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only other thing I'd say is you know, 1'd like to thank Mr. Joseph for coming to our <br />Council meeting on the 241h and the 6`h. He waited for hours and hours, and they only <br />asked him one question. But I think it was really good that he saw some of the concerns <br />of some of the Council members in regards to Bill 209, and just because there seemed to <br />be —they didn't want to make an ;inadvertent mistake. Because I don't think there's been <br />any bad faith or, you know, anyone intentionally trying to do anything at all. They're just <br />concerned about clarity, so I think we're all very appreciative of your work and that <br />you're looking at this in a prospective manner. <br />CHAIR: And I would agree with that assessment. You know, I don't see anything <br />intentionally being done. <br />GOODENOW: Thank you. <br />CHAIR: Thank you. <br />MALANKA: May I ask a question? <br />CHAIR: Sure. <br />MALANKA: Does each Council member have a budget annually for advertising? <br />GOODENOW: Yes, in our budget that's submitted —it's part of the Clerk's Office <br />budget —each Council member is allotted $15,000. It used to be $7,500. For this fiscal <br />year it was increased. And that's to be used for all types of things — office supplies, <br />refreshments at the meetings, travel to seminars in Honolulu, and it does state that they <br />really are primarily responsible for that allowance, in spending that. Now, we will get <br />the invoices, receipts, and then we will process them. And then it gets reviewed by the <br />Accounts Department, the Purchasing Department. So the Finance Department will <br />review them, and they don't really review for ethics questions, but they look for <br />purchasing questions. So there is that type of review over —when we expend public <br />monies. <br />MALANKA: And the $15, 000 was for the fiscal year. <br />GOODENOW: Right. So July P, right. We do have a provision. Let me quickly look at <br />that. It does say in an election year we allot 50% of the appropriation, because, you <br />know, we may have overlapping Council members. So for this year, they've got their <br />amount, but for next year —oh, no, for this year, because it's an election year, they can't <br />spend all of it. They have to reserve 50% for the next Council member. <br />CHAIR: Thank you, sir. Mr. Ashida? I think we can wrap this up with asking you a few <br />questions. Let me ask you first oiall- -did you —were you able to find out from the other <br />counties whether or not elected officials run their photographs? <br />ASHIDA: I —yes. I checked with the corporation counsels from the other counties, as <br />well as the representative from the State Legislature, and they don't have any <br />recollection of this ever becoming an issue. That's not to suggest that this hasn't <br />18 <br />