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HomeMy WebLinkAbout80-644 WoodLawrence E. Wood Wood, Parke, Barnes & Byrne 126 West Miner Street West Chester, PA 19380 Dear Mr. Wood: PJS /rdp STATE ETHICS COMMISSION 308 FINANCE BUILDING HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA 17120 May 30, 1980 ADVICE OF COMMISSION Advice #80 - 644 On March 24, 1980, whether your ownership - as a member . of a partnership - of a piece of ground which will be rented to your law partnership would be a conflict when you take your place on the Bench in Chester County. Section 3 of the Act prohibits a public official or public employee from personal financial gain or contracting with their governmental body unless certain conditions are met. The circumstances you described do not fall within the restrictions of Section 3 and there would be no conflict of interest in your continuing as a partner and one of the owners of the property. For your information, Judge Wajert has challenged the Commission's authority under Section 3(e) of Act 170 and Judge Kremer has challenged the Commission's authority under Section 4 of the Act. While these actions do not specifically deal with the conflict of interest issue you raised, I thought you would want to be aware of them. Pursuant to Section 7(9)(ii), this 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, providing the requestor has disclosed truthfully all the material facts and committed the acts complained of in reliance on the advice given. You may appeal this advice to the full Commission. This letter is a public record and will be made available as such. PAUL J. S TH Chairman