To accommodate McCaw, the Lamont administration signed off on a memorandum of understanding that temporarily removed OSCGR from DAS and grafted it onto OPM, despite objections by state lawmakers. They saw the move as potentially politicizing state reimbursements that largely had been set by formula. Diamantis has said any suggestion that municipalities use the emergency list of approved demolition contractors was intended to save money, not assist a favored few. The governor’s office said a clarification issued on March 2, 2021 by Diamantis resolved the matter to the satisfaction of Garcia’s client. McCaw also said she was advised by legal staff that “those matters had been addressed through the collaborative work of the AG’s office, DAS, OPM counsel and the former director,” Diamantis.
Melissa McCaw: ‘Broader steering’ concerns ‘never came to my knowledge’