The Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission has issued a final adjudication in the following matters under
The Ethics Act
HARRISBURG, PA –
Order No. 1846 (Wanda Williams)
Mayor
City of Harrisburg
Dauphin County, PA
ORDER SUMMARY:
1. For purposes of resolution given the terms of the parties’ settlement, Wanda Williams (“Williams”) agrees that if this matter went to a hearing, the Investigative Division could meet the requisite evidentiary standard and convince a fact finder that a violation of Section 1103(a) of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103(a), occurred when Williams, in her capacity as Mayor of the City of Harrisburg (“City”), Pennsylvania, instructed City employees to provide her with a City-owned dumpster for personal use at her residence, resulting in a private pecuniary benefit.
2. Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, Williams is directed to make payment in the amount of $912.70 payable to the City of Harrisburg and forwarded to the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission by no later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of this Order.
3. Williams is directed to not accept any reimbursement, compensation or other payment from the City 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. 1847 (William Mccoy)
Member of Board of Supervisors
Gallagher Township
Clinton County, PA
ORDER SUMMARY:
1. William L. McCoy (“McCoy”), as Member of the Board of Supervisors (“Board”), of Gallagher Township (“Township”) Clinton County, from 2012 to the present violated 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 office for the private pecuniary benefit of himself when, absent appointment or authorization by the Township Board of Supervisors and/or the Township Board of Auditors, he used his public office to assume a position of employment with the Township and set his own scope and hours of work, receiving compensation for same.
2. McCoy, as a Member of the Township Board of Supervisors, violated 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 office for the private pecuniary benefit of himself when he billed the Township and received payment for performing administrative work he was expected to complete in the regular course of his duties as an elected Supervisor.
3. McCoy is ordered to make payment of restitution in the amount of $2,757.02 payable to Gallagher Township and forwarded to the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission by no later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of this Order.
4. McCoy is directed to not accept any reimbursement, compensation, or other payment from the Township representing a full or partial reimbursement of the aforesaid restitution.
5. Non-compliance with Paragraph 3 or 4 of this Order will result in the initiation of an appropriate enforcement action.
Order No. 1848 (Samantha Reiner)
Supervisor
Chadds Ford Township
Delaware County, PA
ORDER SUMMARY:
1. A violation of Section 1103(f) of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act (“Ethics Act”), 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103(f), occurred when Samantha Reiner (“Reiner”), in her capacity as a Supervisor for Chadds Ford Township (“Township”), Delaware County, Pennsylvania, used the authority of her position to enter into a consulting contract with the Township to provide stormwater assessments and other related work without an open and public process.
2. A violation of Section 1103(a) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103(a), occurred when Reiner was compensated as a Township Consultant for performing the duties of a Township Supervisor.
3. Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, Reiner is directed to make payment in the amount of $12,491.79 payable to Chadds Ford Township and forwarded to the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission within six (6) months of the issuance of this Order.
4. Reiner is directed 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.
5. To the extent she has not already done so, Reiner is directed to file a complete and accurate amended Statement of Financial Interests for calendar year 2023 with the Township, through this Commission, by no later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of this Order.
6. Compliance with paragraphs 3, 4, and 5 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. 1849 (Joseph Goodge)
Member of the Zoning Hearing Board and Vacancy Board
Pulaski Township
Lawrence County, PA
ORDER SUMMARY:
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 further directed 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.
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 (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.
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:
1846 Wanda Williams:
1847 William McCoy:
1848 Samantha Reiner:
1849 Joseph Goodge: