ReportWire

Tag: Conflict of interest

  • Methuen local election Tuesday

    METHUEN — Voters on Tuesday will choose which four Central District City Council candidates will move on to the General Election.

    The race for central district councilor is the only race to require a preliminary vote this election season. Neither of the incumbent central councilors are seeking reelection. The city wide election will be held on Tuesday, Nov. 4.


    This page requires Javascript.

    Javascript is required for you to be able to read premium content. Please enable it in your browser settings.

    kAm%96 5:DEC:4E 😀 4@>A@D65 @7 AC64:?4ED `[ a[ e[ ep[ `_[ `c 2?5 E96 G@E:?8 H:== 36 96=5 7C@> f 2]>] E@ f A]>] 2E E96 %:>@?J vC2>>2C $49@@=[ cd !=62D2?E ‘:6H $E]k^Am

    kAm%96 7@==@H:?8 D:I 42?5:52E6D 2C6 CF??:?8 7@C E96 EH@ D62ED E92E C6AC6D6?E E96 5:DEC:4E @? E96 ?:?6 >6>36C 4@F?4:=] r2?5:52E6D 925 2 >2I:>F> @7 `d_ H@C5D 7@C 6249 @7 E96 EH@ 46?EC2= BF6DE:@?D]k^Am

    kAmkDEC@?8m$92C@? q:C492==k^DEC@?8mk^Am

    kAmp86i egk^Am

    kAm~44FA2E:@?i s:C64E@C @7 s6G6=@A>6?E 2E %@A }@E49 $49@=2CDk^Am

    kAmr2? J@F E9:?< @7 2?J A@E6?E:2= 4@?7=:4ED @7 :?E6C6DE 5F6 E@ 72>:=J E:6D[ H@C<[ 6E4[ E92E 4@F=5 2C:D6 5FC:?8 J@FC E:>6 😕 @77:46i }@k^Am

    kAmk6>m(9J 2C6 J@F CF??:?8 7@C r:EJ r@F?4:=^$49@@= r@>>:EE66 2?5 H92E >2<6D J@F BF2=:7:65 7@C E96 A@D:E:@?nk^6>mk^Am

    kAmx 2> CF??:?8 7@C r:EJ r@F?4:= E@ 3C:?8 7C6D9 =6256CD9:A E92E =:DE6?D[ E2<6D 24E:@?[ 2?5 AFED @FC 4@>>F?:EJ 7:CDE] x 42C6 566A=J 23@FE >2<:?8 @FC 4:EJ D276C[ >@C6 277@C523=6[ 2?5 >@C6 4@??64E65] %9:D :D?’E 23@FE A@=:E:4D — :E’D 23@FE A6@A=6[ 2?5 x 2> C625J E@ 86E E@ H@C< 7@C 2== @7 FD]k^Am

    kAmx 3C:?8 2 DEC@?8 C64@C5 @7 4@>>F?:EJ :?G@=G6>6?E[ C62=H@C=5 6IA6C:6?46[ 2?5 2 566A F?56CDE2?5:?8 @7 E96 :DDF6D @FC 4:EJ 7246D] x’G6 H@C<65 H:E9 =@42= @C82?:K2E:@?D[ =:DE6?65 E@ ?6:893@CD[ 2?5 H:== 96=A D@=G6 AC@3=6>D E92E >2EE6C] x @H 9@H E@ 86E E9:?8D 5@?6[ 2?5 x’> C625J E@ =625 |6E9F6? 7@CH2C5 2?5 7@4FD @? C6DF=ED]k^Am

    kAmk6>m(92E 😀 E96 >@DE AC6DD:?8 :DDF6 724:?8 E96 4:EJ^D49@@= 2?5 9@H H@F=5 J@F E24<=6 :Enk^6>mk^Am

    kAm|6E9F6?’D 3:886DE 492==6?86D 😀 <66A:?8 @FC C@25D[ D49@@=D[ AF3=:4 DA246D 2?5 4:EJ 724:=:E:6D 😕 8@@5 D92A6 H9:=6 36:?8 C6DA@?D:3=6 H:E9 E2IA2J6C 5@==2CD] x’== AC:@C:E:K6 4C:E:42= C6A2:CD[ :?G@=G6 E96 4@>>F?:EJ 2?5 H@C< 4=@D6=J H:E9 4:EJ 56A2CE>6?ED E@ 86E E96 36DE C6DF=ED 677:4:6?E=J]k^Am

