Pittsburgh Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Anthony Hamlet may be declaring victory following Thursday's Pennsylvania Ethics Commission report, but the commission's director sees it differently.
The report cited Hamlet for several violations in connection with district travel expenses, payments for appearances and vacation days.
In a briefing Thursday, Hamlet said the report cleared him of any intentional wrongdoing because it cited negligence.
"This two year inquiry has been a cloud over my head, a heavy burden on my shoulders even though I know I have done nothing wrong," Hamlet said Thursday. "This [report] actually vindicates that."
Hamlet's attorney attributed the violations to record-keeping mistakes, a lack of training and language in Hamlet's contract that conflicts with the commission's policies.
Pennsylvania Ethics Commission director Rob Caruso told Marty Griffin he doesn't agree the report vindicated Hamlet.
"I'm amazed that he would claim vindication or exoneration on a report that did anything but exonerate," Caruso said. "There were multiple violations, substantial fines and costs and Dr. Hamlet, through his counsel, admitted to them."
Caruso expressed concern over the amount of Hamlet's violations, adding its typical to see complaints similar to the allegations against Hamlet as isolated incidents.
"In this particular situation, there were multiple trips over multiple years with multiple results where it seemed as though Dr. Hamlet was constantly getting reimbursed by both the district and by the entity where he was traveling that was initially paying the expenses," he said. "In my opinion, where this is different and more egregious is the sheer volume of what occurred."
Asked about criticism from the Ethics Commission Thursday, Hamlet's attorney David Berardinelli pointed to the consent order agreed upon by both parties.
"That order says anything related to that was negligence," he said. "I'm not drawing that distinction. I'm reading it from the order. We wouldn't have agreed to this if the commission had insisted on finding of intentionality."
Hamlet agreed to pay nearly $8,000 in reimbursements and forfeit 14 days vacation time.