| Date: | 04/28/2003 |
|---|---|
| Organization: | State Ethics Commission |
| Docket Number: | 680 |
- This page, In the Matter of Tamarin Laurel-Paine, is offered by
- State Ethics Commission
Settlement
Settlement In the Matter of Tamarin Laurel-Paine
Table of Contents
Disposition Agreement
This Disposition Agreement is entered into between the State Ethics Commission and Tamarin Laurel-Paine pursuant to Section 5 of the Commission's Enforcement Procedures. This Agreement constitutes a consented-to final order enforceable in Superior Court, pursuant to G.L. c. 268B, § 4(j).
On September 5, 2002, 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 Laurel-Paine. The Commission has concluded its inquiry and, on November 26, 2002, found reasonable cause to believe that Laurel-Paine violated G.L. c. 268A, § 19.
The Commission and Laurel-Paine now agree to the following findings of fact and conclusions of law.
Findings of Fact
1. For all times relevant, Laurel-Paine was a member of Middlefield's planning board, a position she held from 1992 to 2002. In May 2001, Laurel-Paine was elected chair of the planning board. She did not actually chair any meetings until fall 2001, because at each planning board meeting during the spring and summer of 2001, at least part of the meeting related to land that she co-owned. In 2002, her term expired and she did not seek re-election to the board.
2. In March 2001, Laurel-Paine and her business partner applied to the Middlefield Zoning Board of Appeals for a special permit to build a 20,000 square foot warehouse for their business, with an attached house, on a 28-acre parcel they had purchased in the middle of town. The parcel, which was then zoned agricultural/ residential, abutted the town's business district.
3. The zoning board commenced its public hearing on Laurel-Paine's application for a special permit granting a home occupation use in April 2001. On April 30, 2001, the zoning board continued the hearing to give the board time to contact town counsel for advice.
4. Based on town counsel's advice to the zoning board, the selectmen decided that it would be appropriate to expand the business district to include Laurel-Paine's property, thereby providing a business-zoned location for which the zoning board could then issue a special permit for a business use.
5. By letter dated May 7, 2001, the selectmen petitioned the planning board "to consider expanding the current business district … to include property recently purchased by Tamarin Laurel-Paine," and requested that the planning board hold a public hearing as required under G.L. c. 40A, § 5. Thereafter, the matter would go to the town for a vote at a special town meeting.
6. On May 14, 2001, the planning board held a meeting to discuss the matter of extending the business district. To avoid conflict-of-interest concerns, Laurel-Paine did not chair the meeting, but she did read into the record the May 7, 2002 letter from the selectmen to the Planning Board, and she handed out relevant documentation. (Thereafter, Laurel-Paine did not chair any subsequent Planning Board meetings at which the board discussed rezoning her property, nor did she cast any votes upon that particular matter.)
7. The planning board met again on May 22, 2001. The discussion turned to what had occurred following the zoning board hearing on Laurel-Paine's application. A selectman and zoning board member explained that the town had consulted with a lawyer who suggested that it would be better for the town to vote to amend the business district to include Laurel-Paine's property, rather than to defend a legal challenge of a zoning board special permit granting a home occupation use. In addition, the lawyer had said that "it wouldn't present a problem of 'spot zoning,' because 'it is a contiguous expansion of the existing district, and not a new creation on a lot isolated from the current business use.'" In response, a planning board member asked if the lawyer thought that the town "would alleviate a tenuous legal position by establishing a commercial district," which question was answered affirmatively. Shortly thereafter, Laurel-Paine stated that the "suggested creation of a new 'commercial' district for this one spot in town is opposite to the lawyer's advice for an extension of the existing [business] district not being spot zoning."
8. On June 4, 2001, the planning board conducted a public hearing on whether the board should recommend to town meeting that Laurel-Paine's parcel be rezoned. Laurel-Paine did not participate in the hearing.
9. Among the concerns raised in the context of the rezoning matter were whether to impose additional restrictions and regulations on business uses town-wide, and whether to impose a specific set of standards that would apply only to Laurel-Paine's property.
10. On June 7, 2001, the planning board convened again to discuss, among other things, what to recommend to town meeting regarding Laurel-Paine's property. Prior to resuming that discussion, Laurel-Paine spoke at length on the concept of additional business regulations and restrictions. While her comments addressed general concerns on imposing new business use restrictions, Laurel-Paine made several references to the proposed restrictions in the context of the recent controversy that concerned her own property. The board then resumed discussing whether to recommend an expansion of the business district to include Laurel-Paine's property. Prior to the board's voting on that issue, Laurel-Paine reminded the board, "We are obligated to provide 'a report with recommendations by the planning board' to submit to Town Meeting," and asked what those recommendations were. After further discussion, the board, with Laurel-Paine abstaining, agreed that the proposal to extend the business district to include Laurel-Paine's property should be brought to the town for a vote, but without making any particular recommendations.
11. On July 30, 2001, the town voted to rezone Laurel-Paine's property by a vote of 133-50.
Conclusions of Law
12. Section 19 of G.L. c. 268A prohibits a municipal employee from participating [1] as such an employee in a particular matter [2] in which, to his knowledge, he has a financial interest. [3]
13. As a planning board member, Laurel-Paine was, in May and June 2001, a municipal employee as that term is defined in G.L. c. 268A, § 1.
14. The town's decision on whether to rezone Laurel-Paine's property was a particular matter.
15. The planning board discussed that particular matter at its meetings in May and June 2001, as set forth above. By taking part in those planning board discussions as a planning board member, Laurel-Paine participated as a municipal employee in the above-noted particular matter. [4]
16. Laurel-Paine had a financial interest in the town's decision on rezoning her property because the decision would have a reasonably foreseeable impact how she could develop her land and her business. Laurel-Paine knew of this financial interest when she participated in the particular matter as described above.
17. Accordingly, by participating in the particular matter concerning the rezoning of her land, Laurel-Paine violated § 19.
Resolution
In view of the foregoing violation of G.L. c. 268A by Laurel-Paine, 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 and conditions agreed to by Laurel-Paine:
(1) that Laurel-Paine pay to the Commission the sum of $1,000 as a civil penalty for violating G.L. c. 268A, § 19; and
(2) that Laurel-Paine waive all rights to contest the findings of fact, conclusions of law and terms and conditions contained in this Agreement or any other related administrative or judicial proceedings to which the Commission is or may be a party.