Laserfiche WebLink
MR. DRUTAR: And that’s the question for the Board, is whether or not that’s direct or indirect. I know at other instances they have considered that appraising or measuring a house in Kona to be a direct action when selling a house in Waikoloa, for example, for a previous situation where ethics punishment was issued without consulting the Board. It seems that someone setting the land value for their house could actually change the land value, because it’s their house. It’s in their neighborhood. They could change it for their whole neighborhood. I’m not saying that they have. I’m saying that it’s possible. And that’s a situation where someone should recuse themselves, and it could easily be assigned to another employee. <br /> <br />MR. BALSIS: Are there any other questions? Go ahead. <br /> <br />MR. HISASHIMA: Is there any—I’m a systems person. Is there any way that the assessment that they do is reviewed by their supervisors? <br /> <br />MR. DRUTAR: I think all of our assessments are reviewed by the supervisors. But as I interpret—as I read the Code of Ethics and ask for your interpretation, because you’re the Board of Ethics, it doesn’t say that the County of Hawai‘i and Department of Real Property Tax has the right to put systems in place. It says you cannot take a direct action where you have a substantial financial interest. <br /> <br />MR. HISASHIMA: I understand that, but what I’m trying to get at is if there is a system in place, the supervisor can void that assessment--or he cannot? <br /> <br />MR. DRUTAR: I would assume so. The supervisor could absolutely do that. <br /> <br />MR. HISASHIMA: So in this case, the supervisor could come in and say you did your own so I’m voiding it, I’m assigning another assessor. Is that possible? <br /> <br />MR. DRUTAR: He absolutely could. <br /> <br />MR. HISASHIMA: And have you ever seen, throughout your career, this ever done? <br /> <br />MR. DRUTAR: In my limited career, it’s only a year and a half, I have not seen that happen, where someone says you have a vested interest, I’m going to pull you off it and put someone else on that. I have not seen that option exercised. It seems prudent to me, but that’s just me. <br /> <br />MR. HISASHIMA: Thank you. <br /> <br />MR. BALSIS: Douglass, you have some questions? <br /> <br />MR. ADAMS: Not for Mr. Drutar.