2023-012 - Laserfiche WebLink

Ethics Board Docket No. 2023-012 Page 8 of 11 V. OPINION: It is the opinion of the BOE that Dr. Gerdes, in his capacity as a member of the LSBOE, violated Section I I I I C(2)(d) of the Ethics Code by virtue of his receipt of compensation for services rendered to OAL while OAL had or was seeking to have contractual,financial or business relationships with Dr. Gerdes' agency. Section 1111 C(2)(d) of the Ethics Code prohibits Dr. Gerdes from receiving compensation from OAL while Dr. Gerdes serves on the LSBOE and OAL has or is seeking to obtain contractual, financial and business relationships with the LSBOE. While Dr. Gerdes served as a member of the LSBOE, Dr. Gerdes served on the board of OAL and received compensation from OAL, and OAL had a business and financial relationship with the LSBOE through their relationship with respect to the Leased Space. As OAL had business and financial relationships with the LSBOE, Dr. Gerdes was prohibited from receiving compensation from the pursuant to Section 1111 C(2)(d) of the Ethics Code. If this matter proceeded to a public hearing before the Ethics Adjudicatory Board, and the Ethics Adjudicatory Board found a violation of the Ethics Code, the Ethics Adjudicatory Board could impose a fine of up to $10,000 for each violation of the Ethics Code, pursuant to Section 1153B of the Ethics Code. The Ethics Adjudicatory Board could also impose penalties equal to one-and-a-half times the amount of economic advantage gained,pursuant to Section 1155A of the Ethics Code. In this particular situation, it is the conclusion of the Board that the interest of the public would be served by, and the parties have agreed to resolving this matter amicably through the publication of this Consent Opinion with no imposition of a civil penalty against Dr. Gerdes.