Ethics Commission: Hubbardston officer used deception to drive work to remodeling business – Worcester Telegram

Brian Lee|Telegram & Gazette

HUBBARDSTON Police Officer Scott Chatigny admitted to the state Ethics Commission he pushedmunicipal work to his side business, Oakley Construction, by placing boguscompeting bids.

Chatigny paid a $10,000 penalty to the state for violating the conflict-of-interest laws prohibition against a municipal employee having a financial interest in a contract with the same municipality, the commission said in a statement Wednesday.

The state saidthe phony bids were part of Chatigny's ploy to improve the standing of Oakley's bid, which would be lower than the phony bids. Municipalities require multiple bids.

Before owning Oakley Constructon, Chatigny owned a roofing company that was dissolved in 2007. The state said he leveraged the roofing company to make competing bids on town work.

In May 2016, Oakley Construction submitted a proposal of $1,820 to install two solid core wood doors at the police station. The town awarded the company the contract for that amount.

In November 2016, Chatigny submitted a proposal for $1,275 to install a steel door at the police station.When Hubbardston sought two additional quotes, Chatigny, using a fictitious name, submitted a phony $1,425 proposal purportedly on behalf of his defunct roofing company, while a third proposal for $1,650 was received from a company operated by Chatignys friend.

The town awarded the contract to Oakley Construction for $1,275.

In or about December 2016, the town sought bids to repair the roof on a town office building.

In response, Oakley Construction submitted a proposal for $8,690 proposal, and Chatigny, again using a fictitious name, submitted a phony $11,221 proposal purportedly on behalf of his defunct roofing company. The town accepted Oakley Constructions proposal.

After the town accepted Oakley Constructions proposal for the roof repair, Chatigny sought a meeting with the town accountant in a conference room at the police station. During the meeting, Chatigny, who was on duty and in uniform, sought a pre-payment of $4,345.

The accountant, citing state law, refused. The accountant then canceled the contract.

By submitting false high bids to drive the contracts to Oakley Construction, Chatigny violated the conflict of interest laws prohibition against municipal employees presenting false or fraudulent claims to their municipal employer for payment.

The Ethics Commission noted that Chatigny was in uniform when he sought the meeting about the pre-payment, while conflict-of-interest laws prohibit public employees from using their positions for private gain.

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Ethics Commission: Hubbardston officer used deception to drive work to remodeling business - Worcester Telegram