2007-11-14 Board of Ethics Minutes Regular Session

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The Chair said it might be very difficult to make this type of proposal to the Council, as it would affect them the most. However, it becomes an ethical issue and he believes it can be resolved with the Board first. Ms. Nicholson said she would like to see as much research as possible so they can discuss this. The Chair said that if they were done with this item, he would move them back to item 6a on the agenda. a. Report on status of Ethics Guide for Hawai `i County Officers and Employees booklet (includes Communication Nos. 2007 -114 and 2007 -119, letter from Lincoln Ashida to Council Chair Pete Hoffmann and Human Resources Director Michael Ben dated 11/5/07, and Mr. Ben's response dated 11/6/07). The Chair said that he liked Mr. Ben's suggestion (about having each officer and employee sign off their receipt of the booklet), which was the route the Board had wanted to take to begin with. Mr. Dill asked Mr. Ashida whether he had responded to Mr. Ben, and Mr. Ashida said he wanted to hear from the Board first. He will report back to Mr. Ben that the Board is in agreement with his suggestion. He said he did not yet hear back from Chair Hoffmann about the copying of the booklet. Motion and vote: Mr. Dill moved to respond accordingly to Mr. Ben's suggestions about issuing the Ethics Guide and having officers and employees sign off their receipt). Ms. Malanka seconded the motion, and all members voted aye. d. Further review and discussion on the Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Board of Ethics, including further discussion on updating or developing a special code of conduct for Board of Ethics members. Ms. Lum passed around a handout she made entitled "Preliminary Review of Rules of Practice and Procedure of the Board of Ethics." She explained that she compared the rules of the State Ethics Commission with their own rules and that some followed the State's rules, while others did not. She felt the County's rules were much better written and far easier to understand than the State's rules. She did not feel we should amend our rules to be like the State's unless a need to do so arose. She suggested they review her handout later, and they could work on the rules again next month or in January. The Chair said he wanted the matter under Unfinished Business on next month's agenda. e. Ongoing discussion on the Sunshine Law. Mr. Ashida said he did not have anything to discuss on the Sunshine Law for this meeting, unless the Board had specific questions or concerns. N.