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HomeMy WebLinkAbout21-548 Colebank PHONE: 717-783-1610 STATE ETHICS COMMISSION FACSIMILE: 717-787-0806 TOLL FREE: 1-800-932-0936 FINANCE BUILDING WEBSITE: www.ethics.pa.gov 613 NORTH STREET, ROOM 309 HARRISBURG, PA 17120-0400 ADVICE OF COUNSEL September 1, 2021 To the Requester: Mrs. Charity G. Colebank 21-548 Dear Mrs. Colebank: This responds to your submission received August 11, 2021, by which you requested an advisory from the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission (Commission), seeking guidance as to the issue presented below: Issue: Whether, pursuant to Section 1103(a) of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act (Ethics Act), 65 Pa.C.S. § 1101 et seq., you would have a conflict of interest in your capacity as a Member of Council for Scottdale Borough (Borough) or in your capacity as a Member of the Board of the Fayette Westmoreland Sewage Authority (Sewage Authority) with regard to participating in matters involving the takeover of the Borough sewage lines by the Sewage Authority? Brief Answer: As to each of your public capacitiesthat is, as a Member of Borough Council or as a Member of the Sewage Authority Boardabsent some basis for a conflict of interest such as a private pecuniary benefit for you, a member of your immediate family, or a business with which you or a member of your immediate family is associated, you would not have a conflict of interest with regard to participating in matters involving the takeover of the Borough sewage lines by the Sewage Authority. Facts: You request an advisory from the Commission based upon the following submitted facts: You are a Member of Borough Council. You are also a Member of the Board of the Sewage Authority. On December 2, 2022, the Sewage Authority will take over the Borough sewage lines. Colebank, 21-548 September 1, 2021 Page 2 You wish to avoid any potential litigation issues related to the sewage line takeover and your service as both a Borough Council Member and a Member of the Sewage Authority Board. The question that is presented by your advisory request is whether, in your capacity as a Borough Council Member or in your capacity as a Member of the Sewage Authority Board, you would have a conflict of interest with regard to participating in matters involving the takeover of the Borough sewage lines by the Sewage Authority. Discussion: Pursuant to Sections 1107(10) and 1107(11) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. §§ 1107(10), (11), advisories are issued to the requester based upon the facts that the requester has submitted. In issuing the advisory based upon the facts that the requester has submitted, the Commission does not engage in an independent investigation of the facts, nor does it speculate as to facts that have not been submitted. It is the burden of the requester to truthfully disclose all the material facts relevant to the inquiry. 65 Pa.C.S. §§ 1107(10), (11). An advisory only affords a defense to the extent the requester has truthfully disclosed all the material facts. Sections 1103(a) and 1103(j) of the Ethics Act provide: § 1103. Restricted activities (a) Conflict of interest. -- No public official or public employee shall engage in conduct that constitutes a conflict of interest. (j) Voting conflict. -- Where voting conflicts are not otherwise addressed by the Constitution of Pennsylvania or by any law, rule, regulation, order or ordinance, the following procedure shall be employed. Any public official or public employee who in the discharge of his official duties would be required to vote on a matter that would result in a conflict of interest shall abstain from voting and, prior to the vote being taken, publicly announce and disclose the nature of his interest as a public record in a written memorandum filed with the person responsible for recording the minutes of the meeting at which the vote is taken, provided that whenever a governing body would be unable to take any action on a matter before it because the number of members of the body required to abstain from voting under the provisions of this section makes the majority or other legally required vote of approval unattainable, then such members shall be permitted to vote if disclosures are made as otherwise provided herein. In the case of a three-member governing body of a political subdivision, where one member has abstained from voting as a result of a conflict of interest and the remaining two members of the governing body have cast opposing votes, the member who has abstained shall be permitted to vote to break the tie vote if disclosure is made as otherwise provided herein. 65 Pa.C.S. §§ 1103(a), (j). Colebank, 21-548 September 1, 2021 Page 3 The following terms related to Section 1103(a) are defined in the Ethics Act as follows: § 1102. 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. The term 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 employment. Immediate family. A parent, spouse, child, brother or sister. Business. Any corporation, partnership, sole proprietorship, firm, enterprise, franchise, association, organization, self-employed individual, holding company, joint stock company, receivership, trust or any legal entity organized for profit. 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. Political subdivision. Any county, city, borough, incorporated town, township, school district, vocational school, county institution district, and any authority, entity or body organized by the aforementioned. 65 Pa.C.S. § 1102. Subject to the statutory exclusions to the the authority of public office/employment or confidential information received by holding such a public position for the private pecuniary benefit of the public official/public employee himself, any member of his immediate family, or a business with which he or a member of his immediate family is associated. Colebank, 21-548 September 1, 2021 Page 4 The use of authority of office is not limited merely to voting but extends to any use of authority of office including, but not limited to, discussing, conferring with others, and lobbying for a particular result. Juliante, Order 809. In each instance of a conflict of interest, a public official/public employee would be required to abstain from participation, which would include voting unless one of the statutory exceptions of Section 1103(j) of the Ethics Act would be applicable. Additionally, the disclosure requirements of Section 1103(j) of the Ethics Act would have to be satisfied in the event of a voting conflict. Conclusion: In applying the above provisions of the Ethics Act to the instant matter, you are advised as follows: In each of your capacities as a Member of Borough Council and a Member of the Sewage Authority Board, you are a public official subject to the provisions of the Ethics Act. As a public official, you are restricted from using the authority of your public office for the private pecuniary (financial) benefit of yourself, a member of your immediate family, or a business with which you or a member of your immediate family is associated. You would not have a conflict of interest under Section 1103(a) of the Ethics Act as a Member of Borough Council or as a Member of the Sewage Authority Board in matters that would financially impact the Borough or the Sewage Authority but that would not financially impact you, a member of your immediate family, or a business with which you or a member of your immediate family is associated. A pecuniary benefit flowing solely to a political subdivision/governmental entitysuch as the Borough or the Sewage Authoritywould not form the basis for a conflict of interest under Section 1103(a) of the Ethics Act. See, Confidential Opinion, 01-005; McCarrier/Anderson, Opinion 98-008; Warso, Order 974. Therefore, as to each of your public capacitiesthat is, as a Member of Borough Council or as a Member of the Sewage Authority Boardabsent some basis for a conflict of interest such as a private pecuniary benefit for you, a member of your immediate family, or a business with which you or a member of your immediate family is associated, you would not have a conflict of interest with regard to participating in matters involving the takeover of the Borough sewage lines by the Sewage Authority. 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. Specifically, this advisory does not address any applicability of the Borough Code or the Municipality Authorities Act. Pursuant to Section 1107(11) of the Ethics Act, 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 requester 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. Colebank, 21-548 September 1, 2021 Page 5 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. Respectfully, Brian D. Jacisin Chief Counsel