25 Investigates: Water utility chief racking up travel on taxpayers’ dime.
25 Investigates: Water utility chief racking up travel on taxpayers’ dime 25 Investigates: Water utility chief racking up travel on taxpayers’ dime CONNECTING…The provided media formats are not supported BOSTON – A government water utility employee in Boston asked customers and taxpayers to pick up the tab for his luxury hotel stays and travel to vacation destinations, a 25 Investigates review found.
Sullivan traveled to conferences or meetings in 11 out of the 12 months of last year.
In all, the Boston Water and Sewer Commission has reimbursed Sullivan for almost $37,000 in travel expenses just since 2015.
“The city shouldn’t be paying at all — anything — for these trips that he’s making,” said David Tuerck, president of Beacon Hill Institute.
“These are mostly advocacy groups and he should be reimbursed 100 percent by the groups who are hosting him.” Commissioners say trips created added value Sullivan declined our request for an interview, so 25 Investigates caught up with his boss, Henry Vitale, at a recent commission meeting.
Expensive hotel stays even without leaving New England 25 Investigates also found some of Sullivan’s overnight hotel stays weren’t far from home.
When asked why Sullivan was staying overnight on the Cape, Vitale said, “I’m unaware of that.
25 Investigates also looked at executive travel at the Massachusetts Water Resource Authority, which supplies water to more than 50 communities, including Boston.
Sullivan was at that same conference and BWSC paid more than $900 for his hotel and conference registration.