    kAmkDEC@?8mt==2 |24{2C6?k^DEC@?8mk^Am

    kAmp86i a_k^Am

    kAm~44FA2E:@?i r@==686 DEF56?E[ A@=:E:42= D4:6?46 >2;@C 2E |6CC:>24< r@==686 w@?@CD !C@8C2>k^Am

    kAmk6>mr2? J@F E9:?< @7 2?J A@E6?E:2= 4@?7=:4ED @7 :?E6C6DE 5F6 E@ 72>:=J E:6D[ H@C<[ 6E4[ E92E 4@F=5 2C:D6 5FC:?8 J@FC E:>6 😕 @77:46nk^6>mk^Am

    kAm}@k^Am

    kAmk6>m(9J 2C6 J@F CF??:?8 7@C r:EJ r@F?4:= 2?5 H92E >2<6D J@F BF2=:7:65 7@C E96 A@D:E:@?nk^6>mk^Am

    kAmxV> CF??:?8 7@C |6E9F6?’D r6?EC2= s:DEC:4E r:EJ r@F?4:= 3642FD6 2D 2 =:76=@?8 |6E9F6? C6D:56?E 2?5 2 AC@F5 8C25F2E6 @7 |6E9F6? !F3=:4 $49@@=D[ x’G6 D66? 7:CDE92?5 H92E >2<6D @FC 4:EJ DA64:2= – 2?5 x’> 4@>>:EE65 E@ AC@E64E:?8 2?5 6IA2?5:?8 E9@D6 @AA@CEF?:E:6D 7@C 2== C6D:56?ED] x 3C:?8 2 7C6D9[ :?7@C>65 A6CDA64E:G6 8C@F?565 😕 =:G65 6IA6C:6?46[ 566A 4@>>F?:EJ C@@ED[ 2?5 2 A2DD:@? 7@C AF3=:4 D6CG:46] x’> C625J E@ =:DE6?[ 4@==23@C2E6[ 2?5 25G@42E6 7@C A@=:4:6D E92E FA=:7E 6G6CJ@?6 – 7C@> :?G6DE:?8 😕 @FC D49@@=D E@ DFAA@CE:?8 =@42= 3FD:?6DD6D 2?5 46=63C2E:?8 @FC 4F=EFC2= EC62DFC6D]k^Am

    kAmk6>m(92E 😀 E96 >@DE AC6DD:?8 :DDF6 724:?8 E96 4:EJ^D49@@= 2?5 9@H H@F=5 J@F E24<=6 :Enk^6>mk^Am

    kAmx? |6E9F6?[ E96 C:D:?8 4@DE @7 =:G:?8 😀 >2<:?8 :E :?4C62D:?8=J >@C6 492==6?8:?8 E@ 6?DFC6 E92E 6G6CJ@?6 – C682C5=6DD @7 324<8C@F?5 – 42? 3F:=5 2 =:76 96C6] |2?J @7 >J A66CD ?@H BF6DE:@? E96 DFDE2:?23:=:EJ @7 42==:?8 @FC 4:EJ 9@>6] (6 ?665 D>2CE[ 4@>>F?:EJ5C:G6? 56G6=@A>6?Ei 4@>>:E>6?E E@ DFAA@CE:?8 =@42= 3FD:?6DD6D[ 277@C523=6 9@FD:?8[ 2?5 :?G6DE:?8 😕 AF3=:4 65F42E:@?] ~FC J@FE9 2C6 E96 7FEFC6 @7 |6E9F6?] (96? H6 DEC6?8E96? @FC D49@@=D[ H6 :?G6DE 😕 E96 ?6IE 86?6C2E:@? @7 =6256CD[ H@C<6CD[ 2?5 ?6:893@CD]k^Am

