The former mayor of Pittsfield, Massachusetts has resigned from the Westfield State University Board of Trustees. University leadership has been under scrutiny for the past year.James Ruberto served four terms as Pittsfield’s mayor until 2012 before joining Westfield State’s Board of Trustees, a university led by President Evan Dobelle, who served as Pittsfield’s mayor in the 1970s.
The Springfield Republican reports Ruberto joined Dobelle on a trip to Cuba with the school’s baseball team three months before Ruberto joined the board in June 2013.
Dobelle resigned in November amid criticism of lavish spending, often on travel. Attorney General Martha Coakley recently sued Dobelle, alleging he used nearly $100,000 in public money for personal use.
Ruberto could not be reached for comment. Dobelle has maintained his spending benefitted the university and any personal spending on the university’s dime was reimbursed.
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