HomeMy WebLinkAbout1453 Complainant AIn Re: Complainant A File Docket:
X -ref:
Date Decided:
Date Mailed:
Before: Louis W. Fryman, Chair
John J. Bolger, Vice Chair
Donald M. McCurdy
Paul M. Henry
Raquel K. Bergen
Nicholas A. Colafella
ID # 07 -022
LD # 07- 022 -WUA
Order No. 1453
1/28/08
2/15/08
The Investigative Division of the State Ethics Commission conducted an
investigation regarding a possible wrongful use of act and breach of confidentiality under
the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1101 et seq., by the above -
named "Complainant." Written notice of the specific allegations was served at the
commencement of the investigation. Upon completion of the investigation, the
Investigative Division issued and served upon Complainant a Findings Report identified as
an "Investigative Complaint," which constituted the Investigation Division's Complaint
against the Complainant. An Answer was filed and a hearing was requested. A Stipulation
of Findings and a Consent Agreement waiving an evidentiary hearing were subsequently
submitted by the parties to the Commission for consideration. The Stipulation of Findings
is quoted as the Findings in this Order. The Consent Agreement has been approved.
Upon issuance, the portion of this adjudication and Order pertaining to wrongful use
of the Ethics Act shall constitute the "preliminary determination" of this Commission as to
wrongful use of the Ethics Act. Per the Commission Regulations at 51 Pa.Code § 25.3(d),
this Commission shall notify the Complainant and the "Subjects" (the persons against
whom the original Complaints were filed) of the Commission's preliminary determination in
this case. If no appeal is filed with this Commission within thirty days after the mailing date
noted above, the preliminary determination will become absolute, will constitute the final
determination of this Commission as to wrongful use of the Ethics Act (51 Pa. Code §
25.4), and will be made available in redacted form as a public document.
If the final determination of this Commission is that the Complainant has wrongfully
used the Ethics Act, then upon receiving a written request from a Subject, this Commission
shall provide to such Subject the name and address of the Complainant, together with a
copy of the final determination of this Commission. 65 Pa.C.S. § 1110(c).
The files in this case will remain confidential in accordance with Section 1108 of the
Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1108. Any person who violates confidentiality of the Ethics Act is
guilty of a misdemeanor subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not
more than one year, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1109(e). Confidentiality does not preclude discussing
this case with an attorney at law.
Complainant A
ID # 07- 022 /LD # 07- 022 -WUA
Page 2
I. ALLEGATIONS:
That Complainant A, a private citizen violated Sections 1110(a)(2), and 1108(k) of
the State Ethics Act (Act 93 of 1998), 65 Pa.C.S. §§ 1110(a)(2) and 1108(k) when he
disclosed or acknowledged publicly information relating to his filing of a complaint with the
State Ethics Commission by publicly disclosing to newspaper reporters and the media that
he filed complaints with the State Ethics Commission regarding the conduct of members of
the B Authority and the B Authority Solicitor.
II. FINDINGS:
1. Complainant A is a private citizen and resident of C Township, D County.
a. Complainant A resides at [address].
2. Sewage service for C Township is provided through the B Authority.
a. The B Authority has been operational since the late 1970s.
3. The B Authority is governed by a five member board whose members served [sic]
staggered five -year terms.
a. B Authority board members are appointed by the C Township Board of
Supervisors.
4. Public sewage is not currently available to all residents of C Township.
a. Residents without access to public sewage maintain on -lot septic systems to
accommodate sewage needs.
5. In an effort to update the existing sewage infrastructure, eliminate outdated plants
and equipment, and expand public sewage for current residents and future
expansion /development, the B Authority approved the E Project.
a. The E Project was approved by the B Authority board on [date] via
Resolution No. [number] which approved the purchase of the B Authority's
[name and series of bonds] by [name of financial institution], to fund the E
Project.
6. Prior to initiation of the E Project, the B Authority maintained approximately
[number] miles of sewers and served approximately [number] homes and
businesses.
a. After completion of the E Project, approximately [number] additional
properties will be tied into public sewage via approximately [number] miles of
new sewer lines.
7 Per Article XXV, Section 2502 of the Second Class Township Code, the township
board of supervisors may require (by ordinance) adjoining and adjacent property
owners within 150' to connect with and use the township sanitary sewer system
whether constructed by the township or a municipal authority or a joint sanitary
sewer board.
a. The C Township Supervisors passed Ordinance Number [number] on [date]
mandating said connection of C Township property owners.
