Here’s my latest public-records request to Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC). Meanwhile, they are required under law to answer my first requests very soon.
If I missed anyone, please let me know.
“To whom it may concern:
I am a reporter for the Boston Herald.
Earlier this month, under the provisions of the Public Records laws of Massachusetts, known federally as the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), I filed a list of questions about the payroll of the Boston Water and Sewer Commission (BWSC).
As I await your response which is due very soon within the legal 10-day time frame, I have some follow-up questions to which I am also seeking answers.
Sean Attar is listed on the BWSC payroll as “programmer/analyst” for $87,425.52 a year. My question is, is he related to Alie Attar, “manager of fleet” for $118,726.68 a year. Specifically, is Sean Attar a child of Alie Attar, and if not, is there another familial relationship between the two?
Paul A. Travaglini is listed on the BWSC payroll as “special project coordinator to CFO” for $92,184.56 a year. My question is, is Travaglini in any way related to former state Senate president and Boston city councilor Robert Travaglini, and if so, in what way?
James Faretra is listed on the BWSC payroll as “deputy director communications” at $139,345.44 a year. My question is, is Faretra in any way related to East Boston District Court clerk/magistrate Joseph Faretra, and if so, in what way?
Stephen W. Porfido is listed on the BWSC payroll as “supervisor metal installation” for $107,739.84 a year. How long has he been employed by the BWSC, and has there been a time since his original hiring during which he was not employed by the BWSC?
If he did at one point leave the employ of the BWSC, what were the circumstances of his departure, how long did his non-employment last, and when he returned to the payroll, was Porfido compensated for the time he was not on the payroll?
If he was compensated for his time off the payroll, how much did Porfido receive in back pay from the BWSC? To answer these inquiries, I am hereby requesting any and all documents regarding Porfido’s employment by the BWSC.
I believe that in many of the above cases, letters may have been filed detailing what might have been considered as possible conflicts of interest in the hiring process. I would like to have copies of all such correspondence that are in your files, which should be publicly available under FOIA. That way, if I have confused any of the familial connections listed above, I will be able to detail the correct relationships before any story is printed in the newspaper.
Thanks for your prompt attention to this matter. I will be tweeting out these questions very soon, so I would appreciate answers to all my inquiries by the end of business today.
Have a nice day, and I look forward to your imminent response to my first letter.”
Howie Carr
