REP FC 042 2015/12/01 (2014-2016)

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REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE DATE: December 1, 2015 Re: Comm. No. 494.9/Bill No. 101, Draft 2 PLACE: Council Chambers Hilo, Hawai`i TIME: 9:05 a.m. Council Chair and Members Hawai`i County Council Hilo, Hawai`i 96720 Your Committee on Finance, to which was referred Bill No. 101, Draft 2, reports as follows: Bill No. 101, transmitted by Council Member Margaret Wille, via Communication No. 494, dated October 1, 2015, initiates an amendment to Article XIV, Section 14-5 of the Hawai`i County Charter (2014), relating to the Board of Ethics. The membership would consist of nine members, one from each council district, with a term limit of four years. The presiding council member would provide the names of two nominees who are residents in the district but not of the same political party for the mayor's consideration, from which one would be chosen. On October 20, 2015, a motion was made to approve Bill 101. Council Members Dru Kanuha and Valerie Poindexter were absent and excused for this meeting. Council Member Margaret Wille, commented that as a legislative body we are to set standards to make sure that all act in an honest and fair way, and that accountability falls on the board of ethics and council, and that the voters should decide. Council Member Aaron Chung commented that this an important board that deals with public trust and more time should be taken on it. He confirmed with Deputy County Clerk Jon Henricks, that ballot language must be received by the State Elections office by August of 2016. Council Member Dennis Onishi suggested that the requirement for council members to submit names of board members to the mayor should be stricken, because that decision then makes it political. Council Member Maile David suggested that the ordinance created for the leeward and windward planning commissions could be looked at as to its composition, for ideas to contribute to further discussions. FC Report No.: 42