Norwood Selectman Violated Conflict Of Interest Law: Ethics Comm.

NORWOOD, MA — Norwood Selectman Helen Donohue violated the conflict of interest law, according to the State Ethics Commission. Donohue will have to pay a $50 civil penalty.

The violation order comes after Donohues work as a selectman relating to Eysie Plaza, a strip mall in Norwood. The Commission maintained that Donohue worked on the matter without first disclosing her contentious personal history with the plaza’s owner, Paul Eysie.

Donohue and Eysie knew each other for decades but their relationship turned sour when Eysie bought a dilapidated building across the street from Donohue’s home in 2006 and redeveloped it as affordable apartments. Donohue was against the affordable housing project and the two continuously argued over the height and size of the building, parking, trash removal, and the number of tenants in the apartments, according to the Commission.

In September 2016, Eysie appeared before the Board of Selectmen to request that a warrant be placed before the Special Town Meeting to re-zone Eysie Plaza, which was zoned partially commercial and partially residential, to entirely commercial.

Donohue cast the sole vote against Eysie’s request.

The conflict of interest law says that in circumstances where someone may think a public employee has reason to be biased, the employee can't continue their work until they make a written public disclosure of the facts causing the appearance of bias or undue influence.

Since the Commission found that Donohue and Eysie's past was enough to present a possible bias and because Donohue didn't disclose that before continuing her selectman work in his case, she was found in violation of the law.

Donohue also participated as a selectman in matters concerning a restaurant located at Eysie Plaza but not owned by Eysie. In June 2016, Donohue cast the lone vote against the restaurant’s application for an alcoholic beverages license. In February 2017, she voted in favor of holding a public hearing on the restaurant’s request for an entertainment license. The Commission found that, although it was a close question, Donohue’s daughters’ financial interest through a real estate trust in a nearby vacant lot did not create an appearance of a conflict of interest for her when she participated in matters regarding Eysie Plaza and the restaurant without disclosing her daughters’ interest.

The Commissions order also states that there is no evidence that Donohue intentionally tried to conceal her history of personal conflicts with Eysie, which was well known among Norwood residents, but notes the important purposes served by the advance written disclosure requirement and that Donohue, a longtime selectman and attorney, should have understood her obligation to file a disclosure before participating as a selectman in matters involving Eysie Plaza.

"The Decision and Order also cautions Donohue to comply with the conflict of interest law in her future actions as a selectman by either making the required advance written disclosure or abstaining from participating in matters raising an appearance of conflict," the order reads.