Order No. 1799 (Como)
Superintendent
Coatesville Area School District
Chester County, PA
ORDER SUMMARY:
1. Richard Como ("Como"), as the Superintendent of the Coatesville Area School District ("CASD"), violated Section 1103(a) of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act ("Ethics Act"), 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103(a), when he utilized CASD funds to purchase rings/jewelry for the CASD high school football team and individuals involved with the CASD high school football team.
2. A violation of Section 1103(a) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103(a), occurred when Como utilized the authority of his public employment to effectuate the hiring of his son, Matthew Como, and when he authorized his son's salary increases/promotion and continued employment with the CASD.
3. Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, Como is directed to make payment in the amount of $4,137.75 payable to Coatesville Area School District and $6,931.50 in fines as delineated in his sentencing order docketed at CP-15-CR-0000780-2015.
- The above payments shall be concurrent to those in his sentencing order docketed at CP-15-CR-0000780-2015 and shall be made as directed by the Chester County Probation and Parole Department or any other such department if the case is transferred.
- None of the above payments represent any restitution for the Section 1103(a) violation regarding the pecuniary benefit obtained by Como's son.
4. Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, Como is directed to not accept any reimbursement, compensation or other payment from the CASD representing a full or partial reimbursement of the amount paid in settlement of this matter.
5. Compliance with paragraphs 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. 1800 (Adamson)
Elected Controller
Clearfield County, PA
ORDER SUMMARY:
1. Charles Thomas Adamson ("Adamson") — a public official in his capacities as the Acting Controller for Clearfield County ("County"), Pennsylvania, from January 1, 2016, through December 31, 2017, and as the County Controller from January 1, 2018, to the present —violated Section 1103(a) of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act ("Ethics Act"), 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103(a), in relation to his use of the authority of his public position as the County Controller for the private pecuniary benefit of his daughter, Kaitlin Evans, when he selected and hired his daughter to fill the vacant County Deputy Controller position.
2. A violation of Section 1105(b)(5) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1105(b)(5), occurred in relation to Adamson's failure to disclose on Statements of Financial Interests filed for the 2015 through 2019 calendar years direct or indirect sources of income.
3. A violation of Section 1105(b)(8) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1105(b)(8), occurred in relation to Adamson's failure to disclose his office, directorship, or employment in any business on his Statements of Financial Interests for calendar years 2018 and 2019.
4. Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, Adamson 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 by no later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of this Order.
5. Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, Adamson is directed to not accept any reimbursement, compensation or other payment from the County representing a full or partial reimbursement of the amount paid in settlement of this matter.
6. To the extent he has not already done so, Adamson is directed to file complete and accurate amended Statements of Financial Interests for calendar years 2015 through 2019 with the County, through the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission, by no later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of this Order.
7. Compliance with paragraphs 4, 5, and 6 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. 1801 (Estabrook)
Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds
Susquehanna County, PA
ORDER SUMMARY:
1. Michelle Estabrook ("Estabrook"), as the Register of Wills and Recorder of Deeds ("Register and Recorder") for Susquehanna County ("County"), Pennsylvania, violated Section 1103(a) of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act ("Ethics Act"), 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103(a), when she entered into a contract with her daughter, a member of her immediate family, to provide an audit for the County Register and Recorder's Office.
2. A violation of Section 1103(f) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103(f), occurred when Estabrook entered into a contract valued at $500.00 or more with her daughter on behalf of the County Register and Recorder's Office without an open and public process, and when she had supervisory and/or overall responsibility for the implementation and/or administration of the contract.
3. A violation of Section 1103(a) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103(a), occurred when Estabrook authorized payments to her daughter by issuing and signing checks.
4. Inasmuch as the Investigative Division is not seeking the imposition of any monetary penalty on the basis that it has received verification that Estabrook has reimbursed in full the fund from which the payments were made, no further action is warranted in this case.
Order No. 1802 (Yoder)
Board of Supervisors Member and Chairman
Lower Frederick Township
Montgomery County, PA
ORDER SUMMARY:
1. Robert M. Yoder ("Yoder"), as a Member and Chairman of the Board of Supervisors of Lower Frederick Township ("Township"), Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, 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 participated in discussions and actions of the Board of Supervisors resulting in the hiring of his spouse as an employee of the Township for a part-time clerical position, based upon an insufficiency of evidence.
2. Yoder violated Section 1103(a) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103(a), when he used the authority of his public position for the private pecuniary benefit of himself and a member of his immediate family in relation to his spouse's promotion to a full-time Administrative Assistant position with health insurance benefits starting immediately contrary to Township policy.
3. Yoder did not violate Section 1103(a) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103(a), as to the allegation that he approved Township payroll which included payments to his spouse, based upon an insufficiency of evidence.
4. Yoder did not violate Section 1103(a) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103(a), as to the allegation that he utilized Township liability insurance in relation to damage that he caused to a utility pole owned by PECO while using the Township backhoe for personal purposes, based upon an insufficiency of evidence.
5. Yoder violated Section 1104(a) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1104(a), when he failed to file Statements of Financial Interests for calendar years 2013 and 2014 with the Township.
6. Technical violations of Sections 1105(b)(1) and 1105(b)(5) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. §§ 1105(b)(1), 1105(b)(5), occurred when Yoder filed deficient Statements of Financial Interests by listing the incorrect year on his Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2016, omitting his address from his Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2017, and failing to list the Township as a source of income on his Statements of Financial Interests for calendar years 2015 and 2016.
7. To the extent Yoder received compensation from the Township when he did not have complete and accurate Statements of Financial Interests on file with the Township, such compensation was received in contravention of Section 1104(d) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1104(d).
8. We hereby levy two maximum civil penalties against Yoder in the amount of $250.00 each, for a total amount of $500.00, for Yoder's delinquent Statements of Financial Interests for calendar years 2013 and 2014.
9. Yoder 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.
10. Yoder is ordered to make payment of restitution in the amount of $1,600.00 payable to Lower Frederick Township and forwarded to the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission by no later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of this Order.
11. Yoder is directed to not accept any reimbursement, compensation, or other payment from the Township representing a full or partial reimbursement of the aforesaid restitution or civil penalties.
12. Non-compliance with Paragraph 9, 10, or 11 of this Order will result in the initiation of an appropriate enforcement action.
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