Ethics Board

For meeting information, agendas, and minutes, please click here.

Purpose: The Powers and Duties of the Board of Ethics are:

  • Give advice as to the application of the ethics provisions of the Charter of the City of Scranton and the Code of Ethics.
  • Receive and dispose of complaints of violations of the ethics provisions of the Charter and Code of Ethics, and exercise discretion in declining to pursue and investigation if such a course would be in the best interest of the citizens of the City of Scranton or where the activity complained of amounts to no more than a de minimis violation.
  • Appoint an investigating officer to conduct investigations and to issue findings reports where appropriate.
  • Hold hearings, issue subpoenas and compel the attendance of witnesses, administer oaths, take testimony, require evidence on any matter under investigation before the Board, and issue orders including but not limited to those related to adjudications and penalties.
  • Conduct educational programs to promote the ethical conduct of public officials, City of Scranton employees, and individuals and groups doing business with the City.
  • Adopt rules and regulations to administer, implement, enforce and interpret the Code of Ethics.
  • Annually review the statements of financial interest filed pursuant to Section 4 of the Code.

Mission: To administer and apply the ethics provisions of the Charter of the City of Scranton and the Code of Ethics to endeavor to maintain a high standard of ethical behavior by City employees and officials.

Any person residing in the City of Scranton may file an ethics complaint with the Board by completing the Ethics Board Complaint Form included on this webpage.

Ethics Complaint Instructions: Complaints to the Ethics Board should be filed in accordance with the instructions on the Ethics Board Complaint Form and mailed to:

Ethics Board, City of Scranton

PO Box 668

235 N. Washington Avenue

Scranton, PA 18501

Meetings: 

Beginning March 16, 2022, the Board of Ethics will meet every other month on the third Wednesday at 6:00 p.m. either virtually or in the Governor’s Room at Scranton City Hall. Residents may send their comments/questions for the board in writing to be included in the official record by emailing ethicsboard@scrantonpa.gov no later than 2:00 p.m. on the day of the meeting. Changes to this schedule will be legally advertised in the Scranton Times-Tribune

Ethics Board Mailing Address (for non-ethics complaint matters):

Ethics Board, City of Scranton

340 N. Washington Avenue

Scranton, PA 18503

Solicitor: Jamie Davis Schelling, Esquire
Board Members:

Member (Appointer)Term End
Patricia Dunleavy (Mayor Cognetti)8-31-25
Harry V. McKay (Mayor Cognetti)11-24-24
Andrew LaZella (Council) 8-31-22
Kate Lafferty-Danner (Controller)8-31-23
David Falcheck (Council) – Chair8-31-24

For additional documents regarding the Ethics Board, please click the link below:

Ethics Documents

Ethics Minutes

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