COM 0212.277 1996-1998 - Laserfiche WebLink

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May 4, 1997 ~ll_.h'~ti1ti-t.L~ 5 (t~6ltt~ Dear Chairman Araraki and Councilman Chung: Protection of our democratic process is perhaps the most vital duty of any member of government. The Finance Committee meeting on April 24, 1997 was conducted with irregularities which denied democratic rights to opponents of the irradiation facility. Denial of democratic rights to any citizen, especially when orchestrated to create a desired end, jeopardizes the democratic process for ali citizens. The chairperson of the council is required by Rule 4.1(h) of Council Rules of Procedure "to provide for the coordination of all administrative activities and to see that they are honestly, efficiently, and lawfully conducted." In addition, the County Charter, Article XIV, Section 14-4(c), requires that "all persons shall be treated in a courteous, fair and impartial way." We therefore direct the chairperson's attention to the enclosed memo to Councilman Chung from Rory Flynn. The use of this memo by the finance committee chairman violated the honesty, efficiency, and lawfulness of the MarchL4th hearing on Bill 62. Use of this memo, and other irregularities during the Finance Committee meeting call into question the fairness and impartiality of the Finance Chairman's actions. The people on Mr. Flynn's list were identified as proponents of the irradiation plant. They did not personally register or supply their addresses, as required under Rule 5.4(bl(1). Rule 5.4(b)(6) requires the chair to rule people who do not register properly "out of order." Instead, Mr. Chung gave these people priority, allowing them to speak before properly registered speakers, most of whom were opponents. The Chairman also appears to give preferential treatment to proponents of the irradiation facility when he violated the Order of Business (Rule 17), and permitted Isomedix to give a presentation and testimony prior to statements from the public. The chair granted Isomedix unlimited time. Isomedix is not an impartial consultant to the County Council. They are a private business who want to build this plant for their profit. Their testimony cannot be considered impartial and they should not have been given priority over the citizens of Hawaii who came to speak. As a result of these irregularities, the citizens of Hawaii had to wait nine to ten hours to speak. Many could not wait this excessive amount of time due to work and family obligations. Both groups, those who waited the extensive Comm. No: 212,.=,~a