Improper hiring cited at state hospital; It was never disclosed candidate was relative.

Byline: Steven H. Foskett Jr.

WESTBORO - The head of facilities and maintenance at Westboro State Hospital had a hand in hiring his brother-in-law without disclosing the potential conflict of interest, according to the state Ethics Commission.

Francis Marchand was fined $1,000 for violating the state's conflict of interest law. In a statement released yesterday, the Ethics Commission stated that Mr. Marchand could have avoided any conflict by disclosing that his brother-in-law was a candidate for the carpenter's position at the hospital, which paid $33,000 in annual salary.

An employee who answered the phone in the facilities and maintenance department yesterday at Westboro State Hospital, said Mr. Marchand would not comment. He referred calls to Theodore Kirousis, Metro-suburban Area director of the state Department of Mental Health at Westboro State Hospital. Mr. Kirousis referred calls to Anna Chinappi, special assistant to the chief of staff at DMH. She said the DMH does not comment on personnel matters.

According to a disposition agreement Mr. Marchand signed last month, the hospital posted an opening for a carpenter's position in October 2006. There were several applicants for the position, including Mr. Marchand's wife's sister's husband.

Mr. Marchand participated in the hiring process by reviewing resumes, and also served on a five-member panel that interviewed the candidates. According to the disposition agreement, he participated in candidate interviews and helped grade each candidate. Based on that process, Mr. Marchand's supervisor, who also sat on the panel, recommended that Mr. Marchand's brother-in-law be hired, according to the disposition agreement.

Mr. Marchand did not disclose that his brother-in-law was a candidate. The disposition agreement did not specify whether Mr. Marchand's brother-in-law was allowed to keep his job.

"By participating in the hiring process where his brother-in-law was a candidate, Marchand knowingly or with reason to know acted in a manner which would cause a reasonable person with knowledge of the relevant facts to conclude that his brother-in-law could unduly enjoy Marchand's favor in the performance of his official duties," the disposition agreement stated.