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In Re: Stacey Taylor,
Respondent
SIWE ETHICS COMMISSION
FINANCE BULDING
613 NOF�TFI STREET, 1-300M 309
I-AAARISBURG, PA 17120-0400
File Docket:
Order No.
Date Decided
Date Mailed:
22-027-P
760-S
6/29/23
6/30/23
Before: Shelley Y. Simms, Chair
Michael A. Schwartz, Vice Chair
Rhonda Hill Wilson
Paul E. Parsells
David L. Reddecliff
FACSIMILE': 7,17-767-0806
WEBSITE: W Jq5.p ggM
This is a final adjudication of the State Ethics Commission as to the alleged delinquency
and/or deficiency of Statement(s) of Financial Interests required to be filed pursuant to Sections
1104 and 1105 of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act ("Ethics Act"), 65 Pa.C.S. § 1101
et seq.
The Investigative Division initiated these proceedings by filing with the State Ethics
Commission and serving upon Respondent a Petition for Civil Penalties. An Order to Show Cause
was issued to Respondent. A Stipulation of Findings and a Consent Agreement were subsequently
submitted by the parties to the Commission for consideration. The Stipulated Findings are set
forth as the Findings in this Order, The Consent Agreement has been approved.
1. FINDINGS:
Respondent, Stacey Taylor, ("Respondent") is an adult individual who resides or maintains
a mailing address at [address redacted].
2. At all times relevant to these proceedings, Respondent has been a Human Relations
Commission Member for the City of Reading, and as such, Respondent has been at all
times relevant to these proceedings a "public official/public employee" as defined in
Section 1102 of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.,S. § 11.02.
Respondent, as a public official/public employee, is, subject to the Statement of Financial
Interests filing provisions of the Ethics Act,
4. Respondent failed to timely provide full financial disclosure as required by the Ethics Act.
Respondent failed to timely file a Statement Financial Interests for calendar, year 2020,
which was due by May 1, 2021. Respondent has therefore violated Sections 1104 and 1105
of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C. S. § § 1104 and 1105.
Taylor, 22-027-P
Page 2
By Notice Letter dated January 11, 2022, Respondent was served with Notice in
accordance with Section 1107(5) of the Ethics Act of the specific allegation against
Respondent concerning the above transgression. Said Notice Letter provided Respondent
an opportunity to avoid the institution of these civil penalty proceedings by filing an
accurate and complete Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2020 within
twenty (20) days of the date of the Notice Letter. Respondent has failed and/or otherwise
refused to file a Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2020 so as to comply
with the specific requirements of the Ethics Act.
6. By Notice Letter dated February 22, 2022, Respondent was served with Notice in
accordance with Section 1107(5) of the Ethics Act of the specific allegation against
Respondent concerning the above transgression. Said Notice Letter provided Respondent
an opportunity to avoid the institution of civil penalty proceedings by filing an accurate
and complete Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2020 so as to comply with
the specific requirements of the Ethics Act.
7. Respondent failed to timely file a Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2020
with the State Ethics Commission by the deadlines imposed in the Notice Letters,
II. DISCUSSION:
As a Human Relations Commission Member for the City of Reading, Stacey Taylor
("Taylor") was at all times relevant to these proceedings a "public employee/public official"
subject to the provisions of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act ("Ethics Act"), 65 Pa.C.S.
§ 1101 et sm.
Pursuant to Section 1104(a) of the Ethics Act, Taylor was specifically required to file a
Statement of Financial .Interests for calendar year 2020 with the City of Reading on or before May
1, 2021. Section 1104(a) provides:
§ 1104. Statement of financial interests required to be filed
(a) Public official or public employee. --Each public official of the
Commonwealth shall file a statement of financial interests for the preceding
calendar year with the commission no later than May 1 of each year that he holds
such a position and of the year after he leaves such a position. Each public
employee and public official of the Commonwealth shall file a statement of
financial interests for the preceding calendar year with the department, agency,
body or bureau in which he is employed or to which he is appointed or elected no
later than May I of each year that he holds such a position and of the year after he
leaves such a position. Any other public employee or public official shall file a
statement of financial interests with the governing authority of the political
subdivision by which he is employed or within which he is appointed or elected no
later than May I of each year that he holds such a position and of the year after he
leaves such a position. Persons who are full-time or part-time solicitors for political
subdivisions are required to file under this section.
Taylor, 22-027-P
Page 3
65 Pa.C.S. § 1104(a).
The complete financial disclosure which Taylor as a Human Relations Commission
Member for the City of Reading was required to provide in the Statement of Financial Interests
form is statutorily mandated in detail at Section 1105 of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1105.
