Ethics commission orders Bald Eagle supervisor to resign, pay $5,000

A second Clinton County man has been disciplined by the Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission for actions while serving as a Bald Eagle Township supervisor.

The Mill Hall-area municipality first heard from the commission back in May when former chairman James Bechdel was ordered to pay $103,109.76 in penalties for using his office to make purchases from the Federal Surplus Supply Property Program. His case was also referred to the Clinton County district attorney, the Pennsylvania Office of the Attorney General and the U.S. Department of Justice for further investigation.

The ethics commission followed up Thursday with another order for another supervisor. It was even for another Bechdel.

Jack Bechdel was the Bald Eagle vice chairman. He is also James Bechdel’s brother.

The commission’s order says Jack Bechdel “conveyed a FEMA travel trailer purchased from the FSP to himself through the township, for a fee of $500 absent an open and public process.”

He was also noted as filing “untimely and deficient Statements of Financial Interest” for both 2013 and 2015.

No additional action will be taken against Jack Bechdel, who signed a consent agreement with the commission. Under the terms of that agreement, he will pay $5,000 to the township and return an electrical generator purchased through the FSP to the municipality.

Resignation from the board of supervisors was another provision of the agreement.

According to the municipality, both Bechdels resigned before the May 22 meeting, days after James Bechdel’s order was issued.

Clinton County President Judge Craig Miller subsequently appointed Gerard Banfill and Clarence “Tuff” Rine Jr. as new supervisors. Banfill has since become chairman while the only remaining previous supervisor, Kenny McGee Jr., took over as vice chairman.

This story was originally published August 31, 2017 at 2:40 PM with the headline "Ethics commission orders Bald Eagle supervisor to resign, pay $5,000."