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OIG Marks 45th Anniversary of Nation’s First Statewide IG’s Office

Today marks the 45th anniversary of Joseph Barresi’s swearing in as the Commonwealth’s first Inspector General. The Massachusetts Legislature established the nation’s first statewide office of the inspector general following the recommendation of a blue-ribbon commission formed to investigate widespread corruption in the awarding of state building contracts.

“Just as Massachusetts played a pivotal role in the founding our nation two hundred and fifty years ago, so too did the Commonwealth take the lead in establishing the nation’s first statewide independent agency to safeguard public resources from fraud, waste, and abuse,” Inspector General Jeffrey S. Shapiro said. “Independent oversight is deeply rooted in our founding principles of government by, of, and for the people.”

Massachusetts’s leadership and commitment to independent oversight was formally recognized by Governor Maura Healy and Lt. Governor Kim Driscoll, who issued a gubernatorial citation honoring the Massachusetts Inspector General’s Office for forty-five years of service to the people of the Commonwealth and its steadfast commitment to making government work better tomorrow than it works today. Legislative citations from Senate President Spilka and Speaker Mariano were presented to the OIG, along with congratulatory letters and citations from Attorney General Campbell, Auditor DiZoglio, and Inspector General Will Fletcher, President of the Association of Inspector Generals (AIG).

“We applaud the nation’s first statewide office of inspector general and all its leaders have done to serve the taxpayers of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts and advance independent government oversight nationwide for the past 45 years,” Association of Inspectors General President Will Fletcher said. “As the Association of Inspectors General prepares to mark its 30th anniversary this year, the impact of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts OIG is top of mind: former Massachusetts IG Robert Cerasoli was a founder of AIG in 1996, and he helped write our Principles and Standards for Offices of Inspector General (known as the “Green Book”), which is widely recognized to this day as the industry standard of principles and best practices for OIGs at every level of government. The Commonwealth of Massachusetts OIG has been an independent oversight leader and model for decades.”

IG Shapiro commended the dedicated, professionals of the Massachusetts Office of the Inspector General, past and present, who live the ideals envisioned by Ward Commission chair William Ward, who recommended that the Legislature create an office of the inspector general in Massachusetts to function as an independent state agency, fully staffed with professionals of appropriate disciplines to mitigate and eliminate fraud, waste, and abuse within the Commonwealth at the state and municipal level.

As the Commonwealth’s fifth inspector general, IG Shapiro acknowledged his predecessors as dedicated public servants who each advanced the office and protected its independence.

Joseph R. Barresi – 1981 – 1991

  • Established the office, starting with “good wishes, an empty floor, a desk, a statute and an appropriation.”
  • Was the driving force behind the adoption of the state’s Uniform Procurement Act (Chapter 30B), which set down purchasing rules for cities, towns, and other jurisdictions, including school districts and housing authorities.
  • Uncovered a kickback scheme involving five Metropolitan District Commission electrical service contracts that resulted in multiple indictments of state employees, corporate officials and corporations.
  • Uncovered no-show jobs in the state Department of Public Works resulting in convictions of 21 people.

Robert A. Cerasoli – 1991 – 2001

  • Founding member and the first president of the Association of Inspectors General (AIG).
  • Proposed and co-authored Principles and Standards for Offices of Inspectors General (the Green Book), which enshrined principles and quality standards in a guide for inspector general offices.
  • Created the OIG’s training program (now called the OIG Academy).
  • Uncovered construction shortcuts and widespread financial discrepancies in the Central Artery/Tunnel project (the Big Dig).

Gregory W. Sullivan – 2002 – 2012

  • Led an investigation into a state contract with a software developer that led to the conviction of a public official.
  • Conducted a forensic audit that uncovered substantial over-billing by health-care providers to the state uncompensated care pool.
  • Identified systemic inefficiencies in the state public construction bidding system.

Glenn A. Cunha – 2012 – 2022

  • Led investigations of the former president of Westfield State and the Holyoke Soldiers’ Home which both resulted in significant legislative reforms.
  • Oversaw office expansion and addition of three statutory divisions with specific oversight of the Executive Office of Health and Human Services, the Massachusetts State Police and the Massachusetts Department of Transportation.
  • Established and expanded online platform for the OIG’s training program, which has since expanded into the OIG Academy.

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