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HomeMy WebLinkAbout902 HoltzmanSTATE ETHICS COMMISSION 308 FINANCE BUILDING HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA 17120 In Re: Kathy L. Holtzman : File Docket: 92- 037 -C2 : Date Decided: 9/28/93 : Date Mailed: 10/07/93 Before: James M. Howley, Chair Daneen E. Reese, Vice Chair Dennis C. Harrington Austin M. Lee Joseph W. Marshall, III The State Ethics Commission received a complaint regarding a possible violation of the State Ethics Act, Act 9 of 1989, 65 P.S. §401 et seq. Written notice, of the specific allegation(s) was served at the commencement of the investigation. A Findings Report was issued and served, upon completion of the investigation, which constituted the Complaint by the Investigation Division. An Answer was not timely filed and a hearing was deemed waived. The record is complete. This adjudication of the Commission is hereby issued which sets forth the individual Allegations, Findings of Fact, Discussion, Conclusions of Law and Order. This adjudication is final and will be made available as a public document fifteen days after issuance. However, reconsideration may be requested which will defer public release of this adjudication pending action on the request by the Commission. A request for reconsideration, however, does not affect the finality of this adjudication. A reconsideration request must be received at this Commission within fifteen days of issuance and must include a detailed explanation of the reasons as to why reconsideration should be granted in conformity with 51 Pa. Code §21.29(b). The files in this case will remain confidential in accordance with Act 9 of 1989, 65 P.S. S408(h) during the fifteen day period and no one unless the right to challenge this Order is waived, may violate confidentiality by releasing, discussing or circulating this Order. However, confidentiality does not preclude discussing this case with an attorney at law. Any person who violates confidentiality of the Ethics Act is guilty of a misdemeanor subject to a fine of not more than $1,000 or imprisonment for not more than one year, 65 P.S. §409(e). Holtzman, 92- 037 -C2 Page 2 I. ALLEGATION: That Kathy L. Holtzman, a Cambria County Commissioner, violated the following provisions of the State Ethics Act, Act 9 of 1989, when she accepted campaign contributions from the Gleason Insurance Agency in return for her official actions as a county commissioner to award a no -bid insurance contract to the Gleason Agency. Section 3. Restricted Activities (a) No public official or public employee shall engage in conduct that constitutes a conflict of interest. 65 P.S. 5403(a). (c) No public official, public employee or nominee or candidate for public office shall solicit or accept, anything of monetary value, including a gift, loan, political contribution, reward, or promise of future employment based on any understanding of that public official, public employee or nominee that the vote, official action, or judgment of the public official or public employee or nominee or candidate for public office would be influenced thereby. 65 P.S. §403(c). II. FINDINGS: 1. Kathy Holtzman serves as a Cambria County Commissioner. a. She has served in that position since January, 1988. b. The Cambria County Board of Commissioners is comprised of three (3) members. 2. Kathy Holtzman was elected President of the Board of Commissioners in January, 1992. a. Holtzman was an incumbent in the 1991 election. b. Holtzman is a Republican. c. The Republican Party gained control of the Board in January, 1992. d. Prior to January, 1992, the Democratic Party . held a majority on the three member Board of Commissioners. Holtzman, 92- 037 -C2 Page 3 3. The Gleason Agency, Inc., is an insurance firm owned and operated by Robert A. Gleason, Jr., and Christopher K. Gleason. a. The Gleason Agency is located at BT Financial Plaza, Suite 204, P.O. Box #8, Johnstown, PA, 15907. b. The firm was previously owned by Robert A. Gleason, Sr., father of Robert, Jr., and Christopher. 4. The Gleason family is involved with politics at both the state and local levels. a. Robert A. Gleason, Sr., is Chairman of the Cambria County Republican Committee. b. Robert A. Gleason, Jr., is Vice - Chairman of the Cambria County Republican Committee. (1) He also serves as the elected representative for the Republican Committee in Westmont Borough. c. Christopher Gleason is a member of the Finance Committee for the State Republican Party. d. Robert D. Gleason is a State Committeeman. 