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In Re: Donald L. Snyder, Jr.,
Respondent
STIVTE ETHICS COMMISSION
FINANCE WILDING
613 NORTH S"I 1`�ZEE f" ROOM 309
HARRIBUR G,IAA 17120-0400
File Docket: 21-034-P
Order No. 731-S
Date Decided: 9/14/22
Date Mailed: 9/19/22
FACSIMILE; 717..787-0806
WEBSITE:
Before: Mark R. Corrigan, Acting Chair
Shelley Y. Simms, Acting Vice Chair
Roger Nick
Melanie DePalma
Michael A. Schwartz
Rhonda Hill Wilson
Paul E. parsells
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 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 Donald Snyder ("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 Supervisor for Union
Township, and as such, Respondent was at all times relevant to these proceedings a "public
official/public employee" as defined in Section 1] 02 of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1101
Respondent, as a public official/public employee, was subject to the Statement of Financial
Interests filing provisions of the Ethics Act.
4n 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 2017 and
filed a deficient Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2018, which Statements
of Financial Interests were to be filed by May 1, 2018, and May 1, 2019, respectively.
Snyder, 21-034-P
Page 2
5. By Notice Letter dated January 19, 2021, Respondent was served with Notice in
accordance with Section 1107(5) of the Ethics Act of the specific allegations against
Respondent concerning the above transgressions. Said Notice Letter provided Respondent
an opportunity to avoid the institution of these civil penalty proceedings by filing accurate
and complete Statements of Financial Interests for calendar years 2017 and 2018 within
twenty (20) days of the date of the Notice Letter. Respondent has failed and/or otherwise
refused to file Statements of Financial Interests for calendar years 2017 and 2018 so as to
comply with the specific requirements of the Ethics Act.
6. By Notice Letter dated February 17, 2021, Respondent was served with Notice in
accordance with Section 1107(5) of the Ethics Act of the specific allegations against
Respondent concerning the above transgressions. Said Notice Letter provided Respondent
an opportunity to avoid the institution of civil penalty proceedings by filing accurate and
complete Statements of Financial Interests for calendar years 2017 and 2018 so as to
comply with the specific requirements of the Ethics Act.
7. Respondent failed to file his Statements of Financial Interests for calendar years 2017 and
2018 with the State Ethics Commission by the deadlines imposed in the Notice Letters.
II. DISCUSSION:
As a Supervisor for Union Township, Donald L. Snyder, Jr. ("Snyder") was at all times
relevant to these proceedings a "public official" 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, Snyder was specifically required to file
Statements of Financial Interests for calendar years 2017 and 2018 with the Union Township on
or before May 1, 2018, and May 1, 2019, respectively. 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 I 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.
Snyder, 21-034-P
Page 3
65 Pa.C.S. § 1104(a).
The complete financial disclosure which Snyder as a Supervisor for Union Township 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 Snyder for each delinquent Statement of
Financial Interests for calendar years 2017 and 2018.
The prerequisite service of a Notice letter in accordance with Section 1107(5) was satisfied.
Snyder 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 Snyder by filing with
this Commission and serving upon him a Petition for Civil Penalties. The Commission Chair issued
an Order to Show Cause, ordering Snyder to show cause why civil penalties 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 Snyder
failed to timely file a Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2017 and filed a deficient
Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2018 in compliance with Section 1104(a) of the
Ethics Act; (2) Snyder making payment of a civil penalty in the amount of $350.00 in settlement
of this matter by certified check or money order payable to the Commonwealth of Pemisylvania
and forwarded to this Commission within thirty days of the issuance of the final adjudication in
this matter; and (3) Snyder filing complete and accurate Statements of Financial Interests for
calendar years 2017 and 2018 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
Snyder, 21-034-P
Page 4
Consent Agreement that has been submitted by the parties.
We hereby find that Snyder, as a Supervisor for Union Township, failed to timely file a
Statement of financial Interests for the 2017 and file a deficient Statement of Financial Interests
for the 2018 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 Snyder in
the total amount of $350.00 for Snyder's delinquent Statements of Financial Interests for calendar
years 2017 and 2018.
To the extent he has not already done so, Snyder shall be ordered to make payment of the
aforesaid civil penalties in the total amount of $350.00 by no later than the thirtieth (30"') 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 $350.00 made payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania,
for deposit in the State Treasury.
To the extent he has not already done so, Snyder shall be ordered to file complete and
accurate Statements of financial Interests for calendar years 2017 and 2018 with Union Township
by no later than the thirtieth (30111) day after the mailing date of this adjudication and Order, with
a copy of each such filing forwarded to this Commission for compliance verification purposes.
IIh CONCLUSIONS OF LAW:
As a Supervisor for Union Township, Donald L. Snyder, Jr. ("Snyder") was at all times
relevant to these proceedings a "public official" subject to the provisions of the Public
Official and Employee Ethics Act ("Ethics Act"), 65 Pa.C.S. § 1101 et sue.
2. Snyder, as a Supervisor for Union Township, failed to timely file a Statement of Financial
Interests for the calendar 2017 and filed a deficient Statement of Financial Interests for
calendar year 2018 in compliance with Section 1104(a) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. §
1104(a).
Notice of the delinquency of Snyder's Statements of Financial Interests for calendar years
2017 and 2018 were previously served upon him 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 $350.00 is warranted.
In Re: Donald L. Snyder, Jr., File Docket: 21-034-P
Respondent Date Decided: 9/14/22
Date Mailed: 9/19/22
ORDER NO. 731-S
1. Donald L. Snyder, Jr. ("Snyder"), as a Supervisor for Union Township, failed to timely file
a Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2017 and filed a deficient Statement of
Financial Interests for calendar year 2018 in compliance with Section 1104(a) of the Public
Official and Employee Ethics Act ("Ethics Act"), 65 Pa. C.S. § I I04(a).
2. Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, we hereby levy a civil penalty against Snyder in
the total amount of $350.00 for Snyder's delinquent Statements of Financial Interests for
calendar years 2017 and 2018.
3. To the extent he has not already done so, Snyder is ordered to make payment of the
aforesaid civil penalty in the total amount of $350.00 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 $350.00 made payable to the Commonwealth of
Pennsylvania, for deposit in the State Treasury.
4. To the extent he has not already done so, Snyder is ordered to file complete and accurate
Statements of Financial Interests for calendar years 2017 and 2018 with Union Township
by no later than the thirtieth (301h) day after the mailing date of this Order, with a copy of
each such filing forwarded to this Commission.
Failure to comply with Paragraph 3 or 4 of this Order will result in the initiation of an
appropriate enforcement action.
BY THE COMMISSION,
Mark R. 6'rfigan, Acting Chair