HomeMy WebLinkAbout35 SonneyMr. James W. Sonney
7811 East Lake Road
Erie, PA 16511
Re: Complaint #80 -20 -C
Dear Mr. Sonney:
B. Findings:
STATE ETHICS COMMISSION
308 FINANCE BUILDING
HARRISBURG, PENNSYLVANIA 17120
ORDER OF THE COI1MISSION
April 27, 1981
No. 35
#80 -20 -C
As you were previously advised the State Ethics Com-
mission received a complaint regarding you as a Supervisor
in Harborcreek Township. The Commission has now completed
its investigation and finds no actual conflict of interest
in the circumstances presented. However, there may be the
appearance of a conflict of interest in one of your actions
as a Supervisor and you are advised to avoid the possible
appearance of conflict in the future by abstaining from
voting in like circumstances.
This Order has been approved by the full Commission and
constitutes their final Order.
The allegations and findings on which our conclusions
are based are:
I. A. Allegation: That while serving as a duly - elected
Supervisor of Harborcreek Township, you voted
for a landfill requested by General Electric
Corporation (hereinafter, G.E.) for whom you
worked.
1. You are a duly- elected Supervisor of Harbor -
creek Township.
2. You resigned as an employee of G.E. as of
July 8, 1980. In 1979, you were a foreman in
The Motor and Generating Department of G.E.
and neither you nor your subordinates were
involved in landfill matters. These matters
were the responsibility of a separate organization
in General Electric.
Mr. James W. Sonney
April 27, 1981
Page -2-
PJS /jc
3. Prior to July 8, 1980, you were on a leave
of absence from G.E. from January 7, 1980 to
July 7, 1980.
4. On June 27, 1979 at a meeting of the Supervisors
of Harborcreek Township, you voted for a motion made
by Supervisor Blanchfield, seconded by Supervisor
Passerotti and unanimously adopted to approve a
lease agreement between G.E. and the Township
allowing G.E. to operate a landfill on Harborcreek
Township property in Northeast Township. On
August 1, 1979, the agreement was executed and,
as chairman of the supervisors, you signed it.
5. On August 20, 1980 at a meeting of the Super-
visors of Harborcreek Township, approval was given
to G.E. to open and operate a solid -waste landfill
within the Township located at the property of the
Harborcreek Home for Boys.
C. Discussion: Your vote on August 20, 1980 to approve
the landfill located at the property of the Harbor -
creek Home for Boys was not a violation of the Act
nor did it constitute an appearance because you at
at that time were no longer an employee of G.E.
However, even though your signing of the lease
agreement on August 1, 1979 was a ministerial require-
ment for the Chairman, your vote on June 27, 1979,
while you were still an employee of G.E., may create
the appearance of a conflict of interest.
D. Conclusion: There may have been an appearance
of a conflict of interest created when you as a
public official voted for an agreement with a
company for which you were an employee and you are
advised to avoid this possible appearance of a
conflict by abstaining from voting, in similar
situations should these arise in the future.
All files in this case will remain confidential.
However, this Order is final and will become available as a
public document within 15 days unless you file documentation
with the Commission which justifies reconsideration and /or
challenges pertinent factual findings made.
Sincerely,
Paul J.(Smith
Chairman