Heading into this week’s back-to-back snowstorms, the state’s snow and ice removal budget has taken a one-two punch of its own.
A top MassDOT official, Thomas Waruzila, was fired Friday for misconduct allegedly connected to the state’s snow and ice contracts — the same day MassDOT’s $59 million snowplowing budget melted.
“It’s never good timing,” MassDOT Secretary Jeff Mullan said of Waruzila yesterday. “I’m disappointed it happened, I’m hoping it’s an isolated event.”
The internal investigation that led to Waruzila’s termination could result in a criminal probe by the attorney general.
“While we are committed to anti-fraud programs at DOT, I also need to remind people that there are 10,000 of our employees out there working hard,” Mullan said yesterday.
