State rules Berwick Township supervisor violated ethics act
The Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission ruled a Berwick Township supervisor has violated state ethics guidelines related to the payment of a cell phone bill.
The Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission ruled a Berwick Township supervisor has violated state ethics guidelines related to the payment of a cell phone bill, according to a Jan. 5 commission news release.
Supervisor Peter L. Socks, Jr., has been ordered to repay $500 to both Berwick Township and the state within 30 days of the ruling. The state found that Socks violated the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act when he participated in a discussion about his municipality-funded cell phone.
Socks served as an interim manager for the township, a position which has in the past been afforded a municipality-sponsored cell phone. Because Socks was also serving as a township supervisor at the time, the state found his participation in the discussion over whether to fund the mobile device was inappropriate.
The state also ruled that Socks did not accurately update or disclose his financial relationship with the township in his statements of financial interests for the 2011, 2012 and 2013 calendar year.
Socks could not immediately be reached for comment.
A full text version of the ruling can be found here.
This story is part of a partnership between WITF and Hanover Evening Sun.
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