BREAKING: Chief of Staff for Economic Development Placed on Administrative Leave

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Thursday, March 15, 2012

Mark Volain, GoLocalWorcester Contributor

Worcester's Chief of Staff for Economic Development, Jacqueline Vachon-Jackson, was placed on administrative leave yesterday, with pay, due to questionable financial dealings involving her position's responsibilities.

“I can not discuss this specific issue, for it is a personnel matter,” Worcester City Manager Michael O'Brien, said.

The issues with Jacqueline Vachon-Jackson reportedly came from a questionable city condo purchase located in a housing rehabilitation project's building at 5 May Street and dealings with Lowell's Gabriel Cortes. Cortes was employed by Worcester's Oak Hill Community Development Corp. prior to December 2011, when he was charged with soliciting two bribes from contractors worth $1,500, with intent to add favor in the bidding processes.

Prior to yesterday's administrative leave announcement, Vachon-Jackson's job included responsibility for Worcester's disbursement of funds for housing projects.
City officials say they will deal with the Vachon-Jackson issue internally.

“The public’s trust in government is paramount and I will hold this organization to the highest levels of integrity and the strictest codes of conduct in order to maintain the public’s trust,” Worcester City Manager Michael O'Brien, said.
 

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