Complainant A
ID # 07- 022 /LD # 07- 022 -WUA
Page 3
8. C Township property owners required to tap into public sewage are responsible for
payment of a tap -in fee, a special benefits assessment, monthly sewer bills, and
possibly a connection fee.
a. Criteria were established by the B Authority board at the [date] regular
meeting through Resolution [number] by which the Connection Fee for
residences existing prior to [date] may be waived.
9. Complainant A's property located at [address] falls within one - hundred fifty feet of
infrastructure to be installed in accordance with E Project plans.
a. Per C Township Ordinance Number [number], Complainant A is required to
tap into the new infrastructure within [number] days after notice to make the
connection.
10. Complainant A attended at least four B Authority meetings in [year] and addressed
the B Authority board with questions and concerns regarding the E Project.
a. At or about the [month, year] B Authority board meeting, Complainant A
accused members of the B Authority board of having financial interests in the
E Project.
b. At or about the [month, year] public meeting, Complainant A presented his
perception of each B Authority board member's alleged conflict of interest in
relation to the E Project.
c.
Newspaper F Reporter, Reporter G, was in attendance at this meeting.
11. On January 3, 2007, correspondence dated December 28, 2006, was received at
the Harrisburg Office of the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission regarding
alleged conflicts of interests involving four [sic] B Authority board members and the
B Authority solicitor.
a. The date /time stamp documented receipt of the correspondence by the
Harrisburg Office on January 3, 2007, at 11:37 a.m.
b. The closing on the correspondence documented the author as "Complainant
A, [address]."
1. Complainant A's signature is present in the closing of the
correspondence.
c. Attached to the correspondence was a petition signed by a total of [number]
individuals /couples petitioning the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission to
investigate the B Authority and the B Authority Solicitor.
12. The December 28, 2006, correspondence authored by Complainant A to the
Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission is detailed below:
Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission
309 Finance Building
P.O. Box 11470
Harrisburg, PA 17108
December 28, 2006
Complainant A
ID # 07- 022 /LD # 07- 022 -WUA
Page 4
To Whom It May Concern:
My name is Complainant A. I reside in C Township, D County. As a concerned
citizen, I would like to bring to the Commission's attention what may be considered
a "conflict of interest" regarding blatant collusion which appears to be happening in
my township. I have two main areas of concern: the structure of the B Authority and
the appointment of the law firm [name of firm] as solicitor.
The B Authority board was appointed by the C Township Supervisors. The B
Authority approved the E Project in an effort to increase the number of available
sewage tap -ins for current and future development in C Township. However, the
project is not Department of Environmental Protection mandated therefore no
federal or state funds were secured for this project. The B Authority did borrow
$[amount] from a [year] Bond Issue that wrapped existing debt at a lower interest
rate, with the total amount being $[amount]. However, high costs are still being
placed on the existing residents with minimal benefits. Although the benefit of
public sewage is recognized (a small increase in property value), most residents
simply cannot afford the cost. The original cost to residents include a `tap -in fee' of
$[amount], this fee has been reduced to $[amount] due to intervention by some of
our elected officials. However this reduction may have some "strings attached ". A
[name of fee]: (which is nothing more than a tax) of $[amount] to $[amount],
construction cost to connect from the dwelling to the tap -in which will range from
"$[amount] to as much as $[amount]" according to Attorney H. Plus, all existing
septic systems must be filled in at the owner's expense (some owner's [sic] may be
reimbursed $[amount]) and sewage use will cost approximately $[amount] per
month, an additional $[amount] may be added to the monthly cost as a "service debt
fee ", total sewage monthly sewage bill $[amount]. The majority of affected
residents are senior citizens on fixed incomes who cannot secure a loan and do not
qualify for financial aid. The rest of us are middle -class citizens who do not have
$[amount] (the low estimate), let alone $[amount] (the upper estimate) to support
this project, which does not include the costs to fill in existing septic tanks or the
new monthly expense that will be included the "service debt fee."
It appears that most, if not all, of the B Authority's Board Members named below
have a "personal" interest in the E Project. The appointed B Authority Board
consists of the following five members:
• Public Official 1, B Authority Board Chairman and [profession].
• Public Official 2, Employee of [name of business]. [name of business] is
planning a third phase of the [name of project], which cannot go forward
without the E Project.
• Public Official 3, [profession] who is currently developing a [number] acre
tract of land to build [type of buildings] starting at $[amount], which cannot go
forward without the E Project.
• Public Official 4, [name of corporation] Board Member for [entity]. [name of
corporation]'s expansion cannot continue without the E Project.
