Co. to pay state $45G over donations

A Framingham roofing company has agreed to pay the state $45,000 to settle a campaign violation claim accusing the firm of funneling illegal corporate contributions to Mayor Martin J. Walshs campaign last year in the guise of employee donations.

The state Office of Campaign and Political Finance, which investigated the case against Reliable Roofing and Sheet Metal, said in a statement yesterday that the Walsh committee had no knowledge that the $15,500 in donations were illegally made using corporate funds and that the committee has given the money to charity.

Corporations are barred in Massachusetts from donating directly to candidates.

OCPF concluded that Reliable Roofing made corporate contributions to Walshs committee in 2013 by reimbursing or paying its employees or their relatives for making the contributions, the stage agency said.

Reliable Roofing denied any culpability in a statement: Whoever contributed funds derived from Reliable Roofing to the Committee did so of their own volition using their own personal funds. Reliable Roofing does not admit violating (campaign finance laws) and contests OCPFs contrary conclusion.

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Co. to pay state $45G over donations