| Date: | 01/31/2011 |
|---|---|
| Organization: | State Ethics Commission |
| Docket Number: | 11-0005 |
- This page, In the Matter of Donna Cotter, is offered by
- State Ethics Commission
Settlement
Settlement In the Matter of Donna Cotter
Table of Contents
Disposition Agreement
The State Ethics Commission ("Commission") and Donna Cotter ("Cotter") enter into this Disposition Agreement pursuant to Section 5 of the Commission's Enforcement Procedures. This Agreement constitutes a consented-to final order enforceable in the Superior Court, pursuant to G.L. c. 268B, § 4(j).
On June 18, 2010, the Commission initiated, pursuant to G.L. c. 268B, § 4(a), a preliminary inquiry into possible violations of the conflict of interest law, G.L. c. 268A, by Cotter. The Commission has concluded its inquiry and, on October 14, 2010, found reasonable cause to believe that Cotter violated G.L. c. 268A.
The Commission and Cotter now agree to the following findings of fact and conclusions of law:
Findings of Fact
Donna Cotter has been in the West Bridgewater Assessing Department from 1997 to the present, serving most recently as head clerk. According to the job description for the position, the head clerk operates with some degree of decision making, is responsible for maintaining assessment records, and has knowledge of the Assessing Department operations.
- Since 2005, Stephen McCarthy has been a member of the West Bridgewater Board of Assessors ("BoA"), serving as chairman since 2007.
- The BoA has three members who are elected to serve three-year terms.
- Cotter is friends with McCarthy and his family.
- McCarthy is friends with the McNallys who own property in West Bridgewater.
- In January 2010, the McNallys filed for a real property tax abatement. The McNallys sought to reduce their assessment from $280,600 to $240,000.
- At some point in February 2010, [1] the McNallys' abatement application came before the BoA. At this February BoA meeting, McCarthy stated that he had received a call from a friend regarding an abatement. McCarthy referenced the street where his friend resided. McCarthy indicated that the property deserved to have its assessment lowered. Another BoA member told McCarthy that he should recuse himself if the applicants were friends of his. The BoA took no action on the McNallys' abatement application.
- To grant an abatement, at least two BoA members must approve and sign the disposition section of an abatement application. The standard operating procedure in West Bridgewater is that, once an abatement application has been approved and signed by the BoA, the Assessing Department fills out an abatement certificate, which is sent back to the BoA for the required signatures. Once signed, the certificate is sent by the Assessing Department to the town tax collector, who adjusts the property owners' taxes accordingly.
- In about March 2010, McCarthy signed both the McNallys' abatement application disposition section and the abatement certificate. McCarthy's signature is the only signature on both of these documents. Neither of the other BoA members approved the abatement. McCarthy provided the values for the abatement on the abatement application disposition section, adjusting the property down from $280,600 to $254,500.
- Shortly thereafter, McCarthy gave these abatement documents to Cotter.
- Cotter processed both the abatement application and abatement certificate and forwarded the certificate to the town tax collector.
- At the time, Cotter knew that to grant an abatement, at least two BoA members must approve the application and sign both the abatement application and the abatement certificate.
- The abatement resulted in the McNallys receiving a tax reduction of $339.30 for fiscal year 2010 and potentially reducing their tax liability in subsequent years.
Conclusions of Law
- As the West Bridgewater Assessing Department head clerk, Cotter is a municipal employee as defined by G.L. c. 268A, § 1.
- Section 23(b)(2)(ii) of G.L. c. 268A prohibits a municipal employee from, knowingly, or with reason to know, using or attempting to use her official position to secure for herself or others unwarranted privileges or exemptions which are of substantial value and which are not properly available to similarly situated individuals.
- The unilateral approval of an abatement by one BoA member is an unwarranted privilege, as an abatement must be granted by at least two BoA members.
- Cotter knowingly, or with reason to know, used her official position to secure for the McNallys the abatement by, in her capacity as Assessing Department head clerk, processing the abatement without the requisite BoA approval and number of signatures.
- This unwarranted privilege was of substantial value because the abatement resulted in the McNallys receiving a tax reduction of $339.30 for fiscal year 2010 and potentially reducing their tax liability in subsequent years.
- This unwarranted privilege was not properly available to similarly situated individuals (i.e., other property owners seeking an abatement).
- Therefore, in the manner described above, Cotter knowingly, or with reason to know, used her official position to obtain an unwarranted privilege of substantial value not properly available to other similarly situated individuals in violation of § 23(b)(2)(ii).
In view of the foregoing violations of G.L. c. 268A by Cotter, the Commission has determined that the public interest would be served by the disposition of this matter without further enforcement proceedings, based on the following terms and conditions agreed to by Cotter:
- that Cotter pay to the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, with such payment delivered to the Commission, the sum of $1,000.00 as a civil penalty for violating G.L. c. 268A, § 23(b)(2); and
- that Cotter waive all rights to contest, in this or any other administrative or judicial proceeding to which the Commission is or may be a party, the findings of fact, conclusions of law and terms and conditions contained in this Agreement.