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Press Release

State Ethics Commission’s Enforcement Division Alleges Former Arlington Inspectional Services Director Michael Byrne Violated Conflict of Interest Law 

1/12/2023 State Ethics Commission

Byrne alleged to have repeatedly allowed his plumbing company to do work without permits or inspections and created fraudulent permits after work was done

News

State Ethics Commission Issues Reminder About Restrictions on Gifts to Public Employees 

11/25/2022 State Ethics Commission

Certain gifts are prohibited under the conflict of interest law

Press Release

Cheshire Town Clerk Christine Emerson pays $5,000 Civil Penalty for Violating Conflict of Interest Law 

11/17/2022 State Ethics Commission

Emerson repeatedly hired her daughter and granddaughter to do work for the town

Press Release

Former DCAMM Employee Robert Gray pays $5,000 Civil Penalty for Violating Conflict of Interest Law 

11/17/2022 State Ethics Commission

Gray routinely made personal use of cars rented by DCAMM

Press Release

Former CHIA and EOTSS Employee Brooke Merkin Pays $2,500 Civil Penalty for Violating Conflict of Interest Law 

10/31/2022 State Ethics Commission

CHIA employee Merkin added paid job with EOTSS and sought payment from both agencies for overlapping work hours

News

State Ethics Commission Issues Reminder for Former Public Employees 

10/28/2022 State Ethics Commission

The conflict of interest law places certain restrictions on state, county, and municipal employees after they leave public employment

Press Release

State Ethics Commission Finds Aquinnah Select Board Member Gary Haley Violated Conflict of Interest Law 

10/25/2022 State Ethics Commission

Haley ordered to pay $10,000 civil penalty for choosing himself to do work for which he billed the town and approving town’s payment of his own invoice

Press Release

State Ethics Commission Dismisses Case Against Worcester County DA Joseph D. Early Jr., Senior First Assistant DA Jeffrey Travers, Former State Police Colonel Richard McKeon, and Former State Police Major Susan Anderson 

10/19/2022 State Ethics Commission

Commission finds evidence did not prove Early, Travers, McKeon, and Anderson violated the conflict of interest law as alleged

Press Release

Superior Court Ruling Affirms State Ethics Commission Decision that Former State Auditor’s Office Consultant Jeffrey Fournier Violated Conflict of Interest Law 

9/23/2022 State Ethics Commission

While an OSA consultant, Fournier pitched his private company’s services to state agencies as solution for issues raised by OSA audit

Press Release

Former Sandisfield Highway Road Superintendent Robert O’Brien Pays $50,000 Civil Penalty for Violating Conflict of Interest Law 

7/28/2022 State Ethics Commission

O’Brien repeatedly hired his own business to provide services to town

Press Release

Wareham Public Schools Employee Melissa Fay pays $4,000 Civil Penalty for Violating Conflict of Interest Law 

7/27/2022 State Ethics Commission

Fay hired her mother and participated in hiring her son for WPS jobs

Press Release

State Ethics Commission Issues Public Education Letter to Environmental Police Major Kevin Clayton 

7/26/2022 State Ethics Commission

Commission found reasonable cause to believe Clayton violated law by providing private attorney opportunity to promote his law practice at MEP training

Press Release

State Ethics Commission’s Enforcement Division Alleges Former EOTSS and CHIA Employee Brooke Merkin Violated Conflict of Interest Law 

7/18/2022 State Ethics Commission

Commission found reasonable cause to believe Merkin held two state jobs simultaneously and sought payment for working both jobs during the same hours

Press Release

Former MassHealth Official Stacia Castro pays $6,000 Civil Penalty for Violating Conflict of Interest Law 

6/16/2022 State Ethics Commission

Castro solicited and received free Red Sox tickets from a state contractor

Press Release

Former Medford Police Chief Leo Sacco pays $9,000 Civil Penalty for Violating Conflict of Interest Law 

6/02/2022 State Ethics Commission

Sacco failed to appropriately discipline officers for falsely claiming detail pay