Settlement

Settlement  In the Matter of Richard E. Sullivan, Sr.

Date: 12/20/1984
Organization: State Ethics Commission
Docket Number: 276

Table of Contents

Disposition Agreement

Page 208   

This Disposition Agreement (Agreement) is entered into between  the State Ethics Commission (Commission) and Richard E. Sullivan,  Sr. (Mr. Sullivan) pursuant to section 11 of the Commission's  Enforcement Procedures. This agreement constitutes a consented to  final Commission order enforceable in the Superior Court pursuant  to G.L. c. 268B, s.4(d).   

On September 25,1984, the Commission initiated a preliminary  inquiry, pursuant to the conflict of interest law, G.L. c. 268A,  involving Mr. Sullivan, the Mayor of Newburyport. The Commission  has concluded that preliminary inquiry and, on November 8, 1984,  found reasonable cause to believe that Mr. Sullivan violated G.L.  c. 268A.   

The parties now agree to the following findings of fact and  conclusions of law:   

1. Mr. Sullivan is the Mayor of Newburyport and was the Mayor  at all times relevant to the Commission's preliminary inquiry. As  such, he was and is a municipal employee within the meaning of G.L.  c. 268A, s.1(g).    

2. As the Mayor, Mr. Sullivan is the appointing authority for  positions in the Newburyport Police Department.   

3. On October, 1983, Mr. Sullivan appointed his son, Richard E.  Sullivan, Jr., to the position of provisional communication  dispatcher for the Newburyport Police Department.   

4. The term of Mr. Sullivan's son's original appointment expired  on December 31,1983, at which time Mr. Sullivan reappointed his son  to this potion.   

5. Richard E. Sullivan, Jr. resigned the position of  communication dispatcher on December 7,1984.   

6. General Laws, Chapter 268A, s.19(a) prohibits a municipal  employee from participating in a particular matter in which an  immediate family[1] member has a financial interest. By appointing  (and reappointing) his son to this position with the Newburyport  Police Department, Mr. Sullivan violated s.19(a).   

Based on the foregoing facts, the Commission has determined that  the public interest would be served by the disposition of this  matter without further enforcement proceedings on the basis of the  following terms agreed to by Mr. Sullivan:   

1. that he pay to the Commission the sum of three hundred  dollars ($300.00) forthwith as a civil penalty for violating  G.L. c. 268A, s.19(a); and   

2. that he waive all rights to contest the findings of  fact, conclusions of law and conditions contained in this  Agreement in this or any related administrative or judicial  proceeding in which the Commission is a party.

[1] G.L. c. 268A. s.1(e) defines "immediate family," as "the  employee and his spouse, and their parents, children, brothers and  sisters."

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