Page 2 THE REVERE ADVOCATE – FRIDAY, JANUARY 31, 2025 State Ethics Commission finds Jessica Santiago violated conflict of interest law while employed by both DCR and City of Revere Fined $20K for submitting false timesheets and obtaining pay for overlapping DCR and Revere work hours O n January 28, 2025, the State Ethics Commission MARCHETTI CORP. 46 Years of Excellence!! 1978-2024 aded $2.839 g ul $2 839 MidUnleaded $3.379 Super $3.479 Diesel Fuel $3.539 Kerosene Available! Hours: Monday thru Friday 6 AM to 7 PM / Saturdays 7 AM to 5 PM / Sundays 9 AM to 5 PM ULS $4.759 $3.29 9 DEF HEATING O L IL Call for Current Price! (125—gallon minimum) DEF Available by Pump! 24-HourBurnerService Open an account and order online at: issued a Decision and Order fi nding that Jessica Santiago, while simultaneously an employee of the state Department of Conservation & Recreation (DCR) and the City of Revere, violated the confl ict of interest law by repeatedly using paid work time and sick leave from each of her public positions to perform paid work in her other public position and by submitting false timesheets to each of her employers to be paid for hours she did not work for Celebrating 51 Years! Dan - 1972 We Sell Cigars & Accessories! Chris 2023 * Travel Humidors * Desk Top Humidors * Many Types of Lighters * Ash Trays * Juuls * Glass Pipes * Rewards Program * CBD Infused Products * GIFTS UNDER $30 - GIFT CERTIFICATES ALL MAJOR BRANDS Singles * Tins * Bundles * Boxes SMOKER’S DELIGHT! 15 HANDMADE CIGARS! Four-Year-Old Tobacco * 100% Long Filler * Cellophane $49.95 STORE HOURS: OPEN DAILY Monday thru Sunday, 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM R.Y.O. TOBACCO & TUBES ON SALE! Humidor Special! Model A holds up to 25 cigars incl. ash tray, cigar cutter and leather pocket holder! Special Price! $99.95 WE MAKE HOUSE KEYS! A.B.C. CIGAR 170 REVERE ST., REVERE (781) 289-4959 that employer. The Commission ordered Santiago to pay a $20,000 civil penalty for the violations. While employed as Aquatics Manager for the Revere Parks and Recreation Department in 2022, Santiago was also employed by DCR as Aquatics Program Regional Coordinator. During her dual employment, Santiago repeatedly used her scheduled City of Revere work time and/or sick leave to perform compensated work for DCR and used her scheduled DCR work time and/or sick leave to perform compensated work for the City of Revere. Santiago also repeatedly submitted timesheets to each public employer reporting she had worked for the employer or taken sick leave from her job with the employer during hours when she had actually been performing compensated work for the other employer. Santiago reported 330 overlapping hours to each of her public employers, resulting in her receiving at least $9,000 in unearned payments from them. Due in whole or in part to Santiago’s absences from her City of Revere job, the city’s pool was not properly staff ed or maintained, resulting in the City of Revere having to issue thousands of dollars in refunds to parents of children impacted by cancelled swimming lessons and unexpected pool closures. By using paid worktime and sick leave from her City of Revere job to perform compensated work for DCR and vice versa, Santiago violated the confl ict of interest law’s prohibition against public employees using their offi cial positions to obtain valuable benefi ts to which they are not entitled. Santiago’s submission of timesheets to the City of Revere and DCR for overlapping hours violated the confl ict of interest law’s prohibitions against public employees submitting false claims for payment to their public employers. In imposing the $20,000 civil penalty, the Commission stated, “As a result of [Santiago’s] unwarranted absences from her City job, numerous families were aff ected by cancelled swimming lessons and unexpected pool closures, which resulted in the City having to issue thousands of dollars in refunds. The fact that [Santiago’s] violation of the public trust came at a substantial cost to the City and harmed its residents renders her conduct particularly egregious…” The Commission’s Enforcement Division fi led an Order to Show Cause against Santiago on September 12, 2024, initiating an adjudicatory proceeding against her. Santiago failed to fi le an answer to the Order to Show Cause, attend a prehearing conference or attend a hearing on December 19, 2024. The January 25, 2025, issuance of the Decision and Order entering summary decision against Santiago concludes the Commission’s adjudicatory proceeding against her. Santiago has 30 days from the date of the Decision and Order to fi le an appeal in Superior Court. 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 confl ict of interest law might apply to them. For Advertising with Results, call The Advocate Newspapers at 781-286-8500 or Info@advocatenews.net FLEET Prices subject to change
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