Pittsburgh government and its former development czar completed their ugly divorce yesterday, and each pointed to a state letter as evidence that they, at least, have done nothing wrong.

Six months after former Urban Redevelopment Authority Executive Director Pat Ford went on paid leave pending a State Ethics Commission review of his wife's receipt of a sound system from a billboard executive, his lawyer provided a commission letter saying there was nothing improper about not reporting the gift. The URA later released a freshly signed separation agreement that gags both sides.

---

PDF

---

• The Sept. 25, 2008, letter from the ethics panel to Pat Ford
• Pat Ford's Oct. 7, 2008, separation agreement with the City of Pittsburgh

---

"The State Ethics Commission has ruled and found that there was nothing improper done, as I believed all along, not only on this issue but on any issue that's been raised by political adversaries or other members of the Pittsburgh community," said Mayor Luke Ravenstahl, whose administration Mr. Ford called "failed" and marked by "deception and corruption" in an Aug. 27 resignation letter.

Not so fast, said an administration critic.

"Public trust is lost when people see government granting the well-connected special rights, persecuting those who speak out and paying off others to not speak about what they know," said City Councilman William Peduto.

The commission's letter closes the book on the surround sound system Lamar Advertising Real Estate Manager James Vlasach gave to Mr. Ford's wife, Alecia Sirk, for Christmas in 2006. Lamar sought and was granted in December a permit for a digital billboard on the Grant Street Transportation Center, Downtown. That permit was later revoked and is now the subject of a zoning battle. Mr. Ford was involved with that permit.

The Sept. 25 letter from commission Executive Director John Contino found that "the value of the item received was below the threshold for reporting purposes." Officials must report any gifts they get that are worth more than $250, except those from family or friends. Mr. Ford has said Mr. Vlasach was a friend, and the gift was worth around $200.

"As such, no further action will be taken in relation to this specific issue," Mr. Contino wrote. "Our review of this matter only relates to the above noted issue and does not constitute a determination as to any other course of conduct."

Lawrence Fisher, who represents Mr. Ford, called that final line "a gratuitous swipe at my client which signifies nothing other than the malice that the State Ethics Commission has shown throughout this matter." He said he may file suit against the commission for violating its own confidentiality rules in its communications with the URA, and for "dragging this matter out intentionally and deliberately."

"This issue has now once and for all been put behind us," said Mr. Ravenstahl, who in the past called Mr. Ford's corruption allegations "outrageous and very malicious."

The separation agreement appears to be an attempt to ensure the bitter public sparring doesn't recur -- but it doesn't close the door on cooperation with any corruption probe.

The agreement, signed by Mr. Ford Tuesday and delivered to the URA yesterday, provides him with $9,822 a month, plus health insurance, through June, even though his contract expires at the end of December. By summer, he will have received more than $100,000 worth of post-resignation pay and benefits.

If he disparages the URA or city, or alleges any "actionable conduct" by them, though, the payments stop and he has to pay $25,000, plus attorney's fees.

Likewise, the city and URA can't bad-mouth Mr. Ford or Ms. Sirk, a former mayoral spokeswoman, or they have to pay $25,000.

The one exception to the gag provision is for testimony under a court order or subpoena. If one side is subpoenaed or ordered to testify, they must promptly inform the other party, which can then "seek a protective order" to stop that.

Mr. Fisher has said Mr. Ford has cooperated with authorities. Several people have said they talked with the U.S. Attorney's office about the city's development deals, which have included several billboard deals that seem at odds with city code, and URA contracts in which bidders have been allowed to change quotes.

A similar separation agreement between the city and Ms. Sirk entitles her to a $2,500 payment and doesn't bar her from seeking unemployment compensation. She resigned from the city April 9, but got $1,886.50 in unemployment compensation in April and May from the URA, where she worked prior to joining the mayor's office.

Mr. Ford has moved out of state and formed a consulting business, Mr. Fisher said. The settlement bars him from ever reapplying with the city or authority.

Mr. Ford was the city's zoning administrator under Mayor Tom Murphy, left for Pompano Beach, Fla., then returned to be the late Mayor Bob O'Connor's planning director. Mr. Ravenstahl made him a development czar in the mayor's office, and then URA director.