First Annual Report Issued by the Office of Inspector General

On Wednesday, December 7, 2011 the Office of Inspector General (OIG) issued its first annual report. This report, as mandated by the OIG Ordinance, summarizes the OIG
activities for the period June 28, 2010 through September 30, 2011.

 To read the full report, click HERE.

 

 

November 18th Declared Ethics Awareness Day in Palm Beach County

The Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners have issued a proclamation declaring November 18, 2011, Ethics Awareness Day.  Click HERE to read the proclamation adopted by the Board of County Commissioners on November 1st.

Click HERE for more information on the Palm Beach County Ethics Commission.

 

 

 

2011 Update on Ethics Initiative in Palm Beach County

As the Palm Beach County Ethics Initiative turned four years old, members and supporters had a lot to celebrate. Within the past year:

*The County Commission established the Office of Inspector General, the Ethics Commission and implemented our countywide Ethics Code.

*The Ethics Commission hired its Executive Director and Inspector General.

*Palm Beach State College established a permanent Center for Applied Ethics to help address long-term culture issues.

*An amendment to the Palm Beach County Charter was approved by the voters in November, embedding the changes in our charter and bringing the municipalities under the jurisdiction of the Inspector General, the Commission on Ethics and the new Code of Ethics.

     The Fourth Annual Forum on Ethics in June was a call to action for a renewed focus on the “culture issue” – how to promote a culture of ethics throughout our community – starting with a discussion of business ethics. Dale Brill, President of the Florida Chamber Foundation, and Jonathan Low, Partner & Co-Founder of Predictive Consulting, shared insights on how the best companies to work for are also the most measurably ethical and how financial success and ethical behavior are linked.

     Shortly after the Forum, LPBC received word that Palm Beach County earned a National Association of Counties Achievement Award in recognition of the success of the Palm Beach County Ethics Initiative – a major milestone for all who contributed to its enactment. The Ethics Initiative Steering committee celebrated this national recognition of the recognition of the Palm Beach County Ethics Initiative as an “effective and innovative program which contributes to and enhances county government and serves as an outstanding example of promoting transparency in government.”

     Anyone interested in volunteering with the Palm Beach County Ethics Initiative should contact Marty Rogol, David Baker or Andrew Baumann – committee co-chairs through the LPBC office at: info@leadershippbc.org

  

Palm Beach County Wins NACo Achievement Award for the Success of the PBC Ethics Initiative

      Palm Beach County has earned a 2011 Achievement Award from the National Association of Counties (NACo) for its sweeping ethics reform measures. The Palm Beach County Ethics Initiative was recognized as an effective and innovative program which contributes to and enhances county government and serves as an outstanding example of promoting transparency in government.

     In 2009, following a grand jury report, Palm Beach County began a focused and comprehensive effort to develop an ethics initiative aimed at restoring public trust. In less than a year, the grand jury’s recommendations were approved and implemented by the Board of County Commissioners. They included establishment of an independent Commission on Ethics, an independent Office of Inspector General, and a new county Code of Ethics.

     In November 2010, 72 percent of voters approved a referendum extending oversight to the employees and elected officials of each of the county’s 38 municipalities. Earlier this year, independently appointed drafting committees developed the code that now applies countywide.

     NACo’s annual Achievement Award Program began in 1970 to honor innovative county government programs. Awards are given in 21 different categories including county administration and management, environmental protection, children and youth, criminal justice, information technology and health.

 

Ethics Charter Amendment
 

At the July 20, 2010 Board of County Commissioners meeting, the board adopted an ordinance placing a referendum on the November ballot to amend the county charter to require the establishment of a Code of Ethics, a Commission on Ethics, and an Inspector General. The charter amendment and implementing ordinances would apply to Palm Beach County and all municipalities approving the referendum. The board also approved a simplified method of collecting a .25 percent fee on county contracting/purchasing to fund the Office of Inspector General.

Click HERE for complete BCC Briefs from July 20, 2010.
 

Palm Beach County Ethics Ordinances
(From the Palm Beach County Government website - See link below)

As leaders and residents we have the opportunity to create and sustain a culture of ethics in our community. The Palm Beach County Ethics Initiative invites you to become involved and join the initiative (soon to be a campaign) by attending a Commission on Ethics meeting to observe how the ordinances have been enacted and the progress made by the Commission on Ethics. We also urge you to attend County Commission meetings to follow the progress of the Ethics Charter Amendment language. That language will be taken up initially at the June 29th County Commission meeting.

In response to the public’s demand for clean government and the presentment of the Palm Beach County Grand Jury regarding investigation of PBC Governance and Public Corruption issues, on Dec 19, 2009, the Board of County Commissioners enacted ordinances establishing an Inspector General, Commission on Ethics, and the PBC Code of Ethics:

Inspector General
Sheryl Steckler

Ethics Commissioners
Bruce Reinhart, Former Assistant U.S. Attorney
Dr. Robin Fiore, Ethics professor
Edward Rodgers, Retired Circuit Judge and former Riviera Beach councilman
Manuel Farach, Richman Greer, P.A
Ron Harbison, MBA, CPA/ABV/CFF, CVA, ABAR, MSM

Implementation Committee
David Baker, Chair
Dennis Gallon, Vice chair
Bob Newmark
Gale Howden
Iris Scheibl

* Click HERE to watch the Code of Ethics Advisory Board Member Training Video.
* Click HERE to read the Palm Beach County Code of Ethics

Visit www.pbcgov.com/ethics/ for more information about Palm Beach County's ethics initiative.
 


