2012-10-10 Board of Ethics minutes

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MR. BALSIS: So with that in mind, we should ask Chairman Dill to return. MS. SCHOEN: Yes. The next item would be 7a. Mr. Balsis called a ten-minute recess. 11:13 a.m.: The Board recessed and resumed the meeting at 11:23 a.m. 7. UNFINISHED BUSINESS a. Further discussion on letter dated 8/31/12 to the Board of Ethics from the State Office of Elections, alleging that Council Chair Dominic Yagong may be inappropriately involved in the operations of the Hawai‘i County Elections Office. MS. SCHOEN: Mr. Chair, if I may, this matter—we have it on Unfinished Business because as you recall, the Board was unable to proceed when there were allegations of a conflict of interest to the Chair. There was discussion at the last meeting regarding anyone having a--asserting that a member of this Board has a bias or some kind of conflict, to file an affidavit with the Board, per your rules. No affidavit was filed with the Board of Ethics to date. MR. DILL: Based on the allegations made at the last meeting and documented in the minutes. All right, thank you, counsel. For the sake of openness, fairness, I would like to at this point relinquish the chairmanship to the Vice Chair to manage the procedures on this issue, Unfinished Business. Are you in agreement with that, Vice Chair? MR. BALSIS: Yes, I am. MR. DILL: All right, thank you. That way I’d like to address the allegations made, the corresponding lack of affidavit being filed— MR. BALSIS: --Please do. MR. DILL: I again assert that--deny the allegations made at the last meeting. I also would like to reiterate my feelings that I can rule on this matter fairly and impartially. However, I’ll defer to the other Board members, if you have any questions for me or any concerns regarding the allegations that were made. MR. BALSIS: Mr. Henricks, do you have any questions? MR. HENRICKS: None. MR. BALSIS: Mr. Hisashima, do you have any questions or comments? MR. HISASHIMA: None.