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H1ghCh4r1ty
Advanced Member
967 Posts |
Posted - 04/26/2007 : 11:08:02 PM
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The Pup and I agree.
Something is very wrong with this whole thing.
I haven't quite figured it out yet.
But I will.
With the Pup's assistance, of course!
Emile Schoeffhausen |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 04/27/2007 : 12:04:42 AM
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This is old news but I thought it was worth a reread.
Auditing a district's
football helmet lettering
hen the Boston Herald raised serious questions about the free-spending superintendent of Everett, Massachusetts, public schools, State Auditor Joseph DeNucci picked up the case and subsequently issued a scathing 85-page
bag of rocks Included among its findings were: 30 questionable bids on $520,250 in expenditures, including a 2002 bid from a company that hadn't existed since 1997. It also cited the misuse of state funds, including $59,000 intended for state MCAS exam tutoring which was used for lettering school football helmets, data processing, and annual homecoming parades. Everett also spent $135,115 to advertise in local newspapers in a two-year period, twice the amount spent by similar communities. At the time the audit was issued, Supt. Frederick Foresteire was awaiting trial on charges that he had two school-owned air conditioners installed in his home. Bid-rigging charges also are pending against a local school official and Foresteire's brother-in-law, a local contractor.
Along with it being a long, hot summer in the Foresteire home, one gets the feeling that the old homecoming parade won't be the same for a while in Everett, Massachusetts. |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 04/27/2007 : 12:08:24 AM
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Inspector General's Investigation Leads to Everett Indictments
The Office of the Inspector General, the state Attorney General and the Massachusetts State Police on March 26, 2004 announced 41 indictments against 11 individuals and five companies charged with defrauding the Everett Public School system.
The indictments alleged that at least 63 contracts worth more the $552,000 were obtained by fraudulent means including conspiracy, procurement fraud, bid rigging, bid splitting, presentation of false claims, larceny, receiving stolen property and kickbacks between local businessmen and City of Everett Public School employees from 1998 to 2003.
As a result of this investigation, Everett Superintendent of Schools, Frederick Foresteire, was also indicted on one count of receiving stolen property. The indictment alleges that Everett Public School maintenance manager, Lona DeFeo, and Louis Grande, Foresteire's ex-brother-in-law, allegedly stole two Everett Public School air conditioners worth over $1,850 and had them installed at Foresteire's home.
Grande was the largest benefactor in the alleged plan to defraud the Everett Public Schools. Grande allegedly participated in numerous bid-rigging and kickback schemes with two other "straw" companies to get around the Commonwealth's sealed bidding process and receive EPS contracts worth over $250,000.
In the fall of 2004, three individuals and two companies plead guilty to charges arising from the Inspector General's investigation and agreed to pay restitution and fines back to the Everett Public Schools:
* Anthony Fabrizio, Sr. of Burlington, plead guilty to conspiracy to commit procurement fraud;
* Roy A. Merenda of Malden, individually and as the owner of Roy Merenda & Sons, plead guilty to one count each of procurement fraud and conspiracy to commit procurement fraud; and
* Victor Silva of Haverhill, individually and as the owner of United Building Services plead guilty to one count each of procurement fraud and conspiracy to commit procurement fraud. |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 04/27/2007 : 12:18:05 AM
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Commonwealth of Massachusetts
State Ethics Commission
SUFFOLK, ss. COMMISSION ADJUDICATORY
DOCKET NO. 444
IN THE MATTER
OF
FREDERICK FORESTEIRE
DISPOSITION AGREEMENT
This Disposition Agreement (Agreement) is entered into between the State Ethics Commission (Commission)
and Frederick Foresteire (Mr. Foresteire) pursuant to §5 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, §4(j).
On July 11, 1991, the Commission initiated a preliminary inquiry into possible violations of the conflict of interest
law, G.L. c. 268A, involving Mr. Foresteire, the Everett School Superintendent. The Commission concluded that
inquiry and, on March 12, 1992, found reasonable cause to believe that Mr. Foresteire violated G.L. c. 268A,
§’23(b)(2) and 23(b)(3).
The Commission and Mr. Foresteire now agree to the following findings of fact and conclusions of law:
1. At all times relevant to this matter, Mr. Foresteire was the Superintendent of the Everett Schools, and as
such, a municipal employee as defined in G.L. c. 268A, §1(g). As superintendent, Mr. Foresteire was directly
accountable to the Everett School Committee (School Committee). The superintendent’s duties include directing
and supervising the entire school system (teachers, maintenance, and support staff) and working on the school
department budget. Additionally, the superintendent, as the secretary of the School Committee, makes
recommendations but has no vote on the School Committee.
2. At all times relevant to this matter, John Shay (Shay) was a School Committee member. As a School
Committee member, Shay’s responsibilities include determining Everett School Department (School Department)
policy, discussing and voting on budgetary matters and annually voting on various personnel matters.
3. In April 1990, Shay was in the process of moving into a new apartment. On April 4, 1990, Shay telephoned
Mr. Foresteire to discuss School Committee matters. During that conversation, Shay told Mr. Foresteire that he
was having trouble with the workers he had hired to paint his new apartment and that he feared the apartment
would not be ready for the upcoming weekend move.
4. The next day, Mr. Foresteire approached a School Department painter (painter) who was working in the
school administration building and asked him to take a look at Mr. Shay’s apartment and provide advice as to what
could be done to finish on time.