 

Community-Wide Ethics Initiative

LPBC Alumni & Community Members:

With the arrest and imprisonment of so many elected officials, our county was perceived as having a Culture of Corruption. The Leadership Palm Beach County community-wide ethics initiative formed to begin the process of changing the culture to one of ethics. We understand this is no small feat.

Culture is based on an agreed-upon set of values. We have many rules and laws on ethics and behavior. Many companies and agencies have their own vision, mission and values. However, there is no one statement of values on which citizens of our county have agreed.

Our first effort has been to devise such a statement; one that is both simple, yet complete. As our model, we began with the Athenian Oath, a statement signed by 17 year olds in ancient Athens. We believe that if everyone, young and old, in Palm Beach County signs the attached Pledge, we will begin to change the culture in the right direction.

A copy of the Ethics Pledge follows. Print it out, sign it, frame it and keep it in a place for all to see. Please let us know you have signed by clicking on the below link to send your consent electronically. (See below for a list of elected officials and candidates who have signed the pledge.) Thank you for supporting this important initiative.

* Click HERE to Download a copy of the Palm Beach County Ethics Pledge (preview below).
* Click HERE to send your consent electronically: simply type "I agree to uphold the Palm Beach County Ethics Pledge" in the comments box, and click "Submit".

 

 


CANDIDATES & ELECTED OFFICIALS who have signed the ethics pledge:
Commissioner Steven L. Abrams - Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners, District 4
Representative Joseph Abruzzo - Florida House of Representatives, District #85
Commissioner J. L. Asia-Holley - City of Belle Glade
Senator Jeff Atwater - Florida State Senate, District #25, Senate President
Jeff Howard Auslander - Candidate - Florida House of Representatives, District 89
Councilmember Cindy Austino - Town of Lantana
Commissioner Keith W. Babb, Jr. - City of Pahokee
Commissioner G. Chuck Balius - Town of Lake Park
Councilmember Jerry D. Beavers - Town of Haverhill
Councilwoman Lizbeth Benacquisto - Village of Wellington
Commissioner Allie H. Biggs - City of Pahokee
Linda W. Bird - Candidate - Florida State Senate, District #5
Commissioner Peter Blum - Town of Manalapan
Clerk Sharon Bock - Clerk and Comptroller, Palm Beach County
Town Manager Michael Bornstein - on behalf of the employees & officials of the Town of Lantana
Sheriff Ric L. Bradshaw - Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office
Representative Mary Brandenburg - Florida House of Representatives, District 89
Vice Mayor Joni Brinkman - Village of Palm Springs
Commissioner Terry Brown - Town of Ocean Ridge
Representative Susan Bucher - Florida House of Representatives, District 88
The Honorable Paulette Burdick - School Board of Palm Beach County, District #2
Matthew Caldwell - Candidate for Florida State Senate, District 27
Mayor Jeff Clemens - City of Lake Worth
L. Marc Cohn-Candidate- Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District, Seat #5
Councilmember Judy L. Davis - City of Riviera Beach
Councilmember Tom Deringer - Town of Lantana
Councilmember Molly Douglas - City of West Palm Beach
Councilman Edward M. Eissey - Village of North Palm Beach
Commissioner Gary Eliopoulos - City of Delray Beach
Mayor Samuel J. Ferreri - City of Greenacres
Commissioner Fred B. Fetzer - City of Delray Beach
John F. Flanigan - Chair, Economic Council of Palm Beach County
Mayor Lois Frankel - City of West Palm Beach
Alderman Thelma Gannon - Town of Briny Breezes
Anne M. Gannon - Tax Collector, Palm Beach County
Mayor William T. Gerrard - Town of Manalapan
Ben Graber - Candidate - United States House of Representatives, District 19
William G. Graham - Chairman, Palm Beach County School Board
Commissioner Addie L. Greene - Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners
Councilmember Bill Greene - City of Juno Beach
Representative Adam Hasner - State of Florida, District #87
Carey Haughwout - Public Defender - Office of the Public Defender, West Palm Beach
Councilmember Susan Haynie - City of Boca Raton
Vice Mayor Marge Herzog - City of Loxahatchee Groves
Councilmember Catherine Higgins - City of Atlantis
The Honorable Carrie Hill - Palm Beach County School Board, District #4
Town Clerk Sandra Hill - Town of Greenacres
Councilwoman Lynne Hubbard - City of Riviera Beach
Mayor Maurice J. Jacobson - Town of South Palm Beach
Mayor Bettye James - Cloud Lake
Councilwoman Sarita Johnson - Town of Mangonia Park
Commissioner Robert J. Kanjian - Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners
Vice Mayor Mary S. Kendall - City of Belle Glade
Commissioner Jeff Koons - Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners
Commissioner Joe Kyles - City of South Bay
