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In Re: Joseph Goodge,
Respondent
STATE ETHICS COMMISSION
FINANCE BUILDING
613 NORTH STREET, ROOM 309
HARRISBURG, PA 17120-0400
File Docket:
Order No.
Date Decided:
Date Mailed:
24-0289-C
1849
9/18/25
9/22/25
Before: Michael A. Schwartz, Chair
David L. Reddecliff, Vice Chair
Paul E. Parsells
Robert P. Caruso
Emilia McKee Vassallo
This is a final adjudication of the State Ethics Commission.
FACSIMILE: 717-787-0806
WEBSITE: www.ethics.pa.gov
Procedurally, the Investigative Division of the State Ethics Commission conducted an
investigation regarding possible violation(s) of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act
("Ethics Act"), 65 Pa.C.S. § 1101 et secs., by the above -named Respondent. At the commencement
of its investigation, the Investigative Division served upon Respondent written notice of the
specific allegations. Upon completion of its investigation, the Investigative Division issued and
served upon Respondent a Findings Report identified as an "Investigative Complaint." A
Stipulation of Findings and a Consent Agreement were subsequently submitted by the patties to
the Commission for consideration. The Stipulated Findings are set forth as the Findings in this
Order. The Consent Agreement has been approved.
I. ALLEGATIONS:
That Joseph C. Goodge, as a Zoning Hearing Board Member and Vacancy Board
Member for Pulaski Township, Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, violated Sections 1104(a),
1104(d), 1105(a), and 1105(b)(1) of the Ethics Act-
(1) When he failed to file a Statement of Financial Interests ("SFI") for calendar
year 2022 and subsequently filed a backdated form for that calendar year;
(2) When he failed to list his public positions on his SFIs for calendar years 2019,
2020, 2021, and 2022; and
(3) When he failed to list his public positions and his current status on his SFI for
calendar year 2023.
II. FINDINGS:
Goodge, 24-0289-C
Page 2
1. Joseph C. Goodge ("Goodge") served as a Member of the Zoning Hearing Board ("ZHB")
for Pulaski Township ("Township"), Lawrence County, beginning on approximately
February 10, 2010.
a. Goodge is also a Member of the Township's Vacancy Board and has been since
approximately January 17, 2014.
2. The Municipal Planning Code empowers Townships of the Second Class, among other
municipalities, to plan and govern their development.
a. Municipalities that have enacted a zoning ordinance pursuant to the MPC must
create a ZHB.
1. The ZHB is to consist of either three or five residents of the municipality
appointed to terms of three or five years respectively by the governing body.
3. Residents must request a hearing in front of the ZHB if they would like to pursue a project
in the Township which requires a variance or special exception.
a. As a Member of the ZHB it is Goodge's duty, among other items, to hear
applications for variances and/or special exceptions from the terms of the zoning
ordinance,
4. It is the responsibility of each individual public official and public employee to accurately
complete and timely file a Statement of Financial Interests ("SFI") with the Township.
a. SFIs can be completed online at www.ethics.pa.gov or by filing a paper or PDF
SFI.
b. The Township is required to maintain SFIs of public officials and public employees
who are required to file.
5. Goodge was a public official in his position on the ZHB for the Township, and in that
capacity was required to annually file an SFI by May 1 containing information from the
prior calendar year.
6. The Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission ("Con-nnission") annually contracts for the
printing of paper SFIs.
a. Orders for forms are generally placed with the printing company in December of
each year.
b. The ordered forms are received by the Administrative Division of the Commission
in December, prior to January I" of the filing year.
Goodge, 24-0289-C
Pa
C. Each year the Commission makes minor changes to the forms, and the forms are
printed with a revision number (Rev.) which corresponds with the year in which
the filing was to take place.
d. Directions affixed to the SFI form clearly state to sign the form, to enter the current
date, and to not backdate the form.
e. Forms are then bulk mailed to each municipality, board, and state agency in the
Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
7. Pursuant to the procedure outlined above, the Administrative Division of the Commission
annually mailed SFI forms to the Township for completion by the Township's public
officials and public employees.
a. The Commission mailed SFI forms to the Township for filing year 2022 with Rev.
01123 between December 29, 2022, and December 29, 2022.
The Township Secretary/Treasurer, Megan Allison ("Allison"), received and distributed
the SFI forms to the Township officials and employees, including Goodge, each year.
a. Allison routinely mailed SFI forms to Members of the ZHB, including Goodge, due
to the ZHB having irregular meetings.
1. The ZHB only meets approximately one to three times a year when the need
arises.
THE FOLLOWING FINDINGS PERTAIN TO GOODGE BACKDATING HIS SFI FOR
CALENDAR YEAR 2022.
9. Goodge, in his capacity as a ZHB Member for the Township, was annually required to file
an SFI form by May 1 with information pertaining to the prior calendar year.
10. Each year Allison provided Goodge with a blank SFI form for completion via mail.
a. Goodge routinely dropped off his SFI at the Township building upon completion.
11. On November 8, 2024, a Special Investigator with the Commission contacted Allison via
telephone and scheduled an SFI compliance review pursuant to Section 1107(5) of the
Ethics Act to be conducted on November 13, 2024.
a. The purpose of the compliance review was to examine the SFI forms that were
completed by all Township officials and covered employees.
12. Subsequent to the scheduling of the compliance review, but prior to the Commission
conducting its review, Allison examined the SFI forms on file and noticed one missing for
Goodge, 24-0289•-C
Page 4
Goodge.
a. Allison contacted Goodge regarding this omission.
b. Allison advised Goodge that one of his SFIs to be filed with the Township was not
present and of the need for it to be on file.
1. Allison stated that it was her practice to fill in the calendar year and she
recognized her own handwriting in that box on Goodge's 2022 SFI.
13, During the Commission's SFI compliance review on November 13, 2024, it was discovered
that Goodge's calendar year 2022 SFI form was backdated.
a. Goodge backdated his 2022 form to give the appearance the form had been timely
filed.
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b. Allison confirmed that she wrote the year in Box 7 and that she added the returned
form to the Township SFI file.
14, Goodge, in his capacity as a ZHB Member, filed an SFI form for calendar year 2022, listing
his public position and government entity, and affixing his signature and purported date he
signed/completed the form, as follows:
Go, odae, 24-0289�-C
Page 5
Calendar Year Purported Date of Completion SEC Form Used
2022 4/15/2022 SEC-1 Rev. 01/24
a. Goodge's 2022 SFI contained a date of execution/completion which was factually
impossible based upon the date the form had been printed.
b. The SEC-1, Rev. 01/24 form was not printed/distributed until January 2024.
15. Goodge has resigned from his public position with the ZHB and does not intend to serve
in that capacity again.
THE FOLLOWING FINDINGS PERTAIN TO GOODGE'S SFI FILING DEFICIENCIES
FOR CALENDAR YEARS 2014 THROUGH 2O23.
16. Goodge failed to identify his position as a Member of the Township Vacancy Board on his
calendar year 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023 SFI forms.
a. Goodge repeatedly only put his position on the ZHB in Box 4.
17. Goodge failed to complete Box 3 — Status on his calendar year 2023 SFI form.
18. Goodge was interviewed on March 5, 2025, by Commission Investigators in relation to this
matter and stated the following:
a. Goodge received communication from Allison who informed him that one of his
SFI forms was missing and an audit was being conducted on the Township's forms;
b. Goodge signed the form with the year "2022" due to Box 7 already stating 2022
when he received the form from Allison; and
C. Goodge turned in his SFI form each year, and the Township lost his original 2022
form.
III. DISCUSSION:
As a Member of the Zoning Hearing Board for Pulaski Township ("Township"), Lawrence
County, Pennsylvania from approximately February 10, 2010, until at least November 2024, and
as a Member of the Township's Vacancy Board from approximately January 17, 2014, to the
present, Joseph C. Goodge ("Goodge") has been a public official subject to the provisions of the
Public Official and Employee Ethics Act ("Ethics Act"), 65 Pa.C,S, § 1101 et sec ..
The allegations are that Goodge violated Sections 1104(a), 1104(d), 1105(a), and
1105(b)(1) of the Ethics Act:
(1) When he failed to file a Statement of Financial Interests ("SFI") for calendar year
2022 and subsequently filed a backdated form for that calendar year;
Goodge, 24-0289-C
Page 6
(2) When he failed to list his public positions on his SFIs for calendar years 2019, 2020,
2021, and 2022; and
(3) When he failed to list his public positions and his current status on his SFI for
calendar year 2023. r
Section 1104(a) of the Ethics Act provides that each public official/public employee must
file an SFI for the preceding calendar year, by May 1 of each year that he holds the position and
the year after he leaves the position.
