deeds First Assistant Register Edward Wheeler admitted to violating the conflict of interest law, by using Registry equipment and work time to conduct his private law practice.

The Ethics Commission approved a Disposition Agreement in which Agawam High School Guidance Counselor Alan Cohen admitted to violating the conflict of interest law, by hiring the School Principal's son to a summer teaching position without following the School's standard hiring procedures.

The Ethics Commission approved a Disposition Agreement in which the Division of Professional Licensure, Board of Registration in Pharmacy member Michael Tocco admitted to violating the conflict of interest law, by contacting a representative of Omnicare, a pharmaceutical provider, on behalf of an Omnicare client, while matters affecting Omnicare were pending before the Board. Pursuant to the Agreement, Tocco paid a $2,000 civil penalty.

The Ethics Commission has approved three Disposition Agreements in which Middlesex Sheriff's Office corrections officers assigned to the Billerica House of Corrections, Captain Eril Ligonde, Corrections Officer Richard McKinnon and Corrections Officer Heidi Ricci, respectively, each admitted to violating G.L. c. 268A, the conflict of interest law, by using public resources in connection with a political fundraiser for then-Sheriff James DiPaola.

The Ethics Commission issued an Allowance of Joint Motion and Order of Dismissal dismissing the adjudicatory proceeding involving former Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Assistant General Manager for Strategic Planning and Performance Robert Fortes, for allegedly violating G.L. c. 268B, the financial disclosure law. The adjudicatory proceeding was initiated on January 20, 2011 by the Commission's Enforcement Division issuing an Order to Show Cause in which it charged Fortes with violating the financial disclosure law by failing to timely file his 2009 Statement of Financial Interests

According to the Decision, Turner violated the conflict of interest law by, as Division Foreman, selling four cemetery plots to his parents, and by using his Division Foreman position to secure the plots for his parents in violation of Town policy restricting sales for immediate need, and just before a price increase was to go into effect.

The Ethics Commission has approved a Disposition Agreement in which former Gardner Golf Commission member Mary Capman admitted to violating G.L. c. 268A, the conflict of interest law. Pursuant to the Agreement, Capman paid a $500 civil penalty.

The State Ethics Commission has concluded an adjudicatory proceeding involving former Executive Office of Health and Human Services Director of Planning and Control William Schmidt by approving a Disposition Agreement in which Schmidt admitted to violating G.L. c. 268B, the financial disclosure law, and by dismissing the adjudicatory hearing. Pursuant to the Agreement, Schmidt paid a $400 civil penalty.

The State Ethics Commission issued a Decision and Order to resolve an adjudicatory matter involving Lynn Board of Health Inspector Louis Picano. The Commission determined that Picano repeatedly violated the conflict of interest law, G.L. c. 268A, by also performing constable duties as an appointed city constable. In its Decision, the Commission ordered Picano to pay a $35,000 civil penalty.

The State Ethics Commission approved two Disposition Agreements in which West Bridgewater Board of Assessors Chairman Stephen McCarthy and Head Clerk Donna Cotter each violated G.L. c. 268A, the conflict of interest law, by improperly approving and processing a property tax abatement application submitted by friends of McCarthy. Pursuant to the Agreements, McCarthy paid a $5,000 civil penalty, and Cotter paid a $1,000 civil penalty.

The Enforcement Division of the State Ethics Commission issued two Orders to Show Cause alleging that former Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Assistant General Manager for Strategic Planning and Performance Robert Fortes and former Executive Office of Health and Human Services Director of Planning and Control William Schmidt each violated General Laws Chapter 268B, the Financial Disclosure Law, by failing to timely file their respective Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2009.