State officials suspended for using public funds for private party
State will be reimbursed
5 Investigates learned two top state officials have been suspended without pay after using state resources to throw a July 3rd party.
Investigative reporter Mike Beaudet reported that the private party on July 3 was hosted by the Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner of the Massachusetts Department of Conservation and Recreation.
The guests were greeted by the DCR deputy commissioner outside the party at 250 Beacon St., then were whisked away to their destination on the Esplanade on golf carts rented by DCR and driven by DCR staff.
Public spectators lined up early in the morning to get a spot on the Esplanade for the pre-party, which featured a dress rehearsal from the Boston Pops and music stars including Demi Lovato and Nick Jonas, but party guests were taken into the VIP area as little as 15 minutes before the main event.
Records obtained by Five Investigates show the invitation to the party thrown by DCR Commissioner Leo Roy and Deputy Commissioner Matthew Sisk went out to more than a dozen state employees.
A DCR memorandum to Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Matthew A. Beaton said the two “utilized DCR resources” for their “private event”.
They have reimbursed the state more than $800 to cover the cost of the golf carts and the DCR staff driving them.
That money will also cover the cost of paying the state employee who planned the party, including time spent "making phone calls, sending emails, preparing invitations and maintaining a guest list."
The money will also reimburse the state for another DCR worker who spent an hour printing the invitations using state office supplies including "cardstock, envelopes, and stamps”.
All this action came after inquiries from Five Investigates prompted Commissioner Roy and Deputy Commissioner Sisk to report the party to the Ethics Commission, which ordered them to undergo additional ethics training and reimburse the state.
The Executive Office of Energy and Environmental Affairs released a statement saying "The use of state resources for this private event was entirely inappropriate and the Executive Office of Environmental and Energy Affairs is pleased that Commissioner Roy and Deputy Commissioner Sisk fully reimbursed the state so that not a single tax dollar was wasted.”