• Public Official 5, [profession] who is believed to have relatives in the
construction business.
This project is instrumental to current and future development orchestrated by the B
Authority and spearheaded by solicitor Attorney H. Considering the "connection"
members of the B Authority board have to future development, they stand to gain
much more from this project than the existing residents. And given the magnitude
of the E Project and the amount of money that was borrowed by the B Authority,
why should long -time residents be forced to endure the financial hardship this
project will cause? The residents affected by the project have challenged the
Complainant A
ID # 07- 022 /LD # 07- 022 -WUA
Page 5
authority on many occasions to fully consider the hardships and look for
alternatives to underwrite some of the costs. However, these discussions have led
to no change in the plan of the B Authority and one must suspect that their
steadfastness in making this project go through is at least somewhat influenced by
the interests listed above that the B Authority Board Members hold.
A related concern is that the Township Supervisors have retained the [name of law
firm] as solicitor for C Township. This firm represents the [list of governmental
entities] and others that I might not be aware of. The cost of retaining this law firm is
over $[amount] per year. However, the B Authority has retained Attorney H as the
solicitor for the B Authority and is paid [sic] in addition to the billing of the law firm.
Therefore, the C Township taxpayers are paying for two solicitors from the same
law firm that should represent all authorities within the township.
I hope the information I have provided in this letter will prompt an inquiry, if not an
investigation, into the compromised interests of the B Authority and the unethical or
possible illegal dealings of the law firm [name of firm]. 1, along with others affected,
have met on numerous occasions with the C Township Supervisors to understand
our concerns [sic] about both issues with very little results. The Supervisors are
sympathetic to our position but claim to have no authority over the sewage authority
therefore can do [sic] very little on our behalf. Sending this letter is my last resort to
protect the interests of the longtime C Township residents who are expected to bear
the costs of the area's ongoing housing development. I am happy to provide any
additional information that you need. Thank you for your attention on this important
matter.
Sincerely,
Complainant A
[address]
[telephone number]
13. Complainant A's correspondence was assigned State Ethics Commission Complaint
Numbers 43 and 44.
a. Complaint Number 43 was assigned to Complainant A's
regarding the members of the B Authority.
b. Complaint Number 44 was assigned to Complainant A's
regarding the B Authority Solicitor.
14. Complainant A subsequently received two separate pieces of correspondence
dated January 17, 2007, from John J. Contino, State Ethics Commission Executive
Director, in response to Complainant A's December 28, 2006, correspondence.
a. Complainant A was informed that no action could be taken regarding his
complaint against members of the B Authority (assigned complaint number
43) due to the fact that Complainant A's complaint was not notarized.
b. Complainant A was informed that no action could be taken regarding his
complaint against the B Authority Solicitor (assigned complaint number 44)
due to the fact that the Commission had no jurisdiction in the matter.
allegations
allegations
15. Company I publishes various newspapers including the [title of publication],
Newspaper F, [title of publication],[title of publication], [title of publication], and [title
Complainant A
ID # 07- 022 /LD # 07- 022 -WUA
Page 6
of publication].
a. Newspaper F maintains an address of [address].
16. Primary areas of circulation regarding Newspaper F include [names of counties,
including D County].
a. Newspaper F maintains a bureau office at [address].
17. Reporter G is employed as a reporter for Company I.
a. Reporter G works out of the [location] bureau office.
18. On or about [date], Reporter G telephonically contacted B Authority Solicitor
Attorney H regarding a complaint letter which Complainant A had filed with the
State Ethics Commission.
a. Reporter G informed Attorney H that Complainant A had provided him with
the correspondence.
1. Reporter G and Attorney H became acquainted as a result of mutual
attendance at B Authority and C Township Supervisor's [sic]
meetings.
b. Reporter G informed Attorney H that Complainant A had received
confirmation from the Harrisburg Office of the State Ethics Commission that
the correspondence had been received.
c. Attorney H requested that Reporter G provide him a copy of the letter via
facsimile transmission.
1. Reporter G provided Attorney H a copy of the letter via facsimile
transmission that same day.
19. Correspondence provided to Attorney H by Reporter G, identified via handwritten
notes stating, "ATTN: Attorney H" is identical to the December 28, 2006
correspondence authored by Complainant A and forward [sic] to the Investigative
Division of the State Ethics Commission.
a. The date documented on the correspondence was redacted prior to Attorney
H's receipt.
b. Information contained in the correspondence essentially mirrors information
provided in the correspondence received by the State Ethics Commission
Harrisburg office on January 3, 2007.
c. Both pieces of correspondence identify Complainant A as the individual who
authored the correspondence.
d. Complainant A's home address and phone number are referenced in each
correspondence as contact information should additional information be
needed.
e. In each correspondence, Complainant A expressed his desire that an inquiry
and possibly an investigation be conducted into the allegations levied.