5. The involvement of the family of Robert A. Gleason, Jr., in the management of Kathy Holtzman's re- election campaign included: a. Financial support through contributions of their own and solicitation of contributions from others; b. Campaigning; c. Advise and weekly campaign strategy meetings; d. Recruiting votes; e. Holding fund raisers which included a $100.00 per ticket wine and cheese party; a $25.00 per ticket ox roast dinner, and a $300.00 per couple inaugural dinner /dance. 6. In 1991, Kathy Holtzman ran on a ticket which included candidate Mark Wissinger. 7. 1991 Campaign Finance Reports show that Holtzman received contributions and loans from members of the Gleason family. Holtzman, 92- 037 -C2 Page 4 8. Contributions to Kathy Holtzman for Commissioner Committee by members of the Gleason family during her 1991 campaign for re- election, and their relationship to Robert A., Jr., and Christopher include: Andrew J. Gleason 10/26/91 (Uncle) Robert D. Gleason, Esquire 4/28/91 (Cousin) 10/26/91 Robert A. Gleason, Sr. 4/28/91 (Father) 9. Contributions to "Friends of Kathy and Mark" Committee by members of the Gleason family during her 1991 campaign for re- election and their relationship to Robert A., Jr., and Christopher include: Robert A. (Father) Robert D. (Cousin) Christopher Gleason Robert A., Sr., and Thelma K. Gleason (Father and mother) Michael Gleason (Son) Jonathan Gleason (Son) Gleason, Sr. Gleason, Esquire Jeanne Gleason (Wife) Robert A. Gleason, Jr. 12/18/91 5/14/91 5/14/91 8/16/91 10/30/91 10/30/91 10/30/91 5/14/91 $100.00 $100.00 $100.00 $100.00 $1,200.00 $ 100.00 $ 500.00 $ 100.00 $ 100.00 $ 100.00 $ 100.00 $1,000.00 10. Section 2.2 of the Campaign Expense Report filed by the "Friends of Kathy and Mark" committee show a $2,000.00 loan from C.R. Gleason, a self - employed insurance broker. a. Christopher Gleason is one -half owner of the Gleason Agency. (See finding 3). Holtzman, 92- 037 -C2 Page 5 b. Schedule II Summary of Expenditures show that the loan was repaid to C.R. Gleason by the Committee on April 23, 1991. 11. In February, 1992, a contract for Professional Liability Insurance for placed with The Gleason Agency, Inc. a. The Gleason Agency had never contract prior to this time. the General Hospital Laurel Crest Manor was bid on this insurance 12. Laurel Crest Manor is a nursing facility owned and operated by Cambria County. 13. Cambria County contracts with National Health Care Services Incorporated to operate Laurel Crest Manor. a. Larry White was employed by National Health Care Services Inc. as Administrator of Laurel Crest Manor. b. Thomas Finucane was employed by National Health Care Services, Inc., as Assistant Administrator. 14. In 1991, the liability insurance for Laurel Crest Manor was handled by Ebensburg Insurance Agency, 129 E. High Street, P.O. Box 90, Ebensburg, PA 15931. a. The policy was automatically renewed annually. b. The policy term was 2/17/91 to 2/17/92. c. The policy was not bid since this is considered a service. 15. By way of letter dated February 10, 1992, Carl DeYulis, broker for Ebensburg Insurance Agency, advised Larry White, Administrator for Laurel Crest Manor, of the renewal quotation for the General and Hospital Professional Liability policy. a. An attached invoice reflects the premium for the policy term 2/17/92 to 2/17/93, was $70,084.00. b. Notification of renewal was required by 2/14/92. c. A completed, signed application was necessary before coverage would be bound. 16. Ebensburg Insurance Agency, Inc., had initially sent an application for renewal of the liability insurance on November 28, 1991. Holtzman, 92- 037 -C2 Page 6 a. Between November 28, 1991, and February 10, 1992, several calls were made to Laurel Crest Manor to determine when the application would be submitted. b. Laurel Crest Manor advised that they did not know how they were going to proceed. 17. By way of letter dated January 16, 1992, Ebensburg Insurance Agency received a request for the Loss Runs from Larry White, Administrator. a. Loss Runs show previous claims against the policy. b. Loss Runs are used to determine premiums. c. This information was necessary in order to obtain premium quotes from insurance companies. 18. U. S. Underwriters, the company which held the liability policy for Laurel Crest Manor, did not respond in a timely manner to the request for the Loss Runs. a. Ebensburg Insurance did not deal directly with U. S. Underwriters. b. Montgomery General Agency, Inc., Ardmore, PA., acted as broker between Ebensburg Insurance Agency and U. S. Underwriters. 19. By facsimile communication, dated 2/14/92, Mike McCarthy of Bryson Associates, Inc., advised Lynn Stano of the Gleason Agency that a Binder was obtained as per a previous quotation. a. Policy #GA705701, was issued with a term 2/17/92 to 2/17/93. b. February 14, 1992, fell on Thursday, the second to last business day before the old policy expired. 20. On February 18,. 