Boca’s mayor to pay fine in ethics conflict
BOCA RATON – Boca Raton Mayor Susan Haynie cast votes that benefited a company she founded with her husband and didn’t properly disclose the conflict of interest, a Palm Beach County ethics panel concluded.
Haynie agreed to pay a $500 fine and accept a public reprimand to resolve ethics charges that she failed to reveal a voting conflict, according to documents released Tuesday.
The Palm Beach County Commission on Ethics opted not to reprimand Haynie on allegations that she misused her office. Charges are also pending before the state’s Commission on Ethics.
Haynie, a Republican candidate for County Commission, said she thought the votes were proper when she made them because of advice she had received from the city attorney. She said voters can be assured she will act ethically if she’s elected to the County Commission.
“This was unintentional on
my behalf,” she said. “This is a process that has certainly made me a better elected official as far as making certain that I am following the code.”
The fine was the maximum amount that can be levied by the Palm Beach County Commission on Ethics.
The ethics commission’s concerns stem from financial ties between a property management firm called Community Reliance founded by Haynie and her husband and Investments Limited, a company owned by real estate developers James and Martha Batmasian. Community Reliance did thousands of dollars in business with the Batmasians while Haynie cast votes benefiting their developments, records show.
The ethics panel reprimanded Haynie for voting on matters on Dec. 8, 2015, and June 13, 2017, that provided a financial benefit to James Batmasian without disclosing her ties. The panel did not issue a finding on whether the violations were intentional or unintentional.
Haynie also admitted to casting votes on four matters in October 2015 that benefited Batmasian. The commission issued a “letter of instruction” on those votes and found that those violations were “inadvertent and unintentional.”
Haynie owned Community Reliance with her husband from 2007-15, but her name was dropped as an owner in the company’s annual reports two years ago, state records show. Her husband, Neil Haynie, remains on the company’s registration, but the mayor said her husband has ended his ties with Batmasian.
Haynie is running for the seat held by Republican County Commissioner Steven Abrams, who is leaving the board because of term limits. She has argued her votes were not improper because they benefited her husband — not her.
At the city attorney’s request, the ethics commission issued an advisory opinion in 2013 that indicated Haynie could vote on matters involving the Batmasians in some narrow circumstances.
Former Boca Raton Councilman Robert Weinroth, a Democrat, has also announced he will run for the seat.
Last month, Haynie agreed to settle separate ethics charges that she violated gift rules by accepting two tickets valued at $600 from Waste Management Inc. to attend a Republican fundraiser dinner at Mar-aLago.
The Palm Beach County Commission on Ethics issued a “letter of instruction,” concluding the violation was unintentional.
The company has been a vendor with the city since 2013 and has lobbyists registered with the county, according to the Commission on Ethics.
Haynie said she “self-reported” the gift and didn’t realize accepting the tickets would violate the code of ethics.