An area elected official has paid an $8,000 high-quality and greater than $10,000 in restitution after he accepted free work on his house’s walkways, steps and porch attributable to his official place on the town.
Holbrook Choose Board member William Watkins has paid an $8,000 civil penalty and $10,900 in restitution to an area mason for violating the battle of curiosity legislation, in accordance with the Massachusetts State Ethics Fee.
Two years in the past, Watkins talked about the poor situation of his house’s steps and walkways to a fellow Choose Board member — who later texted him that he may get Watkins’ “stairs done for free.” Watkins replied to that textual content with a thumbs-up emoji.
Watkins’ colleague then requested an area mason to take a look at Watkins’ steps and walkways, and the mason put in new steps and walkways.
Watkins and the mason didn’t talk about the price of the work earlier than or throughout the work.
“As the only significant relationship between Watkins and the other Select Board member was serving together on the Select Board, Watkins knew or had reason to know when he received the mason’s work without paying for it that he was receiving it for free due to his official position,” the Ethics Fee wrote.
Then final April as native rumors swirled, and following the recommendation of one other Choose Board member, Watkins known as the State Ethics Fee’s Enforcement Division to self-report the incident. Watkins instructed the Ethics Fee that he had “inadvertently accepted a valuable gift.”
Watkins then reached out to the mason for an bill. Watkins replied to the mason that he would wish a while to pay near $10,000.
The mason directed him to pay what he may “for now,” and indicated he may pay the rest later.
Watkins nonetheless had not paid the mason by this previous April, and the Fee launched adjudicatory proceedings towards Watkins.
The $10,900 in restitution agreed to within the disposition settlement was delivered to the mason final week.
By accepting the free work on his house steps, porch, and walkways, Watkins violated the battle of curiosity legislation’s ban towards public staff soliciting or receiving something value $50 or extra that’s given to them for or due to their official positions.
“Being a public official doesn’t entitle one to obtain free of charge worthwhile items and providers that others should pay for,” State Ethics Fee Government Director David Wilson mentioned in an announcement. “The law is clear that public employees must not seek or accept valuable free goods or services given to them because of their official positions.”
