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HomeMy WebLinkAbout90-554 BiscoffSTATE ETHICS COMMISSION 308 FINANCE BUILDING P.O. BOX 11470 HARRISBURG, PA 17108 -1470 TELEPHONE (717) 783 -1610 Ms. Carolyn R. Biscoff 13903 Ridge Road West Springfield, PA 16443 -9757 Dear Ms. Biscoff: ADVICE OF COUNSEL May 25, 1990 90 -554 i Re: Simultaneous Service, Township Tax Collector and Township Secretary /Treasurer. This responds to your letter of April 11, 1990, in which you requested advice from the State Ethics Commission. Issue: Whether the Public Official and Employee Ethics Law imposes any prohibition or restrictions upon a township tax collector from also serving or being employed as a township secretary /treasurer. Facts: You are the elected tax collector of Springfield Township in Erie County and at the request of the solicitor you inquire as to whether you may hold the office of secretary /treasurer of the township. The present township secretary is retiring early in 1991 and you would like to fill the position. You have been approached by the supervisors of the township as to whether you would be interested in the appointed position. After noting that you are a fifty -six years old with a daughter taking a two year business course at the local college /school, the position would be part time but would be a help to you financially to pay for your expenses in that you must secure another source of income to manage your affairs. The present office hours for the township secretary are Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 8:00 a.m. and noon while the tax offices open Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 1:00 to 5:00 p.m. You conclude by requesting advice from the Commission as to whether any restriction or prohibition would exist upon the tax collector from holding, during her term, the position of township secretary /treasurer. Discussion: As a tax collector for Springfield Township, you are a "public official" as that term is defined in the Ethics Law and hence you are subject to the provisions of the Ethics Law. 65 P.S. 402; 51 Pa. Code 1.1. Ms. Carolyn R. Biscoff Page 2 Section 3(a) of the Ethics Act provides: Section 3. Restricted Activities. (a) No public official or public employee shall engage in conduct that constitutes a conflict of interest. The following terms are defined under the Ethics Law: Section 2. 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. "Conflict" or "conflict of interest" 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 or 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. In addition, Sections 3(b) and 3(c) of the Ethics Law provide in part that no person shall offer to a public official /employee anything of monetary value and no public official /employee shall solicit or accept any thing of monetary value based upon the understanding that official /employee would be influenced thereby. Reference is made to these provisions of the law not to imply that there has or will be any transgression thereof but merely to provide a complete response to the question presented. Ms. Carolyn R. Biscoff Page 3 In applying the above provisions of the Ethics Law to the question of simultaneous service, there does not appear to be any real possibility of a private pecuniary benefit or inherent conflict arising if you were to serve both as a public official /employee and as township secretary /treasurer. Basically, the Ethics Law does not state that it is inherently incompatible for a public official /employee to serve or be employed as township secretary /treasurer. The main prohibition under the Ethics Law and Opinions of the Ethics Commission is that one may not Serve the interests of two persons, groups, or entities whose interests may be adverse. Smith Opinion, 89 -010. In the situation outlined above, you would not be serving entities with interests which are adverse to each other. However, if a situation arises where you or the respective entities you represent develop an adverse interest, then you must remove yourself from that particular matter and disclose the nature of your interest in a written memorandum to the appropriate person (supervisor or secretary who keeps the minutes). If such a situation would arise, additional advice may be sought from the Commission. Lastly, the propriety of the proposed conduct has only been addressed under the Ethics Law; 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 interpretation of the Ethics Act. Specifically not addressed herein is the applicability of the Second Class Township Code or Local Township Collection Law. Conclusion: As a tax collector for Springfield Township, you are a "public official" subject to the provisions of the Ethics Law. As a public official /employee, you may, consistent with Section 3(a) of the Ethics Law, simultaneously serve in the positions of township tax collector and township secretary /treasurer. Lastly, the propriety of the proposed course of conduct has only been addressed under the Ethics Act. 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. This letter is a public record and will be made available as such. Ms. Carolyn R. Biscoff Page 4 Finally, if you disagree with this Advice or if you have any reason to challenge same, you may request that the full Commission review this Advice. A personal appearance before the Commission will be scheduled and a formal Opinion from the Commission will be issued. Any such appeal must be in writing and must be received at the Commission within 15 days of the date of this Advice pursuant to 51 Pa. Code 2.12. Sjncerely, Vincent J. Dopk Chief Counsel