Order No. 1821 (Gogolsky)
School Board Member and Board President
Jeanette Area School District
Westmoreland County, PA
ORDER SUMMARY:
1. Mark Gogolsky ("Gogolsky"), as a Member of the Jeannette City School Board of Directors ("Board"), Westmoreland County, from December 6, 1993 to the present and as President of the Board during the 2019 – 2020 school year, did not violate Section 1103(a) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103(a), as to the allegation that he used the authority of his public position for the private pecuniary benefit of himself and/or a member of his immediate family when he influenced and/or participated in actions of the Jeannette City School District ("School District") resulting in early retirement incentive benefits being paid to his spouse, who was an employee of the School District, based upon an insufficiency of evidence.
2. Gogolsky violated Section 1105(b)(5) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1105(b)(5), when he filed deficient Statements of Financial Interests for calendar years 2016 through 2020 by failing to disclose all reportable sources of income, in that he failed to list the City of Jeannette and Penn Borough, Westmoreland County as sources of income on his Statements of Financial Interests for calendar years 2016 through 2020.
3. We hereby levy five reduced civil penalties against Gogolsky in the total amount of $500.00, $100.00 for each of the five years Gogolsky filed deficient Statements of Financial Interests for calendar years 2016 through 2020.
4. Gogolsky is ordered to make payment of the aforesaid civil penalties in the total amount of $500.00 by no later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of this Order, by forwarding to this Commission a certified check or money order in the amount of $500.00 made payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for deposit in the State Treasury.
5. Gogolsky is ordered to file complete and accurate SFIs for calendar years 2016 through 2020 with the School District by no later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of this adjudication and Order, with copies forwarded to the Commission for compliance verification purposes.
6. Gogolsky is directed to not accept any reimbursement, compensation, or other payment from the Township representing a full or partial reimbursement of the aforesaid civil penalties.
7. Non-compliance with Paragraph 3, 4, 5, or 6 of this Order will result in the initiation of an appropriate enforcement action.
Order No. 1822 (Harvey)
Council Member
Municipality of Monroeville
Allegheny County, PA
ORDER SUMMARY:
1. A violation of Section 1103(a) of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103(a), occurred when Ronald Harvey ("Harvey"), as a Member of Council for the Municipality of Monroeville, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, used the authority of his public position for the private pecuniary benefit of himself and a member of his immediate family by voting to approve the nomination of a member of his immediate family for a paid position on the Monroeville Municipal Authority Board.
2. Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, Harvey is directed to make payment in the amount of $1,000.00 payable to the Monroeville Municipal Authority and forwarded to the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission by no later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of this Order.
3. Harvey is directed to not accept any reimbursement, compensation or other payment from the Monroeville Municipal Authority representing a full or partial reimbursement of the amount paid in settlement of this matter.
4. Compliance with paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Order will result in the closing of this case with no further action by this Commission.
a. Non-compliance will result in the institution of an order enforcement action.
Order No. 1823 (Erosenko)
Council Member
Municipality of Monroeville
Allegheny County, PA
ORDER SUMMARY:
1. A violation of Section 1103(a) of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act ("Ethics Act"), 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103(a), occurred when Greg Erosenko ("Erosenko"), as a Member of Council for the Municipality of Monroeville, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, used the authority of his public position for the private pecuniary benefit of himself and/or a member of his immediate family by participating in actions and discussions with the Municipal Manager, resulting in his wife getting hired by the Municipal Manager.
2. Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, Erosenko is directed to make payment in the amount of $2,500.00 payable to the Municipality of Monroeville and forwarded to the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission by no later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of this Order.
3. Erosenko is directed to not accept any reimbursement, compensation or other payment from the Municipality of Monroeville representing a full or partial reimbursement of the amount paid in settlement of this matter.
4. To the extent he has not already done so, Erosenko is directed to file complete and accurate amended Statements of Financial Interests for calendar years 2016 through 2020 with the Municipality of Monroeville, through this Commission, by no later than the thirtieth (30th) 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 further action by this Commission.
a. Non-compliance will result in the institution of an order enforcement action.
Order No. 1824 (Gaydos)
Council Member
Municipality of Monroeville
Allegheny County, PA
ORDER SUMMARY:
1. A violation of Section 1103(a) of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103(a), occurred when Linda Gaydos ("Gaydos"), as a Member of Council for the Municipality of Monroeville, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania, used the authority of her public position for the private pecuniary benefit of herself and/or a member of her immediate family by engaging in discussions with other Members of Council for the Municipality of Monroeville and by voting to approve the nomination of a member of her immediate family to a paid position on the Zoning Hearing Board of the Municipality of Monroeville.
2. Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, Gaydos is directed to make payment in the amount of $1,500.00 payable to the Municipality of Monroeville and forwarded to the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission by no later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of this Order.
3. Gaydos is directed to not accept any reimbursement, compensation or other payment from the Municipality of Monroeville representing a full or partial reimbursement of the amount paid in settlement of this matter.
4. To the extent she has not already done so, Gaydos is directed to file complete and accurate amended Statements of Financial Interests for calendar years 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020 with the Municipality of Monroeville, through the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission, by no later than the thirtieth (30th) 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 further action by this Commission.
a. Non-compliance will result in the institution of an order enforcement action.
Order No. 1825 (Castellano)
Board Member
Swatara Township Authority
Dauphin County, PA
ORDER SUMMARY:
1. Melissa Castellano ("Castellano"), as a member of the Swatara Township Authority Board ("Authority Board"), Dauphin County, from January 2007 to the present and as Vice Chairman of the Authority Board, did not violate Section 1103(a) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103(a), as to the allegation that she used the authority of her public position for the private pecuniary benefit of herself when she led the discussions to alter the managerial structure of the Swatara Township Authority ("Authority") and participated in the vote to approve the managerial restructure, based upon an insufficiency of evidence.
