| Date: | 01/28/2016 |
|---|---|
| Organization: | State Ethics Commission |
| Docket Number: | 15-0007 |
| Location: | Boston, MA |
On January 11, 2016, the parties filed a Joint Motion to Suspend Proceedings, Accept Respondent’s Payment of the Civil Penalty and Dismiss the Proceedings (“Motion”). The Presiding Officer, Regina L. Quinlan, referred the Motion to the full Commission for deliberations on January 21, 2016.
In the Motion, Petitioner states that Respondent Lori Nelson served as the Massachusetts Department of Transportation-Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority (MassDOT-MBTA) Deputy Chief of Staff and was required to file a Statement of Financial Interest(SFI) for calendar year 2014 in accordance with G.L. c. 268B, § 5 and 930 CMR 2.00. The Respondent filed her SFI the date the Order to Show Cause was issued. Respondent has tendered the payment of the $200 civil penalty.
In support of the Motion, the parties state that Respondent was terminated from her position at the MBTA and that her counsel misinformed her that she had no further obligation to file an SFI for calendar year 2014 due to her termination from employment. Respondent also represented to the Commission that a fine of $2,500 would pose an undue hardship.
The parties assert that the interests of justice, the parties and the Commission will be served by the acceptance of the $200 civil penalty.
WHEREFORE, the Commission hereby ALLOWS the Motion. Respondent’s tendered payment of the $200 civil penalty for violating G.L. c. 268B, § 5 is accepted. Commission Adjudicatory Docket No. 15-0007, In the Matter of Lori Nelson is DISMISSED.
DATE AUTHORIZED: January 21, 2016
DATE ISSUED: January 28, 2016
