TOWNSEND — The Massachusetts State Ethics Commission’s Enforcement Division announced on June 18, 2025, that it issued an order to show cause alleging Townsend Water Department Superintendent David Vigeant violated the state’s conflict of interest law by providing project plans to Townsend fire chief and local business owner Gary Shepherd — whose private company later secured the $4.7 million contract — prior to the project being put out to bid.
According to a statement from the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission, the Townsend Water Department began planning a new water treatment plant and water main extension in 2021. The water department hired an engineering firm to prepare plans and specifications in order to competitively bid the project.
The order alleges that in January 2023, after receiving 90% complete plans from the engineering firm, Vigeant “immediately forwarded them to the private business email address of Shepherd, who operates several businesses, including Directional Drilling and Shepco Inc., which was a prospective bidder.” A month later, Vigeant allegedly emailed the final plans to an employee of Directional Drilling Inc.
The project was formally put out to bid in March 2023, and the Water Department ultimately awarded the $4,756,421.71 contract to Shepco Inc., according to the order.
The commission found reasonable cause to believe that “by providing the water main project plans to Shepherd and his companies before putting the project out to bid, a benefit that he did not provide to any other prospective bidders, Vigeant violated the conflict of interest law’s prohibition against public employees using their official positions to obtain valuable, unwarranted privileges for themselves or others.”
Under the commission’s enforcement procedures, the enforcement division files an order to show cause after the commission finds reasonable cause to believe an individual violated the conflict of interest law. Before filing the order, the subject is given an opportunity to resolve the matter through a disposition agreement.
A public hearing will be scheduled against Vigeant within 90 days, the Massachusetts State Ethics Commission said.
If found in violation, Vigeant could face a civil penalty of up to $10,000 for each violation of the conflict of interest law.
Public employees with questions about the state’s conflict of interest law are encouraged to contact the commission’s legal division at (617) 371-9500 for free guidance.
