HomeMy WebLinkAbout80-651 LigiJames J. Ligi, Solicitor
Lackawana County Commissioners
Scranton, PA 18503
PJS /rdp
STATE ETHICS COMMISSION
308 FINANCE BUILDING
HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA 17120
May 29, 1980
ADVICE OF THE COMMISSION
Advice #80 -651
Dear Mr. Ligi:
On May 22, 1980, you asked whether a County Commissioner,
who is also a minority stockholder in a corporation which owns
an office building, would have a conflict if the company
insuring all county employees rented office space from that
corporation.
A county commissioner is a public official as that term
is used in Act 170. Section 3(a) prohibits public officials
from using their office or information gained in that office
for personal financial gain. Your letter indicates this
circumstance does not exist in the case cited.
The county commissioner would have no conflict of interest
if the insurance company rents office space from his corporation.
To avoid the appearance of a conflict of interest, we suggest
his interest in the corporation should be publicly made known.
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.