- November 17, 2024
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The Florida Commission on Ethics’ advocate has recommended that Flagler County Commissioner Barbara Revels be fined a total of $2,500 for two ethics violations concerning the commission’s vote to purchase the old Memorial Hospital property for use as a new Sheriff’s operations center.
The case will go before the commission Jan. 23. The Commission’s advocate has found probable cause on two of three allegations brought against Revels by Palm Coast resident Ray Stevens: that she had twice, without disclosing a potential conflict of interest, voted on the hospital purchase even though she was a business associate — through shares in Intracoastal Bank — of Bruce Page, Michael Chiumento and James Newslow, owners of the hospital property.
The commission’s advocate found no cause for a third allegation, that by accepting an increase in her line of credit at the bank, from $100,000 to $300,000, in late May of 2014, she had accepted something of value meant to influence her vote.
Revels released the following written statement on the case to the press after a Jan. 12 County Commission meeting:
“After working with the Flagler County Ethics Commission to resolve the question of a voting conflict of interest to purchase the Bunnell hospital property, I now have a clear understanding of the statute’s intent on ‘business relationships.’
At the time I felt I complied with all requirements and could vote on the purchase. I have since learned that my minority ownership of stock (less than one percent) still gives the appearance of a business relationship with other stock owners.
To avoid the appearance of impropriety, I should have filed a conflict of interest form and not participated in the vote.
Further I am pleased the Ethics Commission determined that I did not benefit from the sale nor did I receive favorable treatment from the bank. The commission only found a procedural violation.
The appropriate use of Flagler’s citizens’ tax dollars is always my overriding concern when making thee kinds of decisions. I still believe the county received a good value in the purchase of the property.”
