CLARION, Pa. (EYT) – Clarion County District Attorney Mark Aaron has forwarded a request for a possible investigation of former Clarion Borough Police Chief Mark Hall to Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro.
“Borough officials referred the matter to me a few weeks ago,” said Aaron. “Due to prior relationships with the chief in law enforcement and continuing relations with the new chief, William Peck, I obviously have a conflict of interest in the matter and the entire matter has been forwarded to the Attorney General for investigation and prosecutorial decision if needed in the future.”
Hall was relieved from his position as borough police chief and was terminated from his position as a police officer on November 15, 2016 by Clarion Borough Council.
No charges have been filed and the only public comments made said that the decision was related to Hall’s vacation time. Hall later withdrew a request for an appeal to the Clarion Borough Civil Service Commission in January.
Using information obtained through other Right to Know Requests made by exploreClarion.com, it appears Hall may have made unauthorized payments of over $20,000.00 to himself, but no charges have been filed on behalf of Clarion Borough against Hall in addition to termination from all of his positions.
Gross Vacation Pay paid to former employee Mark Hall:
12/24/2012 – 40 hours – $1,136.80
12/23/2013 – 80 Hours – $2,376.00
07/07/2014 – 80 Hours – $2,483.20
08/18/2014 – 80 Hours – $2,483.20
06/08/2015 – 80 Hours – $2,996.80
08/17/2015 – 80 Hours – $2,996.80
04/25/2016 – 80 Hours – $3,139.20
05/09/2016 – 80 Hours – $3,139.20
Total $20,751.20
2010-2016 W2 Gross Wages Paid to former employee Mark Hall:
2010 — $57,032.15
2011 — $58,543.06
2012 — $61,149.38
2013 — $74,874.21
2014 — $72,660.96
2015 — $86,725.96
2016 — Information Not Available
While the amount of vacation time is not unusual for a long-term employee, the jump in total pay during 2013 through 2015 raises speculation that Hall took the vacation pay and continued to collect his regular salary at the same time.
Hall had the means to do this because he was secretary-treasurer and police chief of the Clarion Borough, giving him complete administrative control. Any deviation of “buying back vacation time” is outlined under contracts and was not authorized.
PHOTO: Pennsylvania Attorney General candidate Democratic Montgomery County Commissioner Josh Shapiro debates his opponent Republican state Sen. John Rafferty at Widener University Commonwealth Law School in Harrisburg, Pa., Monday, Oct. 24, 2016. (Mark Pynes/PennLive.com via AP)
