FRANKLIN, Pa. (EYT) — Venango County Commissioner Tim Brooks said there was no malicious intent when he reported a rumor that he heard about fellow Commissioner Albert “Chip” Abramovic to the Pennsylvania Ethics Commission in the fall.
[Photo of Venango County Commissioners (from left): Vincent Witherup, Tim Brooks, and Albert “Chip” Abramovic]
Abramovic was cleared by the Ethics Commission of any wrongdoing in February, and that information was announced on Wednesday, March 21, by Abramovic, who called the investigation a “wild goose chase.”
However, Brooks believes he didn’t have a choice but to report what he heard to the Ethics Commission.
“When a county employee hears something (that might be a violation) they have to report it to their supervisor,” Brooks said. “Two heard (some things Abramovic might have been involved with) and reported it to me as their supervisor. I looked at them and checked the Ethics Act. (The allegations) would have been a violation.”
Because the alleged allegations would have been in a violation in Brooks’ opinion, it could have impacted the external audit of the county, the commissioner said.
“It could have affected over $30 million in federal and state funds,” Brooks said. “So, I consulted our external audit firm, and they said we should follow policy and turn it over (to the Ethics Commission). So, I followed policy and turned it over.”
Abramovic questioned that policy while also believing that county money shouldn’t have been used without the approval of the commissioners’ board, which also includes Vince Witherup.
But, Brooks said no county money was used in pursuing the action.
He also said he didn’t just act on the rumors without checking sources about the allegations.
“I spoke to several people who felt it was credible enough to be looked at,” Brooks said.
While he talked to several people about the credibility of the allegations, Brooks said he didn’t “feel comfortable” investigating his fellow commissioner.
“I didn’t feel it was my place to investigate a fellow commissioner,” Brooks said. “I didn’t know any of the facts. I thought it was proper to have it investigated by a third party. I don’t think Chip or Vince would want me to look at it. I didn’t think it was my place.”
Therefore, Brooks said he turned the matter over the Ethics Commission, hoping to clear both Abramovic’s name and the county’s name, which was the end result.
“It has cleared the county’s name and Chip’s name,” Brooks said. “We can now say it was investigated by a third party. It’s done and over with. I did it to protect Chip and the county.”
With an ethics probe into one commissioner started by a report from another commissioner, one can freely wonder how that will impact county business moving forward.
But, Brooks doesn’t think it will be an issue.
“We are still working together,” Brooks said. “We had a meeting this morning (Thursday morning). I don’t think it has had any effect on our working relationship, and I never had a personal relationship with either Vince or Chip.”
E-mailed questions to Witherup weren’t returned to exploreVenango.com on Thursday.
