Press Release  Former DDS Residential Supervisor Viki Briggs pays $12,500 in Penalties and Damages for Violating Conflict of Interest Law

Boston — Former Department of Developmental Services (DDS) Residential Supervisor Viki Briggs has admitted to violating the conflict of interest law through actions related to working for a private group home while employed by and on paid administrative leave from DDS. The State Ethics Commission has approved a Disposition Agreement in which Briggs admits to the violations and has accepted her payment of a $2,500 civil penalty and $10,007 in damages.

In October 2022, DDS placed Briggs on paid administrative leave from her Residential Supervisor II position pending the completion of an investigation and instructed her that she was required to remain available to DDS during normal business hours. On December 4, 2023, while on paid administrative leave, but still employed by DDS, Briggs began working as a residence director for a private group home operated by an organization that receives funding from DDS, including funding that supported Briggs’ salary. As residence director for the private group home, Briggs was responsible for coordinating with DDS regarding residents’ service plans, and she communicated with DDS staff to set up meetings with group home residents.

DDS terminated Briggs from her state position on January 23, 2024. During the 35 workdays her private employment and DDS employment overlapped, Briggs was paid $10,007 in administrative leave pay by DDS. She did not disclose her private employment to DDS while on leave.

The conflict of interest law prohibits public employees from using their official positions to obtain valuable benefits to which they are not entitled. Briggs violated this prohibition by working a private job during hours DDS required her to be available to DDS. By accepting the private group home job with hours that included hours DDS required her to be available, Briggs also violated the law’s prohibition against private employees accepting employment that is inherently incompatible with the requirements of her public position.

Because her private group home salary was funded by DDS funds, Briggs also violated the conflict of interest law’s prohibition against state employees holding a financial interest in a state contract. In addition, the law prohibits state employees from being paid by someone other than the Commonwealth in connection to matters in which the Commonwealth is a party or has a direct and substantial interest. Briggs also violated this prohibition by receiving pay from the private group home for duties involving coordinating with DDS staff.

“When a state employee also has a paid private job, the private job must be compatible with the employee’s duties as a state employee,” said State Ethics Commission Executive Director David A. Wilson.  “A state employee with overlapping public and private work hours, or who deals with their public agency on behalf of a private employer, or who receives pay from a private employer out of funds from their public agency, undermines public confidence in the integrity of government service and violates the conflict of interest law.”

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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