INVESTIGATION: Town Planner Worked As Consultant for Company Seeking Approvals

INVESTIGATION: Town Planner Worked As Consultant for Company Seeking Approvals

Jonathan Stevens worked in Cumberland as the Town’s Director of Planning, during which time an energy company, New England Hydro Company (NEHC), came before the town for approval for a dam project. 

NEHC is headquartered in Beverly, Massachusetts.

Stevens oversaw NEHC’s first application and then, after it was completed, began consulting for the company to which he had given approval.

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At the same time, he continued to serve in his role as the top planner for Cumberland Mayor Jeffrey Mutter. The first NEHC project in Cumberland was for the development of the Albion Dam. 

Stevens did not disclose the business relationship publicly. In that year, 2021, he reported on his Rhode Island Ethics Commission Financial Disclosure form only that he did “consulting.” He did not disclose his client and did not disclose the amount he was paid.

Jump forward, NEHC comes back for approval on a second project — the Ashton Dam. Stevens does not directly oversee the application but hands it over to his subordinate, Glenn Modica.

Mutter, Steven’s boss, repeatedly said in a 20-minute phone interview with GoLocal that “I was made aware at some point.” But he repeatedly refused to comment on the appropriateness of the business relationship between Stevens and NEHC.

Mutter also said in the interview he does not believe that town employees need to disclose outside jobs and contracts.

 

Stevens' Claims

In an interview with GoLocal, Stevens admitted that he has done off-and-on work for NEHC and never sought approval from the Rhode Island Ethics Commission.

“I actually have a business relationship with New England Hydro, and it is for a project [of theirs] in Pennsylvania… It is a business relationship where I am on call to do research and look at the regulatory regiment of municipal and state,” said Stevens who left his job with Cumberland at the end of 2023.

Stevens says the projects for NEHC and applications to the town did not directly overlap.

When asked why he did not file for an advisory opinion before accepting the consulting he said that he spoke to the staff at the Rhode Island Ethics Commission after the second time he was awarded work by NEHC, but not the first time.

The Ethics Commission advises public officials, “If you believe you may face a real or potential conflict of interest, the time to request an advisory opinion is before you take any official action.”

Stevens said, “I feel ethically everything was on the up and up.”

He said when he contacted the Ethics Commission after the second time he was taking up consulting work, he claimed that they did not see the point in him filing a request for an advisory opinion because he would be retiring in a few months.

Stevens could not remember when he spoke to the Ethics Commission or who he spoke to. “It was a woman, an attorney, but I do not recall her name.”

He added, “ I always wanted to consult for a developer."

 

Mutter Responds to Questions About Ethics

In a 20-minute phone interview on Thursday, Mutter defended his administration.

“ I was made aware at some point. He [Stevens] did come to me and say that he was doing some work for New England Hydropower but it wasn't anything in the state of Rhode Island and I don't remember exactly when but he he did make me aware yes,” said Mutter.

“I wouldn't say, well, remember now what I said. I was made aware at some point, and obviously, had there been projects in front of the town of Cumberland, then that would be inappropriate, and certainly, I would not condone that behavior,” said Mutter.

But when pressed about the fact that Stevens de facto worked to approve NEHC’s project and then received a contract from the company, Mutter had no problem with that.

Further, when Mutter was asked if Stevens should have disclosed publicly who his consulting client was, the Mayor had no opinion.

 

 

Mutter, in the interview with GoLocal, repeatedly said he opposes requiring employees to disclose outside income.

“My feeling, you know we have we have employees here that might need to work — find g a third job to support their family and [pay] their rent, and so why should they have to disclose if they work a second job? At you know, wherever that may be as long as it you know they're complying with the state and you know ethics rules sure that's anybody's real business,” said Mutter.

When asked if his office had an ethics policy, Mutter said ’no,’ but said that there was something “in the employee handbook.

EDITOR'S NOTE: A prior headline referred to the position as city planner. It is town planner.