TEMPLETON — The State Ethics Commission has issued a final order approving a disposition agreement in which former Templeton Director of Veterans Services John Caplis admits he violated the conflict of interest law by submitting a false claim for veterans benefits to the town to improperly reimburse his friend for a building permit fee.
The commission accepted Caplis’ payment of a $2,500 civil penalty and dismissed the adjudicatory proceeding against him.
In January 2017, Caplis unsuccessfully sought to have the Templeton Building Department waive a $484 building permit fee for his friend. In February 2017, in order to have his friend reimbursed for the $484 fee, Caplis, as director of Veterans Services, submitted a false invoice to the town under the state Chapter 115 benefits program for veterans and their eligible dependents for $484 payable to an eligible recipient of veterans benefits, care of his friend.
Caplis’ friend was not eligible for Chapter 115 benefits and the building permit fee was not lawfully reimbursable under Chapter 115. On the invoice, Caplis falsely identified the basis of the reimbursement as “medical and prescriptions.” The Templeton Select Board approved the payment and a $484 check was issued.
The conflict of interest law prohibits public employees from using their official positions to obtain valuable unwarranted benefits for themselves or others and from acting in a manner that would cause a reasonable person to believe they would unduly favor...
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