    kAmx 36=:6G6 H6 42? 8C@H H:E9@FE =62G:?8 A6@A=6 369:?5] %92E >62?D =:DE6?:?8 E@ C6D:56?ED[ 9@?@C:?8 |6E9F6?’D C:49 9:DE@CJ[ 2?5 7F?5:?8 6BF:E23=6 5:DEC:3FE:@? @7 @AA@CEF?:E:6D 7@C J@F?8 A6@A=6] %96 7FEFC6 DE2CED H:E9 FD[ 2?5 x’> 4@>>:EE65 E@ >2<:?8 DFC6 :E DE2CED 96C6]k^Am

    kAmkDEC@?8m*2?:=52 $2?E@Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am

    kAmp86i cgk^Am

    kAm~44FA2E:@?i #6D:56?E:2= >@CE8286 =@2? @77:46Ck^Am

    kAmk6>mr2? J@F E9:?< @7 2?J A@E6?E:2= 4@?7=:4ED @7 :?E6C6DE 5F6 E@ 72>:=J E:6D[ H@C<[ 6E4[ E92E 4@F=5 2C:D6 5FC:?8 J@FC E:>6 😕 @77:46nk^6>mk^Am

    kAm}@k^Am

    kAmk6>m(9J 2C6 J@F CF??:?8 7@C r:EJ r@F?4:=^$49@@= r@>>:EE66 2?5 H92E >2<6D J@F BF2=:7:65 7@C E96 A@D:E:@?ik^6>mk^Am

    kAmxV> CF??:?8 7@C 4:EJ 4@F?4:= 3642FD6 x 42C6 566A=J 23@FE E96 7FEFC6 @7 @FC 4@>>F?:EJ] |J 7@4FD 😀 @? 6?DFC:?8 64@?@>:4 56G6=@A>6?E[ 6BF:E23=6 9@FD:?8 2?5 DEC6?8E96?:?8 u2>:=J G2=F6D] pD 2 D:?8=6 >@E96C[ 2 H@>2? @7 72:E9 2?5 2 =@42= 3FD:?6DD AC@76DD:@?2=[ x F?56CDE2?5 E96 492==6?86D 72>:=:6D 7246 2?5 x H2?E E@ 36 E96 G@:46 7@C E96> 2E E96 4:EJ 92==]k^Am

    kAmk6>m(92E 😀 E96 >@DE AC6DD:?8 :DDF6 724:?8 E96 4:EJ^D49@@= 2?5 9@H H@F=5 J@F E24<=6 :Enk^6>mk^Am

    kAmt4@?@>:4 56G6=@A>6?E 😀 ;FDE @?6 @7 E96 >2?J 492==6?86D E92E @FC 4@>>F?:EJ 😀 724:?8 2E E9:D E:>6 %96 36DE H2J E@ 2AAC@249 E9:D :DDF6 😀 H:E9 2 4=62C DEC2E68:4 A=2??:?8[ 67764E:G6 4@==23@C2E:@?[ C6DA@?D:3=6 3F586E:?8 2?5 EC2?DA2C6?E =6256CD9:A]k^Am

    kAmkDEC@?8m{@Fp?? $2?E@Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am

    kAmp86i cgk^Am

    kAm~44FA2E:@?i s:D23=65k^Am

    kAmk6>mr2? J@F E9:?< @7 2?J A@E6?E:2= 4@?7=:4ED @7 :?E6C6DE 5F6 E@ 72>:=J E:6D[ H@C<[ 6E4[ E92E 4@F=5 2C:D6 5FC:?8 J@FC E:>6 😕 @77:46nk^6>mk^Am

    kAm}@k^Am

    kAmk6>m(9J 2C6 J@F CF??:?8 7@C r:EJ r@F?4:=^$49@@= r@>>:EE66 2?5 H92E >2<6D J@F BF2=:7:65 7@C E96 A@D:E:@?nk^6>mk^Am

