WESTFIELD – The Mayor’s Reception at the Big E following the Westfield Day Parade Thursday will be a much more subdued event because of an on-going investigation launched last April by the state Ethics Commission.
Mayor Daniel M. Knapik said this morning that it is “inappropriate to place any elected or city officials into the position where they may potentially be in violation of the ethics standards for a public employee.”
Knapik said he is treating the situation as an on-going investigation of an ethics complaint filed last spring on the grounds that the value of food and beverages, including alcoholic beverages served by the Big E at the community receptions, may exceed $50, a figure that triggers an ethical conflict.
“I still have not heard from the (state Ethics) Commission,” Knapik said. “so I’m inviting only those people required by the Big E, Big E Trustees, past and present Grand Marshals and their families.”
Knapik said that he will be present to greet people attending the reception and then leave.
Last April, a state Ethics Commission investigator requested Mayor Daniel M. Knapik to provide information pertaining to a social reception hosted by the mayor during the Big E’s Westfield Day event held in September of 2013.
“I spoke with the ethics investigation for about a half hour, who was investigating an anonymous complaint,” Knapik said for the April 16 article published in the Westfield News.
“I answered all of her questions to the best of my ability. In theory, any elected officials or public employee could be in violation for accepting the food and beverages at that party if they have a value of more than $50,” Knapik said. “The violation is for accepting something valued at $50 or more that they received only because of their status as a public official.”
“I take it very seriously, not just for Westfield, but for all officials who attended the state and city day events, which could be in jeopardy,” Knapik said.
Knapik said he does not know who contacted the Ethics Commission, or the specific basis of the complaint, but noted that any decision finding him, and the city, to be in violation could have a wide-ranging impact because the Big E funds mayoral receptions for most other surrounding communities. That impact could extend to the Governor’s office because of the Big E-funded reception during Massachusetts Day.
West Springfield Mayor Edward C. Sullivan said this morning that his community held the traditional mayor’s reception on West Springfield Day.
“It makes sense to do what Mayor Knapik is doing until he gets a ruling from the Ethics Commission,” Sullivan said. “It’s good for him to be cautious because someone, most likely in his community, did file a complaint.
“We, in West Springfield, don’t believe that the reception has a value of $50, it’s not even close, so we don’t see it as a conflict,” Sullivan said. “We see it as an opportunity to celebrate our community, our city.
“The last thing anybody wants at the Big E is a political speech. We go for comradery, celebrating our city,” Sullivan said.
Ward 4 City Councilor Mary O’Connell said this morning that she hopes residents enjoy Westfield Day. “I hope it is a beautiful day Thursday for residents and the whole community,” she said.
