Mercer Commissioner promises to 'avoid' issues like Sunshine Law violations
Mercer County Commissioner Ann Coleman has issued a statement promising to “avoid future issues” like the unpublicized meeting held to approve $6,000 in additional pay for two county controller’s office employees.
Coleman’s statement came after a report from Mercer County District Attorney Peter Acker who found that Coleman, Commissioner Bill Finley, and controller Steve Sherman violated Pennsylvania’s open meetings Sunshine Law.
The meeting was called without notifying the public, to compensate two controller’s employees who worked extra hours to help the office catch up on work.
In addition, Acker said in his report that the County Salary Board should have considered the supplemental pay.
Acker declared the supplemental $6,000 pay invalid because of the errors.
Although Acker declined to file criminal charges, he stated in his report that further violations would result in charges.
In a statement emailed to 21 News, Commissioner Coleman acknowledged that the action should have been handled by the Salary Board and stated that the board will meet soon to make sure the controller’s office employees are paid for their additional hours.
“This oversight illustrates that I must ask more questions as the Commissioners move through various processes, and at the same time, others need to be more forthcoming with pertinent information. I will make every effort to avoid future issues,” said Coleman in her statement.
According to Coleman, the additional hours were spent working on the creation of a financial system that will permit Mercer County to collect taxes and pay its bills, as well as work to make certain the county can meet other obligations.
“With this increased communication and cooperation, I am hopeful we can now move forward to complete the software implementation.”
Also declared as unfounded by Acker was an allegation that the $6,000 was embezzled by the commissioners and controller.
"There is no evidence that the roughly $6,000 paid to the two employees of the Controller's Office for additional work, was for the personal benefit of the Controller," says Acker. "There is no evidence that the Controller struck the money in his personal pocket or went to Las Vegas to gamble it away."
