Matthew J. Amorello
| Matthew John Amorello | |
|---|---|
| Chairman of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority | |
|
In office February 6, 2002 – August 15, 2006 | |
| Preceded by | David P. Forsberg |
| Succeeded by | John Cogliano |
| Member of the Massachusetts Senate | |
|
In office 1991–1999 | |
| Preceded by | John P. Houston |
| Succeeded by | Guy Glodis |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Republican |
| Residence | Grafton, Massachusetts |
Matthew John Amorello (born March 15, 1958) is a former Massachusetts state senator and former chairman of the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority who presided over the Central Artery/Third Harbor Tunnel Project (Big Dig) from 2002 to 2006. The Massachusetts Turnpike Authority is the agency that was in charge of the Big Dig project.
After the collapse of a portion of the roof of the I-90 Connector Tunnel on July 10, 2006 in which 38-year-old Milena Del Valle, of Jamaica Plain, was killed, Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney called for Amorello's resignation.[1] On July 27, 2006, Amorello agreed to resign, effective August 15.[2]
Romney pinned much of the blame for the collapse on the Massachusetts Turnpike Authority and promised to take legal action to oust Amorello after countless defects in the tunnels were discovered including hundreds of leaks and signs that structural bolts were loosening.[3]
When he was appointed chairman of the Turnpike Authority in 2002, Amorello, a longtime state senator from Grafton, inherited the Big Dig project that was already billions of dollars over budget and years past the original completion date. His task was to get it finished and he did. A year later he was cutting the ribbons to open both the north and south sides of the Thomas P. O’Neill Jr. tunnels, and the I-90 Connector Tunnel but by 2005, both tunnels were leaking.
Amorello was also criticized for a failure to hold contractors accountable for mistakes on the project and drew criticism for accepting a Man of the Year award from a group of contractors.
In 2008, he appeared before the State Ethics Commission to answer charges that he violated conflict-of-interest laws by changing sick leave policy that would affect him. He was later fined $2,000.
In 2009, Amorello and one of his brothers co-founded Mayo Renewable Energy, a company focusing on solar energy.
On Monday August 9, 2010, a judge issued a warrant for Amorello's arrest when he failed to show up in court to face a drunken driving charge. Police alleged that he was so intoxicated when he smashed into two parked cars in Haverhill, MA, early Saturday morning that they had to pepper-spray him to get him out of his car. He then passed out while being booked at the station, police say. Amorello was arrested shortly after 2 a.m. Saturday in the parking lot of a former Dairy Queen on River Street. He was charged with drunken driving and leaving the scene after causing property damage. He is accused of smashing into two parked cars, which sustained major damage, on the same street. A witness told police he “observed flames shooting from the suspect’s motor vehicle as he was driving without a front left wheel,’’ according to a police report.[4]
The arrest warrant for failure to show was recalled on August 10, 2010 for former Big Dig head Matthew Amorello and rescheduled his arraignment on drunken driving charges. A Haverhill District Court judge withdrew the warrant today at the request of Amorello's lawyer and rescheduled the arraignment for Aug. 24. Amorello on nov 30, 2010 in Haverhill District Court “admitted to sufficient facts,” which means he agreed with the police report and the case is continued without a finding for a year on the more serious charges. Amorello was ordered to give up his driver’s license for 45 days and pay up to $1,300 in fines. He must also enter an alcohol treatment program. The judge ordered charges of drunken driving and leaving the scene of an accident continued without a finding. If he stays out of trouble, the case will be dismissed on November 30, 2011.[5]
References
- ↑ http://www.boston.com/news/traffic/bigdig/articles/2006/07/28/amorello_options_were_left_exhausted/ The Boston Globe "Amorello, options were left exhausted"
- ↑ http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=a7Tl5WxtZcD4&refer=us / Bloomberg "Massachusetts Turnpike Chairman Amorello Resigns (Update2)" date: July 27, 2006, access date: June 21, 2011
- ↑ http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/07/12/national/main1795818.shtml / CBS News "Probing Boston's Big Dig Disaster" date: July 12, 2006, access date: August 11, 2010
- ↑ For Amorello, a long slide "Boston Globe" date: August 10, 2010 Access date: August 11, 2010
- ↑ Amorello admits to sufficient facts date: November 30, 2010 Access date: November 30, 2010