2006-11-08 Board of Ethics Minutes Regular Session

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Board of Ethics Minutes - Regular Session November 8, 2006 5. NEW BUSINESS Review the of Board of Ethics rules of Practice and Procedure and their role in the recordation, review, and compliance for the filing of Financial Disclosures by County employees or officials. The secretary for the Board of Ethics has created a database that will track the filing of disclosures by committee members. Previously the filing of disclosures was not being tracked. It was proposed that a form letter be composed to remind members that failure to file disclosures is a direct violation of the Ethics Code. Chair suggested that the letter be sent to the member via the board secretary. The chair of the individual boards may need to take a more active role in encouraging members to file disclosures. If the members fail to comply they may be dismissed from the board. Motion and Vote: Mr. Joseph made a motion that Corporation Counsel initiate letters to remind everyone of their requirement to fill out a financial disclosure form. Mr. Inouye seconded the motion; all members voted aye, motion carried. 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Review of draft letter to County Council requesting an ordinance to authorize the Board of Ethics to impose fines on employees or elected officials for the violation of the Ethics Code. Motion and Vote: Mr. Joseph made a motion to accept and to pass the letter to the chairman for signature with the changes as discussed. Mr. Inouye seconded the motion; all members voted aye, motion carried. b. Review of draft letter to County Council recommending that the Council adopt a rule setting a time limit on use of their discretionary funds to send out mailings and legislative summaries in an election year to avoid the appearance of using their position to get an inappropriate advantage. Motion and Vote: Mr. Joseph made the motion to accept with those changes - -that we recommend six months prior to the primary- -and after the change has been made that the chair signs. Mr. Inouye seconded the motion; all members voted aye, motion carried. C. Result of research regarding the Revision of County Code to eliminate the need to include personal residence on the Financial Form. Ms. Lum said that the State has already eliminated personal residence from their disclosure, but she didn't research the legality of the issue. The State was trying to limit the amount of personal information disclosed for people serving on boards and commissions. She assumed that we were going to eliminate the personal residence from our form and recommended that we do so because from a privacy stand point she doesn't see any reason to disclose personal property. Board members could state the value, but not the TMK or address, 2