2012 Press Releases

The Ethics Commission’s Enforcement Division issued an Order to Show Cause alleging that Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority Painters Foreman Darryl Clark violated the conflict of interest law by asking two subordinate employees to lend him money.

The Ethics Commission approved a Disposition Agreement in which Leominster Mayor Dean Mazzarella admitted to violating G.L. c. 268A, the conflict of interest law, by directing a subordinate to rehabilitate the property of Mazzarella’s elderly friend using community development block grant funds without following standard procedure, and by failing to disclose his personal relationship with the property owner.

The Ethics Commission approved a Disposition Agreement in which former Norwood School Committee Chairman Mark Joseph admitted to violating G.L. c. 268A, the conflict of interest law, by having school employees transport surplus cafeteria equipment to his privately owned restaurant.  Pursuant to the Agreement, Joseph paid a $5,000 civil penalty, and also reimbursed the Town of Norwood $511.76 for the costs of using public school custodians and vehicles to move the equipment.

The Ethics Commission approved two Disposition Agreements in which former Melrose Fire Chief John O’Brien and Revere Fire Chief Eugene Doherty  each admitted to violating G.L. c. 268A, the conflict of interest law, by accepting tickets to Boston Bruins hockey games from Cataldo Ambulance Service, Inc., the emergency medical services provider in both Melrose and Revere.  Pursuant to the Agreements, O’Brien paid a $1,500 civil penalty for accepting two tickets to one game from Cataldo, and Doherty paid a $3,000 civil penalty for accepting two tickets each to two games.

The Ethics Commission approved a Disposition Agreement in which former Edgartown Dredge Advisory Committee Chairman Norman Rankow admitted to violating G.L. c. 268A, the conflict of interest law, by, as Committee Chairman, directing that Town employees use Town equipment to dredge the area around his private clients’ dock without first obtaining the required town, state and federal permits.  Pursuant to the Agreement, Rankow paid a $5,000 civil penalty.

The Ethics Commission’s Enforcement Division issued an Order to Show Cause alleging that Chelmsford Planning Board member Richard McClure violated G.L. c. 268A, the conflict of interest law, by representing plaintiffs in two lawsuits against the Town of Chelmsford after his election to the Board.

The Ethics Commission issued a Decision and Order finding that Winthrop Harbormaster Charles Famolare, III violated G.L. c. 268A, the conflict of interest law, in 2007, by receiving at no charge two finger piers (small walkways attached to a larger dock), plus free installation, from Boston Towing and Transportation, the contractor building the approximately $2 million town pier.  The Commission ordered Famolare to pay a $2,000 civil penalty.  The Commission determined that the allegation that Famolare violated the conflict of interest law by receiving free cleaning of his jet-ski float from Boston Towing was not proven.  Famolare has 30 days to pay the civil penalty or file an appeal with the Superior Court.

The Ethics Commission approved a Disposition Agreement in which Somerset Board of Water and Sewer Commission member Charles F. Fisher, II admitted to violating G.L. c. 268A, the conflict of interest law, by being paid for performing private work in Somerset pursuant to permits issued by the Board.  

The Ethics Commission approved a Disposition Agreement in which former CBE Holdings, LLC salesman John Dunnet admitted to violating G.L. c. 268A, the conflict of interest law, by providing illegal gratuities to the Director of Information Technology Operations for the Executive Office of Transportation, now the Department of Transportation.  

The Enforcement Division filed an Order to Show Cause alleging that former Worcester County Sheriff Guy W. Glodis violated G.L. c. 268A, the conflict of interest law, by contacting officials at the Worcester County Jail after receiving a request from David Massad, a friend and campaign supporter, to place a certain inmate in the work release program.

The Ethics Commission approved a Disposition Agreement in which UMass-Boston Physics Professor Gang Sun admitted to violating G.L. c.268A, the conflict of interest law, by hiring his wife on numerous occasions to work as his paid research assistant and paid teaching assistant at UMass-Boston. Pursuant to the Agreement, Sun paid a $25,000 civil penalty

The Ethics Commission  approved a Disposition Agreement in which former Lawrence Public School Department Graphic Designer John Laurenza admitted to violating G.L. c. 268A, the conflict of interest law, by accepting payments from a vendor, Wellington House Publishing to rig bids on two contracts so that Wellington could be awarded the contracts.  Pursuant to the Agreement, Laurenza will pay a $4,000 civil penalty for accepting bribes from Wellington and will pay a $536 civil forfeiture to the City of Lawrence for the money paid to him by Wellington.

The Enforcement Division issued an Order to Show Cause alleging that former North Middlesex Regional School District Superintendent James McCormick, while also serving on the board of directors of the Merrimack Special Education Collaborative, violated the conflict of interest law, by voting as a Collaborative board member to approve the payment of $5.5 million to the Merrimack Education Center, a private, non-profit organization on whose board of directors McCormick also served.

Former Attleboro Police Chief Richard Pierce Pays a $3,500 Civil Penalty for Conflict of Interest Law Violations for participating in an internal investigation involving his police officer son, improperly giving his son an internal investigation report and allowing his son to submit late reports.

The Ethics Commission approved a Disposition Agreement in which Lowell Regional Water Utility (“LRWU”) Executive Director Daniel Lahiff (“Lahiff”) admitted to violating G.L. c. 268A, the conflict of interest law, by using an LRWU generator in his home, by soliciting an LRWU employee to transport and connect an LRWU generator to his home furnace during power outages, and by using another LRWU employee to perform private contracting work.  Pursuant to the Agreement, Lahiff paid a $5,000 civil penalty for the violations.

Enforcement Division issued an Order to Show Cause alleging that state Department of Industrial Accidents Administrative Judge Cheryl Jacques violated the conflict of interest law, by invoking her position as a judge when she contacted a dental office on her brother-in-law's behalf and demanded that the office write off the balance of the bill received by her brother-in-law.

Former Avon Assistant Assessor Marjorie Malone pays a $5,000 civil penalty for improperly raising the property assessments of two town officials to retaliate against the town after learning she was subject to disciplinary proceedings.