2008-02-13 Board of Ethics Minutes Regular Session

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be a very good idea that it does come before the ethics commission. I know they'll confirm that, because this is something that no one's ever done, you know, so —so I'm very happy that you're doing this. So as we talk about the public fund and public monies, I need to kind of explain something a little bit to make sure that we understand. You know, there is definitely checks and balances when it comes to spending public funds. Of course there's the Mayor, and he , and of course the Council then appropriates —and of course there's the community that scrutinizes what we do, and of course you, being the ethics commission. But I just wanted to make sure everyone understands that —I know when it was kind of written in the paper it says you know, using public funds for the purpose of these advertisements. It almost sounds like we were just taking money from some place and utilizing it for this purpose. But that why I think we need to understand the budget process. You know, basically the Mayor comes up with his budget, and he sends it down to the Council. The Council scrutinizes the budget. We make suggestions, we make recommendations, and we send it back to the Mayor. The Mayor looks at our recommendations and suggestions, and then he decides whether or not he wants to incorporate those things or whether he says —ah, the Council, you're full of whatever it is. And he makes a decision. He sends it back down to the Council, and the Council finally takes a last look at the budget. Now all of this takes place in the public purview. We go to public hearing, and people get a chance to look at the budget and determine whether or not the operating budget of the County of Hawai `i —their taxpayers' money —is being spent properly. So it's not —not in open forum —but even more importantly, the point I want to make is, it is done by line item. In other words, we are specific as to how much money we're going to use for a particular purpose. And it is —the book is about that thick —that goes line by line as to how you can spend that money. In other words, you cannot utilize you cannot utilize the money budgeted for sales and for the Police Department to buy computers for a non-profit grant somewhere, or you cannot utilize fuel tax revenues to purchase parks and recreational equipment. It has to be for a specific purpose. I just want to make sure that the commissioners do know about the DAE Account. That's the District Allowance Expense Account. This is part of the budget that's sent out to the Mayor, and of course approved by the Council, and it's , and basically it is a budget that allows the Council members to utilize for expenses incurred doing their business in their districts. Now, every expense account has a purpose, and I want to read to you folks the policy statement that deals with the District —the DAE Account. And I think it's really important, because it's going to really figure into your consideration on this particular issue. I'd like to read that here. District Allowance Expense, the DAE, is to cover expenses in carrying out his or her duties as an elected office official. Incidental duties and activities include expenditures incurred in connection with carrying out the official duties or activities, enhancing accessibility to and communicating with the community and constituents, and carrying out the public expectation of a councilmember's role and responsibility to the community and constituents. This is a policy for spending this DAE Account, okay. And the thing that I really wanted to point out to the commissioners for your consideration is two things in this policy, and that is that the funds should be utilized for enhancing accessibility to and communication with the community and constituents. And before I lose my train of thought —so with the —the thing that I want to put out to you is that you and I and maybe even between Council members —we might have different definitions as to what accessibility is. Some person might say well, you know, 1 am available every Friday. If you want to meet with me, with your 4