- David A. Wilson, Executive Director
Media Contact for Former Boston Public Health Commission Worker Frederick Brack Pays $10,000 Civil Penalty for Violating Conflict of Interest Law
Gerry Tuoti, Public Information Officer
Boston, MA — Former Boston Public Health Commission (BPHC) worker Frederick Brack has admitted to violating the conflict of interest law by repeatedly using BPHC supplies, equipment, and worktime to do private snowplowing. Brack paid a $10,000 civil penalty in a Disposition Agreement approved by the State Ethics Commission on June 20 and waived his right to contest the Commission’s findings.
During the winter of 2016-2017, Brack worked at the BPHC’s Mattapan campus. That same winter, Brack’s side business, Brack & Sons, provided private snow removal services for Horizons and the SPARK Center, which were located close to the BPHC campus.
On five separate occasions that winter, Brack used a BPHC plow truck during his BPHC work hours to clear snow for Horizons and the SPARK Center, which separately paid him a total of $3,275. Additionally, he allowed his daughter to take several bags of rock salt from a BPHC garage. The salt was later used for Brack & Sons’ private work. Brack’s actions violated the conflict of interest law, which bars public employees from using public resources for private purposes.
The State Ethics Commission is charged with civilly enforcing the conflict of interest law, G.L. c. 268A. When three or more of the Commission’s five members vote to find reasonable cause to believe a public employee has violated the law, they can also authorize adjudicatory proceedings to determine whether the violation occurred. The public employee then has the opportunity to enter into a public disposition agreement rather than exercising his or her right to a hearing.
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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