Complainant A
ID # 07- 022 /LD # 07- 022 -WUA
Page 7
20. Upon receipt of the correspondence and review of the confidentiality provision
associated with the State Ethics Act, Attorney H refused to provide Reporter G with
any comment on the situation.
a. Attorney H subsequently contacted the B Authority board, informed the
members of the matter, and advised against commenting on the issue.
21. Newspaper F subsequently published an article in the January 25, 2007, edition
titled, "[title]."
a. The article outlines the complaint filed by Complainant A with the State
Ethics Commission.
b. Referenced in the article is, "Complainant A, of [name of road], recently
mailed a letter to the commission. He suggested the authority's board of
directors and board Solicitor Attorney H have a `conflict of interest' pertaining
to the much contested E Project."
c. Thg article specifically documents that ComplainantAwrote in his December
28 letter that, It appears that most, if not all, of the authority's board
members have a personal interest in this project."
d. Reporter G is referenced as the author of the article in the article's "By" line.
22. The majority of information referenced in the January 25, 2007, article mirrors that
contained in the correspondence sent both to the State Ethics Commission and
Reporter G.
23. During a sworn statement provided to Commission investigators on July 20, 2007,
Complainant A provided the following information:
a. Complainant A probably accessed the State Ethics Commission website to
research the Commission address when contemplating filing a complaint.
b. Complainant A did not review any of the rules or regulations associated with
the State Ethics Act.
c. Complainant A sent a letter to the Harrisburg Office of the State Ethics
Commission requesting an inquiry or investigation but was unfamiliar with
any sections of the Act regarding confidentiality prior to sending his letter to
the Commission.
d. Complainant A provided Reporter G an edited version of the letter sent to
the Commission either in person or via facsimile transmission.
e. Complainant A's disclosure of the letter to Reporter G was not done with any
malice or intent to violate any portion of the State Ethics Act.
24. Complainant A asserts that at the [month, year] public meeting of the C Township
Supervisors, approximately [number] individuals were present to address their
dissatisfaction with the actions of the township officials.
a. A copy of the proposed complaint to the Commission was available.
b. This complaint was in the same form as the document sent to the
Commission dated December 28, 2006.
Complainant A
ID # 07- 022 /LD # 07- 022 -WUA
Page 8
c. Reporter G, of Newspaper F, was present at the meeting and was aware of
the various complaint [sic].
III. DISCUSSION:
Complainant A is a resident of C Township, D County, who filed a complaint with
this Commission alleging violations of the Ethics Act by the following members of the board
of the B Authority: Public Official 1; Public Official 2; Public Official 3; Public Official 4; and
Public Official 5; and by the Solicitor for the B Authority, Attorney H. As a Complainant,
Complainant A is subject to the confidentiality and wrongful use of act provisions of the
Public Official and Employee Ethics Act ( "Ethics Act "), 65 Pa.C.S. §§ 1108(k) and 1110.
The allegations before us are that Complainant A violated Sections 1108(k) and
1110(a)(2) of the Ethics Act when he disclosed or acknowledged publicly information
relating to his filing of a complaint with this Commission by publicly disclosing to
newspaper reporters and the media that he filed complaints with this Commission
regarding the conduct of B Authority Board Members and the B Authority Solicitor.
Section 1108(k) of the Ethics Act provides in part that no person shall disclose or
acknowledge to any other person any information relating to a complaint, preliminary
inquiry, investigation, hearing or reconsideration petition which is before this Commission.
Section 1108(k) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1108(k), and Section 21.6 of this
Commission's Regulations, 51 Pa. Code § 21.6, further provide for certain exceptions to
the confidentiality requirements, which exceptions are not relevant to this case.
Section 1110 of the Ethics Act, the wrongful use of act provision, provides in part
that a wrongful use of act occurs: (1) if a complaint was frivolous, that is, filed in a grossly
negligent manner without basis in law or fact; (2) if a complaint was filed without probable
cause and made primarily for a purpose other than that of reporting an Ethics Act violation;
or (3) if a person who filed a complaint publicly disclosed or caused to be disclosed that a
complaint against another person was filed with this Commission.
