Norfolk town officials and residents gathered on Monday night to discuss the Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General’s (OIG) scathing report on former town manager Justin Casanova‑Davis. The report concluded that leadership failures allowed the misuse of taxpayer resources, including nine international trips taken in under three years while the manager was officially on the clock.
Vacation abuse and inflated payout
The OIG found that Casanova‑Davis reported himself as working during several overseas trips, using sick leave while in locations such as Paris and South Africa. By accumulating those vacation days, he allegedly secured thousands of dollars in additional compensation when he left the Norfolk post last year.
“You can’t do that. If I did that, I would be fired,” said Norfolk resident Jack Olivieri, expressing the community’s frustration. “We want to know what happened, why it happened, and what they’re going to do to fix it.”
Community reaction and town‑board meeting
Local anger was palpable. Long‑time resident Cathy Brown said she was “so aggravated” and that neighbors were “mad” about the perceived waste. Maureen Cappuccino added, “It’s our money that runs this town. When it’s wasted and if there’s fraud, then we’re all being ripped off.”
Anticipating a large turnout, the Norfolk Select Board moved its meeting from town hall to an elementary school cafeteria. The agenda focused on next steps, including whether the town could seek a refund of the funds paid out to the former manager.
Current status of the former manager
After leaving Norfolk, Casanova‑Davis assumed the town manager role in Bridgewater, where his contract provides a salary exceeding $220,000 and five weeks of vacation. Bridgewater officials announced they are hiring an outside attorney to advise on how to address the allegations surrounding their new manager.
Bridgewater’s Town Council plans a closed‑door executive session on Tuesday night to discuss strategy for negotiations with non‑union personnel, specifically the town manager.
What residents can expect
Norfolk officials have not yet detailed a concrete plan for recovering the alleged overpayment. Residents like Brown are urging the town to explore legal avenues to reclaim the money, stating, “We have a lot of taxpayer money that has been spent on stuff that I don’t think was appropriate. I would like to figure out a way to get some of that money back.”
The OIG’s findings underscore the importance of transparent oversight in small‑town governance. As the investigation continues, Norfolk’s citizens remain vigilant, demanding accountability and protection of their hard‑earned tax dollars.
Original reporting: NBC10 Boston — read the source article.