1993, Bryson Associates, Inc., provided the Gleason Agency with a Binder for the Laurel Crest Manor policy. a. The binder was with Diamond State Insurance Company. b. The binder covered Broad Form Comprehensive and Hospital Professional Liability. c. The binder is dated 2/18/92 and signed by James H. Bryson, President. Holtzman, 92- 037 -C2 Page 7 21. By way of letter dated 2/19/92, Lynn Stano, Placement Coordinator for The Gleason Agency, Inc., provided Larry White, Administrator of Laurel Crest Manor, with two bills in relation to the Liability Insurance Policy. a . General Liability CAT Fund invoice Total 48,768.00 $18,900.00 $67,668.00 b. At the time this quote was given, Ebensburg Insurance Agency had already given its quote to Larry White. 22. On Monday, February 18, 1992, an informal meeting was held in the County Commissioner's Meeting room, during which the liability insurance was discussed. a. Present at the meeting were the County Commissioners, Holtzman, Wissinger, and Baranik; Larry White and Thomas Finucane. b. The liability policy renewal date was February 17, 1991, one day prior to the meeting. 23. During the meeting, White advised the commissioners that the liability insurance policy had expired on 2/17/92. a. He further advised that he had contacted another company for a quote on the policy. b. The search for alternate insurance took longer than expected. 24. White advised the commissioners that, in order to keep the facility insured, he had signed a binder with The Gleason Agency, Inc. a. The only other quote White had received for the liability insurance was from Ebensburg Insurance Agency. b. The quote from the Gleason Agency was $3,000.00 less than that provided by Ebensburg Insurance Agency. 25. During the meeting of February 18, White further advised that acting on the suggestion of Commissioner Holtzman, White had contacted The Gleason Agency for a quote on the liability policy. a. This suggestion was in response to White's request to obtain competitive prices from companies other than Ebensburg Insurance Agency. Holtzman, 92- 037 -C2 Page 8 b. No other companies were recommended by Holtzman. c. No other companies were contacted by White. 26. White signed the Binder with the Gleason Agency in order to keep liability insurance coverage, which expired on 2/17/92, from lapsing. 27. White did not advise the Commissioners that he was going to sign the Binder prior to obtaining coverage from the Gleason Agency. a. Insurance had always been automatically renewed under the previous administration. b. The Board of Commissioners never took official action to renew insurance ,policies, in the past. 28. Michael Gleason, of The Gleason Agency, completed an Insurance Survey Form, dated January 16, 1992, with information provided by Larry White. a. On the same date, White wrote to Ebensburg Insurance Agency and requested the Loss Run information. (See Finding #17). 29. The Gleason Agency contacted three other companies in an effort to procure coverage for Laurel Crest Manor. a. These companies are listed on a form titled "Report of Transaction With Unlicensed Insurer(s) in Accordance With Sections 4(a) and 4(b) of Surplus Lines Law, Act #531 ". b. The licensed companies contacted were all located in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and included Continental; Chubb; and Zurich. c. The form was signed by Christopher R. Gleason, part -owner of The Gleason Agency, Inc. 30. According to documents provided by the Gleason Agency, the Loss Runs were finally provided by U. S. Underwriters only after the Gleason Agency was identified as Broker of Record. a. This information was provided on April 27, 1992. b. Larry White provided the letter identifying the Gleason Agency as Broker of Record at the request of The Gleason Agency. Ho ;tzman, 92- 037 -C2 Page 9 c. The Gleason Agency made this request only after repeated attempts were made to obtain the needed information. (Reference Finding #18). 31. Laurel Crest Manor had lost it's accreditation during Holtzman's first term as a Commissioner. a. This meant the loss of the Federal funding. b. National Health Care Services, Inc., was contracted with to restore the accreditation, which was achieved. c. A lapse in the liability insurance for the facility would have affected the existing accreditation. 32. During a meeting with Commissioner Holtzman, White suggested they obtain additional quotes on the policy-and asked if there were other agencies in the county to contact. a. At that time, Holtzman suggested contacting the Gleason Agency. 