    kAmx 925 E96 AC:G:=686 @7 36:?8 2 >6>36C @7 E96 |6E9F6? $49@@= r@>>:EE66 7C@> a_a_a_ad[ :?4=F5:?8 D:EE:?8 ?6IE E@ 7@C>6C |2J@C }6:= !6CCJ[ 9@=5:?8 E96 A@D:E:@? @7 ‘:46 r92:C] x AC6G:@FD=J 925 ?@ A@=:E:42= 6IA6C:6?46] x =62C?65 2 =@E[ 2?5 2> DE:== =62C?:?8] x’> 2 H:76 2?5 2 >@> H:E9 2 G@:46] |J 72>:=J 2?5 x 92G6 G@=F?E66C65 7@C D6G6C2= 6G6?ED @G6C E96 J62CD[ 3642FD6 H6 ECF=J 42C6 23@FE @FC 4@>>F?:EJ]k^Am

    kAmk6>m(92E 😀 E96 >@DE AC6DD:?8 :DDF6 724:?8 E96 4:EJ^D49@@= 2?5 9@H H@F=5 J@F E24<=6 :Enk^6>mk^Am

    kAmx? >J @A:?:@?[ :E 😀 E96 3F586ED @7 E96 4:EJ] (96C6 😀 >@?6J 36:?8 2==@42E65 2?5^@C DA6?En x 2> ?@E 27C2:5 E@ 2D< E96 BF6DE:@?D ?646DD2CJ E@ 7:?5 2?DH6CD] x >2J ?@E 36 E96 “A6C764E” 42?5:52E6[ 3FE H9@ :Dnk^Am

    kAmkDEC@?8m$E6G6 v:==:Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am

    kAmp86i eak^Am

    kAm~44FA2E:@?i qFD:?6DD @H?6Ck^Am

    kAmr2? J@F E9:?< @7 2?J A@E6?E:2= 4@?7=:4ED @7 :?E6C6DE 5F6 E@ 72>:=J E:6D[ H@C<[ 6E4[ E92E 4@F=5 2C:D6 5FC:?8 J@FC E:>6 😕 @77:46nk^Am

    kAm}@k^Am

    kAmk6>m(9J 2C6 J@F CF??:?8 7@C r:EJ r@F?4:=^$49@@= r@>>:EE66 2?5 H92E >2<6D J@F BF2=:7:65 7@C E96 A@D:E:@?nk^6>mk^Am

    kAmq642FD6 x =@G6 |6E9F6? 2?5 766= 42==65 E@ D6CG6] x H2?E E@ 3C:?8 9@?6DEJ[ 4@>>@? D6?D6[ 2?5 2 A6CD@?2= 4@?G:4E:@? x H:== 2=H2JD AFE E96 4@>>F?:EJ 7:CDE @? 6G6CJ 564:D:@?] x’> 2 =:76=@?8 |6E9F6? C6D:56?E[ 2 3FD:?6DD>2?[ 2?5 2 3@C?282:? r9C:DE:2?] ~G6C E96 J62CD[ x’G6 @H?65 C6DE2FC2?ED[ 2 =:>@ 4@>A2?J[ 4@@H?65 2 42C 562=6CD9:A[ 2?5 ?@H CF? E96 DF446DD7F= w2AAJ %2:=D s@8 s2J42C6] x @H 9@H E@ >2C<6E[ >2?286 3F586ED[ 4C62E6 ;@3D[ 2?5 8C@H 3FD:?6DD6D[ 2?5 x H:== 3C:?8 E92E D2>6 92?5D@? 2AAC@249 E@ 4:EJ 8@G6C?>6?E]k^Am

    kAmx H:== 7:89E 282:?DE @G6C3F:=5:?8 E92E DEC2:?D @FC D49@@=D[ H9:49 2=C625J 4@?DF>6 e_T @7 E96 3F586E] “yFDE d_ :==682= DEF56?ED 2EE6?5:?8 |6E9F6? D49@@=D 4@DE C@F89=J @G6C 2 S` >:==:@? 2 J62C] x>28:?6 E96 C62= D2G:?8D @G6C 2 `aJ62C DA2?] |@C6 9@FD:?8 92D?’E =@H6C65 E2I6D—:E’D @?=J 25565 EC277:4] x H:== 7:89E 7@C E2IA2J6CD 2?5 AC@E64E @FC BF2=:EJ @7 =:76]k^Am

