Massport official is fined $7,000

The Massachusetts State Ethics Commission said today it fined an official at the Massachusetts Port Authority $7,000 for violating the state's conflict of interest law.

The commission said William Lynch, a Massport business analysis manager, violated the law by using his office and office equipment to operate a tax preparation business.

According to a disposition agreement between Lynch and the commission, Lynch prepared the majority of tax returns for his roughly 200 clients using his Massport office computer and office facilities during the 2005 and 2006 tax seasons; between February and April each year, Lynch spent about 12 hours each week after his state work hours on this private tax work.

After an investigation, Massport suspended Lynch one week for inappropriate computer usage, the commission said.
(By Chris Reidy, Globe staff)