Palm Beach County Commission on Ethics approves agenda; executive director outlines training, ordinance review request

The Palm Beach County Commission on Ethics approved its Feb. 6 agenda and received updates from the executive director about recent and planned ethics trainings, outreach events and a pending request for the Board of County Commissioners to open an ordinance review committee.

The commission voted to approve the agenda after Chair Vara Garcia called for the ayes: "All in favor, say aye," commissioners responded and the motion carried.

The executive director told commissioners that staff presented ethics training to the city of Riviera Beach in January and that three additional trainings for Riviera Beach are scheduled in February. The director also said staff have several outreach events planned and are working with county administration to request that the Board of County Commissioners open the ordinance review committee so the county ethics ordinance can be amended to align with "new legislation that was passed last year." The director said that work is expected to occur sometime in the second quarter of the year.

The commission was also told that on March 11 the Board of County Commissioners will present the Commission on Ethics, the Office of Inspector General, the Florida Atlantic University Ethics Academy and the State Attorney's Office with a proclamation declaring March as ethics awareness month. The executive director reminded commissioners that at the March 6 Commission on Ethics meeting the body will elect new chairs and vice chairs, and said the commission will likely take group photos that month. "And that's all I have. So wear a suit," the executive director added.

No public comments were recorded during the meeting, and the session was adjourned shortly after the executive director's remarks.

Discussion points

- Ethics trainings: staff presented training in January to the city of Riviera Beach; three additional Riviera Beach trainings are scheduled for February. - Outreach: staff reported several upcoming outreach events (dates and locations not specified). - Ordinance review: the executive director said staff have been working with county administration to request that the Board of County Commissioners open the ordinance review committee to make changes to the county ethics ordinance to conform with legislation passed last year (legislation not specified). Staff expect this to occur in the second quarter. - Proclamation: the Board of County Commissioners will present a proclamation on March 11 declaring March as ethics awareness month to COE, OIG, FAU Ethics Academy and the State Attorney's Office. - March meeting: commissioners were reminded that the March 6 Commission on Ethics meeting will include elections of chairs and vice chairs and a group photo.

Decisions and directions

- Formal action: the commission approved the Feb. 6 agenda (motion carried). - Direction/ongoing action: the executive director reported ongoing staff work with county administration to ask the Board of County Commissioners to open the ordinance review committee; no formal commission directive or vote on that request was recorded.

Attendance and public input

Five commissioners were recorded present during roll call: Commissioner Cruz, Vice Chair Bridal, Commissioner Coogler, Commissioner Romano and Chair Vara Garcia. No members of the public offered comments during the meeting.

The meeting adjourned after the executive director's comments and a brief exchange about upcoming items.