Breakers Boss Spanked By Ethics Watchdog

Posted by Jose Lambiet , September 17, 2012 Print

Paul Leone, CEO of The Breakers resort, was advised to resign from a committee put together by the town of Palm Beach to study the future of Royal Poinciana Way — and did just that over the weekend.

The Palm Beach County Commission on Ethics found his mere presence on the group to be a conflict of interest.

Leone owns land on Royal Poinciana and could directly have benefited from recommendations made by his own committee!

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Leone was one of seven members of the Royal Poinciana Way Study Committee (RPWSC) appointed earlier this year by diverse entities.

He had been picked by Town Council President David Rosow.

Leone could have had a say over land use, density, building height and whatever development the RPWSC would recommend to the town council — would could have translated into millions for The Breakers.

In a letter to Town Attorney John Randolph obtained by Gossip Extra, the ethics watchdogs recommended: “Because the Code prohibits participation or even voting on the matter, the COE is of the opinion that Mr. Leone should resign from the committee.”

Leone did prior to Friday’s particularly heated meeting.

Leone has yet to comment on why he even accepted the volunteer position.

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