Section 1109(f) of the Ethics Act provides as follows:
§ 1109. Penalties
(f) Civil penalty.-- In addition to any other civil remedy or criminal penalty
provided for in this chapter, the commission may, after notice has been served in
accordance with section 1107(5) (relating to powers and duties of commission)
and upon a majority vote of its members, levy a civil penalty upon any person
subject to this chapter who fails to file a statement of financial interests in a timely
manner or who files a deficient statement of financial interests, at a rate of not more
than $25 for each day such statement remains delinquent or deficient. The
maximum penalty payable under this paragraph is $250.
65 Pa.C.S. § 1109(f).
An application of Section 1109(f) to this case establishes that this Commission has the
discretion to levy a maximum civil penalty against Taylor for the delinquent Statement of Financial
Interests for calendar year 2020.
The prerequisite service of a Notice letter in accordance with Section 1107(5) was satisfied.
Taylor did not remedy the failure to comply with the Ethics Act although given more than the
usual grace period following Notice in which to do so.
The Investigative Division then instituted formal proceedings against Taylor by filing with
this Commission and serving upon Respondent an Order to Show Cause and a Petition for Civil
Penalties, ordering Taylor to show cause why civil penalties should not be levied against her. The
parties then filed a Stipulation of Findings and Consent Agreement.
The parties propose that this case be resolved by: (1) this Commission finding that Taylor
failed to timely file a Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2020 in compliance with
Section 1104(a) of the Ethics Act; (2) Taylor making payment of a civil penalty in the amount of
$200.00 in settlement of this matter by certified check or money order payable to the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and forwarded to this Commission within thirty days of the
issuance of the final adjudication in this matter; and (3) Taylor filing a complete and accurate
Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2020 within thirty days of the issuance of the
final adjudication in this matter.
We believe that the Consent Agreement sets forth a proper disposition for this case, based
upon our review of the totality of the facts and circumstances. Accordingly, we approve the
Consent Agreement that has been submitted by the parties.
Taylor, 22-027-P
Page 4
We hereby find that Taylor, as a Human Relations Commission Member for the City of
Reading, failed to timely file a Statement of Financial Interests for the 2020 calendar year in
compliance with Section 1104(a) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1104(a).
Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, we hereby levy civil penalties against Taylor in
the total amount of $200.00 for Taylor's delinquent Statement of Financial Interests for calendar
year 2020.
To the extent Respondent has not already done so, Taylor shall be ordered to make payment
of the aforesaid civil penalties in the total amount of $200.00 by no later than the thirtieth (30111)
day after the mailing date of this adjudication and Order, by forwarding to this Commission a
certified check or money order in the amount of $200,00 made payable to the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, for deposit in the State Treasury.
To the extent Respondent has not already done so, Taylor shall be ordered to file a complete
and accurate Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2020 with the City of Reading by
no later than the thirtieth (30"') day after the mailing date of this adjudication and Order, with one
copy forwarded to the Commission for compliance verification purposes.
III. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW:
As a Human Relations Commission Member for the City of Reading, Stacey Taylor
("Taylor") was at all times relevant to these proceedings a "public employee/public
official" subject to the provisions of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act (`Ethics
Act"), 65 Pa.C.S. § 1101 et seq.
2. Taylor, as a Human Relations Commission Member for the City of Reading, failed to
timely file a Statement of Financial Interests for the calendar year 2020 in compliance with
Section 1104(a) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1104(a).
3. Notice of the delinquency of Taylor's Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year
2020 was previously served upon Respondent in accordance with Section 1107(5) of the
Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1107(5).
4. Based upon the totality of the circumstances in this case, a civil penalty in the total amount
of $200.00 is warranted.
In Re: Stacey Taylor, File Docket: 22-027-P
Respondent Date Decided: 6/29/23
Date Mailed: 6/30/23
ORDER NO. 760-S
Stacey Taylor ("Taylor"), as a Human Relations Commission Member for the City of
Reading, failed to timely file a Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2020 in
compliance with Section 1104(a) of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act ("Ethics
Act"), 65 Pa.C.S. § 1104(a).
2. Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, we hereby levy a civil penalty against Taylor in
the total amount of $200.06 for Taylor's delinquent Statement of Financial Interests for
calendar year 2020.
3. To the extent Respondent has not already done so, Taylor is ordered to make payment of
the aforesaid civil penalty in the total amount of $200.00 by no later than the thirtieth (301h)
day after the mailing date of this Order, by forwarding to this Commission a certified check
or money order in the amount of $200.00 made payable to the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, for deposit in the State Treasury.
4. To the extent Respondent has not already done so, Taylor shall be ordered to file a complete
and accurate Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2020 with the City of
Reading by no later than the thirtieth (301h) day after the mailing date of this adjudication
and Order, with one copy forwarded to the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission for
compliance verification purposes
5. Failure to comply with Paragraphs 3 or 4 of this Order will result in the initiation of an
appropriate enforcement action.
BY THE COMMISSION,
'S-'(
Shelley Y. Si hair