A group of six speakers addressed the Everett Common Council during the public speaking portion of the meeting Monday night, to state their support for Councilor and Democratic State Representative Candidate Wayne Matesky, who has been beset by allegations of poor conduct at a local Everett restaurant the after his Primary Election victory in his quest to become the city’s next State Representative.
Local resident James Fiorella told the council that Matewsky is “hardworking, very ethical and a caring person. . .” who is the victim of “smear tactics,” while another speaker, Kevin Santos, said that he believes the allegations against Matewsky, “are politically motivated.”
Other speakers offered similar platitudes and defenses for mate sky, a 32 year veteran of public service in the city.
Matewsky himself, speaking to his colleagues following the public speaking portion, said the allegations against him were false and amount to dirty politics and mudslinging” in the city.
Also present at the meeting was former Everett resident and now Revere resident Michael Toto, who first made the allegations public at the March 11 Board of Aldermen’s meeting, during that body’s public speaking portion. Toto and Aldermanic President Sal Sachetta have been criticized for naming Matewsky in his statement to the Board, as Council rules are supposed to prohibit the naming of public officials in statements to the body.
Despite that prohibition, Toto was allowed to speak for nearly ten minutes before the Board of Aldermen and he renewed his charges to the Common Council, though he did not name Matewsky by name Monday night and was held to less than five minutes in his remarks.
The council ultimately voted unanimously, including a yes vote from Matewsky himself, to send the allegations to the city’s Council Ethics Commission for a complete investigation.
On an order by Councilor Michael McLaughlin, the council voted 16-0, with two members absent, to have the Ethics Commission investigate the incident and recommend action, if the alleged incident is found to have occurred.
According to Assistant City Solicitor David Rodrigues, the Council Ethics Commission has wide authority to recommend a punishment for ethics violations from censure to expulsion, depending on the severity of the charges and the evidence.
Despite that prohibition, Toto was allowed to speak for nearly ten minutes before the Board of Aldermen and he renewed his charges to the Common Council, though he did not name Matewsky by name Monday night and was held to less than five minutes in his remarks.
The council ultimately voted unanimously, including a yes vote from Matewsky himself, to send the allegations to the city’s Council Ethics Commission for a complete investigation.
On an order by Councilor Michael McLaughlin, the council voted 16-0, with two members absent, to have the Ethics Commission investigate the incident and recommend action, if the alleged incident is found to have occurred.
According to Assistant City Solicitor David Rodrigues, the Council Ethics Commission has wide authority to recommend a punishment for ethics violations from censure to expulsion, depending on the severity of the charges and the evidence.