The Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission has issued a final adjudication in the following matters under
The Ethics Act
HARRISBURG, PA –
Order No. 1842 (Kean Staab)
Member
North and South Shenango Township Joint Municipal Authority
Crawford County, PA
ORDER SUMMARY:
1. Valerie Kean Staab (“Kean Staab"), as a Member of the Board of the North and South Shenango Joint Municipal Authority (“Authority Board"), Crawford County, from January 2001 until December 2020 and as Chair of the Authority Board from 2008 through 2020, violated Section 1103(a) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103(a), when she used the authority of her public position for the private pecuniary benefit of herself and/or members of her immediate family, when she participated in Authority votes to approve guest attendance and/or expense payments associated with guest travel to business-related conferences.
2. Kean Staab, as a Member of the Authority Board, violated Section 1103(a) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103(a), when she used the authority of her public position for the private pecuniary benefit of herself and/or members of her immediate family, when she incurred and charged expenses of a personal nature to Authority credit cards and accounts when traveling on Authority business for conferences and when she submitted for reimbursement expenses of a personal nature alleged to have been paid in cash or by personal credit card.
3. Kean Staab, as a Member of the Authority Board, violated Section 1103(a) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103(a), when she used the authority of her public position for the private pecuniary benefit of herself and/or members of her immediate family, when she approved payments to vendors, credit card companies, or herself for personal expenses incurred while traveling on Authority business.
4. Kean Staab, as an Auditor for the Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General, 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 failed to utilize leave to account for time not worked in her Commonwealth employment during normal business days and hours and received her full wages for those days and hours when not working, based upon an insufficiency of evidence.
5. Kean Staab, as a Member of the Authority Board, violated Section 1105(b) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1105(b), when she filed deficient Statements of Financial Interests for calendar years 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020.
6. Kean Staab, as an Auditor for the Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General, violated Section 1105(b) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1105(b), when she filed deficient Statements of Financial Interests for calendar years 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, and 2020.
7. We hereby levy five maximum civil penalties against Kean Staab in the amount of $250.00 each, for a total of $1,250.00, for Kean Staab's deficient Statements of Financial Interests for calendar years 2016 through 2020.
8. Kean Staab is ordered to make payment of the aforesaid civil penalties in the total amount of $1,250.00 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 $1,250.00 made payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, for deposit in the State Treasury.
9. Kean Staab is ordered to file complete and accurate amended Statements of Financial Interests for calendar years 2016 through 2020 with the North and South Shenango Joint Municipal Authority and the Pennsylvania Department of the Auditor General 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.
10. Kean Staab is ordered to make payment of restitution in the amount of $3,519.83 payable to North and South Shenango Joint 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.
11. Kean Staab is directed to not accept any reimbursement, compensation, or other payment from the Authority representing a full or partial reimbursement of the aforesaid restitution or civil penalties.
12. Non-compliance with Paragraph 8, 9, 10, or 11 of this Order will result in the initiation of an appropriate enforcement action.
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1842 Kean Staab: