Bob Reports.
The Cambridge Chronicle reported on line a few days ago that Somerville has acted to strip former Registrar of Probate John Bonomo of his pension for service as a Somerville employee because he has pled guilty to large thefts of state and campaign funds while serving as Registrar of Probate.
I submitted the following letter. The quotes and all facts stated about Bonomo are from the Chronicle article. I regret the failure to cite the source of the Bonomo quotes and facts. The letter was published on line by the Chronicle on November 11, and in hard copy in the November 12, 2009 paper, page 13.
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Editor
Cambridge Chronicle
“State law says that if you are convicted of a crime that involves theft from a public agency or other serious violations of your oath of office, you can have your pension rescinded.”
So says Somerville’s spokesperson with regard to Somerville’s attempts to strip from former Registrar of Probate John Bonomo his pension for employment by the City of Somerville. Bonomo has pled guilty to abuse of office as Registrar of Probate to the extent of theft of more than $100,000 in public and campaign funds.
“Reprehensible” says Middlesex Superior Court Judge Bonnie MacLeod with regard to the findings of judge and jury against Cambridge City Manager Robert Healy in Monteiro v. Cambridge. The Monteiro judgment exceeds $5 million, including $3.5 million penal damages and $500,000 interest.
Judge and jury have found that Healy deliberately violated civil rights laws by destroying the life of a black woman department head in retaliation for her filing a civil rights complaint.
“Other serious violations of your oath of office.”
Stealing $100,000 is very severe misbehavior. Is it more “reprehensible” than deliberately destroying a woman’s life? Healy’s destruction of Malvina Monteiro’s life is now valued by judge and jury at more than $5 million.
Employment law is largely judge made law. The judge has a very clear legislative indication that when serious violations are committed in office pension can be forfeited. Is it unreasonable to think that the judge would be willing to extend the law to apply to the “reprehensible” treatment of Malvina Monteiro by Robert Healy if asked to do so by the City Council of the City of Cambridge?
Cambridge has city councilors who proclaim their sainthood on civil rights issues. Cambridge is spending millions to defend actions by Healy with regard to which the judge has filed a very sound opinion calling Healy “reprehensible.”
The Monteiro case is still in front of Judge MacLeod.
Can the self-proclaimed saints on the Cambridge City Council demonstrate the level of integrity and concern for integrity in office that the City of Somerville is attempting to display?
Can the self-proclaimed saints on the Cambridge City Council show their concern for integrity in office and ask Judge MacLeod to fire Healy without pension?
