Rotondi accepts fault for ethics violations
Published on December 15th, 2004
STONEHAM, MA - With a public State Ethics Commission hearing scheduled for this week cancelled, a spokeswoman for the state agency has confirmed that Town Moderator Michael Rotondi agreed to accept fault for violating the Commonwealth's conflict-of-interest laws.
According to a disposition agreement signed by Rotondi, the Town Moderator paid a $2000 fine sometime before Dec. 10, and admitted to breaching two separate state ethics laws during an Annual Town Meeting two-years-ago.
Approved by Ethics' Commissioner Christine Roach and the board's legal advisor Christopher Popov, the disposition agreement was first submitted by Rotondi's Medford-attorney Joseph Spinale on Dec. 3, the first scheduled date for the public hearing.
Upon receiving the document, Rotondi's first trial-like hearing date was postponed until this Monday, Tuesday, and Wednesday, when proceedings were suspended upon acceptance of the agreement.
"I will recommend to the Commission that it accept the attached Disposition Agreement. Accordingly, the Joint Motion to Suspend Proceedings is allowed," an Ethics' Commission document dated Dec. 8 reads.
While the settlement has been accepted by Commissioner Roach, who was serving as the case's hearing officer or moderator, the agreement could be thrown out, altered to include a higher or lower fine, or otherwise changed by the full Ethics' Board of Commissioners before it becomes official.
"The hearing officer has approved the motion, but it's not until the entire commission accepts it that it becomes official. The commission could change the language or not accept it," said Ethics Commission spokeswoman Carol Carson. "It appears this matter will be considered at a hearing in January that has yet to have a scheduled date."
After being rejected for entry into Stoneham's pension system by the town's Retirement Board in April of 2003, Rotondi approached former Town Administrator David Berry and requested that his salary be increased by $5 so that he would qualify for the benefits.
While Berry agreed to change a May 2003 Town Meeting warrant article to include the raise, the Town Moderator faced a maelstrom of controversy after he told a citizen at the assembly that the increase was a "clerical accounting matter."
At the time, the moderator defended his actions, contending that the controversy was "due to a series of miscommunications that led to a misunderstanding," and that the issue was being politicized by certain town officials.
Unwilling to accept Rotondi's defense, Stoneham citizens Edie Previdi and Terri Ghannam collected 200 signatures to call a Special Town Meeting in July of 2003 to rescind the raise, an action that was approved overwhelmingly.
Yet despite the Town Meeting action to rescind the raise, the Town Moderator then found an ethics violation claim filed against him by an unknown person, as confidentiality clauses protect the complainant's identity. Last May, the Ethic's Commission issued an order to show cause against Rotondi, resulting in the now cancelled public proceedings being scheduled.
While Rotondi expressed his desire to comment on his decision to settle the Ethic's Commission complaint, he deferred his comments to his attorney. Spinale did not return phone calls to The Independent for comment.
According to Selectmen Chair Cosmo Ciccarello, a very vocal critic of Rotondi's Town Meeting actions, the Town Moderator's willingness to finally accept responsibility for his actions is a step in the right direction.
"I think it was foolish in the first place for him to do it. He should have just been upfront with the people," the Chairman remarked. "But I think people tend to forgive and forget. People make mistakes. More than likely he didn't do it purposely, but that's certainly how it came across. I think he has to rebuild his character and reputation. And I think this is a good step for him to return to politics."
Despite Ciccarello's assertions, Ghannam claims that she can never again trust Rotondi, a sentiment she feels many townspeople share with her.
"I'm glad he took responsibility for it and I hope other town officials learn from him. I think now that he has taken ownership of this, it's a done deal and we can move onto the next chapter," said Ghannam.
"As far as his credibility goes, I think it's gone. I think that went out the window as soon as he lied. I don't know about the rest of the townspeople, but I'll never trust him again. And I think most people would agree with me."
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