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In Re: Craig Siffl<.ovich,
Respondent
STATE ETHICS COMMISSION
FINANCE BUILD1NG
613 NORTH ST REET, ROOM 309
FIARRISBURG, FDA 17120-0400
File Docket:
23-002-P
Order No.
764-5
Date Decided:
6/29/23
Date Mailed:
6/30/23
Before: Shelley Y. Simms, Chair
Michael A. Schwartz, Vice Chair
Rhonda Hill Wilson
Paul E. Parsells
David L. Reddecliff
Robert P. Caruso
FAMMILF: 7'17-787-0806
WEBSrm� Lggy
This is a final adjudication of the State Ethics Commission as to the alleged delinquency
and/or deficiency of Staternent(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 M,
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.
I. FINDINGS:
Respondent Craig Sinkovich ("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 WaterQuality Specialist
with the Department of Environmental Protection, and as such, Respondent was 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, § 1102,
3. 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 of Financial Interests for calendar year 2021,
which was due by May 1, 2022. Respondent has therefore violated Sections 1104 and 1105
of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa,C3, §§ 1104 and 1105.
Sinkovich, 23-002-P
Page 2
5. By Notice Letter dated August 19, 2022, Respondent was served with Notice in accordance
with Section 1107(5) of the Ethics Act of the specific allegations against Respondent
concerning the above transgression. Said Notice Letter provided Respondent an
opportunity to avoid the institution of these civil penalty proceedings by filing accurate and
complete Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2021 within twenty (20) days
of the date of the Notice Letter. Respondent has failed and/or otherwise refused to file
Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2021 so as to comply with the specific
requirements of the Ethics Act.
6. By Notice Letter dated September 8, 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 2021 so as to comply with
the specific requirements of the Ethics Act.
7. Respondent failed to file a Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2021 with the
State Ethics Commission by the deadlines imposed in the Notice Letters.
II. DISCUSSION:
As a Water Quality Specialist with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection ("Department of Environmental Protection"), Craig Sinkovich ("Sinkovich") was at all
times relevant to these proceedings a "public employee" subject to the provisions of the Public
Official and Employee Ethics Act ("Ethics Act"), 65 Pa.C.S. § 1101 et sue.
Pursuant to Section 1104(a) of the Ethics Act, Sinkovich was specifically required to file a
Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2021 with the Department of Environmental
Protection on or before May 1, 2022. 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 1 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 1 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.
Sinkoyich,23-002-P
Page 3
65 Pa.C.S. § 1104(a).
The complete financial disclosure which Sinkovich as a Water Quality Specialist with the
Department of Environmental Protection 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 Sinkovich for each delinquent Statement of
Financial Interests for calendar year 2021.
The prerequisite service of a Notice letter in accordance with Section It 07(5) was satisfied.
Sinkovich 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 Sinkovich by filing
with this Commission and serving upon Respondent an Order to Show Cause and a Petition for
Civil Penalties, ordering Sinkovich to show cause why a civil penalty should not be levied against
him. 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
Sinkovich failed to timely file a Statement of Financial Interests for the 2021 calendar year in
compliance with Section 1104(a) of the Ethics Act; and (2) Sinkovich making payment of civil
penalties in the amount of $150.00 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.
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.
Sinkovicb, 23-002-P
Page 4
We hereby find that Sinkovich, as a Water Quality Specialist with the Department of
Environmental Protection, failed to timely file a Statement of Financial Interests for the 2021
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 Sinkovich
in the total amount of $150.00 for Sinkovich's delinquent Statement of Financial Interests for
calendar year 2021.
To the extent Respondent has not already done so, Sinkovich shall be ordered to make
payment of the aforesaid civil penalty in the total amount of $150.00 by no later than the thirtieth
(30`h) 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 $150.00 made payable to the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, for deposit in the State Treasury.
III. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW:
As a Water Quality Specialist with the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental
Protection ("Department of Environmental of Protection"), Craig Sinkovich ("Sinkovich")
was at all times relevant to these proceedings a "public employee" subject to the provisions
of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act ("Ethics Act"), 65 Pa.C.S. § 1101 et secq.
2. Sinkovich, as a Water Quality Specialist with the Department of Environmental Protection,
failed to timely file a Statement of Financial Interests for the 2021 calendar year in
compliance with Section 1104(a) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1104(a).
Notice of the delinquency of Sinkovich's Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year
2021 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 $150.00 is warranted.
In Re: Craig Sinkovich, File Docket: 23-002-P
Respondent Date Decided: 6/29/23
Date Mailed: 6/30/23
ORDER NO. 764-S
Craig Sinkovich ("Sinkovich"), as a Water Quality Specialist with the Pennsylvania
Department of Environmental Protection ("Department of Environmental of Protection"),
failed to timely file a Statement of Financial Interests for the 2021 calendar year in
compliance with Section 1 I04(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 Sinkovich
in the total amount of $150.00 for Sinkovich's delinquent Statement of Financial Interests
for calendar year 2021,
To the extent Respondent has not already done so, Sinkovich is ordered to make payment
of the aforesaid civil penalty in the total amount of $150.00 by no later than the thirtieth
(30"') day after the mailing date of this Order, by forwarding to this Commission a certified
check or money order in the amount of $150.00 made payable to the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, for deposit in the State Treasury,
4. Failure to comply with Paragraph 3 of this Order will result in the initiation of an
appropriate enforcement action.
BY THE COMMISSION,
Shelley Y. Si , Chair