FALL RIVER — The abrupt resignation of former city administrator Seth Aitken got here after officers raised issues that Aitken helped file enterprise incorporation papers for a metropolis EMS official who had deliberate to start out a enterprise.
By way of a public data request, The Herald Information obtained paperwork relative to an “inside, unofficial investigation” of Aitken that befell not too long ago.
Included within the data had been two incorporation documents from the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s Office, dated April 9, 2024.
The companies being included had been Curos Holdings LLC and Curos Billing and Compliance LLC, each managed by Nicholas Silva, an worker of town’s emergency medical companies division. The latter enterprise, in line with the incorporation doc, was created to “carry out billing, assortment, and consulting companies for well being care suppliers, together with however not restricted to emergency medical service (EMS) organizations.”
‘Inside, unofficial investigation’: Fall River City Administrator Seth Aitken resigns
Aitken filed the incorporation papers and is listed as the companies’ registered agent. A registered agent is a degree of contact to whom the federal government and different entities can serve authorized paperwork.
Silva was appointed town’s chief of EMS later that yr in November. An internet site for Curos Billing and Compliance is at the moment defunct, and the corporate evidently by no means materialized. A cached version of its website describes the form of work the enterprise would have carried out, together with administration of ambulance service billing, auditing to make sure compliance with authorized laws, provide procurement for ambulances, and grant administration.
Former Fall River metropolis administrator and legal professional Seth Aitken.
Coogan: No proof of monetary dealings
In an interview Tuesday, Aitken advised The Herald Information he filed the paperwork for Silva as a courtesy, since he’s an legal professional and aware of the incorporation course of, however mentioned he was not a part of any potential enterprise dealings or concerned financially.
Mayor Paul Coogan, contacted Wednesday, mentioned he didn’t imagine any cash modified palms between the 2 and that no purchasers had been ever obtained.
Nonetheless, Aitken mentioned, although he didn’t deal with Silva in a different way afterward, given his place as metropolis administrator with oversight over Silva, he determined to step away from the job moderately than have an investigation trigger additional distraction.
“I had ready some paperwork and agreed to be the registered agent for a buddy who needed to start out an organization. I by no means had any monetary curiosity or expectation from the corporate or any decision-making potential within the firm. However my doing that definitely created the notion or potential look of a battle that ought to’ve been prevented,” Aitken mentioned.
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“Though there’s nothing that I did in a different way in gentle of my help to Mr. Silva, I believe on the finish of the day, the looks exists and I shouldn’t have allowed it to exist. And I really feel dangerous that it did create, and will’ve created much more of a distraction for the administration, who I believe is working exhausting to do good work for the residents of Fall River.”
Coogan agreed with how Aitken characterised the scenario.
“This was an concept that ran away from them. Even concepts can get you in bother, and I believe that that’s what occurred,” Coogan mentioned.
What occurs subsequent: ‘I want this by no means occurred’
Aitken joined town’s regulation workforce in Might 2021 as assistant company counsel. He was unanimously approved by the City Council in January 2022, and was given a two-year contract as metropolis administrator with a wage of $130,000.
Aitken has mentioned he would return to personal regulation apply.
“Seth did a great job,” Coogan mentioned. “I want this by no means occurred, to inform you the reality. I actually do.”
This text initially appeared on The Herald Information: Fall River city chief Seth Aitken explains resignation: EMS business
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