Section 1105(a) of the Ethics Act sets forth, in part, that all information requested on the
SFI shall be provided to the best knowledge, information, and belief of the person required to file
and shall be signed under oath or equivalent affirmation.
Section 1105(b)(1) of the Ethics Act requires the filer to disclose on the SFI his name,
address, and public position.
As noted above, the parties have submitted a Consent Agreement and Stipulation of
Findings. The parties' Stipulated Findings are set forth above as the Findings of this Commission.
We shall now summarize the relevant facts as contained therein.
Goodge served as a Member of the Township's Zoning Bearing Board from approximately
February 10, 2010, until at least November 2024 and as a Member of the Township's Vacancy
Board from approximately January 17, 2014, to the present. As such, Goodge has been a public
official required to annually file an SFI by May 1 containing information from the prior calendar
year.
The Commission annually contracts for the printing of paper SFIs. Each year the
Commission makes minor changes to the forms, and the forms are printed with a revision number
(Rev.) which corresponds with the year in which the filing is to take place. Directions included in
the SFI instruct the filer to sign the form, to enter the current date, and to not backdate the form.
Forms are then bulk mailed to each municipality, board, and state agency in the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania,
Megan Allison ("Allison") is the Township's Secretary -Treasurer. Allison receives the SFI
forms and distributes them to Township officials each year. She routinely mails SFI forms to
Members of the Zoning Hearing Board because of the Zoning Hearing Board's irregular meeting
schedule. Goodge normally dropped off his completed SFI at the Township building.
4n November 8, 2024, a Special Investigator with the Commission contacted Allison via
telephone to schedule an SFI compliance review pursuant to Section 1107(5) of the Ethics Act.
The purpose of the compliance review was to examine the SFIs completed by all Township
1 As the parties' Consent Agreement does not provide a specific recommendation for the resolution of the allegation
pertaining to Section 1104(d) of the Ethics Act, it appears that the Investigative Division in the exercise of its
prosecutorial discretion has elected to nolle pros that allegation,
Goodge, 24-0289-C
Page 7
officials and covered employees. In preparation for the compliance review, Allison examined the
SFIs on file and discovered that Goodge's SFI for calendar year 2022 was missing. She contacted
Goodge about this omission and advised him that his SFI for calendar year 2022 was not on file.
Allison, as was her practice, wrote the year "2022" in Box 7, Year, after receiving the form frorn
Goodge and added the returned form to the Township's SFI file.
During the November 13, 2024, compliance review, it was discovered that Goodge
backdated the SFI for calendar year 2022 to give the appearance that the form had been timely
filed. To that end, Goodge utilized an SFI form bearing the revision number of "SEC-1 Rev. 01/24"
but signed and dated the form "445-22." However, the SFI forms bearing the revision number of
SEC-1 Rev. 01/24 were not printed and distributed until January 2024, some twenty-one months
after- Goodge purportedly signed the form. Goodge stated to Commission Investigators that he
dated the form with the year "2022" due to Box 7 already stating "2022" when he received the
form from Allison.
With respect to the deficiencies on Goodge's SFI filings, Goodge failed to identify his
position as a Member of the Township Vacancy Board on his SFIs for calendar years 2019 through
2023. Goodge additionally failed to complete Box 3, Status, on his SFI for calendar year 2023.
Having highlighted the Stipulated Findings and issues before us, we shall now apply the
Ethics Act to determine the proper disposition of this case.
The parties' Consent Agreement sets forth a proposed resolution of the allegations as
follows:
3. The Investigative Division will recommend the following in relation to the above
allegations;
That a violation of Sections 1104 and 1105 of the Public Official and
Employee Ethics Act, 65 Pa. C.S. §§ 1104 and 1105, occurred when Goodge
failed to file a Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2022 and
subsequently filed a backdated form for that calendar year and when he
failed to file an accurate Statement of Financial Interests for calendar years
2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023.
4. Goodge agrees to make payment in the amount of $750.00 in settlement of this
matter, representative of the full penalty for the year 2022 and half of the penalty
for the years 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023, payable to the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, and forwarded to the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission, within
six (6) months of the issuance of the final adjudication in this matter.
