2009-06-10 Board of Ethics Minutes

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Board understand that we ask members of the community, general members of the community, to serve on the County councils. We don't expect them to be law scholars. We don't expect them to be linguists. Our County Code does expect them to treat people fairly and with courtesy, and if the people of our County have also very thoughtfully included an impeachment process, and I speak in support of the impeachment process. It's very important. But there is a threshold that has to be met to cut out the whackos, the nut cases, to cut out anybody who might say, I'm going to impeach any damn council member I want to because I don't like the color of their hair or the way they talk. I don't like the inflection, I don't like the color of their skin. So that threshold is 200 signatures it's roughly 200 signatures. It works out to that. It's actually I think 2% of the registered voters, and I'm not sure if it's those that voted in the last election in that council district, but it works out to about 200 signatures. A very simple threshold that merely allows you to rationally present your case to a judge in the circuit court. Now if a person files an impeachment petition, they pay the money at the circuit court. This isn't a free process I believe you have to pay a fee unless you claim poverty. It's about I think it's about $250, the filing fee. So ask yourself, what kind of character of a person would think that that rule shouldn't apply to them, the 200 - signature threshold? Why would any person put money down and say I want to try to impeach a councilmember, but I'm just going to put my own name on this, because it's something I feel so strong it has to be brought forward. CHAIR: Okay, hold on, can I interrupt you for a second? REES: Sure, you can. CHAIR: I understand completely what you're saying about the process, and we're all Americans here and we believe in it I hope we do. But I have to keep things specific to this Ethics Board and the rules we're ruled by, okay. I understand the district court is involved with the impeachment process, and we have nothing to do with that, okay. I'm all for that process as well. Hold on, almost done. So if you have something specific to what's on the agenda and what how it relates to the Ethics Code or our rules that govern us, then go ahead and state those REES: - -Well certainly I do, or I wouldn't be here, sir. CHAIR: Let's focus on those. REES: Thank you for your carefulness in bringing me back in focus. As you well know, these quotes were given to one of the local newspaper reporters regarding the impeachment process Mr. Cole brought against Emily Naeole. So I don't know how my comments got so far out of focus there that you couldn't realize the relevance. CHAIR: Well, the relevance that I'm concerned with, and this Board is concerned with, is Section 2 -83, fair treatment, of that's covered under the Ethics Code. We're not governed under district court proceedings or rules. I don't even know, or begin to pretend to know, you know, how the impeachment process should work, and I'm glad you're enlightening us on that. I'd just like you to try and focus on what how it pertains 2