2007-02-14 Board of Ethics Minutes Regular Session

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Board of Ethics Minutes of Regular Session February 14, 2007 6. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Review draft of Hawaii County Board of Ethics Handout for new employees, board and commission members, and elected officials. BLT: The primary difference between this one and the prior one is that I filled in and I numbered it to make it easier. Starting on page 4, all of this is new. We put in who has to file a financial disclosure, when they have to file it, penalties for failure, information on advisory opinions, and referrals to authorities for disciplinary action. I waffled on whether to add more or to keep it simple because we are going to attach the entire Code of Ethics on the back, so I opted to go shorter. Then, at the end of page 5, is the page break. That is so the Ethics Checklist, which is the same as it was before, becomes separate and doesn't get mingled with the first part. The only information that is not in here would be on page 4. Under Confidential Disclosures, under board and commission members, it says insert list. The list is subject to change because currently there is an amendment to the County Code. I didn't want to insert the names of the boards and commissions yet. If the council adopts Lincoln's proposed amendment, then that will change. I thought that once we see what the council does then I will insert it. I thought it was easier to specifically list the boards, even though we will have it on the financial disclosure. It is the same reason, under employees, that I listed the specific types of employees, instead of saying regulatory employees. I listed exactly who those employees are that are required to file. There is a little difference regarding those employees. Boards and commissions file every year and so do the elected officers and department heads. Regulatory employees, under the County Code, only have to file an even number of years, or within 30- working days of assuming a position. It started in 1984, and then it said bi- annually. That is why, as an example, I just said an even number years - -2006, 2008 -4 though if I put bi- annually, people would be wondering what that meant. Specifically stating even numbered years, because of the language in the Code, it would be easier for us as well as the employees to understand. KS: Under the subheading, Confidential Disclosures, in that first sentence "Subject to change..." BLT: I know, I am just saying that won't be part of this. Eventually it will just be a list. This is just note saying to insert a list. The council is considering an amendment which will take all the advisory boards and commissions out. Once they have acted I will put in all the ones that can make decisions. KS: The format will look just as it does for employees, only it will be boards and commissions, semicolon. BLT: Yes. KS: Good, thank you. AL: Unfortunately there is just no way to make a handbook simple. 0