5. Later that day, Mr. Foresteire and the painter travelled to and examined Mr. Shay’s apartment. The
painter told Mr. Foresteire that a significant amount of work needed to be done prior to the weekend move. The
painter agreed to assist in the apartment painting and requested a personal day, which Mr. Foresteire granted.1/
6. Over the next three days, the painter worked over 22.5 hours and expended approximately $300 in labor
and supplies.2/ Prior to painting Shay’s apartment, the painter had never personally met Mr. Shay, although he
knew he was a School Committee member.
7. Shay encountered the painter working in his apartment on two or three occasions. Shay became aware
through these encounters that the painter was a School Department employee. Shay never offered to and
ultimately never did compensate the painter.
8. On April 9, 1990, Mr. Foresteire approached the painter at the school and inquired as to whether he was
compensated for his services. The painter informed Mr. Foresteire that he had not been compensated for his
services.
9. Section 23(b)(3) prohibits a municipal employee from acting in a manner which would cause a reasonable
person, having knowledge of the relevant circumstances,
to conclude that any person can improperly influence or unduly enjoy his favor in the performance of his official
duties.
10. By soliciting the School Department painter’s services for Shay, Mr. Foresteire acted in a manner which
would cause a reasonable person, having knowledge of the relevant circumstances, to conclude that either Shay3/
or the painter could improperly influence or unduly enjoy his favor in the performance of his official duties.
Therefore, Mr. Foresteire violated G.L. c. 268A, §23(b)(3).
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 and conditions
agreed to by Mr. Foresteire:
1. that he pay to the Commission the amount of two hundred and fifty ($250.00) as a civil fine for violating G.L.
c. 268A, 23(b)(3);
2. that he will act in conformance with the requirements of G.L. c. 268A in his future conduct as a municipal
employee; and
3. that he waive all rights to contest the findings of fact, conclusions of law and terms and conditions contained
in this agreement in this or any related administrative or judicial proceeding to which the Commission is or may
be a party.
Date: July 7, 1992
1/A School Department employee is allocated two personal days a year.
2/The painter worked in Mr. Shay’s apartment on Thursday, April 5 from 4:00 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.; on Friday, April 6 from 7:30 a.m. until
3:30 p.m. (personal day); and on Saturday, April 7 from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. for a total of approximately 22.5 hours. The estimated value
of the labor is $225. and the painter’s own supplies is $24.
3/Shay’s receipt of the free paint job also raises conflict of interest issues for Shay. In re Shay, 1992 SEC 589 (school committee member
fined $750 for violating §3 by
receiving gratuitous paint job from subordinate school department employee). |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 04/27/2007 : 12:19:41 AM
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| I'm sure there is more, I am getting too disgusted to keep looking. |
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Citizen Kane
Advanced Member
1082 Posts |
Posted - 04/27/2007 : 04:36:59 AM
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Massdee, nice research!!
Let's not forget the fact that the Maintenance Director, a convicted felon, still holds her job in the city -- the very same job she was in when her misdeeds occurred. The Superintendent is on probation -- all the talk by members of the School Committee, and some of the local press, that he was found innocent, is just nonsense. He had to plead to sufficient facts, which means he had to concede that, should his case have gone to trial, the jury would've had sufficient evidence with which to find him guilty. That doesn't sound like "innocent" to anyone who's achieved at least a fifth grade education.
And this audit is going to prove to be the biggest attempt at distraction that this city has seen. Monday night's meeting should be a real sight to behold.
Honestly, my friends, sometimes I feel like we've all fallen down the giant rabbit hole and landed at the Mad Hatter's Tea Party. |
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EverettsPride
Advanced Member
1140 Posts |
Posted - 04/27/2007 : 08:20:30 AM
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Citizen I had to laugh at teh Mad Hatter's tea Party comment! I agree totally, it is so so sad what things have come to in this city.
Sally |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 04/27/2007 : 09:27:28 AM
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| It is so sad that the well being of the many, ( Everett residents) are paying for the sins of the few. |
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Ellen
Senior Member
173 Posts |
Posted - 04/27/2007 : 3:42:20 PM
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| The Advocates commentary on the Audit was pretty interesting today. |
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Lynda
Advanced Member
1282 Posts |
Posted - 04/27/2007 : 4:00:26 PM
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Didn't get it today :(
Did it say anything informative? Anything about that IG letter? Anything about the High School lock down on Monday? Anything that resembles News in any way shape or form? |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 04/30/2007 : 10:53:45 PM
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From The Mirror
"What's up with all of the school committee members spouses getting copies of the IG letter. I saw a copy of it from a friend. I then went on to the IG's website. I can't find anything about the letter. I can only find the information regarding the court case, not the letter. Funny, it was addressed to MRS nor Mr."
anonymous | 04.30.07 - 10:35 pm | #
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Masterful1
Senior Member
421 Posts |
Posted - 04/30/2007 : 11:23:51 PM
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| Maybe if the wives ran for office, they could get rid of FFF..LOL |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2007 : 08:14:54 AM
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| Now our Elected Officials need to go after FFF, the ball has started lets keep it rolling. |
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EverettsPride
Advanced Member
1140 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2007 : 08:27:38 AM
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It will never happen, and the time on that is running out quickly.
Sally |
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massdee
Moderator
5299 Posts |
Posted - 05/01/2007 : 11:24:04 AM
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| Isn't it odd how the current Administration went running to the IG's Office in order to try and "get" the previous Administration and followed through with the IG's recommendations. Then last December Hanlon gets a CC of a letter from the IG's Office about FFF and completely ignored it. Quite selective, don't you think? |
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I G Letter
