BOSTON – Boston City Councilwoman Tania Fernandes Anderson has agreed to pay a $5,000 civil penalty after admitting to violating conflict-of-interest laws by hiring her sister and son for paid positions on her Boston City Council staff, state officials said.
Fernandes Anderson signed a settlement agreement Wednesday in which he admits to the violations and agrees to pay the penalty, according to the State Ethics Commission.
Shortly after her November 2021 election to the Boston City Council, Fernandes Anderson appointed her sister as the full-time director of Constituent Services, according to the disposition agreement.
Fernandes Anderson completed the State Ethics Commission’s online conflict of interest training on Dec. 30, 2021, according to the settlement agreement. Days later, after being sworn in on January 3, 2022, she voted with the City Council to approve the appointment of her sister as director of Constituent Services.
Fernandes Anderson initially set his sister’s annual salary at $65,000. In June 2022, he increased that to $70,000 and awarded his sister a bonus of $7,000, according to the settlement agreement.
Additionally, in June 2022, Fernandes Anderson appointed his son as a full-time office manager at an annual salary of $52,000, according to the disposition agreement. He participated in the July 15, 2022 City Council vote to approve this appointment and then, 11 days later, increased his son’s salary to $70,000.
Fernandes Anderson terminated the employment of his sister and son on August 31, 2022.
“Fernandes Anderson’s actions as a Boston City Councilwoman regarding the appointment and compensation of her sister and her son violated the conflict of interest law’s prohibition against city employees participating in their official capacity in matters in which they know their immediate family members have a financial interest,” the state Ethics Commission said in a statement Tuesday.
“The Commission encourages public employees to contact the Commission’s Legal Division at 617-371-9500 for free advice if they have any questions about how the conflict of interest law may apply to them,” the statement said.
This is a developing story. Check back for updates as more information becomes available.
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