HAVERHILL, MA – Later this month, the City of Haverhill will begin tracking its snowplows and other public works vehicles with Global Positioning Systems (GPS), according to http://www.eagletribune.com.

The devices are being installed to provide accountability of city-owned vehicles after the scandal in which former Highway Superintendent James Flaherty and his son Kevin were charged criminally of defrauding the city to benefit their personal businesses.

The new security devices are among several reforms at the Highway Department done by the city in the wake of the scandal.

The Flahertys were charged with using city equipment on private paving jobs and using their city-owned SUV to travel on an almost-daily basis between the Highway Department garage on Primrose Street and their private jobs.

James Flaherty retired in April after the mayor threatened to fire him, and Kevin Flaherty, who was a Highway Department foreman, was fired in June. Several other highway workers still employed by the city are under investigation by state and local authorities for possible tax evasion and working on private paving jobs for James Flaherty while they were on city time.

The GPS monitoring program is scheduled to begin within the next few weeks. Similar GPS devices are being used in city vehicles in the Health and Inspectional Services Department. The city also recently installed new electronic time clocks at the Highway Department complex. according to www.eagletribune.com.