    kAmk6>mt5:E@CVD ?@E6i x? |2DD249FD6EED DEF56?E A@AF=2E:@? 😀 @?6 @7 E96 724E@CD E92E :>A24E 9@H >F49 DE2E6 7F?5:?8 D49@@=VD C646:G6 255:?8 2?@E96C 724E@C E@ =@42= :>A24E 3FE ?@E E96 @G6C2== 4@DE]k^6>mk^Am

    kAmk6>m(92E 😀 E96 >@DE AC6DD:?8 :DDF6 724:?8 E96 4:EJ^D49@@= 2?5 9@H H@F=5 J@F E24<=6 :Enk^6>mk^Am

    kAmu@C E@@ =@?8[ |6E9F6? 92D 7@4FD65 AC:>2C:=J @? 3F:=5:?8 =@H :?4@>6 9@FD:?8[ 2?5 J6E @FC E2I6D 8@ FA[ (6 ?665 E@ D9:7E @FC 2EE6?E:@? >2C<6E:?8 |6E9F6? E@ 2EEC24E:?8 8@@5 4@>A2?:6D —E92E AC@G:56 8@@5A2J:?8 ;@3D 7@C @FC C6D:56?ED[ E92E H:== DEC6?8E96? @FC =@42= 64@?@>J[ 2?5 6?DFC6 2 AC@DA6C@FD 7FEFC6 7@C |6E9F6?] qJ AC@>@E:?8 @FC 4:EJ E@ ?62C3J q@DE@?[ ;FDE b_ >:?FE6D 2H2J[ 2?5 =6G6C28:?8 @AA@CEF?:E:6D =:<6 3:==3@2C5D @? xhb[ H6 42? D9@H42D6 |6E9F6? 2D 2 AC:>6 =@42E:@? 7@C 3FD:?6DD6D E@ 8C@H] p DEC@?8 3FD:?6DD 32D6 😀 4C:E:42=—|6E9F6? 4FCC6?E=J 86ED @?=J “T @7 :ED E2I6D 7C@> 3FD:?6DD6D[ H9:=6 2 DF446DD7F= 4:EJ 86ED adT]k^Am

    kAm~FC D49@@=D 2C6 2=C625J @G6C4C@H565] x7 H6 4@?E:?F6 @? E96 62DJ A2E9 @7 3F:=5:?8 9@FD:?8[ E96 DE2E6 H:== @C56C FD E@ 3F:=5 ?6H D49@@=D—=62G:?8 E2IA2J6CD H:E9 E96 3:==] |@C6 9@FD:?8 2=D@ >62?D >@C6 42CD[@FC C@25D 2C6 2=C625J ;2>>65 86EE:?8 @? 2?5 @77 9:89H2JD[ 4C62E:?8 2 D276EJ :DDF6D]k^Am

    kAmkDEC@?8ms6CC:4< V%@?JV y@?6Dk^DEC@?8mk^Am

    kAmp86i s:5 ?@E 2?DH6Ck^Am

    kAm~44FA2E:@?i t>A=@J66 @7 E96 s6A2CE>6?E @7 |6?E2= w62=E9k^Am

    kAmr2? J@F E9:?< @7 2?J A@E6?E:2= 4@?7=:4ED @7 :?E6C6DE 5F6 E@ 72>:=J E:6D[ H@C<[ 6E4[ E92E 4@F=5 2C:D6 5FC:?8 J@FC E:>6 😕 @77:46nk^Am

    kAm}@k^Am

    kAmk6>m(9J 2C6 J@F CF??:?8 7@C r:EJ r@F?4:=^$49@@= r@>>:EE66 2?5 H92E >2<6D J@F BF2=:7:65 7@C E96 A@D:E:@?nk^6>mk^Am

    kAmx 2> CF??:?8 7@C |6E9F6? r:EJ r@F?4:= E@ 255 2? :?7FD:@? @7 ?6H :562D 2=@?8 H:E9 2 5:776C6?E >2?286>6?E DEJ=6] |J :?:E:2= AC@A@D2= 42? 36DE 36 56D4C:365 2D 2 VA6@A=646?EC:4 2AAC@249’ E@ D@=G6 E96 >JC:25 @7 D@4:@4F=EFC2= 2?5 64@?@>:4 >2=25:6D[ H9:49 92G6 ?682E:G6=J :>A24E65 >2?J ?6:893@C9@@5D]k^Am

