CHARLESTON, WV – The West Virginia Ethics Commission issued a public reprimand and assessed a $3,000 fine as part of a Conciliation (settlement) Agreement approved on November 2, 2023.
Nyle Whittington, a former Putnam County Building and Grounds Manager, admitted that he violated the Ethics Act by removing two of the County Commission’s surplus vehicles from the County’s public auction process, purchasing one of the vehicles for $200, and allowing another County employee to purchase the other vehicle for $200. Whittington’s job duties included organizing and overseeing the auctions of surplus county vehicles.
The Ethics Act prohibits public officials and public employees from using their public office for their own private gain or that of another person, and prohibits public officials and public employees from being a party to or have interest in the profits or benefits of a contract which the official or employee may have direct authority to enter into, or over which he or she may have control.
Whittington was also ordered to undergo training on the Ethics Act as part of the settlement of the ethics complaint against him and to pay $3,589.65 in restitution to the Putnam County Commission for the surplus vehicles purchased.
The Conciliation Agreement may be viewed on the Commission’s website
here.