2001-04-20 Police Commission Minutes

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HAWAII COUNTY POLICE COMMISSION MINUTES — REGULAR SESSION APRIL 20, 2001 ASTON KEAUHOU RESORT CALL TO ORDER Chair Wilfred Okabe called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. ROLL CALL Present: Wilfred M. Okabe, Chair Dwight K. Manago, Vice Chair Horace S. Hara, Member Phoebe M. Lambeth, Member Clarence Mills, Member Walter Moe, Member Peter P. Muller, Member A quorum was present. Also Present: Lincoln Ashida, Corporation Counsel Lawrence Mahuna, Assistant Chief Thomas Hickcox' Assistant Chief Gary Maesato, Business Manager Josie Pelayo, Secretary APPROVAL OF AGENDA Commissioner Lambeth moved to place Complaint HPC 01 -06 onto the agenda for reconsideration. However, there was no second, and the motion died. Commissioner Muller moved to approve the agenda as presented. The motion was seconded by Commissioner Mills and unanimously carried. PUBLIC STATEMENTS ON AGENDA ITEMS THOMAS RUSSI came before the commission and stated that he made a records request the beginning of the week and was denied it. It has been his experience that our government does not know their obligations under the UIPA. It is his understanding from Moya Gray that OIP is to assist government agencies in their responsibilities for records requests. He believes Lincoln Ashida has had some discussion with several people in regards to asking OIP to come to the Big Island and hold some public meetings to find out if there is a concern from the public in getting information from their government. Wants commissions, boards, and all employees to get some kind of an education on their responsibility when records are requested. In reading the two correspondence that are on the agenda in regards to Wood & Tait, it seems like this commission is having problems with them. The previous commission was the problem. Wood & Tait was a scapegoat for them. That needs to be addressed. That's the only way he can have closure. He needs to find out if that commission did what was right when it came to him. He went to the County Council, and his representative Curtis Tyler sent him back to the commission. Doesn't believe the commission has the authority to get money back for investigations that were not done properly under the contract. Believes the County Council does, but they won't touch it.