    kAmx 2> 2 G:D:@?2CJ =6256C H:E9 E96 A=2E7@C> 7@C DF446DD] p @H=658623=6 A@=:E:42= 2?2=JDE H:E9 6I46==6?E 4@>>F?:42E:@? D<:==D 2?5 A@DD6DD6D 2 H62=E9 @7 6IA6C:6?46 C@@E65 😕 D6=74@?7:56?46]k^Am

    kAmrFCC6?E=J[ x 2> 6I64FE:G6 5:C64E@C @7 E96 |@G6>6?E 7@C #24:2= w2C>@?J 2?5 s6>@4C24J W|#wpsX[ 2 C64:A:6?E @7 E96 !C6D:56?E Wq:56?X pH2C5 7@C ‘@=F?E66C $6CG:46D 2?5 E96 2FE9@C @7 D6G6C2= 3@@>2 😕 q@DE@? q=24< 2?5 {2E:?@ }6:893@C9@@5D]k^Am

    kAms6CC:4< V%@?JV y@?6D 😀 2 8C25F2E6 @7 &|2DDq@DE@? 2?5 r@?4@C5:2 &?:G6CD:EJ 😕 |@?EC62=[ r2?252] pD 2 42?5:52E6 x 2> 567:?:E6=J 56D6CG:?8 @7 J@FC 7F== DFAA@CE @? %F6D52J[ $6AE] `e[ a_ad !C:>2CJ t=64E:@?]k^Am

    kAmkDEC@?8m(92E 😀 E96 >@DE AC6DD:?8 :DDF6 724:?8 E96 4:EJ^D49@@= 2?5 9@H H@F=5 J@F E24<=6 :Eik^DEC@?8mk^Am

    kAmpD 2 42?5:52E6 7@C r:EJ r@F?4:=[ :E 😀 >J @3;64E:G6 G:6H^@A:?:@? E92E E96C6 😀 ?@ D:?8F=2C :DDF6 27764E:?8 4:E:K6?D] %9:D 4@?4=FD:@? H2D 2CC:G65 2E 2D x :?E6C24E65 H:E9 G@E6CD] x?5665[ :E 😀 BF:E6 5:D46C?:3=6 32D65 @? E96 A=6E9@C2 @7 :DDF6D 2?5 4@?46C?D A6@A=6 92G6 G6?E:=2E65] ~7 4@FCD6[ E96:C 5:D4@?E6?E C67=64ED 2 >:I @7 >:?@C 2?5 >2;@C AC@3=6>D] &?7@CEF?2E6=J[ >2?J @7 E96D6 :CC:E2?ED 5@ ?@E C6BF:C6 8C62E 6IA6?5:EFC6D 3FE DE:== C6>2:? F?C6D@=G65 >F49 E@ E96 4928C:? @7 C6D:56?ED 27764E65]k^Am

    kAmr@8?:K2?E @7 E96 56>@8C2A9:4 492?86D 24C@DD @FC 4:EJ x 36=:6G6 E92E D6CG:46D C6?56C65 E@ ?6H 2CC:G2=D H:== ?646DD:E2E6 2? 2AAC@249 E92E 😀 244@>>@52E:?8 2?5 :?4=FD:G6]k^Am

    kAm%96 H2J 7@CH2C5 5:4E2E6D E92E @FC >F?:4:A2= 8@G6C?>6?E :>A=6>6?ED 4F=EFC2==J D6?D:E:G6 AC@8C2>D 2?5 AC@G:56D 2AAC@AC:2E6 D6CG:46D E@ E96 5:G6CD6 4@>>F?:E:6D] p== ?@?t?8=:D9DA62<:?8 C6D:56?ED 2D H6== 2D ?6H 2CC:G2=D >FDE 766= H6=4@>65 2?5 2446AE65 😕 E96:C 25@AE65 4:EJ] |@C6@G6C[ 8@G6C?>6?E 2?5 4@>>F?:EJ @C82?:K2E:@?D D9@F=5 6?DFC6 6BF:E23=6 2446DD E@ G:E2= :?7@C>2E:@? 2?5 D6CG:46D]k^Am

    By Teddy Tauscher | ttauscher@eagletribune.com

    Source link

  • Former Danvers DPW director pays $17K civil penalty for ethics violation

    Former Danvers DPW director pays $17K civil penalty for ethics violation

    DANVERS — Former DPW Director David Lane has paid a $17,000 civil penalty after admitting that he violated the state’s conflict of interest law by accepting multiple gifts from a water meter manufacturer and its distributor.

