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HomeMy WebLinkAbout13-544 Myers ADVICE OF COUNSEL June 5, 2013 Robert M. Myers 308 W. 2nd Street Birdsboro, PA 19508-2213 13-544 Dear Mr. Myers: This responds to your undated letter received May 3, 2013, by which you requested an advisory from the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission. Issue: Whether, upon assuming office as a borough council member, an individual would have a conflict of interest pursuant to Section 1103(a) of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act (“Ethics Act”), 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103(a), in matters before borough council pertaining to a community center that employs his spouse. Facts: You request an advisory from the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission based upon submitted facts that may be fairly summarized as follows. You are seeking election in 2013 as a Member of Council for Birdsboro Borough (“Borough”). Your spouse is employed as the Program Director of the Birdsboro Community Memorial Center (“Community Center”). Each year, Borough Council makes a contribution to the Community Center. You state that if you are elected as a Borough Council Member, you intend to abstain from any and all votes in matters that may affect the Community Center. You ask whether abstaining from any and all matters that might affect the Community Center would be the right thing to do, even if not legally required. It is administratively noted that, per the Pennsylvania Department of State web site, the Community Center is a non-profit entity. Discussion: It is initially noted that pursuant to Sections 1107(10) and 1107(11) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. §§ 1107(10), (11), advisories are issued to the requester based upon the facts that the requester has submitted. In issuing the advisory based upon the facts that the requester has submitted, the Commission does not engage in an independent investigation of the facts, nor does it speculate as to facts that have not been submitted. It is the burden of the requester to truthfully disclose all of the material facts relevant to the inquiry. 65 Pa.C.S. §§ 1107(10), (11). An advisory only affords a defense to the extent the requester has truthfully disclosed all of the material facts. It is further initially noted that pursuant to the same aforesaid Sections of the Ethics Act, this advisory is necessarily limited to addressing your inquiry from the perspective of your duties under the Ethics Act. Myers, 13-544 June 5, 2013 Page 2 Upon taking office as a Borough Council Member, you would in that capacity be a public official subject to the Ethics Act. Sections 1103(a) and 1103(j) of the Ethics Act provide: § 1103. Restricted activities (a)Conflict of interest.-- No public official or public employee shall engage in conduct that constitutes a conflict of interest. (j)Voting conflict.-- Where voting conflicts are not otherwise addressed by the Constitution of Pennsylvania or by any law, rule, regulation, order or ordinance, the following procedure shall be employed. Any public official or public employee who in the discharge of his official duties would be required to vote on a matter that would result in a conflict of interest shall abstain from voting and, prior to the vote being taken, publicly announce and disclose the nature of his interest as a public record in a written memorandum filed with the person responsible for recording the minutes of the meeting at which the vote is taken, provided that whenever a governing body would be unable to take any action on a matter before it because the number of members of the body required to abstain from voting under the provisions of this section makes the majority or other legally required vote of approval unattainable, then such members shall be permitted to vote if disclosures are made as otherwise provided herein. In the case of a three-member governing body of a political subdivision, where one member has abstained from voting as a result of a conflict of interest and the remaining two members of the governing body have cast opposing votes, the member who has abstained shall be permitted to vote to break the tie vote if disclosure is made as otherwise provided herein. 65 Pa.C.S. §§ 1103(a), (j). The following terms are defined in the Ethics Act as follows: § 1102. Definitions "Conflict" or "conflict of interest." Use by a public official or public employee of the authority of his office or employment or any confidential information received through his holding public office or employment for the private pecuniary benefit of himself, a member of his immediate family or a business with which he or a member of his immediate family is associated. The term does not include an action having a de minimis economic impact or which affects to the same degree a class consisting of the general public or a subclass consisting of an industry, occupation or other group which includes the public official or public employee, a member of his immediate family or a business with which he or a member of his immediate family is associated. Myers, 13-544 June 5, 2013 Page 3 "Authority of office or employment." The actual power provided by law, the exercise of which is necessary to the performance of duties and responsibilities unique to a particular public office or position of public employment. "Immediate family." A parent, spouse, child, brother or sister. "Business." Any corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, firm, enterprise, franchise, association, organization, self-employed individual, holding company, joint stock company, receivership, trust or any legal entity organized for profit. "Business with which he is associated." Any business in which the person or a member of the person's immediate family is a director, officer, owner, employee or has a financial interest. 