PROVIDENCE – The Rhode Island Ethics Commission has determined that a complaint filed against Burrillville Public Works Director Jeffrey McCormick merits an investigation, voting last week to move forward on the matter.
The complaint, submitted by RI Council 94 AFSCME AFL-CIO Local 186 President James Larivee on August 1, notes that McCormick serves as the direct supervisor for his sister, DPW administrative aide Kelly Robinson. Larivee stated that McCormick has allowed Robinson to come into work 30 minutes earlier than her normal start time, which no one else is allowed to do and that she is not required to use the punch clock.
Larivee also said that Robinson is also allowed to take time off without noting the missed hours on her time sheet.
At the Ethic Commission’s meeting on Tuesday, August 19, the board voted unanimously in executive session, 6-0, to initially determine that the complaint states facts that, if true, are sufficient to constitute violations of the Code of Ethics and to authorize a full investigation.
The code applies to all state and municipal elected and appointed officials, as well as state and municipal government employees and states, in part, that “No person subject to the Code of Ethics shall participate in the supervision, evaluation, appointment, classification, promotion, transfer or discipline of any person within his or her family or a household member, in the state or municipal agency in which the official or employee is serving or over which he or she exercises fiscal or jurisdictional control, except in accordance with particular instructions and advice received from the Ethics Commission in a written advisory opinion.”
Violating Rhode Island’s Code of Ethics can lead to penalties including a cease and desist order, a civil fine of up to $25,000 per violation, and the return of any unjust enrichment.
“An initial determination is a preliminary vote that should not be construed as an opinion regarding the truth of the facts alleged in the complaints but is merely a vote to conduct an investigation into the allegations raise,” notes a report on actions taken at the recent meeting.
McCormick has not responded to a request for comment.
The Burrillville Tax Payers deserve better than this. With all the lawsuits going on and now Public Works Director accused of Ethic Nepotism and possibly of fraud. This will probably lead to another suit. Where are our Town Leaders and Councilmen how did you not know this was happening. You all need to be punished for causing this pain on us. Shame On You
Burrillville residents deserve better than what is happening in our town Government now. How can this be acceptable to our Town Council and Town Manager. If accusations are true they both need to be let go. The taxpayers of this town need honest government including ethics which is not happening now. The town is suing its own Planing Board and tied up with Mrs Lacey’s lawsuit. Hopefully next elections we have a change.
How can this ever happen with all the laws in place. This is so unethical it is unbelievable. These people in government think they can do whatever they want to . The Town of Burrillville deserves better than this. If proven he should be ashamed of himself and be accountable for his actions. Nobody is above the law. Now the tax payers have no choice but to question all of his past action if they were ethical. This town needs better than this.
Someone is getting paid off to shut their mouth. And that someone knows who they are we need to have these people in these positions monitored all the time because if not this is what yea get greedy crooked people
https://ethics.ri.gov/code-ethics#Nepotism
to better understand that this is bad.
It’s just another lawsuit waiting to happen. How could this be with nobody paying attention and if funds are involved even worse, somebody has to open up their eyes.
The Ethics Commission is right to look into this but the bigger question is, where was the Town Manager? How does a department head openly supervise his own sister without someone stepping in? Was this ignored, or did leadership just look the other way? Either answer is a problem.