Palm Beach County Commission on Ethics presents 2025 annual report, highlights outreach and enforcement; commissioners note state law limits on proactive probes

The Palm Beach County Commission on Ethics reviewed its 2025 annual report at a Jan. 8 meeting, outlining outreach gains, education work and the commission's enforcement record for the year.

The commission's executive director presented the report, noting it marks 15 years of the office’s operations and describing the contents as an executive summary, background, strategic‑plan highlights and results of satisfaction surveys. "I am pleased to present the 2025 Palm Beach County Commission on Ethics annual report as we celebrate 15 years of fostering integrity and public service here in Palm Beach County," the executive director said.

Why it matters: The report is the commission's public accounting of advice, training and enforcement activity that seeks to prevent conflicts of interest and strengthen public trust. Staff framed outreach and preventive guidance as central to reducing formal complaints and improving compliance.

Key findings and activities - Outreach and communications: Staff reported 20 outreach events in 2025, a countywide Palm Tran bus wrap commemorating the commission's 15th anniversary, three newsletters and a partnership with a local TV station to air a special on ethics in local government. The executive director said the commission's website received more than 31,000 page views in 2025.

- Advisory opinions and training: The office issued 11 new advisory opinions with an average turnaround of six days, conducted 46 in‑person ethics trainings and handled 48 additional guidance requests, the presentation said.

- Enforcement and complaint processing: Staff completed 55 pre‑inquiry reviews and investigated 20 sworn complaints in 2025. Of those, 10 were administratively dismissed for lack of legal sufficiency, five were dismissed with a finding of no probable cause, one was resolved by a letter of reprimand, two by letters of instruction, and two investigations remained open at the time of the report. The executive director said routine complaints averaged 30 days to complete and complex complaints averaged 113 days.

Staff and acknowledgments The executive director named staff who lead outreach and training, including Liz Martin (education and communications), Rhonda Geiger (in‑person trainings) and Gina Levesque (municipal outreach). Investigators Abigail Irizarry and Mark Higgs were identified as staff handling investigations. The director also thanked public affairs staff Janet Rodriguez and Erin Baker for their work on the annual report.

Commissioner comments and statutory limitation Commissioner Romano raised a legal change that he said curtailed the commission's prior ability to open investigations based solely on information staff became aware of. "Up until last year, if the commission staff became aware of unethical conduct, they could legally investigate that," Romano said, adding that the state legislature recently enacted a law that prevents the commission from initiating an investigation unless a sworn complaint is filed. He asked whether staff could track matters the commission became aware of but could not pursue under the new law.

The executive director responded that the office already documents pre‑inquiry reviews — non‑sworn information the office receives — and said staff would track instances where they were unable to contact a potential complainant so the commission can report those cases. "The pre inquiry reviews is any information that we receive that is not a sworn complaint, and then we'll look to see if we even have jurisdiction over it," the executive director said.

Next steps and context The executive director noted ongoing outreach plans for 2026, with January through March identified as peak months for speaking engagements. The commission will await an external court decision in a pending appeal referenced as the Book appeal; the presenter said Mr. Book filed a reply and that the commission is now awaiting a decision from the Fifteenth Judicial Circuit.

Votes at a glance - Approval of Dec. 4, 2025 minutes: Motion by Commissioner Barra Garcia; second by Commissioner Romano; voice vote recorded as "Aye." Outcome: approved. - Consent agenda (three process advisory commission opinions): Motion by Commissioner Coogler; second by another commissioner recorded as Var/Barra Garcia; voice vote recorded as "Aye." Outcome: approved.

The meeting adjourned with a reminder that commissioners would reconvene at 2 p.m. to sit as the inspector general committee.