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Home My WebLink About17-507 BielskieSTATE ETHICS COMMISSION 309 FINANCE BUILDING P.O. BOX 11470 HARRISBURG, PA 1 71 08 -1 470 (717) 783 -1610 1- 800 - 932 -0936 ADVICE OF COUNSEL February 10, 2017 To the Requester: Mr. Stephen G. Bielskie, Sr. 17 -507 Dear Mr. Bielskie: This responds to your letter dated December 15, 2016, by which you requested an advisory from the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission ( "Commission "). Issue: Whether the Public .Official and Employee Ethics Act ( "Ethics Act "), 65 Fa -S. § 1101 et se q., would impose prohibitions or restrictions upon an individual serving as an InspectorTor the Tri - County COG Inspection Service with regard to simultaneously serving as a Member of Council for Kulpmont Borough. Facts: You request an advisory from the Commission based upon submitted facts that ay be fairly summarized as follows. Kulpmont Borough ( "Borough ") is a member of the Tri - County Council of Governments ( "COG "). You are an Inspector for the Tri - County COG Inspection Service ( "Inspection Service "). The Inspection Service performs building inspections in the Borough for permit holders and not the Borough. The Inspection Service is self- supporting and does not receive any funds from any municipality in the Inspection Service's coverage area. You are interested in pursuing a seat on Borough Council that might become available. You seek guidance as to whether the Ethics Act would impose any prohibitions or restrictions upon you with regard to simultaneously serving as an Inspector for the Inspection Service and a Member of Borough Council Discussion: It is initially noted that pursuant to Sections 1107(10) and 1107(11) of e Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. §§ 11 07(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. As an Inspectorforthe Inspection Service, you are a public employee subjecttothe provisions of the Ethics Act. Cf., . DePaola, Advice 92 -503. If you would be elected or appointed as a Member of Bor�ough�ouncil, you would in that capacity be a public official subject to the Ethics Act. FAX: (717) 787 -0806 0 Web Site: www.ethics.state.pa.us 0 e -mail; ethics@state.pa.us Bielskie, 17 -507 rruary 10, 2017 Page 2 Sections 1103(a) and 11030) 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. 0) 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), 0 }. The following terms pertaining to conflicts of interest under the Ethics Act are defined 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 ublic 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. "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. Bielskie, 17 -507 e ruary 10, 2017 Page 3 65 Pa.C.S. § 1102. Subject to the statutory exclusions to the Ethics Act's definition of the term "conflict" or "conflict of interest," 65 Pa.C.S. 5 1102, a public official /public employee is prohibited from using the authority of public off�celemployment or confidential information received by holding such a public position for the private ecuniary benefit of the public officiallpublic employee himself, any member of his immedpate 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. With regard to the question of simultaneous service, it is initially noted that the General Assembly has the constitutional power to declare by law which offices are incompatible. Pa. Const. Art. 6, § 2. There does not appear to be any statutorily - declared incompatibility that would preclude you from simultaneously serving as an Inspector for the Inspection Service and a Member of Borough Council. Turning to the question of conflict of interest, where simultaneous service would place the public officiallpublic employee in a continual state of conflict, such as where in one position he would be accounting to himself in another position on a continual basis, there would be an inherent conflict. (See, McCain, Opinion 02 -009). Where an inherent conflict would exist, it would appear tote impossible, as a practical matter, for the public official /public employee to function in the conflicting positions without running afoul of Section 1103(a) of the Ethics Act. Absent a statutorily - declared incompatibility or an inherent conflict under Section 1103(a), the Ethics Act would not preclude an individual from simultaneously serving in more than one position. However, in each instance of a conflict of interest, the individual would be required to abstain, and in each instance of a voting conflict, to abstain and satisfy the disclosure requirements of Section 11030) as set forth above. In this case, there does not appear to be an inherent conflict that would preclude simultaneous service as an Inspector for the Inspection Service and a Member of Borough Council. Consequently, such simultaneous service would be permitted within the parameters of Sections 1103(a) and 11030) of the Ethics Act. Lastly, the propriety of the proposed conduct has only been addressed under the Ethics Act. Conclusion: Based upon the submitted facts that: (1) Kulpmont Borough oroug its a member of the Tri- County Council of Governments ( "COG "); (2) you are an Inspector #or the Tri�- County COG Inspection Service ( "Inspection Service'); (3) the Inspection Service performs building inspections in the Borough for permit holders and not the Borough; (4) the Inspection Service is self - supporting and does not receive any funds from any municipality in the Inspection Service's coverage area; and (5) you are interested in pursuing a seat on Borough Council that might become available, you are advised as follows. As an Inspector for the Inspection Service, you are a public employee subject to the provisions of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act ( "Ethics Act "), 65 Pa.C.S. § 1101 et she If you would be elected or appointed as a Member of Borough Council, you would m that capacity be a public official subject to the Ethics Act. Subject to the restrictions, conditions and qualifications set forth above, you may, consistent with Section 1103(a) of the Ethics Act, simultaneously serve as an Inspector for the Inspection Service and a Member of Borough Council. Lastly, the propriety of the proposed course of conduct has only been addressed under the Ethics Act. Pursuant to Section 1107(11) of the Ethics Act, this Advice is a complete defense in any enforcement proceeding initiated by the Commission, and evidence of good faith Bielskie, 17-507 Te-15-ru-a-j� 10, 2017 Page 4 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 orif 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