Town of Lantana - All Government Employees
Councilman Dennis C. Lipp - Loxahatchee Groves
Dr. J. William Louda - Loxahatchee Groves
Vice Mayor Retha Lowe - City of Lake Worth
Mayor Tom Lynch - Village of Golf
Commissioner Karen Marcus - Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners
Drew Martin - Candidate - Palm Beach Soil & Water Conservation, Group 2
Commissioner Michael Martin - City of Belle Glade
Michael McAuliffe - State Attorney, Palm Beach County
Commissioner Mary McCarty - Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners
Vice Mayor Woodie McDuffie - City of Delray Beach
Mayor Thomas R. Mills - Palm Beach Shores
Commissioner Kimberly Mitchell - City of West Palm Beach
Councilmember Lynn J. Moorhouse, D.D.S. - Town of Lantana
Commissioner William Moss - City of West Palm Beach
Commissioner Geraldine Muoio - City of West Palm Beach                                                                                                                          Rick Neuhoff - Candidate for Palm Beach County Commissioner, District 5
The Honorable Gary R. Nikolits - Property Appraiser
Vice Mayor David B. Norris - Village of North Palm Beach
Commissioner Patricia Plasket-Osterman - Town of Lake Park
Representative-Elect Mark Pafford
Councilmember Dawn S. Pardo - City of Riviera Beach
Evelyn Parkes-Brier - Candidate - Northern Palm Beach County Improvement District, Seat #5
Elissa Pearl - Candidate - Florida State House of Representatives, District 87
Councilmember Richard Radcliffe - City of Greenacres
Representative Kevin Rader - Florida House of Representatives, District 78
Commissioner Wayne M. Richards - Port of Palm Beach, Group #1
Commissioner Isaac "Ike" Robinson - City of West Palm Beach
Vice Mayor Jose Rodriguez - City of Boynton Beach
Representative-Elect Thomas J. Rooney, Sr. - United States Congress, District 16
Commissioner Marlene Ross - City of Boynton Beach
Representative Maria Sachs - Florida House of Representatives, District 86
Commissioner Jess Santamaria - Palm Beach County Board of County Commissioners
Mayor Kenneth Schultz - Town of Hypoluxo
Council Member Charles Shaw - City of Greenacres
Representative Kelly Skidmore - Florida House of Representatives, District 90
Councilman Bev Smith - Town of Palm Springs
Representative William D. Snyder - Florida House of Representatives, District 82
John Sottilare - Candidate - Florida State Representative, District 86
Mayor David Stewart - Town of Lantana
Representative Priscilla Taylor - Florida House of Representatives, District 84
Vice Mayor Elizabeth Tennyson - Vice Mayor of Lantana
Joseph A. Tringali - Candidate for State Attorney
Vice Mayor Lisa A. Tropepe - Town of Palm Beach Shores
Vice Mayor Mark K. Trueblood - Town of Mangonia Park
Councilman Mark T. Uptegraph - Town of Haverhill
Representative Shelley Vana - Florida House of Representatives, District 85
Commissioner-Elect Patricia Walker - Jupiter Inlet Commission - District 5
Representative Robert Wexler - United States Congress, District 19
Councilwoman Martha H. Webster - Village of Royal Palm Beach
Councilmember Kevin Wellman - Town of Glen Ridge
Mayor Wayne Whitaker - City of Pahokee
Mayor Steve B. Wilson - City of Belle Glade
Councilman Todd Wodraska - Town of Jupiter
Mayor John Zuccarelli, III - Jupiter Inlet Colony

*Please note: if you are a candidate or elected official who faxed your Pledge to LPBC or registered on-line and do NOT see your name listed above, please email: info@leadershippbc.org

 

BACKGROUND: Ethics Forum and Ongoing Ethics Initiative

Chairs: Marty Rogol, David Baker, and Andrew Baumann

Over the past few years, we have found the reputation of Palm Beach County tarnished by the arrests and convictions of a number of elected officials. The U.S. Attorney and the FBI opened a special office in West Palm Beach to look for more. The perception exists that there is a culture of corruption in Palm Beach County. In response, LPBC initiated an effort to create a Culture of Ethics. A committee was formed to study best practices in ethics, survey opinion leaders, and hold a community-wide forum on ethics. Florida CFO, Alex Sink, kicked off the Forum June 3rd, 2008, and urged attendees to create a model for the rest of the state to follow. Summaries of the results of the Forum were distributed to attendees, who were invited to join 1 of 3 subcommittees to move the effort forward. Alumni have been invited to participate in this effort through registering for the Ethics Committee in 2008-2009 and 2009-2010.

The three subcommittees began work in the summer of 2008 to produce the above Ethics Pledge, and to generate additional means of driving a culture of ethics throughout our county. Community members who would like to participate are invited to sign the above ethics pledge, and to visit www.pbcgov.org/ethics for opportunities to engage in building a stronger culture of ethics in our county.