An ex-state transportation department worker will pay a $1,500 ethics penalty for breaching the state’s revolving-door policy for former employees, authorities say.
Within a year of leaving ConnDOT, Dennis King of Waterbury was paid by a Danbury livery company to appear at a transportation agency hearing on the company’s behalf, the Office of State Ethics said Thursday.
State ethics rules bar former state workers from being a paid representative in any matter before the agency in which they were employed for at least one year after departing.
In this case, the state had, and has, a substantial interest in the enforcement of state statutes and regulations that govern livery services, ethics authorities said.
According to the ethics office, King claimed he didn’t intentionally violate the state ethics code, nor did realize any financial gain from the violation.
Although King cooperated with ethics investigators and had no prior history of ethics violations, ethics officials said his behavior was inexcusable. King could not be immediately reached Thursday for comment.
“Even after a state employee leaves his state position, it is important for the individual to remember that the Code of Ethics has lifetime and one-year bans that may prevent certain activities.” said Executive Director Carol Carson. “It is critical to seek advice if you are a former state employee and considering employment that could bring you in contact with your former agency.”