33. Holtzman stated to Ted Baranik, a member of the Board of County Commissioners, that she had told the Gleason Agency that they would get the majority of the county insurance. a. Holtzman also stated to Baranik that during the four years that she had served as Minority Republican Commissioner, she had not objected when the Democrats had given the insurance to Ebensburg Insurance Agency. 34. Subsequent to this meeting, the commissioners agreed to put all insurance out for Requests for Proposals (R.F.P's.). 35. Kathy Holtzman denies that she stated that she had promised most of the county insurance to the Gleason Agency. III. DISCUSSION: As a Commissioner for Cambria County, Kathy L. Holtzman, hereinafter Holtzman, is a public Official as that term is defined under Act 9 of 1989. 65 P.S. 5402. As such, her conduct is subject to the provisions of the Ethics Law and the restrictions therein are applicable to her. Initially, it is noted that Section 9 of Act 9 of June 26, 1989 provides, in part, as follows: This amendatory act shall not apply to violations committed prior to the effective Holtzman, 92- 037 -C2 Page 10 date of this act, and causes of action initiated for such violations shall be governed by the prior law, which is continued in effect for that purpose as if this act were not in force. For the purposes of this section, a violation was committed prior to the effective date of this act if any elements of the violation occurred prior thereto. Since the occurrences in this case transpired after effective date of Act 9 (June 26, 1989), we must apply provisions of Act 9 to determine whether the Ethics Act violated. Under Section 3(a) of Act 9 of 1989 quoted above, a public official /employee shall not engage in conduct that constitutes a conflict of interest. The term "conflict of interest" is defined under Act 9 of 1989 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 or his immediate family or a business with which he or a member of his immediate family is associated. 65 P.S. §402. Section 3(c) of Act public official /employee monetary value based upon action, or judgement of influenced thereby. the the was 9 quoted above provides in part that no shall solicit or accept anything of the understanding that the vote, official the public official /employee would be As a preliminary matter, we must address three separate submissions which were received from the respondent: an answer which was received one day late, two subsequent affidavits Holtzman, 92- 037 -C2 Page 11 containing factual averments and an Application to file an Answer Nunc Pro Tunc. As to the untimely Answer, it is clear under the Ethics Law the Regulations, general administrative agency law and judicial precedent that the respondent's answer had to have been received on or before thirty days of the issuance of the Investigative Division Complaint (June 14, 1993). Thus, the Answer was due by July 14, 1993. The Answer of the Respondent was received at the Commission on July 15, 1993. The case law is clear that absent a showing of down in the postal system, time requirements for agencies are mandatory and may not be extended. Pennsylvania Game Commission, 83 Pa. Commw. 59, (1984); Dilenno v. Unemployment Compensation Board Pa. Commw. 496, 429 A.2d 1288 (1981); Mayer v. Compensation Board of Review, 27 Pa. Commw. 44, (1976). Id. at ' 214. fraud or break administrative See Getz v. 475 A.2d 1369 of Review, 59 Unemployment 366 A.2d 665 Respondent offered no excuse whatsoever for the late filing. We do not have any latitude for extending the deadline, absent a request for an extension that has been submitted and approved prior to the deadline, since the Ethics Law requires that we must decide and issue an Order within 30 days of the closing of the record. The significance of the foregoing deadline is that this Commission can not sit idly by waiting for Answer to be filed (after the deadline) when this Commission is itself required to make and issue a determination within 30 days. Respondent, however, argues that McBride v. Rome, 347 Pa. 228, 32 A.2d 212 (1943) stands for the proposition that a filing may be made late when due to the negligence of the respondent's counsel. In McBride v. Rome, supra, the Court did allow a filing of a claim for damages against a municipality resulting from counsel's negligence. However, the linchpin of the decision was based upon a statute which allowed an exception where a reasonable excuse was shown with leave granted by court. The Pennsylvania Supreme Court in reaching its holding set forth the following legal principle concerning filing deadlines: "If this act had not contained an exception, the mandatory nature of the initial provisions of the act and the fact that previous notice was a condition precedent to the right to bring the action would have prevented the court from granting the relief asked." (Citations omitted). Holtzman, 