Press Release: 2025-01-30

State Ethics Commission Finds Auburn Water District Foreman Scott Callahan Violated Conflict of Interest Law

 

Callahan ordered to pay $6,000 in civil penalties for violating conflict of interest law by accepting free ski trips from water meter manufacturer and distributor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

1/29/2025

MEDIA CONTACT

Gerry Tuoti, Public Information Officer

 Phone

Call Gerry Tuoti, Public Information Officer at (617) 371-9533

 Online

Email Gerry Tuoti, Public Information Officer at Gerry.Tuoti@mass.gov

BOSTON, MA — The State Ethics Commission has issued a Decision and Order finding that Auburn Water District Foreman Scott Callahan violated the conflict of interest law by accepting two free ski trips from a water meter manufacturer and its distributor. Callahan was ordered to pay civil penalties totaling $6,000 for the violations.

As Foreman, Callahan purchased, installed, and maintained water meters within the Auburn Water District. The Auburn Water District uses a brand of water meter throughout its service area made by an Alabama-based manufacturer and sourced through the manufacturer’s sole authorized New England distributor.

Callahan accepted invitations from the water meter distributor and manufacturer to go on multi-day ski trips to Sugarloaf, Maine, in 2018 and Stowe, Vermont, in 2019. The distributor or manufacturer paid for Callahan’s lodging for both trips. The trips were given to Callahan due to his position as Auburn Water District Foreman.

The conflict of interest law prohibits public employees from receiving anything worth $50 or more given to them for or because of their official positions. Callahan violated this prohibition by accepting the free ski trips from the water meter manufacturer and distributor. The Commission imposed a $3,000 penalty for Callahan’s acceptance of each of the two trips.

In imposing the $6,000 in civil penalties, the Commission states, “Acceptance by municipal employees of gifts of substantial value from outside sources with whom they do business erodes public trust, and Callahan, who reasonably should have been aware of this after decades of public service, accepted such gifts not once but twice.”

The Commission’s Enforcement Division filed an Order to Show Cause against Callahan on May 9, 2024, initiating an adjudicatory proceeding against him. On September 13, 2024, the Enforcement Division filed a Motion for Summary Decision against Callahan. The full Commission heard the parties’ arguments on the motion on December 19, 2024. Today’s issuance of the Decision and Order allows the Motion for Summary Decision and concludes the Commission’s adjudicatory proceeding against Callahan. Callahan has 30 days within which to file an appeal in the Superior Court.

In 2024, current or former employees of Danvers, Franklin, Natick, Newburyport, Salem, Southampton, and the Sudbury Water District signed disposition agreements and paid civil penalties to resolve similar conflict of interest law violations related to accepting ski trips from the water meter manufacturer and distributor.

The Commission encourages public employees to contact the Commission’s Legal Division at 617-371-9500 for free advice if they have any questions regarding how the conflict of interest law may apply to them.