5. Goodge agrees to file complete and accurate amended Statements of Financial
Interests with Pulaski Township, through the Pennsylvania State Ethics
Commission, for calendar years 2019 through 2023 within thirty (30) days of the
issuance of the final adjudication in this matter.
Goodge, 24-0289-C
Pa
6. Goodge agrees to not accept any reimbursement, compensation or other payment
from Pulaski Township representing a full or partial reimbursement of the amount
paid in settlement of this matter.
7. The Investigative Division will recommend that the State Ethics Commission take
no further action in this matter and make no specific recommendations to any law
enforcement or other authority to take action in this matter. Such, however, does
not prohibit the Commission from initiating appropriate enforcement actions in the
event of Goodge's failure to comply with this agreement or the Commission's order
or cooperating with any authority who may so choose to review this matter further.
a. Goodge has been advised that as a matter of course, all orders from the
Commission are provided to the Attorney General, albeit without any
specific recommendations pursuant to Paragraph 7 above.
b. Goodge has been advised that all orders become public records and may be
acted upon by law enforcement as they deem appropriate.
C. The non -referral language contained in this paragraph is considered an
essential part of the negotiated Consent Agreement.
Consent Agreement, at 1-2.
In considering the Consent Agreement, we accept the recommendation of the parties, and
we hold that a violation of Sections 1104 and 1105 of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. §§ 1104, 1105,
occurred when Goodge failed to file an SFI for calendar year 2022 and subsequently filed a
backdated form for that calendar year and when he failed to file accurate SFIs for calendar years
2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023.
As part of the Consent Agreement, Goodge has agreed to make payment in the amount of
$750.00, payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and forwarded to this Commission within
six (6) months of the issuance of the final adjudication in this matter. Goodge has agreed to not
accept any reimbursement, compensation or other payment from the Township representing a full
or partial reimbursement of the amount paid in settlement of this matter. Additionally, Goodge
has agreed to file complete and accurate amended SFIs for calendar years 2019 through 2023 with
the Township, through this Commission, within thirty (30) days of the issuance of the final
adjudication in this matter.
We determine that the Consent Agreement submitted by the parties sets forth a proper
disposition of this case, based upon our review as reflected in the above analysis and the totality
of the facts and circumstances.
IV. CONCLUSIONS OF LAW:
1. As a Member of the Zoning hearing Board for Pulaski Township ("Township"), Lawrence
County, Pennsylvania from approximately February 10, 2010, until at least November
Good e, 24-0289-C
Pa
2024, and as a Member of the Township Vacancy Board from approximately January 17,
2014, to the present, Joseph C. Goodge ("Goodge") has been a public official subject to
the provisions of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act ("Ethics Act"), 65 Pa.C.S.
§ 1101 et sec
2. A violation of Sections 1104 and 1105 of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. §§ 1104, 1105,
occurred when Goodge failed to file a Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year
2022 and subsequently fled a backdated form for that calendar year and when he failed to
file accurate ,Statements of Financial Interests for calendar years 2019, 2020, 2021, and
2023.
In Re: Joseph Goodge, File Docket: 24-0289-C
Respondent Date Decided: 9/19/25
Date Mailed: 9I22I25
ORDER NO.1849
1. A violation of Sections 1104 and 1105 of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act, 65
Pa.C.S. §§ 1104, 1105, occurred when Joseph C. Goodge ("Goodge"), as a Member of the
Zoning Hearing Board and of the Vacancy Board for Pulaski Township, Lawrence County,
Pennsylvania, failed to file a Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2022 and
subsequently filed a backdated form for that calendar year and when he failed to file
accurate Statements of Financial Interests for calendar years 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2023.
2. Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, Goodge is directed to make payment in the
amount of $750.00 payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and forwarded to the
Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission within six (6) months of the issuance of this Order.
3. Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, Goodge is fiirther directed to not accept any
reimbursement, compensation or other payment from Pulaski Township representing a frill
or partial reimbursement of the amount paid in settlement of this matter.
4. To the extent that he has not already done so, Goodge is directed to file complete and
accurate amended Statements of Financial Interests for calendar years 2019 through 2023
with Pulaski Township, through this Commission, by no later than the thirtieth (30"') day
after the mailing date of this Order.
5. Compliance with paragraphs 2, 3, and 4 of this Order will result in the closing of this case
with no finther action by this Commission.
a. Non-compliance will result in the institution of an order enforcement action.
BY THE COMMISSION,
ichael A. Schwartz, Chair