MIN CHARTER 2019-03-08 (2018-2020)

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Hawai`i County Charter Commission -9 March 8, 2019 COMMUNI- CATIONS: MR. HENRICKS: Yeah, I don't think it is really an option. I mean it is part of your board packet that needs to be provided to ensure that you have all the materials that are required by law. CHR. ADAMS: We are obviously going to get them and we get them electronically so we do have the opportunity to. Alright, let's move on to Communications. The Chair directed the Commission to proceed to the next order of business, Communications. CHR. ADAMS: We have Communication No. 7.9 Response to request for proposed amendments/recommendations Board of Ethics. So this was a communication that came from the Hawai`i County Board of Ethics. It did not make it, well, they have a proposed Charter amendment as well that is a part of this. Does anyone have any comments on this particular... MS. RICE: Yes. CHR. ADAMS: Commissioner Rice. MS. RICE: I read this having practically no background so I just, I have more of a question. It seemed based on what they are requesting is that it is moving into a more regular position than it has been in the past. I don't have a problem with that. I just need someone to give me some background and feedback on if... because it seems to be that if it is having, if you look at the first paragraph, the underlined section, "the board shall adopt its rules of procedure having the force and effect of law as will be necessary to provide for the enforcement of the code of ethics." I gather that in the past they could make recommendations but they do not have any real clout so to speak. CHR. ADAMS: If Mr. Yoshimoto would like to address that particular question. MR. YOSHIMOTO: Okay, how much detail, Mr. Chairman, do you want me to get into? Because this is not a proposal. It is just a communication. CHR. ADAMS: So the question I think had to do with is this a change, you know what I will take care of it because I was on the board of ethics. We are not talking about this particular thing that they have here except that your question was that it seems like it is a change. In their rules, in their current rules as a matter of fact, it states that their rules have the force and effect of law already. This would be a change in the sense that it would move it from the rules into the Charter, but all rules that commissions, boards and commissions make unless it specifically states otherwise have the force and effect of law already, so this is just a statement that Page 20