FRAMINGHAM, MA– After meeting in executive session, Tuesday, November 8, 2011, Framingham Selectmen voted 5-0 to refer the allegations of wrongdoing against Framingham Building Commissioner Michael Foley to the Middlessex District Attorney’s office for investigation and possible criminal charges.
Foley was placed on paid administrative leave on November 4th after investigative reporter Joe Shortsleeve and the WCVB-TV4 I-Team aired a report showing Foley playing golf during work hours, evidence of padded expense reports and uncovered documents showing Foley gave thousands of dollars in discounts on building permit fees discounts to friends and associates.
Reading from a brief prepared statement, Chairman Jason Smith said he and other Selectmen, (Laurie Lee, Dennis Giombetti, Charlie Sisitsky and Ginger Esty), were taking the allegation “very seriously” and added that no member of the Board will have further comments on the issue.
Shortsleeve was again in Framingham last night to follow up on his investigation, then another WCVB-TV4 I-Team news segment after the BOS announcment.
Shortsleeve added to the allegations he had already made saying Foley played golf with a local attorney who regularly had business matters before Town of Framingham boards raising concerns of further ethics violations and possible conflicts of interest on Foley’s part.
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