The Pennsylvania State Ethics Commission has ordered a Luzerne County public official and a former Lackawanna County official to make settlement payments following investigations into severe Ethics Act violations. State regulators found that Pittston Township Supervisor David Slezak utilized public township employees to perform work on his private residence while they were on taxpayer time. In a separate investigation, the commission determined that former Madison Township Supervisor Andrew Nazarenko improperly awarded a lucrative six-figure township contract to his daughter's company, a move that directly impacted and inflated the financial bonus she received.
Both regional leaders were found to have used their public offices for private financial gain in direct violation of state law. To resolve the enforcement actions, the State Ethics Commission has mandated that both Slezak and Nazarenko pay financial penalties to settle their respective cases. The rulings emphasize the state's ongoing efforts to enforce accountability and transparency among municipal leaders across northeastern Pennsylvania.