As noted above, the parties have submitted a Consent Agreement and Stipulation of
Findings. The parties' Stipulated Findings are reproduced above as the Findings of this
Commission. We shall now summarize the relevant facts as contained therein.
Complainant A is a private individual who resides in C Township, D County,
Pennsylvania.
Sewage service for C Township is provided through the B Authority. The B
Authority is governed by a five - member board. On [date], the B Authority Board approved
the E Project, a project to, inter alia, expand public sewage to current residents and future
expansion /development through the construction of new sewer lines.
C Township property owners required to tap into public sewage are responsible for
payment of a tap -in fee, a special benefits assessment, monthly sewer bills, and possibly a
connection fee. Criteria to tap into public sewage were established by the B Authority
Board at a regular meeting on [date]. Complainant A is the owner of property that is
required to tap into the new sewage infrastructure pursuant to a C Township ordinance.
On January 3, 2007, the Investigative Division received a letter from Complainant A,
dated December 28, 2006. In said letter, Complainant A alleged that the five Board
Members of the B Authority have a conflict of interest with regard to the E Project.
Complainant A further alleged that the B Authority Solicitor and /or his law firm have a
conflict of interest in representing the B Authority.
Complainant A
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Page 9
On or before January 4, 2007, Complainant A provided Reporter G, a reporter for
Newspaper F, with a copy of the complaint letter dated December 28, 2006, that
Complainant A had sent to this Commission. The copy of the complaint letter provided to
Reporter G was essentially identical to the complaint letter received by the Investigative
Division of this Commission on January 3, 2007. In a telephone conversation on January
4, 2007, Reporter G informed Attorney H that Complainant A had provided Reporter G with
a copy of the aforesaid complaint letter.
On January 25, 2007, Newspaper F, a newspaper of general circulation in D
County, published an article that referred to and outlined the complaint letter dated
December 28, 2006, which Complainant A had sent to this Commission. Said article
stated that in the letter, "[Complainant A] suggested the authority's board of directors and
board Solicitor Attorney H have a 'conflict of interest' pertaining to the much contested E
Project." (See, Finding 21 b). The article appeared under the by -line of Reporter G.
In a sworn statement provided to Ethics Commission investigators on July 20, 2007,
Complainant A acknowledged that he provided Reporter G, either in person or via
facsimile transmission, with an edited version of the complaint letter dated December 28,
2006, that Complainant A had sent to this Commission.
Having highlighted the Stipulated Findings and issues before us, we shall now apply
the Ethics Act to determine the proper disposition of this case.
The parties' Consent Agreement sets forth a proposed resolution of the allegations
as follows:
3. The Investigative Division will recommend the following in relation to
the above allegations:
a. That a violation of Section 1110(a)(2) of the Public
Official and Employee Ethics Law, 65 Pa.C.S.
§1110(a)(2) occurred in relation to Complainant A's
disclosure to newspaper reporters and the media that a
complaint had been filed with the State Ethics
Commission regarding the conduct of members of the B
Authority and the B Authority Solicitor.
b. That a violation of Section 1108(k) of the Public Official
and Employee Ethics Law, 65 Pa.C.S. §1108(k)
occurred when Complainant A disclosed to newspaper
reporters and the media that a complaint had been filed
with the State Ethics Commission regarding the conduct
of members of the B Authority and the B Authority
Solicitor.
4. Complainant A agrees to make payment in the amount of $200.00 in
settlement of this matter payable to the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania and forwarded to the Pennsylvania State Ethics
Commission within thirty (30) days of the issuance of the final
adjudication in this matter.
5. In accordance with the provisions of the Public Official and Employee
Ethics Law, 65 Pa.C.S. §1110(c), the Commission shall release the
name and address of the Complainant (Complainant A) to the subject.
Complainant A
ID # 07- 022 /LD # 07- 022 -WUA
Page 10
6. The Investigative Division will recommend that the State Ethics
Commission take no further action in this matter; and make no
specific recommendations to any law enforcement or other authority
to take action in this matter. Such, however, does not prohibit the
Commission from initiating appropriate enforcement actions in the
event of Respondent's failure to comply with this agreement or the
Commission's order or cooperating with any other authority who may
so choose to review this matter further.
Consent Agreement, at 1 -2.
