Order No. 1791 (Hamlet)
Superintendent
Pittsburgh Public School District
Allegheny County, PA
ORDER SUMMARY:
1. Anthony Hamlet (“Hamlet”), as the Superintendent of the Pittsburgh Public School District (“District”), violated Section 1103(a) of the Public Official and Employee Ethics Act (“Ethics Act”), 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103(a), in relation to his negligent receipt of travel expense reimbursements for travel expenses which had already been paid by the District, resulting in a private pecuniary benefit.
2. A violation of Section 1103(a) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103(a), occurred in relation to Hamlet’s negligent utilization of leave for days when he was absent from the District for non-District related travel and was subsequently paid for such days and when he carried over unused vacation/personal days for certain District employees, including himself, from one school year to the next when his contract prohibited carrying over vacation/personal days as to him.
3. A technical violation of Section 1103(d) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103(d), occurred when Hamlet accepted honoraria in recognition of appearances, speeches and/or presentations which were directly related to his public occupation.
4. Hamlet denies having committed a violation of the Ethics Act concerning his trip with The Flying Classroom, LLC (“The Flying Classroom”) and denies having knowledge that the trip was not part of the District’s contract with The Flying Classroom. Nevertheless and without admitting any violation, for purposes of resolution given the terms of the parties’ settlement, Hamlet agrees that if this matter went to hearing, the Investigative Division could, by circumstantial evidence, meet the requisite evidentiary standard and convince a fact finder that he violated Section 1103(a) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. § 1103(a), in relation to his participating in The Flying Classroom-sponsored trip.
5. Violations of Sections 1105(b)(1), (5), (7), and (8) of the Ethics Act, 65 Pa.C.S. §§ 1105(b)(1), (5), (7) and (8), occurred in relation to Hamlet’s deficient Statements of Financial Interests for calendar years 2016, 2017, and 2018.
6. Per the Consent Agreement of the parties, Hamlet is directed to make payment in the amount of $2,908.89 payable to the Pittsburgh Public Schools and forwarded to the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission, which amount may be paid in six equal monthly installments, starting with an initial payment to be made on the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of this Order.
7. Hamlet is directed to make payment in the amount of $3,250.00 payable to the Pittsburgh Public Schools and forwarded to the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission, which amount may be paid in six equal monthly installments, starting with an initial payment to be made on the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of this Order. Hamlet is directed to fulfill his agreement to use reasonable efforts to arrange to have the District remit these payments to Pittsburgh Promise and to provide certification to this Commission by letter or email of the District’s remittance of these payments to Pittsburgh Promise.
8. Hamlet is directed to make a payment of $750.00 payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and forwarded to the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission by no later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of this Order.
9. Hamlet is directed to make a payment of $1,000.00, representing a portion of the costs incurred by this Commission in the investigation and enforcement of this matter, which shall be made payable to the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission and forwarded to this Commission by no later than the sixtieth (60th) day after the mailing date of this Order.
10. Hamlet is directed to fulfill the terms of the parties’ Consent Agreement by forfeiting fourteen (14) days of vacation time, valued at $882.58 per day for a total value of $12,356.12, for the calendar year in which this Order is mailed. Should Hamlet have less than fourteen (14) vacation days remaining on the mailing date of this Order, he shall pay the difference at a per diem rate of his current salary. Hamlet shall forward confirmation of forfeiture to this Commission by no later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of this Order.
11. Hamlet is directed to not accept any reimbursement, compensation or other payment from the District representing a full or partial reimbursement of the amount paid in settlement of this matter.
12. Hamlet is directed to file amended Statements of Financial Interests for calendar years 2016, 2017, and 2018 with this Commission by no later than the thirtieth (30th) day after the mailing date of this Order.
13. Compliance with paragraphs 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, and 12 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.
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