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State Ethics Commission Finds Former Berkley Planning Board Member Christopher Hicks Violated Conflict of Interest Law
The State Ethics Commission has issued a Final Decision and Order finding that former Berkley Planning Board Member Christopher Hicks violated the conflict of interest law by failing to fulfill the statute’s education and training requirements in 2018 and 2019. The Commission ordered Hicks to pay a $2,000 civil penalty. -
State Ethics Commission Announces Enforcement Actions Against Four Templeton Planning Board Members
Templeton Planning Board members Kirk Moschetti, Frank Moschetti, and John Buckley have admitted to violating the conflict of interest law by participating in Planning Board decisions related to proposals to re-zone areas where they and their families owned property. Planning Board Chair Kirk Moschetti has paid a $5,000 civil penalty, and Frank Moschetti and Buckley have each paid a $2,000 civil penalty. In addition, the State Ethics Commission’s Enforcement Division has issued an Order to Show Cause alleging Templeton Planning Board member Charles Carroll violated the conflict of interest law in connection with the same set of facts. -
State Ethics Commission Finds Norwood Selectman Helen Donohue Violated Conflict of Interest Law
The State Ethics Commission has issued a Decision and Order finding that Norwood Selectman Helen Donohue violated the conflict of interest law by participating as a selectman in matters related to Eysie Plaza, a strip mall in Norwood, without first disclosing her contentious personal history with the plaza’s owner, Paul Eysie. -
State Ethics Commission Finds Former Brookfield Selectman Stephen Comtois Violated Conflict of Interest Law
The State Ethics Commission has issued a Decision and Order finding that former Brookfield Selectman Stephen Comtois violated the conflict of interest law when he acted as a Selectman concerning the proposed donation to the town of land he was interested in buying and used his official position to derail the proposed donation in order to privately purchase it himself for substantially less than its assessed value. The Commission ordered Comtois to pay a $20,000 civil penalty. -
State Ethics Commission’s Enforcement Division Alleges Berkley Planning Board Member Christopher Hicks Violated Conflict of Interest Law
The State Ethics Commission’s Enforcement Division issued an Order to Show Cause today alleging Berkley Planning Board Member Christopher Hicks violated the conflict of interest law by failing to fulfill the education and training requirements of the statute. -
State Ethics Commission’s Enforcement Division Alleges Worcester County DA Joseph D. Early Jr., First Assistant DA Jeffrey Travers, Former State Police Colonel Richard McKeon, and Former State Police Major Susan Anderson Violated Conflict of Interest Law
The State Ethics Commission’s Enforcement Division issued Orders to Show Cause today alleging Worcester County District Attorney Joseph D. Early Jr., Senior First Assistant District Attorney Jeffrey Travers, Former State Police Colonel Richard McKeon, and former State Police Major Susan Anderson violated the conflict of interest law through actions related to an attempt to replace the original report of the arrest of a judge’s daughter with a revised report omitting quotes and descriptions of sexually explicit statements and other statements reportedly made by the daughter. -
State Ethics Commission Announces Enforcement Actions Against Former State Auditor’s Office Employee Brian Scheetz and Consultant Jeffrey Fournier
The State Ethics Commission has issued a Public Education Letter to former Office of the State Auditor (OSA) employee Brian Scheetz to resolve allegations that he violated the conflict of interest law by representing a private company that marketed software to state agencies in response to the findings of an audit on which he had worked. In addition, the Commission’s Enforcement Division issued an Order to Show Cause today alleging former OSA consultant Jeffrey Fournier violated the conflict of interest law in connection with the same set of facts. -
Ethics Commission Issues Public Education Letters to Former Methuen City Councilors James Atkinson, James Jajuga, and Lynn Vidler
The State Ethics Commission has issued Public Education Letters to former Methuen City Councilors James Atkinson, James Jajuga, and Lynn Vidler to resolve allegations they violated the state conflict of interest law when they participated in two 2017 City Council votes to approve the Methuen Police Department Superior Officers’ collective bargaining agreement. -
Former Peabody City Treasurer Jeanne Carnevale Pays $50,000 Civil Penalty for Violating the Conflict of Interest Law
Former Peabody City Treasurer Jeanne Carnevale has admitted to violating the conflict of interest law by using her public position, city funds, and other public resources in three sales of tax-delinquent Peabody properties which financially benefited her family and associates. Carnevale paid a $50,000 civil penalty, signed a disposition agreement approved by the State Ethics Commission, and waived her right to contest the Commission’s findings. -
West Stockbridge Fire Chief and Former Select Board Member Peter Skorput Pays $5,000 Civil Penalty for Violating Conflict of Interest Law
The State Ethics Commission has issued a Final Order approving a Disposition Agreement in which West Stockbridge Fire Chief Peter Skorput, a former Select Board member, admits to violating the conflict of interest law by continuing to serve as Fire Chief after his election to the Select Board; deciding payment amounts for himself, his daughter, and his nephew; voting as a Select Board member to reappoint himself Fire Chief; terminating a firefighter who had filed a complaint against him; and through other actions. The Commission accepted Skorput’s payment of a $5,000 civil penalty and dismissed the adjudicatory proceeding against him. -
State Ethics Commission Issues Public Education Letter to Former Winchester Zoning Board of Appeals Member Lawrence Beals
The State Ethics Commission issued a Public Education Letter to former Winchester Zoning Board of Appeals member Lawrence Beals to resolve allegations that he violated the conflict of interest law. According to the letter, while a developer’s special permit application was pending before the ZBA, Beals did work for the developer and was paid in connection with the application. The letter also states that on another matter, Beals created the appearance of bias by participating as a ZBA member in connection with another special permit request.
State Ethics Commission press releases for 2020