92- 037 -C2 Page 12 We must therefore decide the case based upon the findings in the Investigative Complaint which are deemed admitted by the failure to file an Answer within 30 days. Turning to the two affidavits which respondent has supplied, such a submission is for the stated purpose of challenging certain findings in the Investigative Complaint. We have difficulty with such a submission after the record is closed. In particular, respondent is attempting to interject matters of a factual nature in an ex parte fashion without a format whereby the Investigative Division may have input or raise a challenge. The argument by respondent that such is permissible under 65 P.S. 5407(4) as voluntarily supplied information is unavailing since that provision of the Ethics Law must be read in the context of such information vis -a -vis Statements of Financial Interests but clearly not in the context of making a record based upon the statutory procedures set forth in 65 P.S. S407 (4) . We therefore may not consider such an ex parte submission of the respondent which sets forth factual averments. Lastly, the respondent filed an Application to file an Answer Nunc Pro Tunc on July 21, 1993. Although the respondent meanders in the Application, it appears that the proffered basis for the late filing was because the respondent delivered her responses on July 14, 1993 and respondent's counsel contacted the Commission on July 15, 1993 to request an extension wherein he was informed that the deadline for filing an Answer had expired on the previous day. As noted above, extensions must be requested prior to and not after the statutory deadline expires. Brunton, Order 884 -R. In any event, the fact that respondent waited until the filing deadline to return her responses to her counsel does not form a basis to excuse such nonchalance as to meeting a statutory deadline. We therefore deny the Application. The substantive issues before us are whether Holtzman as a Cambria County Commissioner violated either section 3(a) or 3(c) of Act 9 quoted above regarding the allegation that she accepted campaign contributions from the Gleason Insurance Agency in return for her action as a county commissioner in awarding a no -bid insurance contract to that agency. Factually, Holtzman has served as a Cambria County Commissioner since January, 1988. In January, 1992 when the County Board of Commissioners shifted in control from a Democratic to a Republican majority, Holtzman was elected as president of the board. When Holtzman ran as an incumbent in the 1991 election, she received financial and other support from the Gleason family which is active in Cambria County Republican politics. Robert A. Gleason, Sr., who is the Chairman of the Cambria County Republican Holtzman, 92- 037 -C2 Page 13 Committee and Robert A. Gleason, Jr. and Christopher K. Gleason who are owners of an insurance firm known as Gleason Agency, Inc. made financial contributions to Holtzman's re- election committee on certain dates and in specified amounts. (Fact Finding 8.) In addition contributions were made by Robert Sr, Jr, and Christopher Gleason as well as other members of the Gleason family to the "Friends of Kathy and Mark" committee which aided Holtzman and another individual who were running as Republican candidates in the 1991 election. (Fact Finding 9.) Finally, a $2,000 loan was made by C.K. Gleason to the "Friends of Kathy and Mark" committee which loan was subsequently repaid. (Fact Finding 10.) Approximately one month after Holtzman was elected as president of the county board of commissioners, an insurance policy on the Laurel Crest Manor, a county owned and operated nursing facility, became subject to renewal. The liability insurance policy on the agency had been placed with the Ebensburg Insurance Agency, Inc. which sent an application for renewal of the policy on November 28, 1991. By letter dated February 10, 1992, Carl DeYulas, the broker for the Ebensburg Insurance Company advised Larry White who is the administrator for the Laural Crest Manor of the renewal quotation as well as an attached invoice for a policy term from February 17, 1992, through February 17, 1993, with a deadline for notification of renewal by February 14, 1992. However, by letter dated January 16, 1992, Larry White requested a list of "loss runs ", which is a statement of claims against the existing policy from the Ebensburg Insurance Agency which would be used as necessary information in order to obtain quotes from other insurance companies. Through a FAX transmission of February 14, 1992, Bryson Associates Inc. advised the Gleason Agency that a binder was obtained relative to the Laurel Crest Manor. On February 18, 1993, Bryson Associates Inc. provided