Commission approves call-center contract, settles two stipulations and waives a late-filing fine
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Summary
The commission approved a renewal call-center contract with ROICX at $164,728.52, adopted two joint stipulations imposing fines and public censure, and waived a $1,500 late-filing fine for an appellant citing agency closure and delivery errors.
The Florida Commission on Ethics approved several administrative items including a call-center contract renewal, two joint stipulations resolving probable-cause matters and staff recommendations on filing-fine appeals.
Executive Director Stillman presented a renewal contract with ROICX to operate the commissioncall center supporting CE Form 1 filers. She told commissioners the renewal price is $164,728.52 for the May 1toAug 28 term and noted prior-year cost savings (last year's contracted amount was $262,416, with actual realized cost about $173,462.91). The commission authorized staff to execute the contract and associated expenditure from carry-forward budget dollars.
On enforcement matters, staff presented and the commission approved a joint stipulation in complaint 22-116 (Enri Paul Billard) that dismissed three allegations and imposed a $500 civil penalty and public censure for failing to certify completion of ethics training on Form 1. Separately, staff presented a joint stipulation in complaint 25-034 involving a Gaston County commissioner that resolved a conflict-of-interest allegation with a $1,500 civil penalty plus public censure and reprimand; commissioners approved the stipulation.
In an appeal (FD21029) brought by an appellant who serves on a local trust board, staff recommended and commissioners approved waiving a $1,500 automatic fine for a late 2020 filing because the appellant's agency offices had been closed during COVID-19, notices may have been misdelivered, and the appellant had mobility and cognitive limitations; staff recommended waiving the assessed fine as an "unusual circumstance." Commissioners also adopted staff recommendations on several other no-hearing appeals as a group and declared one financial-disclosure fine uncollectible where the filer had died.
Next steps: staff will execute the call-center contract and proceed with outreach; staff will also post final orders and update filing-coordinator procedures where appropriate.
