2008-02-13 Board of Ethics Minutes Regular Session

Home

Ms. Nicholson asked about key committee people who should receive the letter, and Mr. Ashida said he'd find out. Mr. Dill said it should go to any committee that is hearing or has heard the bills, and also to our County representatives. Vote: The Chair called for a vote on Mr. Dill's motion, and all members voted aye. c. Communication Nos. 2008 -14 and 2008 -18: January 30, 2008, email from Charles Totto, ethics director and legal counsel for the Honolulu Ethics Commission, regarding Senate Bill 2937, which is about ethics procedures for civil fines, and his February 4, 2008, testimony before the Senate Committee on Intergovernmental and Military Affairs on the matter. The Chair said it did not appear that these communications required a response from the I: G, s Motion and vote: Mr. Dill moved to accept and file the communications, Ms. Nicholson seconded the motion, and all members voted aye. 5. NEW BUSINESS' Investigation /inquiry pursuant to a resolution by the Board into whether or not it is a violation of the Code of Ethics (by constituting an unfair advantage) for incumbent elected County officials to use County funds to pay for newspaper advertisements in which their photograph is included, and prospective issuance of an advisory opinion. CHAIR: I've asked Mr. Yagong to come in today. Would you please, Mr. Yagong? I'd like to thank you for taking the time to come in and address the Board on this issue. YAGONG: So that's what it looks like from this side. Maybe if I comb my hair a little bit better when I come up to Council. Well thank you very much, commissioner. Commissioners, thank you very much. Chairperson Joseph, I appreciate the opportunity. Yes, I think it was a little over a week ago I had an opportunity to talk to Mr. Joseph right outside in the hallway here, and asked him what format he wanted me to follow for today's hearing, whether he wanted me just to be here to answer questions or whether he wanted me to give a presentation on my thoughts regarding this. So he said give a presentation, so if you don't mind, 1'd like to do that. And I really appreciate the opportunity to do so. Obviously, because this is a use ofpublic monies, and what you're here to decide is whether or not utilizing or advertising public funds, using a Council member's picture— whether this is considered a personal, political, or whether it's campaign - related. So it's a very appropriate thing that you are taking up at this time, so I appreciate your doing it. Probably Mr. Ashida and Casey Jarman will also let you know that back when —we talked about this back in April, actually, when the issue first came about for discussion, and I thought --I told them at that time that 1 thought it would ' Agenda item 5 is transcribed verbatim. Blanks indicate words that were inaudible or indecipherable to the secretary.