2. Castellano did not violate Section 1103(a) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103(a), as to the allegation that she used the authority of her public position for the private pecuniary benefit of herself when she led the discussions to alter the managerial structure of the Authority and participated in the vote to approve the managerial restructure, based upon an insufficiency of evidence.
3. Castellano did not violate Section 1103(a) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103(a), as to the allegation that she used the authority of her public position for the private pecuniary benefit of herself when she participated in the process which resulted in her being hired for the position of Authority Executive Director, based upon an insufficiency of evidence.
4. Castellano did not violate Section 1103(a) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103(a), as to the allegation that she used the authority of her public position for the private pecuniary benefit of herself when she participated in actions of and voting by the Authority Board to obtain the position of Authority Executive Director, based upon an insufficiency of evidence.
5. Castellano committed technical violations of Sections 1105(b)(8) and 1105(b)(9) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1105(b)(8) and 1105(b)(9), when she filed deficient Statements of Financial Interests ("SFIs") filed for calendar years 2017 through 2020 by failing to disclose her employment with Figlia Consulting, LLC on the SFIs filed for calendar years 2017, 2018 and 2020 and by failing to list her business interest in Figlia Consulting, LLC on SFIs filed for calendar years 2017 through 2020.
6. We hereby levy four reduced civil penalties against Castellano in the total amount of $400.00, $100.00 for each of the four years Castellano filed deficient Statements of Financial Interests for calendar years 2017 through 2020.
7. Castellano is ordered to make payment of the aforesaid civil penalties in the total amount of $400.00 by no later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of this Order, by forwarding to this Commission a certified check or money order in the amount of $400.00 made payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for deposit in the State Treasury.
8. Castellano is ordered to file complete and accurate SFIs for calendar years 2017 through 2020 with the Swatara Township Authority by no later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of this adjudication and Order, with copies forwarded to the Commission for compliance verification purposes.
9. Castellano is directed to not accept any reimbursement, compensation, or other payment from the Township representing a full or partial reimbursement of the aforesaid civil penalties.
10. Non-compliance with Paragraph 6, 7, 8, or 9 of this Order will result in the initiation of an appropriate enforcement action.
Order No. 1826 (Morgan)
Council President
Mount Jewett Borough
McKean County, PA
ORDER SUMMARY:
1. A violation of Section 1103(a) of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act ("Ethics Act"), 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103(a), occurred when Brett Morgan ("Morgan"), as a Member and President of Council for Mount Jewett Borough, McKean County, Pennsylvania, voted to reappoint/appoint individuals to the Board of Directors of the Mount Jewett Regional Sewer Authority with the knowledge and understanding that those individuals would hire him as an employee of the Mount Jewett Regional Sewer Authority, resulting in a private pecuniary benefit to himself.
2. Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, Morgan is directed to make payment in the amount of $15,000.00 payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by way of monthly payments of at least $250.00 each until the $15,000.00 is paid in full, with each such payment to be made payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and forwarded to the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission, and with the first such payment to be forwarded to the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission by no later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of this Order.
3. Morgan is directed to not accept any reimbursement, compensation or other payment from Mount Jewett Borough representing a full or partial reimbursement of the amount paid in settlement of this matter.
4. To the extent he has not already done so, Morgan is directed to file complete and accurate amended Statements of Financial Interests for calendar years 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022 with Mount Jewett Borough, through this Commission, by no later than the thirtieth (30th) 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 further action by this Commission.
a. Non-compliance will result in the institution of an order enforcement action.
Order No. 1827 (Oremus)
Zoning Officer
Harveys Lake Borough
Luzerne County, PA
ORDER SUMMARY:
1. Two violations of Section 1104(a) of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act ("Ethics Act"), 65 Pa.C.S. § 1104(a), occurred when Maureen Oremus ("Oremus"), as the Zoning Officer for Harveys Lake Borough ("Borough"), Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, failed to file Statements of Financial Interests for calendar years 2015 and 2018 and subsequently filed backdated forms for those calendar years to give the impression that the forms for those years were timely filed.
2. Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, Oremus is directed to make payment in the amount of $400.00 payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and forwarded to the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission by no later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of this Order.
3. Oremus is directed to not accept any reimbursement, compensation or other payment from the Borough representing a full or partial reimbursement of the amount paid in settlement of this matter.
4. To the extent she has not already done so, Oremus is directed to file complete and accurate amended Statements of Financial Interests for calendar years 2015 and 2017 through 2019 with the Borough, through the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission, by no later than the thirtieth (30th) 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 further action by this Commission.
a. Non-compliance will result in the institution of an order enforcement action.
Order No. 1828 (Friedman)
Board of Supervisors Member
Upper Mount Bethel Township
Northampton County, PA
ORDER SUMMARY:
1. David F. Friedman II, as a Member of the Board of Supervisors of Upper Mount Bethel Township ("Township"), violated Section 1103(a) of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103(a), when he used the authority of his public office by participating in deliberations and twice voting against motions of the Township Board of Supervisors, which resulted in the elimination of any personal liability for counsel fees relating to a lawsuit that he and others had previously filed against the Township.
You may access the full text version of the above rulings by clicking on the link below or by copying and pasting them into your browser:
1821 Gogolsky:
1821 Gogolsky (pa.gov)
1822 Harvey:
1822 Harvey (pa.gov)
1823 Erosenko:
1823 Erosenko (pa.gov)
1824 Gaydos:
1824 Gaydos (pa.gov)
1825 Castellano:
1825 Castellano (pa.gov)
1826 Morgan:
1826 Morgan (pa.gov)
1827 Oremus:
1827 Oremus (pa.gov)
1828 Friedman:
1828 Friedman (pa.gov)