    An Alabama-based water meter maker, sourced through the manufacturer’s sole authorized New England distributor, hosted golf outings, three-day ski trips, and other events to which they invited employees of several municipal water districts and departments of public works, including Lane, according to state ethics officials.

    Lane took part in three separate ski trips courtesy of the vendors. These included trips to Sugarloaf, Maine, in 2018; Okemo, Vermont, in 2020; and Jay Peak, Vermont, in 2022 — all with the understanding that when he accepted the vendor’s invitation they would pay for his lodging, all or most of his meals, and his ski lift tickets in Sugarloaf and Jay Peak.

    Each of the trips were Wednesday through Friday and were at least $425 per person for lodging and $133 for a two-day ski lift ticket.

    In October 2020, the distributor hosted Lane at a golf event in which they paid for his green fees, meals and drinks. In November of the same year, a sales representative of the manufacturer treated Lane and two other municipal public works employees to dinner at Pellana Prime Steakhouse in Peabody. Both of the payments are valued to be $50 or more. The conflict of interest law prohibits public employees from accepting anything worth $50 or more that is given to them for or because of their official positions.

    Danvers officials issued a news release on Tuesday stating that “The town became aware of an inquiry by the Massachusetts Ethics Commission last summer and immediately engaged an independent investigator to determine whether any town policies were violated. The town has fully cooperated with the Ethics Commission’s inquiry.

    “The town was unable to obtain information and documents from the vendor in question and the Ethics Commission due to confidentiality restrictions related to the Commission’s inquiry. Ultimately, Mr. Lane retired prior to the conclusion of the investigation. The town will not provide any further comments relating to personnel matters.”

    Danvers’ water meters were purchased in 2009 through an Invitation For Bid (IFB) process, which means the low bidder was selected after sealed, written proposals were opened by the purchasing department. The town’s centralized purchasing function operates independently from individual departments, and all purchasing is done in accordance with MGL Chapter 30B (Uniform Procurement Act).

    Earlier this year, Danvers Department of Public Works Water and Sewer Supervisor Aaron Cilluffo and other municipal water employees from Salem, Southampton, and Sudbury admitted to violating the conflict of interest law multiple times by accepting valuable gifts from the water meter manufacturer and its distributor. They each paid civil penalties ranging from $6,000 to $18,000.

    “When public employees accept valuable gifts from vendors, they create the appearance that they may be improperly influenced by the vendors or are likely to unduly favor them in their actions on the job,” State Ethics Commission Executive Director David A. Wilson said. “Accepting such gifts undermines the public’s confidence in the integrity of the employees’ governmental service and is prohibited by the conflict of interest law.”

    “The town of Danvers fully supports the work of the Massachusetts Ethics Commission,” Town Manager Steve Bartha said. “We understand that public trust is the currency of local government, and that situations like this erode that trust.”

    Michael McHugh can be contacted at mmchugh@northofboston.com or at 781-799-5202

    By Michael McHugh | Staff Writer

    Source link

  • George Santos To Recuse Self From House Committees

    George Santos To Recuse Self From House Committees

    Embattled New York Rep. George Santos (R) informed GOP colleagues in a closed-door meeting that he will recuse himself from serving on House committees amid ongoing scrutiny about his background and questions about his future in Congress. What do you think?

    “If you’re going to lie your way to the top, at least do something when you get there.”

    Brent Hubbard, Spice Expert

    “I find his integrity refreshing.”

    Jay Natarajan, Substitute Guard

    “With his impressive resume, I’m sure he’ll bounce back in no time.”

    Paula Murphy, Unemployed

    Source link