Ex-Worcester County DPW Superintendent Fined $35K For Working State Job On Town Time

WORCESTER COUNTY, MA — A former public works superintendent in Worcester County had to pay a five-figure penalty after admitting to multiple violations of the state conflict of interest law.

Jason Pimental paid a $35,000 civil penalty after admitting he worked more than 1,000 paid hours for the Massachusetts Department of Fire Services while also being paid to work for Barre. The State Ethics Commission announced last week that he was also accused of submitting false town payroll forms, holding a second paid town position without an exemption, and submitting approved payment requests that included his own reimbursements.

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Pimental began working part-time for the Department of Fire Services in 2018 while serving as Barre's Department of Public Works superintendent. From Dec. 28, 2020, through June 20, 2024, he worked about 1,082 hours for the state agency during hours for which Barre paid him as superintendent, according to the commission's disposition agreement.

Pimental did not use town leave for the state work. Barre paid him about $30,294 for the overlapping hours, according to the agreement.

The commission determined that Pimental presented false claims for pay and used his municipal position to obtain an unwarranted benefit of substantial value.

"Working a paid state job during one's paid municipal work hours is a flagrant violation of the conflict of interest law," State Ethics Commission Executive Director David A. Wilson said in the announcement.

Pimental also served as a paid call firefighter for Barre while working as DPW superintendent. The commission's Enforcement Division advised him in 2021 that he needed to qualify for an exemption to hold both paid town positions.

Even so, he did not obtain one or seek advice from the commission's Legal Division, according to the agreement.

From 2021 through 2024, Pimental also signed and submitted DPW payment requisitions that included about $15,000 in reimbursements to himself. The commission determined that his approval of those payments violated a provision barring municipal employees from participating in official matters in which they have a financial interest.

The commission approved the disposition agreement and dismissed its adjudicatory proceeding against Pimental. He admitted to the violations and waived his right to a hearing.

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