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Home My WebLink About94-551 GrieneisenSTATE ETHICS COMMISSION 309 FINANCE BUILDING P.O. BOX 11470 HARRISBURG, PA 17108.1470 TELEPHONE (717) 783 -1610 ADVICE OF COUNSEL April 14, 1994 Timothy M. Grieneisen Sanitarian Water Supply and Community Health Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources Knox District Office White Memorial Building Knox, PA 16232 94-551 Re: Conflict, Public Official /Employee, Sanitarian, Department of Environmental Resources, Private Employment or Business, Board of Director for Rails -to- Trails. Dear Mr. Grieneisen: This responds to your letter of March 24, 1994, in which you requested advice from the State Ethics Commission. Issue: Whether a Sanitarian for the Department of Environmental Resources is prohibited or restricted by the Public Official and Employee Ethics Law from working with, being employed by or associated with a business /person in a private capacity in addition to public service. Facts: You are currently employed as a Sanitarian with the Bureau of Water Supply and Community Health of the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Resources, Northwest Regional Office. Your official headquarters is the Knox District Office. Your duties involve regulating public water systems, inspecting and licensing public eating and drinking facilities, inspecting swimming pools, inspecting public schools, and investigating complaints in regard to the same. You have been asked to serve on the Board of Directors for a Rails -to- Trails group. They are organized to develop an abandoned railroad from DuBois (Clearfield County) to Ridgeway (Elk County), Pennsylvania. This group formed approximately two years ago has made substantial progress toward this effort. As of the writing of this memo you have yet to be involved in any of their activities; however, you have been asked to serve on their Board of Directors. Grieneisen, Timothy M., 94 -551 April 14, 1994 Page 2 You believe that Rails -to- Trails projects promote similar goals of the Department and you personally perceive little potential conflict relative to your duties. - Accordingly, you are requesting an Advisory from the State Ethics Commission as to whether there would be potential conflict in your duties with a director of Rails -to- Trails which proposes to develop this trail. Discussion: As a Sanitarian for the Department of Environmental Resources, you are a public employee as that term is defined under the Ethics Law, and hence you are subject to the provisions of that law. Section 3(a) of the Ethics Law 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 in the Ethics Law as follows: 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 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 Grieneisen, Timothy M., 94 -551 April 14, 1994 Page 3 employment. "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. 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 anything . of monetary value based upon the understanding that the vote, official action, or judgement of the public 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. In applying the above provisions of the Ethics Law to the instant matter, we note that Section 3(a) of the Ethics Law does not prohibit public officials /employees from outside business activities or employment; however, the public official /employee may not use the. authority of office for the advancement of his own private pecuniary benefit or that of a business with which he is associated. Pancoe Opinion 89 -011. A public official /employee must exercise caution so that his private business activities do not conflict with his public duties. Crisci, Opinion 89 -013. Thus, a public official /employee could not perform private business using governmental facilities or personnel. In particular, the governmental telephones, postage, staff, equipment, research materials, personnel or any other property could not be used as a means, in whole or part, to carry out private business activities. In addition, the public official /employee could not during government working hours, solicit or promote such business activity. Pancoe, supra. Similarly, Section 3(a) would expressly prohibit the use of confidential information received by holding public office/ employment for such a prohibited private pecuniary benefit. In the event that your private employer or business has a matter pending before your governmental body or if you as part of such official duties must participate, review or pass upon that matter, a conflict would exist. Miller, Opinion 89 -024. In those instances, it will be necessary that you be removed from that process. In such cases as noted above, Section 3(j) of the Ethics Law would require not only that you abstain from participation but also file a written memorandum to that effect with the person recording the minutes or your supervisor. Grieneisen, Timothy M., 94 -551 April 14, 1994 Page 4 In summary, the Ethics Law would restrict the following: 1. The use of authority of office to obtain any business in a private capacity; 2. utilization of confidential information gained through public position; 3. participating in discussions, reviews, or recommendations on matters which relate to the business /private employer which may come before the governmental body and in such cases publicly announcing the relationship or advising the supervisor as well as filing a written memorandum as per the requirements of Section 3(j) of the Ethics Law. Brooks, Opinion 89 -023. 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 Law has not been considered in that they do not involve an interpretation of the Ethics Law. Specifically not addressed herein is the applicability of the Governor's Code of Conduct or the Civil Service Act. Conclusion: As a Sanitarian for the Department of Environmental Resources, you are a public employee subject to the provisions of the Ethics Law. Section 3(a) of the Ethics Law would not preclude you from outside employment /business activity subject to the restrictions and qualifications as noted above. In the event that the employer /business has matters pending before your governmental body, then you could not participate in that matter and the disclosure requirements of Section 3(j) of the Ethics Law as outlined above must be satisfied. Lastly, the propriety of the proposed conduct has only been addressed under the Ethics Law. Pursuant to Section 7(11), 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. such. This letter is a public record and will be made available as 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. Grieneisen, Timothy M., 94 -551 April 14, 1994 Page 5 Any such appeal must be in writing and must be actually received at the Commission within fifteen (15) 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). cerely, Vincent Dop Chief Co sel