In considering the Consent Agreement, we accept the parties' recommendation that
Complainant A violated Section 1108(k) and Section 1110(a)(2) of the Ethics Act by
breaching the confidentiality of Commission proceedings and causing the public
disclosure, through information provided to Reporter G, that Complainant A had filed a
complaint with this Commission alleging violations of the Ethics Act by the Board Members
of the B_Authority and the Solicitor for the B Authority. Factually, the information
Complainant A provided to Reporter G, a reporter for Newspaper F, included a copy of the
aforesaid complaint letter submitted to this Commission, which disclosure resulted in a
news article related to Complainant A's complaint appearing in Newspaper F.
Accordingly, we hold that a violation of Section 1108(k) of the Ethics Act occurred
when Complainant A disclosed to newspaper reporter(s) and the media that a complaint
had been filed with the State Ethics Commission regarding the conduct of members of the
B Authority and the B Authority Solicitor.
We further hold that a violation of Section 1110(a)(2) of the Ethics Act occurred
when Complainant A disclosed to newspaper reporter(s) and the media that a complaint
had been filed with the State Ethics Commission regarding the conduct of members of the
B Authority and the B Authority Solicitor.
We determine that the Consent Agreement submitted by the parties sets forth the
proper disposition for this case, based upon our review as reflected in the above analysis
and the totality of the facts and circumstances.
Accordingly, pursuant to the Consent Agreement, Complainant A is directed to
make payment in the amount of $200 to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania within 30
days of the date of the mailing of this Order, by forwarding a check in the amount of $200
made payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to this Commission for processing.
At such time as this determination becomes a public record, Chief Counsel shall
publicly release a copy of this redacted adjudication and Order. Thereafter, upon
receiving a written request from a Subject of Complainant A's complaint, specifically,
Public Official 1, Public Official 2, Public Official 3, Public Official 4, Public Official 5, or
Attorney H, Chief Counsel shall provide the name and address of Complainant A to such
Subject, together with copies of this redacted adjudication and Order. See, 65 Pa.C.S. §
1110(c).
IV. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW:
1. Complainant A, as a resident of Township C in County D, who on January 3, 2007,
filed a complaint with this Commission alleging violations of the Ethics Act by the
members of the B Authority and the Solicitor for the B Authority, is a Complainant
subject to the confidentiality and wrongful use of act provisions of the Public Official
and Employee Ethics Act ( "Ethics Act "), and specifically 65 Pa.C.S. §§ 1108(k) and
1110.
Complainant A
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Page 11
2. Complainant A violated Section 1108(k) of the Ethics Act when he disclosed to
newspaper reporter(s) and the media that a complaint had been filed with the State
Ethics Commission regarding the conduct of members of the B Authority and the B
Authority Solicitor.
3. Complainant A violated Section 1110(a)(2) of the Ethics Act when he disclosed to
newspaper reporter(s) and the media that a complaint had been filed with the
Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission regarding the conduct of members of the B
Authority and the B Authority Solicitor.
In Re: Complainant A File Docket:
Date Decided:
Date Mailed:
ORDER NO. 1453
BY THE COMMISSION,
Louis W. Fryman, Chair
ID # 07 -022
LD # 07- 022 -WUA
1/28/08
2/15/08
1 Complainant A, as a resident of Township C in County D, who on January 3, 2007,
filed a complaint with the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission alleging violations
of the Ethics Act by the members of the B Authority and the Solicitor for the B
Authority, violated Section 1108(k) of the Ethics Act when he disclosed to
newspaper reporter(s) and the media that a complaint had been filed with the State
Ethics Commission regarding the conduct of members of the B Authority and the B
Authority Solicitor.
2. Complainant A violated Section 1110(a)(2) of the Ethics Act when Complainant A
disclosed to newspaper reporter(s) and the media that a complaint had been filed
with the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission regarding the conduct of members
of the B Authority and the B Authority Solicitor.
3. Pursuant to the Consent Agreement of the parties, Complainant A is directed to
make payment in the amount of $200 to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania within
30 days of the date of mailing of this Order, by forwarding a check in the amount of
$200 made payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania to this Commission for
processing.
4. At such time as this determination becomes a public record, Chief Counsel shall
publicly release a copy of this redacted adjudication and Order.
5. Following public release, upon receiving a written request from a Subject of
Complainant A's complaint, specifically Public Official 1, Public Official 2, Public
Official 3, Public Official 4, Public Official 5, or Attorney H, Chief Counsel shall
provide the name and address of Complainant A to such Subject, together with
copies of the redacted adjudication and Order of this Commission.
6. Compliance by Complainant A with Paragraph 3 of this Order will result in the
closing of this case with no further action by this Commission beyond that set forth
in Paragraphs 4 and 5 of this Order.
a. Non - compliance will result in the institution of an order enforcement action.