65 Pa.C.S. § 1102. Pursuant to Section 1103(a) of the Ethics Act, a public official/public employee is prohibited from using the authority of public office/employment or confidential information received by holding such a public position for the private pecuniary benefit of the public official/public employee himself, any member of his immediate family, or a business with which he or a member of his immediate family is associated. The use of authority of office is not limited merely to voting, but extends to any use of authority of office including, but not limited to, discussing, conferring with others, and lobbying for a particular result. Juliante, Order 809. In each instance of a conflict of interest, a public official/public employee would be required to abstain from participation, which would include voting unless one of the statutory exceptions of Section 1103(j) of the Ethics Act would be applicable. Additionally, the disclosure requirements of Section 1103(j) of the Ethics Act would have to be satisfied in the event of a voting conflict. In applying the above provisions of the Ethics Act to the instant matter, you are advised as follows. Your spouse is a member of your immediate family as that term is defined in the Ethics Act. The Ethics Act’s definition of the term “business” includes non-profit entities. See, Rendell v. State Ethics Commission, 603 Pa. 292, 983 A.2d 708 (2009). Based upon the submitted facts, the Community Center is a business with which your spouse is associated in her capacity as an employee. As a Borough Council Member, you generally would have a conflict of interest under Section 1103(a) of the Ethics Act in matters before Borough Council that would financially impact you, your spouse, or the Community Center. As noted above, in each instance of a conflict of interest, you would be required to abstain from participation, which would include voting unless one of the statutory exceptions of Section 1103(j) of the Ethics Act would be applicable. Additionally, the disclosure requirements of Section 1103(j) of the Ethics Act would have to be satisfied in the event of a voting conflict. The propriety of the proposed conduct has only been addressed under the Ethics Act; the applicability of any other statute, code, ordinance, regulation or other code of conduct other than the Ethics Act has not been considered in that they do not involve an Myers, 13-544 June 5, 2013 Page 4 interpretation of the Ethics Act. Specifically not addressed herein is the applicability of the Borough Code. Conclusion: Upon taking office as a Council Member of Birdsboro Borough (“Borough”), you would in that capacity be a public official subject to the provisions of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act (“Ethics Act”), 65 Pa.C.S. § 1101 et seq. Your spouse is a member of your immediate family as that term is defined in the Ethics Act. The Birdsboro Community Memorial Center (“Community Center”) is a business with which your spouse is associated in her capacity as an employee. As a Borough Council Member, you generally would have a conflict of interest under Section 1103(a) of the Ethics Act in matters before Borough Council that would financially impact you, your spouse, or the Community Center. In each instance of a conflict of interest, you would be required to abstain from participation, which would include voting unless one of the statutory exceptions of Section 1103(j) of the Ethics Act would be applicable. Additionally, the disclosure requirements of Section 1103(j) of the Ethics Act would have to be satisfied in the event of a voting conflict. Lastly, the propriety of the proposed conduct has only been addressed under the Ethics Act. Pursuant to Section 1107(11) of the Ethics Act, an Advice is a complete defense in any enforcement proceeding initiated by the Commission, and evidence of good faith conduct in any other civil or criminal proceeding, provided the requester has disclosed truthfully all the material facts and committed the acts complained of in reliance on the Advice given. This letter is a public record and will be made available as such . Finally, if you disagree with this Advice or if you have any reason to challenge same, you may appeal the Advice to the full Commission. A personal appearance before the Commission will be scheduled and a formal Opinion will be issued by the Commission. Any such appeal must be in writing and must be actually received at the Commission within thirty (30) days of the date of this Advice pursuant to 51 Pa. Code § 13.2(h). The appeal may be received at the Commission by hand delivery, United States mail, delivery service, or by FAX transmission (717-787-0806). Failure to file such an appeal at the Commission within thirty (30) days may result in the dismissal of the appeal. Sincerely, Robin M. Hittie Chief Counsel