2010-04-14 Board of Ethics Minutes

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HAWAII COUNTY BOARD OF ETHICS MINUTES — REGULAR SESSION Wednesday, April 14, 2010 10:00 a.m. — 11:13 a.m. 101 Aupuni Street, Suite 230 Hilo, Hawaii 96720 Present: John E. K. Dill, Chair Ann Lum, Vice Chair Arne T. Hendricks, Member Renee N. C. Schoen, Deputy Corporation Counsel Lorene M. Mizuba, Secretary for the Board 1. CALL TO ORDER 10:00 a.m. The Chair called the meeting to order. The Chairman welcomed Arne T. Henricks as a new Member to the Board of Ethics. 2. STATEMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC ON AGENDA ITEMS Rebekah Sluss appeared to speak regarding Agenda Item #4, Communication #2010 -018. As a County employee, Rebekah Sluss is concerned about Mayor Kenoi's proposed changes to the Code of Ethics. Her husband is a contractor and does tennis court resurfacing periodically for the Department of Parks and Recreation. Ms. Sluss works for the Department of Environmental Management, and if the Mayor's proposed changes pass, it would be a concern as her husband would not be able to contract with the County of Hawaii which would result in the loss of multiple business opportunities. Ms. Sluss indicated that it seems that the Mayor's revisions to the Code of Ethics are not in concert with the Board of Ethics' proposals, especially as no employee's family members with a controlling interest in a company may contract with the County. Ms. Sluss indicated that as the County is the largest employer on the island, she believes that the scope is too broad. She suggests that better alternatives would be to prohibit individuals from contracting with the same department or division that their immediate family member is employed, or to request that the Ethics Board review conflicts of interest prior to awarding the contract. The Chairman directed that a copy of the Board's Communication No. 2010 -22 relating to the Board's proposed changes be forwarded to Ms. Sluss and that she review the document so she has a better understanding of the Board's suggestions on the matter. Ms. Schoen advised the Board members that the Board's communication was forwarded to Finance Committee Chair Dennis Onishi, but that at his direction, the matter was continued to the May 4, 2010 Finance Committee meeting to be heard in concert with the Mayor's proposals.