Commissioners give preliminary OK to ethics reforms, inspector general
by George Bennett | December 1st, 2009The scandal-rocked Palm Beach County commission gave preliminary approval today to sweeping ethics reforms, including creation of an independent inspector general’s office to investigate wrongdoing in local government.
After today’s unanimous votes, a final vote on the reforms is slated for Dec. 15.
The actions come after three county commissioners went to federal prison on corruption charges and a grand jury this year noted the county’s reputation as “Corruption County”
In a reflection of the commission’s tarnished reputation, commissioners agreed to have no role in selecting the inspector general and to essentially give an unelected ethics commission final say over any decision to remove the inspector general.
Proposals called for county commissioners to be able to remove the inspector general if five of seven commissioners found specific cause. But after several members of the public criticized the proposal as giving the commission too much power, commissioners agreed that a removal vote will only be valid if a new five-member commission on ethics agrees.
The commission on ethics is to include five members appointed by local police chiefs, minority law groups, the president of Florida Atlantic University, the Florida Institute of CPAs and the Palm Beach County League of Cities.
Tags: Corruption County
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Sentenced to die for crimes judged heinous and cruel, inmates await execution in a 9 feet by 6 feet cell.
December 1st, 2009 at 1:54 pm
Palm Beach League of Cities is a collection of corrupt officials. Not exactly unbiased. The Police Chiefs are all politically motivated. They have too much power as it is. This is a very dangerous proposal.
December 1st, 2009 at 2:06 pm
Thre should be a term limit on the Inspector General position.
These positions get “locked in” and it just give rise to public suspicion and worry.
No one needs this Inspector position as a lifetime job.
Term Limits are needed.
People are already worried that “pals”, law firms are lining up possible candidates. Because this will be a LAWYER who gets the job.
That worries the public and does not inspire trust.
No lifetime job; term limit needed. The person who gets the job needs to know this ahead of time. It won’t be a lifetime, pension helping job.