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HomeMy WebLinkAbout99-646 ConfidentialSTATE ETHICS COMMISSION 309 FINANCE BUILDING P.O. BOX 11470 HARRISBURG, PA 17108 -1470 (717) 783 -1610 1- 800 - 932 -0936 ADVICE OF COUNSEL December 28, 1999 99 -646 Re: Former Public Employee; Section 1103(g); Deputy Director; B County; C Department; D Airport; Loaned Executive; License Agreement; Magazine. This responds to your letter of November 26, 1999 by which you requested a confidential advice from the State Ethics Commission. Issue: Whether the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act ( "Ethics Act ") presents any restrictions upon employment of a Deputy Director following termination of service with the B County C Department, D Airport. Facts: You represent A, the former Deputy Director of the B County C Department, D Airport. A held the position of Deputy Director from April 15, 1996 until on or about August 6, 1999 when his position was eliminated due to D Airport's reorganization which was instituted by E, the present Director of F. However, A remains on D Airport's payroll as a "loaned executive" to the G until December 31, 1999. As Deputy Director, A reported directly to the D Airport Director and was responsible for H for D Airport. He supervised 19 employees. You state that to A's knowledge, there was no published job description or organizational chart for his position as Deputy Director. After A leaves his employment with D Airport, he and D Airport intend to enter into a License Agreement pursuant to which A will be granted an exclusive right and license to publish an airport magazine at D Airport and the adjacent hotel. The magazine will be owned solely by A or a company which he will form, and will provide advertisers and other stakeholders an opportunity to deliver their marketing message to the I passengers who pass through D Airport. He will share advertising receipts with D Airport. You have submitted a copy of an executed Letter of Intent marked as Exhibit "A ", which is incorporated herein by reference. On behalf of A, you request a confidential advice as to whether the transactions contemplated herein are legal under the Ethics Act. Discussion: In the capacity as Deputy Director of the B County C Department, D Airport, A would be considered a "public employee" subject to the Ethics Act and the Regulations of the State Ethics Commission. See, 65 Pa.C.S. §1102; 51 Pa.Code §11.1. This conclusion is based upon the submitted facts, which when reviewed on an objective basis, indicates clearly that the power exists to take or recommend official action of a non - ministerial nature with respect to one or more of the following: contracting; procurement; planning; inspecting; administering or monitoring grants; leasing; regulating; auditing; or other activities where the economic impact is greater than de minimis on the interests of another person. FAX: (717) 787 -0806 • Web Site: www.ethics.state.pa.us • e -mail: ethics @state.pa.us Confidential Advice, 99 -646 December 28, 1999 Page 2 Consequently, upon termination of public service, A would become a "former public employee" subject to Section 1 103(g) of the Ethics Act. While Section 1 103(g) does not prohibit a former public official /public employee from accepting a position of employment, it does restrict the former public official /public employee with regard to "representing" a "person" before "the governmental body with which he has been associated ": Section 1 103. Restricted activities. (g) Former official or employee. - -No former public official or public employee shall represent a person, with promised or actual compensation, on any matter before the governmental body with which he has been associated for one year after he leaves that body. 65 Pa.C.S. §1103(g) (Emphasis added). The terms "represent," "person," and "governmental body with which a public official or public employee is or has been associated" are specifically defined in the Ethics Act as follows: 65 Pa.C.S. §1102. Section 1102. Definitions. "Represent." To act on behalf of any other person in any activity which includes, but is not limited to, the following: personal appearances, negotiations, lobbying and submitting bid or contract proposals which are signed by or contain the name of a former public official or public employee. "Person." A business, governmental body, individual, corporation, union, association, firm, partnership, committee, club or other organization or group of persons. "Governmental body with which a public official or public employee is or has been associated." The governmental body within State government or a political subdivision by which the public official or employee is or has been employed or to which the public official or employee is or has been appointed or elected and subdivisions and offices within that governmental body. The term "Person" is very broadly defined. It includes, inter alia, corporations and other businesses. It also includes the former public employee himself, Confidential Opinion 93 -005, as well as a new governmental employer. Ledebur, Opinion 95 -007. The term "representation" is also broadly defined to prohibit acting on behalf of any person in any activity. Examples of prohibited representation include: (1) personal appearances before the former governmental body or bodies; (2) attempts to influence; (3) submission of bid or contract proposals which are signed by or contain the name of the former public official /public employee; (4) participating in any matters before the Confidential Advice, 99 -646 December 28, 1999 Page 3 former governmental body as to acting on behalf of a person; and (5) lobbying. Popovich, Opinion 89 -005. Listing one's name as the person who will provide technical assistance on a proposal, document, or bid, if submitted to or reviewed by the former governmental body, constitutes an attempt to influence the former governmental body. Section 1103(g) also generally prohibits the inclusion of the name of a former public official /public employee on invoices submitted by his new employer to the former governmental body, even though the invoices pertain to a contract that existed prior to termination of public service, Shay, Opinion 91 -012. However, if such a pre- existing contract does not involve the unit where the former public employee worked, the name of the former public employee may appear on routine invoices if required by the regulations of the agency to which the billing is being submitted. Abrams /Webster, Opinion 95 -01 1. A former public official /public employee may assist in the preparation of any documents presented to his former governmental body. However, the public official /public employee may not be identified on documents submitted to the former governmental body. The public official /public employee may also counsel any person regarding that person's appearance before his former governmental body. Once again, however, the activity in this respect should not be revealed to the former governmental body. The Ethics Act would not prohibit or preclude making general informational inquiries to the former governmental body to secure information which is available to the general public, but this must not be done in an effort to indirectly influence the former governmental body or to otherwise make known to that body the representation of, or work for the new employer. Section 1103(g) only restricts the former public official /public employee with regard to representation before his former governmental body. The former public official /public employee is not restricted as to representation before other agencies or entities. However, the "governmental body with which a public official /public employee is or has been associated" is not limited to the particular subdivision of the agency or other governmental body where the public official /public employee had influence or control but extends to the entire body. See, Legislative Journal of House, 1989 Session, No. 15 at 290, 291; Sirolli, Opinion No. 90 -006; Sharp, Opinion 90- 009 -R. The governmental body with which A would be associated upon termination of public service is B County in its entirety, including but not limited to D Airport. Therefore, for the first year after termination of A's service with B County, Section 1 103(g) of the Ethics Act would apply and restrict "representation" of "persons" before B County. As to the propriety of the transaction in question, the Ethics Act would not per se prohibit A from publishing an airport magazine following termination of service with B County. However, given the fact that the Letter of Intent and /or License Agreement involves certain rights, duties and obligations that would necessitate extensive interaction with B County, it would appear impossible as a practical matter for A to take various actions under the agreement(s) without transgressing Section 1 103(g) of the Ethics Act. In fulfilling his contractual obligations, A would be acting on his own behalf and would necessarily engage in prohibited representation before his former governmental body. See, Stanisic, Opinion No. 98 -004. Based upon the facts which have been submitted, this Advice has addressed the applicability of Section 1 103(g) only. It is expressly assumed that there has been no use of authority of office for a private pecuniary benefit as prohibited by Section 1 103(a) of the Ethics Act. Further, you are advised that Sections 1 103(b) and 1 103(c) of the Ethics Confidential Advice, 99 -646 December 28, 1999 Page 4 Act provide in part that no person shall offer to a public official /public employee and no public official /public employee shall solicit or accept anything of monetary value based upon the understanding that the vote, official action, or judgment of the public official /public employee would be influenced thereby. Reference is made to these provisions of the law not to imply that there has been or will be any transgression thereof but merely to provide a complete response to the question presented. Lastly, the propriety of the proposed conduct has only been addressed under the Ethics Act; 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. Conclusion: In the former capacity as Deputy Director of the B County C Department, D Airport, A would be considered a "public employee" as defined in the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act ( "Ethics Act "), Act 93 of 1998, Chapter 11. Upon termination of service with the B County C Department, A would become a "former public employee" subject to Section 1103(g) of the Ethics Act. The former governmental body is B County in its entirety, including but not limited to D Airport. The restrictions as to representation outlined above must be followed. The propriety of the proposed conduct has only been addressed under the Ethics Act. Further, should service be terminated, as outlined above, the Ethics Act would require that a Statement of Financial Interests be filed by no later than May 1 of the year after termination of service. Pursuant to Section 1 107(1 1), an 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, provided 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. 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. 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 Vincent J. Dopko Chief Counsel