Press Release  State Ethics Commission’s Enforcement Division Alleges Auburn Water District Employee Scott Callahan Violated Conflict of Interest Law

Boston, MA — The Enforcement Division of the State Ethics Commission has filed an Order to Show Cause today alleging that Auburn Water District Operations Manager Scott Callahan violated the conflict of interest law by accepting two free ski trips from a water meter manufacturer and its distributor. The Order initiates adjudicatory proceedings against Callahan.

The alleged violations occurred in 2018 and 2019, when Callahan was a Foreman for the Auburn Water District. As Foreman, Callahan had responsibility for purchasing water meters under the authority of the Superintendent and Board of Commissioners. The Auburn Water District uses a brand of water meter throughout its service area made by an Alabama-based manufacturer and sourced through the manufacturer’s sole authorized New England distributor.

On multiple occasions, the water meter manufacturer and its distributor invited municipal employees on multi-day ski trips. The Order to Show Cause alleges Callahan accepted invitations to go on ski trips to Sugarloaf, Maine, in 2018 and Stowe, Vermont, in 2019. The manufacturer or distributor paid for Callahan’s lodging for the Sugarloaf trip and paid for his lodging and a meal for the Stowe trip, according to the Order.

The conflict of interest law prohibits public employees from receiving anything worth $50 or more that is given to them for or because of their official positions. The Order alleges Callahan violated this prohibition by accepting valuable gifts provided to him by the water meter manufacturer and distributor due to his position with the Auburn Water District.

Pursuant to the Commission’s Enforcement Procedures, the Enforcement Division files an Order to Show Cause after the Commission has found reasonable cause to believe the subject of the Order violated the conflict of interest law. Before filing the Order to Show Cause, the Enforcement Division gives the subject an opportunity to resolve the matter through a disposition agreement.

Earlier this year, current or former employees of Danvers, Franklin, Natick, Salem, Southampton, and Sudbury signed disposition agreements and paid civil penalties to resolve similar conflict of interest law violations related to accepting ski trips from the water meter manufacturer and distributor.

The Commission will schedule a public hearing on the allegations against Callahan within 90 days.

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.

###