Press Release  Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson Admits She Violated Conflict of Interest Law by Hiring Family Members

Boston, MA — Boston City Councilor Tania Fernandes Anderson has admitted to violating the conflict of interest law by hiring her sister and son to paid positions on her Boston City Council staff. Fernandes Anderson has signed a Disposition Agreement in which she admits the violations and agrees to pay a $5,000 civil penalty.

Soon after her November 2021 election to the Boston City Council, Fernandes Anderson appointed her sister as her full-time Director of Constituent Services. Following her January 3, 2022 swearing-in, she participated in the City Council’s vote to approve the appointment. Fernandes Anderson initially set her sister’s annual salary at $65,000. In June 2022, she increased it to $70,000 and awarded her sister a $7,000 bonus. Also in June 2022, Fernandes Anderson appointed her son as her full-time office manager at an annual salary of $52,000. She participated in the City Council’s July 15, 2022 vote to approve the appointment, then, eleven days later, increased her son’s salary to $70,000. Fernandes Anderson ended the employment of her sister and son on August 31, 2022.

Fernandes Anderson’s actions as a Boston City Councilor concerning the appointment and compensation of her sister and son violated the conflict of interest law’s prohibition against municipal employees participating in their official capacity in matters in which they know members of their immediate family have a financial interest.

The Commission encourages public employees to contact the Commission’s Legal Division at 617-371-9500 for free advice if they have any questions regarding how the conflict of interest law may apply to them.

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