the Gleason Agency with a binder for the Laurel Crest Manor policy. Larry White advised the county commissioners that he obtained the binder with the Gleason Agency in order to keep Laurel Crest Manor insured. The county board of commissioners met on February 18, 1992, which was one day after the insurance was renewed. Although the commissioners discussed the insurance matter, they did not take official action on the insurance. As to the cost of insurance for the Laurel Crest Manor, the quote from Gleason Agency was $3,000 less than that provided by the Ebensburg Insurance Agency. During a discussion of the county commissioners on February 18, 1992, White had indicated that Holtzman had advised him to contact the Gleason Agency for a quote on the liability insurance policy. No other companies were recommended by Holtzman and no other companies were contacted by White. Holtzman, 92- 037 -C2 Page 14 Lastly, although County Commissioner Ted Baranik stated that Holtzman told him that she told the Gleason Agency that she would get a majority of the county insurance business for the Gleason Agency, Holtzman denies that she made such a statement. In applying the provisions of Section 3(a) and 3(c) of Act 9 of 1989, we do not find violations of those provisions of the Ethics Law. As to Section 3(a), it is clear there was a use of authority of office by Holtzman when she recommended to Larry White that he contact the Gleason Agency for an insurance policy quote. Such action by Holtzman in the position of a county commissioner is clearly a use of authority of office. See Juliante Order 809. There is also no question that Holtzman received private pecuniary benefits from the owners of the Gleason Agency Inc. in the form of campaign contributions and other assistance. (Fact Finding 5.) However, we do not find a linkage between these two activities which would form the basis of a violation of Section 3(a) of Act 9. Accordingly, we find no violation of Section 3(a) of Act 9 of 1989. In Bartle, Order No. 659, we held that a county commissioner did not violate Sections 3(a) or 3(b) of the Ethics Act in participating in a matter involving a firm from which various individuals contributed to his re- election campaign, since there was no evidence to establish a connection between the involvement by the public official and the re- election campaign contributions by persons in the firm. See also, Wolfcanct, Opinion No. 89 -028. Similarly, we find no violation of Section 3(c) of Act 9 of 1989 for the same reason in that the record does not establish that there was an understanding between Holtzman and the Gleasons relative to her recommending the Gleason Insurance Agency and the Gleasons supplying campaign contributions and assistance on behalf of Holtzman's candidacy. See Gilchrist, Order 802; Moore, Order 780. On that basis, we find no violation of Section 3(c) of Act 9 of 1989. IV. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW: 1. Kathy L. Holtzman as a Cambria County-Commissioner is a public official subject to the provisions of Act 9 of 1989. 2. Holtzman did not violate Section 3(a) of Act 9 of 1989 regarding her recommendation of the Gleason Insurance Agency as to an insurance policy on a county owned nursing facility and the receipt of campaign contributions and assistance from members of the Gleason Insurance Agency based upon the evidence of record. 3. Holtzman did not violate Section 3(c) of Act 9 of 1989 as to the receipt of campaign contributions and assistance from Holtzman, 92- 037 -C2 Page 15 owners from the Gleason Insurance Agency and her recommendation of the Gleason Insurance Agency as to an insurance policy for a county owned nursing facility in that the record does not establish that any understanding existed between Holtzman and the Gleasons. In Re: Kathy L. Holtzman : File Docket: 92- 037 -C2 : Date Decided: 9/28/93 : Date Mailed: 10/07/93 ORDER NO. 902 1. Kathy Holtzman as a Cambria County Commissioner did not violate Section 3(a) of Act 9 of 1989 regarding her recommendation of the Gleason Insurance Agency as to an insurance policy on a county owned nursing facility and the receipt of campaign contributions and assistance from members of the Gleason Insurance Agency based upon the evidence of record. 2. Holtzman did not violate Section 3(c) of Act 9 of 1989 as to the receipt of campaign contributions and assistance from owners from the Gleason Insurance Agency and her recommendation of the Gleason Insurance Agency as to an insurance policy for a county owned nursing facility in that the record does not establish that any understanding existed between Holtzman and the Gleasons. Commisioner Austin M. Lee abstained. BY THE COMMISSION, JAMES M. HOWLEY, CHAIR