Another local water employee faces a fine of $ 6,000 of the state after accepting free ski trips from a manufacturer and distributor of water meters.
The Massachusetts State Ethics Commission has ruled that the Auburn water district foreman, Scott Callahan, violated the State’s conflict conflict law by accepting two free ski trips of the manufacturer and its distributor.
Callahan was ordered to pay civil sanctions for a total of $ 6,000 for violations.
This is the last of a recent series of fines of the State Ethics Commission against Employees of Water Districts and Public Works Departments that accepted skiing trips, meals or entertainment of water meters vendors.
“The Conflict of Interest Law prohibits public employees from receiving anything worth $ 50 or more granted by their official positions,” said the commission. “Callahan violated this prohibition by accepting free skiing trips of the manufacturer and distributor of the water meter. The commission imposed a fine of $ 3,000 for the acceptance of Callahan of each of the two trips. “
Callahan as the Auburn water district foreman bought, installed and maintained water meters inside the local district.
Auburn’s water district uses a water meter brand throughout its service area made by a manufacturer with Alabama headquarters and obtained the only authorized New England distributor in the manufacturer.
Callahan accepted invitations of the distributor and manufacturer of the water meter to make ski trips of several days to Sugarloaf, Maine, in 2018 and then Stowe, Vermont, in 2019.
The distributor or manufacturer paid Callahan’s accommodation for both trips. The trips were given to Callahan due to their position as foreman of the Auburn water district.
“The acceptance by the municipal employees of gifts of substantial value of external sources with which they do business erodes public trust, and Callahan, who should reasonably have been aware of this after decades of public service, accepted such gifts not a but twice “, the State”, the State “, the State the Ethics Commission wrote in its ruling.
Callahan has 30 days to present an appeal for the fine in the Superior Court.
Last year, the current or previous employees of Danvers, Franklin, Natick, Newburyport, Salem, Southampton and the Sudbury water district signed disposition agreements and paid civil sanctions to resolve similar violations of the Conflict Law of Interests related to the Acceptance of skiing trips from the same water meter manufacturer. and distributor.
The Commission urges public employees to communicate with the legal division of the Commission at 617-371-9500 to obtain free advice if you have any questions about how the Conflict Law can be applied.
