2022 Settlement Agreement: Nine state and local public officials to be disciplined for violating state ethics laws in 2022
2021 Settlement Agreement: Yellow Springs Planning Commission Chair Included Among Nine People Wanted for Ethics Violations in 2021
This year, the Ethics Commission celebrates the 50th anniversary of the Ohio Ethics Act. The commission recently reported that it started the year with 103 public ethics investigations across the state, according to its annual report released this month. This includes 11 cases in our area, six in Butler County alone.
High-profile cases in recent years include the conviction of Butler County Auditor Roger Reynolds on a felony charge of unjust enrichment in public contracts. The committee was also involved in investigating the House Bill 6 scandal.
Below is a summary of Ohio Ethics Commission settlements from 2023.
upper arlington
According to a settlement agreement, Upper Arlington Police Chief Steve Farmer was disciplined by the Ethics Commission for violating state ethics laws for his role in hiring his son for temporary seasonal employment at Safety Town. Ta. Mr. Farmer accepted the reprimand, agreed to repay the $1,329 his son was paid for his work, and to attend training on nepotism.
According to the settlement agreement, Upper Arlington Police Department Sergeant Heather Galli violated Ohio ethics laws by helping her daughter get a seasonal job at Safety Town. Ghali accepted the reprimand, agreed to reimburse the city for the $2,694 her daughter was paid through the program and to take a course on her nepotism.
lake county
According to the settlement agreement, Lake County Commissioner John Plechnik uses county computers to teach online classes at Cleveland State University and North Carolina Central University School of Law and to perform other job-related duties. and was using the office. The agreement states that Plechnik violated Ohio's ethics law and that he accepted discipline and agreed to undergo ethics training. The settlement states that Plechnik self-reported the possible violations through a letter from his attorney.
village of wintersville
According to the settlement agreement, Arthur Fowler, the police chief for the village of Wintersville in Jefferson County, violated Ohio ethics laws by using a private company to install security cameras and other equipment at his police station. According to the settlement, the suspect fraudulently redeemed fuel points from refueling a police cruiser for gift cards. Fowler accepted the reprimand, agreed to repay the village $300 in labor costs to install the equipment, and is no longer working as police chief.
Trumbull County Municipalities
Michelle Garman is a school board member for the Matthews Regional School District and zoning secretary for Vienna Twp. According to the settlement agreement, Trumbull County violated state ethics laws when it voted to approve a school resource officer contract between the school district and the employer. Garman accepted the public reprimand and agreed to undergo her ethics training.
ohio department of public safety
According to the settlement agreement, Christopher Lee, an administrative employee with the Ohio Department of Public Safety, violated Ohio ethics laws by accepting discounts on home paint from ODPS vendor Sherwin-Williams. Lee accepted the reprimand and agreed to undergo ethics training.
Belmont County Park District
The settlement agreement says Jack McKeever Sr., chairman of the Belmont County Park District, violated state ethics laws when the park district contracted with a company owned by McKeever, his wife and son. did. Mr. McKeever resigned from his directorship and accepted the reprimand.
