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Palm Beach County ethics official briefs Jupiter Inlet Colony on rules and resources
Summary
Gina LeBeck of the Palm Beach County Commission on Ethics told Jupiter Inlet Colony commissioners the independent commission focuses on education and prevention, issues advisory opinions and can impose modest penalties; she urged officials to "ask first, act later" and shared contact resources.
Gina LeBeck, intake and compliance manager for the Palm Beach County Commission on Ethics, told the Jupiter Inlet Colony commission that the county panel emphasizes prevention and education to keep private interests from interfering with public duties. "Ask first, act later," she told commissioners as she described the commission's role in offering advisory opinions and training.
LeBeck said the commission, created after a 2009 grand-jury recommendation, operates independently of county and municipal governments and oversees more than 12,000 public officials, employees and advisory-board members across Palm Beach County. She said the panel's five volunteer members are appointed by independent organizations to preserve impartial oversight.
LeBeck said the commission has issued about 560 advisory opinions to date and can recommend penalties such as reprimands or fines (she said fines can be up to $500 per violation). She emphasized that the commission's principal tools are education, training and advisory guidance to help officials identify conflicts before they become violations.
LeBeck closed by offering the commission the ethics office's resources for training and advisory opinions, citing palmbeachcountyethics.com and a contact phone number for staff assistance.
The commission asked no follow-up questions and thanked LeBeck for the presentation.
